Chapter 231: Mingsha City: New Developments and Unexpected Guests

At Mingsha Tourism, we get things done with relentless precision. Since we promised that he’d one day run the Daoist Temple, there’s no way he’ll back out!

Zhu Qiang couldn’t help but laugh.

“I told him, but he’s still uneasy. He even gave me an excuse—saying it isn’t worry over Mingsha City, but that he built Wuzhuang Temple, and ordinary Daoists can’t keep things under control. He’s afraid of harming the others,” he explained.

Luo Peng added.

To Luo Peng, Daoist Master’s excuse was simply a way of making excuses for himself.

“Alright then, if nothing else, call Brother Hao tonight and ask him to nail down his return time to Mingsha City. Daoist Master isn’t usually like this—it must be a last-minute emergency,” Zhu Qiang reasoned.

After a moment’s thought, Zhu Qiang declared,

“Fine!”

“You all get on with your work—I need to swing by Mingsha County town to discuss plans with the local officials about building a kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school.”

After wrapping up that conversation, Zhu Qiang glanced at the ever-lengthening queue of tourists at the entrance of the A Chinese Odyssey area and continued,

“With every new IP check-in spot in Mingsha City, we’re forced to hire more staff.”

“Especially over at the A Chinese Odyssey area! Judging by its current reputation and visitor feedback, this spot is destined to become one of Mingsha City’s most iconic attractions, and our current staffing is just not enough.”

That said,

finding a way to keep these employees happy in Mingsha City has become an urgent issue.

“We need to build a kindergarten and an elementary school,”

which prompted

Luo Peng’s eyes to light up.

If Mingsha City really builds a kindergarten and elementary school, children from Hongsha Gang Village and nearby communities will be enrolled in no time.

These days, nearly every villager works in Mingsha City,

so they can earn a living while taking care of their kids—a true win-win.

Moreover, knowing Mingsha City’s standards, if the schools are built, they won’t be a half-hearted effort. The quality of teaching will likely surpass that of the county’s own schools.

“Yes. Secretary Qin had already discussed this with Brother Hao, and he agreed. Secretary Qin began his research in the county town and started pushing the project. I believe he got some feedback from his phone call yesterday,”

Zhu Qiang nodded.

“So what kind of establishment will the kindergarten be classified as?”

“I’d say it will fall under Mingsha Academy. In the future, it might even be called Mingsha Academy Affiliated Kindergarten or an affiliated middle school,”

Zhu Qiang replied,

Little did he know that as he was about to discuss the school construction with Qin Xuan, in Su Province, Lanshi at the Traditional Chinese Medicine College, a man in his fifties listened with a stunned expression to a staff report.

The man, named Shi Changjun, was the current dean of the Su Province Traditional Chinese Medicine College—a school that has lingered in the 400s of the Long Kingdom University rankings, making it just an ordinary undergraduate institution.

“Are you sure about this?”

Coming back to his senses, Shi Changjun asked again.

“Dean, word is already spreading in our circles. National Medical Master Lin Wenian is heading to Mingsha City to oversee a place called Taiyi Hospital, and he’s even contacted three other National Medical Masters,” the staff member reported hastily.

The staff member hurried on,

“Four National Medical Masters in total?”

Shi Changjun couldn’t help but gasp.

While ordinary people might not grasp the significance of having four National Medical Masters, he knew very well that for their college, they were as valuable as academicians in major comprehensive universities.

“Yes!”

“So, are these four coming for the year-end traditional cultural performance?”

After a pause, Shi Changjun pressed on,

“They’re definitely linked to the performance, although there are rumors that these National Medical Masters might end up staying in Mingsha City permanently.”

“Staying here permanently?”

“That’s what the buzz is. Apparently, Mingsha City wants to build a traditional hospital—for its employees’ convenience under the guise of this cultural project. Although the name sounds grand, it’s essentially just the Mingsha City Staff Hospital.”

After the staff member finished, he added,

“But for now, it’s just hearsay. We can’t be sure yet.”

“Mingsha City Staff Hospital… Mingsha City truly is something else!”

Letting out a deep breath, Shi Changjun marvelled.

Having spent years in Lanshi, Su Province, he had only often heard about Mingsha City, but online praise never quite captured its grandeur.

It wasn’t until now that he truly felt the force of Mingsha City.

In Su Province, while many top hospitals couldn’t attract even a single National Medical Master, Mingsha City’s staff hospital managed to secure four—and that’s just the beginning. Who knows if more will follow?

“Dean, are we finished here? Should we reach out to Mingsha City officials? If we can get these National Medical Masters to take on adjunct positions at our college, we could really step up our game,”

After a pause, the staff member continued,

“Adjunct positions? If it were that simple, it would already be done. Even though they belong to the Mingsha City Staff Hospital, why would they take on adjunct roles? Remember, Lin Wenian was once the Vice President of Yan City Traditional Medicine University! And don’t forget—Mingsha City is planning to build a university, Mingsha Academy.”

At these words,

Shi Changjun gave the staff member a piercing look.

The matter of Mingsha Academy, though not public knowledge, was no secret among university deans. Once Mingsha Academy received its project funding, the news swept through academic circles across Su Province.

“Mingsha Academy? You’re saying these National Medical Masters will take adjunct positions there? But Mingsha Academy only has three secondary departments and no Traditional Chinese Medicine department,”

the staff member replied in surprise.

A university’s programs aren’t decided on a whim—they must be approved by higher authorities.

“The absence of a department now doesn’t mean one won’t be added in the future!”

Shi Changjun leaned back slowly, deep in thought.

To be honest, at that moment, he was tempted. Four National Medical Masters were truly an unparalleled resource.

“Then…”

“Alright, inform the other university heads. Tonight, we’ll have a meeting to discuss this matter. Resources like these, hard-fought by other provinces, are right here in Mingsha City. We must seize the opportunity. We can’t end up like Su Province TV,”

the staff member continued, “Su Province TV, had it any vision, wouldn’t still be a fourth-rate channel, not even securing broadcasting rights for some Mingsha City events.”

After a long pause,

“And don’t we need to plan on how to secure these National Medical Masters?”

Shi Changjun looked up at the staff member.

“Understood, Dean!”

At these words,

the staff member quickly nodded.

Time flew by, and soon it was 9 PM.

With A Chinese Odyssey’s reputation soaring and more moviegoers flocking to theaters, the total box office has already exceeded 400 million.

Such staggering earnings have naturally become media fodder—news outlets and entertainment forums alike are hailing A Chinese Odyssey as this summer’s box office champion.

In short,

all signs point to A Chinese Odyssey steadily climbing to legendary status, while the film festival run by the Director Association has been completely overshadowed.

Meanwhile, online drama forums are ablaze. As some visitors posted videos of Mingsha City’s current scene, the buzz reached a fever pitch.

“I never expected Mingsha City to set up mythological film scenes right behind the Longmen Inn.”

“Surprising, but nice—it’s not far from the City Gate.”

“Exactly!”

“The night view at Pansi Cave is simply breathtaking!”

“No doubt about it! Although the Thunder-struck Demon-Locking Tower is striking, the scale of Pansi Cave is far grander.”

“How large are Blood Lake and the Demon-Locking Tower? Pansi Cave covers an entire Shadou area—they’re not even in the same league.”

“You can even ride a black yak there, much like riding the demon cows at Demon King Village—it’s incredibly immersive!”

“Man, I just got back from Mingsha City and now I want to return! I’d love to spend a night capturing the night view of Pansi Cave—it’s unforgettable!”

“Haha, you’re actually lucky. Those who’ve never visited Mingsha City have it even worse.”

“Why’s that?”

“Simple—in my previous trip to Mingsha City, every day was jam-packed. Mornings were for Qingming Scroll and the Protectorate of West Liang; afternoons for Longmen Inn, Qixia Town, Wudi City, and Langya Pavilion; day two was for Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom and, at night, the Thunder-struck Demon-Locking Tower; day three for the journey home. But now, spending an entire night at Pansi Cave—are two days even enough?”

A netizen offered their opinion.

“True, booking a guesthouse in Mingsha City has become a real challenge these days.”

“And you think that’s it? Mingsha City still has vast undeveloped areas. In the future, they might introduce even more attractions—possibly extending a trip from two days to five or six.”

“It’s entirely possible!”

Halfway through the discussion,

a netizen suddenly asked, “By the way, I heard that several areas in Mingsha City are now cordoned off. Areas behind Tengwang Pavilion, in the Xianxia Zone, and along both sides of Qing Brick Avenue leading to Langya Pavilion are blocked off. Could this be related to the upcoming casting for that ancient costume drama?”

“Ancient costume drama? That seems unlikely!”

Noticing this,

another netizen confidently commented, “Why?”

“Because the ancient costume drama announced by Haofang Culture is a light comedy. A project of such scale wouldn’t be called a light comedy,”

“Then what is Mingsha City planning? The cordoned-off areas seem even larger than those around Qingming Scroll—they must be gearing up for another massive project.”

“Not sure, but there’s an 80% chance it’s related to Haofang Culture’s film projects later this year.”

“That makes sense—Mingsha City is all about merging film and tourism. They’re probably going to capitalize on the momentum.”