Conquering Mount Tai?
Who? Me?
Jiang Mo broke into a cold sweat, unsure whether the other person had misunderstood Mount Tai or misunderstood her.
As for a tropical island vacation? She’d have to survive Mount Tai first.
"Grandpa Gu, just saying—if I end up slowing you down, you won’t ditch me, right?"
"Of course not, of course not. Just showing up makes you a good kid," Gu Baotian knew that encouragement was key when dealing with youngsters. What if she bailed at the last minute?
"Then, Grandpa Gu, you wouldn’t mind if I hired two climbing companions, would you?"
This was beyond Gu Baotian’s expertise. "Climbing companions?"
Jiang Mo explained, "There are college students around Mount Tai who offer climbing support—they can carry your backpack, take photos, and if we run out of steam, they can even give us a hand. Not that you’d need it, Grandpa Gu, but I definitely would."
"Sure, hire them! If two aren’t enough, get four!" Gu Baotian found the idea of professional climbing companions quite novel and was eager to see them in action.
With his approval, Jiang Mo got to work. Back at the hotel, she started researching.
Well, she was already here.
Mount Tai was, after all, a world-famous mountain. If so many people had climbed it, maybe it wasn’t as terrifying as they said.
What if she actually managed to conquer it?
She checked the weather and temperature for the next day—pleasant enough. She already had her hiking gear, so all that was left was stocking up on supplies: glucose drinks, a foldable stool, and some medicine, just in case.
Next, she went online to look for climbing companions.
There were plenty of ads. Jiang Mo picked a guy with extensive experience and glowing reviews, then sent him a private message.
"Hi, I’d like to book a climbing companion for tomorrow morning. Are you available?"
Wealthy Climbing Companion (Zhang): "Yes, what time tomorrow? It’s 400 yuan. I’ll carry your bag, take photos—as many as you want—and I’m patient. I know all the best photo spots and routes. I can pull, push, or even carry you up the mountain."
Jiang Mo barely had to ask before he fired off two messages.
She replied, "Any hidden fees?"
Wealthy Climbing Companion (Zhang): "Don’t worry, absolutely none!"
"Alright, it’s settled then." Jiang Mo sent him her contact info. "Let’s add each other, and I’ll send you the deposit."
After adding her, he confirmed the payment.
Wealthy Climbing Companion (Zhang): "Just call me Zhang. See you tomorrow morning!"
With Gu Baotian’s companion secured, Jiang Mo looked for a female companion for herself.
After browsing and chatting with a few, she settled on Little Ke, a local from Tai’an.
Little Ke: "Hey, beauty, see you tomorrow!"
They had an early start—Gu Baotian planned to leave at 7:30 AM and reach Mount Tai by 8:00 AM to begin their conquest.
With the mountain looming ahead, Jiang Mo reluctantly went to bed early to conserve her energy.
The next morning, after breakfast at the hotel, a shuttle took them to the foot of Mount Tai.
Their route for the day was the classic hiking trail, also known as the Red Gate Route.
"Where are the two climbing companions you hired?" Gu Baotian asked, dressed in his hiking outfit and cap.
Jiang Mo, wearing a matching set, typed on her phone. "They’re here, looking for us."
Just as she sent the message, a tall girl approached. Spotting Jiang Mo, her eyes lit up. "Hey, beauty! Are you Mo? I’m Little Ke."
"Yes, that’s me." Jiang Mo sized her up—definitely looked more athletic than herself.
A minute later, the other companion, a curly-haired guy, joined them. Tanned from frequent hikes, he was cheerful. "Hey, you can call me Zhang or just Curly."
With the team assembled, Jiang Mo introduced them. "Thanks for helping today. Zhang, you’ll mainly assist Grandpa Gu. Little Ke, you’ll stick with me. This is Grandpa Gu."
"Hello, Grandpa Gu!"
"Hello, Grandpa Gu!"
Gu Baotian nodded in acknowledgment. "Let’s go."
Little Ke stopped them. "Don’t you want photos or videos before we start? You know—‘Tiny Mount Tai? No big deal?’"
Seeing Jiang Mo’s blank look, she added, "For the ‘gram?"
