novelraw Chapter 347: Master! This Flavor Is Absolutely Spot-On!
Chapter 347: Master! This Flavor Is Absolutely Spot-On!
Chapter 347: Master! This Flavor Is Absolutely Spot-On!
Jiang Ci felt like he had been scammed.
He woodenly turned around, faced the camera closest to him, and pulled out a formulaic, standard smile.
"Hello, excuse me, where is the seven-day no-reason return channel?"
The loudspeaker in the courtyard promptly broadcast the director team's barely suppressed laughter.
"Sorry, Teacher Jiang, all sales are final. Since you're here, you might as well settle in."
Teacher Yuan, known as a good-natured veteran in the industry, quickly stepped forward and patted Jiang Ci's back, trying to comfort his wounded soul.
Pointing at the pile of weeds and the drafty roof, he spoke earnestly, "Xiao Jiang, don't stoop to their level. We can create a better life through our own labor."
With that, he swiftly got into character and started assigning tasks.
"These old bones of mine will be responsible for tending the fire and cooking."
"Xiao Wu, you're young, tidy up the clutter in the yard."
"Xiao Jiang, you look like you have the best stamina. Could you trouble you to go to the back mountain and carry back two baskets of corn? That way, we can trade with the villagers for some meat tonight to improve our meal."
Jiang Ci nodded expressionlessly, picked up a huge bamboo carrying basket from the corner of the wall.
Fine. The destiny of a wage slave is inescapable.
Resigned to his fate, he slung the basket on his back and, under the sympathetic gaze of the following cameraman, set off towards the back mountain.
The following cameraman brother originally thought this was a tough job. After all, this Film Emperor looked delicate and pampered; he'd probably take two steps up the mountain and go on strike right there.
However, reality was completely opposite to his expectations.
Once they entered the mountains, Jiang Ci was a changed man.
[Body of Steel (Basic)] activated silently.
The rugged mountain path, difficult for ordinary people to traverse, was as smooth as flat ground under his feet.
The following cameraman brother, carrying dozens of pounds of equipment, felt like his lungs were about to cough themselves out of his throat.
He watched helplessly as Jiang Ci's back went from being a few meters away, to a small black dot, and finally disappeared completely around a bend in the mountain path.
Just who the hell is following who here?
By the time he was practically sticking his tongue out and finally climbed to the mountainside, he found Jiang Ci leisurely sitting on a large rock,
a blade of grass between his lips, staring blankly at the sea of clouds.
Seeing his sorry state, Jiang Ci even deliberately scooted over to make room.
"Brother, come, sit down and rest a bit?"
The following cameraman brother waved his hand, unable to utter a single word, feeling like his soul had already left his body.
Finding the cornfield and filling the two large baskets was only the beginning of the hardship.
Each basket of corn was piled high, heavy and substantial.
Looking at those two baskets, the following cameraman brother thought, *This time I should finally see the Film Emperor's limit, right? This weight, even a normal person would struggle with one basket.*
Who knew, Jiang Ci walked up to the baskets, bent over, grabbed the handles with both hands.
The muscles in his arms didn't even bulge excessively as he simply lifted the combined weight of over 120 pounds, adjusted his center of gravity as casually as if out for a stroll, and started walking down the mountain.
He walked steadily and smoothly, not red in the face or out of breath, no different from going downstairs to the supermarket to pick up two bags of snacks.
The following cameraman brother was utterly dumbfounded.
At the village entrance.
Several elderly men and women resting on the field ridges were dumbstruck watching this scene.
That city boy who looked like he stepped out of a painting was effortlessly carrying two huge baskets of corn down the mountain path.
"Old Zhang's family, look at that young man, what tremendous strength!"
"That build, he's born to do farm work!"
A warm-hearted auntie directly rushed up to block Jiang Ci's path, scrutinizing him from head to toe, her gaze clearly sizing up a potential future son-in-law.
"Young man, how old are you? Seeing anyone? Auntie can introduce you to a capable girl!"
Jiang Ci was taken aback by this sudden enthusiasm.
