I'm in Wuha, and the whole internet is shipping me and Song Yuqi as a couple.

Wu Zheng slammed the bamboo slips on the table and smiled smugly.

"Half-hour countdown, starting now."

"If we can't find the free meal token, everyone will be cleaning toilets in the ancient town's jail tonight."

Chen He darted over and grabbed the bamboo slips.

He unfolded it and glanced at it, his whole face scrunched up in a grimace.

"Brother Chao, come quick! Is this written in oracle bone script or cursive script?"

"How come I can't understand a single word?"

Deng Chao leaned closer, squinted, and read it aloud.

"The old face is hidden by green tiles on the long street, and the moon shines on the spring when it rises above the willow branches."

"Isn't this just a limerick?"

Lu Han leaned over from the side and pointed to the words behind.

"There's another line of smaller print below."

"To obtain the free meal order, you must first pass three hurdles."

Jin Chen clapped his hands and turned to look at Jiang Che.

"Great talent, this is clearly a test of general literary knowledge."

"Could you translate this for me?"

Song Yuqi grabbed Jiang Che's arm and pressed herself against him.

"Jiang Che, is the Green-tiled Long Street the West Street we just walked through?"

Jiang Che took the bamboo slip and ran his finger over the characters.

"Not West Street."

"The only place in the ancient town where you can see the moon rising above the willow branches and reflecting on the spring is the Ancient Moon Well in the north."

Song Yuqi's eyes lit up.

"What are we waiting for? Run!"

Wu Zheng slowly took a sip of tea in the back.

"Just a heads-up, there are yamen runners patrolling the town at night now."

"Ten minutes will be deducted for each time you are caught."

Chen He rolled up his sleeves and shouted.

"Brothers, grab your weapons and charge!"

The crowd ran out of Fuyuan Restaurant.

The ancient town is brightly lit at night, and the stone-paved road is illuminated by red lanterns.

Jiang Che grabbed Song Yuqi's wrist and pulled her to his side.

"Stay close to me, don't fall."

Song Yuqi grabbed his hand with her own, her voice crisp and clear.

"Don't worry, I can run really fast."

Jin Chen followed behind, muttering to himself as he ran.

"Hey you two, is it really appropriate to hold hands so tightly during this great escape?"

Deng Chao was leading the race when he suddenly stopped.

"Wait! There's an ambush ahead!"

Two NPCs dressed as yamen runners, holding water guns, blocked the alley entrance.

Chen He was so frightened that he turned and ran away.

"Chao-ge, cover me! I'll cover the rear!"

Deng Chao was so angry that he kept shouting.

"You think you're the rearguard? You were the first to run away!"

Qin Xiao pushed up his glasses and hid behind a stone pillar, panting heavily.

"I've never been this tired even when I'm performing at a stand-up comedy show."

Lu Han pointed to the path beside her.

"This way, there are no NPCs here!"

Jiang Che pulled Song Yuqi along and they went straight into the alley on the right.

The alley was narrow, and the two ran side by side, their shoulders bumping together from time to time.

Song Yuqi was a little out of breath from running, and looked up at Jiang Che's profile.

"Chef Jiang, you usually look so lazy, how come you're running so fast?"

Jiang Che turned his head to look at her.

"I brought you out to work, I can't let you clean toilets."

Song Yuqi felt a warmth in her heart and quickened her pace.

The two walked through two dark alleys, and suddenly the space opened up ahead.

An ancient well made of bluestone stands in the center of the courtyard, with a paper lantern hanging beside it.

Deng Chao and Chen He came around from the other end, panting.

Chen He, supporting himself on his knees, gasped for breath.

"I'm exhausted! Old Wu, did you bring the sports meet to the ancient town?"

Lu Han ran to the well and peered inside.

"There's an iron box with a combination lock in the well!"

Song Yuqi leaned closer and used the light to identify the lock.

"It's a four-digit combination lock."

Jin Chen followed and ran into the yard, leaning against the door frame to rest.

"The password must be in that poem we just read."

"The old face is hidden by green tiles on the long street, and the moon shines on the spring when it rises above the willow branches."

Qin Xiao walked over, waving a folding fan.

"How do you calculate the numbers?"

"A word puzzle?"

Chen He scratched his head in frustration.

"What's the significance of green tiles? What's the significance of a long street? Who could have guessed Old Wu's train of thought?"

"Jiang Che, what do you think?"

Jiang Che walked to the well and pointed to the words carved on the well rim.

"No need to break down the characters."

"This poem is the inscription on a stele commemorating the reconstruction of a well in the ancient town during the Qing Dynasty."

"The blue tiles correspond to the fourth year of the Jiaqing reign, and the spring corresponds to the three weirs."

"The password is 0413."

Song Yuqi immediately reached out and turned the combination lock.

A crisp click.

The tin box opened with a click.

Chen He was completely stunned, his mouth agape.

"This works?"

"Jiang Che, is your brain filled with an encyclopedia of ancient towns?"

Deng Chao put his arm around Jiang Che's shoulder.

"Amazing! Chef, I'm not filming the next season of 'Five Dogs' without you!"

Song Yuqi took out a red silk cloth from the iron box.

The next clue is written on it.

"A thunderous roar can be heard before the Hundred Plays Pavilion; three drumbeats reveal the true skill."

