Chapter 133, Bonus Chapter with 31,000 words of nutrient solution...
Zhao Mengfu did not paint murals.
He stood before that enormous white wall, looking up, and felt an unprecedented pressure bearing down on him. Throughout his life, he had painted mostly on silk or satin on his desk, the largest pieces being screens or hanging scrolls; he had never faced such a vast "canvas" before.
He subconsciously rubbed his beard, then realized that beards weren't fashionable anymore and that he looked younger, so he'd shaved his beard that morning, just like the locals.
After a long silence, he slowly exhaled, his tone tinged with a self-deprecating helplessness: "...It's easy to make grand promises when drunk, but hard to keep them when sober."
Guan Daosheng chuckled softly, covering his mouth, but his eyes were full of encouragement: "Zi'ang, why belittle yourself? This is uncharted territory, a perfect opportunity to test your skills. Perhaps, this massive white wall will allow you to unleash the full potential of your mind?"
His wife's words of comfort lifted Zhao Mengfu's spirits slightly: "What Zhongji said is very true."
He was an artist with a pioneering spirit. After the initial shock, a desire to challenge gradually arose. He studied the wall in front of him for a long time and said, "The method of painting murals is different from that of painting on a desk. The scale, proportion, and effect from a distance all need to be reconsidered. It is not an easy task."
Guan Daosheng nodded: "It is indeed not easy. However, this time, I... cannot help you."
She gave a mischievous smile.
Wang Wei didn't let Guan Daosheng sit idle either, asking her to paint several screens. These screens would then be placed in the hotel's tea room and library.
"Perhaps we could try to find..."
The two exclaimed in unison, "Master Cao!"
As the saying goes, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear," and the painter Cao, having heard of Zhao Mengfu's "heroic feat," has already rushed over.
A simple smile appeared on his weathered face: "Young Master Zhao, do not worry. Although the mural is large, the principles are the same. It is nothing more than the method of sketching and the use of color intensity that must be changed according to the situation. Although I am not talented, I have some experience in this field and am willing to help you complete this masterpiece."
Like Zhao Mengfu, Master Cao and his colleagues had already thrown themselves into their work.
Their arrival in this world was triggered by the same life-or-death crisis as the people of Xiangjia Village. They were painting inside a grotto when the wooden scaffolding below collapsed, threatening them with death or serious injury. But in the blink of an eye, they found themselves in the system space, realizing they had been saved by a Bodhisattva.
Since the "Bodhisattva" brought them here because he valued their skills, they should work even harder.
Therefore, they were even more eager than Wang Wei to do their jobs well.
Although their current work is architectural painting rather than murals, they are not opposed to it. Wang Shifo said that once the architectural painting here is completed, there is a temple in Zone Six, and then they can return to their familiar work.
Upon hearing that Master Cao was willing to help, Zhao Mengfu was overjoyed: "Then thank you very much, Master Cao."
The two masters immediately began to discuss the wall.
Zhao Mengfu has been in Qinghe Ancient Town for the past few days. The stimulation of the new environment has sparked his inspiration, and he has already conceived many sketches. Among them, his most satisfying one is a landscape painting of a spring outing to the ancient town and its surroundings, based on Qinghe Ancient Town and its surroundings.
After reviewing the draft, Master Cao offered suggestions from a mural perspective: "Young master, this draft has an excellent artistic conception, but if it is to be used as a mural, some details could be refined further, and the colors should be more saturated and vibrant than those on the desk, so that it can be appreciated for a long time and be eye-catching from a distance."
Zhao Mengfu couldn't help but exclaim: "I've heard that Wu Daozi could paint the scenery of the Jialing River for three hundred miles in a single day on the walls of the Datong Palace, with bold and unrestrained brushstrokes and a magnificent spirit. Now I realize that the Sage of Painting truly deserves the title of Sage of Painting; he really has unfathomable abilities."
When Master Cao heard the name Wu Daozi, his eyes lit up immediately. Wu Daozi's unique style had a profound influence on the Dunhuang School of painting.
The two found themselves getting along very well as they talked.
Guan Daosheng smiled and quietly left for the studio he had prepared for himself in the ancient town.
She stayed in Qinghe Ancient Town for a few days and felt completely relaxed, experiencing a sense of ease she had never felt before.
When she was in the Zhao family, she was a talented and highly respected lady-in-waiting. As the head of the household, she had to manage all the affairs of the family, social interactions, and even the education of her children. Writing was usually reserved for her spare time.
