328 The Rise and Fall of the Royal City (Fifty-Six Chapters)
Sister Hong nodded gently, thinking to herself, 'Okay, I'll make another red battle robe then, with red as the main color and embroidered with phoenix feather patterns.'
He nodded in confirmation and said, "Then it's settled. I'll prepare the gift and talk to Miss about it later. I'll see what Miss thinks. If it's acceptable, I'll have Miss deliver it."
So, this is Miss Trouble.
Wes nodded. In the past, he could help Miss with some trivial matters, but now, there were many things that he and his companions didn't need to handle. On the contrary, it was they who needed to trouble Miss in many ways.
Hong Sao added softly, "And as for Madam Wei Lan, I'll probably only be able to send her some ordinary things later. We'll check the market again."
The tone shifted, "The market is really lively now. All sorts of things that were rarely seen before, and some I'd never even seen before, are available now. People from all over come and go, selling all kinds of clothing, all kinds of goods, and even some tools. Making things by hand is so much easier than before."
Wes nodded, and they talked for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting brighter, Hong Sao said, "You should go back and rest. I'll find some time to talk to Miss in detail."
Miss Zuo was already up early in the morning, dressed in black, disguised as a man, appearing exceptionally handsome. She stood ramrod straight, her face strikingly beautiful. The men around her were filled with inexplicable jealousy.
At this moment, Old Master Hong had already returned with some snacks. There was no one else around, and he ate as he walked. When he saw Miss Zuo, he didn't care at all and showed no embarrassment whatsoever.
She chuckled softly, "Good morning, Miss Zuo. Would you like some snacks? There are so many snacks here. I'm getting old and can't sleep well. In the morning, we have shumai, wontons, dumplings, scallion pancakes, glutinous rice balls, and many other breakfast items."
Miss Zuo shook her head, a slight smile on her face. "Old Master Hong still loves sampling snacks. I'll go take a look myself, and see how the local morning market is."
Old Master Hong didn't say much. Seeing that he had recovered from yesterday, he felt a sense of relief. What young people fear most is being defeated and becoming despondent. Unlike himself, who had seen so much and whose talent was so limited, he had long since lost his competitive spirit.
The aroma of delicious food wafts through the air from the market, mingling with the smells of cooking oil, fried food, rice, and pickled vegetables, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Horse-drawn carriages, oxcarts, and many women and girls began to get busy. The sound of reading aloud began to rise from the alley, simple yet different voices, some childish and some melodious.
Along the street, there are vendors selling flatbread, soy milk, and various kinds of noodles; the road is bustling with pedestrians. Fresh vegetables are already on sale at the morning market.
Farmers were hurrying out of the city in carriages, along with other travelers and horse-drawn carts loaded with goods, all slowly making their way towards the city gate. Their faces showed busyness and the urgency of travel, but not much sorrow.
A soft voice came through the microphone: "The sweet potatoes I planted yesterday seem to have all taken root. They look pretty good. I'll check back in a while; I hope they really are."
"I heard there are new crops, but I don't know what they are like. Planting has already started. I hope what Mr. Weng said is true, so we can have better hopes."
"I heard yesterday that the Tao family agreed to let their daughter marry a soldier, and the matchmaker is already in contact with them. They're planning to pick a date and go see him."
"Really? But I heard quite a few families are willing. My son is such a disappointment; he hasn't found anyone he likes yet. It's driving me crazy!"
I heard that the Zhuang family had a really good harvest this year. They even hired someone to help them carry it back yesterday. I'm so envious! But mine isn't bad either. It looks much better than last year.
They'll be fully ripe in a few days. Then I'll make a big sesame seed cake with meat inside, and take the kids to try it.
All of this is evident in the absence of common curses and the absence of gangs running rampant. Only the comings and goings of police officers make it a truly peaceful place.
It wasn't as luxurious as his own mansion, but it was still quite nice.
At the morning market, there were also some fresh medicinal herbs for sale. I squatted down gently and looked at the herbs in my hand.
At that moment, a clear voice rang out, and a boy of about sixteen or seventeen appeared. He wore a thick cotton coat worn in the early morning, embroidered with delicate orchids, and his hair was tied up with a red string. He had a slightly shy expression on his face.
"This young master is selecting medicinal herbs. These were all picked this morning, very fresh, and there are also some dried herbs inside."
A young girl, just beginning to experience romantic feelings, might see such a handsome young man and be unable to resist striking up a conversation. But upon seeing such a dashing young man, a strange feeling arises, her eyes sparkling with shyness. Mustering her courage, she softly speaks.
Miss Zuo was stunned for a moment, then realized what she was wearing and said softly, "Thank you, young lady."
"I wonder if you have any aged medicinal herbs here, like ginseng or polygonatum, preferably some that have been stored for a few years."
The young girl spoke softly, her heart pounding like a drum. She coughed lightly, then lowered her head and said in a soft, gentle voice, "Young master, these medicinal herbs are all local. Common herbs are easy to find, but we really don't have any aged ones in stock."
If you require it, young master, I can inquire about it for you.
You gently explained, "Young master, you're not from here, are you? Most of the local medicinal herbs from that year have been collected by the adults. Not all of these common herbs have been collected; there are other herbs from that year."
We collect as many as we can, especially those over a hundred years old; we've basically collected them all.
Those who kept some usually had other uses for it; ordinary families would use it to exchange for local housing during this period.
After explaining, she looked at the handsome young man with a hint of apology.
Miss Zuo smiled slightly, feeling a little embarrassed as the young girl stared at her. She thanked her, saying, "Thank you, thank you for clearing up my doubts. I am indeed from out of town. I'm here to sell some grain."
Upon hearing this, the young woman nodded slightly and whispered, "If you need grain, young master, you can directly find the local old man or Inspector Jin to sell it to you; the price is fair."
Alternatively, you could go directly to the trading area in the middle of the market, where there are many buyers. However, if you have a stable source of food, you can directly contact Elder Weng and the others.
We've been buying grain here recently.
Then, looking a little embarrassed, he said, "Does the young master need an introduction? If so, I can introduce you to Elder Weng."
Then, in a low, embarrassed voice, she added, "We used to be from Wengjia Village. With Old Man Weng's help, we moved here from a remote area. Before, our family collected and cultivated medicinal herbs, and we still do here."
A young girl's heart, shy and hesitant, leans against the door, turning back to smell the green plums.
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