Chapter 12

"There is paradise above, and Suzhou and Hangzhou below" (上有天堂 下有蘇杭).

However, no one in the Jianghu uses this phrase anymore.

The place that has transformed into a new land flowing with milk and honey is Hefei in Anhui Province.

Its streets, filled with amazing new cultural artifacts and youthful vitality, were something no other city could imitate.

Today, a young man had moved to Hefei.

Jin Jishan, the young master of Jin Family Manor.

He had operated a fairly large trading company and had now settled in Hefei after liquidating all his assets.

"Hey! Be careful with it!"

To drive the expensive Anhui Iron Foundry's Heavenly Cloud Car so recklessly!

Jin Jishan soon snatched the reins from the servant's hand.

He then blew on the reins, adorned with a leaping horse pattern in gold, and glared at the coachman.

"Brat! Do you know how much this costs? Can't you handle it gently?"

The way he handled it so carefully, as if afraid of hitting a stone, was almost comical.

The Yun Car (雲車) produced by Anhui Iron Foundry was different from ordinary carriages in terms of performance.

Called the Yun Car because it was as smooth as walking on clouds, the Anhui Iron Foundry's carriage was limited in production and was worth its weight in gold.

This Yun Car was a symbol of wealth that all tycoons desired and a dream for a lifetime.

Especially the Heavenly Yun Car was a masterpiece of a different class from the Earthly Yun Car (地上雲車) and the Superior Yun Car (人上雲車).

Moreover, he had spent a hundred taels of silver to decorate it with the latest trendy Azure Dragon emblem and the fragrant sandalwood, making it even more luxurious. It was only natural that Jin Jishan treated it like a precious treasure.

Soon, he carefully stepped onto the driver's seat, as if afraid of getting it dirty, and the coachman approached in alarm.

"I, I'll drive! Young Master!"

"Shut up!"

Clack, clack.

As Jin Jishan slowly drove the Yun Car, a smile spread across his face.

Hefei, the city of pleasure, with its grand annex at the center.

A place that made the hearts of all the young people beat wildly.

A sanctuary for young men and women to form romantic relationships while enjoying elegant music under the dazzling lights.

The only place to taste the famous Hanbing Wine of Hefei.

Hefei Guesthouse (合賓館).

It was his first step towards such a place.

He had shed tears of blood to buy the Heavenly Yun Car, all for this.

Hefei Guesthouse was a place where all the prominent young tycoons of Anhui Province gathered.

The treatment one received depended on the carriage one brought, so one would be at a disadvantage in terms of momentum with a plain appearance.

Thus, Jin Jishan, with a contented look on his face, suddenly stopped the Yun Car.

'What is that?'

Cao Family Holy Heart Hall (曹家聖心堂).

Looking at the bold calligraphy on the huge signboard, he felt as if his stomach was growling.

It was strange. How could his stomach growl just by looking at the words?

It was undoubtedly a masterpiece by a renowned calligrapher who had reached the pinnacle of art.

In any case, the Cao Family Holy Heart Hall, along with Hefei Guesthouse, was one of the two major attractions of Hefei.

If one came to Hefei, one should at least try the heavenly delicacies of the Cao Family Holy Heart Hall, such as the Six-Layered Meat Bun (肉裌面包) and Black Clear Water (黑淸水).

The Six-Layered Meat Bun was a heavenly delicacy made by wrapping meat filled with spices between two buns and seasoning it with various vegetables and spices.

The Black Clear Water was a black liquid with a refreshing and sweet taste, as its name suggested.

Jin Jishan, who had already gotten out of the Yun Car and was walking leisurely, was greeted respectfully by a waiter of the Cao Family Holy Heart Hall.

"Welcome! This is the Cao Family Holy Heart Hall, always serving with utmost sincerity. May I take your order?"

Jin Jishan, startled, took a step back.

He had been heading to the Cao Family Holy Heart Hall as if it were a matter of course.

But suddenly, a head popped out of a window and greeted him.

It was a common experience for outsiders to be taken aback.

Not wanting to appear like a bumpkin, Jin Jishan pretended to be nonchalant.

"Six-Layered Meat Bun and Black Clear Water, please."

"Understood, sir. Please wait a moment."

Jin Jishan was slightly surprised.

The extreme politeness she showed was something even the most affable merchants didn't have.

Looking at her radiant smile, he felt inexplicably happy.

'Coming to Hefei was a good decision.'

He had been smiling contentedly for about half a moment, or perhaps a quarter of a moment, when...

"Sir, here is your order. It costs ninety-nine copper coins."

Smile.

The waiter, who had suddenly appeared with a fresh smile, was presenting the dish.

Jin Jishan's face was filled with surprise again.

One was the admiration for how quickly the dish was prepared, and the other was the shock at the exorbitant price, which was almost a tael of silver.

"Here is a tael of silver."

A tael of silver is a tael of silver, but what is ninety-nine copper coins?

