A month passed by in a flash, and only one-fifth of the mountain road on Tengyun Mountain had been repaired. It was estimated that it would take another three months to complete the house construction. In the meantime, Xiang Wan had two options: continue staying in a hotel or rent a place.
If she were to rent, Xiang Wan wasn't keen on the bustling cities with crowds and noise. Instead, she planned to return to Tengyun Village.
The village, being deep in the mountains and difficult to access, was isolated from the modern world. The presence of modern technology was scarce. In fact, ordinary residents didn't even have LCD TVs in their homes; radios and broadcasts were the most commonly used forms of media.
However, if Xiang Wan went to Tengyun Village, she'd need to continue livestreaming, which required a strong signal. So, she contacted the relevant authorities to request the installation of a signal tower on Tengyun Mountain.
Naturally, the telecommunications company refused, as building signal towers required company-wide planning. They couldn't do something so significant just for one person.
But Xiang Wan had money, and with enough money, there wasn't much you couldn't accomplish!
Besides, she now had the backing of the state. Shamelessly, she called in a favor through Wei Wentao. Within a week, working overtime, the signal tower was up and running. The people of Tengyun Village were overjoyed. With the tower built and the road soon to be repaired, their village would finally be accessible again.
"You want to rent my house?" Gao Chengguang was both surprised and delighted. Although the houses in the village were mostly made of mud, each property had ample land, and most of the homes were built to their full capacity. Many were used to store miscellaneous items, and despite this, there were still many empty rooms.
Xiang Wan had chosen Gao Chengguang's house for a simple reason: right outside the small mud house's window was a crystal-clear stream where fresh mountain water flowed. The water brought in many small fish and shrimp from the mountain.
In the evenings, a gentle mountain breeze would sweep through, carrying the earthy scent of soil and the fresh fragrance of the surrounding vegetation. It reminded her of the time she spent at Tianji Sect.
But now, she and that world were in completely different realms. Perhaps, as Buddha said, there truly were three thousand worlds. She had encountered a lightning tribulation and, by some stroke of misfortune, had been struck into this one.
Soon, Su Hua helped prepare the small room. A spotless hardwood bed was moved in, wiped clean by Su Hua. The bedding and décor, which Xiang Wan had asked the hotel manager to purchase in advance, were all brand-name items.
The bedspread was a floral print, perfectly matching the natural scenery. Decorative paintings, a small lamp, and a desk were all set up in Xiang Wan's room.
That afternoon, many villagers brought over fresh fruits and vegetables from their own gardens—completely natural, organic, and safe to eat without washing.
Xiang Wan placed a tomato in the water. The bright red fruit contrasted sharply with the clear mountain stream, making it look even more appetizing.
She took a bite of the tomato, which was juicy and tangy, yet not overwhelming. The tomatoes grown in the soil here had an extraordinary flavor. People in Tengyun Village often placed their fruits and vegetables in the cool stream water when they went out to work. When they returned, they would retrieve the chilled produce, which was even more refreshing than if it had been stored in a fridge.
The cucumbers were crisp and tender, the emerald melons and pitted plums were fragrant and sweet. Aside from the transportation issues, this place was truly ideal for living.
Xiang Wan fell in love with the area at first sight. Taking over the mountain to build her home and repair the road was undoubtedly the best decision she had made.
Later that evening, Xiang Wan brought up the topic of rent with Gao Chengguang, but he flatly refused. Waving his hands frantically, he said, "Miss Xiang, I absolutely can't take rent from you! Look how much we've benefited from you already. If I were to accept money, the whole village would curse me to death!"
A month off passed in the blink of an eye, and the road up Tengyun Mountain was only about one-fifth done. Estimations for the house construction and road completion? At least three more months. So, in the meantime, Xiang Wan had two options: continue staying in the hotel or find a rental.
There was no way she'd rent something in the bustling city where people were practically tripping over each other, so her plan was to head back to Tengyun Village.
Tucked away in the deep mountains with barely any modern infrastructure, it was like stepping into a time capsule. Forget about finding a flat-screen TV in every household; most people still relied on radios and good ol' broadcast news. But for Xiang Wan, the only issue was that if she wanted to keep livestreaming, she'd need a signal—fast.
So, she made a quick call to the telecom company, requesting them to install a signal tower on Tengyun Mountain. They weren't too keen on the idea, of course. It wasn't part of their standard plan to bend over backward for one customer.
But here's the thing: Xiang Wan had the money, and in this world, money talks. Plus, with her connections to the state—thanks to some shameless arm-twisting through Wei Wentao—the signal tower was built in no time, much to the delight of the villagers. Finally, with a signal tower in place and road construction underway, Tengyun Village wouldn't feel like a hermit kingdom much longer.