But here, those tedious responsibilities seemed to have vanished overnight. She no longer needed to worry about household arrangements every morning, as if she had returned to her carefree teenage years.
What surprised and delighted her even more was that the way the women here lived was so different from what she had known. She would occasionally stroll through the streets of the ancient town, observing the passersby, especially the modern women who seemed so composed and busy. She saw that whether they were female tourists or female employees of the ancient town, they could walk calmly in the sunlight, earning a living through their own intelligence or labor, speaking with grace and confidence, their eyes bright and self-assured. This often filled her with an indescribable sense of wonder.
Guan Daosheng possessed intelligence and a thirst for knowledge that rivaled any man's; otherwise, she wouldn't have left her mark on history as a talented woman. Previously, she was limited by her era and social status, but now that those constraints were lifted, her curiosity to explore the world flourished.
For her, these past few days have been incredibly comfortable. Every morning she wakes up to study and encounter all sorts of new things.
Upon arriving at her studio, she spread out a brand-new sheet of Xuan paper, picked up a mixed-hair brush, and instinctively reached for the thick ink as usual. The image of sparse bamboo and secluded orchids had already surfaced in her mind—this was her most skillful subject, and also the one most admired and praised by the world. The brushwork and artistic conception were already deeply ingrained in her mind, almost becoming a habit that required no thought.
Just as the pen tip was about to touch the inkstone, she suddenly stopped.
Wait... why must we paint bamboo, rocks, plum blossoms, and orchids?
Perhaps because these past few days have made her feel as if she has returned to her teenage years, she suddenly remembered that when she was young, she was learning to paint, but she was not really fond of the cool and detached taste of literati. At that time, she actually preferred bold and colorful paintings.
But her father and teachers said so, and so she gradually changed her style.
Now that I've been given a second chance at life, how about trying something new?
The thought flashed through her mind like lightning, causing Guan Daosheng's hand, holding a brush, to freeze in mid-air. She looked up and surveyed the studio that was entirely her own, with a wondrous future world visible outside the window, and a strong, unprecedented impulse surged within her.
She gently put down her usual mixed-hair brush and looked at the rows of traditional Chinese painting pigments on her desk.
Vermilion, goose yellow, rouge, gamboge... all kinds of colors, a rich variety that dazzles the eye.
Pipeline Sheng nodded in satisfaction. Let's try it out with these!
Just as the group started getting busy, Master Cao's apprentices also began their work.
In Dunhuang, only experienced craftsmen were allowed to enter the grottoes and undertake important tasks. This experience, besides assisting their masters, was accumulated little by little through these assignments—they were no strangers to architectural painting. Although the Shazhou Painting Academy primarily served the Dunhuang grottoes, it also undertook the construction of temples. Furthermore, local patrons would also seek their help when building residences.
Chinese architectural polychrome painting has a long history. Originally intended to protect wooden structures from moisture and decay, it has long since become an important component of construction, giving rise to several schools of painting. There are numerous examples of imperial polychrome painting with gold leaf application, elegant and orderly swirling patterns, and lively and vibrant Suzhou-style polychrome painting.
Both Yuwen Kai and Wang Wei came from the Sui and Tang dynasties, and their preferred style was grand and magnificent, but it was not the same as the opulence of the Qing dynasty. Wang Wei, in particular, preferred the Zen-like elegance. Therefore, the architectural paintings in the No. 6 resort hotel are not very elaborate, and the overall style is more simple and natural, with only a few decorations in the lobby's coffered ceiling and a few courtyards.
But because there are fewer of them, the requirements are even higher.
Yuwen Kai and Wang Wei were both present and witnessed the painters complete a brocade pattern. They were very satisfied and then left with peace of mind.
Just then, several craftsmen from Xiangjia Village were also repairing some existing beams and rafters. The people of Xiangjia Village already knew that new people had arrived, but these past few days, they had kept to themselves and remained silent, so they had hardly interacted with them.
Now, we've finally met our match.
The people of Xiangjia Village were the first to show goodwill.
Xiang Ming had been observing them for a long time. He noticed that although Master Cao's apprentices were skilled, they always had a bit of the awkwardness of a newcomer and unease about this unfamiliar world in their eyes, so he took the initiative to carry a pot of freshly brewed hot tea over to them.
