The annual Dragon Boat Festival has arrived. The people of Yongshan County are not usually very enthusiastic about this festival, but this year is different.
The Wen family of Shanghe Village and the Li family of Dingshui Village are related by marriage. On the morning of the Dragon Boat Festival, a group of people came to the front of the Wen family's house in Shanghe Village.
"Hey old man Wen, are you sure there will be a market in Dingshui Village today?"
"That's right, it's a holiday today. My mom said she's going to beat me up if I don't buy the things. Don't give me false information!"
"My family hasn't bought anything for the Dragon Boat Festival yet, and the kids are looking forward to going out and having some fun. Old Man Wen, please don't tease us..."
The old man of the Wen family stretched out his hands and pressed down, "Everyone, don't be anxious. It's only the hour of Mao (5-7 AM). Whether it's true or not, you'll know once you come with me to see for yourselves. Besides, even if their market isn't open right now, we still have time to go to the county. It's just a little more travel."
Shanghe Village is also a remote village, half of which is located in the mountains. It is inconvenient to get in and out on weekdays, and even when people go out to work, they can only do so during the quietest time of winter.
It takes two hours by oxcart to get from this place to Yongshan County, but only 45 minutes to get to Dingshui Village, which is much closer.
Village Chief Li had informed Old Man Wen about the plan to build a market in Dingshui Village, but Old Man Wen had his own agenda and didn't tell the people in Shanghe Village. As a result, no one in the village went to work there, and they didn't know if the news was true or not.
At this moment, everyone thought they could save some time, and although they had their doubts, they still followed Old Man Wen outside.
"If a market really opens in Dingshui Village in the future, it will be much more convenient for our village to buy things."
"Yes, if there's a market, there will definitely be doctors, making it easier for us to see a doctor in the future."
"Not only that, besides buying things and seeing a doctor, we can also take out anything in the house that can be exchanged for money and sell it! It's still a way to make a living, isn't it?"
"That's right, that's right..."
Upon hearing this, Old Man Wen raised his chin. "I have some good news for you all today. There are still quite a few shops and stalls at the market in Dingshui Village. If you want to do some small business, you'd better keep an eye out for them today. Don't say I didn't warn you if there aren't any spots available."
His two sons went to stay at Village Chief Li's house a few days ago to help build houses and markets in Dingshui Village, earning fifty coins a day!
Because Shanghe Village was far away, his in-laws told him that there were only two spots left, so he didn't tell the villagers. It wasn't that he deliberately kept quiet.
Now that all the houses and markets that needed to be built have been completed, the villagers no longer bother to inquire who built them. That's when he told them that the market in Dingshui Village was opening today.
The people of Shanghe Village headed in a large group to the market in Dingshui Village, and people from other villages who heard the news also rushed there.
Meanwhile, the people in Dingshui Village didn't sleep all night, all excitedly waiting for the auspicious time for the market to open.
Wei Chengzong also stayed in Dingshui Village last night, at Village Chief Li's house, and got up early this morning as well.
"Village Chief Li, is everything ready at the market?" Wei Chengzong asked as he stepped out of his house and met Village Chief Li in the courtyard.
Village Chief Li chuckled and said, "Don't worry, sir, everything is ready. We're just waiting for you to finish breakfast so we can go and cut the ribbon!"
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was added at Jiang Qinyu's request, saying that it would make their village's market a resounding success, so that people from the surrounding villages would know there was a market there and would come to the market on the appointed day.
The market in Dingshui Village is different from that in Kaner Town; it is not open every day, but only every three days.
This was also because most of the people in the surrounding area were ordinary folks who made a living by working in the fields. There was too much work to do in the fields, and many families couldn't afford to leave their homes unattended. In addition, there were shops in Kan'er Town, which was only half an hour's walk away. That's why Jiang Qinyu and her group decided on this initial system.
Wei Chengzong knew Lu Yanzheng's plans, which is why he was willing to take time out of his busy schedule to support Dingshui Market. Although he knew that this would affect the businesses in Kan'er Town, the General's wife was right; that's how economics works—competition keeps the market vibrant.
If the merchants in Kaner Town don't find ways to attract customers and end up having all the market taken over by Dingshui Market, it only shows that those merchants don't take their businesses seriously.
In fact, in Jiang Qinyu's view, Kaner Town's geographical location is not suitable to be a market town. If she were a merchant in the town, she would definitely try to expand her business to other places. Dingshui Market would be a good opportunity.
When Wei Chengzong came out of Li Village Chief's house, Jiang Qinyu and others also came out of their houses.
"This humble official greets Madam." Wei Chengzhong was the first to bow.
Jiang Qinyu curtsied and smiled, "Thank you for taking the time to come, Lord Wei."
"This is all I should do. I will need to trouble you, Madam, to look after this place more in the future," Wei Chengzhong said earnestly.
Although he is still in Yongshan County, the General—no, he should be called a Prince now—has already entrusted him with some of the administrative affairs of Yukang Prefecture and will soon be transferred to Yukang Prefecture City.
After he left, everything in Yongshan County would naturally be taken over by someone else, but he knew very well that no matter who became the magistrate of Dingshui Village, the prince's hometown, the person in charge would be the prince's closest confidant.
After exchanging a few polite words, Jiang Qinyu and her group headed to the market together.
Although the market is located outside Dingshui Village, only a dozen or so households in the village have taken up shops and stalls in the market. The rest are still vacant and waiting to be rented out.
There are simply not many people in Dingshui Village with a business mind, and even fewer who are willing to take the risk of renting a shop or stall.
Jiang Qinyu didn't say much after she found out. After all, everyone has their own ambitions. In the future, seeing others make money, the people of Dingshui Village will have an advantage and won't necessarily live too badly.
While they were pondering, Jiang Qinyu and the others had already arrived at the market.
Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, and all the shops that are open are selling things related to the festival, such as glutinous rice, bamboo leaves, five-colored threads, sachets, and so on.
Of course, there are many other goods as well, which are in no way inferior to those in Kaner Town, and even have the potential to catch up with the county town market.
"Your market is very well set up. If I were a villager from the neighborhood, I would definitely come here to buy and sell things too," Wei Chengzong said with a smile, pointing to the decorations at the market.
The festive atmosphere was fully displayed at the market, and every shop and stall owner had a smile on their face. Even if people came to the market to look but did not buy anything, no one gave them a bad look.
"With your words, sir, all our efforts over the past few days have been worthwhile." Village Chief Li smiled broadly, his eyes practically disappearing behind his teeth.
The group arrived at the high platform at the market entrance, and Village Chief Li, holding a megaphone, announced loudly to the crowd: "Now, we invite the County Magistrate and the Princess of the Northwest to conduct the opening ribbon-cutting ceremony for our Dingshui Market!"
Jiang Qinyu and Wei Chengzong each held a delicate pair of small scissors and smiled as they cut off a large red flower.
"I hereby announce that Dingshui Market is officially open today!" Village Chief Li shouted, clapping vigorously.
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