Chapter 200: The Gramophone

Ma Wu escorted the goods to Lanyang Village. The three bagworms said goodbye reluctantly, and A-Qin had to leave too.

Next, Ma Wu had to deliver the goods to Green Water City. There was almost no one on this road who could protect him; it all depended on his own cultivation and experience.

Second-layer cultivation was not quite enough, but Ma Wu was experienced, so he flew the Lu family's big flag.

Lanyang Village was the Lu family's territory, so flying the flag was fine. As long as there was this flag, ordinary mountain bandits and petty thieves wouldn't dare to approach.

The journey was peaceful until Green Water City. After selling the goods, Ma Wu bought a newspaper.

The second page of the newspaper still had news about Ma Wu, still saying that he was making great strides in Lanyang Village.

This news had no new ideas, but Ma Wu noticed another piece of news.

The Lu family lost Lanyang Village, incompetent descendants ruined the family business.

Who wrote this?

Daring to slap the Lu family in the face directly?

This newspaper was too bold.

Wait a minute.

The one who is bold might not be the newspaper.

Ma Wu looked at the two news items together and saw some clues. From the content of the news, the one provoking the Lu family was not the newspaper, but Ma Wu.

Ma Wu was making great strides in Lanyang Village, as if he had snatched the Lu family's business.

After collecting the newspaper, Ma Wu drank a cup of tea at Yufangzhai, stayed for twenty minutes, and sorted out his thoughts.

If Old Seven and I continue to expand the business in Lanyang Village, it is equivalent to forcing the Lu family to turn against me.

If something happens to me in Lanyang Village, for example, if I die at the hands of Lu Lu Xiaolan, the Lu family is the prime suspect and will definitely have to take the blame.

The intention of these two news items is so insidious!

No, I can't let them talk nonsense.

This shipment sold for more than seven thousand silver dollars. Ma Wu took out two thousand silver dollars, asked the shopkeeper of Yufangzhai to prepare four generous gifts, borrowed another five thousand silver dollars from the shopkeeper, gathered ten thousand silver dollars, and packed them into boxes immediately.

By the afternoon, Ma Wu brought four generous gifts and ten thousand silver dollars to the Lu family mansion.

Arriving at the mansion, Ma Wu was very humble, only saying he came to visit Steward Qiu.

Monkey Qiu invited Ma Wu into the small building. After asking about his purpose, he immediately went to the main mansion to notify the Lady and asked the two young masters to welcome the guest at the main mansion.

Ma Wu was embarrassed: "Uncle Qiu, what is this? I came to visit you today, not to add trouble to you."

Monkey Qiu smiled: "Ma Junyang, what are you saying? You came to visit the Lu family, not me, the steward."

Ma Wu naturally understood Monkey Qiu's meaning. He came today to save face for the Lu family.

Four generous gifts: one for the Lady Duan Duan Shaoxia, one for the eldest young master Lu Lu Yuanshan, one for the second young master Lu Lu Yuanhai, and one for the head steward Qiu Qiu Zhiheng. No one's etiquette was missed.

Ten thousand silver dollars was the heart of Lanyang Village to the Lu family. This was to tell others that Lanyang Village was paying dividends to the Lu family, and this was still the Lu family's territory.

Ma Wu's move gave the Lu family enough face.

Lu Lu Yuanshan exclaimed: "Ma Junyang, you are the one who knows how to make money. Lanyang Village has become a good place in your hands. How many days have you taken over, and you can earn so much?"

Lu Lu Yuanhai smiled: "Old Five, don't puff yourself up at your own cost. If you haven't earned so much money, don't hold on hard. I think you should take half back."

Ma Wu sighed: "To tell the two brothers, this money was not easy to come by; it was earned by the brothers risking their lives. When I, Ma Ma Junyang, was at my hardest, the two brothers left Lanyang Village to me, leaving me a way to live. I will never forget this kindness."

Duan Duan Shaoxia smiled: "What kindness? You've gone too far, gone too far. Ma Junyang is a child who is liked by others. Stay for dinner tonight, you can't leave no matter what."

