Let you play a corrupt official, are you saying you want to make progress?

Chapter 23: I Did It, Feel Free

To be honest, Qin Xuan never expected something like this to happen. It was utterly beyond belief.

“I can’t believe it. The world has gone this crazy. It seems this parallel world isn’t quite as pristine as I had imagined,” Qin Xuan sighed softly.

It turned out that this parallel world was not free from the complexities of human nature and the abuse of power.

If that was the case, then his novel about corruption was even more necessary. It could serve as a warning, shedding light on these issues.

[Brother Xuan is truly amazing. I’m completely in awe. He foresaw this case a long time ago.].

[The people involved in this are probably in tears. If Brother Xuan’s show had aired earlier, they might not have been caught so quickly.].

[There’s no way around it. These people are just too foolish, driving up the unit prices like that. They were practically asking to be investigated!].

[But this incident also reminds us that such things can happen in reality. We should take it as a lesson. Who knows, the things in Brother Xuan’s show might have real-life counterparts!].

Internet users began to draw comparisons. They were beginning to appreciate the educational significance of Qin Xuan’s program.

It was truly influential. This was something distinct that other shows lacked. While other shows might be entertaining, they certainly lack this level of profoundness.

At this moment, the production team was also astounded by Qin Xuan’s seemingly prophetic abilities.

The director, while looking at the news, could only sigh deeply. “This young Qin, what he discussed on the show, materialized. I wonder if the things he mentions on the show might come true in the future. If they do, it’s genuinely alarming!”

After saying this, the director lit a cigarette.

Qin Xuan’s talent was undeniable, and as he became more accomplished, his show gained even more popularity, which was a positive development. However, now, the events in Qin Xuan’s show are becoming a reality.

It wasn’t that people were motivated by watching Qin Xuan’s content. Instead, these things already existed in the world, and people simply weren’t aware of them before.

“Well, don’t be disheartened. The world is still a beautiful place. Qin Xuan’s show serves as a caution.

Our society today is different from the bureaucratic capitalism of the Ming Dynasty. We shouldn’t anticipate everything to happen,” the station manager reassured with a smile.

There were indeed significant distinctions between the Ming Dynasty and the present. Of course, the station manager’s words were very diplomatic.

By saying, “shouldn’t anticipate everything to happen,” it subtly conveyed a clear viewpoint.

“I dare say this, Mr. Li, that Qin Xuan talked about today is very likely to exist in reality. As they say, ‘Sudden wealth for the poor…’ ”

“As long as they don’t hear any opposing viewpoints, problems will arise!” The female leader said thoughtfully.

When she watched the show today and heard this conversation, she found it very insightful.

“That certainly exists. Some broadcasters, whose original living standards weren’t high, have amassed many fans in the internet age.”

“They’ve become top-tier figures and have started to look down on others,” the station manager nodded in agreement.

He had observed this frequently. Wang Zhi, as a writer, had an impressive understanding of human nature, and his insights were deep.

Once a financially disadvantaged person suddenly acquired wealth, they often became haughty and made mistakes. This principle is applied universally, whether in ancient or modern times.

“You know, there’s this one broadcaster I like, and it seems they’ve changed. When they used to endorse products, they always considered things from our perspective.”

But now, it seems different,” a young staff member thought for a moment and then spoke up.

They often watched broadcasters who endorsed products, and there was one they had followed for many years.

Now, they could sense that this individual had become conceited. In the past, this broadcaster used to think from the consumer’s point of view. For instance, this broadcaster used to advise their followers to make rational consumption choices, particularly when the value for money wasn’t high. They encouraged their viewers to save the money for more meaningful pursuits. It was this unique empathy that quickly gained the broadcaster a large following.

However, the broadcaster’s current style was significantly different from before, and it was evident that they had become more focused on making money, resulting in a certain degree of arrogance.

I hope they don’t experience a downfall. The young staff member silently prayed in their heart.

In fact, since the report on the power strip incident, their perspective on Qin Xuan’s “Journey into History” program has completely transformed. Previously, they saw it as an entertaining show with some educational elements. Now, they recognize the strong educational value within it.

Qin Xuan, no wonder he could handle such immense success. He had considerable strength all along.

