Shipping Out

After resting for a day at the inn, Li Banfeng and Qin Xiaopang hired a carriage and set off.

Li Banfeng thought Qin Xiaopang would take him to a very special place.

But in reality, the place Qin Xiaopang took him to was Inner Valley.

Standing on the street, Qin Xiaopang instructed, "Brother, that person is too cunning. Don't listen to him complain or talk about his difficulties. You need to have a price in mind. Absolutely don't sell for less than that price!"

Li Banfeng had a psychological expected price.

His expectation was five thousand yuan per pill. He wouldn't sell for less than that price.

The reason was simple: if a good item worth ten thousand couldn't even sell for five thousand, Li Banfeng might as well eat the pill himself. Anyway, he wasn't short on travel money.

He still remembered the Peddler's instructions: cultivators must not miss their daily practice.

If he encountered special circumstances in the future, couldn't go out, or couldn't return to the Portable Abode, having a Snake Spot Pill could make up for a day's cultivation.

If the sprint champion Qiao Yuesheng had enough Snake Spot Pills, he probably wouldn't have died so tragically.

Having made up his mind, Li Banfeng asked Qin Xiaopang, "Aren't you coming with me?"

Qin Xiaopang shook his head and said, "I'm not in a hurry to sell the pills. Such good pills, I'm also reluctant to sell them cheaply.

I originally wanted to go with you to haggle, but last time I went to buy weapons from him, I spoke a bit too hastily and somewhat hurt the harmony. This time, I won't go and mess things up for you.

After you finish your business, I'll wait for you at the Steamed Bun Shop at the street corner."

He spoke mysteriously, but in the end, the place Qin Xiaopang found was still Feng's General Store.

However, having said that, if it weren't for Qin Xiaopang's guidance, Li Banfeng would never have thought that a general store would actually buy pills.

Entering the shop, Steward Feng greeted him with a smile: "Boss Li, you're back. How was your harvest this trip?"

Li Banfeng smiled and said, "The harvest was pretty good. I'm here to sell some goods to you."

Steward Feng was startled: "Boss Li, we don't buy Snake Spot Chrysanthemums here. I don't have the formula for refining pills."

"It's not Snake Spot Chrysanthemums. Let's find a place to talk."

Steward Feng invited Li Banfeng to the inner room. Li Banfeng first took out thirteen hundred yuan.

"Five hundred for the sickle, eight hundred for the shovel. Pay back the debt first!"

Steward Feng smiled and accepted the money: "Boss Li is generous! May I ask what goods Boss Li wants to sell here?"

Li Banfeng took out a Snake Spot Pill and handed it to Steward Feng.

Steward Feng took the pill, put on his reading glasses, looked at it for a long time, and nodded: "Good quality, better than the pills from the medicine shops."

Li Banfeng took a sip of tea and smiled: "Steward Feng knows his stuff!"

Steward Feng also smiled, then returned the pill to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng was stunned: "What does this mean? You're not buying?"

Steward Feng shook his head: "It's not that I'm not buying, but I need to tell you the rules first. This isn't a medicine shop, it's a general store. Although I can do this business, it's not my main line of work.

"If I were to put this pill in a pharmacy, it could be worth twelve thousand, but I can't offer that price here.

I don't refine pills myself, so I need to make a profit on the buy and sell. Besides, I don't know when I'll be able to sell the pills once I have them. So, I have to lower the price. I'm afraid it won't satisfy you."

Li Banfeng nodded. He was prepared for the Peddler to talk about his difficulties and complain, but no matter what he said, Li Banfeng would definitely not sell for less than five thousand.

"What price are you offering?"

Steward Feng held up five fingers. Li Banfeng thought it meant exactly five thousand, but then he heard Steward Feng say, "Fifty percent off. At most, I can give you fifty percent off, which is six thousand yuan per pill."

This price was genuine; Steward Feng was being honest. That was the highest he could go because these pills were of unknown origin, and he had to take a big risk.

Of course, there was also a reason he didn't try to lower the price further: he needed something from Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng nodded. Six thousand yuan per pill was a very satisfactory price for him.

But while he was satisfied internally, Li Banfeng didn't show it on his face. "Six thousand is a bit low. How many can Steward Feng take?"

Steward Feng stroked his mustache. "That depends on how many Boss Li wants to sell."

"Sixty-five pills. Can you take that many?"

Steward Feng nodded. "I can take them."

"Steward Feng is a straightforward person. Deal!" With that, Li Banfeng took out the bag and poured out the pills.

Steward Feng counted them and nodded. "Boss Li is also a straightforward person. For such a large amount, other places would probably put it on account, but here today, I'll pay in cash directly."

With that, Steward Feng beckoned and called over his assistant.

