Chapter 65 Big Brother Favors Gao Family Village
The dozen or so young men who had escorted San Shier each received a reward, then swiftly departed to help their families move.
The two sculptors also hurried home, where their wives and children were already in the midst of moving. They rushed over, taking on the heavy work, broad smiles on their faces. "We've paid thirty years of the artisan service tax," one exclaimed, "now we'll never have to take turns working in the government workshops again!"
Both wives beamed with joy, but then a shadow of worry crossed their faces. "Our children will also be rotation artisans in the future," one fretted. "Once they come of age, they'll have to take their turns too."
The sculptors chuckled. "What's that to worry about? As long as we carve a few more statues for the Heavenly Lord, we'll have enough to pay the artisan tax for our sons, grandsons, and even great-grandsons."
At this, their wives' smiles returned. Before, their future had seemed bleak and uncertain, their lives shrouded in a gray haze. But now, it felt as though an infinitely brighter tomorrow awaited them.
Meanwhile, San Shier accompanied Mr. Wang, slowly stepping into the brand-new Hakka Walled House. Its foundation was solid, its walls thick and imposing. The partitions between rooms were, astonishingly, made of metal, coated with a thick layer of paint, clanging loudly when tapped. The newly arrived Mr. Wang stared in utter bewilderment.
How could such a remote, unheard-of village possess the resources to construct such a formidable fortress?
"Sir, when you teach here, you won't have to fear bandits," San Shier declared triumphantly. "Not long ago, the bandit chief, Supreme Bright King, led over a thousand rebels to attack, and our Gao Family Village routed them. As for the other fierce bandit, Wang Er, you've seen our relationship with him. Come to Gao Family Village, and you can truly sleep soundly without a care."
Mr. Wang listened, half-believing, half-doubting. Yet, witnessing the sheer power of this fortress, he couldn't help but credit some of San Shier's claims.
Mr. Wang involuntarily swallowed a mouthful. Though a scholar, he lived a meager life, unable to afford a wife and rarely enjoying a decent meal. The scent of chicken and pork stirred his appetite profoundly.
Unable to resist, he inquired, "Master San, though you've bestowed upon me much silver, there's no market in this village. Where am I to purchase food?"
San Shier burst out laughing. "You, sir, are one whom the Heavenly Lord himself wishes to employ! Naturally, the Heavenly Lord will be responsible for your meals."
Mr. Wang was utterly bewildered. "The Heavenly Lord? Who is that?"
San Shier offered no explanation. Instead, he pointed towards Gao Yiye, who was diligently maintaining her graceful composure in the distance. "That is the Saintess. I will take you to meet her, and all your daily needs will be arranged immediately."
Mr. Wang could only steel himself and approach Gao Yiye.
Before he could utter a word, Gao Yiye smiled gently. "The Heavenly Lord is already aware of your arrival, sir. Please, follow me."
Mr. Wang, still utterly confused, trailed behind Gao Yiye.
Gao Yiye led him to an inner courtyard, where a ring of houses enclosed a central open space. She gestured to one of the rooms. "You may reside in this room for now, sir. The courtyard in front can be used to set up tables and chairs for you to teach reading and writing."
"As for your daily provisions, there's absolutely no need to worry. You'll understand once you step inside the room."
Mr. Wang, curiosity piqued, ducked into his assigned room. He gazed around, eyes widening. Rice, flour, oil, salt, and cured meats were piled high, filling half the room. Even if he ate to his heart's content, it would likely last him a year or more.
"This... this is all for... for me?" Mr. Wang stammered, barely able to form words.
"Indeed! The Heavenly Lord has declared that if you teach diligently here, sir, your future rewards will be considerable."
-----
Meanwhile, in the mountains a dozen li away.
Wang Er, accompanied by his most loyal subordinates, returned to their mountain stronghold.
Calling it a stronghold was generous; it was merely a colossal cave. Inside, there was no furniture or belongings of note, only a few overturned grain carts and dry straw scattered across the floor. The several hundred rebels he'd led out to revolt were temporarily sheltering within this crude cavern.
