Xing Honglang didn’t quite understand.

Li Daoxuan knew she wouldn’t.

Only a modern person could truly grasp how powerfully the flow of goods impacted a place.

He wanted his Tiny Kingdom to grow ever more prosperous, and that required the help of merchants. But right now, Shaanxi was chaotic with bandits running rampant. Legitimate merchants simply didn’t dare enter Shaanxi; if they did, they would only operate in large places like Xi’an or county towns, not bothering to come to a remote backwater like Gaojia Village.

They could only rely on salt smugglers.

Gao Yiye said: “The Deity has said if you are willing to come to Gaojia Village frequently to purchase goods, Gaojia Village can prepare a mansion for you and your subordinates, a place to rest and lodge each time you visit. This would be far more comfortable than braving the elements and sleeping in tents.”

Xing Honglang laughed heartily: “Honored by the Deity’s favor! Since Gaojia Village is being so generous to me, Xing, I cannot repay your kindness with ingratitude. I shall certainly be troubling you all with frequent visits from now on.”

Gao Yiye replied: “Your arrival is always more than welcome!”

That night, Xing Honglang did indeed stay in Gaojia Village. Since her mansion wasn’t ready yet, her group could only camp for the time being. Fortunately, salt smugglers, who’d traversed north and south, had endured all kinds of hardships; setting camp was a minor matter for them.

Xing Honglang and her entourage pitched camp beside the big pond in Gaojia Village, drawing water, cooking their meals, and resting soundly through the night. Resting here was much safer than the desolate wilderness they were used to. They all enjoyed a good night’s sleep, a rare luxury for them. Early in the morning, Xing Honglang set off again, heading back towards Shanxi.

Seeing Xing Honglang off, Gao Yiye was puzzled. She couldn’t help looking up towards Li Daoxuan’s voice and asking, “Most Honored Deity, usually when you give houses to villagers, you manifest them instantly, lowering one down from heaven on the spot. Why didn’t you give Xing Honglang her house immediately this time?”

Li Daoxuan smiled. “Xing Honglang doesn’t know me well enough yet. If I manifested too obviously in front of her too early, it might frighten her. Then, she might never come back to Gaojia Village.”

“Oh? Seeing the Deity manifest should inspire utter reverence! She should prostrate herself in awe and come to Gaojia Village frequently to pay homage to you. Why would she be scared away?”

Li Daoxuan chuckled; this wasn’t something he needed to explain in detail.

People were truly complex beings.

“Beep… Beep… Beep…”

His phone suddenly rang. Li Daoxuan closed the lid of the scenic box and picked it up. “Ah, Second Aunt? Haven’t heard from you in ages! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Second Aunt was a relative from the countryside. Not long ago, when sowing the autumn wheat, Li Daoxuan had called her to seek advice about farmland pH levels and fertilizer application.

Second Aunt’s voice was warm and affectionate. “Your father mentioned you didn’t plan to come back for the family gathering this Spring Festival? Your old aunt is worried! Why aren’t you coming back?”

Li Daoxuan glanced at the scenic box. He couldn’t tell her the real reason. “I’m busy with my online video promotion work. I really can’t spare the time. Being stuck in the hometown for over ten days is a bit…”

Second Aunt laughed. “We know you’re busy, making your fortune now! Buying your parents that two-million-yuan apartment too! All the relatives are singing your praises. The big busy man doesn’t have to stay the whole ten-plus days! Just come back for one day! They allow fireworks here now. Come back for a day, light off a few fireworks with everyone, have some fun. Won’t that be nice?”

Her words actually gave Li Daoxuan an idea.

Right!

In the countryside, he could buy fireworks legally. Those things he’d been wanting to acquire would be easy to get there. No need to find shady urban sources anymore.

Li Daoxuan smiled. “Alright, Second Aunt, wait for me. I’ll come back to set off firecrackers with everyone.”

Time slipped away swiftly over the next few days…

The Spring Festival arrived!

