Chapter 269: Live Stream Shopping?

Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Live Stream Shopping?

Xu Jin was a local from the village, so he was close by and it was convenient.

Since his offer was too gracious to refuse, Nan Zhi naturally accepted.

Seeing this, the others all chimed in, laughing that they were in for a real treat tonight.

As they spoke, they almost forgot the camera crew was still there, filming them.

Seeing the guests eat with such relish, the viewers in the live comments went wild:

[Food factory? Which food factory? Hurry up and tell us the name of the shop!]

[I can’t go to the fried rice stall, I can’t go to Nan Family’s Small Restaurant, I can’t go to Guisheng Province... I refuse to believe I can’t even get my hands on some crispy pastries! I need them! I want to buy twenty pounds!]

[Isn’t that Master Xu Jin from last time? Nan Zhi can actually help their little food factory improve their pastry recipes? That’s incredible!]

[No wonder Nan Zhi kept running off the past couple of days, and the livestream didn’t show where she went... So she was helping the food factory!]

[Well, let’s not think of Nan Zhi as completely omnipotent. She probably just offered a few suggestions.]

[Who cares! I just want to eat those crispy pastries! Production crew, hurry up and talk to the factory about a partnership! Do a livestream shopping event!]

[Yes, yes, yes, I didn’t even think of that! Hey, production crew, look over here!]

[Can you guys please stop chatting and think about us poor babies who are dizzy with hunger?]

[LMAO, they probably completely forgot they’re on a livestream! Look, they’re still walking away, leaving the camera crew in the dust!]

...

Fortunately, the production crew hadn’t forgotten the audience.

After seeing the live comments, they realized this was a good business opportunity.

But they didn’t consider seizing the opportunity for themselves.

For one, it wasn’t their area of expertise. They produced a variety show; they didn’t run livestream shopping events.

And for another, *The Cub* was red-hot right now. A whole slew of advertisers were lining up to get in, so they weren’t about to stoop for such small change.

So, Xu Lin immediately contacted the town’s leadership.

The show had originally come to film here at the invitation of the city’s leaders. The local officials who had received them at every level were all hoping to use the variety show to boost local tourism and benefit the economy.

So, the town leader was very enthusiastic when he received Xu Lin’s call. After hearing what Xu Lin had to say, he was pleasantly surprised and said he would send people to inspect the food factory the next day!

Finally, he hemmed and hawed a bit before asking if they could partner with the show’s guests for a special livestream shopping event...

Xu Lin felt a headache coming on. He hadn’t intended to get involved in so many things!

"Our filming schedule is pretty tight..."

Xu Lin tried to refuse tactfully.

However, despite being a leader, the man was very humble. He chuckled earnestly and kept promising it wouldn’t take too long—all the guests had to do was make an appearance.

Xu Lin thought about the situation in the village. He also considered the benefits that reviving the food factory could bring to the town and the surrounding countryside.

He had no choice but to nod.

"I’ll help ask them and see if they’re willing."

For this kind of livestream shopping event, they probably couldn’t offer much of an appearance fee.

Asking Nan Zhi and the others would essentially be asking them to do charity work.

Xu Lin didn’t dare make any grand promises, so this was as far as he could commit.

Of course, just hearing this was enough to make the leader on the other end of the line extremely grateful.

Xu Lin mulled it over for a moment, then immediately called Nan Zhi to tell her about it.

Nan Zhi paused for a moment.

"Let’s not rush things."

Xu Lin thought this was Nan Zhi’s polite way of refusing. Just as he was about to say he understood and drop the matter...

Nan Zhi quickly explained:

"I’m helping them develop a few new products. Let’s wait until those are finalized and then do the livestream."

Xu Lin was dumbfounded.

"You... you actually know pastry arts?"

Xu Lin, like many of the viewers, had originally thought Nan Zhi’s suggestions to Master Xu Jin were just some minor ideas at best, not a significant contribution.

After all, for a chef to master savory cooking was already impressive. To reach a top-tier level in both savory and pastry arts was something few and far between could achieve.

And Nan Zhi was so young, too.

But now, Nan Zhi was telling Xu Lin in no uncertain terms:

"Yes, I know a little."

’Know a little?’ Xu Lin didn’t believe that for a second. ’She’s involved in product development and calls that "knowing a little"?’

He was flabbergasted for a long moment before finally choking out:

"You are truly... incredible!"

The end of his sentence even trembled.

Nan Zhi let out a soft laugh.

That evening, they went to Master Xu Jin’s house for dinner as planned.

Nan Zhi held Nan Yi’s hand and brought some pastries she had made herself.

It just so happened that there was no livestream filming.

Nan Zhi took the opportunity to ask the other three for their opinions.

Qi Pei’er and the others followed Nan Zhi’s lead unconditionally. Since Nan Zhi said she would do it, they all nodded in agreement.

"There probably won’t be an appearance fee."

"So what if there isn’t? We can just treat it as doing a good deed! And consider it payback for the dinner Master Xu Jin is making us tonight!"

Qi Pei’er exclaimed nonchalantly.

Fu Chao and Xie Yu nodded along.

Just then, Master Xu Jin came over carrying a freshly cooked fish.

His house wasn’t large and the soundproofing was poor, so he had heard every word Nan Zhi said.

In an instant, Master Xu Jin’s eyes reddened.

He had thought the food factory was doomed to fail, but now, there was finally a turning point.

Master Xu Jin was filled with a gratitude he longed to express, but when the words reached his lips, he didn’t know where to begin.

He could only push the dish forward and tell Nan Zhi and the others:

"Eat up, eat up. If there’s anything you want to eat, just say the word, and I’ll go make it for you."

Nan Zhi smiled.

The others all smiled along with her.

「The countdown to the end of the third phase of filming had begun.」

It was only now that they felt like they had truly done something and left their mark on Cuishui Village.

They also hoped that after they left, Cuishui Village would continue to thrive on this path for a long, long time.

The meal was lively and joyful, with both adults and children beaming with smiles.

Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought it was New Year’s.

However.

In that same Cuishui Village, Chang Mu was facing the greatest crisis of her career as a Tactician.

No matter how she threatened, begged, or made promises to the person on the other end of the line, Lai Liang remained unmoved.

It was as if he was convinced that Chang Mu was out to ruin and destroy him, so he had to drag her down with him.

Lai Liang had become completely unhinged!

After leaving Cuishui Village and rushing back to Sea City late at night, Lai Liang had been hit by a string of bad news—

His restaurant, from the decor to the materials, was all top-notch. He certainly couldn’t have afforded it alone; he had other investors backing him. But now, that person was threatening to pull their funding unless Lai Liang left.

He went home to see his parents, but they wouldn’t even open the door. When he called, he found out the old couple felt his scandal was too humiliating. They had fled to another city and told him not to contact them for the time being.

He tried calling his girlfriend. She didn’t hang up, but instead unleashed a torrent of abuse on him and said she was breaking up with him.

Even the apprentices at his restaurant, the students who used to look at him with such adoration, had started ignoring his calls, as if they had completely ostracized him...

For the nearly despairing Lai Liang, Chang Mu was his only lifeline.