Five days after signing the contract, Peng Fei brought some old clothes to the program crew.
Because last year had an extra month, Gu Yu arrived earlier this year, making it suitable for recording this type of program.
Although he didn't know exactly what he would be asked to do, Peng Fei had a plan and felt confident.
There were a total of nine guests. As his agent had said, the other eight were young masters raised in cities, from middle-class families, who came to pursue their dreams of stardom and had no intention of actually farming.
Each one was more effeminate and trendily dressed than the last.
The program crew first held a meeting, explaining the fields and plots they needed to maintain and the program effects they needed to create. They then arranged houses for them in the village, and the program officially began recording.
There were two houses in total, one accommodating four people and the other five. Peng Fei was in the five-person house.
That night, after the meeting, they returned, packed their belongings, and lay on their beds chatting. Everyone was worried about what to do the next day.
"No script, no budget, and no specific guidance given to us. Even if I wanted to create program effects, I couldn't. We're not even allowed to use our phones, so I can't look anything up."
"Is anyone here knowledgeable about farming? What's the first step?"
Everyone was clueless.
Someone said, "I did check before coming. I know what can be planted after Gu Yu, like cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and so on. But how do we plant them? Dig a hole and put the seeds in? I've never even seen it done. We're bound to make a fool of ourselves right from the start!"
"This program is too long, half a year. If we mess up, won't we starve?"
Peng Fei knew he was different from them and didn't want to say much, but seeing everyone's confusion, he decided to share his thoughts.
"The first step in farming is to loosen the soil. Once the soil is loose, we can add fertilizer."
He suggested that everyone go dig the fields together tomorrow. Once everything was dug, they could think about the next steps.
As newcomers, they were unaware of Peng Fei's background. Seeing him speak so knowledgeably, they curiously asked,
"Have you farmed before? Are you from the countryside?"
Peng Fei said he was, then stopped talking.
Everyone engaged in a heated discussion about digging the fields.
It was the first time in their lives they were doing such a thing, and they were extremely excited. They chatted until late into the night before sleeping.
The next day, before dawn, Peng Fei got up to make breakfast. By the time he finished and left with his hoe, everyone else was gradually waking up.
These people were incredibly conscious of their image. They hid in the rudimentary bathroom to clean themselves thoroughly before daring to face the cameras.
After they ate breakfast and took their hoes, wandering toward the fields, Peng Fei had already dug a large section.
Enduring the discomfort, they stepped into the fields wearing their expensive shoes and, imitating him, began to work, swinging their hoes here and there.
With so many people, they finished turning over a plot of land within two hours.
However, Peng Fei was not satisfied with their work.
"It's not dug deep enough, and the clods of soil dug up haven't been broken up with the hoe. This won't do."
He personally demonstrated for them. Fortunately, for the sake of the program, they had to appear cooperative, and no one argued with him.
After wasting time redoing the work, they dispersed at noon.
The young masters who had never worked before were exhausted. Their palms were blistered. As soon as they returned, they secretly hid from the cameras to rest and complain.
"This is too tiring, it's not human work. The program crew isn't giving us any startup funds. Even after we finish digging the fields, there are no seeds to plant. I really don't know how the next part of the recording will go."
Someone said, "Is that Peng guy cooking again? Fine, since he's so eager to perform, let's assign him the task of finding seeds. I wonder which company recommended him. He acts like he's superior to us just because he's farmed before. Let him perform to his heart's content."
After discussing it, they agreed. During dinner, in front of the cameras, they deliberately and harmoniously discussed the issue of expenses.
"Brother Peng, you know more than us. We don't have a single penny right now. How can we go out and buy seeds? We brothers don't know what to do and plan to listen to you. What do you suggest?"
Peng Fei also had a plan regarding financial matters.
Although the program crew provided no funds, they were in the countryside now. They could live off the land; if they looked around the mountains, they might find some things they could take to the market to sell.
"Once the fields are dug, we'll explore the mountains and see if there's anything we can sell."
"Huh? Go up the mountain to find things to sell? Do you think that's feasible?"
"Feasible or not, we'll find out then."
Peng Fei finished his meal in a few bites, pushed his chair back, and stood up with his hoe.
"I'm going to work now. You guys wash the bowls after you finish eating."
They thought they would rest a bit at noon, but who knew he was so serious? To show off more, he started working again right after finishing his meal?
Though they didn't say it aloud, they were all annoyed with him.
After lunch and washing the bowls, when everyone had lazily made their way to the fields, as in the morning, he had already dug a lot more by himself.
The weather had warmed up, and the sun was incredibly good.
After an hour of digging, it was very hot, so Peng Fei took off his jacket.
His bulging biceps and clearly visible chest muscles earned him many close-ups from the cameraman.
One of the essential qualities for idols nowadays was having a good physique.
Although these youngsters hadn't worked in the fields, they had been to the gym.
Seeing Peng Fei's impressive muscles, they all felt a sense of competition and took off their jackets.
Instantly, all the cameras focused on them with close-ups.
A group of tall, long-legged, young, handsome, and muscular boys sweating in the fields, their overflowing hormones were simply inspiring.
After digging for two consecutive days, everyone had sore backs and waists, and their hands were covered in blisters. They simply couldn't take it anymore.
On the morning of the third day, seeing Peng Fei heading out again with his hoe, they stopped him and discussed it with him.
"Didn't you say there were things on the mountain we could sell? Why don't we split into two groups? You dig the fields, and we'll be responsible for making money. Tell us what to look for on the mountain, and we'll go find it!"
Peng Fei was not one for many words. Seeing that they no longer wanted to dig, he agreed.
"Then let's not dig today. We'll all go up the mountain."
Everyone happily grabbed their baskets and snakeskin bags and headed for the mountain in a grand procession.
It turned out they were looking for spring bamboo shoots and mushrooms.
Spring had just passed, and the spring bamboo shoots buried under the dead leaves were just peeking out. Digging away the surrounding soil with one's hands revealed a tender section, a delicacy indispensable in spring.
This was simple. Peng Fei told them to dig for bamboo shoots while he went to look for mushrooms.
It was much more fun than digging. Everyone busied themselves happily, as if on a treasure hunt.
Nearby villagers were also looking for bamboo shoots. To earn more money, everyone vied with the villagers.
By the end of the day, they had collected five large bags.
In the evening, Peng Fei still cooked, while they sat by the door peeling bamboo shoots.
After a day of digging in the muddy ground, they gathered together in the evening to peel leaves.
Several young masters, after only a few days in the village, were starting to look like farming folk.