[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-112":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},2290410,4478,"Chapter 112: Miao Sheng Phonograph Shop","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-112",112,"\u003Cp>Lushui City, lamps flickered on at dusk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After arriving in Pulu Province for over three months, this was Li Banfeng’s first time entering a city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu had said that Pulu Province’s cities might not match those of the Outer Provinces, but Lushui City’s nights still held light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng saw the light—the daily grand ceremony of lighting lamps in Lushui City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since electricity could not be transmitted over long distances, gas lamps became the stars of night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patrolmen carried torches and foot pedals, lighting streetlamps one by one along both sides of the roads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each shop sent clerks to light the signboards’ lantern boxes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gas lamps were bright, no dimmer than some electric lights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What surprised Li Banfeng even more was that gas lamps could flicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the gas outlet pipes, valves driven by steam opened and closed rhythmically, regulated by the lamps’ own heat, controlling gas flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the valve opened fully, gas surged, and the lantern boxes blazed brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the valve opened halfway, gas dwindled, and the lantern boxes dimmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some valves even contained special powders, causing the lantern boxes to shift colors continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu was right—Lushui City was a city, a big one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps its buildings weren’t as tall as those in Yuezhou, its streets not as wide, but this was a true city—Li Banfeng could smell the unique scent of urban life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tallest building was called Peace Tower, owned by the Lu family, housing a mall, restaurants, and rumored to have a cinema.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The building occupying the best land was called Paradise Gate, also owned by the Lu family, where wine flowed endlessly, dances never ceased, and countless high-slit qipaos swayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu said the most promising place was Xiaoyao Bay—home to dance emperors, singing queens, and over a hundred rising stars still being polished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiaoyao Bay had once been Ma Wu’s property; Li Banfeng had promised Ma Wu he’d visit someday, but now was not the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng now only wanted to find Miao Sheng Phonograph Shop—Ma Wu often invited them to record records, and their phonographs were reliably high-quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much searching, Li Banfeng found the shop—the storefront was small; he pushed the door open, and the interior was barely five or six square meters, holding a counter over a meter long, with two hand-cranked phonographs on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he come to the wrong place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stepped back to the doorway and glanced again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No mistake—Miao Sheng Phonograph Shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the counter sat a man wearing a black top hat, a black tailcoat, white shirt, black bow tie, clean-shaven lower lip, and a pair of mustaches curling upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the man seemed asleep; when Li Banfeng stepped back to re-read the sign, he startled him awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mustached man rose, smiling at Li Banfeng: “Sir, welcome. I am Ling Miaosheng of Miao Sheng Phonograph Shop. Which of our phonographs have you chosen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at the two frail hand-cranked phonographs on the counter and shook his head: “Not these two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng froze, staring in astonishment: “Sir, you don’t like either of these?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right!” Li Banfeng saw nothing special about them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng’s expression turned serious: “Then what you seek must be extraordinary. Please tell me—what kind of phonograph do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of phonograph?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind could this tiny shop possibly have?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “Show me your best phonograph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, sir.” Ling Miaosheng stepped from behind the counter and waved one hand—the wall suddenly lifted a curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The curtain’s color matched the wall exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just matched—it was seamless, leaving not a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the curtain was a wooden door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng pushed open the door and extended a hand inside: “Sir, please enter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng followed Ling Miaosheng through the door; beyond lay a corridor, so dimly lit that even with his vision, he could not see its end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This shop was larger than it appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its layout was unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng led Li Banfeng to a door, gently opened it, and gestured for him to move quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why be so cautious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was someone sleeping here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng walked to the room’s center and quietly lit a candle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was also large; by candlelight, Li Banfeng could barely make out the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center, an object the size of a bedside table was covered by a cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This must be the shop’s most expensive phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng felt a flicker of anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng first scattered a handful of golden grains beneath the cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s heart leapt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this fuel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this also a steam-powered phonograph?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Ling Miaosheng slowly lifted the cloth, the truth was revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph had a white body, a red head, and two bright eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “fuel” Ling Miaosheng had scattered was actually corn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph extended its head, ate the corn, gurgled, and cleared its throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng gave an order: “Sing ‘Autumn Water Beauty.