Chapter 76: Looking at the Newspaper

Hiding in his Portable Residence might seem like a safe option, but it's not a viable strategy.

Remaining in his Portable Residence would mean Li Banfeng is completely cut off from the outside world. This is even worse than hiding in Yujia Village. Without any knowledge of the unfolding situation, Li Banfeng would be unable to prepare or react effectively. Unless he intended to stay indoors forever, stepping outside would likely be fatal.

Passive defense wasn't an option, so he needed a new strategy.

Li Banfeng re-examined the letter in his hand. "Luyuan Inn, Xianle Dance Hall, Qingtang Teahouse," he read aloud. "What kind of places are these?"

Shopkeeper Feng replied, "They're all Jiangxiang Gang businesses, located on this very street, close to the Yujia Cloth Shop. I don't need to explain what an inn or teahouse is. As for the dance hall, it's a place for entertainment and pleasure."

Li Banfeng nodded. "It's called 'Immortal Music,' so I assume it's a place for studying music."

"Music... well, how should I explain this?" Shopkeeper Feng stammered, finding it difficult to elaborate.

Li Banfeng took a sip of tea. "If they're going to set an ambush on this street, they might as well do it directly inside the Yujia Cloth Shop."

"That won't do!" Shopkeeper Feng shook his head. If anyone else had said something so naive, he wouldn't have bothered to explain, but Li Banfeng was from out of state and genuinely didn't understand the local customs.

"The Jiangxiang Gang set the ambush to deal with Shopkeeper Yu," he explained. "If they directly stationed people inside the Yujia Cloth Shop, there would inevitably be movement as people went in and out for food and supplies. If Shopkeeper Yu discovered such activity, do you think she'd still return?"

Li Banfeng nodded. Shopkeeper Feng had a valid point. Yu Nan was extremely cautious and had informants in Ligou; she would certainly know if anyone was entering or leaving the cloth shop.

Shopkeeper Feng continued, "Moreover, while the Jiangxiang Gang is ruthless, they are still a local gang and must observe certain fundamental rules.

They are seeking revenge for the Geng Family Apothecary, not seizing Shopkeeper Yu's property. If they were to take advantage of her absence and occupy the shop, it would be considered unacceptable in the Jianghu."

As the incense was about to burn out, Li Banfeng asked another question: "Where is the headquarters of the second branch of the Jiangxiang Gang's Medicine King Hall?"

"It's the Tailai Casino on Yuanping Street, a large, easily recognizable mansion," he replied. "You'd best steer clear of that place as well."

Li Banfeng nodded and handed Shopkeeper Feng five thousand in cash.

Shopkeeper Feng waved his hand. "What are you doing? I was the one who wronged you before. I can't accept payment for such a small piece of information."

Such a small piece of information?

That letter alone was worth far more than five thousand.

Shopkeeper Feng refused, but Li Banfeng insisted, stuffing the money into his pocket. "Shopkeeper, I still have things to buy from you; this is a deposit."

"What would you like to buy?"

Li Banfeng whispered a few words into Shopkeeper Feng's ear.

Shopkeeper Feng frowned slightly. "Boss Li, this item might not be very effective in Pu Luo State. Are you certain you want it?"

Li Banfeng smiled. "The more I buy and use, the more likely I am to find something effective."

The Geng Family Apothecary was gone, but the Jiangxiang Gang had no intention of backing down.

Now, a new confrontation was imminent.

If he could win, he'd fight; if not, he'd flee.

Could he win this time?

Li Banfeng believed he could.

First, he needed to select his opponent carefully.

The martial cultivator's level was too high for a direct confrontation.

As for the ascetic, Li Banfeng couldn't comprehend his methods.

He then focused his attention on Du Hongxi.

A Nightmare Cultivator was a very suitable target.

With an opponent selected, he still needed the right approach.

This time, he had to hit them where it hurt,

so badly that they wouldn't dare to investigate him further.

...

After leaving the general store, Li Banfeng pulled his fedora low and quickly departed from Paifang Street.

In Chaikou Alley, Li Banfeng ate two bowls of mutton noodles. Just as he was about to return to his Portable Residence, he suddenly heard a newsboy's childish voice beside him: "Sir, would you like a newspaper? Morning paper, thirty cents. Evening paper, fifty cents."

Yaowanggou even sold evening newspapers.

Evening papers were printed later than morning papers and contained more up-to-date news, making them more expensive than leftover morning editions.

Li Banfeng bought an evening paper. The headline read: "He and Lu Turn Against Each Other: Which Way Forward?"

This was about the ongoing feud between the He family and the Lu family.

Li Banfeng quickly scanned the article's content and was astonished.

The He family asserted that Lu Xiaolan, the Lu family's illegitimate daughter, had attacked He Jiaqing, the He family's eldest son, who was still receiving treatment at an out-of-state hospital.

Lu Xiaolan's whereabouts remained unknown. The Lu family denied the He family's baseless accusations and stated they were still actively searching for Lu Xiaolan, promising to provide the He family with an explanation once she was found.

The He family had already confirmed that He Jiaqing was indeed hospitalized, so Li Banfeng didn't need to concern himself with that detail.

Lu Xiaolan was still missing, and no one knew she was actually in the He family's old residence.

Was it good or bad for Lu Xiaolan that her location remained unknown?

