“The competition rules are simple. We’ll arrange matches based on participating teams, who must win in as many creative ways as possible. For the winning side, viewers can rate them, calculating a comprehensive ‘entertainment index.’ The higher this index, the more prize money per match!”
“Of course, if you try to be entertaining but lose, you get nothing.”
“Each match offers a minimum of fifty thousand yuan and a maximum of one hundred thousand. The higher the entertainment index, the more prize money. Six matches daily for ten days. If there’s any remaining prize money at the end, it all goes to the team with the highest entertainment index.”
“Are you interested in participating?”
On the other end of the call, Zhang Yuan couldn’t help but marvel at how creative these streaming platforms had become.
Entertainment Competition?
It sounded quite interesting…
Zhang Yuan thought about it—why not participate? What’s there to lose? Winning matches meant prize money, which could improve the players’ living conditions.
Zhang Yuan considered it briefly: “Alright, both of our teams will participate.”
Liu Liang was overjoyed: “Great! I’ll contact other popular clubs right away. Once the schedule is arranged, I’ll send it to you!”
After hanging up, Liu Liang couldn’t contain his excitement.
Success!
Although they couldn’t sponsor the DGE Club, they could still drive traffic to ZZ Live this way!
Previous GOG tournaments had proven that there was already a substantial tournament viewership base in China. Streaming website audiences were growing, and everyone was eagerly awaiting new competitions.
Organizing an entertainment tournament with good content and hot topics would allow them to ride the wave of popularity!
The six million yuan prize pool seemed substantial, but ZZ Live certainly wouldn’t cover it all themselves. Although this tournament was online, as long as enough people watched and it generated sufficient buzz, they could secure advertising sponsorships to share a large portion of the costs.
Liu Liang grew more excited as he thought about it and immediately instructed his subordinates to organize everything.
…
At DGE Club, Zhang Yuan informed the players about ZZ Live’s plan to host an “Entertainment Competition.”
Initially, nobody showed much interest.
ZZ Live? Entertainment Competition? It all sounded rather low-class.
We are legitimate professional players!
The highest level in GOG!
We respect every match!
We never underestimate opponents!
Asking us to perform like entertainers—what do you take us for?
Circus clowns?
However, when Zhang Yuan mentioned “based on the entertainment index, each match could earn up to one hundred thousand yuan, split equally between the club and players,” everyone’s expressions changed dramatically.
One hundred thousand per match?
If the first and second teams each played one match daily, putting on maximum entertainment, wouldn’t that mean ten thousand yuan per person?
Ten days of matches—one hundred thousand yuan per person?
And if there was remaining prize money, they could get that too?
This was easy money! Who wouldn’t want it?
The players immediately perked up.
“No problem! So we just need to be as entertaining as possible while ensuring victory? Leave it to us!”
…
…
August 11th, Thursday.
Pei Qian arrived at Slackin’ Delivery Store #1 to check on the microbial food waste processors and have lunch.
After more than a week of preparation, the previously ordered food waste processors had gradually arrived and would soon be put into use.
As lunchtime approached, Pei Qian watched the delivery riders busy collecting and delivering orders outside Slackin’ Delivery Store #1, and silently sighed.
It was challenging!
Garbage classification had been implemented for almost two weeks. Many people’s living habits had changed as a result, and even online, memes like “What kind of garbage are you?” had emerged.
Discussion generated heat, and heat drove sales.
During this period, Slackin’ Delivery orders had been increasing daily. The previously often-idle dishwashers now operated non-stop, and the delivery riders were all in high spirits—more orders meant more commissions, and their monthly income was visibly set to increase significantly.
However, none of this was good news for Mr. Pei. He could only silently hope that the food waste processors and the culinary laboratory would substantially increase Slackin’ Delivery’s expenses, preventing it from making too much profit.
Pei Qian observed the large machine while listening to Rui Yuchen explain the specific uses of the microbial waste processor.
Judging by its size, it was about two cubic meters—a stainless steel box resembling a large washing machine or freezer, with a garbage drop hatch and control panel.
Upon closer inspection, he noted its excellent sealing properties, as there was virtually no odor.
Nevertheless, Rui Yuchen had deliberately placed it at the store’s back door to prevent any minor smell from escaping and to facilitate the collection of fertilizer produced inside.
“Mr. Pei, this equipment contains special bacterial strains that can reduce food waste by 99%. It can even break down difficult-to-digest waste like bones, though that takes longer.”
“After treatment with filters, plasma high-temperature sintering, UV photolysis, and other technologies, the discharged gas is colorless, odorless, and non-toxic. The remaining solid is a small amount of bacterial fertilizer that can be used as organic fertilizer. Mixed with soil, it can be used as compost within a month or two to improve soil conditions in fields, vegetable gardens, and urban flower beds…”
Pei Qian listened half-heartedly, nodding silently.
