【The Song of the Six Dynasties】(Episode 18, Chapter 7)

Chapter Seven

Through the rain, a procession of carriages and horses approached from afar. Two ferries were already waiting at the dock. Several soldiers untied the horses and led them onto the boats, then pushed the carriages aboard.

A group of men lay in ambush in the woods, keeping a close watch on the ferries. Cheng Zongyang had already discerned that some of the heroes recruited from various places didn't really want to join, but Yi Zong and the others were watching very closely, so they were forced to come along.

Rainwater streamed down his neck and into his clothes, making him wet and cold. Cheng Zongyang was worried about his beard; if the rain washed it off, it would give him away. So he tore off a piece of clothing and covered his face, leaving only his eyes exposed.

A man next to him gave him a thumbs up, then followed suit and tore off a piece of clothing to cover his head and face. Soon, everyone was covered, looking at each other with a sense of security.

The ferry made two round trips, and a third of the convoy had already crossed. Then, a middle-aged man in a wide-sleeved robe stepped off one of the carriages. He wore a black-rimmed crown that was high in the front and low in the back, and a leather pouch was tied to his waist with a colorful sash. Several attendants helped him onto the boat, and the boatman pushed off with a bamboo pole, heading towards the middle of the river. One attendant held up an umbrella to shield his master from the rain, when suddenly the boat spun around, and the boatman, who was punting, lost his

footing and fell into the river. Everyone on the boat rushed to his rescue, but the boat was being tossed about by the raging current, making it difficult to even stand. Soldiers who had already crossed the river waded into the water to help, but the boat, still a dozen paces from the bank, began to sink, and then another boat also went out of control.

Soldiers on the shore took off their clothes and swam to help, and in the woods behind them, Yi Zong saw an opportunity and shouted, "Kill!" Dozens of heroes swarmed out.

Cheng Zongyang ran haphazardly with the crowd, keeping a close eye on the middle of the river. The middle-aged man had already fallen into the water; it was the height of summer, and the current was swift. His wide robes and sleeves were incredibly cumbersome in the water, and although several attendants tried desperately to save him, they were still swept apart by the current.

A fight had already broken out on the shore. The group of wandering knights, outnumbered and caught off guard, quickly felled several soldiers.

However, someone cleaved open a large cart, and strings of copper coins rolled out. Many people rushed to grab them, and the scene immediately descended into chaos.

Cheng Zongyang instructed Ao Run and Liu Zhao, "Keep an eye on the young master!" Then

he plunged into the water. Liu Tiebi, who was also eyeing the middle-aged man—the biggest catch in the entire caravan—saw Cheng Zongyang take the lead and hurriedly jumped into the water as well. "I'll help you!"

Cheng Zongyang's swimming skills were quite ordinary, but his cultivation level was undeniable. He could easily swim dozens of meters underwater in one breath. He quickly approached the middle-aged man who had fallen into the water and grabbed him by the collar.

The middle-aged man wasn't unable to swim, but his hands and feet were bound by his clothing, making it difficult for him to move. Seeing Cheng Zongyang grab his clothes, he barely surfaced and shouted, "Where did this bandit come from! How dare he kidnap this official!"

Cheng Zongyang yelled, "Don't move!"

The middle-aged man retorted sharply, "A scholar can be killed! But not humiliated!" He drew his short knife and lunged at Cheng Zongyang.

This delay allowed Liu Tiebi to swim over and shout, "Quickly, kill that old thief! He must have something good on him!"

The middle-aged man continued to struggle; his clothes, soaked and heavy, were dragged underwater by Cheng Zongyang. Holding his breath, Cheng Zongyang tore off his wide robe and swam towards the shore.

The two were swept hundreds of paces away by the river, even the sounds of their struggle on the shore becoming indistinct. The middle-aged man choked on water, looking weak, and coughed violently as soon as he surfaced.

