My cousin asked me to go to Wuha, and Hanikezi stuck to me.

Current favorability rating: 83.

Chen Yi turned off the virtual panel and looked away from Hanikezi's earrings.

Old Wang, holding a megaphone, broke the atmosphere in the square.

"All groups, come and collect your funds!"

"Fifty dollars is all the ingredients for today's three meals. Let's go!"

Chen Yi walked to the director's table and took the crumpled fifty-yuan bill from the assistant director's hand.

Hanikezi dragged her pink suitcase and obediently followed behind him.

"Where are we going?" she asked, peering at the bill.

At the "vegetable market," Chen Yi put the money into his pocket.

"What can you buy in Dali with fifty yuan? Not even enough for two bowls of Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles," Hanikezi complained softly.

"Eating at the scenic area is definitely not enough. There's a farmers' market at the south gate of Dali Old Town where you can buy two dressed chickens for fifty yuan." Chen Yi walked forward without looking back.

Hanikezi's eyes lit up, and she quickly followed.

"Big Plate Chicken?"

"Dream on. This amount of money is only enough to buy chicken bones. Hurry up, or there won't even be any vegetable leaves left."

The two arrived at the farmers' market at the south gate of the ancient city.

The crowd was full of people.

Various shouts mingled together.

The cameraman followed behind, carrying the equipment.

Hanikezi, wearing a straw hat, looked around.

She couldn't walk any further after passing a stall selling fried potatoes.

She tugged at Chen Yi's sleeve.

Chen Yi stopped and looked in the direction she was looking.

Golden fried potatoes soaked in chili powder, steaming hot.

"Ten yuan a serving," Chen Yi refused ruthlessly. "If we buy it, we'll have to skip a proper meal."

Hanikezi puffed out her cheeks.

"Can I pay for it?"

"Old Wang just said he's confiscating personal wallets. What are you going to use to pay? Are you going to pawn your pink suitcase to the boss?"

Hanikezi lowered her head in discouragement.

Chen Yi walked to the vegetable stall across the street.

"Boss, how much are the potatoes?"

"Two yuan and fifty cents a pound."

Chen Yi picked out four large potatoes and two green peppers.

"Three yuan is fine, if not, I'll go buy it up ahead." Chen Yi said calmly.

The shopkeeper paused for a moment, then waved for him to take it.

Chen Yi handed the plastic bag containing the potatoes to Hanikezi.

"Carry it."

"Why are you buying potatoes? Didn't you want to buy meat?" Hanikezi asked, holding the bag.

"I'll make you some stir-fried potato shreds when we get back. They're better than the fried potatoes you get outside."

Chen Yi turned and walked towards the meat stall.

Hanikezi's lips curled up as she hugged the plastic bag and followed closely behind.

In front of the butcher stall.

The shopkeeper quoted a price of fifteen yuan per jin (500g).

Chen Yi glanced at the cutting board.

"Boss, this meat has been injected with water, the cutting board is soaked. I'll take two pounds for ten yuan a pound, or I'll call the market supervisor to test it."

The boss's expression changed slightly, and he quickly cut two pounds of meat, packed it up, and handed it over.

Hanikezi was stunned by what she saw.

"You still watch videos of meat that's been injected with water?"

"Don't you ever look up common sense tips when you buy groceries?"

"I just eat all the time," Hanikezi said matter-of-factly.

Chen Yi carried the meat and then went to buy some noodles and vegetables.

The two walked side by side in the market, skillfully bargaining, and even the vegetable vendors thought they were a newlywed couple.

After buying his things, Chen Yi had two yuan left in his hand.

He walked up to a freezer that sold popsicles.

"Boss, two popsicles, please."

One yuan each.

Chen Yi handed one to Hanikezi.

Hanikezi tore open the packaging, took a bite, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

"At least you have a conscience."

"After we eat, we'll go back and wash the vegetables. You'll be in charge of peeling the potatoes."

"I can't cut it!"

"If you don't know how, you can just eat and not do any work; you'll sleep in the yard at night."

in the afternoon.

Old Wang issued the second task.

"Each group of Dali Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience went to a designated workshop to make a piece of pottery together."

Inside the workshop.

Chen Yi put on an apron and sat in front of the potter's wheel.

Hanikezi volunteered to sit next to him.

"I'll do it! I've learned it before!"

She confidently pressed her hand onto the lump of mud.

The turntable starts.

The mud was completely out of control and flew straight away.

With a soft splatter.

A lump of yellow mud was smeared on the cameraman's lens.

The cameraman silently wiped his face.

Hanikezi's hands were covered in mud, and she gave a dry laugh.

"I don't think I have that talent."

Chen Yi sighed.

He stood up and walked behind Hanikezi.

He pulled over a small stool and sat down next to her.

The two were very close to each other.

Chen Yi reached out and put his hands around Hanikezi's shoulders from behind, placing them on her hands.

Hanikezi paused for a moment.

Chen Yi has large hands with clearly defined finger bones.

He took her muddy hand and pressed it onto the mud ball on the turntable.

"Don't use your brute force," Chen Yi's voice was calm and clear in her ear.

"Feel the speed of the turntable, apply force with the edge of your palm, and pull it towards the center."

