Chapter 360: Intrigues and Mishaps at Mingsha
by xennovelXiao Xu, are you busy right now?
The next moment, Han Lijun’s voice came through the phone.
“Not at all! What do you need?”
Xu Hao’s relationship with Han Xiaoqing was no secret, and the Han family was extremely pleased with him! Otherwise, they wouldn’t have allowed Han Xiaoqing to attend Mingsha Academy.
Even if Mingsha Academy was buzzing, in the short term it could never compare to the traditional top-tier Yan City University.
“Xiao Xu, here’s the situation: Yan City TV just signed a new cultural export project with Haofang Culture,”
On the other end, Han Lijun hesitated briefly before recounting everything that happened at the seminar. In the end, he added, “So now our project might not get overseas distribution. But don’t worry – Yan City TV will still stick to the contract with the same rate per episode.”
“It just won’t air on international channels?”
“Exactly!”
“Well, if it doesn’t go overseas then so be it. These cultural companies and TV stations act too high and mighty! Haofang Culture has never taken them as serious competitors, and Mingsha City’s focus has never been film and TV dramas anyway.”
Of course,
Haofang Culture doesn’t always hit a home run with every project, especially overseas!
Xu Hao furrowed his brow slightly.
He really didn’t care whether the TV series reached overseas, but the reactions from those cultural companies and TV stations were downright nauseating.
“Everyone is too protective of their own interests, worried that a high-priced production might later be lambasted by netizens after comparisons! In short, they’d rather settle for mediocre collective failure than let someone stand out.”
Even when mentioning other TV stations, Han Lijun’s disdain was unmistakable.
“And what about Yan City TV?”
After a brief pause,
Xu Hao asked again.
“Yan City TV is already looking for another cultural company to tackle a different genre. I did some digging—aside from remakes of the Four Great Classics, other stations plan to produce traditional martial arts dramas, emphasizing Long Kingdom’s kung fu and promoting unique elements like Long Kingdom porcelain.”
Han Lijun sighed.
“Oh! Do you want me to help out on my end?”
“No! You concentrate on your own work. Yan City TV can handle themselves. By the way, on your way back today I heard that Mingsha City failed to secure a 5A rating, while Dino Park and Fengdu Scenic Area both got upgraded to 5A?”
After wrapping up business, Han Lijun suddenly recalled something.
“Mm!”
“How did that happen? With Mingsha City’s current reputation and scale, missing out on a 5A rating seems impossible. Is someone deliberately making things difficult? If so, I’ll inform Grandfather!”
Han Lijun’s voice suddenly rose.
“Han Shu, it’s fine! Mingsha City does fall short on some metrics, but there’s still time for improvements before reapplying. As for the feud between Mingsha City and Dino Park, we’ll sort that out on our end.”
Xu Hao paused in surprise before saying,
“Are you sure you don’t need any help?”
“Han Shu, I’m really alright!”
“Alright then. If any issues crop up, call immediately!”
“Mm!”
“Also, once your schedule lightens up, come back to Yan City and take Xiaoqing over to Grandfather’s place. Grandfather mentioned he’s been wanting to see Xiaoqing lately.”
“Alright!”
Meanwhile, in Haishi at the TV station, Cai An leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed, while the production director, Mr. Wang Quanbao, sat across the desk, oblivious to Cai An’s displeased expression as he continued boasting about his ‘achievements.’
“Now, all our problems are solved! Everyone’s on a level playing field, and our remake of Journey to the West is much more likely to succeed.”
He declared confidently.
“Succeed? With Tianchen Culture? Don’t forget—in the moment Tianchen Culture learned that Haofang Culture was also involved, they wanted to withdraw. What does that imply? They don’t even have faith in themselves! How can you expect such a company to produce a classic remake?”
Or maybe he just couldn’t stand Wang Quanbao’s arrogant attitude.
Before Wang Quanbao could say another word, Cai An interrupted him.
He was extremely dissatisfied with the seminar’s outcome.
He never expected other TV stations to join forces and ‘boycott’ the cooperation between Haofang Culture and Yan City TV.
Human nature was laid bare at that seminar! “Leader, you can’t say that. Tianchen Culture is very capable—just wait and watch!”
At that, Wang Quanbao raised an eyebrow.
