Chapter 267: The Night-Blooming Jasmine of Heishipō

Arriving at Heishipō, everyone got off the train.

This was Li Banfeng's first time at Heishipō; soon after stepping off, he sensed the city's unusual aura.

Heishipō's aura differed from other places; Li Banfeng possessed the Hundred Flavors Luminous Skill and could deeply perceive this distinction.

The belt of Kǎn had a slick sweetness, Hǎichī Lǐng carried the scent of food, Tiemenbǎo exuded a unique tranquility, and Lǜshuǐchéng radiated an overwhelming luxury.

Heishipō's scent was heavier, and in summary, it mainly consisted of three: smoke, ash, and engine oil.

The sky here was noticeably darker than elsewhere; beyond the station, every direction revealed chimneys of varying heights.

In an era when electricity could not be widely used, steam had been pushed to its limits, and coal was the steam engine's most vital "fuel."

Heishipō had three major specialties: iron ore, stone, and coal.

Some of these three were shipped to various parts of Puluó Province; others were processed locally into goods.

This determined Heishipō's unique nature: it was a purely industrial city.

Xiao Chuānzi had arrived earlier and had already secured lodging for everyone; while Li Banfeng was still searching for transport, Xiao Chuānzi had already prepared the vehicle.

It was neither a horse-drawn carriage nor a rickshaw—it was a steam-powered vehicle.

The steam vehicle's engine pulled two carriages, weaving through streets and alleys along narrow rails.

Isn't this just a train?

The only difference from a normal train was its size—it was small enough to enter alleyways.

Heishipō was such a city; unlike Lǜshuǐchéng's interconnected roads, every road here had become railway. Though noisy and polluted, you could hop on a train right outside your door.

This reminded Li Banfeng of Yuezhou's light rail, but light rail was electric—he always felt it lacked something compared to steam trains.

Xiao Chuānzi said: "I heard the workers here say Lǜshuǐchéng once planned to build railways inside the city, but the rich refused—they complained about the noise and dirt. I think it's fine; it's just coal dust, nothing more than ordinary grime."

Xiao Chuānzi was a Wu Xiu; Heishipō was practically a cultivation paradise for him. Every time he introduced a location, he grew excited—even though, from the outside, the buildings looked nearly identical: dense, simple, with coarse lines.

The little train rode for over forty minutes before stopping at a station; everyone disembarked and arrived at Xiao Chuānzi's newly purchased residence.

For now, let's call it a residence…

The place was large.

Beyond the main gate lay a courtyard, in the center of which stood a colossal object over twenty meters tall.

The colossal object was a gray-white cube, covered in pipes of varying thicknesses, beside which rose a chimney even taller than itself.

Outsiders thought it was a building; insiders knew it was one of the core devices of the steam age—officially called a steam generator, commonly known as a boiler.

Beyond the boiler, Li Banfeng saw scattered parts and half-finished machine tools.

The parts and machines were rusted; Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Chuānzi: "This is the residence?"

This was clearly an abandoned factory.

Xiao Chuānzi scratched his head: "Seventh Master, good residences are hard to find in Heishipō.

You said you needed a place for over thirty people, hidden and unobtrusive—only a place like this fits."

Li Banfeng frowned: "Live in the factory?"

"No, behind the factory there's a building."

Behind the factory stood a three-story building: the first floor had a dining hall, bathhouse, and toilets; the second and third floors each had over ten rooms.

In Heishipō, there were many such factories; most residents were workers.

Workers labored in the factories by day and slept there at night; after marrying, they brought their families to live inside the factory grounds and rarely left.

Didn't they have any entertainment outside of work?

Yes.

Go to the cinema to watch a film.

Go to a small tavern for a drink.

Buy a newspaper and rest awhile.

When they had money, visit a special place and find a special person.

When they had no money, buy a magazine and do it themselves.

Workers had little time; dance halls, theaters, salons, banquets—none suited them.

The ideal entertainment for workers had to save time and be economical—this was why Heishipō's newspaper and publishing industry was especially developed; it saved money, saved effort, and was easy to use.

