Chapter 8: Chapter 8

C8 – Shocking Fact

Xueman had her fill of water, but the mere mention of food reignited her hunger.

Zhao Yuegu noticed Xueman’s concern about their food supply.

He had ways to obtain food, but it belonged to the villagers.

He wouldn’t turn down an outside source, especially since the program team was here to help alleviate poverty.

Most of the villagers were elderly, and he was likely the only one who could assist with the filming.

Agreeing to help came naturally to him.

“Okay.”

Zhao Yuegu’s nod sent the young videographer nearly leaping for joy.

Lin Luqin shared in the excitement, feeling she had made a difference for the siblings.

Xueman’s lips curled into a sweet smile, reassured about the food situation.

Zhao Yuegu, however, remained largely unfazed.

“Our house is the largest in the village, so some of you will need to stay with us tonight.”

Lin Luqin surveyed the space with a slight frown.

“Will it really be enough?”

Zhao Yuegu chuckled and led them to an old courtyard gate. As it creaked open, Lin Luqin was taken aback by the hidden charm of the place.

“A courtyard complex?”

She was astonished.

The videographer eagerly began capturing the scene.

“The houses here bear the marks of time, and most aren’t fit for living, but they’ve likely been here for quite some time.”

Zhao Yuegu gave a small nod.

“The village elders say this estate was built in the twelfth year of the Yongle era.”

The revelation made the videographer’s hands shake with excitement.

“From the early Ming Dynasty? That’s over four centuries of history.”

Lin Luqin raised an eyebrow.

“That sounds impressive.”

The videographer remarked, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

“It’s not just impressive; it’s extraordinary. These are undamaged relics with immense historical value.”

Zhao Yuegu’s smile was easy.

“Though the house has its drafts, there’s no rain forecasted for a few days. You’ll manage just fine here.”

The videographer was beside himself with excitement, practically floating on air.

Pushing open the weathered wooden door felt like traveling back through four hundred years to a bygone era.

The dense cobwebs within the house bore silent testimony to the passage of time.

Imagine capturing this courtyard on film…

The entire video would likely be immensely valuable due to these ancient structures!

Zhao Yuegu’s abrupt caution broke his reverie.

“Watch your step, don’t tread on my seedlings.”

It was then that the cameraman noticed the courtyard was brimming with vegetables, with just two narrow paths spared.

While the young green shoots were a cheerful sight, they starkly contrasted with the courtyard’s age-old ambiance.

Lin Luqin pursed her lips, sensing something out of the ordinary.

“Is there another courtyard beyond that collapsed wall?”

Zhao Yuegu gave a slight nod.

“Yes, it’s a three-section compound. But we only use the middle and back courtyards for planting vegetables these days.”

Lin Luqin’s mouth fell open in surprise.

“Your place is really expansive. Having a three-section compound is no small feat.”

“Our village once produced a top scholar. After offending a high-ranking official, he returned here to build this residence.”

“Are you a descendant of that scholar?”

Zhao Yuegu shook her head.

“No, I just happened to move into this house.”

After showing Lin Luqin and the others around, the program team decided to stay at Zhao Yuegu’s place.

Naturally, they provided rice and flour as compensation for their lodging.

Zhao Xueman was thrilled by this for quite some time.

The provisions were enough to last the siblings a whole year.

After the tour, Lin Luqin asked with a hint of bewilderment.

“Why is it just you and your sibling here? Where are your parents?”

“They passed away when I was young.”

“It looks like there are no young people in the village, only the elderly.”

“The village once used all its youth to build a road to the outside world. No one expected a landslide to come and bury them all.”

Zhao Yuegu’s face remained composed, as if the tragedy was a distant memory.

In truth, he was too young at the time of the disaster to fully grasp its impact.

“I’m sorry.”

Lin Luqin, realizing she had broached a sensitive topic, became visibly flustered.

Perhaps as a gesture of consolation, she grasped Zhao Yuegu’s hand with an encouraging grip, as if to transfer some of her own strength to him.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got your back,” Zhao Yuegu reassured, feeling a warmth emanating from his palm that left him momentarily dazed.

Lin Luqin’s skin was exceptionally soft, her hands more delicate than Xueman’s, which was saying something. And being so close, Zhao could distinctly catch the scent of her.

Lin Luqin went on with a hint of optimism. “Construction capabilities are impressive these days; building a road is hardly a challenge.”

“Once the show airs, it’ll definitely stir up attention. The government will surely pave the way for us here in Walden.”

Zhao Yuegu couldn’t help but smile at her innocence.

“The government has long considered repairing this road, but the mountain’s instability makes it unfeasible,” he explained. “Our forebears settled here to escape calamities, avoiding wars, but connecting with the outside world has always been a struggle.”

“With landslides happening so often, any repaired road is quickly ruined again. That’s why the village remains as it is.”

The fact that the program team made it to the village without a guide was astonishing to him.

The cameraman, however, was quite pleased with himself. “It was tricky to locate, but thankfully, we had drones.”

Lin Luqin chuckled, “That’s the strength of technology for you.”

Zhao Yuegu joined in with a laugh. “Dinner’s coming up. How about I treat you all to some fish?”

“Where are the fish?” they asked.

“I’ll show you—it’s time for a little fishing adventure.”