The midsummer of Thousand Canals was scorching hot, with heat waves rolling endlessly.

After sunset, the heat gradually subsided. Villagers, having finished their arduous labor, gathered around the ancient well to enjoy the cool evening air.

The wind blew through the haystacks as stars began to shine across the sky. Old men sat on wooden stools smoking dry tobacco, children ran about in groups, and women laughed as they fanned themselves.

Ever since the village had enough to eat, these rare moments of relaxation and joy became part of their daily life.

Everyone crowded around Carpenter Liu’s family, asking all sorts of questions about the new Agricultural Official. Exclamations of amazement frequently rose from the crowd.

“Can’t the Immortal Official use mystical arts to make it rain? Why must we still wait?”

In the past, representatives of wealthy clans and gentry would always accompany the Immortal Official. Now, it was Carpenter Liu who had the most interaction with those “Immortal Masters and Immortal Ladies.”

Liu Er pondered briefly: “The Immortal Official isn’t omnipotent. Cultivators have limited spiritual powers; there are always things they cannot accomplish. If their spiritual energy is depleted, they become just like us. Some even have frames thinner than ours.”

This explanation made the common people, who naturally feared cultivators, feel both curious and apprehensive.

The village chief worriedly asked, “Has Immortal Song used up all his spiritual power to bring water? How will he live in the future? You just said he’s still very young.”

Little Tiger timidly asked, “When an Immortal Official’s power is used up, does he have to return to heaven?”

Liu Er patted his head reassuringly, “The Immortal Official won’t leave. Just as strength replenishes after being exhausted, so does spiritual power. Just wait a while.”

Wait, always waiting.

Begging deities by jumping rope or kowtowing is called “pleading.”

When there’s a prior agreement and the other party will certainly come, when there’s hope and expectation, that’s called “waiting.”

Carpenter Liu looked up at the sky, his expression puzzled: “I don’t understand why Immortal Song is waiting for rain, but I’m sure there’s a reason.”

“Then let’s wait with him,” the village chief announced loudly. “From now on, everyone who’s free come out here every evening at the hour of Si to wait together!”

“Agreed!”

Not just in Xiaolan Village, but from south to north, from the edge of the Poisonous Miasma Forest to beyond the Great Wasteland Marsh, thousands of households across Thousand Canals brought their young and old out of their homes each night, gathering in open areas to wait together.

Night fell heavily, sometimes with dense clouds, sometimes with a sky full of stars. If no rain came after an hour, everyone would disperse, only to come out again the next night.

The news kept coming from the Celestial City: “Immortal Song is still waiting tonight. He hasn’t given up.”

…

During daylight, dust flew along both banks of the riverbed, where work continued with great enthusiasm.

Since the first few canals had successfully connected to water, farmers from subsequent villages had voluntarily come to help.

The summer heat was stifling, the sun too harsh to look at directly. Common people without spiritual energy to protect them sweated profusely, their bare backs reddened and peeling from the heat.

Although outer sect disciples who cultivated ice-attribute techniques helped by using their skills to lower the temperature, their low cultivation level limited the effectiveness. Instead, they were comforted by the river workers:

“Immortal Master, don’t trouble yourself! In the past during the hottest times, we still harvested wheat in the fields. Save your spiritual power!”

That day, Ji Chen forcibly dragged Meng He Ze to the riverbank to see his sister Ji Xing.

But seeing such a large-scale construction site for the first time, his eyes darted everywhere, curious about everything.

“The sun gets more scorching each day. Even with good food and drink, with grain and meat, people will soon be unable to work,” Ji Chen squinted at the sun.

Ji Xing said, “That’s not true. I think everyone is still very enthusiastic.”

“The sooner this section is completed, the sooner the sluice gate at Hongfu can be reopened,” Xu Kanshan explained.

Ji Chen still shook his head. He always felt he could learn from the reward mechanism of the “Grand Meeting.”

“Money alone is never enough; only honor can truly unite people’s hearts. After I won first place in the literary exam, things became very different.” He grabbed Meng He Ze, placing his hand on the other’s shoulder, “Brother Meng, you won first place in the martial exam. Don’t you agree? What’s the meaning of money? It’s meaningless, right? Not as good as winning first place.”

Hmph, trying this tactic with me again?

Meng He Ze gave him a cold glance, then turned and shouted, “Hunting team, follow me! We’re starting work too!”

A group of outer sect disciples flexed their muscles eagerly and departed grandly.

Ji Chen refused to give up, shouting at his back, “Whoever hunts the best, I’ll award them a medal too—”

Meng He Ze turned back, made an uncivil hand gesture, and silently cursed.

Ji Chen, not having spent much time mingling with lower-level cultivators, completely misunderstood and returned a cupped fist salute.

Meng He Ze was thoroughly exasperated this time.

The idea had been Ji Chen’s, but his handwriting was too ugly, so he had to ask Song Qian Ji to write it.

Song Qian Ji was always tolerant of their novel ideas. It happened that he was making spare light-gathering talismans for the hunting team, and in between drawing the talismans, he picked up his brush and left eight characters of calligraphy. Ji Chen was delighted and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

Song Qian Ji smiled, “It’s nothing worth thanking me for. By the way, Liu Hongshan has given ten carts of silk. Take them and use them.”

“Thank you, Daoist Friend Liu,” Ji Chen praised sincerely. “He truly is a good person!”

By now, he no longer complained about Liu Hongshan serving “coarse tea and strong wine.” After all, even the best magical tools of cultivators would be useless if awarded to ordinary people.

