Gao Yiye quickly arrived at the City God Temple and connected with Third Lady. She arranged for a large group of devotees to leave the city to see Dao Xuan Deity appearing in person, and incidentally gave them so grain.
After she finished her tasks, it was already dusk.
When she returned to the bookstore, she saw four brothel girls nervously waiting for their new “master” to arrive. As soon as they spotted Gao Yiye, the four girls imdiately curtsied together and whispered, “Mother, we are newcors here and don’t know your rules yet. We hope you will instruct us many tis.”
This address startled Gao Yiye greatly.
She had just turned sixteen a few days ago, and now she was called “Mother.” Four people claiming to be her “daughters” were truly frightening.
Li Daoxuan couldn’t help but laugh heartily, “Yiye, they think you’re running a brothel too, and you bought them back for that kind of work.”
Gao Yiye finally understood—she had been mistaken for a new Mada. This… at only sixteen years old, being treated as a Mada? How could she handle that?
She hastily waved both hands in dismissal, “No, no, you’ve misunderstood. I bought you back, but not for what you think.”
The four brothel girls felt uneasy and tentatively asked, “Then… what do you an, Mother?”
Gao Yiye was montarily at a loss for words, “Sigh!”
Li Daoxuan chuckled, “Show them ‘Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale’. Say you hired them back to help you draw. They’ll understand faster that way, and you can gradually reveal the truth later.”
Gao Yiye grasped it now and quickly pulled out the comic book, gesturing and explaining to the four girls.
The four brothel girls had assud they left one brothel only to enter another. Hearing this explanation finally made them understand that soone actually wanted to hire them for drawing? That was too… strange.
One girl couldn’t resist asking softly, “Mother, may I be bold to ask… have we… have we been redeed?”
Gao Yiye blinked her big eyes, “Wouldn’t you want to be redeed?”
The four girls stopped abruptly, then burst into tears together, “We dreamt of it day and night. We just never imagined the dream would co true today.”
Li Daoxuan sighed, “Yiye, have them go change clothes, put on ordinary cotton clothes, wash off their makeup, and leave their pasts behind.”
The four girls went into the back room to change clothes and remove their costics.
Gao Yiye, however, gazed at the sky with a sorrowful expression, “Deity, before coming to the county town, I was foolishly happy day after day in the village, absorbed in its prosperity and bustle. I had forgotten the severe drought outside. Coming to the county town twice recently, I saw how miserable people are out there… My heart aches so much. Is there anything I could do right now? I really want to help them imdiately.”
Li Daoxuan sighed lightly, “Don’t worry, you’re already doing it! Standing in this county town now is to save them.”
Gao Yiye said, “I still feel it’s not enough…”
Just as they spoke, Li Daoxuan suddenly let out an “Oh” of surprise as his focus swept over the bookstore entrance. There, a familiar wild figure dismounted from his horse.
It was none other than County Magistrate Liang Shixian!
Liang Shixian had actually co to the bookstore.
Li Daoxuan was rushing with pride, “There’s a good show now. Yiye, cover your face and wear your bamboo hat. Sneak to the front hall to watch.”
Gao Yiye hurriedly followed the instructions.
Li Daoxuan’s attention now turned fully to Liang Shixian.
Liang Shixian stood at the entrance of the bookstore, raising his head. He stared deeply at the plaque reading “Chengcheng Bookstore” for quite a while.
Li Daoxuan understood imdiately: this guy already knew sothing was wrong with the bookstore. With his intelligence, he must have guessed the supporters were the Li Family. He was hesitating here, likely pondering how to deal with the Li Family.
Clerk followed from behind, leaning close to Liang Shixian’s ear to whisper, “Dong Weng, it’s not yet ti to confront the Li Family…”
Liang Shixian nodded, “Relax. This official doesn’t intend to confront them. I’m just here to look around.”
After saying that, he sighed deeply and watched the common people entering and exiting the bookstore. They were happily running out with their flour, and his expression was complicated: the Li Family was too powerful. They had so much grain. If this official had that much grain, what would he worry about… Sigh!
Feeling dejected, he turned around as if to leave.
Li Daoxuan hadn’t had any idea before, but seeing Liang Shixian act this way suddenly revived a long-buried mory: Liang Shixian’s second visit to Gaojia Village. Back then, he had shown interest in the cent road and asked Thirty-Two how it was built.
But Thirty-Two had warned him, “The severe drought makes road construction unsuitable.”
Liang Shixian then gave up on the idea.
As this mory flashed through his mind, Li Daoxuan suddenly formulated a plan, “Yiye, quickly call Mr. Wang. Chase out and stop the County Magistrate. Say our Li Family has a big project to discuss with him.”
Distracted, Liang Shixian turned and walked two steps, preparing to mount his horse. Just then, Mr. Wang rushed out from the bookstore and shouted, waving, “Please stay, County Lord.”
Liang Shixian’s heart sank: Dreadful. I’ve been spotted by the Li Family people. I really didn’t want to speak to them now. I feared they’d realize I know sothing and stop giving grain.
But having been called out, there was no backing away. He forced himself to turn around and smile at Mr. Wang, “So it’s Mr. Wang from Chengcheng Bookstore. This official was just passing by and looking around casually. Nothing important here.”
Mr. Wang also smiled, “I need to ask a favor of the County Lord.”
Liang Shixian grunted, “Oh?”
Mr. Wang said, “I believe the County Lord has already noticed that although I’ve been selling books on the surface, I’ve actually been distributing congee to help citizens. My grain supply cos entirely from the Li Family in Gaojia Village.”
Liang Shixian’s heart dropped: I wasn’t bringing it up, but now you’re admitting it straight out? Dreadful. Does this an you’ll cut my grain? Or use that threat to make this official commit illegal acts?
He was panicking inside!
But Mr. Wang continued, “With so many people in the county town, transporting grain from Gaojia Village involves over thirty li. Many wagon wheels have broken, and the drivers are exhausted. So, I have a request: can the County Lord issue an order to conduct road construction? Build a good cent road all the way from the county town to Gaojia Village.”
As soon as this request was made, Liang Shixian was stunned.
What was this? No mistake?
The severe drought had persisted for years; the people could barely survive. Outside, the rebel band in Guyuan and many outlaw groups were causing trouble; war could break out at any mont.
In such conditions, you actually want road construction?
Over thirty li! Such a huge project.
Do you want to work the common people to death and bury them beneath the road?
Just as he thought this, Mr. Wang spoke again, “This wouldn’t be corvee labor but hired work. The road workers would receive three jin of flour daily, funded by the Li Family.”
Without hesitation, Liang Shixian imdiately replied, “This plan is excellent! Do it! Start the road construction imdiately. Start it right away.”
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