After pushing Haofang Culture out of the cultural export project, he had already reconnected with Tianchen Culture, who promised to start casting and scouting locations immediately.
In short,
for this remake of Journey to the West, aside from using green screens for the celestial realms, every scene featuring demons and monsters will be shot on location – and these locations are some of Long Kingdom’s most renowned scenic spots.
This way, not only does it promote Journey to the West, but it also subtly showcases Long Kingdom’s landscapes—a win-win situation.
Confidently, Wang Quanbao stated.
“Alright, the project is in your hands! Just remember—don’t embarrass Eggplant TV.”
Seeing this,
Cai An no longer felt like arguing with Wang Quanbao.
“Embarrass? As if that’s even possible!”
A few minutes later, Wang Quanbao left the director’s office.
“Not a single brain in sight! What’s the benefit of ousting Haofang Culture? If our relations with Mingsha City were better, we could have used their ready-made Wuzhuang Temple or Mingsha Fudi directly.
How’s that working out now?
If Tianchen Culture’s chosen Wuzhuang Temple can’t match Mingsha City’s, well, ha!
He muttered to himself.
Cai An gave a cold glance to the closed office door before picking up the desk phone.
“Mr. Wang, could you come to my office?”
Time flew by, and before they knew it, several days had passed.
Long Kingdom was vast and resource-rich, with a population of two billion, 99.99% of whom were ordinary people.
What Cai An, Han Lijun, and the others knew, ordinary people hadn’t even caught wind of.
At that moment, most netizens were still discussing Mingsha City’s failure to secure a 5A rating.
To them, the issue had blown up to epic proportions and all sides should have responded. And yet?
The Long Kingdom Scenic Rating Committee said nothing, Dino Park remained silent, Fengdu Scenic Area gave no explanation, and even Mingsha City merely offered a bland, “We’ll keep trying,” in a purely official tone.
With all that,
how could they be satisfied?
“Mingsha City is such a coward this time!”
A netizen posted this on a forum.
The post soon drew over a hundred comments: “Exactly! Even if we should’ve critiqued Dino Park or Fengdu Scenic Area a bit.”
“It was all a waste of hope!”
“It’s like the emperor isn’t in a hurry while the eunuchs are! We went through the trouble denouncing the Rating Committee and forcing a change in the results. And what about Mingsha City?”
“Haha, but you can’t say Mingsha City did nothing! Tourists say that recently they erected the largest barricade in Mingsha City’s history on the west side of the altar.”
“Barricade? What’s the point? What matters is taking a stand and speaking up!”
As the discussion grew more heated, another netizen commented,
“Alright, everyone, let’s drop the complaints. I knew from the start this would lead nowhere and was bound to be fruitless.”
“Why?”
Another curious netizen asked.
“Simple! Although Mingsha City is a private spot, it has the backing of the Ancient Architecture Institute and the Su Province Cultural Relics Bureau. They must give the Rating Committee some face. As for what Mingsha City really thinks, only its higher-ups know.”
The netizen explained further.
“That actually makes sense.”
“So, everyone, let’s get back to work.”
“Sigh!”
Little did they know, as netizens debated online, in the General Manager’s office of Fengdu Scenic Area,
Feng Xiangcai and Shi Yun wore frowns.
“Where’s the promised revenge?”
Leaning back in his chair, Feng Xiangcai drummed his fingers on the table incessantly.
He figured that even if Mingsha City wouldn’t openly challenge the Rating Committee, there would surely be a series of actions to give them a dose of their own medicine.
Yet days passed, and Mingsha City remained completely silent.
Even the longstanding feud with Dino Park had faded into nothingness.
It was truly baffling! If only we had known earlier, we wouldn’t have panicked when the news first broke.
“General Feng, do you think Mingsha City chickened out?”
After a long silence,
Shi Yun looked at Feng Xiangcai and asked,
“Chickened out?”
Feng Xiangcai raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
“No way! Mingsha City – a place even H Country pays no mind to – would never chicken out. After the Gao Nan incident, when multiple Foreign Affairs Offices united in condemnation, Mingsha City didn’t back down! They even forced an explanation with just one announcement.”
Furthermore,
“As long as Dino Park’s old hag image remains etched in the Demon-Locking Tower, the feud between Mingsha City and Dino Park will never end.”