But somehow, he felt like he was getting a good deal.

As Jin Jishan handed over the silver, the waiter gave him one copper coin in change and smiled brightly.

"Thank you, sir. Enjoy your meal."

Thus, as Jin Jishan got back into the Yun Car and took out the Six-Layered Meat Bun, he took a bite.

"......Suck!"

The harmony of flavors, the fantasy of taste, ravaged his mouth.

How could it taste like this?

The spicy flavor mixed with a sweet and savory taste assaulted his senses mercilessly.

Truly, a crazy combination of sweet and savory!

He had never been so shocked by the taste of something he had eaten in his life.

Jin Jishan's face, filled with ecstasy, soon turned to the bamboo tube.

Sucking the Black Clear Water through the thin young bamboo tube.

"Ah......!"

The burning sensation as it went down his throat, the strange refreshing feeling piercing from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.

The uncontrollable pleasure that burst forth!

"Ah......!"

Jin Jishan, who couldn't believe the refreshing taste, checked the bamboo tube several times.

He was frustrated that he had lived without knowing such a taste.

Was it really made by humans? He even had doubts.

Jin Jishan stared at the Cao Family Holy Heart Hall with a dazed look.

"Truly, it's a bargain!"

He was grateful for the consideration of letting him taste such precious food for just a tael of silver, or rather, ninety-nine copper coins.

Jin Jishan repeatedly vowed to visit the Cao Family Holy Heart Hall for every meal.

Clack, clack.

Thus, he held the reins in one hand and kept drinking the Black Clear Water with the other as he set off.

As the sky grew dark, he turned the last corner, and a dazzling light poured out.

"Wow!"

An exclamation of childlike wonder escaped his lips.

Hefei Guesthouse (合賓館).

Why did he feel such a strong desire to meet women just by looking at these simple three characters?

Indeed, Hefei was a place where even the simplest signboards could stir emotions.

'Truly amazing!'

The colorful lights that made the lanterns sparkle.

It was undoubtedly the famous glass (琉璃) from Persia (波斯國).

An item used as a luxury by the nobles of Persia, how expensive would it be to transport it here unbroken from such a distant place?

The precious glass, more expensive than gold of the same weight, was plastered all over!

Just looking at it made his eyes bulge.

To be able to experience such amazing cultural artifacts!

It was only natural that many people lined up to wait for entry.

Jin Jishan, inwardly grateful for coming to Hefei, got out of the Yun Car.

A magnificent Yun Car, standing at the pinnacle of splendor, caught his eye.

Clunk, clunk.

Watching the entire roof of the Yun Car flip backward, Jin Jishan was astonished.

'......Heavenly Yun Car?'

That carriage was the extremely limited edition Heavenly Yun Car (開天雲車) produced by Anhui Iron Foundry only a few times a year.

A masterpiece of masterpieces, equipped with the ingenious mechanism of the illustrious Zhuge family, which made the entire roof flip backward when the handle was turned!

To actually see the legendary Yun Car in person was truly astonishing.

The unique symbol of Anhui Iron Foundry attached to the front of the Yun Car.

The shape of a horse fiercely neighing towards the sky seemed to come to life.

Suddenly, Jin Jishan felt embarrassed about his own Heavenly Yun Car.

Soon, a young man in splendid attire got out of the Heavenly Yun Car, and a barefoot boy ran up to him.

"Welcome! Young Master Ximen! I, Long, will serve you comfortably today!"

The young man in splendid attire smiled and handed the boy a piece of silver.

"What level is it today?"

The boy's meaningful smile.

"Don't worry! The water is good!"

Jin Jishan examined the boy's chest.

'Li Shaolong (李少龍)?'

The three characters engraved on the boy's chest.

It was a name that seemed to belong to someone good at fighting.

While he was standing there dazed, a large-built boy, Hong Jinbao (洪金寶), approached.

"I will serve you respectfully, sir! I am Hong Jinbao, sir! Do you have any special requests, sir?"

"Special requests (因戀生)?"

Hong Jinbao whispered in his ear.

"Is this your first time, sir? The boys who help you form romantic relationships with beautiful women are called 'special requests,' sir. How about giving me a chance, sir? Just follow me, sir."

Then, Hong Jinbao suddenly grabbed the reins of the Heavenly Yun Car and approached the parking attendants.

"This is my Heavenly Yun Car. Handle it carefully."

"Sure, sir!"

Jin Jishan had a strange look on his face.

Was everyone here called 'sir'?

At that moment, a noisy sound came from somewhere.

"Ah! Why? Sangphil can, but why can't I?"

A strange light appeared in Jin Jishan's eyes.

'Is this the famous Hefei Guesthouse's no-entry policy?'

The strict gender ratio management and water management of the Hefei Guesthouse were well-known.

The incident where even the young master of the Hebei Pang family, Pang Jue, was not allowed to enter.