Hearing this, Monkey Qiu gave Lu Lu Yuanshan a wink.

Face cannot be kept at home; it must be done outside!

Lu Lu Yuanshan hurriedly took over the conversation: "What's the point of eating at home? Tonight at Baile Sect, I'll be the host. Eating, drinking, with girls accompanying, we must entertain Ma Junyang well."

Lu Lu Yuanhai followed up: "Old Five, there is a singing party at Baile Sect tonight. You are an expert, you must go as a guest of honor."

Duan Duan Shaoxia frowned: "Don't spoil Ma Junyang."

Lu Lu Yuanshan widened his eyes and smiled: "Mom, you say we spoiled him? We all grew up together, who doesn't know who?

He is much worse than us brothers. If he goes tonight, the singing queen won't be able to enter anyone else's room."

Ma Wu waved his hands repeatedly: "Two brothers, in front of the Lady, you can't slander me."

Everyone talked and laughed, in harmony.

Monkey Qiu looked at Ma Ma Junyang and nodded repeatedly.

This child is sensible and will definitely achieve something in the future.

That evening, Ma Ma Junyang served as a guest of honor at the Baile Sect singing party, and reporters came for an exclusive interview.

This was not a reporter from the Ling family, but a reporter from Lu Lu Yuanshan. Although the Lu family's newspaper didn't sell well, this was big news.

Ma Wu came to the door in person to send dividends to the Lu family, which meant that the many rumors about the Lu family and Lanyang Village were self-defeating.

He He Jiaqing frowned on the hospital bed.

Ma Wu didn't hide from the Lu family but took the initiative to show goodwill, which surprised He He Jiaqing.

A man's voice came from his ear: "How to deal with this?"

"Spend money, go to every newsstand, collect all the Lu family's newspapers, and suppress the news."

"The evening papers are collected, I'm afraid there will be morning papers tomorrow."

"Collect them all together. No matter how many they print, we collect them all. At least this matter cannot spread in Green Water City.

Our newspaper continues to publish news about Lanyang Village and Lu Lu Maoxian, make the matter bigger, and let Ma Wu spend these ten thousand silver dollars in vain."

Late at night, Ma Wu pushed away the girl beside him and walked out of the room.

This girl was the singing queen of the night. She was handsome and sang well, truly a stunner in the world.

But Ma Wu couldn't get excited.

There are some things that girls don't know, and can't learn.

He went to the dance floor wanting to listen to some music, and it happened that Lu Lu Yuanshan and Lu Lu Yuanhai were also there.

Lu Lu Yuanshan greeted: "Ma Junyang, come and sit. What's wrong? Is the singing queen not to your liking?"

Ma Wu shook his head and smiled: "I've been running all the way, I'm a bit tired, I really can't hold on."

Lu Lu Yuanhai smiled: "Old Five, are you kidding me? Is there a time when you can't hold on?"

The three were talking and laughing when a scout stepped forward and whispered a few words to Lu Lu Yuanshan.

Lu Lu Yuanshan widened his eyes: "There is such a thing?"

The scout nodded: "Absolutely true."

Lu Lu Yuanhai asked from the side: "What happened?"

Lu Lu Yuanshan looked at his brother and then at Ma Wu: "I'm afraid you won't believe it if I say it. The Ling family's two newspaper offices were burned down, and the printing plant was also burned down."

Ma Wu was shocked: "Who did this?"

The Ling family could be considered the fifth largest family in Puluo Province. Who dared to burn their newspaper office?

The scout shook his head from the side: "I don't know who did it yet."

Lu Lu Yuanshan looked regretful: "I have a pretty good relationship with Ling Ling Miaowen. Such a big thing happened, should I go over and take a look?"

Lu Lu Yuanhai nodded: "You should go and take a look. This is big news. Should we bring the reporters along to take a look?"

Lu Lu Yuanshan slapped his thigh: "That's right, I forgot if you didn't mention it. Old Five, let's go together. You also express your feelings to the Ling family. You will have to deal with them in the future."

