Gao Yiye soon arrived at the City God Temple and met with the Third Lady. She arranged for a large group of devout believers to go outside the city to witness Tianzun's manifestation and, conveniently, gave them some grain.
By the time she finished, dusk had fallen.
Returning to the bookshop, she saw the four brothel girls waiting anxiously for their new "master" to return. Upon seeing Gao Yiye, the four girls immediately curtsied, whispering, "Madam, your daughters are newly arrived and unfamiliar with your rules. We beg your guidance."
This form of address startled Gao Yiye.
Having just turned sixteen a few days ago, to be called "Madam" by four people calling themselves her daughters was truly shocking.
Li Daoxuan couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Yiye, they think you also run a brothel, that you bought them to do the same work."
Only then did Gao Yiye understand. She was being mistaken for a new madam. This… she was only sixteen! Being mistaken for a madam was too much to bear.
She quickly waved her hands in denial. "No, no, you've misunderstood. I bought you back, not for what you're thinking."
The four girls, feeling uneasy, tentatively asked, "Then… what does Madam intend?"
Gao Yiye was momentarily at a loss for how to respond. "Ai!"
Li Daoxuan chuckled. "Show them The Tale of the Daoist Mystic Tianzun Vanquishing Demons. Tell them you invited them back to help you with painting. They'll understand faster that way. You can tell them the full truth slowly later."
Now understanding, Gao Yiye quickly took out the picture-book and began explaining to the four girls.
The four brothel girls had thought they had left one brothel only to enter another. Now, hearing her words, they suddenly realized—someone was actually hiring them to paint? This was too… strange!
One girl couldn't help but ask timidly, "Madam, your daughter dares to ask… does this… mean we… have left our former lives?"
Gao Yiye blinked her large eyes. "Don't you want to leave that life?"
The four girls were taken aback, then simultaneously burst into tears. "We dreamt of it every day. We just never thought the dream would become reality today."
Li Daoxuan sighed. "Yiye, have them change clothes, put on ordinary cotton garments, wash off the makeup, and forget the past."
The four girls went into the inner chamber to change clothes and remove their makeup.
Gao Yiye looked up at the sky, a sad expression on her face. "Tianzun, before coming to the county town, I spent my days in the village happily ignorant. Seeing the village prosperous and lively, I had forgotten about the great drought outside. Coming to the county town twice recently, I've seen how terribly the people outside are suffering… My heart aches too. Is there something I can do right now, immediately? I so desperately want to help them."
Li Daoxuan sighed softly. "Don't worry, you are already doing it! Your very presence in the county town is to save them."
Gao Yiye said, "I just feel what I'm doing isn't enough…"
As they were talking, Li Daoxuan suddenly exclaimed, "Huh?" His focus swept over the bookshop entrance and spotted a familiar "wild" miniature just dismounting from a horse in front of the shop.
It was Magistrate Liang Shixian!
Liang Shixian had actually come to the bookshop.
Li Daoxuan's spirits lifted. "A good show is about to start. Yiye, cover your face, put on your hat, and slip into the front hall to watch."
Gao Yiye quickly did as told.
Li Daoxuan's attention also shifted completely to Liang Shixian.
He saw Liang Shixian standing at the bookshop entrance, looking up at the signboard reading "Chengcheng Bookshop," gazing at it deeply for quite a while.
Li Daoxuan immediately understood: This fellow already knows the bookshop is suspicious. With his intelligence, he's surely guessed the shop's backer is the "Li family." Him standing here dazed means he's still considering how to deal with the "Li family."
The Shaoxing advisor caught up from behind, leaning close to Liang Shixian's ear and whispering, "Patron, now is not the time to confront the Li family…"
Liang Shixian nodded. "Don't worry, this official doesn't intend to confront them. I'm just here to look."
With that, he sighed deeply, watching the commoners going in and out of the bookshop, happily running out with their flour. His expression was complex. The Li family is too powerful. So much grain. If this official had this much grain, what would I worry about… ai!
Feeling despondent, he turned to leave again.
Li Daoxuan hadn't had any particular thought initially, but seeing Liang Shixian's actions, a long-buried scene suddenly flashed in his mind. It was from Liang Shixian's second visit to Gao Village when he saw the cement road and was quite interested, even asking San Shi'er how the road was made.
But San Shi'er warned him: With the great drought, it's not suitable to build roads.
Only then did Liang Shixian drop the idea.
As this memory flashed through his mind, Li Daoxuan suddenly had a plan. "Yiye, quickly call Shopkeeper Wang, run out and stop the Magistrate. Tell him our Li family has a major project to discuss with him."
Liang Shixian, dejected, turned and walked a few steps, about to mount his horse. Just then, Shopkeeper Wang ran out from the bookshop, waving and calling, "County Magistrate, please wait!"
Liang Shixian's heart sank. Oh no, seen by someone from the Li family. I really don't want to chat with them now. I'm afraid if they know I'm suspicious, they'll stop providing grain.
But having been hailed, he couldn't just run away. He had to turn around and smile at Shopkeeper Wang. "So it's Shopkeeper Wang of Chengcheng Bookshop. This official was just passing by, having a casual look. Nothing in particular."
Shopkeeper Wang also smiled. "This humble one has a matter and wishes to ask for the County Magistrate's assistance."
Liang Shixian: "Huh?"
Shopkeeper Wang said, "I believe the County Magistrate has already noticed. Recently, although I ostensibly sell books, in reality, I provide relief porridge to aid the people. The grain I use all comes from the Li family of Gao Village."
Liang Shixian's heart sank again. I wasn't bringing it up, but you're taking the initiative to clarify? Oh no, does this mean they'll cut off my grain supply? Or use the threat of cutting off grain to force this official into some unlawful scheme?
Internally, he was panicking wildly!
But Shopkeeper Wang continued, "The county town has a large population. Transporting grain from Gao Village, over thirty li (about 15 kilometers), the cartwheels have broken many times, and the cart drivers are exhausted. So, I have a request. Could the County Magistrate issue an order to build a proper cement road, stretching from the county town all the way to Gao Village?"
This request left Liang Shixian dumbfounded.
What is going on?
There have been consecutive years of great drought, people are suffering, there are Guyuan rebels and multiple bands of roving bandits causing trouble outside, and war could break out at any moment.
In this situation, you want to build a road?
Over thirty li! What a massive project.
Do you want to work the common people to death and bury them in the roadbed?
Just as he thought this, he heard Shopkeeper Wang add, "Not as corvée labor, but as hired work. Road construction workers will be paid three jin (about 1.5 kilograms) of flour per day, funded by the Li family."
Without a second thought, Liang Shixian immediately answered, "This plan is excellent! Do it! Build the road immediately, start right away!"