Chapter 3, Details of the Group's Industries

Is the leader the greatest

This matter has not been publicized; apart from myself, I fear there is no one else in the world who could inquire about it.

It is absolutely true; I spent 12,000 taels of silver to acquire this information

Unfortunately, he often lives in seclusion and is rarely seen.

The gentleman chuckled and said, "I was just about to mention that this young Master Xiao had once arranged a marriage when he was younger"

The small shop operates with great efficiency, and a table with "tea" is quickly set before me. The vegetables, in shades of green and white, are quite plain, but in the center, there surprisingly lies half a shiny, fragrant roast duck that fills the air with its aroma.

Young master, is it not ... ...

Suddenly, a low voice came from the neighboring table: "This time the news is certain, someone in B Shui City is going to auction the Longevity Fruit, and the highest bidder will win. The time is set for the evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year"

The young master glanced at the dejected Lei Lei and walked towards the Jinjiang Inn, making a decision through his actions

Butler Zhao shook his beard and almost jumped up: "You run a shop, how could you not find a lead?"

Is this true

What kind of design is this! With such a formidable example, Lei Lei no longer dared to sing and could only say: "Actually, I cannot sing."

The small shop originally sold tea, but occasionally also offered some inexpensive food and drinks. The regular customers all knew that the proprietress would sway her way out from behind the counter, lamenting, "This area for dozens of miles around is the territory of the Xisha faction, and the taxes are quite heavy. Young master, look, apart from us, who else would dare to open a shop on this road?" Then she would reveal a pitiful expression and lower her voice, saying, "It is not easy to make a living these days. Moreover, there are many passing merchants, and it is not feasible to be without a restaurant. We can quietly sell our goods, which is convenient."

Indeed, someone has spoken

In the disdainful gaze of Butler Zhao, Lei Lei was moved to tears, thinking, where can one find such a thoughtful and considerate man like "Xiao Bai" who excels both inside and out? She should seize the opportunity to hold onto him!

The crowd was deeply moved

The proprietress said: "Five taels is quite a bargain, this is the renowned 'Su Su Brand Roast Duck', have you heard of it? Su Su Brand Roast Duck is an essential food item for both home and travel! Young Master Qin Liufeng once praised it in person! Our little shop has only prepared half a duck for you, and that's because of the shortage!"

In the afternoon, as they continued to jolt on horseback, Lei Lei no longer had the mood to ask questions. Her entire body felt as if it were about to fall apart. Seeing her in such a state, the young master found it difficult to bear, so he ordered a brief rest in Jinjiang City and instructed Steward Zhao to inquire about procuring a carriage. Delaying the journey for a woman nearly caused Steward Zhao to shoot Lei Lei a look of disdain.

The gentleman took a sip of tea: "Now let us speak of another matter, which concerns the young master of Baisheng Mountain Villa, Master Xiao Bai."

The young master, lost in thought, instructed Butler Zhao: "Bring me half a roasted duck"

Someone interrupted him: "You don't need to say this, who doesn't know that the Xiaoxiao Fengming knife is unparalleled in the world? The current leader of the alliance is known as 'Left Xiaoxiao, Right Qin', and this 'Left Xiaoxiao' refers to Young Master Xiaobai."

What! This plain and coarse food is sold for 9.8 coins, could it be a black market!

... ...

The young master turned and said, "Forget it, let's go."

Indeed, the gentleman shook his head and said, "Baisheng Mountain Villa is known as the North Star of the martial world, and has always taken it upon itself to uphold the righteousness of the martial arts community. It is precisely because of this Fengming Knife that Qianyue Cave and Legend Valley dare not act recklessly, allowing the rivers and lakes to remain peaceful..."

Outside the Liuxia Tower, the sound of the flute rises, as the drunken guests from Shu arrive

Lei Lei desperately wanted to protest with dignity through a hunger strike, but unfortunately, her stomach was always more important than her principles. With no money to her name, the energy from half a roast duck had already been mostly depleted during the bumpy journey. After hesitating for half a minute, she finally walked through the door

Leilei has been so disoriented that she can hardly think straight. When she looks up, she sees a tall sign next to the small shop, with the words "Zhonghua Wuyan Tea Shop" written in large black characters.

The proprietress rolled her eyes, feeling troubled: "The small shop has no change..."

