Chapter 280: Song Yingxing's Journey
Young Master Bai reached out, pulling a *Second-Year Middle School Physics, Volume Two* textbook from seemingly nowhere, and placed it into Song Yingxing's hands. "Elder, it seems you have a keen interest in this. This book is for you. Oh, no, wait, its level is too advanced. You won't understand it without the foundational knowledge, and I don't have the more elementary books with me. Before studying physics, you must first learn mathematics; otherwise, you won't be able to comprehend the various formulas."
Young Master Bai couldn't possibly be carrying so many books. He simply pointed toward Gao Family Village. "Elder, you should make a trip to Gao Family Village. In the Gao Family Village School library, you'll find all the books, and you can borrow them for free."
Song Yingxing expressed, "Many thanks, young friend."
He turned to look at Daoist Priest Ma Tianzheng, only to find the priest's face glowing with ruddy vigor as he bowed, kowtowed, and chanted scriptures towards the cloud in the sky, all while recounting his journey to Jiangxi.
It turned out that ever since Daoist Priest Ma had found evidence of the "true existence of immortals," he felt immensely proud of his Daoist identity. Before, when preaching, he had always felt a little uneasy, almost like a charlatan, but now, that apprehension was gone. He preached with full confidence.
On his journey to Jiangxi in search of Song Yingxing, he had preached to many people. His voice was resounding, full of vigor, and he felt as if his entire being had come alive, experiencing a fulfillment he had never known before.
This journey had allowed him to grow significantly; he now appeared to possess more of a transcendent, enlightened aura, truly like one who had attained the Dao.
So, upon returning and seeing the Heavenly Lord, he naturally had to quickly express his profound gratitude, thanking the Heavenly Lord for granting him rebirth.
However, his elaborate display, in Song Yingxing's eyes, was no different from that of a madman.
Song Yingxing asked the laborers for directions to Gao Family Village. He learned that the road currently under construction beneath his feet led directly there, so he proceeded along the excavated roadbed.
Li Daoxuan was determined to secure this extraordinary scientist of the miniature world. He immediately made Song Yingxing his focus, his field of view locking onto him, following him as he walked.
He hadn't walked far in the direction of Gao Family Village when he saw a gray road stretching out before him.
He knelt down and touched the road surface. "Cement! This is the cement Daoist Priest Ma showed me. Unexpectedly, here in Chengcheng County, they have already started using this material to build roads. Incredible, truly incredible!"
Walking along the cement road, he found the firm and smooth surface quite comfortable. As he walked, a solar-powered bus arrived, packed with laborers.
Song Yingxing was startled. "What sort of strange vehicle is that?"
But he wasn't as eccentric as Daoist Priest Ma; he didn't have the bad habit of blocking traffic in the middle of the road. The solar-powered bus whizzed past him, heading towards the construction site.
He didn't even get a chance to study the vehicle, so he could only continue walking.
The closer he got to Gao Family Village, the stranger the scenery became.
On both sides of the road, strange, colorful buildings began to appear. Song Yingxing sensed that these buildings were not made of stone or mud. He approached one and pinched it with his finger, discovering the material of these structures to be extremely peculiar.
It was neither metal, nor iron, nor wood. What strange material could it be?
Never mind, he thought. Onward!
By evening, he had arrived at Gao Family Village.
It was late, but the village's evening activities were just starting. The villagers, having finished their day's work, returned carrying hoes, shovels, and other tools, happening to walk alongside Song Yingxing.
Song Yingxing inquired, "My good people, is this Gao Family Village?"
The person carrying a hoe chuckled. "Yes, this is Gao Family Village. Is this your first time here, sir?"
Song Yingxing replied, "Yes, my first time. I heard there's something called a school here, where many books can be read."
The person carrying the hoe smiled. "It's late, and school is already out, sir. If you want to go to the school, you'll have to wait until tomorrow morning."
Song Yingxing asked, "Ah? Then... where should I rest tonight?"
The person with the hoe pointed towards the Gao Family commercial district. "There's an inn over there, sir. You can just go to the inn to rest."
Song Yingxing looked in the direction the person pointed and saw a cluster of colorful buildings on the hillside, which had just lit up.
The Gao Family commercial district now lit up every evening!
These lights were made by the lamp artisans who had come from Xi'an with Xu Dafu.
Vibrant lights illuminated every corner of the commercial district. The Gao Family commercial district immediately brightened, its colorful lights shimmering and reflecting off the equally colorful plastic buildings, exuding an exuberant energy reminiscent of a singing or dancing hall.
Song Yingxing gazed at this strange expanse of buildings and couldn't help but be momentarily stunned. *This*, he thought, *must be what they call a world of dazzling lights and flowing wine.*
Hardening his resolve, he ventured into the commercial district.
Ahead, a lively scene unfolded. He overheard people passing by chatting; it seemed a theatrical troupe was about to perform.
Song Yingxing followed the crowd. Indeed, on a massive stage, a performance of Northern Shaanxi Daoqing opera was underway. As a Jiangxi man, it was his first time seeing Northern Shaanxi Daoqing opera, and he couldn't help but stop and watch.
The play being performed was none other than *The Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan's Exorcism*. The troupe had recently been scrambling for new material and had even adapted Gao Yiye's comic books into a stage play.
He watched as actors playing villagers knelt on the ground, weeping, while an actor playing a mountain bandit raised his knife, ready to strike. Then, from the top of the stage, a gigantic, paper-crafted hand swiftly descended and, with a resounding *smack*, slammed the bandit to the ground.
The actor playing the bandit let out a pathetic cry and feigned death.
Then, instruments like the *sanxian* and *sihu* began to play. The actor playing the villager stood up and revealed himself to be a singing lead. He began to sing in a warbling, melodious tone of the Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan's benevolence, providing food, bringing rain, and securing welfare for the villagers.
The audience below the stage cheered, "Well sung!"
Then, large quantities of loose silver and reward money were tossed onto the stage.
Song Yingxing, experiencing Northern Shaanxi Daoqing opera for the first time, was thoroughly engrossed. He reached into his purse, pulled out a handful of copper coins, and tossed them onto the viewing platform.
Turning to his two retainers, he remarked, "Shaanxi is suffering a great drought, and the people are destitute. Along our journey, we've seen suffering common folk everywhere, yet I never imagined the people of Gao Family Village would live such joyful lives. How astounding!"
His two retainers whispered, "This village is full of peculiar things."
Song Yingxing smiled. "I quite like peculiar things."
No sooner had he spoken than a shout suddenly rang out nearby: "Friends who have finished watching the play, come and have a bowl of rice noodles!"
Song Yingxing uttered an exclamation of surprise. Following the voice, he saw a shop named "Laba Rice Noodles" not far from the stage. He exclaimed in astonishment, "What do I see? A shop selling rice noodles! Isn't this something only found in the south?"
His two retainers were also dumbfounded. "Master," one gasped, "it truly is a rice noodle shop! By all that's holy!"
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