Ma Wu waved his hands: "I won't go. I'm not prepared..."

Lu Lu Yuanhai smiled: "You don't need to prepare, brother, I'll prepare for you. Isn't it just a gift? Do you need to worry about it!"

Ma Wu looked at the brothers' reactions, his heart churning.

They were very excited!

Why were they so excited?

When they arrived at the newspaper office and saw the ruins, Ma Wu understood.

This was the Lu family's warning to the Ling family.

The Lu family encountered trouble, but they really didn't fall.

On the hospital bed, He He Jiaqing clenched his fists and gritted his teeth: "Barbarians, actually attacking the newspaper office, it is these barbarians who ruined Puluo Province."

A man's voice came from his ear: "How to deal with it now?"

"You go back to Green Water City first and find out about the newspaper office."

"I want to go back, this piece of land can't be guarded anymore. The Tieyang Three Heroes are dead, Rong Rong Yeguang is very angry and wants to withdraw his people."

"Withdraw if you want to withdraw. How much effort did the newspaper office cost us? Can't you tell which is more important?"

"If we withdraw now, what should we do about that thing?"

He He Jiaqing let out a long sigh: "Wait a minute, my brother won't give up this family business. We'll take it back in a few days."

Li Li Banfeng stood next to the New Land reclaimed by Lu Lu Xiaolan, silently dazed.

Strange, why is there no one here?

Li Li Banfeng was still calculating how to deal with Lu Lu Xiaolan. Did she leave?

What happened?

Ma Wu rushed back to the New Land, arrived at the ten-mile plot, and looked for Li Li Banfeng everywhere.

Xiao Chuanzi said: "Old Seven returned to the original plot. He said he wants to cultivate well these two days."

Ma Wu went to the plot, waited for half a day, and finally waited for Li Li Banfeng: "Old Seven, something happened in Green Water City."

"What's the matter?" Li Li Banfeng was not very interested in things in Green Water City.

"The Ling family's newspaper office was burned down."

"Fire?" Li Li Banfeng was even less interested in such things.

"It doesn't look like a fire. I went to the scene. It should be the Lu family who did it. Two newspaper offices and one printing plant were all burned down."

Li Li Banfeng was stunned for a long time, his thoughts turning endlessly in his mind.

Ma Wu said: "I went to the Lu family to send ten thousand silver dollars. I originally wanted to resolve the misunderstanding. They invited me to stay at Baile Sect, but something happened that night..."

Ma Wu was still telling the story, Li Li Banfeng stopped Ma Wu: "Where did you buy the gramophone?"

"What gramophone?"

"The gramophone in the conference hall, where did you buy it?"

Ma Wu blinked and said: "Ling Miaosheng Gramophone Shop, such a good gramophone, only they have it."

Li Li Banfeng looked wooden.

Ma Wu said: "Let's not talk about the gramophone first, let's talk about the Ling family, this matter is unusual..."

"It is unusual. Such an important matter, we have to go back to the conference hall to talk about it. While listening to music, while talking. You go back to the conference hall and wait for me, I'll be there in a while."

Ma Wu couldn't understand Li Li Banfeng's thoughts. Li Li Banfeng insisted that he go to the conference hall, so Ma Wu went.

Li Li Banfeng returned to the Leaving Suishenju and said to the gramophone: "My dear wife, I found the mole."

"Congratulations, hubby. What kind of person is it? Let's play with him."

"That mole is not a person."

"Hubby, don't say such angry words."

"It's not angry words, it's really not a person. Wife, lean your ear over."

The gramophone hummed: "Little slave has no ears!"

Li Li Banfeng whispered a few words to the horn, and the wife couldn't help laughing.

"It's so itchy, hubby, this matter is interesting, very interesting."

"Trouble the wife to explain in detail."

"If it were before, little slave would at most punish them a little, but now little slave's cultivation has recovered a lot, and I can let them have a full meal."

"How full?"

