Hundred Village’s Grand Market.

 

On the second day of returning to the village, there was still no chance to sleep in and laze around because today the whole family was going to Hundred Village’s Grand Market.

 

Due to producing a Jinshi scholar in the past, Xiao Xin Village was the biggest and wealthiest village in the entire Fuyang Town. It also had a favorable location, being centrally located within the jurisdiction of Fuyang Town. Therefore, the Hundred Village Grand Market was mostly held in Xiao Xin Village.

 

Of course, “Hundred Village” is just a name and there definitely aren’t a hundred villages participating.

 

This grand market is a spontaneously organized event by the local people, basically held once a month for five days from the first to the fifth. During the Chinese New Year period, it would be extended, and I heard it started from the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month this year and would continue until around the sixth day of the first lunar month.

 

It takes about half an hour to get to the grand market from Xiwan Village. It’s relatively close, and for the Jing family, the town’s market doesn’t hold much novelty anymore, so going to the Hundred Village Grand Market would be more interesting.

 

“Hurry up! Hurry up! Xiao Shu, are you going or not? If you don’t go, I’ll send you to your third uncle’s house!”

 

This was the same scene that played out this morning, with the impatient Jing mother and the leisurely and coquettish Xiao Shu. It’s unclear who was tormenting whom. Fortunately, Xiao An has grown up now and doesn’t need much attention. He wakes up every day when his big brother wakes up.

 

Of course, the main reason is that after going to the town, he has been influenced and feels that he has grown up. He doesn’t want his mother to come in and directly wake him up. The almost eleven-year-old little boy wants to save face.

 

Finally, everyone was ready. They all got on the donkey cart, and Jing mother brought a thin blanket to wrap Xiao An and Xiao Shu. The early morning of winter is very cold, and if any of the three adults felt cold, they would get off and walk a bit, but it’s better for the children to stay under the blanket obediently.

 

At around eight o’clock in the morning, they arrived at the Hundred Village Grand Market, where the hustle and bustle of people could already be heard.

 

The biting cold wind couldn’t dampen everyone’s enthusiasm for the New Year. People were selecting their New Year’s supplies in the place where general goods were sold. The uncles selling meat warmly received every customer, and the aunties selling vegetables greeted each buyer with smiles.

 

The main task for the Jing family today was to buy New Year’s goods such as meat, vegetables, rice, eggs, couplets, lucky characters, offerings, paper money, candies, and pastries. There were a lot of things, but Jing mother had a clear plan. The women and the little brother were naturally talented in this area.

 

Due to the limited time and heavy workload, Jing Yi was assigned to be responsible for purchasing couplets, lucky characters, candies, and pastries, while Jing father and Jing mother took care of the rest.

 

Jing mother: “What about you two? Will you follow me and your dad, or will you follow your big brother?”

 

Jing An and Jing Shu: “Big brother!”

 

Jing mother: “…So now you’re starting to look down on your mother, huh? Well, let’s go quickly then. I don’t even want you to follow us.”

 

The unanimous reply almost made Jing mother burst into laughter. Although they really didn’t want the two little ones to follow them because the places where meat and vegetables were sold were very dirty and chaotic, there was still a gap between refusing and being refused in their hearts!

 

“Hahaha, let’s go! Big brother will buy something fun for you!” Jing Yi laughed heartily as he picked up Xiao Shu with one hand and pulled Xiao An along, heading out.

 

From a far distance, the sounds of the three brothers laughing and joking could still be heard. Jing father and Jing mother smiled at each other and began their shopping side by side.

 

Jing Yi carried Xiao Shu and held Xiao An, following the crowd towards the section where candies were sold. Things like couplets and lucky characters were not easy to handle, so they would be bought last.

 

The crowd was bustling, and there was a wide variety of goods. Many ordinary people who usually worked in the countryside had utilized their skills and made a lot of candies and pastries to sell at the grand market. They weren’t worried about not being able to sell them. During the Chinese New Year, everyone was willing to spend.

 

Jing Yi chose a relatively large stall mainly because it looked the cleanest and most hygienic. First, I bought a kilogram of ordinary malt candy, and then I bought a kilogram of malt candy with sesame and crushed peanuts. I just gave the money and quickly took out two small pieces to give to my younger brothers. Stop drooling so much, big brother understands.

 

There are also fragrant and crispy honey peanuts, savory melon seeds, peculiar flavored broad beans, and thin-skinned walnuts. Whether it’s for the family to enjoy or for entertaining guests during the Chinese New Year, they are all excellent choices. Jing Yi bought some of each.

 

After checking out this stall, Jing Yi had a lot of things in my hands and couldn’t hold Xiao Shu anymore, so he could only tightly hold his hand with one hand. There were too many people, they couldn’t get separated.

 

Jing Yi wasn’t too worried about Xiao An. The little guy was turning eleven soon, and he was very clever. Moreover, he was tall, like a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy from another family. He walked confidently, and anyone who had ill intentions towards him would regret it.

 

After walking another ten meters, they arrived at the place where pastries were sold. Following the usual practice, they would buy from the cleanest stall.

