Chapter 200: Chapter 118: Another Offering Segment! Protect Our Patriarch Chen!

Chen Han received this game prompt and roughly deduced that the villagers’ gathering might be related to Ming Di.

The familiar Demonic Qi, and Ming Di brought it to Shangyuan Village.

It could only be that guy.

However, wasn’t he hospitalized for alchemy?

Ignoring him for now, after entering the Chen Family, Chen Han passed by the flowerbed supplying flowers and stepped forward to observe.

Because the Spirit Plant Dew was irrigated yesterday, all these mature plants have grown significantly, many already showing small buds.

At this speed, after two more days of irrigation, the Chen Family would have a Flower Sea with fragrance +2, aesthetics +2.

Returning to Little Uncle’s courtyard, Little Uncle, Uncle Dagou, and Uncle Shuisheng had sandbags tied to their bodies, ready to exercise their physiques after coming out of the courtyard.

Unlike the past when it was just the three of them, Chen Jun, Chen Dalong, and the members of the Demon Suppression Hall were also waiting outside the courtyard.

These people will be following the training in the future.

Seeing him return, these people greeted him one after another: "Patriarch!"

Of course, the three elderly Elders of the Demon Suppression Hall certainly did not need to train.

The Elders naturally have privileges, they can just take it easy and keep watch usually. But once the family’s Elders need to be deployed, it’s at a time when a one-hit kill is unavoidable.

The Elders can perform the Earth Escape Divine Skill, lie down on the ground, and everyone would be afraid, even the Demon Path Demons.

Last time already proved this point.

Entering the kitchen, Chen Han retrieved some Cyan-Feathered Pheasant meat from the storage, cut a portion, and put it in the stew pot when his junior sister also arrived, beginning to work on the Spiritual Fire Stove and Spiritual Pressure Cauldron.

Apparently, his junior sister plans to take time every day for alchemy.

That’s truly a good assistant, and it can also ensure the Body Forging Pill is put to good use.

As time passed, when the medicinal meal finished having water added, Chen Han also received a report from the visitor service center that County Director Chen had brought people here.

He also asked his junior sister to watch over the medicinal meal, then went to the visitor service center, seeing Chen Kai and the accompanying Ma Qi in the reception room.

"Patriarch Chen."

Upon seeing him, Chen Kai and the others greeted with smiles.

Their moods were evidently good.

The county had been paying attention to the Chen Family’s situation and naturally knew about the additional 150 Feng Shui Rooms, and after the Demon-Vanquishing Celestial Venerable Enlightenment Ceremony promotion video was uploaded last night, all 450 rooms were fully booked.

Apart from those for single occupancy, many rooms were occupied by couples or spouses, meaning there should be at least 700 tourists today, and it will soon surpass a thousand visitors in a day.

This number is already leading the attractions in Linhe County.

And according to current trends, during the National Style Event, this number will multiply several times, which is unquestionably a major breakthrough in the county’s cultural tourism work.

"Director Chen, Section Chief Ma, please sit," Chen Han invited them to the tea table, and picked up the tea-making tools to brew Thunder Bamboo Spirit Tea.

After sitting down, Chen Kai handed a document to Chen Han: "Patriarch Chen, this is the archival document of all kinds of ceremonial heritage of the Chen Family Demon-Vanquishing Celestial Venerable. With this document, the Chen Family can host various ceremonies in the future. The county might even partner with the Chen Family to host grander Wandering God events."

Evidently, the last statement is his true purpose.

The Wandering God events in Minjiang bring significant revenue to the city every year, and the county naturally wants a share of this benefit.

However, sharing this benefit requires the Chen Family’s Demon-Vanquishing Celestial Venerable to gain public recognition, just like the popular Crown Prince Zhao gods in recent years.

In simple terms, it requires fame and popularity.

Offline activities by internet celebrities without popularity see no attendance, and unpopular deities won’t be heeded at Wandering God events.

Once popularity rises, it’s different. When Crown Prince Zhao travels, countless netizens flock to see and film him, forming thick crowds.

Recently, the Chen Family’s Demon-Vanquishing Celestial Venerable videos went viral online, clearly a good omen.

