Chapter 147: A Triumphant Opening

The wild boar dug for an hour, digging a five-meter-deep pit, but found no trace of the pioneer settler.

He did not give up; he climbed out of the deep pit and lay flat on the wasteland to rest, when he saw a tall, slender woman half-rising, using over a dozen arms to apply cosmetics and groom herself.

This was a centipede, and she was an old acquaintance of the wild boar.

The wild boar roared: "I haven't left yet—how dare you rush in?"

The centipede laughed: "Old Pig, look closely—I still have one leg outside the boundary, so I haven't entered your plot. But come to think of it, you've been searching here all night; it's time you made room for someone else."

Old Pig snorted: "What's the hurry? There's still half the day left!"

According to the Land God's rules, only one outsider may enter a one-li plot at a time to test the pioneer settler, and each outsider may remain on the wasteland for no more than one day and one night.

Before this period ends, there are only two ways to force the wild boar to leave early: one, the pioneer settler loses the trial and is completely wiped out, and the wild boar wins decisively.

Two, the wild boar loses to the pioneer settler, abandons the trial, and withdraws on his own.

Neither of these two scenarios is likely to happen now.

Because no one is fighting the wild boar.

So they'd just have to wait.

The wild boar kept digging until nightfall, and when the time was up, he left grumpily.

"I say there's no pioneer settler here—the Land God is just tricking us," the wild boar grumbled.

The centipede woman sneered: "Go complain to the Land God then. Tell him there's no pioneer settler here—maybe he'll reward you handsomely."

The wild boar had no interest in bickering with the centipede; he turned back to glance at the wasteland, his eyes filled with resentment.

"If you're useless, just leave already," the centipede woman urged impatiently. "Pioneer settlers who can pull off tricks like this are always scheming—you won't get anything from them. Wait till you meet one without schemes, then try your luck again."

The wild boar didn't go far; he sat beside the boundary, watching silently, determined to find out where the pioneer settler was.

The centipede woman entered the plot. Unlike the wild boar, she didn't charge around blindly; after carefully observing the terrain, she shook her body and released dozens of tiny centipedes.

Seeing this, the wild boar roared: "Only one person is allowed in at a time! You brought all these children—that's breaking the rules!"

The centipede sneered: "Open your eyes and look closely—these aren't my children. These are my legs!"

Most of her legs had vanished; these tiny centipedes were all her limbs transformed.

Any slightest movement on the land would escape the centipede woman's sight.

…

Inside the Portable Dwelling, Li Banfeng was bored out of his mind.

A Traveling Cultivator's cultivation could be temporarily sustained by elixirs, but his nature couldn't be suppressed.

He wanted to go out for a walk.

The phonograph urged him: "Master, you've rested long enough—it's time to go buy groceries."

Li Banfeng stepped out the door—and a wave of intense malice struck him face-on.

The centipede woman, who had been lying in the center of the plot, eyes closed, sensing the presence of a living being, instantly opened her eyes and crawled toward the Portable Dwelling.

Too bad she'd lost too many legs—her speed was slow.

Li Banfeng reacted just as quickly—he slammed the door of the Portable Dwelling shut.

The centipede woman lunged at empty air and found no trace of the pioneer settler.

The phonograph sniffed the air and said to Li Banfeng: "Just now, it seemed a worm was trying to crawl in, Master. Let her come if she wants—I'm not picky."

"What's the point of a worm? Hard shell, too many spines, and hardly any meat."

His wife chuckled softly: "The one who eats flesh is that vile woman, Red Lotus—I eat souls. Spines don't scare me."

Li Banfeng wasn't worried about the worm—he was worried the Land God would see it and accuse him of cheating.

Better not wander outside; it's rare to have a few peaceful days at home.

Li Banfeng sat by the table, lifted a cup of tea, and slowly flipped through the newspaper.

…

One day remained until the Bailamen officially opened, yet Yang Yanzheng still couldn't find Ma Wu.

"Young Lady, I've been to Lan Yang Village three times—Master Wu isn't in the village. He's gone to the New Land."

"What's he doing in the New Land? Hunting? He's already the boss of Lan Yang Village—why hunt anymore?" Chu Er expressed deep skepticism.

