This village was named Xiangshan Village, entirely because it was situated beside a mountain that resembled a giant elephant. Consequently, the village lived off the mountain, gradually becoming a place that accommodated many families with different surnames; it was significantly larger than the neighboring small settlements composed of people sharing a single surname.
Ding Baozhu turned her head to look out. It was too early for most people to head out to the fields, but through a thin veil of mist, she could see the continuous stretch of paddy fields in the distance. They didn’t appear particularly level, but they soon flashed past as the cart moved on.
The mule, possessing a more fiery temperament, let out several snorts. Having likely been fed already, it reached the village entrance in no time and continued forward at a light trot.
She had been jolted since the beginning, but the road outside the village was not only wider but also even more bumpy. However, Ding Baozhu noticed that Ding Hong and the other women seemed long accustomed to it; since it was still early, they were even resting with their eyes half-closed.
The road leading to Xiang’an Town was much simpler, essentially a wide dirt track lined with trees sprouting green buds of early spring. Every time the mule ran, it kicked up a cloud of dust.
Yet, it was here that some women began to get off the cart one after another, clutching the bundles they carried tightly.
Ding Baozhu took a look and realized that these women had come here to sell their goods!
After all, this was the only road leading to the town, but it connected many different villages. Naturally, there were many people, and where there were people, there was business. Even without entering the town itself, one could sell quite a lot of things right here at this intersection.
Furthermore, this wide road didn’t seem to be fully occupied yet…
A few plans suddenly began to form in Ding Baozhu’s mind.
About two quarters of an hour later, only Ding Baozhu, her father, and one or two aunts carrying back-baskets remained as they successfully reached the gates of Xiang’an Town.
Despite being from the same village, the two parties didn’t exchange further pleasantries and went their separate ways.
The man on the mule cart waved to them before driving the cart away. This made Ding Baozhu feel as though it were a scheduled transport service; he likely made a living this way, considering he had earned over a dozen copper coins from that single trip.
Upon entering Xiang’an Town, her eyes were met with dark-colored tiles, greyish-white walls, and wooden doors. Beneath her feet were stone-paved paths. The roads were somewhat narrow, but many colorful banners and signs of various sizes were already hanging from both sides, fluttering in the wind.
At this hour, vendors with no fixed storefronts and open-air stalls were busy rushing to pick a good spot, and about half of the shops had already opened their doors.
Ding Baozhu followed curiously behind Ding Hong, glancing around at the many men, women, young, and old who brushed past. The air was filled with a constant, rising and falling hum of conversation.
However, she noticed at this moment that she seemed to be taller than many of the women, and even some of the men…
They soon arrived at the Butcher’s Guild. The large gates were halfway open; looking inside, it appeared dark and cavernous, but one could catch a faint, lingering scent of blood. It sounded quite boisterous inside, and many strong men were at the entrance, moving animals toward the interior.
“Baozhu, we’re here. But there are only men inside; when they get busy and hot, they tend to strip off their shirts, so it’s best if you don’t go in.”
This was also something Ding Hong felt conflicted about. For a woman to be a butcher, there were bound to be many inconveniences. But since Ding Baozhu was his eldest daughter, it was best if someone could inherit his business. Besides, even if that didn’t work out in the end, having the skill of butchery would be a useful craft to possess.
Ding Baozhu asked with confusion:
“Father, are you going in now? Aren’t you going to eat breakfast first?”
Ding Hong laughed:
“It’s fine. I need to get in quickly; the morning passes fast. I’ll come out to eat lunch later.”
After selling a batch of meat, Ding Hong would choose to work in the Butcher’s Guild. These types of workshops had a steady supply of livestock brought in for slaughter every day, and butchers could earn money based on the number of animals they processed.
In fact, the second and third branches of the Ding family had long since formed a silent partnership: the third branch handled the livestock raising, providing the second branch with a source of meat. As for how they ultimately split the profits, Ding Baozhu wasn’t clear, but seeing how the two families had always remained on harmonious terms, they likely hadn’t quarreled over it.
However, animals in the sheds didn’t grow to full size in just a few days. Therefore, when there were no other conditions to meet, Ding Hong would choose to come to the Butcher’s Guild to work—it was said he had learned his trade there.
Ding Hong pulled some copper coins from his clothes and instructed:
“Father is going to work. You go wander around the town by yourself. If you get bored, go back first. If you’re still around, I’ll probably be out in less than four hours. It won’t be too late to go to lunch with you then.”
After all, having come to the Guild, he wasn’t the only butcher there; whether or not he could get work was another matter.
Hearing this, Ding Baozhu smiled and said:
“Since you put it that way, Father, I’m definitely staying.”
After speaking, she tugged on Ding Hong’s sleeve and said persuasively:
“Father, give me a few more coins. It’s not easy to get a chance to come to town.”
According to the original owner’s memories, although Ding Hong came to town often, Ding Baozhu had hardly ever been, except when the family came for the market, where she served as the main force for carrying goods.
Ding Hong laughed:
“What do you need so much money for? I’ve already given you a full ten coins; that’s enough for you to eat until you’re stuffed.”
“Besides, your mother and I have already prepared a dowry for you. Do you really lack those few copper coins? You’ll understand after you’re married.”
Ding Baozhu was stunned for a moment and stopped asking. Ding Hong then headed straight into the Butcher’s Guild.
A bride’s dowry after marriage belonged to her alone; even the husband’s family could not easily touch it.
