Chapter 55
Lu Xiao said, “No one ever specified it had to be the entertainment industry. Human sociality is formed by the intersection of big and small circles. I even hang out in the Snowy Night CP fandom. Come on—draw a CP fan to farm.”
[So, Ordinary Guy, you really do have an account.]
[???? I treated you like a son, and you’re making your working-class mom go farm?!]
[I’ll go! I’ll go! I helped my family with farm work since I was little! Just let me see Yuanyuan!]
[Wake up upstairs. Chances are he’ll be paired up with his wife, and you’ll be left with another helper, facing the dirt with your back to the sky in a different field.]
[Thanks for the reminder. This concubine withdraws.]
[So does that mean Meng Xueyuan hangs out in Lu Xiao’s solo-fan circle, and you still have to draw a Lu Xiao solo fan?]
[My lord, I have a plan to throw the world into chaos—draw one Snowflake and one Night Watcher, have them dig side by side while I watch my CP be sweet and loving.]
[@Director, you might like this: minimum appearance fee, maximum explosive effect.]
[So cruel, but I love it. Hurry up and do it.]
[I approve. Who dares oppose?!]
Meng Xueyuan: “……”
The phone he’d set on the table vibrated. The camera couldn’t catch the screen; Meng Xueyuan unlocked it and glanced at it.
It turned out that @SouthwestMainHive had been following the Queen Bee’s grand farming plan all along. With the Queen Bee in trouble, the clan voted and decided to send out their strongest worker bee to assist.
They even threw in legal aid—Lin Xilan: “If the director won’t allow it, let our Xilan go talk to them. The fellow-townsman circle is also a circle.”
Meng Xueyuan lowered his voice to Lu Xiao. “Let it be them.”
People carrying the aura of spirits have a deep affection for the land. They love the soil and wish every patch could be planted with grain and vegetables. Meng Xueyuan and Lu Xiao genuinely wanted to farm well; among their friends, those not camera-shy and actually good at farming could only be found among the worker bees.
Lu Xiao: “Alright.”
Meng Xueyuan applied to the director. “I’m applying to have my cousin help.”
The director had already had his definition of “circle” revised by Lu Xiao’s one line: “The relatives circle… is also a circle. Lu Xiao, are you also finding someone from the relatives circle?”
Both the bullet comments and the director were buzzing. How could his small program deserve this—inviting a second big boss? If not for Meng Xueyuan still being in the circle, Lu Xiao would probably be even less merciful toward the entertainment industry than toward the racing scene.
Meng Xueyuan: “No, his counts as a work circle…”
Lu Xiao nodded. “My secretary.”
Director: “That works.”
[The three-piece set of CEO novels has appeared: secretary, butler, family doctor.]
[Poor secretary. Boss’s love-brain flares up and he goes farming, dragging the working people along.]
[Wait… Lu Xiao’s secretary would count as an executive, not a secretary in the usual sense.]
[Why are you all in such a hurry? As long as the pay’s enough, I’ll do anything. The problem is no one hires me.]
[Does anyone not know that the attire of Lu Group’s executive assistant is called Miracle Mimi?]
[It’s honestly terrifying. I’m just a small employee who knows a bit about haute couture, and I often see secretaries dressed more expensively than the boss.]
[This exceeds my understanding… Your Lu Group secretaries have their own workplace rules.]
[How do they even pull this off?]
The other guests had also made their selections—mostly entertainment industry peers, some friends, some mentoring juniors.
The director clapped his hands. “After lunch, everyone rest a bit. This afternoon, remember to spray pesticide on two mu of land.”
“Pesticide?” Bees don’t like pesticides. This time, no matter what, Lu Xiao insisted on doing two people’s work by himself.
He argued confidently in a low voice, “Wife, a pregnant husband can’t come into contact with pesticides. You absolutely can’t touch it.”
Meng Xueyuan: “……”
Lu Xiao: “This afternoon you just cut watermelon, pick vegetables. There’s livestock at home that needs feeding—their appetites are huge.”
“That’s settled.”
In the afternoon, Lu Xiao went to spray pesticides. The program provided a large water tank filled with water; pesticides were added according to the ratio, stirred, then transferred into a backpack-style electric sprayer.
Lu Xiao put on a mask and goggles, shouldering a full tank of pesticide solution—twenty jin in weight—walking through the fields.
Holding the long spray wand, he evenly sprayed the pesticide over the peanut leaves.
When the tank was empty, he went back to refill it.
The electric sprayer had a limited flow rate, so he couldn’t move too fast. There was no rushing it. Lu Xiao worked straight through until nightfall.
……
On the other side.
Since Lu Xiao was spraying pesticides, Meng Xueyuan knew that if he went to “visit” him, Lu Xiao would be unhappy, so he held back and didn’t help.
They had no experience tending livestock, and the food prepared last night was too little—not enough to eat.
So Meng Xueyuan picked a large basket of vegetables from the field. After returning home, he fed half of it raw.
Vegetables alone weren’t enough to feed thirty-one mouths. Were they supposed to go to the cafeteria and steal leftovers?
Jiang Xunbai told him, “See the farm to the east? Their corn ripened earlier than ours and has already been harvested once. The leftover ears with underdeveloped kernels are unwanted—we can pick them up to feed the pigs.”
“And the cauliflower fields too. The cauliflower’s already been taken; the bottom leaves are unwanted and can be fed to the chickens.”
Meng Xueyuan and Lu Xiao had arrived from the west by vehicle and didn’t know the surroundings. Hearing this, his eyes lit up. “Thank you, Jiang Baibai.”
Jiang Xunbai had already slung a bamboo basket on his back—he’d come specifically to invite Meng Xueyuan along.
Meng Xueyuan put on a bamboo basket too. Thinking it wasn’t enough, he also took two burlap sacks. Lu Xiao was working hard; he had to work hard too.
“Let’s take the three-wheeler. We can carry more.”
The program provided a sidecar three-wheeler, converted from an old 28-inch road bicycle. The three wheels were asymmetrical; people used to bicycles would wobble badly the first time riding a tricycle.
Jiang Xunbai had studied it for a whole episode and still hadn’t mastered it.
Meng Xueyuan pulled the tricycle out. “Get on, I can ride.”
[Don’t let Lu Xiao see this—his wife’s on the back seat, and it’s not him.]
[Meng Xueyuan is so handsome in this scene. Ordinary Guy, please let Yuanyuan walk independently in the future!]
[Really—if not for this variety show, my impression of Meng Xueyuan would just be the delicate wife from a marriage show. I’m a fan now.]
[Can you pass by Lu Xiao a bit?]
Of course Meng Xueyuan wouldn’t pass by—otherwise Lu Xiao might come over and take over as the driver.
They reached the vegetable fields and parked by the roadside. Meng Xueyuan bent down, snapped off cauliflower leaves, and tossed them into the basket behind him. The ones closest to the root were no good; the upper ones were more tender.
He patrolled one plot. The basket grew heavier and heavier, the shoulder straps tighter and tighter, so he returned to unload—transferring them into the burlap sacks—then set out again lightly.
One basket of leaves, two sacks of corn cobs.
Meng Xueyuan and Jiang Xunbai filled the tricycle to the brim.
Meng Xueyuan mounted the tricycle and stepped on the pedals—this time he had to use every ounce of strength just to get the tricycle wobbling forward.
Jiang Xunbai jumped down and pushed from behind, like two little white rabbits pushing a giant pumpkin home.
Jiang Xunbai said, “How do you find someone as outstanding as Lu Xiao?”
Meng Xueyuan: “I just… suddenly found him. You’re so outstanding yourself—you’ll attract outstanding people in the future too.”
Jiang Xunbai said dejectedly, “Really? I like the quiet but capable type. There probably won’t be anyone more outstanding than Lu Xiao.”
Meng Xueyuan stopped the tricycle and took off his mic. “Jiang Baibai, are you saying this on purpose?”
Jiang Xunbai also removed his mic and whispered, “I’m setting up a persona—making my CP with that scumbag end completely.”
Meng Xueyuan: “He’s still pestering you?”
Jiang Xunbai nodded. “I’m about to just grab a random guy on the street, hold hands, and announce a new relationship.”
Meng Xueyuan felt Jiang Baibai’s criteria had swung to the other extreme and advised, “Your partner can be physically mute, but it’s best if they’re not mentally mute.”
Jiang Xunbai: “I’ll remember that.”
After stopping, Meng Xueyuan restarted and realized just how exhausting pedaling a tricycle was—long legs didn’t help. He and Jiang Xunbai were both panting, sitting on chairs, rubbing their shoulders and then their thighs, palms damp with sweat.
More work, more gain. These leaves would be enough to last until the end of his stint.
After showering, Meng Xueyuan decided to cook feed for the chickens and ducks first, so Lu Xiao wouldn’t have to fuss after coming back.
He squatted by the stove to start a fire, puffed out his cheeks and blew hard—whoosh, bright flames leapt up in the firebox, ash puffing onto his face and making him sneeze several times.
He added a few thick logs, poured in water, crushed rice, and vegetable leaves, then covered the pot.
Dusk fell; the cafeteria served dinner.
“Isn’t Lu Xiao off work yet?”
The cameraman said, “President Lu will need a bit more time. Eat first if you’re hungry.”
“Oh.” Meng Xueyuan went to the cafeteria, got two portions of food, brought them back, and set them atop the pot lid, using the rising steam to keep them warm.
It was truly a full day of labor. Meng Xueyuan sat in the kitchen watching the fire, waiting for Lu Xiao to get off work.
