Luo Rui's expression stiffened, and his brow furrowed.
"What's with the attitude? I was just asking a question."
Lin Chudong replied, "I was just making a casual remark. Why are you so tense?"
Luo Rui's face darkened, and he glanced at Sun Xuan. "Is this the person you brought? So aggressive?"
Sun Xuan smiled faintly. "He's young and full of fire. What's a young man without fire?"
Luo Rui sneered. "You should be more cautious with your shows. Don't tarnish the station's reputation."
"We produced *Longing for Pastoral Life*," Lin Chudong retorted. "What hit shows have you ever made?"
Luo Rui's eyes narrowed. *Who could compete with *Longing*?*
Only *I Am the Singer King* at its peak could rival it. All other variety shows paled in comparison.
Luo Rui said sarcastically, "Young man, you have a long road ahead. Don't be so arrogant in your words and actions."
Lin Chudong, sitting beside Sun Xuan, replied calmly, "That's just how we brothers do things."
***
After Luo Rui left, Dai Yaohua turned to Sun Xuan.
"Xiao Sun, let's stick with this one sponsor for now. We'll base the sponsorship on the ratings. You can try to secure others on your own. If you land additional sponsors, you'll have full authority over them."
"I'll give you ten million for this sponsor. As long as you break even and we achieve ratings above 0.3, all the profits beyond that will go to your team. How does that sound?"
Dai Yaohua felt somewhat indebted to Sun Xuan. He knew he had favored Luo Rui this time, so he decided to give Sun Xuan full autonomy to handle things himself.
Sun Xuan's expression brightened slightly at this. With full authority, things would be much easier.
At least the money from sponsors he secured himself would now go into his team's pockets.
As the producer, Sun Xuan and Lin Chudong, the general director, would both receive substantial profits. Even the staff under them could earn a good chunk if the project went well.
Dai Yaohua added, "Don't get too excited, Xiao Sun. My minimum requirement is 0.3, but I know you're ambitious. Luo is also eyeing the Deputy Director position."
"Your shows are different, and the production budgets vary significantly. Of course, they can't be compared directly."
"I've set a 1.5 rating target for him and a 0.5 rating target for you. To secure the Deputy Director position, you'll need to achieve at least that rating."
Sun Xuan nodded. "Understood, sir."
0.3 was the minimum acceptable rating, while 0.5 would qualify for the Deputy Director position. The standard was clear, and Dai Yaohua was in a difficult position. It now came down to who could achieve the required results.
For a documentary, a 0.5 rating was exceptionally difficult to achieve.
After leaving the director's office, Sun Xuan asked in a low voice, "Big Fei, any ideas?"
Lin Chudong replied, "Yes, let's start by approaching several sponsors. We can split up and focus on food brands—the more, the better."
Sun Xuan: ...
*Good grief, I asked if you had any ideas, meaning confidence or creative concepts for the show. Instead, your mind is completely filled with sponsors.*
Sun Xuan sighed. "Alright then, let's split up and approach them over the next few days."
***
Lin Chudong called Gu Yujia, and they arranged to meet at a Beijing Cuisine Restaurant.
When they saw each other again, Gu Yujia's face was beaming with smiles.
"Are you really moving to Beijing?"
Lin Chudong nodded. "I have two more projects to finish, and then I'll move."
"Great, I'll start looking for office space for you right away."
Lin Chudong's requirements were quite specific, making the search more challenging.
First, he wanted a garden-style standalone office building of around 3,000 square meters. He also wanted the option to purchase it, and the landlord had to agree to a one-year lease as a trial period.
This type of building would be ideal, but it was indeed hard to find.
Gu Yujia also secretly hoped the office would be close to her.
During dinner, they discussed sponsorship for his new program.
"I can sponsor you," Gu Yujia offered. "I can't offer much, but three to four million is possible."
Lin Chudong paused, then shook his head.
"Your education brand doesn't quite fit my program. I'll reach out to you for my next series."
"Alright then."
Gu Family Education had many advertising opportunities each year, and with Lin Chudong's programs consistently becoming hits, sponsoring his show would undoubtedly be a wise move.
After their meal, Lin Chudong immediately returned to Magic City.
First, he went to Wang Pengtao's Mongolian Milk.
After calling ahead, Lin Chudong arrived at the company's headquarters.
