Breaking the Deadlock

In Lanyang Village, Ma the Fifth was trying to persuade Chu the Second. "Sell the Paramount to Monkey Qiu while there's still time." After waiting bitterly for so long, she had finally gotten hold of Ma the Fifth, only to hear him say this. Chu Huaiyuan lost control on the spot. She lunged forward and began grappling with Ma the Fifth. "The Paramount is mine! Why should I give it to him?! Why?!" Ma the Fifth shoved Chu the Second away and barked, "If you want to throw a fit, go home and throw it! Don't bring your bad luck to my doorstep!" "Why?!" Chu the Second wailed. "Do you know how much blood and sweat I poured into taking over the Paramount? Why should he get it just because he says so? Does a contract in black and white mean nothing?!" Ma the Fifth smoothed his clothes, which had been torn by Chu the Second, and calmed his emotions. "Back when I was down and out, you beat me half to death. I haven't even settled that score with you yet. By rights, I shouldn't say a single word to you. "But this business has dragged me into it. I'm only giving you a warning: while Monkey Qiu still doesn't want to blow things up, name a reasonable price and sell the Paramount to him. "When Lu Dongliang was running things, he entrusted most of the family businesses to Monkey Qiu. Calm down and think carefully—just how ruthless is Monkey Qiu? If you don't value your own life, fine, but keep me out of it from now on!" Chu the Second shook her head. "I don't trust you! Where's that friend of yours? That fellow named Li Seven? He has real guts! Have him come see me!" Ma the Fifth sat on the sofa, picked up his glass, and took a deep gulp of liquor. He also wanted to know where Li Banfeng was. The situation was growing more complicated by the day, and he wished Li Banfeng were here to help him brainstorm. Ma the Fifth had clarified with the newspapers several times that there was no special relationship between him and Chu the Second. But the press completely ignored him. Every day brought an endless stream of stories, large and small, all fabricating a shared past between him and Chu the Second. With a dark expression, Chu the Second glared at Ma the Fifth and rasped, "If I can't keep the Paramount, you won't have an easy time either! If we go down, we die together!" Ma the Fifth glared back at Chu the Second. "I'll ask you one more time: did you tell the newspapers to write those stories?" Chu the Second raised her brows. "It was me! What of it? Don't want to be associated with me? Fine! Give me a good idea, and tomorrow I'll make the papers quiet down!" Ma the Fifth frowned at Chu the Second; he had a nagging feeling that things weren't so simple. Zuo Wugang might be indecisive, but as a head guard, his fundamentals were solid. Ever since Chu the Second arrived in Lanyang Village, she hadn't stepped outside the village out of fear that Monkey Qiu would make a covert move against her. The occasional times she sent Yang Yanzheng out were only to gather information in Lüshui City. She didn't even dare leave Lanyang Village, yet the newspapers kept circling around her—wasn't that rather bizarre? Moreover, as far as Ma the Fifth knew, Chu the Second's finances were in dire straits after taking over the Paramount. Under such circumstances, how much value could she possibly generate for the newspapers? Why would the press take orders from her? He couldn't shake the feeling that an unseen hand was pushing things forward from behind the scenes. The newspapers belonged to Ling Miaowen. If this was the Ling family's design, what was their objective? To stir up conflict among the Lu, Chu, and Ma families? This matter had to be quelled as quickly as possible. While Ma the Fifth was still pondering how to persuade Chu the Second, head guard Zuo Wugang stepped into the room looking tense. "Fifth Young Master, Monkey Qiu is here." "Who did he send?" Ma the Fifth stood up from the sofa immediately. "He came in person." Given Zuo Wugang's combat prowess and experience, not many people frightened him, but Monkey Qiu was one of them. Upon hearing this, Chu the Second stood up at once. "Good timing! This is the perfect chance to settle things once and for all!" Ma the Fifth called out, "Second Miss, this is my turf after all. At least show me a little respect! When you see Butler Qiu in a moment, watch your tongue!" Yang Yanzheng also urged from the side, "Miss, please listen to Fifth Young Master." Chu the Second said no more. Ma the Fifth went outside personally to invite