They studied the terrain for several days and focused their search on several places, but still found nothing.
Meng Qingqing stopped and doubted Li Jin's suggestion: "Are you serious? Do you need to search for the return stone before it will appear?"
After such a long time, there is still no clue. Li Jin felt a little guilty: "… This should be the case. We did the same thing when we were looking for a golden key. We searched the entire rain forest before we found the key."
"It's much more difficult now than it was then, because we don't have a specific location to search. The village is so big, it's definitely not going to be found so quickly... But the wayback stone must be hidden in this village, maybe buried in the soil, or somewhere unexpected, like on a tree branch or a rockery..."
Meng Qingqing couldn't help but frown after hearing this: "If that's the case, we have to study the route carefully, starting from one corner of the village, and search thoroughly. I don't believe that we will still find nothing!"
At the end of her speech, some fighting spirit flashed in her eyes.
Li Jin nodded repeatedly.
"What we lack most right now is tools. Are you sure the hardware store you mentioned is in that alley?"
Hearing Meng Qingqing's question, Li Jin quickly replied, "Yes, it's here. I have asked the villagers around for information. They all said that there is a hardware store here. The family has been doing blacksmithing for generations. It is said that it has some history."
After getting the answer she wanted, Meng Qingqing smiled sweetly at Li Jin: "I knew that Brother Li Jin would not let me down. With you here, we will definitely win this time."
With Meng Qingqing's praise, Li Jin was instantly dazzled. He rarely showed a bit of shyness: "We are in the same group. You are a girl, so of course I have to take care of you."
The corners of Meng Qingqing's mouth curved up, but there was no emotion in her eyes.
"How are the other groups progressing?"
Li Jin sneered at this: "We didn't get anything, let alone them. Especially Meng Yao's group, they just wandered around the village all day long. It is said that they have been wandering around the fields before. Don't you think they are ridiculous? The other guests know that finding the way back is the most urgent task. How can they be like them, who only care about having fun and put the business behind!"
Li Jin's voice became more contemptuous.
He just didn't believe that Meng Yao's good luck could last until the last issue.
Meng Qingqing felt relieved when she heard him say that.
It was a sunny and windy day, and villagers could be seen gathering together and chatting everywhere, creating a happy atmosphere.
Meng Qingqing only took a glance and then looked away.
She rejected this place from the bottom of her heart, as it always brought back painful memories of her past.
Those memories that were too painful to recall in the past are still used as a topic of conversation and laughter.
"Qingqing, where are you going? The weather is quite comfortable now, perfect for going out and playing." A villager greeted enthusiastically.
Meng Qingqing subconsciously avoided her sight, and the smile on her lips faded: "We are a little busy, so we will leave first."
The villagers said nothing more, but just told her to get on with her work and not to waste her time any more.
Then a few more people came over to say hello, and Meng Qingqing did the same.
Compared with Meng Qingqing's attitude, Li Jin's attitude seemed more impatient.
"Why do they always come around? Chatting with them will waste a lot of time looking for the way-back stone. Now, apart from looking for the way-back stone, I don't want to do anything else."
“They just wanted to chat with us.”
Li Jin just nodded. He never refuted what Meng Qingqing said.
The weather in Shitou Village is quite different from that in Beijing. Meng Qingqing came here wearing long sleeves and a coat, but she felt the heat when she got here. She insisted on wearing her coat because if she took it off, she would be at risk of getting sunburned.
Noticing that Meng Qingqing's pace had slowed down a lot, Li Jin immediately understood her situation.
Meng Qingqing's cheeks were flushed, but she still stubbornly held up her coat above her head.
The coat belonged to Li Jin. She didn't want to get tanned so she had no choice but to do this. Even though her arms were numb, she didn't loosen them at all.
Everyone knows that a beautiful face is the life of an actress. If she gets tanned, she has to take good care of herself. If someone tries to discredit her at this time, it will be even more difficult.
Meng Qingqing is well aware that she has a sweet and delicate style. Once her appearance is damaged, the impact on her career can be imagined.
"Qingqing, let me hold it for you."
"No need." Meng Qingqing blinked her eyelashes: "I can do it myself."
Just borrowing a coat was enough. She didn't want any scandal with Li Jin. After all, his reputation was so bad recently. If the scandal spread, it would do her no good but only harm.
Meng Qingqing pursues the strong, and she will not allow her name to be tied to such a person.
Li Jin felt a little disappointed, but he did not feel defeated, and his love for Meng Qingqing continued to grow.
In his mind, Meng Qingqing's image is that of a pure and innocent fairy, kind, gentle and well-behaved, which fits her image.
Suddenly, his sight fixed on one place, and Li Jin's eyes lit up instantly. He hurried over and said, "Qingqing, wait for me. I have a way. How can I let you suffer?"
Meng Qingqing looked in the direction he was pointing and saw that the person hiding under a tree to enjoy the cool air could only be the tour guide.
She hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to follow.
As if he hadn't expected Li Jin to suddenly come over, the tour guide paused while waving his fan. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, "Li Jin?"
Li Jin's attitude towards the program crew has been bad for so many episodes. After being fooled so many times, he probably already hates himself deeply.
I think he came here for a purpose this time.
"I came here to ask for something, and I believe you, the tour guide, can help me."
The tour guide slowly raised his eyes and looked at him: "The program team is not allowed to help the guests, have you forgotten?"
"Stop pretending!" Li Jin was instantly angry: "Everyone knows that you have already given Meng Yao a bottle of mosquito repellent. Since you have already helped others, it is meaningless to use the rules to make trouble now!"
The tour guide was not angry: "You are quite well-informed."
Li Jin didn't think he was really praising him, so he just asked, "Can you help me?"
The tour guide smiled and asked him, "What do you want, Li Jin?"
Li Jin's gaze followed his broad fingers upwards, finally stopping on the peculiarly shaped umbrella.
He swallowed. “I want that parasol in your hand!”
"Umbrella?" The tour guide chuckled and said, "I can't give you this umbrella~"
(End of this chapter)