"Young masters, you've been busy all morning. Take a break and have some tea to soothe your throats," Xiang Ming said with a smile, pouring tea into cups and handing them over. He added, "I'll have someone bring you a few thermos cups later. It'll be more convenient to bring your own water, and you can even add some tea leaves or goji berries."
Master Cao's eldest apprentice, Chang Qing, quickly put down his pen and accepted it with both hands, somewhat flattered: "Thank you, Master."
After a few sips of hot tea and seeing the sincere smiles of the people from Xiangjia Village, Chang Qing and his companions gradually relaxed. Looking at the delicate yet unfamiliar patterns they had drawn, Xiang Ming exclaimed, "Excellent craftsmanship! The technique of blurring, the lines—it's far superior to what we roughnecks, who only know how to use axes and chisels, possess!"
They can draw a little, but they're not very good at it.
Chang Qing was a little embarrassed: "Master, you flatter me. It's just a skill I learned to make a living. But your mortise and tenon joints," he pointed to the beam joints that the villagers from Xiangjia Village had just repaired, "fitted perfectly together, as if they were made by nature itself, that's true skill."
"Haha, these are all things passed down from our ancestors." Xiang Ming waved his hand and sat down on the wood next to them. He then changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat sentimental. "Speaking of which, we all make a living with our skills. But we are all very lucky people, and now we are enjoying the blessings of our descendants."
Hearing him say this, Chang Qing nodded repeatedly: "Indeed, indeed."
Xiang Ming sighed, "When we first came here, we were just like you are now. Everything was new and exciting, but we were also scared and nervous. But after staying here for a while, we realized that this place is completely different from where we used to live!"
He pointed to the clean and safe working environment and the complete tools and materials around him: "Look, when you work here, the employer will never deduct your wages, the food and accommodation are very good, and they will never treat us craftsmen as inferiors. Our skills are respected here, and they are real skills that can earn us a good life!"
Xiang Erlang chimed in excitedly, "Yeah, you probably don't know, but the things we make here are incredibly popular. Lots of people come specifically to learn from us, and they even call us 'teachers.' And now with the internet, we can even stream live online, and lots of people love that..."
Xiang Erlang was a lively person, and he rambled on and on, eventually mentioning things like the internet and live streaming, leaving the artists dizzy and completely unable to understand. Xiang Ming glared at Xiang Erlang, which finally made him stop talking.
Xiang Ming steered the conversation back on track: "Anyway, that's the gist of it. Back in our day, no matter how good our skills were, we were just craftsmen serving others. We worked hard our whole lives, and it was good enough if we could just make ends meet. But things are different now! Boss Lu and this Qinghe Ancient Town have given us a place to live and respect our skills. All we can do is do our best in our work, to repay this kindness, and to live up to this good world!"
Upon hearing this, Chang Qing and the others nodded repeatedly, "Master Xiang, you're right..."
Xiang Ming patted Chang Qing on the shoulder: "So don't panic. Since you're here, make the best of it. With your skills, you'll definitely be able to live with dignity here, a thousand times better than in Dunhuang... a thousand times better than before! Work hard, Qinghe Ancient Town will never let down hardworking craftsmen."
As Chang Qing and his fellow apprentices listened to these heartfelt words and saw the genuine satisfaction and pride on the faces of the people of Xiangjia Village, and compared this with their memories of the days when they were devout yet poor and of low status at the Shazhou Painting Academy, a great surge of warmth and hope welled up in their hearts.
They nodded emphatically, their initially hesitant eyes gradually hardening into determination.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master Xiang! We will definitely do our best." Chang Qing was not good with words, repeating the same few sentences over and over, but you could tell that he was very sincere and determined.
Xiang Ming smiled with satisfaction, chatted with them for a while, and then slowly strolled back with his teapot in hand.
When Xiang Qi saw him return, he chuckled twice: "What? Went to fool others again?"
“How can this be called deception?” Xiang Ming said confidently. He looked around and whispered to Xiang Qi, a little smug, “I’m going to tell them the benefits of staying here, so they can do their best to serve Miss Lu.”
Miss Lu is usually very busy and rarely bothers with these kinds of things anymore. But those who were among the first to arrive know how good Miss Lu is, so he has to think of her needs and keep these people in check. Besides, he's not lying!
Xiang Qi understood, of course, but since the two had been bickering for their entire lives, he still made a few sarcastic remarks: "Alright, you're just good at currying favor, you're full of cunning and scheming."
So he was the village head in his previous life.
But they all accepted it.
