The dozen or so young men who had escorted Shansier all received their rewards and immediately rushed home to help their families move.
The two sculptors also hurried home. Their wives and children were already in the process of moving, so the sculptors quickly took over the heavier lifting, smiling as they said, "We paid thirty years of the Artisan Class tax, and now we never have to take turns working in the government workshops again."
Both wives were ecstatic, but their faces quickly clouded with worry. "Our children will also be Artisan Class members one day. Once they come of age, they will have to start their rotation too."
The two sculptors laughed. "What's the worry about? We just need to make a few more statues for Dao Xuan Tianzun, and we'll prepare the tax silver for our sons, grandsons, and even great-grandsons."
The wives' faces lit up with smiles. Before, the future was invisible and gray, but now, they felt the future was infinitely bright.
Shansier accompanied Mr. Wang as they slowly entered the brand-new Hakka Clan Fortress. The solid foundation, the heavy walls, and the fact that the dividing walls between the rooms were actually made of metal—coated with thick paint and clanging when knocked—left the newly arrived Mr. Wang completely bewildered.
This remote place, a village whose name he had never even heard of, actually possessed the resources to build such a formidable fortress.
"Sir, teaching here, you won't have to worry about bandits," Shansier said proudly. "Not long ago, the Bandit Chief Wushang Ming Wang led over a thousand rebels to attack, and our Gao Family Village defeated them. And as for the other fierce bandit, Wang Er, you saw our relationship with him. When you come to Gao Family Village, you can truly be 'high on your pillow and worry-free'."
Mr. Wang was skeptical, but seeing the impressive fortress, he couldn't help but believe a few points.
It was already noon, and many villagers had started cooking. The aroma of rice, flour, and even chicken and cured pork wafted through the fortress...
Mr. Wang couldn't help but swallow. Although he was a scholar, he was very poor; he couldn't afford a wife and rarely ate a good meal. Catching the scent of chicken and pork made his fingers twitch with hunger.
He couldn't help but ask, "Master San gave me a lot of silver, but there is no market in this village. Where should I go to buy food?"
Shansier laughed heartily. "Sir, you are hired by Dao Xuan Tianzun, so naturally, Dao Xuan Tianzun is responsible for your meals."
Mr. Wang was greatly confused. "Dao Xuan Tianzun? Who is this person?"
Shansier didn't explain, but pointed to Gao Yiye, who was working hard to maintain her composure in the distance. "That is the Saintess. I will take you to meet the Saintess, and your daily needs will be arranged immediately."
Mr. Wang could only brace himself and walk up to Gao Yiye.
Before he could even speak, Gao Yiye smiled gently. "Dao Xuan Tianzun is already aware of your arrival. Please follow me."
Mr. Wang, completely puzzled, followed Gao Yiye.
Gao Yiye led him to an inner courtyard, where a circle of houses surrounded an empty space. She pointed to one of the rooms: "Sir, you may reside in this room temporarily. The courtyard in front is for setting up tables and chairs for you to teach reading and writing."
"As for your daily living expenses, there is absolutely no need to worry. You will understand once you step inside."
Curious, Mr. Wang squeezed into his room. He took a look and saw rice, flour, oil, salt, and cured meat piled high, filling half the room. Even if he ate until he burst, it would last him at least a year and a half.
"This... this is all for... me?" Mr. Wang stammered.
"Yes! Dao Xuan Tianzun said that if you teach here with peace of mind, you will not lack any good things in the future."
...
Meanwhile, ten miles away in the mountains.
Wang Er led a squad of his most loyal subordinates back to the bandit camp.
Calling it a bandit camp was generous; it was just a huge cave. There was hardly any furniture, only a few overturned grain carts, and dry grass laid on the ground. The few hundred rebels he had led out to revolt were temporarily living in this primitive cave.
The rebels' morale was low. The living environment was truly awful, and when humans live in such conditions for too long, their mental state tends to suffer.
Wang Er took out the bag of salt Shansier had given him, raised it high, and shouted, "Brothers, look what great thing I brought back! Ha ha, a bag of salt!"
The crowd was overjoyed!
The Second Boss, Zheng Yanfu, and the Third Boss, Zhong Guangdao, rushed over, their faces excited. "We have salt?"
Wang Er laughed loudly. "The Master San from Gao Family Village sent it to me. Such a large bag of salt is enough for us to eat for quite a while."
"It's from Gao Family Village again," someone in the crowd muttered quietly.
"Gao Family Village is so rich."
"Tsk, first they sent us flour, and now salt. It looks like they still have a lot of reserves in that village."
"That village definitely has more good things."
The direction of the discussion was troubling.
Wang Er's brows furrowed deeply. He suddenly turned and glared at the men who had been talking. Feeling their boss's displeasure, they quickly ducked their heads and shrank back into the depths of the cave.
Wang Er let it go, putting the Second and Third Bosses in charge of dividing the salt. He himself walked to one side and lay down fully clothed.
Zheng Yanfu cast a deep glance at Wang Er. Seeing that he seemed to be asleep, he pulled Zhong Guangdao aside and whispered, "Third Brother, don't you think Big Brother is too biased towards Gao Family Village?"
Zhong Guangdao shrugged. "Gao Family Village showed favor to Wang Family Village. The night before we started our revolt, Gao Family Village sent dozens of buckets of flour to Wang Family Village. Given Big Brother's nature, of course he favors Gao Family Village."
Zheng Yanfu whispered, "Gao Family Village has grain, salt, and is swimming in wealth, but because of Big Brother's favoritism, we can't touch them. I heard from the brothers who went out stealing last night that they had ten or so fat targets ready to slaughter, but because those targets were people from Gao Family Village, Big Brother let them go."
Zhong Guangdao lowered his voice. "I heard about that too. If we had slaughtered those dozen fat targets, the harvest would have been much more than just this bit of salt. We would have made a lot more money."
Zheng Yanfu chuckled darkly. "It seems we two heroes are of the same mind. Third Brother, are we in?"
Zhong Guangdao also grinned. "Of course we're in!"
Zheng Yanfu: "Then we must avoid Big Brother, and avoid all the men from Wang Family Village."
Zhong Guangdao: "In a few days, we'll find an opportunity, make up an excuse, and trick Big Brother into taking the Wang Family Village men north. Once he's far away, we'll hit Gao Family Village hard."
Zheng Yanfu: "I heard that Gao Family Village has tall walls. Not long ago, Wushang Ming Wang was defeated right at their walls, and several dozen of his men defected to us. Third Brother, do you have any brilliant ideas?"
Zhong Guangdao: "Wushang Ming Wang is an idiot who only knew how to attack head-on, so of course he failed. We won't be that foolish. You help me prepare a long rope. At night, I'll secretly climb the wall alone, take out the sentries, and open the gate from the inside. Our men can then swarm in and take Gao Family Village completely by surprise. Everything in that village will be ours."
Zheng Yanfu was delighted. "Third Brother, that's a brilliant plan! Let's do it. After it's done, Big Brother won't be able to say anything. Just like when we arranged the wives and maids of those rich households in Chengcheng County in eighteen different ways—the deed is already done, and he can only stare, heh heh."
Zhong Guangdao nodded. "That is certain."
With their plan settled, the two men felt assured. They chuckled to themselves, but then suddenly turned around to find Wang Er standing right behind them, his face filled with rage. "Second Brother, Third Brother, you two are simply out of your..."
Just as he was about to unleash his fury, Zhong Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu, almost simultaneously, pulled out short knives and stabbed him.