That same evening, everyone following Back to Field noticed that the show's official Weibo account had posted a new update:
"Thank you all for accompanying us along the way. In this new season, Back to Field will open a new recording mode. Remaining true to our original aspiration and forging ahead, the new Back to Field will be the most authentic Back to Field!"
At the same time, netizens who saw this update keenly noticed that all previous posts about this season had been completely deleted.
"Good grief, what on earth happened to Back to Field? It's airing in half a month, and now they're saying the recording mode has changed?"
"Sigh, it's just a gimmick. Aren't all variety shows nowadays the same? Aside from scripts, it's just more scripts, completely pointless."
"Ain't that the truth? It's just old wine in a new bottle. Only Go Fighting used to be a truly unscripted variety show, but sadly it's turned out just like all the others now."
"Seriously! Go Fighting used to be so good! Now it's just an absolute dumpster fire."
"Hold on, you guys are talking trash about Go Fighting right under Back to Field's official post. Is that really appropriate?"
"Alright, alright, nothing much to discuss. There's still half a month left anyway, we'll see once it airs."
As the buzz around Back to Field's post grew hotter and hotter, many self-media accounts also jumped into the fray, offering their own interpretations of the update.
Regardless of how viral the matter became online, the entire Back to Field production team was currently swarming with activity.
To show his sincerity, Director Wang personally led his team to contact live-streaming platforms.
Currently, there were four most popular live-streaming platforms on Blue Star: Douyu, Huya, Kuaishou, and Douyin.
Wang Zhengyu most wanted to cooperate with Douyin, because at this stage Douyin could be considered a national app across the entire Blue Star, boasting the largest user base among the four major live-streaming platforms.
Initially, Wang Zhengyu had approached them cautiously, keeping a very low profile.
To his complete surprise, however, upon hearing that Back to Field wanted to broadcast live on their platform, Douyin's Operations Director flew straight to the recording location with a whole team.
"President Yu, thank you for making such a special trip."
Wang Zhengyu hurried over to a middle-aged man in a formal suit and reached out with a smile.
Seeing this, Yu Ze cordially shook his hand.
"Director Wang, the moment I received word that you were planning to live-stream Back to Field on our platform, I pushed aside all my work and flew right over with my team."
When his subordinate first reported that Back to Field intended to live-stream on Douyin, his very first thought was that it was impossible. He knew all too well just how high the risks of a live-streamed variety show were—which was why no variety show had ever adopted a live-streaming format over all these years.
After confirming it repeatedly, he immediately boarded a plane with his team, determined to secure the broadcasting rights!
This was, after all, the very first live-streamed variety show in the entire Huaxia!
One could only imagine the traffic volume it would entail!
Seeing Yu Ze's attitude, Wang Zhengyu couldn't help being slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Yu Ze to be so eager.
Yet immediately afterward, he thought of what Yun Mu had said earlier, and his emotions grew even more profound, making him value the live-streaming rights of Back to Field all the more.
The group arrived at Mushroom House. He Jiong and Huang Lei hadn't joined in; instead, they had gone out for a stroll, leaving the place to the production team.
......
At the bamboo house, villagers had come over early in the morning to help out, and the bamboo house was bustling with activity.
Yun Mu's parents had passed away when he was young. Although the village chief had raised him, all the villagers had taken exceptionally good care of him.
He had been sensible and deeply loved since childhood, so upon hearing that he planned to return to live in the village, every single villager was thoroughly delighted while they worked.
"Village Chief Grandpa, lunch is on me today. Let's go eat out."
Yun Mu wiped the sweat from his brow and said with a smile.
Hearing this, however, the village chief's expression stiffened.
"Eat out, my foot! Our homes are just a few steps away, why would we eat out instead of at home?! You brat need to be more frugal! If you don't save up a bit more money, how are you going to afford a wife in the future?!"
Hearing this, Yun Mu couldn't help scratching his head awkwardly.
"Well, I can't just let everyone work for nothing! I offered to pay wages, and you wouldn't take them. Now I want to treat you to a meal, and you won't agree to that either. You're all getting up in years, I can't just have you helping me for free!"
Just as he finished speaking, an elderly man working nearby straightened his back and said with a chuckle, "You brat, we've got plenty of time on our hands at home anyway. Helping you out is just good exercise."
"That's right, our village hasn't been this lively in ages."
Just as Yun Mu was hesitating, the village chief spoke up again: "Alright, listen to us old folks on this. If you really feel bad about it, after the house is built and we do the housewarming, you can treat us properly then!"
"Xiaomu, we've come to see you."
"Teacher He, Teacher Huang, why are you here?"
Yun Mu put down his work and walked over to them with a smile.
He Jiong smiled and said, "Zhengyu is busy negotiating the live-streaming partnership with Douyin over there, so Teacher Huang and I came out for a stroll."
Huang Lei also looked at Yun Mu with a smile.
Unlike his previous superficial politeness, this time it came straight from the heart.
If Back to Field truly regained its former popularity, Yun Mu would undoubtedly deserve the greatest credit.
"If this deal goes through, launching the live broadcast will probably be put on the agenda soon. Why don't you join the recording as well? Anyway, it's just the two of us old folks right now."
Huang Lei genuinely wanted Yun Mu to participate in the recording. With his and He Jiong's connections, as long as Yun Mu performed well on Back to Field, he was confident he could propel Yun Mu to stardom.
How famous he might become was hard to say, but guaranteeing him a comfortable life would be no problem at all.
Even so, Yun Mu declined once again.
"Thank you, Teacher Huang, but I'm just an ordinary person. Not only is it easy for me to make mistakes in front of a live camera lens, but what the viewers want to see isn't me either."
Hearing this, both He Jiong and Huang Lei fell somewhat silent.
This was already Huang Lei's second invitation to Yun Mu, yet both times he had been turned down.
"Teacher Huang, Teacher He, I live right here. Whenever your live-streaming session wraps up, I can come over and keep you company at any time."
At those words, He Jiong pouted, lowered his head slightly, and eyed Yun Mu sideways, putting on an act of mock anger.
"Fine then, it's a deal. When we're off the air, you have to come find us."
After chatting for a little longer, He Jiong and Huang Lei left.
When they returned to Mushroom House, Yu Ze and his entourage had already departed, leaving behind only a beaming Wang Zhengyu.
"Judging by that look on your face, I take it the deal went through?"
Huang Lei asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Wang Zhengyu said excitedly, "It went through! Yun Mu was spot-on! Not only was the platform extremely cooperative, but our revenue won't drop by a single cent—in fact, I have a feeling it might even surpass any previous season!"
"Besides, we don't even have to worry about promotion. All we need to do is announce our live-streaming partnership with Douyin on our official Weibo, and Douyin will handle all the rest of the publicity!"
"Good thing I remembered what that kid Yun Mu told me earlier, otherwise I probably would have taken a loss this time! Haha!"
Hearing that the cooperation had been finalized, He Jiong was also overjoyed.
"Then you'd better remember Xiaomu's contribution and properly thank him when the time comes!"
Hearing this, Wang Zhengyu immediately wore a smug expression.
"Needless to say! Before you guys even got back, I had already arranged it. My token of gratitude should reach him by tomorrow!"