Chapter 7: Huo Hongming Is Injured

Le Xi pulled out four hundred-yuan bills, handed two hundred to Huo Hongming, kept two hundred for herself, and folded the rest neatly into her pocket.
"Food, bedding, daily necessities—two hundred is more than enough. I'll keep the remainder."
It was possible that Le Xi had earned the most today, but only possible.
This town was small, with only so many buyers. Those who had just bought meat came in swarms; she reckoned nearly everyone who could come had already come.
If they bought today, they wouldn’t return tomorrow.
Moreover, Le Xi was certain that someone would imitate her and sell lamb tomorrow.
Besides, Cui Meiying selling flowers was different from selling lamb; lamb could be eaten slowly, but a beautiful woman wasn’t something you could see every day.
Men who bought flowers from Cui Meiying today, just to see her, would come back again and again.
Le Xi was either all in or not at all; since she was doing this, she had to do it best, so she needed to pace herself.
"Two hundred isn’t enough. If you’re going to split it like this, then why not divide it evenly—half for each."
"Do you have any shame? Was it you who slaughtered the lamb? Did you cut the meat? Did you chop the ribs?"
Le Xi fired off four questions; most people would blush, but Huo Hongming was not most people.
"I didn’t slaughter the lamb, but I carried it. I didn’t cut the meat, but I packed it in bags. I didn’t chop the ribs, but I took care of the money and change. I did just as much as you. Asking for half is perfectly reasonable."
Reasonable? Shameless was more like it. Le Xi wasn’t about to toil for money only to walk to the next city for the show.
Le Xi glanced at the half slab of pork in the butcher’s freezer and asked,
"Boss, how much for this pork?"
"Take it, no need to pay."
The camera was rolling; the butcher wanted to seem generous. He knew celebrities were careful about their image and wouldn’t actually take the meat for free.
"Are you serious? I might take you at your word."
Le Xi disliked people who said one thing and meant another; she preferred those who spoke their mind openly.
The butcher did want money, but hadn’t expected Le Xi to respond that way. Having said it, he could only stick to his words.
"I said it’s free, and that’s that."
Le Xi:
"Thank you, then."
[Wow, Le Xi, that’s shameless. The man’s running a small business.]
[Don’t you know basic courtesy? No wonder the wealthy families don’t want you.]
[Both Huo Hongming and Le Xi are shameless, truly suited for each other. Stay together and stop bothering others.]
Le Xi picked up a knife and tossed it to Huo Hongming’s side.
"You do the dividing. Chop the bones, and if you can manage it well, I’ll listen to you—half the earnings for each."

Huo Hongming hesitated.
"Why? I’ve already done my share; I deserve half the money."
Le Xi:
"Because the money is in my hands, and I won’t give it to you. What can you do about it? You won’t divide, is it because you can’t? You don’t know how? I know how, and you don't?"
The provocation worked; Huo Hongming immediately picked up the knife,
"Heiya, heiya,"
It looked simple when Le Xi did it, but doing it himself wasn’t easy at all.
Huo Hongming searched for excuses,
"Yours is fresh meat, easy to cut. Mine’s frozen, hard to divide. I need the cutting machine."
Struggling, he lifted a slab, opened the cutter, and kept justifying himself as he tried to divide the meat.
But then, blood splattered and a scream followed.
The viewers watching the live stream were terrified.
[Did he cut off a finger? That thing’s really sharp.]
[Dear god, it hurts just to watch. So miserable—losing a finger for a show.]
[It’s all Le Xi’s fault. They’re a team; both contributed. The money should be split evenly.]
[Le Xi is stingy and cruel. Teaming with her is such bad luck.]
Le Xi quickly handed Huo Hongming some tissues, and the medical crew from the filming team, who were nearby, rushed over within three minutes to check him. It appeared to be just a superficial wound; after some bandaging, they sent Huo Hongming to the hospital for safety and to avoid criticism.
Le Xi had seen how Huo Hongming got cut; it was an external injury, probably not reaching the bone.
To Le Xi, such wounds were barely worth mentioning—she wouldn’t even cry out.
She couldn’t understand how a grown man, an actor no less, could make such a fuss over a minor cut.
Did he play too many beaten characters and now instinctively screamed at the sight of injury?
Le Xi finished dividing the bones Huo Hongming couldn’t manage, without using the cutting machine—just the knife worked perfectly.
[Le Xi, was it deliberate? Did you avoid the machine to make Huo Hongming look useless? It just makes you look awful.]
[Her partner got hurt, and she didn’t even offer a word of concern or apology. Just showing off. I can’t even bother to insult her anymore, she’s a real piece of work.]
"Boss, you can keep the rest,"
He’d offered everything for free, but Le Xi wasn’t going to take it all.
The other teams, hearing Huo Hongming was injured, called him to express concern.

Gu Xiaomo knew it was because of Le Xi that Huo Hongming got hurt, so she deliberately came to Le Xi.
"Xi Xi, I just called. Hongming is fine, you don’t need to blame yourself. I know it wasn’t intentional."
What a green tea.
"Not intentional? It has nothing to do with me, why should I feel guilty? You’re good at playing the saint, so be one to the end,"
Le Xi handed Gu Xiaomo the two hundred meant for Huo Hongming.
"Buy him some daily necessities and meals, you great philanthropist."
Then Le Xi walked off without looking back, and Gu Xiaomo hurried after her.
Spending money for someone else wasn’t easy, especially for Huo Hongming—it could easily lead to trouble.
"Xi Xi, you and Hongming are a team, you should do it yourself."
"But you’re a great philanthropist, always ready to help others,"
Le Xi looked at her,
"Or are you not such a saint after all?"
"I—"
Gu Xiaomo genuinely didn’t know how to respond, and just then, she saw Cui Meiying and Deng Jiachao.
Gu Xiaomo immediately called out,
"Meiying, over here."
When Cui Meiying came over, Gu Xiaomo started by flattering her.
"With Meiying on the job, the flowers must have sold out."
Deng Jiachao was overjoyed,
"Of course. Meiying’s fans are everywhere; they sold out in no time. I’m so lucky to be teamed with her."
Gu Xiaomo continued,
"Amazing, amazing. Your team is sure to win, Meiying. By the way, Hongming got hurt—you heard, right? So I want to buy him some food and supplies, but I’m not as beautiful or tasteful as you. I’m afraid Hongming won’t appreciate what I buy, so could you help? Here’s the money."
Cui Meiying took the money,
"Of course."
One was sly, one was foolish, and then there was another...