153: The Space Science Museum crushes Duoyu, Zhuang Qiang's bad luck adds another meme.

Before Wang Duoyu's 'Space Theme Park' even broke ground, the publicity had already soared to the heavens—bus stations and elevator advertisements across Xihong City were covered with his face. Wearing a crumpled astronaut suit and holding a plastic rocket model, he shouted: 'Family! My park has "flying" space capsules, 1:1 dinosaur skeletons, and a "Mars Landing" experience zone! With a budget of two hundred million, it's ten times more Advanced than Xie Hui's Intangible Cultural Heritage Park!'

Xie Hui had just seen off the last batch of tourists at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Park with Xia Zhu. When he scrolled past this ad, he happened to be drinking water and nearly spat it out onto a shadow puppet prop: '1:1 dinosaur skeletons? He's probably confused Jurassic Park with space. Besides, building a flying space capsule for two hundred million? That cost isn't even enough to buy a decent simulator.'

Xia Zhu pointed at the crooked rocket model in the ad and frowned, saying: 'Look at that rocket tip; it's all pasted together with cardboard. It'll fall apart as soon as the wind blows. He's truly run out of options and wants to rely on bragging to scam a wave of tourists before running away.'

'Then we'll give him something with "real substance."' Xie Hui put down his water cup and opened his tablet to flip through plans. 'We'll set up the "Xihong City Space Science Experience Museum" with a budget of two hundred and fifty million—fifty million more than him! We'll hire five retired experts from the aerospace field as consultants with a monthly salary of one hundred thousand. We'll rent the vacant lot next to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Park, build a domed venue, and install astronomical telescopes. Then, we'll set up VR space capsules and simulated Mars landing modules for tourists to experience for free, and give away merchandise like astronaut keychains and planet models. All the money spent will be for science popularization—compliant and meaningful. Wang Duoyu's crappy park won't even compare.'

Xia Zhu's eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled out her contact list: 'I have a cousin who works at the Aerospace Museum; he can help us contact retired experts! As for the VR equipment, the supplier from the previous AI fortune-telling project has channels to get high-end gear.'

The two of them got straight to work. Xie Hui first went to rent the vacant land, spending fifteen million to sign a six-month lease. He then found a construction team to build the domed venue, requesting UV-resistant glass. The Materials alone cost thirty million. The construction team boss patted his chest and guaranteed: 'Rest assured, CEO Xie, this glass can withstand a level ten gale. Even if there's a rainstorm, it won't leak!'

Just as the construction was finalized, Xie Hui suddenly thought of Wang Duoyu's park. He silently thought, "Time Stop"—the surrounding workers instantly froze, the rebar in their hands suspended in mid-air, and the distant trucks stopped in place. He quickly drove to Wang Duoyu's park preparation site. As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw Zhuang Qiang directing workers to move a "space capsule"—that so-called space capsule was just an iron box welded from sheet metal, with windows made of plastic sheeting.

'Brother Duoyu, this iron box is airtight. Won't the tourists suffocate inside?' Zhuang Qiang asked, wiping away sweat.

Wang Duoyu held a cigar in his mouth, completely indifferent: 'What's there to fear about suffocation? Just leave a small crack open during the grand opening! As long as they can take photos and the tourists think it's "Advanced," the money is ours!'

Xie Hui took out his phone to record a video, then circled around to the material warehouse. He saw that the so-called "Mars Soil" was just yellow earth from the construction site mixed with crushed stones; the "Planet Models" were made of foam and crumbled with a squeeze. He noted down the phone number of a model supplier he liked, deactivated Time Stop, and returned to the science museum preparation site. Xia Zhu was talking to an elderly man in a Mao suit—it was Professor Li, the aerospace expert her cousin had contacted.

'CEO Xie, Professor Li said he's willing to be a consultant and can even help us get real Mars rock samples!' Xia Zhu introduced with a smile.

Professor Li shook Xie Hui's hand and said excitedly: 'There are fewer young people willing to spend money on space science popularization these days. If this experience museum is built, it can make more children love aerospace. I'd be willing to help even if it were pro bono!'

'That won't do; not a single cent of the benefits you deserve should be missing.' Xie Hui quickly had his assistant draft a contract, then walked to a deserted corner and silently thought, "inner universe"—the next second, a pile of high-end equipment appeared out of thin air: three VR space capsules, two simulated Mars landing modules, and several boxes of astronomical telescope accessories. 'Professor Li, use this equipment for now. The VR capsules can simulate a real sense of weightlessness in space, and the soil in the landing modules is mixed according to Mars' composition to ensure the tourists' experience is spot on.'

Professor Li circled the VR space capsule twice, his eyes widening: 'This equipment is even more Advanced than what we have in the museum! If we had this earlier, it would have definitely attracted more children!'

Over the next few days, the preparations for the science museum were in full swing. Professor Li led other experts to debug the equipment and teach the staff about space; the construction team worked overtime to build the domed venue, and the astronomical telescopes were installed, clearly showing the craters on the moon. Xie Hui hired fifty more guides specifically to introduce space knowledge to tourists, with a monthly salary of eight thousand—another four hundred thousand in expenses per month.

Meanwhile, at Wang Duoyu's space park, a huge joke was unfolding. The construction team he hired used sheet metal to weld the space capsules, and the first one finished already leaked rain. The astronaut suits for the hired actors were scavenged from a second-hand market, and the zippers broke as soon as they were pulled. Most ridiculous was the "dinosaur skeleton"; it wasn't 1:1 at all, being half the size of a real dinosaur and missing a leg.