Li Daoxuan got up early. Peering into the box, he saw Gaojia Village steeped in a palpable high-spirited festive atmosphere. Gaojia Fortress was draped in red decorations, bustling with activity. Even the nearby Short-term Workers Village and Labor Offenders Village were overflowing with joy.

On such an important, super-traditional holiday, both the bandits and the officials should calm down. Nothing major could happen now, he figured.

Li Daoxuan packed his backpack, met up with his parents, and boarded the train for the countryside. The rickety, green commuter train clattered along, eventually delivering him to a small, worn-down town on the outskirts of Shuangqing City. This place wasn’t even connected to the high-speed rail network; the only link was the old green trains. It remained largely untouched and rudimentary.

True to form, the town featured pyrotechnic stands!

Opportunities to legally buy this stuff were rare, only once a year, and you couldn’t buy it in the urban area.

Li Daoxuan showed no restraint, sweeping the goods, sweeping the goods!

His open and generous shopping style made the shop owner spot it at first glance: “A city kid, especially coming to the countryside to set off firecrackers for fun?”

“Haha, yes, coming to my Second Aunt’s place to set off firecrackers for fun.”

“Then have fun.”

That night, relatives gathered joyously.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was lively.

Firecrackers were brought out and set off wildly, turning everything chaotic.

Early in the morning, Li Daoxuan bid farewell to his relatives.

He set off on the road back to the city.

When he came, he had an empty bag.

When going back, it was filled with a large bag of firecrackers.

To avoid trouble, he didn’t even dare take the train.

He called a ride-hailing car.

He paid several hundred yuan in fare.

Only then did he bring the treasures back home.

As soon as he was home, he impatiently sat back down by the box.

“SimCity 1627” was so fun, he had to play on forgetting sleep and food.

No, from today on, it should be called “SimCity 1628”.

Chongzhen Year One, the first day of the lunar new year.

Gaojia Village had a new look for the new year!

Before the festival, Clerk Tan had bought a large amount of red dye from the county town.

He distributed it to the villagers for use.

On the first day of the new year, people in red clothes were running all over the village.

Amid the laughter and joy, Li Daoxuan spotted at first glance a solitary fellow.

He was practicing boxing on the hillside outside the village.

Gao Chuwu!

It was freezing cold, but he wore only a thin cotton jacket.

He had his sleeves and trousers tightly tied.

“Hei,” “Ha,” he punched into the air non-stop.

Shaanxi Guanzhong Hong Fist, thirty-six sequences.

He had only learned a few moves.

He practiced them repeatedly: Sticking to the Wall Like a Painting, Meng Hu Climbing the Wall, Arhat Carrying Treasure, Judge Removing Boots.

Cheng Xu wasn’t wrong.

Only when you were sufficiently wronged did you train with all your might.

In the entire Gaojia Village, only Gao Chuwu practiced most desperately.

Even Zheng Daniu couldn’t keep up with Gao Chuwu’s fierceness.

Probably because Zheng Daniu hadn’t met love yet.

Li Daoxuan couldn’t help but silently give Gao Chuwu a thumbs-up.

Huh?

Suddenly he noticed a small surprise.

Li Daoxuan’s gaze flew over a hillside.

Behind a large stone at the back of the slope, he spotted a person.

It was that refugee who called himself “Ground Rabbit”.

He was hiding behind the stone, secretly watching Gao Chuwu practice boxing from afar.

Whenever Gao Chuwu threw a punch, Ground Rabbit followed with a swing of his fist.

He seemed to be pondering that punch’s movement.

Whenever Gao Chuwu kicked a foot, Ground Rabbit followed with a kick.

Li Daoxuan found it amusing, fun fun.

In ancient times, secretly learning others’ kung fu seemed a big taboo.

Such people were generally beaten to death when caught.

Then the question arose.

Should I expose him?

If I poked him with a finger while he was stealing a lesson and more focused, he’d probably be scared to death.