Lao Nanfeng had genuinely never encountered such an idea in his life, and after listening for a while, he could not help frowning slightly as he asked in confusion, "Help you promote it? What exactly do you mean by that, and how are you planning to do it?"
Liu Maopao did not seem nervous at all. Instead, he explained patiently, "My idea is simple. I want to invite Miss Chen to wear one of the wool sweaters produced by our factory, and then record a short video where she looks comfortable, warm, and genuinely happy, while saying a single sentence."
Lao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. "What sentence?"
Liu Maopao replied without hesitation, "She will look at the camera and say, 'Wearing this wool sweater makes me feel so warm that I could just fall asleep.'"
Lao Nanfeng stared at him for a long moment, his expression blank with disbelief. "That's all?"
"Yes," Liu Maopao answered, nodding seriously. "That's all."
Lao Nanfeng felt his mind stall for a moment, and after a brief pause, he pressed on, "So what you are saying is that you want to film her speaking that one line, record it as a short video, and then hand it over to you, just like that?"
"Yes," Liu Maopao said again, his tone firm and confident. "And for this short video, I am willing to pay one hundred taels of silver."
"A hundred taels?" Chen Yuanyuan cried out involuntarily, her eyes widening in shock.
That amount of silver was more than what Zhu Piaoling had paid to redeem her from the Pear Garden. To think that someone was willing to pay such an enormous sum simply for her to say a single sentence in front of a camera left her utterly stunned. For a brief moment, she even wondered if she had heard him wrong.
She could hardly believe that she herself was worth that much.
Lao Nanfeng, however, was more curious than shocked. He looked at Liu Maopao carefully and asked, "Boy, you are spending so much money on such a small thing. Isn't that a loss? How many wool sweaters would you have to sell just to earn it back?"
Liu Maopao merely smiled, as if this concern had never crossed his mind. "Uncle Nanfeng, there is no need to worry about my costs. In fact, I also plan to spend another one hundred taels of silver, specifically to buy a short period of time from you."
Lao Nanfeng froze, completely at a loss. "Another hundred taels? Buy time?"
"Yes," Liu Maopao said calmly, then continued explaining, "Before each of your films begins, there is a short interval, is there not? The moment when the audience has entered the theater, but the movie itself has not yet officially started."
After thinking for a moment, Lao Nanfeng nodded slowly. "That interval does exist."
"Then sell that time to me," Liu Maopao said. "For one hundred taels of silver, I want that brief pre movie slot to play the short video Miss Chen and I just filmed."
Lao Nanfeng could not help laughing in disbelief. "Young man, what use is that bit of empty time to you? It lasts only a moment. You play a clip of Chen Yuanyuan saying one sentence, and you think people will go out and buy wool sweaters for that? And you are willing to pay a hundred taels for it?"
Liu Maopao chuckled softly and replied, "A truly capable businessman understands the real value of time."
Lao Nanfeng shook his head, half amused and half exasperated. "A capable businessman, you say? This sounds more like a child playing at business." Then he added bluntly, "This is sheer madness. Does your father, who is so wealthy, know that you are spending money like this?"
"My father does not need to know," Liu Maopao answered calmly. "Every share of the Warm and Sleepy Textile Factory belongs to me. He does not own even a tenth of it."
Lao Nanfeng was stunned into silence.
This revelation left him in an awkward position. After a moment, he said with some discomfort, "In that case, I really would not dare take a hundred taels from you. People would accuse me of being greedy. How about this? I will play your clip for free."
"Free will not do," Liu Maopao said immediately, his expression turning serious.
Lao Nanfeng blinked in surprise.
Liu Maopao explained in a measured tone, "Uncle Nanfeng, things that are given for free are never stable. Once my advertisement becomes popular, other merchants will surely follow my example. They will come looking for you, hoping to buy that same short slot before the movie starts. If you give it to me for free, but others are willing to pay, you will naturally sell it to them instead."
Lao Nanfeng laughed. "You really think that brief moment will become something people fight over?"
"I am absolutely certain," Liu Maopao said earnestly. "That is why I am paying a hundred taels upfront, to secure it. In the future, if demand increases, I am even willing to raise the price. If anyone offers more than me, please contact me first, Uncle Nanfeng. As long as the price is reasonable, I will increase my offer so that the slot remains mine."
At this point, Lao Nanfeng felt that his thoughts were completely failing to keep up with this younger generation.
These youngsters, like Liu Maopao, had grown up studying the Heavenly Books bestowed by Dao Xuan Tianzun. Even if they had only grasped a portion of that knowledge, it already felt to Lao Nanfeng like they were reading divine scripture from another world.
After a long sigh, he finally said, "Fine. But if you lose money, do not come crying to me. I cannot stand a crying child. It is even more troublesome than fighting on the battlefield."
Liu Maopao smiled confidently. "Do not worry, Uncle Nanfeng."
And just like that, the agreement was settled.
Zhebu removed a small bundle from his back and opened it, revealing several finely knitted wool sweaters inside. Chen Yuanyuan carefully selected two that looked especially pleasing, then returned to the dressing room to change.
Not long after, she emerged, her figure wrapped snugly in a soft and warm wool sweater.
The Stars Performing Arts Agency already had a camera prepared. Chen Yuanyuan stepped in front of it, turned toward the lens, and offered a gentle, sweet smile as she spoke clearly, "Wearing this wool sweater makes me feel so warm that I could just fall asleep."
With that, the filming was complete.
It was a perfect take.
Chen Yuanyuan stepped aside gracefully, and Zhebu and E'zhe moved into frame. They had changed into traditional Mongolian clothing and each held a large bundle of wool in their arms. Facing the camera, they smiled honestly and said, "We are descendants of Genghis Khan, and we have always raised sheep on the grasslands. Our wool is truly the finest."
Only then did Liu Maopao step into the frame, placing his hands on the shoulders of the two Mongolian youths as he smiled at the camera and said, "Warm and Sleepy brand wool sweaters, made from the finest wool of the Mongolian grasslands, will keep you warm through the entire winter."
"Cut."
The filming ended.
Lao Nanfeng's staff quickly performed some simple post production, adjusting the image quality, refining the colors, and making a backup copy. The finished video was then transferred onto a memory card and handed to Liu Maopao.
"This memory card was bestowed by Dao Xuan Tianzun," the staff member reminded him seriously. "It is a divine artifact from the heavens. You must transport it carefully, keep it safe, and return it immediately after use."
Liu Maopao nodded solemnly. "Understood. I will take this card with me. As for the pre movie slot, I will leave it in your hands, Uncle Nanfeng."
Lao Nanfeng waved dismissively. "Do not worry. I will arrange it immediately."
After paying two hundred taels of silver, Liu Maopao instructed the two Mongolian youths to carry the oversized memory card, and the three of them quickly boarded the train back to Gao Family Village.
Watching them leave, Lao Nanfeng shook his head with a mixture of confusion and amusement. "Young people these days are truly something else. I will never understand what goes on in their heads."
Cai Lin smiled softly. "You do not need to understand it, Brother Nanfeng. You conquered an empire with your sword. Just let these youngsters take the reins and watch what they do."
Lao Nanfeng laughed heartily. "You are right."
An hour later, at the Puzhou Grand Theater, moviegoers poured into the hall, scanning seat numbers as they searched for their places. Before the screening had even officially begun, the massive screen suddenly lit up.
The audience exchanged startled looks. "What is going on? We have not even sat down yet."
Soon, they realized that it was not the movie.
It was an advertisement.
Chen Yuanyuan appeared on the screen, smiling gently as she spoke, "Wearing this wool sweater makes me feel so warm that I could just fall asleep."
With just that single line, the audience was completely captivated.
When the film ended, those same captivated viewers streamed directly toward the Warm and Sleepy wool sweater shop in Puzhou.