Chapter 295: Whirlwind Schemes in Mingsha City
by xennovelSo that’s how it is!
After listening, several of them nodded.
“So, what do you think? Was it challenging?”
Cui Xiaozhong turned to Jin Shanfú once more.
“Boss, it wasn’t challenging at all. Besides, I’ll figure out a way to add a projection to help promote Dino Park.”
Jin Shanfú waved his hand dismissively.
“Right! The bigger the spectacle, the better.”
“Don’t worry!”
Ding-dong!
Just as Park Qi Ye was about to speak, his phone buzzed with a text message. He checked it, and after reading its contents, Cui Xiaozhong smiled and said, “Chairman Chen does have some tricks up his sleeve. He just sent over the magic acts that a few contestants from Long Kingdom plan to perform. Care to take a look?”
“Oh? That’s great! Let’s study it and see if we can reveal the secret.”
At this, Jin Shanfú and the others immediately crowded around.
“Right!”
Little did they know that while Cui Xiaozhong and Jin Shanfú were scheming, the name ‘Mingsha City’ once again became the hot topic in the tourism sector.
This time, it wasn’t the Magic Competition or the Mingsha Fortunes; it was about the subway!
“Really? Don’t try to fool me!”
On a certain forum, a netizen left an astonished comment, trailed by a string of question marks.
“Why would I lie? At ten this morning, Mingsha City even held a subway inauguration at the city gate. Loads of tourists have already tried it out! It’s five stops from the city gate to Mingsha Academy, and the fare is just four bucks—about the same as riding a public carriage.”
Another netizen immediately replied.
“What on earth is going on with Mingsha City? It’s unusually quiet.”
“Hehe! Isn’t that normal? Whenever Mingsha City puts on a show, it’s always shrouded in mystery. And have you heard? The high-speed rail station project for Mingsha City has been approved! Insiders say the subway will connect seamlessly with the station, making it much more convenient for tourists.”
“Mingsha City’s high-speed rail station? That deserves a thumbs up.”
“But then again, while it’s more convenient, it also loses some of its charm. Visiting Mingsha City without experiencing its quirky mounts just feels incomplete.”
“I don’t see the conflict! If you want to ride the subway, ride the subway; if you want to ride an ostrich, ride an ostrich. Giving tourists more options is spot on!”
“That’s true!”
“Also, this morning Mingsha City announced that the small lake and its three islets would be called Mingsha Fortunes.”
“Mingsha Fortunes? That fits perfectly! It does sound like one of those paradisiacal retreats described in novels, where immortals dwell.”
“Exactly. I heard that just after two in the morning, Mingsha City’s guards were still patrolling Mingsha Fortunes.”
“Why?”
“Why else? Many tourists are seen sitting cross-legged by the lake with a copy of the Huangdi Neijing in hand, reciting passages while occasionally burning incense sticks and ritual papers. What do you think!”
“Haha! Poor Mingsha City’s guards, right?”
“Nothing can be done—the area’s just too ‘celestial.'”
Meanwhile, as netizens chatted, the topic soon shifted to Mingsha City’s infrastructure.
“By the way, my tourists mentioned that Mingsha City seems to have cordoned off another area.”
“Another cordon? Where exactly?”
Upon seeing another netizen’s tip, many became instantly intrigued.
Every time netizens spot a barrier around Mingsha City, it’s like unboxing a mystery—highly addictive and even more fun than the Magic Competition.
“It looks like it’s located between Wudi City and Zhaixing Pavilion.”
“I got it! This time, they’re probably planning to shoot a historical sci-fi drama. Ever since Longmen Escort Agency went live, Haofang Culture has been quiet—must be their work.”
“Probably. Honestly though, I wish Mingsha City would film more scenes like those epic wuxia fantasy dramas—they’re truly breathtaking! This Magic Competition setup, for example, was simply outstanding!”
“Wuxia fantasy dramas? Not a bad idea! But Mingsha City can’t always go that route.”
“Why?”
“Why else! Mingsha City’s guesthouses are always packed. If you keep going with fantasy dramas, what will happen to the guesthouses?”
“True enough!”
However, little did the netizens know—they were once again, again, and again wrong! The new barriers in Mingsha City weren’t meant for a historical sci-fi drama at all.
In front of the pristine white marble railing by Lutai, Fang Hou surveyed a vast expanse of barriers to the east and let out a deep sigh.
