Chapter 9: Going to the Market

When he expressed his desire to go to the market, she went to discuss the matter with her father.

Song Jingyun felt warm inside.

Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi naturally had no objections to the children going to the market.

This time, they had woven quite a few baskets from the branches. Jiang Youcheng alone couldn’t carry them all, and they also had to take the fish that Song Jingyun had caught. Taking the children to see the hustle and bustle of the market and buy some snacks to eat seemed like a good idea.

So, in the afternoon, Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi hurried to finish weaving the baskets.

The next morning, after an early breakfast, Jiang Youcheng, with Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun carrying a pile of things, set out from the house.

It takes about an hour to walk from Jiang’s village to Shanglin Town. If they were to take a cart, the time would be halved.

However, taking a bullock cart costs one coin per person, and with so many things, it would take up extra space, so they would have to pay an additional two coins.

The trip would cost five coins in total.

Jiang Youcheng felt a bit distressed, but thinking about his just recovered daughter and his seemingly frail son-in-law, he gritted his teeth, hailed a cart from the village, and got on with them.

Even in hardship, one mustn’t make children suffer.

Third uncle Jiang was nearly the same age as Jiang Youcheng, and the two had grown up together. However, due to Third uncle Jiang’s seniority, Jiang Youcheng still had to address him as “uncle.”

Observing Jiang Youcheng loading things onto the cart, Third uncle Jiang teased him, “You’re usually so stingy. Even when the rope on your basket breaks your shoulder, you won’t take a ride back. But today, it seems you’ve come out from the west under the sun.”

“Uncle, don’t make fun of me. The sun still rises in the east. It’s just that we have a lot of things today,” Jiang Youcheng laughed heartily.

It wasn’t about having a lot of things; it was clearly about having a lot of people. He couldn’t bear to see his daughter and son-in-law suffer.

As for Jiang Youcheng…

Third Uncle Jiang shrugged and returned two coins of the five Jiang Youcheng had given him. “Alright, today others have entrusted me to take more items to the market, so I can’t sit down anymore. Later on, help me make sure nothing falls off on the way. Consider it my thank-you for your hard work.”

Knowing Third Uncle Jiang’s intentions and not refusing, Jiang Youcheng accepted. “Alright.”

After securing the items with coarse hemp ropes, Jiang San cracked the whip.

The ox cart swayed and moved forward.

In April, the weather was just right, not too cold or hot. The spring breeze brushed their faces, and the lush green fields on both sides of the road, accompanied by the chirping of birds, made for a truly pleasant journey.

Jiang Mixia felt extremely content, her eyes narrowing to slits.

Song Jingyun was somewhat excited. Although he remained silent out of shyness, his eyes rolled around, looking left, right, and back.

“Mom, that person keeps looking at me. I’m scared,” he said.

A cow cart was also on their right rear side, filled with women and children, all going to town together to buy soy sauce, vinegar, needles, thread, and cloth.

One girl, about four or five years old, closest to Song Jingyun, fearfully snuggled under her mother’s arm.

The woman lightly patted her daughter’s back, comforting her in a low voice, then glared fiercely at Song Jingyun.

Song Jingyun naturally sensed the hostility but couldn’t understand what he had done wrong, so he looked at Jiang Mixia, a sense of grievance in his eyes.

“It’s very impolite to stare at others, especially at a young girl. It’s normal for her to view you as a bad person,” Jiang Mixia reminded him.

“Oh,” Song Jingyun lowered his head, gazing at the dust kicked up by the cart’s wheels and absently tugging at his sleeve.

He really hadn’t been staring at the young girl. It was mainly because the young girl was holding a golden-yellow pastry, which looked so appealing. The wild vegetable pastries they ate at home were all dark, not as attractive.

Moreover, when the little girl took a bite of the pastry, it made a delightful, crunchy sound, and it smelled deliciously sweet.

That pastry must be very tasty…

Jiang Mixia, unaware of Song Jingyun’s thoughts, simply patted his shoulder.

The cow cart arrived at the western street of the town.

Markets were held on the fifth and tenth day of each month, and today was the fifth.

Due to a light rain on the thirtieth day of the previous month, although not heavy, it lasted the whole day, resulting in the cancellation of the market. Consequently, the market today was exceptionally lively.

The market was set up in the central street of the town, starting from the intersection and dividing into the east and west streets.

The east street mainly featured the sale of fabrics, food, and small trinkets, while the west street was for livestock such as cattle and sheep, as well as various livestock and agricultural implements.

Jiang Mixia and her group had brought woven baskets and fish, so they naturally set up their stall in an open space on the west street.

Jiang Youcheng used to sell baskets here often, so he was acquainted with many people.

“Are these your daughter and son?”

“Where? It’s my daughter and her husband.”

“I usually see you selling baskets. Today, you’re selling fish. Are you switching to fishing?”

“These were speared from the river. We’re selling them to buy some soy sauce and vinegar.”

“Others catch live fish, but yours are all dead. What’s the use? It would be better to sell them cheaply to me,” a buyer remarked.

“You won’t get a bargain with cheap ones. These fish are cleaned and salted. I might even have to ask you for the salt money…” Jiang Youcheng bantered back.

After some banter and jokes, as the sun rose higher, the marketplace gradually became busier, and everyone was busy with their own businesses.

People found suitable buyers to exchange money and sought out items they desired to trade for.

The woven baskets Jiang Youcheng brought varied in size. The larger ones were priced at twelve coins, and the smaller ones at eight coins. The woven baskets were essential items for every household, and given Jiang Youcheng’s long-standing presence at the market and the sturdy, durable baskets he made, coupled with his honest demeanor, many people had a positive impression of him.

And it was a good impression.

Quite a few people came to look at the woven baskets and many were sold, with four gone and three remaining.

However, the fish didn’t sell quickly. After such a long time, only two fish were sold, both smaller carp, purchased by a buyer to make soup for his daughter-in-law who had just given birth.

After that, there were no more takers.

Even though Jiang Mixia tried to attract buyers for a while, it was to no avail. Even Song Jingyun looked somewhat disheartened.

If the fish didn’t sell, they wouldn’t have money to buy pork, and without pork, they wouldn’t be able to eat that delicious pork belly…

“It’s alright. Even if we can’t sell the fish, we can take it back and eat it slowly. Today, I’ll also have some pork cut for you,” Jiang Youcheng consoled his daughter and son-in-law.

When the ox doesn’t drink water, you can’t force its head. If the fish doesn’t sell, there’s nothing to be done. Jiang Mixia could only sigh and say, “Alright.”

A nearby seller of live chickens chuckled at the sight. “Why don’t you try the Fuyun Restaurant? They make the best crispy and vinegar fish. It’s a restaurant after all, and since they sell fish dishes, they’ll probably buy your fish.”