[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-10":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Proles",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290308,4478,"Chapter 10: Belt Gorge","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-10",10,"\u003Cp>Li Banfeng did not grow three heads; less than an hour after the train left Three-Headed Junction, the strange itch on his neck faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had gripped too hard—blood trails marred both sides of his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though no heads had actually grown, that didn’t mean the tendency wasn’t there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d stayed longer at Three-Headed Junction, Li Banfeng suspected he truly might have grown three heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had clearly heard two voices speaking beside his ears—definitely not his own muttering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t insane; the doctor had said so—he truly wasn’t mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what just happened? Why did I hear two people speaking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Am I suffering from schizophrenia?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my mind has already split, then I no longer need to worry about developing schizophrenia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s a good thing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, Li Banfeng felt considerably more at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing remained unexplained: why did three-headed people exist in this world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s call them conjoined twins—that explanation makes sense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why did I just feel the tendency to grow three heads?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much thought, Li Banfeng found two plausible explanations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First explanation: I am also a conjoined twin, and I’ve simply never known it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second explanation: Three-Headed Junction causes special changes in people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first explanation can’t be verified for now, but the second has logical flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Three-Headed Junction causes special changes, why does the train stop there at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does it change everyone, or only certain people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This question can only be verified online for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng curled into his sleeper berth, and with the rhythmic clatter of wheels on rails, pulled out his phone to search for information on Three-Headed Junction—only to find a flood of results about the Three-Headed Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turns out the Three-Headed Dragon isn’t just a monster—it’s some kind of tool…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do I really have time to read this crap?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng switched to searching for information about Train 1160.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He found nothing—no online records whatsoever about Train 1160.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the previous derailment had no news coverage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s impossible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a derailment this big have zero news reports?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could there have been no derailment at all—was Old Chen just tricking me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Banfeng tried searching again, his phone lost signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sighed, opened a previously cached novel, and quietly waited for his phone signal to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not bad—in the rhythmic rhythm of steam and machinery, reading a novel had a unique charm; Li Banfeng read for hours straight, falling back asleep as dawn broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he awoke, it was noon the next day; the train had arrived, and the announcement rang: “Ladies and gentlemen, Haichiling Station has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This station was unlike Three-Headed Junction—it was bustling; even through the glass, he could hear vendors shouting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Freshly fried mahua!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiangzi, youtiao, fried rice cakes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Millet porridge, tea eggs!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the curtain, Li Banfeng saw clusters of figures passing by the window—likely vendors pushing carts back and forth, hawking their wares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each cry seeped through his ears into his mind, then sank into his stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He desperately wanted to open the window and buy something to eat—especially two tea eggs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after much restraint, he didn’t open the window; instead, he prepared two instant noodle packets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating two, he still felt hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help but prepare another bucket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating it, he still felt hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he prepare another bucket?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—he couldn’t wait any longer!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stomach felt like a hundred hands were scratching inside, desperate to claw out through his throat for food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tore open the noodle packet, grabbed the cake, and began chewing the dry noodles with the seasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haichiling Station stopped for over twenty minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the train started again and traveled over an hour, Li Banfeng finally put down the noodle cake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The uncontrollable hunger finally subsided—this must mean he had left Haichiling’s territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight buckets of noodles sat before him—all empty; five had been eaten dry-chewed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng felt his stomach swelling in waves; he wanted to vomit, gagging for minutes—but nothing came up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The digestive burden from overeating forced Li Banfeng back onto his bunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click-click!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The message alert sounded in his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His phone signal had returned; he saw a message from He Jiaqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yaowang Gou, Li Gou, Paifang Street, Xiansuanzi Hutong, No. 21.” He Jiaqing had sent his home address to Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, come straight to my place after you get off—I can’t come pick you up tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where exactly is your place? Why are there three-headed people there?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiaqing didn’t reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yaowang Gou, Haichiling… none of these place names appeared online.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng opened his phone map, hoping to confirm his location—at least know which direction he was heading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The map showed nothing—no location data available.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustrated, Li Banfeng tossed his phone aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His phone battery was low; there was a socket beside his berth, but he was too lazy to charge it, rolled over, and fell asleep again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dusk, a sweet, cloying scent drifted through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sweet odor carried a restless energy, rousing Li Banfeng from sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So sweet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sweetness almost tangible—thick, elastic, and warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled out his ticket and checked the station name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this Lüshuiban?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is the water of Lüshuiban sweet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He checked the arrival time again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lüshuiban’s scheduled arrival was 3 p.m.; even if steam locomotives were often delayed, it was already past six.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This must be the next station after Lüshuiban—Kuaidai Kan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name was vulgar; Li Banfeng couldn’t fathom why a place called “Belt” would smell so sweet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked to the bunk’s edge, peered through the curtain to see outside, when suddenly someone knocked on the window: “Sir, need service?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What service?” Li Banfeng stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Train service, twenty minutes, two hundred—specifically to relieve your travel fatigue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only two hundred!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Liangxin  price!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fading twilight cast the silhouette of a slender figure against the curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sweet voice, the sweet powder, the girl’s sweet sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had found the source of the sweetness in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing his inner urge, Li Banfeng replied to the window: “No thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman outside didn’t leave; besides sweet sincerity, she had sweet patience: “Sir, is this your first time? Don’t worry—I won’t enter your carriage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t enter the carriage, how do you provide service?” Li Banfeng’s imagination was limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just open the window a crack—hand me what you need.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What you need…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng imagined the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood before the window, extending what was needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That doesn’t seem right…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the service isn’t satisfactory, I won’t charge you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl had said it all—honestly, how could Li Banfeng refuse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Banfeng struggled against his inner torment, through the thick curtain he already saw a shy neighbor girl, her big, watery eyes fixed on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sweet, pure voice came again from outside: “Big brother, I’m sincere—if you think I’m not good enough, I won’t take your money!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded and said, “Big brother knows, big brother knows you’re sincere! Big brother thinks you’re great!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to lose control—just as he was about to open the window, he remembered the three-headed man before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if this young lady also had three heads?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Triple the joy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One head serves, while the other two ask:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, are you satisfied?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, little sister can do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young lady, my imagination is truly barren!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After careful thought, he politely declined her earnest offer, deliberately lowering his voice to sound hoarse and worn: “We’re not suited for each other, young lady—you’re too young. Perhaps we’ll meet again under better circumstances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young lady didn’t press further; the stop was brief, and she needed to find her next customer quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Li Banfeng’s mind had settled, another woman tapped on his window—her voice, much more mature than the last: “Sir, I’m perfect for you—age matches, price matches. Fifteen minutes, one hundred yuan, service guaranteed to satisfy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam, I’m highly educated. This vulgar transaction doesn’t suit me,” Li Banfeng made his final resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Highly educated… I understand!” The woman outside adjusted her voice. “Classmates, class is starting now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mature voice carried intellect and authority, causing Li Banfeng’s body to tremble again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to see the woman outside as a young teacher in a gray suit, wearing glasses, pointing to the blackboard, gently instructing every eager student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teacher outside called out loudly: “Come, classmates, repeat after me—service!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students chanted: “Service!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teacher outside wasn’t quite satisfied: “Classmates, your voices aren’t loud enough. Again—service!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Service!” This time, the students’ voices rang out clear and uniform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students’ echoing chants reverberated outside the window, driving Li Banfeng step by step backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was nearly at his limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another intellectual summons came from outside: “Student, my teaching quality is top-tier. If you don’t believe me, open the window and see my carefully prepared textbooks and lesson plans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teacher spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You must listen to your teacher!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng placed his hand on the window, slowly feeling for the latch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trembling all over, Li Banfeng gritted his teeth and once again resisted the temptation, adjusting his throat to say: “Sister, you’ve got the wrong business—I’m a woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changing his voice was one of Li Banfeng’s specialties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once impersonated a female streamer and earned plenty of tips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman outside snorted coldly and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng washed his face with cold water, trying every means to quench the blazing fire within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t open the window—follow the train’s rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how much cold water he used, the fire kept burning in the sweet air, growing fiercer by the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng lost all control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of the belt buckle pass was too strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If just one more person came to the window to make an offer, Li Banfeng would open it without hesitation and do the business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone indeed pounded on the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s eyes turned bloodshot; he pressed both hands onto the window latch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter who it was, this business had to be done!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it cost him his life, this business had to be done!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice outside reached his ear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam, want service? Twenty centimeters, time is yours—guaranteed satisfaction before departure, only eighty yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled his hands back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This business cannot be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the man outside persistently knocking on the window, Li Banfeng realized the air wasn’t so sweet after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took out his ticket and checked his route again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correct—this place really was called Belt Buckle Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a blunt name, such a bizarre place…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiaqing, once I’ve finished helping you, I might as well just live here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next stop is Yaowang Gou. Jiaqing, we’ll meet soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Dear readers, five more minutes left—give Sha La a little encouragement, say something, anything—Sha La will take you all to Belt Buckle Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1824,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","be1ece1ea48c49a5de7e9eb5b5e6d09f921a04a23b9c899cd53e6d5142a7e5f4","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-11","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-9",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]