Liu Tiebi was swept away, his whereabouts unknown, and could not be seen clearly through the reeds. Cheng Zongyang laboriously dragged the middle-aged man ashore and said, "Don't get the wrong idea, I'm here to save you."

The middle-aged man coughed for a moment, "Who are you?" "

I am Cheng Zongyang, a merchant from the Song Kingdom."

"Were those thieves on the shore your accomplices?"

"To tell you the truth, I was just passing through this place as a merchant. One of my servants was wandering around the city when he encountered a group of young men plotting to assassinate the newly arrived prefect. Although I am a stranger in this land, I have long heard of the prefect's uprightness and integrity, so I mingled among them with a few of my family members and rescued him. Fortunately, the prefect is safe and sound."

"I see." Seeing that Cheng Zongyang meant no harm, the middle-aged man calmed down and cupped his hands, saying, "I am Ning Cheng, and I thank you for your help, Mr. Cheng."

"Prefect, you are too kind. Although I am just a merchant, I know what is right. Farewell!"

Cheng Zongyang clasped his hands in a fist salute and strode away.

Ning Cheng gazed at his retreating figure for a long time before saying, "He bestows kindness without expecting anything in return; this man possesses a truly ancient virtue." Suddenly, his expression changed, and he hurriedly reached for his waist. "Oh no!"

Cheng Zongyang, wearing only a robe, sat on the ground, leisurely sipping tea. Yun Ruyao lit a bronze stove in the house, drying several wet garments one by one.

After escaping danger, Ning Cheng immediately ordered his men to intercept several rafts floating downstream, commanding his soldiers to forcibly cross the river and attack the bandits. Yi Zong and his men were nothing but a rabble; their formation was thrown into disarray, and several were killed or wounded in the initial charge. The rest scattered like birds and beasts.

Ning Cheng entered Wudu without stopping, immediately ordering the city sealed off and a city-wide search. Before the night was even over, most of the wandering heroes had already been captured; only Yi Zong and a few youths hid.

Gao Zhishang, Ao Run, and Liu Zhao had already slipped away in the chaos, without even losing a hair, and were still in the mood to watch the spectacle from outside.

Chaos erupted in the markets and alleys, with soldiers constantly grabbing people, putting them in heavy shackles, and dragging them away. Suddenly, Gao Zhishang's eyes lit up: "Liu Tiebi—that guy still owes me money!"

Liu Tiebi, whose face was still dripping blood from a whip lash, heard the commotion and suddenly shouted, "That one! That guy surnamed Gao! He's one of us too!"

It was too late for Gao Zhishang to escape. Two burly soldiers pushed through, grabbed him like an eagle snatching a chick, put a chain around his neck, and dragged him away.

Fu An rushed over, bowing vigorously, "Sir! Sir! There's a mistake! Our young master… he's not a thief!" As he spoke, he pulled out coins and stuffed them into their sleeves.

The soldier took the money, shoved him aside, and shouted, "Are you a thief too?!"

Liu Zhao gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to strike, but Ao Run bumped him with his shoulder, sending him crashing into the courtyard. "Go find Chief Cheng!"

Liu Zhao scrambled in, shouting, "Chief Cheng! Something terrible has happened!"

Cheng Zongyang grinned upon hearing this, "Alright, I have to repay the favor I just did." He looked at the clothes Yun Ruyao was drying and said, "Let that kid stay in jail for the night, I'll pick him up tomorrow."

In the Wudu Prefect's mansion, an official bowed and said, "Reporting to the Prefect, the ringleader of the thieves is named Yi Zong, and his sister is a female physician serving the Lady of Pingting Marquis."

A ruthless glint flashed in Ning Cheng's eyes, "The Lady of Pingting... Men! Go to the Pi family!"

"Prefect, it's already late."

"I'll go tonight then," Ning Cheng said coldly. "A county magistrate who ruins his family, a prefect who exterminates his clan! I am a rank of two thousand shi, do you think the Marquis of Pingting would dare to turn me away?"

