You're Strong But Now You're Mine-Chapter 560 - 558: Loyalist IF · Qin Le Yin’s Funeral (Part 1)

Many years later, when Chenfeng's great entrepreneur Jing Zhengtang began drafting his autobiography, he would surely recall that trip to Yanjing for a funeral. It was a hot afternoon when he and his wife Feiwei arrived in Yanjing on the "Star Engraving-Yanjing" express train. The moment the train stopped, everyone rushed out from their sizzling seats and the sauna-like carriage, pouring sweat as they made their way into Chongsheng Station in Yanjing.

It was the worst of times, it was the best of times, and it certainly was a time without air conditioning.

Luckily, the station had small shops, where the most abundant chilled drink was naturally the "Five Flower Cola" produced by the Steam Chamber of Commerce, uniquely packaged in Chenfeng's rare glass bottles, which had to be returned after drinking.

While glass products from the Steam Chamber of Commerce had long circulated in Huiyao, priced so low that even beggars could use glass bowls to beg, the fact that small shops were using glass bottles for drinks still astonished Jing Zhengtang—had people in Yanjing become so wealthy that they wouldn't steal glass bottles?

Jing Zhengtang actually didn't like sweet drinks, but the sun was unbearably hot, and when a gulp of ice-cold drink cooled his entire body from the inside, he suddenly felt alive again.

He looked around, couldn't help but take a deep breath, and then started coughing repeatedly.

"As expected of Yanjing, even the air is filled with the sweet scent of factories..." Jing Zhengtang rubbed his nose, while Feiwei, beside him, took out a handkerchief to wipe her own forehead sweat first, then proceeded to wipe Jing Zhengtang's sweat.

Though they had been in love for many years, and Feiwei's private temper was still quite bad, she wouldn't let Jing Zhengtang lose face in public.

Once they were tidied up, they queued to leave the station, but had to undergo an identity check before exiting. When it was Jing Zhengtang's turn, they presented the identification they had prepared long ago: a two-page, four-folded document, with the front page printed with "Huiyao Resident Identity Card," followed by the holder's place of residence, name, gender, birthdate, native place, number, issue date, and the local Patrol and Punishment Department's seal, with the subsequent three pages recording his occupation, black-and-white photo, parents, children, itinerary, and other information, encompassing almost all his personal details.

Although many people had yet to apply for identity cards, given the considerable hurdle posed by black-and-white photos, the use of identity proof was tied to train access, especially for trains to Yanjing, where it was utterly impossible to board without an identity card. Therefore, Jing Zhengtang and his wife obtained their identity cards early on, sparing no expense to have their photos taken at "Eternal Moment," the only photo studio in Star Engraving County that allowed self-sponsored photography.

They even used the photos to apply for a marriage certificate, theirs being Chenfeng District's first marriage certificate. It was the most worthwhile investment Jing Zhengtang made in recent years, second only to his sponsorship of Star Engraving White Night—Feiwei was delighted with the certificate for several days.

If not self-sponsored, one would have to wait slowly in line at the Patrol and Punishment Department's photo studio. Even though the Steam Chamber of Commerce had maximized camera production, the wait would still be at least another year.

From this, it was evident that those who could obtain identity documents were either well-connected at the Patrol and Punishment Department or affluent enough.

"Jing Zhengtang, Jing Feiwei..."

A black-clad agent from the Population Monitoring Division of the Patrol and Punishment Department glanced at their identity cards, registering them while asking, "What's your business in Yanjing? Just say it briefly, visiting relatives, work, sightseeing?"

Jing Zhengtang hesitated for a moment, "Accepted a friend's invitation to meet him."

"Then it counts as visiting relatives, and you can stay for up to thirty days. If you exceed thirty days, regular hotels won't allow you to stay further. When you choose to leave using trains or other state transportation tools, you'll need to explain why your stay exceeded the limit. However, if you find a job, you can take the proof provided by your workplace to the nearest Patrol and Punishment Department to extend your temporary stay to a year." The black-clad agent rattled off a long string of reminders, wrote today's date in the "Itinerary" section on the fourth page of the identity card, and then stamped a bold red "30 days" over the handwritten date.

"Follow the corridor ahead and exit following the signs."

Jing Zhengtang bowed his head and said, "Thank you, I appreciate your hard work." As he spoke, he quietly handed over a purple treasure ticket printed with "Huiyao People's Bank."

In fact, Huiyao had long had financial institutions, such as Dongyang's Silver Blood Bank, Chenfeng's Coastal Bank, Canglan's Hunter Bank... But these banks were often owned by local capitalists, noble families, and officials, with primary services targeting local residents. Although paper currency existed, it was often necessary to use 'face recognition payment,' with unified identification to make payments, and transactions between districts still relied on gold rounds and scattered coins.