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph stretched its neck and began to sing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goo-goo-goo~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing through autumn waters,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a glimpse of her graceful form,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the night grows old,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two or three lonely geese cry,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at Ling Miaosheng and asked: “Is this a… singing chicken?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng nodded: “This is our finest phonograph. It can sing over thirty songs; with patient care, it can learn many more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t understand why this rooster—crimson comb, snow-white feathers—could sing, but it was clearly not what he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Ling, I want a normal phonograph—say, one made in Amikan. Do you have any?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng nodded: “Yes, sir. This way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng followed Ling Miaosheng into another room—larger, filled with over a dozen phonographs, all from Amikan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng explained: “Amikan phonographs aren’t as durable as Che Man’s, nor as refined as England’s, but they have a unique charm—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A charm hard to describe; their products simply feel bold, unrestrained.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Ling Miaosheng pulled back a curtain, revealing the first phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a wind-up phonograph—wind it once to play one song; clear tone, lightweight, compact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng played a tune; Li Banfeng shook his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tone was too far from Niangzi’s, and the phonograph was too small—its parts wouldn’t fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng opened another phonograph—huge, nearly two meters long and wide, its turntable vaguely resembling Niangzi’s, with a massive lever attached above the cabinet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng pulled the lever; the phonograph’s belly roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a bellows mechanism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the wind’s force, a windwheel inside began to spin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng explained: “The windwheel drives a governor—no matter the wind strength, it rotates at a steady speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can pull the bellows while listening, but it’s noisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or you can pull the bellows to wind the spring, then listen—the spring holds power for up to two hours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After fully winding the spring, Ling Miaosheng wiped sweat, flipped the switch, and the phonograph began to play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, this bellows phonograph’s tone bore some resemblance to Niangzi’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the song ended, Ling Miaosheng unveiled the third model.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This one was electric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Pulu Province, electricity couldn’t be transmitted over long distances—but it could be stored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng brought a battery the size of a tea box, placed it in the phonograph’s rear compartment, flipped the switch, and the machine whirred to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Electric phonograph—stable rotation, convenient to use, but charging is troublesome. During the day, you must leave it in the sun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Li Banfeng notice the photovoltaic panels on the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng smiled: “On sunny days, one hour of charging gives eight hours of playback. On cloudy days? Hard to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it had electricity, could it charge a phone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charge for what? What use is a phone? To connect to a kuixiu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This phonograph’s design and structure were too different from Niangzi’s—Li Banfeng had no interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled back the fourth curtain—beneath it was a sewing machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng threaded the needle, gripped the flywheel, stepped on the pedal—clack-clack-clack—the sewing machine whirred, stitching fabric on the table as it sang “Roses Bloom Everywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Roses bloom everywhere, youth is everywhere, the spring wind cannot be stopped...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cuff was sewn shut, the sewing machine fell silent, and the music ceased with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng turned back and said: \"The beauty of this phonograph lies in its ability to ease fatigue from sewing work; of course, if you don’t wish to listen to music while sewing, you can wind the spring, and enjoy the music only after your work is done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although this phonograph is peculiar, its components are very similar to those of my wife’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng opened the fifth phonograph—the largest one: \"This is also a wind-powered phonograph, but different from the bellows model; it is driven by an external windmill.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, you must hang a windmill twenty-eight centimeters in diameter outside your window.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the windmill turns, you can listen to music; if you don’t wish to listen, you can wind the spring instead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once fully wound, it can play for up to twenty-two hours; as long as the wind outside doesn’t stop, the music in your home won’t stop either...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng introduced over a dozen phonograph models to Li Banfeng in one breath; Li Banfeng felt some interest in each, yet was unsatisfied with all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng looked at Li Banfeng, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: \"Sir, you wish to buy a steam-powered phonograph, don’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was startled: \"How do you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Miaosheng suddenly smiled: \"I heard the sound of steam venting—in your heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Salala heard the voices of all you readers—you readers’ favorite author is Salala, and no one else will ever dwell in your hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1623,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","886f71c04757f6aa17e6ec6241dbe5fa489a9426f910bf53cc0054b7ddb4fe03","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-113","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-111",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]