"There is a killing move, little slave hasn't used it for a long time. Although it consumes a lot, little slave wants to try it."

"If the consumption is too high, don't use it. Wife's body is important."

"It doesn't matter. For hubby, let alone the technique, even this life can be spared."

Ma Wu waited in the conference hall for a long time and finally saw Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng held a record and sat opposite Ma Wu.

Ma Wu looked around and lowered his voice: "Don't you think there is something tricky about the Ling family's matter? I think it has something to do with Lu Lu Xiaolan!"

"What's tricky? Major families fighting, isn't this common in Puluo Province?"

He He Jiaqing was listening to the live broadcast on the hospital bed. Hearing Li Li Banfeng's voice, he smiled.

Li Banfeng still can't see the environment of Puluo Province clearly. He is far worse than Ma Wu in this regard.

Ma Wu shook his head repeatedly: "Old Seven, there are many things here. The news in the Ling family's newspaper before was clearly aimed at us."

He He Jiaqing nodded, Ma Wu is still smart.

Li Li Banfeng still didn't take it seriously: "I don't want to hear about Green Water City. I'm tired of hearing it. I've suffered a lot these days. Let's play chess and listen to music. I don't want to hear about these annoying things."

"No, Old Seven..."

Li Li Banfeng ignored him, took the record, and put it on the gramophone.

Cheerful violin music sounded, accompanied by trombones and trumpets, playing a playful dance tune.

This is a dance style unique to Puluo Province, with a Western jazz flavor and a Puluo Province local flavor. The song is called "Fake Serious".

"Hypocritical, hypocritical,

Why be hypocritical in being a person?

You want to see, you want to see,

You just look carefully and see clearly!"

With the cheerful rhythm, Li Li Banfeng pressed his top hat with one hand and held a feather duster in the other. He actually started dancing.

Ma Wu was speechless: "Alright, Old Seven, let's play chess. Why are you dancing?"

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "Come on, let's dance together!"

He He Jiaqing smiled on the hospital bed, Li Banfeng went crazy again.

Actually, he is not crazy, but sometimes, his behavior is really incomprehensible.

Why does he have to listen to this song?

"Don't pretend to be serious like this

Don't put on a straight face like this to scare people!"

The smile disappeared suddenly, He He Jiaqing realized that the situation was wrong!

There is something in this singing, a very strange force.

Coming to the chorus part, the singing suddenly became louder, shaking He He Jiaqing's head with splitting pain.

He wanted to interrupt the connection, but failed several times.

"Stop, stop quickly!"

A man's voice came from his ear, his voice was very weak: "Can't stop, can't stop..."

"Break the hook!"

"Can't break, can't break..."

The man's voice disappeared, but the singing did not disappear.

He He Jiaqing covered his ears, blood sprayed from his ears, flowing down through his fingers.

Ling family mansion, Ling Ling Miaowen fell to the ground and kept twitching.

Two scouts stepped forward and helped Ling Ling Miaowen up.

"Master, what's wrong with you?"

Ling Ling Miaowen couldn't speak, vomiting blood continuously.

"Quick!" the scout shouted, "Call the doctor!"

By the time the doctor arrived, Ling Ling Miaowen had already lost his breath.

He died.

Ling Ling Miaowen, head of the Ling family, controller of major newspaper offices in Puluo Province, seventh-layer Insight Cultivator, died.

"Fake serious, fake serious,

Your eyes have long since,

Slipped over, slipped back,

Sneakily looking non-stop!"

The conference hall repeatedly played this "Fake Serious", the volume did not change at all, and the tune remained relaxed and cheerful.

The more Li Li Banfeng listened, the more he felt it, and the more he danced, the more energetic he became.

Ma Wu couldn't help it and started dancing with Li Li Banfeng: "Old Seven, let's dance if we dance, can we put down the feather duster?"

PS: Li Banfeng wins the first battle of Li Banfeng and Qing!

"Fake Serious" is very good to listen to, especially the version by the movie queen Gong Li. Once hearing this song, Yumian Shala wants to dance.

(End of chapter)