CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 98: THE DOWN-AND-OUT NOBLE SON

How could Ma Wu be scavenging through trash for food?

He was a rich young master; back when Peddler was taking his medicine, he used to have more than a dozen attendants.

Even though he had only met him once, Li Banfeng had a deep impression of Ma Wu. The man had no airs about him and spoke frankly. When Li Banfeng first arrived, he was clueless about Puluo State, and Ma Wu had provided him with a lot of information and advice.

At that time, Li Banfeng had received the Heavenly Light, and Ma Wu kept reminding Li Banfeng to find a way to stay alive.

Seeing Ma Wu fleeing from the trash heap, Li Banfeng chased after him.

Ma Wu was very weak; even if he weren’t, he couldn’t outrun a Traveling Cultivator. He rushed into an alley, then suddenly turned around and said, "You’ve got the wrong person! I’m not Ma Wu!"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I’m not talking about Ma Wu. I’m talking about one hundred and fifty."

Ma Wu was taken aback. "What one hundred and fifty?"

Li Banfeng said, "I’m looking to hire someone. It’s my first time in Greenwater Bay; I haven’t been anywhere and don’t recognize any place. I want to hire a guide for one hundred and fifty a day. Are you willing?"

Ma Wu sized up Li Banfeng, his brow twitching slightly.

After a moment’s thought, Ma Wu lowered his head and asked in a low voice, "Will you really pay one hundred and fifty a day?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "I’ll even cover meals. If you’re willing to take the job, let’s go eat now."

Ma Wu agreed; he was starving.

Even though he had fallen to the point of rummaging through trash for food, he hadn’t given up on himself; he still wanted to live.

Li Banfeng took Ma Wu to the noodle shop again.

Ma Wu stopped Li Banfeng. "It’s best not to go to this place."

"Why not?"

Ma Wu said, "This isn’t a place for outsiders. The owner here is not a good sort."

Li Banfeng was quite surprised. "I’ve eaten noodles here before. The shopkeeper seemed quite nice."

Ma Wu sighed softly. "I’m just a guide; I can only say so much. You can make your own decisions on important and minor matters."

Li Banfeng entered the noodle shop with Ma Wu. The shopkeeper was clearing away broken tables and shattered dishes with other "patrons." Seeing Li Banfeng arrive, the shopkeeper exclaimed, "Why are you back again?"

Li Banfeng frowned. "I’m here to eat! Isn’t this a restaurant? How much for mutton noodles?"

The shopkeeper lowered his head. "Five yuan."

Ma Wu interjected, "Make it clear. Is it five yuan a bowl, or five yuan per noodle?"

It seemed Ma Wu had also been scammed here before.

The shopkeeper raised his head. "We run an honest business. Naturally, it’s five yuan a bowl."

This answer greatly surprised Ma Wu.

But Li Banfeng’s next words surprised him even more.

"Five yuan a bowl? That cheap? Is that appropriate?"

The shopkeeper thought for a moment. "Then, ten yuan."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Ten yuan? Is that appropriate?"

The shopkeeper sniffled. "We’re a small business."

Li Banfeng nodded. "Then ten yuan it is. Bring two bowls to start."

Ma Wu could understand each sentence of their conversation individually, but taken as a whole, he was completely confused.

Were these two friends? Were they joking with each other?

The other "patrons" glanced at Li Banfeng, hurriedly brought over tables and chairs, sat down, and pretended to eat.

Soon, two bowls of mutton noodles were served. The shopkeeper also gave Li Banfeng twenty yuan.

Li Banfeng pocketed the money and said to Ma Wu, "See? I told you this shopkeeper isn’t bad. Quite genuine."

Ma Wu was utterly dumbfounded.

He came to eat noodles, and the shopkeeper gave *him* money?

But Ma Wu’s attention was quickly drawn to the noodles before him.

He was very hungry.

"Eat up. Help yourself," Li Banfeng said, handing Ma Wu a pair of chopsticks.

Ma Wu’s face flushed red; he didn’t want to accept charity.

Li Banfeng chuckled. "Go on, eat. Whenever I hire someone, I always cover food and lodging. You’ve earned this."

Ma Wu picked up the chopsticks and, in a few quick mouthfuls, devoured the first bowl of noodles.

Li Banfeng pushed the other bowl towards him. "I’ve already eaten. This bowl is yours too."

Ma Wu licked his lips, and in a flash, the second bowl was empty too.

Li Banfeng turned to the shopkeeper. "Cook two more bowls."

The shopkeeper pulled a long face. "We’re a small business, you know."

Li Banfeng frowned. "What, are you thinking of raising the price?"

"No, no, still ten yuan a bowl. No price increase."

Soon, the shopkeeper brought two more bowls of noodles and gave Li Banfeng another twenty yuan.

Ma Wu ate five bowls of noodles in total, then stopped.

Was he full?

Not really. But he’d been starving for a day, and eating too much more could be dangerous.

"Let’s get to work, Boss. What do you want me to do?"

Li Banfeng stood up. "Didn’t we agree? You’re my guide. First, find me a place to stay."

"Find a place to stay..." Ma Wu looked troubled. Finding lodging in Blue Poplar Village wasn’t that easy.

