Chapter 80 - 75: Li Yuan Farm Has Been Marked

Chapter 80: Chapter 75: Li Yuan Farm Has Been Marked

"Just thinking about some things!" Zhang Lin replied to Fu Yao, his gaze returning to the Accommodation Construction Scroll he had just obtained.

This construction scroll, like the previous one, didn’t use up a build slot. But this one was also different. While it shared the restriction that construction had to be within the farm’s boundaries, it didn’t specify a particular site size or a dedicated construction type. Instead, he had to define the construction area and type himself.

This gave him much more control and a lot more freedom.

However, given the categories provided by the system—hotel, guesthouse, inn, RV, or campsite—it seemed he didn’t have much of a choice after all.

The classiest option was obviously a hotel, but given the farm’s current situation, the cost would far outweigh the benefits. After all, building a hotel cost at least ten thousand yuan per square meter, and the various facilities were expensive. A hotel large enough to accommodate a sufficient number of guests could cost several hundred million yuan.

And if he built a simple one, it likely wouldn’t accommodate enough guests to be profitable.

Guesthouses and inns were out of the question, as they didn’t fit the farm’s current construction requirements. An RV park was even less viable; it was a project that had fallen out of favor, with high costs and low seasonal demand.

That left only one option: a campsite.

It was, after all, the project with the lowest cost and the quickest returns. He could build a campsite on about sixteen acres of land and set up 2,000 tents, no problem. If he wanted to make it more comfortable and add some service facilities, he could still fit 1,500 tents.

The cost would be a few million yuan, or a few million more for a high-end version.

It was because of this coincidence that he felt the system thought he had tempted fate, and so had given him this scroll.

After all, he had just said that if it were up to him, he would definitely choose Fu Yao’s design and build it.

But now the system had coincidentally given him this construction scroll, and he subconsciously glanced at Fu Yao’s design plans.

Fu Yao’s design had been based on the farm’s topography. It was centered around tents, supplemented by manicured lawns. Each tent spot was designed as a private little courtyard with its own independent shower and toilet system.

It also included a separate public barbecue area and a place for serving tea and other drinks.

The style was quite distinctive.

Then there was the atmospheric lighting design for nighttime, which was something many places were doing, so it was pretty standard.

Finally, taking Li Yuan Farm’s terrain into account, she had placed the campsite near the river, making it possible to channel river water to create a swimming pool and other water activities.

All in all, it had quite a few merits. Or rather, when Fu Yao was designing it, she had just imagined the kind of campsite she herself would want to visit, designing it entirely based on her own preferences.

The key was that these preferences seemed to be very popular with other young women. Lin Mengxi was very optimistic about it, seeing a lot of potential.

’So, maybe I can give it a try. Give her a chance.’

’Besides, with the game system’s "Aesthetics +1," "Sleep Quality +1," and "Feels Like Home +1" attributes, the pros and cons of the design might not even be the most important factor.’

Zhang Lin wasn’t sure how to select the design to try it out, so he could only try concentrating on it in his mind.

Unexpectedly, a notification from the game system actually appeared:

[Current design has major flaws. It lacks appropriate water intake facilities, power supply routing, and essential functional areas such as recreational facilities, public restrooms, and waste collection stations!]

Zhang Lin was taken aback by this.

’Design really is a field for experts.’ He hadn’t expected Fu Yao’s design to have so many flaws.

Still, she had never studied it systematically, so it was understandable for a self-taught designer.

The design was completely unusable as it was. To build it, all these issues would have to be fixed first.

However, after a moment of thought, he said, "Fu Yao, you put a lot of effort into this design. How about I build it?"

"Huh???" Fu Yao exclaimed.

"Eh???" Lin Mengxi muttered.

The two young women, who had been looking over data from the evening’s livestream, were both completely stunned.

Fu Yao hadn’t even considered the possibility.

