C4 Qouprovia

Lee Fei was lost in thought when Wu Qing stepped out of the restaurant. Following Lee's gaze, Wu Qing's brow furrowed slightly.

"Do you recognize this person, Lee?" Wu Qing inquired gently, noticing Lee Fei's prolonged silence.

"Ah, no, I don't," Lee Fei replied, shaking his head. "However, he does seem somewhat familiar."

Wu Qing chuckled and shared, "That man is Wu Dalang. He's not well-regarded in Taurshire. Rumor has it he married a woman as lovely as a flower, yet he's too timid to lay a finger on her. His wife is unfaithful, and his ineffectiveness has brought shame to all of Taurshire."

His voice dripped with scorn, tinged with a hint of envy. Even Wu Dalang had found a wife, while he remained a bachelor.

"Is his wife named Pan Jinlian?" Lee Fei pressed on.

"Yes, that's correct. Huh? How did you come to know of her?" Wu Qing replied, surprised.

"Uh, just a wild guess. Can't believe I got it right, haha." Lee Fei let out a laugh, then swiftly changed the subject. "Wu Qing, since you're well-acquainted with the city, do you know where I can find a pawnshop?"

"Sure, I know a place. Follow me," Wu Qing responded without further probing the previous conversation.

As Lee Fei trailed Wu Qing, his mind was anything but at ease. Historically, there was indeed a man named Wu Dalang, with a wife named Pan Jinlian, but that was during the Ming Dynasty.

Now in Qouprovia, the appearance of Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian suggested that he might very well be in the world of the Water Margin.

It was no surprise the man seemed familiar; Wu Dalang bore an uncanny resemblance to the character from the old Water Margin TV series. Could this all be mere coincidence?

Still, they were in Wreah County, and the story had yet to unfold. If Wu Dalang couldn't withstand the gossip and moved to Eyhuburn County, he would face more than just cuckoldry; a fatal poison awaited him.

"Dalang, it's time for your medicine..."

The image involuntarily sprang to mind, and Lee Fei shook his head, dismissing it. It was none of his concern. Whether Wu Dalang took his medicine or not was irrelevant to him.

In no time at all, the two arrived at the entrance of a pawnshop, and Lee Fei confidently strode inside. The interior was modestly sized, filled with towering cabinets, yet screens concealed the items being pawned to deter those with nefarious intentions from coveting the goods.

An elderly gentleman, likely in his mid-fifties and clad in a green robe, was seated at the counter. He appeared to be the appraiser of the pawnshop, tasked with the evaluation and pricing of items. He had the authority to make decisions on common articles.

Lee Fei approached proactively, producing a wind-proof lighter and placing it on the counter. "Excuse me, sir, could you please examine this item? I'm curious to know if you recognize it," he inquired.

The old man's interest was piqued, and he couldn't resist picking up the wind-proof lighter to scrutinize it closely. Its silver exterior was surprisingly lightweight, and its square shape was peculiar, seemingly crafted from neither iron nor copper—an oddity indeed.

"Forgive my poor eyesight, but may I ask what this object is?" the old man asked, shaking his head as he admitted his inability to identify the item, setting it down gently.

Lee Fei chuckled and responded, "My item has quite a significant background. Sir, I suggest you call your employer; I'm concerned you might not have the authority to handle this."

The old man looked puzzled and queried, "Employer? What is that?"

"The employer is not an object. He..." Lee Fei paused, scratching his head as he realized that the term 'employer' did not exist in ancient times. He clarified, "Ah, I see the confusion. I hail from the Western Regions, where 'employer' means the same as 'shopkeeper.'"

With this explanation, the old man nodded in understanding. "I see, my apologies for my lack of knowledge," he acknowledged.

He gave the wind-proof lighter another once-over, certain he had never encountered such an item before, and then turned his attention to Lee Fei himself. Observing Lee's curved eyebrows, slender eyes, broad and round face, prominent nose, and moderately thin lips, the old man noted the overall impression of an earnest, if not particularly affluent, individual.

Observing his stature, he was tall and lean, neither overweight nor underweight. His attire consisted of coarse fabric, with a few small holes in the back. Such clothes, I feared, were likely only worn by those in poverty.

As the old man began to feel a touch of scorn, his gaze landed on Lee Fei's shoes, and his eyes widened noticeably. To his discerning eye, the shoes' design was exceptionally unique: a pristine white exterior, symmetrical blue stripes adorning each side, and a multitude of tiny perforations encircling them. The character etched into the shoe's surface was rendered with striking realism. Truly, they were extraordinary.

Those shoes alone had managed to elevate Lee Fei's standing in the old man's estimation considerably. Considering that Lee Fei had traveled from a far-off western land, traversing mountains and rivers to reach this place, it was possible that his original garments had been lost along the way.

The belongings of a noble visitor from afar were surely rare, and consequently, their worth...

With this in mind, the old man signaled to the two doorkeepers with a meaningful glance, instructing them to keep a close watch on Lee Fei. He then addressed Lee Fei, "Please wait here, young master. I will promptly summon the proprietor."

With those words, he ventured alone to the rear hall.

In today's terms, 'doorkeeper' refers to the individual responsible for guarding the entrance, often seen as the henchman of a wealthy household.

The two attendants, following the old man's directive, fixed their gaze on Lee Fei, not daring to waver for even a second.

Wu Qing, noticing Lee Fei had been inside the pawnshop for quite some time, entered and inquired, "What's the matter, is there a problem with pawning that item?"

Lee Fei shook his head and replied, "No, that's not it. The elder gentleman isn't authorized to decide; I've asked him to fetch the manager."

Wu Qing, a man of simple means and limited experience, knew better than to offer unsolicited advice. He chose to stand quietly to the side, remaining silent.

"Look over there, it's Master Wu's wife approaching. What brings her here?"

"Hmph, what's so surprising about that? Lady Pan is known to be restless. How could she possibly enjoy a contented life with Wu Dalang? She's probably just strapped for cash and looking to pawn some personal items for money."

"If I could have a moment with her, it would be worth dying for."

"Lady Pan has high standards; she only fancies handsome men. With your looks, you might as well wait for another lifetime."

Outside, two gatekeepers accidentally caught sight of Wu Dalang's wife, Pan Jinlian, approaching. Their gaze shifted from Lee Fei, and they couldn't help but comment, their language dripping with lewdness.

It was common knowledge among the residents of Wreah that Pan Jinlian was a flirtatious woman, often seen mingling with young men, so her presence inevitably sparked gossip.

However, the gatekeepers were deluding themselves this time. Pan Jinlian was indeed heading their way, but she showed no intention of stopping at the pawnshop and continued on her way.

Despite this, the gatekeepers kept ogling Pan Jinlian's retreating figure, completely besotted.

It goes to show that, both in ancient and modern times, a beautiful woman always becomes the center of attention wherever she goes.

Lee Fei, having seen his fair share of beautiful women, merely glanced at Pan Jinlian before losing interest. Observing the others' foolish expressions, he was at a loss for words.

As an observer, one must maintain the right mindset. It's important not to be like them, criticizing after admiring something truly beautiful.

Wu Qing, standing next to Lee Fei, was so captivated by the sight of Pan Jinlian that he was spellbound for quite some time.

Finding the situation amusing, Lee Fei couldn't help but say, "Wu Qing, she's long gone."

Snapping out of his daze, Wu Qing scratched his head in embarrassment, clearly feeling sheepish.