Chapter 62 Bustling

Chapter 62: Bustling

Lin Shu glanced over the crowd of people waiting in line to enter the thatched market and, as expected, spotted the elderly man carrying two baskets of goods at the back of the queue.

The old man kept stealing glances toward the market ahead, his expression somewhat anxious.

The two guardsmen worked quickly—one inspected the goods while the other collected the stall fees, giving only a cursory look before stating the amount to the people.

Most people paid without complaint and entered promptly.

However, a thin old man pushing a cart seemed to think the fee was too high and tried to bargain. Unexpectedly, the guardsman immediately scowled and said, "Your cart takes up a lot of space—six copper coins is perfectly reasonable. If you have a problem with it, leave now. There are plenty of others waiting for this spot!"

The thin old man quickly waved his hands and said, "Officer, officer, that’s not what I meant. Although the cart looks like it takes up space, I can stand it upright so it won’t take much room. I’m only selling two jars of pickled vegetables. I won’t make much money in a day. Could you possibly reduce the fee by two coppers?"

"Go on, get out of here! If you don’t want to pay, go find a spot by the town gate. Don’t linger here and hold up the line!" the guardsman snapped impatiently.

The old man quickly forced a smile, then pulled out an old cloth bundle from his clothing.

He unwrapped the cloth, revealing twenty or thirty copper coins inside. With a bitter expression, he counted out six coins and handed them to the guardsman. Only after being allowed through did he push his cart into the market.

Lin Shu glanced at the cart—two large jars tied securely with rope. Although the jars were sealed, the distinct odor of pickled vegetables still wafted through the air.

"If he can’t afford the fee, why not just sell at the town gate? Luckily, this guardsman only scolded him. If he had encountered a more violent one, not only could his goods have been smashed, but he might have been beaten too. That old man could have— Mph!"

Before Lin Shu could finish, Zhou Ye suddenly pulled a clean handkerchief from his clothing and pressed it over her face, covering her mouth.

After successfully cutting her off, he moved the handkerchief to her cheek and gently wiped it, saying, "There’s something dirty on your face."

Lin Shu: …

"This is the handkerchief you used to wipe my sweat last time. I washed it clean—you can keep it now."

Lin Shu blinked, said "Oh," folded the handkerchief, and tucked it into her sleeve, dropping the subject about the guardsman.

She understood—commoners don't fight with officials.

Still, she hadn’t expected Zhou Ye to be so cautious. They were far enough away that her normal speaking volume wouldn’t be heard by the guardsmen, unless a passerby overheard and reported her words to them.

But it never hurt to be careful. Although the local folkways seemed simple and honest, even the best places had their share of villains and petty people.

Zhou Ye’s hand, which had handed over the handkerchief, involuntarily clenched slightly, and the tips of his ears turned faintly red.

But his expression remained normal, showing no trace of unease that Lin Shu could detect. He even remembered to answer her earlier question: "On market day, the townsfolk all come to the thatched market first to shop. The restaurants and food shops along the street also come here to buy ingredients in bulk, especially the latter—they’re quite generous. If you’re lucky enough to have your goods noticed, you won’t have to worry about selling your goods all day. That’s why many villagers, even if they’re strapped for cash, prefer to set up stalls here."

Lin Shu nodded and asked, "What time does the town gate open and close?"

Zhou Ye replied, "The gate opens at dawn and closes at dusk. The exact time isn’t fixed. Once, the guardsman overslept, and the gate was crowded with people waiting to get into town for the market. Some even got into arguments from pushing and shoving. But most of the time, the gate opens before mao shi (5–7 a.m., before dawn)."

Lin Shu thought to herself that to secure a good spot, one really had to get up before daybreak. Those coming from farther away, like Sweetwater Village, might even have to travel in the dark.

She had come by ox cart today, but by the time she reached town, the sun was already up. For vendors, this was quite late, but for those just coming to shop, it was still early.

Looking around, there weren’t many spots left in the thatched market. Most vendors had already claimed their spaces and set up their goods. Those who arrived later hurried to organize their items.

There were plenty of stalls selling fruits and vegetables—more varieties and quantities than at the town gate. Others sold dried vegetables, poultry, and livestock like chickens, ducks, and fish. There were also various snacks: preserved fruits, malt candy, nuts…

Food items were on one side, while daily necessities were on the other. There were stalls selling palm-leaf fans, bamboo-woven utensils, straw sandals, cloth shoes, insoles, scented sachets, silk handkerchiefs, and even ready-made clothing. Pots, pans, bowls, large jars, and all kinds of household items could be found.

Lin Shu was dazzled by the variety. This thatched market was no match for the markets in the capital, but considering it was just a small town in the southwest, it was quite impressive.

"Why aren’t there any food stalls?" Lin Shu asked.

Zhou Ye said, "Stalls that require fire for cooking aren’t allowed here. The straw sheds are a fire risk, so any food that needs to be cooked over a flame can’t be sold in the thatched market. Those stalls can only set up along the streets of Jingxi Town and peddle their wares there. The fees for those spots are higher—ten coins or more."

Lin Shu asked curiously, "Won’t setting up in front of other shops affect their business?"

Zhou Ye explained, "That’s why vendors are only allowed to occupy the streets on market days. The shops set up stalls along the street, and vendors pay to hawk their goods there. As long as the stalls don’t sell the same items as the shops behind them, it’s fine. For example, if there’s a wonton store behind you, you can’t also sell wontons, especially if you’re selling them for a coin or two less. That would never be allowed."

