It's actually pretty funny. The fan development plan that Zhang Yang discussed with the rest of the team during their meetings usually involved the company spending money, covering operational costs, and interacting with fans offline to foster friendships and develop hardcore allies.
But after putting it into practice, they realized this thought process was completely naive.
Why is that? The enthusiasm offline fans had for Zhang Yang's team was completely beyond their expectations.
Wherever they went, as soon as they sent out a message in their WeChat group, unless it was a rather remote city or region, there would always be a few generous "hosts" among the fans stepping up, organizing and hosting various activities. Wang Yan and the others were initially quite unaccustomed to this, but after some time and experience, they have now basically adapted to this state.
It's worth mentioning that even though some fans took care of them, Wang Yan and his team didn't just mooch off them without qualms. They had a budget approved by the company, and instead of using it for hospitality expenses, they converted it into trial products for the fishing fans. They gave out sets of bait and feed wherever they went. This not only expressed their appreciation to their hardcore fans, but it also served as product promotion for the company, killing two birds with one stone.
On the first night they arrived in Fengcheng, a small barbecue gathering was organized with a dozen fishing enthusiasts participating.
By the next noon, the gathering had expanded to over forty people. Fans from around Fengcheng heard the news and drove over. Their enthusiasm made Zhang Yang, who seldom attended such events, feel a bit overwhelmed.
Aside from the eating, drinking, and offline interactions, local fishing fans brought Zhang Yang and his team some intel they had gathered.
Overall, the intel gathered from various sources corroborated each other and matched what they had learned from the gatekeeper uncle.
The value of this hard-earned intel significantly decreased after Zhang Yang offered a box of cigarettes to the gatekeeper uncle and obtained the information.
...
At 4:30 in the afternoon, Zhang Yang's pre-scheduled reminder alarm went off on his phone.
Having drunk a bit too much beer at lunch, Zhang Yang opened his eyes, rubbed his eyes, and felt slightly dazed, the alcohol not yet fully evaporated.
He got up, washed his face to wake himself up, and then walked to the room of his teammates next door.
The group of guys had nothing better to do and were playing cards in the hotel room. Wang Yan was losing badly, with his forehead covered in sticky notes.
Zhang Yang asked, "Who didn't drink at lunch? Come with me to Dragon and Phoenix Manor!"
"For what? I didn't drink!" Zhou Chu looked up.
Zhou Chu, being a bit older, was relatively restrained when away from home and was completely sober at that moment.
Zhang Yang explained, "The gatekeeper uncle asked me to go over today to give me something. I don't know what it is, but I can't drive since I've been drinking. Come with me!"
"Okay!" Zhou Chu immediately got up and followed Zhang Yang out of the room.
Downstairs, they got into the van, and Zhou Chu started the car with the GPS directing them straight to Dragon and Phoenix Manor.
By the time they arrived at the destination, it was almost five o'clock. Dragon and Phoenix Manor was bustling with anglers coming to check out the venue the day before the competition, creating a lively scene with cars coming in and out.
Zhang Yang's van was not parked at the entrance but instead parked across the street with foresight. Zhang Yang got off the passenger seat and jogged towards the gatekeeper's booth.
"Uncle, I'm here!" Zhang Yang greeted with a smile at the window of the gatekeeper's booth.
The gatekeeper from yesterday also smiled broadly seeing Zhang Yang arrive: "I thought you forgot! Here, take the stuff with you and check it out later!" He then pulled out a black plastic bag from under the desk.
Seeing the gatekeeper act so mysteriously piqued Zhang Yang's curiosity. The bag had some weight, about five or six pounds. Since he was told to look at it later, Zhang Yang refrained from opening it in public and just kept thanking the man.
"Thanks, Uncle!"
"No need for thanks, didn't say thanks when I smoked your Zhonghua, did I? Remember, if you're lucky and win a big prize like a car, don't forget to treat me to something nice!"
Zhang Yang gestured an okay sign, "Don't worry, definitely! If there's nothing else, I'll head off now. The team is in the car across the road with the engine running!"
"Take it easy and stay safe!"
"Will do!"
...
Having got the black plastic bag, Zhang Yang made his way back to the car.
Zhou Chu was a bit surprised to see Zhang Yang actually get something from the gatekeeper, considering they had only just met. If he didn't know Zhang Yang well, he would have thought they were already acquainted.
Getting into the car, before even closing the door, Zhang Yang eagerly opened the loop tied on the bag.
Giving it a glance, Zhang Yang grinned!
"What is it?" Zhou Chu leaned over from the driver's seat to take a look.
Zhang Yang happily shut the car door and replied with a smile, "Something good, original pond pellets!"
Zhou Chu's expression changed upon hearing this, and he said incredulously, "Original pond pellets? Really? Can something so rare be given to us just like that?"
His skepticism was understandable. Original pond pellets are what the fish were fed in the pond, and if used properly, they are very effective.
Generally, for slightly larger competitions, fish sources are kept confidential. The probability of a gatekeeper obtaining original pond pellets seems rather low.
Zhang Yang grabbed a handful of these breeding pellets for fully grown fish, sniffed them, and said, "The aroma of soybean meal and fermentation is relatively strong in the pellets, unlike the general supplies from large feed manufacturers! As for whether they are genuine, we can't verify. Let's not worry about it! Having a backup is better than none, we'll use them and see! Maybe with these pellets, we might really drive home a new car!"