Pure and Frail Feng Daiku

Feng Daiku wanted to become the local spirit of Qishuiyao. Such a thing was hardly novel. Throughout Puluo Province, whether in proper lands or newlands, local spirits changed hands from time to time—it all came down to who had the means. Li Banfeng held the domain of Yesong Bridge, along with Mountain Harrower's newland, and could take Bei Wushuang's domain whenever he pleased. All three territories had been wrested away by his own hands. Yet now that Feng Daiku wanted to seize Qishuiyao's domain, she had taken the initiative to consult him. Li Banfeng found this rather puzzling, as seizing a domain generally required no one's permission. Feng Daiku explained, "The territory of Qishuiyao is unlike ordinary places. Its local spirit is named Shi Gongxing, a craft cultivator above the clouds. Here, he must not only oversee a hundred li of land, but also guard the entrance to the Inner States—the very pool we saw earlier. As such, ordinary people cannot meddle with this place, lest they provoke the great figures of Puluo Province." "And who are these great figures?" "The Peddler is one," Feng Daiku said, "and Shi Gongxing's master is another." Li Banfeng had heard Old Yao mention that Qishuiyao had originally belonged to Old Train. After Old Train ascended beyond the clouds, he divided his domains among his disciples. From the sound of it, Shi Gongxing was one of those disciples. Feng Daiku continued, "I am not someone who fails to know her place. If Shi Gongxing were capable of holding the entrance to the Inner States, I would never try to take this territory. But as you have seen yourself, Young Master Li, a war between the Inner and Outer States is about to erupt right here, yet the local spirit is nowhere to be found. If an incompetent coward is left to hold the post while doing nothing, disaster will surely befall Qishuiyao, and the entirety of Puluo Province will be dragged down with it." There was no fault in her reasoning. A clash was imminent, yet the local spirit had yet to show his face. That was indeed inexcusable. Li Banfeng asked, "Then, Miss Feng, if you become the local spirit, how do you intend to handle the entrance to the Inner States?" Feng Daiku replied, "Toward Puluo Province, I will maintain absolute secrecy to prevent anyone harboring ill intent from causing trouble here. Toward the Inner States, I will enforce strict defense and never permit them to set a single foot into Puluo Province." Li Banfeng admired her resolve, and he made his own stance clear: "If you possess the means, Miss Feng, by all means proceed. Should anyone ask, I will convey your intentions truthfully." Feng Daiku understood his meaning. Offering a sweet smile of gratitude, her figure faded and vanished. She had to make preparations to claim Qishuiyao. Li Banfeng and Ma the Fifth strolled through the factory grounds. Though this was Li Banfeng's first time here, the layout of the complex was not unfamiliar to him; he could clearly distinguish the workshops, warehouses, and coal bunkers. As they walked, Ma the Fifth remarked, "Old Seven, I reckon Luo Lijun might not be able to settle this. The Outer States stripped an Inner States native down to a skeleton, and the Inner States dragged over fifty people from the Outer States into death with him. Things have reached such a point that fighting this war seems inevitable." Li Banfeng stopped in his tracks, glanced around, and lowered his voice. "Old Five, do you truly believe the Inner and Outer States are going to war over a mere crucian carp?" Ma the Fifth was taken aback. "An Inner States person died here. Isn't that a massive affair?" As someone born and raised in Puluo Province, Ma the Fifth held deeply entrenched notions regarding people from the Inner States. Li Banfeng truly did not consider it a big deal. "Are Inner States people incapable of dying? Is this matter really as momentous as everyone imagines? Didn't you put Luo Lijun in her place just fine? Do you honestly think people from the Inner States are that special?" Ma the Fifth reflected on the encounter. Putting an Inner States native in her place truly had been out of the ordinary. "To be honest, I didn't want to touch her at first. I was genuinely afraid." Li Banfeng chuckled. "What were you afraid of? Her appearance, or her size?" Ma the Fifth shook his head. "Her size wasn't scary at all—hardly bigger than Yanzi. And I quite liked her looks, too." Li Banfeng pictured Luo Lijun's appearance and could not help shivering. Ma the Fifth went on, "What I actually feared was her identity. After all, she belongs to the Inner States. But Miss Feng kept encouraging me, saying the more frightened I was, the less I could afford to spare her. Miss Feng was right. I truly couldn't afford to go easy on her. When the battle came, the more afraid I was, the stronger my fighting spirit grew. The more overbearing she became, the harder I struck. Subduing someone who terrified me made me feel entirely