The popularity of the strawberries didn’t happen overnight.
However, as sales rose, Cao Jian’s video also began receiving positive feedback.
With more and more viewers returning to like and comment, the video unexpectedly appeared on Bilibili’s homepage just two or three days after being posted.
Cao Jian’s follower count skyrocketed by fifty thousand in a single day.
The credit was partly due to the strawberries, but also to Cao Jian’s own solid skills.
After all, he was one of the twelve UP creators carefully selected by Ji Jingyu. Among the numerous food creators, Cao Jian being chosen meant he truly had something special.
He wasn’t the one with the most followers, but he was the one with the greatest potential.
Potential, in this context, meant solid editing skills, audience appeal, engaging content, personal charisma, and other subtle qualities.
Fortunately, Cao Jian had them all.
He genuinely enjoyed recording his life and sharing it with viewers.
Even though promoting Ji Xiu’s farm was technically just a paid task, he treated it with extraordinary seriousness, putting in meticulous effort to edit the video. The final product was brisk and bright, imbued with his personal style, making viewers feel as if they had personally visited Jingfeng Mountain with him, leaving them relaxed and happy.
Those coming from the homepage saw strawberries glistening with droplets, bright and enticing on the thumbnail, making mouths water and compelling them to click.
Once they watched, they couldn’t resist ordering strawberries and following this fresh and unpretentious UP creator.
The video began in a first-person perspective: waking up, ordering takeout, playing games. Upon checking his backend, he found a private message and opened it—
The music suddenly swelled.
Three bold words appeared: “Promotion!”
Next came an exaggerated performance of inner conflict: accept or not?
Looking at his worn shoes, the instant noodles in the cupboard, and the few remaining yuan in his balance, Cao Jian chose “it’s worth it.”
He closed his computer, packed, went out, hailed a cab, flew, transferred trains, and after a few rapid seconds of shots, Ji Xiu appeared on screen.
Four glowing characters flashed: “Sugar Daddy!”
Cao Jian thoughtfully censored a part for privacy.
Then came quick flashes: getting in the car, entering the village, followed by another exaggerated “it’s worth it” performance. He then rode a quaint, down-to-earth tricycle in first-person view.
From this point, the video’s pace normalized, moving into the main story.
The tricycle departed from the Ji family’s home, and the camera captured Jingfeng Mountain’s scenery: blue skies, white clouds, green grass, yellow cows, evoking the natural, serene beauty of the countryside.
Music played: “Walking on a country path.”
“Walking on a country path, with old cows by my side as companions…”
The catchy melody and idyllic scenery instantly captivated viewers.
Upon arriving at Jingfeng Mountain, the video showcased the geese, strawberry fields, and lush landscapes, drawing the story into its peak.
In the latter part, Cao Jian devoted substantial footage to the strawberry fields and the berries themselves, including shots of him in Ji Xiu’s courtyard, squinting in delight while eating a small basket of strawberries, making viewers almost taste the sweetness themselves.
Checking the comments now revealed rows of viewers who had ordered strawberries and returned to share their satisfaction.
New viewers, hesitant at first, often followed the example of others—ten might visit, and a few would place orders.
Two or three days later, they would return excitedly, completing a positive, self-sustaining cycle.
Over time, Cao Jian’s followers surpassed one million, and this video remained one of his most-commented.
18457l: Back to check-in. Cao Jian didn’t deceive me; the strawberries are really, really, really delicious. Ordered three jin, ate them all the first day, and my whole family insisted on another five jin. Too good.
18458l: Eating strawberries every day, I feel like I’m losing weight because I can’t afford other snacks, sob sob.
18459l: Not sure if anyone who eats these strawberries regularly is here, but I have to share: even though my family is rich, I’ve been eating these strawberries daily for over ten days. My skin, which hasn’t been white for twenty years, has improved by one shade.
18460l: Same here! Not only lighter skin, but my eyesight improved too. Staying up late at the computer, my degree actually dropped fifty points! Overjoyed! I’m so happy! Talking a little incoherently, but my family all experienced the same improvement. The change started from the day I ordered strawberries.
18461l: I knew my skin lightened, but did strawberries really improve eyesight? I feel like I’ve just read some seniors’ friend circle posts, full of doubt.jpg
18462l: Strawberries are so delicious, already ordered for the fifth time.
18463l: Wait, I’m the one above, too excited to comment earlier. Checked again, my skin got lighter, my eyes feel clearer. Only now noticed?
18464l: Strawberries naturally help with skin whitening and eyesight; eating a lot will definitely make a difference.
18465l: Passing by, wasn’t going to order, comments seemed exaggerated, but looked it up—strawberries really help eyesight, so I’ll try.
Feedback came steadily and directly.