The general store only had one assistant, named Shengzi. Steward Feng whispered a few words to Shengzi, who went behind the shelves, entered a small door, and soon came out with a leather suitcase.

Boss Feng opened the suitcase in front of Li Banfeng. It contained thirty-nine stacks of banknotes, with ten thousand in each stack.

Despite the small size of the shop, this Steward Feng was truly capable.

"Thirty-nine thousand. Please count it."

Li Banfeng smiled. "How could I not trust Steward Feng?"

Li Banfeng counted it three times and put the leather suitcase away.

Steward Feng took the pills and smiled. "Boss Li, thank you for your patronage. The deal is done, but we need to make the rules clear.

I didn't ask about the origin of your pills, and you can't ask me who I sell the pills to or for what price in the future."

"Don't worry, I won't break your rules."

Li Banfeng had no interest in asking about that. He took the money and immediately went to the station to buy a train ticket and hurry back to Yue Province.

He needed to first test the waters and see if the people from the Dark Star Bureau would let him go.

If it wasn't a big deal, he would quickly go to the hospital to see what condition He Jiaqing was in.

Just as Li Banfeng was about to leave with the money box, Steward Feng said, "Boss Li, wait. I've been keeping the thing you wanted for you."

With that, Steward Feng pulled back the curtain, and the phonograph appeared before Li Banfeng again.

It was an antique mahogany cabinet with three brass horns, one large and two small.

Just the sight of it captivated Li Banfeng.

"Mr. Li, do you still want this phonograph?" Steward Feng observed Li Banfeng's expression, contemplating his next words.

"If I wanted it, I'm going on a long trip, and carrying this thing isn't very convenient," Li Banfeng tried hard to tear his gaze away from the phonograph.

Steward Feng was deeply surprised. "You don't have to take it with you when you go out, just leave it at home."

Li Banfeng held the lidded bowl and took another sip of tea. "If I leave it at home, with no one to look after it, wouldn't that be a waste of this good thing?"

The shop assistant heard this and kept winking at the steward.

Steward Feng sighed softly. "Mr. Li is a straightforward person. Since you've taken a liking to this phonograph, I was planning to give you a discount and sell it to you for 180,000."

Li Banfeng took a deep breath and said, "Wait, wait a little longer."

Steward Feng picked up a disc, placed it on the phonograph, added two cups of water, and lit the wick below the phonograph.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

From the small horn on the right, rhythmic, neat puffs of steam were expelled. The record spun, and faint static slowly began to sound.

"Butterflies fly away, the heart is no longer there, who will come in the desolate long night, to wipe away the tears on my cheeks..."

It was this song again.

Wild Grasses and Flowers Meet Spring.

Li Banfeng was finding it hard to control himself.

Steward Feng sighed softly. "Yesterday, a customer took a liking to this phonograph. I told him it was reserved by another customer and didn't sell it to him.

Mr. Li, if you wait any longer, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep this item.

I was really hoping to wait for you to come back and listen to a song properly, but when you come next time, I'm afraid you won't be able to listen even if you want to."

Come back?

Will I still come back?

After returning to Yue Province, Li Banfeng planned to find a casual job and live in the Portable Abode from then on. No mortgage, no traffic stress, just living a happy little life.

Pro State, he probably wouldn't come again.

Thinking of this, Li Banfeng suddenly got up, picked up his money box, and left the general store.

The mournful music lingered in the shop. The shop assistant stamped his foot and looked at Steward Feng, saying, "Steward, I think he genuinely wants to buy it. We quoted too high a price."

Steward Feng sighed repeatedly. "I can't help it. If I sell it too cheaply, this thing won't leave!"

The shop assistant had a bitter expression. "What should we do? When can we get rid of this thing!"

Steward Feng was full of helplessness, and sighs filled the general store.

After the song finished, the needle reached the end. Steward Feng extinguished the fire, released the steam, and was about to cover the phonograph when he suddenly saw Li Banfeng walk back in.

"160,000, will you sell it?"

The shop assistant looked at Steward Feng with anticipation.

Steward Feng deliberated for a moment, then said calmly, "Sold!"

A few beads of sweat seeped from his forehead. Steward Feng wiped them away casually, not revealing any flaws in front of Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng immediately counted out one hundred and sixty thousand and slapped it on the table.

Steward Feng didn't count it, directly took the money, and instructed the shop assistant, "Shengzi, prepare the carriage and deliver the goods to Boss Li!"

The shop assistant was about to go prepare the carriage when he suddenly heard Li Banfeng say, "Wait!"

The shop assistant was startled and looked at Steward Feng.

Steward Feng remained composed, "Boss Li, the deal is done. It's not appropriate to haggle over the price again."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "It's not haggling. I want to buy something else."

He wanted to buy a bed.

Since he would be living in the Portable Abode for a long time in the future, sleeping on the ground all the time was definitely not an option.

