This trip earned eight thousand yuan.
The deposit balance was now over sixteen thousand four hundred yuan.
With her savings surpassing ten thousand, Zhao Yan felt a little more at ease.
"Uncle Hu, if there's nothing else, I'll be heading back," Zhao Yan said.
"I'll walk you out," Uncle Hu replied.
Zhao Yan and Wu Jiaxin returned. They had expected Uncle Hu to just see them off, but he actually rode his motorcycle to escort Zhao Yan all the way back to the shop before leaving.
Ma Qingqing had been waiting at the shop entrance. Seeing them return, she greeted them enthusiastically.
With Ma Qingqing there, there was no need to lock the door.
Once inside the shop, Wu Jiaxin pulled up a small stool and began editing the video footage from the DSLR camera.
"Let's edit it tomorrow. Let's rest tonight," Zhao Yan said softly.
"I'm still not very familiar with editing, so I want to practice more," Wu Jiaxin replied.
"Then I'll keep you company," Zhao Yan said.
Zhao Yan pulled up a small stool and sat beside Wu Jiaxin.
She asked Ma Qingqing if any customers had visited that day.
Ma Qingqing shook her head, "No."
Wu Jiaxin was diligent and could stay up late. Zhao Yan bought her some late-night snacks and milk tea before going to bed.
With such an employee, it was hard not to make money.
When Zhao Yan woke up in the morning, she found Wu Jiaxin still editing.
"You haven't slept?" Zhao Yan asked.
"I've finished editing. I've compressed the video to about ten minutes. Zhao Jie, please take a look," Wu Jiaxin said to Zhao Yan.
"Alright." Zhao Yan came over and watched it three times in a row. Wu Jiaxin's skill was undeniable; the video was smooth and captured all the essential parts.
"It's really good."
Wu Jiaxin smiled, "Then Zhao Jie, I'll upload it to Douyin."
"Okay, great," Zhao Yan replied.
The video was uploaded successfully. Zhao Yan advised Wu Jiaxin to get some rest.
Today, she needed to go out and buy brushes and paper to make paper figures for Uncle Hu's father.
They had earned eight thousand yesterday, but customers like Uncle Hu were rare.
It wasn't likely they would earn eight thousand every day.
Ten paper figures should take about three days to complete.
She went to the market and bought drawing boards, brushes, paper for making paper figures, and thin bamboo. The thin bamboo would serve as the skeleton for the paper figures; without it, they wouldn't stand up.
After three days, the ten paper figures were ready. Uncle Hu came to confirm, and Zhao Yan then burned them all.
"Zhao Jie, our video turned out really well this time," Wu Jiaxin said, sitting beside Zhao Yan and scanning the video comments.
Zhao Yan was drawing talismans. She had used quite a few talismans recently, and it was time to draw more.
"How many views?" Zhao Yan asked.
"One hundred thirty thousand views, over five hundred likes, and more than three hundred comments. We have over two thousand two hundred followers now," Wu Jiaxin said with a smile.
"Let me see." Zhao Yan's eyes lit up, and she quickly leaned over to look.
"Scroll down the comments, let me see."
"Zhao Jie, you only need to look at the comments at the beginning. The comments from netizens below are mostly criticisms. Some netizens are too aggressive." Wu Jiaxin said.
"It's alright, it's alright. Scroll down and let me see," Zhao Yan insisted.
Hua Xiao Zhu: [This summoning is quite interesting, but it's too fake. The blogger hired good actors, especially that auntie. Her crying and shouting showed great acting skills, and then her voice even turned into a man's. It's truly amazing, awesome!] This comment had 2397 likes.
"This comment has more likes than ours," Zhao Yan remarked.
She saw Wu Jiaxin's reply.
[We didn't hire actors. This is what happened in Guanghui Village; it's real.]
Liu Ayi aa: [I'm old and can't stand seeing these things. My father also passed away suddenly. The title the blogger chose, "The child wishes to be filial, but the parents are gone," truly touched my tear ducts. Especially the crying of that bald brother, it also reminded me of my father. That sister's actions are truly hateful.]
Xiao Xiao Shi Qing: [Why do I feel this is real? This video gives me a very real feeling, especially that auntie hitting her own face. If she were an actress, she wouldn't hit herself that hard. And the spirit tablet suddenly falling and cracking, the auntie being a woman but speaking with a man's voice – if it's fake, how do you explain all this?]
Qi Xing Xiao Cai Qi: [I tried to imitate the blogger's actions, but I couldn't summon my grandfather. Is my posture wrong?]
Wo Ai Xue Xi: [Summoning Grandpa? The upstairs neighbor failed to summon; maybe you didn't collect all seven Grandpa Beads?]
Zhao Yan browsed through the video comments. Most of them questioned whether the video was too fake.
The most criticized aspect was that Zhao Yan had shaken a bell a few times and then summoned a ghost with a talisman.
Zhao Yan felt a bit speechless about this.
There were also netizens who warmed her heart, with many commenting that her videos were very good.
Regardless of whether it was real or fake, the theme of cherishing loved ones was well-received.
"Since everyone is questioning it, Zhao Jie, why don't we do a live stream to prove ourselves?" Wu Jiaxin suggested.
"Live stream? That's possible!" Zhao Yan nodded.
"Check your private messages to see if anyone has any requests."
Wu Jiaxin replied, "I've already looked through all the comments and private messages. Besides some netizens who were intentionally causing trouble and whom I ignored, there are indeed a few people whose private messages indicate they are facing real difficulties and seeking help."
"However, I sent them messages, and only one person replied. The others haven't responded."
"Is that so? Open your private messages and let me see what it's about," Zhao Yan said.
Wu Jiaxin opened the private messages.
[Hello, blogger, I am a sophomore student. I heard that someone died in our school before, and it happened in our dormitory. Several times I heard knocking sounds, but when I opened the door, I saw nothing.]
[One time I went to the restroom, and I found that the door of the adjacent restroom was clearly closed, but it suddenly opened, and I heard the sound of flushing water.]
[I also heard women chatting from the adjacent restroom, but this is a male dormitory.]
"This is the message, Zhao Jie," Wu Jiaxin pointed to the comment.
"Ask them which school it is and if they have time," Zhao Yan asked.
"I'll ask." Wu Jiaxin sent a private message.
The reply came back quickly.
[Blogger, you finally replied! I've been waiting for you for a long time.]
[The school I attend is Dongchang Jiangshui University. Let's add contacts, blogger. I'll tell you my WeChat later.]
[WeChat ID: 13856721397.]
Wu Jiaxin added them using her WeChat, and the request was quickly accepted.
[Blogger, please watch this video.]
He sent a video, with the camera pointed towards the restroom.
The video was too dark; it was a recording from the internet.
A [ge ge~ ge ge~] sound could be heard.
The sound was ethereal, followed by the sound of flushing water.
The video was only twenty-three seconds long.
"Is Dongchang Jiangshui University far?" Zhao Yan asked.
Wu Jiaxin replied, "It's also in Jiangcheng, about seventeen kilometers from here."
"That's good. Ask him if he's okay with a live stream. If he is, we can start immediately," Zhao Yan said.
"But it's a male dormitory."