Marquis Pingting, Pi Chai, has his own residence in Luoyang, and his third brother, Pi Shou, is in charge in Wudu

. That night, Pi Shou was on pins and needles, trying his best to deal with the new prefect. Ning Cheng was unmoved by his impatience. He first inquired about the local customs and traditions, and then changed the subject, asking about the Pi family's properties in Wudu.

Pi Shou cautiously replied, "My ancestor was enfeoffed in Wudu for his meritorious service in the war. Initially, he was granted two thousand households, and after years of rewards, it is now nearly four thousand households."

"It is said that the Pi family also has fiefdoms in Shouyang Mountain?"

"That's right. When the late emperor was alive, he bestowed several valleys in Shouyang Mountain that produced timber upon my family."

"This is the Emperor's virtuous rule."

"The Prefect is right, my entire Pi family is deeply grateful."

Ning Cheng spoke casually, remaining seated until midnight without leaving. Pi Shou knew he was about to bleed a little, so he gritted his teeth and said, "I heard the Prefect was attacked while crossing the river, and I was extremely worried. I am relieved that the Prefect is unharmed. Come here!" Two maids brought in a plate covered with red silk.

"This is a small token of my appreciation from Pi Shou to comfort the Prefect. Please accept it." Pi Shou lifted the red silk, revealing a stack of cast gold ingots on the plate.

Ning Cheng burst into laughter, "The Pi family has millions in wealth, do you think you can fob me off with this little bit of gold?" He shouted, "Where is Yi Zong!"

Pi Shou shuddered, his face drained of all color. At this moment, retreating would mean the extermination of his entire family, so he could only grit his teeth and say, "Prefect, you are wise, I do not know Yi Zong."

"Such a stubborn mouth! Men! Search!" Pi Shou said sternly, "Prefect Ning, there is no one named Yi Zong in the Pingting Marquis's residence.

" Ning Cheng said coldly, "So what if I search?"

Pi Shou choked for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to the Prefect, the young master is still in the residence, I'm afraid we will disturb him."

"In that case, I will order a search even more." Ning Cheng said, "If a thief sneaks into the residence, it will not only disturb the young master."

Footsteps came from outside the door, and hundreds of soldiers surrounded the Pingting Marquis's residence, which occupied two wards. Di Shou thought to himself that this fellow was indeed ruthless, even mobilizing the county troops.

The two sides had already broken off relations, so Di Shou didn't bother with formalities in front of Ning Cheng. He excused himself and immediately went to find the heir apparent, Pi Ji: "Has Yi Zong left?"

Pi Ji, dressed in a long robe and wide belt, sat with several beautiful women beside him, one on each side, while teasing a parrot on a jade stand with grains of rice. "Uncle, why are you in such a panic? No matter how bold that old thief Ning is, does he dare to search our Pingting Marquis's residence?"

Pi Shou stamped his foot and said, "The search has already begun!"

Pi Ji slapped the parrot, sending its feathers flying, and roared, "That damned old thief!"

A figure flashed out from behind the screen, declaring magnanimously, "I, Yi Zong, will never implicate the heir apparent! I'm going to see that old thief Ning right now, even if it means committing suicide, I'll splatter that old thief's blood!"

"Can't my dignified Marquis's mansion even protect a single hero?" Pi Ji paced around the hall. "I'll send someone to escort you out to hide in the countryside for a few days."

Pi Shou said in a sinister voice, "He has already used his imperial seal to summon the county soldiers. Now the surrounding area is guarded by the soldiers he summoned. How can you get out?"

"Go to the ice cellar," Pi Ji said. "The ice cellar is a secluded place. It can hide two or three people. Even if those county soldiers search, they won't find you."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Yi Zong said resolutely, "We six brothers have lived and died together. If we hide in the ice cellar to escape this calamity, I, Yi, will have no face to live in this world!"

Pi Ji stamped his foot and said, "Change your clothes and stay by my side."

