You were sent to participate in a transformation program, not to participate in poverty alleviation.

"This kid is really rich!"

An older woman couldn't help but sigh.

"City people are just different; they always carry so much money when they go out."

"Yeah, I guess it was from her family. She's lucky."

Listening to the discussions around me, and even the resentment towards the rich in the eyes of some people.

Qin Hao knew that he couldn't act aloof at this moment, and he couldn't let them misunderstand.

He stopped the car by bracing himself on one foot, a warm, sunny smile spreading across his face, and loudly addressed the villagers who had gathered around:

"Dear uncles, aunts, and grandmas, there's been a misunderstanding!"

Qin Hao's voice was clear and carried far:

"I didn't bring a single penny with me, and these things weren't bought with money from my family."

"All of this I earned today by using the produce from our mountains!"

The entire room fell silent instantly.

"Earned by living off the mountains?"

An old man tapped his pipe, looking incredulous.

"Child, stop trying to fool us."

What valuable things could there be in this wretched mountain valley?

"We've worked our whole lives and never made a fortune. You think you can earn enough to buy a car in a day?"

Qin Hao wasn't angry; instead, his smile deepened.

"Grandpa, our mountains are full of treasures, it's just that people haven't discovered them before."

"This cart, and all this rice, flour, and cooking oil, are what I got from selling matsutake mushrooms today!"

"Matsutake mushrooms?"

The villagers looked at each other in bewilderment.

"That thing is really worth that much money?"

"Yes!" Qin Hao said decisively.

"Not only can you, but you can earn even more!"

Dear fellow villagers, please don't rush. Let me go back first to tell my grandparents the good news and put the things down.

Later, if anyone is interested, you can come to Lao Li's house.

Let me tell you in detail how I made my fortune and how I turned the clods of earth in our mountains into gold nuggets!

I'll also teach everyone how to make money together, how about that?

"good!!"

"This kid is a very straightforward person!"

"If it could really make money, that would be fantastic!"

Upon hearing that Qin Hao was willing to share his secrets to getting rich, the villagers, who were initially somewhat envious, instantly became excited.

These simple and honest people admire capable people the most, and are even more grateful to those who are willing to lend them a helping hand.

The crowd parted to make way, their eyes shifting from envy to respect.

Qin Hao pushed his bicycle, surrounded by the crowd, like a victorious general, and walked step by step toward the dilapidated wooden house on the mountainside.

Meanwhile, in Old Li's courtyard.

Lin Feng was chopping firewood, Su Wan was feeding chickens, and the elderly couple sat at the door with worried expressions.

"It's already afternoon, why hasn't Qin Hao returned yet?"

The old lady kept looking towards the intersection.

"This child, could he be lost? Or has something happened to him?"

Su Wan was also extremely worried: "Grandpa, why don't we ask Brother Lin Feng to go look for him?"

Just then, Aunt Wang from next door came running in, panting, and shouted before she even entered the door:

"Hey! Old Li! Old Li! Your new kid's really something! He's really accomplished!"

Old Li was startled, and almost dropped his pipe:

"What? What happened? Did you get into trouble?"

"What trouble have you gotten yourself into?!"

Aunt Wang slapped her thigh, her face full of excitement.

"He came back on a brand new bicycle! It was loaded with meat and rice!"

The whole village went to see it! They said it was what they earned in one day!

"What?!"

The four of them—Mr. and Mrs. Li, Lin Feng, and Su Wan—were all stunned.

In just one day? You earned enough for a bicycle? And meat and rice too?

This is simply unbelievable!

Before they could even process the news, lively voices and bicycle bells could be heard outside the courtyard gate.

"Ring ring—"

Qin Hao pushed his brand-new bicycle, which looked out of place in the dilapidated courtyard, and stepped in.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on him, giving him a golden edge.

He parked the car in the yard, pointed to the truck full of supplies, and smiled at the stunned crowd:

"Grandpa, Grandma, Lin Feng, Su Wan, I'm back."

"Tonight we're not having porridge, we're having meat! Braised pork!"

Looking at the large, still-shaking piece of pork belly, Su Wan couldn't help but swallow hard, her eyes instantly turning red.

Lin Feng glanced at the bicycle, then at Qin Hao, a smile of admiration playing on his lips.

"Impressive," he said softly.

Su Wan stood in front of this pile of supplies, her cherry-like mouth agape in an "O" shape, unable to close it for a long time.

"Qin... Brother Qin Hao,"

Su Wan pointed at the pile of things, her words stammering.

"Where did all these things come from? This set must cost at least several hundred yuan, right?"

"You...you really did break the rules and go to the town's bank to withdraw money, just like that person said?"

Although Su Wan is naive, she is aware of the show's rules.

Confiscate all cash and cards; this is an ironclad rule.

If Qin Hao really has some hidden money, that would be a serious violation, and he might even be returned to the company.

Qin Hao, who was untying Da Mi from the back seat, stopped upon hearing this.

Straightening up, he looked at Su Wan's terrified little face and couldn't help but laugh:

"What are you thinking? If I went to the bank to withdraw money, wouldn't the production crew see it? Do you think I'm that stupid?"

"Then...where did you get the money?"

"Have you forgotten the snakeskin bag I was carrying yesterday afternoon?"

Qin Hao pointed to the empty bag.

Su Wan was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses, her eyes widening:

"Oh! So it's the mushroom from that pocket? The matsutake?"

She looked at Qin Hao in disbelief:

"But... is that stuff really that expensive? Can it be exchanged for so many things?"

As the apple of the Su family's eye, Su Wan used to eat matsutake mushrooms at home prepared by a master chef and presented on exquisite plates.

She only knew that it tasted delicious, but never cared about the price.

In her view, it was just a type of ingredient.

Qin Hao dusted off his hands and said calmly:

"That's natural. This is the quality of wild matsutake mushrooms."

In high-end restaurants in Shanghai or Beijing, a pound of this can sell for nearly 1000 yuan, or even more.

I was lucky today; I sold at wholesale price, so I actually got a good deal.

"1000 yuan?!"

Su Wan gasped.

In the past, a single bite of matsutake mushroom for her could cost an ordinary person several days' wages.

At that time, she didn't feel anything; she just took it for granted.

But now, she sees that 1000 yuan transformed into tangible items like bicycles, rice, and pork.

When she was able to support her family for a month, she had a concrete concept of "money" for the first time.

"So... every bite I ate before was so precious."

Su Wan lowered her head, lost in thought.

Qin Hao didn't say much, but turned to look at Lin Feng, who was sitting on the threshold and hadn't spoken, but whose eyes were equally shocked.

"Lin Feng, here you go."

Qin Hao pulled out a wad of banknotes from his pocket, counted out four crisp 100-yuan bills, and tossed them aside casually.