Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1183 585: Sour and Bitter (Part 2)

In the clothing shop, Li Banfeng fancied a suit.

He really liked suits from Puluo State; the look with a top hat was quite attractive, but the jacket he was wearing now was not to his liking.

His wife whispered from behind, "Husband, if you like it, then buy it."

"Beloved wife, you're not worried about money anymore?"

"Spending money on you doesn't bother me at all."

Li Banfeng bought the suit and took the phonograph to the cinema to watch a movie.

Inside the private box, the phonograph wasn't focused on the movie; it felt that the previous situation was somehow off.

"Ever since using that puppet made from Red Lotus, my heart has been in chaos. I suspect there's something wrong with it."

Li Banfeng replied, "I also feel that puppet isn't good. Wife, don't use it anymore; if you can't do it, I'll simply destroy it."

"Husband, rest early. I'll take care of this myself."

After fighting all night at Loess Bridge, Li Banfeng was truly exhausted.

Back at the Portable Residence, the phonograph helped prepare hot water for Li Banfeng, bathed him, set the bed, and lay down with him.

Once Li Banfeng fell asleep, the phonograph silently left the main room and went to the Ninth Room.

Red Lotus knew the visitor came with ill intentions; its petals tightly closed, light halos surged through the cracks.

The phonograph chuckled, "Sister Lian, no need to be paranoid, I'm just bored and came to chat."

"What do you want to chat about?"

"I want to chat about Heavenly People."

"There's nothing to talk about that person. I've told you before, I can't even remember if that person is male or female."

The phonograph laughed, "Can't remember? Take your time thinking. I heard from my husband that Lu Qianjiao recently mentioned Heavenly People. Seems she's the peddler's lover,

So if she's the peddler's lover, it proves she's a woman. I've never seen her true appearance, and I really want to know how she pampered you back then."

A halo flashed across the Lotus Leaf; Red Lotus spoke with a somber tone, "Zhao Xiaowan, did you come here in the middle of the night just to insult me?"

The phonograph expelled a cloud of steam, scorching Red Lotus's body: "Indeed, I came to humiliate you. What exactly did you add to the puppet? Tell me all about it."

Red Lotus remained silent.

The needle dropped on a record, playing her favorite song, "Burial of Flowers."

"The flowers cease to bloom and flutter all over the sky, who mourns when the red fades and fragrance ends, soft threads tying spring pavilions, light down clinging to embroidered screens." The phonograph sang not at all melancholy, instead carrying some eerie and menacing tones.

...

The next morning, as Li Banfeng opened his eyes, Zhao Xiaowan stood before him again.

Li Banfeng rubbed his eyes, not mistaken; it was Zhao Xiaowan possessing the puppet, not the phonograph.

"Husband, you're awake?"

Li Banfeng sat up, reaching for the phonograph by the bed, but grasped empty air.

"Husband, I found that thing troubling, so I moved it to the second room."

"Second room..." Li Banfeng got up, went to the second room, and moved the phonograph back.

Zhao Xiaowan was dissatisfied but greeted with a smile: "Since Husband cherishes me, leave the phonograph's body in the main room,

We went to the night market yesterday, bought clothes, rouge, and jewelry, but we haven't bought household items yet. There's a furniture store by the street; I've taken a liking to their bookshelf, the size perfectly fits the Seventh Room,

Husband should go with me to see it; if you like it, let's buy it."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "No need to see it. I'll tell someone to have the shopkeeper deliver the bookshelf directly."

"Husband, they have many bookshelves. How do you know which one I'm talking about?"

"Just bring them all; I love books and also like bookshelves." Li Banfeng dressed and prepared to go out.

Zhao Xiaowan shouted: "Husband, where are you going? Can you take me with you?"

Li Banfeng turned back and smiled: "We agreed; I'm going to get someone to buy furniture."

"Since you have to go anyway, why not take me? Do you think I'm an embarrassment to you?" Zhao Xiaowan sat by the bed, eyes red, voice trembling, seemingly feeling greatly wronged.

Not seemingly, but truly feeling wronged; someone was influencing her thoughts, and at this moment, Zhao Xiaowan genuinely felt pitiful.

All the Magical Treasures at home glanced this way; Hong Ying put down her eyebrow pencil and looked at Zhao Xiaowan.

Her situation was too unusual.

They agreed last night; from now on, they wouldn't touch that puppet, yet in the blink of an eye, she was attached to it again.

Perhaps, for others, it's a desperate desire to reclaim the flesh and unable to control themselves.

But who was the wife? A renowned general commanding the battlefield! Her self-control was unquestionable, but Li Banfeng suspected she was under a technique.

The wife's level was high; usual techniques couldn't harm her, but some techniques ignored levels.

Li Banfeng sat beside his wife, comforting her softly: "Beloved wife, Husband knows you're wronged. To save you the trouble, I'd rather buy the furniture store and let you choose."

Upon hearing this, the wife seemed to regain clarity: "Yes, Husband truly cares about me."

Li Banfeng used the Foolish Cultivation Technique, reversing cause and effect.

Though the furniture wasn't delivered yet, Li Banfeng took this as the result and deduced the cause, not denying letting the wife leave, but saying the furniture store will be moved.

The wife calmed down for a while, sobbed twice, and tears fell again.

Hong Ying was stunned; Zhao Xiaowan wasn't a woman prone to tears.

The Gloves whispered, "Missus isn't right."