The Pi family had over a thousand servants, so a few more people wouldn't be noticeable. Pi Shou said, "It's alright at night, but how can

we hide it at dawn?" Pi Ji circled around again and suddenly smiled, "I have a plan! Don't worry, Third Uncle, I guarantee that Brother Yi Zong will be able to go out with dignity and won't implicate our Pi family."

Although Qi Shou was uneasy, he knew that this nephew was intelligent and decisive. He hurriedly said, "Hurry!

Hurry!" and rushed forward.

Pi Ji smiled calmly, "Don't worry about your brothers, I have plenty of ways."

He whispered a few words in Yi Zong's ear, and Yi Zong's eyes lit up. "Good brother!" Pi Ji laughed loudly, "Then I'll make sure that old thief Ning can only watch you leave helplessly, hahaha!" Yi Zong, however, harbored a secret worry. Ning Cheng's determination to search the Pingting Marquis's mansion seemed too urgent for someone as insignificant as him...

Yi Zong guessed correctly. What Ning Cheng truly cared about was his official seal. He had struggled in the water for a long time before being rescued by a merchant surnamed Cheng, only to discover that his official robe and the prefect's seal that had been tied to his waist were nowhere to be found. Losing an official seal was a capital offense. If word got out and the court learned that he had lost his seal, an edict of punishment would be issued, and even if he found the seal again, the decree would not be changed.

Ning Cheng dared not make a sound. After escaping danger, he immediately crossed the river and attacked the thieves. He drove the man away and secretly sent men downstream, but after searching for dozens of miles, they found nothing. The official seal, stored in a leather bag, wouldn't easily sink; since it was nowhere to be found, it had most likely been taken. Only two people were closest to him at the time: the merchant surnamed Cheng who rescued him and left empty-handed, so it couldn't have been him. That meant it was another thief. If a thief took his seal and then publicized it, he would immediately face execution.

Therefore, Ning Cheng disregarded the prestige of the Marquis's residence and risked everything, brazenly surrounding and searching the mansion. This offended the Pi family to the point of no return, but losing the official seal was also a capital offense. Between two evils, Ning Cheng chose the lesser, even if it meant offending the Pi family.

No news came by dawn. Ning Cheng sat in the hall, his face ashen, his heart sinking deeper and deeper.

Time passed slowly, and after Chenshi (7-9 AM), a subordinate official entered: "Reporting to the Prefect, a merchant requests an audience."

"I will not see him,"

the official replied, bowing and retreating.

Ning Cheng suddenly asked, "Where are these merchants from?"

The subordinate stopped. "They are the young master of the Cheng Clan Merchant Guild. They say they have something to present to the Prefect."

"Please, Cheng Zongyang, bring in a box." He bowed and said, "This humble subject greets the Prefect."

"It really is you." Ning Cheng dismissed his attendants and stared at the box. "What is this?"

"Yesterday, while crossing the river, this humble subject found a garment among the reeds downstream. I dared not keep it to myself, so I have come to present it to the Prefect."

Ning Cheng opened the box. Inside, he saw an official robe neatly folded, with a leather bag beside it, tied with a blue, white, and red ribbon. He touched the bag through the leather bag and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It was indeed his silver seal as Prefect. "Mr. Cheng, please have a seat."

Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "Thank you for the seat, Prefect."

Ning Cheng's face, which had been as cold as ice since crossing the river, showed a slight smile. He said calmly, "May I ask what kind of business Mr. Cheng is in?"

"Our merchant guild has many businesses. We came to Wudu this time for two reasons. First, we heard that you, sir, have been appointed Prefect. Wudu is well-governed and peaceful, and we intend to use your position to serve the local people. Second," Cheng Zongyang said without hesitation, "it's also for the copper mines of Shouyang Mountain."

Ning Cheng nodded. "Wudu needs merchants like you who are

eager to help others." "I have another request."

"Please speak freely."