Lin Shu couldn’t help but laugh.

Not just "not allowed"—such a vendor would probably get beaten up.

"A Shu, I need to go to Jiumanlou on the main street to sell these wood mushrooms. If you don’t want to come, you can wait here for me."

The guardsmen at the thatched market didn’t leave after collecting fees; they stayed to maintain order. With them around, no one dared to cause trouble.

"Jiumanlou? Is that the town’s main restaurant? I’ve never seen what a town restaurant looks like—I want to come along!" Any establishment called a "tower" instead of a simple "tavern" had to be impressive.

Zhou Ye hesitated before saying, "Jiumanlou is the largest restaurant in Jingxi Town, but it’s nothing compared to those in the capital."

"I’m not comparing! Why would I? I’m just curious to see it."

Hearing this, Zhou Ye felt inexplicably happy.

The main street of Jingxi Town was very close to the thatched market—just a turn away.

Various food stalls had already set up along the street, with more rice-based foods like rice cakes, dumplings, and congee—many varieties of congee alone. There were also stalls selling wheat-based foods, mainly steamed buns, flatbreads, and wontons. Noodle soups and rice noodle soups were available too, though not as many varieties as in northern towns.

Behind the stalls, shops stood side by side: rouge shops, clothing stores, porcelain shops, pastry shops, tea houses, eateries, wine shops… almost every kind of shop one could think of.

Lin Shu was pleasantly surprised—this small town was comparable to some county towns.

The street was growing busier. Besides villagers from nearby villages coming for the market, more townsfolk had arrived. Those with money to spare had already found seats at food stalls.

Villagers typically ate only two meals a day, but townsfolk ate three. Those living in town could afford the extra coins. This was the perfect time for breakfast.

The sounds of hawking, clattering pots and pans, and people chatting and browsing created a lively scene.

A vendor called out as Lin Shu passed, "Miss, want a bowl of wontons? A warm bowl will make your stomach feel great before you shop!"

"Steamed buns for sale! One bun fills you up—only two coins!"

"Pork bone noodles! Soup made from pork bones—so fragrant!"

Lin Shu sniffed the aromas as she walked, thinking this was essentially a food street!

But it wasn’t just food stalls—other vendors mixed in as well. Compared to the thatched market, some vendors preferred to pay extra for a street-side spot. For instance, there were stalls selling fermented rice, pickled vegetables, and sauces. While customers ate, these items sold quickly.

Lin Shu made a mental note.

Soon, without Zhou Ye pointing it out, Lin Shu spotted Jiumanlou from a distance. The enormous tavern sign was impossible to miss.

While other shops had three-foot-wide banners hanging above their doors, Jiumanlou, boasting three stories, had a sign twice as large dangling from the highest point of its roof. The character for "wine" dominated the center, flanked by the tavern’s name.

Whether viewed from afar or up close, anyone heading in that direction would inevitably see the sign.

Lin Shu studied the tavern. Unlike other shops, which had stalls set up on either side of their entrances, Jiumanlou’s front was clean and unobstructed. Aside from the hanging sign, a black plaque with gilded characters adorned the entrance.

In bustling areas, such restaurants are common and nothing special, but in a small town, this is absolutely unique.

Perhaps because she had been staring at the restaurant for a while, Zhou Ye's gaze fell on her face, studying her face for a moment before asking, "A Shu, do you want to go in?"

Lin Shu raised an eyebrow slightly. "The largest restaurant in town—this scale would rank among the top even in a county town. I wonder which wealthy family in town built it? With such a grand restaurant, do you believe me if I say I don’t want to take a look?"

Zhou Ye was somewhat surprised. "Haven’t you been to one before?"

Lin Shu said, "The rules of noble families are numerous. How could a young lady of status go to a place like a restaurant as she pleases? But I’m just curious about how the food tastes in the largest restaurant here."

"Let’s go. You can tell a meal here would cost at least a few hundred coins. We can’t afford it, we can’t afford it. We’ll check it out another day when we’ve earned some money."

Zhou Ye watched her back as she walked ahead and said nothing more, but a hard-to-describe feeling rose in his heart.

"We should be heading to the back door, which means we need to go around to the other side. A Ye, hurry up," Lin Shu urged, turning her head.

Zhou Ye followed silently.

The two passed by the restaurant and turned into a much quieter alley.

The alley connected to the back doors of many shops, including the imposing Wine Full Tower they had just seen. Even the back door of the Wine Full Tower was larger than those of other shops.

At that moment, restaurant workers were coming in and out through the back door.

Zhou Ye stepped forward and called out to one of them. "Excuse me, buddy, could you tell me if Manager Luo is here?"

"Who are you... Oh, I recognize you!" The worker slapped his forehead in recognition and quickly recognized Zhou Ye. "Last time, Manager Luo bought half a wild boar off you! That boar was delicious—our restaurant’s chef cooked it up, and many of our gentlemen customers loved it."

Zhou Ye was indeed very recognizable. He was tall and well-built for someone in Jingxi Town, and had a memorable presence that made him unforgettable after just one meeting.

"It's market day today, and the restaurant is very busy. Manager Luo is tied up and probably won’t have time for you. What took you so long? I remember you used to come very early before."

Lin Shu, standing behind him, thought to herself: ...

So, her sleeping in had held Zhou Ye up.