Li Jinrong

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Jinrong (李锦荣)
Alias(es)	Third Young Master Li; “Fatty Li”
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Li Family of Jinmen; Anomaly Suppression Bureau trainee 54 96
Occupation/Role	Third Young Master of the Li Family; assists with the family’s freight and logistics affairs 158 215
Status	Active 276
First Appearance	Chapter 21

Background / History

Li Jinrong is the third young master of Jinmen’s Li Family, one of the city’s Four Great Families. The Lis possess deep commercial roots, particularly in freight and dock business, while retaining enough influence that even powerful local factions are wary of openly moving against them 54 220 241.

He first encounters Chen Mo at the Ghost Market, where his disdainful criticism of a stall’s wares provokes a spectral face from a clay pot. His head guard, Li Zhong, disperses the entity at personal cost; the incident leaves Li Jinrong visibly frightened and far more cautious 21. Later, he is dismayed when Chen Mo obtains a priceless Jade Slip while Li Jinrong’s own Yin Stone Seal yields only Yin Marrow Iron 23.

Li Jinrong joins the Anomaly Suppression Bureau’s intensive training at his father’s insistence. He admits that his own abilities are limited, but views the Bureau as an opportunity to build connections rather than remain idle at home 96.

Appearance

Li Jinrong is a chubby, fair-skinned young man with a round face and small eyes. He is frequently described as bulky or fat, and his size can make him physically imposing despite his lack of demonstrated combat ability 21 55.

• Usually carries and flourishes a folding fan 55 96.
• Favors expensive, carefully selected clothing, including silk robes, changshan, and tailored Zhongshan suits 55 215 223.
• Often wears incense fragrance and pays close attention to his grooming 55.
• His appearance deteriorates quickly under rough travel conditions; after days on poor roads, he is left dusty, disheveled, and exhausted 220.

Personality

Li Jinrong is outspoken, indulgent, and accustomed to solving inconveniences with money or family influence. He bribes Shen Bao to exchange bunks so that he can sleep closer to Chen Mo, orders costly dishes when dissatisfied with the Bureau cafeteria, and packs extensive personal effects for a business journey 98 99 215.

He has a sharp tongue and enjoys gossip. He publicly clashes with Liu Ruyan, mocks the Bureau’s treatment of trainees, and eagerly speculates about Chen Mo’s relationships and personal affairs 56 99 102 104. His interest in food, drink, brothels, and entertainment regularly clashes with Chen Mo’s reserved temperament 124 220 222.

Despite his arrogance, Li Jinrong can be principled and loyal. He prevents outsiders from cutting into the Anomaly Suppression Bureau registration line, insisting that even powerful people must follow its rules 55. He takes the safety of his family’s goods seriously, arranges armed escorts for the Ganzhou shipment, and becomes deeply concerned after believing Chen Mo spent months of lifespan defending the convoy 215 218.

Relationships

• Chen Mo — Initially recognizes Chen Mo from the Ghost Market and grows fascinated by his unusual abilities. Li Jinrong repeatedly seeks his company, offers material help, shelters him while injured, and relies on him during threats to the Li Family’s business 55 98 124 158 274 276.
• Li Xiaoqian — His father and head of the Li Family’s Jinmen business. Li Xiaoqian regards Li Jinrong as impulsive, restricts his movements when the Green Gang targets the family, but acknowledges his son’s judgment in befriending Chen Mo 220 274.
• Li Zhong — His longtime head guard. Li Zhong protects him at the Ghost Market and later investigates Chen Mo on Li Xiaoqian’s orders 21 23 220.
• Li Zijin — His older sister, who handles the Li Family’s American dealings. She criticizes Li Jinrong’s impatience over the Green Gang’s attacks on the family docks 274.
• Shen Yunjin — His cousin and fellow traveler to Ganzhou. Li Jinrong is attentive to her safety and repeatedly tries to introduce her to Chen Mo 215 235 236.
• Tie Kun — A bodyguard entrusted with the convoy’s security. Li Jinrong defers to Tie Kun on safety arrangements, even when reluctant to abandon his preferred entertainment 215 222.
• Liu Ruyan — A fellow Bureau trainee with whom he shares mutual dislike. Their public dispute exposes Li Jinrong’s use of family privilege and his tendency to provoke others 56.
• Shen Bao and He Songling — Fellow trainees and casual companions. Shen Bao accepts Li Jinrong’s money to exchange beds, while He Songling often defuses arguments caused by Li Jinrong’s blunt remarks 98 99 100.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ghost Market

