Chapter 1007: You Little Rascal
Gao Family Village, the main settlement.
Gao Yiye was in the midst of recording today's Gaojia News broadcast.
She dressed in a dignified outfit, settled before the camera, and with a gentle smile, read through the news script. The recording was complete.
The subsequent editing work was no longer her responsibility. The disciples of the Heavenly Lord, from the Gao Family Village News Department, would handle it. They clambered up and down scaffolding erected before the gigantic tablet computers, skillfully processing the video footage.
This was arduous work, for the tablets were enormous. To manipulate even a small segment of video, dragging and dropping it, they often had to ascend and descend the meter-high scaffolding multiple times.
Nevertheless, no one complained about the toil or fatigue, no matter how taxing the job.
For the tablets were none other than "Immortal Treasure Mirrors," and for mere mortals like themselves, to personally operate a divine artifact from the celestial realm was an immense honor. Any hardship or exhaustion was well worth it; ordinary folk wouldn't even have such an opportunity.
Gao Yiye took a sip of tea, moistening her throat.
Just then, Liu Maopao slipped in, bowing respectfully to Gao Yiye. "Sister Saintess," he greeted.
Liu Maopao chuckled. "Sister Saintess, I've come seeking a small favor. I'd like to insert a tiny advertisement either at the beginning or end of the Gaojia News broadcast. Of course, I'm not asking for a handout, nor am I pulling strings—I'll pay the village treasury for it."
"What?" Gao Yiye laughed. "You scoundrel! Your mischievous schemes have now targeted Gaojia News? If the Heavenly Lord finds out, he'll spank your bottom."
Liu Maopao grinned. "The Heavenly Lord would never spank me. He'd surely praise my cleverness!"
Gao Yiye retorted, "I don't believe you."
She turned to glance at the Puppet Heavenly Lord perched on her desk. "Too bad, the Heavenly Lord isn't here right now."
Unexpectedly, the Puppet Heavenly Lord suddenly stirred, rising on its two soft fabric feet. It swayed precariously, then extended a spherical hand and waved at her, chuckling, "I've just arrived."
Gao Yiye exclaimed, "Heavenly Lord, this Liu Maopao is getting bolder by the day! He actually came here asking to put an advertisement before the Gaojia News!"
Li Daoxuan smiled. "That's quite good, actually."
"Huh?" Gao Yiye gasped, taken aback. "The Heavenly Lord actually thinks that's good?"
Liu Maopao beamed, "I knew the Heavenly Lord would approve."
Li Daoxuan explained, "Yiye, it's perfectly fine. This is a very normal commercial activity, and such advertisements can increase the village treasury's income. Merchants' money returns to the village treasury through this method, the treasury then uses it to help the common folk, and the common folk use that money to buy their goods... it's a virtuous cycle."
Gao Yiye mused, "But won't the viewers find the advertisements annoying?"
Li Daoxuan affirmed, "Of course they will! People who don't need those products will certainly find the ads bothersome. But what if someone happens to need a good coat to fend off the cold? Then they'll feel this advertisement arrived at just the right moment. Nothing can please everyone; as long as it's useful to some, that's enough."
Gao Yiye's eyes widened in understanding. "So that's how it is!"
Liu Maopao pressed on, "Shall we discuss the price, then?"
Gao Yiye looked a little bewildered. "How should we best charge for this?"
Liu Maopao suggested, "Sister Saintess, how about this? Two hundred taels of silver for a full year of my advertisements across all news broadcasts."
Gao Yiye gasped in alarm. "What? That much?"
The Puppet Heavenly Lord chuckled, "Liu Maopao, you little rascal, trying to get a year's worth of Gaojia News ads for such a pittance?"
Liu Maopao exclaimed, "Wow, the Heavenly Lord saw right through me? Indeed, only the Heavenly Lord truly understands!"
The Puppet Heavenly Lord instructed, "Honestly, give a normal price. Don't take advantage of Yiye's unfamiliarity with these matters."
Liu Maopao, chastened, promptly offered, "Two hundred taels a month."
Gao Yiye exclaimed, "What? How much did you say?"
Liu Maopao confirmed, "A month."
Gao Yiye turned to the Puppet Heavenly Lord. "He instantly changed his offer and raised it tenfold!"
Li Daoxuan chuckled, "Well, to be precise, it's twelve times higher."
Gao Yiye stared, astounded. "That... that amount? How many wool sweaters would he need to sell just to make that back? Is it reasonable to pay so much for only one month?"
Li Daoxuan replied, "Actually, I think it's still too little. Gaojia News is broadcast to all key cities of Gao Family Village, and it's the highest-rated program—the price should be even higher. However, considering he was the first to think of this, the money we're not collecting will be his bonus. Hmm! The Major Commercial Innovation Award."
And so, the matter was settled.
The News Department students immediately began operations, inserting the memory card Liu Maopao brought into their tablet computers. They retrieved the pre-filmed advertisement, trimmed it slightly to a suitable length, and slotted it in before and after the Gaojia News broadcast. ——
That evening, in Xi'an, at Caisikou Market.
Zhu Cunji, the Prince of Qin's heir, had once again ambled out to watch Gaojia News.
After a leisurely tour of Nanjing, Zhu Cunji had returned. First, he instructed his body double to retreat to the basement and avoid public appearances for the next few days. Then, he himself once again drove his resplendent Kulinan, with his consort by his side, boldly cruising through the streets.
After his outing, he felt his perspective and discernment had greatly expanded. He had experienced the charms of Jiangnan, and even seen the most exquisite courtesans of the Qinhuai River.
He was no longer a bumpkin!
He was, once again, the flashiest fellow on the street, the brightest star, swaggering with every step.
Upon reaching the street corner, he encountered Lian Guoshi, the Governor of Shaanxi, once more.
Lian Guoshi cupped his hands in greeting. "Your Highness, the Prince's Heir, you seem to be in excellent spirits today."
Zhu Cunji huffed, "Hmph! I don't like you. Don't come bothering me!"
After uttering those words, he felt utterly delighted. Finally, he could speak openly and indulge in unrestrained verbal antics once more.
He strutted triumphantly to his exclusive viewing platform and sat down, directly facing the large screen—it was pure bliss. The only slight annoyance was that Lian Guoshi, shamelessly, had brought his wife and squeezed in right beside him.
Zhu Cunji scoffed, "This is my private viewing platform. How can you have the gall to freeload here every day?"
Lian Guoshi countered, "Well, there are empty seats next to you, and an empty seat is an empty seat. Besides, my wife and your consort can sit together and have someone to chat with."
Zhu Cunji turned to look, and indeed, the two wives were already deep in conversation: discussing which brand of rouge and powder was best, which jeweler had the finest accessories, and which textile merchant offered the best silks and fabrics...
The men couldn't get a word in edgewise!
"Hmph!"
Zhu Cunji reluctantly gave up. At that moment, Gaojia News was about to begin.
A Gao Family Village staff member stepped onto the platform and, with an "Iron Mountain Back" technique, bumped open the tablet computer's power switch.
The screen then lit up, and Chen Yuanyuan appeared. "This wool sweater..."
Zhu Cunji murmured, "Oh? This young woman is..." He was about to boast that he had bought her from Jiangnan, but then abruptly remembered Lian Guoshi sitting beside him and quickly clamped his mouth shut.
To his astonishment, Lian Guoshi's wife and his own consort nearly simultaneously sprang up. "Ah, this wool sweater! I want it!" Both women instantly turned to their husbands. "Buy it for me."
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