A middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, with graying hair and beard, emerged from the inside of the "Salmon Roe" grocery store.
He was thin but didn't appear frail; rather, he gave off an impression of someone who had shed excess weight through years of battling the wind and waves, becoming lean and efficient. His skin was rough and dull, with wrinkles particularly prominent at the corners of his eyes and mouth, reflecting his years of having to greet people with a smile as a small shopkeeper.
He was neatly dressed, wearing a deep blue wool short jacket over a linen shirt. His gray-white beard was trimmed evenly on his chin and upper lip, and his medium-length hair, speckled with silver, was slicked back with cheap and mildly scented hair oil, revealing a sharp hairline.
Perception silently came into effect.
Xia Nan's gaze subtly swept over him, organizing all the observed information in his mind, forming his first impression of the middle-aged man:
