Before dawn broke, Xia Tian had already risen early.
After a quick wash, she hurried to fetch two loads of water, filling the water jar halfway.
Taking advantage of Shen Nian still being asleep, she promptly lit the fire to prepare breakfast.
She steamed buns, cooked millet porridge and set it aside, then used a small pot to fry several cornmeal pancakes for herself.
Since she was going to the market today and there would be many people, bringing steamed buns wouldn't be appropriate.
After preparing breakfast, she freed up the pot, boiled a pot of water, went to the main room to fetch the teapot and filled it with water, adding a small amount of Spiritual Spring Water.
Seeing that Shen Nian had gotten up, she quickly set the breakfast table and added a few drops of Spiritual Spring Water to his millet porridge.
Noticing his expression was normal and she hadn't heard him cough much in the morning, she felt considerably relieved.
When Shen Nian finished one bowl of porridge, she served him another. "Brother Shen, eat more. Are you feeling better today?"
"Mm."
"I made plans with Sister-in-law Yao and the others to go to the market today, and I'll buy some rice and flour while I'm there. Do you want to come with me? We could find a medical clinic to see a doctor and get some medicine?"
Shen Nian shook his head. "No."
"Will you be alright alone at home?"
Xia Tian was still worried. If not for the fact that they were running low on food at home, she wouldn't have wanted to go.
"It's fine," Shen Nian replied softly.
"Alright then. Drink plenty of hot water while I'm gone—the teapot is already full. I'll try to be back before lunchtime. Is there anything you need me to bring?"
Shen Nian shook his head.
Seeing that Xia Tian was almost finished eating, Shen Nian took out a pouch from his robe and handed it to her.
"What's this?"
Xia Tian took it curiously and opened it to find silver coins inside.
Her heart swelled with joy. Brother Shen was so thoughtful—he'd prepared money for her in advance, knowing she was going to the market today.
But when did he find out she was going to the market?
She didn't remember mentioning it.
Never mind—perhaps she'd mentioned it yesterday and forgotten.
Xia Tian handed the pouch back to Shen Nian. "There's still plenty left from what you gave me last time!"
"Keep it," Shen Nian didn't take it back.
"Alright then, I'll hold onto it for now and buy whatever else we need." Xia Tian quickly finished her meal.
By the time she cleaned up, it was almost time to go.
Xia Tian wrapped two cornmeal pancakes in a clean cloth, shouldered her basket, called out "I'm leaving" toward the main room, and went out to meet up with Sister-in-law Yao and the others.
Shen Nian poured a cup of water and sipped it slowly, listening as Xia Tian opened the door, closed it, asked Sister-in-law Yao if she was ready, heard Sister-in-law Yao reply that she was coming, and then the sound of their voices gradually faded into the distance…
When Xia Tian and Sister-in-law Yao arrived under the large willow tree at the village entrance, many people were already waiting there.
Soon after, Liu Lao San, the village cart driver, arrived with his ox cart. Each person paid one copper coin, boarded the cart, and set off toward town.
The town where Xia Tian lived was called Qingquan Town. Walking from Liu Jia Village to Qingquan Town took about three hours, but by ox cart, it took less than two.
Qingquan Town held large markets on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th of each month. People from over a dozen surrounding villages would typically come to the market.
They would bring surplus or unused items from home to sell for money, or go to buy necessities for their households, making it particularly lively.
Although Xia Tian and the others had set out early, by the time they reached town, many people had already arrived.
Qingquan Town was oriented north-south, laid out in a square shape. Its main streets formed a grid pattern like the Chinese character for "well." It wasn't very large, but it was densely populated and usually quite bustling.
As soon as she entered the city gate, Xia Tian saw shop banners fluttering in the wind on both sides, with shop assistants standing at the entrances calling out to passersby.
Without lingering, she curiously observed the ancient town while following the villagers toward the market area.
The town had designated a specific street for fixed stalls to facilitate public trade.