 

This stall was also quite large, with a variety of colorful candy pastries. Most of them Jing Yi couldn’t name, but besides pastries, he also saw preserved fruits being sold. They had to buy some.

 

Jing Yi bought a kilogram each of chestnut cake, red bean cake, lotus seed cake, and pea jelly, which were common and delicious.

 

He also bought some preserved fruits. These things were expensive and sold by weight, so he chose two kinds of preserved fruits, each a kilogram. He bought preserved jujubes and the less common preserved longan from the northern region.

 

Then he remembered that he still had to visit relatives during the Chinese New Year. They earned more money this year, so they had to be more generous in their gifts to close relatives. Therefore, he spent some money to buy a few boxes of pastries, to be used for gifting or reciprocation.

 

After counting, there were exactly five boxes for Third Uncle’s family, First Aunt’s family, both Uncle’s families, and, of course, Chuxia’s family.

 

Last year, Jing’s father had an accident and had no mood for celebrating the Chinese New Year. But in times of adversity, true affection is revealed. These close relatives were willing to contribute financially and provide support. Although this was the original body’s experience, Jing Yi had long considered himself a true son of the Jing family, so he was definitely grateful.

 

After satisfying his shopping desire, Jing Yi suddenly slapped his forehead. He bought too much. With so many things now, how could they carry everything back? They still hadn’t bought the couplets.

 

In the end, they could only send the items back first, have the shopkeeper pack the pastries, and Jing Yi specifically bought hard oil paper to wrap them, to prevent them from getting crushed.

 

Jing Yi and Jing An both had their hands full, even little Jing Shu proactively requested to help, holding the two portions of preserved fruits that made him drool.

 

For safety, they placed Jing Shu in the middle and made him hold onto big brother’s clothes with one hand firmly.

 

Ah, if only they had brought a bamboo basket like father.

 

They slowly made their way forward and finally arrived at the place where they left the donkey cart, only to find father waiting alone.

 

Jing Yi couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Father, why are you alone? Where is mother?”

 

Jing father sighed, “Ah, we kept buying more and more things, so I came back first to deliver them and keep an eye on things.”

 

Jing Yi thought to himself, finally, someone understands my shopping desires.

 

When Jing Yi put the things they bought in the cart and mentioned that they still hadn’t finished buying couplets, Jing father’s expression was truly speechless…

 

Jing father said, “Alright, you go quickly. Your mother will probably be back soon.”

 

Jing father waved his hand, urging the eldest son to go, but when he turned around, he saw the two little ones following the big brother like rabbits, hopping along.

 

Jing father thought, fortunes change. Now the dissatisfaction from his wife blew over to him.The area selling couplets was very close to the entrance of the market, and they arrived in no time.

 

This area had the most festive atmosphere in the market. Every stall was adorned in red. They not only sold couplets and lucky words but also red paper, red fabric, firecrackers, lanterns, red window decorations, and various toys for children.

 

In Jing Yi’s words, this was a must-visit place for young people and children.

 

Buying couplets and lucky words was easy. They were all auspicious phrases. They picked two pairs that looked pleasing to the eye. One pair was to be pasted at the main entrance, and another pair at the hall entrance. Then they bought some lucky words and window decorations, and that was about it.

 

Lastly, they had to buy a string of firecrackers. They wanted a lively atmosphere on the thirtieth night of the twelfth lunar month.

 

There weren’t many families in Xiwan village that specifically bought firecrackers. Firecrackers were expensive, and people were reluctant to spend money on something that couldn’t be eaten or drunk. Most people would cut a few sections of bamboo and burn them on the thirtieth night of the twelfth lunar month, making a loud crackling sound.

 

Originally, Jing’s mother hadn’t planned to buy firecrackers this year. After all, it was considered a luxury. However, when Jing father was about to leave, he secretly told Jing Yi to buy a string and bring it back so that both adults and children could have fun.

 

When they arrived at the stall selling firecrackers, Jing Yi bought a string of 108 firecrackers for sixty wen. It was much cheaper than the string of 600 firecrackers during the store’s opening. But with that money, they could buy several catties of meat. No wonder Jing’s mother didn’t want to buy them.

 

“Big brother, can I buy a box of poppers?” Jing An asked hesitantly. Jing Shu heard and looked at Jing Yi with his watery eyes.

 

“Of course! You two have been helping at home for the past two months. You’ve worked hard!” Jing Yi said and bought five boxes of poppers, asking the shopkeeper to put them together with the firecrackers.

 

Just as Jing Yi was about to leave with the items, he noticed his two younger brothers staring fixedly behind him. Jing Yi followed their gaze and saw a stall selling lanterns.

 

The stall was run by a couple, and the man was busy tying lanterns skillfully and meticulously. The lanterns on this stall were quite unique.

 

There were traditional red lanterns, square ones with patterns painted on them, lanterns shaped like animals, and even lanterns shaped like golden ingots. Many people were gathered around, choosing their favorites.

 

Jing Yi pinched Jing Shu’s red cheek and said, “Let’s go and take a look!”

 

“Yeah!” Jing An and Jing Shu happily exclaimed.