Chapter 76: Reading the Newspaper

Hiding in the Personal Dwelling seemed safe, but this method wouldn’t work.

Because the tortoise was inside the Personal Dwelling, Li Banfeng was completely cut off from the outside world—worse than being trapped in Yu Family Village. Without any knowledge of how events were unfolding, Li Banfeng could not prepare or respond effectively; unless he stayed inside for life, the moment he stepped out, he might die.

Passive defense wouldn’t work; he needed a new defensive strategy.

Li Banfeng looked again at the letter in his hand: “Lu Yuan Inn, Immortal Music Dance Hall, Qingtang Tea House—what are these places?”

Feng the Shopkeeper said: “All are businesses of the Jiangxiang Gang, all on this street, close to Yu Family Cloth Shop. You don’t need me to explain the inn and tea house; as for the dance hall, it’s a place of singing girls and dancing beauties.”

Li Banfeng nodded: “The name ‘Immortal Music’—it must be a place devoted to music.”

“Music… how do I explain this?” Feng the Shopkeeper struggled to articulate.

Li Banfeng sipped his tea: “If they’re lying in wait on this street, why not just hide inside Yu Family Cloth Shop?”

“That won’t work!” Feng the Shopkeeper shook his head. To anyone else, such an ignorant remark wouldn’t warrant an explanation—but Li Banfeng came from another province, and some rules were simply unknown to him.

“The Jiangxiang Gang’s ambush targets Master Yu. If they station men inside Yu Family Cloth Shop, someone must come and go for food and supplies. If they notice anyone entering or leaving the shop, would Master Yu ever return?”

Li Banfeng nodded. Feng the Shopkeeper was right. Yu Nan was cautious; she had eyes in Li Gou. If anyone entered or left the cloth shop, she would know.

Feng the Shopkeeper added: “Besides, though the Jiangxiang Gang is cruel, they’re still a local gang—they observe basic rules.

They’re avenging Geng Family Pharmacy, not seizing Master Yu’s shop. Master Yu is absent now, but if they seize the shop in his absence, that kind of move would be hard to justify in the martial world.”

As the incense was about to burn out, Li Banfeng asked another question: “Where is the headquarters of the Jiangxiang Gang’s Medicine King Hall’s Second Division?”

“At Tailai Gambling House on Yuanping Street—a large mansion, easy to spot. You’d better avoid that place too.”

Li Banfeng nodded and handed Feng the Shopkeeper five thousand cash.

Feng the Shopkeeper waved his hand: “What are you doing? I wronged you before. This little bit of information—I can’t take your money.”

This little bit of information?

That single letter was worth five thousand easily.

Feng the Shopkeeper refused, so Li Banfeng shoved the cash into his pocket: “Shopkeeper, I still have things to buy. This is a deposit.”

“What do you want to buy?”

Li Banfeng whispered a few words into Feng the Shopkeeper’s ear.

Feng the Shopkeeper frowned slightly: “Master Li, in Pulu Province, this item may not work well. Think carefully.”

Li Banfeng smiled: “Buy more, use more—eventually something will work.”

Geng Family Pharmacy was gone, but the Jiangxiang Gang wasn’t stopping.

Another fight was coming.

If you can win, fight. If you can’t, run.

Can he win this time?

Li Banfeng believed he could.

First, he had to pick the right opponent.

Wu Xiu too high-level—hard to confront head-on.

This cultivator’s method was beyond Li Banfeng’s understanding.

His gaze locked onto Du Hongxi.

Yan Xiu was a perfect target.

Having chosen the opponent, he needed the right method.

This strike had to hurt them badly,

hurt them so badly they’d dare not investigate him again.

…

Leaving the general store, Li Banfeng lowered his hat and quickly left Paifang Street.

In Chai Kou Alley was a noodle shop. Li Banfeng ate two bowls of lamb noodles, preparing to return to the Personal Dwelling, when the childlike voice of a newsboy rang beside him: “Sir, buy a paper? Morning paper, three mao. Evening paper, five mao.”

Evening papers were sold in Medicine King Gully?

Evening papers were printed later than morning ones, carried updated news, and thus cost more than leftover morning papers.

Li Banfeng bought an evening paper. The headline read: “He Lu Breaks Ranks—But Where Is the Path?”

It was about the feud between the He and Lu families.

Li Banfeng skimmed the article and was stunned.

The He family accused Lu Xiaolan, the Lu family’s illegitimate daughter, of attacking He Jiaqing, their eldest son. He Jiaqing was still receiving treatment in a hospital in another province.

Lu Xiaolan was missing. The Lu family denied the baseless accusation, continued searching for Lu Xiaolan, and promised to give the He family an explanation.

He Jiaqing lying in the hospital was real—the He family had confirmed it; Li Banfeng didn’t need to worry about that.

Lu Xiaolan was still missing—no one knew she was hiding in the He family’s old mansion.