Li Banfeng told the writers Bai Qiusheng and Yuwén Qí: "You've both lived in Heishipō before—you understand the rules here. Tomorrow, go handle the paperwork: first open a newspaper office, then a magazine house."

"Paperwork?" Bai Qiusheng shook his head. "No need for that. In Heishipō, all you need to open a newspaper is a printing press."

Yuwén Qí said: "Opening a magazine house is slightly more complicated—you need a camera."

Li Banfeng was astonished: "A single printing press can open a newspaper office?"

Bai Qiusheng said: "Yes! Tonight we write the articles, tomorrow we set the type. You send someone to buy the press—we can make the evening edition by tomorrow."

Li Banfeng stared blankly: "The newspaper hasn't even opened yet, and you're aiming for tomorrow's evening edition? Are you joking? What are you writing with? Any news?"

Yuwén Qí said: "News is easy—take a few major newspapers, copy two stories. Our paper sells commentary and stories; where can't you read news? The key is to write something gripping!"

"Make it up?" Li Banfeng still didn't understand. "Who'd buy a newspaper full of lies?"

The two writers didn't know how to explain; Xiao Chuānzi said: "Seventh Master, let me take you to the news cart—you'll understand."

Xiao Chuānzi led Li Banfeng and the others to the news cart.

The so-called news cart was a small stall selling newspapers and magazines; in Yuezhou, these were called newsstands.

Heishipō's newsstands were different: the small hut had wheels—four wooden ones, four iron ones.

Normally, the wooden wheels touched the ground, letting the vendor pull the stand around.

When pulled onto the railway, the operator raised the wooden wheels and lowered the iron ones; a hook at the front allowed the cart to attach to the back of a train and ride along.

Li Banfeng entered the stall and glanced at the newspapers.

He recognized the newspapers of the Lu and Ling families, but most others were unfamiliar.

Like "Yī Gǎn Liàng" Evening Paper—its name was uniquely distinctive.

Li Banfeng read the front-page headline: "Fake Drama, Real Life: Singer Xiao Xiufei's Deep Immersion."

The first few paragraphs recounted an interview with singer Xiao Xiufei before the premiere of "Blood Blade Detective" Part One.

How old is this news? Four months already!

Can this still be printed?

Curious, Li Banfeng picked up the paper to read—but the vendor immediately stopped him: "'Yī Gǎn Liàng' is eighty cents. No reading without purchase."

Li Banfeng pointed to the Lu and Ling family papers: "How much are these?"

"'Morning Paper' is thirty cents. 'Evening Paper' is fifty cents."

"Then why is your 'Yī Gǎn Liàng' eighty cents?"

"That's the price—genuine, effective, no cheating old or young!"

"Effective upon delivery"? That's "effective upon medicine"—you mean "medicine to the effect!"

Li Banfeng despised the vendor, paid eighty cents, and bought a copy of "Yī Gǎn Liàng."

Indeed, it was effective upon delivery—after reading the front page, Li Banfeng's rod stiffened.

The front-page article explored Xiao Xiufei's deep immersion in the character from multiple angles—plain language, rich detail, the male lead's emotions, the female lead's insights, the cinematographer's emotional response, the cleaner's memories—all rendered with striking depth, even more compelling than the film itself.

Before he could read the remaining pages, he noticed a magazine.

The magazine was titled "Blood Gun Detective Five."

My movie's only at Part Three—this magazine's already at Part Five?

The woman on the cover was stunning, with a distinctive figure and attire.

Her figure was graceful.

As for attire—there was none.

"How much is this magazine?"

"Five yuan and sixty fen."

"That's outrageous—a movie ticket is only five yuan."

The vendor snorted: "You don't understand. Buy a movie ticket, you watch once—and 'Blood Gun Detective' isn't even shown anymore.

Buy this magazine, you can read it as many times as you want. Plus, I throw in a poster."

As the vendor revealed half the poster, Li Banfeng decided to buy it.

The poster was decent.

"I'll take this one, and that one too…"

Within minutes, Li Banfeng spent over a hundred yuan; the vendor was ecstatic, giving away over twenty posters.

Only Bai Qiusheng's intervention stopped Li Banfeng from buying more.