reborn." Li Banfeng thought over the sequence of events and shuddered once more. "So... you advanced?" Ma the Fifth nodded. "That battle was of immense significance to me. Over the next couple of days, I need to recuperate and reflect carefully on this war. Still, the Inner States truly care about the lives of their kin. The Outer States killed that crucian carp and kept him alive as a skeleton. With such blatant provocation, the Inner States surely cannot swallow it." "What does provocation matter? If the Inner States couldn't bear it, they would have resurrected that carp long ago." "Resurrected?" Ma the Fifth blinked. "The Inner States have such ability?" Li Banfeng nodded. "As long as they can recover the soul, the Inner States possess methods to bring the dead back to life. Right now, that carp's soul is sitting right there inside those bones. Yet far from resurrecting him, the Inner States have left him to linger between life and death. Do you think the Inner States truly care about that fish?" Understanding dawned on Ma the Fifth. "So you're saying the war between the Inner and Outer States has nothing to do with that crucian carp?" Li Banfeng shook his head. "I wouldn't say completely unrelated. Think of it like a fuse and dynamite. A fuse makes plenty of sparks and a loud hiss, but it isn't the dynamite. The dynamite between the Outer and Inner States was laid long ago. The Inner States have been searching for an excuse to go to war, and now that they have the carp as a fuse, they will naturally milk it for all it's worth to ignite the powder." Ma the Fifth pondered for a moment. "Since war is unavoidable, we ought to plan our next steps early. If they truly start fighting, whose side should we take?" Li Banfeng looked at Ma the Fifth, silent for a long time. This was the habitual mindset of Puluo Province: whenever trouble arose, the first impulse was to choose a side. "Old Five, if we help the Inner States, they will wage war on the Outer States without hesitation, and they will make us their vanguard. If we help the Outer States, they will do everything in their power to contain the war within Puluo Province to minimize their own losses. In Puluo Province, I am the renowned Li the Seventh; in the Outer States, I am merely a balancer who can be sold out at any moment. Either a suicide squad or a meat shield—that is all we are worth in the eyes of the Inner and Outer States." Now Ma the Fifth understood. "Your intention is for us to simply stand by and watch?" "Right. Just watch. As long as we make no move, neither of them can easily start fighting in the short term, because they won't know when Puluo Province might enter the battlefield or which side it will join. It's the same situation as Feng Daiku wanting to become the local spirit. I won't help her succeed, but she fears I might ruin her plans, which is why she had to consult me." Ma the Fifth was a sharp man after all. Breaking free of Puluo Province's ingrained habits, he quickly grasped the crucial crux of the situation. Yet he also grew concerned about Li Banfeng's circumstances. "Old Seven, when we couldn't reach you the other night, what happened?" Li Banfeng said, "I was sold out by the Outer States and ran into Lühuazi." Ma the Fifth was alarmed. "Then let's stop acting as this balancer! You're all alone in the Outer States—sooner or later, you'll be plotted against again." Return to Puluo Province and stop being a balancer? "I still have to be the balancer. There are bad habits they must correct," Li Banfeng said, producing five Golden Origin Pills and handing them to Ma the Fifth. "Head back to Lüshui City first and recuperate well. Advancing is a serious matter. Once your body has recovered, take the pills slowly—under no circumstances should you rush." Five Golden Origin Pills! Ma the Fifth's eyes went wide. "Such fine pills! Old Seven, keep some for yourself. I can't take this many." "Don't stand on ceremony. These were meant for you from the start." *** Wearing a gentle smile, Feng Daiku laid four spiritual objects before Shi Gongxing: a plane, a chisel, an axe, and a saw—all carpenter's tools. Shi Gongxing kept his head lowered. He did not reach for them, nor did he refuse them. Feng Daiku bit her lip, appearing slightly nervous as she asked softly, "If you feel these aren't enough, I can give you more. But you must give me an exact number. Just how many magical treasures do you want?" Shi Gongxing raised his eyes to meet hers. "This territory was bestowed by my master. I cannot surrender it to anyone else." Feng Daiku extended her right hand, her slender fingers lightly brushing over the four spiritual objects one by one. "If the territory could be held, naturally it shouldn't be surrendered. But now, your land is about to become the battlefield between the Inner and Outer States. You won't even be able to preserve your own life—why cling to the territory?" Shi Gongxing knew that Feng Daiku had dealt with Luo Lijun. "Aren't you negotiating