According to Ding Hong’s words, could it be that besides daily necessities, there was something else?
But because the original owner had caused such trouble, it was still unclear when this marriage would actually take place!
Ding Baozhu shook her head and spread her palm to count; indeed, there were exactly ten copper coins.
She hadn’t brought a purse, so she tucked the coins into the front of her waistband to prevent them from being picked.
Just then, she heard the cries of street vendors starting to rise, so she hurriedly turned back and began to browse as she walked.
“Baked cakes! Fresh baked cakes right out of the oven!—”
“Selling steamed buns!—Bean paste! Bamboo shoot and meat! Soup-filled ones!—”
“Freshly picked water chestnuts, wild apples, and plums! Come and take a look!—”
The cries were all vigorous and loud, especially the final trailing notes, which sounded like they could reach high operatic heights.
Ding Baozhu also noticed that those cries all came from street stall vendors. Some places that had a few tables and benches for customers only had hanging banners swaying in the wind; they didn’t actively solicit customers, perhaps because they relied on regular patrons.
Many diners were already seated in those places now.
At the same time, an atmosphere of countless mingled fragrances spread through the streets and alleys, even bringing a hint of warmth. It caused Ding Baozhu’s stomach to rumble involuntarily.
Better eat breakfast first before continuing to look around!
Ding Baozhu passed several small stalls and finally stopped beside the one selling steamed buns.
The sharp-eyed vendor saw her approach and quickly asked with a beaming smile:
“What would the young lady like to eat? We have vegetable fillings, sugar fillings, and meat fillings—every variety you could want. Why not take a look?”
As he spoke, he lifted a white cloth to reveal rows of neatly arranged, plump steamed buns that were still emitting a slight heat.
Though he called them “mantou,” Ding Baozhu understood that they were actually stuffed buns (baozi).
Relying on the original owner’s memories, this country was named Great Hua, and Xiangshan Village was located in a prefecture toward the southeast; the tastes and names were naturally different.
Although she had already reached the age of adulthood, she still wore her hair in the style of an unmarried girl, so it was perfectly appropriate for the vendor to address her as “young lady.”
Ding Baozhu asked:
“What are the prices?”
Seeing that she had asked the price, the vendor felt a deal was likely and added quickly:
“Vegetable filling is one coin each, sugar filling is three coins for two, and meat filling is two coins each.”
Each bun was at least the size of a palm, so Ding Baozhu chose to buy a meat-filled one.
The vendor continued to smile as he wrapped it in oil paper and handed it over, not forgetting to call out:
“Come again next time, young lady!”
There were quite a few people like her in the town, eating while walking. Some wore coarse hemp clothes like hers, while some were better dressed in silk.
Ding Baozhu took a large bite and immediately reached the filling; it turned out to be diced bamboo shoots and meat.
There was more meat than bamboo shoots. The finely diced bamboo shoots were hidden within the savory meatball. When she bit into it, not only was it bursting with meat fragrance, but it also had a bit of a crunchy texture and a refreshing quality.
However, for the outer dough, she tasted that it likely wasn’t made of pure white flour; it probably contained other types of flour mixed in, otherwise, it wouldn’t be sold at this price.
But the inner part of the dough was soaked in the meat juices, so it was also very delicious.
Ding Baozhu finished it in just a few bites, only to find that she wasn’t full.
If this were an ordinary girl, she would not only be full but would probably have only bought the one-coin vegetable bun.
Ding Baozhu patted her stomach and prepared to see if there was anything else good to eat; before transmigrating, she had always enjoyed hunting for food.
In the meantime, she passed many vendors selling goods, some shouting loudly, others focusing solely on the customers before them, working hard to promote the items on display—the entire street was almost completely filled.
For example, there were people selling charcoal, firewood, oil, and beans—crowded together in all shapes and forms—but the most common were those selling vegetables and meat.
Ding Baozhu wandered through the crowd for a while and gained a general understanding of the current prices.
Those selling meat, aside from poultry products like eggs, sold fish, chicks, ducklings, or full-grown chickens and ducks, as well as piglets. After walking a few more steps, however, she discovered a slightly different stall.
Fortunately, she was tall; standing on her tiptoes, she saw several small square cages on the stall. Something inside was chirping, sounding like birds.
Someone nearby asked:
“Young man, how many copper coins for one of these yellow sparrows?”
The young man sitting at the stall answered at a leisurely pace:
“Six coins for the small ones, nine for the large ones. These were all freshly caught within the last two days.”
Ding Baozhu realized then that they were yellow sparrows.
She suddenly remembered that there was indeed a dish called “simmered yellow sparrow.” Moreover, this price sounded cheaper than chicken or duck, and meat was meat; someone might actually buy them.
Upon hearing the price, the person didn’t buy anything and left. Some others followed, and the crowd at the stall thinned out.
Yet the man didn’t look disappointed. He just sat cross-legged, a stalk of foxtail grass dangling from his mouth.
However, once the crowd cleared, Ding Baozhu saw the young man’s appearance and was stunned for a moment.
His features were actually quite handsome, with sword-like brows and bright eyes. However, there was a long, carmine-red mark, like a scar, stretching from his left forehead down his face. It looked like a birthmark, but it didn’t much detract from his looks.
Sensing her gaze, the man glanced her way. For some reason, he immediately looked away and gave what looked very much like an eye-roll.
…Is this vendor okay?
Ding Baozhu was puzzled, but in the end, she followed the other pedestrians and left; after all, she had no need to buy such things.