As they conversed, the "public bus," which resembled a carriage with four wheels, came to a stop in front of them.
Wen Xiangzhi took a closer look and noticed that the carriage-like vehicle had a row of small square windows. Through those tiny windows, he could see people seated inside—more than one, in fact! But what astonished him was that the people inside seemed much smaller than normal, their heads and bodies appearing disproportionately small.
Hu Defu, noticing the Wen family staring at Shuishui City's public bus in amazement, was filled with pride. However, knowing that the bus wouldn't wait too long before departing, he quickly reminded them, "Master Wen, please gather your family and board the bus quickly."
Snapped out of his daze, Wen Xiangzhi pointed at the bus and glanced at Hu Defu, mumbling incoherently but saying nothing. He nodded to several of his sons to join him on the bus, while the rest of the family would take the carriages to the western part of the city.
The Wen family was still curious about how such a small vehicle could fit so many people. Wen Xiangzhi, however, had no such doubts. After all, he had once cultivated in a sect. Although he had never personally experienced spatial magic, he had heard of it. Thus, he accepted this phenomenon more easily.
Hu Defu pulled out a single copper coin from his storage pouch and inserted it into a small slot on the bus. He then boarded through the small door at the front. The Wen family mimicked his actions and followed him onto the bus.
Once they were all seated and looking out the bus windows, the experience still felt somewhat surreal.
After a few moments, when no more passengers boarded, the bus doors closed. With two more "ding-ding" sounds, the bus started moving, swiftly heading toward the next stop.
As Wen Xiangzhi watched the scenery whiz by through the window, he became even more convinced that moving his entire family to Shuishui City had been the right decision.
The conveniences brought by these magical means were something even his days as a disciple at Shangyang Sect had never afforded him.
Three days later.
"Father! I've found a job!" Wen's second son rushed into the house, calling out excitedly in the front courtyard.
Wen Xiangzhi, who was in his study teaching his eldest grandson, frowned as he pushed the door open and reprimanded his son, "Quiet! You're a father yourself now, yet you're still so undignified! Have you found out anything about Lingxian Academy's enrollment?"
The excitement on Wen's second son's face faded, and he reluctantly replied, "I did. Lingxian Academy said they're expanding enrollment this year. They'll allow all children in Shuishui City to attend school. They also mentioned opening something called a 'night academy,' specifically for older people who need to work during the day but want to learn to read and study in the evening."
Hearing this, Wen Xiangzhi was taken aback.
He had previously heard that Lingxian Academy was incredibly difficult to get into. How could they now be saying that every child in Shuishui City could attend?
He had even prepared to send gifts to secure a spot for his eldest grandson, Wen Liyun, in the academy. But now, it seemed like that might not be necessary at all.
Wen Xiangzhi couldn't help but reflect on how much Shuishui City had surprised him in just a few short days.
"Are you saying that Lingxian Academy will accept all the children in the city?" Wen Xiangzhi asked.
His initial plan to get his grandson into the academy wasn't about formal education; he had heard that the teachers at Lingxian Academy were all cultivators from the Lingxian Sect. He had also heard that the head of the academy was a highly skilled elder from the sect. His real motive was to get his grandson close to the sect, so if his grandson's potential for cultivation were discovered, he'd be in the best possible position.
But now, hearing what his second son had said, he suddenly thought about all his other grandchildren.
Though the Wen family had accumulated considerable wealth from Wen Xiangzhi's savings from his days in the sect and his business ventures in the secular world, he had been careful not to spend too much, saving for his eldest grandson's potential cultivation. As for his other grandchildren, who didn't seem to have any talent for cultivation, he left their education to their parents, never interfering.
His second son nodded, "Yes, Father. Do you think we can send all of our children? I heard the tuition at Lingxian Academy isn't high, and many people from nearby villages are planning to send their kids."
Although his motivation differed from his father's, Wen Xiangzhi's second son didn't want their family's children to fall behind the children of once-poor villagers.
"Send them all!" Wen Xiangzhi agreed, though his reasons were more about getting closer to the Lingxian Sect. In the end, both father and son found common ground.
The news of Lingxian Academy's expanded enrollment wasn't exactly a well-kept secret—it had, in fact, become widely known throughout the city over the past few days.
This was because every street corner in Shuishui City now had posters announcing the expanded enrollment at Lingxian Academy for the year.
Wen Xiangzhi, however, had remained at home, focused on meditation and tutoring his eldest grandson. Thus, he was out of touch with the news, relying on his sons to gather information from the outside.
Meanwhile, the streets of Shuishui City were abuzz with conversation. Everywhere, in teahouses and street-side stalls, people were discussing the future prospects for their children now that they could study at Lingxian Academy.
Among the chatter were many discussions about Shuishui City's innovative facilities, such as the "tap water" system, "heating," "cooling," and more.
In Shuishui City, all the houses for sale were move-in ready, and while land itself wasn't sold, homeowners were allowed to demolish and rebuild homes if they weren't satisfied with their current residence. They just needed to report it to the local street officials.
Public services like the bus system and streetlights were the talk of the town, especially among the recent influx of cultivators and disciples from various sects.
Since Lingxian Sect's grand sect banquet on New Year's Eve, their reputation had spread throughout the world of cultivators.
The sects and royal families that had participated in the event had not been asked by Lingxian Sect to keep any secrets. Naturally, they shared what they had experienced, especially with fellow sect members and disciples.
As word spread, Lingxian Sect's reputation grew rapidly.
However, the specifics about their collaboration with Shuishui City's Trade Center were kept more discreet. Most sects and royal families only hinted that they had shops opening in Shuishui City and mentioned that they would be opening next month, inviting others to visit when they could.