Just as Li Daoxuan was savoring the fine noodles offered by the little figures…

At the Micro-sculpting Art Exhibition in Magic City.

A large crowd gathered around a display booth, discussing animatedly.

At the center of the booth sat a miniature Taoist temple, only as big as a fist, tiny and adorable.

An old, wealthy man who enjoyed collecting micro-sculptures passed by, noticing the crowd, and couldn’t help but squeeze through. “Everyone, what are you looking at? Such a commotion?”

Most of the onlookers recognized the old man and greeted him warmly. “Old Li! You’re here for the art exhibition too? We’re admiring a fascinating piece. Why not join us for a closer look?”

Old Li chuckled cheerfully. “Anything drawing such a large crowd must be extraordinary. I definitely need a good look.”

He glanced briefly at the small temple in the booth’s center. Its plaque read “Dao Xuan Deity Cave.” He couldn’t help but ponder for a few seconds. “Who is this Dao Xuan Deity? I’ve never heard of this deity.”

Others around laughed. “None of us have either. Probably just a randomly made-up name. That’s not the important part. Check out the craftsmanship of this temple instead.”

Old Li looked more closely. What he hadn’t noticed before now startled him.

The technique of this temple was intriguing.

Old Li exclaimed, “Usually, miniature stone carvings are carved from a single block of stone. But this small temple has a foundation built from tiny pebbles, even using small rocks and wood sticks. Good heavens… this… this technique…”

Someone beside him added, “Yes, the upper wooden section isn’t carved from a large block either. It’s assembled from countless small wooden sticks and chips. The method used is incredibly intricate, absolutely dazzling.”

Old Li took out a magnifying glass for a closer inspection. “Through the windows, you can see a statue inside. The craftsmanship of this statue is extraordinary too! So detailed, even strands of hair are rendered.”

“The tables, chairs, and benches inside are all meticulously carved. The tiny patterns on them are detailed to a breathtaking degree.”

“Look at this amusing detail,” Old Li laughed, pointing. “On the table inside the temple, there’s even a miniature book. Its cover says ‘Hanyu Pinyin’. Hahaha, killing me with laughter!”

He hadn’t mentioned it before, but now someone asked, “Could the pages actually be turned? Are there characters written inside each page?”

No one dared to try flipping its pages; it was an exhibition piece. Only a fool would actually touch the displayed objects. However, peering through a magnifying glass revealed the tiny book indeed had separate pages—layers of paper stacked to form a book.

“Incredible skill!” Old Li sighed in admiration. “This work is excellent. Not only is the technique first-rate, but it’s bold and expressive, carrying the distinct, playful mischievousness of a young artist. Who is the creator?”

Circling the booth, he found the artist’s introduction: “Li Daoxuan, male, from Shuangqing City, 22 years old. Occupation: freelance designer.”

Below was a contact number, not Li Daoxuan’s, but his agent Cai Xinzi’s.

Old Li immediately dialed. “Hello? Are you Mr. Cai, agent of the new generation micro-sculpting master Li Daoxuan? I wish to inquire if his Dao Xuan Deity Cave is for sale.”

Cai Xinzi replied, “We are just participating in the exhibition, not intending to sell.”

“Not selling?” Old Li grew instantly anxious. “Ten million! I offer ten million!”

Cai Xinzi’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “You… you… just a moment… I need to process this…”

…

Li Daoxuan was busy digesting gourd-shaped chicken, a renowned dish of Shaanxi cuisine. He had finally managed to order it from a delivery platform. Gripping a chicken leg, he dipped it in chili flakes and gnawed happily.

Inside the crate, things were bustling these days!

The “Gaojia Business Circle,” barren for a long time, was finally beginning to thrive.

The catalyst for this vitality was undoubtedly the newly arrived 3,000 refugees from Qingjian County.

These 3,000 newcomers had arrived empty-handed. Apart from the small bundles carried during their uprising and the hoes they held as weapons, they possessed nothing.

Though Li Daoxuan had arranged plastic houses for them, these houses were empty. They needed to acquire too many things.

Those Qingjian County refugees doing “daily-paid” jobs, upon completing their work and receiving their wages, promptly spent their pay on necessities.

They went to carpenters for wooden basins and buckets; to elders for bamboo baskets and hampers; to the Gaojia Village official warehouse for bolts of cotton cloth; to the artisans’ well for kitchen knives…

This flurry of commercial transactions quickly alerted the more enterprising minds. Since you need these items, why wait for you to come to me?

The Old Village Chief from Gaojia was the first to react. Carrying many bamboo baskets and hampers he had woven, he set up a small stall in the “food market” section of the Gaojia Business Circle, laying out an assortment of bamboo products.

His initiative drew in numerous elders from Short-term Workers Village, and even elders who’d come from Qingjian County, everyone starting to sell.

Then, other artisans caught on and followed suit. They moved into the marketplace, occupied spots, and started setting up stalls.

Thus, the Gaojia Village business circle became truly alive. After finishing a day’s work, the little figures would head to the Gaojia Business Circle in the evening, browsing the stalls, looking for anything they needed.

Initially, they engaged in barter trade, but quickly found it too cumbersome. Currency was much better for transactions. Soon, copper coins and pieces of silver began circulating…

More agile minds started considering renting larger shops to run bigger businesses.

The doctor from Short-term Workers Village, who had treated Zhang Laowu, quickly rented the medical clinic in the business circle. The “Gaojia Clinic” was born.

Next, a villager opened a noodle shop selling “hand-pulled noodles.”

Led by Artisan Master Gao Yiyi and using the “official status” of the artisans’ well, they established a “village-run blacksmith’s shop” within the marketplace, selling kitchen knives, sickles, hoes, and more.

The concept of “village-run” stores quickly caught on. Paper makers rented a shop to sell paper; a lamp maker opened a shop to sell lamps…

Guided by Li Daoxuan, the income from these village-run stores flowed into the village treasury, but the artisans received a share based on sales, significantly boosting their incomes again.

Women also wanted to start businesses but felt shy about appearing in public. They pooled their money to buy cotton from the village treasury, spun it into cloth, gathered the cloth, and handed it over to the Saint Lady. Opening a “Saint Lady Cotton Cloth Store” under Gao Yiye’s name.

The tiny Gaojia Village was thriving brilliantly, vibrant and bustling.

Li Daoxuan was watching this unfold with great satisfaction when his phone rang. As soon as he answered, Cai Xinzi’s frantic voice erupted on the other end: “There’s an old rich guy offering ten million yuan for your little temple! My god, do we sell? Do we actually sell? I’m absolutely freaking out!”

Li Daoxuan responded: “Holy shit! Sold!”