The two fools began to play wildly.

Gao Chuwu continuously made various turns, testing the solar car’s steering capability. Gradually, he grasped the trick, learning precisely how sharp a turn to make at which speeds.

Slowly, he stopped flipping the car over altogether.

Meanwhile, Zheng Daniu experimented with how different openings of the sunshade affected the car’s speed. He learned when to accelerate and when to decelerate.

Originally, farmland surrounded the village, offering little space for such play. But the severe drought had left the fields barren—just cracked, dried yellow earth—which actually made perfect terrain for their experiments.

The two fools played all day until sunset, the sunlight fading to a weak glow, until finally the car wouldn’t run.

“Ah? Trouble!” Zheng Daniu yelled. “No light! The Deity said this car runs on light. Now the sun’s down, it won’t budge!”

Gao Chuwu: “Oh no! We’re still five or six hundred feet from the village! What do we do? Leave it here and walk back?”

Zheng Daniu shook his head violently: “What if someone steals it overnight? Such a fine magical car—if thieves got it, I’d rather just die!”

Gao Chuwu nodded: “True. If it’s stolen, I’d rather die too. We must get it back to the village!”

They locked eyes and declared simultaneously: “Then we’ll just push it!”

“Woof, let’s push it then.”

Strength wasn’t lacking for these two fools. Lately, they’d stuffed themselves with big hunks of meat daily, even bulking muscle. Rolling up their sleeves, they bared their gleaming arms and strained together: “Heave-ho! One, two, three… PUSH!”

It moved! … Or not by any devilish chance!

That massive cart—six meters long, five meters wide, and three meters tall—even with wheels beneath, was no burden for two simpletons to shift.

Yet after pushing fruitlessly until every muscle burned and sweat poured like rain, it hadn’t budged an inch.

Laughter echoed from the hillside nearby. Turning, they saw a group of labor offenders lounging there.

Their day’s labor complete, they were enjoying a brief “free air” break before returning to the colorful-walled compound. None were foolish enough to flee—escape meant no food.

Gao Chuwu shouted: “Hey! Labor offenders! Come help push this cart!”

They whistled mockingly. A bold one retorted: “Our punishment labor’s done! The Deity decrees half an hour free time—wander and rest as we please! No way we’ll help you push!”

Gao Chuwu: “Huh…?”

Zheng Daniu: “I know how to make them push it.”

Gao Chuwu: “???”

Zheng Daniu: “Labor offenders only get fed enough to keep working—no extra rewards. They’ve nothing?”

Gao Chuwu nodded: “Right. Nothing at all.”

Zheng Daniu: “Then it’s easy.”

He bellowed toward the hillside: “ANYONE WHO HELPS ME PUSH THIS CART GETS ONE LIANG OF CHICKEN STRIPS!”

The laughter died instantly. Every labor offender froze, as if paralyzed. Momentarily, the entire scene became a “non-still image” on the hillside.

This bizarre stillness lasted through exactly thirteen blinks of an eye.

You didn’t really count thirteen blinks to time this, did you?

A labor offender sprang right up: “I’ll do it, I’ll do it!”

Another labor offender jumped very high: “I’ll come too.”

With a rumble from the hillside, over a dozen labor offenders ran down. These dozen or so people joined forces, some pushing from behind, some pushing from the side, and others taking ropes to the front to pull. Immediately, the situation changed.

That huge solar car was pushed swiftly by these dozen people. In the blink of an eye, it reached Gaojia Fortress and stopped beside the main gate.

After finishing the job, the labor offenders looked eagerly at Zheng Daniu, fearing he might go back on his word.

Zheng Daniu grinned widely: “Relax, I won’t lie.”

He went back home and grabbed a large handful of dried chicken strips.

That fellow Zheng Daniu was very strong, willing to take on responsibilities, and often earned merits. Whether it was chopping trees, fighting battles, escorting Thirty-Two to the county town, or saving Wang Er, Zheng Daniu was always involved in every major event. Thus, he frequently received rewards.

At first, when he asked for happy fat water, Li Daoxuan satisfied him every time. But after handing it out several times, it didn’t feel right anymore. Although happy fat water tasted good, it needed to be consumed moderately, as eating too much of any food was harmful.

So Li Daoxuan began controlling his happy fat water and instead rewarded him with various chaotic equipment. Zheng Daniu didn’t like these items, so he piled them at home with no useful place for them. Now, however, he had found a way to utilize them.

Each of the dozen labor offenders received one liang of chicken jerky, treasuring it immensely.

They carefully hid the chicken jerky in their ragged burlap clothes—some tucked it into their sleeves, some hid it in their chest pockets, some stuffed it into their belts…

To the natives of Gaojia Village, this was nothing special, but for these poverty-stricken labor offenders, it was a huge fortune. Not only was it meat, but it also had salt on it. Eating one piece replenished meat and salt, was nutritious, and brought joy that surpassed even the immortals.

“Two fools… uh… big brothers.” The labor offenders immediately said flattering words, showing ingratiating expressions toward Zheng Daniu and Gao Chuwu: “From now on, during our routine break time, just feel free to boss us around. Hand any tasks over to us, and we’ll guarantee to do them perfectly.”

Zheng Daniu laughed heartily: “Good. If our car can’t run again tomorrow, I’ll come right back to get you to push it.”

The labor offenders were thrilled: “Yes, definitely, it’s a deal.”

They piled on compliments, praising the two fools as the smartest men in the world. Then, happily, with their one liang of chicken jerky, they returned inside the multicolored wall, walking with newfound confidence.

These dozen or so men became the wealthiest among the labor offenders.

In this year of severe drought, carrying one liang of salted chicken jerky on their bodies.

Wasn’t that worth boasting about?

Watching their retreating figures, Gao Chuwu scratched his head: “Hah! I feel like something’s strange. What is it?”

Zheng Daniu said: “I also think something feels odd. Where is it though?”

Gao Chuwu slapped his forehead: “Ah, I’ve got it.”

Zheng Daniu said: “Huh? What did you think of? I haven’t figured it out yet.”

Gao Chuwu replied: “I’ve been driving the car all day and forgot to eat.”

Zheng Daniu grabbed Gao Chuwu’s shoulder: “Chuwu, you’re so clever. Only after your reminder did I realize my stomach is starving. No wonder I’ve been feeling weird this whole time.”

Gao Chuwu said: “Come on, let’s go eat at my place. I have so much cured meat there. Can’t finish it, not possible to finish it.”

Zheng Daniu replied: “Hahaha, let’s go.”