Back at home, Qin Xuan reluctantly went live, responding to the pleas of his online followers. The show lacked interviews, and the conversations he had with Wang Zhi were quite profound.

After watching, many viewers had significant doubts, which was the time for clarification.

Many “up” accounts on the website had been analyzing the content. Some of these analyses were highly reasonable. However, people on the internet had varying levels of expertise, and some of the analyses provided by “up” accounts were nonsense.

Therefore, after the show, Qin Xuan would come online to clarify things, especially on a day like today when such a significant event had occurred.

[Fans: Brother Xuan, today’s content is quite profound. What do you think about the power strip incident?].

[Fans: I admire you. I hadn’t paid much attention to you before, but today I realized, Brother Xuan, you’re incredible!].

“No, I didn’t predict this. It’s just that my nephew seemed to be in need of money and had some questionable ideas. His methods were just too unsophisticated, and anyone with a discerning eye could see through it,” Qin Xuan shook his head.

The issue with his nephew was not a result of his prophetic abilities, it was a test set up by Wang Zhi to evaluate his nephew’s character, and his nephew didn’t pass the test.

[Fans: Brother Xuan, for this nephew matter, could it have been resolved by adjusting the quantity instead of raising the unit price?].

Some fans were curious if the problem could have been avoided if the school simply adjusted the quantity rather than raising the unit price.

“Heh, I think you’re misunderstanding something. The issue with the power strips wasn’t discovered because it was obvious or not obvious. It was due to our strict regulatory oversight.

In the case of my nephew, the oversight was our responsibility. The reason it was discovered was that, from the beginning, Wang Zhi and I were aware of the situation, and it was meant to be discovered,” Qin Xuan explained.

“It’s just a test,” Qin Xuan replied as he glanced at the barrage of comments.

Being discovered didn’t hinge on whether something was obvious or not. With strict regulatory oversight, even minor alterations would be swiftly detected.

On the contrary, if Wang Zhi had allowed his nephew to continue, the deal would have been a success. Even a markup of a hundred times or more would have been possible.

The fans suddenly had a revelation. This was the key issue. It appeared they had misunderstood it before.

[Fans: Brother Xuan, I’m increasingly in awe of you. You’re truly amazing!].

[Fans: Yeah, I used to think Wang Zhi was just a bit greedy, but I didn’t realize he had so many businesses!].

[Fans: Indeed, even with things like tea leaves, it seems like Wang Zhi is involved in various businesses.].

The fans had uncovered a problem. For a moment, they understood why, even though the Ming Dynasty saw a significant influx of silver, the common people’s lives weren’t significantly improved, the imperial treasury was still impoverished, and taxes often went unpaid.

It seemed that in the late Ming Dynasty, there were many officers like Wang Zhi who held immense wealth, leaving the imperial treasury empty. These were aspects of history that had previously been overlooked.

“Wang Zhi’s business is incredibly extensive. Those who have become Wang Zhi’s confidants have discovered many things. For instance, the officers of the Ming Dynasty can be compared to a web.

If you can spin silk, you become a part of this web, and here, you are very safe. However, if you can’t spin silk or deliberately avoid it, you become prey on the web and will ultimately be devoured.

When I was researching history, I often felt something was strange.

Some people and events seemed illogical, but now that I’ve delved deeper, I’ve realized that some seemingly irrational aspects make more sense when considering the human factor,” Qin Xuan reflected sincerely.

[Fans: Although I don’t fully understand, I’m deeply impressed.].

[Fans: What Brother Xuan says is right. Brother Xuan is amazing!].

[Fans: Brother Xuan is the voice of reason in this world.].

The fans were in awe of Qin Xuan’s thoughts. After this brief exchange, the live broadcast came to an end.

Qin Xuan lay in bed, idly scrolling through his phone, watching other live streams. Of course, he also watched some product recommendation videos, considering that Singles’ Day was approaching and significant discounts were on the platform.

Qin Xuan wanted to make some purchases.

Coincidentally, when he opened the app, it recommended a product influencer—the same influencer who was once the top product influencer across the entire internet.

Qin Xuan watched with great interest, but for some reason, he had a foreboding feeling.

He had a lingering feeling that something was going to happen.

“Never mind, I’ll watch some things and then sleep,” Qin Xuan said as he rolled over.