Both sides of the road were already filled with goods, and villagers who had brought items to sell hurried to find spots to set up their stalls.
She planned to first buy rice and flour at the grain and oil shop, having agreed with Sister-in-law Yao to meet at Uncle Liu San's oxcart at noon.
Uncle Liu San's oxcart was parked outside the town gate in a designated parking area, as oxcarts weren't allowed inside during busy market days.
The reason she didn't wander with the other villagers was to avoid them knowing what she purchased.
Walking along the main road, she checked prices at grain shops, meat stalls, and other vendors.
Having just arrived in this era, she was unfamiliar with local prices and needed to understand the market situation.
Besides, comparing prices before buying was always wise.
After getting a general idea, Xia Tian found a shop with fair pricing.
Refined rice cost eight wen per jin, white flour seven wen – she bought ten jin of each. Brown rice, coarse flour, and cornmeal were two wen per jin, so she purchased five jin of each.
Millet was slightly more expensive at five wen per jin, so she bought two jin.
Since she hadn't brought storage bags, Xia Tian spent a few extra wen to buy bags from the shopkeeper, packing the grains in her backpack.
Rapeseed Oil was relatively expensive at ten wen per jin – she bought five jin and convinced the shopkeeper to include a pottery jar for storage.
Noticing vegetable seeds in the shop, she bought various types to plant in her backyard garden after returning home.
This would save her from having to buy vegetables regularly.
Most farming families grew their own vegetables, as daily purchases weren't sustainable long-term.
With her main purchases complete, Xia Tian left the shop and continued wandering.
Finding a secluded spot along the way, she transferred the refined grains and oil to her space, leaving only the brown rice, coarse flour, cornmeal, and vegetable seeds in her backpack.
At a meat stall, she bought two jin of pork belly for twenty wen and five jin of pork fat at twelve wen per jin to render lard at home.
Spotting pork intestines, heart, and lungs at the stall, she purchased five jin for fifteen wen. The butcher threw in a large pork bone since she bought in quantity.
Seeing a farmer selling home-raised chickens by the roadside, she selected a hen for thirty-five wen.
Remembering she needed spices like cinnamon and star anise, she purchased some seasonings.
She skipped buying soy sauce and vinegar since she still had some at home.
At another quiet spot, she stored the pork belly, chicken, and spices in her space.
Keeping only the pork fat and organs in her backpack.
Xia Tian calculated she'd spent nearly four hundred wen on these purchases.
Fortunately, Shen Nian had given her money before she left, otherwise it wouldn't have been enough.
With shopping mostly done and time to spare, Xia Tian slowed her pace to appreciate the bustling ancient market.
The street echoed with constant vendor calls as she browsed – stalls sold steamed buns, noodles, lamb organ soup, potstickers, and various other foods, alongside cloth, hair accessories, pouches, and more, creating a vibrant scene.
Most roadside vendors were farmers selling homegrown vegetables, eggs, woven baskets, backpacks and other agricultural products, attracting numerous customers.
Most of the people shopping here were likely residents of the town.
Along the way, Xia Tian noticed there were no vendors selling marinated dishes—something she could potentially make herself to earn some living expenses.
After all, it wasn’t sustainable for the two of them to stay home every day without any source of income.
Most families in the village owned land, so they didn’t need to spend much on grains and other staples. But she and Shen Nian had nothing, and buying food already cost them a considerable amount.
As Xia Tian strolled along, heading toward the meeting point, she spotted a stall selling steamed buns and bought five meat-filled ones, discreetly storing them in her space.
When she arrived at the gathering spot, Sister-in-law Yao and the others hadn’t shown up yet. Xia Tian greeted Uncle Liu San, then sat in the oxcart, munching on the corn pancakes she had brought while waiting for them.
Soon, almost everyone had arrived, and the cart was nearly full. Uncle Liu San urged the ox forward, setting off on the return journey.
On the cart, everyone chatted and looked over what each person had bought.