Chapter 004: Otherworld

Brother Wu, holding a knife, was the first to step out of the earthen house

Upon entering, one is greeted by a massive screen, known as the 'shame-blocking board'

twelve hours

The old man paid no heed, as it was evident from the person's attire that they were a recent refugee entering the city, likely in need of some items to alleviate their urgent situation

... ...

Although everyone appears emaciated, they all stand over 1.7 meters tall, with Brother Wu being over 1.9 meters, which would be considered tall even in modern society

Fortunately, nothing unexpected occurred

Six time periods

In fact, they are not yet forty; one can only say that the people here age too quickly

As they spoke, two burly men appeared on either side, their expressions impassive, which made Fang Zheng, who was planning to speak boldly, feel his heart race and blurt out:

It has been many years without contact, and I do not know if I will be able to help

"There is a relative of ours working at the Sun family, who are merchants in cloth. I plan to seek refuge with him." Old Liu held his daughter's hand, his eyes revealing concern

If it were not for the presence of this old and young pair, coercive buying and selling would not be out of the question

It is said to be an official road, but in reality, it is very narrow. The ruts on the ground are chaotic and disorderly, and the mixed melted snowwater creates a muddy step with every move.

... ...

I will no longer serve in this position

This is a pawnshop

Old Liu is the father of the little girl who sat next to him yesterday, with a head full of white hair, a hunched back, and a face covered in wrinkles

Brother Wu is speaking!

This is truly an ancient society

"It is just like us, a passerby and a book; we should be nearing the county town."

Taking a deep breath, Fang Zheng, who was just about to turn back, suddenly stood up, his eyes flickering, and walked towards the shop not far away

ten taels of silver

"Esteemed guest, feel free to propose a price; this item has been acquired by our establishment"

From their attire, they closely resemble the refugees of ancient times

In a state of confusion, a clear voice rang in his ear, jolting Fang Zheng, who was lying at an angle, back to his senses

He appears to be an elderly man in his sixties or seventies

The shopkeeper has a keen eye; I wonder how much it can be worth

Whether it is the goods being hawked, the buyers and sellers, or even their every move, all of it is quite interesting to Fang Zheng, who is able to calm his mind

It truly should not be!

The crowd whispered and exchanged low voices, while Fang Zheng remained silent, observing the surroundings and calculating how much longer it would be before he could return

He nodded slightly and casually asked:

This is ... ...

Aside from dreaming, how rare it is to have the opportunity to personally experience it once

However

Crossing the high slope, a "government road" comes into view

Eggs

Meanwhile, they quietly observed others

If I had known earlier, I would have studied history properly

Fang Zheng curled up in a corner, resembling a beggar in need, yet he was actually observing with curiosity this distinctly different modern society.

Finally, we can leave

The height is incorrect

The snow on the ground is at least 3 to 4 centimeters thick, covering everything, and when stepping on it, it makes a crunching sound of 'crunch... crunch...'

Such incidents have been occurring frequently lately, and the homeless cannot produce anything of value, so one can only say that it is better than nothing

Gu'an County belongs to the upper counties, with a population exceeding 6,000 households. No bandit group dares to provoke us easily; as long as we enter the county town, we will be safe

Oh!

Wei Dynasty

Fang Zheng immediately stood up and looked up, only to see several figures appearing on the vast expanse of white snow, also gazing in this direction

Completely natural and imbued with an ancient charm, it has never been mixed with the slightest hint of modernity

"I dare not," the old man shook his head

... ... ''

Gu'an County

The Zhou family pawnshop opens its doors for business, always based on voluntary participation

Slow!

Fang Zheng instinctively turned his head to the side.

In addition to the old man, there is a tea table not far away, where two people are drinking together, one old and one young. Judging by their attire, they appear to be wealthy individuals.

You at least still have relatives

According to the limited ancient knowledge of Fangzheng, it seems that the height of ancient people was not as exaggerated as this

However

Rare item

What a pity

This is entirely different from traveling to ancient towns

Are you trying to engage in coercive buying and selling

Fang Zheng took off the mechanical watch from his wrist and placed it on the counter

Pear flower paste, 5 wen per piece

A night has passed, and the flying snow has already stopped

"This is ... ..." The old man squinted his eyes and said slowly

Just take it as it is

The tiger crouches and the dragon coils, with books situated between heaven and earth

In ancient times, food was scarce, leading to widespread malnutrition, which resulted in an extremely low average height among individuals. Aside from certain elite troops, there were very few people taller than 1.7 meters.

