My System Forces Me to Live off Women-Chapter 156 - 150: Painting a Big Pie

"Besides receiving funding, the biggest significance of the 'Research on Novels in the New Century's Twenty Years' project is to tell people that contemporary literature in Dong is clinging to the past and losing vitality. It is dead, contemporary literary research is meaningless, and online literature might be the only way out. Whether it leads to another dead end, only time will tell in twenty years."

Li Peifeng asked this question to fill the silence, but subconsciously expected Zhao Qingge to give him a metaphysical or somewhat encouraging and motivating answer. He didn't expect the response to be so bleak and hopeless,

"Sometimes, I think your decision not to teach in a university is the right one."

Zhao Qingge rested his head on his palm and smiled: "If you taught, your work would be like mine. I'll tell you what your daily routine would be. Running around for a living, scrambling for project funding reimbursements, even though you know it's meaningless, you still need to get your title; you still need to lead students in researching these topics. But even the few papers squeezed out over the year might not be understood by many. Even if someone understands, it's just a small circle within the literary circle; outsiders won't even glance at it."

Li Peifeng pursed his lips, "Then why did you get into literary research back then?"

"It was due to the influence of the education I received and my family environment."

Zhao Qingge mused, "On the other hand, it's also for the love of literature, the exploration of the spiritual world, the reinterpretation of human thought, and through the thoughts of the wise, to understand oneself."

Li Peifeng smiled, "Isn't that great? You've also told me before that passion is the best driving force."

Zhao Qingge gently shook his head, "I've also told you that literature is beautiful, romantic, and emotional; the more vague, the better. Research is about deconstructing it, it's dull, it's rational; the more precise, the better. So this creates a contradiction… In short, I'm a bit tired of it."

Got it, got it, you're a bit depressed.

Li Peifeng pondered over what might be buried deep in Zhao Qingge's heart and wondered what he could say or do to relieve the burden in Zhao's heart...

"Knock knock~"

The door knocked twice, and Lin Zhihui and Lu Jing pushed it open and entered.

"Hello, professor."

"Oh, senior brother is here too?"

The two girls, full of smiles and with light steps, walked in, easing the somewhat oppressive atmosphere in the room.

"Don't you have classes this morning?" Zhao Qingge's face also broke into a smile.

"We do, but not for a while yet," said Lin Zhihui. "We wanted to ask you about the new project; I didn't quite catch it during the meeting."

Li Peifeng also didn't catch it, or rather, wasn't paying attention. Now that Zhao Qingge explained again, he understood.

The so-called new project is 'Research on the International Dissemination of Online Literature.' Old Zhao had briefly mentioned it to him before, but he didn't pay it much attention at the time.

It is a key project of the National Social Science Fund, spanning three years, and the research content is as stated in the title.

This time, there will also be two other teachers working with Zhao Qingge, more people getting involved, and a plethora of tasks, with different responsibilities for each person. The two girls came to inquire about their specific task divisions.

"You are responsible for compiling the directory, collecting pertinent data such as overseas readers of online literature, income, involved countries, and writing related papers... More specifics, just listen to your senior brother."

"Oh oh."

The two girls nodded in realization, looking at Li Peifeng.

"Uh, mentor."

Li Peifeng whispered, "May I ask, what am I responsible for?"

"How was your meeting? What did you hear?"

Zhao Qingge slightly furrowed his brows, "You assist me in overseeing all aspects of the project, and for now, our concrete task is writing the project proposal together. We'll need this report for next Monday's project meeting."

The four continued discussing the project proposal topic. During this, Lu Jing suddenly whispered privately to Li Peifeng.

"Senior brother, where's the wallet I gave you?"

"I'm using it, but I mostly leave it at home for holding bank cards and my ID. Thanks."

After signing the platinum contract, the two junior sisters each gave him a gift, a wallet from Lu Jing, and sports shoes from Lin Zhihui. When she brought it up, Li Peifeng thanked casually.

But Lu Jing, a bit dissatisfied, snorted, "A verbal thank you doesn't really show sincerity. And do you remember you owe me a meal?"

"Yes, I promised you during the beef hot pot dinner last time, didn't I?"

Lu Jing finally smiled, "So? You signed the platinum deal and not showing any appreciation?"

Li Peifeng was spirited by the thought, observing Lin Zhihui and Zhao Qingge had finished chatting, immediately said, "Mentor, are you free tonight? If so, let's have a dinner gathering, just among us students and teacher."

Zhao Qingge paused for a reason, then slightly nodded, "Okay, what shall we eat?"

…

"Decide among yourselves. I'm having a dinner with the research group tonight, not eating at home."

"Alright, then."

Xu Manning hung up the phone over there, and Li Peifeng also put down his phone, murmuring to himself: "It'll be Manning's birthday in a few days, what gift should I get?"

Can't think of anything, might as well go home and type, and ponder on which angel sister might say 'I'll take care of you' to him.

