There were two large livestock markets in Shuiqing Town, one located in the west and the other in the north. Qiao Suiman and the others were closer to the northern market, which they estimated would take about the time it takes two sticks of incense to walk there.
The sheds in front and behind the shop had all been set up. In the backyard, the shed was built closer to the back gate, with a low wooden fence put up to prevent manure from being scattered everywhere.
Qiao Suiman has been looking forward to this for a long time. As soon as the drinks were sold out today, he hurriedly closed the shop, took the silver coins and handed them to Lu Dongqing to keep, then pulled the cart out of the back door of the shop.
As they walked, they discussed future plans. Although they only returned home once every half month, they still needed to carefully consider what to bring back to the village each time and what to bring back to town.
It was now the third month. Tang Xiao had gone hunting in the mountains. The fruits for the last two deliveries were brought by Tang Guo’er and his eldest brother. Persimmons were becoming increasingly scarce. However, Tang Guo’er went up the mountain every day to pick wild mulberries. Starting two days ago, Qiao Suiman stopped making the Persimmons of Good Fortune drink and replaced it with Mulberry Drink.
Since it was a unique wild fruit from the mountains and rarely seen in town, it sold very well. Nowadays, the drinks shop earns around one tael of silver per day. The income from the bamboo ware shop wasn’t as stable. If there were many customers and bamboo carvings sold well, they could earn two taels a day. But if it were slower, relying only on selling bamboo woven goods, they might only make a few maces of silver.
However, regardless of how much they earn, as long as they have an income, the two are happy. Life is much better now than when they used to sell goods on the street. It is less exhausting, though they couldn’t see their family as often.
With a donkey cart, traveling to and from home would be much more convenient. With this aspiration in mind, Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing quickened their pace, reaching the livestock market in just over the time it takes one stick of incense.
Although it was already the wei shi[mfn]未时 : 1-3 PM[/mfn], the market was still bustling. There were not only donkeys but also mules, large horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, and more. It was Qiao Suiman’s first time here, and he found everything fascinating. He even reached out and patted a horse’s back a couple of times.
“This horse is really tall,” Qiao Suiman remarked. But unfortunately, they were not merchants traveling far, so they had no use for such expensive animals. A donkey would suffice.
“Let’s go, there are several donkey sellers up ahead.”
Lu Dongqing shielded Qiao Suiman behind him as they moved forward.
“Take a look at the donkeys and mules. They are very healthy and strong. Customer, come and see my donkeys. They are very cheap.”
A man enthusiastically greeted them, and Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing approached to take a closer look.
The three donkeys were eating grass with their heads down, chewing the grass with their mouths, and they seemed to have a good appetite.
“How much?” Lu Dongqing asked.
“Fifteen taels. Raised for three years,” the stall owner replied with a grin.
“Too expensive.”
Qiao Suiman had been asking around a lot lately. A three-year-old donkey was just the right age to work, and although it was more expensive than a mule of the same age, it didn’t cost as much as fifteen taels. Twelve or thirteen taels were enough to buy a donkey in good condition.
“Look at my donkey. It eats and drinks well, well-trained too. You can put it to work as soon as you get home. It’s really not expensive,” the stall owner insisted, unwilling to lower the price.
Lu Dongqing replied calmly, “We’ll take another look.”
Spending over ten taels of silver required careful consideration.
Qiao Suiman followed him to the next stall. This family only has one donkey left, which looked smaller than the ones at the previous stall, so they didn’t ask the price and walked straight past.
After looking at several more stalls, Qiao Suiman still hadn’t seen one he was satisfied with. The donkeys were either too small or too expensive, and none of the sellers would bargain.
Across from them, a stall owner was humming a tune while brushing a donkey. The donkey looked as though it was enjoying itself. Lu Dongqing walked over and asked, “Uncle, how much for this donkey?”
The stall owner, who had his back to them, was startled. He turned around and patted his chest. “You scared me, young man. Are you buying a donkey?”
“Yes, Uncle,” Qiao Suiman answered.
“Then you’ve come to the right person. I won’t claim mine are the strongest, but they’re certainly among the best here. Which one caught your eye?”
Lu Dongqing circled the freshly groomed donkey, lifted its hoof, and found no injuries. Then he pried open its mouth to check its teeth. They looked good as well.
The donkey let him fiddle with it quietly, not getting angry. Qiao Suiman watched curiously and reached out to touch it. Unexpectedly, it nudged its head into Qiao Suiman’s hand.
