Chapter 18: The Pawnshop Steward

And so, thanks to the waiter’s enthusiasm, the bookkeeper’s persuasion, and the innkeeper’s overtures, Wang Liang finally booked the inn’s top Heaven Room Number One for ten days at a rate of one tael of silver per day.

However, upon entering the room, he felt it wasn’t quite as splendid as they had claimed. The room overlooked the street, situated directly above the main entrance of the Lion Tower; opening the window gave him a view of the bustling road below. The space itself was not small—upon entering, there was a writing desk and a bed, the bed placed against the wall so that one could see the window straightaway upon sitting up. By all appearances, it was a standard room.

But what troubled Wang Liang was that, despite paying for the best room at the highest rate, all he got was a desk and a bed. That seemed rather unjustifiable. Wang Liang walked over to the bed with some resignation, but when he glanced at it, his irritation quickly dissipated.

He was a man with a discerning eye; he could see at a glance that the quilt was made of the finest silk, the bed itself crafted from rare huanghuali wood, and there hung a mosquito net embroidered with blessings for peace. On the nearby table, there were no scholar’s tools, only a pair of black paperweights. These paperweights shimmered faintly with spiritual light, suggesting that nighttime safety was ensured by both the mosquito net and the paperweights.

Seeing these items, Wang Liang was somewhat appeased. The accommodations might have been modest, but security was of greater importance. Settling his mind, he began to examine the feng shui layout of the Lion Tower.

Wang Liang had studied the Book of Changes. Though not an expert in geomancy, he could discern a few things. He sensed that this place had once been burned, and something extraordinary must have happened afterward, leading to the construction of this Lion Tower as a form of suppression. This was, in fact, a relatively effective method. However, the resentment of those who perished in the fire had not dissipated. In Wang Liang’s estimation, if the builder’s fortune one day waned, or a person with even greater luck came to oppose him, the builder would meet his end in this very building.

He was certain the builder had also realized this, for many of the arrangements here were meant to guard against exactly such possibilities. It seemed the builder was confident in his own fortune, not believing he would encounter anyone more favored in Yanggu County, hence daring to erect such a Lion Tower.

With a sigh, Wang Liang set these thoughts aside. He was only staying here temporarily, with no intention of meddling in anyone's fate. After making a round of the room, he left the Lion Tower. He had already inquired: like other places, Yanggu County imposed a curfew at the first hour of the Pig, and as long as he returned before then, he would be fine.

After curfew, it was best to find shelter indoors, for no one could predict what might happen at night. Despite the size of Yanggu County, tales of people being devoured by monsters after dark circulated every few years, so everyone knew well what to do at what hour.

Leaving the Lion Tower, Wang Liang did not immediately go to the other two safe spots in town. Instead, he headed toward the pawnshop at the end of the street. He’d already made inquiries: the pawnshop there was the largest in Yanggu County, and its appraiser was famed as the county’s foremost expert, reputed never to have failed an assessment.

Moreover, the shop didn’t only accept pawned goods; it also sold unredeemed items. The prices might be a bit higher, but the quality was truly excellent. Wang Liang wished to decorate his residence with fine antiques, so frequenting pawnshops promised fruitful finds. Additionally, he still had the wine gourd he’d acquired from Black Commander on his mind.

With these thoughts, Wang Liang naturally stepped into the pawnshop. As soon as he entered, a shop assistant hurried to greet him, but before he could ask what Wang Liang wished to pawn, the appraiser seated within let out a soft exclamation.

“Xiao Liu, invite our guest inside.”

Hearing this, the assistant knew a distinguished visitor had arrived and quickly ushered Wang Liang in, carefully brewing a cup of tea to serve him.

Wang Liang hailed from the Tang Dynasty, and his custom was to add all manner of ingredients to his tea. Seeing this pale, watery brew, he merely glanced at it and left it untouched.

This gesture made the appraiser tense. He had invited Wang Liang in because he’d inadvertently noticed a layer of purple aura, invisible to ordinary eyes, surrounding him. Though the aura was not yet fully formed, it clearly indicated that Wang Liang was a man of status and standing.

He hadn’t expected his guest’s rank to be so lofty. The tea they served was already among their finest, and Xiao Liu was a savvy fellow who would have used fresh leaves. Yet Wang Liang only glanced at the cup before setting it aside.

What did this mean? It meant Wang Liang had seen too many high-quality teas to care for this one.

The appraiser’s attitude grew even more respectful. “I wonder what the young master wishes to buy from our shop? We accept all sorts of goods—pawned and unredeemed alike. Most unredeemed items are estates and fields, though we also have some antiques. May I ask what the young master seeks?”

Hearing this, Wang Liang quietly grumbled to himself—every possible answer had already been covered, leaving him with nothing to add. Noticing Wang Liang’s expression, the appraiser’s heart tightened again: This is bad. The nobility hate being led or instructed. After years in this trade, have I forgotten how to address gentlemen of standing?

The appraiser dared not say more and instead began recounting interesting tales from his years in the business.

This, too, left Wang Liang at a loss. Just as the situation was growing awkward and the appraiser was preparing to force a laugh, Wang Liang spoke.

“Appraiser Chen, I’ve heard you’re the best in Yanggu County, with unrivaled skill in authentication. I happened upon an item by chance and do not know what it is. I’d like to trouble you to take a look. Rest assured, I’ll pay your fee.”

“How could I dare, how could I dare!” Appraiser Chen’s face lit up with pride upon hearing Wang Liang sought his expertise. He was renowned for his sharp eye—never once, in all his years at the pawnshop, had he made a mistake.

Without further ado, Wang Liang produced the wine gourd, along with a small silver ingot. Chen ignored the gourd for the moment and examined the silver ingot instead. It weighed less than five qian but was crafted with exceptional finesse, adorned with fine patterns and marks.

Clearly, this was privately minted; to commission such refined silver meant the family’s status was exceedingly high, able to employ their own silversmiths. It seemed Wang Liang was indeed a nobleman—an ally worth cultivating.