In the CEO's office, Wang Pengtao greeted him warmly.
"Big Fei! Come in, sit down. I caught a big fish this morning—over 20 pounds. I had the cafeteria prepare it for lunch to treat you."
"No thanks, President Wang. I'm still working today. I came to ask for your sponsorship—I'm launching a new program."
"Oh? What kind of program?"
"On CCTV."
Wang Pengtao slapped his thigh. "Done! No problem. I trust your programs. Same deal as before—ten million for naming rights. Sound good?"
"Perfect!"
President Wang was straightforward, as expected of the CEO of a major dairy company.
"Here's the program proposal, President Wang. Take a look..."
"No need. I trust your work completely. I'll have someone come over to sign the contract shortly."
Lin Chudong smiled without saying anything. His reputation was now that formidable.
Two blockbuster TV dramas have nearly swept the entire film and television industry.
In the gaming world, two hit games have also emerged, especially the recent *Damn It! I'm Surrounded by Beautiful Women*, which has become a viral sensation.
Coupled with the hit variety show *Longing for Pastoral Life*, these sponsors now blindly trust Lin Chudong.
As long as his projects are a hit, they're guaranteed to be successful.
After signing the contracts, the sponsorship fees were transferred immediately.
Lin Chudong didn't approach Wu Siping for the title sponsorship yet. He'd already secured a significant amount from President Wu this year and didn't want to over-exploit him.
Next, Lin Chudong met with two more sponsors: Hailan Soy Sauce and Golden Square Kitchenware.
Though these were his first meetings with these companies, they were very enthusiastic. Upon hearing that Lin Chudong was creating a program, especially a culinary one, they readily agreed.
One offered 2 million yuan, the other 3 million yuan.
With three sponsors totaling 15 million yuan, funding was no longer a concern. The surplus would be pure profit.
It seemed this program had good potential for profit. The sponsors Lin Chudong secured were all on fixed, upfront payment terms.
The sponsors from CCTV, on the other hand, likely paid based on viewership ratings, with higher ratings naturally leading to higher sponsorship fees.
So, this program would not only help Sun Xuan but also allow him to make a substantial profit himself.
After contacting Sun Xuan, he was still in negotiations. While his progress wasn't as smooth as Lin Chudong's, he was still able to secure a few sponsors.
After all, as the producer of *Longing for Pastoral Life*, Sun Xuan had leverage in negotiations.
Seeing that there was still time, Lin Chudong sent Lin Qiqi a WeChat message:
"Do you remember that special-grade chef from when you participated in *Super Challenge*? Could you get his contact information for me?"
Lin Qiqi: I'll ask the director. What do you need him for?
Lin Chudong: Brother Sun and I are filming a food program and need an executive chef to oversee it.
Lin Qiqi: Didn't you defeat him on the show last time? Doesn't he hate you? What if he lost his job and can't help you?
Lin Chudong: Surely it's not that bad, right?
Lin Qiqi: I found him! He's at Lu Haifeng Restaurant. His number is 187...
Lin Chudong called, but no one answered. He glanced at the time—it was peak dining hours. They were probably busy.
He got in his car and drove straight to Lu Haifeng Restaurant.
***
Upon entering the restaurant, Lin Chudong was met with a sea of people.
A row of chairs at the entrance was already filled with customers waiting for a table.
Wearing a mask, Lin Chudong wasn't recognized by the server.
"Hello, sir. We're currently operating on a waiting list. How many in your party?"
"Just me."
"Alright, here's your number. There are fifteen tables ahead of you."
Lin Chudong was stunned. *Is this restaurant really this popular?*
Holding his ticket, he walked around to look. The dishes on the tables looked delicious, primarily Lu cuisine but with some other specialties, making it a fusion restaurant.
Several framed photos hung on the wall, all stills of the chef from *Super Challenge*. Among them were screenshots of him and Lin Chudong during their competition.
*A memento of the match between our Special Class 1 chef, Qin Haifeng, and Big Fei.*
Lin Chudong's lips twitched. *Well, this is completely different from what Lin Qiqi imagined.*
Instead of resenting him, the Special Class 1 chef Qin Haifeng was actually using him for promotion. With Lin Chudong's current popularity, why wouldn't he capitalize on the buzz?
Though being defeated by Lin Chudong on the show might have bruised his pride, now everyone knew he was a Special Class 1 chef—and that his cooking was excellent.