Xiang Ming wasn't offended and grinned, "Of course! Relying on you guys? You wouldn't have thought of these things in eight hundred years!"
......
Zhao Mengfu's murals made little progress, but the work of Chang Qing and others progressed rapidly.
Their arrival naturally attracted the attention of the previously hired artists. They rushed over from home after the Spring Festival, only to find that the client had brought in several more artists, seemingly in key positions, while they themselves had become assistants. Although the project manager promised their salaries would remain unchanged, they still felt a slight sense of dissatisfaction.
Several academic artists, in particular, were proud and arrogant, and they felt resentful because of this incident, feeling that they had been looked down upon by the client.
"Where did you find this old antique from in the countryside? How many people these days understand real ancient architectural paintings? What if they mess up the job and we have to clean up their mess?"
“I asked several experienced craftsmen in the industry, and they all said it wasn’t from their area.”
"Let's just wait and see. If anything goes wrong, it's not our problem. We'll still get paid, and we'll get half the work. Isn't that great?"
This subtle hostility reached its peak when the Evergreen team began applying gold leaf to the painting in the center of the lobby's coffered ceiling.
A young painter surnamed Li, a graduate of the Academy of Arts and Crafts, has always been quite confident in his skills, and applying gold leaf with powder is one of his specialties.
When he saw Chang Qing and the others carefully unfolding the real gold leaf, which was as thin as a cicada's wing and separated by cotton paper, he couldn't help but exclaim: "Master, you still use gold leaf? Why don't you use imitation gold powder or copper powder mixed with glue, and then use a spray gun or brush to apply it? It's faster, cheaper, and the effect looks almost the same. It's also less likely to be ruined."
Although it was meant to be a suggestion, there was a hint of superiority in his tone, implying: Isn't your approach a bit outdated?
Changqing's junior disciple, Huineng, a slightly stuttering lay Buddhist, stopped what he was doing and shook his head earnestly: "Young master, gold powder...no, no, it won't do..."
Chang Qing quickly explained to his junior brother, "Young master, what my junior brother means is that the color of gold powder is superficial and will easily darken over time. Only real gold leaf can last for thousands of years without decaying, and its luster will be much warmer."
The painter, Li, curled his lip.
Gold leaf is fine; it is indeed more expensive but better. As long as the client is willing, there's nothing to say. However, using gold leaf is much more complicated than using gold powder, and even he isn't very good at it. He's worried that these people aren't skilled enough and will waste the materials.
Seeing that the other party wouldn't listen, he felt a bit annoyed and said somewhat impatiently, "Well, we now use ready-made gold leaf paste and syringes, which is fast and even. Your old method is time-consuming and laborious; can you guarantee the results? Besides, for applying gold leaf, we have professional gold leaf glue and soft brushes, which are much more precise than using a large brush to apply gold leaf oil, right?"
He spoke bluntly, but Chang Qing and the others didn't take offense. They just smiled good-naturedly, but their hands didn't stop moving: "The new method that the young master mentioned may be better, but this is what our master taught us. We're used to it, and it makes us more accurate."
The painter, Li, shrugged.
Oh well, let them be.
When Chang Qing and his team actually began applying the gold leaf, all the other painters gathered around. Some were curious, others simply looking forward to a good show. However, a true expert's skill is immediately apparent—
Huineng held a specially made small leather pouch with a metal tip, his arm as steady as a rock. With astonishing wrist strength and control, he directly outlined the petals of a lotus flower on the wooden ceiling. The extruded powder lines were not only uniform in thickness, but also rounded, full, and high-rising, just like lines carved from real white jade, without the slightest break, tremor, or crookedness.
This display of skill, relying solely on feel and experience, instantly stunned all the professional artists watching, and the arrogance on Li's face gradually vanished. They had used syringes before and knew all too well the terrifying control required to create such perfect and fluid three-dimensional lines by hand.
People whispered among themselves:
"Holy crap, that's impressive. Could he actually have some real skill?"
"Look, he doesn't even stop. These lines are just as good as those of the master craftsmen we've met, aren't they?"
"And it was drawn with the head tilted back!"
Many antique-style buildings nowadays have their coffered ceilings assembled in carpentry workshops, with most of the painting done on the ground. After being suspended, only the finishing touches are needed, which is very convenient for the painters. However, Qinghe Ancient Town is a renovation of the original buildings, and the coffered ceilings were already suspended and assembled on the buildings and cannot be moved. The painters have no choice but to paint with their heads tilted back the entire time.
