Chapter 9: The Miniature World
He needed to re-evaluate his diorama box. Perhaps it wasn't just for nurturing these forty-two little people, but rather... a gateway to another world of little people?
No, "gateway" might not be the right word. "Overlooking" felt more accurate.
He had initially thought he was merely tending to a small box of little people, treating them casually, like a box of pet hamsters, never deeply considering their true nature. But if he was truly "overlooking" an entire world of little people, then there was a vast array of things to investigate.
Li Daoxuan shifted his gaze back to the villager little people.
By this time, the official little people had fled. The villager little people were gathered together, cheering and prostrating themselves towards the sky.
The maiden little person, as the "only one who could converse with the Heavenly Lord," was surrounded by the villager little people, who chattered at her, all speaking at once.
The maiden little person then looked up and shouted towards the sky: "Heavenly Lord, the villagers thank you for your help! They also want to ask if this Divine Rice is a gift for me alone, or if everyone is allowed to partake?"
Li Daoxuan's gaze locked onto the maiden little person.
This maiden little person could communicate with him; she could hear him speak. Through her, he could learn about the world of little people. It seemed it was time to speak a few words to her.
The maiden little person was overjoyed: "Villagers, the Heavenly Lord says this rice is a bounty for all of us! Everyone may share!"
The villager little people immediately erupted in cheers.
"May the Heavenly Lord bless us!"
"Long live the Heavenly Lord!"
"Uh, Yiye, is the Heavenly Lord a Buddhist deity or a Daoist deity? Should we say 'Amituofo' or 'Wuliangshoufo' when we pray?"
The maiden little person was utterly bewildered. Though she could faintly discern the Deity's face emerging from the clouds, she couldn't see if he wore Daoist robes or Buddhist monk's attire. She truly had no idea whether to say 'Amituofo' or 'Wuliangshoufo' when praying. This was quite awkward.
If they used the wrong prayer, angering the Heavenly Lord, they wouldn't even know how to write the character for death.
However... it seemed they were all illiterate. They wouldn't have known how to write 'death' anyway.
The villager little people froze. Their prayers stalled.
Li Daoxuan shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. These little people were quite amusing. They were even pondering whether he was a Buddhist or Daoist deity. It seemed the culture of this miniature world was an extension of his own.
With a hint of amusement, he said: "Don't concern yourselves with Daoist or Buddhist. I am neither."
The maiden little person froze. This information was beyond her comprehension. There were Heavenly Lords like this?
Li Daoxuan said, "Don't fret over such minor details. Tell everyone to be quiet; I have questions to ask."
The maiden little person hastily announced in a loud voice: "Everyone, quiet down! The Heavenly Lord has a few more questions for us!"
At her shout, everyone instantly fell silent.
Li Daoxuan asked, "What planet are you on? Or continent? Or dimension?"
The maiden little person didn't understand. She repeated the question verbatim to all the villager little people.
However, not a single one of the little people present understood. Even the Village Chief little person, who possessed the most knowledge and had seen the most of the world among them, looked utterly confused. "What's a planet? What's a continent? What's a dimension?"
Their expressions clearly showed they had no concept of these terms.
Li Daoxuan understood. While their culture shared a common root with his own, their level of knowledge was centuries behind. He then asked, "What is your country's name? And what is the current reign era?"
The little people did have some slight understanding of the concept of a country. They knew they lived within a nation, one with a court and an army. However, they had no idea what this country was called or what era it was. They shook their heads in unison.
Li Daoxuan frowned: These people didn't even know what country they belonged to or the current reign era. Their illiteracy was truly astonishing.
But upon closer thought, he realized why!
Ancient farmers were typically illiterate, rarely venturing beyond their villages. The furthest they might travel would be to the county town. If their birthplace was even slightly remote, with few merchants or travelers passing through, the villagers would be like those before him, knowing absolutely nothing, completely oblivious to the outside world.
Unaware of time's long march in the mountains, alas, a century turns gray in the human world.
Li Daoxuan let out a long sigh: "Very well! I won't get any answers from you all."
The villager little people exchanged glances.
Gao Yiye lowered her voice and said to those around her: "The Heavenly Lord seems quite disappointed."
The Village Chief replied, "Ah? Of course he's disappointed; we couldn't answer his questions."
Gao Yiye asked, "What can we do?"
The Village Chief thought seriously for a moment: "Tell the Heavenly Lord to please give us a little time. We'll find a way to bring back a scholar."
Gao Yiye protested, "A scholar? There isn't a single scholar in our village!"
The Village Chief said, "Not in Gao Family Village, no, but there are some in the county town! Let me think... the most learned person I've ever seen... of course, that would be the Magistrate!"
Gao Yiye shook her head awkwardly: "How could we possibly invite the Magistrate?"
The Village Chief then declared, "Then we'll invite the Magistrate's strategist, San Shier."
It's worth noting that 'San' is a rather uncommon surname, first appearing in Ming Dynasty records. Historical figures with the surname San include San Baozhu, a magistrate during the Yuan Dynasty, and San Chengzhi from the Ming. Thus, the name San Shier is entirely fitting for the Great Ming era.
Gao Yiye shook her head: "We can't invite the strategist either!"
The Village Chief chuckled: "Though the strategist is also an important figure, he's not surrounded by officials every day like the Magistrate, so inviting him will be much easier."
Gao Yiye blinked in confusion.
The Village Chief turned to a young man standing nearby: "Chuwu!"
Gao Chuwu stepped forward, grinning guilelessly.
The Village Chief instructed: "First thing tomorrow morning, take a few of the village's young men. Eat plenty of white rice, get your fill so you have strength. Go to the county town and 'invite' the strategist to Gao Family Village. If he agrees to come, invite him properly. If he refuses, knock him out with a stick and carry him back. Remember, our lives were given by the Heavenly Lord. Whatever the Heavenly Lord desires, we must provide it to him. We cannot allow him to be disappointed in us."
Gao Chuwu's mouth stretched into a wide grin: "Alright, alright! The Heavenly Lord gave me big eggs, and he gave me white rice! I'll listen to him. But I've never been to the county town. How do I get there?"
The Village Chief replied, "I'll tell you how to get there..."
Li Daoxuan was still watching from outside the box. Seeing these little people seriously discussing "inviting" a learned strategist back to answer his questions, he couldn't help but be amused. It sounded quite entertaining.
This miniature world seemed to be quite expansive. With villages, county towns, officials, magistrates, and strategists, it surely harbored a vast nation.
He hoped they would "invite" the strategist from the county town back soon.
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