Night had fully fallen, and Gao Family Village entered its non-static mode.
Strictly speaking, however, things were no longer as still as before. Villagers now patrolled along the walls in rotating shifts throughout the night. Their silhouettes moved steadily beneath the dim glow of oil lamps, the flickering light casting long shadows across the stone.
It was not a particularly interesting sight, nor something worth watching for long.
At this hour each day, Li Daoxuan could safely turn his attention away from the box and return to his own world.
Too lazy to start his computer, he simply unlocked his phone.
At that moment, a message from Cai Xinzhi appeared.
"Daoxuan, I finally finished negotiating with that client. It took several hours."
Li Daoxuan replied.
"Oh? How did it go?"
Cai Xinzhi responded quickly.
"Our Supreme Treasure Sun Wukong model is extremely well crafted, but unfortunately, that character does not carry much prestige in the collector market. It still leans too much toward being a toy rather than a true artwork. The client who bought it for 888 yuan was honestly just trying to establish a relationship with us."
Li Daoxuan immediately understood the implication.
"So if we change the subject, it can sell for more?"
"Exactly," Cai Xinzhi said. "Statues of Daoist and Buddhist deities are far more valuable. They carry religious and artistic significance, which elevates them beyond the category of toys and into genuine collectible art."
Li Daoxuan smiled.
"I only made Supreme Treasure Sun Wukong for fun. Making Daoist or Buddhist deity statues will not be a problem. What price did he offer?"
Cai Xinzhi replied,
"For a one-centimeter statue with the same level of craftsmanship, he is willing to pay 4,888 yuan."
Li Daoxuan's eyes brightened.
That amount alone was enough to commission two Hakka Walled House models.
Cai Xinzhi, however, sounded indignant.
"I built you a half-meter Hakka Walled House model with moving parts, motors, remote control functions, and over two hundred rooms. I used expensive materials and spent weeks on it, and I only charged you 2,000 yuan. Meanwhile, you are selling a one-centimeter wooden carving for 4,888 yuan. I feel like beating you up."
Li Daoxuan burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
Cai Xinzhi continued,
"The client also made an outrageous request. I do not know if you can fulfill it."
Li Daoxuan raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of request?"
"He wants something even smaller. Five millimeters."
Li Daoxuan paused for a moment.
Cai Xinzhi interpreted the silence as hesitation.
"I knew it," he sighed. "It is probably impossible. But he said he is willing to pay 28,888 yuan."
Li Daoxuan smiled faintly.
"Why do you have so little faith in me? Ask him whether five millimeters might actually be too large. I can make something as small as one millimeter."
Cai Xinzhi froze.
"What the..."
"Watch your language," Li Daoxuan said casually.
"You can really make something that small?" Cai Xinzhi asked in disbelief. "That is smaller than a grain of rice."
Li Daoxuan replied calmly,
"The person who helped me carve Supreme Treasure Sun Wukong specializes in micro-carving on rice grains. One millimeter is not a problem. Ask him if he wants it."
"Wait. I will ask now."
Two minutes later, another message appeared.
"He said if the detail quality reaches even half the level of the Supreme Treasure carving, he will pay 128,888 yuan."
Li Daoxuan did not hesitate.
"I accept."
Cai Xinzhi was stunned.
"You are insane. Taking on a commission like that requires terrifying skill. I am honestly impressed."
Li Daoxuan chuckled.
"So what does he want carved?"
"A Grand Supreme Elder Lord statue."
Li Daoxuan frowned slightly.
"What is the purpose of a one-millimeter Grand Supreme Elder Lord statue?"
Cai Xinzhi explained,
"He plans to use it for something called Holy Images within Beads."
Li Daoxuan had never heard of such a thing.
"What is that?"
Cai Xinzhi laughed.
"You really do not know much, do you? Neither did I, until he explained it."
He continued.
"You know about Buddhist or Daoist prayer beads, right? The kind made of sandalwood and worn on the wrist."
"Yes," Li Daoxuan replied.
"Well, Holy Images within Beads refers to hollowing out the interior of a bead and placing a tiny statue of a deity inside. The bead is then filled with a special liquid and sealed, leaving a small viewing window. When someone looks through it, they can see the deity floating inside."
Li Daoxuan imagined it and felt genuinely impressed.
"That actually sounds incredible."
Cai Xinzhi nodded.
"Normally, artisans can only insert simple drawings. But your micro-carved statues are fully three-dimensional. They can float and rotate inside the liquid, creating a far more lifelike and impressive effect."
Li Daoxuan understood immediately.
This was a perfect example of how craftsmanship could dramatically increase value.
Cai Xinzhi added,
"I guarantee he will buy your carving for 128,888 yuan and resell the finished bead for at least 300,000 yuan."
Li Daoxuan laughed.
"That is his business skill. We only need to earn our share."
Cai Xinzhi disagreed.
"A merchant must always fight for maximum profit. I will negotiate further."
"That is your expertise," Li Daoxuan said casually. "As long as I receive 115,000 yuan, everything above that is your commission."
Cai Xinzhi was speechless.
"You really are generous," he said finally. "If you lived in ancient times, you would have been like Chai Jin from Water Margin, giving away wealth freely and earning the respect of heroes everywhere."
Li Daoxuan smiled to himself.
For the past month and a half, he had been pouring resources into the miniature world without hesitation. In return, its inhabitants revered Dao Xuan Tianzun with absolute devotion.
Being called generous was not an insult.
It was a compliment.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Within Gao Family Village, the two sculptors had become the most prominent figures after Gao Yiye and San Shier.
After repeatedly carving statues and offering them to Dao Xuan Tianzun, they had received numerous rewards.
They had been given pork, flour, rice, rapeseed oil, and even a large block of white lard.
In a year of drought, these supplies were more valuable than gold.
They traded some of these goods for other necessities and even hired fellow villagers to build simple shelters for their families.
Among all the newcomers, they were the first to have proper roofs over their heads.
Meanwhile, Zheng Daniu continued working tirelessly every day.
He chopped wood constantly and also received rewards, but he always requested the same thing.
Happy Fat Water.
While the drink brought him immense joy, no villager was willing to trade their precious resources for it.
If it was free, they would gladly drink it.
But if it required payment, they would refuse without hesitation.
Zheng Daniu did not mind.
He drank it himself, savoring every drop.
After finishing one basin, he returned to the forest and chopped more wood, earning another basin.
He cared only about his own happiness.
At last, amid this prosperous and hopeful atmosphere, the Dao Xuan Tianzun Temple was finally completed.