Chapter 121: The Block Carver Arrives
Just as I spotted a little bird fluttering past the window, a 'Jia' bird, I realized! And 'Jia' sounds just like 'add.' Clearly, a divine sign for me to post another chapter, so here it is!
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Mr. Wang brightened immediately, "Ah, perfect timing, I was just looking for you!"
The impoverished man appeared timid and utterly unsophisticated, a look Li Daoxuan instantly recognized. He hadn't been in Gao Family Village long; only newcomers carried themselves with such an air of unfamiliarity.
Mr. Wang began, "I heard you're a block carver."
The man bowed quickly. "Yes, my name is Xiao Dazheng. My family has been block carvers for generations."
Mr. Wang asked, "A resident artisan? Or a rotating artisan?"
Xiao Dazheng's face flushed with embarrassment. "A resident artisan... I am... I abandoned my household registration and fled. Now I'm merely a refugee."
Mr. Wang sighed sympathetically. "A resident artisan, indeed. That must have been a hardship for you. I hear you've only just arrived in Gao Family Village, accomplished nothing yet, and have been eating without working for several days. I imagine you're feeling a bit unsettled, aren't you?"
Yet, eating these provisions filled him with a gnawing anxiety.
He'd done nothing, merely eaten for free. How could he not feel anxious?
His greatest fear was that one day, the strategist would suddenly declare, "You're utterly useless, Gao Family Village no longer needs you."
That would be his absolute ruin.
And so, Xiao Dazheng had spent these past few days in profound trepidation, asking everyone what work he could possibly do. Eventually, his good friend, Luo Leg Hair, recommended him to Mr. Wang.
Xiao Dazheng pleaded, "I truly am anxious. Please, Mr. Wang, guide me to a path forward."
Mr. Wang replied, "Very well, I'll be straightforward. My students have no books to read. In all of Gao Family Village, there are only the few texts I brought with me. The children can only pore over them in turns; it's truly too difficult for them to learn anything properly."
Xiao Dazheng understood at once. "Mr. Wang, do you mean... you wish me to carve blocks to print some books?"
"Precisely," Mr. Wang declared, bobbing his head with a pedantic air. "Books for children are immensely important; not a single character can be erroneous. The reason I sought you out is that Luo Leg Hair spoke of your diligent, conscientious work, and your flawless block carving."
Xiao Dazheng quickly assured him, "I am most meticulous in my work. Any book I personally carve blocks for will not have a single errant character."
"That's excellent," Mr. Wang said, producing several handwritten pages. "This is a celestial language taught to me by the Heavenly Lord, called 'Pinyin.' I've organized it, and you are to carve and print it into a book. By doing so, you will have performed a tangible service for the Heavenly Lord, and you won't have to feel so anxious about the provisions you consume."
Xiao Dazheng was overjoyed. "Thank you, Heavenly Lord, thank you, Mr. Wang! I will certainly live up to your trust and carve 'Pinyin' perfectly."
Mr. Wang cautioned, "I must warn you: 'b' and 'd' are easily confused, and so are 'C' and 'E.' Here... and here... these are all common pitfalls. If you get a single character wrong and lead the children astray... hmph!"
Xiao Dazheng declared, "Sir, rest assured! If I make even one mistake, I'll twist off my own head and offer it to the Heavenly Lord as a ball to kick!"
Hearing this, Li Daoxuan chuckled. "Excellent, excellent! With the steady arrival of new artisans, Gao Family Village is truly diversifying its development. My printer, even with miniaturization settings, still prints objects too large for them to easily handle or read."
But now, with a block carver, Gao Family Village could produce its own paper and print its own books. This meant they could finally begin to truly foster the very essence of "culture."
Culture was the conduit for thought!
With thought came enlightenment, and with enlightenment, a new world could unfold.
He had just been pondering this very thought when the two small figures already began to move.
Li Daoxuan's divine face beamed. He lowered his head and spoke, "Yiye, inform San Shier that an artisan named Xiao Dazheng plans to carve and print books. Tell San Shier to provide him with all necessary assistance, at any cost, to complete this task as swiftly as possible. On the day the first copy of 'Pinyin' is printed, the block carver will receive a substantial reward."
Gao Yiye responded, "As you command!"
At that moment, she was still sitting with San Shier, Madam Bai, and Young Master Bai, listening to Madam Bai lecture her son about neglecting proper work for trivial pursuits. The nagging was giving her a monumental headache. Seizing the opportunity of the Heavenly Lord's command, she quickly pulled San Shier aside to make their escape. "San Supervisor," she whispered, "the Heavenly Lord has something he wishes you to do."
San Shier, equally overwhelmed, used the chance to slip away. "Madam Bai, Young Master Bai," he said, bowing, "please continue your discussion. I must take my leave."
The two quickly retreated to a quieter spot. After Gao Yiye relayed Li Daoxuan's command, San Shier immediately set about following up on the matter, summoning Tan Liwen, the clerk he had hired, and hurrying towards the Craftsman Well.
Gao Yiye, meanwhile, glanced left and right. It seemed there was nothing more for her to do, and the Heavenly Lord had fallen silent. Free time had arrived.
Her eyes darted around with mischievous intent, and she dashed off towards the School Well. Inside, a group of children had just finished reciting the Hundred Family Surnames and were settling down to write their homework.
Gao Yiye crouched low, sneaking past Mr. Wang, and sidled up to a boy of eight or nine. She whispered, "Gao Sanwa, Gao Sanwa."
The boy, Gao Sanwa, turned his head. "Sister Yiye," he whispered, "are we truly going?"
Gao Yiye nodded. "Now is the perfect time."
Gao Sanwa slid down from his desk, crouched low, and followed directly behind Gao Yiye. The two of them, moving furtively, slipped out of the School Well the instant Mr. Wang turned his head.
Li Daoxuan couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "What are they up to? Gao Yiye is luring a child away to skip class! Your Saintess image is completely shattered now. What on earth are you planning to do with that little boy?"
Gao Yiye and Gao Sanwa wove through the layered corridors of the walled house, and before long, they emerged outside the main gate of Gao Family Fortress. There, three vehicles were parked: Solar Car Number One, Number Two, and Number Three.
Ranging from smallest to largest, they measured two zhang (6 meters), just over three zhang (10 meters), and over nine zhang (28 meters) in length, respectively.
Gao Yiye climbed into the driver's seat of "Solar Car Number One," gripping the steering plow with both hands. She chuckled mischievously, "Gao Sanwa, are you ready?"
Gao Sanwa stood by the sunshade controls, whispering, "Sister Yiye, will we truly not get into trouble doing this? If the Heavenly Lord catches us secretly driving the 'Divine Solar Car,' he'll punish us."
Gao Yiye replied, "The Heavenly Lord told me to 'do what I like.'"
"But Sister Yiye," Gao Sanwa countered, "even doing what you like shouldn't mean going against the Heavenly Lord's decree!"
Gao Yiye clarified, "The Heavenly Lord's decree only stated that Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu could drive. He never said others couldn't. As long as he hasn't explicitly forbidden something, it means it's permissible!"
Gao Sanwa fell silent.
The logic, it seemed, was sound.
Gao Sanwa was a child, after all, and not one to be easily deterred. "Alright, then, I'll help you!"
Watching them, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but smile faintly. "The little imp has learned to quibble over words, haha! Her reading and literacy lessons these past few days certainly haven't been for nothing."
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