Chapter 470: Distribute This Book
Gao Yiye already had experience with printing at her own risk. Her venture with "The Legend of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, the Demon Slayer" had been a massive hit, earning her so much money that her home was practically overflowing.
But to her, money was practically worthless.
Indeed, with her house crammed full of cash, it only encroached on her living space, leaving her for a long stretch of time to stand on the balcony, staring into the distance, just to escape the bothersome stench of wealth.
Receiving the divine decree, Gao Yiye’s spirits lifted instantly.
‘So the Heavenly Lord still needs me, haha!’ Her steps grew lighter, and she skipped down from the watchtower, weaving through the somewhat aged alleys of the main fortress. *Thump!* She ran straight into Shi Laosi, who had just stepped out of San Shier’s home, sending him sprawling.
Shi Laosi scrambled to his feet, instantly wailing in distress at the sight of his scattered manuscript, tears welling in his eyes. "My illustrated book... *sniff*... Steward San Shier didn't approve, no chance for publication... and now it’s all over the ground... what did I ever do to deserve this?!"
Gao Yiye rubbed her shoulder, still smarting from the collision, and got up. "Oh, Shi Laosi, good thing I caught you before you went too far! Come with me, I’ll help you sort out the publication."
Shi Laosi abruptly looked up. "Huh?"
Happiness arrived far too abruptly!
Shi Laosi sprang to his feet. "Really?!"
"Absolutely!" Gao Yiye pointed to the sky. "His venerable Heavenly Lord issued a divine decree specifically for me to help you."
Shi Laosi was overjoyed, falling to his knees with a thud and roaring up at the sky, "Many thanks, Heavenly Lord!"
"Quickly, gather your manuscript papers!"
"Ah, yes, right away!"
Gao Yiye helped Shi Laosi collect his scattered papers, ensured they were neatly held, and then stepped into San Shier’s home. "Steward San Shier, I’ve arrived!"
"Ah? Saintess!" San Shier hurried forward to greet her. "Oh? Shi Laosi, you’re still here?"
Shi Laosi beamed. "I’m not leaving! The Saintess says she’ll help me publish my book."
A baffled expression, like a silent question mark, slowly formed above San Shier’s head.
Gao Yiye, after listening intently to Li Daoxuan’s voice from the sky, finally smiled. "I hear Steward San Shier wasn’t particularly fond of Shi Laosi’s book. But if you don't care for it, I actually do, and I’d like to give it a shot."
San Shier could only offer a bewildered trio of question marks.
Gao Yiye continued, "I’ll personally fund the printing of this book once more. The cost of paper, the wages for the engravers and printers—all of it will be my responsibility. Even any transportation fees that arise during later sales, I’ll handle those too. And for the profits, Shi Laosi and I will split them fifty-fifty, guaranteeing that the village treasury won’t incur any losses."
San Shier looked utterly bewildered. "Why, Saintess? Have you even glanced at his book? It’s truly a terribly bland read! There’s no action, no grand tales of love or hate, no villains leaping out to humiliate the protagonist, and certainly no protagonist suddenly unleashing power to strike back at said villains... In short, from cover to cover, it just screams... *plain*."
"They say good literature should be like a mountain range—full of peaks and valleys, not a flat expanse. A story this bland is bound to be a commercial failure."
Gao Yiye giggled. "I know all that! But for culture and art to truly flourish and remain healthy, we need to let a hundred flowers bloom, don’t we? For the sake of Gao Family Village’s cultural prosperity, I’ve decided to put up the money."
San Shier inwardly mused: *The Saintess is always so mischievous and playful. I believe her when she says she’ll provide the funds. But these lofty pronouncements about developing culture and art? The Saintess couldn’t possibly understand such things. So how did that line suddenly burst out of her?*
Ah! Then it hit him!
This was the Heavenly Lord instructing her.
San Shier promptly replied, "Understood. Since the Saintess is footing the bill, then we shall print this book. There’s no risk to us, after all."