Back at the factory, Ma Wu had already arranged Li Banfeng's room. After an hour of study, Li Banfeng understood Heishipō's newspaper and publishing industry.

Newspapers were entirely made up.

Magazines weren't made up—they hired local girls as models, took photos, then added fabricated background stories and reflections on life and the future.

Li Banfeng sighed: "These girls really are talented—their writing is profound. They're all idealistic."

Yuwén Qí shook her head: "Seventh Master, these girls can barely read. Where would they get such insights? The editors write it all—they earn their money from the pen."

Li Banfeng nodded: "So, except for the girls' names, everything else is fake."

"Not even the names," Yuwén Qí said. "The girls' names aren't real either."

Bai Qiusheng said: "In Heishipō, to earn a living, your pen must be sharp—it's like street performance.

Whether you're a living literary master or a renowned writer, if your work is good, people come back. If it's bad, they'll buy once—and never again."

Yuwén Qí said: "Seventh Master, you might think these things are unrespectable—but Heishipō has plenty of proper content. There are countless good stories here. Heishipō never lacks good books and newspapers."

"I think these things are serious—true art. Those who know how to create art are good people, and those who know how to appreciate art are good people too. This is right, and this place is right."

Li Banfeng patted the books and newspapers in his hands. "We need newspapers, and magazines too. In a couple days, when Xiao Chuan brings back the printing press, we'll start."

"Why wait a couple days?" Bai Qiusheng chuckled. "Xiao Chuan's been gone over an hour—he should've brought it back by now."

"An hour to buy a printing press?"

A printing press isn't a printer. Li Banfeng had seen the ones in Puluozhou—steam-driven, too big to fit in two rooms. How could such a massive thing be bought back in a flash?

Xiao Chuan had actually brought it back—fully assembled.

This printing press was small, about the size of two willow baskets.

Having tinkered with his wife's gadgets daily, Li Banfeng had some mechanical sense: "This isn't steam-driven. It's hand-cranked."

Xiao Chuan said, "The two writers said to buy this one for now as a stopgap."

Bai Qiusheng said, "Seven Master, this is Heishipo, not Lüshuicheng."

"In Lüshuicheng, printing presses cost thousands of silver dollars. We don't need anything like that."

"Here in Heishipo, you can find any kind of printing press you want. This one probably doesn't cost more than?"

Xiao Chuan nodded. "Fifty-seven."

"Good. Not overpriced. Seven Master, trust us. We'll start with this. If business thrives, we'll upgrade. If it doesn't, we won't lose much."

Li Banfeng nodded. "I'm an outsider—I leave it to you two. Then please, take the effort. Let's start right away. Newspapers first, then magazines."

Yuwen Qi sighed. "We once made our living this way. Now we're somewhat famous, and yet here we are, back at our old trade."

Li Banfeng smiled. "That's not the same pay. Given your current status, I'll offer triple the rate, plus double the bonus. I won't shortchange you on money."

Bai Qiusheng praised: "Seven Master, you're always straightforward. What should we name this newspaper?"

Li Banfeng thought a moment. "Since it's an evening paper, call it 'Night-blooming Jasmine.'"

Yuwen Qi said: "Simple, memorable. It's settled!"

The writers immediately got to work, writing art.

The photographer Ma Wu brought from the film crew also stayed busy, finding girls to photograph art.

As for selling newspapers and magazines, Ma Wu and the two writers were experts—Li Banfeng didn't need to worry about that.

Li Banfeng went straight to Sanfu Cinema.

The owner was packing up, preparing to move.

The cinema had been smashed, the staff beaten. The Qingshou Society had issued an order: leave Heishipo within a month, and never return.

Li Banfeng pulled out twenty silver dollars and shoved them into the cinema owner's hand. "Clean it up, and screen 'Blood Gun Detective' one more time."

"Screen it again?" The owner shook his head. "Sir, if I dare show it once more, I'll lose my life. Don't put me in this bind."

Seeing the owner truly lacked the courage, Li Banfeng didn't press him. "Then name your price. I'll buy the cinema from you."

The owner froze. "May I ask your name?"

PS: Night-blooming Jasmine isn't just the newspaper's name.

(End of Chapter)