Chapter 85: Truth Test

This translation was originally posted on

https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

When the two returned to the shed after plowing the fields, they got some bad news and good news.

The bad news is that there was a temporary problem with the electronic equipment in the kitchen, and the staff would not be able to fix it until the afternoon. The three guests who had originally come back early to cook were in trouble.

The good news was that, with the help of advanced machinery, Gu Jinrong and Shen Qingzhi completed the task arranged by the production team splendidly in the morning. They received a considerable amount of reward money. With this money, everyone could go to the nearby town for a meal.

During the recording of the variety show for two seasons, opportunities for the guests to receive funds to go out for meals have been very few.

Normally, even a single vegetable in the dish, the production team is eager for the guests to dig it themselves. Therefore, many viewers jokingly comment that the production team of the “A Wonderful Life" show is the stingiest ever in history.

This time, the usually thrifty production team unexpectedly acted generously. Huang Yuanxi, as a regular member, was delighted to have a leisurely half-day off. Immediately, she took another four guests and marched toward the town.

They said it was an outing for a meal, but they didn't go empty-handed. Huang Yuanxi even brought along a pot, saying she didn't want to "walk around without the leftovers”.

The distance from the small hut to the town wasn't too far, but the road wasn't very smooth. Many parts of the journey required the guests to walk on foot.

Shen Qingzhi carried an iron pot in her arms as she walked along the small path in the field. Occasionally, she could see free-range chickens and ducks passing by, looking very appetizing, no, they seemed quite friendly instead.

"How come I feel like, in these two days here, we're either eating or preparing to eat?" 

Shen Qingzhi glanced at the hen by her feet, and pursed her lips, seemingly complaining. In her heart though, she was contemplating whether she could catch this fat and strong hen for an additional meal.

"People consider food as their top priority, and a wonderful life means simplifying and naturalizing one's lifestyle..."

Huang Yuanxi continued to explain the purpose of the program smoothly, only halfway realizing that Shen Qingzhi's gaze was fixed in a certain direction. It turned out that the drunkard wasn't interested to get drunk*, and Huang Yuanxi immediately understood.

*醉翁之意不在酒 (zuì wēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ) - having an ulterior motive/to have other things in mind beside what one was set out to do

"These poultry are raised by local villagers and can't be caught until they grow up. However, many restaurants in town get their ingredients from this village. If you like chicken, you can order some later."

Shen Qingzhi, upon hearing that she could have free-range chicken later, immediately curved her eyebrows and eyes into a beautiful arc, but her words remained reserved.

"Teacher Huang, I'm just looking casually; I don't necessarily like to eat it."

She uttered, tilting her head back to breathe in the air, unintentionally quickening her steps, "Ah, the air here is so fresh. Life indeed is simple and wonderful~"

Those following behind her understood without saying a word, smiled, and shook their heads, creating a heartwarming atmosphere.

The small town they were heading to lay three kilometers southeast of the small hut, where the production team usually procured daily necessities.

As the kitchen equipment malfunction this time was an unexpected incident, the decision for the guests to dine out was impromptu. Therefore, the production team didn't spend much time setting up the scene, thus preserving the town's most natural appearance.

This town is old, but remained remarkably simple in its layout, with a stone monument standing at the entrance.

Both sides of the road were lined with numerous small stalls selling snacks and local souvenirs commonly found in the area.

For someone like Shen Qingzhi, who had grown up in the city, these local specialties seemed quite novel. While strolling, she ended up in front of a pastry stall.

The kind-looking owner, a middle-aged woman, warmly greeted the approaching customers.

“Little girl, take a look and see if there's anything you like. This one is called Boat-shaped rice dumplings, this is Ding Sheng Cake, and we also have these Sister-in-law Cakes, Cat's Ears..."

The owner enthusiastically listed the names of all the pastries, pausing for a few seconds where Shen Qingzhi's gaze lingered longer, timely sharing a few words about the origins of the pastries.