Over ten days, the comments section turned into a festival of flaunting results.
34285l: Ah! Here again, from yellow-dark to yellow-light skin, everyone says I look prettier, so happy!
34285l: Saved a lot of money too; was planning to get glasses if vision worsened, now no need. Not sure if it’s placebo, but will keep supporting Jingfeng’s farm.
34285l: Strawberries are amazing, tasty and whitening, a month’s worth costs same as a bottle of miracle water, and miracle water can’t whiten. Hands on hips, feeling like a little fairy, how am I so white, so pretty?
34285l: Thanks to Cao Jian for recommending strawberries, I love you! Gotta go on a date, whitened two shades, caught my crush, hehe.
A month later.
39325l: Panic, strawberries are out of season, the boss took down the link. What do we do if we can’t buy anymore?
Summer was ending, and the weather was cooling.
Ji Xiu, following his usual routine, sent workers to deliver 300 jin of crayfish to the village entrance. Watching them load the truck and finish, he prepared to head home.
Qi Xiangkang called out: “Boss Ji, wait.”
“What is it?” Ji Xiu stopped and turned.
Qi Xiangkang hesitated, worry in his voice: “Today’s delivery seems a bit later than usual.”
Ji Xiu realized and explained: “There’s been some work on the mountain, the staff were busy, so it got delayed.”
Qi Xiangkang relaxed immediately: “Oh, I thought the crayfish season was over, and the staff couldn’t catch them. Daily supply won’t be affected, right?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem…”
Ji Xiu, reminded by him, thought about the issue.
When he started selling crayfish, he told curious buyers they were wild from Jingfeng River.
Even with the river’s natural resources, crayfish reproduce fast… over three months, shipping 300 jin daily, totaling over 30,000 jin.
Harvested all thirty thousand, that should suffice.
Maybe stop this business and resume next year?
Qi Xiangkang, unaware of his own words putting the crayfish supply at risk, relaxed when Ji Xiu said it was fine, then excitedly brought up another matter.
“No problem, good, good. Boss Ji, I’ve been preparing to open a night snack restaurant in the provincial city. Recently a local TV food documentary featured my shop. The show is about to air, and I want to officially open riding the hype.”
“Mainly, can I request more crayfish supply? At least for the first three days, so we won’t run out.”
Ji Xiu froze, as he had considered stopping supply.
Thinking, he deliberately hesitated: “Not impossible, but remember, the crayfish quantity is limited. Oversupplying now will reduce daily availability later.”
Qi Xiangkang’s face fell.
Long-term glory or short-term show?
The new shop required months of planning and all his savings; he couldn’t give up now.
Blame him for not telling Boss Ji in advance, leaving him unable to adjust.
“Then… as you say. Anyway, let the shop open first.” Ultimately, Qi Xiangkang chose short-term gain, praying for enough crowd to retain customers for two quarters until next year’s crayfish season.
Ji Xiu nodded: “Fine. Tell me the date and quantity in advance. I’ll prepare it for pickup.”
Qi Xiangkang thanked him, drove off.
Ji Xiu shook his head, thinking, everyone has their struggles… maybe find a way to supply crayfish longer.
Back home, the courtyard was busy with new village women employees, hired for the Taobao store.
Seeing Ji Xiu, they greeted respectfully amidst busy work.
This work, given by Ji Xiu, was easy, well-paid, local, saving travel costs, meals, and rent. It improved their household status.
Only Aunt Liu, a neighbor, was more familiar and said: “Miss Jing just looked everywhere for you; you forgot your phone.”
Ji Xiu checked: indeed forgotten.
Entering the house, Ji Jingyu was busy at the computer: “Dad, look! The store’s Wangxin messages are exploding.”
“What’s up?”
“You said the strawberries were nearly out of season and to take the link down. But at 2 p.m., after taking it down, hundreds immediately messaged asking why. I explained, but within ten minutes, Wangxin went crazy, messages kept coming, begging us not to take it down… strawberries are out of season, how to ship if we don’t remove the link?”
Ji Xiu sat: “Let me see.”
Clicking Wangxin, he saw countless messages pleading not to take it down.
Then his phone rang—Cao Jian, calling to beg him not to remove strawberries.
“Boss, can’t keep selling? My messages are exploding. Fans think we’re close and are asking me to plead.”
Ji Xiu calmly: “Of course not.”
Cao Jian: “….”
Ji Xiu changed tone: “But we’re about to list new fruits.”
“Really!” Cao Jian’s disappointment instantly flipped to excitement. “What fruits?”
Ji Xiu calm: “Tomatoes.”
“…What?”
“Or call it by its other name, ‘Xihongshi.’”
Cao Jian stammered: “B-but tomatoes are fruit?”