The shocking rumor had already spread throughout the Jianghu.

"Sorry, sir. Please come another time."

"Damn! It's so dirty! Hey, how old are you?"

Although he was showing extreme politeness, the large-built man's face was getting more and more twisted.

"......This is difficult, sir."

Crunch, crunch.

The large-built man cracked his neck and rubbed his fists.

"If you're drunk, go home nicely before it's too late. Otherwise, you'll end up with a hunched back?"

"What, what?"

He tried to look tough by glaring, but he couldn't help but become a chicken breast in the face of such overwhelming pressure.

But that wasn't the end of it.

Another large-built man walked out from the entrance of the Hefei Guesthouse.

A man like a mountain spoke.

"What's the matter? What's the matter, Brother Zhenggu?"

"Nothing much. No need to worry, Director Zhang. Or should I call you Deputy Director Zhang?"

Jin Jishan stared at the large-built man with wide eyes.

It was undoubtedly him.

The man who defeated the Fifty-First Rank of the Black Heaven Alliance, Nan Hongming, with a single punch at the entrance of the Hefei Guesthouse!

Although he didn't know why his nickname was Qingnao (淸腦), he was the strongest doorman of the Hefei Guesthouse.

The strongest doorman, Qingnao, glared at the troublemaker.

"I got promoted to deputy director yesterday? I'm still in a good mood, so go home now."

Looking at the vast back of the man, who seemed not to be a human, Jin Jishan felt as if he was being crushed.

"Ah, I understand."

Then, Qingnao smiled contentedly, flexing his chest muscles.

That's right.

He was Zhang Yilong.

Soon, he shouted roughly to the surroundings.

"Hey, kids! The hour of You (酉時) is over! No more free customers!"

Jin Jishan looked at Hong Jinbao in surprise.

"Free customers? Do you mean it's free if you come before the hour of You?"

Hong Jinbao's eyes sparkled.

Not knowing such basic information?

He was a perfect target for a swindle!

"Ah! It doesn't apply to male customers, sir!"

"......Then only women?"

"Yes, sir! If ladies come before the hour of Chen (辰時), they get free basic snacks and three bottles of Qing wine, sir!"

Jin Jishan smacked his lips.

Suddenly, Zhang Yilong looked at Jin Jishan with a suspicious expression.

Indeed.

He was staring at Jin Jishan, who didn't know such basic information.

"Ah! It doesn't apply to male customers, sir!"

"......Then only women?"

"Yes, sir! If ladies come before the hour of Chen (辰時), they get free basic snacks and three bottles of Qing wine, sir!"

Jin Jishan smacked his lips.

Suddenly, Zhang Yilong looked at Jin Jishan with a suspicious expression.

Indeed.

He was staring at Jin Jishan, who didn't know such basic information.

"Ah! It doesn't apply to male customers, sir!"

"......Then only women?"

"Yes, sir! If ladies come before the hour of Chen (辰時), they get free basic snacks and three bottles of Qing wine, sir!"

Jin Jishan smacked his lips.

Suddenly, Zhang Yilong looked at Jin Jishan with a suspicious expression.

Indeed.

He was staring at Jin Jishan, who didn't know such basic information.

Zhang Yilong frowned and scanned Jin Jishan's face from top to bottom, then stopped Hong Jinbao.

"Jinbao."

"Yes, sir!"

Hong Jinbao approached with lightning speed.

"Isn't it a bit ambiguous?"

Hong Jinbao narrowed his eyes and whispered in Zhang Yilong's ear.

"He came in a Heavenly Yun Car, sir."

Zhang Yilong's face finally relaxed.

Even if it was ambiguous, it was customary to let a mark enter.

"Let the customer in!"

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Jin Jishan had never heard such a loud sound in his life.

The rough and violent music seemed to make his chest sink.

Unable to bear it, Jin Jishan covered his ears with both hands, and Hong Jinbao's eyes turned into crescent moons.

'Huh......!'

In fact, Hong Jinbao was not one of the best performers among the 'special requests.'

The more skilled one was at arranging meetings between young men and women, the higher their popularity.

However, he was not well-liked by women due to his chubby build and unattractive face.

Worried about being scolded by Director Zhang at the upcoming settlement due to his low popularity this month, he was unexpectedly presented with a perfect mark.

Hong Jinbao approached Jin Jishan and whispered in his ear, opening his hand.

"Would you like to go to the Noble Love Room, sir? To stir up the ladies, you need to book the Noble Love Room, sir."

Jin Jishan, who was deeply considering, was visibly troubled.

Although the Hefei Guesthouse was vast, there were only eight rooms where one could have a quiet conversation with women away from the music. It was a place that even a considerable amount of silver couldn't easily afford.

Having spent a third of his fortune on the Heavenly Yun Car, Jin Jishan was hesitant to waste silver for the time being.

"Since it's my first time, I'll just sit at a table to get a feel for the atmosphere."

Hong Jinbao