Chapter 241: Buying Books Includes Grain
Chapter 241: Buying Books Includes Grain
Li Daoxuan looked at the scene before him with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Two carts of grain had been completely snatched away.
Ground Rabbit was also hoisted up by other soldiers from the militia.
He probably knew he had done wrong, his head hanging low.
Two militia soldiers beside him stared at him with odd expressions.
Zheng Gouzi lightly punched him: “You lad, now you’ve gotten me in trouble too.”
His tone wasn’t fierce, and the punch wasn’t hard.
He could guess what Ground Rabbit was thinking.
Mr. Wang and Gao Yiye walked up to him.
They also looked at him with peculiar expressions.
Ground Rabbit raised his head: “Mr. Wang, Saint Lady, this rabbit made a mistake and violated orders. Punish this rabbit—this rabbit can accept any punishment.”
Mr. Wang wore an odd expression and seemed uncertain what to say.
Gao Yiye listened to the Deity’s instruction before speaking with a strange smile.
“Alright, then behead him.”
Ground Rabbit’s face changed dramatically: “Huh? It’s that severe?”
Gao Yiye glanced sideways: “Didn’t you say you could accept any punishment? Intentionally destroying military provisions is no minor crime.”
Ground Rabbit was drenched in sweat: “It…it…just now…seeing the common folk suffering so terribly…this rabbit truly couldn’t help it…”
Gao Yiye sighed softly: “But what good would giving them two carts of grain do? How many people could two carts of grain save?”
Ground Rabbit: “…”
“Saving people requires proper methods.” Gao Yiye said: “I’m not speaking my own words now—these are the Deity’s direct instructions. Currently, the fastest way to rescue these common folk is to first spread the Deity’s glory. Only then can the Deity personally intervene and grant them grain. Only that can save every last commoner in this city. It’s absolutely not something you can achieve with a sneaky trick like overturning one or two carts of grain.”
Ground Rabbit lowered his head: “This rabbit knows…but…couldn’t hold back…”
Mr. Wang shook his head: “The Deity had actually already ordered us to overturn two carts of grain while you were pushing the cart over. You just acted on your own before the command arrived.”
Ground Rabbit: “Eh? Eh? Eh?”
Mr. Wang continued: “The Deity is compassionate—how could he refuse to save the common folk? By acting recklessly without waiting for the Deity’s orders, did you believe the Deity lacked mercy or was unmoved by these refugees?”
Ground Rabbit’s sweat poured down as he thumped to his knees: “I was wrong.”
He didn’t even use his usual “this rabbit” catchphrase this time—replacing it with “I”—proving he sincerely wasn’t joking around.
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly.
Although this man was habitually bold and unruly, known for his reckless mischief—even ranked by Cheng Xu as one of Gaojia Village’s three idiots—closer observation revealed he possessed many admirable qualities.
Last time when taught Army Combat Techniques, he refused to keep it to himself, risking missing the lesson entirely to call his comrades and study together.
Now, risking severe punishment, he deliberately overturned grain carts just to help refugees.
He was someone willing to sacrifice his own interests for others.
Such integrity was truly precious.
Li Daoxuan spoke up: “Let him stand up. Deduct half a year of his military pay. Additionally, after returning, punish him by copying the three major disciplines and eight points of attention one hundred times.”
Gao Yiye said: “Stand up…”
Ground Rabbit stood, head still drooping.
Gao Yiye glanced sideways: “The Deity has forgiven you—why still wear such a bitter face?”
Ground Rabbit replied: “Losing the pay is acceptable. But copying that a hundred times…it’s too difficult! This rabbit would rather run around Gaojia Village a hundred times.”
For a semi-literate like him, writing was far more exhausting than running.
Mr. Wang scolded jokingly, “If it weren’t difficult, could it even be called a punishment? Obey obediently, or be careful the Deity really cuts your head off.”
Ground Rabbit was so frightened he didn’t dare speak.
After that minor hiccup, the transport team continued onward. Before long, they arrived at Chengcheng Bookstore. The grain was hauled into the backyard and piled up. The comic books were moved into the front hall and displayed on the shelves.
Just as they finished setting up and began selling, the old soldier from the city gate arrived with a huge entourage. He brought his elderly wife, son, daughter-in-law, grandson, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, elderly female relatives, and even the neighbor—just about everyone possible—to buy books.
Before purchasing, one last question had to be confirmed: “Is it true you get two liangs of flour for buying a book?”
“Of course it’s true!” Mr. Wang smiled. “But everyone is limited to buying only one copy.”
There was a loud commotion as the soldier’s entire family surged forward. Even the baby held in someone’s arms counted as a person eligible for a copy; a book was bought for the infant too.
Everyone walked home happily, carrying a book in their left hand and a sack of grain in their right. Halfway there, they couldn’t resist flipping through the book to see what strange thing it was that actually came with two liangs of flour.
“It’s ‘Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale’! Seems like a story about an immortal subduing demons and monsters.”
“Ever heard of this Dao Xuan Deity?”
“Nope!”
“Me neither.”
“Hey? I think I have!” one of the poorest relatives spoke up. “Heard about it a while back. This Dao Xuan Deity was giving out medicine free to poor folks, over at the side hall of the City God Temple. But no one in our family was sick, so I never went.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Well, the book didn’t cost us anyway, and you don’t even need to read to look at it (comic), so let’s see what it’s all about.”
“We did pay for this book.”
“No no, the book is free! What we paid for was the flour.”
“Hahaha, what cheap flour this was!”
The group returned home in high spirits. Having bought grain at low prices today, finally tonight they could eat just a little fuller than usual.
News that Chengcheng Bookstore was selling grain cheaply—no, wait, selling books—spread like wildfire. Since each person was limited to one book, everyone naturally dragged along friends and relatives to seize the benefit. Soon the news spread through the county town like a virus.
Little did they realize, Li Daoxuan’s approach was what was called the “Pinduoduo” tactics. By recklessly gathering more and more people to pull in benefits, the common folk would spontaneously advertise for him.
The first batch of two thousand comic books sold out in just half a day.
Those who missed out were extremely disappointed, deeply annoyed for failing to “seize the wool” (benefit).
However, within a few days, another two thousand books and a large grain transport team arrived. Quickly, this second batch of two thousand comic books also sold out…
This strange comic book became a bestseller overnight.
Though most buyers were there for the flour, once they had the book at home, they inevitably opened it. They wanted to see who this big sucker was who handed out grain in such a way.
Not until they looked inside did they realize—this wasn’t half bad!
The story was actually quite good!
So they read it. After all, in this year of the great disaster, farming was impossible, commerce was crippled, and common folk had virtually nothing to do. Having a weird book to flip through was still better than lying around dazed.