"One of my men was arrested and imprisoned last night for laughing and joking in front of my door." Cheng Zongyang said with a wry smile, "It's that servant who found out the news."

Ning Cheng laughed, "Such a misunderstanding? What's his name? Release him!"

A minor official suddenly rushed in, panting, "Prefect! Something terrible has happened!"

Ning Cheng's face darkened. "What's the matter?"

"Those...those thieves...kidnapped the heir of the Marquis of Pingting!" Ning Cheng paused, then burst into laughter, even more unrestrained than Pi Ji's laughter in the inner quarters. He abruptly stood up: "You reap what you sow! Merchant Cheng, you too, come and see my methods!"

Nearly a hundred county soldiers surrounded a pavilion, their cries and screams filling the air. Upstairs, several young men bound Pi Ji, holding a knife to his neck, shouting, "Get out of my way!"

"I'm talking to you! If you point an arrow at me again, I'll stab him to death!"

"We're worthless! It's worth it to have the Marquis's son buried with us!"

Pi Shou hissed. "You mustn't hurt anyone! Whatever you want, the Pi family will give you!"

Ning Cheng strode over, and Pi Shou, hearing the commotion, knelt down with a thud, weeping, "Prefect, please save the son!"

Ning Cheng gave him a cold stare, then raised his head.

Yi Zong peeked out from behind Pi Ji, shouting, "Old thief Ning! Give me a thousand gold coins, enough for six days of wine and meat! Also, prepare a fast boat! Once I'm on the boat, I'll release the son, or I'll chop off his head!" Pi Shou shouted,

"A thousand gold coins, the Pi family can afford it! We can afford it! I'll have someone fetch it right now!"

Ning Cheng remained silent, and Pi Shou, on his own initiative, sent his servants to fetch the gold coins, which were piled up gleamingly in a wooden tray.

Ning Cheng then spoke, "Is this ransom for the thieves?"

Pi Shou cried, "As long as the prince's life can be saved, our Pi family is willing to pay any amount of money."

"Since you can afford it, reward these soldiers." Ning Cheng said, taking a bow and arrow from an archer, drawing the bow, and firing an arrow that struck Pi Ji squarely in the throat.

The cries and screams in the courtyard ceased abruptly, and everyone stared in disbelief. Pi Ji stared at the arrow in his neck, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets, then his neck slumped, and he died.

In the deathly silence, Ning Cheng's icy voice rang out, "The late emperor repeatedly issued edicts that anyone who kidnaps hostages and demands money should be killed on sight! There is no need to consider the life or death of the hostages! Shoot!"

The soldiers hesitated for a moment before hurriedly raising their arrows.

Despite the sweltering summer heat, Pi Shou trembled as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his eyes filled with venom as he stared intently at Ning Cheng. "You! My Pi family will never forgive you!"

Ning Cheng shouted, "Guards! Take him away!"

Pi Shou, his neck stiff, cried out, "Ning Cheng! How dare you arrest someone without cause!" "

The late emperor decreed that those who kidnap hostages shall be executed! Those who pay ransom to thieves shall be branded and sentenced to hard labor on the city walls." The 11 county soldiers had already stormed the tower. Those young men knew they were doomed, and now they were desperate. Thick smoke suddenly rose from inside the tower; someone had taken advantage of the chaos to set it on fire. In no time, the entire tower was engulfed in flames.

"Damn! I've seen what a cruel official looks like! These cruel officials in Han are just too cruel!" Cheng Zongyang said excitedly. "Old man, you didn't see it, who would have thought that the guy surnamed Ning would kill the hostage first! Everyone present was dumbfounded! The heir of the Marquis of Pingting! Old Ning killed him like a chicken, without even blinking an eye. Everyone in the courtyard was so scared that they didn't even dare to cry. And the Marquis of Pingting's brother, his nephew is dead and he still has a crime to bear. I felt so sorry for him watching from the side."

