Shen Feng had always been a homebody, and traveling was something that was largely irrelevant to him. Shen Yu, on the other hand, often went on trips with her classmates, and had even traveled abroad. However, in the midst of the apocalypse, the siblings' situations seemed to have completely reversed. The usually active Shen Yu stayed put in Rongcheng, not going anywhere, while Shen Feng, the homebody, was frequently required to go out. He had traveled as far as the Southern Hemisphere and had almost ventured into the Arctic Circle, having practically visited every corner of the globe.
However, Shen Feng had never been to Kunming, nor did he know anyone there. Yet, he had suddenly heard that someone was looking for him to have a conversation, which immediately made him feel puzzled.
Unsure of the other party's intentions, Shen Feng decided to have Lin Yue accompany him to meet the guests.
Before they even got close, Lin Yue immediately sensed something was amiss. Judging by the sound of their breathing, he realized that among the approaching individuals, one was an ability user. Ability users were significantly different from ordinary people; their physical fitness was superior, and their breathing was deeper, allowing them to ensure sufficient oxygen intake.
At that very moment, Lin Yue detected the approach of an ability user and promptly said to Shen Feng, "City Lord, be cautious. They are not to be trifled with; there's an ability user among them."
Upon receiving Lin Yue's warning, Shen Feng couldn't help but frown. He thought to himself, "An ability user? I don't recall hearing about any ability users in Dian Province."
Soon, a group of five people arrived before Shen Feng. The leader was naturally the man standing at the forefront, with the other four following behind him. As soon as he appeared, the man introduced himself, "Wind-Swept Grass is indeed a globally renowned ability user. Just standing before you, I feel immense pressure. Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Qian Bufei, a local of Dian Province."
After speaking, Qian Bufei extended his hand towards Shen Feng, seemingly in an offer to shake hands.
However, upon hearing the peculiar name, Shen Feng felt a sense of doubt. He mused, "Qian Bufei? The name sounds like that of a miser. But judging by his attire, he doesn't seem to be someone lacking in wealth."
Subsequently, Shen Feng politely shook hands with the other party and inquired, "Mr. Qian, please forgive me. Wine City has only recently stabilized, and we lack the firewood and water to entertain you. Let's discuss matters as we sit."
Qian Bufei waved his hand and replied, "It's alright; I've brought my own tea."
Then, Qian Bufei turned his head and signaled to the people behind him. One of them took out an alcohol stove and tea cakes from their backpack, intending to brew tea on the spot.
"Well, Mr. Qian certainly has refined tastes, bringing tea with him even when traveling. I am truly humbled," Shen Feng said, surprised by the sight. It was rare to see someone carry tea cakes and brewing utensils while out and about.
Qian Bufei chuckled and responded, "Lord Fengshen, you jest. Naturally, I cannot compare to you, Lord Fengshen, as you receive a warm welcome wherever you go. As for me, I am unknown and unrecognized in any place I visit, so I must make my own arrangements."
Soon, the tea was brewed. It was Pu'er tea, a specialty of Dian Province, distinct from ordinary green tea; this was a type of black tea, said to be beneficial for the stomach. The origin of Pu'er tea was due to an accident. In ancient times, tea cakes were required as tribute. During transit, the Pu'er tea was exposed to rain, which caused it to ferment and turn into black tea. Through this accidental discovery, Pu'er learned to produce black tea.
Qian Bufei poured a cup of tea for each person and then said with a smile, "Everyone, please enjoy the tea. This is a local specialty of Dian Province. While it may not be a precious item, it is a small token of my regard."
Shen Feng could no longer contain his impatience. Unsure why a stranger and an ability user had sought him out at this particular time, he directly asked, "What is it you need from me? Let's dispense with the pleasantries; I don't have much time, as I'll be flying out shortly."
Qian Bufei took a sip of tea and then looked around the room. "Is it safe to talk here? Perhaps we could find a more open space to converse, to avoid eavesdropping."
Shen Feng frowned and replied, "Why must this be so secretive? The person beside me, Lin Yue, can hear sounds within a radius of one to two kilometers. He can even detect someone walking on tiptoe. Therefore, with him here, our conversation will not be overheard. Please, state your business."
After receiving Shen Feng's assurance, Qian Bufei immediately addressed him, "Lord Fengshen, I am here on behalf of some civilian forces in Dian Province to discuss cooperation with you. Since we are neighbors, cooperation is always better than conflict, wouldn't you agree? Especially concerning matters of oil, we might be able to assist."
Upon hearing this news, Shen Feng felt as if a pillow had arrived just when he was feeling sleepy. Earlier, Ban Xian had informed Shen Feng that there was a Sino-Myanmar oil pipeline in Kunming. Now, the other party was actively contacting him, which was indeed fortunate. Chongqing could only resort to using steamships due to the lack of oil. The fact that they seemed willing to trade oil with him was quite unusual.
Shen Feng immediately inquired, "Has the Sino-Myanmar oil pipeline been opened? Can you obtain oil from external sources?"
According to the intelligence Shen Feng possessed, the Sino-Myanmar oil pipeline had not yet been opened. Therefore, Qian Bufei's claim of resolving the oil issue seemed entirely baseless. Shen Feng did not believe it to be true. If the oil pipeline had been opened, Dian Province would surely have publicized it extensively.
