After Entering a Book, He Just Wants to be a Flower Vase

On the way to the watermelon field, everyone was still making fun of Jiang Dao and Chu Yinlong.

After seeing that Chu Yinlong was not angry, even Cheng Zhiyi dared joke: “When this episode airs, someone will definitely be licking your CP.”

Jiang Dao is no stranger to the word CP.

In the original book, many fans supported the CP of the protagonists Zhou Wei and Tang Yao all the way until they became a real couple. In the middle, Zhou Wei filmed with others, causing fans to climb the wall to eat their CP, causing Tang Yao to be jealous.

But Jiang Dao never imagined that this word would appear on himself one day.

After entering the novel, he and Chu Yinlong… oh, forget it, the scene is too scary. Neither he nor Chu Yinlong should “feed each other with their thighs close to each other” or “secretly kiss each other while they are asleep”…

Jiang Dao shrank his neck and shook off the goosebumps.

Talking and laughing all the way, they arrived at the melon field.

The watermelon field negotiated by the program team is located on the mountainside.

“We’re helping the villagers to transport melons to the town this afternoon. Picking a melon can only make one dollar. Our meal tonight will depend on how many melons we can pick.”

On behalf of the recording team, Qi Peng told the guests: “The melons with red strings are ripe, and don’t touch the unripe ones. After picking, wrap them in the foam nets and put them in the baskets, then return back down the mountain to transport them away by boat.”

“Got it.” Cheng Zhiyi nodded, took the scissors from Qi Peng, and pointed to the depths of the melon field. “Let’s start picking from the inside?”

Qi Peng handed An Zhe a bamboo basket: “Go ahead, you two brothers work together.”

Then he threw another bamboo basket to Chu Yinlong and pointed to the other side of the melon field. “You take Xiao Dao to pick melons there, and I’ll go see if the boat is ready.”

It’s not that he doesn’t like to work. Instead, the program team arranged most of the manual labor to be done by young people and guest players. Especially the gimmick of creating CP, the recording team will never let it go. Therefore, the original plan for Cheng Zhiyi to lead Jiang Dao and An Zhe to lead Chu Yinlong was temporarily changed to “brother” and “roommate” pairs.

Although the recording team didn’t say it clearly, Chu Yinlong had some vague guesses. As for Jiang Dao, he was completely unaware that he was being tricked by the program crew.

Taking the camera to the depths of the melon field, Jiang Dao picked up the scissors and started to work. He cut out a watermelon and handed it to Chu Yinlong. Chu Yinlong took out a foam net from the bamboo basket and put it on, and then neatly placed them one by one in the basket.

The whole time, the two did not speak a word.

The cameraman behind them began sweating. After a long time, he trembled and said as delicately as a mosquito: “Can you two talk?”

Jiang Dao turned his head and stared at him.

Cameraman: “…Actually, it’s fine not to say anything.”

Jiang Dao was amused.

He cut off a watermelon again, smelled the broken part of the melon, and smiled at Chu Yinlong. “This melon must be delicious. I can smell the fragrance before even opening it… Can you smell it?”

Holding the watermelon in his hand, he handed it under Chu Yinlong’s nose.

Chu Yinlong sniffed it cooperatively. “It’s quite fragrant.”

Jiang Dao weighed the watermelon and pretended to be naughty. “How about we open one and taste it first?”

Chu Yinlong raised his eyebrows. ” Do you know how much this melon costs per catty1per jin; i.e., ~0.9 lb?”

“How much?” Jiang Dao asked casually.

“The market price is five yuan per catty.” Chu Yinlong replied. “One melon is ten to twenty yuan. Even if we transport a whole basket of watermelons, we may not be able to exchange for one.”2explained above – they get 1 yuan per melon

Hearing this, Jiang Dao held the watermelon in his hand and lowered his eyes silently.

It turns out that even in a world where supplies are not so scarce, there are still things he can’t afford…

No, he can afford it! He has the freedom to spend ten or twenty yuan, but it is limited by the program requirements, so he can’t use his own money to buy ingredients while recording.

