Why did the system take my request to take photos with a cosplayer seriously?

Zhao Yanxi immediately joined in the fun: "I want to catch a chicken!"

Sister Qu glanced at her and said, "Girl, don't underestimate catching chickens. Our chickens are all free-range and they run very fast."

"I'm not afraid!"

Zhao Yanxi was full of confidence.

Without saying much, Sister Qu took out several bamboo baskets and gloves from the woodshed and led everyone to the backyard.

The biggest significance of agritainment is to provide opportunities for city dwellers like Zhao Yanxi to join in the fun, under the guise of experiencing rural life.

The backyard is much larger than the front yard, with a large vegetable garden planted with cabbages, radishes, and garlic sprouts, all lush and green.

Next to it was a chicken coop enclosed by netting, with a dozen or so chickens wandering around inside. Their feathers were bright and they looked very energetic.

"Pick vegetables and catch chickens as you please."

Sister Qu handed them the basket: "If you catch it, I'll make you firewood chicken for lunch, I guarantee it'll be delicious."

Zhao Yanxi put on gloves, rolled up her sleeves, and rushed towards the chicken coop.

She spotted a speckled pheasant, crept closer stealthily, and then pounced—

The chicken clucked and flew up, its wings slapping her face with dust.

Zhao Yanxi missed her target and almost fell into a pile of chicken droppings.

"Hahahaha!"

Hua Yue was laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

"What are you laughing at! Come here!"

Zhao Yanxi wiped her face and glared at her angrily.

Hua Yue didn't hesitate and rolled up her sleeves to get started.

She was a bit smarter than Zhao Yanxi; she knew to flank from behind and stealthily approach a hen.

Before I could even pounce on it, the chicken seemed to have eyes in the back of its head and ran away in a flash.

Hua Yue took two steps, then slipped and fell into a mud pit.

"Oh my god..."

This time it was Zhao Yanxi's turn, and she laughed so hard she almost fell over.

Hua Qing and Wen Jing both stood outside the chicken coop, showing no intention of going in.

Baima didn't rush to take action. She squatted by the chicken coop and observed for a while before walking into the coop.

Unlike Zhao Yanxi and Hua Yue, she didn't chase after the chickens. Instead, she slowly walked to the middle of the flock, her steps were very light, and then she suddenly bent down and stretched out her hand!

She held a plump hen steadily in her hand.

"Wow!"

Zhao Yanxi's eyes widened: "Bai Ma, how did you do that?!"

Baima handed the chicken to Sister Qu, saying casually, "Luckily, catching chickens is easier than catching sheep..."

After a morning of catching chickens and picking vegetables, the group finally calmed down, took a shower, and sat in the yard to drink tea and rest.

Sister Qu brought the ingredients they had been working on all day into the kitchen, lit the stove, and the aroma quickly wafted out.

"Come on, come on, let's eat!"

Sister Qu brought out a large basin of firewood-cooked chicken, steaming hot, with the bright red broth still bubbling.

Alongside them were several plates of stir-fries—stir-fried bok choy, stir-fried cured pork with garlic sprouts, and hot and sour shredded radish, all made from vegetables they had picked themselves.

As they ate, the conversation turned to the Tibetan girl, Pema.

Hua Yue asked first, "Bai Ma, do you raise chickens in Tibet too?"

With a piece of chicken in her mouth, Baima mumbled, "We mainly raise cattle and sheep. We also have chickens, but not many. The altitude is too high and the chickens don't lay eggs, so raising them isn't very valuable."

Zhao Yanxi continued, "Aunt Quzhen, was she also in a pastoral area when she was a child?"

“My mother grew up in a pastoral area, and her family was extremely poor. My maternal grandfather passed away early, and my maternal grandmother raised several children on her own. My mother was the youngest and also the hardest working.”

Bai Ma paused, as if recalling something.

“My mother said that her biggest wish when she was a child was to have enough to eat. Back then, conditions in the pastoral areas were poor. In winter, they couldn’t even get fresh vegetables. They ate tsampa and butter tea every day. Later, the government launched a literacy campaign and set up Chinese language classes in the pastoral areas. Many women in the village were unwilling to go, thinking that it would be useless to learn. Only my mother took me, who was three years old, and we learned Chinese while doing farm work.”