When the silk arrived, the team of four who had been delivering chickens immediately organized an award ceremony, selecting the most diligent, fastest, and best river workers to receive medals and prizes.

Each time Zhou Xiaoyun presented an iron medal, Ji Xing would say, “Thank you for your contribution to Thousand Canals. Let’s applaud!”

The silk shimmered like clouds, glowing in the sunlight.

Waves of applause grew increasingly enthusiastic. Whether they received awards or not, everyone’s eyes were moist:

“Such fine Hongfu silk was probably only used by high officials in the past.”

“In this difficult life, no matter how hard and bitter, who has ever thanked us before?”

After the award ceremony, the fourth team took a rest day. Team Leader Li Hu carried his fully loaded shoulder pole, sat on a donkey cart, and returned home at dusk with a full load.

His wife was overjoyed: “You’re back? Are you hungry? Come eat quickly.” She took the shoulder pole and was startled: “Why did you bring back so much meat?”

“Not just pork. Don’t rush to eat yet. Let me show you something wonderful!” The man mysteriously took down the bundle from his back and opened it with slightly trembling hands.

The silk fabric caught the last rays of sunset, its luster dazzling, filling the humble room with radiance.

The woman’s whole body trembled, and she swallowed involuntarily: “What is this? It seems to glow.”

“Hongfu silk!”

The woman murmured, “This, this is Hongfu silk? It’s truly smoother than water. My hands are rough; I’m afraid I’ll damage it. You said only the highest officials could wear such material.”

The man held her hand to touch it: “What officials? There are no officials anymore! Tomorrow, we’ll invite the tailor Zhang from the neighboring village to make bedding, and new clothes for you and the children.”

What woman doesn’t love pretty colors? The woman stroked the silk back and forth, her expression dazed.

Suddenly her expression changed: “Such a fine thing, where did you get it?”

Li Hu straightened his back proudly: “Of course, it was awarded by the Immortal Official!”

The woman half-believed and half-doubted: “How could such a good thing happen? Everyone goes to work the same, why do only you have it and no one else?” She became anxious, “You should return it quickly! The Immortal Masters are such good people, how could we take their things?”

“It is my award!” The man also became anxious and took out an iron medal from his bosom. “See for yourself!”

“I can’t read,” the woman said disapprovingly. “It’s black and heavy, who knows what’s written on it?”

The man brought over a candlestick to show her: “This is called a medal. Only two hundred were issued—truly a rare item. These eight characters were personally written by Immortal Song. On the front, ‘Pioneer of River Opening.’ On the back, ‘Light Shines on Thousand Canals.’ Look here, there’s even the seal of the Immortal Official’s Manor in the corner.”

“Oh my!” The woman snatched it, exclaiming happily, “Pioneer of River Opening? It’s for your achievements?!”

“Rewards based on merit, given only to those who perform the best! I’ve already decided, I’ll pass it to our son, who will pass it to our grandson, who will pass it down further. Generation after generation, they’ll know their ancestor was the ‘Pioneer of River Opening’ whose light shone on Thousand Canals.”

“Written by the Immortal Official?” The woman held the iron medal, examining it back and forth, wiping it repeatedly: “It truly is a treasure. Even if someone offered me more meat or more silk, I wouldn’t trade it.”

The next day, announcements from the township reached the village. For half a month, Li Hu’s home received visitors daily, with people from neighboring villages coming out of curiosity and leaving with envy.

“We heard your village has a Pioneer of River Opening. Let us see him!”

“That’s what having promise and ability looks like.”

“Huayan Village has one too. As soon as he returned to the village and showed his medal, his marriage proposal was immediately accepted. The next day, he carried rice, grain, and two pieces of silk to propose to the girl. That silk was so bright and shiny, that the whole village came out to see it!”

“When will the Immortal Official’s Manor recruit workers again? After the river is completed, will they build bridges? Will they dig mountain paths?”

“If there are Pioneers of River Opening, there must be Pioneers of Bridge Building, right? Only when you earn a ‘Light Shines on Thousand Canals’ medal can you truly bring glory to your ancestors.”

The construction teams’ enthusiasm reached unprecedented heights, and progress became even faster than before. Everyone seemed to have inexhaustible strength and spirit.

Ji Chen was greatly encouraged and, full of ambition, also made an iron medal for Meng He Ze and sent it to the Poisonous Miasma Forest.

Meng He Ze had just killed a first-rank Crimson Flame Great Snake and was covered in blood. Leaning against a large tree, he lazily wiped his sword while complaining:

“Young Master Ji, has your brain been kicked by a beast? What use is this thing? It’s not a magical tool, it’s heavy, what’s the point of carrying it? Will it increase my burden and slow me down?”

“This is honor, and honor is priceless. A cultivator doesn’t fear this little weight.”

“‘Expert Hunter’? This writing is too… too…”

Words failed him.

Meng He Ze’s handsome eyebrows and eyes wrinkled together in displeasure.

Ji Chen touched his head: “This one is specially made for you. I didn’t want to trouble Brother Song with such a small matter. I wrote it myself, so please bear with it.”

Meng He Ze slapped his forehead and stuck on a miasma-avoiding talisman: “Bear with your head! The Poisonous Miasma Forest is not a place for you to play. Leave!”

Despite his harsh words, he still tucked the iron medal into his robe.

Ji Chen: “You’ve already met my sister. Last time I talked to you about my sister’s matter… Hey, Brother Meng, don’t leave, let’s talk more.”

As one chased and the other fled, birds and beasts in the forest scattered at the sound.