Monkey Qiu in. Monkey Qiu hadn't come alone; Lu Yuanshan was with him. Once everyone took their seats, before any pleasantries could be exchanged, Chu the Second glared at Monkey Qiu and said, "Head Butler Qiu, speak your mind plainly. I'm in no mood to beat around the bush with you. Do you want my life? If you've got the guts, come and take it!" At her words, Wen Hongyan braced herself for battle. Seeing this, Zuo Wugang waited for Ma Junyang's command. Yang Yanzheng tugged at Chu the Second, pleading for her to calm down. Lu Yuanshan gave a dry laugh and turned to Ma the Fifth. "Junyang, keep your woman in line. How can she have so little manners before her elders?" Ma the Fifth took a deep breath. "Brother Shan, she isn't my woman. There's a lot of misunderstanding here; we need to talk it through slowly..." Chu the Second snapped, "No need to talk! Qiu Zhiheng, what exactly do you want from me?" Monkey Qiu said with a calm expression, "I want to buy the Paramount." Chu the Second slammed the table. "Not selling!" Lu Yuanshan frowned. "Crazy hag, can't you speak like a civilized person?" Ma the Fifth pressed his hands down, signaling both sides to stay calm. "Uncle Qiu, since you say you want to buy it, shouldn't we talk about the price?" Qiu Zhiheng nodded. "Not bad, at least someone here is sensible. Five hundred thousand silver dollars—does that sound fair to you?" Chu the Second gritted her teeth. "Five hundred thousand? Are you joking? Lu Dongjun sold me the Paramount for eight hundred thousand silver dollars, and you slash it by nearly half the moment you open your mouth? Why on earth should I sell to you?" Ma the Fifth said to Qiu Zhiheng, "Uncle Qiu, that price really isn't right. The Paramount is the premier attraction of Lüshui City..." "To buy half," Qiu Zhiheng said with a smile, looking at Ma the Fifth. Ma the Fifth froze. Chu the Second shouted angrily, "I won't sell half either! I'll—" Ma the Fifth glanced at Chu Huaiyuan. Chu Huaiyuan suddenly felt blood rushing upward, clotting near her neck and choking her throat. The Blood Surge technique? That shouldn't be; Ma the Fifth was only at the first layer of cultivation. Monkey Qiu was rather surprised. "Junyang, your cultivation has grown." Ma the Fifth laughed self-deprecatingly. "Uncle Qiu flatters me. My cultivation isn't high enough; I can't use the Blood Surge technique yet. What I used just now was the invigoration technique." Monkey Qiu was a seventh-layer Joy Cultivator of the same sect as Ma the Fifth. Looking closely, he saw that Ma the Fifth had indeed used the invigoration technique. The invigoration technique was a low-layer skill, but in principle it shared similarities with the Blood Surge technique. Being able to use the invigoration technique to produce the effect of the Blood Surge technique proved exceptional talent in Joy Cultivation, which genuinely made Monkey Qiu look at him in a new light. Taking advantage of Chu the Second being unable to speak, Ma the Fifth quickly picked up the thread. "Does Uncle Qiu mean that the Paramount will be co-operated by the Lu and Chu families?" Monkey Qiu nodded. Ma the Fifth never dreamed that a situation that had seemed beyond salvage would be resolved in such a manner. Lu Yuanshan looked at Chu the Second. "Huaiyuan, Uncle Qiu has given you plenty of face. Shouldn't you know when to be satisfied?" Yang Yanzheng pleaded repeatedly from the side, "Miss, let's agree to this." Chu the Second swallowed hard for several moments before she finally caught her breath. Her head had cleared considerably, and her tone changed. "Uncle Qiu, let's make things clear. Does the Paramount ultimately belong to the Chu family or the Lu family?" This was the crucial question: the shares could be divided equally, but who held management rights? Qiu Zhiheng said, "It belongs to both the Chu and Lu families. Seeing as you operated it fairly diligently before, the management rights will temporarily remain with you. With Junyang helping you, the Paramount surely won't lose money. But if losses exceed twenty percent, you must hand over management. Do you agree?" Though Chu the Second was shrewish, she wasn't an idiot. With Monkey Qiu making such a major concession, she naturally stopped throwing a tantrum. They drew up a contract on the spot and finalized the matter. Ma the Fifth let his heart settle. Turning to everyone, he said, "If Uncle Qiu doesn't mind, please stay the night at Mengchun Garden. Allow this junior to host a dance party tonight as a modest token