Gao Yiye smiled. "Not only print it, but we’ll also distribute it for free, far and wide. Baishui County, Dali County, Hancheng, Dragon Gate Ferry, Gudu Ferry—everywhere our current transport network can reach, this book must be sent. It will accompany “The Legend of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, the Demon Slayer,” delivered into the hands of the common folk as a half-sale, half-gift arrangement."
San Shier’s mind was utterly boggled. *‘The Legend of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, the Demon Slayer’ was intended to introduce outsiders to the Heavenly Lord; I grasp the rationale behind the half-sale, half-gift strategy for that. But this ‘Gao Piao,’ which merely recounts domestic trifles and mundane life, why should it also be half-sale, half-gift? What earthly use is there in promoting *this*?*
Gao Yiye giggled. "Steward San Shier, it appears you’re not quite grasping the bigger picture."
San Shier looked up at the sky. "Heavenly Lord, this humble servant truly doesn’t comprehend."
Gao Yiye replied, "It’s perfectly fine if you don’t understand. The Heavenly Lord says that what you’re experiencing is called “temporal limitations.” Just wait a little while, and you’ll grasp it."
San Shier offered a wry smile, half-laughing, half-crying. "But I don’t even understand the *term* “temporal limitations”!"
Gao Yiye waved a dismissive hand. "Alright, alright, just go and get it done!"
San Shier clasped his hands in a respectful salute, then quickly went to arrange for the engravers.
Though he still didn’t fully grasp *why*, he understood one thing: this book was immensely important. The very instruction to distribute it as a half-sale, half-gift arrangement indicated that its significance was on par with ‘The Legend of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, the Demon Slayer.’ Naturally, this meant work had to begin at once—engraving, printing, and completion, all to be done immediately, with a priority that even superseded all textbooks.
He immediately dispatched additional engravers, instructing them to work on over a dozen pages simultaneously.
His goal: to complete the task with the utmost speed possible.
—
The wind swept over Hancheng, carrying the earthy, fishy scent of the Yellow River deep into the city.
The lives of Hancheng’s common folk were gradually, subtly, improving.
Not long ago, a relief convoy had arrived from Heyang County, ostensibly offering vast quantities of grain for sale at rock-bottom prices. Oh, wait—no, that wasn’t quite right. They were actually *selling books* at low prices, with the grain given away as a bonus.
The people of Hancheng naturally flocked to these offerings, snapping them up at once. Every household soon possessed ‘The Legend of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, the Demon Slayer.’ While the tales were indeed a bit mystical, they were far from dull. Everyone read with rapt attention, and when the Heavenly Lord struck down bandits, loud cheers would erupt.
The city’s opera troupes had also hastily composed new plays, performing tales of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, and the entire county town was abuzz with discussion about him.
Today, however, that same caravan, supposedly delivering grain, began its shenanigans once more.
They had actually brought a *new* book, titled ‘Gao Piao.’
Just like before: buy a book, get grain for free!
Whether the book was entertaining or not no longer mattered; buying it was simply the sensible thing to do.
Soon, in every street and alley, everyone held a copy of ‘Gao Piao.’ They flipped it open and began to read, then many exchanged puzzled glances. "Huh? This story seems... a bit strange this time."
"What’s so captivating about these utterly mundane stories of everyday life?"
Initially, that was their collective thought. Yet, after a few more pages, some individuals began to grasp the subtle implications.
"Look, everyone," one person exclaimed, "the protagonist of this comic book, the moment he reaches Gao Family Village, gets food to eat and a place to sleep! True, it’s eight people to a room, but that’s still far better than enduring the wind and dew outside!"
"He went there to build roads and earned a small sack of flour in just one day!"
"Gao Family Village actually has these enormous vehicles one can ride, and even commoners are allowed on board!"
"Look, Shi Si’s comrade became a blacksmith and suddenly struck it rich! I’m a blacksmith too—if I went to Gao Family Village, could *I* also make my fortune?"
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