Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 783 - 488: The Heat is Just Right

Xiao Yeci, upon seeing Li Banfeng, would usually call out, "Benefactor."

Sometimes she would also call him Seventh Master, but she hardly ever called him Brother Seven, because Lu Chunying always called Li Banfeng Brother Seven.

Today, she kept referring to him as Brother Seven, which obviously indicated that something was wrong.

Li Banfeng went along with it and asked, "Why must you invite me to dinner?"

"I just," Xiao Yeci’s cheeks flushed red, "want to be...with Brother Seven."

"Don’t be nervous. Sit down and take your time." Li Banfeng turned on the phonograph and played a gentle violin piece.

Xiao Yeci calmed herself and said word by word, "Brother Seven, I’ve been thinking of you these past few days. You’re in my eyes when I open them, and you’re still there when I close them..."

Could these words really come from Xiao Yeci?

"Do you miss me that much?" Li Qi chuckled. The music from the phonograph slightly detuned.

This phonograph was a gift to Li Banfeng from Ling Miaosheng. Originally a hand-cranked model, his wife had modified it into a spring-driven one for easier use.

The detuned phonograph indicated that Xiao Yeci had a hook on her.

Xiao Yeci hung her head and said, "For a woman to say such things, I must really have no shame. Brother Seven, I know you won’t take me as your wife, but could you treat me a little differently from other women?"

Li Qi was curious. "How differently?"

Xiao Yeci stammered, "Even if... you just let me be... a lover... I would be so happy. I’d give you anything you want, Brother Seven."

Xiao Yeci hinted more than once that these weren’t her words, but still, she said them. She had been taken hostage.

What leverage could possibly make Xiao Yeci a hostage? It had to be Lu Chunying. What could have happened to Lu Chunying? Kidnapped? That seemed too difficult. Lu Chunying was the Lu Family’s Head; with her current strength, she wasn’t someone who could just be kidnapped.

Li Banfeng sighed. "Yeci, we’re all family here. It’s awkward for you to speak like that. It’s just a meal; I’ll have the kitchen prepare it immediately. We’ll eat at Xiaoyao Lodge, have a few drinks, and once you’re a bit tipsy, we can discuss business."

Xiao Yeci trembled with embarrassment. "Brother Seven, can we not... at Xiaoyao Lodge...?"

Li Banfeng was taken aback. "What’s wrong with Xiaoyao Lodge?"

Xiao Yeci lowered her head. "Too many people here know me. I’m just... too embarrassed."

Not at Xiaoyao Lodge. This meant the opponent had specified the location, and there might be an ambush.

"Then you pick a place."

"I want to go to Conqueror’s Restaurant. The sunset there is so beautiful, and the Sautéed Pork Slices are so delicious."

Conqueror’s Restaurant—a new Western diner opened by foreigners, serving Western food.

Western food and Sautéed Pork Slices?

She mentioned the beautiful sunset and the delicious Sautéed Pork Slices.

She must be referring to Duan Shaoxia. Did Duan Shaoxia kidnap Lu Chunying? Did she really have the ability? This matter was definitely related to Duan Shaoxia, but it was hard to say what her stance was.

"Alright, Conqueror’s Restaurant it is. Wait for me to change my clothes and get ready." Li Banfeng left the room, taking the record from the phonograph with him.

Back in the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng handed the record to his wife. She quickly listened to it all the way through, then relayed a critical piece of information to him:

"Yeci, as long as you lure Li Qi out, I will immediately have them send Chunying back. From then on, Chunying will be your daughter alone, and she’ll have nothing more to do with me.

"You mustn’t act foolishly or say anything careless. If I hear you say anything amiss to Li Qi, Chunying’s life will be over."

Just as Li Banfeng had anticipated, Lu Chunying had been kidnapped.

Lu Chunying, who had braved life-and-death situations with Li Banfeng, had actually been kidnapped by this woman.

The opponent was no small fry; Li Banfeng needed to prepare more thoroughly.

His wife said, "Beloved husband, this hook is of average quality, but we can trace it back using Pulling Strings."

Li Banfeng was stunned. "The Silk-pulling Earrings have that kind of ability?"

"Pulling Strings is new to this, but we can let her try. You should take her to Little Servant," his wife said. Li Banfeng handed the earrings to her. His wife then explained, "From the hook’s sound, you can discern its direction. Listen to it carefully a couple more times, and you should be able to get a rough idea."

While his wife instructed Pulling Strings, Li Banfeng took out cabbage seeds. After planting the Cabbage People, Li Banfeng left the Portable Residence and found Ma Wu, ordering him to gather men immediately.

...

Twenty minutes later, Li Banfeng returned to the private room.

Xiao Yeci looked at Li Banfeng. "Brother Seven, are we really going?"

Li Banfeng nodded, a profound smile on his face.

Xiao Yeci was nervous. After hesitating for a long while, she eventually led Li Banfeng out the door.

Once on the street, Xiao Yeci hailed a foreign carriage, which took them both to Conqueror’s Restaurant.

Upon entering a private room, Xiao Yeci handed the menu to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng sat calmly, the same profound smile on his face.

Seeing that Li Banfeng remained silent, Xiao Yeci spoke softly, "Then I’ll order."

After the order was placed, a waiter came to take the menu. Although dressed in men’s clothing, Xiao Yeci knew this was Duan Shaoxia.

Duan Shaoxia glanced at Xiao Yeci first, then at Li Banfeng, before exiting the private room.

"The dishes will be served soon!" Xiao Yeci glanced at Li Banfeng.

The profound smile remained on Li Banfeng’s face.

In the restaurant’s main hall, Duan Shaoxia told the cook, "The order is placed."

The cook nodded, passed through the kitchen to the backyard, and entered a room. "Bishop Mosonov, the order is placed," he said.

A blond, blue-eyed middle-aged man turned and said, "Our battle is about to begin. Remember, we only need someone who can speak. Nothing else matters. If Li Qi can talk but not walk, it would be even more advantageous for us. Let’s go, my warriors! May the holy light bless you all."