Fine, the money had already been spent. The fertilizer produced was minimal and wouldn’t sell for much. The waste processors were all hidden behind the stores’ back doors, so people probably wouldn’t notice them.
Pei Qian quickly lost interest: “Good, equip all Slackin’ Delivery stores with these from now on. That’s all.”
Returning to his seat in the store, Pei Qian planned to have lunch and leave afterward.
Soon, the dishes arrived.
Pei Qian had just taken a couple of bites when his expression suddenly froze.
He saw two uninvited guests heading toward the Slackin’ Delivery store.
One held a microphone, the other carried a video camera!
Pei Qian looked at the reporter and the gleaming camera lens now at the front door, then at his meal that he’d barely touched. He reluctantly turned around, facing his back toward the reporter’s direction to prevent his face from being captured on camera.
If the reporter happened to interview him and created a “Concerned Citizen Mr. Pei” segment, that would be troublesome!
Fortunately, there were other customers in the store. Pei Qian quietly ate his food, pretending to be an ordinary passerby.
Sure enough, the reporter casually interviewed a customer eating at a table to the left.
“Hello, may I ask what you think about garbage classification and Slackin’ Delivery?” the reporter asked.
This guy was sitting sideways to the reporter, browsing his phone while eating, unaware of the recording camera.
“What do I think? I’m too lazy for garbage classification! The food here is of good quality, reasonably priced, and affordable. It’s slightly expensive, but convenient—you don’t have to separate the garbage after eating…”
Halfway through his answer, he suddenly realized something was off.
Turning his head, he saw the large camera lens filming him.
The customer froze: “Are you recording? An interview? For the news?”
The reporter nodded: “Yes.”
The customer hurriedly turned to face the camera properly, tucked his phone into his pocket, and said solemnly: “Um, garbage classification is great! Protecting the environment and conserving resources is everyone’s responsibility! I think Slackin’ Delivery is doing exceptionally well in this regard, perfectly aligning with the environmental concept of garbage classification, so I’m supporting it with my actions!”
After finishing, the customer whispered, “Please edit out the earlier part. Thanks.”
The reporter could barely suppress a smile: “Of course, don’t worry.”
Rui Yuchen also noticed the reporter and approached with a puzzled expression.
He was entirely unprepared for this situation; it wasn’t a pre-arranged interview.
“Hello, I’m a reporter from Jingzhou TV Evening News. Are you the manager of this store?” the female reporter asked with a smile.
Rui Yuchen nodded: “I’m the head of Tenda Group’s Slackin’ Delivery business and also the manager of Slackin’ Delivery Store #1.”
He glanced discreetly toward Mr. Pei’s position, noticed his posture suggested he didn’t want to be in the spotlight, and tactfully pretended not to know him.
Pei Qian, hearing that Rui Yuchen hadn’t mentioned him, felt slightly relieved, thinking how considerate he was.
The reporter was delighted: “We’re doing a feature for our evening news about restaurants excelling in the garbage classification initiative. Slackin’ Delivery seems particularly outstanding in this area. Could you briefly introduce Slackin’ Delivery’s business philosophy?”
Rui Yuchen nodded. He had already prepared abundant content and took this opportunity to present it in detail.
“Slackin’ Delivery is an essential component of the Tenda Life APP, representing Tenda Group’s healthy, environmentally friendly, and refined lifestyle philosophy!”
“Healthy means Slackin’ Delivery uses fresh ingredients with minimal oil and salt, striving to make takeout food taste like home-cooked meals, balancing nutrition and flavor.”
“Environmentally friendly means Slackin’ Delivery actively practices recyclable and reusable principles. All utensils are uniformly collected, washed, and disinfected, reducing plastic waste’s environmental impact. We use specialized microbial waste processors to handle food waste, turning waste into treasure.”
“Refined means Slackin’ Delivery consistently aims to provide customers with a high-quality dining experience. We’ve partnered with Nameless Restaurant to launch the ‘Food·Harmony’ brand, helping takeout escape its inherent low-quality, cheap image.”
“Besides these, we’ve specially launched muscle-building meals, nutritional meals, fat-reducing meals…”
Rui Yuchen spoke confidently in front of the camera.
This content was completely familiar to him.
Since its inception, Slackin’ Delivery had embodied Mr. Pei’s various philosophical concepts.
During his tenure as Slackin’ Delivery’s director, Rui Yuchen had discussed these ideas with Lin Canrong multiple times. When providing fitness meals to the managed fitness centers, he gained an even deeper understanding of Mr. Pei’s philosophy.
Now, with Tenda Life APP integrating all this content, there was even more to introduce in front of the camera!
As he listened, Pei Qian’s chopsticks halted mid-air.
Although his back was turned to Rui Yuchen and the reporter, a question mark slowly appeared above his head.
Tenda Life APP?
What on earth was that?