The night passed uneventfully. Qin Xuan got up, got ready, and received a notification from the station manager about a lunch appointment.

This came as quite a surprise to Qin Xuan because, in his memory, lunch appointments were rare at the station.

The station manager explained that it was due to his outstanding achievements, coupled with the success of his literary works and that a company wanted to discuss a script acquisition project.

This explanation made sense to Qin Xuan. The station manager wasn’t particularly fond of such gatherings, and he likely agreed to this one for his benefit.

At noon, Qin Xuan arrived at the agreed-upon location, where he met not only the station manager but also Professor Yang.

“Professor Yang, you’re here too?” Qin Xuan expressed his surprise upon seeing him.

Professor Yang was not part of the station’s staff. He was the station manager’s good friend, and if you had to put a label on it, he was the literary and historical consultant for the station.

“Nonsense, Old Yang is the literary and historical consultant. This time, he’s here to help guide you, right?” The station manager gave Qin Xuan a playful look.

They had been busy with preparations for this event.

“Qin Xuan and I usually don’t attend these kinds of gatherings. Things discussed over a drink are easy to talk about, but they’re all superficial,” Professor Yang explained.

Business at the drinking table, as long as the drinking went well, reaching an agreement was not an issue. In this world, social intricacies existed, but if you wanted to distance yourself from them, it was entirely possible. However, Qin Xuan’s world was different. If he wanted to keep his distance, everyone would distance themselves from him.

Here, if he didn’t like something, he could decline and avoid it. As long as he had the ability, he would still be well-regarded.

But this time, it was different. It was a large company offering top-notch terms and prices. The professor and the station manager had high hopes for Qin Xuan, so they were eager to make this happen.

“Qin Xuan, due to station-related reasons, the show is temporarily on hold today. We’ll continue as usual tomorrow, so you can…”

With these words, they walked together into a private dining room. The main seat was left vacant for the station manager.

Sitting beside them was a middle-aged man with a big belly, unmistakably the boss.

“Come, come, have a seat, all of you!” The boss stood up, radiating warmth.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting!” The station manager took a seat and politely inquired.

“Not at all, I just arrived!” The boss replied, also with a smile on his face.

Hearing these words, Qin Xuan felt a familiar vibe in the air.

“Qin Xuan, let me introduce you to Mr. Huang, the CEO of Starry Media.

He’s interested in your work and is considering a collaboration,” the station manager introduced.

“So, you’re Professor Qin. I’ve heard so much about you! This is my secretary, Xiao Li!” Mr. Huang greeted Qin Xuan with a charming smile, shaking his hand and introducing the attractive young woman beside him.

Mr. Huang was skilled at socializing, addressing Qin Xuan as “Professor.”

In Qin Xuan’s previous era, this was common practice. People would call just about anyone “Professor,” whether it was a TV host, actor, writer, or journalist. If he didn’t have a clear job title, “Professor” was a safe bet. It was evident that Mr. Huang knew how to navigate these social niceties.

On the other hand, Xiao Li appeared rather inexperienced, extending her hand casually for a handshake. Mr. Huang’s expression changed slightly when she shook hands with Qin Xuan.

Xiao Li was Mr. Huang’s employee, and she was chosen for her looks. Her presence at this meeting was part of a strategy, and she was prepared for it as long as it helped secure the deal.

“Professor Qin, I’m sorry, Xiao Li is a bit nervous today. How about this: Xiao Li will toast to you!” Mr. Huang quickly signaled her.

Qin Xuan sighed inwardly, wondering why people liked playing these social games. Mr. Huang and Xiao Li represented two extremes.

Mr. Huang might not sound genuinely sincere, but his words made the situation less awkward. On the other hand, Xiao Li seemed like a pressured young girl forced into this situation.

Xiao Li noticed Mr. Huang’s gaze, so she picked up her glass and downed it in one gulp.

“Professor Qin, I apologize for my behavior. I’ve made a mistake. Please accept my apology!” Xiao Li’s words brought a sense of nostalgia to Qin Xuan.

Before his time-traveling adventures, he had been just as inexperienced and green, similar to Xiao Li.

“You don’t have to make amends with a drink. We’re all young people here. No need to be so formal!” Qin Xuan reassured her.