Shen Qingzhi felt very tempted and wished to try a bit of everything, but when she touched her pocket, she realized she had no money.

Just then, Huang Yuanxi, who was in charge of the finances, heard the conversation and approached. Shen Qingzhi glanced at Huang Yuanxi, who was waiting for her return, and then at the warmly welcoming owner, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Even though the production team had provided funds for the guests, that money was meant for the lunch expenses of the five of them; she couldn't just spend it recklessly.

Yet, the owner was so warm and had been introducing the pastries for quite some time. If she turned away now, she'd feel a bit guilty.

Shen Qingzhi was in a dilemma. She regretted being so curious and wandering around. Curiosity truly killed the cat.

Seeing the guests' awkward situation, the production team took the opportunity to intervene, initiating an impromptu mini-game. If the guests passed the challenge, the production team would use additional funds to buy the pastries from the stall as a prize.

Faced with this unexpected stroke of luck, Shen Qingzhi immediately signed up without hesitation.

This translation was originally posted on

https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

However, a few minutes later, she started regretting her decision.

The name of this mini-game was "Just Tell The Truth."

The production team brought out a lie-detector device, securing one end of the equipment on the guest's wrist and then asking them questions. If the guest honestly answered the questions, the heart rate line on the lie detector would remain stable. Otherwise, it would fluctuate. The rule was for the guest to answer three consecutive questions from the production team, and the heart rate line on the lie detector had to stay within a certain range to pass.

Shen Qingzhi, eyeing the device the production team had brought out, still held onto a flicker of hope: Is this thing really that powerful? What if I calmly lie, would it still detect it?

With the wristband secured on her, before the official start of the activity to test the device's stability, they asked a simple question.

“Question, are you a girl?"

"No." Shen Qingzhi lied without a flinch, finding the question too trivial.

However, the next moment, the heart rate line displayed by the device began to jump vigorously, proving that someone was lying.

The device worked perfectly, and the game officially started.

The production team kept things casual; the game was conducted on an outdoor wooden table near the stall, surrounded mostly by local residents, without a big fanfare.

In no time, a crowd had gathered around.

Even the owner of the pastry stall was nearby, showing keen interest in the spectacle. Even if this didn't turn into a sale, at least her spot here gained some temporary popularity.

Shen Qingzhi found herself amid the crowd, realizing the difficulty of getting off this tiger.

Just when she thought the device might actually have some capabilities and lying would be immediately exposed, she couldn't afford to be careless. She could only hope that the production team would ask questions with a bit of conscience.

As it turned out, conscience wasn't something the production team considered.

The first question is a bit tricky.

"Question, Qingzhi, can you recall how old you were during the last time you wet the bed?"

Shen Qingzhi:?

What the hell?! I'm a universally beloved female celebrity. If this question airs, will I have any face left?!

Shen Qingzhi glanced around at the curious gazes and forcibly swallowed the obvious lie of "infancy."

If the test failed, missing out on the prize was one thing, but being speculated about in the wrong way was another. So, she gritted her teeth and, unwillingly, closed her eyes and boldly stated, "Seven years old."

Then, unwilling to leave it at that, she added defensively, "Actually, it shouldn't really count as bedwetting. It was just too cold that night, and I drank too much water..."

"Let's check the lie detector. The heart rate is stable, it seems Qingzhi indeed wet the bed at the age of seven," the game host interrupted Shen Qingzhi's lengthy attempt to save face, announcing the result.

There was a mild chuckle around, it was not malicious, but it made Shen Qingzhi wish she could disappear into the ground.

She was indignant in her heart: What's wrong with seven years old? It's not like I was seventeen. Besides, even Yu Kexin wet the bed when she was nine!

Of course, she wouldn't actually throw her teammate under the bus on camera. She resigned herself to wait for the next question from the production team.

“Second question, Qingzhi, at what age did you first develop a crush on someone?"

This question...

