"No wonder."
Liang Qu scanned the scene from atop the steps.
The river breeze was strong, the flags flapped vigorously in the wind.
Today was a rare fine day, and Shangrao Wharf was brimming with people bustling about.
Strong, young men weaved through the crowd maintaining order, on guard against any opportunistic thieves.
The entire town of Yixing could boast nearly ten thousand inhabitants, and factoring in those who had rushed over from surrounding villages, the true count exceeded ten thousand. Qing Stone Street couldn't accommodate them all; like a tide, they filled every crevice in the rocks, crowding each and every alley.
With so many people, even their low murmurs of conversation combined to create a roar akin to that of a tidal wave.
This cacophony startled the local water birds, preventing them from settling on rooftops as they circled continuously in the sky.
The crowd stood in silence, gradually stilling their agitation.
