Chapter 258: The Li Family Returns

Mr. Wang and Gao Yiye arrived in Chengcheng County once more, bringing thousands of books.

This time, their haul included 2,000 copies of the first volume and 2,000 copies of the second volume of “Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale.” Alongside the books came a sizable shipment of grain. The transport team stretched astonishingly long—stretching from the city gates to the bookstore—so long that while the first cart had already entered the bookstore, the last cart was still outside the city gates.

The enormous convoy’s arrival sent waves of delight through the townsfolk: “Mr. Wang is back! The Dao Xuan Deity has returned! We can buy grain cheaply again!”

“Bullshit! We’re buying books!”

“Exactly! Now, I care more about the tales of the venerable Dao Xuan Deity. That handful of flour is nothing compared to my reverence for the Deity.”

“I want to buy books!”

“I want to buy flour.”

A vast crowd of commoners surged toward the bookstore.

Inside the City God Temple, Third Lady straightened, rushing with pride. Heh! Gao Yiye is back, so that means the Deity has returned too. Now I can lead a small group of the most devout believers back to that grove outside the city and let them witness the Deity manifesting.

That’s the surest way to turn believers fanatically faithful!

The hundred-plus pilgrims who’d personally witnessed the Deity manifesting last time were now fervent evangelists. They told anyone willing to listen how they’d seen the Deity with their own eyes. If someone doubted them, they’d get angry—even roll up their sleeves and take a fighting stance!

Of course, that was hardly in line with Taoist principles, so Third Lady constantly urged them: Be calm, be composed. If others believe, fine. If not, let it go. No need to resort to fists.

It’s their loss if they don’t believe—they’ll never taste the flour blessed by the Deity. Serves them right.

The believers pondered this and found truth in those words. So, they began to feel pleased with themselves, convinced that their faith in Dao Xuan Deity was somehow superior.

County Magistrate Liang Shixian was another who rejoiced at the news.

When informed by his subordinates that “the Li Family has returned to the county,” he mused secretly: This Li Family is remarkably well-informed! I and Patrol Officer Fang only just managed to negotiate a truce with the rebel band in Guyuan holed up in the mountains, and they already know it’s safe enough to return? They’ve brought their congee-distribution team back to drum up support for their ancestral household deity…

Clearly, there are Li Family informants among my local government workers—and even among Patrol Officer Fang’s soldiers. Every whisper reaches Gaojia Village, warning the Li Family.

This kind of pervasive infiltration was something a county magistrate had no choice but to grudgingly accept.

As the saying goes, a powerful dragon cannot crush a local snake. With county magistrates rotating every three years like spinning lanterns, how could they possibly match the influence of entrenched local gentry like the Li Family? It was simply impossible to have subordinates entirely free of the Li Family’s spies.

There was no point obsessing over it.

He might as well be glad that the “Li Family is back to distributing congee.” Having gentry willingly share the massive burden of relieving the poor was cause for genuine joy.

However…

Gao Yiye was not happy to be back in the county seat.

She didn’t like it here.

Each time she arrived, she felt like a little bird with clipped wings, her spirit dimmed.

Dressed in a bamboo hat and veil, sitting on the second-floor balcony of the bookstore’s rear courtyard, she gazed at the densely packed refugees crowding the streets below, a look of sadness clouding her fine features. “Deity… there are so many suffering Villagers here.”

Li Daoxuan’s gentle voice echoed soothingly in her mind, “Yes, far too many. I long to help them quickly.”

Gao Yiye gave a pitiable little nod. “I understand. I’m not just idling here—I came because I need to help them. I can’t abandon these people just because I dislike the county seat.”

“Mm, it’s good you understand that,” Li Daoxuan replied. “Now off you go. Visit Third Lady to finalize when the next group of devotees will visit the grove.”

Gao Yiye gave a compliant murmur and skipped down from the balcony. A squad of Militia Soldiers guarding the courtyard immediately surrounded her, accompanying her as she moved.

Upon stepping into the bookstore’s main hall, she was hit by its bustling, energetic atmosphere.

Mr. Wang and a group of workers were selling books frantically. Among them were the two former thief buddies—Steamed Bun Bros.

Their brief visit to Gaojia Village had left them thoroughly awestruck. They’d resolved to follow the Gaojia Village path steadfastly for life. Now was their perfect chance to prove their worth; both were working harder than ever.

Gao Yiye waved a casual greeting to everyone and skipped cheerfully outside.

Navigating through county residents scrambling for books, she pushed past another wave of refugees clustered outside.

Passing near a modest two-story wooden building, a few figures suddenly leaned out from a second-floor window—female figures who could claim moderate prettiness. They waved provocatively at the Militia Soldiers trailing Gao Yiye: “Brother… would you like to come in and play?”

The effect on those Militia Soldiers trailing behind was immediate chaos.

Several pairs of eyes swiveled instinctively towards the alluring call. Soldiers bumped blindly into comrades in front of them. Formation instantly collapsed into an awkward, shuffling mess.

Gao Yiye turned back, startled. “Huh? What happened? Why the commotion just from those sisters calling out?”

Closest to her, Zheng Gouzi’s face flushed vivid crimson. “Saint Lady, that… best ignore them… a pack of spineless idiots…”

Gao Yiye looked utterly bewildered. “But why exactly? Their invitation seemed odd…”

Zheng Gouzi felt sweat forming; he couldn’t meet her gaze. “Saint Lady, this kind of thing… ah… you… someone as sacred as you… needn’t… concern yourself…”

Gao Yiye: “???”

The Militia Soldiers behind Zheng Gouzi struggled fiercely to regain composure, forcing eyes resolutely forward, pretending intense focus.

But inside the building, the women weren’t letting customers slip away. Peeking through lattice windows, they assessed the approaching squad:

Rich pickings? Definitely. Neat cotton clothes, lively expressions radiating fullness… household servants of some rich estate? Judging by the escort, even favored, high-ranking ones!

One prostitute adopted a heartrending whimper: “Oh, good brothers… pity this poor little girl! It’s been so long since I saw a full belly…”

Another added shrill misery: “Business has been dreadful forever! Even we struggle to survive now… Kind sirs, please do charity a favor… come play inside?”

The Militia Solders felt defenses crumbling rapidly; several pairs of traitorous eyes darted back helplessly toward the window.

Gao Yiye now stood completely flustered. What on earth are they implying? How could ‘playing inside’ possibly save them? And what exactly gets played inside?!

Zheng Gouzi finally hissed through gritted teeth, desperate: “Saint Lady… this place is… it’s a brothel… where women… women do that kind… business!”

“Eh? Eh? EH?!” Only then did Gao Yiye comprehend—sweeping embarrassment instantly reddened her cheeks beneath her veil. She too became visibly flustered.

High above, Li Daoxuan observed his team’s cringeworthy failure to maintain dignity. He could only sigh inwardly: Green, utterly green! Country bumpkin soldiers, never seen the temptations city walls hold.

Suddenly, a furious bellow erupted from behind: “YOU WORTHLESS GITS! EYES FRONT! CHESTS OUT! MOVE THAT ASS—NOW! ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE! HEROES? YOU DON’T DESERVE THE TITLE!”

Everyone swiveled around—it was Ground Rabbit.