75 Carnival

With the popularity of Luodu, the first batch of players who are proactive, have money and time have already arrived.

Nowadays, many NPC positions in the city have been replaced by tourists. These new NPCs not only do not ask for wages, but their enthusiasm for work is also unprecedented. Apart from the frequent rotations, there is no downside.

After these tourists join the NPC team, they often encounter all sorts of unexpected situations. Compared to the official NPCs, they feel much more alive and provide a very novel experience for the tourists, resulting in explosive live-streaming effects.

Within a few days, many videos were screen-recorded, and the resulting memes went viral.

That afternoon, Li Mengben was registering the refugees who were queuing to enter the city at the city gate.

She has been guarding the city gate for three days. After her shift ends tonight, she will receive a token from the government office to recognize her contributions to Luodu.

Holding this token in the city not only grants discounts on purchases, but it's also said to offer a chance to trigger hidden quests.

I wonder what this hidden quest will be?

As she was lost in thought, a player shrouded in a black robe, looking like a Dementor, floated up to her.

"Name?" she asked routinely, as if nothing was amiss.

As time went on, players coming to Luodu became increasingly creative, with all sorts of bizarre outfits. It's unclear what style this person is going for.

“If you don’t speak, I will.” A soft, ethereal female voice came from under the hood.

"Please show me your road permit."

The other party cooperated and handed over their ID card. She glanced at the photo on it and saw that the girl was quite pretty.

"Please look here and scan my face."

Li Meng looked down as she swiped her ID information, then pointed at the camera and casually asked, "Expected occupation?"

"A female ghost."

"......?"

Li Meng's hand froze on the spot as she wrote. She subconsciously looked up and saw that the other person had pulled down their hood, revealing a face that was deathly pale except for their bright red lips.

Seeing her wide eyes, the female ghost grinned, "My lord, may I enter the city?"

Even though the sun hadn't set yet, Li Meng felt a chill run down her spine from her laughter. She forced herself to stop her legs from shaking, looked down at her ID card in her hand, and tried to remain calm.

"Hehe, this, uh, Miss Gui, please wait a moment, I need to consult Lord Lin." After saying this haphazardly, Li Meng pulled over the guard standing nearby and turned to run towards the government office.

The young man who was pulled over felt immense pressure facing such a person, and he gripped the spear tightly with a tense expression.

Li Meng ran into the government office and, upon seeing Lord Lin in the distance, began to wail, "My lord!! Something terrible has happened! A ghost has appeared at the city gate!!"

———

Viewers watching the live stream couldn't stop laughing when they saw this.

[Haha, this security guard is so scared, her voice is practically splitting from screaming!!]

[Witnessing history, is this the first female ghost to settle in Luoyang?]

Holy crap, this person is dressed entirely in red underneath, even their shoes are red embroidered shoes!

[Wow, I bet a spicy snack that this is absolutely a monster!!]

[This has opened up a whole new world of possibilities, everyone! If female ghosts can enter the city, then what about all sorts of ghosts, spirits, and monsters?!]

We are all elements of ancient Chinese culture; all beings are equal! If humans can be included, then of course ghosts and monsters can too!!!

Some busybodies even started a petition on the forum, and netizens who love a good show left messages hoping that the government would let the female ghost go.

The backend development team stared at each other, waiting for the bosses to speak.

"What are you worried about? It's just a cosplayer dressed as a female ghost. It's a topic that's been handed to you. Tens of thousands of people are willing to participate. This will become a trending topic in no time!" Zhao Nanqiao looked at Chen Jing with a troubled expression and was very puzzled.

"After all, this is a scenic spot for all ages. What if there are children, the elderly, or people who are easily frightened?" Chen Jing was also a little nervous. She didn't expect netizens to be so creative, not only making jokes but also taking such strong action.

"Hey, let's set some rules for them then. In folk tales, ghosts and monsters aren't supposed to be exposed to people easily. If they just run out and scare people, it's out of character, and they'll be banished from the city!" Zhao Nanqiao's solution came to mind immediately, and then she looked at Ye Zhenzhen, who hadn't said a word, "Tao Tao, say something!"

“I think netizens are right. Ghost stories are an unavoidable part of ancient folk culture. In ancient times, people would inevitably worship their ancestors and perform rituals to pray for blessings during festivals.” Ye Zhenzhen stroked her chin. “Besides, we’re planning a lantern festival for the Lantern Festival, but what about Qingming Festival? And the Ghost Festival and the Lower Lantern Festival?”

The development team's lackeys nodded vigorously upon hearing this: "Boss is right!!!" Wouldn't it be even more exciting if Luo Du simply turned into Feng during the Ghost Festival?!

Seeing that everyone agreed, Chen Jing had no further objections, "but we need to be more careful in management."

"Then I'll have to trouble everyone. I'll give everyone overtime pay later!" Ye Zhenzhen turned to the team in front of the computer. "First, divide them into zones and designate a certain area as a supernatural dungeon zone. We also need to establish a code of conduct for these special professional players as soon as possible. They must abide by the rules and regulations, and are not allowed to spread feudal superstitions."