Old Zhu chuckled and said, "Not at all. If it weren't for our merchant guild's timber raft, that guy surnamed Ning would have thrown the river into the fishpond long ago."

"That's true, but there's no evidence, is there?"

"What evidence do you need? We can find evidence after the house is ruined." Old Zhu winked and said, "Young Cheng, you must be bored staying in Wudu. If you want something fun, you have to go to Luodu! Copper Camel Lane and Jade Chicken Lane have plenty of entertainment."

Cheng Zongyang stretched. "Go if you want. I've already talked to Prefect Ning. He'll clear out the vagrants from Qili Ward, and I'll get the land there. Of course, the Prefect will own half. Hey, that guy's bold, ruthless, and greedy. He's a man of action."

Old Zhu couldn't help but ask, "Young Cheng, when are you going to do what you promised me?"

"The Grand Sacrifice? Isn't that in the autumn? Don't worry, if it really doesn't work, I'll bring over the men from Xingyue Lake and wipe out the Witch Clan again."

Old Zhu said with a dark face, "My jewels! Jewels! We agreed on opening a shop in Luodu! Little Cheng, you dare to swindle my money!"

Cheng Zongyang slapped his forehead, "I almost forgot. After we finish things here, we'll go to Luodu and open a grand shop, so you can experience being a shopkeeper."

Old Zhu walked away angrily, and Cheng Zongyang returned to the house.

Yun Ruyao was drawing on paper. "Qili Ward is two li long and one and a half li wide, totaling seven li in length. It's the largest ward in the city. Cheng Lang, what are you going to do?" "

I've already suffered a great loss with Linjiang Tower and Wu Mu Wang Mansion." Cheng Zongyang said painfully. "Although the plan is good, hundreds of thousands of gold coins have been poured in and we haven't even started making money yet. We can't do Qili Ward like this. I need to change my approach. We need to build while simultaneously thinking about recouping our investment."

Cheng Zongyang looked at the drawing on the paper and drew a line with his finger. "Build shops along the ward wall. If we can demolish the wall and turn it into street-facing shops, that would be best. But the ward wall can't be moved, so we'll have to open doors into the ward. We don't need to transport the timber that Gao Zhishen bought; we can use it on the spot. First, we'll set up frames and separate them with straw mats. We'll put the shelves at the entrance so that people can see them at a glance. Each type of goods should be sold in at least two shops. Set up a tavern or teahouse every three to five shops. It doesn't matter if it's simple; we just need to solve the problem of having enough."

Cheng Zongyang was confident and soon finalized the plan. After Yun Ruyao finished drawing, he held the paper and examined it for a long time before praising, "Not bad! It really has the feel of a makeshift troupe."

At Ning Cheng's command, the government officials swept away the vagrants of Qilifang like a whirlwind. On the 11th day, Cheng Zongyang was shocked again. Overnight, hundreds of heads were hanging outside the city, each one still wet with blood, their faces contorted in grotesque expressions. News

had spread throughout the city that the new prefect had arrested all the vagrants of Qilifang, imprisoned them, interrogated them overnight, and executed them without even requesting an imperial decree—nearly a hundred people had been beheaded.

"These are all vagrants and ruffians without household registration; killing them is fine. If it's a law-abiding citizen committing a crime, I will request permission from the court," Ning Cheng said casually, as if discussing a trivial matter. He lifted his sleeve and placed it on the incense burner. "I heard you've set up a wooden shed outside the city. You can exchange the scraps from Qilifang for coins?"

"Yes. I'm new here, and firstly, I need to establish my reputation, and secondly, I'm short-handed."

Ning Cheng remained noncommittal. In his opinion, all the prisoners in the jail would be taken there, and even if they worked to death, no one would dare utter a word.