Another elderly man squeezed over. "Don't listen to her! Her niece has a temper like a firecracker! Young man, look at my granddaughter, she's educated and pretty too!"
Jiang Ci fled in disarray amidst the villagers' enthusiastic "wife-snatching," finally making it back to the small courtyard.
In the yard, Teacher Yuan and Xiao Wu had just gotten the fire going and were worrying about dinner.
Then, they saw Jiang Ci walk in and unload the two heavy baskets from his back.
"Whoosh—"
Golden corn kernels poured out, forming a large pile on the ground.
Teacher Yuan and Xiao Wu stared, stunned and speechless.
Behind the monitor, the Director silently put down his teacup, wondering to himself: *Was this task designed too easily?*
With the task over-fulfilled, Jiang Ci could finally lie back with a clear conscience.
He found a broken bamboo chair by the edge of the courtyard, sank into it, propped his feet up on a nearby stone mill, and contentedly watched the distant clouds roll and unfurl.
This lazy appearance was a world apart from the online image of the "Broken Feeling Film Emperor."
After dinner, as night deepened.
Teacher Yuan suggested they each perform a talent to liven things up.
Xiao Wu performed a cool street dance segment, and Teacher Yuan played a gentle folk song.
Finally, it was Jiang Ci's turn.
Everyone looked at him expectantly.
Would he recite a tragic line from the Hegemon? Or recreate Ye Chen's breathtaking glimpse?
Under the gaze of all, Jiang Ci slowly got up and went back inside.
When he came out again, he was holding a long, black rectangular case.
"Is it a violin? So elegant, Teacher Jiang!" Xiao Wu guessed.
"Could also be a saxophone, quite romantic," Teacher Yuan chimed in.
Jiang Ci placed the case on the ground and opened it.
A brass tube body, wooden bell, wrapped with a red cloth... a suona horn lay quietly inside.
The courtyard instantly fell silent.
Behind the monitor, the Director's face changed dramatically, and he roared into his walkie-talkie.
"Sound! Sound team! Turn the gain down to minimum! Now!"
Jiang Ci paid no mind to any of this.
He skillfully attached the reed and tested the sound.
A sharp, high-pitched single note pierced the quiet night of the mountain village.
He activated the Golden Legend skill.
[Instrument Proficiency: Suona Horn (Special Edition for Weddings and Funerals)]
Then, taking a deep breath, he blew into it, playing "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix."
The melody was lively and cheerful. Teacher Yuan and Xiao Wu just breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the style was odd but at least festive.
However, before the festive tune even ended, Jiang Ci shifted his breath, seamlessly transitioning to a piece called "Crying Through the Seven Passes."
The tune was bone-deep sorrowful, twisting and turning, each note seeming to ask: *Whose family is sending someone off? Is the funeral feast ready?*
The cozy atmosphere in the entire courtyard was immediately exorcised.
Replacing it was a solemn, dignified feeling, as if ready to start the banquet at any moment.
The sound of the suona pierced through the valley, echoing throughout the village.
The dogs in the east end of the village were the first to respond, letting out long, drawn-out howls.
Immediately after, a chorus of barks rose and fell in succession.
In the west end of the village, several mahjong tables simultaneously stopped play.
The villagers put down their "One Bamboo" and "Fortune" tiles, looking solemnly towards the direction of the small courtyard halfway up the mountain.
Whose... funeral is being held with such grandeur?
As the last note faded, the courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Teacher Yuan's hand holding the teacup trembled uncontrollably, while Xiao Wu shrank into his chair, feeling a chill down the back of his neck.
Right then, the courtyard gate was knocked on with a "thump, thump, thump."
The gate was pushed open with a "bang," and a robust, powerful voice boomed in.
An old man wearing a Zhongshan suit rushed energetically up to Jiang Ci and excitedly grabbed his hand.
"Master! Finally found you! The flavor is just too authentic!"
The Village Chief pointed at the suona in his hand, his face filled with the ecstatic joy of finding a kindred spirit.
"Tomorrow, Old Li's family in the east end is holding a wedding. They're just missing your kind of 'festive' sound! Could we trouble you to go over and play a tune?"
Jiang Ci: "?"