The mention of videos piqued Gu Baotian’s interest. "Yes, let’s take some!" He wanted to post them immediately.
Little Ke diligently snapped several photos and recorded two videos.
Two minutes later, Jiang Mo saw Gu Baotian’s post on social media—photos captioned with the newly learned slogan: "Tiny Mount Tai? No big deal."
Zhang took Jiang Mo’s backpack. "Here, I’ll carry this."
Gu Baotian strode ahead, with Zhang following, backpack in tow.
Jiang Mo, leaning on her hiking pole, trailed behind.
Little Ke took the plastic bag with two water bottles from her. "Girl, do you exercise often? If you need help, just say the word. Don’t worry, I’ll get you up this mountain one way or another."
"I’m okay for now," Jiang Mo said, panting slightly after twenty minutes. It was tiring but manageable.
By 8:00 AM, Mount Tai was already crowded, with some early risers descending after watching the sunrise.
Gu Baotian seemed completely at ease, chatting with Zhang as he climbed, occasionally turning back to check on Jiang Mo.
"Jiang Mo, are you OK?"
She forced a smile. "I’m OK."
Around 9:00 AM, they took a break.
Jiang Mo sipped water and asked Little Ke, "How did you get into being a climbing companion?"
"After quitting my last job, I couldn’t find another. When I returned to Tai’an, I stumbled upon this gig," Little Ke explained.
Little Ke wasn’t wrong to call her "beauty"—Jiang Mo was clearly well-off. Her and Grandpa Gu’s hiking gear was branded, the kind of understated luxury people called "old money style."
Jiang Mo—the wealthy beauty—asked curiously, "How many clients do you get a month?"
Little Ke shook her head. "Not many. Demand is low, and there’s a lot of competition."
While they chatted, Zhang was busy taking creative photos of Gu Baotian.
"Jiang Mo, ready to go?" Gu Baotian pocketed his phone. "If you’re rested, let’s move."
"Ready, Grandpa Gu." Jiang Mo stood up slowly—only to see Gu Baotian already charging ahead.
Jiang Mo: "..."
"Your grandpa’s in great shape," Little Ke remarked.
Jiang Mo nodded. "Absolutely."
After another stretch of hiking, Jiang Mo’s legs began to ache. Weakly, she asked, "How much longer?"
"It's still early, we've barely started," Old Man Gu pointed in a direction. "See that peak? We're still miles away from it."
Jiang Mo felt despair creeping in and couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, aren’t your legs sore?"
Was he really not feeling any pain at all?
Or was he just putting on a brave face in front of her?
Gu Baotian slapped his thigh. "Not bad, actually."
The other two companions who had joined them for the climb were seasoned veterans, already accustomed to the trek.
Only Jiang Mo looked utterly miserable.
Gu Baotian directed, "If you can’t go on, let them carry you."
"I can still manage, I’ll push through a little longer," Jiang Mo waved him off.
Ten minutes later, she wanted to cry.
Mount Tai didn’t mess around—it didn’t take pity on the weak.
She had exhausted every ounce of strength just to reach the ticket office.
At least they could buy some snacks and drinks there, giving her a chance to rest.
After refueling, they resumed their grueling journey. This time, before Gu Baotian could even suggest it, Jiang Mo actively sought help.
In the end, she was practically carried by the two companions.
Ugh… Thank goodness she had hired these two in advance. Otherwise, she might have ended up crawling up the mountain on all fours like some people online.
After all, as the old Chinese saying goes: You’re already here.
Mount Tai humbles every stubborn soul.
Jiang Mo had no idea how much time had passed, but by afternoon, they had somehow stumbled their way to the summit.
Zhang, the experienced guide, pulled out small red flags from his bag and handed one to each of them. "Here, hold these up. I’ll take a photo for you as a memento of your climb."
"Not bad, your stamina’s decent. As you youngsters say, this little Mount Tai was no match for us," Gu Baotian praised.
Little Mount Tai? More like Mount Tai had utterly defeated her.
With a face that looked like it had been through a war, Jiang Mo’s legs trembled uncontrollably. "Grandpa Gu, we’re taking the cable car down, right?"
