Shopkeeper Feng was a merchant who seldom left his premises and wasn’t very familiar with Loess Bridge. The two of them fumbled their way, walking from noon until dusk, a journey of over three hours, but they finally managed to find the inn.
It was quite a large inn, a seven-story building with more than a hundred rooms in total.
The innkeeper was dozing behind the counter when Li Banfeng asked directly, "We’re looking for a guest surnamed Feng."
The innkeeper was displeased. "Can I just reveal guest information to you? Don’t you understand the rules of doing business?"
Li Banfeng handed the innkeeper two Huan Country Banknotes, and the innkeeper pointed towards the stairs, "Room 608. He just returned about an hour ago."
When they reached Room 608 and knocked, Feng Chongli opened the door. Li Banfeng was momentarily stunned.
He glanced at Shopkeeper Feng Xincheng and whispered, "Did we find the wrong person?"
Feng Chongli said to Shopkeeper Feng, "Xincheng, what brings you here? And this is..."
Shopkeeper Feng briefly introduced Li Banfeng, and Feng Chongli invited them into the room.
He was staying in a suite, with a living room at the front and a bedroom further in.
The three of them sat down in the living room, and Li Banfeng got straight to the point, "Boss Feng, I’ve come today to buy a pair of Iron Rulers from you."
Feng Chongli was taken aback and asked, "Are you looking to buy a weapon?"
"You could call it a weapon."
"I don’t understand. Isn’t an Iron Ruler a weapon?"
Feng Chongli still seemed to be probing, so Li Banfeng decided to be more explicit.
"You previously sold a pair of Iron Rulers to Boss Tu. I’ve taken a liking to that pair, but Boss Tu is unwilling to part with them. I’ve come to you to ask if you have another set."
Feng Chongli looked at his younger brother, Feng Xincheng. He found this Li Banfeng fellow rather peculiar.
Feng Xincheng said, "Elder brother, Boss Li is here on business, and I will witness this transaction."
Although the brothers didn’t always see eye to eye, Feng Chongli naturally trusted his own younger brother’s integrity.
"To be honest with you, I had two pairs of Iron Rulers in total. I sold one pair to Boss Tu, and I have one pair remaining."
Li Banfeng nodded. "I’ll take that pair."
"Not so fast. You should consider the price first."
Li Banfeng was prepared for a steep price. Tu Yinghong had practically bankrupted herself for them, so such important items wouldn’t come cheap.
"Name your price."
Feng Chongli held up one finger. "One million Ocean Dollars."
Feng Xincheng choked on his tea, nearly spraying it everywhere.
Even though Li Banfeng had braced himself, he was speechless for a long moment.
Li Banfeng said, "Boss Feng, do you know what Greenwater City’s famous Hundred Joy Gate sold for?"
"Of course. Last year, Lu Dongjun sold it to Chu Huaiyuan for eight hundred thousand Ocean Dollars."
"And you’re asking one million for a pair of Iron Rulers?"
Feng Chongli nodded. "That is indeed the price."
"When Tu Shumei bought her pair from you, was it for the same price?" Li Banfeng doubted Tu Shumei had ever possessed that kind of wealth.
Feng Chongli sipped his tea. "You’d best not ask how much Boss Tu paid."
His words were reasonable; each deal was its own separate matter.
After selling the Explosive Tiger Spear, Li Banfeng had earned eight hundred thousand Ocean Dollars. He had left six hundred thousand at Iron Gate Fort and kept two hundred thousand on his person.
With his recent comings and goings, he could access three hundred thousand Ocean Dollars from his Portable Residence. If he retrieved the money from Iron Gate Fort, that would make nine hundred thousand. The businesses from Blue Poplar Village, Zhengjing Village, and Xiaoyao Lodge, when added together—counting only Li Banfeng’s share—amounted to over six hundred thousand Ocean Dollars. Indeed, he could come up with one million.
Li Banfeng said, "I’ll give you a thirty percent down payment now, and pay the remainder shortly. We can draw up a Contract Book, but you must let me take the items with me. Would that be acceptable?"