so they won't fight in Puluo Province?" Feng Daiku tapped the axe and offered a faint smile. "If Qishuiyao were my domain, I naturally wouldn't permit them to wage war here. But if Qishuiyao has nothing to do with me, why would I meddle in such business?" Shi Gongxing hung his head in silence. He knew that if the Inner and Outer States clashed in Qishuiyao, his role as local spirit would be finished. Yet surrendering the territory so readily left him unwilling. After all, this was a proper land. Feng Daiku set down the axe and picked up the plane. "Everything I'm giving you is top quality. Look closely. Besides these spiritual objects, I will also grant you a territory. I hold a newland with plenty of anomalous beasts, and nearly twenty percent of the ground has already been reclaimed by pioneers. If you go there, you will still secure your station, and the human vitality you collect each year won't be much less than what you get here. "Look at what Qishuiyao has become. Workers can't find factories, and farmers have barely any fields. At this rate, it will degenerate into oldland sooner or later. No one blames you for this; Qishuiyao's foundation was poor to begin with. You study machinery every day hoping to revitalize the place, but the folk here lack ambition. No one thinks of building factories, and no one thinks of doing business. "What is there left to hold on to? Rather than fretting yourself sick here, wouldn't you rather enjoy peace in a newland? Don't you agree?" Shi Gongxing looked up. "If you think this place has so little to offer, why do you still want it?" Feng Daiku picked up the chisel and tested it against a stone. Without her applying any strength, the chisel easily pierced straight through the rock on its own. "You might not believe it, but I want to change my reputation. I don't want people to think of a trouser band the moment my name comes up. Even if they think of orange soda, that's far better than a trouser band." Shi Gongxing sneered. "You care about such things?" "You don't believe me?" Feng Daiku smiled, then abruptly raised the saw and rested it against Shi Gongxing's neck. Shi Gongxing gave a start as a piece of chainmail emerged from his collar to shield his throat. Feng Daiku drew the saw back and forth across the mail. "I've said all the pleasant words, yet you refuse to believe me. Now we must speak of unpleasant things. The entrance to the Inner States in Qishuiyao was once kept strictly concealed. Yet now, the people of Puluo Province know about it, the Outer States know about it, and even the Light Chasing Society of the State of Ravsha knows about it. Tell me, how should this be handled?" "That wasn't leaked by me!" Shi Gongxing moved to strike back, only to find the saw cutting cleanly through his chainmail. What Feng Daiku had offered him was indeed remarkable treasure. "You dare say it wasn't you? Even I have heard the rumors: so long as someone gives you a spiritual object, they can go inspect the entrance. Some don't even need to offer a spiritual object; a petty bribe is enough to get you to let them pass. Is that not the truth?" "Nonsense!" Shi Gongxing flared with rage, two more layers of iron plating sprouting from his neck, only for the saw to slice through them all the same. "Whether it's nonsense, you know best in your own heart!" Feng Daiku withdrew the saw and gently brushed its teeth. "The Peddler inquired about this matter only a few days ago. How about we find him and confront him face to face, to see if I've wronged you?" Shi Gongxing's anger deflated, and his gaze shifted toward the spiritual objects on the table. After staring for a long while, he spoke: "Four is not enough. I want ten, and all must be of this top grade." Feng Daiku shook her head. "Ten is impossible. Treasures like these are one in ten thousand. At most, I can give you two more." "Two is far too few. That is non-negotiable—" *** An hour later, Feng Daiku emerged from the abandoned factory holding two covenant deeds, while Shi Gongxing carried another covenant deed and headed off to the newland alone. Just like that, the matter was settled. Li Banfeng marveled at Feng Daiku's shrewd methods, as well as Shi Gongxing's spineless cowardice. "He surrendered a proper land without even putting up a fight?" Feng Daiku smiled with a hint of bashfulness. "To be frank, Young Master Li, please don't mock me. I have had my eye on Qishuiyao for many years. Had I not seen through Shi Gongxing's character, I wouldn't have moved against this territory so readily." "Now that you have Qishuiyao, what do you plan to do with it?" Li Banfeng did not entirely understand her motive. "Gather human vitality and build cultivation!" Feng Daiku answered bluntly. "Do you intend to abandon Kudaikan?" She shook her head. "I will certainly never give up Kudaikan. But that territory is too small, and Joy Cultivators struggle to bear children, so the vitality there has always been somewhat lacking. If I want to raise my