Li Zian and her mother are cutting red papers to make new year lanterns. They also cut the cute shape of this year's zodiac animal. Tomorrow, she will go to the city with her parents to buy food ingredients for the new year's feast. This new year will be merrier because the third brother will introduce his fiancé to the family members. Her mother wants to buy a new curtain and utensils for their house to impress her future daughter-in-law. Based on the third brother's letter, his fiancé is from a noble family. She is from military lineage, a brave and valiant girl. Li Zian really wonders why did such a great girl wants his skinny third brother?
After dawn, Li Zian and her parents walk to the village gate and wait for the cow carriage. A few minutes later, a cow carriage stops in front of the village gate and wait for passengers. Li Zian and her parents quickly sit in the carriage and pay the coachman. Besides them, a few villagers also quickly hop into the carriage. The carriage stops for about fifteen minutes before traveling to the city.
The carriage is noisy with the passenger chattering. Luckily, there are not many people so the carriage is not crowded. They are travelling for about one hour before arriving in the city. The city is bustling with people. Red lanterns already hanging outside the stores. Seller is shouting new year discount attracting the customers.
Mother Qi drags Li Zian to find a new curtain and utensils while Father Qing goes to the wet market to buy supplies. Entering the cloth store Mother Qing's eyes is spinning seeing the beautiful fabrics. Mother Qing and Li Zian go directly to the curtain section.
"After buying the curtain, if we still have some money let's pick a few fabrics for our family." Mother Qing said happily. This year their family manage to save some money. It is enough to buy many things. Mother Qing choose one set of red curtains and one set of blue curtains after choosing for one hour.
She decided to buy two sets of curtains because the shop assistant said the shop is doing a mega discount for the new year, buy two set curtains, get eight meters of fabrics. Mother Qing is excited when the shop assistant tells her the all the fabric is half price. Mother Qing walks to the fabric section to buy a few meters of fabric so that all of them have new cloth this year.
Mother Qing is absorbed in buying when she noticed that she and Li Zian were unable to carry all of them. When she starts worrying, the shop assistant surprises her when she tells them that there will be free delivery for the new year promotion. Mother Qing is one step from jumping happily before Li Zian thanking the shop assistant and pulling her mother out from the cloth store. Li Zian winks her eyes at the shop assistant. The shop assistant nodded at her and silently held the pouch filled with gold coins given by Li Zian.
"That shop is good, I thought with the money we have, we only able to buy a set of curtains and eight-meter of fabric. The fabrics they sold are all good fabric yet they give so much discount. I hope the seller will have good business this year."
"Hmm, it's probably because of the new year promotion."
"That is right. Li Zian, give me back the money pouch. I want to count the money before we go to buy the utensils."
"Mom, do not worry, we still have plenty of money."
Mother Qing trust Li Zian and once again drags Li Zian to find shops that sell utensils. She wants to buy new chopsticks and bowls.
Meanwhile, Father Qi is going to the meat store. When he comes, he found out there is no meat left. He asked the owner are there any meat left for him but the owner said there are no meat for him.
"Brother, I already book ten kilograms of meat. I also paid the deposit. Two days later it will be the new year, where can I find meat? I have a guest coming to my house, you cannot do this to me."
"Ten kilograms of meat... oh! I remember you are Brother Li. I am sorry, there is someone that come to buy all the meat at my store this morning. He also paid double. Here, takes your deposit back." The meat seller shoves the money to Father Qi before rushing to close his shop. Father Qi is speechless, where is he going to buy such a large quantity of meat? If there is meat being sold, the normal price cannot be used. It is the new year, everything is expensive. Father Qi proceeds to ask another store that sells meat but all of the meat is already being booked. He goes to buy some spices and vegetables before meeting with Mother Qing and Li Zian.
Before meeting with Mother Qing and Li Zian, Father Qing decided to tour the wet market once again to buy some fish. Since they cannot have meat, fish meat is also good. His wife can make fish balls and it is delicious. He remembers that his third son loves it. When choosing which fish store to enter, Father Qi bumps into a villager.
"Brother Qi, what are you doing here?"
"Brother Ling such a coincidence. I want to buy some fish. Haih! The meat seller sells my meat portion to other people."
"What! Which meat store is that? Tell me, I have a bit reputation here." Brother Ling shows a displeased face. How can he let his brother be bullied?
"It is the store near the restaurant. It is okay Brother Ling. No need to make a fuss. Since you are familiar with this market tell me which store sells fresh fish?" Father Qi said it with a smile.
"Brother Li, if this kind of thing happens again, no need to feel shy to tell me."
Brother Ling brings Father Qi to a store that sells fresh fish. Besides that, he also introduces various stores to Father Qi. Both of them end up having lunch in a nearby restaurant.
Li Zian and her mother also have a blast time. Her mother is very happy. Each store she enters will have a great discount. She can shop with an ease of mind. They found a nice restaurant to rest and have lunch.
After enjoying their lunch, both of them decided to go to wait for Father Qi near the city gate. On their way out, they bump with Father Qi and Brother Ling.
"Oh! Li Zian, you a big girl now." Brother Ling said with a laugh.
"Uncle Ling, you also getting bigger." Li Zian said with a smile.
Her mother smacks her head, "I am sorry Brother Ling. This girl is..."
Nah! It is okay. She is just joking." Brother Ling laughs out loud. He usually meets with Li Zian before coming to the city because he is working with Uncle Wang in the village. Uncle Wang always talks about Li Zian when he meets with Uncle Wang. So, he is more familiar with Li Zian than her parents.
They walk together to the city gate. On their way, Li Zian wants to meet with a villager that sells her chicken eggs. She already told him that she will come to get her money today. Brother Ling brings them to Square Street. It is called Square Street because this street is filled with small square stalls and various goods can be found here.
The goods that are being sold here are mostly accessories, dry food, candies, and street food. Most of the villagers come and open a stall here. The wide street is noisy and boisterous with people. People are a bargain with the seller and some of them just do window shopping.
Seeing so many accessories, Mother Qing is excited once again. She pats the pouch, "Cling...cling," the coin is telling, "There are many of us. Feel free to spend us." Li Zian takes out half of the money before giving back the money pouch to her mother. Her mother is suspicious at first but Li Zian is good at making her mother confuse so her mother trusts her. Father Qi told Mother Qing and Li Zian to go and have some fun before going home. He and Bother Ling will go to collect the money. Mother Qing nodded and pulls Li Zian's hands to see the accessories. Li Zian feels amused and just follows her mother.
Arriving at Brother Hu's stall, they see a group of people is crashing his stall. They step on the wood sculptors, "Stop!" Brother Hu shouted, his mother and father quickly save other wood sculptors on the ground.
"Hu Huan, this is what happens when you refuse to sell to our young miss."
"Those eggs already have owners. How can I sell it to your young miss? I told you to negotiate with the buyer yourself." Brother Hu already holding a wooden stick as thick as his arm. He swings it a bit to intimidate those servants.