This is a huge test for the artists' necks and arm strength. They need to move around after painting for a short while, otherwise they will easily get tired and their skill level will become unstable. Especially when applying powder, it is very difficult to control the smoothness and evenness of the powder lines.
But Huineng didn't pause at all; his movements were fluid and seamless, and his overall performance was incredibly stable.
After finishing sketching, he stopped and stretched his shoulders and neck.
The young artists below looked at each other, a cacophony of voices rising and falling, a mixture of emotions swirling within them.
Huineng, Changqing, and the others didn't bother with them and rested for a while before starting the next step of the process.
"Shh, be quiet, they're going to gild the lily."
Everyone looked up.
Gilding is a dominant technique used by Evergreen.
He first used old hemp paper and a needle to very lightly chisel out the precise outlines of the areas to be gilded on the prepared powder lines. Then, he used the tip of a smooth, thin wooden stick to dip into a suitable amount of specially made gold glue, the consistency of which was judged entirely by experience. With a wrist as steady as a rock, he applied it with unparalleled precision only to the raised powder lines, without getting any of it on the underlying painted background.
When the gold adhesive is almost dry, reaching the perfect consistency where it "doesn't stick to your hands when touched with oil, and your breath produces a slight mist," the most challenging moment arrives. His fellow apprentice uses bamboo tweezers to pick up the almost weightless gold leaf. Working together, holding their breath and relying on an indescribable sense of touch, they gently apply the gold leaf to the adhesive surface. The movements must be extremely light, fast, and precise, completed in one breath. The slightest hesitation or loss of breath could damage the gold leaf or result in improper application.
Finally, gently brush away any excess gold leaf debris with a soft wool brush.
Just then, some light shone through the window, and in that instant, a miracle happened!
In the sunlight, the outline of the lotus flower instantly shone. It wasn't the slightly dazzling and bright yellow of imitation gold powder, but an extremely pure, deep, and warm, fleshy gold!
It adheres perfectly to the three-dimensional powder coating lines, and with the change of light and perspective, it shimmers and flows, as if it were truly alive, presenting a breathtakingly luxurious texture and captivating power that mechanical spraying can never achieve.
The young artists below are also very knowledgeable.
Especially the painter Li, who stared blankly up at the flowing golden light, the brilliance reflected in his pupils instantly overlapping with certain fragments from the depths of his memory.
He suddenly recalled a winter afternoon during his studies in the capital, when sunlight slanted into the Tai Sui Hall of the Temple of Agriculture. He glanced up and was awestruck by the centuries-old golden dragon painting in the center of the hall's ceiling—sunlight streamed through the window lattices, falling perfectly on the dragon's scales. The gold was so serene, warm, and dignified, as if not paint, but the essence polished by the disc of time, carrying the weighty warmth of history, so similar to the brand-new lotus flower before him!
He murmured, "It's completely different... This gold... it's alive!"
Recalling the imitation gold effect I had previously created with an airbrush, it now seemed incredibly cheap, stiff, and lifeless compared to the pure, hand-applied gold.
The other artists also had mixed feelings.
"Awesome, truly amazing!"
"This is what you call gold leaf! Compared to this, our previous ones were just coloring."
Good things are easy to spot at a glance.
The painter Li, recalling how he had previously offered guidance to Huineng and Changqing, felt a burning shame. However, though occasionally arrogant and conceited, he was not narrow-minded. After calming himself, he stepped forward and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Dunhuang painters:
"Teachers, I'm so sorry, we were blind to your skill before. Your craftsmanship is truly exceptional!" He gave a thumbs up. "This is the real skill passed down from our ancestors! Our little skills are nothing compared to yours."
Chang Qing simply smiled and said, "It's just a matter of practice makes perfect. The new method you're using also has its advantages."
Even the troublesome painter Li was won over, let alone the others, who were completely convinced and whose attitudes underwent a 180-degree turn. They surrounded him, marveling at his skill and cautiously inquiring about the types of gold leaf, the preparation of the adhesive, and the secrets of the technique.
Not far away, Yuwen Kai and Wang Wei stood in a corner watching.
Yuwen Kai chuckled and turned to Wang Wei: "Mojie, can you rest assured now?"
Wang Wei felt uneasy after learning about the petty disputes among these painters. Yuwen Kai, however, was unconcerned and comforted him, saying that there weren't so many hidden agendas among craftsmen; in the end, it was all about skill.
