The first market after autumn is particularly lively.
There are many vendors setting up stalls, divided into various categories.
Most craftsmen sell rakes, brooms, bamboo baskets and other items.
The traders led cattle, donkeys, mules and other large livestock, slowly waiting for the opening.
There is no need to worry about sales for these good things that can plow, grind, and work for transportation. Someone will ask for the price.
Bai Qi continued walking inside and saw many woodcutter hunters shouting Zhang Luo.
They put wild beehives, dry firewood, and mountain mushrooms on them with grass signs indicating that they were for sale.
"Our rural place is not prosperous after all."
Bai Qi's original thoughts about rouge, gouache, silk cloth, and selling food were none of them.
The markets in the outer cities of Heihe County are mostly cheap and practical.
For good stuff that only rich people can buy, you have to go to shops in the inner city.
The only thing that met his expectations was——
"Candied haws on a stick! Five cents a bunch!"
Gudong, Gudong.
The candied haws seller approached, and Bai Qi heard two swallowing sounds at the same time.
Brother Bai Ming and the shrimp head who followed him all kept their eyes motionless, staring at the bright red candy balls on the haystack.
"You just had breakfast, are you hungry again?"
Bai Qi was reluctant on the surface, but he still took out ten cents and bought two bunches from the vendor.
They handed them to Bai Ming and Xiatou respectively, and deliberately muttered:
"This thing can also be sold for five cents... There are five pieces in total, one cent each, which is more expensive than meat buns!"
The so-called candied haws on a stick is skewered with Shanlihong on long bamboo skewers, with a layer of sugar coating on the outside.
It tastes sweet, crispy and slightly sour, making it a delicious snack.
"Brother, don't you want to eat?"
Seeing that Bai Qi didn't buy it for him, Bai Ming took the bunch of candied haws and didn't finish his mouth.
"It's too sour, I don't like it."
Bai Qi shook his head, he was telling the truth.
For a snack worth five cents, you can expect to add as much rock sugar as you can to boil it into a thick layer of icing.
"The candied haws a stick I bought in my previous life had yam, orange, bean paste, melon seeds, and sesame fillings... If we keep doing this, we'd probably sell it for twenty cents a bunch."
Bai Ming raised the candied haws in his hand with a stubborn look in his eyes:
"Brother, take one. It's sweet, not sour."
Bai Qi had no choice but lowered his head to bite one and chewed it gently.
The slightly acidic mixture of hawthorn fruit syrup does have some flavor.
It wasn't as bad as he thought.
"Let's continue shopping!"
Bai Qi took his brother's little hand, greeted the shrimp head which he was licking with great joy, and squeezed into the bustling crowd.
Only when you don't have to worry about food and clothing can you calm down and feel the smoke and smoke of the world.
The three of them arrived at midnight, waiting for the market to close, carrying large and small bags in their hands.
"Let me tell you, Ah Qi, you can just pull the cloth. There is no need to find a ready-made clothing store. My mother is very good at craftsmanship. It is not easy to make two pairs of cotton clothes."
Xia Tou didn't understand. For the fishermen in the Heishui River, the needlework must be done by their own mothers, so how could they spend extra money?
"Aunt Zhou goes out on the boat with your father every day and has to cook and do laundry. The oil lamps we light are of poor quality and burn our eyes. I'm really sorry to bother her anymore."
Bai Qi was carrying large and small oil paper and cloth bags, feeling quite satisfied with his purchases.
He cut two pieces of flower cake to satisfy his brother's craving.
I also bought the pens, inks, paper and inkstones that I had promised before, and I bought some good mid-range items.
Two new clothes, ready-made, and a reed cotton-padded jacket worn at home.
The latter is made by peeling off the stems of reed flowers, soaking them in water and drying them in the sun, twisting them into threads by hand and sewing them, and stuffing them with chicken, duck and goose feathers.
The advantage is that it is cheap and thin, but the disadvantage is that it is not as warm and cold-proof as silk wool and kapok.
Anyway, it's not the end of autumn yet, so Bai Qi's plan is to make do.
Wait a few days and come back to the clothing store to pick up the ordered thick cotton clothes.
As for the charcoal and dry firewood, he said hello to the villagers he knew well.
It will be delivered to your door tomorrow, so you don't have to carry the load yourself.
All the zeros and zeros add up to a lot of expenses.
Bai Qi's money bag immediately became lighter by more than half, and he could only sigh with emotion. It is true that the copper coins are not spent, but he can still earn more money!
…
…
After a few people wandered around for a while, they turned back to the Dongshi shop.
As expected, Liang Laoshi was not stingy. He set out fifteen or sixteen tables of flowing water tables and treated the workers at the port to a hearty meal.
Although it is not very rich, the seven or eight large pots are filled with boiled vegetables, fish, shrimps and crabs.
But there is a large basin of oily braised pork, each person can take a spoonful, and there is enough wheat rice.
Just this, it’s enough to be considered a New Year treatment!
After all, it’s not easy for a low-income earner to earn some money by working as a coolie!
"Ah Qi! Let's also..."
When the shrimp head saw the tempting fat, he couldn't walk for a moment.
"Let's eat something better. Come on, follow me into the house."
