Chapter 404: Mad Craftsman

Three days later, Ling Sujun, Liao Zihui's secretary, arrived at Xiaoyao Dock, holding a document.

The Customs and Defense Hall responded to Li Qi's request: effective immediately, the shipping fees for Li Qi's business would be halved.

Ma Wu was so excited that he didn't even think about flirting with Ling Sujun; he immediately went to find Li Qi.

Li Banfeng, however, remained calm: "I expect the major families will come calling very soon."

The major families would certainly come. With Li Qi offering half-price shipping while they couldn't even get the original rates, they would definitely find a way to ship goods through him.

Ma Wu was already prepared for this: "We can help families with whom we have good relations to ship their goods, earning a commission in the process. Sister Xiu is probably coming today; we can discuss how much to charge for the commission when she arrives."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "He Yuxiu won't be charged a commission; just collect a small fee for the labor costs."

Ma Wu was taken aback: "Why is that?"

"He Yuxiu has made significant contributions; her efforts were crucial to this success."

Indeed, He Yuxiu's contributions were substantial. Not only did she play a major role in the battle against the Three Heroes Gate, but more importantly, she helped Li Banfeng by drawing much of the Customs and Defense Commissioner's attention.

"What about the other families?"

"We'll reward based on merit; the greater their contribution, the smaller their commission."

Ma Wu rubbed his forehead. This was quite taxing, but upon careful thought, the contributions of each family were traceable.

However, Ma Wu had some concerns: "If we do this, the Customs and Defense Commissioner will suffer a huge loss. Won't they cause trouble for us later?"

With all the major families shipping their goods through Li Qi,

"There will be no shortage of trouble. As long as the territorial boundaries remain in their control, this matter is far from over."

As he spoke, Li Banfeng looked towards the person sweeping the floor near the entrance.

The sweeper was diligently cleaning the corners of the corridor, head bowed, holding a broom.

"What is this?" Li Banfeng asked.

The sweeper nervously gripped the broom, his face covered in sweat. He looked up and asked, "Seventh Master, are you referring to..."

Li Banfeng touched the small wooden doll on the cleaner's waist: "How unique."

"You mean this?" The cleaner unhooked the doll. "There's a peddler downstairs selling miscellaneous goods. I thought this was nice and quite cheap, so I bought it for my child to play with."

"You mean downstairs?"

"Right by the roadside, there was a small stall. It should still be there now."

Li Banfeng went downstairs and indeed saw a miscellaneous goods stall. Most of the items on display were toys. Li Banfeng took a liking to a wooden train.

"How much is this?"

"Five yuan, no bargaining."

The items were indeed inexpensive. Li Banfeng bought the wooden train, along with a jar of glass marbles and two tin frogs.

Back at Xiaoyao Dock, Li Banfeng entered the Portable Dwelling and went straight to the Third Chamber.

"Old Master, I brought you something." Li Banfeng took out the wooden train and pushed it back and forth on the floor.

The Portable Dwelling did not respond.

"Here are some glass marbles too. You said last time these were good for entertainment; they really are fun."

The Portable Dwelling still did not respond.

Li Banfeng took out the tin frogs, wound them up, and watched them hop click-clack across the floor: "Do you like these?"

"Just say what's on your mind!" the Portable Dwelling finally spoke.

"I wanted to ask something: what is the fundamental principle behind the boundary lines between the various territories?"

After a long wait, the Portable Dwelling replied: "I've studied it, but I haven't fully understood it. I remember some things, but I've forgotten most of it."

"That can't be," Li Banfeng said, taking out the switch that controlled the boundary lines. "Didn't you create this?"

"I didn't create this; I modified it. Some things can be repaired if broken, and some can be altered if they don't work well, but creating something entirely new is not so easy."

This was true; creating something new from scratch was far more difficult than repairing or modifying it.

The Portable Dwelling continued: "Furthermore, this mechanism must be used cautiously. It might work once, but there's no guarantee it will work again next time. People from other states enjoy playing such tricks."

Li Banfeng understood this point; it was like different devices having different passwords.

But Li Banfeng was determined to break the limitations of the boundary lines, even if it meant learning from scratch. "Can you teach me some methods?" he asked.

"Why do you want to learn methods? Is opening two businesses not enough for you?"

"I want to build a railway, one not controlled by the boundary lines. Do you have a way?"

"Heh heh," the Portable Dwelling chuckled. "Old Train spent so many years trying to build such a railway, and he didn't succeed. Do you think you can?"

"Old Train?" Li Banfeng smiled. "You mean Grandpa Train? Is that what you call him too? Then what does he call you?"

"He calls me Little Train."

"Hoo ha ha ha ha," the Glove burst into laughter from nearby. "Old Master, at your age, being called Little Train... you have no shame."

A jar flew towards him. The Glove dodged it, saying, "Old Master, that trick doesn't work anymore, hoo ha ha..."

A vase fell from the table and accurately struck the Glove.

The Portable Dwelling sighed: "Ah Qi, you can't build a railway. Methods of craftsmanship are not something you can learn overnight."

"Nor can I. I've forgotten too many things."

"See if your wife has this ability. She learns everything quickly."

"She also needs a helper, and there's another clever person in the house, but they might not be willing to assist her."

Who was that clever person?

Li Banfeng thought for a moment and then remembered the Ninth Chamber.

"Old Master, are you talking about Honglian? I'm afraid she still holds my old friend in her heart."

The Portable Dwelling chuckled: "Ah Qi, you haven't spent enough time with Honglian. You truly don't understand her nature."

"I haven't met your friend, but I know Honglian certainly doesn't hold your friend in her heart."

