Lord of the Desert

Chapter 533 A Lifelong Matter
June 12th, the thirty-third year of Zhenghe.

Dusk, in Wangjiang Lane, west of Xijing City.

The cicadas were chirping sparsely.

Cicada catchers, carrying long poles, walked along the streets to prevent unruly insects from spoiling the enjoyment of the distinguished guests.

The top floor of Qixia Residence, Room A1.

The ice blocks inside the openwork bronze furnace kept the room temperature at twenty degrees Celsius.

In the very center of the hall, a round sandalwood table, twelve feet in diameter, sat with nearly twenty people around it, most of whom were Red Ribbon Cavalry officers who had worked with Hong Fan four years ago.

At this point, only cold dishes were on the table.

"Don't be fooled by the fact that this plate looks similar to others. It actually uses a custom-made ball bearing track underneath, which makes it spin lightly and steadily without any noise."

As the deputy host, Hong Fu introduced himself.

After three years in the business world, his once-refined physique gradually became more rounded, and his complexion was several shades lighter than when he was in Jin Hai Zhu Yi Qi. He also possessed a rather sophisticated and charming demeanor.

Everyone present was a martial artist, and upon trying it out, they found it to be true and were all amazed.

"Don't underestimate the steel balls inside."

Lu Yunshi, sitting to Hong Fan's left, boasted.

"These steel balls are made from Kaimingxing's new centrifugal ball milling machine. The roundness error is only one-tenth of a millimeter. They are made using the same process as the bearing balls used in our Junchixing's latest car models. They are unique in the world!"

He has now inherited his father's title of General Who Guards the Nation and serves as a fifth-rank military officer in the Liangzhou camp. At this moment, he is wearing a sapphire blue brocade robe, and his every move shows no trace of the shabby air that he couldn't hide back then.

Three years have passed, and Junchihang's reputation has spread to Shenjing. It can sell 700 carriages every year, generating nearly 300,000 taels of revenue and more than 100,000 taels of net profit, becoming the top carriage brand in Dahua.

As a co-founder of the business, Lü Yunshi owned 15% of the shares. His annual dividends not only covered his personal expenses but also supported the daily operations of the entire family.

Although his family's financial situation had improved, he wanted more.

Hong Fan sat back in the main seat and looked around at everyone clockwise.

Time flows like water; no one stays in one place.

Yan Yulin and Yuan Xuesong had long since retired from the Imperial Guard. The former was still young and focused on martial arts training, while the latter was thirty-two and in charge of the Imperial Guard.

Gong Pengyun and Wu Ruyi both possessed the cultivation level of Heavenly Interaction, and served as the captains of the first and second squads of the Xijing Imperial Guard, respectively.

Du Boyi was appointed as the team leader of the third team.

Bai Jiaci successfully switched to studying the "Martial Tribulation Divine Rune Canon" and became the captain of the sixth team. He was recognized by his peers as having the best chance of breaking through to the Innate Realm.

Ye Xinghuo practices the Metal Element Technique and was once the most cunning and experienced Imperial Guard in Xijing. However, he lost a leg during a mission to capture the villain on the Evil List last year. He has since been hired by Kaiming Enterprise with a high salary.

From the 29th year of Zhenghe to the present, it is not only Hong Fan's contemporaries who have made progress.

Gongsun Shi was promoted to Chief Commander four years ago, and his career has been smooth sailing ever since. Last year, after Gu Taining retired, he seized the opportunity to be promoted to the fourth-rank Commander of the Liangzhou Military Department, in charge of all the armed forces in the state.

Wu Hongling is currently the Deputy Chief Commander, managing the Warriors of the Martial Department, and is a direct subordinate of Gongsun Shi.

Liao Zhenghao has remained silent for four years, but Hong Fu's father, Hong Cheng, has been promoted from the Jinhai City Defense Division to the Liangzhou Camp, where he was appointed as a sixth-rank military officer.

In addition, the Hong family has been focusing more and more on Xijing in recent years—Hong Sheng is now stationed here—and there is almost no power in Liangzhou that Hong Fan can't influence.

"I remember that last year at the flower appreciation festival, it was Miss Xuanxin from Qixia Residence who won the title of Flower Queen?"

Yan Yulin raised his glass and smiled.

"Having changed to a better owner, they'll probably surpass Mingyue Tower within a year or two!"

"It won't be that fast."

Hong Fu smiled contentedly and said modestly.

"Mingyuelou has been the number one restaurant in Xijing for more than two or three years. When the clan wants to acquire property, it is the first place that comes to mind. Unfortunately, the Liu family and Brother Fan have some disagreements. They are asking for a high price and are unwilling to cooperate, so the negotiations cannot be completed."

"Tongfenglou is an ancestral property passed down for four generations, and they are unwilling to sell it."

