The news of the Gao Family Village tour group spread through the village like sparks carried by a sudden wind, leaping from doorstep to doorstep, from workshop to teahouse, until almost no one was left unaware of it.
In recent years, the villagers of Gao Family Village had truly grown wealthy. Ordinary craftsmen who once struggled to make ends meet could now earn a steady three taels of silver each month, an income generous enough that many households had quietly accumulated savings they would never have dared to imagine in the past. Life was comfortable, bellies were full, and worries about tomorrow had faded into the background.
Yet even so, when word spread that the travel fee for this journey was ten taels of silver per person, many people instinctively tightened their grip on their purses. Three months of income, spent all at once on a single trip, was no small decision. For most, the thought alone was enough to make their hearts ache.
Even with the Saintess personally advocating the tour, encouraging everyone to broaden their horizons and see the world beyond the village, the majority still hesitated, standing on the sidelines and watching.
That said, in any crowd, there were always a few who possessed both money and a certain reckless enthusiasm, people who believed that life was meant to be enjoyed while one still could. The Old Village Chief of Gao Family Village was precisely such a person.
He arrived wearing bamboo sandals and a faded, sleeveless vest, his appearance so plain that he could have been mistaken for any other poor old man wandering the streets. Yet when he reached Dong Xue's registration table, he did not hesitate in the slightest. With a firm slap, he placed ten taels of silver on the tabletop, the dull clink of metal ringing clearly in the air.
"I'm signing up," he said, his tone decisive.
Dong Xue stared at him in alarm. "Venerable elder, perhaps you should reconsider. The journey will be long, and the road may be rough. If something were to happen to you along the way…"
The Old Village Chief snorted, his white beard bristling. "What's this now? You think I'm too old? It's exactly because I'm old that I must go out and see more of the world. When I was young, I was poor. The farthest I ever traveled was the county town. Now that I finally have a bit of money, should I just sit at home and wait for death? Am I meant to die as nothing more than a mountain rat?"
Dong Xue hesitated, still uneasy. "But your health…"
Without another word, the Old Village Chief pulled out the bamboo staff he carried at his side. With a sharp crack, he snapped it cleanly in two using his bare hands, the broken ends splintering outward.
"What about my health now?" he demanded, glaring proudly.
Dong Xue immediately bowed. "In that case, venerable elder, please do as you wish."
The Old Village Chief's bold action seemed to ignite something in the crowd. One by one, the wealthier villagers of Gao Family Village stepped forward, no longer content to simply watch from afar.
Gao Laba soon appeared as well. Over the years, his rice noodle shop had brought him a tidy fortune, and when he heard there was an opportunity to travel and experience the wider world, he saw no reason to hold back. Not only did he register himself, he brought his wife and children along as well, placing thirty taels of silver on the table in one heavy stack, the sound drawing more than a few envious glances.
Then came an unexpected figure. Liu You, the owner of the Shuixian Heluo noodle shop, arrived with his entire family in tow. Without blinking, he handed over another thirty taels of silver and declared loudly, his chest puffed out with pride, "From today onward, you may call me Filthy Rich!"
Soon after, Master Zhang, the head of the Daoqing Troupe, made his appearance. To everyone's surprise, he did not come alone. Instead, he brought along several core members of his troupe, singers, dancers, and musicians alike, turning the registration area into something resembling a small-scale recruitment drive.
Nearby, Gao Sanwa tugged eagerly at Gao Sanniang's sleeve, his eyes bright. "Mother, let's go too!"
Gao Sanniang shifted uneasily, lowering her voice. "Son, let's not join in the excitement. It's ten taels of silver per person. For the two of us, that's twenty taels. Your mother isn't as wealthy as your Uncle Laba."
Gao Sanwa burst into laughter, brimming with confidence. "I've got plenty of money, Mother. My comic book, Tapo Tianqiong, is selling incredibly well. I earn silver even while sitting at home. And my second book, Quan Dong Xuankun, is about to be released. That will bring in another big sum. Twenty taels of silver is nothing at all. I'll take you out to have fun, eat good food, and see the magnificent Yellow River Bridge with your own eyes."
