A convoy of tour buses traveled along the mountain road.
The lush green mountains outside the window were pleasing to the eye.
They arrived at Fragrant Cloud Mountain an hour after they departed from Z University.
Fragrant Cloud Mountain was a popular tourist destination on the outskirts of Provincial City. It boasted beautiful scenery and a comfortable climate.
The thirty tour buses brought a thousand Z University students into the parking lot of the campground.
The doors opened, and the students streamed out of the buses. They admired their surroundings and exclaimed happily.
Tang Hao followed Cao Fei and his other friends out of the bus and toward the service center of the campground.
According to the schedule, they would set up their tents before sightseeing.
Tents were available for rent on site.
The students queued up in front of the tent rental counter. About twenty minutes later, Tang Hao managed to obtain a tent. He followed Cao Fei and the others to find a suitable spot to set up camp.
In the meantime, he also met up with Liu Bingyao and the other girls.
Setting up a tent was too easy for Tang Hao. After he was done, he went to help the other girls.
After the setup was complete, the students went sightseeing.
It was May, and the peach trees that covered the mountain were in bloom.
Tang Hao and Liu Bingyao walked side by side along a path lined with peach trees.
Liu Bingyao’s smile was even more charming when complemented by the blooming flowers.
Everyone was enjoying themselves.
Somewhere else in the area, a group of people gathered in a dark corner.
The group consisted of some students, as well as several old men and women.
The students were, of course, Fang Qiming, Tang Bowen, and the others from the Student Council.
The old people dressed rather plainly and had silvery-white hair. They were natives who lived in the mountains.
Fang Qiming stood in front of the group. His head was lifted high, and he seemed agitated.
“Do you remember who ruined the reputation of the student council?
“It’s Tang Hao, that underhanded, despicable, shameless wimp!
“Do you remember that we swore revenge on him?
“Today is the perfect opportunity to take our revenge and ruin that bastard! Are you confident?”
“Yes!” The students shouted in reply, especially Tang Bowen, who looked like the most excited among all of them.
“Good!’ Fang Qiming nodded satisfactorily and continued, “Here, shouted with me. Vanquish Tang Hao!” He lifted his right arm and waved it around.
“Vanquish Tang Hao!” The students waved their right arms excitedly.
Meanwhile, the old people were standing there, confused about what was going on. One of them was picking his nose, and another was scratching her foot.
Fang Qiming turned to look at them. He furrowed his brows unhappily.
“You have to be more excited, Gramps. Shout with me. Vanquish Tang Hao!” Fang Qiming yelled at the old people.
“Vanquish Tang Hao!” The students echoed.
A beat later, the old people cheered weakly.
“Van… Vanquish… what’s his name again?” An old man said.
“It’s Tang Hao. Remember that, Gramps. It’s this guy!” Fang Qiming shoved him a photograph in the old man’s face.
“Oh! Van… Vanquish… Tang… Tang… Tang what?”
Fang Qiming rolled his eyes. He was losing his mind.
‘It’s just two words, dammit!’
“It’s Tang Hao! Tang… Hao. Remember that!” Fang Qiming took a deep breath to calm himself down. He said patiently.
“Oh! I know!” The old man nodded his head and shouted. “Van… Vanquish…”
He paused and looked at Fang Qiming with a vacant gaze. “What Hao?”
Fang Qiming rolled his eyes again. He was at his limit.
“It’s Tang… Hao! Tang Hao!” He repeated again.
“Oh! Vanquish Tang… Tang Hao!” The old man shouted weakly.
“Yes! That’s right! That’s the one!” Fang Qiming quickly said.
He got the old people to cheer a few more times, then retrieved some bottles filled with some flower tea.
That was the specialty of Fragrant Cloud Mountain.
“Remember, your mission is to look for Tang Hao and sell him this tea. Understand? Look carefully. These bottles are different from your usual packaging. There’s a chip in one corner. Remember, don’t sell this to anyone else,” Fang Qiming said.
“Oh…!” The old people replied weakly.
An old man stood up and said gallantly. “That’s not right, laddie. You’re hurting someone!”
Fang Qiming wanted to roll his eyes again.
‘Weren’t you very happy when you took money from me earlier? And now you’re worried about hurting someone?’
“But I don’t mind it if you give me some more money!” The old man chuckled and stretched out a hand.
Fang Qiming was speechless.
‘Dammit, you still want money? I gave you five hundred yuan each earlier. These country bumpkins are all scammers.’
“Here, take it!”
He took out a stack of banknotes and tossed it at the old people.
Soon after that, the old people scattered. Each of them carried a wicker basket full of flower tea bottles.
“This is such a good idea! The kid might be alert, but he won’t suspect that those old people are out to get him! Hahaha! This is the perfect plan!”
Fang Qiming said arrogantly.
“You’re smart, Council President!”
Tang Bowen and the others showered him with flattery.
“Let’s go and watch the drama!” Fang Qiming waved his arm and happily stepped away.
Tang Hao and his friends visited many scenery spots in an hour.
Eventually, they arrived at a temple.
“Let’s offer some incense!” Liu Bingyao cheerfully led Tang Hao into the temple. Both of them lit a stick of incense and offered it at the altar.
“My mom is a devout Buddhist. She often brings me to the local temple!” Liu Bingyao said as they stepped outside.
At the exit, they noticed a hunched old man who dressed plainly and carried a wicker basket. He was peddling flower tea as he walked along the path.
“Here, try this sweet flower tea! Only two yuan a bottle!”
The old man shouted with a hoarse voice.
“Let’s go buy some flower tea, Tang Hao! … Life must be hard for the old man,” Liu Bingyao said as she pulled Tang Hao over.
Tang Hao nodded and followed her there.
“Good day to you, Grandpa. Each bottle is two yuan, right? Give us two bottles!”
Liu Bingyao opened her purse, took out four coins, and handed them to the old man.
The old man lifted his head and peered at the couple. His eyes remained on Tang Hao’s face for a while. He nodded, took out two bottles of flower tea from his basket, and handed them over.