"In the end, after asking around, it turned out that the Jiang family was the easiest to talk to. I accompanied my elder brother to talk to them twice, and we settled on acquiring 30% of Qixiaju's shares for 15,000 guan. My cousin Hong Qing and Jiang Shaoying of the Jiang family will manage it together. I have already told them that all the distinguished guests here will receive a 20% discount when they come to dine here in the future!"

Hong Fan did not know who Jiang Shaoying was, but he would never forget Hong Qing.

Hong Qing once studied martial arts with Hong Fan in the Jin Hai tribe and had a close relationship with Hong Fu. Later, after joining the Zhu Yi Qi, he also served as Hong Fan's personal guard for a period of time.

Before the Hong family's era, new members of the clan had to serve in the Zhu Yi Cavalry for at least ten or eight years before they had the opportunity to be transferred to other positions. However, in the past two years, the Hong family has been expanding rapidly, and Hong Qing, being close to the source, has already taken the lead and started to stand out and take charge at the age of twenty.

Hong Fu's words prompted everyone to raise their glasses in response, and after a flurry of toasts, the room fell silent again.

Four years have passed, and Hong Fan's status and position are now vastly different from before. Apart from his close friends Wu Ruyi and Bai Jiaci, his former colleagues are noticeably reserved in his presence and no longer as comfortable as they used to be.

"Hong Fan, I couldn't ask you before in Shenjing."

Seeing this, Lü Yunshi's eyes darted around, and he suddenly started a different story.

"Now that you're twenty-three and have reached the top of the Heavenly Pride Ranking, have you considered your marriage?"

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up?" Hong Fan was slightly taken aback.

"Don't try to hide it. Princess Xiande and Duanli Qiandianxing are both in love with you. Everyone can see that."

Bai Jiaci smiled.

"Is that so? Is it Princess Xiande, the 'most beautiful woman in the world'?"

Wu Ruyi was taken aback by what she had just realized.

"So what? Xijing also has a 'most beautiful woman in the world' who also likes you, young master."

Gong Pengyun smiled.

"What do you think of Qiandianxing's appearance?"

He had a mission in April and did not go to Shenjing at that time.

"She is not only a rare beauty, but also an outstanding martial artist."

Lu Yunshi gave a serious evaluation, then shook his head.

"Alas, there's nothing I can do about it. Given Hong Fan's qualities, if I were a woman, I would inevitably fall for him too."

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Master Yun, you're unmarried yourself, yet you're making fun of me?"

Hong Fan joked.

He knew that bringing honor to the family was Lü Yunshi's long-cherished wish, which is why the latter would not marry anyone but a daughter of a prominent family.

"Besides, my elder brother is here, and he's not even married yet, so how could it be my turn?"

The atmosphere at the table became lively.

"Brother, have you made any plans for your marriage?"

Hong Fan looked at Hong Sheng.

"I remember He Siyuan once mentioned to me that he wanted to marry his most beloved youngest daughter to you?"

"That was what Mr. He meant at the time."

Hong Sheng remained calm.

"However, his youngest daughter looked down on our background in the coastal area of ​​Jinhai, so things dragged on."

"now what?"

Bai Jiaci deliberately asked the question.

Hong Sheng did not reply upon hearing this, and everyone laughed.

At this moment, the Hong family's prestige and strength far surpassed that of the He family, and Hong Fan had solidified his position as the number one person below the Yuan Magnetic Realm; Hong Sheng himself had become a prodigy and possessed a divine weapon, making him capable of fighting against ordinary peak innate beings.

Even if He Siyuan still had this thought, things were already extremely difficult.

"My elder brother and I visited the Jiang family several times regarding the acquisition of Qixiaju."

Hong Fu hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help but speak.

"On the last two occasions, Chiang Kai-shek had Miss Linglang personally entertain his elder brother."

The "Chiang Gong" mentioned here naturally refers to Chiang Danhu, who "shocked the entire region".

While there is a difference in the two families' status, even setting aside Hong Fan, Hong Sheng, who wields the power of the Divine Blessing, would be second only to Jiang Danhu in terms of combat strength if placed in the Jiang family.

“Miss Linglang is the granddaughter of Chiang Kai-shek, and she is a good match for Young Master Sheng.”

Master Lü nodded.

He also had the intention of marrying a woman from a wealthy family.

The Lu family's economic situation has greatly improved, but the prestige of their ancestor Lu Zhenguo has not been restored, and they are not qualified to sit at the front table in Xijing.

Thinking of this, Lü Yunshi felt even more determined to follow Hong Fan to the northern frontier for a fight.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

The man who entered was Hong Qing, dressed in a brocade robe.

"Second Young Master, Eldest Young Master, Brother Fu."

"Distinguished guests, my name is Hong Qing, the manager of Qixia Inn. I apologize for disturbing you all..."

He was carrying a wine pot in one hand and a porcelain cup in the other, but he had come to offer a toast.

(End of this chapter)