The rebels' morale wasn't particularly high. Their current living conditions were undeniably dire, and prolonged exposure to such an environment inevitably took a toll on one's spirit.
Wang Er pulled out the bag of salt San Shier had given him, hoisted it high, and boomed, "Brothers, look at the good stuff I've brought back, ha ha! A whole bag of salt!"
Cheers erupted!
His second-in-command, Zheng Yanfu, and third-in-command, Zhong Guangdao, rushed over, their faces alight with excitement. "Salt?" they pressed.
Wang Er guffawed. "Master San of Gao Family Village gave it to me! A bag this big will last us a good long while."
"Gao Family Village sent it again, huh?" a quiet grumble emerged from the rebel ranks nearby.
"Gao Family Village is so rich."
"Tsk, first they sent us flour, now salt. Looks like they've got quite a stash in that village."
"They must have even more good things in that village."
The direction of the chatter was unsettling.
Wang Er's brow furrowed deeply. He spun around abruptly, glaring at the men who had spoken. Sensing their leader's displeasure, they quickly recoiled, slinking deeper into the cave.
Only then did Wang Er relent, instructing his second and third-in-command to distribute the salt. He himself walked aside and lay down, fully clothed.
Zheng Yanfu cast a deep glance at Wang Er, and seeing that he seemed to have fallen asleep, pulled Zhong Guangdao aside. "Third Brother," he murmured, "haven't you noticed how much Big Brother favors Gao Family Village?"
Zhong Guangdao shrugged. "Gao Family Village owes a debt to Wang Family Village. The night before we rose up, Gao Family Village even sent Wang Family Village dozens of barrels of flour. Given Big Brother's nature, of course he'd favor them."
Zheng Yanfu lowered his voice further. "Gao Family Village has grain, has salt, they're rolling in wealth. Yet because Big Brother protects them, we can't lay a hand on them. Last night, I heard from some brothers who went out on a raid. They said there were a dozen easy targets to plunder, but just because they were from Gao Family Village, Big Brother let them go."
Zhong Guangdao murmured, "I heard about it too. If we'd slaughtered those dozen 'fat sheep' then, our haul would have been far more than just this bit of salt. We would've made a fortune."
Zheng Yanfu let out a low, sinister chuckle. "It seems great minds think alike, Third Brother. So, are we going to do it?"
Zhong Guangdao echoed his grin. "Of course!"
Zheng Yanfu advised, "Then we'll have to avoid Big Brother, and all the men from Wang Family Village."
Zhong Guangdao planned, "In a few days, we'll find an opportunity, come up with an excuse, and trick Big Brother into taking the Wang Family Village men north. Once he's far enough away, we'll go hit Gao Family Village hard."
Zheng Yanfu mused, "I hear Gao Family Village has tall walls. Not long ago, the Supreme Bright King was crushed beneath their defenses, and dozens of his men ran to join us. Third Brother, do you have a clever plan?"
Zhong Guangdao scoffed, "The Supreme Bright King was a fool, only knowing how to attack head-on. That's obviously not going to work. We can't be like that. This time, we'll take advantage of the night. We'll send one person to quietly scale the city wall and open the gates. Then our men can surge in, and taking that village will be no effort at all!"
Zheng Yanfu was overjoyed. "Third Brother, your plan is brilliant! That's exactly what we'll do. Once it's done, Big Brother won't be able to say anything, just like when we subjected those wealthy families' wives and maids in Chengcheng County to unspeakable horrors. The deed will be done, and he'll just have to watch helplessly, heh heh."
Zhong Guangdao nodded. "Exactly."
Having finalized their scheme, a smug certainty settled in their hearts. They chuckled twice, then abruptly turned, only to discover Wang Er standing directly behind them, his face contorted with fury. "Second Brother, Third Brother, you two are utterly beyond..."
He was about to unleash a torrent of angry accusations, but before he could, Zhong Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu simultaneously drew short blades and lunged, plunging them into him.
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