Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

"Uncle Yu, I've said what I needed to. You should head back now."

Sitting steady as Mount Tai in the accounting room, Yu Zhihe said, "Junyang, no matter how capable you are outside, there are rules at home. If you want to drive me away, you aren't qualified."

Ma Wu said no more and left the accounting room, heading to the private room.

Li Banfeng was drinking in the private room when Ma Wu sat down beside him.

"Not leaving?"

Ma Wu nodded.

Li Banfeng poured himself another drink. "Keep sending out the invitations. We're still opening in three days."

After Ma Wu left, Li Banfeng lowered his top hat and entered the accounting room, locking the door behind him.

Yu Zhihe was taken aback. "Who are you?"

Li Banfeng answered, "The owner of Xiaoyao Lodge."

Getting to his feet, Yu Zhihe demanded, "This is the Ma Family's business! Who the hell are you? Where's Junyang? Tell him to come see me!"

Li Banfeng approached Yu Zhihe and asked, "How old are you?"

Yu Zhihe took two steps back and asked, "What do you want?"

Li Banfeng smiled. "You've lived to such an old age and enjoyed your share of good fortune, yet you still don't get it. In my opinion, it's best to keep funerals simple."

「...」

Ma Wu sent out invitations to all the major families; the Ma Family received theirs too.

Ma Chunting's hands trembled with anger as he looked at the invitation.

Ma Junjiang, the fourth son of the Ma Family, quickly began massaging his father's shoulders until he calmed down a bit. Then Ma Chunting shouted, "Go, tell Old Yu to seal up Xiaoyao Lodge's accounting room! Don't let that bastard take a single penny out of there! I want to see how he plans to open for business then!"

Ma Junjiang sent men to Xiaoyao Lodge, but they didn't return until evening.

"Why did it take so long?"

"Sir, Young Master, we went to Xiaoyao Lodge, but we couldn't find Mr. Yu."

Ma Chunting frowned. "That old rascal! He's slipped away again! Go to his house and drag him here!"

"Sir, we already went to Mr. Yu's house. His family said he hasn't come back."

"'Where could he have gone? A brothel? That damn...' Ma Chunting froze. Having navigated the treacherous Jianghu for many years, a dark premonition struck him."

"This bastard, this bastard..." Ma Chunting's hands started trembling again.

Ma Junjiang quickly went to massage his shoulders again.

"He wouldn't dare, he surely wouldn't dare..." Ma Chunting guessed what had happened but couldn't believe it was true. "Take some men to Xiaoyao Lodge and demand Old Yu!" he finally ordered. "If you can't find him, then smash the place for me!"

Just as Ma Junjiang was about to set out, Ma Chunting stopped him.

I can't let my fourth son go. Old Yu went, and there's been no word since. If my fourth son goes, will he even make it back?

Although Ma Chunting was older, he wasn't senile yet; he realized this youngest son of his was different from before.

Ma Chunting had Ma Junjiang sit back down. "How did he become like this? How dare he? That bastard! Who taught him...?" he fumed, then fell silent for a long time.

"Father, I should still go and ask. Perhaps there's some misunderstanding."

Ma Chunting shook his head. "No need to ask. Go to the major families and pass a message. Tell them, if they still respect Old Ma, no one is to attend Xiaoyao Lodge's opening day. Chu Er was snubbed at Hundred Joy Gate, and this bastard still hasn't learned his lesson, daring to play tricks on his own father! I'll make him lose everything; I'll leave him with nowhere to beg!"

「...」

Monkey Qiu had just received the invitation when he also heard the news from the Ma Family.

Lu Yuanshan was troubled. "Uncle Qiu, Xiaoyao Lodge is opening. Should we go or not?"

Monkey Qiu smiled. "What do you all think?"

Lu Yuanhai said, "In my opinion, we should go. Old Five did help our family with the phonograph issue."

Lu Yuanshan was more cautious. "But it's the Ma Family's internal affair; it's not good for us to get involved."

Both men looked to Qiu Zhiheng for a decision.

Qiu Zhiheng put down the invitation, lit a cigarette, and asked his two brothers, "If we don't consider Ma Wu, would you two go or not?"

The brothers glanced at each other, not understanding Monkey Qiu's point.

If Ma Wu wasn't part of the equation, the matter seemed trivial.

Qiu Zhiheng, smoking, said to his brothers, "Ma Chunting is really getting old. He treats the Ma Family as if it were the Lu Family. The Lu Family could snub Chu Er, and he thinks the Ma Family can do the same to Ma Wu. But does the Lu Family really need to ask his permission to attend?"

The brothers looked at each other and smiled, understanding Qiu Zhiheng's meaning.

「...」

Three days later, Li Banfeng swallowed two Elixirs and waited for the Pill's Poison to dissolve completely. Then he stepped out of the private room and entered the grand dance floor.

His legs felt an urge to sprint. Li Banfeng considered the passage of time; it seemed the moment was approaching.

This was not only because he had taken many Elixirs but also because Li Banfeng had faced numerous dangers lately—Hai Chi Ridge, Hundred Vine Valley, Fool's City. With each step, his cultivation level climbed exponentially.

With two more hours until the opening ceremony, the orchestra, singers, and dancing girls were all ready. Ma Wu was very nervous; up to now, not a single guest had arrived.

"Old Qi, we're not going to be snubbed too, are we?"

"If we get snubbed, so be it; it's no big deal. We'll celebrate on our own! To stand tall in Greenwater City, we have to open today, no matter what."

With only an hour left, Qiu Zhiheng arrived, followed by the two young masters of the Lu Family, and Madam Duan Shaoxia also came.

Ma Wu felt a sliver of relief and hurriedly welcomed the Lu Family to the seats of honor.

Once the Lu Family arrived, the Chu Family followed soon after.

The eldest son of the Chu Family, Chu Huaijun, arrived with his family and sat in the VIP seats.

Chu Er was still at Bitter Vegetable Manor, so Yang Yanzheng sent a congratulatory gift on her behalf.

The Three Heroes Gang came, Qingyun Society came, and Hundred Flowers Gate came too.

Distinguished guests began to arrive one after another, all seemingly taking their cue from the Lu Family.

With just a quarter of an hour remaining before the opening, He Yuxiu arrived. "Junyang," she said, "your Uncle Haiqin wanted to come personally, but he was tied up with business and couldn't get away. He asked me to offer his apologies."