Bai Qi strode into the Dongshi shop. Liang Sanshui was dressed very smartly, wearing a blue robe and thick-soled cloth shoes.
He also shaved off his stubble and shaved his face, showing a somewhat managerial demeanor.
"Ah Qi, I saw your sampan at the pier early in the morning. I knew that the market was rarely busy today, so I didn't call you over."
Liang Sanshui spoke vigorously and straightened his waist.
It seems that being promoted to manager is quite exciting.
"This is your brother A Ming, right? Come on, come on, I happened to buy some flower cakes and take them to eat."
Bai Ming looked up at his brother, and when Bai Qi nodded, he took it:
"Thank you, Manager Liang!"
Liang Sanshui waved his hands repeatedly:
"Just call me Brother Shui, please don't get angry!
I remember you, Xiatou, the youngest son of the Changshun family?
It is said that your father transferred the boat to Ah Qi's name, and all future stall commissions will be waived, allowing him to work with peace of mind. "
Shrimp Head's eyes widened immediately, feeling like he was in a dream.
All fishermen in the Blackwater River have to take about 30% of the fish pen as long as they pass by it.
It sounds like nothing, but if you calculate it carefully, experienced fishermen can only earn an average of fifty or sixty yuan a day by going out to the river and boating.
Even if I work hard all year round, I can still earn an income of just over twenty taels.
Thirty percent is taken away like a dull knife, which is by no means a small amount for a poor family engaged in a lowly business.
"no?"
Xiantou was stunned, as if he couldn't believe it.
When did Ah Qi have such a great reputation?
Could it be that he really considers Old Man Liang to be his godfather?
"I haven't said thank you to Brother Sanshui yet!"
Nothing unexpected happened to Bai Qi. Every shop under the fish farm was decided by the steward, who had great power.
As long as you pay enough money on time and every month every year, it will be fine.
Most of the owners will not care about the rest.
Therefore, with Liang Sanshui supporting him, the entire Dongshi Pier Port was really free to walk sideways on his own.
When it is merged into Bai Qi's fish stall, word spread that the stall's commission will be exempted.
It is estimated that there are a large number of fishermen who are willing to ask for help.
"Thank you, Manager Liang!"
The shrimp head bowed respectfully.
He is not Ah Qi, who can really call him "Brother Shui" casually.
"There is no need to recruit too many people in the future. Let Uncle Changshun choose some who are reliable and responsible."
When all preparations are complete, Baiji Fishing Stall will be opened. "
Bai Qi's mind was spinning, but he asked:
"Brother Shui, how did I hear that Yang Quan died?"
Mentioning this, Liang Sanshui's face became even more joyful:
“I don’t know what happened at the moment, but I know that he died in Lost Soul Bay, with only one arm and half a leg left, and his father took him back to the mourning hall.
There are also the gangsters who usually hang out with him, and Wang Laizi... I guess they bumped into the monster fish that took Chen Laizi away. "
Monster fish?
So unlucky?
"I go boating on the Blackwater River every day and never encounter..."
Bai Qi blinked. Yang Quan's sudden death made him feel much more relaxed.
According to the original conjecture, he would definitely not give up if he lost the vacancy in charge, and there might be a fight.
I didn't expect it to end so easily.
"Monster Fish...well done!"
Xia Tou clapped his hands and shouted, as if he was very relieved of his hatred.
He has not forgotten that his father was severely beaten by Wang Laizi because of the ghost-striped fish. The cause of this incident was Yang Quan's forced confession.
Now the two scourges are gone together. If you are not penniless, you have to buy firecrackers to set off!
"Ah Qi, please don't go down the river during this period, and be careful about sailing the ten-thousand-year boat.
Wait for the fish pen to ask Manager Lei to take action and kill the monster fish before going fishing. "
Liang Sanshui warned.
Director of Thunder?
The first among bears, eagles, tigers and leopards?
Bai Qi silently took note, chatted with Liang Sanshui for a while, and then sat at the square table by the front door, waiting for the food to be served.
Old Man Liang made a reservation today, but it was for a table at Donglailou!
It is estimated to cost dozens of taels of silver, so I must work hard to make ends meet!
As he thought this, his body suddenly felt slightly chilly, as if a cold wind was blowing over him.
Turning sideways and looking around, I saw an old man wearing a long coat and linen in a tea shed not far away.
He is of average height and has a stocky build, nothing surprising.
Those eyes were particularly bright, as if lightning struck suddenly, making Bai Qi panic inexplicably.
It's like hanging on the edge of a steep cliff, and you may fall to pieces at any time!
"This person..."
"What are you looking at?"
Liang Laoshi appeared at some point and stood in front of Bai Qi, blocking the terrifying gaze.
"Your son is dead and you are not crying in the mourning hall. Why did you come to me?
Want to eat? Come, there is fish and meat, you can eat it! "
The old man in linen had no expression on his face. He squeezed the teacup in his hand and crushed it into pieces the size of rice grains in an instant.
This force was so terrifyingly soft that there was no crisp sound at all, but a dense rustling sound.
"Liang Laoshi, my martial arts has not improved at all over the years, but my tongue has become sharper."