Even though they lost to Big Fei, it was Big Fei after all. Was losing to him really that surprising?
Though Big Fei wasn't a chef, people still found it reasonable that he won.
It was already commonplace for non-lawyers to pass the bar exam or non-master's graduates to get into grad school.
A significant reason for Lu Haifeng's popularity was his ability to ride Big Fei's coattails and become a viral sensation.
Lin Chudong walked toward the kitchen but was stopped by the manager.
"Customer, this is the kitchen. You can't enter here."
Lin Chudong removed his mask. "I'm Big Fei."
***
After successfully swiping his face again, he entered the kitchen.
"Master Qin?"
His eyes immediately fell on the Special Grade chef he had once defeated with his Nine-Turned Intestines.
Now, the Nine-Turned Intestines had become his signature dish. As a Special Grade chef of Lu Cuisine, he was exceptionally skilled at this dish.
Qin Haifeng's eyes widened.
"Big Fei?"
***
After more than an hour of frantic activity, the last of the customers finally departed. The dinner rush had passed, and the restaurant's pace slowed.
Qin Haifeng, his face beaming, warmly welcomed him.
"I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting."
"It's alright," Lin Chudong replied. "I was just observing and learning about your culinary techniques. Did the TV show last time cause any negative repercussions for you?"
"Not at all!" Qin Haifeng exclaimed. "My restaurant was doing moderately well before, with average customer traffic. But after you became famous, I hung up your photo, and business exploded! Haha, I don't know how to thank you enough."
"That's perfect. I actually need your help with something."
Although Lin Chudong had a deep understanding of cooking, he lacked formal certification and wasn't considered an authority in the culinary world.
His victory over Qin Haifeng in the past had been purely for the sake of the show's drama. *Super Challenge* thrives on such contrasts to create engaging television. In a true culinary competition, Lin Chudong would have stood no chance against Qin Haifeng.
His *Intermediate Culinary Skill* was no match for Qin Haifeng's likely *Master Culinary Skill*.
Furthermore, filming *A Bite of China* sometimes required the show's own chefs to appear on camera for coordination. As a documentary, not a variety show, Lin Chudong's presence would have felt out of place.
After hearing Lin Chudong's request, Qin Haifeng immediately agreed without hesitation. He even refused a salary and closed his restaurant for a week to fully cooperate.
Qin Haifeng had witnessed the power of celebrity endorsement firsthand. Even a brief appearance on Big Fei's show with Da Fei had yielded such remarkable results.
If he personally participated in Da Fei's program, his restaurant would surely take off!
***
With everything prepared, Lin Chudong, Sun Xuan, and the film crew set off for Jilin.
Sun Xuan secured a reservation at a resort on Chagan Lake.
The official Winter Fishing season had already ended, but further north, the weather remained frigid. With good conditions, they could still capture the essence of the event.
Upon learning that CCTV was involved, the resort staff were eager to cooperate, even agreeing to reenact the Winter Fishing rituals. It was essentially a special Winter Fishing session staged just for their program.
This time, Lin Chudong brought Jia Lu along. Previously, he had always taken Wang Zhi, but now that Wang Zhi had been promoted to vice president, he was responsible for many company matters and couldn't easily leave to serve as Lin Chudong's assistant.
Liang Yin had offered to hire a secretary and assistant for Lin Chudong, but he refused. When the band wasn't performing, the musicians were idle, and he saw no reason not to utilize their skills. Besides, could a hired secretary match the prestige of having Jia Lu, the popular online influencer Zheng Ziyan, by his side?
Jia Lu was thrilled. The company's benefits were too good to pass up—paid vacations and the promise of good food and drink. *I'll die in this company!* she thought.
***
After landing, the group was still somewhat surprised by the weather in Northeast China. They hadn't expected snow in Jilin in March.
Jia Lu's eyes widened in excitement. This was her first time seeing a snow-covered landscape, and she was absolutely thrilled.
A large bus was waiting for them at Changchun Airport. The team of about ten people boarded and headed for Chagan Lake, 200 kilometers away.
They were greeted by Niu Zuojun, the manager of Phoenix Cry Resort.
Niu Zuojun, dressed in a fur coat and a thick gold chain, exuded a flashy, nouveau riche aura. He rushed over to Big Fei as soon as he boarded the bus, shaking his hand with great enthusiasm.
