Daily Life of a Villain at Work [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The First Day of Troubling the Protagonist~

The moment Wen Qingyun grabbed the megaphone, Yue Xing in the control room immediately cut the camera feed and remembered to mute her microphone.

However, Wen Qingyun was holding a high-powered megaphone—the kind used in rural markets. Once the recording function was toggled, it could penetrate an entire street. Her voice was amplified many times over, making it as effective as speaking directly into the recording equipment.

【What’s going on? Why did the camera suddenly cut to someone else? I was still admiring the two beauties in the same frame! Give me back my natural-born beauties!】

【Wait, did anyone hear clearly what Wen Qingyun said? Is something wrong with my ears?】

【Reporting! Wen Qingyun said if the five task cards in her hand are identical, the assistant director has to eat them!】

【Is Wen Qingyun stirring up trouble again? Who would be bored enough to pack five identical task cards?】

【The person above, use your brain before you hate. This is clearly the production team having a guilty conscience. Why else would they suddenly cut the camera to Han Chi?】

This time, Yue Xing had shot himself in the foot. Without the megaphone, the netizens wouldn’t have heard a thing and would have only complained about the abrupt camera transition. But paired with Wen Qingyun’s voice booming through the megaphone, this risk-avoidance maneuver was a dead giveaway. It practically confirmed to the viewers that the production team was up to no good.

“Quick, grab the megaphone back! Make Wen Qingyun shut up!” Yue Xing was so anxious he was nearly jumping. He shouted frantically, “Turn off the audio equipment near Wen Qingyun! Cut the camera to a drone’s panoramic view!”

The assistant director’s scalp tightened. Hearing the words “grab it back,” he instinctively clutched his stomach. The bruise from yesterday’s kick hadn’t even faded yet! Was the director trying to make him go and kneel in front of her again? No way! He had a reputation to keep!

“Thinking of snatching my megaphone?” Wen Qingyun saw right through the assistant director’s thoughts and let out a disdainful laugh.

“Teacher Wen, I have no such intention. I just… I just want to see if there was a mistake with the task cards.” The assistant director forced a smile, trying to make his humble self look a little less pathetic.

Since Wen Qingyun had already shouted it out, the viewers’ perception of the show would plummet if it wasn’t handled properly. The goal of this variety show was to gain ratings by tormenting guests, not to gain “heat” through exposure of its own shady behind-the-scenes dealings.

Seeing Wen Qingyun remained unmoved and actually began tearing open the envelopes, the assistant director panicked. “Teacher Wen, how about this? To express the production team’s apologies, you don’t have to draw blindly this time. Just pick whichever one you want.”

“If I pick directly, won’t that be considered ‘shady’?” Wen Qingyun didn’t stop. She had already pulled the card out of the first envelope.

Task: Within the allotted two hours, complete the tilling and loosening of the specified farmland and invite the owner to rate the work.

Yesterday was digging potatoes, today is tilling soil? So all the dirty, exhausting work is indeed aimed at her? Do they take her for an old ox that eats grass and works itself to death?

Wen Qingyun held the first card and accelerated her movements, tearing open the second envelope.

“Teacher Wen! We have a task this time that only requires spraying half an acre of land with pesticide equipment! I think this task is very suitable for you, Teacher Wen!”

The assistant director was getting desperate, but he didn’t dare lunge for her. Instead, he stepped forward, bowed, and pleaded for mercy. But perhaps the shadow of last night hadn’t faded; before he could take a full step, his legs went weak and he crashed to his knees.

Thump. A loud sound of knees hitting the floor.

“Teacher Wen!” Tears instantly welled up in the assistant director’s eyes. He was on concrete! Hitting it like that really hurt!

【Congratulations, Host. Mission progress has increased. Current progress: 5%.】

Wen Qingyun’s hand paused. She hooked her finger on her sunglasses and pulled them down, revealing her slightly upturned “peach blossom” eyes. She looked at the assistant director with genuine surprise.

“Since you’ve begged me so earnestly, Assistant Director, I suppose I’ll reluctantly agree.” Wen Qingyun curled her lips and tossed the envelopes directly onto his face. “A reward for you. Give your thanks.”

“Pfft—” Chu Ke, who had been acting as background scenery, couldn’t help but laugh.

Realizing everyone was staring at her, Chu Ke immediately regained her serious and professional expression. “I’m sorry. I just thought of something very happy, so I couldn’t help but laugh.”

“What happy thing? Can Teacher Chu Ke share it with me?” Wen Qingyun looked at Chu Ke, her eyes reflecting the other woman’s face.

Chu Ke nodded and spoke with a straight face, “Old Auntie Wang’s cow at the village entrance is about to give birth. If the calf can be raised successfully, Shishu Village will have an extra ox for plowing next year. It will make things much easier for the villagers.”

Wen Qingyun frowned slightly. This was indeed a good thing for a poverty alleviation official and the village, but why use a “plowing ox” as an example? Is she satirizing the fact that I almost became a “scapegoat old ox”?

“When is it due?” Wen Qingyun asked.

Chu Ke’s brow furrowed slightly as if she were searching her memory. “The due date is late June. If you teachers are willing to stay in Shishu Village for a few more days, you might see the cow give birth.”

Oh, there really is a cow about to give birth. Then she was fine for now; she would assume Chu Ke wasn’t targeting her.

“No thanks. I have no interest in staying here. Not only is it dilapidated, but the local customs aren’t great either.” Wen Qingyun glanced at the assistant director, who was slowly climbing up from the ground with a dark face. She put her sunglasses back on, her tone slightly impatient. “Who’s taking me to complete my task?”