But seeing that Wang Wei was still quite worried, he accompanied him and happened to see this scene.
Wang Wei was finally relieved and repeatedly said, "That's wonderful, that's wonderful!"
After this incident, no one questioned the abilities of this "country team" anymore. The young artists readily accepted the role of assistants and even began to actively seek advice from Chang Qing and his team on the secrets of traditional techniques. The entire hotel renovation project was also racing towards completion.
......
The Hua'e Xianghui Building in the center of the lake was completed earlier than the hotel.
The Hua'e Xianghui Tower was a special building blueprint that Lu Xiaoqi obtained from the system. She only needed to confirm the construction and could build it on its own without having to do anything else. Its fence had been erected in the center of the lake in Zone 8 for several months. Although it wasn't an ugly blue construction site fence, it still somewhat obstructed the view.
Lu Xiaoqi had seen online that some tourists were not satisfied with this, which was a rare point of contention for Qinghe Ancient Town.
Qinghe Ancient Town is great in every way, except for that huge construction fence in the middle of the lake – it's such an eyesore! You have to find a way to avoid it when taking photos, and the authorities haven't given any explanation. What exactly are they building?
Does anyone know what's inside that fenced-off area on the island in the lake? It's been there for months, and there's been no progress. Could it be an abandoned project? It's affecting the overall aesthetics.
Some jokingly speculated: "Could this be a private water villa built for Mr. Lu himself?"
No, no, no, I heard they're planning to build a large revolving restaurant?
[I'm speechless. Building a revolving restaurant in the middle of a lake? Has the owner gone mad?]
Lu Xiaoqi said you only guessed half of it; although it can be considered a restaurant, it's not a revolving restaurant. Also, she's not crazy, thank you. However, she didn't come forward to explain, planning to wait until construction is complete and then give it a stunning debut.
When she confirmed the mission, she gave the Hua'e Xianghui Tower a construction period of three months, with the expected opening time in the spring when flowers bloom, as the first project to open to the public in the second phase.
Therefore, after the Spring Festival, the promotion of Hua'e Xianghui Tower and the pre-sale of tickets were put on the agenda.
On the Lantern Festival, almost all users who followed the official WeChat account and mini-program of Qinghe Ancient Town received a major push notification at the same time.
"Flowers and Calyxes Shine Together: A Grand Banquet in the Tang Dynasty..." Qin Yue murmured the title.
Has something new appeared in Qinghe Ancient Town?
Qin Yue is Lu Xiaoqi's good friend. Back when Song Sao Fish Restaurant was just a small fast food restaurant, they had to thank Qin Yue for her live streaming, which helped it quickly gain fame. Later, after Qinghe Ancient Town opened, Qin Yue did several more live streams, and the response was quite good.
Qin Yue wasn't just there to make money; she genuinely loved Qinghe Ancient Town. If it weren't for the fact that her own little business was doing quite well, she would almost have wanted to join the town's social media department.
Therefore, she will pay attention to new developments in Qinghe Ancient Town.
Upon seeing it, she clicked on Qinghe Ancient Town's video account without hesitation, and sure enough, there was a new video—
Under the moonlight, a magnificent, layered Tang Dynasty-style pavilion rises from the heart of the lake, its bright lights reflected on the mirror-like surface, resembling a celestial palace! Zooming in, one can see the grand scene inside: dancers' sleeves fluttering, musicians playing music, and guests clinking glasses. Finally, the camera focuses on the resplendent golden plaque in the very center of the pavilion—"Hua'e Xianghui Pavilion"!
The video was short, only a few seconds long, and it was probably not live-action footage but AI animation. It ended quickly, and then a line of text appeared on the screen:
[Qinghe Ancient Town's annual grand offering: a recreated feast of Tang Dynasty aesthetics. The Hua'e Xianghui Tower awaits your arrival to witness a magnificent dance performance and embark on a journey through a thousand years of glorious history.]
There is another line of smaller text below:
Visitors can purchase banquet seats during the trial operation period through the Qinghe Ancient Town APP and official mini-program. Only 200 seats are available daily.
When Qin Yue saw the words "limited edition," a bad premonition immediately arose in her heart. She checked the ticket release time; it was 8 PM that evening. That night, she set her alarm, eagerly anticipating the release. The moment the tickets went on sale, she frantically clicked the screen, but the page instantly froze. After a difficult refresh, only four cruel words remained on the screen:
Sold out.