Did no one knowing help or harm Lu Xiaolan?

In Li Banfeng’s view, it was good.

The Lu family must give the He family an explanation. Once they found Lu Xiaolan, they’d likely make her a scapegoat. Living hidden in the He family’s old mansion might not be a bad outcome for her.

Was this good or bad for Li Banfeng?

Also good.

If Lu Xiaolan reappeared, the Lu family would likely come looking for him.

What startled Li Banfeng wasn’t just the news itself, but that this outdated medium—newspapers, obsolete for over a decade—still carried such vast information.

Information…

Seeing the newsboy hadn’t gone far, Li Banfeng hurried after him and called out: “I’ll take a morning paper too.”

The newsboy was delighted. At this hour, morning papers were hard to sell. He quickly handed Li Banfeng one.

Li Banfeng skimmed the morning paper. Besides the front-page He-Lu feud, he found several articles about Geng Family Pharmacy.

“Geng Family Pharmacy Reduced to Ashes—Behind-the-Scenes Culprit Emerges.”

It was an editorial. The writer speculated on who burned down Geng Family. Though not definitive, all analysis pointed squarely at Yu Family Gang.

This was expected. The editorial mentioned the Jiangxiang Gang; some even boldly predicted the Jiangxiang Gang would annihilate the Yu family within a month.

Who ran the newspaper? Who backed them? Didn’t they fear the Jiangxiang Gang’s power?

Li Banfeng found an advertisement for the Immortal Music Dance Hall in the paper.

Starting tomorrow, the Immortal Music Dance Hall would run a three-day promotion—discounts starting at thirty percent off.

So even a place devoted to music could offer discounts.

Such a rare chance to learn—must go see it.

The morning paper’s content didn’t differ much from the evening one. Li Banfeng asked the newsboy: “Do you have older papers?”

The newsboy shook his head: “None.”

Li Banfeng asked: “Do you know where to buy old newspapers?”

“Yes.” The newsboy, burdened with a stack of papers, was about to point the way when Li Banfeng pulled out twenty yuan and handed it to him: “Take me there.”

The newsboy was delighted. He led Li Banfeng through two alleys to a shop.

The shop’s sign read “Lu Family Bookstore.” Li Banfeng entered and saw the owner preparing to close.

“Buying books?” Master Lu greeted him.

Li Banfeng shook his head: “I’m buying newspapers.”

Master Lu smiled: “I don’t sell new papers.”

Li Banfeng said: “I want old ones. Three years’ worth of Medicine King Gully evening papers—one issue per day.”

“Three years’ worth?” Master Lu raised an eyebrow. This was a big order. “Sir, think carefully—old papers cost more than new ones.”

He wasn’t selling scrap paper—he was selling collectibles.

“Just name your price.”

Master Lu quoted: “This year’s papers, double the new price—one yuan each. Last year’s, double again—two yuan each. The year before, four yuan. The year before that, eight yuan.”

Li Banfeng didn’t hesitate. He spent five thousand three hundred fifty yuan and bought all three and a half years’ worth.

He carried and shouldered several large stacks, found a secluded spot, and sent them into the Personal Dwelling.

Inside the Personal Dwelling, he lit a candle and began reading the papers one by one.

Medicine King Gully’s newspapers had four sections. Section one covered major news in Pulu Province—naturally, the He-Lu feud dominated the front page.

Section two featured commentary from Medicine King Gully’s top pundits. One critic, pen name “Madman of Li Gou,” traced the He-Lu feud across a hundred years of history.

In this commentary, Li Banfeng found a term: “The Darkest Era.”

What exactly was “The Darkest Era”? Further verification was needed.

Section three covered local Medicine King Gully news.

Section four was the supplement: essays by famous writers, serialized novels, and many advertisements.

Read more books, read more newspapers, eat fewer snacks, sleep more.

This advice fit Pulu Province just as well.

If Li Banfeng had read more newspapers, he wouldn’t have looked so foolish in Pulu Province.

After finishing that day’s evening paper, Li Banfeng gained much insight.

He flipped back three days and found another article on He Jiaqing.

“He Family Heir Attacked—Lu Family In-Laws Bear Blood Debt.”

News of He Jiaqing’s attack came late but dominated the entire front page.

It detailed news unavailable in other provinces, including the Train No. 1160 derailment and the mysterious disappearances of He Jiaqing and Lu Xiaolan.

Li Banfeng continued flipping backward, searching for more information, when suddenly the phonograph emitted a hissing sound: hiss! hiss! hiss!

Clang clang clang~

Raise a rooster that won’t crow,

Raise a yellow dog that won’t guard the house,

Marry a man who won’t buy groceries,

Better marry a live turtle!

Li Banfeng flew into a rage: “Witch, who are you calling a turtle?”

“Hey now~ I’m nearly starved to death—can’t I curse you a few times?”

PS: Talk more to Shala—Shala’s gone to buy groceries for you all!

(End of chapter)