Upon seeing the four ancient and elegant characters "Jinjiang Inn," Lei Lei immediately thought of the Jinjiang Time Travel Group, and instantly disregarding her fatigue, she angrily blocked the young master, expressing her resistance: "We cannot stay here"

Having caused trouble and made a mistake first, Lei Lei, understanding the situation, silently followed downstairs

The crowd began to dine

Leilei subtly remarked, "I can't eat. With so many people around, it's like guarding against thieves!"

This time, including the young master, everyone ignored her and walked straight in

The young master is speechless

Suddenly, someone coughed: "Brother Wang!"

After waiting for half a day, seeing no movement behind him, the young master became curious: "Why is there no singing?"

Silence

Someone urged: "Why not say anything?"

Under the eaves, one must bow their head, and Lei Lei quietly sat down to eat.

Everyone is anxious: "Who is it?"

The previous speaker suddenly realized that the occasion was inappropriate, understood the situation, and fell silent, while the others quickly raised their voices to divert the topic

The young master remained composed: "What is it, Alliance Leader."

The gentleman leisurely remarked: "In fact, this young lady also comes from a prestigious family. Do you know who she is? She is the daughter of the old master of Huazhuang in Yetan City, Miss Hua"

Su Su brand roast duck? ... Lei Lei couldn't help but turn her head, this name sounds so familiar ...

Several tables nearby were occupied by swordsmen armed with knives and swords, who were drinking and discussing the latest happenings in the martial arts world. Lei Lei found it quite interesting to listen in.

Young Master Xiao harbors a deep hatred for evil, yet how could such trivial matters trouble the leader? Since he beheaded the 'Sea Demon' two years ago, he has not appeared in the martial world for a long time, until the incident regarding the Longevity Fruit occurred

From Jinjiang Inn No. 1 to Jinjiang Inn No. 35

The economic issues are not my concern, and the young master nodded in understanding

It is said that two years ago, Lord He standardized the management of inns to eliminate black shops, and all inns in the Jianghu were renamed "Jinjiang Inn," registered with numbers differentiated by city. Thus, merchants can easily discern that a certain city with a certain number indicates a legitimate establishment, while those without a number or with a different name are certainly black shops. Although this reasoning is somewhat valid, Lei Lei firmly believes that the person in the R&D department who designed this is being lazy, unwilling to come up with proper names for the inns. At the same time, she feels quite disheartened, realizing that resistance is futile.

The young master nodded and led everyone out.

Everyone nodded and shifted their attention back to the dining table, only to find that half of the roast duck had disappeared. They simultaneously turned their gaze towards Lei Lei, who was delicately and slowly eating her rice. This left them all puzzled and confused about the whereabouts of the duck.

Knowing the reputation of the roast duck, Butler Zhao fell silent and took out a stack of silver: "This is ten taels!"

The night envelops Jinjiang City, with bright lights illuminating the streets, and people coming and going. The city's appearance is different from that of the daytime, taking on a route filled with romantic sentiments. The phrase "When seeing injustice, one shouts out" has largely been replaced by "On this beautiful night of flowers and a full moon" or "You and I entwined, gracefully soaring," presenting a unique charm.

The leader governs the world, commanding the heroes, and only when the rivers and lakes are stable can the common people enjoy peace; the weight of this responsibility is indeed not to be taken lightly

The young master is waiting downstairs

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone at the table was taken aback, including Lei Lei

Lei Lei let out an "oh" and fell silent, secretly contemplating.

The young master had no objections and said lightly, "Then let's change to another place"

Who sold this news, and is it truly credible

Young master frowned: "Tea shop?"

The small shop is not large, yet the business is thriving. There are only eight tables, seven of which are fully occupied by customers. Lei Lei surveyed the surroundings and quickly discovered the source of its charm—a stunning proprietress sitting behind the counter

"Oh, your words are quite off, our little shop has always been honest to both young and old," the proprietress patiently explained, "Please take a look, this is the detailed bill. Although the other dishes may be simple, that half roast duck is indeed genuine!"

After bumping along for a full two to three hours, this body, which I estimate cannot ride a horse at all, was completely unable to adapt. Lei Lei barely endured until noon when the young master finally reined in the horse and stopped in front of a tea shop by the roadside. Steward Zhao and two other servants had already been waiting there for half a day. Upon seeing the two, they all stood up, and suddenly caught sight of that pair of claws wrapped around the young master's waist, prompting everyone to display expressions of indignation.

