Chapter 3: The Fortuitous Events of the Western Market

Impressive

Qin Shouping suppressed his rage, which was akin to spitting blood. His mouth was on someone else's body, making it impossible to stop others from gossiping. Qin Shouping was even less inclined to explain anything, as the saying goes, explanation is merely a cover-up.

A hoe, a good hoe, 50 wen each

Qin Shou, who woke up from a beautiful dream with reluctance and unwillingness, opened his eyes and looked curiously at his neighbor's playmate, Nie Niu. They were similar in age, both strong and capable since childhood, but unfortunately, Nie Niu's strength could not match that of Qin Shou. Although he was a year older than Qin Shou, he had to settle for the role of a subordinate.

"Beans? Oh, good, good, beans!" Qin Shouxin absentmindedly responded to the black cow, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of how to make a fortune through brewing, aware of the true market price of alcohol, as he contemplated his grand brewing plan

What is that scoundrel causing trouble in my territory, you rascal

Brewing wine is not something that can be accomplished in a day or two; capital is also a concern. Simply knowing the basic tools and methods for brewing wine without the necessary funds presents a significant challenge. At this moment, Qin Shou feels as if a skilled housewife is unable to cook without rice.

"What? That bastard is talking nonsense?" Before Hei Niu could finish his sentence, Qin Shou jumped out of bed in shock, glaring at Hei Niu with wide eyes, truly wishing to tear apart someone who distorts the truth and confuses right and wrong.

Ah? Brother Shou, I heard it from the widow Wang in the west of the village! Isn't it like this?" In the face of Qin Shou's furious expression, Hei Niu was instead startled and hurried to explain the reason.

Boss, how much is this selling for

This ... ... ah

Yet she was chained like a dog to the horizontal beam beneath the stage, her half-naked body marked with intersecting whip scars. In such cold weather, her survival is nothing short of a miracle

Merchants filled their money bags by selling foreign slaves, while the cunning slave traders made every effort to avoid buying and selling the native Han people within the territory of the Tang Dynasty

Chang'an, the most prosperous and flourishing place of the Tang Dynasty, boasts a grand atmosphere. The imperial city is composed of three parts: the outer city, the palace city, and the imperial city, covering an area of 83 square kilometers. Within the city, various industries thrive, with a population nearing 500,000, not including the countless merchants from distant lands, creating a bustling and crowded scene.

Qin Shou, idly following the black cow through the stalls selling yellow beans, held in his pocket the three coins given to him by Jia Rong, pondering how to engage in some business to achieve wealth. A distinctive call of a vendor caught Qin Shou's attention.

Unfortunately, Quintus miscalculated and underestimated the acceptance of foreign slaves with blue eyes and high noses by the Chinese. If he were to bring out a batch of Korean female slaves, they would likely be snatched up before he even had a chance to call out.

The goods of slave traders could include Persian, Turkic, Slavic slaves, and Korean slaves, particularly Korean female slaves. In the wealthy households of the Tang Dynasty, there was a strong desire to acquire young girls from Korea and Silla.

Qin Shou pushed through the crowd of onlookers and approached Quintus, who was wearing straw sandals. He pointed with one hand at the small girl trembling beneath the slave platform. Her golden hair was disheveled, obscuring her entire muddy face, making it impossible for Qin Shou to see her features clearly

The onlookers behind were filled with exclamations of surprise, unable to contain themselves as they erupted into thunderous applause, finally witnessing what true innate strength looks like

"How much is this wine?" Qin Shou did not pay attention to the black cow that had caught up behind him, stopping at a small tavern on the street that sold wine, inquiring of a seemingly gentle middle-aged man who appeared to be the shopkeeper

Shou Ge'er, wait, wait a moment, West, West Market

Shou Ge'er, I heard that you were so troubled that you jumped into the river? Is it..." Hei Niu scratched his head, his weathered face filled with concern as he inquired about Qin Shou's reasons.

Disturbed from a pleasant dream, Qin Shou, feeling extremely displeased, began to put on a warm, coarse cloth round-neck robe. This was hand-sewn by Jia Rong, and even though it had a tear, Qin Shou was reluctant to throw it away. Coming from a poor family, he could not afford to waste the meager savings that were a lifeline.

There are numerous wines in Chang'an, including Xingyang Tu Ku Chun, Fuping Shi Dong Chun, Jian'nan Shao Chun, Yingzhou Fu Shui Jiu, Wucheng Ruo Xia Jiu, Lingnan Lingxi Jiu, Yicheng Jiu Yun Jiu, Chang'an Xishi Qiang Jiu, as well as the imported Sāmlā from Persia and Marang Jiu from the Da Shi region, among many others

The bustling streets of the imperial city were filled with common people, and at this moment, Qin Shou felt it was quite absurd. The street, approximately 15 meters wide, seemed very narrow, unable to accommodate the diverse merchants, commoners, and foreign traders in their varied attire.

Wow

My maid, when did it become your turn to shout? Enough! Qin Shou, in front of Quintus, lifted the thumb-thick iron chain and bellowed fiercely, breaking the chain with brute force.

Quintus, filled with rage, raised the leather whip in his hand to vent his anger. Before he could strike, three Kaiyuan Tongbao coins flew towards him, hitting Quintus and causing him to stagger back two or three steps with a thud. He tightly clutched the three copper coins that had slipped down his collar, trying to calm the turmoil in his chest, and looked at Qin Shou in sheer terror.