Hua Yue suddenly asked, "What about your dad?"

Bai Ma's smile suddenly froze, but only for a short time; if Ding Heng hadn't been observing her the whole time, he wouldn't have noticed.

"My dad..."

She lowered her head and said in a light tone, "He's been dead for so long, I've almost forgotten what he looks like."

Ding Heng spoke up at the opportune moment: "Sister Qu, did you raise all these chickens yourself?"

"Of course!"

Sister Qu poked her head out from the kitchen and said with a smile, "They all grew up eating grain, and they're all very plump!"

Zhao Yanxi chimed in, "Then I'll buy two to take back later, so my parents can try them too!"

The topic was glossed over, and no one pressed for details.

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.

Bai Ma's phone suddenly rang; it was a video call from Qu Zhen.

"Mother..."

Baima answered the call and called out sweetly.

On the other end of the phone, Quzhen looked slightly tired, but her voice was gentle: "Bai Ma, are you feeling better?"

"Much better! Look how much I enjoy my food!"

Where is your brother?

"We're eating!"

"Where are you now?"

"In Lingxiang, with my brother and his friends!"

Bai Ma's eyes darted around, and she deliberately raised her voice: "My sister-in-law is here too!"

The table fell silent instantly.

Zhao Yanxi's lips unconsciously curved into a smile, feeling that she had been recognized.

A blush rose to Wenjing's face, and she lowered her head, pretending not to hear.

—Sister-in-law?

Did Baima's mother and Ding Heng's father know about her?

Hua Qing sat at the other end of the table, her chopsticks hanging in mid-air, as if she were frozen in place.

Her heart suddenly raced, and blood rushed to her face.

If Qu Zhen lets her answer the phone... if she says something on the phone... everything will be exposed.

Ding Heng stood up at the right moment and took the phone from Bai Ma: "Auntie, are you and Dad alright?"

"Everything is fine... Your dad got very drunk with the herdsmen yesterday and he's still not sober."

Qu Zhen sighed and smiled, "I hope Baima didn't cause you any trouble?"

"No, Baima is very well-behaved."

Ding Heng covered for Bai Ma without changing his expression: "Her stomach is all better now, and she's been eating well these past few days."

The two chatted for a few more minutes about everyday matters. Qu Zhen repeatedly instructed Ding Heng to take good care of Bai Ma, and Ding Heng agreed to each request.

After dinner, Zhao Yanxi suggested taking photos on the ridges of the fields.

Since Ding Heng didn't bring a camera, he didn't follow and stayed in the courtyard to rest...

The courtyard quieted down, with only the sound of Sister Qu washing dishes in the kitchen remaining.

The yellow dog named Chenpi was lying not far away, its tail wagging idly.

Ding Heng put down his teacup and beckoned to Chen Pi.

Chenpi immediately stood up, wagged its tail and ran over, nuzzling its head into his hand.

Ding Heng rubbed its head and scratched its chin. Bai Ma returned at some point and joined him in picking tangerine peel.

"Why are you back?"

"I'm a little sleepy..."

Baima yawned and then said, "Brother, Secretary Huang went back to the villa today."

Ding Heng paused in his movements: "Hmm?"

"She came back early to prepare for my start of school."

Baima cautioned, "You'd better not bring all the women back with you. It wouldn't be good if she saw them."

Ding Heng raised an eyebrow: "Secretary Huang will interfere in my affairs?"

“I won’t interfere, but she’ll definitely report it to my mom.”

Baima sighed, "My mom still sees you as someone else's good child. You mustn't leave a bad impression on her."

Ding Heng burst out laughing.

"why are you laughing?"

"You actually care about me quite a bit?"

"Of course!"

Baima said confidently, "We're in this together now. If my mom doesn't trust you, who will take care of me and make me live a life of luxury?"

Ding Heng was both amused and exasperated, and continued to pet the dog.

"Bai Ma, you're taking the college entrance exam next year. What are your plans?"