"Aaaaaah! How could it be gone!" Qin Yue cried out, clutching her phone, overwhelmed by a profound sense of loss. She relentlessly refreshed the page, even suspecting a system bug, but the result remained unchanged.
Since that's the case, then don't blame her for using connections.
Qin Yue immediately called Lu Xiaoqi, sounding quite resentful: "Honey, it's so hard to get tickets for your place these days! I set three alarms and used my gigabit internet, and they were gone in a second!"
Lu Xiaoqi immediately understood: "Haha, are these tickets for the Hua'e Xianghui Tower?"
Qin Yue: "Tell me, aren't we sisters?"
Lu Xiaoqi couldn't help but laugh: "Okay, okay, don't worry. I've saved a few tickets for you. You can bring your friends or uncles and aunts to come and see it. I wanted to give you a surprise. I'll have Liu Chan send you the e-ticket link later."
Qinghe Ancient Town no longer needs to rely on internet celebrities for promotion, but she still reserved some tickets in advance for relatives, friends, and other relationships she wanted to maintain. And here they come in handy!
What a stroke of luck! Qin Yue went from hell to heaven in an instant, so happy she almost jumped for joy: "Thank you, baby, I love you!"
Satisfied, she hung up the phone and soon received a link to her personalized e-ticket from Liu Chan. Only then, as her elation subsided slightly, did she have time to carefully read through the details of the ticketing policy.
Upon closer inspection, they discovered a new world.
Important Notice:
Access to the tower: Please present your e-ticket at Pier 8 between 18:30 and 19:00 on the evening of the visit to board a private boat and ascend the tower. Latecomers will not be waited for.
Dress Code: To fully immerse yourself in the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty, guests are advised to wear Hanfu (any style is acceptable, just neat and presentable). If you are unprepared, Hanfu is available for rent on-site; please arrive one hour in advance.
"We actually have to take a boat there? And wear Hanfu?" Qin Yue murmured to herself, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
This arrangement, far from being inconvenient, greatly enhances the sense of ceremony!
She could almost picture the scene: night falling, lanterns gleaming, guests in flowing gowns drifting slowly towards the radiant, celestial pavilion in the heart of the lake, chatting and laughing...
Wow, so beautiful!
The disappointment of not getting tickets had long since vanished, replaced by boundless anticipation for this grand event and immense enthusiasm for preparing Hanfu. She immediately opened her shopping app and began frantically searching for suitable Tang-style Hanfu.
Online, those who failed to get tickets were naturally filled with lamentations, and those who did were even more heartbroken after seeing the detailed rules posted by those who did manage to get tickets.
So, is this really a banquet? Or is it just a performance?
[This timing definitely includes catering. I'm curious about what will be served at the banquet? It can't be modern food, can it? Hua'e Xianghui Tower dates back to the Tang Dynasty, so will they have a famous Tang Dynasty dish like 'Hun Yang Mo Hu' that sounds impressive?]
[The head chef is Li Shanzu, who appeared at Song Sao Fish Restaurant before! I really want to go there; her cooking skills are truly exceptional, a completely different style from Chef Song's.]
What I'm more curious about is what their replica of the "Rainbow Dance" will look like!
[It's definitely going to be amazing! Look, Zhao Yizhu is in the cast! Ahhhh, I really want to see my wife dance in person!]
[Required to wear Hanfu and board a painted boat to reach the island...that's quite a gesture!]
Am I the only one concerned about the price? It's outrageously expensive! 598 yuan per person, and that's just for a regular seat. Better seats cost over 1,000 yuan, even 2,000 yuan! Is this highway robbery? That ticket price could buy several buffet meals at a five-star hotel!
[Upstairs, this can't be measured by the price of a buffet, okay? This is a unique experience! I'm just hoping someone can transfer ownership; the price is negotiable.]
[Agreed, agreed! Besides, the chefs in Qinghe Ancient Town are just as good as those in five-star hotels!]
[If you think about it, why would something so expensive sell out so quickly? It's because Qinghe Ancient Town has already built a strong reputation; anything from there is guaranteed to be high-quality. Rich people don't make their money off of thin air, and they're not stupid.]
There's a lot of discussion online, with everyone paying attention to this trial run. Many people are watching and waiting, and if the trial run gets good reviews, they might consider giving it a try.
At this lively time, just a few days after the Lantern Festival, the construction barriers around the Hua'e Xianghui Tower were finally removed.
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