Whether the county can eventually enjoy the Wandering God benefit depends on whether the Chen Family can successfully promote the Demon-Vanquishing Celestial Venerable.

Such matters are not something the county can rush, nor dare to get involved, as the Demon-Vanquishing Celestial Venerable is a deity of high status in the Taoist Sect, with religious taboos.

The county, lacking understanding, might inadvertently violate taboos by getting involved.

Thus, the county can only rely on the Chen Family for now.

Chen Han accepted the document with a full smile.

He had been considering applying for this document before, but unexpectedly, it came to him first, showing that the Chen Family is truly favored in the county.

With this document, many of the Chen Family’s ceremonies could become legitimate.

In other words, the difference between superstitious illegal activities and religious heritage activities sometimes is just this document.

Though freedom of religious belief is emphasized now, this freedom for religion comes with a premise - that is, ’Maintaining guidelines for religion in accordance with state religious policies and requirements’ guidance.

Ultimately, activities need to be under supervision; unsupervised matters in this aspect can easily encounter problems.

After brewing, Chen Han poured a cup for both Chen Kai.

As soon as a cup of tea was consumed, there was a knock on the door, and Little Uncle led Village Chief Guo Zhen in.

Little Uncle and Village Chief are friends, and Village Chief came through Little Uncle, which clearly indicated something was up.

He instinctively thought of today’s Shangyuan Village villagers’ gathering, which might be related.

The key is that Village Chief brought a basket again, which meant another offering.

The last time the loose cultivators offered a Moon Gazing Rabbit as tribute, I wonder what they will offer this time?

"Xiaohan, there’s something the village would like to discuss with you," Chen Lin said as soon as he came in.

Chen Han nodded and also invited Guo Zhen: "Village Chief, have a seat!"

Speaking, he poured a cup of Thunder Bamboo Spirit Tea for the village chief and Little Uncle, and did not forget to introduce, "Village Chief, let me introduce, these two are Director Chen and Section Chief Ma from the county’s cultural tourism department."

Upon hearing this, Guo Zhen hastily greeted the two, "Director Chen, Section Chief Ma, I am Guo Zhen, the village chief of Shangyuan Village. Nice to meet you both."

"Hello, Village Chief Guo." Chen Kai smiled and shook hands, as did Ma Qi.

Chen Han smiled and asked, "Village Chief, what brings you here today?"

Guo Zhen said somewhat embarrassedly, "Patriarch Chen, there are many Chen Family tourists now, so I would like to ask if the village could also set up some homestays, as many houses in the village are vacant."

This also caught the attention of Chen Kai and Ma Qi, both looked at Chen Han, curious what choice this Patriarch Chen would make.

After all, under normal circumstances, people who are too focused on profit might choose to build new lodgings or similar facilities when faced with such a shortage of accommodations.

With tourists, business isn’t a worry; either by renting out the village’s unoccupied houses to increase the number of accommodations, these approaches can always maximize profits.

Of course, if one values relationships more and is not too concerned with profit, they might lead the villagers to prosperity.

However, such altruistic behavior is not something many can achieve.

So, they were curious how Patriarch Chen would decide.

Chen Han didn’t think much of it because he had intended this from the start. Besides, he had no other choice now, as a game prompt suddenly popped up in his mind:

[Representatives from the loose cultivators affiliated with the Chen Family have come to visit the Chen Family. The loose cultivators have discovered a sparse spiritual meridian and plan to build cave dwellings on it to rent to passing loose cultivators!

Although the spiritual energy in the cave dwellings built by the loose cultivators is weak, for those with insufficient strength who cannot receive the Chen Family’s hospitality, these caves are a viable option.

However, you have already investigated and found that Demon Cult Demons are involved in this matter. They certainly have motives, and if you pretend not to know, you can agree to the loose cultivators’ request, potentially keeping a better eye on the Demon Cult Demons’ movements in secret.]

So, Chen Han smiled and said, "Village Chief, that’s not a problem, but renovating the accommodations will indeed require quite a bit of money; once tourists book rooms, the environment cannot be lacking."

