frightfiction Chapter 216 Lin Xi Arrives in Pei County
Chapter 216 Lin Xi Arrives in Pei County
While Ying Wuyou and the others were busily handling the shop's pre-New Year accounting and profit-sharing matters, Lin Xi and Lin Qi had already arrived in Pei County. The streets of Pei County were teeming with people, bustling and lively!
After some searching, Lin Xi and Lin Qi finally found a decent-looking inn and settled there temporarily. They had come to Pei County well-prepared, bringing fifteen attendants with them. These fifteen were their closest and most reliable partners, each possessing unique skills. Once Lin Xi and Lin Qi had settled everyone properly, they immediately split up to search for Xiao He and Cao Can.
As everyone knows, restaurants and brothels are always gathering places for all sorts of information. Therefore, Lin Xi didn't hesitate to head to a restaurant to investigate, while Lin Qi went straight to the brothel. Lin Xi entered a crowded restaurant and found a relatively quiet corner to sit down. He first called the waiter and ordered a cup of fragrant wine and several exquisite and delicious snacks. Then, he sat there leisurely, quietly observing the movements around him.
Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere was bustling and noisy. Men, in small groups, were arm in arm, exchanging toasts and discussing nothing but romantic tales. Suddenly, someone exclaimed, "Cuiyun, the top courtesan at Yingchun Pavilion, is truly a beauty beyond compare! Her appearance is simply breathtaking!" Before the words were even finished, a burst of laughter erupted, followed by shouts and cheers of drinking.
However, the topics here aren't limited to women. Besides gossiping about women, the focus often shifts to other men. For example, who's impotent? Who's terrified of his wife? And which man is having an affair with that widow... These kinds of gossip circulate endlessly!
Suddenly, Lin Xi keenly caught a familiar name—Liu Ji. One of them lowered his voice and said, "Have you heard? Liu Ji and that widow Cao's child is exactly like his father—a complete scoundrel!"
The other person nodded quickly in agreement: "That's right! Liu Ji is already quite old, but he doesn't know how to properly find a wife and settle down. He just hangs out with that widow Cao all day long. Last year, he almost got beaten to death by his father because of this!"
At this moment, another person chimed in, "That's right! Moreover, Liu Ji does nothing all day long, wandering around with Fan Kuai and Lu Wan, doing no work and only knowing how to be lazy and good-for-nothing. Sigh, if he were my son, I would beat him to death!"
Immediately afterward, another person chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, they should be beaten to death! And that widow Cao's son is a real handful, always causing trouble and bullying other people's kids. I've seen it with my own eyes several times!"
As everyone was discussing this, someone suddenly sighed, "Oh dear, I used to think that after that widow Cao gave birth to his son, Liu Ji would naturally marry her. Who would have thought that he never even considered marrying her!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone immediately interjected disdainfully, "Hmph! Don't let Liu Ji's appearance as a lowly hoodlum fool you; he's got quite the ambition! That widow Cao was just someone he played around with for a moment; how could he possibly sincerely marry a woman like that!"
"Tch, maybe that widow thought he was no good in bed, that's why she didn't want to marry him!" Someone in the crowd uttered this disdainful remark, followed by a burst of unrestrained laughter. The jarring mockery echoed through the air, drawing everyone's attention.
Suddenly, as if by magic, the noisy scene ceased abruptly. Lin Xi, filled with curiosity, followed everyone's gaze and saw a tall man slowly approaching. His skin was slightly dark, a healthy bronze sheen; his features were sharply defined, as if sculpted by a knife. Beneath his broad forehead, two thick, neatly arched eyebrows were slightly raised, revealing an innate air of authority. His eyes, though not large, were deep and bright, like twinkling stars in the night sky, capable of captivating the soul with a single glance.
His thick, jet-black hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall, casually tied back with a ribbon, adding to his air of untamed freedom and ease. A tuft of meticulously groomed beard, thick and glossy, gave him a mature and composed appearance. While not conventionally handsome, his unique charm and strong personality instantly captivated everyone's attention. A single glance was enough to draw you in, making it difficult to look away.
Just then, Lin Xi noticed that two burly men were following closely behind the man. Each of them was imposing, muscular, with menacing faces and a fierce expression; just standing there, they exuded an invisible sense of oppression. Clearly, these two were no ordinary people; anyone who saw them would feel fear and dare not easily provoke them.
Upon seeing this guest, the people who had been mocking him just moments before fell silent. One of them quickly put on a fawning smile and said with an obsequious grin, "Oh dear, it's Brother Liu! My apologies for not recognizing you!"
The newcomer wore a warm smile, a smile as gentle as a spring breeze, making everyone feel instantly at ease. He asked, "What were you all talking about just now? The atmosphere was so cheerful; may I listen in as well?"
At this moment, someone in the crowd quickly changed the subject, laughing loudly as he replied, "Oh dear, we were just talking about the stunningly beautiful Cuiyun from Yingchun Pavilion! It's perfect that you've arrived, Brother Liu. Come and sit down with us."
Upon hearing this, Liu Ji maintained his innocent smile, seemingly oblivious to the earlier jeers. He readily replied, "Excellent!" and strode over to join the others in taking their seats. Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air once more.
However, perhaps Lin Xi's gaze was too intense, or perhaps Liu Ji keenly sensed this unusual look, for he suddenly turned his head. Just like that, their eyes met without warning. Lin Xi was startled; she never expected her gaze to be so easily noticed. At that moment, she felt a little flustered, but quickly composed herself, giving Liu Ji a slight nod as a greeting.