The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 102: A Fine Drizzle
Solar Vehicle No. 2 was Li Daoxuan’s improved creation, refined after incorporating lessons learned from Solar Vehicle No. 1. He redesigned both its power and loading systems.
The vehicle measured five centimeters long. In the late Ming setting, it expanded to ten meters—roughly the size of a modern bus. It featured a bus-like carriage body, with solar panels mounted on the roof.
Sunshades were installed to shield the solar panels, operated by two long sliding rods. Inside the carriage, Zheng Daniu could use these rods to open or close the sunshades at any time, thereby controlling the vehicle’s power.
Being significantly larger than its predecessor, Solar Vehicle No. 2 was also easier to modify. It now included a brake function—a simple plastic clip. Gao Chuwu needed only to step with his foot to jam a tire.
Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu spent several days relearning before they could skillfully operate this larger vehicle.
Over twenty villagers from Zhengjia Village boarded Solar Vehicle No. 2, including Zheng Daniu’s parents. None knew why the Deity wanted them to see Zhengjia Village, but the Deity’s command was absolute. They obeyed without question—going was enough.
Gao Chuwu: “Daniu, I’m ready. You can open the sunshades now.”
Zheng Daniu: “We killed someone last time driving. Let’s go slower this trip.”
The two fools had effectively received a harsh lesson in traffic safety after their fatal accident. Their driving style became far more cautious. No longer daring to race along the public roads, they now cautiously set Solar Vehicle No. 2 in motion, heading toward Zhengjia Village.
Watching the “bus” depart, Li Daoxuan tapped the “Zhengjia Village” tag outside the diorama box. The view inside instantly shifted to the sky above Zhengjia Village.
He took out a medical nebulizer, aimed it above the village, and switched it on.
The straight-line distance between Gaojia Village and Zhengjia Village was just over nine “li” (approximately five kilometers). Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu maintained a steady speed of around 40 km/h, safely transporting the villagers towards their homeland…
Long before arriving, a villager pressed against the window called out: “Ah! Everyone, look! Look at our village!”
The villagers rushed to crowd by the windows to look outside.
Their familiar home! Little more than a month ago, they’d left this small village that had nurtured and raised them. Now, seeing it from afar felt both deeply familiar and strangely alien.
The view was distant, hazy — like seeing it through a fine drizzle!
Wait — it wasn’t hazy. There really was a fine drizzle.
Zhengjia Village was completely enveloped in a curtain of white misty rain.
Tears instantly filled the villagers’ eyes.
“Look at the sky!” someone shouted.
Everyone looked up. Above Zhengjia Village hung a familiar patch of low cloud — the very cloud that always appeared when the Deity manifested. A dragon head emerged from its center, spraying rain and mist downward onto the village below.
So this was how the “fine drizzle” had come.
“The Deity invited the Dragon King to Zhengjia Village!”
“The Deity is merciful!”
“Our family’s fields… we can plant them!”
The villagers were ecstatic. “Stop! Stop the vehicle now!”
Zheng Daniu drew the sunshades closed, and the bus halted. A group of villagers leapt out and sprinted through the rainy mist towards their village, laughing wildly as they ran.
Gao Chuwu: “Hah! They always call us fools, but they’re the fools. Why run when they could have stayed on the bus?”
Thwack! Zheng Daniu flicked Gao Chuwu sharply on the forehead, making him yelp, clutch his head, and crouch down defensively in pain.
After a long moment, Gao Chuwu finally straightened up. “Daniu, why hit me? Aren’t we best friends?”
Zheng Daniu: “You just called my parents fools. Even best friends deserve a flick for that.”
Gao Chuwu: “…”
Fine. He could take the hit. That had been wrong. Calling Daniu a fool was fine between friends, but insulting his parents? Yeah, that deserved a flick.
They shook hands and reconciled. Still best friends.
They watched as the Zhengjia villagers sprinted at least one “li” (over 500 meters), reached their own fields, threw themselves to the ground with a thump, clutched handfuls of the now slightly moistened soil, lifted their heads, and laughed toward the sky.
Although they’d been happy living in Gaojia Village, this moment was undeniably a far greater joy.
Points of light scattered and rose from their bodies, melting into the diorama box.
When their lives had been saved back then, each person provided only a tiny fraction — maybe a hundredth — toward the Rescue Index. But this time, just over twenty people added eight full points to the box all at once.
Li Daoxuan stared at the Rescue Index approaching 400 points on the box, deep in thought. There was still much mystery surrounding this Index, but he was gradually understanding its significance.
After their joyous outburst, the twenty-plus villagers returned to Solar Vehicle No. 2: “Chuwu, Daniu, take us back to Gaojia Village! We need to plead with the Deity to let us return to Zhengjia Village to live!”
“No. I forbid it.”
When they returned to Gaojia Village and crowded around Gao Yiye, eagerly expressing their desire to move back, Li Daoxuan rejected them outright.
“I permit you to work your fields there by day. But once the work is done, you must return to Gaojia Village to rest. Staying in Zhengjia Village long-term is far too dangerous.”
Li Daoxuan’s words puzzled the villagers. “ing to the Deity, Wang Er’s rebellion ended long ago. All other rebels dispersed. The new county magistrate is distributing congee to aid the people! Chengcheng County is surely safe now!”
“No. It’s far from safe.”
Li Daoxuan sighed deeply. He had no desire to elaborate further.
The villagers exchanged confused glances. Gao Yiye lowered her voice conspiratorially. “What I’m about to say next is just from me, okay? Not the Deity’s message. You can’t see the Deity, but I can. Just now, while he spoke… I saw profound sorrow in his expression. It was as if he mourned for all the suffering people under heaven…”
The villagers: “…”
Gao Yiye whispered, “He must know something. But it’s Celestial Doctrine, forbidden knowledge for mortals like us. Disclosing it might be a burden too heavy for our mortal existence.”
Her words shocked the villagers. Thinking carefully, the Saint Lady made perfect sense. The Deity was divine! He knew five hundred years into the past, five hundred years into the future, and every detail in between. If he said Zhengjia Village was dangerous, then danger certainly lurked. They should simply heed his command.
Instantly chastened, everyone declared solemnly: “We obey the Deity! We won’t move back! We’ll go by day to work, and return to Gaojia Village immediately afterwards!”
Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu grinned broadly. “We’ll drive you back and forth every morning after sunrise.”
The villagers considered this. That actually worked well. They could get up early, have the two young men drive them to Zhengjia Village, farm together helping each other, then all ride back together after work. There really was no need to move permanently after all.
Chapter 102: A Fine Drizzle
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