Leisurely Traveler with Check-in System-Chapter 79 - 78: Preparing for the Ascent

Regarding finding a guide, Li Younan wasn’t really concerned. Honestly, although Huang Mountain is a highly commercialized scenic spot, it’s still hiking but not in the same way as outdoor mountaineering... Mainly just climbing stairs.

There’s no need to insist on finding a guide.

However, having someone to travel together to Huang Mountain is quite nice. Humans are social animals, and while Li Younan can enjoy solitude, he would happily accept an interesting travel companion. The girl he’s just met is genuinely interesting, making the upcoming segment of the journey far from boring.

Both packed all their luggage and drove down the mountain together. The girl’s car was a Volkswagen Polo, which was impressive to drive to such a place, earning a bit of admiration from Li Younan.

After all, the road up the mountain wasn’t entirely paved; there was a section of gravel and a big sign saying "Visitors Drive Carefully."

If Li Younan hadn’t been driving a real SUV, he would’ve definitely chosen to detour. But here was Zhizhi, driving up with such a small car so effortlessly.

It’s not far from here to Huang Mountain’s urban district, only a few dozen kilometers.

They leisurely drove the car from the campsite onto the highway, then slowly headed towards the city.

Li Younan drove steadily as usual, primarily because he knows as a novice, driving too fast feels uncontrollable.

Along the way, Zhizhi’s pink little car closely followed behind him all the way to the city.

Li Younan found a restaurant that’s easy to park at; it was already noon, perfect for grabbing a meal, and then planning their next move.

Zhizhi followed behind him and parked her car too.

Zhizhi said, "Brother Li, you drive very steadily, and I could keep up the whole way."

Li Younan blinked and nodded: "Oh."

...

Of course, going to Huang Mountain’s scenic area today wasn’t possible.

After eating, Zhizhi quickly paid the bill, and then they found a nearby chain hotel to check-in, planning to rest for a day before climbing the mountain together tomorrow.

Back at the hotel, as usual, Li Younan opened the short video platform. His followers were growing steadily, not fast but now accumulated to 50,000. More brands were beginning to reach out for collaboration.

The latest video edited by JK Long was about doing carpentry, modifying the van bed. This video also had significant engagement, with over ten thousand likes. But it must be said, similar modifications abound online, so it didn’t explode as expected.

Li Younan opened the comment section, noticing one eye-catching comment: "Wow, really? The streamer actually knows carpentry! As a woodworker with seven or eight years of experience, I can confidently say the streamer’s skills look professional!"

However, most people didn’t notice this comment. More often, they don’t care about how skilled Li Younan really is.

As the saying goes, when you have a hammer, you start looking for nails. A person skilled in carpentry would focus on Li Younan’s woodworking abilities. This viewer’s "hammer" is carpenter skills.

Yet most people’s "hammer" is just mundane life. Those caught in trivialities long for the dream life, even if someone else lives it for them, they find it fascinating, don’t they?

Several highly liked comments really strike a chord.

"Working on PPT till 3 AM, looking up to see this video, tears nearly hit the keyboard. What you hold with that steering wheel is the freedom I wouldn’t dare dream of. We are ’living’ in cubicles while you ’live’ truly in the world. Courage isn’t something everyone has, but envy is real. Turns out the wheel of life can truly be in one’s hands."

This comment received over 800 likes.

"My ’poetry and distance’ are the 15-second short video I see while squeezing into the subway in the morning, whereas yours is the pedal beneath your foot and the horizon before you. Mortgage, car loan, PPT—the three mountains pressing down, quitting to travel is like a luxurious fairy tale. But my friend, your video is a window I secretly open in my suffocating daily life. Step on the pedal! See more for us!"

This comment received over 600 likes.

The view count for this video was not what you’d expect from a small streamer with 30 to 40 thousand fans. For the hardware tools shown in the video, the algorithm naturally recommends them to professionals in this field.