"In addition, finding a design team to design unique cultural and tourism souvenirs, such as plush toys, refrigerator magnets, and bookmarks, is also a way to recoup costs." Ye Zhenzhen described to them the diverse cultural and creative souvenirs from various scenic spots and museums in the original world, as well as the stamp-collecting activities.

Those present were all seasoned experts who had been immersed in the field for a long time; they could tell it was feasible at a glance.

The team immediately rolled up their sleeves, ready to get to work, without any resentment about working overtime.

What a joke! Although Mr. Ye has many ideas, they are all highly feasible. He never gives orders blindly, knows how to delegate, and is generous with money!

Most importantly, this is not an ordinary business collaboration.

The employees of the cultural tourism group practically tore each other apart to get the chance to help the Crown Prince. All they wanted was to stay in Luodu, become part of the Crown Prince's inner circle, and then, when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, it would be a sure way to gain favor and serve the emperor. Wouldn't that be much better than accumulating seniority at headquarters?

The female ghost successfully entered the city and was informed that the government would soon issue a "Special Occupation (Species) Safety Convention," which she was required to comply with, or she would bear the consequences.

The employees were working overtime with incredible enthusiasm, achieving absurdly high efficiency, and a new official announcement was released on the forum that evening.

A bunch of night owls suddenly appeared in the middle of the night.

[Holy crap, Wuyu has successfully settled in! The number one Ghost Clan member in Luodu!!]

[Wow, the Luoyang authorities' response speed is unbeatable! The ghost arrived this afternoon, and by evening they've already released a safety agreement!]

[Sob sob, there's even a supernatural dungeon to play! I'm so excited, but school starts soon and I can't go.]

[Don't panic, upstairs! There's still the Qingming Festival, and the Ghost Festival during summer vacation! Doesn't that make you even more excited?!]

[Wow, the officials are actually listening to advice?! Then let's petition more often before future events!!]

[What are you waiting for? Didn't you see the recruitment notice from the government office? I'm going to apply for a job!! Once I've infiltrated the ranks, brothers, feel free to make any requests!!]

......

---

On the day of the Lantern Festival celebrations, statistics show that the number of tourists received in Luoyang exceeded 50,000, and the catering and accommodation industries in the Heluo area and surrounding areas ushered in an unprecedented peak.

Fortunately, Vice President Lin was experienced and had prepared contingency plans in advance. Thanks to the cooperation of all parties, the reception of tourists in Luodu went smoothly.

Luodu's live stream attracted tens of millions of viewers, and many small streamers from C-site also broadcast their Luodu time-travel journeys with their equipment, gaining tens of thousands of followers overnight. Luodu has become a traffic magnet.

Those who missed the chance to attend spent time either waiting in the official live stream room or moving between various other live stream rooms.

As dusk approached, the orange-red sky gradually faded into light purple, and the colorful lanterns along the street lit up one after another. The warm yellow light shone through the openwork patterns, weaving delicate light and shadow on the ground.

Following the flow of people, as you walk further, you gradually hear music, and all sorts of lanterns, fireworks, and wrought iron sparks illuminate the street as if it were daytime. Everyone on the street is dressed in ancient costumes, with wide robes and sleeves.

"In this setting, reciting Xin Da's Lantern Festival poem is truly fitting." Ye Zhenzhen changed into women's clothing and came out of the government office with Zhao Nanqiao, merging into the crowd, as if they had really traveled back to the Lantern Festival in the Song Dynasty.

Too lazy to put on too many wigs, she simply wore a hat and even found a veil to cover the lower half of her face so as not to be recognized.

However, her snow-white fur and veil accentuated her captivating eyes, making her even more beautiful and charming under the streetlights, attracting many admiring glances in the bustling market.

Zhao Nanqiao was still dressed in men's clothing, and wore a demon mask on her face. Even her own mother wouldn't recognize her. She had a huge DSLR camera hanging around her neck, and she took pictures as she walked.

As the two crossed a stone arch bridge, a young woman dancing on it moved gracefully to the beat of a drum. Her flowing sleeves fluttered in the air, like a serpent dancing wildly or a dragon soaring out of the clouds. She was as graceful as a startled swan and as lithe as a swimming dragon.

"What amazing footwork! That waist is practically broken!" Zhao Nanqiao exclaimed in amazement as he watched her movements.

"Pah, what do you mean 'broken'? You're such a jinx! Hurry up and take pictures!" Ye Zhenzhen glared at her, then whispered in her ear, "This is our Taoyao's Tiantian. Take lots of pictures and send them to me later."

"Yes, ma'am!" Zhao Nanqiao said while snapping photos with her camera, "Why does she look so familiar?"

“This is my personal servant when we were recording the show.” Ye Zhenzhen also took a picture with her phone. “I didn’t recognize her when we were recording the show before. I only remembered her when we had them play NPCs this time. She’s a dance student with solid basic skills and a strong understanding. She had a cameo role as the fourth female lead in a drama before and became quite popular!”

After filming Ji Tiantian, the two strolled around, eating and taking photos, with Zhao Lu and Liu Haibo following closely behind to avoid being separated by the crowd.

