River City had always been a key strategic stronghold throughout the ages, steeped in rich history and culture. Many historical relics from various dynasties could be found here, drawing collectors and treasure hunters from far and wide. Over time, this gave birth to a unique culture of antique collecting.
The Antique Street in River City was the most diverse marketplace for such treasures, attracting both seasoned collectors and tourists alike. Besides the many antique shops lining both sides of the street, a vibrant street vendor culture also flourished in the surrounding areas. All it took was a few old newspapers and a worn-out cloth to lay down on the ground, and one could display their old trinkets and start doing business.
Even though all vendors paid the same market management fees, there was a difference in the quality of their spots. Those who came early could secure prime positions and usually made a few sales throughout the day. That's why, before dawn, many vendors were already setting up their stalls.
For Ethan, however, this was just another street to pass by. He had no interest in the old items laid out for sale, especially with only ten bucks in his pocket.
"Young man, buy a book!" an elderly lady with graying temples called out softly, trying to sell the old books on her stall. To Ethan's surprise, her offer was met with a round of mocking laughter from the other vendors nearby.
"Flower Granny, can't you see this guy's face full of gloom? He probably had a fight with his family and ran away. You think he's in the mood to read?" teased a vendor dressed in old-fashioned clothes, his copper coin vest and melon cap giving him the appearance of a relic himself.
"Look at his outfit, too. Bet he can't even cough up a single bill."
Ethan had left in such a hurry that he was wearing only a tank top and shorts. After tripping in the park earlier, he was covered in bits of grass and dirt, which made him look far from affluent.
The elderly lady, unbothered by the teasing, smiled and said, "These books are only five bucks each. They're not worth much, but making an early sale would bring good luck."
"I think Flower Granny's lost her mind trying to make a sale. Who's gonna pay five bucks for some war-era books and random quotes?" someone else chimed in, poking fun again.
Flower Granny was a regular at the street, setting up shop early every day, though her business had been slow lately. Eager for a good omen, she decided to call out to potential customers that morning.
For reasons he couldn't explain, Ethan stopped in his tracks and crouched by her stall, casually flipping through the old books. He picked up a torn atlas with its cover missing, and as soon as he touched it, his right eye twitched. In his vision, he saw a thin square piece of paper embedded in the pages, with an image of an Queen and the word "postage" along with "one penny."
"A stamp?" Ethan's heart skipped a beat. He flipped through a few more pages, but every time, the image of a stamp printed with the Queen's portrait seemed to be stuck to the page as if glued.
He tried to peel the stamp with his fingers, but it wouldn't budge. The pages had a hidden layer. A sudden thought flashed in Ethan's mind, and he quickly shut his eyes. When he opened them again, the book looked normal once more, as if the strange vision had just been an illusion.
"Young man, this book is pretty old. If you like it, it's ten bucks. Help an old lady out and let me make my first sale," Flower Granny muttered softly.
"How about eight bucks? That way, I'll still have two left for the bus," Ethan replied as he set down the atlas and brushed the grass off his pants.
After a brief hesitation, Flower Granny handed the atlas to Ethan. "Deal, eight bucks, take it."
Making an early sale was worth it to her, and she'd even accept a bit less if pressed. She already had the atlas appraised before, and it wasn't a rare antique, just an old print not worth much.
Ethan, not one to haggle further, pulled out a crumpled bill and handed it to her. He rolled up the atlas, stuffed it into his pocket, and turned to leave.
After wandering the streets all night, Ethan had made up his mind: he was going home. No matter how much his sister-in-law scolded him, he was determined to take up the job Ms. Grace had introduced to him. No matter how hard it got, he needed to stand on his own two feet.
Ethan didn't take the bus. Instead, he saved the last two bucks for a breakfast from a street vendor near his apartment.
At the food stall, he spotted a familiar figure—Grace, his beautiful landlady. She was hunched over, slurping noodles, her back to him. But he recognized her instantly.
"One bowl of plain noodle soup," Ethan called out quietly. A bowl of two-dollar noodles was a rare find in River City these days, only available at these small street vendors who relied on high volume sales to make a living.
"Coming right up! Plain noodles, one bowl!" shouted the vendor's son, who acted as the waiter. His enthusiastic shout even caught the attention of the two young men who had arrived just after Ethan.
"Morning, one bowl of shredded pork noodles!"
"And add some extra beef!"
Grace, noticing the growing crowd, turned around and saw Ethan. She frowned slightly, then stood up, taking her bowl of noodles and sitting down across from him.
"Having noodles?" she asked.
"Yeah," Ethan nodded.
Just then, the vendor's son brought over Ethan's bowl of plain noodles. Hearing their conversation, he smiled and chimed in, "You gotta add some beef sauce with those noodles!" He gestured toward the condiment bottles on the table.
Grace couldn't help but crack a smile at the familiar line from an old commercial. Glancing at the bare noodles in Ethan's bowl, she said, "Give him some fried spareribs."
"Got it!" the boy replied, quickly taking the bowl back to the kitchen.
"That's not necessary," Ethan muttered, feeling uneasy as he fumbled with the two coins in his pocket.
"Nonsense, I'm treating you," Grace said with a knowing smile. "Where did you run off to last night? Your sister-in-law didn't sleep a wink. If you're in a tough spot, we can forget about what I mentioned yesterday."
"No, I'll do the job," Ethan said, biting his lip. "But I have one favor to ask—don't tell my sister-in-law about it."
"Fine, go home and rest for now. I'll call you when there's work." Grace nodded and left after paying the bill. As Ethan watched her graceful figure walk away, a warm feeling of care and concern filled his heart. Despite her fiery temper, Ms. Grace truly was a kind person.