[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-37":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},2290335,4478,"Chapter 37: Outloading","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-37",37,"\u003Cp>After resting at the inn for a day, Li Banfeng and Xiao Pang hired a carriage and set off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng assumed Qin Xiaopang would take him to some very special place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, Qin Xiaopang took him to Ligou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing on the street corner, Qin Xiaopang warned: “Brother, that guy’s too slick—don’t listen to his complaints or his hardships; you’ve got to have a bottom price in mind, and you absolutely won’t sell below it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had a psychological price target in mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His target was five thousand yuan per pill—below that, he wouldn’t sell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The logic was simple: if a valuable item worth ten thousand couldn’t fetch five thousand, Li Banfeng might as well just swallow the pills himself—he wasn’t short on travel money anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still remembered the peddler’s advice: cultivators must never miss their daily practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the future, if he encountered special circumstances—unable to go out or return to the Portable Dwelling—one Sheban Pill could make up for a day’s cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the sprint champion Qiao Yuesheng had had enough Sheban Pills, he surely wouldn’t have died so tragically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made up his mind, Li Banfeng asked Qin Xiaopang: “Aren’t you coming with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Xiaopang shook his head: “I’m not in a hurry to sell the pills; such good pills, I won’t cheapen them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I originally planned to go with you to haggle, but last time I bought weapons from him, I spoke too hastily and damaged the rapport—so this time I won’t interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait for me at the steamed bun shop at the street corner after you’re done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke mysteriously, yet in the end, the place Xiao Pang found was still Feng’s General Store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, without Xiao Pang’s guidance, Li Banfeng would never have guessed a general store would even buy pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the shop, Shopkeeper Feng greeted him with a smile: “Master Li, back again? How was your trip?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng smiled: “Not bad—I’ve come to you to offload my goods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng blinked: “Master Li, we don’t buy Sheban Chrysanthemums—I don’t have the alchemical formula.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not Sheban Chrysanthemums. Let’s find a quiet place to talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng led Li Banfeng into the back room, where Li Banfeng first pulled out thirteen hundred yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scythe five hundred, shovel eight hundred—this is to settle the debt!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng smiled as he took the money: “Master Li, you’re generous! What goods are you looking to offload?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled out one Sheban Pill and handed it to Shopkeeper Feng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng took the pill, put on his reading glasses, studied it for a long time, then nodded: “Good quality—better than the pills from the pharmacy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sipped tea and smiled: “Shopkeeper Feng knows his stuff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng smiled back, then returned the pill to Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng froze: “What’s this? Not buying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng shook his head: “Not that I won’t buy—I’m just explaining the rules. I’m not a pharmacy, I’m a general store. I can make this deal, but it’s not my trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a pharmacy, this pill could fetch twelve thousand, but here, I can’t offer that price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know how to refine pills; I have to make a profit on the markup, and since I don’t know when I’ll sell it, I have to cut the price—likely not to your satisfaction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded. He’d expected this kind of talk—complaints, excuses—but no matter what, below five thousand, he wouldn’t sell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s your offer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng held up five fingers. Li Banfeng assumed it meant five thousand—until the shopkeeper said: “Fifty percent off. I’ll give you no more than fifty percent—six thousand per pill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This price had no fluff—Shopkeeper Feng was being honest. This was his maximum, because the pills were of unknown origin, and he bore great risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he didn’t lowball for another reason—he needed something from Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded. Six thousand per pill was very satisfying to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he kept his satisfaction off his face: “Six thousand? A bit low. How many can you take?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng stroked his mustache: “That depends on how many you want to sell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sixty-five pills. Can you take them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng nodded: “I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shopkeeper Feng, you’re a man of action—deal!” Li Banfeng pulled out a sack and poured out the pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng counted them, nodded: “Master Li, you’re straightforward too. Such a large quantity—elsewhere they’d make you keep a ledger—but today, I’ll pay cash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved his hand and called over his clerk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The general store had only one clerk, named Shengzi. Shopkeeper Feng whispered to him, and Shengzi went behind the shelves, through a small door, and returned shortly with a leather suitcase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of Li Banfeng, Shopkeeper Feng opened the case—each bundle was ten thousand yuan, and there were thirty-nine bundles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For such a small shop, Shopkeeper Feng was truly well-off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three hundred and ninety thousand. Count it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng smiled: “Do I not trust Shopkeeper Feng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng counted it three times, then packed the suitcase away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng took the pills and smiled: “Master Li, thank you for your patronage. But we must clarify the rules:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t ask where the pills came from, and you mustn’t ask who I sell them to or at what price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I won’t break your rules.