Shen Qingzhi glanced at Gu Jinrong in the crowd. At that moment, Gu Jinrong had removed her coat, appearing poised and elegant in her simple casual attire.

Since the start of the game until now, it seemed like Gu Jinrong had been focusing solely on her, wearing a faint smile that differed from the surrounding onlookers' amusement. Her smile carried a hint of indulgence and affection, tempting anyone who caught a glimpse to almost get lost in it.

Not long ago, it was precisely due to such a gaze that made it so easy for her to be "pursued."

She intended to answer twenty-three, her current age, but when she spoke...

"Fourteen."

As the answer slipped out, it surprised not only others but even Shen Qingzhi herself.

She thought her heart must be racing at that moment. Would the heart rate line go wild?

However, the reality was different...

"The heart rate line remains stable. It seems that our Qingzhi indeed had affections at the age of fourteen."

For a girl in her early teens to experience her first crush wasn't something extraordinary; at most, people might just comment on how early kids these days are precocious.

This somewhat matched the rumors circulating about "Shen Qingzhi started dating at such a young age.”

But Shen Qingzhi felt unjust. She believed she had been living a solo life, free from desires, for over twenty years, only to find out she had feelings at such a young age...

This was something she blurted out in front of so many people. Honestly, she only knew the answer a second earlier than everyone else.

This is all the Black Heart's fault!

Shen Qingzhi, feeling randomly irritated by being bombarded with private questions one after another, glared at Gu Jinrong, who seemed rather pleased with herself. She couldn't help but shift the blame onto her.

Having smoothly passed two rounds, when facing the final round, Shen Qingzhi started feeling hesitant.

These questions were getting more and more intense. She feared that if the third question came out, they might strip her down to her underwear.

“Mm, I give up now. Can I give up?" At this point, Shen Qingzhi was genuinely feeling a bit overwhelmed.

The host from the production team was flexible and quick-witted, "You can choose to give up answering the third question, but you can't forfeit directly. Instead, you can select another guest among the others to answer on your behalf."

She could delegate.

Subconsciously, Shen Qingzhi looked towards her longtime friend Yu Kexin, avoiding Wen Qi, as she didn't want to involve her. Huang Yuanxi and Gu Jinrong carried a certain level of prestige and weren't suitable for such a noisy game.

Sensing Shen Qingzhi's gaze, Yu Kexin instinctively hid behind Huang Yuanxi.

Come on, she was at least a rising young actress. It would be catastrophic if she got asked questions like "At what age did you wet the bed?" Her image would completely collapse.

Damn, this person is so unreliable!

Shen Qingzhi gritted her teeth internally, but with Huang Yuanxi blocking Yu Kexin, she couldn't even shoot a fierce glare.

"I'll do it." Just as Shen Qingzhi was silently competing with Yu Kexin, a familiar and pleasant voice sounded near her ear.

Before Shen Qingzhi could react, Gu Jinrong had already sat next to her, willingly removed the device from Shen Qingzhi's wrist, and attached it to her own.

Seeing Gu Jinrong, usually shrouded in mystery in public, volunteering for such a game left even the typically composed host stunned for a good three seconds.

The production team's mindset is somewhat aligned with Shen Qingzhi's. They dared to play such games only with young people like Shen Qingzhi and Yu Kexin, but they wouldn't dare to be too audacious with those who had a sophisticated or respectable image.

Originally prepared to ask Shen Qingzhi a highly sensational final question, it wasn't suitable to directly ask Gu Jinrong. So, the host quickly improvised.

"Now that Movie Queen Gu has volunteered for the final question, let's be fair. We'll ask a similar question to the one just now. Miss Gu, at what age did you first develop a crush on someone?"

In reality, although the lie detector had a scientific basis, the production team could manipulate it to some extent. Given Gu Jinrong's usual aloof demeanor, even if she answered, "She's never been tempted," the production team could ensure her heart rate line stayed as stable as a straight line, without a single deviation, to safeguard her image as a star untouched by worldly affairs.

"Twenty-one."