Qiao Suiman was amused. “How much for this one?”
“Young ge’r, you have a good eye. I just brought this one here today, and it has the gentlest temperament. Unlike those stalls ahead, who herd all their big and small ones together and refuse to lower their price.”
The stall owner put away the large brush. Seeing that the two of them got along well with the donkey, he said, “I do business based on initial connection[mfn]眼缘 yǎnyuán – literally “eye fate” or “affinity felt upon first sight.” It refers to a positive first impression or a feeling of connection based on appearance or initial interaction (feel free to suggest if you find a better word for this)[/mfn]. If you want it, fourteen taels of silver.”
Hearing this, Qiao Suiman said with a smile, “Since we have connection[mfn]缘分 yuánfèn – fate, destiny, or chance. It refers to the concept of a pre-determined or fated connection between people or things. It can also imply a serendipitous encounter or a special relationship that is destined to be.[/mfn], Uncle, why quote such a high price?”
Lu Dongqing raised an eyebrow. “Twelve taels, Uncle. This donkey is in good condition, but as you said, it has just been brought to town and needs to be raised for a while before it can do heavy work. Fourteen taels is still too high.”
Seeing how the two worked in tandem, the stall owner made a pained expression. “A bit more, add five mace!”
Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing exchanged a look. “We can add a bit, but you have to fit it with the cart for us.”
Qiao Suiman glanced at the donkey whips placed to the side. “And give us two donkey whips as well.”
“You two– ah, fine, fine! Considering the connection[mfn]also used 缘分 yuánfèn[/mfn] between you and this donkey, I’ll agree!”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll fetch our cart.”
Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing returned to the front of the livestock market together and pulled their cart to the stall owner’s place. When they passed the first stall, the stall owner asked them how much they had paid for it. Qiao Suiman just smiled but said nothing.
The stall owners here were all old hands, so fitting the cart was done quickly. Lu Dongqing knew how to ride horses, and in the past had even driven the horse cart for his bamboo craftsman master to the prefectural city. Driving a donkey cart was nothing difficult.
After quickly settling the bill with the vendor, Qiao Suiman asked him for some fodder grass, and then they left the livestock market.
By the time they left, the sky was darkening. Though they had just spent a large sum, Qiao Suiman’s eyes were bright. The cart was hitched behind the donkey. He sat on the new cart and leaned against Lu Dongqing. He let the donkey walk slowly, only occasionally tugging the reins to avoid going the wrong way.
Not in a hurry to get home, Lu Dongqing didn’t use the whip. The donkey was newly bought, and Qiao Suiman couldn’t bear to whip it either.
“Dongqing, let’s give it a name. It’s so friendly with us,” Qiao Suiman said with a smile.
A smile appeared in Lu Dongqing’s eyes. “What should we call it?”
Qiao Suiman thought for a moment, then had a flash of inspiration and said excitedly, “It’s so obedient, let’s call it Da Guai[mfn]大乖 – 大 (dà) means big, large. 乖 (guāi) means well-behaved, obedient, good. So, the name means “Big Well-Behaved” or “Big Obedient One.”[/mfn]?”
“Da Guai.”
As soon as Lu Dongqing said the name, the donkey timely let out a bray, as if in response.
Qiao Suiman burst into laughter, nearly doubling over. He changed his position and stroked the donkey’s back. “You like that name, don’t you?! Then we’ll call you Da Guai!”
With joy, the two of them and the donkey returned to Beide Road. Entering from a side street and circling to the back gate, they passed other shopkeepers nearby. Seeing that the two had left with an empty cart but returned sitting in a donkey cart, everyone was astonished. They asked where they bought them and how much they cost.
Qiao Suiman answered each one, taking some time before finally returning to the shop.
The back gate was on the side near the house and storage room. The shed for keeping the donkey was built on the other side, enclosed on two sides against the wall. The ground was spread with plenty of dry grass, and there was a feeding trough hollowed out from wood to prevent making the ground dirty and messy.
Originally, they wanted to build another shed so that family members could rest when they came to visit, but there wasn’t enough space in the backyard. So they just extended the eaves along the kitchen door and placed a bamboo table and a few chairs next to it, which also covered the clay stove. When it rained, they just had to pull down the straw curtain to keep the rain out.
