Li Banfeng deliberately feigned ignorance, obligingly inquiring, "Isn't it simply because the soda is delicious?"
The vendor, however, shook his head and stated, "No, it's because Puluo State's inaugural steam engines were developed right here..."
Within the Soda Kiln, it's a common tale for virtually every soda vendor to reminisce about this history.
Xiao Chuanzi and his contingent are expected to arrive shortly, and the subsequent responsibilities will be entrusted to their management.
Li Banfeng intended to make his way back to Greenwater City first, aiming to gather intelligence regarding Envoy Xu Shouming. The matter of the Inner State entrance, he naturally delegated to Feng Daiku: "Should any word surface about Luo Lijun, please relay it to me at your earliest convenience, Miss Feng."
Feng Daiku nodded in agreement. "Young Master Li, Wulang mentioned you had a disagreement with the Greenwater Beggar. Therefore, upon your arrival in Greenwater City, it would be prudent to steer clear of Longmen Road, which is situated opposite Peace Mansion."
Li Banfeng displayed surprise. "Is there anything peculiar about that particular road?"
Feng Daiku explained, "That area serves as the access point to Green Flower's residence. Green Flower frequently frequents that vicinity, and numerous individuals have unfortunately fallen victim to his actions. Exercise caution, Young Master Li."
It was rather startling that such vital information was only now being conveyed.
Li Banfeng cast a glance towards the factory, feeling a surge of gratitude for his prompt actions and, equally, for possessing a sagacious wife who could identify valuable machinery.
...
As night descended, Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Residence to find his wife engrossed in studying the Green Flower's Begging Bowl.
"My dearest wife, how progresses your research?"
"It appears I have grasped the Greenwater Beggar's threefold technique."
Li Banfeng was taken aback. He moved closer, encircling the Phonograph, and inquired, "How did you manage to learn it?"
The Phonograph chuckled softly. "Your master's treatises are indeed remarkable, and the Western Abacus we have at home proved quite instrumental."
Western Abacus?
Li Banfeng expressed his bewilderment. "Where did that originate from?"
Hong Ying responded, "He's in Bafang. Go engage in conversation with him."
Upon reaching Bafang, Li Banfeng discovered the room to be vacant.
Activating the Insightful Spirit Sound Technique, Li Banfeng detected the faint sound of someone weeping.
"Who is present?" Li Banfeng called out.
The individual replied, his voice thick with despair, "Speak not further; I shall undertake no more tasks for you!"
"I specifically asked who you are?"
"I am a scholar! None in all of Puluo State surpasses my mathematical research capabilities! You possess no right to demean me; I am entitled to the honor and respect befitting a scholar!"
Li Banfeng inquired with curiosity, "What transpired to cause this distress?"
The scholar's tone was laced with indignation. "Today, the hostess and her companion solicited my assistance with a mathematical conundrum. I stipulated my terms: should I succeed, I would pose a challenge to them, and if they faltered, one of them would forfeit their life!"
Hearing this, Li Banfeng's attention was immediately piqued.
He endeavored to pinpoint the scholar's location through sound, recognizing the scholar as a potentially hazardous individual, and concluded that dangerous elements should not remain within his household.
"And then?" Li Banfeng urged him to continue.
The scholar recounted, "The challenge I presented was a simple query: what is three plus six?"
Li Banfeng expressed astonishment. "Why would you propose such a rudimentary question?"
The scholar elucidated, "That was my absolute limit. The hostess's companion, the one bearing a resemblance to a Long Spear, requested to tackle it, yet she candidly admitted her inability to perform additions exceeding ten!"
Li Banfeng responded with disbelief, "Because she struggles with numbers greater than ten, you devised a problem involving numbers less than ten?"
After indulging in a couple of sobs, the scholar cried out, "I had no intention of setting such a simple problem, but if I hadn't, she would have struck me, perhaps fatally! Why should she assault me? To you, I declare, I will no longer perform any services; this constitutes an affront to my person, an insult to the very field of academia..."
Hong Ying pushed open the door to Bafang, and the scholar's weeping ceased abruptly.
"Resolve these problems. I shall return to retrieve them in approximately half an hour," Hong Ying instructed, placing a stack of pristine white papers upon the table.
"Very well," the scholar readily agreed.
...
Returning to the main chamber, Li Banfeng's gaze fell upon the Begging Bowl, his eyes alight with an unusual intensity.
The Phonograph beside him inquired, "My beloved husband, is something amiss?"
"Nothing at all!" Li Banfeng declared, polishing the Begging Bowl with a laugh. "Tomorrow, I shall pay a visit to a friend's residence."
PS: This particular friend's abode is reputed to hold valuable treasures!