249, The Fragrance of Wine (2 More Updates)
With that thought, Xie Zhinuan asked about the price.
The old man who made clay figures was overjoyed and happily introduced the prices to Xie Zhinuan, then opened another box. “Miss, would you like to take a look at the ones inside this box?”
The box was filled with various clay figures, including animals and plants, each with a distinctive shape and full of whimsical charm.
“Great!”
Ordinary clay figures only cost three Copper Coins each, but since Xie Zhinuan was buying so many, she managed to settle for two Copper Coins each. Although she saved a coin on each, such items could still be made later on, and the ones sold were all money.
“How about you pay an extra ten Copper Coins and buy the box as well?”
A box should cost at least several dozens of wen, but this box was old and worn.
Considering that money was hard to earn and the clay figures she bought indeed needed a box for storage, Xie Zhinuan nodded in agreement.
When it came time to pay, Yuanbao quickly reached for the Silver and handed it over.
The old man, seeing the shiny Silver, dared not take it.
“I, I, I can’t make change!”
Running a small business, he earned only a few dozen wen a day, and that Silver piece was at least a tael; he truly couldn’t make change for it.
Xie Zhinuan smiled, reached for her pouch, opened it, took out Copper Coins, counted them, and handed them to the old man.
The old man smiled as he accepted them and gave a few Copper Coins back to Xie Zhinuan.
Xie Zhinuan caught them in her hand, and the transaction was complete.
“Could you help me send these back to the inn?” Xie Zhinuan said to a guard.
The guard glanced at Li Hengyi, and seeing him nod, immediately went to carry the box.
They were happy to run errands for Xie Zhinuan, but they did not forget whom they served.
Xie Zhinuan smiled, moved closer to Li Hengyi, and whispered, “Have you ever attended a temple fair before?”
“Never!”
Walking through the market with a woman, watching her joyfully buy things, seeing her confidently and comfortably haggle, and paying without hesitation or delay.
She never noticed that he was completely captivated by her.
The noisy sounds of the market seemed to be automatically avoided.
All that remained was the sound of her laughter and voice.
“Actually, the market has its merits too; many skilled craftsmen hide within it, either because they have no opportunity to rise or because they have offended some powerful people and are forced to scrape a living in obscurity!”
Life isn’t easy for anybody.
With that in mind, Xie Zhinuan took a deep breath, sniffed with delight, and asked Li Hengyi, “Do you smell that, how fragrant!”
The fragrance was of alcohol, but it seemed to be more than just that.
Li Hengyi also took a deep sniff and pointed in a direction, “It’s coming from over there!”
Xie Zhinuan leaned in and sniffed, “Shall we go take a look?”
“Sure!”
Xie Zhinuan instructed one of the guards to stay behind with Dahuang and wander the temple fair, while she, Li Hengyi, and Yuanbao went to see what it was that smelled so enticing.
At the end of the alley, there was a turn, and following it led to a large open space, from which a road continued to another place. There was a residence from which the fragrance wafted out.
Yuanbao quickly stepped forward to knock on the door.
It didn’t take long before the door opened and an old man stood at the doorway, holding a jar of alcohol, drunk and bleary-eyed. He blinked at Yuanbao, “What, what do you want?”
“Old sir, I…”
The old man chuckled, “Are you here to buy alcohol too?” He shook his head, “I’m not selling, not selling!”
“Why won’t the old gentleman sell his alcohol?” Yuanbao inquired.
The old man snorted with amusement, “You think brewing alcohol is simple? Ignorant boy, brewing alcohol requires…”
“Brewing requires choosing the finest rice, best spring water, considering the soaking time of the rice, along with the time to put it on the stove, as well as the fermentation time, and the cellar’s temperature and humidity,” Xie Zhinuan interjected softly.
Chapter 250