Cheng Zongyang, of course, couldn't do that. More importantly, he wasn't looking to save money, but to spend it. He posted notices in Qilifang, stating that anyone who transported the rubbish from the shed to outside the city could exchange it for coins at a rate of one copper coin for every ten catties, even ten catties of rotten thatch. Wudu lacked commercial activity, and ordinary people didn't have many ways to make money. Hearing that they could exchange their labor for money, they immediately flocked there. In just three days, the thatched huts, broken pillars, and shattered tiles in the ward were completely demolished, costing less than a hundred gold coins. Even

after three days, people continued to come hoping to earn copper coins, but there was nothing to do in the ward. In the past, this would have inevitably led to unrest among the people, but the new governor's ruthless crackdown had eradicated all kinds of crime in Wudu City, and the city's inhabitants lived in fear, daring not to act recklessly.

Fortunately, the newly arrived merchant guild posted notices recruiting craftsmen to cut timber, plan boards, build houses, and even repair the damaged ward walls. Not only that, they were also buying large quantities of bamboo, lacquer, and even straw mats—all readily available items.

Liu Zhao and the others then realized that Young Master Cheng's words hadn't been empty promises. Once things got busy, everyone was running around, working non-stop.

The highly intelligent young man spent a night in prison and was terrified when he came out. "Master, you didn't go in! That prison is fucking brutal! Anyone who dares to stand up for themselves gets their legs broken! All the tough guys cower as soon as they go in. No matter who they are, they're like grandsons in front of the guards."

"Stop talking nonsense and get to work! Finish all the sheds along the wall within three days."

"Yes! Fu'an! Fu'an! Come with the young master!"

Fu An was also forced into the role of accountant alongside Feng Yuan, working tirelessly day and night. The strong, powerful Qingmian was capable of doing the work of five men. Yun Ruyao, meticulous and skilled in mental arithmetic, was entrusted with managing the accounts by Cheng Zongyang. The only two idle people were Old Zhu and Hami Chi, the two old men who set up a table under the shade of a tree to cool off and drink tea.

In this way, Qilifang changed rapidly at a visible pace. By early July, the first batch of goods from Danyang arrived in the ward. The next morning, all the shops separated by straw mats opened for business, their dazzling array of goods making it almost unrecognizable to the people of Wudu as the old Qilifang.

Although the shops lining the ward walls were simple, everything was new. During the Six Dynasties period, most shops were deep and secluded, with no windows for security. The interiors were dimly lit, and the counters were set very high, with goods displayed on shelves inside. You could only see what you wanted by taking it out from the shopkeeper.

The shops in Qilifang were completely different. A planed wooden board served as a counter at the entrance, with various goods displayed directly on it. Snow-white fine salt was packaged in bamboo tubes, some holding two or three pounds, others only as thick as a finger, and could be bought for just two copper coins to try.

Various wooden and horn combs were available, the cheapest costing only five copper coins each; colorful silk flowers were only ten coins each; a shiny silver sewing needle was only twenty coins, and came with a roll of silk thread; leather straps for wooden clogs were two copper coins each; and fresh fish pickles were packaged in fist-sized jars, costing only a dozen copper coins per jar.

If you got tired, there was a teahouse every few shops, where you could buy a bowl of plum soup for just one copper coin. The soup, chilled with well water, was refreshingly sweet and instantly dispelled the summer heat. The hearty men ran a tavern with a tall, well-ventilated canopy under the trees. Three or five people sat on the ground around a small table, and at a command, wine and meat were served.

Further in, there was a rope-enclosed area with waist-high wooden stakes on either side and a rope stretched across the middle. A woman moved freely on the rope, tossing three balls in her hand. The onlookers outside the rope circle were packed in layers, all watching in stunned silence. Such rope-walking skills were usually only seen occasionally at banquets of the wealthy; even ordinary officials and their families had never witnessed them, let alone the common people of the city.

Less than a fifth of Qilifang was open for business, but that fifth was enough to make the people of Wudu linger; within half a day of opening, more and more people poured into Qilifang, making the area bustling with noise.

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【The Song of the Six Dynasties】(Episode 18, Chapter 7)

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