Half an hour later, Lu Xiao’s figure swayed into the frame. He was drenched in sweat, clothes wrinkled. Seeing Meng Xueyuan run over, he hurriedly raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t come closer. I’ll shower first.”
Meng Xueyuan halted like a police cat given a stop command. “Okay.”
[Take a careful look at this fallen man. Months ago he was still the proud chosen one—F1 champion, youngest Best Actor. Now he’s just back from the fields, filthy all over. What happened? Please watch today’s Farming Talk.]
[Judging by Lu Xiao’s expression, he doesn’t know his wife also worked today. Looks like he really sprayed pesticide all afternoon.]
[I supervised from another livestream—Lu Third Brother farming, honest as can be.]
After returning, Lu Xiao immediately stripped off his clothes and tossed them aside, then showered twice before daring to approach his wife.
If it were just himself, he wouldn’t care this much, but Meng Xueyuan’s nose was very sensitive—any smell would make him uncomfortable.
While showering, Lu Xiao noticed two strap marks pressed into his shoulders. His flesh was firm, so they didn’t redden much.
Lu Xiao put on a shirt and shrugged. Luckily it was him—if it were Meng Xueyuan, it would definitely be bright red.
“Done washing? Come eat.” Meng Xueyuan carried the still-warm food into the air-conditioned room, set it on the table, and handed Lu Xiao a pair of chopsticks. “Eat.”
Lu Xiao took the chopsticks and sat down. Birds paired up in the trees; after dinner, they’d sleep together. A day’s labor erased all fatigue.
After dinner, they went out for a short walk. Before bed, Lu Xiao went to shower again.
“Wife, want to come together?”
Meng Xueyuan: “No, I already washed.”
“Alright.” Lu Xiao climbed into bed, wrapped an arm around Meng Xueyuan’s shoulders, wanting to watch Underwater World together.
When his wrist brushed Meng Xueyuan’s shoulder, Lu Xiao clearly felt him flinch.
Hm?
In a flash, Lu Xiao tugged open Meng Xueyuan’s collar, revealing half a fair shoulder, where a red abrasion was clearly visible.
He picked up his phone and opened Meng Xueyuan’s supertopic. As expected, he saw screenshots of Meng Xueyuan carrying a basket and picking vegetable leaves.
Oh no—the fatigue of a day’s labor had come back, transferred onto his wife.
Lu Xiao lowered his eyes, tenderly blew on it. “You’re trying to make my heart ache to death.”
Meng Xueyuan: “Then don’t I feel sorry for you too?”
Lu Xiao paused, stopped pretending to be tough, and spoke honestly first. “Farming is really exhausting, wife.”
Meng Xueyuan was honest too. “I think so as well.”
Neither pretended to be breezy. They held each other, rubbing each other’s sore arms and thighs. Farming is like this—only sweat can bring a harvest.
“Tomorrow I’ll pedal the tricycle and be your driver.”
……
On the third day of farming, they opened up new fields.
The helpers designated by Meng Xueyuan and Lu Xiao arrived as well.
As soon as Meng Shancha and Lin Xilan appeared, the bullet comments filled with envy and jealousy.
[Yuanyuan’s family has amazing genes—producing not only a fresh, stunning beauty but also a 192cm handsome, rugged man.]
[Is Big Brother Meng married? This is very important to me.]
[Am I the only one insanely jealous of Lu Xiao? A fairy-like wife and a fresh-faced secretary.]
[How about this, President Lu—you farm, I’ll go to work for you. Not for anything else, I just want to experience having a top-tier secretary.]
[The all-purpose secretary of CEO novels finally has a face.]
[Industry insider—don’t be fooled by Secretary Lin’s frigid look. Once you face Lu Group’s legal team, you’ll know what crying means.]
[Damn, worthy of being President Lu’s chief secretary—even farming, he keeps pace with his boss.]
[I thought secretarial majors didn’t teach farming! crying.jpg Is this why I can’t get into Lu Group?]
[All four of them are great at farming, and they don’t even rest—just heads down loosening soil. This is exactly the farming dream team the director wanted.]
Lu Group headquarters.
Lu Lou strolled into the chief legal officer’s office and saw Lu Yushu actually watching his third brother’s farming livestream. “So free? Killing time?”
“Very busy.” Lu Yushu stared coldly at the bullet comments spreading rumors wildly.
[Used to envy President Lu for having a wife; now I envy him for having a secretary.]
[After all, this salted fish doesn’t want to serve a wife, but wants a secretary to handle everything.]
[No wonder Lu Xiao has time to circle around Meng Xueyuan—behind every love-brained boss is a silently devoted secretary.]
[Dear Secretary, this CP fan is willing to eat vegetarian for ten days—please be Lu Xiao’s secretary for life.]
“….” Lu Yushu was so angry he wanted to issue a lawyer’s statement.
That is my secretary!
