Chapter 841: Zhu Sheng's Suggestion

"This is the taste of history." Zhu Sheng sighed.

Then he stood up and looked around.

He turned back and said to me,

"Jianqiang, do you know, in Xue County there is Niren Zhang."

When I worked in Zaocheng, I once went to visit him,

At that time he was already over seventy years old,

He liked to shape yellow earth into clay figurines, small birds, small animals, very lifelike.

At that time the city's cultural bureau nominated him as the representative of Zaocheng's intangible cultural heritage.

His clay figurines, after being fired and decorated, can be used as gifts for visits.

I don't know whether that Niren Zhang is still alive."

"Zhu Sheng, this is easy, I'll have Cui Chengshan go visit him to find out. If he's still alive, we'll find time to visit him." I said.

"Jianqiang, that's not what I mean.

This ancient city wall has existed for over two thousand years,

they are all rammed-earth structures,

look at this soil, after over two thousand years it is different from ordinary loess.

because they bear history.

I think this way,

if we find a clay figurine artist to work this loess,

turning it into some fired handicrafts,

then the added value would be different.

Here they are just ordinary loess, producing no value.

But after being worked by an artist's hands,

then it's different,

this over-two-thousand-year history, think how commemorative it is.

In the future, our ancient city tourism will also be a huge selling point." Zhu Sheng said.

As soon as I heard, Zhu Sheng was absolutely right.

Yes, many things generate value through creativity.

Just this ordinary loess, if processed artistically, can increase in value by dozens of times.

Adding historical significance,

then the value becomes even more extraordinary.

Moreover, the loess here is everywhere, you could never use it all.

"Zhu Sheng, I understand.

This is a very good idea.

I'll go find Niren Zhang and discuss with him.

Let him specialize in making handicrafts by firing and processing them for sale." I said.

"This is just one of them,

look at these tree trunks and roots, they can all be processed.

Otherwise, these things can only be burned as firewood.

As for us, why is our thinking not open-minded.

The main reason is that in an agrarian society, just guarding a small plot of land is enough to live on,

no need for innovation, a peaceful life,

then to pass down the lineage.

Conservatism.

Jianqiang, you need to break the old way of thinking and carry out innovation on something.

Moreover, we should employ many newcomers, young people, whose thinking is active.

Dare to innovate.

"We are all old." Zhu Sheng sighed, looking into the distance.

"Zhu Sheng, I will try everything you said.

I am doing innovation right now.

For example, we originally only built one ancient city, but it felt too lonely.

Later, I proposed to expand, trying to bring in the ancient Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

Carrying out the revival of history.

Then the ancient city would become distinctive." I said to Zhu Sheng.

Zhu Sheng smiled slightly,

"Jianqiang, these are still too ordinary.

Other ancient cities are also doing these things, some are Three Kingdoms, some are Tang and Song dynasties,

everyone is pretty much the same.

The innovation I mean is not just these,

we also need to open up our thinking.

"What I just said is that I have been too cautious in some places."

Some places can be thoroughly excavated for history,

But history, this thing, cannot be repeatedly excavated; their depth is just like that.

For example, this place, in its history there occurred such a thing,

Compared to major events in history, the difference is very large.

How does the cultural history here compare to that of Qufu,

It's not very small.

In history, do not overhype.

Rather, think of ways to let history merge with today.

Without history, there is no persuasiveness.

But relying too much on history will bind hands and feet.

My suggestion is to carry out innovation.

Specifically how to innovate, I haven't thought it out yet.

I am merely putting forward a proposal.

Of course, you can just take it as reference opinion.

We have some places, compared to foreign countries, in terms of openness of thought there exists a gap.

We must have a clear understanding,

For example, an American cartoon is better than ours.

My grandson's favorite cartoons like 'Tom and Jerry', 'SpongeBob SquarePants', etc., have very creative thinking.

And they are also products from the 1930s-40s of America.

While we, some cartoons, repeat telling stories,

Such as Pleasant Goat, Big Bear, Little Bear, have no novelty at all,

I am not blindly admiring foreign things,

At my age I need to have a clear awareness,

We are just not capable in innovation.

Jianqiang, why am I telling you these things,

Just want to remind you how to carry out innovation.

It is business innovation; building the ancient city is just one marketing method,

How to maximize profit, all this needs business innovation.

Zhu Sheng finished speaking and patted my shoulder.

I was immersed in Zhu Sheng's conversation,

Why chat with someone stronger than myself,

Only through this way can one recognize one's shortcomings.

Zhu Sheng's words remind me.

He has clear awareness.

Our some places indeed do poorly in innovation ability, and also like to plagiarize.

For example, past construction drawings were just simple copies.

Even without using brains.

Sigh.

Zhu Sheng's suggestion enlightened me.

He said, we need a new business model, find ways to innovate.

Rather than staying put in this place.

No matter how large we expand the ancient city,

Competing with other historic cultural famous cities, there is an innate deficiency.

Zhu Sheng's these suggestions, I will slowly digest.

Because currently these suggestions I temporarily cannot use.

The ancient city has just begun preparations.

I and Zhu Sheng returned from the ancient city wall to Xueguo Dajiudian.

Upon arriving at Xueguo Dajiudian,

It so happened that He Zuming had not gone out.

I brought He Zuming before Zhu Sheng,

Zhu Sheng looked at He Zuming and happily called out: 'Old He, you're still alive.'

'Yeah, Old Zhu, I'm not dead yet for now, so I've been waiting for you.' He Zuming laughed and shook hands with Zhu Sheng.

'Tonight we will get drunk together with Old He. Old He, I told Jianqiang,

I am about to retire soon; after retirement, I want to come to Zaocheng to spend my old age.

At that time, let's do divination together.' Zhu Sheng happily said.

'Old Zhu, forget it, you've been doing this line of work, you have a pension.

Right, Jianqiang said, later we will build a Daoist temple on Beishan.

I plan to go to the Daoist temple to spend my old age, Old Zhu, are you interested,

'Let's live together in the Daoist temple.' He Zuming asked.

'Yes, anyway, I am currently cool there, staying there. With Old He accompanying me, haha, it's much better than staying at home.' Zhu Sheng laughed heartily.

They are all old acquaintances.

Everyone was happily joking.

He Zuming introduced Xiao Yan to Zhu Sheng again.

Zhu Sheng held Xiao Yan's hand, encouraging Xiao Yan to learn more from He Zuming, to learn everything He Zuming knows, leaving He Zuming with nothing to eat.

He Zuming laughed heartily after hearing that.

Soon it was evening.

This drink cannot be avoided.

Everyone are familiar old friends, and they haven't seen each other for several days.

Between He Zuming and Zhu Sheng,

They will definitely drink.

Perhaps only alcohol can enhance emotional communication.

I had Li Jia set up a table in the banquet hall of Xueguo Dajiudian.

I called all familiar people together.

We all sat together, raising our glasses and happily drinking.

Is there anything happier than drinking?

No further details of the banquet will be repeated.