Chapter 175: Chapter 175: In Terms of Seniority, I’m Your Great-Grandmother

Shoucai slammed the table and shot up in anger. “Is this true? Is it really my grandpa? I’ve been burning paper money for him every year! Why would he do this to me?”

“They say burning paper money for the dead in the underworld can do more harm than good. Sometimes, when you burn a lot of money for your grandfather, you don’t get his blessing in return—you get his vengeance. Your grandfather was an upstanding man when he was alive. After he passed away, receiving your paper money made him look down on you. And your wife… she’s the woman your grandfather took a fancy to. He sent her to you so you would raise his child, and then he would possess your body and seize your fortune!”

Shoucai shuddered violently when he heard what Shen Zhiyao said.

He had never dreamed that his grandfather had known his wife before he did, and that they had even started a relationship.

But his grandpa had been dead for many years!

’How did my wife meet my grandpa?’

’This is too absurd!’

Shoucai immediately countered, “Miss Shen, you’ve said a lot, but I won’t believe it without concrete evidence. I’ll have someone investigate after I get back! If it turns out to be true, then I’ll need your help to make my grandfather disappear for good.”

After all, this was his own grandfather. He couldn’t just take Shen Zhiyao’s word for it.

After Shoucai left the livestream, Shen Zhiyao said calmly, “That’s all for today’s three readings. I’ll see you all tomorrow!”

With that, Shen Zhiyao ended the stream.

Although Shen Zhiyao had started her stream early today, she ended it very late.

It was already the early hours of the morning when she went offline. She quickly sat down cross-legged to cultivate.

Early the next morning, the six cast members of the show were all present.

After breakfast, they received today’s mission from the production team.

The mission card read:

[To ensure the cast members have a smooth journey, the production team has arranged for everyone to find the Bell Factory’s guardian treasure.

Legend has it that an Immortal once descended upon the Island Country and left a green crystal stone in the factory there.

But as time passed, the Island Country’s green crystal stone was lost, and the Island Country lost the protection of the Divine Book.

Today’s mission: Enter the factory on the Island Country and find the long-lost green crystal stone. If you succeed in finding the Crystal Stone, you will be rewarded with luxurious accommodations. If you fail, you will continue to live in your simple lodgings.]

When they received the mission card, everyone thought it would be very difficult.

Zhao Jing couldn’t help but complain, “I’m already traumatized from searching for things with Actor Sun yesterday. I don’t want to look for anything today!”

Zhou Ye asked, “They said it’s lost, and they still want us to find it? That’s a bit of a tall order, isn’t it! Besides, I’m a bit short on brain cells!”

Just then, the director hurried over with a few bags of walnuts, handing them to the cast. And an ad slogan lit up nearby:

“Feeling slow-witted? Don’t know what to do? Then eat Six Kings Walnuts! Delicious, great for your brain, and a sweet flavor that adults and kids alike will love!”

The cast opened the walnuts and took a few bites. “Mmm! I can feel my IQ shooting up already!”

Shen Zhiyao had to stop herself from laughing. ’Don’t they feel shameless saying that?’

Shen Zhiyao also played along, saying, “Mmm! It really is brain food. My mind feels clearer already.”

’This is unbearable. Why are Jin Fan’s product placements always so awkward?’

’So cringe!’

After filming the commercial spot, the cast headed to the factory on the Island Country as instructed, searching for the green crystal stone.

The factory was located at the foot of the mountain Shen Zhiyao and Meng Xiaoxiao had climbed the day before, backed by a sprawling mountain range.

The factory was quite large, consisting of two main buildings, a front and a back one, constructed over seventy years ago.

The main building was old and dilapidated, covering five hundred square meters.

The auxiliary building was smaller, at only three hundred square meters.

Word was that in the factory’s heyday, it commanded up to 90% of the market for bells.

Later, the guardian treasure was lost, the factory lost its auspicious protection, and it gradually fell into decline.

The main building had long been empty, with only a few older workers in their fifties and sixties busy in the auxiliary building.

When the workers saw the film crew arrive, their expressions were clearly unwelcoming.

Although Master Qin had already given them a heads-up, they still instinctively shielded their faces whenever the cameras panned their way.

The factory manager came out to greet them and gave them a tour of the bell-making process.

The sound of the bells wasn’t pleasant at all. A cacophony of ringing followed them everywhere, nearly shattering their eardrums.

The manager assigned them the task of packaging bells to give the film crew something to shoot.

After working for a little while, Zhao Jing started to lay out a plan. “According to the requirements, we have to find the factory’s guardian treasure—the green crystal stone. We’ll never complete the mission if we just stay here packaging. And if we don’t complete the mission, we won’t get the reward from the production team.”

Meng Xiaoxiao said excitedly, “Then let’s sneak out and look for the factory’s guardian treasure. Wow! I’m getting excited just thinking about it! I’ve never snuck off like this before!”

Sun Yingbin suggested logically, “Then let’s split into two groups. One group will provide cover here, and the other will go look for the factory’s guardian treasure.”

Everyone agreed to the plan, but they immediately started arguing over who would stay behind as a distraction and who would go search for the treasure.

After all, staying here was dull and boring, and definitely wouldn’t attract the audience’s attention.

Searching for the guardian treasure was different. It would make for an exciting storyline and be more eye-catching for viewers.

’Isn’t the whole point of being on a variety show to get the audience’s attention?’

A host like Zhao Jing looked glamorous on the surface, but in reality, Mango TV was teeming with new talent, and many of her opportunities had been snatched up by her juniors.

She wanted to branch out into acting, but she was a terrible actress, and no director would give her a second look.

Variety shows were the only thing that allowed her to maintain some level of relevance.

But she had been carefully cultivating a ’nice person’ persona, so she couldn’t afford to be seen arguing.

So, Zhao Jing suggested, “Let’s draw lots to decide! Five long straws, one short one. The person who draws the short straw stays behind.”

Zhao Jing glanced at Sun Yingbin. “Let’s go by age! The oldest goes first.”

Sun Yingbin said with a smile, “What? Are you making fun of me for being old?”

Zhao Jing replied with a smile, “How is that making fun of you? I’m just showing my respect.”

They were of similar standing in the industry, so Sun Yingbin wouldn’t get angry at Zhao Jing for talking to him in that tone.

Her fans would just think she was being witty.

In reality, they both kept their ulterior motives hidden.

Going by age, Sun Yingbin would be first, and Zhao Jing would be second.

’If I draw second, I can probably avoid the one I marked. That will guarantee I draw a long straw and don’t get stuck here.’

Sun Yingbin drew first. His luck was good, and he drew a long straw.

’Now there are five straws left. The short one is on the far left.’

All Zhao Jing had to do was avoid the short straw, so she reached for one of the others.

Just as she was about to draw, Shen Zhiyao stopped her. “You prepared the lots. To be fair, you should draw last!”

Zhao Jing’s expression flickered, but she quickly recovered with a smile. “Didn’t we just say? The oldest draws first, and the youngest draws last. What? Do young people these days not know how to respect their elders?”

Zhao Jing played the seniority card, hoping to make Shen Zhiyao back down.

But Shen Zhiyao was someone who never played by the book. She quickly reached out and plucked a straw from the middle. “Ah, a long one!”

She didn’t say another word, completely ignoring the so-called issue of seniority.

’If they really want to talk about seniority, a woman who’s lived for centuries like me could be their great-great-grandmother!’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep