Chapter 219: Ambitions and New Projects in Yan City
by xennovelHaozi, don’t worry! As long as this guy can whip up a full Manchu-Han feast, I’ll use every trick in the book to rope him into Mingsha City!
Fang Hou gave a heavy nod.
Although Haofang Culture and Haofang Agency made quick gains early on, Mingsha City is the real foundation. Once we get it up and running, it’ll become a money-making machine.
That’s why Fang Hou recognized the critical importance of this traditional culture expo.
“Alright, just give me a call if anything comes up—I’ve got Xiaoqing waiting for me.”
Xu Hao nodded in agreement.
“Mm-hmm!”
Ten minutes later, Xu Hao hopped into Han Xiaoqing’s front passenger seat. Although he had a driver’s license, he didn’t own a car. It wasn’t an affordability issue—any car would have been within reach given Mingsha City’s clout. He simply saw no need.
A car is merely a means of transport, nothing more.
“Boss, when are you heading to the office?”
Han Xiaoqing smiled at Xu Hao.
“This afternoon. There’s a repair meeting for the Imperial City tonight.”
Xu Hao replied.
Ever since the Ancient Architecture Culture Inheritance Forum ended, they had both silently acknowledged the nature of their relationship.
“Great, let’s grab lunch first!”
Han Xiaoqing pulled out her phone and opened the navigation app.
“In Yan City, you call the shots!”
“Alright!”
Yan City, a bustling international metropolis on Lanstarr and the capital of Long Kingdom, teems with tens of millions of residents.
Within the Second Ring, at the Ancient Architecture Research Institute, Li Jue, Liu Shan, Cao Jun, and others were leading a meeting in the conference room, with over two hundred staff members in attendance.
“Director Zhao, have all the relevant departments been notified?”
After a brief pause, Li Jue glanced at a middle-aged man on his right.
Ever since their return from Mingsha City, everyone at the Institute had been busy preparing for the renovations of the 49 Imperial City and hadn’t had time to follow up on the evening’s news.
“Dean, they’ve all been notified! The Imperial City Management Office has provided us with the necessary credentials.”
At these words, the middle-aged man quickly nodded.
“Alright, Xu Dean should have arrived in Yan City by now. This afternoon, he’ll lead the renovation meeting, and everyone chosen for the team must take careful notes.”
Li Jue continued.
“Dean, rest assured—we’ll fully cooperate with Xu Dean.”
The man nodded hurriedly.
In the beginning, Xu Hao had faced significant skepticism from the seasoned staff, but over the past year, Mingsha City’s maneuvers had completely won everyone over at the Institute.
In fact, many staff now regarded Xu Hao as the sole candidate for the next dean.
“And there’s also the matter of Mingsha Academy!”
Li Jue first glanced at Liu Shan and Cao Jun, and after receiving slight nods from both, he turned to the assembled staff.
“Mingsha Academy?”
Many were taken aback, and soon murmurs filled the room.
Most were regular staff or junior researchers who knew nothing about it.
“Yes—the relevant departments have officially approved our establishment of Mingsha Academy in Mingsha City. Moreover, the first dean of the academy will be Xu Dean, with Director Cao serving as the deputy dean.”
“The academy will also feature an Ancient Architecture department, offering courses in ancient building studies, restoration, and preservation.”
“That means we need a department head along with a team of lecturers!”
Li Jue explained.
Just the day before, the authorities had officially issued approval, allocating 7 billion in project funds—including the transfer of relevant parcels from Mingsha Tourism and additional construction expenses.
While 7 billion sounds impressive, it pales in comparison to the hundreds of billions allocated annually to top Long Kingdom universities like Yan City University.
As for the departments,
the approval covered three secondary departments: the Ancient Architecture Department, the Traditional Culture Institute, and the Ecology and Environment Institute.
The Ancient Architecture Department and the Traditional Culture Institute were expected.
Even Li Jue hadn’t anticipated that the Ecology and Environment Institute would be approved. Given Mingsha City’s location in the northwest desert and its leading role in sand stabilization, an ecological institute would enable deeper research into desert ecosystems and help train more talent to combat desertification elsewhere in Long Kingdom.
In short,
Mingsha Academy has been allocated 150 teaching positions, along with 50 support and administrative roles—all managed under the Ancient Architecture Research Institute.
Monthly salaries, social security, and related benefits will be distributed uniformly by the Institute.
Frankly, this allocation isn’t lavish.
Even an ordinary county high school teacher would have more.
But for now, it’s just the initial staffing for the academy. Once enrollment starts, the teaching staff will gradually expand, and master’s and doctoral programs will be introduced with funding allocated by higher authorities.
In other words, the amount of funding and project resources Mingsha Academy secures in its second year will depend entirely on its own efforts—the Institute won’t be able to help much.
As for the scope of the first enrollment, Mingsha Academy will set it according to regulations, with graduates receiving a bachelor’s degree recognized throughout Long Kingdom after passing the necessary exams.
After a pause, Li Jue added, “So, here’s an opportunity: if any of you wish to teach at Mingsha Academy or apply for head of the Ancient Architecture Department, please fill out an application form.”
“Work in Mingsha City?”
At Li Jue’s remark, the room grew even noisier as many staff members began whispering among themselves.
Listen to those words.
Many at the Institute understood exactly what it meant.
Securing the position as head of the Ancient Architecture Department would undoubtedly be a promotion—with better benefits and a higher rank. But no matter how hot Mingsha City got, it could never match Yan City.
Working there meant your official role remained with the Institute, yet it also implied a prolonged stay in the northwest of Long Kingdom.
How to choose? Everyone had their own considerations.
After a few minutes, as the murmurs subsided, Li Jue addressed everyone: “Think it over carefully. You have three days to decide. If no one applies within that period, Xu Dean and Director Cao will have to recruit externally for all positions at Mingsha Academy.”
“In short, the opportunity is yours for now!”
“Dean, what about accommodations? If we go, we won’t have to rent or buy a place there, right?”
At that moment,
a young staff member in his thirties spoke up.
“Accommodations will be arranged uniformly by Mingsha Academy.”
Cao Jun glanced at the young man and added, “Understood, Dean!”
The young man nodded thoughtfully.
“If anyone has further questions, please consult Director Cao after the meeting.”
Li Jue continued.
“That’s all for today. For those selected for the 49 Imperial City renovation team, please stay behind. Everyone else, you’re dismissed.”
Meanwhile, in Yan City at the Director Association, Ding Xiaoping paced in his office with furrowed brows. His ashtray overflowed with cigarette butts, and Bai Ming sat on the sofa with a gloomy expression.
“What is Mingsha City thinking? They’ve just dropped a teaser for their xianxia drama and now announced two more projects. Surely they understand the importance of the cultural expo, especially given Xu Hao’s stature.”
“Even if it’s just a sub-venue, you can’t afford to lose face.”
After a long pause,
Ding Xiaoping, clearly frustrated, shot a look at Bai Ming.
They weren’t surprised that the teaser for Mingsha City’s xianxia drama had sparked heated debate.
They had anticipated that Mingsha City would vent its frustration with a big move.
But they never expected that, right after venting, Mingsha City would announce two additional projects.
“How can we handle this? Are we supposed to wait until these two projects wrap up?”
“Chairman, do you think Mingsha City still isn’t satisfied with the xianxia drama? Are these two projects meant to further rile up Jinlong Ancient City?”
After a pause, Bai Ming voiced his thoughts.
Besides that, he couldn’t fathom any other reason for Mingsha City’s wild actions.
“We can’t rule that out, but—”
Just then, Ding Xiaoping’s phone rang.
He picked it up, nodded to Bai Ming, and stepped outside to answer.
It took a full ten minutes before he returned to the office.
“Good news!”
After the call, Ding Xiaoping seemed transformed—all his earlier frustration had vanished.
“Chairman, what’s up?”
Seeing the change, Bai Ming quickly asked.
“A friend at the Imperial City Management Office just told me that Xu Hao has returned to the Institute!”
Ding Xiaoping announced.
Ever since he learned that Xu Hao was a Special Researcher at the Ancient Architecture Research Institute, he’d been checking on him. Everyone connected with the Institute had been informed.
“Is he coming back to present his report, or…?”
Bai Ming’s interest was piqued.
“It seems he’s set to oversee the renovations of several outlying wings in the West Six Palace of the 49 Imperial City. It should take at least two months, and by then he’ll already be in Yan City.”
Ding Xiaoping exhaled deeply.
“Two months?”
“Exactly! For over two months, Xu Hao will remain in Yan City. This means that the two projects announced by Mingsha City won’t start until he’s back—and by then, the cultural expo will be right around the corner.”
“Chairman, are you suggesting…?”
“It’s simple—we’ll use these two months to hold the film festival. I’m convinced that as long as Xu Hao isn’t in Mingsha City, they can’t stir up any more trouble over there!”
Ding Xiaoping laid out his plan.
Ordinary people might not know, but their rivals in Mingsha City were well aware that Xu Hao was the real captain, with the others merely serving as figureheads.
“Chairman, even if Xu Hao is gone, Fang Hou is still around, just in case he—”
But Ding Xiaoping noticed Bai Ming’s hesitation.
In the entertainment industry, nothing stays secret for long.
They had long since discovered that several of Haofang Culture’s dramas weren’t solely Fang Hou’s work, but were co-produced by both him and Xu Hao.