Chapter 5, Western Market
Moreover, one of the attendants actually suspected that Wang Yuan's bronze mirror had an improper origin, claiming that Wang Yuan's shabby attire made it impossible for him to be the owner of the mirror. This nearly made Wang Yuan lose his temper and curse. The Huang siblings, worried about Wang Yuan getting angry, quickly pulled him out of the pawnshop, being timid and fearful of trouble.
Wang Yuan could no longer endure the tattered bedding and clothes. He planned to use the several hundred wen of embezzled funds he had saved during this period, as well as the money from selling the copper mirror in the wooden box under his bed, to purchase some new clothes and bedding, and to buy some necessities for the upcoming New Year
Wang Yuan stamped his foot and said: "Why? This is truly unbelievable. The bronze mirrors in these shops are about the same size as mine, and the lowest price is nine hundred wen. My nearly new bronze mirror is worth at least five or six hundred wen, right? Why should I let them earn ill-gotten gains?"
Huang San also said: "Indeed, we are not accustomed to this thing, and besides, during the New Year, you need to purchase bedding, clothing, and furniture. If we do not sell this item, where will the money come from? Erlang, why don't we go find a shop that sells copper mirrors and sell it to them at a discount? Perhaps we can get a good price for it."
Wang Yuan also knew that wanting to join in the fun now was unrealistic, and while walking, he laughed and said: "Sanlang, in the future, I will definitely take you in to play, I know you must want to see it too"
Wang Yuan smiled and said: "Let me take a guess, this must be the Kunlun slave worth tens of thousands of coins."
Huang San smiled wryly and said, "What use is there in wanting? We are not destined for that."
The young girl Huang Ying looked enviously at Wang Yuan's back and said: "The Wang family elder brother speaks eloquently; being well-read is indeed admirable. Although I do not understand, it feels very impressive."
Wang Yuan smiled on the outside, yet his heart was tumultuous. Among the crowd were not only Black individuals but also Western merchants with high noses and blue eyes, wrapped in headscarves, as well as several Ryukyu warriors sporting shaved heads with small braids and carrying bamboo swords. Even the locals of Chang'an were a diverse mix of various backgrounds and professions. In addition to the majority of hurried ordinary citizens, there were also wealthy young men dressed in luxurious attire, elegant scholars with dignified demeanor, and the opulent Tang noblewomen, surrounded by an aura of fragrance and attended by their retinues. Accompanying them were handsome young men and refined gentlemen, dressed smartly and vying for their attention with flirtatious glances.
However, it turned out that this was yet another wishful thinking. These merchants of the Tang Dynasty seemed to lack common sense; upon seeing Wang Yuan enter with a copper mirror, their first thought was to refuse the return. Before Wang Yuan could even speak, they immediately stated their position: "Our shop does not accept returns or exchanges once the goods have left. Why didn't you examine them clearly when you made the purchase?"
"It would be great to go in and take a look at the song and dance; it seems quite appealing," Wang Yuan remarked.
Standing in the square at the entrance of the West Market, Wang Yuan's mind was already filled with a thousand exclamation marks; outside the East Gate of the West Market, a throng of people surged, their voices rising like a tide. In the southern corner, rows of horse-drawn carriages were neatly arranged, with sedan chairs and other means of transportation and cargo vehicles lined up beside them. Near the walls of the West Market, rows of enclosures held hundreds of cattle, horses, mules, and donkeys, tended by dedicated personnel who provided them with fodder and fresh water. These animals occasionally responded to one another with loud calls, adding to the cacophony of sounds in the square. Near the walls of the West Market, rows of enclosures held hundreds of cattle, horses, mules, and donkeys, tended by dedicated personnel who provided them with fodder and fresh water. These animals occasionally responded to one another with loud calls, adding to the cacophony of sounds in the square
Wang Yuan shook his head and said: "I won't ask anymore. I won't sell this bronze mirror. Little sister, I'll give you the bronze mirror. Keep it for your grooming. It's not worth it for these unscrupulous merchants."
At the riverside dock, alongside the wide stone steps extending down to the Yong'an Canal, dozens of cargo ships are moored for unloading. Hundreds of men are carrying goods up and down, and even in the cold of winter, some are working bare-chested, with steam rising from their bodies, creating a scene of bustling activity.