Regrettably, none of the hardware tools in the shop window sold even one set.

The hardware store owner was very trustworthy, wired the corresponding balance based on the conversion rate of traffic. Later, as the video’s play count and likes continue to rise, more payments will follow.

But the thing causing Li Younan to be speechless was when the owner sent a message on WeChat: "This really is ’swan q’!"

Upon seeing this outdated joke from another era, Li Younan felt inexplicably uneasy, goosebumps covered his skin.

After resting a bit in the hotel, Zhizhi came knocking on his door. They had agreed to buy some climbing gear in the afternoon.

Li Younan had little experience in this. Given Zhizhi’s poor performance while setting up the tent earlier, he was quite conservative in trusting her reliability on this matter. So Li Younan had previously looked up some guides online.

Some gear was necessary, like a walking stick, but ideally, they should travel light.

Li Younan didn’t drive; instead, he and Zhizhi took a taxi to Decathlon in the city to choose some outdoor climbing equipment.

Zhizhi explained the needed gear to Li Younan logically. Li Younan listened patiently, nodding occasionally.

But when selecting the gear, he didn’t follow Zhizhi’s suggestions.

Li Younan only picked a pair of hiking boots, sunglasses, and a walking stick.

While checking out, the person ahead was stuck on payment. There was only one person in front, a dark-skinned man, appearing a bit anxious rummaging through his bag, softly murmuring in French-accented English, with a thick beard.

The cashier was a young girl, pointing at the screen, repeating in simple English: "Card, no good. Try again? Change card?"

The man shook his head, stuffed a bank card back into his wallet, then rummaged through his bag. His bag was open, revealing several camera lenses inside.

He seemed to be a photographer.

"Sorry," he turned to Li Younan, quickly said something in French, then switched to English, "My cards... seem all unavailable. This machine..." He helplessly spread his hands, holding another card, a French bank card.

The cashier looked at Li Younan too, appearing a bit embarrassed. There was no one else in line, but leaving it stuck wasn’t ideal.

Li Younan glanced at the items he bought: several pairs of thick socks, a portable water bottle, and a box of energy bars. Not many items, costing probably just over a hundred yuan. Li Younan happened to have some emergency cash with him.

"Try cash?" Li Younan took out his wallet, drew two hundred yuan, and handed it to the cashier, "Let’s pay together first." Li Younan pointed at the things he bought.

The man paused, then showed a relieved expression. "Ah! Thank you! Thanks a lot!" He hurriedly said, "I... I’ll transfer the money to you right away! I have WeChat, or..." He quickly took out his phone.

If WeChat is linked to a foreign bank, there’s a good chance offline payments won’t work smoothly, but that doesn’t affect transfers between WeChat accounts.

"No rush." The cashier scanned efficiently, took the cash, and provided change. Li Younan also placed the hiking stick on the conveyer belt and checked out.

He quickly added Li Younan on WeChat, immediately transferred the money, and even extra. Li Younan returned the excess. "All set, just enough."

"Really, thanks a lot," he said earnestly, packing his items into his backpack, "Almost got stuck here. I’m Pierre."

"No big deal." Li Younan nodded, picking up the hiking stick.

Pierre suddenly noticed the hiking stick in Li Younan’s hand and asked, "Friend, are you planning to go to Huang Mountain too?"

Just then, Zhizhi, who had been beside him, chimed in, "Yes, we’re going to Huang Mountain tomorrow."

Pierre took out his camera from his bag, smiled, and said, "I’m a photographer; maybe I can help you take some photos if we see each other tomorrow. Oh, I’m planning to go to Huang Mountain tomorrow too."

Li Younan glanced at Pierre’s equipment; it was a high-end Nikon camera. There was also a bulging little bag inside, likely for lenses.

Li Younan smiled, "We’ll see if fate brings us together tomorrow."

As they left, the young foreigner earnestly said again, "Trust me, I’m a very talented photographer!"