In recent days, the common folk suddenly noticed sothing astonishing. The advertisents on their television sets had multiplied like rabbits after spring rain.
Previously, in the few minutes before Gaojia News aired, there had been only one lonely comrcial looping again and again: the wool sweater ad from the Warm and Sleepy Textile Factory. It played so many tis that even the most patient auntie in the village could recite the lines by heart. So children reportedly dread of wool sweaters chasing them through endless snowfields.
But ever since Madam San's down jackets stord into that precious ti slot, other rchants finally woke up. That golden stretch before the news was not a sacred shrine reserved for Warm and Sleepy Textile Factory. It was simply a slot. A slot that could be bought.
And so, once that realization spread, advertisents began bursting onto the screen from every direction.
"Divine Ship Brand Seafood!" one comrcial declared proudly. "Our company has rented cargo space aboard the Divine Ship. Zhoushan's freshest seafood delivered at lightning speed. Every single fish guaranteed fresh to your table!"
Imdiately after ca another voice, brimming with enthusiasm:
"Co Quick Sichuan Hot and Sour Noodles! The newest delicacy from Sichuan. Even Dao Xuan Tianzun has praised it!"
The screen flickered nonstop.
They aired before and after Gaojia News. They squeezed in before and after Zhao Sheng's Agricultural Path to Prosperity. Even Shi Kefa's Legal Education, a program so solemn that half the viewers used it as a bedti lullaby, now had comrcial breaks wedged inside.
The treasury of Gao Family Village swelled with advertising fees. Silver flowed in like a steady river.
At the sa ti, the actors of Flower World Star Agency found themselves busier than ever. A group of well known perforrs, led by Chen Yuanyuan, were swamped with endorsent invitations. Every day, rchants lined up outside their rehearsal hall like pilgrims seeking blessings.
Yet among them sat one deeply miserable man.
He had not earned a single copper coin from advertisents.
That man was Chen Qianhu.
As the most villainous character in history, the man blad for nearly every wicked deed under heaven, he carried an image so dark that even dogs barked when he walked past. Who would dare hire such a face to sell their goods?
Chen Qianhu sat on the stage of Flower World Star Agency, staring at the others as they rehearsed cheerful lines about noodles and seafood. His expression was lonely enough to scare crows out of trees. After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh that seed to suck the warmth from the room.
Lao Nanfeng sat down beside him and chuckled. "Brother, are you really envious over a little advertisent money?"
Chen Qianhu shook his head. "Brother Nanfeng, it is not about money. I am simply… disheartened. Everyone else gets to dress handsoly, smile at the cara, hold so fine household product, and say, 'I recomnd this to you.' But ? Not one rchant will approach. They all say I look too terrifying."
Lao Nanfeng burst out laughing. "You are a soldier. Since when does a soldier need a delicate image? Being fierce is your specialty."
"But I want to look refined for once," Chen Qianhu protested stubbornly. "I want to wear beautiful clothes, hold so elegant object, smile warmly at the audience, and say in a gentle voice, 'Chen Qianhu sincerely recomnds this product.' Is that too much to ask?"
As they spoke, a man dressed in rchant's attire cautiously approached. He bowed deeply.
"Excuse , sir. Are you Chen Qianhu?"
Chen Qianhu pointed at his own face. "Look carefully. Who else would possess such a face?"
The rchant glanced around nervously, then looked back at him and gasped. "It truly is Chen Qianhu. Such… such a frightening expression."
Chen Qianhu rolled his eyes. The motion alone made the rchant stumble backward three steps.
"What do you want? Speak quickly."
The rchant swallowed hard. "I… I would like to invite you to film an advertisent."
Chen Qianhu froze. Then he leaped to his feet in shock. "What did you say?"
The rchant, terrified by the sudden movent, turned and ran. "I was wrong! I should not have co! I will leave imdiately!"
"Co back!" Chen Qianhu shouted. "Return at once!"
The rchant trembled but dared not disobey. He shuffled back with stiff legs. "P please… do not kill …"
At this mont, Chen Qianhu's face was glowing with genuine joy. It was the happiest expression he had worn in years. Unfortunately, in the rchant's eyes, that smile looked like the cruel grin of a tyrant about to commit atrocities.
Chen Qianhu laughed loudly. "You ca to hire for an advertisent? Excellent vision! Superb judgnt! No matter the product, I accept!"
The rchant blinked. "You… you accept?"
"Of course!" Chen Qianhu declared proudly. "This is a major breakthrough in my acting career. Finally, I can portray a character with proper temperant, promoting goods to the people. Do you know how long I have waited for this day?"
His laughter faded. His expression turned solemn.
"What is the product? How should I perform?"
The rchant cleared his throat and carefully produced a bottle.
"It is an insecticide bestowed by Dao Xuan Tianzun. The Village Committee entrusted with its distribution. I have nad it 'Locust Eradicator.' I would like you to star in its advertisent."
Chen Qianhu stared at the bottle.
The rchant continued nervously, "You will wear a costu shaped like this bottle. You will hold a long spear and chase a large group of actors dressed as locusts."
Chen Qianhu made a strange choking sound.
Then, with a tragic cry, he collapsed flat onto the ground.
Lao Nanfeng nudged him with his foot. "Get up. Stop pretending to be dead. You already agreed. A real man keeps his word."
Chen Qianhu flailed dramatically on the floor. "I do not want to be a man anymore. I am going back on my word. I refuse to film this!"
Lao Nanfeng's face darkened. "Get up this instant. What kind of tantrum is this? A man's word, once spoken, cannot be taken back."
The mont Lao Nanfeng raised his voice, Chen Qianhu's fierce aura vanished completely. He scrambled up ekly, head lowered like a scolded child.
"Fine. I will film it."
The rchant, witnessing this scene, could not help but think silently:
So General Lao Nanfeng is the truly terrifying one. Even Chen Qianhu becos obedient in front of him. I must leave quickly.
He imdiately ran off.
Chen Qianhu hurried after him. "Wait! We have not discussed the details!"
The rchant ran faster.
Chen Qianhu chased even faster.
The two figures dashed out of Flower World Star Agency, one fleeing in terror, the other pursuing eagerly. They raced down the street at full speed until both vanished from sight.
A few days later, a rumor spread through the streets:
Chen Qianhu had chased a poor rchant across five entire blocks.
No one knew that the chase had actually been about filming an advertisent for Locust Eradicator.
History, as always, chose the more dramatic version.
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