What should we do? Huang San has no other options either
Wang Yuan officially stepped onto the streets outside the alley for the first time. Even though he was mentally prepared for the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty, he was still awed by the magnificence and atmosphere of the buildings and layout beyond the alley. The entire Yong'an Street is at least one hundred and twenty to thirty meters wide, with smooth roads of bluestone and rammed earth on both sides, and a Yong'an Canal in the middle that spans several dozen meters in width. Such a wide street is not inferior even when compared to the streets of later generations
All the people formed a stream flowing slowly towards the entrance of the western city, with laughter, noise, calls for children, and scolding voices all rushing into the ears, combined with the vibrant scenery before them, leaving one feeling dizzy and overwhelmed.
The three individuals took a shortcut from this location to the street where the pawnshop is located in the north, but Wang Yuan was captivated by what he saw and heard, unable to move his feet.
Huang San's family also needed to purchase items for the New Year, so he readily agreed. Huang San took his younger sister Huang Ying along to help carry some things. In the afternoon, the three of them exited through the west gate of Yong'an Fang and set off along Yong'an Avenue, which runs north to south
Huang Ying clapped her hands and laughed, saying: "That's right, I have only seen them twice; the last time was two years ago when I saw them during the Dragon Boat Festival with my mother. How are these people born? They are as dark as if they have been burned like charcoal, yet their teeth are so white"
Huang Ying hurriedly waved her hand and said: "No, no, no, I cannot accept this. We are all used to combing our hair with a basin of water, we are not accustomed to such precious items"
Wang Yuan looked at the bustling crowd on the street and suddenly had a brilliant idea: "Let’s sell our goods on the street. There might be many people passing by who are looking to buy mirrors. We can sell directly to them at a price lower than that in the stores. Surely, there will be buyers"
Wang Yuan believes that what was said makes sense. Sending Huang Yingyun and others is indeed impractical. It is not that he is unwilling, but rather that he is currently in a state of financial destitution. He can only sell this one valuable mirror to purchase some urgently needed items, which is a situation of being forced into a corner.
Despite Wang Yuan's efforts to explain that the depreciation was sold to them, they all responded in unison: "If you want to exchange old goods for money, you should go to a pawn shop. Bringing an old copper mirror here to cause trouble makes people think that all the goods in my shop are second-hand, tarnishing the reputation of my establishment"
"Er Lang, it would be better to go to the pawnshop to exchange for some money. Let's discuss it properly; perhaps the pawnshop owner would be willing to offer a few more dozen coins," Huang San said with a frown.
Where the fallen flowers are trodden down, I laugh as I enter the tavern of the Huji. Life is indeed present, but one fears the absence of that heart. Wang Yuan smiled softly as he swiftly walked through the street of the tavern.
The wide Yong'an Canal is bustling with boats, with cargo-laden black awning boats and sharp-prowed fast boats hurriedly heading north, their destination being the Chang'an West Market beyond the Four Fang area to the north. Of course, there are also many bright red lacquered corridor boats leisurely swaying on the water; on the bows of these boats, cultured scholars and gentlemen sit together, pointing out the scenery along the river and engaging in carefree conversation, with laughter and the sounds of silk and bamboo music occasionally clearly audible to the ear. Of course, there are also many bright red lacquered corridor boats leisurely swaying on the water; on the bows of these boats, cultured scholars and gentlemen sit together, pointing out the scenery along the river and engaging in carefree conversation, with laughter and the sounds of silk and bamboo music occasionally clearly audible to the ear
... ...
The West Market is the destination that Wang Yuan and Huang Sanyuan are heading to today. In the afternoon, it is precisely the time when both markets open. The majority of goods and people on the boats and streets are rushing to the West Market for trade. From Yong'an Fang, heading north along the right street of Yong'an Canal, crossing the "West Market Bridge" that spans the Yong'an Canal between Yanshou Fang and Guangde Fang, one arrives at the eastern gate of the West Market.
Seeing Wang Yuan staring intently at a dark-skinned man in the crowd, Huang Ying, the younger sister of the Huang family, asked with a smile: "Brother Wang, do you know who that person is?"
