阅读理解
If you love eating and drinking for free and are looking to
make some pocket money, there's a job in China with your name on it. A new type
of online service allows people to hire others to eat or drink their favorite
treats, either to cure their boredom or satisfy their appetite without the
calories that usually come with it.
Chinese media recently reported on an increasingly popular
service on online platform Taobao that's as startling as it is appealing.
People can now go online and hire others to consume certain foods and drinks,
and ask them to provide video evidence of them eating or drinking the said
treats.
Fees usually range from two to nine yuan ($0.30 - $1.35)
plus the cost of the food. It's not exactly a get-rich-quick job, but there are
quite a rot of people willing to do it for the free treats alone.
"Bubble tea drinking" is a particularly popular
service, as the chewy tapioca(木薯粉)balls and popping drink is all the
rage in Asia these days, but there are also ads from people willing to eat
fried chicken or hot pot for anyone willing to pay for them.
Advertised as being "fat-free" and "free of
queues" those who pay for the service will receive the full experience,
which includes a 360-degree video of the drink, photos, and a detailed
description. Prices of the service are based on the drink's sweetness level,
its price, and popularity. Some clients even require a short written review to
be sure that the person they hired actually does what they are supposed to.
Sellers explained that most customers buy their "Bubble
tea drinking" service maybe because they're trying to shake off desires
while they're on a diet. Drinking bubble tea by proxy may help customers avoid
high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and other health problems that the
sugar-laden drink may cause.
So why would anyone pay a total stranger to enjoy a treat
rather than consume it themselves? Well, apparently, the online service is so
cheap that some people simply do it out of boredom, while others get
satisfaction from watching others indulge in their favorite treats.
This indulging-by-proxy service(代享受服务)has
received a lot of attention on social media in China, with some people
describing it as the job of their dreams.