Naturally, Yanjing also had a bank, established by the Imperial Court's Ministry of Revenue—Commerce Bank. However, after the Empress's ascension reforms, it became the People's Bank. Thanks to Assistant Minister Yan Yi's new anti-counterfeiting technology, the "Holy Light Mark," the treasure tickets issued by the People's Bank could be verified in the simplest way: exposure to sunlight. A treasure ticket that displays a glaring light under the sun is authentic; otherwise, it is fake.

This anti-counterfeiting technology was almost unbreakable in this era and was said to utilize the power of the national artifact "Holy Sword Huiyao." Not to mention, the current Imperial Court's unprecedented authority was buoyed by three consecutive years of bountiful harvests, providing confidence for treasure ticket exchanges, thus the Holy Light treasure tickets quickly gained the trust of countless people upon their release. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The treasure tickets are divided into four colors: gold, purple, blue, and black—the black treasure ticket is worth 1 qian, blue is 10 qian, purple is 100 qian, and gold is 1000 qian, with the gold round no longer used as conventional currency.

In an era where a family could enjoy a good three meals a day for a dozen qian, the value of a single purple treasure ticket needs no explanation.

Sure enough, after collecting the purple treasure ticket, the black-clad agent's fatigue and indifference vanished, replaced with a smile as he said, "Follow the corridor out to the welcome hall. If someone is meeting you, they'll be waiting there. If no one's meeting you, continue outside to the bus stop. I recommend you take Bus No. 11 straight to Sheyang Street. That's the city center of Yanjing, with many hotels and inns. Although not cheap, they definitely won't scam people from the Outer District."

To be honest, just the assurance of 'not scamming people from the Outer District' was worth a purple treasure ticket. It wasn't merely a matter of losing some money to black-hearted hotels; having a journey spoiled by anger was truly the greatest loss.

Jing Zhengtang thanked him again, holding Feiwei's hand and proceeding along the corridor, as expected, seeing a huge signboard reading "Yanjing Welcomes You."

At this moment, Feiwei poked his waist, pointing to a service desk in the hall with a flag hanging over it. The flag read, "Guests with Farewell Invitations, Please Register Here."

The service desk actually had one blue-black agent and three black-clad agents sitting inside. Unsuspecting travelers turned their heads, secretly conjuring up all sorts of imaginations about the 'farewell invitation.'

Feiwei stared at Jing Zhengtang, who gently shook his head, leading her out of the welcome hall quickly with their luggage, arriving at the crowded bus station, queuing to board Bus No. 11, rapidly entering the main urban area amidst the bumpy ride.

On the way, Jing Zhengtang saw people wearing Swift Blade Boots crossing outside the window; in just a few minutes, he saw at least a dozen, prompting him to say, "There are too many Rapid Walkers."

"Are you from the Outer District?"

A short-haired woman sitting in front turned her head with interest to remark but quickly smiled and explained: "No offense, but Outer District people often misunderstand because there are too many Rapid Walkers here, though they're not that dangerous."

"Aren't they dangerous?" Jing Zhengtang asked, "Their speed is faster than cars, and they dare to weave through the roads randomly. If they accidentally collide, breaking their hands or feet might be one thing, but once the body is flung and impacted, the internal organs are reduced to mush by the kinetic energy, causing them to bleed out of every orifice on the spot, and a head collision might even make it explode like a watermelon... I've seen quite a few who died on this, unpleasantly so."

"Though they seem to shuttle everywhere, they actually follow certain rules, allowed only to speed on roads, never on sidewalks," the short-haired woman said. "Moreover, to purchase civilian Swift Blade Boots, one must undergo certain training and buy a helmet to use them legally; otherwise, if caught by the Patrol and Punishment Department's traffic division, the Swift Blade Boots will be confiscated—that's a loss unbearable for ordinary folks."

"Certainly, these measures don't entirely prevent accidents, but at least they avoid on-the-spot deaths. As long as there are no immediate fatalities, those nearby can administer help, and the Medical Bureau offers significant discounts for such severely injured traffic patients, allowing them to recover within at most half a month."

"Compared to the rate of casualties from traffic accidents, the increase in traffic efficiency brought by Swift Blade Boots is significantly higher," said the short-haired woman. "The rapid development of the Outer District in just a few years is closely related to the widespread use of Swift Blade Boots. Using something like this only in war is a huge waste, whereas allowing the public to use it can free them from the constraints of the land and broaden their possibilities."

Jing Main Hall said, "But isn't keeping the public constrained by the land the national policy for thousands of years?"

"There is a phrase in the 'Youth Daily' that says," the short-haired woman said, "'This is a change not seen in two thousand years.'

"The Western Continent has already taken the lead in developing the New Continent. If we continue to be stagnant and maintain the policy of weakening, exhausting, and fooling the public, we will sooner or later be forced open by the golden-haired, blue-eyed foreigners, who will chip away at us bit by bit. We've already fallen behind, and can only spare no expense to catch up."