The topic "Wang Duoyu's Space Park Cuts Corners" hit the trending searches again. Tourists who had been scammed by him before left comments: 'Good thing I didn't go. If I went in, I'd probably get cut by the sheet metal!' 'I suggest the Market Supervision Bureau shut it down directly; don't let him scam more people!'

On the day of the science museum's trial opening, the weather was clear. Xie Hui, wearing a simple white T-shirt, stood at the entrance with Xia Zhu to welcome tourists. Long queues formed at the VR space capsule area. After one child finished the experience, he shouted excitedly: 'I saw Earth! I even touched "Moon Soil"!' In the simulated Mars landing module, tourists wore helmets and felt "Mars gravity," letting out exclamations from time to time. In the astronomical telescope area, Professor Li was pointing out constellations to children, surrounded by parents.

The influencers hired by Xie Hui held up their phones for live streams. The frames were filled with lively scenes, and the comments were full of 'I'm taking my kids there tomorrow' and 'It's ten thousand times better than Wang Duoyu's crappy park.' Xia Zhu was helping hand out planet models to tourists, her forehead dripping with sweat from the effort. Xie Hui quickly handed her a bottle of cold drink: 'Take a break; I'll have a guide take over for you.'

Xia Zhu took the cold drink, took a sip, and said with a smile: 'Look at those kids; they're staring into the telescopes and won't leave. Professor Li said they might even become astronauts in the future.'

'Then this money was well spent.' Xie Hui pointed to the nearby VR area. 'A parent just told me they want to sign their child up for an aerospace summer camp. We can cooperate with Professor Li to run a short-term summer camp, including room and board, and invite experts to give lectures—another reasonable expense that can help more children realize their dreams.'

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard someone shout: 'Xie Hui! What's so good about this crappy experience museum? It's all fake virtual stuff!'

Turning around, they saw Wang Duoyu wearing a T-shirt printed with "Space Exploration," leading Zhuang Qiang and followed by several influencers—clearly there to cause trouble. But as soon as he finished speaking, he saw a child holding a Mars rock sample and shouting: 'This is a real Mars rock! Professor Li said so!' His face instantly froze.

'CEO Wang, your park's "Mars Soil" is construction site dirt, and your "Space Capsule" is a tin box. You have the nerve to call my place a scam?' Xie Hui raised an eyebrow. 'The equipment in this museum is all certified by aerospace experts. If you don't believe it, why don't you let Professor Li explain it to you?'

Professor Li walked over and adjusted his glasses: 'Sir, our VR capsules can simulate a real space environment, and the Mars soil composition matches what NASA has published. If you're interested, you can experience it and see what real science popularization is.'

When the influencers heard this, they quickly swarmed around to film Professor Li. Wang Duoyu was left aside, so angry he wanted to blow up, but then Zhuang Qiang suddenly let out an 'Ouch!'—he had tried to touch a VR capsule and got his hand caught in the hatch. He shook his hand in pain: 'My hand! Why is this thing so hard!'

The surrounding tourists couldn't help but laugh out loud. Wang Duoyu's face turned the color of pig liver. He pushed the influencers aside and ran: 'Xie Hui! You just wait! I still have a trick up my sleeve!'

Looking at his retreating back, Xia Zhu laughed so hard she couldn't stand straight: 'He's out of tricks; he can only spout empty threats. By the way, how much did we spend today?'

Xie Hui took out his ledger and calculated: 'Site rent, equipment costs, expert salaries, merchandise gifts, plus the fees for influencers and guides—we spent a total of four million today. At this rate, the two hundred and fifty million will be spent very soon.'

In the evening, as the science museum was about to close, Professor Li handed a star map to Xie Hui: 'CEO Xie, this is a star map I drew by hand. You can see these constellations through the astronomical telescope at night. If you and Miss Xia are free, you can come and take a look tonight.'

Xie Hui took the star map, where the stars were clearly marked. Xia Zhu leaned in to look, her eyes sparkling: 'Can we really see that many stars at night? I've wanted to see Orion since I was a child.'

'Of course we can.' Xie Hui looked at her smiling face, his heart feeling warm. 'We'll come tonight; I'll watch Orion with you.'

Xia Zhu's face instantly turned red, and she whispered: 'Okay.'

The two walked side by side on the road back to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Park, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun. Xie Hui knew he had already won ninety percent of this spending war against Wang Duoyu, and his feelings for Xia Zhu had evolved from initial goodwill into genuine affection through these collaborations. He secretly decided that once the bet was completed, he would definitely take Xia Zhu to a real space-themed world to let her see the even vaster starry sky.

Meanwhile, Wang Duoyu sat at the empty park preparation site, losing his temper at the leaking iron space capsule. Zhuang Qiang, rubbing his swollen hand nearby, whispered: 'Brother Duoyu, we're really out of money. We can't even afford the influencers' salaries anymore...'

'No money? Impossible!' Wang Duoyu slammed the plastic rocket in his hand onto the ground. 'I have one last method; I'll definitely win against Xie Hui!'

He didn't know that Xie Hui had already learned of his 'last method' through Time Stop—he wanted to find an 'insider' to sneak into the science museum and sabotage it by breaking the equipment so the museum couldn't operate. Xie Hui had already alerted the security guards and was just waiting for Wang Duoyu's people to show up. At that time, he would not only expose the scheme but also make him lose completely and utterly.