The dozen or so young men who had escorted Shan Shi'er all received rewards from Tianzun. After collecting their gifts, they hurried off to help their families move into their new homes.
The two sculptors also rushed back to their households. Their wives and children were already busy relocating their belongings, so the men immediately took over the heavy lifting.
With broad smiles, one of them announced, "We've paid thirty years' worth of artisan registry silver! We'll never have to report to the government workshops for another rotation!"
Both wives were overjoyed. However, their happiness soon gave way to a worried expression.
"But what about our children? They'll be registered artisans too. Once they reach adulthood, they'll have to serve their own rotations."
The two sculptors laughed.
"What's there to worry about? We just need to make a few more statues for Tianzun. Before long, we'll have enough silver to pay off the obligations of our sons, grandsons, and even great-grandsons!"
Their wives finally broke into smiles again.
Until recently, their lives had seemed like an endless stretch of gray skies. There had been little reason to hope for anything better. Now, however, the future suddenly looked brighter than they could ever have imagined.
---
Meanwhile, Shan Shi'er accompanied Teacher Wang into the newly built Hakka walled compound.
The scholar looked around in astonishment. The foundations were solid, the perimeter walls were massive, and even the partitions separating the individual rooms were made of metal. Their surfaces had been covered in a thick coat of paint, but when he knocked on them, they answered with a loud metallic clang.
Teacher Wang was completely bewildered.
How could a remote village in the middle of nowhere, a place whose very name he had never heard before, possess the resources to construct such an imposing fortified residence?
"Teacher, you won't have to worry about bandits while living here," Shan Shi'er said proudly. "Not long ago, the bandit chief Wushang Mingwang led more than a thousand rebels in an attack against us. Gaojia Village defeated them all the same. As for the notorious Wang Er and his bandits, you've already seen what sort of relationship we have with them. Once you're here, you can sleep soundly with your head on a high pillow!"
Teacher Wang remained somewhat skeptical. Still, looking at the formidable walls surrounding the compound, he couldn't help believing at least part of what Shan Shi'er had told him.
It was already noon, and many villagers were preparing lunch. The fragrant aroma of freshly cooked rice and flour mingled with the smell of chicken and cured pork, filling the entire compound.
Teacher Wang swallowed involuntarily.
He was a scholar, but certainly not a wealthy one. He couldn't even afford to get married, let alone enjoy a decent meal on a regular basis. The smell of chicken and pork was enough to make his stomach rumble.
Unable to resist, he asked, "Master Shan gave me quite a substantial sum of silver, but there's no marketplace in this village. Where am I supposed to buy food and other necessities?"
Shan Shi'er burst out laughing.
"Teacher, you're someone Tianzun personally wants to employ. Naturally, Tianzun will take care of your meals!"
Teacher Wang looked even more confused.
"Tianzun? Who exactly is that?"
Shan Shi'er didn't bother explaining. Instead, he pointed toward Gao Yiye, who was standing some distance away, trying very hard to maintain her dignified bearing.
"That's our Saintess. Come, I'll take you to meet her. Your daily necessities will be arranged in no time."
Left with little choice, Teacher Wang followed him toward Gao Yiye.
Before he could even introduce himself, Gao Yiye greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Tianzun already knows you've arrived, Teacher. Please, follow me."
Teacher Wang was thoroughly baffled, but he obediently followed her.
Gao Yiye led him into an inner courtyard surrounded by a row of rooms. She pointed toward one of them.
"Teacher, you may stay in this room for the time being. The courtyard outside will be used for your lessons. We'll arrange tables and chairs here so you can teach the villagers to read and write."
"As for your daily provisions, there's absolutely no need to worry. Just take a look inside, and you'll understand."
Curiosity got the better of Teacher Wang. He stepped into the room and looked around.
Rice, flour, cooking oil, salt, and cured meat were piled up in such quantities that they occupied nearly half the room. Even if he stuffed himself at every meal, he doubted he could finish it all in a year or two.
"T-This... all of this is for... me?"
The scholar was so astonished that he could barely get the words out.
"Yes. Tianzun says that as long as you devote yourself to teaching here, there will be plenty of benefits waiting for you in the future."
---
Meanwhile, in the mountains more than ten li away...
Wang Er had returned to his mountain hideout with a squad of his most trusted followers.
Calling it a proper bandit stronghold was rather generous. In reality, it was nothing more than a huge cave. There was hardly any furniture or equipment inside. A few grain carts lay scattered about, while dry grass had been spread across the ground as makeshift bedding.
The several hundred rebels Wang Er had led into the uprising were temporarily living in this miserable place.
