A sizeable crowd had already gathered in the village’s open square—some had come to shop, others to sell their wares.
Once a person found their spot and laid out their goods, a stall was born. The more meticulous vendors set up small tables to display their items neatly; those who preferred simplicity simply spread a cloth on the ground and placed their merchandise atop it however they pleased.
Though arrangements seemed casual, the stalls had spontaneously formed two orderly rows, with ample space between them for customers to walk and browse.
The goods on offer were a motley assortment: farming tools like iron shovels and hoes stood alongside pots, bowls, and ladles. Young women sold facial powder, hair oil, thread, and cloth; towering piles of snacks drew crowds, while trinkets to delight children—wooden ponies, paper windmills, and strings of colorful beads—sat nearby.
Voices rose and fell all around: loud haggling, boisterous hawking, calls to bargain, laughter—all blending into a lively, clamorous symphony. The air was thick with the scents of cooking smoke, dust, and fresh produce, infusing the market with a rich, earthy warmth that made one feel immersed in the very pulse of daily life.
Yuan Xiang thought this place was much like the markets she’d visited as a child. Once she grew up, though, shopping had become far easier with online purchases, and she’d rarely come to places like this anymore.
They hadn’t arrived particularly early. While the stalls looked haphazard, they were arranged in two neat rows as if by unspoken agreement. The front of the stalls was already packed with people picking through the goods, so Yuan Xiang and her companions had to circle around to the back rows to find a spot to set up.
After they’d arranged their merchandise, Jin Feng whispered to her, “Xiang, you stay here and mind the stall for a bit—I’m going to buy some chicks. If I’m late, all the good ones will be gone.”
It turned out buying chicks was the reason she’d come to the market today. Her mother-in-law had given her money the night before, telling her to bring home a few to raise. Now that their lives had settled down—no longer living as refugees—her mother-in-law often spoke of needing chickens to lay eggs, to help nourish Dashan, who was recovering from injuries.
“Go on then, Jin Feng Jie,” Yuan Xiang nodded, gently urging her to hurry.
Jin Feng spotted a chick vendor right away. Several bamboo cages sat before the seller, and inside, fluffy yellow chicks hopped about chirping nonstop, their eyes bright and alert.
“May I touch them?” she asked.
“Be my guest.” The vendor lifted one corner of a cage.
Jin Feng squatted down and gently parted a cluster of huddled chicks, carefully examining their plumage, size, and vitality.
“This one’s leg seems a bit weak… this one looks listless… mm, these few are good.” She murmured to herself as she selected them, moving with such care as not to startle or harm the tiny birds.
A few other village women were picking out chicks nearby, pointing and advising each other: “The plump ones are better—they need to be lively and active!” One reached in to grab a chick, and it flapped its wings and chirped even louder.
Jin Feng chose the healthiest, most energetic chicks she could find.
Seeing her selection, the vendor called out his price: “Five coins each.”
Jin Feng raised an eyebrow and tapped the edge of the cage lightly. “Five coins? Last time I came to the market, another vendor sold them for three each—yours are quite expensive.”
The vendor was quick to retort: “Can’t compare! These are the liveliest ones you’ll find today—look at their bright eyes and glossy feathers. The price is fair!”
Jin Feng remained unflappable, smiling as she said, “They are lively, I’ll give you that—but I’m taking them home to raise properly. If you’re asking five each, how about fifteen coins for four chicks? Any more than that, and I’ll have to look elsewhere.”
As she spoke, she began packing up her basket, making it clear she’d walk away if he refused.
The vendor glanced at the chicks, then at Jin Feng, muttering under his breath: “Alright then—fifteen coins it is. These are top-quality chicks, you’re getting a steal today.”
Since he’d agreed to sell, Jin Feng paid no mind to his boastful words. She nodded, pulled out her copper coins to settle the bill, and carefully placed the chicks into her basket. After making sure they were safe and comfortable, she patted the edge of the basket gently and headed back to meet Yuan Xiang.
It hadn’t been long since she’d left, but when she returned, she found Yuan Xiang still sitting quietly behind their stall. The goods were arranged neatly, yet not a single customer had stopped by—it looked exactly as it had when she’d left.
