After seeing off Sun Junfu, Liao Zihui had some serious matters to attend to.
Chu Huaijun’s death was beyond Liao Zihui’s expectations. Having served as Border Defense Envoy for many years, he had encountered numerous unexpected situations. However, seeing a force he had fostered meet its end in such a crazy circumstance was a first.
Identifying the cause of Chu Huaijun’s death was not difficult. The Chu Family’s Second Miss had returned. Not only had she refused the deal with Hundred Joy Gate, but she had also taken over the Chu family’s affairs. Chu Huaijun had very likely died at her hands.
Liao Zihui called his secretary, Ling Sujun. "Draft a report. Postpone the acquisition of Hundred Joy Gate, and hold off any actions against He Yuxiu."
Ling Sujun noted the instructions in his small notebook and also offered his suggestion, "Chief Envoy, the task list we previously received had clear deadlines for the matters regarding Hundred Joy Gate and He Yuxiu. To propose a postponement now might..."
Liao Zihui shook his head. "As long as I hold the position of Chief Envoy, this matter must be delayed. Otherwise, it could lead to irrevocable consequences."
"And the actions against Li Qi? Should those be delayed as well?"
Liao Zihui hesitated for a moment, pinching his chin, before saying, "The actions against Li Qi must continue, but we need to change our strategy."
...
At the Beautiful Voice Record Player Shop, Li Banfeng bought over a hundred boxes of film, nearly emptying Ling Miaosheng’s warehouse.
"Mr. Li," Ling Miaosheng said, puzzled, "to my knowledge, you have a film company. Logically, you shouldn’t need to purchase film from me—especially since my prices offer no advantage."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "What I care about isn’t the price, but the art."
Ling Miaosheng’s shop mainly sold phonographs and records but also dealt in projectors and film. He had strict standards for the quality of his merchandise and sold top-grade film rarely seen in Puluo State.
This type of film was particularly suitable as remuneration for the projectors.
Apart from film, Li Banfeng also bought two spring-driven phonographs, both manufactured in Amikan Country, with parts interchangeable with those of his wife’s machine.
The workmanship of these two phonographs was exquisite. In certain details, they even bore a resemblance to his wife’s device.
Li Banfeng admired them for a moment, and doubts suddenly surfaced.
Li Banfeng inquired of Ling Miaosheng, "Is the Amikan Country you speak of the same one they refer to in the Outside Provinces?"
Ling Miaosheng often imported goods from Amikan Country, so he understood Li Banfeng’s implication.
"That question isn’t easy to answer," Ling Miaosheng began. "There are two accounts, and I’m not sure which one you’d prefer to believe.
"The first account is that there’s only one Amikan Country, directly accessible from the Outside Provinces. Their manufactured products are shipped to Puluo State via the Outside Provinces."
"And the other account?" Li Banfeng asked.
"The other account is that there’s an Outer Amikan Country and an Inner Amikan Country. Their relationship is akin to that between Puluo State and the Outside Provinces."
"You’ve dealt extensively with outsiders, so you must know which rumor is true," Li Banfeng said.
"Mr. Li, you misunderstand," Ling Miaosheng replied. "My interactions with the outside aren’t as frequent as you might think. Whether it’s Inner Amikan Country or Outer Amikan Country, all goods from beyond must pass through the Outside Provinces to reach Puluo State. I can only import from the Outside Provinces.
"The official explanation—and there’s only one—is that these items all come from Amikan; there’s no concept of ’inner’ or ’outer.’
"However, if you truly want to know the truth, I can tell you responsibly: Inner Amikan is real, and all the Amikan phonographs sold here are from Inner Amikan."
Li Banfeng trusted Ling Miaosheng but needed to understand the reason. "How did you come to know this truth?" he asked.
Ling Miaosheng regarded Li Banfeng for a moment before speaking candidly. "In my youth, pursuing art, I once visited Amikan Country."
"Outer Amikan Country?"
"I’ve been to both Inner and Outer Amikan Country." Ling Miaosheng’s voice held a trace of melancholy. "I paid a terribly heavy price for it. A portion of my memories was taken from me—memories of Inner Amikan Country.
"But some things cannot be taken away. The art from Inner Amikan Country... it’s etched into my mind, never to fade."
"What kind of art was it?"
Ling Miaosheng shook his head. "I cannot describe it. I don’t know how to express it, and the process of doing so is extremely painful."
"Then don’t force yourself," Li Banfeng said. Considering how much he’d shared, Ling Miaosheng had already been remarkably candid.
Ling Miaosheng added a word of caution, "Mr. Li, I hope you won’t tell anyone what I’ve shared with you today."
Li Banfeng nodded, pulled his hat brim lower, and had the film and phonographs delivered to his outer residence.