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The road in the Outer City after the snow melted was full of puddles and potholes.
The old elm wood wagon wheels rolled into the puddles, splashing dirty water like shattered pearl curtains.
The poor residents of the Outer City, barefoot on the muddy water, surrounded the carriage like vultures, moving slowly on the muddy streets.
If not for the intimidation of Shen Qing, they would have likely swarmed to rob the goods clean from the carriage.
"Brother Qingzi, I'm a bit scared." Shen Xiaohu, coming to the county city for the first time, had never seen such a scene and looked to Shen Qing for help.
"Take out your bow, shoot anyone who approaches, kill them." Shen Qing said expressionlessly, "When you have a weapon, there's nothing to fear."
"Ah!"
Seeing Shen Xiaohu hesitate, knowing he wasn't mentally prepared for this, Shen Qing continued, "Treat them like game in the forest, see that long-eared one, doesn't he look like a mountain hare?"
"Yes!" In Shen Xiaohu's heart, his cousin was impressive, even the big figures in the village respected him.
"Then treat him like a hare, if he's unruly, just kill him."
Hearing this, Shen Xiaohu immediately took out the bow and arrows brought from home, drew the bowstring fully, and put on a fierce look.
Sure enough, as soon as he did so, the poor residents slowed their advance, gradually increasing their distance.
Zhang Shuyuan casually reminded, "It's your first time here, the bosses in the Outer City haven't figured you out yet, be careful once they do after a few trips."
In fact, even without Zhang Shuyuan's reminder, Shen Qing was extremely sensitive to the external environment due to his hunting skills.
He had already noticed several sharp gazes from the shantytown in the Outer City, belonging to tall and strong practitioner-like figures.
"You prepare some money for me, entering the city requires a bribe." Zhang Shuyuan gestured with his chin toward the city gate, indicating the spot.
Shen Qing looked ahead.
Under the city gate engraved with the word "Taiping," crowds were bustling, with many farmers carrying vegetables and firewood lining up to sell.
The city guards held inspection staffs, their indifferent gazes sweeping across their faces one by one.
Children's cries, merchants' complaints, and the lowing of livestock mingled together, making it particularly noisy.
...
After a while, Shen Qing tightened the reins, stopping outside the city gate.
On both sides of the gate, several guards leaned lazily against the mottled city walls, their eyes showing a mixture of disdain and indifference.
Two guards noticed Shen Qing carrying a load of goods and separately walked over, lazily raising their hands to signal Shen Qing to step down.
"Entering the city?" one of the guards snorted, a hint of unhidden greed curling at his lips, "Do you know the rules? One tael Silver for the City Entrance Fee, not a penny less."
Shen Qing's gaze swept over the makeshift vendors and ragged poor residents around him; he saw clearly that they hadn't paid one tael of silver for the entry fee.
At this moment, Zhang Shuyuan jumped down from the cart, walked over with twenty copper coins, weighed them heavily in the guard's hand, and said with a smile, "I work for the Ruan Pottery Master, please do a fellow brother a favor."
The guard weighed the coins, then reluctantly squeezed out a sliver of satisfaction, waved lazily to let them pass, and even allowed them to cut in line.
Shen Qing couldn't help but view the usually serious bookworm from the village in a new light, acknowledging he had indeed seen the world.
The money spent on him was truly worthwhile.
This city gate trip had already been earned back.
Crossing the city gate, Shen Qing immediately felt as if stepping into another world.
The streets inside were wide, lined with shops, with shouting and laughter merging into a lively scene, in stark contrast to the shantytown outside.
Inside, many well-dressed young masters and ladies strolled the streets jokingly.
The farmers in their tattered jackets walking on the same street felt somewhat absurd.
Having witnessed the grandeur of the times, Shen Qing felt unfazed, but Shen Xiaohu, seeing such a bustling scene for the first time, couldn't help but be a bit stunned, his eyes filled with novelty, truly a countryside bumpkin.
The main street of the Inner City was paved with bluestone, forming a crossroads in the center that divided the entire county city into four markets, north, south, east, and west.
Shen Qing was unfamiliar with this, so he humbly asked Zhang Shuyuan for guidance.
"I have done some accounts for Chen Youguang, they sell to the Song Family's tavern in the East District, turn right at that intersection and you'll be there." Zhang Shuyuan pointed directionally based on his memory.
Following Zhang Shuyuan's directions, Shen Qing smoothly arrived at the East District.
Inside, various taverns, inns, and snack shops were lined up.
County city residents in various attires busily passed through.
Soon, Shen Qing arrived in front of a tavern named "Wanfeng Building" and stopped, explained his purpose, and a servant led them to the back courtyard of the tavern.
When he arrived, he saw various farmers and hunters coming and going from the back door, occasionally hearing some bargaining discussions.
Shen Qing waited at the back door for a while before it was his turn.
"Outside hunter, come in."
Hearing the call, Shen Qing did not delay or neglect, leaving Shen Xiaohu to watch the cart, and went in with Zhang Shuyuan.
Once inside, a wave of noise hit him.
The back courtyard resembled a food market filled with various fruits, vegetables, poultry, livestock, and quite a few mountain goods laid on the ground.
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