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had no interest in such matters—he grabbed the money and headed straight to the station to buy a ticket back to Yuezhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he’d feel out the wind—see if the Dark Star Bureau would let him go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If nothing serious, he’d hurry to the hospital to check on He Jiaqing’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Banfeng was about to leave with the money case, Shopkeeper Feng called out: “Master Li, wait—I’ve kept what you asked for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled down a curtain, revealing the phonograph again before Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rustic redwood cabinet, three brass horns—one large, two small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just its design held Li Banfeng’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Li, do you still want this phonograph?” Shopkeeper Feng studied Li Banfeng’s expression, weighing his next words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I want it, I’m going on a long trip—carrying it won’t be convenient,” Li Banfeng forced his eyes away from the machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng was surprised: “You don’t need to carry it—just leave it at home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sipped tea from his covered bowl: “If I leave it at home, no one will take care of it—wouldn’t that be a waste of such a fine thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk shot frantic glances at his boss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng sighed: “Master Li, you’re straightforward. Since you like this phonograph, I planned to give you a discount—eighteen ten thousand for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng took a deep breath: “Wait. Wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng picked up a record, placed it on the phonograph, poured two cups of tea, and lit the candle beneath the machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hss! Hss! Hss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the right small horn, rhythmic bursts of sound emerged—the record spun, faint static rising slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The butterflies have flown, my heart is gone, who will keep me through this lonely night, wiping tears from my cheeks…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, this song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wild Grass and Idle Flowers Meet Spring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng could barely contain himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng sighed: “Yesterday, a customer admired this phonograph. I told him it was already reserved by another buyer—I didn’t sell it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Li, if you wait any longer, I may lose this item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I truly hoped you’d return to hear one more tune—but next time you come, you may not even hear it again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Return?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will I ever come back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to Yuezhou, Li Banfeng planned to find any job, live permanently in the Portable Dwelling—no mortgage, no commute, just a quiet, happy life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulu Province—he’d probably never return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, Li Banfeng suddenly rose, grabbed the money case, and left the general store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mournful music lingered in the shop. The clerk stamped his foot and said to Shopkeeper Feng: “Boss, I think he really wanted it—we priced it too high.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng sighed deeply: “I can’t help it—if I sold it too cheap, this thing won’t leave!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk looked miserable: “What now? When will this thing ever sell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng was utterly helpless; the shop echoed with sighs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The song ended, the needle reached its end. Shopkeeper Feng extinguished the flame, released the steam, and was about to cover the phonograph—when he saw Li Banfeng return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sixteen ten thousand. Will you sell it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk looked at Shopkeeper Feng with hopeful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng paused, then said calmly: “Sold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few beads of sweat broke on his forehead—he wiped them away casually, showing no sign to Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng immediately laid down sixteen ten thousand on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng didn’t count it—he took the money and ordered: “Shengzi, prepare the cart—deliver this to Master Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk turned to fetch the cart, when Li Banfeng called out: “Wait!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk froze, glancing at Shopkeeper Feng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shopkeeper Feng remained composed: “Master Li, the deal’s done—no more haggling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “Not haggling—I want to buy something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted a bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he’d be living permanently in the Portable Dwelling, sleeping on the floor wasn’t an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d planned to buy a bed after returning to Yuezhou—online was cheaper and had more styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after thinking over the journey ahead, Li Banfeng decided to start by buying from the general store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to live on the train anymore; he didn’t want to encounter a three-headed monster again at San Tou Cha; he didn’t want to resist unbearable temptations at Ku Dai Kan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could live in the Portable Dwelling—so long as he hid the key well, he could avoid every danger inside the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buy a bed, add some food and drink, and even if the train broke down again, it wouldn’t ruin Li Banfeng’s happy life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Buy a bed…” Feng the Shopkeeper had been about to say he had none, but right beside the shelves in the back room stood a four-post wooden bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Four-post” meant four upright pillars supporting a canopy above, with railings around the middle; the bed was one and a half meters wide and one and two-tenths meters high, its structure resembling a small house—sleeping in it felt especially secure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng took a liking to the bed: “Feng Shopkeeper, what’s your price?