Tang Changfa wore a black long robe, with a Unifying Six Realms Hat on his head.
The two girls were dressed in cheongsams, their hair styled up, their faces freshly powdered, looking dead white.
All four of them were drenched.
The driver was silent for a moment, then said to Li Banfeng, "Sir, I work the day shift, actually, I'm already off duty."
Li Banfeng frowned, "Off duty and still your empty taxi light is on? You're doing it on purpose, right?"
"No," the driver shook his head repeatedly, "It's like, I, uh, I, um… where are you headed?"
Li Banfeng gave the address, and the driver, without much more to say, hit the gas and set off.
As soon as the car started moving, Yan Cui'er panicked, feeling waves churning at her chest, she wanted to vomit, while Yan Hong'er kept glaring at her, forcing Yan Cui'er to endure it.
Tang Changfa was deeply cultivated, maintaining a void expression, and Yan Hong'er signaled to Yan Cui'er to learn to mimic it, both trying various ways to keep their expressions blank.
Through the rearview mirror, the driver saw the three people sitting with ghostly white faces and expressionless.
He glanced at Li Banfeng, who also looked back at the driver.
The atmosphere was slightly tense, so Li Banfeng initiated a conversation, "It's not easy doing this job, quite tough, isn't it?"
The driver sobbed, bursting into tears, "It's all for a living, I'm an honest person, barely ever did anything wrong, sometimes take long routes, but that's from ages ago..."
Seeing the driver so distressed, Tang Changfa sighed in empathy, People from other provinces are straightforward, revealing their hearts and intentions, it's good for business.
Upon arrival, Li Banfeng handed over a hundred bills, causing the driver to cry even harder.
These days, who pays cash anymore? This money certainly isn't clean, might turn into Underworld Money come daylight, possibly inviting trouble.
"Sir, I've got kids at home!" He wanted to return the money to Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng didn't understand his intention, "It's certainly not easy for you, no need for change."
The four got off the car, arriving at Li Banfeng's residence where he didn't have women's clothes, so he gave them a few of his own to wear.
Tang Changfa glanced around at Li Banfeng's duplex, sighing, "This place isn't very spacious, the Shopkeeper is certainly bearing hardships."
Yan Cui'er stood under the air conditioning, enjoying the cool air, "This thing is quite refreshing."
Tang Changfa shot a glare at Yan Cui'er, "Don't be so ignorant, don't blow too much from this cold air box, it's Cold Cultivator's magical treasure, too much will harm your vitality!"
Li Banfeng brought out some pastries, canned food, and instant noodles to make do for a meal.
Tang Changfa felt guilty inside, "Shopkeeper, we've come not to burden you, but to help you, food and drink won't bother you in the future; tomorrow we'll find a place and start the business."
Li Banfeng laughed, "You've got ambition, what kind of business are you planning?"
Tang Changfa was prepared, "Now having come to the Outside Provinces, we need to do some legitimate business, we plan to open a Book Residence."
Li Banfeng furrowed his brows, "What kind of legitimate business is that?"
Tang Changfa replied, "Our Book Residence is different from the ones in Fool's City, we just rob money, don't kill."
"That's no good either!" Li Banfeng disagreed, "Choose another trade!"
Tang Changfa had more ideas, he took out a wicker box, "Then we'll open a restaurant, I've brought all the cooking tools."
"This is a proper business," Li Banfeng was a bit surprised, "Old Tang, can you cook?"
"Of course!" Tang Changfa opened the box, taking out a paper package, "I have some good elixir here, put it in the wine, and no matter how strong the man, he'll fall after one drink."
"And after they fall?"
Tang Changfa thought for a moment, firmly responded, "We'll try not to kill."
Li Banfeng paused for a moment, then said, "Pick another trade."
Seeing Li Banfeng unsatisfied, Tang Changfa lowered his head, "I can't do anything else, just my old trade."
"What old trade?"
"I'll open an inn!"
Tang Changfa was originally the boss of Friendly Inn in Fool's City, and Li Banfeng had stayed there before and already guessed his business model.
"How do you plan to open the inn?"
Tang Changfa said, "It's simple, our inn provides food and lodging, when guests come, we put the elixir..."
"Put the elixir down!" Li Banfeng was angry, "How is it so hard to make you do real business?"