After leaving the noodle shop, Ma Wu led Li Banfeng deeper into the village, explaining as they walked, "In Blue Poplar Village, don’t stay on the north side. The houses there are sturdy, but they could be demolished at any time."

"Why?"

"You should have seen the road roller when you entered the village. The city is building a road this way, extending it by more than ten meters each day. All the houses along the path have to be torn down."

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment. "If they keep demolishing like this, Blue Poplar Village will get smaller and smaller. Won’t it eventually be wiped out?"

"It won’t be wiped out. The southern part of Blue Poplar Village connects to the New Land, and the villagers are constantly reclaiming wilderness there. Demolition and construction have gone on for decades, but Blue Poplar Village has remained about the same size."

Ma Wu reached the central area of the village. Most houses here were wooden huts; brick and stone houses were a rare sight, though there were quite a few thatched sheds.

Ma Wu stopped. "Let’s find a room around here. We can’t go too close to the southern end; that’s near the New Land, and the New Land isn’t very peaceful either. The houses here are alright, but it depends on the landlord. If the landlord is too tough, they’ll frequently raise your rent. If the landlord is too soft, your house might get taken by someone else."

Blue Poplar Village, truly a great place, Li Banfeng thought. And the landlords here are so naive.

Li Banfeng looked around. "Then let’s find a landlord who’s neither too tough nor too soft."

Ma Wu nodded. "I do know one such landlord, but I’m not sure if he’s home."

Li Banfeng said, "If he’s not home, I’ll stay at your place for now. I’ll pay you rent, of course."

Ma Wu smiled awkwardly. "My place isn’t really convenient."

He was too embarrassed to say he didn’t have a place to live. He’d built a shed near the New Land, but just yesterday, it had been taken by someone else.

During the summer vacation after Li Banfeng graduated from high school, he didn’t have a dorm room and once slept under a bridge. Back then, a female classmate had wanted to come see his ’home.’

Ma Wu’s current expression seemed very familiar to Li Banfeng.

Ma Wu knocked on the door of a wooden house. After a few minutes, a man with clothes draped over him emerged.

The man’s surname was Wei. Ma Wu didn’t know his given name; everyone just called him Landlord Wei.

Ma Wu asked, "Any rooms available?"

Landlord Wei looked Ma Wu up and down. "Do you have money?"

He knew Ma Wu was penniless; just a few days ago, he had evicted Ma Wu for not being able to pay rent.

Ma Wu turned to Li Banfeng. "It’s not me who wants to rent, it’s this boss."

Li Banfeng smiled at Landlord Wei. "I have money."

Landlord Wei yawned, took out a string of keys, and opened a wooden hut first.

It was two meters long and two meters wide. Inside, there was nothing but a bed.

"Two hundred a month."

"Not renting!" Li Banfeng took one look and was immediately put off.

Landlord Wei shot Li Banfeng a disdainful glance and opened another room.

This room was slightly larger, about ten square meters, with a bed and a table.

"Not renting!" Li Banfeng refused flatly.

"This isn’t good enough either?" Landlord Wei sized up Li Banfeng. "What kind of place are you looking for?"

Li Banfeng chuckled. "Something that befits my status. You figure it out."

Landlord Wei was stunned.

What status did this man have? Landlord Wei couldn’t tell. Seeing how brazen Li Banfeng was, Landlord Wei decided to show him something substantial.

Landlord Wei led the two to a two-story wooden building. The houses here weren’t as cramped, and the environment was better.

Li Banfeng nodded and followed the landlord onto the first floor.

The first floor had a living room, a bedroom, and a hand-pump well. The second floor had two bedrooms.

Overall, it could be considered a small villa, with tables, chairs, cabinets, and beds—all the necessary furniture was there.

The most precious thing was that hand-pump well.

In Puluo State, a house with a well was on a completely different level from one without. With a well, there was no need to queue for water.

Li Banfeng nodded. "Now this looks like a place to live. How much per month?"

"Two thousand five hundred! Rent is due monthly. If you’re more than three days late, you’ll have to move out," Landlord Wei stated the rent, waiting to see Li Banfeng’s reaction.

Li Banfeng counted out five thousand yuan. "I’ll rent it for two months."

"Decisive!" Landlord Wei took the money, and Li Banfeng received the keys.

Ma Wu stood at the door without entering. "Boss, Old Wei is reputable enough. You can stay here for now. I’ll come find you early tomorrow morning."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Early tomorrow morning won’t do. It’s one hundred and fifty a day, and I’ve hired you for the entire day, day and night."

Ma Wu frowned upon hearing this. "What good would it do to keep me here at night?"

"It’s very useful. I’ll explain in detail later. Come in and pick a room first."

Ma Wu lowered his head, his cheeks flushing red again.

He entered the wooden house, looked up, and smiled at Li Banfeng. "Thank you, Seventh Master."

He had recognized Li Banfeng at first glance.

Though they had only met once at the Peddler’s place, and neither had used their real name, he remembered this man. He remembered his name was Li Qi.

Li Banfeng gestured towards the interior. "Please, Young Master Wu."

PS: I think Ma Wu still hasn’t let go of his pride. With his temperament and abilities, if he just put himself out there to earn a living, keeping himself fed and warm would be absolutely no problem!