All around them, other vendors called out their wares at the top of their lungs, their voices rising and falling in a cheerful bustle of haggling and banter. Yuan Xiang’s stall stood in stark, almost awkward silence, as if separated from the rest of the market by an invisible wall.
Jin Feng couldn’t help but chuckle. “Xiang, just sitting there like that won’t get you any sales!”
Yuan Xiang was embarrassed to see her back so soon and scratched her head, feeling frustrated. Of course she wanted to sell their goods—but she’d still been working up the courage to call out, and now Jin Feng had returned before she could steel herself.
In her previous life, she’d been a sheltered student who’d never set foot in the working world. Though she was in her twenties, she’d never had to hawk goods in a market before. The loud calls of the vendors on either side were almost deafening; every time she tried to open her mouth, her voice was swallowed whole by the noise, leaving her frozen with nerves.
Just then, the commotion around them grew louder:
“Red hair ties—two coins a bunch!”
“Silk flowers! Selling silk flowers—cheap!”
The two women’s voices intertwined like rushing streams, crashing against Yuan Xiang’s eardrums and leaving her with no opening to speak.
She bit her lip in frustration.
Jin Feng shook her head with a smile, thinking to herself that the girl was still too shy to put herself out there. Sitting in silence would never draw customers—their wares weren’t something people would flock to on their own.
Still, she could understand Yuan Xiang’s difficulty. How old was she, really? She barely spoke to anyone in the village on a normal day—asking a young maiden who’d barely left her home to shout out her goods in front of so many people…
If the family hadn’t fallen on hard times, a proper young woman would never be standing at a market stall hawking merchandise. It truly was asking a lot of her. Clearly, her mother-in-law had anticipated this when she’d asked Jin Feng to come along.
Jin Feng set down her basket of chicks and squatted beside Yuan Xiang. “Watch how I do it.”
She rolled up her sleeves, cleared her throat, and let out a resounding shout that cut through the din like a sword through water, instantly drowning out the two women’s calls.
“Bowls and pots for sale! Jars and basins! All cheap—come see!”
The two vendors were so startled by the sudden boom of her voice that they faltered mid-call. By the time they recovered, their section of the market had become a three-way contest.
All three shouted at the top of their lungs, their voices rising and falling, overlapping and weaving together like a chaotic market symphony. Looking from one to the other, Yuan Xiang marveled to herself: Wow, this really is a trio!
Clearly, seeing the new vendor’s bold approach, the two women decided to join forces to drown her out. Jin Feng knew this was just them “bullying the newcomer”—shouting herself hoarse would do no good, so she quickly changed tactics.
Her eyes scanned the passing crowd like hooks, and the moment someone met her gaze, she’d call out in a warm, natural tone: “Auntie! Need bowls or pots for your home? Come take a look—we’ve got everything you need! Cheap and sturdy!”
If a passerby hesitated, she’d adjust her approach: “Hey there, sister! Short on kitchenware at home?”
Yuan Xiang watched in admiration. Jin Feng was both bold and adaptable, completely in command of the rhythm and mood of the market. She thought to herself: She looks like a seasoned pro at this.
Jin Feng glanced at her with a knowing smile, as if to say, See? That’s how it’s done—shout out, and people will hear you.
When Jin Feng paused to catch her breath, Yuan Xiang whispered, “Jin Feng Jie, have you sold things here before? You’re so skilled at this!”
Jin Feng laughed and adjusted her sleeves. “Nothing like that—even if you’ve never eaten pork, you’ve seen pigs run, right? I just copied how the vendors used to shout when I came to markets as a kid—one trip and you remember the lines.”
Jin Feng had been quiet on the way here, and Yuan Xiang had thought her a reserved person. But at the market, she was completely transformed—outgoing and articulate, able to talk to anyone with ease. Yuan Xiang was full of admiration and couldn’t help but praise her: “Jin Feng Jie, you’ve got such a gift for business!”
Jin Feng waved off the compliment with a smile and didn’t say more, turning back to call out to customers one by one.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before someone was drawn over by her calls. They squatted down at their stall, carefully sifting through the goods spread on the cloth, their eyes filled with interest.
Watching their movements, Yuan Xiang felt a surge of joy—she knew their stall would finally make its first sale today.