“Teacher Wen, I’ll take you there.” A staff member, who had received a signal from Yue Xing, ran out to lead the way.

Once Wen Qingyun left, Yue Xing dared to cut the feed back and had Han Chi break the awkward silence.

“I didn’t expect Teacher Wen, who drew first, to have such good luck. She got the pesticide spraying job. If I’d known, I would have asked her to draw for me.”

“This is probably the law of conservation of luck. Teacher Wen had bad luck yesterday, so today the tide has turned.”

“Then I’ll be the second to draw. Maybe I can catch some of Teacher Wen’s luck.”

The remaining guests were harmonious in front of the camera, quickly smoothing over the minor live broadcast accident. They took turns walking up to Chu Ke to draw their tasks.

Chu Ke couldn’t help but be stunned, amazed at how these people could lie through their teeth so naturally. Not all of them were even actors, were they? How was their acting so good?

…

Although Wen Qingyun had obtained the easiest task, knowing the core of the show, she didn’t have high expectations. She was prepared to work seriously for half an hour.

However, when she saw the brand-new semi-automated pesticide spraying equipment in the warehouse, she was momentarily stunned. “The villagers use this?”

Don’t misunderstand—she didn’t think the villagers were incapable of using high-end equipment. She was surprised that such an expensive piece of machinery could remain intact in a collective warehouse. According to her observations, Shishu Village had no shortage of lazy, older bachelors who loved to watch the crew film and “help themselves” to things. The props team had already gone down the mountain three times in two days to restock.

“Ahem, Teacher Wen, this was purchased specifically for the villagers by the Poverty Alleviation Office. If it’s found lost or damaged during inspections, the villagers won’t receive their monthly subsidies,” a staff member whispered.

A flash of understanding crossed Wen Qingyun’s eyes. “I see. It seems the Poverty Alleviation Office knows the villagers’ character very well.”

After fiddling with the equipment, Wen Qingyun turned to the cameraman. “Can you get Chu Ke over here? I don’t know how to use this.”

The cameraman communicated through his headset for about ten seconds. “Teacher Wen, Teacher Chu Ke is at the activity center next door. Why don’t we take the equipment there and ask?”

Wen Qingyun didn’t object. When asking for help, it was indeed better to be proactive.

…

On the other hand, Chu Ke had just finished her role as the “human lottery box.” She hadn’t been sitting for even two minutes before she saw Wen Qingyun approaching, carrying spraying equipment that looked completely out of place with her aesthetic.

“Teacher Wen, did you run into some trouble?” Chu Ke stood up and took the initiative to meet her.

“I don’t know how to use this. Can you teach me?” Wen Qingyun turned around, showing the equipment on her back.

“Of course. Let me get the manual for you.” Chu Ke walked quickly to her small office, pulled out a key, and produced a brand-new booklet.

“This equipment was created to lighten the burden on farmers. It’s not hard to operate. First, mix the liquid according to the requirements, put it in, then press this. This button is ‘On.’ I put a green sticker on it…”

Chu Ke helped take the equipment off Wen Qingyun and began a patient, step-by-step explanation.

“That’s basically it. Did you get that, Teacher Wen?” Chu Ke asked.

“I don’t think I quite understand. How do I mix the liquid?” Wen Qingyun pursed her lips.

Chu Ke gave a smile of understanding and continued her patient explanation: “This depends on the specific needs. It depends on your purpose for spraying… for different crops, you use different mixtures…”

Wen Qingyun actually understood perfectly from the start, but she didn’t interrupt. She watched as Chu Ke completed another “idiot-proof” teaching session.

【Doesn’t Wen Qingyun boast about being a straight-A student from studying abroad? Is this it? My four-year-old sister could understand after hearing it once. Why doesn’t she get it after twice?】

【She’s clearly making things difficult, right? Does Wen Qingyun just not want to work, so she’s stalling? This is a waste of time!】

【What do you know! Qingyun is worried she might break the equipment! This is public property worth thousands!】

“That’s about it. Do you have any other questions, Teacher Wen?” Chu Ke asked, tilting her head.

Wen Qingyun took her hand away from her chin and sat up slightly. “I understand. Can Teacher Chu Ke help me mix the liquid?”

“Of course. You need to handle half an acre of pumpkin patch, right?” Chu Ke asked with a smile, showing not a hint of displeasure.

“Yes. I’ll wait for you at the field. See you in three minutes.” Wen Qingyun stood up, waved her hand casually, and left the activity center.

【Holy crap, Wen Qingyun wants Chu Ke to help carry the equipment over there? She’s way too good at being lazy!】

【Wait, can no one seriously control her?】

【Please, Chu Ke herself doesn’t mind. Stop being so nosy, okay?】

…

“System, why hasn’t the progress increased?” After leaving the activity center, Wen Qingyun called out the Villain Roleplay System. “Anyone can see I’m making things difficult for Chu Ke, right?”

【Host, I checked the judging criteria. ‘Making things difficult’ is judged based on the protagonist’s subjective viewpoint.】

【As a poverty alleviation official, Chu Ke needs to stay in the village at least five days a month. During that time, she has to deal with many difficult and harsh villagers. Your behavior isn’t a burden or difficulty for her; rather, she finds it a very relaxing and pleasant instructional process.】

Wen Qingyun’s pace slowed for a second. If this process was “relaxing and pleasant,” just how miserable was Chu Ke’s daily life? Is this the treatment of a protagonist?

Fortunately, when she was choosing her “job,” she didn’t pick the popular protagonist role but threw herself into the embrace of the villain.