"Old Liu, what are your plans?" someone spoke up

From the exchanges with others, Fang Zheng has gained some understanding of his surroundings, but unfortunately, he is still in a state of confusion

The people here seem to have not yet mastered complex dyeing techniques

There is someone

That said, he did not look at Fang Zheng, but instead turned his gaze towards an old man and a young man who were drinking not far away, his eyes flickering slightly

Elder brother, wake up

The object of timing

Especially for the displaced, a height of 1.5 meters is considered normal

Most of these people are draped in coarse cloth and hemp garments, with only two wearing cotton clothes. They all wear straw sandals, have long hair, and their skin tone is somewhat yellowish

He could not estimate how much his watch could fetch here, but it was certainly worth more than ten taels of silver. Retrieving the watch was also a matter of feigned indifference.

The road is bustling with sparse crowds and vehicles, showing a significant increase in vitality compared to when I first arrived

Even if it is inconvenient to use force, this item must be secured today at all costs

The forty-seventh year of the Tian Sheng era

As one travels several miles along the official road, a city built on the plain comes into view, its gates wide open, resembling a colossal beast against the backdrop of the vast white snow

A thin old man with a three-inch beard stood inside, turning his head to look upon hearing the footsteps

It is indeed fate that we have come together. If you have the ability to help after entering the county town, it would be best to lend a hand.

Gu'an County

The shoulder poles, baskets, and winnowing trays personally crafted by Master Liu

Half of it has already passed, and it is not as cold now as it was last night. Even if I endure, I can get through it.

Hot soup, steamed bread

"Dead on."

The term "dead pawn" refers to items that are no longer redeemable, while "live pawn" is the opposite. Therefore, if the same item is classified as dead pawn, its price will be significantly higher.

At the moment he saw the object, the old man's expression changed abruptly, his face becoming serious as he picked up the watch, his rough fingers rubbing the surface back and forth

However

Everyone nodded repeatedly, echoing in agreement

However, yesterday his condition was extremely dire; he was constantly on edge, and despite holding on until midnight, he ultimately could not withstand the overwhelming drowsiness.

Is there such a dynasty in history?

Its primary function is to protect the guests, as those who come here are generally either facing personal crises or experiencing financial difficulties in their business. At such times, guests often feel embarrassed to encounter acquaintances or friends. Therefore, the遮羞板 serves to prevent guests visiting the pawnshop from being seen by friends or relatives passing by on the street

In an unfamiliar place...

The average height of pedestrians is generally around 1.67 meters. In addition to hemp, ramie, and cotton, there are also gauze and silk garments, although the colors tend to be rather plain

Someone shouted loudly ahead, causing a group of people to quickly go on alert, which also raised Fang Zheng's heart rate

The counter at https://www.hetushu.com is equipped with a screen for modesty, featuring an exceptionally tall design. The counter is constructed with solid wood, divided into inner and outer sections, leaving only a small door for transactions, reminiscent of scenes from historical dramas.

... ...

Looking at the patterns on my wrist, a sense of clarity arose in my mind

Fang Zheng curled up his body, blending into the crowd, following closely behind as he moved forward

I have no one to turn to at all

I want to be something

"Don't be nervous," Brother Wu squinted and said

A different world

It is essential to support each other in order to lead a better life

Fang Zheng steadied his breath and said slowly

Are you joking?" Fang Zheng frowned and reached out to take back the watch

Gone!

Yes. Fang Zheng nodded

Caution

I actually fell asleep by myself

When is something considered dead and when is it considered alive

The three large characters on the city gate were both familiar and unfamiliar to Fang Zheng; the familiar part was the square characters, while the unfamiliar part was certainly not Chinese characters

A blue and black patterned dial, smooth and delicate transparent glass, finely textured leather strap, self-rotating hands

Brother Wu said again

Yes?

Last night was too dark, and I lacked the energy; it is only now that I have the spirit to observe everyone.

The old man pressed down on the watch and said with a smile

The old man’s eyes flickered; the object in his hand was something he had never seen before, but there was no doubt that it was a valuable item

On the wide street, vendors and pedestrians bustle about, with the sounds of hawking continuously ringing out, creating a scene of vibrant prosperity and lively commotion