Chapter 554 Sweet Extras of Couple Variety Show 39
The vendor selling red bean cakes smiled warmly and held up four fingers. "Rice cakes are four bucks each, red bean cakes are six."
"Six bucks? Seriously?" Melissa pouted, eyeing the tiny red bean cakes.
Considering how small they were and the fact that they were in such a remote, rural area, six bucks was pretty steep. The cakes were so small that you probably couldn't even savor the taste. To have a decent meal, you'd need to spend at least twenty or thirty bucks.
That twenty or thirty bucks was about a day's food budget.
Usually, as entertainers, they were used to lavish meals. Some of them, especially those who weren't frugal, could easily spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a single meal. But now, because they were filming a show and couldn't bring money, each family only had a small budget. They had to pool their resources to buy ingredients and cover travel expenses for the next stop. There were too many factors to consider, so they couldn't just splurge on a whim.
Seeing Melissa's disappointed face, wanting to eat but unwilling to buy, she silently tugged at Brent to leave. But Brent, with one hand in his pocket, glanced at the red bean cakes in the pot again. "How about twenty bucks for five red bean cakes?"
"No, no, the lowest I can go is twenty bucks for four," the vendor shook his head. "The cost of making these isn't cheap, and we have to pay market fees. Business is tough, young man."
"Forget it, let's not buy them. We can try them when we come back for a vacation someday," Melissa pulled at Brent.
But Brent didn't budge. "Alright, we'll take four."
He reached for his wallet.
"Brent, don't buy them. We only have so much money, and the day has just started. We need to save for food and travel expenses. I don't need them," Melissa insisted, trying to pull him away.
"We'll have more budget tomorrow. Missing a meal or two is normal when dieting or working out. Besides, if my wife wants to eat, we have to buy it," Brent said firmly, handing over the money. Melissa watched, heart aching.
Melissa couldn't help but give Brent a light slap on the arm. "Why do you insist on buying it for me?"
Brent took the box of freshly packed red bean cakes and a few toothpicks, then turned to the others. "Everyone, come have a taste. It might be a bit small, but you have to try the local specialties."
But no one wanted to take a bite of the red bean cakes Brent had bought, even if it meant going hungry for a couple of meals. They all smiled and waved, letting Brent and Melissa enjoy them.
In the end, the whole box of red bean cakes ended up in Melissa's hands. She glared at Brent, who pulled her close and whispered, "I just want you to know that even though we're used to the good life in the entertainment industry, if I ever fall on hard times, I'll make sure you never suffer."
Standing in the sunlight, Brent's smile was full of confidence and warmth. Melissa's eyes welled up with tears, and she muttered, "You're so annoying."
Despite her words, Melissa took a bite of the red bean cake, her eyes and cheeks red, and a smile spread across her face.
Nearby, Maurice and Debra, an elderly couple, were buying vegetables. They turned and smiled at the scene.
Clayton and Cindy were busy buying ingredients up ahead. Clayton turned back and gave Brent a thumbs-up.
Kevin walked in front, with Amy following behind. It was unclear if they had talked in their rooms the previous night, but they seemed to have little to say to each other now. Amy, usually so lively, was uncharacteristically quiet.
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