After hearing his daughter's explanation, Zhang Weimin suddenly understood.
This was just like watching opera in ancient times!
Famous actors honed their skills for ten years before stepping onto the stage, their exquisite performances earning thunderous applause.
It was normal for wealthy patrons to shower them with gold coins as encouragement.
Seeing that her father was receptive to her explanation, Zhang Xiqin blinked her eyes, pointed at the dazzling array of gifts, and asked, "So, Dad, which gift should we send?"
Zhang Weimin pondered for a moment. "Which is the most expensive gift?"
"How much does it cost?"
Zhang Xiqin pointed to the one at the very end. "This one, an airplane, three thousand each!"
Three thousand?
So cheap?
After all, the maintenance costs for Meng Hao and Huarong Industries, allocated by the higher-ups to Zhang Weimin, were in the tens of millions. For such a distinguished individual, not only were the maintenance costs of over ten million justified, but even hundreds of millions or billions would be a worthwhile investment.
"Alright."
"Let's send ten first!"
Okay. Zhang Xiqin was very excited. She was experiencing the feeling of spending lavishly after starting work.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Ten airplanes slid across the live stream. The cool special effects caused a stir.
"Oh."
"Another big shot is gifting!"
"Starting with thirty thousand yuan, that's not bad."
"Probably wants to cut in line to buy a mech."
"Definitely not happening!"
Thirty thousand yuan in gifts barely made a ripple in the live stream. It was understandable, given Meng Hao's immense popularity. Previously, many tycoons who tried to get ahead and pre-order Meng Hao's mechs had thrown large amounts of donations into the void.
"This wealthy patron, trying to cut in line for a pre-ordered mech, might as well save your money… However, with thirty thousand yuan thrown in, perhaps you could ask Meng Hao to do a dance or something."
"Indeed, it's unreliable for a wealthy patron to spend thirty thousand yuan for a pre-order slot… With so much money spent, maybe you could ask Brother Hao to dress as a woman or something."
"Stop arguing, a female impersonation dance with lightsabers, let's just settle on that… Damn, I can already picture it, it's too much for the eyes."
"..."
Zhang Weimin was somewhat bewildered by the live stream's teasing and jokes.
"Daughter."
"What's going on with this black silk lightsaber dance?"
"Is this a popular way for young men to interact these days? … Like when your dad and mom went out to dance the rumba in my youth?!"
"Yes, to maintain a good daily relationship with Meng Hao, you can also engage in more of these social activities with him in private!"
Damn it. If these words hadn't come from her own father, Zhang Xiqin would have cursed.
Was she his biological daughter?
He was actually asking his daughter to do a lightsaber dance in black silk for another man?
This was insane.
Seeing that her father was about to press further, Zhang Xiqin quickly changed the subject.
"Dad, Meng Hao has noticed you."
"You can apply for a video call!"
"This way, you can have a video chat with him in the live stream."
After speaking, Zhang Xiqin, regardless of her father's agreement, directly clicked the application for a video call.
...
Just as Zhang Xiqin had predicted.
After the thirty thousand yuan in gifts were sent, Meng Hao, to be polite, accepted the video call request.
As soon as the video connected, the previously jovial audience members fell silent.
Damn it.
What was going on?
Two soldiers appeared on the screen. One of them even bore a star, clearly indicating he was a Brigadier General of Great Xia.
"Brigadier General Zhang… Zhang Weimin!"
"Why are you watching a live stream, gifting me, and even video calling?"
"If you needed me, you could have just called."
Huh?
Meng Hao recognized this Brigadier General?
The live stream was deathly silent.
Zhang Weimin chuckled.
"Ah."
"I'm just trying to get closer to you!"
"So, I decided to use a method that young people like to get in touch."
After speaking, Zhang Weimin sat up straight, assuming a posture as if he were giving a report at a major conference.
"Hello, everyone on the internet."
"I am Zhang Weimin, Brigadier General of the Great Xia National Security Defense Headquarters… By my side is my daughter and assistant, Lieutenant Zhang Xiqin!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you all!"
Holy cow.
What was this?
A Brigadier General?
And from the military headquarters at that!
Damn it.
Brother Hao, you said you had no connections?
Huarong Industries, you still dare to claim you're not a military enterprise?
Even a Brigadier General from the military headquarters has shown up.
However, this time, everyone did not dare to joke and replied to Zhang Weimin very seriously in the bullet comments.
"Greetings, Brigadier General!"
"Greetings, Brigadier General!"
"Brigadier General, I'm a recently discharged soldier. An old soldier salutes you!"
"Greetings, Brigadier General… By the way, my mother asked me why I'm standing at attention… Well, it's a habit of military etiquette I've retained!"
Zhang Xiqin was dumbfounded.
Could her father please not be so serious? He had turned a perfectly normal live stream into a scene of a school military training parade and a review of new and old soldiers…
Uh!
Conducting a military review online.
Her father was certainly unprecedented… and it was doubtful if anyone would follow in his footsteps.
Zhang Weimin also sensed that the atmosphere was a bit off. He quickly pushed his daughter forward.
"Ah, I knew it. This old man doesn't quite understand the world of young people."
"See, as soon as I appeared, the atmosphere in the live stream became extremely stiff."
"I mainly came to confirm the purchase of 1000 mechs."
"In the future, the primary daily maintenance and communication will be handled by my daughter, Zhang Xiqin."
After speaking, he waved at the netizens as a farewell greeting and then withdrew from the video call.
He left Zhang Xiqin, looking bewildered, staring blankly at the camera.
...
Indeed.
After Brigadier General Zhang Weimin, an elder from the Great Xia Military Headquarters, withdrew from the live stream, the previously serious and rigid atmosphere began to warm up. The netizens who had regained their senses felt as if they had been struck by lightning, their minds buzzing.
"Holy cow."
"Amazing."
"A Brigadier General from our Great Xia… and a Brigadier General from the military headquarters gifted Brother Hao, and left his daughter to handle daily maintenance."
"I guess I'm witnessing history. I'm going to take a screenshot to commemorate this forever!"
"..."
After exclamations of surprise, the audience suddenly realized.
No wonder Mr. Chen from Little Station and the big shots from Douyin, Zhihu, Weibo, and other online companies were so polite, respectful, and submissive in apologizing to Meng Hao.
Damn it.
Just for a video call, the gift-giver was a Brigadier General from the Great Xia Military Headquarters.
How terrifying must Meng Hao's true backing be?!
"By the way, can any expert here analyze who is behind Brother Hao?"
"Damn it, who would dare to guess that?"
"Even if we guessed it, we wouldn't dare to say it. Brother Hao, congratulations, you've been promoted to a nationally classified individual."
"..."
Meng Hao found it amusing and exasperating at the audience's teasing. He refocused his attention on the video call.
"You are, Zhang Xiqin… Lieutenant."
"Are there any specific matters you wish to discuss?"
"You may proceed."
Although Zhang Xiqin and Meng Hao were of similar age, she represented the military, so Meng Hao's tone and words were quite polite!