Butler Zhao put on a gentle smile: "Young Master, dinner has been arranged, it is at the restaurant across the street"

Jinjiang City is located in the central area of the entire Jianghu, bustling and prosperous, with tall buildings and pavilions, a constant flow of traffic, and a rich entertainment life for the people. Tea houses and restaurants are plentiful, with performances and cockfights, the sounds of drums, gongs, and musical instruments blending together. It is not difficult to glimpse the advanced architectural level and vibrant spirit of this Jianghu. Apart from the occasional shout from the wine seller in front of the shop, "In the Jianghu, who can avoid drinking?" or the sudden emergence of a bold song in the ear, "When seeing injustice on the road, one must roar!" everything else is quite adaptable. It is not difficult to glimpse the advanced architectural level and vibrant spirit of this Jianghu. Apart from the occasional shout from the wine seller in front of the shop, "In the Jianghu, who can avoid drinking?" or the sudden emergence of a bold song in the ear, "When seeing injustice on the road, one must roar!" everything else is quite adaptable.

Their grandmother actually named them all Jinjiang Inn

The proprietress soon wore a beaming smile, her eyes curving gracefully: "Indeed, this young gentleman is generous, unlike those stingy ones. Please take your time leaving, and remember to come again next time!"

This matter will be reported to Alliance Leader He by the iron lord himself; let us return to the manor first and discuss it further

The name of this shop is truly peculiar, yet it feels so familiar when pronounced... Lei Lei was secretly astonished, but her mind was preoccupied with accepting new things, leaving her no time to ponder. By the time she regained her senses, she had already followed someone into the shop

Upon seeing the young master, the proprietress immediately stood up, tossed her hair, and with a flirtatious wink said, "Just as I was saying, everyone is finally here!"

Is it really true? Doubtful.

Lei Lei had nothing to say, and having already walked until her legs felt weak, she could only follow in with a sense of defeat

Butler Zhao was taken aback

After traversing thirty-five streets and alleys and visiting thirty-five inns, the sun had already set. Everyone returned to the original spot and stopped in front of the Jinjiang Inn. Except for the young master, everyone else wore expressions of extreme indignation. This woman has a problem

In order to attract customers, the restaurant has a storyteller, who at this moment is speaking passionately, his eloquence transforming an otherwise ordinary tale of the rivers and lakes into something truly captivating, with patrons occasionally chiming in.

The young master threw Lei Lei off the horse

Fortunately, the conditions at the inn were quite good, with soft bedding. Lei Lei slept soundly until the sound of knocking at the door broke the darkness.

When going out, Butler Zhao has always been diligent and responsible in managing accounts, feeling deceived: "Half a roast duck sells for five taels?"

Given the forcefulness of his tone and the resoluteness of his attitude, both servants along with Steward Zhao were taken aback, believing that there was indeed something amiss with this inn, and they all silently refrained from expressing any opinions

What exactly is the longevity fruit that so many people are willing to spend money to seek? Lei Lei was indeed puzzled, but the expressions of the young master and Butler Zhao were not very good. That person had also approached the Iron Manor owner, but fortunately, the owner was upright and reported the matter. Now, hearing these people speak, it seems that this is not just a single incident; a piece of information is sold for ten thousand taels. Just from selling this information, that person could profit significantly. Moreover, the auction of the longevity fruit is an immense temptation. At that time, heroes will surely gather in Bi Shui City, and it is inevitable that people from the demonic sect will infiltrate. That person only cares about profit, but has not considered that once the longevity fruit appears, it will not be a simple transaction; it will inevitably lead to a struggle among the heroes, causing chaos. If it falls into the hands of the demonic sect, it would be even worse. A piece of information is sold for ten thousand taels, and just from selling this information, that person could profit significantly. Moreover, the auction of the longevity fruit is an immense temptation. At that time, heroes will surely gather in Bi Shui City, and it is inevitable that people from the demonic sect will infiltrate. That person only cares about profit, but has not considered that once the longevity fruit appears, it will not be a simple transaction; it will inevitably lead to a struggle among the heroes, causing chaos. If it falls into the hands of the demonic sect, it would be even worse.