cultivation, I need another territory to manage both together." "The human vitality here isn't all that flourishing, either." Having walked around Qishuiyao, Li Banfeng had roughly estimated the population; it fell far short of Kudaikan. Feng Daiku sounded full of confidence. "When you and the fifth brother started out, didn't you also choose a wretched place like Lanyang Village?" Li Banfeng disagreed. "Lanyang Village is a wonderful place, rich in resources, with honest, simple folk!" Feng Daiku laughed softly. "Naturally endowed places won't be left for me, but I can turn this into a good place. As long as I find capable people to manage it, Qishuiyao won't necessarily lose out to Black Rock Slope." Li Banfeng blinked. "The capable person you speak of... wouldn't happen to be Ma the Fifth, would it?" "Relying on the fifth brother alone certainly won't suffice. Young Master Li, you and Junyang are like brothers, and Qishuiyao occupies a crucial position. Surely you would be willing to lend me a hand as well." Looking at Feng Daiku's clear, sweet smile, it was truly difficult to associate her with the phrase "cunning and calculating." From the moment she sought out Ma the Fifth, every step had been meticulously thought through. Ma the Fifth's affairs could not be ignored, nor could the entrance to the Inner States. Feng Daiku was certain Li the Seventh would help her develop Qishuiyao. Li the Seventh and Ma the Fifth possessed experience managing Qiqiu City, Huangtu Bridge, and Yesong Bridge; adding one more Qishuiyao would be well within their capabilities. Yet Feng Daiku's calculation was only reasonable. Initially, because Ma the Fifth had saved her life, she had granted him the talent of an Emotion Cultivator, which balanced the ledger between them. Later, whenever Ma the Fifth turned to her for aid, she had provided support, showing ample regard for their bond. However, one could not conduct business solely on sentiment. Feng Daiku's assistance to Ma the Fifth this time had indeed been for profit, but that profit was entirely deserved. Li Banfeng agreed on the spot. "Once Old Five finishes advancing and rests for a few days, he will come to Qishuiyao to look into business." Feng Daiku nodded. "My thoughts exactly. I'll have people tear down the abandoned factories in town first to clear space and make it easier for both of you to operate." Li Banfeng shook his head. "Miss Feng, leave those factories standing for a while. I have a use for them. Spend these next few days familiarizing yourself with the territory. In return, I have a favor to ask." "Please speak, Young Master Li!" "I would like to know roughly when these factories were constructed." It seemed a trivial matter, but it presented a real problem for Feng Daiku. Puluo Province had no tradition of recording history; anything involving historical dates was exceedingly difficult to verify. "I will find a way to look into it. If I come up empty, please don't blame me, Young Master Li." Li Banfeng said, "Worry not, Miss Feng. Whether you uncover anything or not, I will offer a gift of thanks." *** After Feng Daiku departed, Li Banfeng used his projector to record the surrounding factories. On the night of his battle with Chu Zikai, the projector had recorded images of the Centipede Workshop, as well as the stealth space where that workshop was situated. Returning home, Li Banfeng compared the footage of the stealth space at Ruirong Textile Factory with these factories, and discovered an astonishing resemblance. His wife understood craft techniques and observed far more closely than Li Banfeng. "Husband, dear, these two factories were cast from the very same mold. Your humble servant could never be mistaken." Naturally, Li Banfeng trusted her judgment. After examining the footage a bit longer, she added, "Husband, don't discard the machines in Qishuiyao. The craft techniques on some of them are remarkably refined." "Refined as they might be, aren't those machines outdated?" "They aren't outdated at all, Husband! Such craftsmanship remains rare in Puluo Province!" She had seen correctly. A portion of the machinery had been modified by Shi Gongxing, and the techniques embedded in them far surpassed the equipment actively used in most factories. Li Banfeng asked about the intended uses of these machines and began contemplating his next steps. His wife picked up Teacher Song's lecture notes and resumed studying dark matter and dark energy. After studying for a whole day, flames flared inside the gramophone's casing, and a sudden burst of steam hissed from its trumpet horn. Li Banfeng was startled. "My lady, what is the matter?" "Nothing," she replied peevishly. The knowledge of dark matter was genuinely fascinating, and she loved it, but the lingering fragrance on the lecture notes made her unable to suppress her irritation. Li Banfeng said, "Darling wife, what are you angry about?" She countered, "Who wrote this?" Li Banfeng straightened his posture and replied solemnly, "My