"Big star! Thank you for coming to promote our resort! We'll treat you to a meal first, then get you checked into the hotel!"
Lin Chudong nodded.
Niu Zuojun threw an arm around Big Fei's shoulders and pulled out his phone, opening the camera.
"Come on, let's get a photo together first!"
Lin Chudong sighed inwardly. Northerners were known for their warmth, but this Niu Zuojun was being a bit *too* familiar.
Still, he played along with the photo op, considering Niu Zuojun was one of the sponsors.
After taking several shots from different angles, Niu Zuojun finally seemed satisfied.
Lin Chudong was a little speechless, but he patiently indulged Niu Zuojun's requests for photos.
After a car ride of over an hour, the vehicle came to a stop.
Lin Chudong stood up and glanced around. This didn't look like the area near Chagan Lake. The surroundings were quite bustling, resembling a commercial district.
A group of over twenty young men stood by the car door. As soon as the vehicle stopped, they eagerly rushed to help everyone with their luggage.
Niu Zuojun put his arm around Lin Chudong's shoulder as they got out of the car. "Big star, let's take a few photos first. After we're done, we'll eat, and then head to the hotel."
"I've already arranged the Winter Fishing. We can start filming early tomorrow morning."
Lin Chudong nodded. "Thanks, Brother Niu."
Niu Zuojun led him into the first iron pot stew restaurant. As they entered, a wave of warmth and the familiar aroma of iron pot stew greeted them.
But instead of taking him to a private room, Niu Zuojun pulled him to stand by the door. "Where's Lao Xu? Come out quickly for a photo!"
After a couple of calls, Lao Xu, the owner of the iron pot stew restaurant, hurried out and stood beside Lin Chudong in front of the business license.
Niu Zuojun pulled out his camera. "Hold still! Look at the lens, say cheese!"
*Click!* The photo was taken.
Niu Zuojun nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, that's done."
Lin Chudong didn't say anything. Given his current popularity, it was only natural that people would want photos with him. As long as it didn't interfere with his work, he was happy to oblige.
"Let's go, next place," Niu Zuojun said, putting his arm around Lin Chudong as they left the iron pot stew restaurant and headed to the dumpling shop next door. He called out the owner, and they posed for photos at the entrance.
After visiting five establishments in a row, Lin Chudong began to lose patience.
"Brother Niu, isn't that enough? I've got quite a few staff members waiting for me. Why don't I arrange dinner for them first?"
"What's the rush?" Niu Zuojun replied. "There are still a dozen more places. This whole row is full of my friends. We can't let a celebrity visit without getting a photo with each of them. Let's finish these up, then we'll eat."
With that, Niu Zuojun put his arm around Lin Chudong and tried to pull him along.
Lin Chudong frowned and pushed his arm away.
"I'm not taking any more photos. We can handle our own dinner arrangements."
He turned to leave, but suddenly, a group of young men surrounded him.
Lin Chudong's brow furrowed slightly, and he said coldly,
"Brother Niu, what's the meaning of this?"
Niu Zuojun replied, "No special meaning. Just taking a few photos. You're a big star, aren't you? Isn't taking photos part of your job?"
Lin Chudong glanced around at his surroundings and took two steps back, his foot landing on a brick.
If these guys really wanted to make a move, Lin Chudong wasn't afraid. With his Unrestricted Combat Intermediate skill, taking down this group single-handedly and escaping without a scratch would be child's play.
Seeing Lin Chudong's wary expression, Niu Zuojun pointed toward the tour bus.
Over a dozen staff members were still waiting in the bus, and Niu Zuojun's lackeys had already unloaded the photography equipment. If any of it got damaged, their entire trip would be ruined.
These few days of Chagan Lake's Winter Fishing were probably the last chance. In a few days, when the temperature rose, the ice would become too thin.
"Just because you're a star, you think you can act like a diva? What's the harm in a few photos? Hurry up and take them! If you don't, I'll smash your equipment!"
Suddenly, Lin Chudong flashed a friendly smile, patted Niu Zuojun's shoulder, and said, "Wait a moment. I'll make a call."
Niu Zuojun sneered, "Go ahead and fight. I've got all the time in the world to waste with you. Now that you're on my turf, you'd better drop that celebrity act. Understand?"
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)