There were no shops along the street. Wang Yuan already knew that shops were not allowed to open on both sides of the main streets in the Tang Dynasty capital of Chang'an, as this was necessary for maintaining public order. The primary commercial markets in Chang'an were the East Market and the West Market, both of which were unimaginably large, each occupying four blocks and housing over ten thousand shops, essentially meeting the trade needs of Chang'an. The remaining shops were supplementary, permitted to operate within the neighborhoods.
In the afternoon, the streets were bustling with people. Those walking were on the bluestone path near the tall walls; those carrying firewood and pushing carts were on a compacted earth road over ten meters wide; while those riding horses, in carriages, or carrying sedan chairs walked along a bluestone path by the river. Surprisingly, the streets on both sides of the Yong'an Canal had separate lanes for pedestrians and vehicles, so although there were many people, it was never crowded and remained orderly.
These unscrupulous pawnshops, a new copper mirror is worth at least one guan, yet they are only willing to offer less than three hundred wen, which is truly despicable. Brother Wang, do not be angry, let us inquire with a few other shops; perhaps there are some with a good conscience.
This is indeed the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty, exactly as I had imagined. Wang Yuan let out a sigh and then joined the crowd with Huang San and Huang Ying.
Turning right on the road ahead, one arrives at Pawnshop Street. Holding the bronze mirror, Wang Yuan went from one pawnshop to another, but he felt increasingly frustrated. Although the bronze mirror in his hand was exquisite, the unscrupulous pawnbrokers claimed it was worthless. A perfectly new bronze mirror was described as having "poor quality and rough craftsmanship," and the highest offer from the best pawnshop was merely 280 wen.
The street by the wall of the East Fang in the West City is renowned for its Huji Tavern Street, where one can hear the melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments and the rhythmic beats of the Qiang drums. In sight are numerous elegantly dressed men and women seated in the main hall, enjoying drinks and tea while taking a rest. Walking along the street and peering into these taverns, one might be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the graceful Huji maidens, their figures as slender as willows, performing songs and dances in the main hall, their movements akin to the fleeting shadows of a startled swan.
At noon, the warm winter sun shone overhead, casting a golden shimmer on the artificially excavated Yong'an Canal, which is several meters wide, alongside Yong'an Avenue.
There is indeed a shop willing to buy at wwwhetushucom.com, but the price is merely 250 wen. Upon hearing this auspicious number, Wang Yuan immediately lifted his foot to leave, fearing that if he stayed even a moment longer, he would throw a punch at that red, bulbous nose.
Three individuals entered the West Market amidst the bustling crowd, where dozens of shop-lined streets crisscrossed each other, and the shops were thriving with a scene of prosperity.
Huang San was taken aback and hurriedly pulled Wang Yuan forward, muttering, "Are you out of your mind? This is not a place for us to enter. Do you know how much a cup of the exotic liquor sold at the Huji Tavern costs? It's one hundred and fifty wen per cup, enough for us to buy three large jars of turbid wine. Watching these women dance also requires giving tips, so just going in would cost at least five or six hundred wen."
The three of them made a large circle and arrived at a street in the south, where there were several shops selling brand new cast copper mirrors. Presumably, there would be shopkeepers willing to accept this mostly new copper mirror.
Time flies swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, the New Year of the fifth year of the Tianbao era is approaching. On the afternoon of the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, Wang Yuan asked Huang San to accompany him to the western market outside the city to buy some New Year goods.
In succession, five or six establishments were all similarly muddled, leaving Wang Yuan feeling both anxious and uncomfortable. He could not understand what was wrong with these merchants. The currency circulating in the Tang Dynasty was copper coins, and the copper mirror in his hand was also made of copper. This was akin to exchanging jewelry made of gold for circulating gold coins; even if they were not equivalent, at least there would not be much loss. It seemed that each of these Tang Dynasty merchants had been kicked in the head by a donkey.
On both sides of the street stand tall courtyard walls, occasionally revealing a massive vermilion gate opening outward, with lions sitting in front and fierce beast rings on the door. On the high stone steps, a robust and portly gatekeeper lazily leans against the pink wall, basking in the sun. It goes without saying that this is the residence of a wealthy family from the Tang Dynasty; only they are entitled to open doors in the courtyard walls, while ordinary citizens can only be confined within the courtyard gates.