Skepticism didn't help—Yang Yanzheng truly couldn't find Ma Wu.

"We shouldn't have let him live comfortably—he should've been begging on the streets, then he wouldn't have had so many airs!" In a fit of rage, Chu Er stabbed a hole in her own face with a dagger.

After sulking for a while, Chu Er turned her anger on Yang Yanzheng: "You've been hiring useless people—none of them are any good. Ma Wu didn't even have a cultivation level, yet you still couldn't control him!"

At this point, Yang Yanzheng had to defend himself: "Young Lady, if we were only dealing with Ma Wu, those few people would've been enough. But who knew Li Qi would show up out of nowhere? That's why they all got wiped out."

"Li Qi…" Chu Er always reminded herself to pay attention to this man, yet she always unconsciously forgot him.

After a moment of silence, Chu Er suddenly smiled: "He's an interesting man. On opening day, invite him over too."

"I invited him—I sent the same invitation. But Li Qi isn't in the village either. He went to the New Land with Master Wu."

Chu Er smeared some powder over her wound: "They both went? No one stayed behind to watch the house? Is there something valuable in the New Land?"

While pondering this, a servant announced: Lu Family's Second Young Master, Lu Yuanhai, has come to call.

Chu Er frowned slightly, guessing the man's intent; she ordered a maid to brew tea and told Yang Yanzheng to show him in.

Lu Yuanhai was twenty-five, two years older than Chu Er, whom she had always called "Brother Hai."

"Brother Hai, you've come to deliver my opening gift? Don't say I'm greedy—when you opened your business, I gave you a red envelope of a thousand silver dollars. Now that my business is opening, shouldn't you give me two thousand?"

Lu Yuanhai smiled: "Two thousand? Sister, just say the word—I'd give you twenty thousand without hesitation."

Chu Er smiled sweetly, feigning coquettishness: "Brother Hai, are you just teasing me? I'm the type who takes things seriously."

Lu Yuanhai nodded and got to the point: "Sister, I really came to give you money.

Bailamen is a Lu family business. In the end, Lu family businesses must belong to the Lu family. You understand what I mean."

"I don't understand," Chu Er lowered her head, looking up at Lu Yuanhai through her lashes. "The property deeds and land deeds for Bailamen are in my hands. Why should it be called your Lu family's business?"

Lu Yuanhai sighed: "Sister, I know what Uncle Er did. That's why I've come to give you money.

You gave him eighty thousand silver dollars—I'll give you the same amount back. I'll buy Bailamen back from you."

"Eighty thousand?" Chu Er sneered. "You say buy it back, and I just hand it over? I've poured in so much effort, sold off so many assets—how do you calculate that debt?"

"One hundred thousand!" Lu Yuanhai was generous. "This is the maximum I can authorize. If you're still unsatisfied, I can go back and discuss it with Uncle Qiu. Huaiyuan, is my sincerity enough?"

"Your sincerity is enough," Chu Er smiled, lit a cigarette, and took a puff. "But I won't sell. Even if you offer two million, I won't sell. Bailamen is mine. Now it bears the Chu name—it belongs to Chu Huaiyuan.

Tomorrow's opening, Brother Hai—if you respect me, come and show your support. If you don't, then pretend we've never met."

Lu Yuanhai sat silently for a moment, put on his coat, and rose to leave.

He was gone—but the matter wasn't over. That night, Chu Huaiyuan's older brother, Chu Huaijun, arrived.

"Huaiyuan, Bailamen belongs to the Lu family. We'd better not get involved. Lu Yuanhai came to me today—he's willing to raise the price to buy Bailamen back. Just do the decent thing and return it to them."

Chu Er refused: "Big Brother, when we split the family, it was clear: if there's a major family crisis, I'll follow your lead. But for minor matters, we each make our own decisions. Has the rule changed now?"

"Bailamen is a major matter!"

"This is my business—it's my affair. No need for you to worry!"

Chu Huaijun frowned, growing angry: "Fine, little sister's got talent. I shouldn't meddle. But we must be clear: Bailamen is yours alone—it has nothing to do with the Chu family."