Gao Sanniang's face softened, her eyes shining with pride. "My son truly has ability. Very well, then we shall go."
Elsewhere, Madam Bai clutched Young Master Bai's arm, her voice full of hope. "Son, come and enjoy the trip with me."
Young Master Bai struggled to pull free, shaking his head vigorously. "No, no, I can't. I'm too busy. The refined design of the steam locomotive is at a critical stage. I can't afford to waste time wandering about. This invention concerns the future of Gao Family Village."
Hearing this, Madam Bai slowly loosened her grip. She sighed softly. "You're right. Work comes first. You're an important person now, and your time is precious."
Young Master Bai took a step away, relieved, but then paused. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his mother discreetly wiping at her eyes.
He froze, then silently cursed himself. Turning back, he took her arm and smiled gently. "Your son will take a short break, Mother. The research can wait. I'll accompany you to see the Qichuan Ferry and the new city of Puzhou."
Madam Bai's face lit up instantly. "My son is truly filial."
Even San Shier arrived at the registration desk, holding his daughter's hand. They made no fuss at all, calmly paying for three spots, clearly including Mrs. San as well. When they left, it was as if they had simply completed an ordinary errand.
As they walked away, San Shier muttered quietly, "Tomorrow, bring your mother along and prepare for the trip. And, my dear daughter, does your chemical factory have any medicine that could restore a man's… ahem… certain abilities? Surely chemistry has advanced enough for that."
San Xiaojie replied calmly, "There are medicines that can poison someone to death instantly, if that helps."
San Shier sighed deeply. "Then perhaps we'll forget about it."
San Xiaojie rolled her eyes. "Father, at your age, you should be more philosophical. Don't always behave as though you're ignoring propriety just because you're old."
San Shier snorted. "Don't imitate your father's way of speaking. It's not appropriate for a young lady."
San Xiaojie laughed. "They say, near vermilion one is stained red."
San Shier immediately countered, "Then near ink, one is stained black."
The father and daughter exchanged a knowing smile, their argument unresolved but warm, as they continued on their way.
Three days later, the Gao Family Village tour group officially set out.
As expected, Gao Yiye did not join, unwilling to trouble the guard team with his presence. Dong Xue took on the role of tour leader, and the group, made up almost entirely of Gao Family Village's newly wealthy residents, embarked on their journey.
Their first stop was Heyang County, where they indulged themselves in local delicacies until their bellies were full. From there, they rushed onward to Qichuan, eager to see the so called Gao Family Village navy anchored at Qichuan Port. The sight of the massive, imposing gunboats left everyone filled with pride at the village's growing strength.
Next came the long anticipated Linyi Yellow River Bridge.
They had heard countless stories about it, but standing on the bridge themselves, feeling the cool river wind against their faces and gazing at the vast waters below, they all agreed that the ten taels of silver had been worth every single coin.
The following day, they boarded carriages and continued toward Puzhou City.
Before they even reached the prefectural city itself, they began to see clusters of small towns along the road, each centered around a factory. Every factory looked like a small city in its own right, bustling with workers and humming with activity. The tour group even purchased meal tickets, sampling the factory canteens' boxed meals and marveling at the cooks' swift, powerful movements as they wielded their ladles.
At last, after a full day of travel, they arrived in Puzhou City.
Night had already fallen. Most of the group was exhausted and retired to their inns at once, eager for rest. The elderly, however, needed far less sleep.
The Old Village Chief of Gao Family Village found himself wide awake with nothing to do. Quietly, he slipped out of the inn and wandered the streets. Before long, he overheard people whispering excitedly about a concert being held in the city.
Naturally, the Old Village Chief saw no reason to miss such a lively affair.
The next morning, rumors spread rapidly through the tea houses of Puzhou City. It was said that during Miss Cailin's concert, an unknown benefactor had appeared at the height of the excitement and casually tossed a massive silver ingot worth a hundred taels onto the stage. No one knew who he was, and no one stepped forward to claim credit.
This mysterious big brother vanished as suddenly as he had appeared, leaving behind only speculation and admiration. Even so, his legend lingered, becoming a topic of endless discussion within Puzhou's entertainment circles for a long time to come.