Shopkeeper Wang and Gao Yiye arrived again in Chengcheng County Town, bringing with them several thousand more books.
This batch included 2,000 copies of The Tale of the Daoist Mystic Tianzun Vanquishing Demons Volume One and 2,000 copies of Volume Two. Along with the grain transported with the books, the convoy was incredibly long. The first cart was already entering the bookshop compound while the last was still at the city gates.
The massive convoy's arrival delighted the townspeople. "Shopkeeper Wang is back! Daoist Mystic Tianzun is back! We can buy grain cheaply again!"
"Nonsense, it's for buying books!"
"Exactly! I'm now more interested in the stories of the Venerable Daoist Mystic Tianzun. Those mere two liang of flour are nothing compared to my reverence for Tianzun."
"I want to buy books!"
"I want to buy flour!"
A flood of commoners rushed towards the bookshop.
The Third Lady at the City God Temple also perked up. Heh, Gao Yiye is here, so Tianzun is naturally here too. I can take a small group of the most devout believers to the grove outside the city again to witness Tianzun's manifestation.
Tianzun's manifestation was the best way to make believers utterly devoted!
The hundred-plus believers who witnessed the last manifestation had become propaganda champions, boasting to everyone they'd seen it with their own eyes. If someone didn't believe them, they'd even get angry, rolling up their sleeves ready to fight.
Of course, this behavior didn't align with Daoist principles. The Third Lady often advised them to be calm, to be composed. If others believe, fine; if not, let it be. No need for fists.
It's their loss if they don't believe. They don't deserve Tianzun's flour rewards, serve them right.
The believers thought it over and realized, Isn't that true? So everyone became happy, feeling a sense of superiority for believing in the Daoist Mystic Tianzun.
Another happy person was Magistrate Liang Shixian.
Upon receiving his subordinate's report that "the Li family has returned to the county town," Liang Shixian couldn't help but think: The Li family's information network is truly sharp. Patrol Officer Fang and I just reached an agreement with the Guyuan rebels in the mountains, and the Li family already knows it's safe. They've brought back their relief porridge team and are here to promote their ancestral deity again.
It seems there are Li family informants among my local yamen runners and Fang Wushang's soldiers. Any little movement, and someone runs to Gao Village to notify the Li family.
For a county magistrate, this was something one had to accept with resignation.
The saying goes, "a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake." A magistrate who changes every three years like a revolving lantern—how could he match the influence of a local gentry family? It was impossible for his subordinates to be free of gentry informants.
No point dwelling on that.
He just needed to be happy that "the Li family is back to provide relief." Having a powerful local family share the burden of aiding the commoners was a genuinely joyful thing for him.
However…
There was one person not very happy!
Gao Yiye.
She did not like the county town.
Every time she came, she felt like a bird with clipped wings, listless and dim.
Wearing a bamboo hat with a veil covering her face, she sat on the small second-floor balcony of the bookshop's rear courtyard. Looking at the dense crowds of refugees on the streets below, her face showed sorrow. "Tianzun, there are so many suffering fellow villagers."
Li Daoxuan said gently, "Yes, very many. I also want to help them as soon as possible."
Gao Yiye nodded pitifully. "I understand. I'm not here for nothing. I came to help them. I can't abandon the people here just because I don't like the county town."
"Mn, good that you understand." Li Daoxuan said, "Go, visit the Third Lady. Arrange the next time to take believers to the grove outside the city."
Gao Yiye obediently acknowledged and ran down from the balcony. A squad of militia soldiers guarding the courtyard immediately moved to protect her, walking out with her.
Passing through the bookshop's main hall, she saw a scene of bustling activity.
Shopkeeper Wang and a group of assistants were selling books frantically. Among the assistants were the two former steamed bun thieves.
After their trip to Gao Village, deeply shaken by what they saw, these two had decided to follow Gao Village's lead for life. Now was their chance to prove themselves, each working harder than the last.
Gao Yiye greeted everyone and walked out lightly.
She passed through the county residents scrambling for books, then through a group of refugees.
As they passed a two-story wooden building, several heads—women of passable looks—leaned out from a second-floor window. They waved at the militia soldiers behind Gao Yiye. "Big brothers… want to come in and have some fun?"
This move caused some awkwardness among the soldiers behind.
Several pairs of eyes shifted over. Thump! Someone bumped into the back of the comrade in front. The formation briefly descended into chaos.
Gao Yiye turned back in surprise. "Huh? What happened? Why did everyone behind get flustered as soon as those sisters called out?"
Zheng Gouzi, closest to her, immediately wore an embarrassed expression. "Saintess, that… don't pay them any mind… a bunch of spineless cowards…"
Gao Yiye looked utterly confused. "Why exactly? Was there something strange about what they called out?"
Zheng Gouzi was so embarrassed he couldn't lift his head. "Saintess, this kind of thing… ahem… you… such a noble person… don't need to… bother about it…"
Gao Yiye: "???"
The militia soldiers behind hurriedly pulled themselves together, pretending to look straight ahead with unwavering focus.
But the women in the building wouldn't let potential business go so easily. They could tell this group was well-off. Each wore clean cotton clothes and looked energetic—clearly not starving. These were definitely servants of a wealthy family, and trusted ones at that.
One woman began to sob. "Big brothers, have pity on a poor girl. I haven't eaten my fill in so long."
Another also cried. "We haven't had any business for ages. We can barely survive. Big brothers, do a good deed, come in and have some fun."
The militia soldiers were finding it hard to resist. Several pairs of eyes involuntarily drifted back.
Gao Yiye was completely baffled. "What exactly does it mean? How is going in to 'have fun' equivalent to saving them? What exactly is this 'fun' you have inside?"
Zheng Gouzi lowered his voice. "Saintess, this… this place is a… brothel… it's where… that kind of woman does business."
"Huh? Huh? Huh huh huh?" Gao Yiye blushed crimson, now joining the general state of chaos.
Watching this undisciplined display, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but shake his head. Such country bumpkin soldiers, completely inexperienced…
Just then, an angry roar erupted from the very back of the group. "You scoundrels! All of you, eyes front! Backs straight! Hurry up and move past! Utterly disgraceful! How can you call yourselves heroes and champions like this?"
Everyone turned to look. The speaker was Flat Rabbit.