Chapter 159: The Hidden Dangers of Absolute Equality

Inside the carpenter's workshop, provisions and supplies were piled up like mountains, yet Sima Ge could not muster even a shred of joy.

A shop assistant, upon seeing the vast mountains of gold and silver, was consumed by greed. Finding Sima Ge entirely indifferent, he felt greatly perplexed.

The assistant asked, "They always say that men die for wealth just as birds die for food. Yet, Master, you have come into such immense riches, why do you not look the least bit happy?"

Sima Ge replied, "Far from being happy, I find myself wondering whether this is a burden rather than a blessing."

The assistant protested, "How could you call this a burden? A normal person with this much money would be out wandering the streets, living it up and enjoying life to the fullest! Who would walk around with a gloomy, miserable face every single day the way you do?"

Sima Ge sighed, "That day, a wise sage enlightened me, showing me the path to human happiness and the true direction of societal development—it left me profoundly shaken. Now that I have attained this wealth, I am merely keeping watch over it on behalf of everyone in the commercial district; it does not truly belong to me."

The assistant picked up a gold nugget, noticing the place of origin and intended purpose clearly engraved upon its surface. In all his life, he had never truly laid eyes on such rare treasures; silver coins and gold blocks were already things beyond imagination to him. As he stared at the gold, a strange, knowing smile crept across his face.

Sensing something amiss, Sima Ge instantly slapped the gold nugget out of the assistant's hand. It clattered loudly onto the floor, greatly startling the man.

Sima Ge warned sternly, "I have told you before, we are not here to play the fool. The money and the treasures serve another purpose entirely, and you must not harbor evil thoughts toward them!"

Meanwhile, Yanshan was stealthily observing the vicinity of Sima Ge's residence. Ah Zhen came to rendezvous with him, and the two of them covertly investigated Sima Ge's recent movements.

Yanshan asked, "Is there anything worth noting?"

Ah Zhen answered, "Nothing."

Observing Ah Zhen's swaying posture, Yanshan relied on the skills of reading people that he had honed over many years. He patted Ah Zhen on the shoulder and said earnestly:

Although we haven't known each other long, Ah Zhen, what kind of person do you think I am?

Ah Zhen offered a stiff, joyless smile. In his heart, Yanshan remained a potential rival. Within the All-Things House, one had to highlight their own value in order to secure a higher status. Although Luo Gan was still a relatively obscure figure, through the transaction information, Ah Zhen had found an avenue to put his specialized skills to use, and he needed to demonstrate his worth within the All-Things House. Yanshan harbored similar intentions and shared a somewhat comparable situation, leading Ah Zhen to view him, to a greater or lesser extent, as a competitor.

Ah Zhen replied, "You? I haven't really thought about it carefully. I suppose you can be considered a reliable person."

Yanshan said, "There is no need for us to put on false pleasantries. In a sense, we are in a competitive relationship."

Ah Zhen wore a look of utter disbelief, acting as though such a thought had never crossed his mind, and expressed surprise at Yanshan's words. This did not strike Yanshan as strange; after all, for an intelligence operative like Ah Zhen, easily betraying one's emotions would make investigative work rather difficult to sustain.

Yanshan continued, "On the other hand, however, we are quite likely to become mutually beneficial partners. Although the tasks we handle differ, our ultimate goal is the same."

Inside the carpenter's workshop stood a large wooden statue dedicated to worship. Xiao Zhi had once gazed up at it here, coming to pay homage to it every day. Carpenters within Chang'an City tended to hold great faith in such icons, believing that only a pious artisan could craft items of supreme quality, whereas ordinary mortals, even if endowed with nimble hands, could produce nothing more than mediocre waste.

Thus, the renowned grand wooden statue of the carpenter rested right here. Legends surrounding this wooden statue were manifold; one of the more credible accounts claimed that the sculpture portrayed Lu Ban. According to historical records handed down from ancient times, Lu Ban was indeed acknowledged as a grand master among traceable historical figures. In other shops, some carpenters worshipped Lord Guan, believing that Guan Yu could oversee all affairs under heaven; even in pleasure quarters, statues of Lord Guan could be found. By comparison, Lu Ban's status was somewhat lower.

Sima Ge instructed the others, "You must wash the floors here every day, and pay strict attention to the cleanliness of the shrine. If anything happens to the statue of Lu Ban, you will be held solely responsible!"

The men chorused their assent. Feeling rather dispirited, Sima Ge turned and walked away alone.

As he walked down the street, Sima Ge noticed that there were no longer any beggars to be seen, nor anyone in ragged attire. Everyone wore garments that were largely similar, with little distinction between them.

This was the bright side that he had envisioned, making Sima Ge feel that the ideal of universal harmony might actually be attainable. Yet, from his perspective, the most pressing issue to resolve was the continuous closure of shops one after another. After all, proprietors and assistants now led virtually identical lives, and while he could indeed manage their finances and goods, what would happen in the long run if supplies or food ran short?

The proprietor of the steamed bun shop seemed to have not opened for business in three days, though assistants could still be seen wandering about inside. Sima Ge stepped forward to strike up a conversation.

The bun shop assistant greeted him, "Oh! Master Sima Ge, what brings you here?"

Sima Ge replied, "I am no high-ranking official; surely I am allowed to walk through my own neighborhood street?"

The assistant chuckled, "Of course you can walk here! It's just that there isn't much to see now, and we aren't even able to offer you any steamed buns."

Sima Ge felt a twinge of doubt. After all, the bun shop had originally been the primary supplier; the proprietor was diligent and capable, single-handedly managing the food supply for the entire street. But now, having vanished into thin air, a restless intuition stirred uneasily in Sima Ge's heart.

Sima Ge asked, "Where is your proprietor? I haven't seen him for several days, and why isn't the shop open for business?"

The assistant sighed, "Ah, don't even mention our boss. He went out a few days ago and never came back. We simply can't produce that many steamed buns on our own! Every day people hound us for food, but a person only has two hands—how are we supposed to keep up with all the work?"

Through these words, Sima Ge suddenly realized why the bun shop proprietor had vanished without a reason. Previously, the burden had fallen entirely upon him alone to shoulder everything, while the shop assistants had offered little help. Over time, resentment was bound to build up. What worried him now was not merely where the man had gone, but rather the brewing turmoil if the underlying issue remained unresolved.

Sima Ge probed, "Let me ask you this: during this past period, was there anything unusual about your proprietor?"

The assistant shook his head, "Unusual? Nothing out of the ordinary. Once someone becomes a boss, how could they have so many unhappinesses? Speaking of which, we truly have Master Sima Ge to thank! Thanks to you, people like us are finally able to walk openly under the sun for all to see. Since everyone is equal now, how could we possibly have any problems left?"

Seeing the food supplies inside the shops dwindle day by day while the commercial district failed to replenish them, Sima Ge forced a superficial smile onto his face, though he was inwardly overwhelmed with gloom.