In Li Banfeng's view, it was a good thing.

The Lu family needed to provide the He family with an explanation, and if Lu Xiaolan were found, she would likely be made a scapegoat. Forcing her to live a difficult life in the He family's old residence might not be a bad outcome for her.

Was this good or bad for Li Banfeng?

It was also good.

If Lu Xiaolan were to reappear, the Lu family would likely come looking for him as well.

What surprised Li Banfeng wasn't merely the news itself, but the sheer amount of information contained in newspapers, a medium that had supposedly been phased out more than a decade ago.

Information...

Seeing that the newsboy hadn't gone far, Li Banfeng hurried over and called out, "I'll take a morning paper too."

The newsboy was delighted, as morning papers were difficult to sell at this hour. He quickly handed Li Banfeng a copy.

Li Banfeng quickly skimmed the morning paper. Besides the front-page news about the He and Lu families, he also found some information regarding the Geng Family Apothecary.

"The Geng Family Apothecary reduced to ashes, masterminds gradually surface."

This was a news commentary. The writer speculated on the culprits behind the burning of the Geng family's establishment, and while not explicitly stating conclusions, all analyses strongly implicated the Yujia Gang.

This was within Li Banfeng's expectations. The commentary also mentioned the Jiangxiang Gang, with some even boldly speculating that the Jiangxiang Gang would completely wipe out the Yu family within a month.

What was the background of this newspaper? Who supported it? Were they not afraid of the Jiangxiang Gang's influence?

Li Banfeng found an advertisement for the Xianle Dance Hall in the newspaper.

The advertisement announced that starting tomorrow, the Xianle Dance Hall would hold a three-day grand promotion, with discounts starting at 30% off.

So, even a place dedicated to studying music offered discounts.

Such a rare "learning opportunity" definitely warranted a visit.

The content of the morning paper didn't differ significantly from the evening edition. Li Banfeng asked the newsboy, "Do you have any older newspapers?"

The newsboy shook his head. "No, I don't."

Li Banfeng then asked, "Do you know where I can buy old newspapers?"

"Yes," the newsboy replied, about to point the way while clutching a heavy stack of papers. Li Banfeng pulled out a twenty-yuan bill and handed it to him. "Take me there."

The newsboy was thrilled and led Li Banfeng through two alleys to a shop entrance.

The shop's sign read "Lu Family Bookstore." Li Banfeng entered and found the owner, who was preparing to close up.

"Are you here for books?" Boss Lu stepped forward to greet him.

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I'm buying newspapers."

Boss Lu smiled. "I don't sell new newspapers here."

Li Banfeng said, "I'm buying old newspapers. I want one copy of the Yaowanggou Evening News for every day of the past three years."

"Three years of newspapers?" Boss Lu raised an eyebrow, realizing this was no small request. "Sir, are you sure? Old newspapers are more expensive than new ones."

He wasn't selling waste paper; he was selling collectibles.

"Just name your price."

Boss Lu immediately quoted prices: this year's papers were one yuan each, last year's were two yuan, the year before that four yuan, and the year before that, eight yuan.

Without hesitation, Li Banfeng spent five thousand three hundred and fifty yuan, purchasing all the newspapers from the past three and a half years.

Carrying several large stacks by hand and on his shoulder, he found a deserted spot and transferred them into his Portable Residence.

Inside the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng lit candles and began to pore over the newspapers one by one.

The newspapers published in Yaowanggou were divided into four sections. The first section covered major news from Pu Luo State; naturally, the conflict between the He and Lu families, two of Pu Luo State's most influential households, was featured prominently on the front page.

The second section featured analyses of major news by various renowned commentators from Yaowanggou. One particular commentator, writing under the pen name "Ligou Maniac," detailed the century-long feud between the He and Lu families.

Within this commentary, Li Banfeng discovered a particular term: "the Darkest Age."

What precisely "the Darkest Age" referred to would require further investigation.

The third section contained news specific to Yaowanggou.

The fourth section was a supplement, featuring essays by renowned writers, serialized novels, and numerous advertisements.

"Read more books, read more newspapers; eat fewer snacks, get more sleep."

This adage was equally relevant in Pu Luo State.

If Li Banfeng had read more newspapers, he wouldn't have so frequently revealed his lack of knowledge in Pu Luo State.

Having finished reading that day's evening paper, Li Banfeng felt he had learned a great deal.

Flipping back through three days of papers, Li Banfeng again found news concerning He Jiaqing.

"He Clan's Eldest Son Attacked, Lu Clan In-Law Becomes Blood Feud."

The news of He Jiaqing's attack had surfaced a bit late but dominated the entire front page of the newspaper.

The article provided detailed information not found in out-of-state papers, including the derailment of Train No. 1160 and the mysterious disappearance of He Jiaqing and Lu Xiaolan.

Li Banfeng continued flipping through the newspapers, eager to uncover more information, when he suddenly heard the phonograph emit a scratchy "chii! chii! chii!" sound.

"Clang-a-lang-lang~Raise a rooster, it won't crow,Raise a yellow dog, it won't guard the home,Marry a man who won't buy groceries,Better marry a living bastard!"

Li Banfeng flew into a rage. "Hussy, who are you calling a bastard?"

"Oh, dear! I'm practically starving to death, can't I curse you a little?"