Formal greetings exchanged, they turned to business.
Dian Dengzi cupped his hands. "Master Bai brought me here, saying you could shelter three thousand Qingjian refugees. I've come to see for myself."
Gao Yiye smiled. "The Tianzun has made arrangements. Please follow me."
She led the way, Dian Dengzi and his two men, Bai Yuan, San Shi'er, and Tan Liwen following. Soon they reached "Gao Village Railway Station."
It was a small, brightly colored plastic building recently placed—quite pleasing to the eye, though the ticket booth inside stood empty, unmanned.
Empty tracks stretched before the station. The train happened to be out.
Seeing this strange colorful building and even stranger rainbow tracks, Dian Dengzi was bewildered. "Miss, why have you brought us here?"
Gao Yiye said, "Patience. Wait a moment."
Bai Yuan, visiting Gao Village last before the train existed, guessed this was another celestial artifact from the Tianzun. He held his questions and waited.
Soon, a distant "woo" sounded—a simulated steam whistle. This was Li Daoxuan's enforced rule: trains must whistle before entering stations, lest some fool play on the tracks.
After the whistle came the "clackety-clack." A massive, multicolored train pulling over a dozen carriages rolled into the station.
This super-long, super-large vehicle made even Bai Yuan—who'd mentally prepared—gape, jaw hanging. Dian Dengzi and his two men fared worse.
All three stared dumbstruck, practically drooling.
The train stopped before them. Two drivers hopped from the engine, locked the door, then saluted Gao Yiye and San Shi'er. "Saintess, Third Steward, awaiting the train?"
Gao Yiye smiled. "Guests have arrived. The Tianzun arranges for them to ride to Refugee Valley. Prepare promptly."
The drivers hurried to the other engine, climbed in, readying for departure.
Gao Yiye turned to the stunned trio. "Gentlemen, please board."
Dian Dengzi jolted awake. "You want us... to board... this vehicle?"
Gao Yiye laughed. "Yes! Seeing such an adorable train, don't you want to try riding it?"
Dian Dengzi wiped cold sweat from his brow. "Such a mighty, terrifying giant vehicle, and you call it 'adorable'? Isn't that... the wrong word?"
Gao Yiye chuckled. "'Adorable' is what the Tianzun personally calls it! He says it's the 'adorable little train.' Since the Tianzun says so, I dare not change the wording."
As they chatted cheerfully, a "thud" sounded beside them. Bai Yuan had prostrated himself on the ground in a despondent bow—orz!
San Shi'er stared, puzzled. "Master Bai, why suddenly kneel?"
Bai Yuan lay prone, face mournful. "Seeing this giant vehicle, I realize my charioteering skills are negligible. The 'charioteering' art among the Six Arts—cross it out, cross it out."
Everyone: "..."
Bai Yuan suddenly leaped up, dashing toward the engine while shouting: "Drivers! Let me learn to drive this vehicle!"
He ran shockingly fast, scrambling into the cab to squeeze between the two drivers.
Everyone: "..."
Never mind. No reasoning with this eccentric.
The group boarded, settling into the carriage seats.
The plastic seats were crude, but Dian Dengzi's party didn't care about seating. All three pressed against the windows, awestruck faces watching outside.
The train whistled, clackety-clacked out of Gao Village Station, heading toward Refugee Valley Station.
Soon it crossed wheat fields—plump ears whisking past the windows. Sixty li-per-hour wind whipped their faces, refreshing mind and spirit.
Dian Dengzi and his two men felt their very souls soothed by the train's motion.
"Magnificent! This giant vehicle is truly magnificent!"
"What kind of celestial place is this?"
Soon, "Woo!" Another whistle—Refugee Valley arrived.
The train stopped. Gao Yiye alighted first. Dian Dengzi felt he hadn't ridden enough, wanted more, but with the host disembarking, they reluctantly followed.
Gao Yiye gestured toward the small valley. "Look here—your prepared settlement."
Dian Dengzi hurried to the valley mouth, peered inside—heavens! The entire valley filled with colorful houses, a large pond at the center, flowers and trees, with two gray castles at either end protecting the residential area within.
"Such a fine place! Only lacking farmland—otherwise flawless."
Gao Yiye smiled. "You are outsiders—farmland is truly difficult to arrange. But fear not: the Tianzun will provide work, ensuring your livelihood."
Dian Dengzi was already convinced by the valley settlement, but one doubt lingered. "Three thousand of us arriving suddenly will consume vast grain. I wonder if your village... has enough to share."
The following words were shameful. He hesitated, then sighed. "Enough grain to share with us."
Yes, this was famine year. Not a matter of money, but of grain existence.
Without grain—however beautiful the houses, magnificent the train, secure the valley, plentiful the handwork, abundant the silver and copper coins—only death awaited.
"Worry not about that." Gao Yiye pointed. "Check that building in the valley—the one obviously a granary."
Dian Dengzi hurried with his men into the valley, quickly finding a conspicuous structure resembling a giant haystack. Opening its plastic door, they looked inside...
It was packed full with grain!
"So... so much?"
Dian Dengzi felt his brain struck. This one granary held enough grain to feed his three thousand countryfolk for a very, very long time.
Gao Yiye smiled. "Mr. Zhao, now are you reassured?"
"Eh?" Dian Dengzi startled. "I never introduced my surname as Zhao!"
To protect his clan, he'd hidden his name, using the bandit alias "Dian Dengzi." Only Qingjian villagers knew his real name. Yet this young woman casually called him "Mr. Zhao."
Truly frightening.
Gao Yiye: "Mr. Zhao Sheng, the Tianzun is a celestial immortal. What's strange about him knowing your true name?"
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[Behind the Granary]
The "giant haystack" granary was likely a scaled plastic barn or silo. In famine psychology, visible grain reserves mattered more than actual tonnage—the sight of abundance healed starvation trauma. For refugees who'd eaten clay and bark, an unlocked, overflowing granary signaled not just charity but restored dignity: they were guests, not beggars.
Yiye's revelation of Zhao Sheng's name performed delicate power dynamics. By exposing his hidden identity, she demonstrated celestial omniscience while offering tacit protection: "We know who you are, yet welcome you." This transformed Zhao from fugitive to honored guest—a psychological upgrade more valuable than grain.