Lin Mengxi, on the other hand, hadn’t expected this Boss Zhang to actually be serious. Although he had just said that he would have chosen Fu Yao’s design, she had assumed it was just a polite pleasantry.

While she also thought Fu Yao’s design was good, hearing Boss Zhang say he was actually going to build it felt completely surreal.

"Mister, are you serious?" Fu Yao finally snapped out of it a moment later, her voice a mix of hope and apprehension as she asked.

After all, this was her first design, and she didn’t want it to just be thrown in the trash.

Zhang Lin was very direct. "However, your design can’t be used as it is now. It’s missing a lot of things. We have to modify and add what’s missing before it can be used!"

"Mister, what’s it missing?" Fu Yao asked hastily.

Zhang Lin smiled and pointed out the issues. "First, your design has no proper water intake facilities. Where will the water be drawn from? Where will the reservoir be built? And how will the power supply be routed? You can’t just run wires everywhere, right? You have to consider things like electrical boxes, don’t you?"

"It’s also missing essential functional areas like public rest facilities, public restrooms, and waste collection stations!"

Fu Yao was dumbfounded when she heard all this.

She never imagined her design had so many flaws. If the mister hadn’t pointed them out, she would have had no idea.

’Doesn’t this basically mean my design is useless?’

Lin Mengxi also looked at Zhang Lin in surprise.

To be honest, she had looked at Fu Yao’s design and thought it was quite good, but she had no idea it had so many problems.

She was amazed that Boss Zhang had identified so many issues with just a single glance.

She now understood how he had managed to create a sensation like Li Yuan Farm. His abilities in this area were truly incredible and admirable.

The crucial part was that Boss Zhang was also very considerate. Even though he knew Fu Yao’s design was full of flaws and completely unusable, he first validated her by saying he would have chosen it and that he wanted to build it.

He was clearly being considerate of Fu Yao’s feelings.

By pointing out the problems this way, it would surely be easier for Fu Yao to accept.

As Lin Mengxi thought about it, she couldn’t help but let her gaze linger on Zhang Lin’s face for a moment.

’A man like this really seems to have a kind of glow about him, making you want to just admire him.’

Fu Yao, however, just said quietly, "Mister, could you speak a little slower? I want to write this down so I can go back and revise it properly before showing it to you again."

"???" Lin Mengxi was taken aback when she heard this. ’Is this girl for real?’

She could tell Boss Zhang was just being polite. After listing so many problems, anyone else would have just dropped the subject.

"Of course," Zhang Lin said with a smile. "Let me go over it with you in more detail. You can revise it and then show it to me again to see if it’ll work!" He then began to explain the issues to Fu Yao in greater detail.

"???" Lin Mengxi’s mouth fell open, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.

’So you two are actually serious, and I’m the only one who thought it was just idle chatter?’

Watching the two of them discuss the design, she found she couldn’t get a word in. Just then, she saw Chief Wei Yuan approaching and hurried to greet him.

"What are you all discussing?" Wei Yuan asked curiously.

Lin Mengxi didn’t hide anything and explained the situation. Then she added with a sigh, "Chief, you don’t think Boss Zhang is actually serious, do you?"

"Wouldn’t that be a great marketing angle?" Wei Yuan was also surprised to hear this. "Using a high school girl’s design might sound unreliable, but it’s a different story if Boss Zhang is personally supervising. Boss Zhang always knows what he’s doing. Once the place is built, promoting it as a campsite designed by a high school girl would be a huge gimmick. It has excellent publicity potential."

"Huh??" Lin Mengxi was stunned again by her chief’s words.

’Is that how it is?’

She hadn’t thought about it that deeply at all.

Wei Yuan smiled, sat down at the table, and asked Zhang Lin, "Boss Zhang, I hear you have a new plan!"

Zhang Lin smiled and said, "I do have a plan for a campsite. It seems a campsite needs approval from the Agriculture Bureau!"

