For this week-long vacation, they were aware that the village guide charged $300 for a seven-day guided tour but pretended to be too busy to handle it. I deliberately rummaged through my small pack and other bags, feigning guilt.
“I left my cell phone and wallet at the lodging, I guess it's true what they say about pregnancy making you forgetful.”
Hearing that I didn't have any money with me, they were not in a good position to reprimand me in front of outsiders and the live camera of my sister-in-law.
Instead, they pointed the finger at the village guide as an illegal tour guide and angrily slandered the village guide as a scammer organization that preys on foreign tourists.
My sister-in-law picked up her livestreaming and pointed at the village guide's face, aggressively said, “Everyone see, the local Cultural and Tourism Bureau are doing nothing. Is this the way to rip off tourists?”
“Scammer tour guide, scammer charges,” she continued.
Things got so heated that only after the village leader condescendingly apologized and offered to waive our first night's lodging fee and my sister-in-law went silent.