Chu Er smiled: "Don't worry—even if the sky falls, it won't drag you down."

Chu Huaijun stood: "Huaiyuan, let me remind you one last time—the Lu family may have suffered setbacks, but it hasn't collapsed."

…

The next evening, the Bailamen Song Queen Contest was about to begin.

Chu Er selected twelve popular singers to perform in rotation.

She invited sixty guests from major families, giving each six roses; whoever favored a singer would present a rose to her—the one with the most roses would be crowned Song Queen.

Besides these sixty guests, three hundred seats were reserved for other prominent figures in Lüshui City.

The remaining guests, of slightly lower status, were given scattered seating.

The band arrived early; the singers rehearsed the stage multiple times; reporters and photographers were all in place.

The second-floor dance hall was ready; the first-floor banquet hall was set with feasts; after the contest, further hospitality awaited.

Chu Er didn't just prepare the banquet—she had also tidied the third-floor rooms. The Song Queen could sing on stage—and sing again in her room. For this opening, Chu Er had invested heavily, aiming for a triumphant start.

According to Chu Er's plan, the contest would begin at seven p. .

By 6: 0 p. ., not a single guest had arrived.

Chu Er's scalp prickled with panic; she ordered Yang Yanzheng to send people out immediately.

Yang Yanzheng dispatched messengers, but by 7: 0 p. ., still no one came!

The Song Queen Contest had collapsed.

The band and singers waited on stage.

Chu Er sat alone in the empty auditorium, dazed.

At 7: 0 p. ., finally, one guest arrived.

Monkey Qiu walked into the grand dance hall and took a seat.

He was alone.

The grand dance hall, capable of holding over a thousand, had only one guest.

Chu Er looked at Qiu Zhiheng and asked: "Uncle Qiu, what's your meaning?"

Monkey Qiu looked astonished: "I came to show my support! You sent me an invitation, and I brought a gift."

Chu Er gritted her teeth: "Uncle Qiu, Bailamen is mine. It belongs to me."

Monkey Qiu looked even more puzzled: "No one said it wasn't yours. When does the contest start? I haven't given out my roses yet."

…

The blue willow village's new plot was nearly frozen; the centipede woman stepped out and sat shivering beside the wild boar.

The wild boar hadn't stayed waiting—he'd gone hunting, eaten his fill, and was returning to watch the spectacle.

The centipede woman sniffled: "I say there's no settler here at all."

The wild boar snorted: "Then go complain to the land god."

The centipede woman failed—a golden eagle entered the plot, soaring and landing, pausing and moving, as if it could find some trace.

……

The next day, at seven p. ., the Bailamen had not a single customer.

Chu Er didn't know what method Qiu the monkey had used to keep everyone away from Bailamen.

Bailamen had just opened, yet it was nearly indistinguishable from being closed.

To say there was no difference at all would be wrong.

Singers, bands, waiters, laborers—all cost money.

Chu Er silently watched Yang Yanzheng.

Yang Yanzheng kept his head down, silent.

Wen Hongyan lifted her wine cup with her elbow and took a sip.

She now understood why Chu Er had insisted on bringing Ma Wu in to manage Bailamen.

But now it seemed that even if Ma Wu were here, nothing would change.

This was probably why he had been avoiding Chu Er all along.

……

The golden eagle left the plot, dejected; the glow along the plot's boundary vanished.

The land reclamation trial was over!

Two hours later, Li Banfeng stepped out of his personal dwelling.

He had waited two extra hours because he wasn't sure whether he had truly succeeded in reclaiming the land.

He looked up at the sky; a faint glow seemed to be cast down through the night, but it wasn't clear.

Li Banfeng tried changing his angle, hoping to see more clearly—he took two steps, slipped, and nearly fell into a pit.

Who dug such a large, deep pit here?

This pit was dug by the wild boar.

Li Banfeng seemed to see some glow inside the five-meter-deep pit.

Not a glow—a shimmer.

There was water in the pit!

PS: Li Banfeng hugged the Reader Lord tightly and asked earnestly: "Whose grand opening was the brightest?"

(End of Chapter)