Flattening the Road to the West

Xu Moyang was an office drone. He died while saving someone, and when he woke up again, he was in a coffin. He climbed out and discovered he’d been dumped deep in the mountains. After finding a place where people lived, he realized that everyone here wore the ancient clothing of the Xia Kingdom and spoke a language he couldn’t understand. That was when he understood he hadn’t survived resuscitation only to be pranked: he’d arrived in another time and place. After learning the local language, Xu Moyang discovered he had arrived in the first year of Zhenguan, just after Tang Taizong, Li Shimin, took the throne. Xu Moyang: So I’ve got a farming-life story to live out? He started a food business, created jobs, and improved women’s status... After overcoming the language barrier, Xu Moyang’s life in the Tang Dynasty wasn’t entirely smooth, but it went well enough. If things continued at this pace until he grew old, society should be a much better place. That is, until the third year of Zhenguan, when he heard the story of the demon monkey beneath Five Elements Mountain. So he had transmigrated into the Tang Dynasty of Journey to the West?! Xu Moyang, a die-hard fan of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, promptly changed his plans when he learned this was the world of Journey to the West. Build roads through the mountains, turning the eighty-one thousand li journey into a smooth road. Build inns so Brother Monkey never has to sleep out in the open again. Hire demons, so those who follow the right path can earn a living and keep themselves warm through their own efforts... In short, he has one goal: his Monkey must never suffer! After working hard and harder still, Xu Moyang succeeds in bringing the hardships of Flower Fruit Mountain to an early end, so the Great Sage can set off on his Journey to the West without a worry. Going VIP on September 14, with three chapters. Reverse VIP starts from Chapter 25. Pairing: Sun Wukong and Xu Moyang, with Xu Moyang as the top. PS: The Great Sage doesn’t become a disciple, still goes on the Journey to the West, and doesn’t wear the golden headband. PPS: This is an alternate setting, and I’ll try not to involve the great aristocratic clans. PPPS: Infrastructure-building, food, business, and daily life. A long, slow-burn story. PPPPS: Inns at the time were generally called di she, di dian, or luguan. They were also called kezhan, keshe, or nilv. These aren’t incorrect terms. Theme: People must strive to improve themselves and create a happy life with their own hands.