Chapter 327: Known Beauty and Her Prime Age

Shumei Paper Mill, a very elegant name, perfectly suiting the temperament of a talented woman.

According to a description in Greenwater City's *Autumn Garden Evening News*, two years ago, Shen Rongqing bought a paper mill from the He family. That paper mill was the Shumei Paper Mill, and at the time, only a small notice about the purchase was published on page three of the evening paper.

Upon arriving at the paper mill's entrance, Li Banfeng didn't rush in. He wasn't sure if the paper mill was still Shen Rongqing's business.

He first entered a newsstand, bought two magazines, and struck up a conversation with the owner.

“Do you know who owns this factory?”

The newsstand owner shook his head and said, “I've been selling newspapers here for over ten years, but I haven't seen the owner for the past two years.”

“You've seen them before?”

“Of course!”

“The previous owner's surname was He. Did you really see them?”

“Who said the surname was He? The owner's surname is Tu!”

“Tu?” Li Banfeng was puzzled. The newspaper had clearly stated that Shen Rongqing bought this factory from the He family. Was this vendor just talking nonsense?

“What was the original owner's name?”

“Tu Shumei. Here in Blackrock Slope, our Boss Tu was quite a figure. In the paper-making and printing industries, everyone knew her. Later, for some reason, the business couldn't continue, so she sold it off. That's quite common here in Blackrock Slope.”

Tu Shumei.

Her surname was also Tu.

Li Banfeng recalled something. Qin Xiaopang had once mentioned that Tu Yinghong was also from Blackrock Slope.

Could this Tu Shumei be related to her?

Li Banfeng asked, “How old was Boss Tu?”

The owner thought for a moment. “I remember she was already nearly sixty when she was still at the factory.”

She wasn't Tu Yinghong; their ages didn't match.

Or perhaps she was related to Tu Yinghong in some other way?

“I'd like to meet this Boss Tu. Do you know where she lives?”

The owner shook his head and said, “I wouldn't know that. I heard she's no longer in Blackrock Slope.”

“Are there any relatives living here?”

“No. When Boss Tu's business was at its peak, a reporter came to do an exclusive interview. Boss Tu said that both her parents had passed away, she had no children, and no siblings. She built the business entirely on her own; she was a true heroine among women!”

So, it might be that she and Tu Yinghong were not related after all.

Was this vendor reliable?

Since he remembered an exclusive interview from several years ago, why didn't he know about the news in the *Autumn Garden Evening News*?

Was it because the news was too insignificant?

“Do you have the *Autumn Garden Evening News* here?”

“We don't have that here. You're from Greenwater City, aren't you? Nobody in Blackrock Slope reads the *Autumn Garden Evening News*,” the owner chuckled. “If you want to read proper news, I have the *Greentown Daily* here.”

This was a newspaper run by the Ling family, and it still had a market in Blackrock Slope.

Ling Miaowen and Ling Miaoying were both dead, yet the Ling family's newspaper was still being operated.

The owner continued, “If you want something a bit less serious, I have plenty of those. The least serious in Blackrock Slope would have to be *Tuberose*!”

Li Banfeng's cheek twitched.

Who said *Tuberose* wasn't serious?

“Give me a copy of *Tuberose*.”

“Do you want the newspaper, the magazine, or the film?”

Li Banfeng was taken aback. “You have films here too?”

“Yes, we do. The *Tuberose* film series comes out weekly. I have the latest issue, and back issues in stock!”

They were even selling these at newsstands?

The owner raised an eyebrow and said, “Want one? Twenty-eight yuan!”

Li Banfeng frowned and said, “Twenty-eight yuan is not cheap. I might as well go see a movie. Isn't *Blood Gun Detective* more exciting than this?”

“How can they be the same? *Blood Gun Detective* is shown in a movie theater. If you get too excited and do something in the theater, how embarrassing would that be? No one would do something like that except for Ma Junyang from Greenwater City.

*Tuberose* is different. You can set up the machine at home, watch it secretly, and no one will know!”

“What if your wife finds out?”

“Don't worry if she finds out; watch it together. Let me tell you, my wife loves watching them…”

Li Banfeng shook his head. “I don't have a film projector.”