The proprietress felt relieved and said with a smile, "Just now, Steward Zhao has already ordered the dishes for the table. Please take your seats, everyone, take your seats!" She turned around and shouted inside, "The guests at table 8 are all here, hurry up and serve the tea!"

Young Hero

The gentleman declared emphatically: "Absolutely true! It was said by the personal attendant of Young Master Qin Liufeng himself."

Young Master said: "Let us stay here for the night"

The sound of the phoenix's cry and the blade's whisper

The gentleman scoffed: "How much can you possibly know? Although the 'Xiao Xiao Feng Ming' blade is renowned, only Young Master Xiao Bai from the Xiao family has been able to master the final move 'Xiao Xiao Feng Ming' throughout generations. Even the alliance leader has personally acknowledged that it is difficult to defeat him"

Leilei immediately looked up

About the whereabouts of that half roast duck at the strange noon, everyone was staring at her chopsticks this time. Even Lei Lei, with her thick skin, could not maintain her composure, eating rather cautiously, while cursing everyone in her heart, I didn't eat any of yours, damn it.

Butler Zhao stood outside the door: "Young Master wants you to come down for dinner!" His expression seemed to convey a deep-seated grudge against her, making Lei Lei think that this old man was quite eager to see her starve to death

Gradually, the young master also noticed something was amiss: "Why aren't you eating your vegetables?"

Zhonghua Wuyan Tea Shop

Leilei recalled a matter: "Who is He Taiping?"

The restaurant was bustling with business, and after passing several tables of guests, having said countless "I'm sorry," Lei Lei finally found her group. The table was already filled with a sumptuous array of food and drink, and the others did not show much concern for her late arrival; they simply moved to the other side as if to draw a line, immediately vacating a seat next to the young master.

Here we go

The boss's wife rolled her eyes: "Haven't you seen our business is doing well? Why don't you wait a bit, and come back when we have something available."

Upon hearing this, Lei Lei was greatly impacted, as it turned out she was already engaged. However, she quickly dismissed her feelings, thinking, what does engagement matter? Even if one is married, they can still get a divorce. As long as a time-traveling woman like me takes a liking to someone, what does a fiancée count for? She can just step aside!

The men in the gathering were curious, while the women felt disappointed: "Which family's daughter is so fortunate?"

Considering his image, the young master dismounted and walked on foot outside the city, feeling much more at ease as he walked on solid ground.

This sentence immediately restored Lei Lei's memory. While marveling at the boss lady's acumen in making money, she began to seriously doubt the credibility of that Jinjiang time-travel group. They claimed to have put in a lot of effort in their design, but it turned out they had created such a chaotic world. It was one thing to plagiarize "The East is Red," but even the names were so cheap, like the Zhonghua Wuyuan tea shop and the Su Su brand roasted duck. What was even more surprising was that General Manager Su and General Manager Zhong actually registered trademarks and established businesses here!

After finishing the meal, everyone exited, when suddenly a cry of surprise from Steward Zhao came from behind.

Butler Zhao said indignantly: "Young Master, look..."

I have never seen him either; I just delivered the money to the designated place to give it a try. To my surprise, he actually left a note...

An antique couplet hung on either side of the entrance to the tavern, exuding a strong flavor of the rivers and lakes, yet infused with a touch of scholarly elegance, quite refined, complemented by exquisite decorations. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with guests filling the seats, instantly evoking a sense of goodwill. However, upon raising her head to clearly see the four flamboyant characters on the plaque reading "Shu Ke Tavern," Lei Lei immediately stepped back: "Not this one!" She resolutely opposed.

A crowd stopped in front of a large inn

So "Xiao Bai" is so famous! Lei Lei was surprised and glanced over, only to see Butler Zhao and the others all wearing proud expressions, while the young master remained unfazed, as if he had not heard anything. This made her admire him even more, while secretly laughing at those people, as "Xiao Bai" was right in front of them and they were still unaware.

After the bath, he wore a blue and white robe, though the style was slightly different from before, elegant yet carrying a hint of leisure. Lei Lei noticed that he almost never parted with his sword. It is often said that those who carry swords are graceful; however, this sword in the young man's hand showed no signs of rudeness, instead exuding an air of elegance combined with a sense of power.