Ji Xiu raised his voice slightly: “Do you have a problem with tomatoes? Do you know how hard others work?”
Cao Jian pleaded: “Boss, don’t tease me.”
Ji Xiu laughed: “Fine, no teasing. Honestly, besides tomatoes, we have watermelon and cantaloupe, in ample supply until winter. Also some vegetables—beans, lettuce, radish, scattered but continuously supplied, until strawberries return next year.”
“Strawberries in winter too?”
Ji Xiu: “I’ve said so much, and you only heard strawberries?”
Winter strawberries could be supplied, grown in greenhouses, ready for Lunar New Year, more profitable than summer strawberries.
Cao Jian delighted: “Great, I’ll order in winter.”
Ji Xiu coldly interrupted: “Don’t you want to try other fruits?”
Cao Jian, eager to flatter: “Of course, Boss! Your strawberries are delicious, watermelon must be great too.”
Satisfied, Ji Xiu hung up, grabbed his phone, and went with Ji Jingyu to photograph the other crops for listing.
Before leaving, another call came.
“Xiao Ji, the fruits and vegetables you sent, I delivered to the hotel. They’re willing to sign a new contract. When will you come to the provincial city? We can have a drink too,” said Professor Qian happily.
Ji Xiu paused: “Professor, you sent them to the hotel?”
“Yes,” he replied simply.
Ji Xiu: “But I didn’t plan to supply the hotel. Sent them so you could taste them. Last video call, didn’t you praise my farm?”
Professor Qian dumbfounded.
All those delicious fruits and vegetables, he barely ate, rushed to the hotel, regretted it.
Now Ji Xiu said it was all for him, not the hotel.
Feeling regretful, Professor Qian’s voice sounded like a sulky sixty-year-old child: “I…I didn’t know…”
Ji Xiu: “No worries, I understand. I’ll send another batch. Keep some for yourself. Also, push the hotel for me; in half a month, strawberry season ends, I’ll stop dealing with hotels. Selling online is more profitable.”
Professor Qian realized, agreed, urged Ji Xiu to send the package, hung up, likely planning to cancel the hotel deal.
Ji Xiu, touched by his enthusiasm, continued photographing crops.
After photographing, Ji Xiu and Ji Jingyu selected the best shots of each crop, edited them, and prepared new listings.
New products would take time to enter the market.
Ji Jingyu thought of something, clapped: “Cao Jian’s video popularity can’t go to waste. I’ll comment and notify about new products.”
She opened his channel, clearly planning to fully utilize Cao Jian’s promotion value.
Ji Xiu, helpless but smiling, thought to send Cao Jian two boxes of strawberries and crayfish as compensation.
Her move wasn’t wasted.
Since she first recruited Cao Jian, Ji Jingyu had changed her account name to “Jingfeng Mountain Agricultural Retail” and interacted in comments to gain public recognition.
Once the official account appeared, comments stirred.
People curious about strawberries learned it was due to new products being listed, laughing at this down-to-earth sugar daddy.
Official replies reassured:
Jingfeng Mountain Agricultural Retail: “Not just vegetables—watermelon and cantaloupe too, very tasty. Thought of strawberries, tempted? Dare to try again.”
A bored follower replied: “But I only want whitening…”
Ji Jingyu, aware of the strawberry whitening trend, replied preparedly:
“Dear, tomatoes’ whitening isn’t worse than strawberries, also anti-aging, blood pressure and lipid control. Worth trying?”
Follower: “…Alright, I’m tempted. Ordering now.”
Ji Jingyu pleased, waited, saw a new order appear, clapped: “Dad, store’s open!”
In the next half-day, new fruits and vegetables sold several dozen portions each.
Those who had to accept strawberries being removed, either seeing Ji Jingyu’s comments or due to Cao Jian, finally stopped pestering.
They observed sales rise, waiting for feedback before ordering.
Ji Jingyu relaxed.
At least Wangxin wouldn’t explode with messages she couldn’t promise.
Ji Xiu, satisfied, smiled: “Export the orders, ship together tomorrow morning.”
Ji Jingyu obediently agreed.
Ji Xiu taught employees how to pack.
Having tasted the produce himself, he listed it at triple market price, confident the first customers would spread word, and no discount was needed.
While busy, Professor Qian called again.
Ji Xiu puzzled: hadn’t he already called?
Professor Qian awkwardly: “Boss Ji, hotel refuses to cancel. Can we continue cooperation?”
Ji Xiu: “Continue? Are you at the hotel? Any staff nearby? Don’t be troubled. I’ll handle it.”
Professor Qian handed the phone.
The voice sounded familiar—like the cold, arrogant purchasing manager from last contract signing.
Recalling that contract, Ji Xiu frowned.
If not for past difficulties, he wouldn’t have sought another sales channel.
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