of hospitality." Monkey Qiu nodded. "Very well. I was planning to stay the night anyway and discuss some business with Junyang tomorrow." The heart that had just settled immediately leaped into his throat again. What business did Monkey Qiu want to discuss with Ma the Fifth? Ma the Fifth was a clever man and could naturally deduce it. Shaving away the Liu and Si families in between, Lanyang Village was, in the final analysis, still the Lu family's territory. For Ma the Fifth to do business here, he had to pay dividends to the Lu family. How much, exactly, would depend on tomorrow's negotiations. Monkey Qiu mentioning this beforehand gave Ma the Fifth ample time to prepare. By all accounts, Monkey Qiu operated impeccably, leaving no gaps. Now it would come down to Ma the Fifth's sincerity. How much dividend was appropriate? A fifty-fifty split? Would Monkey Qiu be satisfied with that? If he offered any more, Ma the Fifth wouldn't be able to accept it. *Brother Li, where did you run off to?* *I have to wait for you to come back before we can talk this over.* *** At seven in the evening, the dance party began. Lu Yuanshan invited Chu the Second to dance, but she had no interest; her heart had already flown back to the Paramount. Ma the Fifth, however, had made meticulous preparations. He summoned the prettiest dancers with the finest footwork in Lanyang Village, having them take turns inviting the guests to dance. Monkey Qiu was a Joy Cultivator; by rights, he ought to have gladly welcomed such entertainment. Yet he didn't seem interested either, sitting alone in a corner drinking. Left with no choice, Ma the Fifth had to take the dancers and dance song after song himself to keep the party's atmosphere alive. Halfway through the dance party, Xiao Chuanzi changed the record. In his fluster, he put on "When Will You Return?" Ma the Fifth glared at Chuanzi. This song held a special meaning—it signified that the dance was coming to an end. "Lovely flowers do not bloom forever, beautiful scenes do not last. Parting sorrow unfurls a smiling brow, tears drench the ribbon of yearning. After tonight's departure, when will you return...?" Once the melody began playing, it couldn't easily be stopped. Ma the Fifth looked embarrassed, but then he noticed Monkey Qiu changing seats. He moved from one corner to another. There sat a peculiar guest, dressed in a black suit and wearing a fedora. The brim was pulled low, offering only a glimpse of a thick beard along his jaw. Li Seven! Ma the Fifth hadn't expected Li Banfeng to return, nor did he know when Li Banfeng had entered the dance hall. Monkey Qiu knew. From the moment Li Banfeng stepped through the door, he had sensed him. The two sat in silence for a moment before Monkey Qiu asked, "Little brother, have you been well?" He had recognized Li Banfeng. As a seventh-layer Joy Cultivator, he could partially neutralize a Dwelling Cultivator's talent for being overlooked. Most importantly, not only had he seen photographs of Li Banfeng, but he had also met Li Banfeng in person. Even if he couldn't see Li Banfeng's face clearly, he hadn't forgotten Li Banfeng's build. Li Banfeng nodded slightly. "I'm doing well. How have you been lately, Brother Qiu?" "Not so well," Qiu Zhiheng sighed. "Ever since I looked for you in Lüshui City last time, there's been no end to the trouble." "Did you come looking for me today as well?" Li Banfeng assumed Monkey Qiu had come for the Red Lotus. Monkey Qiu remained silent for a moment. "You could say that." Li Banfeng slipped his hand into his pocket and gripped his key. Monkey Qiu continued, "I came to find you regarding Lanyang Village. This is still considered the Lu family's territory. Moving forward, you must provide some dividends after all." Li Banfeng's posture didn't change as he answered in a low voice, "Ma the Fifth and I are just trying to scrape together a living here. How much is left for us depends on Brother Qiu's pleasure." *Scrape together a living...