"For the land use, yes!" Wei Yuan said with a smile. "You’ll also need approvals from more than ten other departments, like Public Security, Environmental Protection, and Tourism. But you don’t need to worry about that. Li Yuan Farm is already on the county’s radar. Especially since Zhao mentioned the Bamboo Culture Park, your collaboration with the Tourism Bureau, at a county meeting. The county magistrate is paying close attention to this project. In fact, Zhao himself was running all over the county today, looking for highly skilled bamboo craftspeople."

Zhang Lin understood the real meaning behind those words. It meant that for any of his Li Yuan Farm project approvals, absolutely no one would dare to obstruct him. As long as he applied, the county would give him the green light all the way.

Still, there was no need to rush. For one, he was short on funds at the moment. For another, it would take some time for Fu Yao to finish the design.

What did surprise him was that the Bamboo Culture Park project was already on the county’s official register.

’It seems a project combining bamboo culture and tourism really does get more attention. They always say ’culture-tourism,’ with ’culture’ coming first. It’s the politically correct move.’

And precisely because it was politically correct, Zhao Han was putting his all into this matter. Even late at night, he was personally leading Wang Yu to visit an old master craftsman in Shangzai Village.

"Chief Zhao, this Old Guo is stubborn as a mule and has a foul temper. He’s not going to license his ’family heirloom techniques’ to Li Yuan Farm. Haven’t you heard? Even his two sons didn’t want to learn from him and ran off to find work elsewhere," Wang Yu complained as they walked.

Zhao Han didn’t say anything. He and Wang Yu entered a dilapidated old house and saw an old man weaving a bamboo fan. Just from the craftsmanship, you could tell it was a fine fan.

He had looked into this Old Guo. He was indeed a traditional artisan, a perfect fit for the style of the Bamboo Culture Park, and his bamboo products were genuinely excellent.

Unfortunately, handmade items couldn’t compete with machine-made ones. A machine-made fan might sell for only 10 yuan, while he had to sell his for 50. Why would anyone buy it?

Even if the craftsmanship was superior, in the eyes of the general public, the function was more or less the same.

But it would be a different story if you could engrave the words ’Li Yuan Farm Souvenir’ on the fan. That would give it commemorative value. If you then added ’You City Intangible Bamboo Weaving Heritage,’ it would be different again, possessing cultural value as well.

Then people would definitely be willing to pay 50 yuan.

Upon seeing Old Guo, Wang Yu immediately stepped forward. "Mr. Guo, I’m Wang Yu. I was here earlier today to talk to you about the Bamboo Culture Park!"

"Are you deaf? I told you I’m not interested!" Old Guo retorted without even looking up.

Wang Yu threw up his hands, giving Zhao Han a helpless look.

Zhao Han glanced at the shabby surroundings and said to Wang Yu with a grin, "Wang Yu, if Mr. Guo isn’t willing, then let’s just go. Didn’t Master Li next door agree? I think his woven fans are 50 yuan each. In a little while, Li Yuan Farm will be receiving at least 10,000 visitors a day. Even if only about a thousand of them buy souvenirs, with Master Li’s skill, handling thirty-odd customers won’t be a problem."

"If he makes 20 yuan per fan, that’s over 600 yuan a day, which is almost 20,000 a month. Once Li Yuan Farm gets more visitors, his income will be even higher. I hear his son, who’s working out of town, is even planning to come back to learn the craft from him."

With that, he started to lead Wang Yu toward the door.

But then, Old Guo’s voice rang out urgently, "Is what you’re saying true?"

Zhao Han smiled. "Of course it’s true. However, my subordinate here told me Mr. Guo is unwilling to license his craft to Li Yuan Farm. We won’t force anyone against their will. We’ll be on our way."

"Impossible! I never said that to him!" Old Guo denied hastily.

"???" Wang Yu was dumbfounded.

’Didn’t you say it with your own mouth just this evening??’

But Old Guo ignored him, turning to Zhao Han with a broad smile. "Sir, when can you take me to see the boss?"