Their morale was hardly impressive. The conditions were appalling, and anyone forced to live in such an environment for too long would eventually begin to lose their spirits.
Wang Er took out the pouch of salt Shan Shi'er had given him. Raising it high above his head, he called out enthusiastically.
"Brothers! Look what I've brought back! Hahaha! A whole bag of salt!"
The men immediately erupted in excitement.
Zheng Yanfu, the Second Boss, and Zhong Guangdao, the Third Boss, hurried over with eager expressions.
"We've got salt?!"
Wang Er laughed heartily.
"Master Shan from Gaojia Village gave it to me! There's plenty here. It should last us quite a while!"
"From Gaojia Village again..."
Someone in the crowd muttered under his breath.
"Gaojia Village sure is wealthy."
"First they sent us flour, and now they've given us salt. Looks like they've still got plenty of supplies stored away."
"That village must have all sorts of valuable goods hidden inside."
The conversation was beginning to take a rather unpleasant turn.
Wang Er's brows drew together. He suddenly whipped around and glared at the men making those remarks.
The moment they noticed their leader's displeasure, the troublemakers quickly lowered their heads and retreated deeper into the cave, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.
Only then did Wang Er let the matter drop.
He handed the salt over to the Second and Third Bosses and instructed them to distribute it among the men. As for himself, he walked to one side, lay down on the dry grass without even removing his clothes, and closed his eyes.
Zheng Yanfu glanced at Wang Er. Seeing that his elder brother appeared to have fallen asleep, he grabbed Zhong Guangdao and pulled him aside.
"Third Brother, have you noticed something? Big Brother is getting far too generous toward Gaojia Village."
Zhong Guangdao shrugged.
"Gaojia Village helped Wangjia Village out of a tight spot. On the very eve of our uprising, they sent dozens of barrels of flour to our village. Given Big Brother's temperament, it's only natural he'd look after them."
Zheng Yanfu lowered his voice.
"Gaojia Village has grain, salt, and enough wealth to make a man drool. Yet because Big Brother insists on protecting them, we're not allowed to touch a single thing. I heard from the brothers who went out raiding last night that they'd come across more than a dozen fat sheep, ripe for the picking. But the moment Big Brother learned they were from Gaojia Village, he actually let them go!"
Zhong Guangdao nodded.
"I heard about that too. Had we taken those people, we'd have come away with far more than this little bag of salt. The profits would have been considerably better."
Zheng Yanfu let out a sinister chuckle.
"Looks like great minds really do think alike. So, Third Brother, are you in?"
Zhong Guangdao grinned back.
"Of course I'm in!"
"Then we'll have to keep this hidden from Big Brother and everyone from Wangjia Village."
"Easy enough. In a few days, we'll find an opportunity to make up some excuse and trick Big Brother into taking the Wangjia Village men north. Once they're far enough away, we'll launch a proper raid on Gaojia Village!"
Zheng Yanfu nodded, but another concern soon crossed his mind.
"I've heard Gaojia Village has some pretty formidable walls. Wushang Mingwang got himself beaten to a pulp beneath those walls not long ago. Several dozen of his former subordinates have even defected to our side. Third Brother, have you thought of a way around their defenses?"
Zhong Guangdao snorted.
"Wushang Mingwang was an idiot. All he knew was how to throw his men straight at the walls. Naturally, he got himself killed. We're not going to make the same stupid mistake."
He lowered his voice and continued.
"Get me a long rope. Once night falls, I'll climb the wall alone, sneak up on the guards, and quietly take them out. Then I'll open the city gate from inside. Our men can rush straight in and catch the villagers completely off guard. Once we're inside, everything in that village will belong to us!"
Zheng Yanfu's eyes lit up.
"Third Brother, that's brilliant! We'll do exactly that. And once it's done, Big Brother won't have anything to say. It'll be too late to complain!"
He gave a lewd chuckle.
"Just like what happened in Chengcheng County. Remember those wealthy households? We had our way with their wives and maids in every position imaginable. Once we'd done it, what could Big Brother do? He could only stand there and glare at us!"
Zhong Guangdao nodded confidently.
"Exactly!"
The two men exchanged knowing grins. Their plan was settled, and they could already picture the riches waiting for them inside Gaojia Village.
They chuckled to themselves.
Then, almost simultaneously, they turned around.
Wang Er was standing right behind them.
His face was dark with fury.
"You two! Second Brother, Third Brother! How dare you..."
He had barely begun his furious rebuke when both men moved.
Zhong Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu each drew a short knife, and, almost at exactly the same moment, drove their blades into Wang Er.