“I have one here. It's also from *Tuberose*, the authentic Qichuan brand.”

Qichuan brand?

Who came up with that name?

Did Xiaochuanzi name it?

Why did they include me in it?

The owner took out a projector and asked for eight hundred.

Li Banfeng haggled for six hundred, but the owner refused. “This item sells itself. Eight hundred is already cheap. Many families will scrimp and save to get one for their home. And many newspaper reporters are scrambling to buy them.

I'll give you the newspaper, the magazine, and that film reel for free. I can also throw in a screen as a discount. But for this machine, not a single coin less.”

The owner didn't budge, but Li Banfeng wasn't upset.

He bought the projector, carrying the machine and its stand, and clutching the newspaper and magazines, and went to the paper mill.

The paper mill's gatekeeper walked over, looked at Li Banfeng, and said, “Whom are you looking for?”

“I'm looking for your boss.”

“What business do you have with them?”

“I'm a reporter.”

Seeing Li Banfeng was dressed respectably and carrying a projector, indeed looking like a reporter, the gatekeeper said, “Please wait here for a moment. I'll go ask our supervisor.”

Soon after, the supervisor arrived as well, and smiling at Li Banfeng, said, “May I ask which newspaper you're from?”

At this moment, he couldn't mention *Tuberose*. He needed to name a respectable publication.

“I'm a reporter from *Blackrock Miscellany*. I'd like to do a special feature on the paper-making industry.”

The supervisor became much more courteous. *Blackrock Miscellany* held a significant position in Blackrock Slope.

“Our boss isn't at the factory right now. Could we arrange another time?”

Li Banfeng replied, “That wouldn't be ideal. I'm in a hurry to submit my article.”

The other party didn't press the issue. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Banfeng left, carrying the machine.

Shen Rongqing had many businesses under her control, deeply hidden, and her subordinates were well-trained, making it difficult to uncover anything obvious.

He needed to try to find an insider.

Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi were from Blackrock Slope, so he would have to approach them first about this matter.

Li Banfeng returned directly to the newspaper office. Bai Qiusheng exclaimed in surprise, “Seventh Master, you're here!”

Li Banfeng, holding the projector, smiled and said, “Where's Chuanzi? I've come to celebrate his success! Let's get the wine ready.”

Not only should they celebrate his success, but he also deserved a substantial reward. Chuanzi should be given a sum of money, and two-tenths of the projector's shares should be allocated to him.

Bai Qiusheng looked troubled and said, “Seventh Master, Chuanzi is ill. He hasn't been able to get out of bed for two days.”

“Ill?” Li Banfeng's mind buzzed, and he immediately thought of the Illness Practitioner.

He went to Chuanzi's room and saw him lying flat on the bed, pale-faced. Chuanzi saw Li Banfeng and tried to speak but couldn't.

“Has Chuanzi seen anyone recently?”

This question stumped Bai Qiusheng.

Chuanzi had been busy managing the projector business lately and had met many people. Where should he even begin?

“Seventh Master, perhaps we should take our time and go through it…”

“We'll sort it out on the way. First, send Chuanzi to Greenwater City.”

“Seventh Master, the doctor said Chuanzi is too weak to be moved easily.”

This was troublesome. If he had indeed encountered an Illness Practitioner, besides Cui Tik, Li Banfeng knew no other way to solve it.

In his anxiety, he suddenly heard the Wine Gourd whisper in his ear, “Little brother, let's find a place to talk.”

Li Banfeng returned to his room. The Wine Gourd said, “Little brother, this young man's symptoms are different. Ma Wu was truly ill, but this young man seems to be exhausted.”

“Just exhausted? He's rested for two days and still hasn't improved?”

The Wine Gourd said, “I've followed the Medicine King for many years, so I can't be mistaken about basic pathology. How about we consult with Sister?”

Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Abode. The Wine Gourd described Xiaochuanzi's symptoms to the Phonograph.

Phew!

“Based on the symptoms, it looks like overwork. He's been lying down for a long time without improvement. What is his usual physical condition?”

“His physique is very good.”