Jin Chen clapped his hands.

"I know that!"

"We just performed a shadow puppet show at the Hundred Plays House on West Street this afternoon!"

Lu Han glanced at her watch.

"Fifteen minutes left, time is running out!"

Chen He waved his hand.

"Everyone, move to the next scene! Head to the Hundred Entertainments Hall!"

The group ran towards the Hundred Plays Pavilion.

The assistant director's panicked voice came through Wu Zheng's walkie-talkie.

"Director Wu, they broke through the first barrier in just eight minutes!"

Wu Zheng's teacup wobbled, and tea splashed onto his robe.

"What the hell?"

"How could they possibly know the answer to that history question?"

"Send all the NPCs to the Hundred Entertainments Hall and stop them!"

In the square in front of the Hundred Plays Pavilion, a dozen or so black-clad yamen runners were already lined up.

Chen He had just reached the edge of the square when he was startled by the scene and took two steps back.

"Oh no, Old Wu has revealed everything."

Deng Chao gritted his teeth.

"Charge! We outnumber them!"

Qin Xiao pulled Deng Chao back.

"Brother Chao, calm down. If we fight head-on, we'll be wiped out."

Jiang Che pulled Song Yuqi to a stop in the shadows.

He observed the layout of the square.

"They are guarding the main gate."

"There is a wooden ladder in the backyard of the opera house that leads directly to the drum tower on the second floor."

Song Yuqi's eyes lit up.

How did you know there was a ladder in the backyard?

Jiang Che lowered his head and smiled.

"When I borrowed the carving knife this afternoon, I also took a look at the floor plan."

Jin Chen couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

"Detail-oriented person, no wonder you were able to win over Yuqi."

Song Yuqi blushed slightly and secretly pinched the back of Jiang Che's hand.

Jiang Che turned to look at Deng Chao and Chen He.

"Brother Chao, Brother He, make some noise up ahead to attract the NPCs' attention."

"Yuqi and I climbed up the side path to play the drums."

Chen He patted his stomach.

"Trying to lure the tiger away from the mountain, huh? I'm an expert at that!"

Deng Chao was also eager to get started.

"Old Qin, Little Lu, let's go, let's put on a show for them, a real-life 'Havoc in Heaven'!"

The four men rushed toward the main gate of the square, shouting and yelling, drawing away most of the black-clad yamen runners.

Jiang Che pulled Song Yuqi along, with Jin Chen following closely behind, and quietly circled around to the back of the opera house.

The wooden ladder was a bit shaky, so Jiang Che climbed up first and reached out to pull Song Yuqi up to the second-floor stage.

A huge cowhide drum was placed in the center of the stage.

Song Yuqi picked up a drumstick and handed one to Jiang Che.

"Jiang Che, shall we each knock once?"

Jiang Che took the drumsticks and grasped Song Yuqi's hand that was holding the handle.

"Let's knock together."

The two of them worked together and struck the drumhead with all their might.

Boom!

The dull drumbeats echoed through the night sky of the ancient town.

Boom!Boom!

Three drumbeats sounded in succession, and the hidden compartment at the top of the stage popped open with a snap.

A free order token slipped down and landed right in Song Yuqi's palm.

Song Yuqi held up the token and jumped up excitedly.

"Got it!"

She turned around and threw herself into Jiang Che's arms.

Jiang Che caught her steadily and then turned her around half a circle by supporting her waist.

Jin Chen stood to the side, raising his hands to cover his eyes, his fingers wide open.

"I didn't see anything, you guys continue!"

Chen He and the others downstairs heard the drumbeats and cheered loudly.

Ten minutes later, at Fuyuan Restaurant.

Wu Zheng sat in the chair, his face ashen.

Song Yuqi slammed the golden token onto the center of the table.

"Director Wu, the free meal voucher is here!"

"The meal cost of 180 Shu Tongbao coins is completely waived!"

Chen He sat back down at the octagonal table, grabbed a piece of cold camphor tea duck, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Old Wu, admit defeat. You can't outsmart our head chef!"

Deng Chao tapped on the table beside him.

"Double! Jiang Che just said you'll have to pay back double!"

Wu Zheng sighed and pushed the box of coins on the table over.

"You guys are pretty good."

Song Yuqi took the box, counted the wooden coins inside, and smiled with her eyes crinkling.

She grabbed a handful of coins and distributed them to Jin Chen and Qin Xiao.

"Sister Jin Chen, Teacher Qin, everyone who sees this gets a share!"

Qin Xiao happily accepted it.

"Following Brother Jiang Che, there's definitely something to be gained."

Jiang Che poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Song Yuqi.

"Are your hands tired?"

Song Yuqi took the teacup, took a small sip, and looked up at him with a smile.

"Not at all, counting money isn't sour."

Chen He walked over with a teacup in his hand and tapped on the table.

"Alright, you two, the recording is finished."

"Where to tomorrow? Chef, you've got to keep taking us flying."

Jiang Che grasped Song Yuqi's hand, which was resting on the edge of the table, and looked at her face.

"Follow the accountant's instructions."

Song Yuqi shook the coin bag in her hand, her face full of pride.

"Next stop, no one will let us suffer!"

A burst of laughter erupted in the restaurant. Wu Zheng shook his head helplessly and couldn't help but laugh as well.