He handed the melon to Chu Yinlong with a face full of reluctance, and Jiang Dao sighed exaggeratedly: “When I go back after recording the show, I will go buy several melons.”

Chu Yinlong took the melon and smiled. “Okay, let’s work. If our efficiency is high enough, maybe we can earn enough money to buy a melon.”

Soon, the bamboo basket was full.

After weighing the physical fitness of them, Jiang Dao did not argue, and helped Chu Yinlong put the bamboo basket full of watermelons on his back, and then accompanied him down the mountain.

The boat Qi Peng prepared was a small sampan.

Seeing Jiang Dao and Chu Yinlong transporting the watermelons, he hurriedly stepped forward to help, and said casually, “We only have two baskets, so when Xiao Yi and An’an’s baskets come down, we’ll transport them first… Xiao Chu, you and Xiao Dao, don’t follow. Go up and continue picking melons, pile them up there and wait for us to return.”

These instructions should be arranged by the recording team. Jiang Dao and Chu Yinlong did not raise any objection and returned to the melon field to continue working. This repetitive work was boring, and even the cameraman no longer urged the two of them to interact.

It was not until early 5 o’clock in the afternoon that they picked all the melons tied with red strings in this melon field.

“Dad Qi said it’s the last trip. Bring the melons you’ve picked; my brother is waiting on the boat.”

An Zhe was obviously exhausted. Facing Chu Yinlong, he didn’t have the extra strength to be afraid and nervous, and handed the bamboo basket in his hand over, then wiped his sweat. “I’m going back to help Mom Hai3An Zhe is calling Qi Peng & Hai Tang as mom & dad and Director Mu.”

“Go, have a good rest. The two of us will manage.” Chu Yinlong waved to An Zhe.

Jiang Dao took the bamboo basket and packed the last batch of watermelons into it.

As a result, the two bamboo baskets were so full that they could no longer be stuffed, but there were still five melons left on the ground.

“Forget it, we can’t carry them like this. Let’s not overdo it, and leave the rest here.” Chu Yinlong weighed the weight of two baskets of melons and said helplessly. “We don’t lack these ten yuan. The mountain road is not easy to walk, and don’t hurt yourself.”

Jiang Dao squatted down and tried to carry the bamboo basket on his back. It’s indeed a little hard with his current physical ability… But he’s not completely unable to carry it. If it’s only the distance from the melon field to the wharf, he has no problem walking it with gritted teeth.

It’s just a pity that the five melons on the ground are a bit difficult to handle.

“Forget it, just leave them.” Chu Yinlong said. “They won’t go bad overnight.”

“Well,” Jiang Dao hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded, “There’s no good way…”

Just when Jiang Dao was about to give up, the recording team, who had heard about their plight suddenly intervened. A staff member took out a bundle of nylon rope and handed it to Chu Yinlong. “The director said, if the two of you can find a way to transport all the watermelons here in one trip, we will reward you with a watermelon tonight!”

Chu Yinlong: “We don’t need…”

Jiang Dao’s eyes lit up. “Really?!”

The second half of Chu Yinlong’s unspoken words were instantly silenced, and immediately turned into a chuckle.

Jiang Dao put down the basket on his back, picked up the nylon rope and squatted by the melon field, and started tying the melons without saying a word.

Fingers flying over the rope, his movements were skillful. He made a simple cross-net pocket for a melon in three or two strokes. A watermelon was firmly contained without any danger of falling.

Chu Yinlong looked at it and couldn’t help but wonder: “Where did you learn this?”

Jiang Dao lowered his eyelashes as he netted another watermelon. He finally said with a smile after being silent for a long time: “I learned it when I was a child… don’t say making a rope net, if the recording team provides bamboo strips, I can weave a basket on the spot. Do you believe me?”

Chu Yinlong didn’t mind his vague explanation. His eyebrows moved slightly, and said, “I believe you.”