Qian Bufei smiled and replied, "It hasn't been opened yet, of course. However, we haven't been idle over the past two years. Dian Province has made all the necessary preparations to open the oil pipeline. This is not an empty boast; we have everything ready, from the oil fields to the transportation of oil. By next year, we plan to officially transport oil. At that time, the southwestern region will have access to oil, won't it?"
Upon receiving this answer, Shen Feng was somewhat astonished. He hadn't expected Dian Province to have accomplished so much without him knowing. They usually had a low profile, but suddenly they claimed they could solve the oil problem, which was truly unexpected.
Shen Feng couldn't help but ask with confusion, "What exactly do you mean by this? Chongqing is currently blockaded, and even the central Yangtze River is blocked by the Three Gorges, allowing entry but not exit. Can Dian Province still sell oil to me? Are you joking?"
Considering the current practicalities, Shen Feng felt that Qian Bufei's visit was not for a purely beneficial reason. Dian Province could not disregard the central government's orders to grant him favors. As for selling oil, China was currently experiencing an oil shortage. As long as there was oil, there would be no shortage of buyers. There was no reason for them to seek out Chongqing, as this would arouse suspicion from the central government.
However, Qian Bufei then pondered for a moment and asked, "Mr. Shen, are you aware of the Southeast Mutual Protection?"
This was the first time Shen Feng had heard this term, and he looked towards Lin Yue beside him.
What set Lin Yue apart from Shen Feng was that Lin Yue was a scholar. Although he was only a high school student, he had studied diligently over the past few years, and thus knew many things that others did not. At this moment, he promptly explained, "City Lord, Southeast Mutual Protection is a phenomenon. Simply put, it is the practice of several provinces in the southeast banding together for mutual support when encountering danger. Although they do not interfere with each other, they will unite when danger arises. This phenomenon is called Southeast Mutual Protection."
Shen Feng suddenly understood. It seemed Professor Chu had mentioned something similar before, but Shen Feng had clearly not paid much attention. Now, after hearing Lin Yue's explanation, he understood the meaning.
"Mr. Shen, you may not know this, but the people along the southeastern coast maintain close contact. Whenever they encounter a situation that one person cannot resolve, they tend to band together for mutual support. Currently, as far as I know, seven southeastern provinces are already doing this. The southeastern region has the largest population, and many factories are located in the southeast. If the southeast unites, other regions will inevitably be weakened. And we are all people of the southwest region, especially since Mr. Shen controls Chongqing, the gateway to the southwest. We should be closer to each other, shouldn't we?" Qian Bufei said unhurriedly, revealing the true purpose of his visit. While ostensibly about selling oil, it was in fact about discussing alliances.
Shen Feng looked at Qian Bufei with confusion and asked, "Do the high-ranking officials of Dian Province know about you doing this? Won't they stop you?"
Qian Bufei smiled and vaguely replied, "Perhaps they know, perhaps they don't."
Upon hearing this, Shen Feng realized that the high-ranking officials of Dian Province must be aware of this matter, but they had not intervened. This suggested that the central government's control over the local regions had weakened.
"If your oil pipeline is opened, I will naturally purchase oil. In addition, other transactions can also be conducted. Brown sugar, fruits, wine, and tobacco can all be bought and sold. What do you say?" Shen Feng asked.
Hearing this, Qian Bufei chuckled, "Heh heh, Mr. Shen, you are adept at avoiding the main issue! You know what I mean, yet you are still evading. Let me be direct: Will Chongqing and Dian Province assist each other in dealing with disasters?"
Frankly, Shen Feng was also inclined towards an alliance, and in the future, he could obtain a large quantity of goods from Dian Province. However, this matter required some consultation with his subordinates, so he could not give an immediate answer.
"You need to give me time to consider, don't you? How about this: I'll be returning to Chongqing shortly. Why don't you accompany me? Once I've made up my mind, I will give you a definitive answer," Shen Feng suggested.
"Of course, no problem. I've heard that there is a Nine Deaths Returning Soul Tree in Chongqing, and I've always wanted to see it. I wonder if I'll have such an opportunity," Qian Bufei asked.
Shen Feng nodded and replied, "No problem, I'll personally escort you on a tour!"
Shen Feng then contacted Chongqing, asking them to prepare to welcome the guests. Judging by Qian Bufei's attire, he seemed to be a young master of wealth. Otherwise, who would carry tea with them when traveling? Therefore, such a person would be difficult to please and required a comfortable environment to rest, lest he become displeased.
When Shen Feng arrived at Wine City, he had flown in on a glider. However, at this moment, he needed to bring his guests back to Chongqing, and a glider was out of the question. Returning to Chongqing would still require a boat, specifically a steamship, meaning a boiler-powered vessel.
Qian Bufei said nothing, but his eyes clearly showed a look of disdain. Steam engines were already obsolete technology. The fact that they were still using such old relics at this time indicated that Chongqing was indeed lacking in energy.
As they returned by boat, Shen Feng couldn't help but inquire, "Mr. Qian, I heard you are an ability user. What is your ability?"
"Heh heh, it's a secret. I can't say. It's a matter of my life and death. If I reveal it, it wouldn't be good. However, I am not the combat-oriented type like Mr. Shen, so you can rest assured," Qian Bufei said with a smile. The most important aspect for an ability user was naturally their ability, and Qian Bufei clearly had no intention of revealing this.