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng the Shopkeeper didn’t look at the bed—he kept staring at the phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but the phonograph seemed to have shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bad. This thing might not want to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng the Shopkeeper gritted his teeth: “Li Boss, I admire your straightforwardness—you’ve done plenty for my business. This bed—I’m giving it to you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to waste another moment—not a single second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng waved his hands: “How can I accept this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Boss, if you refuse, you’re looking down on me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not how it is—this bed’s so fine, how could I take it for free? Name your price, and I’ll look at the bedding too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bedding’s easy—Shengzi, bring two sets of satin quilts for Li Boss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, Feng Shopkeeper,” Li Banfeng was confused, “I came here to buy things, not to take advantage. I was planning to buy two shirts too…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shengzi, get a measuring tape—measure Li Boss!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shengzi stepped forward, without argument, measured Li Banfeng from head to toe, then brought back a pure white suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Boss, I’m claiming you as a friend—the suit’s a gift too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, I don’t usually wear white—it’s hard to keep clean…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring the black one!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Black gets dirty too easily…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring the beige plaid shirt!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it—I won’t buy clothes. I’ll take two candles instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shengzi, grab a bundle of candles and bring Li Boss Ingrid’s candlestick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, I—I don’t want anything else. I’ll just take two records.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng the Shopkeeper went to the shelf, grabbed over a dozen records, and piled them on the counter: “I’ll throw in two cans of fuel, one can of oil, one water jug, two cups, one bucket, a bundle of wicks—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve got a full toolset here—pliers, wrenches, all there. If the phonograph has a small problem, you can fix it yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, I mean…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng the Shopkeeper picked up a feather duster and shoved it into Li Banfeng’s hands: “The phonograph hates dust—clean it often. Li Boss, I’m just a straightforward man—if you refuse, I’ll really get angry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t speak anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assistant hired a cart, loaded the bed first, then the phonograph, then quilts, clothes, fuel, candles, buckets—all the items were piled onto the cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stood at the door, holding the feather duster, dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assistant helped Li Banfeng onto the cart. The shopkeeper called out: “Li Boss, take care! We’ll need your patronage again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Shengzi urged the driver, and the cart moved off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the cart vanish around the street corner, Feng the Shopkeeper and his assistant stood in the shop for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shopkeeper!” Shengzi’s voice trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shengzi!” Feng the Shopkeeper’s throat tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shopkeeper!” Shengzi’s eyes turned red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shengzi!” Feng the Shopkeeper wiped tears from his eyelids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shopkeeper, did we really sell it?” Shengzi still had doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shengzi, go check the back room—I think we sold it too cheap. Take another look—has it come back?” Feng the Shopkeeper’s tone was cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shengzi ran into the back room, then sprinted back out moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It didn’t come back. This time, it’s truly gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shengzi!” Feng the Shopkeeper burst into tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shopkeeper!” Shengzi’s face was streaked with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shengzi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shopkeeper!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sat on the floor, wailing loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assistant wiped his tears: “Now we can finally do business in peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng the Shopkeeper stood up, straightened his clothes: “What business? Shut the shop today. Let’s go to Feng Lai Lou, book a feast, get two girls to keep us company—we’ll celebrate for a few days first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Dear readers, it’s the last day of October—give all your monthly votes to Shala, leave all your comments for Shala, and have fun with Shala!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2351,"2026-06-20T03:43:13.043Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4fd06a785d92a63077ddab9eff56882e1ee8bdacae3702870215bc96bede9033","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-38","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-36",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]