"She only has that person from the heavens in her heart. Besides that person, she can't hold anyone else there."

The one from the heavens?

Li Banfeng had heard his wife mention this.

"The one who shone heavenly light on me?"

"Exactly. In Prora Province, if anyone touches Honglian, she sends a message to the heavens, and heavenly light shines down."

"But here with me, Honglian can't send messages to the heavens. She gets anxious, and seeing her anxious makes me incredibly happy."

Li Banfeng was silent for a moment, then exchanged knowing smiles with the Portable Dwelling.

After their laughter, Li Banfeng remembered Grandpa Train: "Where exactly is Old Train now?"

The Portable Dwelling said: "Don't worry about him for now. You can't go where he is."

"Who has him trapped?"

The Portable Dwelling sighed: "I've forgotten. It's not that I don't want to tell you; I genuinely can't remember."

"When I followed Old Train and fought that battle with them, I lost most of my combat strength and most of my memories."

"If I were to encounter them again, I wouldn't be confident in getting you out alive."

"So what should we do? You've forgotten the methods for the boundary lines, we can't find Old Train, and we're relying on my wife to figure it out herself. How long will that take?"

The Portable Dwelling remained silent; it couldn't think of a good solution either.

Li Banfeng looked up and asked: "I have an idea, and I've already started working on it, but I don't know if it will be effective."

"If you were to see a newly formed boundary line, could it help you retrieve some of your memories?"

The Portable Dwelling was silent for a long time before saying, "It's worth a try."

Li Banfeng returned to the main house and affectionately embraced his wife twice.

His wife gritted her teeth, sweating, and said, "As long as I don't have to consume the joyful earth, I can still endure it."

The Glove crawled out from under the vase and found that the wooden train, glass marbles, and tin frogs that had been on the floor were all gone.

Li Banfeng left the Portable Dwelling.

In the main house, Hong Ying couldn't hear the Portable Dwelling's words earlier, but she could hear Li Banfeng and the Glove.

While Li Banfeng was away, Hong Ying whispered to the Gramophone: "Vicious woman, I heard that lunatic and that wretched hand talking about Old Train and Little Train. They're not referring to that crazy craftsman and his train, are they?"

The Gramophone sneered, "Calling him a crazy craftsman? Don't you have any manners? That's your Taoist elder."

Hong Ying exclaimed in alarm, "I should have known earlier that we fell into that madman's train! Zhao Xiaowan, why aren't you scared at all?"

"Scared of what? This senior has been quite kind to us, hasn't he?"

"Have you forgotten what they were like on the battlefield? Apart from the peddler, that old craftsman and his train were the most ruthless."

The Gramophone, playing a slow tempo, sang: "Oh, you wretch, you've been deaf and blind for so many years. Times have long since changed. Don't dig up those old almanacs."

Hong Ying snorted coldly: "If we don't dig up old almanacs, does that mean our grudge is also over?"

"Oh, you wretch, you're truly overthinking it. Even if you fall into the eighteen layers of hell, our grudge will never be over."

He Jiaqing sat in a small pub, eating lamb skewers, drinking beer, and reading a newspaper.

The pub wasn't very popular; He Jiaqing came here simply to eat.

However, the news in the newspaper somewhat spoiled his appetite. It was a newspaper from Prora Province, reporting news from three days ago, with the headline: "Seventy-Year-Old Ghost Hand Sect Master Streaks Naked Through the Streets: What's the Hidden Story Behind It?"

He Jiaqing struggled to remain calm as he read the entire news segment.

He gained a new understanding of Xie Juncong.

After finishing his meal, He Jiaqing walked towards the stadium. On the way, Shen Rongqing sent him a message.

"Jiaqing, the Customs and Defense Commissioner has reduced Li Qi's shipping fees by half. Li Qi no longer needs us to ship his goods."

He Jiaqing smiled: "We can ship through him instead. Business is about making money, whatever way works!"

Shen Rongqing sighed: "I went to talk to Ma Wu, but he wasn't very willing to see me. He said this isn't about friendship; it's about rewarding based on merit. At most, we can get a 20% reduction in shipping fees."

"20% isn't insignificant. We need to let Li Qi earn some commission first to keep the business going."

Shen Rongqing was still a bit unconvinced: "Jiaqing, for He Yuxiu's business, Li Qi halved the shipping fees and only charged a small labor fee. He didn't earn any commission from her."

"Why is that?" He Jiaqing was stunned for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What is Li Qi's relationship with my aunt?"

"Rumor has it they're quite close. You know your aunt's personality; when she sees a man she fancies, she just..."

"How dare he!" He Jiaqing became agitated. "If Li Qi dares to sleep with my aunt, I'll..."

What could he do to him, though?

He Jiaqing was at a critical juncture and couldn't return to Prora Province right now.

Shen Rongqing asked: "Jiaqing, are we still doing business with Li Qi?"

"Of course! Isn't it about rewarding based on merit? Why shouldn't we earn the money we deserve!"

"This business won't last too long. The Customs and Defense Commissioner agreed to 50% of the shipping fees today, but tomorrow it might increase fivefold. We need to seize the opportunity and ship as much as we can. Every bit of profit counts."

Ma Wu recruited nearly a thousand pioneers from across Greenwater Bay and gathered them in Lanyang Village.

Li Banfeng organized a pioneering conference, displaying the rewards directly in front of the pioneers:

"You understand the rules of pioneering, and you also understand my rules. The silver dollars are laid out here. You'll receive your reward money based on the size of the land plot. Carriages and horses are ready; pack your belongings and set off."