This speed was indeed not slow, as Luo Zhengnan dared not take the train; he had to walk from New Land.
Li Banfeng said, "Depart immediately today. After arriving in Greenwater City, first find a place to stay. Then, at ten o’clock every morning, go to Spring Brook Teahouse for tea. Within three days, someone will naturally find you."
Li Banfeng knew of Luo Zhengnan’s concerns. "Hall Master Luo, consider this matter carefully. If you don’t trust me, you can simply not keep the appointment. I’ll pretend I never saw you."
After pondering for a long while, Luo Zhengnan said, "I trust you, but wouldn’t it be best if we could..."
Li Banfeng pulled out a stack of Contract Paper from his chest. "Wouldn’t it be best if we drew up a Contract Book?"
It saves energy to speak with a clever person; the two always end up on the same page.
...
After writing the Contract Book and settling the matters, Luo Zhengnan left Iron Gate Fort.
Li Banfeng called over Wu Yongchao, who, with a look of shame, said, "Fortress Lord, your house... I hadn’t arranged for someone to guard it regularly, as I was trying to save on wages."
Many aspects of Iron Gate Fort required expenditure on wages.
The steam gate at the entrance required maintenance by hired Craftsman Cultivators, which cost wages.
The former Fortress Lord’s mansion, where Li Banfeng’s six hundred thousand Ocean Dollars were stored, also required dedicated personnel for surveillance. Regular patrols and intelligence gathering outside the fort were also necessary, and these positions incurred wages.
These wages were pooled from the various families. Wu Yongchao felt awkward asking for more, especially since he hadn’t touched a single Silver Yuan of the Fortress Lord’s money; in fact, he had covered many expenses out of his own pocket.
Li Banfeng went to the mansion, dismissed the others, and took out his Gloves.
Looking at a roomful of Silver Yuan, the five fingers of the Gloves rubbed together in excitement for quite a while.
Li Banfeng said, "Count the sum, including the principal and interest."
"What’s there to count with the head of the family? I’ll take whatever you give me."
Li Banfeng smiled and let the Gloves take four hundred and fifty thousand.
The Gloves repeatedly thanked him and happily pocketed the money. "Head of the family, if you come across good stuff in the future, just buy it with confidence. If you’re ever short on money, just come to me."
Li Banfeng nodded and said, "If someone doesn’t want to sell, help me ’borrow’ it again."
"That’s easy enough. When we say ’borrow,’ we actually mean... well, you know... Head of the family, why did you just add the word ’again’?"
"Did I? It probably just slipped out."
The remaining one hundred and fifty thousand Ocean Dollars, Li Banfeng still entrusted to Wu Yongchao. "Take part of the money and open a shop. If people in the fort have goods to sell, we’ll buy them. If outsiders come to purchase, they must also buy from our shop. Fix the prices; we can’t let outsiders adjust them willy-nilly. The earnings from the shop will be used to pay wages. If there are surplus funds, use them as you see fit."
Wu Yongchao was somewhat afraid; he had never handled such a large business before.
"Just give it a try. It doesn’t matter if you lose a bit at the start; you’ll gradually learn how to make money."
...
He Jiaqing, disguised as a cleaner, took the opportunity while clearing trash to detach a suction cup from the base of a trash can.
He had just secured the suction cup when a button on his chest started vibrating.
He Jiaqing didn’t respond immediately. He first left the subway station, found a nearby hotel, booked a room, and then re-established contact with the other party.
"Jia Qing, I mishandled the matter with the movie."
The incident where ’Blood Blade Detective’ used a False Emotional Root was exposed by Ma Wu, and news of it was published in all the newspapers under Ma Wu’s control.
Did Ma Wu have evidence? No.
But this issue didn’t need evidence.
People wouldn’t take risks for a movie; even if Ma Wu was spreading rumors, most people would not go to the cinema to watch ’Blood Blade Detective.’
But some things, people eventually forget. ’Blood Blade Detective’ just needed to change its name and the name of the Shadow Play Company, and it could continue to be filmed.
As it happened, Shen Rongqing and Ma Wu became locked in conflict. Shen Rongqing mobilized the newspapers under her control and launched a public debate against Ma Wu.
This was the habit of literati; they were adept at using their pens to attack others, yet they couldn’t stand being subjected to verbal and written attacks themselves.
The ’Emotional Root incident,’ which should have cooled down, suddenly flared up again, pushing the Ling Family’s Shadow Play Company back into the eye of the storm.
Shen Rongqing was very ashamed and specifically sought out He Jiaqing to apologize.
If Ling Miaoying had done this, He Jiaqing would have exploded in anger long ago.
But he knew Shen Rongqing’s temperament well; this woman was extremely proud and couldn’t be dealt with harshly, only coaxed patiently.
"This isn’t your fault, Sister. The blame lies with Ma Wu for going too far."
"Jia Qing, what do you plan to do about Ma Junyang?"
He Jiaqing was about to speak, but the words turned in his mouth, and he phrased it differently, "What do you want to do about him, Sister?"
This was a mark of respect for Shen Rongqing; this woman was different from his other subordinates, and He Jiaqing had to respect her wishes.
"I don’t want to kill him, but from now on, he must not be allowed to oppose us!"
He Jiaqing agreed and let Shen Rongqing handle the matter.
Luo Zhengnan pulled the antenna from his head, placed it back in its box, found a plug to seal the port in his head, and carefully recalled the content of their conversation.
Thinking this, Luo Zhengnan laughed self-deprecatingly.
Luo Zhengnan sighed long and deep. He spent a sleepless night, and the next day, he went to the Spring Brook Teahouse. The teahouse was in a somewhat secluded location, quiet and with little business.
Luo Zhengnan arrived at ten. He had only been waiting until ten-thirty when Li Banfeng sat down opposite him.
Luo Zhengnan’s eyes widened; he hadn’t expected the person meeting him to be the Fortress Lord himself.
He didn’t understand how the Fortress Lord of Iron Gate Fort had also come to Greenwater City.
"Let’s go. We’re going to Xiaoyao Lodge."
Luo Zhengnan looked bewildered but didn’t dare to ask further questions, following Li Banfeng out of the teahouse.
Walking along the road, Luo Zhengnan was still pondering.
"Fortress Lord, are you Seventh Master?"
Li Banfeng thought.
Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat. "In Greenwater City, don’t call me Fortress Lord."
Countless thoughts tumbled through Luo Zhengnan’s mind, leaving him feeling dizzy.
When they arrived at Xiaoyao Lodge, a janitor was sweeping fallen leaves at the entrance. Luo Zhengnan’s cheek twitched as if shocked by electricity, and his swirling thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
Li Banfeng had prepared a room for Luo Zhengnan in the back building. Once inside, Luo Zhengnan said to Li Banfeng, "Seventh Master, that sweeper just now... there was something on his broom."
Li Banfeng’s brow furrowed. "Are you talking about a hook?"
Luo Zhengnan nodded.
PS: The traitor He Jiaqing had planted in Xiaoyao Lodge has been caught.
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