respected teacher from the Outer States." "Respected teacher?" In the gramophone's thoughts, the image of a white-haired old man surfaced. She sniffed the notes again. This clearly was not the scent of an old man. Piqued, the gramophone set a record onto the turntable and began playing a tune. "Hypocrite, oh hypocrite, why must a person be such a hypocrite..." The song was meant to mock Li Banfeng, yet unexpectedly, he thoroughly enjoyed it. Taking up a feather duster, he danced a lively jig in rhythm with her music. Gritting her teeth, she fumed, "Madman, you'll be the death of me!" Whoosh! A blast of hot steam swept over him. Cheeks flushed red, Li Banfeng slipped out the door to continue investigating the factories. The gramophone resumed reading the notes. Reaching the mathematical portion, she could not help sighing. "The mathematics of the Outer States are far too difficult." The companion dwelling pondered, mumbling, "Room Six... no, not Room Six. Room Eight. It seems to be Room Eight..." The gramophone asked, "Old Master, what about Room Eight?" "There is someone in Room Eight—a calculation cultivator of no small tier." Hearing this, the gramophone floated into the air and drifted toward Room Eight. Hong Ying put down her rouge. "Xiaowan, wait. I'll go with you. I sense that place might be dangerous." The two arrived together outside Room Eight. The gramophone asked, "Friend, I have a mathematical problem I would like to consult you on." After a long wait, a response came from the empty room. They heard the voice of a middle-aged man: "What problem? Can you show it to me?" The gramophone selected a problem from the lecture notes, transcribed it onto a sheet of paper, and placed it on the floor. The white paper rose into the air and hovered within the room for a few moments as the occupant appeared to read it. Two minutes later, the voice spoke again: "I can solve this problem. Once I solve it, what reward do I get?" The gramophone asked, "What reward do you want?" The room went quiet for a moment before the voice replied, "I will also pose a problem for you to solve. If you fail to solve it, one of you will be chosen for me to kill. How does that sound?" Hong Ying drew the sword from her waist and pointed it toward the room. "Step out and try!" A surge of murderous intent stirred within the room. Hong Ying's hair billowed as her overwhelming presence erupted, scouring the murderous intent clean away. A sigh drifted from the room. "If you can't afford to play, forget it. I don't intend to help you solve it either." The gramophone accepted: "I take this wager. You solve the problem first. Once you finish, pose yours. If we cannot answer it, we will proceed as you proposed." *** Feng Daiku managed to uncover some information: "The factories in this domain were not built at the same time. Some were earlier, some later, spanning a gap of several decades. The exact completion date of each factory is impossible to verify, but the earliest factory appears to be the one by the entrance to the Inner States. It was built over a hundred years ago—exactly how many years past a hundred, however, simply cannot be found." Over a hundred years ago. According to the information Lightbulb had gathered, Ruirong Textile Factory had been completed at the beginning of the last century—roughly over a hundred years ago as well. Most of the factories in Qishuiyao shared fundamentally identical layouts with Ruirong Textile Factory. Could there be a connection between them? Seeing Li Banfeng lost in thought, Feng Daiku said with a trace of apology, "Young Master Li, I failed to handle this thoroughly. Should I uncover more news in the future, I will inform you immediately." Li Banfeng waved his hand repeatedly. "This is more than enough. I have already contacted my people to get the first factory operational as soon as possible." Feng Daiku was delighted, yet she understood the difficulties involved. "Building the workshop and purchasing machinery will likely take considerable time, won't it?" Li Banfeng unrolled a map. "We'll find an old workshop to renovate first. Near here won't do—it's too close to the entrance to the Inner States. We need to choose a spot further away. There are many fine machines scattered around here; I've already marked them. We just need to figure out a way to haul them out." Feng Daiku's eyes widened with pleasant surprise. "Those machines can still be used?" "They can. With a bit of repair, they'll be excellent machines. Having ready equipment will be far faster than purchasing new machinery." Li Banfeng selected an old factory building in town. Despite Feng Daiku's delicate appearance, her strength was formidable. Over a dozen pieces of equipment weighing several tons each were moved by her alone. A local spirit so impatient to see a factory running was something Li Banfeng had never witnessed before. Once the equipment was moved, the two sat at a roadside stall drinking soda. Feng Daiku glanced toward the