Chapter 227 Self-Reliance
"But our live stream data is very good!"
Xia Paopao couldn't help but speak up, "Yesterday, our group's live stream had over 100,000 viewers, and the number of comments was the highest! Many netizens are asking when the next episode will air!"
Hu Xiaoguang smiled bitterly: "What's the use of good data? Without money, you can't move an inch."
Just then, Shen Yu suddenly spoke up, her tone filled with certainty: "Director Hu, I have an idea. Could we adjust the competition format? Remove the big-budget celebrity extravaganzas and focus on down-to-earth food challenges?"
She paused, then looked at Su Yingxue, “Just like the spicy rice noodles we made this time, the ingredients are inexpensive, the target audience is wide, and we can cooperate with various communities and industrial parks, and even get some local ingredient suppliers to sponsor us. We don’t necessarily have to rely on investment from popular celebrities.”
Su Yingxue's eyes lit up, and she continued, following Shen Yu's words: "That's right. We can focus the program on the everyday life of ordinary people and record the survival wisdom of the stall owners."
The competition is about who can create the most popular and affordable food. This way, investment costs can be reduced, and a differentiated reputation can be built.
Hu Xiaoguang was stunned, and the report in his hand slipped to the ground.
He looked at the two people in front of him. Su Yingxue was calm and insightful, and Shen Yu had a clear mind. Their words were like a ray of light, cutting through the mess in his heart.
He crouched down to pick up the report, his fingertips trembling slightly with excitement: "You...you're telling the truth? This method really works?"
"It's better to try than to stop broadcasting altogether."
Su Yingxue smiled, her eyes reflecting the starlight outside the studio. "At least, we've done right by the workers who cheered for us, and by the viewers who stayed in the live broadcast room."
The wind outside the shed seemed to have died down a bit, and a few barks could be heard in the distance.
In the darkness of night, it seemed as if some new hope was quietly sprouting.
The morning light slanted through the window of the temporary office, falling obliquely on the spread-out proposal paper, the dense handwriting on the paper carrying a faint scent of ink.
Su Yingxue and Shen Yugang saw off the representatives of the local fresh food suppliers. Although they still looked tired from staying up all night, their eyes shone with an amazing light.
"The sponsorship for vegetables and meat has been finalized, and the packaging plant is also willing to cooperate at a low price." Shen Yu sketched on the paper with a pen in hand. "Now all that's left is the final start-up capital to cover the remaining payments for the later stages of production."
Just as Su Yingxue picked up her water glass, she heard footsteps coming from the doorway. Turning around, she saw Chen Chen standing there with Chen Mo.
The two brothers were wearing matching black hoodies, their heads down, looking somewhat awkward, and clutching a crumpled bank card in their hands.
“Sister Yingxue, Sister Shenyu,” Chen Mo spoke first, her voice weak but firm, “We…we’re here to help.”
Chen Chen nodded and handed the bank card forward: "This is a small investment from the two of us. It's not much, but every little bit helps."
After Zhu Lili left, we thought a lot. We were too confused before, always thinking about chasing popularity, forgetting that the most important thing in making a food program is to cherish sincerity.
Su Yingxue looked at the bank card, then at the brothers' reddened ears. Before she could speak, she heard Xia Paopao's clear voice from outside the door: "We're here too!"
Lin Qiao followed behind, carrying a thick stack of flyers, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead: "Paopao and I stayed up half the night last night to print these flyers. We plan to distribute them in the surrounding communities and industrial parks to help promote the show!"
Xia Paopao held up her phone and waved it, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "I also contacted a few food bloggers, and they were all willing to help us promote our show for free, saying they liked the down-to-earth feel of our program!"
The sunlight suddenly became exceptionally warm, shining through the windows onto everyone and making the words "People's Livelihood Food Challenge" on the proposal shine brightly.
Shen Yu looked at the people gathered around the table, her eyes slightly warm. She picked up a pen and added Chen Chen and Chen Mo's names to the end of the proposal, and said with a smile, "Now, our team is truly complete."
Chen Chen scratched his head, a long-lost smile appearing on his face: "Shall we go to the community now? My brother and I are strong, carrying flyers and putting up posters is no problem!"
Lin Qiao divided the flyers and handed them to the two brothers: "Perfect timing, I'll show you the way. The workers in the industrial park are very enthusiastic and will definitely be willing to help us spread the word!"
Su Yingxue watched the group walk out chatting and laughing, her fingertips gently stroking the rim of her cup, her smile both gentle and firm.
She turned to look at Shen Yu, and the two smiled at each other, their eyes reflecting each other's determination—they would definitely win this battle about food and their original intentions.
The first episode after the restart was held at Minsheng Square in the city center.
Just after four o'clock in the afternoon, Xia Paopao and Lin Qiao arrived with the posters they had printed in advance. The two climbed a ladder and stuck them on the lamppost. The red background and yellow lettering of the "Warm Winter People's Livelihood Food Challenge" were particularly eye-catching in the sunset.
Chen Chen and Chen Mo carried over a folding table and set up an insulated tent. They even brought over a few heat lamps from home and wrapped them around the tent frame. As soon as they were lit, the tent was warm and cozy, providing warmth for the night ahead of time.
Su Yingxue and Shen Yu were busy around the stove. The bone broth in the pot had long since turned milky white and was bubbling away. The aroma wafted out with the wind, attracting passersby to turn their heads frequently.
"Sister Su, our 'Heartwarming Noodles' set meal, with an egg and sausage, is only fifteen yuan. Isn't that too good a deal?"
While peeling potatoes, Chen Mo couldn't help but ask.
Su Yingxue sprinkled chopped green onions into the soup, looked up and smiled: "A program about people's livelihood should ensure that everyone can eat their fill and get their money's worth."
As soon as she finished speaking, several elderly people who were taking a stroll came over and pointed to the soup in the pot, asking, "Young lady, are these noodles freshly cooked? They look so warm."
Shen Yu quickly went to greet her: "Auntie, everything is cooked to order. The bone broth has been simmering for three hours. If you have bad teeth, I'll cook it a little softer for you."
The elderly people sat down happily, and before long, young people who had just finished get off work and parents picking up their children from school also gathered around, and a long queue quickly formed in front of the originally empty stall.
Chen Chen was in charge of taking orders and collecting payments. His fingers flew across the calculator as he chatted with customers: "Hey bro, how about some seaweed knots? They're so flavorful soaked in the broth!"
Lin Qiao and Xia Paopao carried their bowls through the crowd, the warm glow of the lights falling on their faces, making the beads of sweat on their foreheads glisten. "Paopao, look! The live stream has surpassed one million viewers!" Lin Qiao suddenly shouted, pointing at her phone. Xia Paopao leaned over to look, and saw the comments scrolling rapidly.
This is what a program about people's lives should be like! It's full of everyday warmth and relatability!
[A heartwarming bowl of noodles for fifteen yuan, with meat, egg, and soup—I want to rush over there!]
The Chen brothers seem to have become more settled; they're no longer the way they used to be, just aimlessly following Zhu Lili around.
[Su Yingxue's team is truly making food with their hearts. Seeing the elderly eating so heartily makes me hungry.]
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