This director is vindictive.

Chapter 517: Starting with a bowl, trending on social media for 100 million!

When Chen Mo looked online, he saw netizens from all over the country arguing endlessly about who the "Emperor of All Time" was.

In fact, this thing has been around online for a while, but this time, because it involves regional disputes, everyone is more enthusiastic.

However, Chen Mo was quite happy about it, after all, it was a good thing.

Look, this is just the beginning; the specific plans and schemes haven't even been released yet, and it's already a complete mess.

Moreover, this argument was based on reason and evidence, with various citations, which instantly turned our charming ancestors into the most dazzling idols of the moment.

The media also followed the trend closely and began to report on it in various ways.

In fact, everyone knows that this debate isn't really about some great emperor. The opinions are clearly divided; it's about the cultural and tourism IP of each city. Xianyang is promoting Qin Shi Huang, Luoyang is promoting Wu Zetian, Kaifeng is the capital of the Song Dynasty, so naturally they're promoting Zhao Kuangyin. As for Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties, the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang is unavoidable. And Beijing goes without saying; the Yongle Emperor's policy of "no ceding of territory, no indemnities, no marriage alliances, the emperor guarding the nation's gates, the monarch dying for the state!" is arguably the biggest hallmark of the Ming Dynasty.

Soon, amidst much anticipation, the 2025 814 Welfare Week officially kicked off.

The official Weibo account of the 814 Welfare Festival announced the activities for the first week.

The "Our Enchanting Ancestors" event has officially begun – the Cultural Week of Jinling City, the ancient capital of six dynasties!

Event Theme:

"The Rise of the Hongwu Emperor from Humble Beginnings - Find Your 'Imperial DNA'!"

Activities:

A nationwide "Emperor Impersonation Challenge" (online + offline)

Imitation target:

Zhu Yuanzhang (key point) - a commoner who rose to the top, starting with a bowl and ending with a country!

Sun Quan (Eastern Wu) – the hegemon of the Three Kingdoms, who dominated the southeast and whose wars never ceased!
Xiao Yan (Emperor Wu of Liang) – A Buddhist emperor who became a monk four times and was the most “willful” emperor in history!
Cao Xueqin (a cultural icon of Jinling) – author of "Dream of the Red Chamber", comes with a "fallen aristocrat" buff, making him a favorite among literary youth!
Participation methods
1. Photo/VLOG Challenge
(1) Grassroots version - Zhu Yuanzhang's famous scene of "starting with a bowl"
Props: Broken bowl, bamboo pole, rags (symbolizing beggar's attire), straw sandals

Dialogue (can be adapted for humorous purposes using local dialects):
Classic version: "My empire was won by begging!" (accompanied by a weary face)

Dialect version: "Even when I'm begging for food, I'd rather have a throne, and you guys are still lying around doing nothing?"

A workplace meme: "From intern to CEO, I only used one bowl!" (with a photoshopped resume)
Shooting suggestions:

He squatted by the roadside with a bowl, begging, when suddenly he "awakened" and stood up, wielding a bamboo pole to "conquer the world"!
Comparison photos: Left: Broken bowl and tattered clothes; Right: Dragon robe (Photoshopped if desired)!

(2) The Emperor Version - Famous Scenes of Zhu Yuanzhang's "Domineering Rule"
Clothing: Ming Dynasty Hanfu (yellow robe is best), Crown with tassels (can be DIY using cardboard).

Scenes:

Approving memorials: Frowning and slamming the table, accompanied by the caption: "Corrupt officials? Skin them alive!" (You could also use A4 paper to write an "anti-corruption document")
Reprimanding the minister: Pointing at the camera, shouting angrily: "We'll drink from the golden cup together, but the blade will show no mercy!" (You could have a friend play the "trembling minister.")
Shooting suggestions:

Office version: Boss Zhu Yuanzhang conducts a surprise inspection of "overtime pay" (frantically pressing buttons on a calculator).

Family version: "Zhu Yuanzhang" tutors his child with homework and explodes in anger: "Even when I was begging for food, it wasn't this hard!"

2. Creative Storytelling Challenge (Short Video/Mini-Drama)
(1) Adapting classic events of Zhu Yuanzhang
"Anti-Corruption Through Blank Seal Case" - Workplace Version:

Plot: The company's finance department tries to fool the boss with blank contracts, prompting Zhu Yuanzhang (the boss) to slam his fist on the table: "Get them all to HR!" (Subtitle: The most ruthless audit in history)
Props: An Excel spreadsheet with a "List of Corrupt Officials" written on it and stamped with "Execute Immediately!"
A modern version of "incognito investigation of corruption":

Plot: Zhu Yuanzhang, disguised as a food delivery driver, eavesdrops on officials (colleagues) discussing "kickbacks," then suddenly reveals his identity: "Imperial Guard, take them down!" (He can show his work ID).
(2) Other interesting references about emperors
Sun Quan "held sway over the southeast":
Scene: Gaming chair + Three Kingdoms Kill cards, with caption: "Sun Quan of Jiangdong has 100,000 men? No, I am the MVP!"

Emperor Wu of Liang's "Buddhist-style governance":
Plot: The emperor (wearing a monk's robe) strikes a wooden fish drum. A minister kneels and pleads, "Your Majesty, there is war in the north!" The emperor closes his eyes and says, "Amitabha, I wish to become a monk." (The Great Compassion Mantra can be used as background music)

Cao Xueqin's "fallen aristocrat":
Scene: Writing a novel in a coffee shop, suddenly slamming the keyboard: "The Cao family was raided? Rewrite this chapter!" (You can post a comparison of your copy of "Dream of the Red Chamber" and the bill)

3: "Jinling History Theme Quiz with Prizes"!
Every evening from 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM, a quiz on Nanjing history-related topics will be held every hour, open to all.

4: Ultimate Mission: AR Check-in - Exploring the "Hongwu Secret Realm" (Offline Immersive Experience)
AR interactive points: Virtual Zhu Yuanzhang NPCs are set up at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Nanjing City Wall, Confucius Temple, etc.

task:

Trigger the "Imperial Examination" at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum: Answer interesting questions about the Ming Dynasty's system (such as "Why did Zhu Yuanzhang hate corrupt officials?"). Answering correctly will unlock the "Hongwu Secret Files" electronic badge.

Scan the QR code on the Nanjing City Wall to trigger the "City Building Challenge": use AR tools to virtually build bricks, and generate a "City Wall Guardian" certificate upon completion. You can redeem a final co-branded gift pack!
"From beggar to emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang teaches you how to rise against all odds!"

Make short videos, cosplay, and show off your 'imperial DNA'!
—My empire awaits your conquest! #StartingWithABowl#

(Rules: Submissions must include the hashtag #, and parodying historical figures is strictly prohibited; violators will be disqualified!)

This activity actually has some entry requirements for the first few parts, such as cosplay shows, creating creative short videos, etc.

However, the subsequent nationwide knowledge quiz with prizes was truly open to all.

The final Jinling City check-in activity is an event designed to promote cultural tourism in Jinling City.

The first week of the event saw an overwhelming surge in online participation.

Within just one hour of the event's launch, the hashtag #StartingWithABowl# surged to the top of the trending topics list, with netizens' creativity erupting like a volcano.

Unexpectedly, the delivery drivers started a collective uprising.

The main point is to create a ready-made "imperial robe"!
A food delivery driver had a brilliant idea: he photoshopped his work photo into the likeness of Emperor Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang) – dressed in a yellow robe but holding a broken bowl, with the caption exuding domineering confidence: "After this delivery, we're going on a northern expedition! Brothers, let's boost our sales!"

The comment section quickly exploded.

Many netizens left comments jokingly and using the meme.

"Your Majesty, is this tip considered part of the military pay? Your humble servant is willing to donate a month's worth of milk tea money!"

"Your Majesty, the Xiongnu (customer) who left a negative review has been marked. The Imperial Guards will be on their way to confiscate their property at any time!"

"I suggest launching a 'Hongwu Express Delivery' service, using Akhal-Teke horses for delivery, and if the delivery is late, they'll 'skin and stuff the straw'!"

"Are you a devil, upstairs? Good heavens, if you go overtime, you'll be 'skinned and stuffed with straw'! Who wants to wear this yellow robe? I'm not doing this anymore!"

After seeing this, many delivery drivers began to follow suit.