Chuanzi's physical condition was good even when he was operating the road roller. After joining the sect, his physical prowess improved significantly. Logically, mere fatigue shouldn't have laid him low.

His wife then asked, “Does he have any cultivation?”

“A first-level Craftsman Cultivator.”

“Has he recently created anything good?”

“He created a film projector.” Li Banfeng showed the projector in his hand to his wife.

The projector nearby snorted coldly and said, “The materials are crude; it's truly an eyesore.”

Compared to it, it was certainly rough and inferior.

“But this thing is cheap; ordinary people can afford it. They can just set up a screen at home and watch movies.”

“How's it selling?” It was rare for his wife to inquire about business matters.

“Business is quite booming.”

“That's it, dear husband. When a Craftsman Cultivator creates a good, well-received item, their Cultivation Time will surge. The more people who use it, the better its reputation, and the faster it grows.

Looking at this young man's condition, he is definitely about to advance to the second level, and might even cross over to the third. An ordinary person's physique cannot withstand such a rapid promotion.”

Let alone an ordinary person, even Li Banfeng couldn't endure cross-level promotions.

“Do you have a solution, my dear?”

“Oh my, dear husband, if this were any other sect, cross-level promotion would undoubtedly be fatal. However, Craftsman Cultivation and Farmer Cultivation are exceptions; there's still a chance to ease the transition. I'll write a prescription, and you can get some herbs first.”

Li Banfeng said in surprise, “My dear, you possess such abilities?”

The Phonograph chuckled, “Oh my, dear husband, by marrying me, haven't you found a treasure?”

“A wonderful treasure, indeed!” Li Banfeng pressed his face against the phonograph, rubbing it vigorously on the cabinet door for a long time.

The Phonograph laughed, breathless, “Husband, please stop! You have a beard, you're tickling me to death.”

His wife used the phonograph needle to write a prescription. Li Banfeng had someone retrieve the herbs, then brought over the Red Lotus and refined the herbs into a medicinal pill.

“Have him take this pill. Let him rest and recuperate peacefully during this time. When the peddler arrives, buy a bowl of Revival Soup, and he'll recover.”

Li Banfeng quickly fed the pill to Chuanzi.

After taking the pill, Chuanzi visibly improved. Li Banfeng made sure everything was properly arranged, then called for Bai Qiusheng.

He asked about Shen Rongqing.

Bai Qiusheng's reaction was similar to Ma Wu's. “Shen Rongqing is an unparalleled talent. All scholars in Blackrock Slope know her name.”

“Two years ago, she bought a paper mill in Blackrock Slope. Do you know about that?”

“I don't know,” Bai Qiusheng shook his head repeatedly. “A talented woman like Shen Rongqing wouldn't be involved in business, would she?”

“What's wrong with doing business? Is it shameful?”

Bai Qiusheng chuckled dryly. “She can support herself with her talent alone. There's no need for her to exert herself in business.”

Li Banfeng then asked, “Do you know this person, Tu Shumei?”

“Yes, I do. A heroine among women. She's a Craftsman Cultivator, a master in the paper-making and printing industries.

The hand-cranked printing press Chuanzi bought earlier was made by Tu Shumei. All the small newspaper offices in Blackrock Slope rely on that small printing press to make a living.”

Craftsman Cultivator?

Tu Yinghong is also a Craftsman Cultivator!

But their ages didn't match.

“How old is Tu Shumei?”

Bai Qiusheng thought for a moment and said, “If I'm not mistaken, she should be sixty this year.”

Sixty years old.

If she reached the first level at twenty and cultivated steadily for forty years, her cultivation should be at the fifth level.

Given she was a master in the paper-making and printing industries, it proved she was talented. It wasn't impossible for her to have reached the sixth, or even close to the seventh level.

She created the hand-cranked printing press. It had an excellent reputation, and many people had used it.

If she were to cross another level, that would be the seventh, or even close to the eighth level.

This would then align with Tu Yinghong's cultivation level.

Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Abode, and asked his wife, “Can Craftsman Cultivators alter their appearance?”

Before the Phonograph could speak, Hong Ying spoke from the side, “Yes, they can, Seventh Lang. Next time you capture a living Craftsman Cultivator, I'll let you see my former appearance.”