Chapter 255: Culinary Showcase and Cultural Expo

When exactly does the culinary showcase start? Has the official announcement been made yet?

Ancient Architecture Snack Street

Many visitors from across the country, while enjoying the delicious fare in various restaurants, eagerly asked the same question.

“It’s been announced!”

“When exactly?”

“Tomorrow at 3 PM sharp at the four-step entrance in front of Lutai in Mingsha City – that’s when ticket checking begins. After a brief speech by local officials, you can enter the culinary showcase area.”

A visitor who had just read the notice said.

“Ticket checking? So you need an admission ticket?”

Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem. But as soon as the explanation began, the inquisitive visitor was suddenly at a loss for words.

“Of course! Which expo doesn’t require tickets? Without proper tickets, safety issues could easily arise at Lutai!”

The visitor explaining the situation pressed his lips together as he gestured toward the shop’s exit.

Outside Snack Street, a dense crowd had already formed. Along with many locals from Long Kingdom, a significant number of foreign visitors were interspersed among them.

“So how much do the tickets cost?”

Back to reality.

The bewildered visitor immediately asked.

He had barely managed to book a spot at one of Mingsha City’s guesthouses. If he couldn’t even get into the venue, it would be a real disaster.

“The announcement on Mingsha City’s website says that tickets are free – you just need your ID card or passport to claim one. However, only 35,000 tickets will be available tomorrow, and 5,000 of those are reserved exclusively for foreign visitors!

Keep in mind, each showcase project has its own ticket limit. For example, the Palace Festival on the third day seems to be capped at just 5,000 tickets.”

“Reserved for foreign visitors too?”

“Absolutely! This traditional cultural expo is designed to showcase our Long Kingdom’s heritage to the world. How else can foreign visitors truly experience it?”

The informed visitor chuckled.

“So, are the tickets already gone?”

The bewildered visitor’s face fell in disappointment. Judging by the number of people already swarming into Mingsha City, they were most likely snapped up already.

“Not at all! The official website states that tickets for the culinary showcase zone will be released tonight at midnight, and tomorrow evening, tickets for the ancient architecture showcase will be available.”

The informed visitor shook his head.

“Tonight? So that means I still have a chance?”

“Yes, but tonight you’ll have to rely on speed, a good internet connection, and a bit of luck. Even though the culinary showcase zone reopens tomorrow evening, you saw that over 100,000 visitors have already flooded into Mingsha City. Many will end up watching the show on TV because they can’t get a ticket!”

“So, those who are slow-fingered might just regret it, huh?”

“Regret? Not necessarily! Mingsha City is a blast overall. Haven’t they just launched an iced carriage ride along the river channel of the Qingming Scroll?”

“Having fun is what counts!”

“That may be, but I absolutely need to snag a ticket – any showcase project will do.”

“Same here!”

The visitors continued chatting animatedly on Snack Street.

Wudi City, Ancient Building Courtyard

Xu Hao, Li Jue, and other leaders from the Ancient Architecture Institute chatted casually. While Li Jue and his cohort were relaxed, middle-level leaders like Meng Yuan and others, experiencing Mingsha City for the first time, appeared more reserved.

Of course.

While visitors fretted over tickets, they had nothing to worry about if they showed their Ancient Architecture Research Institute work ID – it granted them unrestricted access to Mingsha City, including Mingsha Academy.

“Dean, the Palace Festival rites scheduled for the day after tomorrow are in your hands!”

After a brief pause, Xu Hao looked at Li Jue, Liu Shan, and Cao Jun.

This time, he was coordinating the entire event. Each showcase project had been assigned to a responsible person. The Ancient Architecture Institute staff who came to help wouldn’t be idle. Liu Shan was hosting the Palace Festival, with ceremony arrangements managed by Cao Jun, and Li Jue was set to read the ancestral memorial text.

“Let’s just hope nothing goes awry.”

Li Jue nodded.

Honestly, when he saw the details Xu Hao had planned for the Palace Festival, he was left awestruck – no other words could describe it. Especially after the mystical experience during last night’s tour of the altar, the atmosphere was beyond extraordinary.

Now, the thought of having to recite the memorial text made him oddly nervous!

He hadn’t felt this kind of jitters in ages.

“By the way, Xiao Xu, are the other showcase project leads all set?”

After a brief pause, Cao Jun spoke up.

“Tomorrow’s culinary showcase is jointly managed by Luo Peng, General Zhu, and Mr. Fang from Haofang Culture. The ancient architecture showcase is led by Li Shaoqing, the deputy director of Mingsha Tourism, who also serves as their engineering director! Traditional medicine is hosted by old Lin from Lin Wenian’s team, while traditional costumes are managed by Xu Xin, the president from Haofang Agency!”

Xu Hao nodded.

“Hmm? By the way, what about General Zhu from Mingsha Tourism? Didn’t you have him in charge of a project?”

At that, Liu Shan couldn’t help but ask.

As the president of Mingsha Tourism, Zhu Qiang should be considered Mingsha City’s second-in-command. He ought to be hosting one of the projects.

“General Zhu had to leave suddenly! He probably won’t be back for a couple of days!”

Mentioning Zhu Qiang, Xu Hao replied casually.