Feng Chongli pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
Feng Xincheng interjected, "Brother, I trust Boss Li. I’ll vouch for him. No one carries a million Ocean Dollars around with them. You have to give him a few days to gather the funds."
Feng Chongli lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said, "It’s rare for Xincheng to speak up like this, so I’ll offer a discount—a big one. The price of the Hundred Joy Gate: eight hundred thousand Ocean Dollars. Bring the eight hundred thousand by this time tomorrow, and we’ll do the deal: cash for goods. We’ll verify its authenticity and draw up the Contract Book on the spot. If you can’t bring it, then don’t bother looking for me. I have other business in Loess Bridge. After tomorrow, I won’t be seeing any more clients."
Feng Xincheng, at his side, started, "Brother, you’re being..."
Feng Chongli’s face darkened as he looked at Feng Xincheng. "I’ve given you plenty of face already."
Feng Xincheng had nothing more to say.
Li Banfeng nodded, lowered the brim of his hat, and left Feng Chongli’s room with Shopkeeper Feng.
Shopkeeper Feng’s face was flushed red. "Boss Li, I’m afraid I wasn’t much help."
Li Banfeng chuckled. "How can you say that? You saved me two hundred thousand Ocean Dollars!"
Shopkeeper Feng pursed his lips. "In business, there’s always haggling. He would have lowered the price somewhat even without me. But he’s being too unreasonable—eight hundred thousand Ocean Dollars in a single day! In a dump like this, where could anyone get that kind of money?"
Li Banfeng also didn’t know where to get it. After they had something to eat, Li Banfeng settled Shopkeeper Feng into his accommodation, then got a room for himself before returning to the Portable Residence.
Sitting in the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng counted his cash. He had a total of three hundred eighty thousand Ocean Dollars, leaving him short four hundred twenty thousand.
He sat on the edge of the bed, silently contemplating his options.
Li Banfeng was muttering to himself when he suddenly heard Gloves speak in his ear, "My Lord, if you don’t want to rob, I can go and ’borrow’ the items for you."
Li Banfeng patted Gloves, "You certainly have a way with words."
"Then let’s go!" Gloves was ready to depart, but Li Banfeng shook his head.
"Even ’borrowing’ won’t do. Shopkeeper Feng vouched for me, and Feng Chongli is his actual brother. We can’t put Shopkeeper Feng in a difficult position."
CLANG! RATTLE! went the Phonograph.
"YES!" the Phonograph strongly supported. "Oh, Husband, what’s troubling you so much?"
Li Banfeng sighed. "Wife, I need to buy something."
"We have plenty of Silver Coin at home. What is it that you can’t buy?"
Li Banfeng said, "I need to buy a pair of Iron Rulers. Those things cost eight hundred thousand Silver Yuan!"
"Eight hundred thousand? That is a considerable sum. What kind of fine weapon is it?"
"It’s not a weapon; it’s something for our home."
The Phonograph strongly supported this: "Oh, Husband, things for the home absolutely must be bought! Don’t worry about the cost; you can’t be stingy with this. Husband, convert the Elixir! The Gold Yuan Pills fetch a very high price!"
In this dilemma, he heard Gloves again, "If My Lord doesn’t want to ’borrow’ the Iron Ruler, then borrow some money."
Li Banfeng gave a wry smile. "And where would I borrow that much money?"
"Borrow it from me!" No sooner had the words left its mouth, Gloves stepped back two paces, its opening facing upward. With a loud RATTLE, it spat out a large pile of Silver Yuan.
The Silver Yuan piled higher and higher, filling almost half the room.
Gloves said to Li Banfeng, "Four hundred thirteen thousand, two hundred twenty-two Ocean Dollars. My Lord, count them."
Li Banfeng was stunned for a long time.
Gloves then spat out a chest of gold, "This is what you rewarded me with before. By my calculations, it should be enough. If it’s not, I also have banknotes. They’re all for you, My Lord!"
PS: Who dares say our Gloves has no conscience?