The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 64: Assigning Houses
After the Hakka roundhouse had been lowered, the outer Lego brick city walls became useless.
The roundhouse itself came with walls three zhang tall, so the Legos’ paltry two-zhang walls were completely redundant.
Moreover, when those walls were first placed, they had encroached upon some farm fields. With September steadily approaching and autumn sowing imminent, those fields urgently needed to be freed up.
Li Daoxuan reached into the box and removed the Lego bricks. The cola can temporary house for Li Da could naturally be taken out too. The big pond made from lock-lock containers wasn’t an immediate priority; it could stay in the open space next to the roundhouse, continuing to provide water for the villagers.
Gao Yiye and the Village Chief began assigning residences.
The village now had over 150 people. Divided by families, including three generations (grandparents, parents, grandchildren), this actually amounted to just over forty families. However, in his mercy, the Deity allowed a family to be counted as “a married couple.”
Meaning: grandparents counted as one family, entitled to one house. Parents counted as one family, entitled to one house. Children, if underage, lived with their parents as part of that one household. If they were adults, even if unmarried, they too were entitled to a separate house.
This way, for the over 150 people, only sixty-four houses were occupied, with many rooms remaining vacant.
Gao Yiye, as the high-status Saint Lady, was allocated the top floor of the tallest building situated in the deepest part of the roundhouse. This position allowed her to conveniently look up and speak to the Deity from her balcony. This building was called the Watchtower. Standing three stories high, it overlooked the entire roundhouse, its architecture somewhat resembling a city wall’s gate tower.
Once assignments were complete, the villagers began moving their belongings from their old homes into the new ones. Door and window openings were temporarily covered with cloth curtains.
The entire village buzzed with enthusiastic activity.
…
Thirty-Two was back!
Accompanied by a teacher, a group of young men including Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu, two sculptors, and Bai Shui Wang Er who was responsible for escorting them back, the party hurriedly arrived outside Gaojia Village.
Mr. Wang was silently suffering inside!
After accepting Thirty-Two’s silver, he had thought himself wealthy. Little did he expect, not far out of the city, Thirty-Two suddenly led them into a forest where they were met by a group of fierce-looking men.
The leader? None other than the notorious rebel hunted by the authorities – Bai Shui Wang Er!
Mr. Wang’s soul nearly fled his body. I’ve been lured into a bandit lair?
He trembled in fear, not daring to speak, obediently following without even a thought of escape. His mind raced with speculation: Why would these bandits trick me into joining? Maybe… to make me a strategist in their mountain stronghold? Like the Military Advisor Wu Yong?
But I’m a righteous scholar! I refuse to become an outlaw! Remember Wu Yong’s tragic end? I’ll pretend to cooperate until I find a chance to slip back to the city.
He spent the entire journey pondering these worries, having no idea how far or long they’d walked. From dawn until noon, hot and exhausted, he felt on the verge of collapse. Suddenly, Thirty-Two announced, “We’ve arrived. Eh? The village… it seems changed again?”
Bai Shui Wang Er was also startled. “Eh? Your Gaojia Village truly never looks the same! First time I came, no walls. Second time, a two-zhang wall. Now, the third time, you have an enormous fortress!”
Thirty-Two didn’t need brains to guess the Deity must have worked his magic again, something not to explain deeply to Wang Er. He chuckled and cupped his fists. “Brother Wang! We’ve reached our destination. Thank you for your escort, but we’ll manage from here.”
Wang Er also cupped his fists. “Then I shall return to the mountains.”
Thirty-Two pulled a bag of salt from his pouch. “Brother Wang, last time I offered silver and you refused. This time, please accept some salt. Living in the mountains, silver isn’t that useful, but salt… is truly indispensable.”
Wang Er couldn’t help but lick his lips. Thirty-Two was right; his bandit army faced a genuine salt shortage. Their raid on the official grain supplies had secured plentiful food for a good while, but salt was a different, troubling matter.
Humans cannot endure long without salt. Given the circumstances, polite refusal wasn’t an option. Wang Er reached out, accepted the salt bag, and cupped his fists. “I owe Gaojia Village yet again. A deep debt like this requires more than mere words of thanks. If you ever require Wang Er’s assistance in the future, just send someone calling into the mountains.”
The two groups parted ways then. Wang Er led his men back into the mountains and soon vanished from sight.
With his departure, while others seemed unaffected, Mr. Wang relaxed instantly, as if his bones turned to liquid. He crumpled to the ground with a soft thud.
Thirty-Two turned around, puzzled. “Mr. Wang! What’s this about?”
Mr. Wang weakly gasped, “I… I feared Third Lady tricked me into joining mountain bandits! Only seeing Wang Er leave eased my mind. I… I went limp… couldn’t stand…”
The group around him stared blankly for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Mr. Wang, fancies you get!” Thirty-Two helped him up. “We’re all upright citizens here! None of us aspire to outlawry. Come now, Gaojia Village lies just ahead. Once inside, you’ll understand how wonderful it truly is. It might even be called a land of peach blossoms!”
The group soon approached the outskirts of Gaojia Village.
Once they entered his line of sight, Li Daoxuan could see them. His figures had been gone two days; naturally, he worried – as mothers fret when travelers journey far. He watched them carefully.
One look identified the man in the cyan Daoist robe following Thirty-Two – definitely the new teacher. Li Daoxuan watched even more delightedly.
Gao Chuwu was the first to loudly exclaim. Pointing at a dilapidated grass hut perched strangely on a hillside, he yelled, “Oy! Ain’t that my house? What’s it doing up there?”
He bounded towards it in great strides. Just as he reached the doorway, the door creaked open. Gao Chuwu’s parents, a middle-aged couple, were carefully lifting a large wooden bed out.
The three met face to face in the doorway.
Gao Chuwu urgently asked, “Father! Mother! What on earth happened? How’d our house end up on the hillside?”
Gao Chuwu’s father beamed happily. “The Deity gifted everyone in the village new houses! Look, right over there in that mighty fortress! Your mother and I are moving our furniture… Son! Just in time! Take over for your mother. We men will carry this bed together.”
Gao Chuwu quickly replaced his mother. Father and son lifted the bed and carried it away at a brisk trot.
As they dashed along, Gao Chuwu’s father chuckled. “Son! You get your own house too! The Deity decrees every adult villager, married or not, gets one! The Village Chief allocated your room right next to ours! Heh heh. Later, move your bed into your own place!”
Gao Chuwu grinned foolishly. “Huh? I’ve got my own place? Does that mean I can marry?”
His father roared with laughter. “Who’d marry you, simpleton?”
Gao Chuwu retorted, “Simple maybe, but I’ve got strength! I’ll do more physical work for the Deity, earn lots and lots of rewards! Then I’ll have money to marry!”
“Your reward is here!”
Gao Yiye called from a distance. “Brother Chuwu! The Deity says, for safely escorting Third Lady back and forth, he rewards you with five jin of white sugar, fifty jin of flour, ten jin of pork, ha…”
She cut off with a “ha,” stifling a laugh. The Deity had added ‘to help you get married,’ but Gao Yiye couldn’t hold back her giggles and missed the final part.
Gao Chuwu stammered, “Huh? Huh huh? That much?! Wow! Mother! Please find me a wife! These rewards can be the bride price!”
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Chapter 64: Assigning Houses
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