Space in town was small, unlike the spaciousness at home. To live comfortably, they could only try every means to utilize the space well. They were quite satisfied with how they had tidied it up now.
After a few days, Da Gui became more familiar with them. Every time Qiao Suiman went to feed them, Da Gui would come over and rub against him, somewhat resembling Heijin.
Thinking of Heijin, Qiao Suiman’s mouth turned down. He hadn’t seen him for over a month and missed him terribly.
It wasn’t just Heijin, he missed his family and the other villagers, too. During this time, he had learned many characters. He had already memorized the first line of the Three Character Classic and could not wait to bring his writing back to show Qin Yu-ge and the others.
The days passed one by one, and finally, it was the twelfth day of the third month.
Their bundle had been packed the day before. Qiao Suiman wrapped the fabric he planned to bring back in coarse cloth and placed it in a bamboo basket. After checking that nothing was left behind, Lu Dongqing drove the donkey cart out.
Before returning to the village, they first went to the county office to register. Registration for the Fragrant Drinks competition has started on the tenth day of the third month. However, for the past two days, they had to mind the shop business. By the time they closed, the people at the county office had already gone home.
During those two days, Liu Tianfu had even mocked them outside the shop, saying they were too scared to register and would flee at the last moment.
Qiao Suiman didn’t even want to bother with him. Following his previous method, he splashed a basin of water at him. Qin Xiaoyao scolded him a few times from next door, and only then did he return to the shop in shame.
Arriving at the county office, the notice on the announcement wall next to it was still posted. According to Lu Dongqing, this notice would remain posted until the competition began.
Qiao Suiman explained his purpose to the yayi guarding the county office gate. Since many were registering these days, the guard casually pointed to the side. “Go see him.”
“Many thanks, daren[mfn]大人 dàrén is a formal and respectful form of address for a government official or a person of high status and authority[/mfn].”
On the right sat a long-bearded shiye[mfn]师爷 shīyé – A private advisor or secretary to a magistrate or other officials, often handling legal, financial, or administrative matters. They were not officially appointed by the government but hired personally by the official.[/mfn]. Seeing Qiao Suiman, he said with a smile, “Here to register for the Fragrant Drink Competition, little fellow?”
“Yes, shiye.”
“Give me your household registration. I remember you. Your craft is good, little ge’r.”
“I saw you during last year’s Dragon Boat Festival,” Qiao Suiman said with a smile. It was the same shiye who had taken them to the pavilion where the Magistrate was that time.
The shiye nodded, wrote Qiao Suiman’s name and household registration in the ledger, stroked his beard, and said, “All right. In the fifth month, the announcement will be posted. Be sure to check it then, so you don’t miss the time.”
“Thank you, shiye,” Qiao Suiman said.
The shiye waved his hand. They didn’t linger further and turned to leave the county office.
Qiao Suiman let out a breath. “I wonder how the competition will be run. I’ve never seen one before.”
“We’ll know when the time comes. Probably it’s like cooking competitions, make the drinks together for the judges to taste, and then they select the top few,” Lu Dongqing said with a smile.
“Anyway, there are still two months. Besides, I believe in my skills. Hmph, I can definitely beat those two annoying fellows!” Qiao Suiman said, pursing his lips.
Lu Dongqing glanced sideways, freed a hand to pinch Qiao Suiman’s puffed-out cheek, and agreed, “Our Xiao Man is so capable, of course you can.”
They needed to hurry on the road home. Lu Dongqing gave Da Guai a few flicks with the whip, and the cart started moving faster. When they arrived at East Market, the two first went to take a look at Shopkeeper Hu’s shop, which was much more impressive than before, with two full stories and even a private room upstairs.
Of course, the prices of the pastries were higher too. However, Qiao Suiman was willing to spend and still bought four packages of sugary crispy cakes, two packages of red bean cakes, and two packages of hawthorn cakes.
After placing the pastries into the basket, the only thing left to buy was fresh meat. They could get that from Xuesheng, and at the same time buy some bone pieces from Wang Qi to feed the dogs.
Now, the two families had five dogs altogether. Qiao Suiman hadn’t seen the two at home yet and wondered how the chickens and ducks were doing.
Qin Yu was over four months along now. Qiao Suiman wondered if his belly was showing, since the last time it was not obvious. In his bundle, he had bought nourishing medicinal herbs for Qin Yu, purchased from the same medicine shop where Lu Dongqing had once sold bamboo fungus. He bought quite a lot.
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