Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Li Banfeng sat in the wooden cabin, quietly looking at the evening newspaper Ma Wu had brought back.

Lu Dongliang's attendance at the banquet was reported. According to the newspaper's description, Lu Dongliang was still alive and in good condition, able to directly challenge He Yuxiu.

Ma Wu was very worried about this. "Yesterday," he said, "the private detective Da Boyins came to me looking for information about you. He said Lu Dongliang was still alive. I had heard similar news before and thought it was just a rumor, but it turned out to be true in today's evening paper. Lu Dongliang is indeed alive, and Da Boyins is likely employed by him to investigate your whereabouts."

Li Banfeng put down the evening newspaper.

He was certain that Lu Dongliang had died. He had just consumed a Gold Yuan Pill yesterday, which theoretically was a part of Lu Dongliang.

Where did the Lu Dongliang in the newspaper come from?

Clearly, someone was impersonating him.

But what method did they use to impersonate Lu Dongliang?

The first thing Li Banfeng thought of was Lu Xiaolan's fake skin, which she used to impersonate He Jiaqing. Li Banfeng couldn't tell the difference in appearance at all.

While Li Banfeng was still pondering, Ma Wu reminded him, "Brother Li, it's best not to go to Greenwater City recently."

"If we don't go to Greenwater City, how will we deliver the goods?"

"Don't worry about the delivery for now. Miss Chu Er came to the village today and cleared out the warehouse completely."

Seeing Ma Wu take out several boxes of banknotes, Li Banfeng was very pleased. "I knew it," he said, "you two have real feelings for each other."

Ma Wu said with a wry smile, "She even brought reporters with her. This time, I was completely dragged into it."

"Brought reporters?" Li Banfeng remembered something. "It's not much different from the situation with you sleeping with Seventeenth Sister-in-law."

Ma Wu lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. The sequence of events became clear. "Aside from my third brother, there was really no other family member who wanted to deal with me. Looking at today's situation, Chu Er has a very unusual relationship with the newspaper. It's very likely that she was the one who instructed my third brother to set me up. As soon as my third brother thought he had succeeded, Chu Er immediately sent reporters to break the story, forcing me completely out of the Ma Family mansion. As for what really happened to my third brother, Chu Er never cared."

Li Banfeng disagreed. "I suspect Chu Er did care about your third brother. She wanted this fool to take over the Ma Family as soon as possible, so he could ruin the family's wealth for her."

Ma Wu tapped his cigarette. "It doesn't necessarily have to be my third brother. After I was kicked out of the family, my second sister took over two of my dance halls. One hall has already been sold to the Chu Family, and the next is expected to be sold next month."

"So your second sister is also a fool."

Ma Wu nodded. "It appears that way. Chu Er has been buying up Ma Family businesses and wants to create the false impression that the Ma Family and Chu Family are joining forces, in order to get a piece of the Lu Family's business. This woman is truly shrewd."

After thinking for a moment, Li Banfeng also lit a cigarette. "Actually, this is a good thing."

"How so?"

"Look at the incoming goods these past few days, make a list, and tell Miss Chu Er to come and pick them up. The Liu Family won't dare to cross Miss Chu Er; they definitely won't play dirty. If Miss Chu Er agrees, then we won't have to worry about deliveries anymore."

Ma Wu laughed upon hearing this. "If she doesn't agree, I'll spread the news, and the collaboration between the Ma Family and Chu Family will fall through."

Talking with a smart person is effortless.

Still, Ma Wu was a bit worried. "I'm sure Chu Er will agree, but the Imperial Workshop will be difficult to explain. We can't just cut off their supply; after all, that's the He Family's business."

The He Family.

You can't avoid these big families no matter where you go.

Li Banfeng stubbed out his cigarette and got up. "I'll deliver the Imperial Workshop's goods."

"Brother Li, Lu Dongliang is still alive. Please take my advice: try to avoid going to Greenwater City as much as possible."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I want to see what kind of person Lu Dongliang is. Moreover, there's something else I'm not sure you're aware of—what's the deal with these newspapers? How come they dare to report on everything?"

Ma Wu actually knew about this. "In Puluo State, the press is all under the control of Ling Miaowen."

Ling Miaowen... that name sounded familiar.

"What's his relationship with the Phonograph Shop owner, Ling Miaosheng?"

"Ling Miaowen is the elder brother of Ling Miaosheng. Ling Miaosheng also has another brother named Ling Miaoying, and the three brothers each have their strengths.

"Ling Miaowen deals with newspapers, magazines, and various kinds of books. Anything related to text is within his reach.

"On the surface, Ling Miaosheng only runs a Phonograph Shop, but in reality, most of the records produced in Puluo State come from his hands. Singing Kings and Singing Empresses, bands, opera troupes—anyone with a bit of fame—all have dealings with him.

"Ling Miaoying appears to only sell cameras and projectors, but the movies, cinemas, and stars of all sizes in Puluo State are also under his control.

"In simple terms: if it's written, you consult Ling Miaowen; if it's heard, it's Ling Miaosheng; if it's visual, it's Ling Miaoying. Their background is not shallow at all."

Li Banfeng nodded. "With such a background, their cultivation levels must be significant."

Doing business in Puluo State without strong real power is impossible.

Ma Wu nodded. "The Ling Family is a Peeping Cultivation Family. It's said that the cultivation level of the three brothers is no less than the Seventh Layer, and some even say they are considered the fifth major family in Puluo State."

To grow a business, indeed, it all comes down to real power.

So what was the real power of Li Banfeng and Ma Wu at the moment?

When it came to cultivation level, everything depended on Li Banfeng, with Third Layer Home Cultivation and Second Layer Traveling Cultivator.

Ma Wu could be ignored in terms of cultivation level; he could still bluff a bit with the Ma Family's reputation.

With such strength, it was already fortunate that they could hold onto Blue Poplar Village.

Was there a shortcut to increase their power?

There actually was, but the side effects were too great.

"Brother Ma, do you have any way to resolve Pill's Poison?"

Ma Wu frowned slightly. "That's complicated. Different Elixirs require different antidotes, and Elixirs from different Medicine Shops produce different kinds of Pill's Poison. The Mysterious Flame Pill you gave me before, Brother Li, was of very pure quality. It's not difficult to resolve that one."

Li Banfeng was a little excited. "Tell me, how is it not difficult?"

"I just need to wait it out. After taking the Elixir and sleeping for a day without consuming any other Elixirs for the next three days, the Pill's Poison will gradually dissipate," he said.

Li Banfeng massaged his forehead. That was as good as not saying anything at all.

He couldn't afford to just wait; he had to return to his Portable Residence daily. If he carelessly consumed Elixirs, the Phonograph would definitely notice.

Seeing that Li Banfeng had been silent for quite some time, Ma Wu hurriedly added, "I'll keep an eye out for other methods to detoxify from Elixirs. These things won't be written in books, but I'll ask some friends about it."

Keep an eye out.

That basically meant he was just stringing me along.

Li Banfeng took out an Elixir and placed it in front of Ma Wu.

Ma Wu picked it up and glanced at it. The full golden light made his fingertips tremble.

Even a scion of a wealthy family would tremble at the sight of a Gold Yuan Pill.

"Brother Li, where did this Elixir come from?"

"A friend gave it to me, and now I'm giving it to you," he replied.

Ma Wu waved his hands repeatedly. "I can't accept this. This is a great item, one that couldn't necessarily be bought even with money."

"I'm not giving it to you for nothing. Look for a method to detoxify this Elixir," Li Banfeng said.

Only with such a huge temptation might Ma Wu truly take this matter to heart.

Back in the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng lay down in bed, ready to sleep, when he heard the Phonograph singing slowly:

"Brother, don't you forget me,

I'm your beloved Mei Niang,

I once sat upon your family's window,

Chewing on that fresh and lovely lover."

The Mei Niang Song.

Wasn't the last line originally about chewing betel nut? Why did it change to chewing on a lover?

"My dear, did you sing the wrong lyrics?" he asked.

"Oh my~ My dear husband, your Little Servant hasn't sung incorrectly; it's you, my husband, who remembered it wrong. Your Little Servant did have her fill some days ago, but you, my master, haven't bought vegetables for many days now."

"Buying vegetables is an easy matter," he responded.

"Lovers are also delicious to chew on."

"My dear, you always say such provocative things."

Li Banfeng placed his hand under the Phonograph's wooden cabinet tray and gently scratched it.

The Phonograph giggled and spat out a puff of steam, snuggling up to Li Banfeng and falling asleep.

...

「The next day, at dawn」 Liu Liangyi, the old Shopkeeper of Liu's Paper Horse Shop, accompanied by Si Wennian, the head of the Si Family, arrived at the Ma Family Mansion.

The one to receive them was Ma Junjiang, the Ma Family's fourth son.

Liu Liangyi first presented a pair of jade ornaments, expressing his intentions. Then, he told Ma Junjiang about Ma Wu taking over Blue Poplar Village.

Upon hearing this, Ma Junjiang was quite angered. "That troublemaker! I can't believe he would do such a thing."

Liu Liangyi sighed. "We didn't want to make this difficult for Young Master Wu. Blue Poplar Village was something he earned himself. We only went to him to collect the monthly protection fee as per the rules, but my son ended up being beaten into a cripple, and more than a dozen of my men were killed..."

His voice trembled as he spoke, and he was nearly in tears.

There was a trick in his words, but it didn't deceive Ma Junjiang's ears.

"Manager Liu, I didn't quite catch that just now," Ma Junjiang asked. "Are you saying that Junyang heavily injured your son and also hurt more than a dozen of your men? I know Junyang's cultivation level; he shouldn't be capable of that, should he?"

Liu Liangyi kept silent as Si Wennian spoke the truth. "The one who injured Changyu was the Chu Family's Second Miss. I don't know what kind of relationship she has with Young Master Wu, but she was willing to step in for him."

"Are you saying that Junyang sought out Miss Chu Er to specifically beat up Liu Changyu?" Ma Junjiang inquired further.

"That's..."

Ma Junjiang was not good at doing business, but he was experienced in life. Expecting to deceive him with mere rhetoric was impossible.

Without any other choice, Liu Liangyi recounted the events exactly as they had happened.

Upon hearing this, Ma Junjiang shook his head. "Old Liu, I can't help you with this. It was your son who antagonized others in the mountains and got himself into trouble with Miss Chu Er. You should go ask Miss Chu Er for a clear explanation of any grievances. As for what relationship Junyang has with Miss Chu Er, I also don't want to know. He isn't part of the Ma Family anymore; whatever he does is none of the Ma Family's business."

With the conversation reaching this point, there was no point in persisting. Ma Junjiang returned the pair of jade ornaments to Liu Liangyi, and they parted on bad terms.

Outside the gates of the Ma Family Mansion, Liu Liangyi said through gritted teeth, "He tells me to go ask Chu Er for a clear explanation? Is that even possible? What can be made clear in a discussion with that enchantress?"

Si Wennian tried to calm him. "Brother Liu, don't be hasty. It's no use talking to outsiders about this. Let's go see Second Master Lu. The Lu Family is one of our own!"

Liu Liangyi wasn't too optimistic. "If the eldest master were here, this matter could be settled. As for the second master..."

"Don't say that when you see the second master!" Si Wennian glared at him as a warning.

Actually, Si Wennian needn't have worried. Liu Liangyi would never speak out of turn in front of Lu Dongjun because Lu Dongjun didn't even see him.

After successfully impersonating Lu Dongliang the last time, Lu Dongjun thought he could pave his path forward. But he didn't expect that just a few days ago, when he wanted to go through the Lu Family's accounts, Monkey Qiu didn't even show him the books.

Qiu Zhiheng's audacity had somehow earned the support of the Lu Family. Lu Dongjun was at his limit and had been looking for an opportunity to strike at Monkey Qiu these past few days. He had no intention of meddling in the Liu Family's trifling issues.

Si Wennian tried to persuade Liu Liangyi further. "Second Master Lu is in a bad mood today; we'll discuss this another day."

Liu Liangyi snorted. "Another day? Who knows which year and month that will be!"

Si Wennian frowned. "Old Liu, if you're going to speak like that, then I don't want to be involved in your family's matter anymore."

Liu Liangyi ground his teeth. "Fine, nobody interfere. I'll handle it myself! Ma Junjiang said it himself, didn't he? Ma Junyang is not part of their Ma Family. Then let them collect his corpse!"