Li Jinrong enters the Ghost Market with guards and companions, behaving disrespectfully toward its vendors. His provocation nearly causes disaster when a spectral face attacks him, forcing Li Zhong to intervene 21. He subsequently participates in selecting Yin Stone Seals and reacts with envy when Chen Mo acquires the Jade Slip containing the Taiyin Ghost Form Manual 21 23.

Anomaly Suppression Bureau Training

At the Jinmen headquarters, Li Jinrong recognizes Chen Mo and asserts his family name to stop several young masters from cutting the registration line 55. He later bypasses the reception queue alongside Chen Mo, prompting a confrontation with Liu Ruyan 56.

During intensive training, he becomes Chen Mo’s roommate and deliberately pays to move into the bunk beside him. His wealth, lack of practical self-sufficiency, and habit of speaking without restraint repeatedly create friction among the trainees 96 98 99.

Friendship with Chen Mo

Li Jinrong’s attachment to Chen Mo becomes increasingly practical as well as personal. He hosts Chen Mo at the Li residence during his recovery, offers access to his logistics department, and provides 200 pounds of gunpowder in exchange for Chen Mo accompanying a shipment to Beiping 124 158.

He also uses his connections to help Chen Mo, introducing him to a car dealer and later agreeing to investigate the heterodox sect Profound Yin Studio in Kowloon 140 274.

Ganzhou Shipment

Li Jinrong organizes a freight journey from Jinmen to Ganzhou, traveling with Chen Mo, Shen Yunjin, Tie Kun, guards, and gunmen 215. When bandits led by the Twin Fiends of Plum Mountain attack the train, he witnesses Chen Mo summon the Shadow Puppet Giant Spirit God and defeat the attackers 218.

Believing the technique costs Chen Mo months of lifespan, Li Jinrong shifts from excitement at Chen Mo’s power to sincere guilt and urges him not to use it lightly 218. He continues managing the convoy through Jiangning and the Yangtze River route, though he suffers severely from road travel and seasickness 220 224.

Li Family–Green Gang Conflict

When the Green Gang targets the Li Family’s South Dock warehouses, Li Jinrong investigates personally and asks Chen Mo to accompany him 274 275. He confronts Green Gang representative Liu Qikui over an attempted arson attack, refusing an initial attempt to dismiss the incident as a misunderstanding 276.

With Chen Mo standing beside him, Li Jinrong secures 5,000 silver dollars in compensation. He then offers Chen Mo half of the payment in recognition of his assistance 276.

Equipment / Items

• Folding fan — His habitual accessory; he uses it constantly while speaking, posturing, or fanning himself 55 96.
• Personal travel effects — Brings items such as a blue-and-white porcelain tea set, sable cloak, silk bedding, and multiple trunks when traveling 98 215.
• Li Family convoy resources — Has access to freight depots, guards, gunmen, trucks, and warehouse personnel through the Li Family business 215 218 220.

Trivia

• Li Jinrong spends 100 silver dollars simply to exchange a lower bunk with Shen Bao 98.
• He once spent 20,000 silver dollars in a single night competing over an actress and later gave away an expensive blood-sweating steed because it ate too much 108.
• He is susceptible to seasickness despite presenting himself as an experienced young master 224.
• Though he wants to learn Chen Mo’s Shadow Puppet Giant Spirit God technique, he accepts that he lacks the ability to do so 218.