During the conversation, Jiang Dao used the nylon rope to string up the five watermelons, then tied a firm knot.

Then he raised his face and asked Chu Yinlong, “If we tie it to the basket, can you carry it on your back?”

Chu Yinlong weighed it and said, “It’s fine, but I’m afraid the basket straps won’t hold up… I’ll just carry it with my right hand.”

“It’s best not to carry it in your hand. This mountain road is not easy to walk, and it is safest to keep your hands empty.” Jiang Dao said, picked up the netted melons, and gestured towards Chu Yinlong. “Let’s hang these on you.”

Chu Yinlong nodded and opened his hands: “Hang it.”

Jiang Dao picked up the nylon rope again, stretched his hand around Chu Yinlong’s body, and put a cross strap on him. The fingertips deftly dragged the rope and wore it around, occasionally touching Chu Yinlong’s body through the t-shirt, and then quickly pulling away.

The nylon rope is too thin, and if the weight is too heavy, it will hurt people. After thinking for a moment, Jiang Dao decided to use the triple strap structure to share the weight. The rope tightened, pressing folds on Chu Yinlong’s clothes, drawing out the shallow curvature of the muscles under pressure. Coupled with the complicated pattern of the triple straps, the ropes are a bit like…

“You… are you planning to tie me up?” Chu Yinlong’s face was strange and couldn’t help asking.

“Yes.” Jiang Dao replied casually. “I’ll tie you to the boat and sell you along with the watermelons.”

After saying that, he tied the ends of the rope to Chu Yinlong’s chest, tied a beautiful bow, and finally reached out and patted him twice.

Seeing Jiang Dao’s calm face without any ulterior motives, Chu Yinlong chuckled and shook his head secretly.

After putting on the straps, Jiang Dao attached the five watermelons strung into a string to Chu Yinlong.

The straps made of ropes fell down, and the weight was evenly distributed across the shoulders and waist. There was no pain caused by the tightness of the straps. This method of tying the straps is very scientific, obviously not something Jiang Dao designed on a whim or on the spot.

“Have you ever been a soldier?” Despite asking, Chu Yinlong didn’t believe it was possible.

Sure enough, Jiang Dao smiled. “I’m only nineteen, how can I be a soldier? When I was a child, there was an uncle downstairs who was a soldier and taught me to tie ropes every day… Is it heavy?”

Chu Yinlong didn’t ask any further questions, and replied, “It’s not heavy. I can even help you carry a few more melons.”

Jiang Dao ignored him, leaned over and carried his own bamboo basket on his back. “Then let’s go, hurry up and deliver them, so we can go home and eat sooner.”

Walking steadily down the mountain road to the wharf, no one could tell Jiang Dao was actually carrying too much weight. It wasn’t until he unloaded the bamboo basket and loaded all the watermelons onto the boat that he couldn’t help raising his hand and rubbing his shoulders.

Chu Yinlong’s eyes were sharp and he noticed something was wrong. He stretched out his hand and grabbed the neckline of Jiang Dao’s t-shirt, pulling it apart slightly. Sure enough, there was a purple-red bruise on Jiang Dao’s fair skin, and spots of subcutaneous bleeding around the edges.

“You…”

“Ah? Isn’t this skin too squeamish?!” Before Chu Yinlong could say anything, Jiang Dao complained. He stretched his neck, curled the corners of his mouth, trying to look at his shoulders, making no secret of his disgust as he squinted.

Qi Peng, who just said “ouch” and was about to come forward to take a look, was blocked by Jiang Dao’s performance.

He watched Jiang Dao tug his neckline carelessly, before turning his head towards the assistant director and the cameraman who followed behind with a smile. “We’ve moved all the watermelons down. Didn’t you say we’d get one for free? Should we take it directly from here?”

 

They should be carrying those small watermelons the size of a cantaloupe; not the huge 10lb monsters over here.

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1per jin; i.e., ~0.9 lb2explained above – they get 1 yuan per melon3An Zhe is calling Qi Peng & Hai Tang as mom & dad