“When will this Magic Competition ever end? Without General Zhu and President Luo, I truly can’t handle this!”
Muttering to himself, Fang Hou couldn’t help but glance at Haofang Culture’s Deputy Director, Zheng Dan, and then at the thick stack of blueprints in his hand.
“Mr. Fang, it’s partly my fault. If I hadn’t suggested shooting a movie on the side while filming ‘Joy of Life’ to boost Haofang Culture’s funds, you wouldn’t have had to approach the leadership now.”
Upon hearing this, Zheng Dan looked apologetically at Fang Hou.
Since A Chinese Odyssey, Longmen Escort Agency, Nanzhao Ancient City, as well as Lutai and Zhaixing Pavilion were all funded by Haofang Culture—and given that last year Mingsha City’s focus was on the Cultural Expo—Haofang Culture’s finances have been dwindling.
So, Zheng Dan was considering, just like the year before last, producing a movie alongside a TV series.
After all, movies have a shorter production cycle, and a booming box office can yield returns far superior to those of a TV series.
Who would have thought? On the third day after they pitched their idea, Xu Hao sent over a thick bundle of blueprints and a film script.
“It’s nothing—I was just talking. Our Haofang Culture does need a cash influx, and releasing a TV series and a movie is spot on!”
Fang Hou waved his hand dismissively.
Honestly, ever since the last Cultural Expo, Mingsha City’s subsidiaries have been ramping up their efforts!
Every time Mingsha Tourism stirs things up, both Taiyi Hospital and Mingsha Academy follow suit, making them worry they’ll hold Mingsha City back.
Just recently, Mingsha Tourism set up a ‘Mingsha Fortunes’ area behind Taiyi Hospital, and today Taiyi Hospital announced that it had invited another National Medical Master, bringing their total to six.
Meanwhile, Meng Yuan from Mingsha Academy posted an admissions video inviting top students from every province to apply, promising free single-student apartments in Mingsha City and an extra 500,000 in scholarships for provincial champions.
It was as if they were gearing up to compete with the top 985 universities in the country for students.
And that’s not all.
Even the newly built Mingsha City Elementary School and Mingsha City Middle School have joined the fray. In fact, the new principal of Mingsha City Middle School went as far as recruiting teachers from Lanshi’s top middle school and even rented a room right at their gate.
With all this happening,
how can Haofang Culture just stick to one ‘Joy of Life’? They wouldn’t even dare to take a break.
“But…”
“The International Magic Competition starts the day after tomorrow. General Zhu and President Luo should be free by then.”
Ring ring. Just as Fang Hou was about to say more, his phone rang.
He glanced at it, nodded to Zheng Dan, and stepped aside to answer the call.
After about ten minutes, Fang Hou rejoined Zheng Dan, frowning as he began to speak.
“Director Zheng, keep an eye here while I go look for Haozi. There’s something urgent.”
“No problem!”
An hour later,
Fang Hou appeared at the Wudi City Ancient Building Courtyard. At that moment, Xu Hao and Luo Peng had just returned from the county, gathered around a sand table discussing something, with Zhu Qiang occasionally gesturing with a laser pointer.
“Haozi! There’s something you need to know!”
Seeing that they were all his own, Fang Hou greeted them openly and got straight to the point.
“Monkey, what’s going on?”
At this,
Xu Hao’s expression changed.
“Just now, Director Liu from Haishi TV called me. He mentioned that a team from H Country might use this International Magic Competition as an opportunity to stir things up in Mingsha City. He advised us to keep an eye out!”
Fang Hou promptly relayed the message word for word.
“Dino Park is planning to set up a Magic Academy? They even claimed that if Taiyi Hospital’s Zhu You Technique is real, then the magic in the academy could be used to treat patients?”
Upon hearing this,
Xu Hao’s expression darkened.
If it were just about competing for tourists, there’d be no issue! You run your theme park and I’ll run Mingsha City, but if you’re trampling on Long Kingdom’s traditional culture to promote your stuff—especially using Taiyi Hospital’s name—Mingsha City certainly won’t stand for it!
“Right! Director Liu also mentioned that the so-called traditional ancient magic tricks of Long Kingdom were exposed, possibly by H Country, and that this Magic Academy has a substantial stake in it as well.”
Fang Hou added.