Li Laoshi used to be an unmarried bachelor, while Qin Shi was a housewife with children and grandchildren.

After being spoiled for months, he lost his mind and eventually remembered the days when he had to scrimp and save money.

Now that he saw Li Laoshi wanting to borrow money to buy these "showy but impractical" things, he was reluctant to spend the money: "Laoshi, I don't need this fine handkerchief. It's better to use a coarse cloth to keep out the dust. Don't buy it."

Li Laoshi really didn't have the money to buy one, so he could only say awkwardly, "What a pity, this one would definitely be warm to wear. I'll buy you a new one when I have the money later."

Qin was overjoyed again!

At this time, the guests who had stayed at the inn came out, and people came and went on the hundred-meter-long official road.

Jiang Zhi and the other two went to another stall, which also displayed some old items. Among them was a finely crafted flint and steel, which was in a cowhide box. The box also contained flint and straw for starting a fire. It was only about half the size of a palm and was designed for men to wear as a decoration.

Jiang Zhi immediately took a liking to it: it was the perfect item to take with her when going out, so she started haggling with the stall owner.

Li Laoshi held the flint and steel in his hand, looking disgusted: "You dare to ask for one tael of silver for something this old?"

Unlike ordinary businessmen, the stall owner looked Li Laoshi up and down and said, "If you really want it, then it's nine hundred coins. Don't even mention a coin less."

You'll get a 100-coin discount.

Li Laoshi wanted to haggle, but Jiang Zhi stopped him, saying, "Stop haggling, just buy it!" As she spoke, she opened the money bag hanging on her waist and counted out nine strings of coins.

In the era before mobile payments, becoming rich was a tiring job.

To make shopping easier, Jiang Zhi exchanged three taels of silver for copper coins and carried them with her.

One copper coin weighs a little over 3 grams, so a thousand coins would weigh over 3000 grams.

Jiang Zhi suspects that the reason wealthy people bring entourages is mostly because they don't want to become porters, such as in the scenario where a domineering CEO pulls out a million RMB from his pocket.

Jiang Zhi took out nine hundred coins from her pouch and handed them to the stall owner. She then took back the half-pound flint and steel, but felt that the burden hadn't lessened much.

After buying the flint and steel, the three wanted to look at other things when they heard a sharp sound of porcelain falling to the ground not far away, followed by the sounds of fighting. They quickly ran away into the distance.

Some of the guests on the official road immediately stepped back, while others stood at a distance to watch.

Some people saw the commotion and rushed over, causing chaos throughout the night market.

The other stall owners remained motionless, clearly unfazed by this scene.

Jiang Zhi and the other two didn't step forward either, but instead stood back. Li Laoshi stood on tiptoe and looked around: "Why haven't we seen Xiaoman and the others come back?"

Qin, who usually seemed fearless in the village, was now so frightened that she grabbed Li Laoshi's arm: "Laoshi, let's go back! It's better to get some rest early!"

Jiang Zhi also looked into the distance. The light from the lanterns was limited, and the fighting was no longer visible. She could only see the crowd gathering in the darkness.

She couldn't help but mutter, "Sigh, it's true, the lives of male protagonists in male-oriented novels are always full of ups and downs, and there's always fighting and killing involved..."

Just then, I suddenly felt a tightness around my waist. Someone was trying to snatch my money pouch. I immediately shouted, "Let go!" Without even turning around, I slapped them across the face.

"Smack!"

"Ah!" came a soft exclamation.

Li Laoshi and Qin Shi were standing nearby. When they saw Jiang Zhi suddenly hit someone, they immediately turned around to look and saw a man slip away and disappear into the stall next to them.

Li Laoshi took a few steps to catch up, but the man had already disappeared from sight.

"Sister-in-law, what is that person doing?" Qin Shi quickly came over to Jiang Zhi and asked nervously.

Jiang Zhi touched her heavy purse, her heart pounding. The slap she had just given was a reflex, and she wanted to hit her again but didn't dare.

Thieves are always guilty, and she was scared away by her own slap. Now that Qin asked her, she didn't hide anything and whispered, "It's nothing. He probably wanted to steal something in the chaos, but I scared him away."

Wherever there are people, there is a world of intrigue, and such places are even more chaotic.

Jiang Zhi had been keeping her money pouch tightly tied around her waist since she started looking at the night market, and she also wore a coat over it. When buying things, she stood up close to Li Laoshi and Qin Shi, so that at least no one could easily steal from her.

Unexpectedly, he withdrew money and revealed his wealth. There was a fight going on over there, and someone attacked him the moment he was distracted.

Having startled a thief, Jiang Zhi lost all interest in the night market. She glanced at the distance, where things were still chaotic, and after a moment's thought, said, "Let's go back to the inn and see if Xiaoman and the others have returned yet."

The three immediately returned to the inn, but when they asked the innkeeper, they learned that Xiaoman and Nie Fantian had not returned.

Li Laoshi said, "I'll go find them right now. What are they doing running around outside in all this chaos!"

Jiang Zhi stopped him: "Xiao Man, Xiao Tian and their group are all good at handling things, so don't run around. They'll have to come looking for you later. We'll ask them for help."

This place is unfamiliar to everyone, and there are fights and brawls; it's a mixed bag of people.

Nie Fantian and his companions were not weak, but no matter how clever Li Laoshi was, he was just a country bumpkin who was helpless when faced with trouble. It was safest to let the locals inquire.

So Jiang Zhi took out ten coins and asked the shop assistant to go find Xiao Man and the others.

Li Laoshi was a lively person, and he followed his companions to the party.

Jiang Zhi and Qin Shi didn't go back to their room. Instead, they sat in the front hall and had the inn send them two bowls of hot fermented rice soup, which they then ate as a late-night snack.

After the two finished eating the porridge, Li Laoshi and the others still hadn't returned, and they couldn't help but start to worry.

Qin paced back and forth at the entrance of the inn, not caring that her breath was steaming in the cold, and said anxiously, "That Li Laoshi has something on his feet, he left without even coming back to report."

Half an hour later, Li Laoshi and the innkeeper's assistant finally came running back.

As soon as Li Laoshi saw Jiang Zhi, he said, "Oh dear, it really is Xiaoman and the others who have caused trouble. Fortunately, no one was hurt and they are talking to someone right now! That guy surnamed Nie asked me to come back and tell you not to worry."

Jiang Zhi finally felt relieved; as long as the person was alright, nothing else mattered.

After another half hour, Xiaoman and the others finally returned, talking as they walked. It seemed that none of them were injured.

As soon as Nie Fantian entered the inn, he saw Jiang Zhi still waiting in the hall.

He was about to speak when he saw Jiang Zhi rush to Xiaoman's side and check Xiaoman's arms and back: "Xiaoman, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Nie Fantian slowed down.

Xiaoman chuckled and said, "Auntie, it's alright. Brother Tian just exchanged a few blows with some people, and they all backed down."

Jiang Zhi patted Xiaoman on the shoulder: "Since I brought you out safely, I should take you back safely. Go and rest, your Aunt Qin has already had hot water prepared."

Nie Fantian walked over and said, "We'll set off early tomorrow morning, so we won't rest here."

Things have changed, and I can't rest anymore.

Jiang Zhi remained gentle: "Okay, you can decide then."

Nie Fantian turned around but didn't leave. With his back to Jiang Zhi, he said, "Aunt, I'm sorry to have worried you today!"

Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "Conflicts are inevitable when you're traveling. I hope you all stay safe and sound!"

After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, Nie Fantian strode away.