33: Is he trying to fleece the sheep?

Chen Fang was in front.

Tian Gangwu held the microphone and introduced to the camera, “Dear audience friends, in our Xiangxi corpse driving culture, the corpses transported by the corpse-carrying method are generally processed, weighing around 30 to 50 kilograms. However, in the Miao people’s hanging coffin burial, the corpse driving might carry a corpse this heavy. Everyone can learn about this.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the production team staff carried over four backpacks simulating corpses—each wrapped in a large black robe with a straw hat on top.

In front of Chen Fang, two staff members worked together to set down a heavy backpack, and the surrounding dust was slightly stirred up.

Tian Gangwu looked back at his backpack, hesitated, and then spoke earnestly, “Teacher Chen, you walked through this forest last night. The mountains are overgrown with weeds, unlike a gym environment. And the mountain road is uneven. Why don’t you reduce the weight a bit? Reducing it to thirty or fifty kilograms would also perfectly simulate the weight of Xiangxi corpse driving.”

Chen Fang smiled slightly at him.

Teacher Tian’s last sentence gave him an out. To speak to this extent showed great care for him.

But… that would mean two hundred thousand yuan less.

Sorry, he’s a man who, even when he achieves financial freedom from in-game gold, still takes some gold items and continues to make money. Absolutely no weight reduction!

“Thank you, Teacher Tian, for your concern. I prefer to challenge my limits. Moreover, the old masters transporting corpses in the mountains surely spend more time than we do. Increasing the weight might be more authentic.”

Tian Gangwu pursed his lips and did not try to persuade him further, “Then, Teacher Chen, watch your step.”

“Thank you, Teacher Tian.”

Chen Fang put on the backpack and, accompanied by Guo Congxin and Uncle Liu, a villager wearing Morning Sunshine attire, entered the forest at 10 o’clock.

Uncle Liu, the villager, was dispatched by the production team. The production team was worried about them encountering venomous snakes again or snakes affecting the challenge, so they sent a villager along. He would also occasionally appear on camera wearing sponsor’s clothes. Not only today, but for the next few days, Uncle Liu would accompany him on outdoor activities.

As he set off, the live stream also split into four sections.

Under the influence of the “70 jin” figure, out of the original 130,000 viewers, 70,000 directly flocked into his live stream.

[How long can he last?]

[Qin Ba Ba: I can last fifty minutes to an hour.]

[Qin Ba Ba, you can’t do it. When I traveled to Huangshan, the porters there could carry loads for five or six hours a day.]

[F General Who Can’t Skydive: Porters rest midway, taking a break after walking a few dozen steps, and switching shoulders for their carrying poles. We’re talking about not resting. Chen Fang’s consumption is indeed high. I once climbed a mountain with fifty kilograms, and I was done in two hours. But I’m not a professional climber; mountaineers should be able to last longer.]

[Oh my, so many fitness streamers. You’re all so disciplined, getting up so early on your days off.]

[Wandering Youth: I went for a morning run at 6 AM, haha. F General is here too, so many familiar faces.]

[Outdoor team building, huh? If Chen Fang finishes in ten minutes, that would be so embarrassing.]

[How could it end in 10 minutes? You just recovered your eyesight, didn’t you see him and Master Tian carry a 240 jin jar?]

...

Capital’s Third Ring Road, Morning Sunshine Headquarters Building, 12th Floor.

Marketing Analytics Department’s Media Data Analysis Team office.

The manager looked at the “the adventures” live stream audience analysis chart displayed on the screen in surprise, his heart stirring.

But before he could sigh, a series of footsteps echoed from the doorway.

The next moment, two men and women in their forties walked in. The manager quickly stood up. Several employees also stood up to greet them.

Of the two, the man was their direct superior, the Head of the Marketing Analytics Department, and the woman was Brand Director Director Yu Jing.

The Head raised a hand, signaling everyone to sit down, and walked towards him with Director Yu Jing.

The manager bowed slightly and said, “Good day, Head, good day, Director Yu.”

The Head smiled and patted his shoulder, “Don’t be nervous, your report is fine. Today, Sister Yu happened to be passing by the Marketing Analytics Department, so she came to see our company’s investment and output across various variety show platforms. Is there anything special?”

The manager clasped his hands in front of his waist and respectfully said, “From the data on our company’s exposure in variety shows, brand mentions, and advertising effectiveness, everything is normal.”

Sister Yu nodded.

The manager continued, “Oh, by the way, there was a slightly unusual situation just now.”

“Tell me.”

“We just added 2 million to ‘the adventures’ yesterday, and I just found… Sorry, please wait, let me find the materials.” The manager scrolled the mouse and clicked on the screen.

Director Yu Jing frowned slightly. It was morning now, and the live variety show’s popularity shouldn’t be as high as in the afternoon and evening. If there was an unusual situation now, could it be a problem?

“According to the data from five minutes ago, in the third group’s Chen Fang’s live stream on ‘the adventures’, there are 70,000 viewers, currently ranking first on the live stream chart.”

“Hmm.” Director Yu Jing’s expression was calm.

“But in his live stream, there are 17 outdoor sports influencers with over a million followers, including 4 with over 5 million followers. And many outdoor sports enthusiasts are also in the live stream.”

“Oh?” Director Yu Jing leaned forward slightly, looking at the screen.

The manager quickly explained the content of the live stream activity.

Director Yu Jing straightened up, raising an eyebrow slightly.

She hadn’t expected that ‘the adventures’ would feature a group with such high popularity and such a strong match with their brand’s cultural program.

Director Yu Jing looked at Chen Fang’s figure in the live broadcast, “This Chen Fang has good looks and physical ability, but it’s a pity he’s already been canceled. Otherwise, he could have been invited to be a brand ambassador.”

The Head echoed, “Indeed, he should… find it difficult to make a comeback.”

“Let’s keep an eye on it for now.” Director Yu Jing continued to ask about another variety show’s situation.

...

At the same time, in the forest behind Qingtan Village.

Chen Fang, carrying his backpack, walked onto a winding dirt road. The production team did not allow asking villagers for directions, so he could only observe on his own.

Chen Fang looked around at the forest environment.

The grass on the right was lush and vibrant.

On the grass to the left, there was a flattened patch of green grass, as if someone frequently walked this way.

So, he would take the left path first, observing as he went for any alternative routes in case the path ahead was blocked. If the path ahead was blocked and he couldn’t go up like on a winding mountain road, he would use a staircase-like or serpentine movement, turn back, and slowly climb upwards.

Chen Fang turned around, leaving the winding dirt road and entering the forest.

Uncle Liu, the accompanying villager, thought something had happened and quickly asked, “Teacher Chen, what’s wrong?”

“Taking a different route.”

“Okay.” Uncle Liu, the villager, seeing him carry such a heavy load, didn’t want to say too much and consume his energy, so he nodded and quickly followed.

However, after walking for two minutes, Uncle Liu suddenly realized… this didn’t seem right.

Was Teacher Chen really climbing a mountain? He was deliberately choosing flat ground and circling to the other side of the mountain. What was he doing?

Another five minutes passed.

At the foot of the mountain.

The director yawned, watching the footage of Xie Yunxuan and the other two gradually slowing their pace.

Looking at the footage of Chen Fang, whose speed hadn’t decreased, a strange feeling arose in his heart.

Where was he going?

And why did this place look like the path down the mountain after the courage test yesterday? Where did he go?

Just then, in Chen Fang’s live stream comment section, amidst countless comments guessing how long he could walk, a uniquely colorful comment suddenly popped up.

[Holy crap? Is Chen Fang trying to game the system?]