Seeing the Tianzun's seemingly displeased expression, Gao Yiye was terrified. "Ah... ah... this..."
Suddenly, the Tianzun's expression transformed into a smile. "Alright, I'm not angry. I just wanted to ask how many copies are left."
Gao Yiye let out a long sigh of relief. "I knew the Tianzun is the most benevolent!"
Li Daoxuan thought: The word 'benevolent' makes me sound so old.
Gao Yiye quickly found San Shier in the crowd. "Third Steward, the Tianzun has a question for you."
San Shier: "Oh? What is the Tianzun's divine decree?"
Gao Yiye: "He wants to ask how many copies of 'The Tale of the Daoist Mystic Tianzun Vanquishing Demons' are left unsold."
San Shier's expression instantly turned spectacular, radiating a feeling of 'Ah, so this matter has finally come to light,' though he didn't say it aloud. Just looking at his face made you feel he was thinking exactly that.
Several seconds later, San Shier snapped back to reality, clasping his hands toward the low-hanging clouds. "There are three hundred and thirty-two copies of 'The Tale of the Daoist Mystic Tianzun Vanquishing Demons' remaining. This lowly one will go burn them immediately, ensuring they are all 'reduced to ashes and scattered.'"
Li Daoxuan: "Are the woodblocks for printing still there?"
San Shier hurriedly replied: "This lowly one will also ensure the woodblocks are 'reduced to ashes and scattered' together."
Li Daoxuan: "That won't be necessary. I have a use for these books. But three hundred and thirty-two copies are far too few; we need more. Immediately instruct the printing house to reprint two thousand more copies. This reprinting will be paid for from the village treasury."
San Shier's face was full of bewilderment. Strange. Not only does the Tianzun not want to destroy this weird book, he actually wants a reprint? And this time, he doesn't want the Saintess to pay, but the village treasury to cover it? This indicates the Tianzun is planning something big.
But this picture-book was already saturated in Gao Village; practically every family had one or two copies. It couldn't possibly sell anymore.
He really couldn't understand, but dared not ask questions.
Li Daoxuan: "Once printed, load them onto carts and send them to Chengcheng County town. Give a small portion of these books to your wife for her to handle. Place the rest in the Chengcheng bookshop. Run a promotion: buy one book and get two liang of wheat flour. Oh, and limit one per person."
San Shier: "Huh? Eh? Eh-eh-eh?"
A few seconds later, he suddenly understood. So that's it! This is to spread the Tianzun's fame to more people. What comes next is self-evident.
"I understand!"
Li Daoxuan smiled. "I knew you'd grasp it quickly. Go handle it."
San Shier gave a deep bow and hurried off toward the printing house.
However, Gao Yiye still didn't understand.
She blinked her innocent, confused eyes, completely baffled by what was happening. Her scribbled-for-fun picture-book was now going to be reprinted with village treasury funds and even shipped to the county town?
Wow! The author's name on it was Gao Yiye.
"Oh no, oh no! When people in the county town see my silly picture-book, won't they laugh themselves to death?" Gao Yiye fretted. "Causing mischief in the village is one thing, but now I'm causing mischief in the county town? Heavens, I'm doomed! The whole county will know Gao Village has a mischievous, scribble-happy Gao Yiye."
Li Daoxuan: "Yiye, have you finished the second volume?"
"Ah?" Gao Yiye was flustered. "We're printing a second volume too?"
Li Daoxuan: "Of course we're printing it! Quickly bring out the original manuscript and give it to the woodblock carvers to get the second volume printed. Then get to work on the third volume."
Question marks swirled around Gao Yiye's head. She couldn't tell if the Tianzun was serious or teasing her. She was utterly dizzy.
Li Daoxuan: "Go now!"
"Ah?Yes! Yes!"
Gao Yiye immediately took off running, sprinting back to the watchtower in a puff of smoke, grabbing the second volume's manuscript, and dashing toward the printing house...
The young girl's legs flew fast, her footsteps making a pleasant pat-a-pat sound.
Li Daoxuan couldn't help but smile. This young girl's scribbled picture-book might just become the most effective weapon for "attacking" the county town.
Just then, something in the corner of his eye caught his attention—a group of children heading toward the pond. It's November. They're not going to play in the water, are they? Falling in this weather would guarantee a serious illness.
He quickly pulled the "Focus" over.
Now he could see clearly: the child leading was Young Master Bai, followed by Third Young Miss and over a dozen older children.
The group reached the pondside but didn't foolishly jump in.
Young Master Bai fetched a bucket of water from the pond, placed it before all the children, then picked up a dead leaf from the ground and gently placed it on the water's surface. "Everyone, look."
The dead leaf floated on the water...
The older children looked dumbfounded. "Look at what? What's strange about a leaf floating on water?"
Young Master Bai: "Tsk! You blockheads. You only know leaves float on water, but do you know why they float?"
He swished out the Middle School Physics textbook, wearing a proud expression. "This volume of the celestial book explains that water produces a force called 'buoyancy.' If this 'buoyancy' is greater than 'gravity,' an object can float on the water's surface."
The older children looked utterly blank. Both "buoyancy" and "gravity" were completely unfamiliar terms to them.
Young Master Bai continued with a smug grin. "You know how a stick looks broken when you put it in water, right?"
The older children nodded.
Young Master Bai grinned. "That's called 'optical refraction.' This celestial book explains that too."
The children stared at the "celestial book" in his hands, completely lost.
Young Master Bai went on: "Also, let me teach you something. High temperatures cause water to evaporate into vapor. This vapor, carrying water, rises into the sky and forms clouds. Hehe, so clouds are water."
Just as he said this, Madame Bai swished out from the side, furious. "Absolute nonsense! Don't you see the Tianzun's very clouds in the sky right there? All clouds are immortals performing magic! And you dare call them water vapor? You infuriate me! If the Tianzun hears your blasphemous nonsense, he will surely punish you!"
Madame Bai raised her hand, whooshing a slap toward him.
Normally, Young Master Bai would obediently take the hit. But this time was different. He actually ducked his head, easily avoiding his mother's slap, spun around, and stood proudly. "Mother, this time, I'm speaking knowledge taught by the celestial book, knowledge taught by the Tianzun. I am not wrong. I cannot dutifully accept your strike. Please forgive me, Mother."
Madame Bai: "Huh? Eh?"
She looked down at her own hand, somewhat disbelieving.
Her son had dodged her slap for the first time...
As she stood there bewildered, she suddenly saw a large sheet of paper unfurl in the sky, bearing a line of large characters:
"Do Not Blindly Obey Elders! The Bai Family Young Master Is Excellent."
Madame Bai was instantly overjoyed. "The Tianzun! The Tianzun praised my son! Hahahaha! The Tianzun praised my son as excellent! Hahahahaha!"
From then on, she told everyone she met that the Tianzun had praised her son as excellent. She kept saying it for the rest of her life.