"Of course we’re taking the cable car! Going up is hard enough—why suffer on the way down?"
After admiring the view at the summit, they made their way back down. By the time they reached the base, Jiang Mo was leaning heavily on her trekking pole, her legs wobbling like jelly.
Her posture made her look even older than Gu Baotian.
Seeing her state, Gu Baotian gently helped her into the car, thinking to himself, Is climbing a mountain really this exhausting for young people?
He hadn’t realized she was this out of shape.
"Grandpa Gu, I won’t be joining you for dinner tonight," Jiang Mo winced, every movement sending waves of soreness through her body.
"No worries, no worries. Just rest in your room and order room service," Gu Baotian said, feeling a little guilty. Such a kind-hearted girl, still thinking about not being able to have dinner with me even in this state.
Jiang Mo shuffled back to her room and collapsed onto the bed.
Just then, she received a message from Zhang.
Having spent the day with the two of them, Zhang had quickly realized they were well-off—covering all the expenses for food, drinks, and the cable car, even handing out red envelopes afterward. Clearly, they were generous spenders.
Who wouldn’t love clients like that?
And if they had friends who wanted to visit, well… more business for him!
Zhang the Wealthy Guide: Hey there, kind and lovely lady! If any of your friends ever want to climb Mount Tai and need a guide, hit me up.
Jiang Mo tapped out a reply: Sure, I’ll refer them to you if anyone’s interested.
Zhang the Wealthy Guide: And if you ever decide to come back, we can team up again!
Jiang Mo: "...Nope. Never again. I’d rather die than climb this mountain a second time."
After finishing the meal delivered by the hotel and freshening up, Jiang Mo lay in bed, weakly scrolling through her phone.
As she browsed her social media, she came across Gu Baotian’s summit photo—and there she was, her face looking absolutely wrecked.
Huh? I was a fresh-faced beauty before the climb.
Now? Just… no.
"You went climbing Mount Tai with my grandpa?" Gu Ye had seen the post and immediately messaged her. "Why the sudden trip? If you’d waited a couple more days, I could’ve joined. Mount Tai? Easy—three, four hours max."
Yeah, right.
Anyone can brag.
Jiang Mo smirked and typed back, Oh please, you take four hours? We finished in under three.
Gu Ye was stunned: No way. You guys were that fast?
"Yep. Gu Ye, you’re slacking," Jiang Mo rolled over, only to wince as her sore thighs protested. She hissed through her teeth while typing, "You really need to work on your fitness."
Gu Ye: "...Just wait till you get back. I’ll show you my eight-pack."
......
When Jiang Mo and Gu Baotian returned to the Gu residence, the old man was still spry as ever, while Jiang Mo walked with a slight limp.
"Post-climb syndrome," she muttered.
"Come on, hop in. I’ll take you to my usual spa—a good massage will fix you right up," Su Yunjin said, ushering Jiang Mo into the car.
They arrived at the high-end beauty and massage parlor Su Yunjin frequented.
After arranging a treatment for Jiang Mo, Su Yunjin went off for her own beauty session.
It was Jiang Mo’s first time in such a luxurious place—elegantly decorated, staffed by beautiful young women offering top-tier service.
First, she indulged in a full-body spa treatment, followed by a facial. It was so relaxing she nearly dozed off.
"Miss, how’s the pressure? Comfortable?" The masseuse’s hands worked gently as she checked in.
Jiang Mo yawned. "Perfect, just right."
"After your massage, you can head upstairs to the lounge. There’s fruit, cake, and TV for you to relax with."
"How much does a session here cost?" Jiang Mo asked, thinking that if she ever struck it rich, she might treat herself here occasionally.
The masseuse smiled. "We don’t take walk-ins. This is a members-only establishment."
Jiang Mo casually inquired, "So… how much is the membership fee?"
"The basic tier starts at ten million a year."
"...Hahaha, yeah, that’s… a little steep," Jiang Mo laughed awkwardly.
No wonder no one had tried to upsell her a membership—they probably saw "broke" written all over her forehead.
Only the cheap hair salons and fruit stands ever pestered her about loyalty cards.
Which meant the massage she was enjoying right now… probably cost a fortune.
Well, another freebie for me.