Some food delivery drivers directly purchased Ming Dynasty-style flying fish robes online, affixed yellow paper strips reading "Imperial Gift for Delivery" to their helmets, and spray-painted "Hongwu Special Delivery" on their insulated boxes. Their order-taking voice messages were even changed to: "Are you hungry, my dear subject? My imperial meal is on its way!" (Video attached: the driver's cape flutters as he rides, with comments flooding the screen saying "Welcome to the Emperor's court!")
The delivery drivers were having a blast, and the customers followed suit.

A customer wrote, "Please have His Majesty personally deliver the food; I refuse to accept eunuchs delivering it!" The deliveryman replied, "Granted! Enclosed is a 'Bestowed Edict of Exemption from Kneeling'!" (In reality, the deliveryman actually slipped in a handwritten imperial edict meme.)

Another food delivery driver, after receiving a malicious negative review, photoshopped an image of "Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang angrily beheading a memorial about a negative review," with the caption: "I have delivered food for ten years with zero complaints. You unruly commoners dare to challenge me?"

The platform's customer service replied instantly: "This scoundrel's entire family has been executed (account banned)!"

There's also a "Hongwu Meritorious Officials Ranking" circulating wildly in food delivery rider groups—those who deliver a thousand orders a month are awarded the title of "General Who Protects the Nation," and those with a 100% positive review rate are granted the "Iron Certificate of Merit." The comments section jokes: "Turns out what I see every day isn't riders, but founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty!"

This wave of popularity was surprisingly first taken over by the food delivery industry, prompting food delivery platforms to immediately follow the trend.

The "Hongwu Theme" event was launched immediately:
Skin effects: The order-taking app can switch to the "Imperial Edict in Bright Yellow" interface, and the timeout prompt will change to "Your Majesty, please calm down! The Imperial Guards have sped up!"

Exclusive Badge: Unlock "Hongwu Secret Files - Rider Edition" after a week of no negative reviews, displaying "Historical Achievement: Cumulative Food Deliveries = XX laps around the Ming City Wall".

One netizen joked: "I used to think that delivery guys were invisible superheroes, but now I've discovered they're all hidden emperors!"

"I suggest next time they do a 'Kangxi Emperor delivering milk tea incognito' event, I want to order the 'Nine Princes' Succession Struggle' family bucket!"

The delivery driver was initially at a disadvantage, but as the "Jinling Culture Week" activities continued to heat up, netizens' creative short videos began to emerge like mushrooms after rain, with various historical references being used in creative ways. In particular, the comparison edits surrounding Sun Quan, the Great Emperor of Eastern Wu, Xiao Yan, the Buddhist Emperor, and Zhu Yuanzhang, who rose from humble beginnings, directly triggered laughter across the entire internet.

A gaming content creator combined the game "Three Kingdoms Kill" with esports live streaming, cosplaying as Sun Quan wearing a crown and sitting in an esports chair, frantically typing on the keyboard, while the screen displayed "Battle of Red Cliffs - 5V5 Ranked Match".

The scene unfolds with teammates (Zhou Yu and Lu Xun) unleashing a barrage of attacks: "My lord, unleash your ultimate skill!" Sun Quan, however, cowers under the tower, typing: "Let me reconsider..." (The chat is flooded with comments: "Sun Quan's reputation is well-deserved!")
Then came a twist: when the enemy (Cao Cao) was pushing the high ground, Sun Quan suddenly unleashed his full potential, using the "Burning the Camps" skill, accompanied by the caption: "Suppressing the southeast? No, I am the MVP of turning the tide!" (Historical reference: Sun Quan's northern expeditions were weak, but his defense was unparalleled.)
Some workplace bloggers even used the art style of Animal Crossing to create short skits.

The minister (or colleague) knelt and pleaded, "Your Majesty, the quarterly report hasn't been approved yet!"

Xiao Yan (wearing a monk's robe) strikes a wooden fish: "Amitabha, I have already become a monk, please do not disturb me."

Then the background music was the Great Compassion Mantra, and DingTalk messages kept popping up.
Suddenly, a competitor called from North Korea: "Your company's stock has fallen!"

Xiao Yan instantly switched to a different mode, slammed his wooden fish and roared, "Guards! I'm going to write an edict on abstaining from alcohol and meat—the entire company will be vegetarian starting today!"

(Historical fact: Emperor Xiao Yan became a monk four times, and each time he was redeemed by ministers who spent money.)
(End of this chapter)