[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-239":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},2290537,4478,"Chapter 239: Reunion","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-239",239,"\u003Cp>On the train from Lushui City to Wuqin Township, the famous male star Zhou Chang sat in his private compartment, reading a newspaper and sipping tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second day after returning to Lushui City, he went out again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After boarding, Zhou Chang took a short nap, sleeping for half the day; at dusk, he rose from his berth, brewed a pot of tea, and drank while reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knock came at the door: “Sir, ticket inspection. Please open the door immediately and present your ticket.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice sounded odd—slightly familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang sat inside the compartment, tea in hand, motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, please open the door immediately and present your ticket.” The attendant knocked a second time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang remained still, like a statue seated in the compartment, making not a single sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Clang! Clang! The attendant knocked a third time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sir, you must cooperate with the ticket inspection. If you don’t open the door, I’ll take compulsory measures!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, movement came from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flipped the newspaper over and continued drinking tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the door, Li Banfeng, impersonating the attendant, heard the compartment’s sounds through his thread-earring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s still drinking tea?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang’s behavior baffled Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six or seven hours after boarding, attendants inspect tickets once; when Li Banfeng first rode a train, he’d experienced this, and Ma Wu had said it was standard procedure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why won’t he open the door for me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does he suspect I’m not an attendant?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did I slip up somewhere?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attendants knock first, and I didn’t say anything wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first heard me knock, Zhou Chang stayed silent, pretending no one was inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After I warned him twice, he stopped being afraid—yet still refuses to open the door?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is he doing this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he hiding something he doesn’t want the attendant to see?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he stubbornly refuses to open the door, he can’t hide it anyway—according to train rules, after warnings fail, attendants enter the compartment forcibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I just barge in and take a look?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was about to use his Passage-Through-All-Obstacles technique to slip into the compartment when the real attendant approached with an iron rod: “Sir, is this your compartment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng glanced at the compartment number and replied: “I must have gone to the wrong one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant, iron rod in hand, pointed it at Li Banfeng’s forehead: “Present your ticket!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled out his ticket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant sized him up and asked: “What’s the situation with your clothing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng, dressed in an attendant’s uniform, paused and said: “Does the train have dress code rules for passengers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” the attendant returned the ticket, “return to your own compartment!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng went back to his own compartment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew where the mistake lay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang’s initial silence in the compartment may have been genuine—he didn’t want the attendant to enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he heard Li Banfeng’s second warning, he realized the attendant was fake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because real attendants warn only once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s compartment was next door; he pressed his thread-earring against the wall and listened silently to the sounds next door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang blinked, then smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leisurely finished the entire pot of tea, waited over half an hour, and murmured: “Miaoying, I feel like I’m being watched on this train—why hasn’t Wuqin Township prepared yet? How exactly are you handling this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His earlier assumption was correct: Zhou Chang had identified the fake attendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Banfeng hadn’t expected this man’s status to surpass Ling Miaoying’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Ling Miaosheng, Ling Miaoying indeed served a powerful figure from another province, but Li Banfeng thought Zhou Chang wasn’t that figure—he was merely a messenger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang spent most of his time in Pulu Province; in recent years, his film contracts had never stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet from his earlier words, Zhou Chang was that powerful figure—his earlier assumption was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly did Wuqin Township need to prepare?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, Zhou Chang spoke again from next door: “The crew is short-handed. Though the people from Wuqin Township are reliable, few understand the craft. Send another batch from Lushui City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he going to Wuqin Township to shoot a film?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuqin Township lay in the farthest third of Pulu Province; few knew much about it, only that its residents mostly had no family ties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would he shoot a film in such a remote place—to avoid harassment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this powerful figure really going to Wuqin Township just to make a movie?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, Zhou Chang added: “I’ve brought the item. This shoot cannot afford any mishaps—it must wrap within ten days!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, Zhou Chang fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng removed his thread-earring, sat in his compartment, and fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the conversation, several key details emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang was going to Wuqin Township to shoot a film, leaving only a decoy in Lushui City to prevent interference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carried a special item with him; with it, the film could wrap within ten days, preventing Ma Wu from acting first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of treasure could make ten films wrap within ten days?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A magic treasure that alters the flow of time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What level is this Zhou Chang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is this film so important to him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget the film for now—this famous male star is remarkably clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—he who ranks above Ling Miaoying must be clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Directly probing his compartment seems unwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Zhou Chang’s cultivation base is extremely high, I might never return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I could handle Zhou Chang, I couldn’t pass the attendant’s inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Follow him off the train, capture him after leaving the station, and force him to reveal his intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provided I can capture him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Get off midway, return to inform Ma Wu, contact the Lu family, and have them act in Wuqin Township to stop Zhou Chang’s filming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why am I fixating on the film?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng tapped his head—he boarded this train, tracked Zhou Chang, to uncover the powerful figure behind Ling Miaoying and discover that figure’s intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now the powerful figure has appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best choice remains reaching Wuqin Township and continuing the pursuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But is that safe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Clang! Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knock sounded; the attendant’s voice came from outside: “Sir, please open the door.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng paused, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t sure if the attendant outside was real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh! Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant burst open the door: “Sir, your attire has interfered with my duties. Please change your clothes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded slightly; the attendant closed the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by his demeanor, this attendant was genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng entered his Portable Dwelling, took off his clothes, and put on a black suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Hongying shuddered, her voice low: “Did he just take off his clothes again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chit-chit~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phonograph sang slowly: “Yes, he did. He’s my husband—I watch him daily. You can lust all you want, it won’t help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Hongying snorted: “With your current form, what good is having a husband? Looks good, but useless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who says useless?” the phonograph snapped. “Husband, show him your oil!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What good is showing oil? Is that even legitimate work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why isn’t it legitimate? My husband has countless tricks!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They argued fiercely—likely about to fight again. Li Banfeng rubbed his temples, his head throbbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two couldn’t stay quiet for two days; they’d been quarreling for so long, yet never reached a resolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Li Banfeng listened, the more irritated and furious he became—he couldn’t bear to stay in the Portable Dwelling another moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Banfeng hurry away, the Judgement Pen rolled over and fell asleep again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the compartment, Li Banfeng continued wrestling with the Zhou Chang problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he follow him off the train, or return for help?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting off with him might get you killed by his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if I go back now to call for help, this lead might be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While wrestling with the decision, Li Banfeng began muttering to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang heard the noise from the next car, smiling and shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hours of hesitation, Li Banfeng made up his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He got off at Wuqinxiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After disembarking, he trailed Zhou Changhong—no rush to act, first observe his movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having decided, Li Banfeng glanced at his pocket watch—it was already two in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The train arrives at seven tomorrow morning; with time to spare, rest well, since you’ll be dealing with a master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng lay on the bunk, afraid he’d oversleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pocket watch had no alarm; his body held Mengde, which could wake him—but he didn’t want to hear his wife and Hongying argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I bring Mengde out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mengde isn’t a portable magic treasure; leaving it exposed might draw suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered, Li Banfeng felt another headache coming on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange—why am I so conflicted today?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conflicted…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why am I even conflicted?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stared at the carriage wall, his heart tightening in waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some tactics, used so often on others, suddenly turn on yourself—and you just can’t react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Tiecheng said two people once passed the Fool’s City trial—could the other one be him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sat up on his bunk, opened his body-bound dwelling, and hid the key under the mattress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife was still torturing Hongying; Li Banfeng suppressed his inner agitation and found the Judge’s Pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took the Judge’s Pen and drew a circle on the floor beside him, saying: “Fly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Judge’s Pen snorted: “Where to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To the second room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Judge’s Pen was furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To go to the second room, you need me to carry you? Just walk two steps yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too lazy to argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After half an hour of stalemate—Li Banfeng insisting on flying—the Judge’s Pen carried him to the second room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the second room, the Judge’s Pen was about to sleep when Li Banfeng said: “I’ll give you the capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Judge’s Pen snorted: “Not urgent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why the hurry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “I’m just in a hurry. If you don’t reclaim your capital, I’ll make you fly me again—once to every room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man has no sense of reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Judge’s Pen refused to reason with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wants to give me the money, I’ll take it. It’s a hassle to collect, but better than enduring this endless harassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Judge’s Pen accepted the capital, Li Banfeng suddenly felt overwhelming fatigue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lay on the bed, his eyelids unnaturally heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fell asleep, not knowing how long he’d sleep—Mengde should set an alarm to wake me, or I’ll miss my stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it. If I miss it, I miss it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I really follow Zhou Changhong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuqinxiang is clearly his territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it possible that if I get off at Wuqinxiang, I walk straight into his trap?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it possible that his whole movie story is nonsense—that he just wants me to get off at Wuqinxiang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sleep. Sleep soundly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t bother thinking about what he couldn’t figure out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At half past six, half an hour before arrival, Zhou Changhong began packing his luggage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He made deliberate noise so Li Banfeng in the next car would hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m getting off—you should follow me now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next car was silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Changhong pressed his ear to the wall and listened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, he switched ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ear was sharper, but still heard nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s going on? How can he sleep so deeply?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting over twenty minutes, Zhou Changhong frowned and knocked on the wall—no response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The train was not delayed; it had begun slowing for the station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anxious, Zhou Changhong used a technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed his hand on the carriage wall—a faint vibration traveled to the next car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to control the force, or he’d alert the attendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One attendant might be manageable—if all of them came, things would get messy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wake up, stop sleeping—you need to get off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CLANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant stormed in, face dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For some reason, you and the passenger in the next car have been unusually restless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Changhong smiled: “I was just reminding him the train’s arriving—we’re getting off at the same stop. I was only…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The train stopped. The attendant opened the main door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, you need to disembark.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Changhong gave a bitter smile and stepped off the train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited on the platform for a long time—until the train pulled away—still no sign of Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I planned everything so carefully—and you just slept through it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thank goodness Li Banfeng didn’t get off at Wuqinxiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2102,"2026-06-20T03:43:16.386Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","856cf0c32fd8a674eccddbc5cc06f9f134bd6f2e19798370740115e368d7d11c","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-240","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-238",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]