As for not wasting money... Yu Shuman seriously had to question that. After all, she'd seen firsthand how Qin Ran was quite extravagant. Even now, while she was heading out for the show, Qin Ran had generously upgraded the entire filming crew to first class.
Normally, the filming crew would fly economy, but Qin Ran had paid out of pocket to upgrade everyone—whether it was Xiao An, who was part of Yu Shuman's personal team, or the cameramen, directors, and assistants from the production team, all received the upgrade.
The production crew, being professional, didn't disturb Yu Shuman while she caught up on sleep on the plane. They even lowered their voices without realizing it.
It wasn't until they were about to land that Xiao An gently reminded Yu Shuman that they had arrived. Initially, they all planned to exit through the VIP gate, but the production team received a call and came to find Yu Shuman.
A young assistant said, "Manman, our local contact mentioned that some of your fans are here to welcome you. Would you like to go greet them?"
Yu Shuman was taken aback, not expecting fans to be waiting for her. She hadn't kept her schedule a secret, especially since she was live-streaming until just before boarding. Fans who were paying attention could have easily figured out her flight time. After a moment of hesitation, Yu Shuman asked, "Will this delay the shoot?"
"No, not at all. It'll only take a moment. We've already coordinated with our local team. Manman, you'll just be meeting with your fans briefly."
Considering that the entire crew got a free upgrade, a few minutes to meet her fans didn't seem like too much to ask. The staff had no qualms about it and quickly led Yu Shuman to the arrivals area where her fans were waiting.
There weren't many fans, maybe just ten or so. After all, she was still a relatively new star with only one project under her belt, even though that drama had received high ratings and garnered her a significant fanbase. However, most were casual fans, with few diehard supporters.
Facing the small group of fans, Yu Shuman felt a wave of gratitude.
She smiled and thanked each fan, taking the time to sign autographs for everyone.
The fans encouraged her: "Manman, keep up the great work! You were amazing in your last drama! We're all looking forward to your next one!"
Yu Shuman chuckled and playfully said, "I still think my acting needs improvement. I've been taking classes during my free time to refine my skills before taking on my next role." She then bowed to them. "Thank you all for your support!"
Since she had to head to the filming location, she didn't linger long, chatting briefly before saying goodbye. One of the fans captured her bowing on camera and posted it online, expressing their excitement in a lengthy post.
By the time Qin Ran saw the post in the fan forum, it had already been trending for a while. Without hesitation, she paid to promote the post, then settled in to read the fan's heartfelt words.
"I'm so glad I became a fan of Yu Shuman. She's truly a great role model. After her debut in Go Debut, Girl! she didn't continue as a girl group idol because she knew her foundation wasn't strong enough. Instead, she turned to acting, not wasting her looks but first enrolling in acting classes for a long time before taking her first role. Meeting her today, even though she's here to film a variety show, she was so humble. We can't wait to see her next project. She even said she wants to continue improving her skills. Recently, her assistant team has been keeping fans updated on her busy schedule through the fan forum. This kind of actress? I'm already in love!"
The post included a picture of Yu Shuman bowing, and the comment section was filled with praise:
[She even bowed to us and thanked us for our support. I'm absolutely in love.]
[Manman's first role as a princess was incredible, especially the scene where she confronted the male lead. The change in her expression was flawless—you'd never guess it was her first time acting.]
[I'll definitely be supporting the new variety show! Manman looks amazing as always. Can't wait for her next drama!]
Of course, not all comments were supportive:
[I hope she doesn't turn into just another variety show star after her first drama, chasing after popularity.]
Qin Ran was annoyed by the negativity, but before she could do anything, the forum administrator quickly deleted the comment and banned the account. Qin Ran quietly gave a thumbs up for the admin's speed and also patted herself on the back—after all, the forum admins were actually from 99 Entertainment's IT department, whom she had hired. Money well spent.
Unaware of the online buzz, Yu Shuman had already arrived at the filming location with the crew. They had chosen a new village called Peach Blossom Cottage, named for its large peach blossom grove. However, it was the wrong season, so there were neither blossoms nor fruit.
The road into the village was rough, and as the production team's van bumped along the uneven dirt path, Yu Shuman felt like her bones were being rattled apart. Fortunately, the journey wasn't long, and after about ten minutes of jostling, they reached the filming site.