"It's just that this step is too big," Jing Main Hall said softly. "The changes in these few years are larger than those of the past hundred years."

"Life is short," the short-haired woman murmured. "After all, humans are so fragile. You never know when they'll suddenly be gone."

Jing Main Hall's expression did not change. He clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, miss, for answering questions. May I ask if there's anything else? I will answer as best I can."

"I'm sorry, I just felt that you look a lot like one of my subordinates, and couldn't help but talk to you," the short-haired woman laughed.

"May I know who you are?"

"My surname is Liu, given name is Yueyan," Liu Yueyan said. "I've been working in Dongyang for the past few years."

"Ah, it's the Dongyang Criminal Inspection Envoy!" Jing Main Hall realized. "You look a lot like... Do you know my half-brother Jing Zhengfeng? I'm Jing Main Hall, this is my wife Feiwei."

"You really are brothers," Liu Yueyan said. "Did you know that Jing Zhengfeng is getting married next month?"

"I didn't know," Jing Main Hall said with a wry smile. "Honestly, I haven't had contact with him for a long time."

"Since it's a family matter, I won't say much. But I still suggest you attend his wedding banquet," Liu Yueyan laughed. "He's very eager for family warmth."

"I'll consider it."

The bus stopped and the conductor loudly announced the station name. Liu Yueyan bid farewell and left, "I must go now. I wish you all a pleasant time in Yanjing."

Jing Main Hall watched her back until the bus started again, his expression turning somewhat grim.

Until their separation, Liu Yueyan had not asked why he came to Yanjing — was it indifference, or... something anticipated?

When the bus arrived at Sheyang Avenue Station, Jing Main Hall took Feiwei and got off. Even though both were worldly people, they were overwhelmed by the prosperity of Sheyang Avenue: the streets were wide enough for six cars to drive side by side, shops lined on both sides with continuous hawking, and bustling crowds jostling each other.

Moreover, the shops here were dazzling and unique. As Jing Main Hall walked a few steps, he saw a "Card Trading" shop. Inside, the walls were lined with character cards from the 'Unrivaled List' gifts, each with selling price tags below them so expensive that it made Jing Main Hall doubt whether the buyers were intelligent enough.

Yet, beside it was a card buying announcement, with the lowest purchase price being a Blue Gem Ticket, and the highest purchase price astonishingly being fifty Gold Gem Tickets, naturally offering for the flash cards gifted on the first 'Unrivaled List', only nine of which exist in the entire Huiyao, and the 'War Ghost' Blue Flame!

After asking where the nearest hotel was, while walking there, Jing Main Hall also found many card rooms in Yanjing, where, with a little money, you could play cards all day. The shops would provide a complete set of standard, wind, forest, and battle packs of 'Unrivaled Killing', and would also help organize games, offering eight-player, five-player, and three-player matches, making Jing Main Hall, who had recently become interested in 'Unrivaled Killing', itch.

But he remembered the main purpose of his trip, quickly arrived at the hotel, registered with ID to open a room, placed luggage, and locked doors and windows. At this point, Feiwei couldn't help but ask, "Isn't someone supposed to meet us at Chongsheng Station? Why not go?"

"Do you remember the purpose of our visit?"

"Wasn't it because you received an invitation to attend the funeral of Qin Le Yin?"

"Yes," Jing Main Hall said. "But do you think Qin Le Yin is the kind of person who can quietly rest in peace? He was the 'Hidden Minister' Qin Le Yin, the third registrar of the White Night Party, who made the nobility, family merchants, and officials of all Huiyao become his 'whatever it takes' 'price', playing Huiyao at his fingertips!"

Feiwei had been helping her husband run the merchant association these past few years, naturally knew the policies imposed by the Imperial Court, which all bore Qin Le Yin's shadow. She realized after hearing her husband's words: "You suspect this is a conspiracy?"

"I even suspect Qin Le Yin is not actually dead," Jing Main Hall said. "But don't be afraid, even if there's a conspiracy, it won't target us, we're not that influential... But rashly involving ourselves, we might still become Qin Le Yin's pawn."

"Gao Jin is now an agent of the Yanjing Discipline Inspection Department. Given our relationship with him, he will be honest with us. Tonight, I'll go see him first to inquire about the situation, even if something happens, he will protect us."

Feiwei also became tense: "Is it really so serious?"

"Actually, I hope Qin Le Yin is still alive," Jing Main Hall said with a wry smile. "I thought once he held the power, he'd become more cautious, not just for himself but also for his family."_

"But unexpectedly, his actions become increasingly violent, his steps increasingly rapid. The burning of Xuanzhu back then, compared to what he's done these years, seemed insignificant!"

"Qin Le Yin is like my elder brother, people like them can't die peacefully in tranquility, only entering the grave flamboyantly!"

"If he truly died, given his style..."

"He would definitely drag all his enemies to the grave with him!"