In the game plot, the Demon Cult Demons had obviously infiltrated the loose cultivators.

In reality, the village chief’s proactive suggestion to integrate the village’s unused housing resources was probably Ming Di’s idea.

Hearing this, Guo Zhen immediately said, "Don’t worry, Patriarch Chen. Someone has invested in our village and has begun integrating the vacant houses. It’s just a matter of getting a business license from the county."

"Village Chief Guo, I can help with connecting you for the business license," Chen Kai spoke up at this moment. After all, if Shangyuan Village sets up homestays and the effect is good, it would also indicate that their cultural tourism initiatives are driving the local economy.

The most important point is that if the Chen Family allows Shangyuan Village to partake in these tourist benefits, then if the Chen Family grows more prosperous, can surrounding villages also join?

Therefore, they needed to make this happen, and besides the Chen Family’s ancient buildings, attracting tourists could also promote rural tourism.

Just like in the internet era, as long as there is traffic, all sorts of businesses can be done, and tourism is the same; as long as there are tourists, any attractive tourism project can be launched.

Rather, Patriarch Chen earned more respect, as his choice proved that he wasn’t someone overly obsessed with profits but instead a person of great loyalty.

Such a person deserves respect wherever they are.

Even though the current online trend is to criticize good people, and when someone is too good they’re instead scrutinized, donations are questioned, and it’s assumed taxes will be checked, or money laundering is happening, good people shouldn’t be targeted.

At least, he now greatly appreciates Patriarch Chen, and the county should protect him more in the future.

"Thank you, Director Chen." Guo Zhen was very pleased to hear this, knowing that with a connection, the business license would be expedited.

Chen Han, however, was firm yet courteous, saying, "Village Chief, there’s no problem with the village setting up homestays, but let me be clear up front, our Chen Family has requirements — we must be allowed to send people to supervise and inspect. After all, the Chen Family’s development hasn’t come easy, and I don’t want the reputation to be ruined."

Without hesitation, Guo Zhen said, "Patriarch Chen, rest assured, Shangyuan Village is willing to accept Chen Family’s supervision. If any villager doesn’t meet standards or damages the Chen Family’s tourism reputation, they won’t even need you to act; the rest of us in the village won’t condone it."

He spoke with great determination, as the village surely would act.

Nowadays, making money is tough, especially for rural folks, and during these days of selling home-grown fruits, vegetables, and dried bamboo shoots at the Cultivation Marketplace, villagers have earned quite a bit of money.

Especially the fruits, which sell for more than they would to middlemen, so everyone has experienced benefits brought by the Chen Family and naturally doesn’t want to tarnish the Chen Family’s reputation.

Guo Zhen continued, "Patriarch Chen, since our village is sharing in the Chen Family’s tourism benefits, we are willing to offer 30% of the consolidated housing resources to compensate the Chen Family."

Chen Kai and Ma Qi nodded at these words.

Although Patriarch Chen agreed for Shangyuan Village to share in the tourist benefits, Shangyuan Village cannot take it for granted, so offering shares as compensation is great.

Besides investors, with the village’s resources included, giving a 30% compensation to the Chen Family is reasonable.

If the people of Shangyuan Village didn’t propose this, it would mean they were overly driven by interests, and then he would have to remind Patriarch Chen to be cautious, or even send people to keep an eye on Shangyuan Village residents.

No, they should send someone to keep an eye on them right away.

Too many times across the country, a single difficult resident has spoiled the tourism promotion of an entire region, so being cautious is essential.

The matter between Shangyuan Village and the Chen Family was thus largely settled.

Guo Zhen didn’t hesitate to hand over the basket he brought to Chen Han, "Patriarch Chen, we weren’t sure what to gift you. These are some wild specialties collected by the villagers from the mountains; you can use them to soak in liquor, and we hope you don’t mind."

Chen Han laughed.

This signaled the tribute phase from the loose cultivators.

Almost at the same time, a game prompt sounded in his mind.

Upon seeing the prompt, his face revealed a look of surprise.

The same thing had happened again.

Now a material video on the enlightenment of animals could be shot.