Chapter 34: Fenshui Town

As the sky was just beginning to brighten and the sun hadn’t yet risen, the bullock cart slowly started on its way, and they boarded the cart, heading to Fenshui Town.

People from the nearby villages all went to Fenshui Town for the market. Walking there took more than an hour, but taking the bullock cart could shorten the time by half. Many people still preferred to walk, and were reluctant to spend a single wen (copper coin) to take the bullock cart.

On the road were pedestrians carrying burdens on their shoulders. Families in the village who had a little extra crop would take it to town to sell and exchange for money, which could sell for a few more wen than in the village.

Also riding on the bullock cart were several ge’r (a married man who takes on the role of a wife in a homosexual relationship) from the village. Cao Xiangnan wasn’t familiar with them. They had greeted them when they boarded the cart, but then didn’t speak anymore. He reached out and put his arm around Qi Wanfeng, and the child who was in Qi Wanfeng’s arms had already fallen asleep. The child had gotten up too early today, and had fallen asleep as soon as he got on the bullock cart.

The bullock cart swayed as it went along the road. They met people who were also going to Fenshui Town all along the way. The closer they got to Fenshui Town, the more pedestrians there were on the road. The bullock cart stopped outside the city gate, not entering the city. They needed to get off here. If they wanted to take the bullock cart back when they returned, they could come here before sunset to board the bullock cart.

Qi Wanfeng shook the child who was sleeping in his arms awake. Seeing that the child was awake, he smiled, saying, “An’an, we’re here.” “Hmm, Amo.” An’an, who had woken up, was sleepy-eyed and still confused, but still nodded his head little by little.

“Husband, I’ll carry An’an down first, then help you down.” Qi Wanfeng nimbly got down from the bullock cart, put the child on the ground, and then reached out to help her husband down.

The old man driving the cart saw that their family had a small child and that her husband was having trouble with his legs, so he went over to help them, telling them, “I’m just outside this city. If you want to come back by bullock cart later, come here to find me.”

“Okay, thank you.” Cao Xiangnan supported himself with a crutch under his arm, and was able to walk by himself.

Looking up at the ancient city wall made of green bricks, the atmosphere of this era rushed towards him, and he truly felt that he had returned to an ancient era. Guards stood at the city gate, and people coming from all directions entered the city. This time was when the most people entered the city.

Coming in from the city gate, entering this small town, the wide streets were paved with green bricks, and on both sides were rows of houses and shops. There were also many small stalls on both sides of the road. Peddlers who had picked up goods to sell in the town were shouting, and meat aromas were wafting from the steamed bun shops. Passersby would look over, and those with money would take out a copper coin to buy two.

Fenshui Town’s main street was cross-shaped, crisscrossing. This was the closest town nearby, and the people gathering from all directions had gradually formed the current scale and prosperity of this small town.

After asking around, they headed to South Street. There was a well-regarded medical clinic on South Street, and poor people went there to see a doctor. The price of seeing a doctor and buying medicine was much lower. There was a medical clinic on North Street that only treated the rich, and the fees were very high. Most people in the town wouldn’t go there to see a doctor or buy medicine.

This place wasn’t difficult to find. A large sign was hanging at the door of the medical clinic – Luo’s Medical Clinic. When they went, there was a long line at the door. It seemed that this was the place. They lined up at the back of the line, but they didn’t know how long it would take for it to be their turn.