“Then, General Feng, could it be that someone in authority tipped off Mingsha City? After all, Xu Hao – a Senior Researcher in Ancient Architecture at Mingsha City and the founding Dean of Mingsha Academy – is quite high-ranking! Some matters require careful balancing, not just impulsive actions fueled by anger.”
Shi Yun added.
“Mm? That’s quite possible!”
After hearing this,
Feng Xiangcai’s expression changed suddenly.
Knock, knock, knock!
Just as Shi Yun was about to analyze further, a knock sounded at the door.
“Mm? Come in!”
Feng Xiangcai straightened up.
“General Feng, there’s trouble. Mingsha City is stirring up a commotion!”
The next moment, a middle-aged woman in work clothes pushed the office door open. Not even noticing that Shi Yun was still there, she immediately said,
“Mingsha City is showing signs of activity? What’s going on over there? Did they issue a new announcement or something?”
Before she could finish, Feng Xiangcai and Shi Yun exchanged worried glances.
Surely, this couldn’t be a coincidence!
They had just been debating whether Mingsha City had chickened out, and now news from Mingsha City came in immediately.
“General Feng, Mingsha City hasn’t issued any announcement!”
Noticing the worried looks on the two elder officials, a staff member hurriedly added,
“Then what is it?”
Feng Xiangcai raised an eyebrow.
“Here’s the thing. Yesterday at noon, some tourists visiting Biyou Palace to burn incense discovered that the small island next to Biyou Palace had just been opened. With nothing better to do, many tourists took a stroll on the island.”
The staff member continued,
“A small island next to Biyou Palace? That doesn’t seem like a big deal!”
Shi Yun frowned.
If it had been a new opening of a third entertainment city or another significant project in Mingsha City, it might have been notable. But this small island wasn’t exactly a secret; even if opened, what difference would it make? Mingsha Fudi’s capacity was limited.
“Boss Shi, the key point is that once tourists got on the island, they discovered that a God of Wealth Temple had mysteriously been built on its top.”
The staff member continued,
“A God of Wealth Temple?”
“Exactly!”
The more the staff member explained, the more puzzled Feng Xiangcai and Shi Yun became.
A God of Wealth Temple—shouldn’t be that impressive. Even if Mingsha City was known for its grand ancient constructions with that signature ‘ethereal aura,’ it wasn’t out of the ordinary.
After all, at least half of Long Kingdom’s scenic spots housed a God of Wealth Temple.
“General Feng, here’s the kicker: one tourist on the island noticed a living golden frog, then saw the God of Wealth Temple. After offering a prayer inside, they discovered that half of the stocks in their account had surged to limit-up today.”
So that tourist shared the experience online, declaring that the temple was truly miraculous and that they must return to fulfill their vow someday.
The staff member added,
“And then? Netizens believed it?”
Feng Xiangcai was momentarily stunned.
If such a miracle had really occurred, he’d have definitely visited that God of Wealth Temple in Mingsha City himself – perhaps even donating half his profits!
“Half the stocks surged? Ridiculous. It’s clearly a fabricated gimmick.”
Nearby, Shi Yun snorted coldly.
He had seen plenty of such tricks; many so-called stock gurus relied on stunts like this to boost their following.
“Boss Shi! At first, many netizens didn’t believe it. They said it was just a coincidence. But then, a local female broadcaster, in a bid to catch the trending topic, bought a scratch-off lottery ticket. While on the island, she too saw a golden frog. After praying at the temple, she scratched the ticket with her own ID—and guess what?
She actually won one million!
“Ah? She really won?”
Clang! At that, both Feng Xiangcai and Shi Yun couldn’t hold back; they stood up simultaneously.
“Look—the female broadcaster had a huge audience on her live stream and they all witnessed the scene firsthand! After her video went online, she excitedly announced a bonus of 100,000 as a token of gratitude. Now, many netizens have rushed to Mingsha City, hoping to seek fortune, burn incense, and search for golden toads. In fact, there are videos of tourists nearly clashing over boats to the island.”
By this point, a hint of resignation appeared on the staff member’s face.
Whether by coincidence or other means, the key fact was people believed it! Sure enough, the God of Wealth Temple in Mingsha City would soon become a hot topic again.
“A chance encounter with a golden toad? This… this is unbelievable.”
Feng Xiangcai and Shi Yun exchanged glances and simultaneously burst out with expletives.