factory from time to time, wishing it could open for business tomorrow. Li Banfeng reminded her, "Even if the factory opens, developing Qishuiyao won't happen overnight, let alone elevating it to a city on par with Black Rock Slope." Feng Daiku nodded. "I know it won't be easy. But Kudaikan was built up by me piece by piece. I believe this place will certainly not lose to Black Rock Slope in the future." The soda vendor walked over and said to them, "I overheard you two mentioning Black Rock Slope just now. You might not know this, but back in the day, we were far more prosperous than Black Rock Slope! Do you know why our place is called Qishuiyao?" Li Banfeng feigned ignorance and cooperated readily: "Isn't it because the soda tastes good?" The vendor shook his head. "Far from it! It's because the very first batch of steam engines in Puluo Province was produced right here—" In Qishuiyao, nearly every soda stall owner loved recounting this piece of history. Chuanzi and the others would arrive soon; the remaining matters could be entrusted to them. Li Banfeng prepared to return to Lüshui City first to gather intelligence on Special Envoy Xu Shouming. As for the entrance to the Inner States, that would naturally be left to Feng Daiku. "If there is any word on Luo Lijun, please inform me as soon as possible, Miss Feng." Feng Daiku nodded. "Young Master Li, I heard from the fifth brother that you have had some conflicts with Lü Shuigong. When you reach Lüshui City, try to avoid Longmen Road across from Peace Mansion." Li Banfeng blinked. "What's special about that street?" "That is Lühuazi's doorstep," Feng Daiku said. "He frequently loiters in that area, and quite a few people have suffered at his hands. Please exercise utmost caution, Young Master Li." *Such crucial information, and she only tells me now.* Li Banfeng glanced toward the factory, grateful that he had acted swiftly, and grateful that he had a capable wife who could distinguish fine machinery. *** That night, Li Banfeng returned to the companion dwelling to find his wife examining Lühuazi's alms bowl. "Darling wife, how is the research going?" "Those thirty percent of Lü Shuigong's techniques—I should have mastered them." Li Banfeng was stunned. Stepping forward, he embraced the gramophone. "How did you manage to learn them?" The gramophone chuckled softly. "What that respected teacher of yours wrote was indeed impressive, and that Western abacus of ours proved quite handy as well." A Western abacus? Li Banfeng was puzzled. "Where did that come from?" Hong Ying said, "In Room Eight. Why don't you go have a chat with him?" Li Banfeng went to Room Eight and found it empty. Activating his skill of discerning spirit sounds, he faintly heard someone sobbing. "Who is there?" Li Banfeng called out. A man's voice responded, "Say no more! I will not do another thing for any of you!" "I asked who you are." "I am a scholar! I am the most brilliant mathematical researcher in all of Puluo Province! You have no right to humiliate me! I deserve the courtesy and respect due to a scholar!" Curious, Li Banfeng asked, "What happened?" The scholar's tone brimmed with resentment. "Today, the mistress of this place and her friend asked me to solve a mathematical problem. I laid down a condition: if I solved it, I would pose a problem for them to answer, and if they failed, one of them would pay with her life!" Hearing this, Li Banfeng's ears twitched. He was pinpointing the scholar's position through the sound. He realized this scholar was exceedingly dangerous, and dangerous things could not be kept in the house. "And then?" Li Banfeng prompted him to continue. The scholar said, "The problem I posed was: what does three plus six equal?" Li Banfeng stared blankly. "Why did you pose such a simple question?" The scholar answered, "That was already the limit! The mistress's friend—that woman who looks like a spear—demanded to answer my question herself, but she warned me that she isn't very good at addition above ten!" Li Banfeng asked in astonishment, "Because she isn't good at numbers above ten, you gave a problem under ten?" After two choked sobs, the scholar wailed, "I didn't want to pose such a question! But if I didn't, she beat me! She beat me within an inch of my life! What right did she have to hit people? "I tell you, I will never do anything for you again! This is an insult to me, an insult to academia—" Hong Ying pushed open the door and stepped into Room Eight. The scholar's wailing ceased instantly. "Calculate these problems. I'll come collect them in half an hour." Hong Ying placed a stack of white paper onto the table. "Understood," the scholar agreed with utter crispness. *** Returning to the main room, Li Banfeng looked at the alms bowl, an unusual gleam lighting up his eyes. The gramophone beside him asked, "Darling husband, what's gotten into you?" "Nothing!" Li Banfeng polished the alms bowl with a grin. "Tomorrow, I'm going to pay a visit to a friend's house."