“He left?”

Liu Shan, with a thoughtful expression, didn’t press further.

Theoretically, the most important event in Mingsha City was this cultural expo. Could anything be more significant? Yet, this was an internal matter for the city – outsiders had no business prying into it.

“By the way, Xiao Xu, yesterday a government official called, requesting that Mingsha City not be overly concerned with the expo’s procedural arrangements.”

Taking a sip of tea, Li Jue continued.

Ever since the expo procedures were announced, some uninformed locals had complained that the authorities seemed biased, always favoring Jinlong Ancient City.

Although Mingsha City was more capable of hosting the expo, it ended up having no performance during the opening ceremony! Even the project showcases were given away to Jinlong Ancient City.

It was beyond comprehension! In reality, however, the higher-ups had designated Mingsha City to assist with the expo. Xu Hao was actually tasked with the heavy lifting of renovating the 49 Imperial City – and possibly even the Prince Gong Mansion, Tianshitan, and other landmark ancient edifices that ordinary folks dare not touch.

Completing these tasks would be a monumental achievement for the Long Kingdom. That way, even if the Mingsha City sub-venue didn’t go perfectly, there would be no criticism.

“Dean, I get it! In fact, the more things go this way, the less pressure there is on Mingsha City.”

Xu Hao nodded.

Thankfully, they weren’t burdened with the opening ceremony’s cultural performances, or they’d be swamped.

“Right.”

“By the way, Old Dong and Lao Feng are coming this afternoon. We’ll have dinner together tonight.”

Li Jue glanced at Cao Jun and Liu Shan before continuing.

It turns out that the project leaders for tomorrow’s sub-venue showcase will be announced by the newly promoted Dong Liping.

“No problem!”

Little did they know that while Xu Hao and Li Jue were enjoying a relaxed chat at the Ancient Building Courtyard in Wudi City, Ding Xiaoping and Bai Ming from the Directors Association had already arrived on Qing Brick Avenue in Mingsha City.

“So this is Mingsha City?”

Staring out at the seemingly endless Qing Brick Avenue, Ding Xiaoping’s emotions grew increasingly complex.

He had always heard rave reviews about how impressive Mingsha City was online, but only now was its charm truly hitting him.

The moment he stepped into the city, an overwhelming ancient aura washed over him – ancient-costumed tourists and guards on duty everywhere made the scene breathtaking.

“President, our hotel is at 232 South City Wall!”

Nearby, Bai Ming checked his phone and added.

Originally, they had planned to stay elsewhere, but then they decided they needed to see the Palace Festival showcase up close. So, they paid a high price to snag two Wall guesthouses from other visitors.

Normally, a Wall guesthouse costs only 300 a night, but they ended up paying 3,000 for one.

“No rush. Let’s wander around Mingsha City first – especially over to Langya Mountain to scope out the terrain and gather some footage. Then we’ll move on!”

Glancing up at a signpost,

Ding Xiaoping shook his head.

Although he admired Mingsha City’s architecture, their purpose here wasn’t tourism. Their goal was to execute the Palace Festival. The busier Mingsha City got, the more irritated he became – especially whenever he saw the Haofang Culture sign not far off, which stirred an inexplicable anger inside him!

So, no matter what, they had to give Mingsha City a taste of being universally condemned this time around.

“That works too!”

Bai Ming looked around at the bustling crowd and nodded.

After all, they hadn’t brought much luggage, and in Mingsha City, there were public carriages and sedan chairs available – making travel a breeze.

“Hmm?”

However, just as Ding Xiaoping and Bai Ming were about to head to a public carriage stop, several men in black uniforms suddenly blocked their way.

“Ding Xiaoping?”

The group sized up Ding Xiaoping. The middle-aged man at the front fixed his gaze on him.

“Who are you?”

Startled by the question, Ding Xiaoping and Bai Ming instinctively blurted out,

“We’re from a department in Su Province. We need to discuss something with you – please come with us!”

In the next moment, the brisk middle-aged man flashed his ID at Ding Xiaoping.

“Something to discuss? What do you want? Is there some kind of misunderstanding? He’s the president of the Long Kingdom Directors Association! We just arrived in Su Province today!”

At these words,

Bai Ming, puzzled, couldn’t help but speak up.

Looking at Ding Xiaoping, he was equally astonished.

“I know you just arrived in Su Province today. By the way, what’s your name?”

The middle-aged man furrowed his brows and then looked at Bai Ming.

“My name is Bai Ming. I’m currently the vice president of the Directors Association! You must have heard of the Long Kingdom Directors Association.”

Bai Ming straightened up and introduced himself.

“Bai Ming? Perfect. You both come with us!”

After saying that,

The middle-aged man signaled to several young men beside him.

“Together? Wait a minute, comrade – explain clearly! Although you flashed your credentials, you can’t just drag us off without a proper reason!”

Hearing that it involved them too, Bai Ming quickly interjected,

“A reason? Someone testified that you ordered him to send out expo news under the pretense of being an insider from Mingsha City’s Tourism Office – deliberately disrupting the expo! Is that reason enough?

I think you should know the true nature of this expo!”

The middle-aged man’s eyes turned cold as he glared at the two.