Hanikezi could smell the laundry detergent on Chen Yi's clothes.

The turntable hummed.

The clay gradually took shape in the overlapping hands of the two people.

Raise it up and close it.

A rough but complete earthenware bowl emerged.

Hanikezi stared at the bowl, her heart pounding so loudly she could hear it herself.

She had no idea how much force Chen Yi was using.

She felt her whole face burning.

Chen Yi released his grip and took a half step back.

Go wash your hands.

Hanikezi stood up, lowered her head, and walked towards the pool.

Even his footsteps were a little unsteady.

The camera followed and recorded the entire scene.

Behind the monitor.

The assistant director moved closer to Lao Wang.

"Director Wang, if this segment airs, won't our show be perceived as a dating reality show?"

Old Wang took a big gulp of goji berry water.

"Does any dating reality show have our ratings? Get the camera right up to their faces! How's Chen He's doing?"

The assistant director had a bitter face.

"Brother Chi is protesting over there, saying I'm withholding his allowance. He's currently begging for food all over the old city with the cameraman."

Old Wang was delighted.

"Let him ask for it! The contrast is clear!"

Inside the workshop.

The experienced worker was washing a rag nearby, and he spoke with a smile.

"The young couple works well together; this dish will definitely look beautiful when it comes out."

Hanikezi blushed to the roots of her neck and waved her hands repeatedly.

"We're not a couple! We're partners!"

The experienced craftsman nodded.

"Got it! These days, young people call this 'partnership'."

Chen Yi stood by the sink washing his hands, without offering a single explanation.

Hanikezi watched his retreating figure and stomped her feet in anger.

Why don't you explain?!

"The more you explain, the worse it gets. Save your energy, we still have to cook later." Chen Yi wiped his hands dry.

night.

The two returned to the courtyard of their guesthouse in the ancient city.

Chen Yi was cooking in the kitchen.

Hanikezi squatted down beside her, peeling potatoes.

She shaved a potato the size of a fist down to the size of an egg.

Chen Yi picked up the cleaver and slicing the potatoes into even strips.

Hanikezi watched from the side.

"How come your knife skills are so good?"

"It's something you learn through practice," Chen Yi said without looking up.

"Did you often cook for others before?" Hanikezi's tone changed.

Chen Yi stopped chopping and turned to look at her.

"I used to work part-time in the school cafeteria, where I was responsible for cutting 50 jin (25 kg) of potato shreds a day."

Hanikezi burst out laughing.

"So you're the cafeteria lady's last apprentice."

"Eat your popsicle." Chen Yi poured the chopped potato strips into the pot.

Turn on the fire and add oil.

Dry-fried potato shreds, stir-fried green peppers with shredded pork.

The aroma is wonderful.

Hanikezi ate her food without any regard for decorum, holding her bowl.

After finishing his meal, Old Wang took a megaphone and walked into the yard.

Two sheets of paper and two pens were placed on the table.

"Now, let's finish the last step. Write a letter to your partner today, seal it in an envelope, and hand it over to the production team for safekeeping. You are not allowed to peek at the contents."

Chen Yi pulled out a chair and sat down.

He picked up a pen and, without thinking, quickly wrote two lines.

Fold it and put it in an envelope.

Hanikezi sat opposite, biting her pen.

She glanced at Chen Yi, then quickly lowered her head again.

The pen tip moves across the paper.

She writes very slowly.

Chen Yi leaned back in his chair and looked at her.

"What should I write? It takes so long to think about it?"

Hanikezi quickly covered the letter with her hand.

"Don't look! The director said no peeking!"

Her entire face turned bright red, and even her silver earrings swayed slightly.

Chen Yi did not insist.

He stood up and handed his envelope to the assistant director.

Hanikezi carefully folded the letter, put it in the envelope, and even drew a smiley face on the seal.

She handed the envelope to the assistant director with both hands, giving him repeated instructions.

"You absolutely mustn't show it to him!"

After handing in the letter, Hanikezi stood up and prepared to return to her room.

She had just taken a step when her foot struck a protruding bluestone slab, causing her to sway.

Chen Yi reached out and supported her arm.

"Slower."

Hanikezi steadied herself and rubbed her ankle.

"Old Wang said there's an outdoor survival challenge tomorrow, which supposedly involves mountain climbing." Chen Yi looked at her. "Are you physically capable of handling it?"

"Don't look down on me! I'm in great shape for dancing!" Hanikezi raised her chin and turned to walk back into the room.

half a month later.

The main feature is now airing.

The screen directly cuts out a comparison of the two letters.

The characters on the left are Chen Yi's calligraphy.

"The potatoes were peeled terribly; I'll try harder tomorrow."

The handwriting on the right is Hanikezi's.

"I'm so happy today. I wish every day could be like this."

The screen was filled with a barrage of comments that completely exploded.

"This isn't writing a letter! This is clearly a confession!"

"I've moved to the Civil Affairs Bureau! You two, get your marriage certificate right now!"

"Old Wang, you've really come into your own! This is the kind of dating reality show we've been wanting to see!"

"Chen Yi, you deserve to die! That girl is so happy, and you're doing her year-end performance review here!"

"These two are completely on different wavelengths, but why are they so sweet together!"