* Qiu Zhiheng recalled begging Li Banfeng for food on the train. That matter was already in the past, and the favor had been repaid. There was no need for Qiu Zhiheng to obsess over it. Only as the song drew to a close did Qiu Zhiheng speak. "If the two of you continue running this place, just send a token of goodwill to the Lu family at the end of each year. "However, the Ma family cannot take over Lanyang Village. The Lu family's banner still flies here. Otherwise, that would be another story." Qiu Zhiheng had made a concession once more. Li Banfeng took off his fedora, placed it against his chest, and bowed to Qiu Zhiheng. This was an expression of gratitude. Qiu Zhiheng smiled, put on his hat, and left the dance hall. That night, Qiu Zhiheng and Lu Yuanshan departed Lanyang Village. Ma the Fifth had been scared half to death. He had thought Qiu Zhiheng recognized Li Banfeng and would make a move against him; after all, Lu Dongliang had been trying to capture Li Banfeng before. If that had really happened, Ma the Fifth would have put his life on the line and staked his entire fortune to fight Monkey Qiu to the bitter end, determined to protect Li Banfeng. Yet unexpectedly, Qiu Zhiheng simply walked away. Not only had he left Li Banfeng unharmed, but he had also settled the matter of Lanyang Village. Only needing to present a token of goodwill at year's end? Monkey Qiu was actually this generous? Ma the Fifth was thrilled. "Brother Li, do you have a history with Qiu Zhiheng?" Li Banfeng didn't answer. There was history between them, but it didn't run this deep. The encounter on the train had already been settled, and neither owed the other anything. Monkey Qiu's magnanimity left Li Banfeng somewhat puzzled as well. *** In the carriage, Lu Yuanshan asked Qiu Zhiheng, "Uncle Qiu, weren't we too lenient with them? I think we should have taken at least sixty percent of the Paramount, and collected at least thirty percent in dividends from Lanyang Village." Monkey Qiu gave a slight shake of his head and handed a newspaper to Lu Yuanshan. It was today's evening paper. The front-page headline read: *The Lu and Chu Rivalry: Who Can Uphold Lüshui City's Banner?* On the second page was another headline: *A Tiger Fallen on Plain Ground: The Ma Family Takes Advantage to Seize Lanyang Village—Will the Lu Family Resign Themselves to Humiliation?* Similar news appeared every day; Lu Yuanshan didn't find anything unusual about it. Monkey Qiu said, "Since even you don't find it unusual, all of Puluo Province won't find it unusual either. Tomorrow, if they publish another piece claiming that the Lu family has fallen out with the Ma and Chu families, others will take it as a matter of course." Lu Yuanshan dismissed it casually. "Newspapers are always like that. Let them write what they want; none of it is true." Monkey Qiu shook his head. "If we hadn't handled things properly tonight, it very well could have become true. If Chu Huaiyuan and Ma Junyang died by our hands, tomorrow could see war erupt with the Chu and Ma families. "Though those two are outcasts of the Chu and Ma families, they still represent the face of great clans. With someone fanning the flames from the shadows, things could easily spiral out of control." Lu Yuanshan looked at the paper again, finally realizing the gravity of the situation. "When Uncle Qiu says 'fanning the flames,' do you mean the Ling family?" A chill gleamed in Monkey Qiu's eyes. "Lu Dongjun stirred up a massive storm in Haichiling, but now there's neither hide nor hair of him, while the Ling family took in a windfall of business. "They made a fortune in Haichiling, and now they've turned back to eye Lüshui City. Today the Lu family falls out with the Ma family; tomorrow the Lu family clashes with the Chu family; the day after tomorrow the Lu family fights amongst themselves. In their newspaper, it's as if the Lu family is picking fights with everyone across Puluo Province. "The revenue from the Paramount and Lanyang Village can be conceded for the time being, but the situation must not be dictated by the Ling family. "Yuanshan, I recall you once ran a newspaper." Lu Yuanshan nodded. "I ran one for a while and even made quite a bit of money, but my father said it was undignified. I worked in film as well, but my father looked down on that too, so both fell by the wayside." "Start the newspaper back up, and set the film studio back up too. We can't let the Ling family keep pulling off big moves in silence—let's uncover their dirty laundry as well." Lu Yuanshan smiled. This was something he was more than happy to do. *** Three days later, the Paramount reopened. Chu Huaiyuan and Ma the Fifth jointly held a song and dance competition, selecting this year's Twelve Song Queens. Sitting on his hospital bed, He Jiaqing's face was livid. Monkey Qiu had broken the deadlock. The scheme around the Paramount, the scheme around Lanyang Village—he had resolved them both! He had truly underestimated him! PS: Even He Jiaqing has his miscalculations before an old veteran of the underworld.