In the evening, the sun was setting.
Thirty-Two arrived, and he brought a new face with him.
Blacksmith Li Da had been tricked into coming.
After fleeing from Chengcheng County amid the chaos, the two ran all the way to Gaojia Village. Covering thirty-some li, with a long stretch of mountain paths, the journey was not easy.
When they reached the place, both were tired, hungry, and thirsty, and they felt they couldn’t hold on much longer.
“We’re here, ahead of us,” Thirty-Two pointed in the direction of Gaojia Village. “Ah, after a few days away, there’s a new colorful city wall here; this is truly amazing. This is called ‘changing day by day and month by month.’”
Li Da had been growing more puzzled as he walked, seeing the place become increasingly desolate and uninhabited. But the moment he saw the colorful city wall in front of him, he was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. How majestic this wall before him was—it was actually two zhang high!
This indicated that the wealthy lord stationed here was very powerful.
Moreover, he had painted the city wall, which showed he was so wealthy that he could spend money on frivolous things. Such a wealthy lord who liked to waste money was usually very generous.
Thirty-Two said, “Gaojia Village!”
“A village?” Li Da couldn’t quite believe his ears. Even if Thirty-Two had said it was Xi’an City, he would have dared to believe it. But to call this a village, with a wall two zhang high? How could that be?
“Since it’s just a village, this must be a fortress,” Li Da asked curiously. “I haven’t heard of a wealthy lord with the surname Gao in our Chengcheng County.”
Thirty-Two said, “This lord is called the Great Deity.”
A huge question mark slowly popped up on Li Da’s forehead.
Thirty-Two said, “Once we enter, ask less and observe more. Don’t offend the wealthy lord and get kicked out; I won’t be able to save you then. This is called ‘walking on thin ice.'”
Li Da was not some naive bumpkin like Gao Chuwu; he had grown up in the county, mingled with many officials and gentry, and of course understood the principle of asking less and observing more when entering a wealthy mansion. He quickly nodded and said, “I understand this.”
Thirty-Two led the way, and the two, one after the other, walked into the city gate of Gaojia Village.
Currently, only one gate leaf was finished; the other was too late to be made today, making the scene quite comical. Li Da thought to himself: This city was just built; they haven’t even finished the city gate. No wonder the wealthy lord needed a blacksmith; it seemed there was an opportunity for me to shine here.
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than he was startled by the “laborers” sitting in the gate arch eating. These laborers held large earthenware bowls filled with white broken rice, covered with cabbage leaves and chicken strips, forming a delicious bowl of chicken and cabbage rice.
What kind of conditions did this wealthy lord have at home?
Even the laborers working for him could eat this?
Once when I forged armor for the patrol officer, I didn’t get such good food.
Moreover… weren’t these laborers rather too healthy?
Due to three years of drought, the lower-class people that Li Da often encountered were almost all sallow and emaciated, looking as if they could be toppled by a breeze.
But this group of “laborers” before him each had a full and healthy complexion—this was utterly unbelievable.
Little did he know that since Li Daoxuan started providing food to Gaojia Village, the villagers had had rice, meat, vegetables, salt, and water in every meal, with rich nutrition and hearty eating; naturally, they were in great health.
He really wanted to say something, but Thirty-Two had warned him to ask less and observe more, so he had to hold it in, which was very uncomfortable.
Thirty-Two brought Li Da to the front of Gao Yiye and smiledly cupped his hands: “Miss Gao, following the instruction of the Great Deity, I have brought the blacksmith. This is called ‘not dishonoring the mission.'”
Gao Yiye responded, and as she was about to look up and call out, she heard the gentle voice of the Great Deity: “Yes, praise him. He did very well.”
Actually, Li Daoxuan was eating at this time, holding a bowl of pickled cabbage with shredded pork rice noodles, grinning foolishly as he stared into the scenic box. As soon as Thirty-Two and Li Da entered the scenic box, he saw them.
Gao Yiye said, “The Great Deity praised you; you did well.”
Thirty-Two said, “‘My heart blossomed with joy.’”
Li Daoxuan was about to ask serious questions, and his tone became stern: “Yiye, have Thirty-Two introduce this blacksmith.”
(From this point on, it is understood that Gao Yiye is relaying.)
Thirty-Two quickly introduced: “His name is Li Da; he’s the best blacksmith in Chengcheng County. He forged armor for the patrol officer of the county, and many weapons for the garrison soldiers also came from his hands. This is called ‘a skilled and clever craftsman.'”
Li Daoxuan thought to himself: He actually has the same surname as I; we must be from the same family five hundred years ago.
Hearing Thirty-Two speak well of him, Li Da felt grateful, but he was a bit puzzled. Third Lady was someone of importance in the county; why was he bowing and scraping before a little girl? She was dressed like an ordinary village girl.
Li Daoxuan’s gaze locked onto Li Da: “Li Da, do you know how to make iron armor?”
When asked about his profession, he immediately became inspired with pride and said somewhat proudly: “Reporting… miss… This humble one has been in the armaments bureau since childhood, learning to forge various weapons and armors, and there’s nothing I can’t forge.”
“Oh, quite confident,” Li Daoxuan laughed. “Can you also make firearms?”
“Yes!” Li Da answered confidently: “This humble one can make the Three-Eyed Divine Firearm.”
Li Daoxuan said, “Not bad, not bad. Quite skilled. It seems you can teach the villagers how to forge iron armor.”
Privately forging iron armor? That was a major crime of rebellion.
Li Da immediately became nervous, but after careful thought, so what if it’s a major crime? That this person dared to do such a thing proved his might. Only such a mighty person could help me shed my artisan registration and become free.
Damn it, let’s do it! ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Li Daoxuan said: “Also, I want to assign you a daunting task.”
Upon hearing the words “daunting task,” a confident smile flashed across Li Da’s lips. How daunting could it be? Li Da could forge any weapon or armor; no matter how complex, it was just a pile of iron. I just need to spend more time; I can always forge it.
If he were facing a real wealthy lord, he might have been a bit fearful. But just facing a village girl like Gao Yiye, he wasn’t the least bit daunted. He straightened his chest and said: “Miss, just report to the wealthy lord that there’s nothing I, Li Da, can’t forge. Whatever the wealthy lord wants, this humble one can create it. I only ask the wealthy lord to help; once the matter is completed, grant me freedom from registration so that my descendants are free from artisan registration; I would be infinitely grateful.”
With him so confident, Li Daoxuan didn’t hesitate; he picked up a piece of A5 paper and placed it on the open ground behind the city gate…