"This Hundred Flowers Opera Troupe sang so well! Even though I didn't understand much, I still thought it was beautiful! And the ladies' costumes were all so pretty!" A girl with her hair in double buns walked past them, discussing the Yue Opera she had just watched with her friend.

"Yeah! That young man is so handsome! He's dashing and charming, not greasy at all. Girls really understand our aesthetic sense best!!"

"I haven't seen enough. Let's stay here tonight. I want to see more tomorrow."

"Great! I was also looking for my little idol Chengcheng, but I wonder what kind of NPC she was dressed up as. She's so hard to find. We couldn't even find her in our fan group. President Ye is so clever, he's really got us all itching to find her..."

......

They walked away chatting and laughing, completely unaware that the playful CEO Ye was right beside them.

Ye Zhenzhen and Zhao Nanqiao exchanged a smile and happily headed towards the central square, where a rectangular box lamp hung on a tall wooden frame.

It looks ordinary, but once lit, it becomes extraordinary. The colorful lights fall layer by layer, like opening a blind box, completely unpredictable, eliciting a chorus of "wows".

After the box lanterns burned out, various traditional lanterns were brought out for display. The lifelike crab lanterns had legs that could move; the round bamboo lanterns, no matter how they were tossed and spun, kept the fire burning inside; and the Luoyang palace lanterns with gilded bamboo frames were full of the charm of the Tang Dynasty.

There are also needle-pierced lanterns, fish lanterns, glass lanterns, hydrangea lanterns, and lotus lanterns that are completely boneless, dazzling the eyes and creating a dreamlike scene.

Ye Zhenzhen recorded a video on her phone and then sent it to Gu Tingshen. Her fingers paused for a moment, and then, taking advantage of Zhao Nanqiao's inattention, she secretly added a "muah" pig emoji.

Gu Tingshen was standing in front of the workbench with his polishing tools when he opened WeChat and saw a cute emoji.

I can almost picture her adorable pout.

He watched the video over and over again before putting down his phone and continuing the work he was doing.

On the workbench next to it, a handcrafted ring was already taking shape.

---

Ultimately, due to overwhelming demand from tourists, the Lantern Festival was held for three consecutive days. High-definition aerial videos spread across the internet, sparking a wave of interest in exploring the folk customs of the Lantern Festival from various dynasties and ancient lantern-making techniques. Not only did local media in Yuzhou promote it enthusiastically, but mainstream media also joined in, praising the contributions made by Yuzhou Culture and Tourism and the Luodu Development Team to promoting traditional culture.

As a result, when Ye Fengxing went out to do business recently, people would always praise Ye Zhenzhen to him, saying things like "like father, like son" and "the student surpasses the master." They also expressed regret that their daughter's marriage was arranged too early!

Ye Fengxing spoke modestly, saying that the child was just playful and lucky. But in reality, he was practically grinning from ear to ear, his heart overflowing with joy.

A few years ago, these old guys laughed at me a lot. What about now?

My daughter is good at everything she does, and she appears on mainstream financial channels!

Your sons are hopeless, good for nothing, and corrupt in every way. They'd only be good for embarrassing themselves on the legal channel!

What kind of toad dares to covet my precious daughter?

Should we go and check on him? This child is so busy with work that he didn't even come home for the Lantern Festival, which really worries his old father!

Forget it, I still need to call Lin Pei again. I don't know if the people he brought are up to the task. I hope they don't mess things up at a crucial moment and affect Zhenzhen's important plans.

After instructing his subordinates, Ye Fengxing sat alone in the room, holding his wife's photo and murmuring to himself.

Soho, our daughter has grown up...

---

Not only has Chen Jing been walking briskly these past few days, but she's also been downloading news reports from state media and playing them in her office every day.

Lin Pei, the vice president of Ye's Cultural Tourism Group, is also full of energy.

After respectfully hanging up the phone with his boss in the office, he began revising the development plan he was working on with increasing care.

It was worth the effort he put into securing this opportunity. Now, he's not only become a familiar face to Young Master Ye, but even Chairman Ye values ​​him highly.

Moreover, there was an unexpected surprise on this trip: although Xiao Ye had many ideas, they were all very novel and highly feasible.

This small town of Luodu is just starting out, but it has already attracted a huge amount of attention. It is foreseeable that it will be bustling with merchants and tourists.

Moreover, after the broadcast of "Travel", several film crews have contacted them, hoping to film scenes there.

Now it has become a cultural and tourism landmark of Yuzhou. With official support, the second phase of the Luodu project can begin planning and site selection!

Surrounded by mountains and rivers, and located in the Central Plains, Heluo Town is rich in natural beauty and cultural customs. In the future, a huge cultural and tourism complex integrating business districts, hotels, restaurants, and cinemas can be built around Luodu.

Perhaps in the future it will become another huge business empire no less powerful than the Ye Group!

Just thinking about it gets my blood pumping...

---

The peach blossom fans woke up with dreamy expressions.

Mom, I think I've become a fan of a really strong female lead...