Tang Changfa didn't dare speak; Yan Cui'er whispered, "We can't do any other business."
"Can't do, then won't you learn?" Li Banfeng allocated their rooms, "Have a good night's sleep, tomorrow I'll find you a real trade."
The next evening, Li Banfeng took three people to the black market at the Cultural Palace.
The Cultural Palace was screening an action movie that regular cinemas couldn't show tonight, which meant they were selling elixirs tonight.
The four of them sat together in the back row of the cinema to watch the movie. Yan Cui'er pouted and said, "The tricks from the other provinces aren't that impressive, look at their moves, how old-fashioned."
Yan Hong'er didn't speak, and Tang Changfa sneered, "You're not old-fashioned? All you do is polish mirrors every day, do you have any real skills?"
As they were talking, the snack seller came by. Li Banfeng bought a bottle of water, the snack seller took the money and gestured for them to move to the front rows.
Moving to the front rows meant going to discuss business.
"There's no rush to talk business, could you please take a look at this?" Li Banfeng handed a letter to the snack seller.
This letter was left for Li Banfeng by Qiu Zhiheng. Since arriving in Yuezhou, Li Banfeng had not taken it out until now.
The snack seller opened the letter, glanced at it, and walked away.
Soon, the snack seller returned and said to Li Banfeng, "Sir, our manager requests your presence."
Li Banfeng stood up. Tang Changfa also wanted to follow, but the snack seller shook his head and said, "You gentlemen should watch the movie here for now."
This meant they couldn't follow.
Li Banfeng signaled Tang Changfa to stay, and followed the snack seller to the third floor of the Cultural Palace.
On the third floor, there was a conference room and several offices. The snack seller led Li Banfeng into one of the offices and said very respectfully, "Manager, this is Boss Li."
The manager was a middle-aged man about fifty years old. Qiu Zhiheng had mentioned in the letter that his surname was Lin and didn't reveal his full name, only saying his nickname was Lin Fojiao.
Seeing Lin Fojiao keeping his head down, Li Banfeng thought he was pondering something. After observing for a moment, he realized Lin Fojiao's eyes were closed.
Was he asleep?
"Manager Lin?" Li Banfeng greeted him.
"Ah!" Lin Fojiao opened his eyes, looked at Li Banfeng, and asked, "Who are you?"
Li Banfeng replied, "My surname is Li, introduced by Boss Qiu."
Lin Fojiao yawned and asked, "What can I do for you?"
"I want to rent a stall here."
Lin Fojiao glanced at the letter for a moment: "Okay."
"That's it?" Li Banfeng was surprised by Lin Fojiao's efficiency.
"Since Boss Qiu introduced you, it'll surely be fine!" Lin Fojiao said, looking at the snack seller, "Handle the remaining matters."
After saying this, Lin Fojiao gestured for him to leave.
Li Banfeng got up, and before he reached the door, Lin Fojiao fell asleep again.
This person was quite easy to deal with.
After leaving the office, when they reached the second floor, the snack seller opened a vacant private room to start discussing business: "Are you planning to conduct bulk sales with us or act as a reseller?"
This referred to wholesale and retail.
"Mainly reselling, but for rare items, I'll handle direct sales as well."
The snack seller asked again, "Which line of business are you in?"
"Mostly medicinal herbs, weaponry, and auxiliary materials for spiritual objects. I'm familiar with the market."
"You understand our commission rules, right?"
Li Banfeng nodded, "Yes, I'm aware of that."
The snack seller took out a poster with numbers on it, room 206: "This is tomorrow's schedule, if it's convenient, you can open shop tomorrow."
Li Banfeng accepted the movie poster, and the matter was settled.
Back at his place, Li Banfeng explained the black market rules to Tang Changfa, who was amazed, "This actually seems like legitimate business, but why does it have to be done so stealthily?"
In Puluo State, as long as you have money, you can buy these things freely, not to mention in Blue Poplar Village where they're abundant.
"Other provinces have their own rules," Li Banfeng said, handing some medicinal herbs to Tang Changfa, "You guys can open up shop tomorrow, it's not about making money, the key is to keep an eye on one person for me."
"Which person?"
"Yin Si Niang. She's the one selling ghost servants. As soon as she gets new stock, notify me immediately."
PS: Yin Si Niang is not the main point, the key is the person delivering goods to her. I need to settle scores with Guokui.