Xing Honglang did not fully understand.
And Li Daoxuan knew very well that she never could.
The transformative power of circulating goods within a region was something that only someone with modern knowledge could truly comprehend. Trade was not merely about profit. It was the lifeblood of development itself. Without merchants, prosperity would never come.
If he wanted his miniature world to thrive, he needed traders.
Unfortunately, Shaanxi was currently plagued by bandits. Legitimate merchants had no courage to enter such dangerous territory. Even if they did, they would remain inside large cities like Xi'an or the county seat, conducting business behind walls and guards. No one would willingly travel to a remote and impoverished place like Gao Family Village.
Under such circumstances, there was only one option left.
Salt smugglers.
Gao Yiye conveyed his words faithfully.
"Tianzun says that if you are willing to regularly come to Gao Family Village to restock supplies, we can prepare a spacious manor for you and your followers. It will provide comfort and safety, far better than sleeping outdoors or setting up temporary camps."
Xing Honglang let out a soft chuckle.
"I am deeply honored by Tianzun's generosity," she said. "Since Gao Family Village treats me with such sincerity, I, Xing Honglang, would never take advantage of such goodwill without reciprocating. I will certainly visit often from now on."
Gao Yiye nodded gently.
"You will always be welcome here."
That night, Xing Honglang and her group remained in Gao Family Village.
The promised manor had not yet been constructed, so they camped beside the large pond outside the village. However, salt smugglers were hardened travelers who had endured countless hardships. Sleeping outdoors was nothing new to them.
They fetched water from the pond, prepared their meals, and rested peacefully.
Compared to the dangers of the wilderness, this place felt remarkably safe.
For the first time in a long while, they slept soundly.
At dawn, Xing Honglang gathered her people and began the journey back toward Shanxi.
Gao Yiye watched them depart, her brows slightly furrowed in confusion. She raised her head and asked respectfully,
"Tianzun, when you bestow homes upon the villagers, you usually grant them instantly, revealing divine power and lowering houses from the heavens. Why did you not immediately provide a residence for Xing Honglang?"
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly.
"She does not understand me yet," he replied calmly. "If I revealed my divine power too soon, it might frighten her. And if she becomes afraid, she may never return."
Gao Yiye found this difficult to understand.
"To witness Tianzun's divine manifestation should inspire awe and devotion. One should return even more frequently to pay respects. Why would anyone feel fear instead?"
Li Daoxuan simply chuckled.
There were some things that could not be explained easily.
Human nature was far too complicated.
At that moment, his phone suddenly rang.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Li Daoxuan closed the lid of the sandbox world and picked up his phone.
"Oh? Aunt Two? It's been a while. What made you call?"
Aunt Two was a relative from his rural hometown. Not long ago, he had contacted her to ask about soil acidity and fertilizer usage when planting wheat.
Her voice sounded warm and familiar.
"Your father told me you're not coming back to the old village for the Spring Festival this year. Aunt Two is worried about you. Why won't you come home?"
Li Daoxuan glanced at the sandbox box beside him.
He could never explain the truth.
"I've been busy with online video promotion," he said. "I really can't leave for that long."
Aunt Two laughed warmly.
"I know you're busy making money. You even bought your parents a two-million-yuan house. Everyone in the family praises you. But you don't need to stay long. Just come back for a single day. We're allowed to set off firecrackers here. Come enjoy the celebration with everyone."
Her words suddenly sparked an idea.
Firecrackers.
Of course.
These were exactly the things he needed.
In the city, purchasing such items was heavily restricted. But in the countryside, especially during Spring Festival, they were easy to obtain.
Li Daoxuan smiled.
"Alright. I'll come back."
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Spring Festival arrived.
Early in the morning, Li Daoxuan checked the sandbox world.
Gao Family Village was filled with festive joy.
Gao Family Fortress was decorated with red banners and lively activity. Nearby, both the Short-Term Workers Village and the Labor Offenders Village were equally vibrant.
Even rebels and government troops would pause during such an important holiday.
At least for now, peace prevailed.
Li Daoxuan packed his bag, met his parents, and boarded a train heading toward the countryside.
The old green-painted train rattled forward, carrying him to a remote town near Shuangqing City. High-speed rail had never reached this place. Time itself seemed to move more slowly here.
As expected, firecrackers were being sold openly.
Such opportunities came only once a year.
He bought everything he needed without hesitation.
His enthusiastic shopping quickly caught the attention of the shop owner.
"You're from the city, aren't you?" the man asked with a grin.
Li Daoxuan laughed.
"Yes. I came to visit my aunt for the festival."
"Good. Enjoy yourself."
That night, relatives gathered for a lively New Year's Eve dinner. Firecrackers exploded endlessly, filling the air with noise and celebration.
The next morning, Li Daoxuan returned to the city.
His bag, once empty, was now packed full of firecrackers.
To avoid trouble, he avoided the train and hired a private ride instead. After spending several hundred yuan, he safely brought his purchases home.
The moment he arrived, he hurried to the sandbox world.
He could not wait.
SimCity 1627 had been incredibly entertaining.
But now, it was time for SimCity 1628.
It was the first day of the new year in the Chongzhen era.
Gao Family Village looked completely renewed.
Before the festival, Tan Liwen had purchased large quantities of red dye and distributed it among the villagers. As a result, red-clad figures could be seen everywhere.
Amid the joyful atmosphere, Li Daoxuan noticed a solitary figure on a distant hillside.
It was Gao Chuwu.
Despite the freezing weather, he wore only a thin cotton tunic. His sleeves and pant legs were tightly bound as he practiced relentlessly.
His fists cut through the air with sharp precision.
He was practicing Guanzhong Hong Fist.
He had learned only a few forms so far, yet he repeated them tirelessly.
"Hanging a Painting on the Wall."
"Fierce Tiger Climbing the Cliff."
"Arhat Carrying Treasure."
"Magistrate Removing Boots."
Cheng Xu had been right.
Only resentment could fuel such determination.
Among everyone in Gao Family Village, no one trained as fiercely as Gao Chuwu. Not even Zheng Daniu matched his intensity.
Perhaps Zheng Daniu had not yet experienced heartbreak.
Li Daoxuan smiled and silently gave him a thumbs-up.
But then he noticed something unexpected.
Behind a large rock on the far side of the hill, someone was hiding.
It was Flat Rabbit.
The refugee who often called himself Grandpa Rabbit.
He was secretly watching Gao Chuwu practice.
Every time Gao Chuwu punched, Flat Rabbit mimicked the motion.
Every time Gao Chuwu kicked, he followed along.
He was secretly learning.
Li Daoxuan found the scene amusing.
In ancient times, secretly learning martial arts without permission was considered a grave offense. If discovered, the punishment could be severe.
This raised an interesting question.
Should he expose him?
If he suddenly poked Flat Rabbit with a finger right now, while he was completely absorbed in his secret practice, the man would probably be terrified out of his mind.