Chapter 168: How Can This Be Called Bad?
As dusk gathered, Li Daoxuan returned from his parents' home.
He had intended to grab the illustrated storybooks and leave immediately, but his parents, upon hearing he was coming, had already prepared a lavish feast. It was thirty-two times grander than his usual takeout, almost rivaling a New Year's Eve dinner.
He stayed for dinner, enjoying himself thoroughly, though it dragged on a bit late. By the time he returned home with a large bag of `The Yang Family Generals` illustrated storybooks, the sun had already begun to sink in the west.
Quickly, he took out the books, carefully opened their pages, placed them in the scanner, then printed miniature copies with the printer, producing tiny pages...
Of course, what he considered "tiny pages" were still enormous for the little people in the diorama. They couldn't be shown directly; they would first need to be re-printed using the villagers' own printing techniques.
The scanner and printer whirred and clattered at work.
Li Daoxuan casually switched his view, observing the situation of the little people.
The mess in Zheng Family Village had been cleared, and the Heyang bandits wouldn't dare attack again anytime soon. Fang Wushang had withdrawn his troops, heading back to write a memorial reporting his victory—though he certainly wouldn't embellish his achievements as Cheng Xu might.
The militia returned to the village, every one of them beaming with joy.
As a result, they all collapsed. Not a single one remained standing. Modern alcohol was far too potent for them, more effective than any sleeping draughts.
It was at this moment that Gao Chuwu arrived, intending to speak with Xing Honglang. He never expected to find the large plastic house strewn with drunken figures, sprawled haphazardly everywhere.
Gao Chuwu had no choice but to carry the salt smugglers, one by one, to their beds, even thoughtfully tucking them in. The lingering chill of spring made it easy to fall ill.
Only Xing Honglang did he not dare to move. She was a young woman, and he wouldn't dare touch her carelessly. He simply left her alone in the middle of the living room.
Meanwhile, Cheng Xu returned victorious from battle, yet little joy was visible on his face. He sat alone on a tall watchtower, removed his face covering, and drank a small jar of wine by himself. Perhaps he still longed for his former identity as a legitimate ninth-rank military official of the imperial court.
Li Daoxuan watched the panorama of human life among the little people, chuckling inwardly.
The sound of the printer behind him stopped. The first volume of `The Yang Family Generals` illustrated storybook was finished printing.
Li Daoxuan turned his gaze to the watchtower.
Gao Yiye was still weaving by lamplight, cotton threads interweaving on her loom, emerging as smooth cotton cloth.
"Yiye!" Li Daoxuan called softly.
Gao Yiye gasped, quickly stopped weaving, and jumped up. "Heavenly Lord!"
Li Daoxuan smiled. "Go find San Shier. I have something to discuss with him."
Gao Yiye quickly sprang into action, pitter-pattering down the watchtower to the council hall in the Hakka-style compound. Adjacent to it, in the main courtyard, was where San Shier resided.
She knocked on the door, called San Shier into the courtyard, and together they reverently listened to the Heavenly Lord's instructions.
Only then did Li Daoxuan pick up a page of paper and lower it.
San Shier focused his gaze. A thick sheet of paper, larger than a man, descended from the sky. It bore a peculiar illustration, seemingly of a military general, though he didn't know who it was.
Li Daoxuan offered no explanation, and lowered a second page, then a third, a fourth...
After examining several pages, San Shier finally understood. "The story of `The Yang Family Generals`! All pictures!"
Li Daoxuan said, "Tomorrow, after daybreak, find the woodblock carvers and have them carve blocks and print this."
San Shier paused for a moment, slightly puzzled by the Heavenly Lord's intent. But upon closer thought, he understood. "The Heavenly Lord wishes to use these fully illustrated books to tell stories to those who cannot read."
"Precisely," Li Daoxuan affirmed. "Many people are too old; it's impossible for them to attend Mr. Wang's lessons now. But they also need knowledge, they need education. Books made entirely of pictures can teach through entertainment, transmitting essential knowledge to them."
San Shier bowed towards the sky. "The Heavenly Lord is benevolent, considering even the affairs of these common folk."
This wasn't merely about looking after them.
Li Daoxuan didn't wish to state the deeper reason: the ordinary people of that era lacked concepts like "nation" and "ethnicity." Many didn't even know what "patriotism" meant. This wasn't unique to the Ming Dynasty; even in modern times, Lu Xun wrote "Man-Eating Steamed Buns" to fiercely criticize the ignorant and apathetic populace.
But why were the ignorant masses so apathetic?
Simply put, they hadn't received enough patriotic education!
When the Manchu iron hooves surged in, how many people would be willing to shed their blood and sacrifice their lives for the country?
If the majority of the populace hadn't been apathetic and indifferent, how could the Manchu have so firmly seated themselves as rulers of the Han realm?
And these `The Yang Family Generals` illustrated storybooks could serve as excellent teaching material for patriotic education, allowing everyone to see the stories of the loyal and heroic Yang family, who sacrificed their lives to protect the nation.
San Shier bowed deeply towards the sky. "I shall respectfully obey the Heavenly Lord's decree."
Gao Yiye watched as the Heavenly Lord in the sky gradually faded from view, presumably returning to the celestial realm. She chuckled softly. "This picture book is so interesting. I was completely engrossed just now."
San Shier pondered, *Oh? Had Lady Saintess never heard the story of `The Yang Family Generals` before? That makes sense. Gao Family Village is in a remote location, and few outsiders visit. Most villagers have limited knowledge, having only heard fragmented tales from the elders. A complete, full-volume story like this has likely been seen by very few.*
"It seems this book will be very popular. Once it's printed, it shouldn't be given to the villagers for free." A brilliant idea occurred to San Shier. "The Heavenly Lord has sent too much food. Many villagers have grown complacent and idle. Why not print these books, price them for sale, and use them to retrieve some of the surplus wealth from the villagers? This money can then be given to the woodblock carvers, making them more motivated, and once the villagers' money runs out, they'll have more incentive to work."
Gao Yiye exclaimed, "Wow, Steward San, you're so naughty!"
San Shier replied, "How can this be called bad? Distributing goods for free is, in itself, not a normal measure. The Heavenly Lord has always distributed grain for free because, in this land ravaged by drought, the villagers couldn't produce their own. If we grow accustomed to receiving things for free, and then perceive it as 'bad' when something requires payment, that would be quite wrong."
Gao Yiye thought carefully. "Oh, you're right."
San Shier continued, "If the villagers were hungry, I would never come up with such a 'naughty' trick. But now, these villagers living in the fortress have truly grown rather lazy."
"When the Heavenly Lord first distributed grain, he gave too much at once. Many villagers still have ten grains of giant rice stored at home; they couldn't finish it even in a few years. What incentive do they have to work? Sooner or later, those outsiders from the temporary worker village will look down upon them."
Gao Yiye nodded. "Steward San, what you say makes so much sense."
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