"You want to rent my house?" Gao Chenguang asked, both shocked and thrilled.
Houses here weren't anything fancy—just mud huts built on ample plots of land. Most people filled their spare rooms with random stuff they didn't even need. And even then, the rooms were half-empty.
Xiang Wan had chosen to rent Gao Chenguang's place for a simple reason: right outside the window was a crystal-clear spring, where fresh mountain water flowed, full of tiny fish and shrimp. At night, a cool mountain breeze would drift in, carrying the earthy smell of soil and plants. It felt just like being back at Tianji Sect.
Only, well… this was a different world now. Maybe the Buddha was right after all, talking about the Three Thousand Worlds. She had just been unlucky enough to get struck by lightning and zapped into this one.
It didn't take long for Su Hua to tidy up the small room, moving in a clean wooden bed. The bed linens and the decorative pieces were all top-of-the-line brands Xiang Wan had pre-ordered through the hotel manager.
The bedspread had a floral print, fitting the whole rustic countryside vibe. The room was set with small lamps, paintings, and a desk—everything Xiang Wan could need.
By the afternoon, villagers were bringing fresh fruits from their own fields—perfectly organic and straight from the vine, the kind you could eat without a rinse.
Xiang Wan placed a bunch of tomatoes into the water. The contrast between the bright red tomatoes and the crystal-clear spring was enough to whet anyone's appetite.
She bit into one, and the tangy, sweet juice filled her mouth without being overpowering. The tomatoes grown in the local soil had a taste like no other. People here loved tossing their fruits and veggies into the icy water to chill them before eating—better than any fridge, that's for sure.
The cucumbers were crisp, the honeydew was as sweet as candy, and the plums just melted in your mouth. Aside from the tough-to-access location, Tengyun Mountain was basically the dream place to live.
Xiang Wan was already head over heels for the place. Renting this spot and planning to build her own house on the mountain was easily the best decision she'd ever made.
That evening, Xiang Wan brought up the rent with Gao Chenguang, but he flat-out refused. He waved his hands in protest, "Miss Xiang, I can't take your money! We've already benefitted so much from you. If I take this, the whole village will roast me alive!"
Xiang Wan shook her head. "No way. Business is business. I'm very clear-cut with things like this. If you don't take it, I'll just move out."
Seeing that she wasn't backing down, Gao Chenguang and Su Hua had no choice but to accept. Rent here wasn't expensive—just a little over 200 yuan a month.
For that, she got a 30-square-meter space, clean and tidy. The mosquito net over the wooden bed was already set up. The only thing that didn't quite fit was the earthen floor instead of smooth tiles.
Rent was 200, but Xiang Wan added in the cost of food. Since she'd be staying until her house was ready, she figured she'd eat with Su Hua's family. No point cooking on her own.
Most meals in the mountains were simple farmhouse dishes. Su Hua and Gao Chenguang treated Xiang Wan like an honored guest, serving up feasts of chicken, fish, and fresh mushroom soups. Altogether, she paid 3,000 yuan for rent and food—about the same as a month's salary for a regular city worker.
Su Hua was basically living the dream—earning good money while cooking a couple of meals a day. The rest of the time, she tended her fields while Xiang did her own thing.
That night, Gao Yiyang came home, looking like he'd lost a battle. Su Hua, stitching clothes under the soft glow of a dim lamp, asked, "Did it not go well?"
"No," Gao Yiyang sighed, running his hands through his hair. The plums he was trying to sell were piling up on the trees, but he couldn't find any buyers. The road to Tengyun Mountain was still under construction, and while it would eventually be finished, the fruit couldn't wait.
"Mom, how can I not be worried? The fruit's gonna rot before I find a way to sell it."
Su Hua, in a rare moment of zen, waved him off. "What's the rush? Every entrepreneur hits roadblocks. And besides, it's not like we're strapped for cash anymore. We've got a steady income now, thanks to Miss Xiang and the village's profit-sharing."
"Mom, you're making it sound like you're bringing in big bucks. How much are we talking, a couple thousand from selling veggies?"
Su Hua cut the thread with her teeth and said, "You didn't notice the lights on in the east room?"
"The east room?" Gao Yiyang scratched his head. He hadn't been paying attention, too upset about his failed business venture.
"Miss Xiang's renting it. She's staying until the house and the road are done. She's paying 3,000 a month for rent and food. Not bad for staying home and cooking, huh?"
Gao Yiyang was shocked. "She actually wants to live here?"
After all, he'd heard she was staying in the swankiest five-star hotel back in Baimu Province, where rooms went for 5,000 yuan a night. Coming here was like, well, slumming it.