As soon as Yu Shuman stepped out of the van onto solid ground, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her hometown was also in the countryside, and as a child, she often visited with her mother, so she knew what to expect. Fortunately, it hadn't rained recently; otherwise, the road would have been a muddy mess.
She was certain that this wasn't the main road through the village. While some rural areas were indeed poor, most now had at least one or two paved roads leading to the main houses, leaving only the smaller paths unpaved.
The production team had deliberately chosen this bumpy road to give the stars a taste of what was to come, ensuring they didn't have too rosy an outlook on the experience. Even Yu Shuman, who was used to rural life, felt a bit nauseous from the ride. For stars who had never lived in the countryside, this road alone would be a rude awakening.
Yu Shuman couldn't help but think of Ling Miaohan, the eldest daughter of the Ling family. Everyone knew she had likely never faced any hardship. Yu Shuman suspected Ling Miaohan was hoping to use this show to build a more relatable image, but she wondered if Ling could handle the tough conditions.
While Yu Shuman's mind wandered, she followed the production team to the entrance of Peach Blossom Cottage. From inside, she could hear the sound of people laughing and chatting. As she stood at the gate with her luggage, she marveled at the journey she had just completed. Unlike earlier when they could ride in the van, the last stretch had to be walked.
Despite being in good physical shape, even though her recent busy schedule had cut into her workout time, Yu Shuman remained composed as she pulled her large suitcase into the yard. The yard itself was clearly prepared by the production team; after all, who still uses bamboo fences to enclose their property these days?
Standing outside the bamboo fence, she called out, "Is anyone here?" Her voice prompted two people to come out from the house to greet her.
Yu Shuman had done her homework before coming and immediately recognized the two. One was an older host from the TV station, and the other was a young actress who was a regular on the show.
With a smile, Yu Shuman greeted them first. "Hello, Mr. Wang, and hello, Qianqian. I'm the new resident, Yu Shuman."
"Welcome, welcome!" Mr. Wang was the first to approach, opening the gate and inviting Yu Shuman in. The young actress, Zeng Qian, also came over to greet her, pulling her inside as she chatted, "You're the first to arrive. We were just about to start dinner, so you're just in time to help out."
Yu Shuman laughed. "So, I'm expected to work as soon as I get here, huh?"
"Haha, that's right. We don't keep idle hands in Peach Blossom Cottage."
Despite her words, Zeng Qian still led her upstairs to drop off her luggage and pick a room. Rural houses tend to be spacious, and this one had been prepared by the production team, so there were plenty of rooms. Since Yu Shuman was the first to arrive, she got first pick. She chose a room with a balcony, then changed into a simple outfit before heading out to help.
The cameraman had been following Yu Shuman the entire time, only giving her privacy when she went into her room. As soon as she came out in a new outfit, the camera was back on her. She had tied up her wavy hair with a clip, leaving no strands loose, and changed into a white T-shirt and jeans—an outfit perfect for getting to work.
The livestream chat became lively again:
[Our girl looks amazing in her casual clothes!]
[Lol, Manman really took the idea of working to heart. She changed into work clothes right away.]
[Yu Shuman, the hardworking little sister, is ready to go.]
Yu Shuman couldn't see the chat since she was busy working. After asking what she could do, Mr. Wang assigned her the task of washing and prepping vegetables. Yu Shuman accepted without hesitation, only to be told by Mr. Wang, "Don't underestimate this task. You'll have to draw water from the well."
Yu Shuman nodded, saying it wouldn't be a problem. Zeng Qian, concerned that she might struggle, followed her outside, only to realize her worries were unnecessary—Yu Shuman knew what she was doing.
The production team had made things difficult by using a bucket without any attachments, just a lightweight container. The well in the yard was small, with an opening only about the size of an adult's forearm—perhaps 20 centimeters or less.
The opening was small, but the well was deep, and the bucket was tiny. Yu Shuman turned on her phone's flashlight, looked down, and saw the pipe. It seemed the well had been sealed and fitted with a pump, but now she had to draw the water manually, showing just how much effort the production team had put into challenging the guests.
The small well opening and tiny bucket made drawing water even harder.
But this didn't faze Yu Shuman. She held the rope tied to the bucket, lowered it flat, and then quickly released it. The bucket hit the water with a thud, and Yu Shuman skillfully maneuvered the rope, ensuring the bucket filled with water.
She deftly pulled the bucket up, filling it to the brim before slowly lifting it out of the well.
Drawing water is definitely a skill.