Chapter Twenty: Equal Favor, Standing Firm

Since the launch of the latest season of "Farming with the Stars," praise has poured in from all directions. The show's success is due not only to the production team's generous investments but also to the spontaneous endorsements from influential online personalities. Of course, word-of-mouth takes time to build, especially when it comes to the cast of "Farming with the Stars." Take Duan Hai and Ding Yi, for example—relatively unknown faces—or the likes of Hong Fei and Guan Peng, whose glory days have faded. For most viewers, these names are unfamiliar.

With such unfamiliarity, a period of adjustment is inevitable.

At present, Lin Xing is the only one among them enjoying significant buzz. Yet even Lin Xing remains an enigma to the general public. The truth is, audiences come in waves, and unless you're a constant presence in the entertainment world, people are quick to forget. Think of those iconic roles from Lin Xing’s childhood: Bai Suzhen played by Zhao Yazhi, Zhan Zhao by He Jiajin, Xiao Li the Flying Dagger by Jiao Enjun, or Su Daji by Fu Yiwei. You’d think such classic figures would be forever etched in memory.

But how many born after 2000 or even 2010 can recall them?

If even these legendary characters are slipping from collective memory, what hope is there for someone like Lin Xing, once a star of "Starlit Sea"? As for Guan Peng and Hong Fei, former stars now past their prime, they're barely worth a mention.

Yet, with the first wave of popularity from "Farming with the Stars," even discussions about Guan Peng and Hong Fei have surged.

Especially Guan Peng.

“Wow, that’s actually Guan Peng? Time really is merciless.”

“Back in the day, Guan Peng was such a heartthrob. How did he end up like this?”

“I wouldn’t have recognized him if you hadn’t told me. I used to be such a fan.”

Before the show, Guan Peng had just 120,000 followers, with only a handful of comments—twenty or thirty at most—per post. It was dismal. Even after joining "Farming with the Stars," without breaking into the mainstream, no amount of self-promotion could get him noticed.

But after just one night of buzz, everything changed.

People started sharing side-by-side screenshots: Guan Peng, the dashing young man in white from years ago, who once made countless girls swoon, now looks more like a chef to the uninitiated.

The contrast is stark.

Time has not been kind to Guan Peng.

But for him, this attention is a blessing. In showbiz, the worst fate is to be ignored. Now, at least, he’s got some heat.

“Thank you all for your support. Don’t miss today’s bonus episode at noon, and you’ll see I’m really working on my weight loss.”

Fans immediately ran wild in the comments, making jokes and referencing his classic lines from historic dramas: “You eat so much—should we just finish you off?” and “Does your conscience not ache when you say that?” Every memorable quote resurfaced in the comment section.

Goodness.

Guan Peng now feels "Farming with the Stars" might just be his comeback ticket.

Beyond Guan Peng, even minor celebrities like Duan Hai and Ding Yi have seen their fan counts tick upward.

This is what happens when a show takes off—everyone shares in the spoils, though how much each gets depends on their own fortune.

At the very least, everyone’s morale is sky-high.

Just yesterday afternoon, the production team convened a meeting. The upcoming recordings will be even more authentic, more down-to-earth.

Everyone was eager to cooperate.

Even Guan Peng, who’d been complaining about exhaustion, chimed in, “No problem, Director Feng. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll do it.”

Today, like Guan Peng, many others promoted the upcoming bonus episode.

Was yesterday’s boom just a flash in the pan, or could they climb even higher?

Today would tell.

Banana Video gave "Farming with the Stars" a front-page recommendation, and Feng Gang purchased a prominent ad spot on Weibo. The pre-broadcast buzz today far surpassed yesterday’s.

At noon, Banana Video released the bonus episode right on schedule.

“They’re here, they’re here! Let me grab a seat.”

“Go ahead and grab a seat, but what’s with calling it a ‘pit’?”

“Rooting for Hai-ge—hope this episode keeps up the momentum.”

“Looks like they’re making a huge pot dish? I doubt Lin Xing can really pull it off.”

As soon as the episode went live, the comments flew in.

“Is this a contest this week? Duan Hai and Guan Peng are reaping wheat so fast!”

“This is hilarious. It’s not a competition—they’re just motivated by Lin Xing.”

“Exactly. Did you see Guan Peng refusing to admit he’s getting old?”

“I think it’s good for Guan Peng to push himself. He really needs to lose weight, or I’ll never reconcile him with my former crush.”

The episode opens with Guan Peng and Duan Hai still out in the field harvesting wheat, while Lin Xing and Lin Miaoyin don’t appear until twenty minutes later.

“Wow, my husband drives the electric tricycle so fast!”

“Yeah, those things look easy, but they’re tricky to drive.”

“What’s so hard about it? As long as you’ve got hands, you can drive it.”

“Are they really going to cook themselves?”

As the commentary rolled in, Lin Xing returned from the market with arms full of ingredients.

“No need, I’ll handle it myself.”

“Of course he’s making a big pot dish.”

“We have a saying: ‘Among all vegetables, cabbage is the finest; among all meats, pork is the most fragrant.’”

All the while, Lin Xing was chopping vegetables, announcing he’d be making the signature big pot dish. At that moment, a short bit of local culture appeared onscreen:

“In northern regions, there is a traditional dish renowned for its color, aroma, and flavor. It features a diverse array of ingredients, is highly nutritious, and boasts a rich broth. We call it the Big Pot Dish…”

“This dish, though humble, graces even the grandest banquets. Only everyday ingredients make it truly authentic; adding rare delicacies ruins its character.”

With this explanation, the live comments exploded in debate.

“To be honest, in the north, our Yanzhao region does the Big Pot Dish best. In Zhaocheng, we have two famous foods: AH Noodle Soup and Big Pot Dish.”

“Please, your Zhaocheng version can’t compare to what we have in the far northeast!”

“Don’t kid yourself—it’s not like you’re the only ones in the north with this dish.”

“Seriously? You’re all arguing over a stew? I just ordered one on ‘Have You Eaten Yet’ to see if it’s any good.”

“Damn, I haven’t eaten yet either. I’m ordering one too.”

“Question: Is it mandatory to eat Big Pot Dish with steamed buns?”

As the comment threads grew livelier, Lin Xing’s fans once again boasted, “Is there anything our Xing doesn’t know?”

First wheat harvesting, now cooking this mouthwatering Big Pot Dish—Lin Xing’s fans couldn’t wait to refute anyone who claimed their idol was nothing but a pretty face.

After this episode of "Farming with the Stars" ended, social media was flooded with praise for the show. With two consecutive well-received episodes, the show had finally cemented its place.

As for the public’s feedback, Lin Xing remained unaware—he was already on a plane.

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