95: Chapter 95 The Most Primitive Customs

The first unique aspect emerged.

By conventional thinking, paving a road means creating a concrete path.

Smooth and clean!

However, Mingyue Village went against the grain, constructing what could have been a nice concrete road to look like a dirt path.

In the antiques trade, this is called "distressing"!

"Officer Xiao Sun, what were you thinking? Why forgo a smooth, clean surface and instead use this material that looks all muddy?"

"We are restoring the most authentic setting to give tourists the most genuine experience!"

Since they were here today to learn the ropes, Sun Ning was certainly going to reveal some things.

If he hadn't been worried about the road becoming a muddy mess when it rained, Sun Ning wouldn't have even bothered with paving it.

This road, paired with the song "Chinese Folk Songs," was a perfect match.

Or rather, while this setting might not reach the artistic conception of "small bridges, flowing water, and cottages" or "ancient paths, west wind, and a lean horse," it still allowed one to experience the solitude of "the setting sun, and a broken-hearted person at the end of the world" while walking along the long, winding path.

Everyone has their own preferences, but Sun Ning wasn't greedy; he was content with capturing just a fraction of that.

As they climbed further up the mountain, the first cave dwelling finally appeared before everyone.

How should he put it? It left the group, led by Vice Mayor Wang Pingan, quite shocked.

"These cave dwellings of yours are so primitive!"

Sun Ning couldn't help but chuckle and smiled, "It's to provide tourists with an authentic experience."

Leaders really do have a way with words.

Dilapidated, aged, crude.

Yet, Vice Mayor Wang Pingan used the term "primitive."

In everyone's estimation, they assumed the cave dwellings Sun Ning created would just use the mountain as a gimmick, while the interior would still be modern brick-and-concrete houses.

But here in Mingyue Village, they were almost entirely authentic cave dwellings.

Dark and damp.

Those present who had lived in cave dwellings couldn't help but shiver.

This scene might have reminded them of an experience where a bug crawled into their bed in the middle of the night.

Some people here were from the western part of Heyang Province and had zero interest in such cave dwellings.

But those who grew up in the cities, or people from the eastern, northern, or southern parts of Heyang, didn't think that way.

Their first reaction was curiosity.

Not everyone had seen a cave dwelling, nor would anyone go out of their way to stay in one.

Unless these people went on trips to revolutionary holy sites, they wouldn't see this kind of thing.

But those trips were always rushed, and the accommodation was always in star-rated hotels.

Why? Because it was official study-tour travel!

Vice Mayor Wang Pingan stood in the courtyard, looking at the neatly stacked firewood and coal briquettes.

Two wood-burning stoves and one coal-briquette stove were under a simple color-steel shed.

One room was neatly filled with all kinds of tools.

For example, barbecue grills.

Shovels.

Fishing rods.

Here, you could experience many things: planting trees, growing flowers, barbecuing, and fishing.

Looking at the wide array of tools, Vice Mayor Wang Pingan asked with great confusion, "Why are there woodworking tools?"

"There are quite a few carpenters in the village, and these tools are just sitting idle. They can allow tourists to have a different kind of experience."

Sun Ning had referenced a famous "Little Kitchen" variety show from the future for this.

He was doing this to enrich rural life.

These tools might never get used, but it was possible that someone might want to carve a spinning top themselves...

And then there were the handicrafts, like small folding stools...

When that happened, these tools would come in handy. Don't underestimate these details; they could increase the tourists' favor.

Tourists could also commission a handicraft they wanted.

There wasn't much of anything else here, but there were plenty of carpenters, and the craftsmanship of those elderly folks was impeccable.

As for the things they made, Mishui Township could promise free shipping.

However, Sun Ning had instructed that these couldn't be sold at street stalls; only samples could be displayed to avoid making tourists think it was overly commercialized.

This was all about reputation, and it was also one of the income-generating projects Sun Ning had added.

"Aren't the people who come here to travel looking for leisure? You've put out so many farm tools, it looks like you want people to do farm work."

One could tell from this remark that Vice Mayor Wang Pingan had done farm work when he was young.

However, there were few people from his generation who didn't know how to do farm work.

They had been tired themselves and knew that no one who was on vacation wanted to go do farm work.

But Sun Ning's positioning for the cave dwellings was for a niche group.

The way those people's minds worked was quite different!

"These are for just in case. If some people come as a whole family, perhaps they would want to let their children experience the hardships of a farmer!"

Children in the city nowadays are quite pampered.

Many parents want their children to endure some hardship, experience different occupations, and so on!

The group walked toward the bedroom, which surprised Vice Mayor Wang Pingan and the others once again.

While the furnishings and such still had a rustic feel, items like reclining chairs and sofas were all provided.

Even the bedding was of very high quality.

Of course, if you really wanted to experience a hard wooden bed, there was another room.

Entering this room could transport you back to the 1970s in an instant.

Coarse cloth sheets and floral quilts would immediately bring you back to the feeling you were looking for.

After seeing this, Vice Mayor Wang Pingan sighed with admiration, "Very thoughtful! Doing things this way is half the battle won. Let's continue to look further ahead; isn't it said that the higher up you go, the better the scenery?"

"Leader, how about we eat first? Everyone has worked hard all morning and should be starving."

The meal was prepared in a nearby cave dwelling.

It was the largest cave dwelling in Mingyue Village, and Village Party Secretary Tian Lei had arranged three tables, using the tables typically used for large rural banquets.

Our Vice Mayor Wang Pingan and Party Secretary Wang hadn't experienced this kind of rural atmosphere in who knows how many years.

For a moment, both leaders sat down at the table with great interest.

The meal prepared by Mingyue Village wasn't very extravagant, but there were some home-style cold dishes.

There were also some seasonal wild vegetables.

Of course, iron-pot stewed goose and iron-pot stewed chicken were available.

Staple foods like white flour steamed buns, sorghum flour steamed buns, and cornmeal buns were all served.

The main focus was on delicious taste and an appetizing aroma, not presentation!

Because it was an inspection by leaders, there was no alcohol at lunch.

Therefore, the meal ended quickly!

After everyone had their fill, Village Party Secretary Tian Lei brought over a few pairs of new women's cloth shoes.

These items were made by the village aunties themselves at the company's request, and the company bought them.

In Mingyue Village, Sun Ning was determined not to allow commercialization.

Those small towns and ancient towns from the future weren't for people to enjoy the scenery at all; instead, they were just made into shops!

In any case, it was over-commercialization.

Mingyue Village's target audience wasn't suited for commercialization, so these goods were sold to tourists subtly through the company's acquisition model.

However, the company wouldn't actively promote them.

These terms were written into the contracts, and the villagers had been clearly informed.

If anyone violated company regulations, they would be punished; in serious cases, their qualifications would be revoked!

Those who refused to comply might even be taken to court.

As for other aspects, the company set unified prices.

The purpose of the company's existence was management—to institutionalize Mingyue Village!

Sun Ning had long noticed that some beauty-loving women were wearing high heels while climbing the mountain!

So he arranged for people to bring some flat shoes to give to these individuals, and then staff from Mingyue Village and Mishui Township led the group off to rest.