"Master Yan, take the IOU and the costume, and let's go try talking to Granny Liu again."
Lu Fei stood up and said.
"But there are still a few years left before the ninety-year term is up. I already pleaded with Granny Liu last time, and she refused to agree." Master Yan's face was filled with bitterness.
"Might as well give it a try first. Granny Liu is doing this perhaps to escape the persecution of the opera costume. If I have a way to subdue this costume, maybe she'll agree."
"Boss Lu, do you really have a way?"
Master Yan looked up, gazing at Lu Fei in pleasant surprise.
"Regarding this opera costume, I still have some questions. If Granny Liu can answer them, there should be a way." Lu Fei smiled slightly.
"Good! Good! I'll go right now!"
Master Yan felt a glimmer of hope rising in his heart. He hurriedly retrieved the old IOU from the bottom chest of the wardrobe, then took the aged camphorwood trunk containing opera costumes and rushed to the Liu Family Mansion with Lu Fei and others.
On the way.
While passing through a desolate suburban path, Lu Fei gazed at the wilderness in the distance and suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Master Yan, why did someone perform Yin Opera nearby recently? I remember such ghostly operas are usually staged only during Hungry Ghost Festival and Qingming."
"This is Grandma Liu's custom. She invites performers for Yin Opera every birthday celebration," Master Yan replied.
"Hosting Yin Opera for birthday celebrations? What a bizarre custom!"
Recalling the underworld-themed dishes at the longevity banquet, Lu Fei grew increasingly curious about this Grandma Liu.
The Liu Family compound came into view immediately upon entering the town.
The luxurious five-story mansion stood out like a crane among chickens compared to the rustic low-rise buildings surrounding it.
High walls surrounded the entire compound.
Master Yan cautiously knocked on the vermilion door.
After a long while, the door creaked open a crack.
"Master Yan, what brings you here again?"
A man around seventy years old glanced at the camphorwood chest in Master Yan's hands, his expression unfriendly.
"Brother Liu, please let me see Granny Liu once more. I have something to discuss with her," Master Yan pleaded ingratiatingly.
"My mother needs rest. As I told you last time, early return of the opera costumes is out of the question!"
The old man moved to shut the door.
"Brother Liu, this time is different! I've brought Mr. Lu from Sinisterium Pawnshop. He's exceptionally capable—perhaps he can resolve our costume troubles..." Master Yan wedged his foot in the doorway.
"What troubles? Those costumes have saved your troupe countless times! Don't bite the hand that feeds you!" The old man's voice turned icy as he swept a disdainful glance at Lu Fei. "Where did you dig up this charlatan, Master Yan? Did you think this trick would work on us?"
"Hey now! Who are you calling a charlatan, old man? Do you even know who my boss—"
Hu Zi blurted out indignantly at the slight against his employer.
Lu Fei restrained him with a hand, smiling as he studied the elderly man. "Elder, mind your words lest you choke on them. This residence of yours... something feels off. I suspect your family hasn't known peace these recent years?"
The old man paled, staring at Lu Fei in shock. "Nonsense! Our family thrives—my mother alone has lived 109 years!"
"What a pity she won't reach 110. Within three days, this grand mansion of yours will likely collapse..." Lu Fei sighed regretfully.
"Scaremongering!"
Cursing vehemently, the old man slammed the door with a thunderous crash.
"You see, Mr. Lu? They refuse to cooperate. Threats won't move them." Master Yan's face clouded with despair.
"With the ninety-year mark approaching, Granny Liu means to torment our family. My grandfather was the original troupe master, after all. Now in my generation, with no heirs left... this is our retribution."
"Master Yan, you misunderstand. I wasn't threatening him." Lu Fei chuckled.
"But their mansion stands solid and magnificent. How could it possibly collapse?" Master Yan frowned in bewilderment, repeatedly scanning the Liu family's imposing building.
The building was constructed with ample materials and lavishly decorated, well-maintained with not a single crack on the walls, nor any signs of decay.
Wang Xiaoqiang also looked around, not understanding the reason.
"If my boss says it's going to collapse, it will definitely collapse! When my boss sets his sights on something, it never misses." Though Hu Zi didn't comprehend it either, he followed his boss's lead in putting on a confident front.
"Boss Lu, what exactly do you mean?"
Master Yan stared intently at Lu Fei.
"Master Yan, while the Liu Family Mansion appears splendid on the surface, several areas around its foundation are emitting black qi," Lu Fei explained slowly. "This is an ominous sign of structural failure. Once the foundation breaks, how long can the building last?"
"Black qi?"
Master Yan started, exchanging doubtful glances with Wang Xiaoqiang as they both scrutinized the Liu residence but saw nothing unusual.
"Boss Lu, are you certain? Their business is thriving—it doesn't look like a collapsing foundation at all!"
"Whether I'm right or wrong, Master Yan will know in three days." Lu Fei said no more.
"Very well."
Master Yan suppressed his doubts, though when he glanced back at the Liu compound, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that the building now seemed ominously gloomy.
Returning to the opera troupe.
He waited anxiously, each day dragging like a year.
Before the third day even arrived, the Liu family contacted him.
"Master Yan, this is Liu Chongming!"
The caller spoke bluntly.
"M-Mr. Liu?"
Master Yan was startled. Liu Chongming was the eldest grandson of the Liu family matriarch and the de facto manager of their affairs.
"Master Yan, that Shopkeeper Lu you brought two days ago—is he truly the proprietor of Sinisterium Pawnshop?"
"Yes, it should be."
"Then please bring the costume and the IOU, Manager Yan. We'll meet at Sinisterium Pawnshop today."
Liu Chongming hung up the phone after speaking.
Yan Ban-zhu's heart pounded wildly.
Could it be that the Liu family's house had truly collapsed?
Boss Lu looks young, yet unexpectedly possesses extraordinary abilities!
Manager Yan hurriedly gathered his belongings and rushed to Sinisterium Pawnshop according to the address on the business card.
Antique Street.
The pawnshop exuded an antique charm.
Shortly after Manager Yan arrived, Liu Chongming appeared.
Liu Chongming, around forty years old, wore expensive clothes and appeared exceptionally capable with an imposing presence.
Yet Lu Fei noticed deep black qi emanating from his chest.
This indicated heart disease.
Outwardly strong but inwardly feeble.
"Manager Lu, I've long heard of your great reputation!"
Though surprised by Lu Fei's youthful appearance, Liu Chongming politely extended his hand.
"President Liu, please sit." Lu Fei remained composed.
"My father mentioned your interest in acquiring this costume. However, as it holds sentimental value as my grandmother's keepsake, he had to decline repeatedly. I hope Manager Lu can understand." Liu Chongming glanced at the camphorwood chest and nodded slightly.
"No harm done. A gentleman doesn't seize others' treasures. Business should always be conducted through mutual consent." Lu Fei smiled faintly.
"Manager Lu is most magnanimous!" Relieved by Lu Fei's lack of resentment, Liu Chongming exhaled. "After discussion, we're willing to pledge this costume to you. However... we have an impertinent request!"