The events at Tengyun Mountain had stirred up quite a commotion, especially after being featured on numerous official media channels. This once-unknown rural area had suddenly gained notoriety.
Now, the locals in Baimu Province were wary of anyone from Tengyun Mountain, feeling that each person who came from the mountain harbored ill intentions.
Since the incident, Gao Chengguang had been wearing a constant frown. His brother Gao Chenggen's actions had not only brought trouble upon himself but had also jeopardized the entire Tengyun Village, turning it into something akin to a cursed place. Even the eligible young men and women in the village were now overlooked, further worsening the already difficult living conditions.
Once, the village could sell some vegetables and plums, but now even the stalls were occupied by others. This situation suited their competitors perfectly; whenever a customer came, they would swarm in, exaggerating Gao Chenggen's disgrace and leaving the villagers subject to scorn.
As if that weren't enough to frustrate him, Gao Chengguang was now also anxious that Xiang Wan, who had contracted to take over the mountain, might suddenly back out. After all, Tengyun Village had no legal standing in this matter!
Pacing back and forth at home, Su Hua watched him with growing irritation and set down the clothes she was mending. "Enough of your pacing; it's driving me crazy!"
Gao Chengguang paused and frowned at her. "What do you know, woman?"
Su Hua tossed aside the clothes she was working on. "Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I don't understand. The person who's contracted to take over our mountain is also a woman; why are you so obsequious in front of her?"
Gao Chengguang was momentarily at a loss for words, stammering out a few "you"s but failing to continue.
After a moment, he said, "What does it matter that Tengyun Mountain is in such a good location? We just don't have the fortune to enjoy it. If she decides to back out, we'll have to gather money to pay her back. And we should send Yi Yang to the city to find a job; he's getting old and can't waste his time here in this backwater."
Just then, a lively little girl ran over. "Uncle, Auntie! You should come quick; someone's here!"
"It's Xiao Yun! Who's come?" Gao Chengguang asked casually.
Old Man Yun ambled over at that moment. "Village chief, you and Yi Yang should hurry over. I heard it's an engineering team with some engineers."
"Engineers?" The news of a construction team alone was shocking; adding engineers was like dropping a bombshell.
"Yi Yang! Yi Yang! Get out here!" Gao Chengguang called out authoritatively. In Tengyun Village, he held some sway, but beyond its borders, he was just an ordinary mountain dweller, naturally feeling intimidated by educated folks. Thus, he needed to invoke the village's reputation through his son, Gao Yiyang.
Gao Yiyang, groggy from sleep, was pulled up by his father. "What's going on?"
"The engineering team has come to our village! You need to see this!"
"Engineering team?"
Father and son hurried to the location Xiao Yun had mentioned and indeed found a group surveying the land with tools they had never seen before.
Gao Chengguang nudged his son. "Go ask them what's going on!"
Gao Yiyang went over, and when he returned, he looked dazed, his expression blank, which piqued Gao Chengguang's curiosity. "What did they say? What's happening?"
Gao Yiyang stared at his father in disbelief. "They said they're here to build a road!"
"What? Build a road?" This was so new to Gao Chengguang; he'd never heard of such a thing. Was the world turning upside down? How could they be building a road in this impoverished area?
"Why would the government build a road here?" Gao Chengguang continued to inquire.
Gao Yiyang still seemed dazed, as if he were dreaming. He pinched his cheek to confirm he was awake, speaking with surprise and disbelief. "It's not the government; it's private!"
"Ah?" Gao Chengguang didn't quite understand.
Gao Yiyang paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts before saying, "The girl who contracted to take over our mountain is going to build a road for us!"
Now Gao Chengguang's voice shot up several octaves. "What? Build a road!"
This was a matter of great significance for the entire Tengyun Village. Gao Chengguang couldn't wait any longer and rushed over to the engineering team. "Comrades, is this true? Are you really building a road for our village?"
The engineering team leader replied, "It's hard to say. The employer mentioned building a mountain road but didn't specify that it would be for your village."
Gao Chengguang was thrilled. "It's the same, it's the same!"
Building a mountain road was far better than simply fixing village roads. A little mud in the village was nothing, as long as it didn't delay transporting goods from the mountain.
After confirming several times that this was indeed the case, Gao Chengguang and Gao Yiyang excitedly shared the news with the villagers, sparking a frenzy of excitement.
Aunt Chen Shan asked, "Village chief, did you ask clearly? It's not some sort of smoke and mirrors, is it?"
"Absolutely not! Yi Yang and I confirmed it several times!" Gao Chengguang reassured her.
Gao Yunfeng remarked, "This young lady not only has money but also such capabilities! She can build a mountain road!"
Gao Yiyang laughed, "Grandpa, how hard can it be to build a mountain road? As long as the money is in place, nothing is impossible! I'm just curious which family's young lady can afford such a project. How much does it cost to build a road? She just says she'll do it."
"I heard the people from the engineering team say she's building the road to construct houses," another villager chimed in.
"Oh my goodness! Is she going to build a palace? Going through all this trouble just to put up a simple earthen house like ours?" someone else exclaimed.
"Definitely not," they agreed.
Xiang Wan had her sights set on Tengyun Mountain, contracting it for thirty years with a priority for renewal. Unlike the world of cultivation, where mountains and spirit stone mines were seized, everything in Longguo was done according to the law; she had to conform to local customs.
Moreover, for her, being able to resolve matters with money was not a problem at all.
If there was no road on Tengyun Mountain, how would she transport construction materials? Having a road would also bring benefits, allowing the grandfather and granddaughter duo to avoid the long mountain trek just to sell vegetables in the provincial capital.
For elderly individuals in the lower strata of society who had lost their ability to work, the cost of two cups of milk tea could mean a day's worth of income.
Money had lost much of its significance to her; it was just a string of numbers. Her bank account was growing at a frightening rate every day, as if it would never run out.
Additionally, she had no extravagant spending habits. With her consciousness restored, as long as she focused on her cultivation, she could continue to overcome the thunder tribulation and ascend in the future.
This world was merely a stopover for her; of course, she intended to enjoy her hundred years here. The leader of the Tianji Sect had never been one to settle for less.
Every day, the engineering team leader would send her progress videos of the mountain excavation and the estimated completion time.