On the way, Wu Wenyue called and asked him to come to the studio at noon for the first 'Trinity' studio meeting.

"Did you notify Manning?"

"She's working overtime, she's not coming."

Wu Wenyue's tone darkened: "Are you coming?"

"...I'll come if lunch is provided."

Li Peifeng could hear the unease and anticipation hidden in her tone, so instead of going home, he went to the studio behind his building to cheer her on.

Give a helping hand to those who need it. After all, it's Wu Wenyue's first time starting a business as a big boss; an important occasion like the first meeting is a bit daunting, and she needs his encouragement.

"What's important is the persona and content direction. Who is she? A top student from Beihua Normal University. Profession; basketball referee. Appearance; versatile, can be both sweet and tough. Advantages; basketball and physical appearance. What do her videos bring; visually pleasing and mentally satisfying. Fan profile: half male, half female, ages fifteen to thirty-five, perhaps can attract fans from the lesbian community…"

At ten thirty, Li Peifeng opened the door and saw two students, a male and a female, sitting in the office in the living room, talking.

"Hi Brother Feng."

"Hello boss."

They called him two different titles, but both were slightly reserved.

"No classes this morning?" Li Peifeng said with a smile: "So diligent, you're even earlier than me."

"Elective class, skipping one session isn't a big deal..."

"You guys carry on chatting."

Li Peifeng nodded: "The chat is good, but it needs to be turned into text. Write a positioning report for the account, then discuss it with Wenyue. During the meeting, everyone can brainstorm together."

"Okay."

After a few chats, Li Peifeng entered Wu Wenyue's room and saw her sitting in front of the computer with a furrowed brow, seemingly organizing documents.

"Close the door, quickly help me think!"

"Think about what?"

Li Peifeng sat next to her and looked at the screen, understanding: "The meeting speech?"

"Yeah, the first meeting...gotta prepare, right?" Wu Wenyue said irritably: "But I don't know what to say."

"Let me see."

Li Peifeng took the mouse, browsed up and down, and nodded approvingly: "It's pretty good. The start and end times should be mentioned first, otherwise it'll get messy. Reward and punishment measures, content incentives, everyone is a content officer and should come up with an idea every day. Add an extra drumstick to the boxed lunch, and there's milk tea to drink…not bad, they're great incentives without being too off-putting."

Wu Wenyue, hearing his praise, breathed a sigh of relief: "Didn't miss anything? As for KPIs, I feel they can be discussed after releasing videos."

"You need to set a big direction first." Li Peifeng thought for a moment and said: "We're essentially a fledgling team, they joined with the intention of learning and training, very distrustful about the studio's future. Some will graduate after another semester, so you have to give them confidence. Make them feel that although the salary is low now, there's a future here with us, only then will they have the motivation to work long term. Otherwise, by the next spring recruitment, they might all leave. Students aren't stable; you have to hype them up…"

"So, what should I say?" Wu Wenyue, confused: "Do I say, 'Work hard with me, and our studio will surely become a hit on the market in the future?'"

"Something like that." Li Peifeng nodded: "When others are not confident, you need to be. Set a small goal every week, such as increasing followers by a certain number, and set a big goal every month, like securing a certain number of ads and achieving certain revenues. Set them slightly high, but achievable with effort, and give each one a small bonus of a hundred bucks when they're accomplished. Then tell them that a salary increase is expected next semester—note it's just expected. Evaluate according to the studio's situation. Whether you increase by a hundred or a thousand, an increase is still an increase."

"Anyway, you need to make them focus on the future, offer blank checks, don't talk about the present; talking about the present won't keep people. A formal salary of three thousand is hard to survive on in the Capital. With their Beihua Normal Uni background, even as undergraduates, they can easily find a 5K job. And you can say: 'We're all classmates. Whether this venture succeeds or not, it's everyone's effort and experience. The studio will grow with everyone.' You need to discuss recognition and feelings..."

Discussing feelings?

The more Wu Wenyue listened, the more familiar it sounded, and she suddenly realized: "Are you telling me to paint a pie?!"

Li Peifeng scratched his chin, narrowing his eyes: "They're all young, easy to deceive... I mean, they probably have a good appetite. Even if your pie isn't fully cooked, they can still eat it."

"You're so sly, you've cleared all the bamboo from the mountain!"

Wu Wenyue's eyes lit up and she yielded her seat: "I can't paint pies, you write it."

"Alright then."

Li Peifeng pursed his lips and began tapping the keyboard, painting pies.

Wu Wenyue watched from beside him as Mr. Li used idealism as the filling and grand narrative as the crust to bake a big pie. She felt uncomfortable thinking about how she would have to passionately share these words at the meeting later, feeling even more distaste.

At the same time, Wu Wenyue realized that the things Mr. Li had told her before…ah, they were all pies!

She couldn't help but feel anger rise from her heart, courage engendered from her spleen…

"Smack~"

Li Peifeng, with a mix of confusion and anger, asked: "Why did you hit me?"