Chapter 231: Chapter 173: Breaking the Game_3
Qiu Zhiheng once again made a concession.
Li Banfeng took off his top hat and placed it on his chest, bowing to Qiu Zhiheng.
This was to express his gratitude to Qiu Zhiheng.
With a smile, Qiu Zhiheng put on his top hat and left the dance floor.
That evening, Qiu Zhiheng and Lu Yuanshan left Blue Poplar Village.
Ma Wu was terrified, thinking Qiu Zhiheng had recognized Li Banfeng and would harm him, especially since Lu Dongliang had been pursuing Li Banfeng for a long time.
If that were the case, Ma Wu would risk his life and expend all his assets to fight Monkey Qiu to the death, determined to protect Li Banfeng at all costs.
Yet unexpectedly, Qiu Zhiheng just left like that, without harming Li Banfeng, and even settled the matters of Blue Poplar Village.
Just a token of respect at year’s end?
Could Monkey Qiu really be this magnanimous?
Ma Wu was overjoyed. "Brother Li, are you and Qiu Zhiheng acquainted?"
Li Banfeng did not answer.
They had an acquaintance, but it didn’t go this deep.
The incident on the train was over; neither owed the other anything. Monkey Qiu’s magnanimity was genuinely puzzling to Li Banfeng.
...
On the carriage, Lu Yuanshan asked Qiu Zhiheng, "Uncle Qiu, are we being too lenient with them? I think we should own at least sixty percent of the Hundred Joy Gate and collect at least a thirty percent Hua Hong from Blue Poplar Village."
Monkey Qiu shook his head slightly and handed a newspaper to Lu Yuanshan.
This was today’s evening paper. The headline read: "Lu and Chu Power Struggle: Who Will Carry the Banner of Greenwater City?"
On the second page, there was another news item: "A Tiger Stranded: Ma Family Seizes Blue Poplar Village. Can the Lu Family Endure This Humiliation?"
Similar news appeared every day, and Lu Yuanshan saw nothing special about it.
Monkey Qiu said, "Even you don’t find this special; the whole of Puluo State doesn’t find it out of the ordinary either. If tomorrow another story comes out saying the Lu Family has fallen out with the Ma and Chu families, people will also think it’s perfectly natural."
Lu Yuanshan was unconcerned. "That’s what newspapers do. Let them write whatever they want. It’s not real."
Monkey Qiu shook his head. "If we hadn’t managed tonight’s situation properly, it could have become reality. If Chu Huaiyuan and Ma Junyang had died by our hands, it could mean war with the Chu and Ma families tomorrow. These two, though abandoned by the Chu and Ma families, still represent the honor of these great clans. With someone fanning the flames, things could easily become uncontrollable."
Lu Yuanshan looked at the newspaper again and realized the seriousness of the problem. "Uncle Qiu, when you say ’someone fanning the flames,’ are you referring to the Ling Family?"
A glint of cold light flashed in Monkey Qiu’s eyes. "Lu Dongjun kicked up a major fuss at Hai Chi Ridge and has now vanished without a trace. Meanwhile, the Ling Family has secured massive business deals there. They’ve made a fortune at Hai Chi Ridge and are now eyeing Greenwater City. Today, their newspaper reports a falling out between the Lu and Ma families; tomorrow, it’ll be between the Lu and Chu families; and the day after, they’ll report the Lu family’s internal strife. In their rag, it’s as if the Lu family is set to battle its way across the entirety of Puluo State!
"We can temporarily forgo the income from the Hundred Joy Gate and Blue Poplar Village, but we absolutely cannot let the Ling Family dictate the situation.
"Yuan Shan, I recall you used to run a newspaper yourself."
Lu Yuanshan nodded. "I did for a while, even made quite a bit of money, but my father said it was a dead end. I’ve also been involved in filmmaking, which my father also disapproved of, so it all came to nothing."
"Resume the newspaper business, and set up the film studio again," Monkey Qiu said. "We can’t always let the Ling Family make their big moves in silence. It’s time to expose some of their secrets too."
Lu Yuanshan laughed. This was a task he was eager to undertake.
...
Three days later, Hundred Joy Gate reopened. Chu Huaiyuan and Ma Wu organized a singing and dancing competition, selecting that year’s twelve Singing Empresses.
He Jiaqing sat on his sickbed, his face ashen.
Monkey Qiu has ruined my plans!
He’s foiled my schemes for both the Hundred Joy Gate and Blue Poplar Village!
I truly did underestimate him!
PS: Even when facing an old hand in the Jianghu, He Jiaqing can miscalculate.