plumnovel Chapter 30: The Market
Chapter 30: The Market
As Feng Zhixue was deep in thought, he suddenly remembered Zheng Ze's unreliability.
He looked up abruptly and then specifically instructed him, "Remember to go to the grain and cloth shops, and don't be greedy for small gains; sit in line to make your purchases..."
"Those things may look cheap, but they are often of inferior quality, or even moldy and spoiled. If you get food poisoning on the road and it delays your trip, it's not worth it."
"Yes, I understand." Zheng Ze nodded.
Just as Feng Zhixue was patiently instructing Zheng Ze on how to make purchases, Zou Yun finally arrived late.
He wore a tall mountain-shaped hat, a black brocade robe with crimson cloud patterns woven along the collar, and a black fox fur coat with glossy fur.
The leather belt at his waist was inlaid with gold hooks and hung with a pair of white jade pendants. A delicate little pouch was also worn on his right side.
A long sword hangs on the left side of the leather belt. The scabbard is lacquered in black and decorated with inlaid gold cloud patterns. The hilt is wrapped with silk ribbons, which sway lightly with each step, exuding a cold and sharp aura.
Upon closer inspection, the dragon patterns on the sword were clearly the same ones used by Shi Gong on the day he was executed.
As for his lower body, he wore silk trousers and upturned silk shoes, and his jade pendants jingled as he walked, exuding an air of elegance.
His appearance was not like that of a mysterious and unpredictable Grand Master, but rather more like that of a powerful and influential Marquis.
"Great Master."
Upon seeing this, Feng and Zheng quickly composed themselves and bowed respectfully.
"Um."
Zou Yun's gaze swept over the two men indifferently, especially at the exaggeratedly bulging baggage on their backs.
Although somewhat puzzled, he didn't say much, only nodded slightly, and took the lead.
Feng Zhixue looked at Zou Yun's spotless and luxurious attire, then at the heavy mine he was carrying on his back, and then thought about the long journey ahead.
I couldn't help but sigh deeply in my heart, 'Well, another one who's out of touch with reality.'
Despite his inner complaints, he dared not slack off in his actions.
After exchanging a glance with Zheng Ze beside him, Feng Zhixue and Zheng Ze quickly followed, one on each side.
The three figures blended into the rising crowds of Xianyang City in the early morning.
In the tenth month of the lunar calendar, autumn has already arrived in Guanzhong.
In the streets and alleys, most of the grass and trees have withered and turned yellow, leaving only evergreen pines and cypresses.
The pedestrians on the road hurried along, most of them having changed into linen clothes or thick cloth robes.
Those dressed in fox fur like Zou Yun were extremely rare. Therefore, passersby instinctively kept their distance from the three, fearing they might get into trouble.
Since Shang Yang's reforms established a strict market system, Xianyang City had a market with prices set by the government, except for the direct market.
They then formally established a large city that allowed free trade among the people and named it the large city.
Over the years, the city is no longer what it used to be.
It has expanded into the largest commodity distribution and trading center in the entire city of Xianyang, and even the entire Qin Empire.
At this time, it was the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), and the sky had just begun to brighten.
In the city center, a black flag with a red border, symbolizing the majesty of the Qin dynasty, slowly rises in the morning breeze at the flagpole.
Like an invisible command, in an instant, the merchants and buyers who had been lying in wait in the streets and alleys surged towards the city gate from all directions like a floodgate being opened.
The bustling traffic and growing noise of people completely shattered the tranquility of the early morning.
"Wow! It's quite lively."
Zou Yun was captivated by the scene before him.
Outside the city gate, a long, winding line of people waiting to enter had already formed, their anxiety palpable amidst the order.
This bustling scene, brimming with the energy of everyday life, instantly stirred up Zou Yun's deepest memories.
He vaguely remembered that when he was a child, he would go to the market in town with his elders, and it was just as lively.
"That's nothing."
Seeing the surprise on Zou Yun's face, Feng Zhixue smiled and added, "The grand market held every ten days, that's truly a magnificent sight!"
He gestured with his hand, "At that time, farmers, hunters, herdsmen, and even those Western Region merchants with high noses and deep-set eyes from within a hundred miles will flock into the city as if they are in a rush."
"The scene was truly shoulder to shoulder. Forget about finding a good stall, even finding a place to put your feet was extremely difficult."
"Not to mention the full-blown market and the seasonal market."
"Yeah?"
Zou Yun responded with a hint of curiosity in his voice.
The previous owner of this body was a complete shut-in who devoted himself entirely to studying alchemy at the Immortal Temple.
Therefore, Zou Yun's memory of this bustling city is almost entirely blank.
As for Zheng Ze, who was traveling with him, although he was a local of Xianyang, he was not much better than Zou Yun's predecessor. He usually went to Ping City, which was closer, for shopping.
I've only visited this largest city a handful of times.
On the contrary, Feng Zhixue, an outsider, had previously been in charge of purchasing at the Xianren Temple.
Therefore, he had already thoroughly explored every corner and intricacies of this city, and could be considered a regular visitor.
Seeing that Zou Yun was quite interested in his surroundings, Feng Zhixue was about to speak and give him a detailed explanation of the grand spectacle of the Moonlit Market.
Sudden--
"Thump—thump—thump—"
Three deep, resonant drumbeats suddenly rang out at that moment, instantly stirring the crowd.
"They're here, they're here..."
"Get ready!"
Countless eyes were eagerly fixed on the city gate, and excited whispers and urging echoed in his ears.
"What is this?" Zou Yun asked, puzzled, just about to ask Feng Zhixue.
"Squeak—Boom!"
The loud sound of the wooden gate pivoting and locking fell almost simultaneously with the lingering echo of the drumbeats.
The loud and authoritative voice of the market official then echoed throughout the city gates: "The market opens at an auspicious time; treachery and fraud are prohibited; enter the market in an orderly manner!"
Before the words were finished, the huge wooden bolts on all four sides of the market gate were pulled open at the same time, and the heavy wooden gates were completely moved away with a "bang" as the market guards shouted and pushed in unison.
It was as if an invisible dam had collapsed in an instant.
The sounds of people, cars, and sirens that had been accumulating outside the gate merged into a torrent and surged into the newly opened city gate passage.
"Business is open!"
Someone shouted, as if it were the sound of a starting gun.
"Quickly, grab the seats closest to the door in the East Market!"
"Make way, don't block the way!"
The vendors instantly erupted in excitement.
Pushing wheelbarrows laden with goods, carrying heavy loads on shoulder poles, and bearing large bundles on their backs...
They shouted anxiously as they quickly presented their city registration tokens to the city officials, each of them appearing very anxious.
Once everything was verified to be correct, they surged into the city gate like fish rushing to swim after the floodgates were opened.
With their goals clear, they headed towards the seats they had previously chosen.
As for the so-called "seated stalls," they are simply mobile stalls set up on the ground.
As if by magic, it happened in just a moment.
The once empty and quiet city tunnel has now been filled with densely packed stalls, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
Colorful banners fluttered in the wind, and shouts of vendors rose and fell.
A wave of heat, a mixture of the smells of goods, livestock, and the warmth of everyday life, hit me.
Thus, the city of Xianyang came back to life.