He had originally planned to buy a bed after returning to Yue Province, as online shopping was cheaper and had more styles.

But after thinking about the journey so far, Li Banfeng decided to buy one directly from the general store.

He didn't want to live in the train anymore, he didn't want to encounter the three-headed monster at Three Heads Junction again, and he didn't want to resist the unbearable temptation at Belt Ridge.

He could live in the Portable Abode. As long as he hid the key well, he could successfully avoid all the dangers in the carriage.

After buying a bed and more food and drinks, even if the train broke down again, it wouldn't affect Li Banfeng's happy life.

"Buy a bed..." Steward Feng was about to say he didn't have one, but there happened to be a four-poster wooden bed next to the shelves in the inner room.

The so-called four-poster meant there were four pillars on the bed, with a canopy above the pillars and railings in the middle. The bed was one and a half meters wide and one point two meters high. The entire structure looked like a small house, giving a special sense of security when sleeping in it.

Li Banfeng took a fancy to this bed, "Steward Feng, name your price."

Steward Feng didn't look at the bed; he kept looking at the phonograph.

He didn't know if it was an illusion, but the phonograph seemed to have moved slightly.

Not good, this thing might not want to leave.

Steward Feng gritted his teeth and said, "Boss Li, I like your straightforwardness, and you've taken care of my business quite a bit. I'll give you this bed!"

He didn't want to waste any more time, not a moment.

Li Banfeng repeatedly waved his hand and said, "How can this be..."

"Boss Li, if you don't accept it, you're looking down on me!"

"That's not how you say it. How can I take such a good bed for free? Name your price, and I'll also look at the bedding."

"Bedding is easy to talk about. Shengzi, get two sets of satin bedding for Boss Li."

"No, that, Steward Feng," Li Banfeng didn't understand what was happening, "I came here to buy things, not to take advantage. I also plan to buy two pieces of clothing..."

"Shengzi, get the ruler and measure Boss Li's size!"

Shengzi stepped forward and, without explanation, measured Li Banfeng from head to toe, then turned around and brought a pure white suit.

"Boss Li, I've decided you're a friend for life. The clothes are on me."

"No, I usually don't wear white. It's hard to keep clean..."

"Bring out the black set!"

"Black gets dirty easily too..."

"Bring out the beige plaid shirt!"

"Forget it, I'm not buying clothes," Li Banfeng was completely bewildered by Steward Feng. "I'll buy two candles."

"Shengzi, get a bundle of candles and give Boss Li that candelabra of Ingrid's."

"No, you, this, I, I'm not buying anything! I'll just buy two records."

Steward Feng went to the shelf, grabbed a dozen records, and placed them all on the counter. "I'll also give you two barrels of fuel, a barrel of oil, a kettle, two water cups, a bucket, a bundle of wicks,

I also have a set of tools here, pliers, wrenches, everything's complete. If the phonograph has a small problem, you can fix it yourself."

"No, I, that..."

Steward Feng then picked up a feather duster and stuffed it into Li Banfeng's hand. "Phonographs are afraid of dust, you should clean it often. Boss Li, I'm just this kind of straightforward person. If you don't accept, I'll really get angry!"

Li Banfeng fell silent.

He couldn't say anything more.

The clerk hired a carriage and first moved the bed onto it, then the phonograph, the quilt, clothes, fuel, candles, bucket... all the items were loaded onto the carriage.

Li Banfeng stood at the doorway, holding the feather duster, in a daze.

The clerk helped Li Banfeng into the carriage, and the steward shouted, "Boss Li, take care! We still rely on your patronage!"

With that, Shengzi urged the coachman, and the carriage left.

Watching the carriage disappear down the street, Steward Feng and the clerk stood in the shop for a long time.

"Steward!" Shengzi's voice trembled slightly.

"Shengzi!" Steward Feng was also a little choked up.

"Steward!" Shengzi's eyes were red.

"Shengzi!" Steward Feng wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Steward, did the things really sell?" Shengzi still had some doubts in his heart.

"Shengzi, go take a look in the inner room. I think the price was a bit cheap. Look carefully again, did that thing come back?" Steward Feng's attitude was also cautious.

Shengzi ran into the inner room and ran out again in a flash.

"It didn't come back, it's really gone this time."

"Shengzi!" Steward Feng started crying.

"Steward!" Tears streamed down Shengzi's face.

"Shengzi!"

"Steward!"

The two sat on the ground, wailing.

The shop assistant wiped away his tears and said, "Finally, we can do business in peace."

Steward Feng stood up and straightened his clothes. "What kind of business are we doing? Let's close the shop today and go to Phoenix Comes Pavilion. Order a table of good wine, call two girls to keep us company, and let's have fun for a few days first!"

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