Chapter 260: Do You Want to Work the Common Folk to Death?
Gao Yiye soon arrived at the City God Temple and met with Mrs. San. She arranged for a large group of pious devotees to leave the city to witness the divine manifestation of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, taking the opportunity to distribute some grain to them.
By the time she finished, dusk had already fallen.
Returning to the bookstore, she saw four courtesans waiting anxiously for their new "mistress." As soon as they spotted Gao Yiye, the four girls curtsied in unison and whispered, "Madam, we are new here and unfamiliar with your rules. Please guide us."
This form of address utterly startled Gao Yiye.
Barely sixteen years old, yet already addressed as "Madam," with four women calling themselves her "daughters"—it was truly terrifying.
Li Daoxuan couldn't help but laugh heartily, "Yiye, they think you also run a brothel, and that you bought them to continue *that* business."
Gao Yiye finally understood that she was being mistaken for a new brothel madam. How could she possibly bear being seen as a madam at only sixteen?
She quickly waved her hands frantically, "No, no, you've misunderstood. The reason I bought you back isn't what you're imagining."
The four courtesans felt uneasy and tentatively asked, "Then... Madam, what do you mean?"
Li Daoxuan smiled, "Show them 'The Legend of Dao Xuan Tian Zun Exorcising Demons.' Tell them you've invited them back to help you draw. They'll understand that faster, and you can slowly tell them the truth later."
Gao Yiye understood. She quickly took out a comic book and gestured animatedly towards the four girls.
The four courtesans had initially thought they were merely moving from one brothel to another. Now, hearing her explanation, they suddenly realized the truth. Someone actually wanted them to draw? This was... far too strange!
One girl couldn't help but ask timidly, "Madam, if I may be so bold... does this mean... we are... leaving our profession for good?"
Gao Yiye blinked her large eyes. "Don't you want to leave your profession?"
The four girls all froze simultaneously, then burst into tears. "We dreamed of it constantly, but we never imagined that dream would become reality today."
Li Daoxuan sighed, "Yiye, tell them to change their clothes, put on ordinary cotton garments, wash away the glamour, and forget their past."
The four girls went into the back room to change and remove their makeup.
Gao Yiye, however, looked up at the sky, a sorrowful expression on her face. "Heavenly Lord, before I came to the county town, I was cheerfully carefree in the village every day, watching our village thrive and prosper. I'd forgotten that the world outside was suffering from a great drought. Only after coming to the county town twice recently did I realize how much pain the people outside are in... My heart aches so much. Is there anything I can do right now? I truly want to help them immediately."
Li Daoxuan sighed softly. "Don't worry, you are already doing it! You are here in the county town precisely to save them."
Gao Yiye, "I always feel like it's not enough..."
As the two were speaking, Li Daoxuan suddenly exclaimed, "Oh!" His attention swept across the bookstore entrance, where he saw a familiar miniature figure dismounting just outside.
It was none other than Magistrate Liang Shixian!
Liang Shixian had actually come to the bookstore.
Li Daoxuan's spirits lifted. "This is going to be interesting! Yiye, cover your face, put on your bamboo hat, and sneak to the front hall to watch the show."
Gao Yiye quickly did as she was told.
Li Daoxuan's attention also fully turned to Liang Shixian.
Liang Shixian stood at the bookstore entrance, gazing up at the "Chengcheng Bookstore" plaque, watching it intently for quite some time.
Li Daoxuan immediately understood: *This fellow already knows there's something unusual about the bookstore. With his intelligence, he must have guessed that the "Li family" is behind it. He's standing there, lost in thought, probably still figuring out how to deal with the "Li family."*
The Shaoxing aide followed from behind, leaning close to Liang Shixian's ear and whispering, "Master, now is not the time to show your hand to the Li family..."
Liang Shixian nodded, "Don't worry, this official has no intention of showing my hand. I merely came to observe."
He then sighed deeply, watching the common folk happily enter and exit the bookstore, carrying flour. His expression was complicated: *The Li family is far too powerful. So much grain! If this official had so much grain, what would I have to worry about?*
*Alas!*
Feeling dejected, he turned to leave.
Li Daoxuan hadn't had any particular plans, but seeing Liang Shixian's actions, a long-sealed memory suddenly illuminated in his mind. It was about Liang Shixian's second visit to Gao Family Village. At that time, he had seen the cement road and had been quite intrigued, even asking San Shier how the road was constructed.
But San Shier had warned him: "A great drought afflicts the land; it's not suitable for road construction."
Liang Shixian had then dropped the idea.
As this scene flashed through his mind, Li Daoxuan suddenly had an idea. "Yiye, quickly fetch Mr. Wang. Chase after the magistrate and stop him. Tell him our Li family has a major project to discuss with him."
Liang Shixian, crestfallen, turned and took a few steps, intending to remount his horse. Just then, Mr. Wang from the bookstore rushed out, waving and shouting, "Esteemed Magistrate, please wait!"
Liang Shixian's heart skipped a beat. *Damn it, the Li family saw me! I really don't want to talk with them right now. I'm afraid if they realize I'm suspicious, they'll stop supplying grain.*
But since he'd been hailed, there was no way he could simply flee. So, he turned around and smiled at Mr. Wang. "Ah, Mr. Wang from Chengcheng Bookstore. This official was just passing by, taking a casual look, nothing special."
Mr. Wang also smiled. "I have something I'd like to ask for your esteemed help with, sir."
Liang Shixian, "Oh?"
Mr. Wang said, "I trust, Esteemed Magistrate, you have already noticed that although I have ostensibly been selling books recently, I am actually distributing gruel to aid the people. All my grain comes from the Li family in Gao Family Village."
Liang Shixian's heart sank. *I didn't bring it up, yet you proactively clarified? Oh no, this isn't them cutting off my grain, is it? Or perhaps, they're using the grain supply to threaten this official into some illegal or unethical scheme?*
His heart was seized by extreme panic!
But Mr. Wang continued, "The county town has a large population. When I transport grain here from Gao Family Village, it's over thirty *li*, and many cartwheels have broken down. The cart drivers transporting the grain are also exhausted. Therefore, I have a request: could the Esteemed Magistrate issue an order to build a proper cement road, extending from the county town all the way to Gao Family Village?"
As soon as he made this request, Liang Shixian was completely stunned.
*Are you kidding me?*
*What is going on here?*
*The land has suffered years of continuous drought, the people are struggling to survive, and outside, there are still Guyuan rebels and numerous roaming bandits causing trouble. War could break out at any moment.*
*Under such circumstances, you actually want to build a road?*
*Over thirty li! That's a huge project.*
*Do you want to work the common folk to death and bury them in the road foundation?*
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he heard Mr. Wang declare, "Not using corvée labor, but hiring workers. Road workers will be paid three *jin* of flour daily, funded by the Li family."
Without a second thought, Liang Shixian immediately replied, "This plan is excellent! Do it! Build the road immediately, right away!"
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