Such a scene, more beastly than human, was something Qin Shou could no longer bear to witness. He knew that slaves had no human rights, but seeing it in reality was entirely different

"Three articles, just say it plainly! This street is under my watch!" Qin Shou stated directly the price he could accept in one breath

Qin Shou was not made to toil like a beast of burden, thanks to the soft-hearted Jia Rong, who would rather suffer and endure hardships himself than compel Qin Shou to work like a draft animal

The law protects ancient customs, making the trafficking of Han people a highly risky endeavor. If a merchant abducts a slave, the offending merchant is likely to face the death penalty.

In the West Market, under the guidance of the black cow, Qin Shou gradually entered the bustling marketplace filled with the sounds of vendors calling out. Hu merchants and local traders vied with each other to sell their goods, attempting to attract buyers to come and haggle over prices.

Thank you, shopkeeper, I will think it over! Qin Shou was perfunctory and quickly left, dragging the black cow away under the shopkeeper's puzzled gaze. One dou costs 300 coins, it's simply outrageous!

Upon entering the city from Qin Shouxiang, one steps onto the crisscrossing cobblestone streets, admiring the legendary 110 neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is surrounded by walls, with larger neighborhoods typically having four gates and a cross street within, while smaller neighborhoods have two gates on the east and west sides and a horizontal street. The streets are approximately 15 meters wide, and there are also large industrial and commercial areas such as the East Market and West Market.

When Quintus hesitated, Qin Shou picked up a pebble the size of a river stone with his foot and effortlessly crushed it with his hand in front of Quintus

Master!

The round-collared robe, a primary garment of men during the Tang Dynasty, is designed as a deep garment with a connected upper and lower section. It features a round collar and a right lapel, with the collar, sleeves, and front placket adorned with a decorative edge. The lower edges of the front and back plackets are connected by horizontal bands to signify the lower garment, distinguishing it from a single-layered version.

Black Cow

The good people of Tang gather at the slave platform, where no one is willing to spend money to purchase these foreign beauties. Firstly, it is unnecessary, and secondly, no matter how one looks at it, these so-called beauties do not meet the aesthetic standards of the Tang people

However, strictly speaking, foreign slaves are not entirely considered human. Therefore, as long as there was no decree granting amnesty to foreign slaves at that time, regardless of their category, foreign slaves may not necessarily be in high demand.

Inferior quality cattle only require 3 guan per head

"Young man, one dou is 300 coins, I will exchange it for one piece of silk, or two dou of wine!" The shopkeeper roughly sized up Qin Shou and monotonously stated the price of his wine.

However, now, for whatever reason, they share the same identity—a slave in the Roman Misha slave market, brought to the Tang Dynasty from their homeland, merely hoping to fetch a good price.

The moment Qin Shou stepped into the West Market, he finally experienced a scene of ancient prosperity, where the mingling of pedestrians and wealthy individuals was palpable. He attempted to purchase unique items in the bustling marketplace crowded with foreign merchants.

Shou Ge Er

Sophie, are you not getting up to see your master?

Qin Shou turned his gaze towards the sound, where a half-meter high exhibition wooden platform had been set up next to the Turkmen horse traders. The platform measured ten meters in length and three meters in width, and on it stood about ten beautiful women dressed only in sheer, transparent gauze. Each of them was exceptionally stunning, possessing slender figures and charming faces.

Their expressions vary greatly; some are shy, some are uninhibited, some are bold, and some are angry. Their identities are also diverse; some are devout clergy, some are merely rural villagers, some are noble aristocrats, while others are lowly courtesans

Qin Shou had not yet had the chance to take away the newly recruited maidservant when a rough, thunderous roar erupted behind him, causing his ears to buzz.

The reason he is called Black Cow is that from the age of eight, he was made to work like a cow by his unscrupulous parents, driven into the fields to plow in place of actual oxen. Not long after experiencing the turmoil of war, the cow became a privilege of the wealthy.

"Shou Ge'er, are you going to the city?" Hei Niu looked at Qin Shou with unease, nervously seeking his opinion, feeling that Qin Shou had changed a lot.

The black cow was unaware that Qin Shou was preoccupied with thoughts of becoming wealthy. It noticed that Qin Shou seemed to have lost his spirit, forgetting even the way to the West Market Road, wandering aimlessly and making a large detour. In the end, it had no choice but to lead the way itself.

The Tang people had a strong affinity for novelty. Under the enlightened leadership of Emperor Li Shimin, the wealthy elite and even ordinary citizens took pride in possessing new and fresh items. Regardless of the cost, they were willing to purchase them to maintain their social standing. This led to a group of foreign merchants settling in the Western Market, giving rise to the renowned Hu People Learning Alley, which became famous in later generations

Good, good, three articles, just three articles! Under the pressure of the local bullies in Qinshi, Kuntus, the strong dragon, compromised and did not offend the local people while seeking wealth. He sold the unruly blonde girl at a low price.

Female slave, a book of 300 - 500 words with illustrations

The black cow was truly impressed by the energetic Qin Shou, who was panting and calling for Qin Shou to stop ahead. Upon entering the city, he was even more spirited than the village girls, wandering around without a trace of fatigue.

Turkic Dunma, superior horse, 9 guan per horse

She? Ten wen, no, eight wen! When Quintus, who had not made any business for half a day, felt discouraged, he saw Qin Shou approaching to inquire about the price of the difficult-to-tame little female slave, gesturing with his unfamiliar Chinese to indicate the price

Impressive

The Roman slave trader Quintus, holding a whip and dressed in the semi-revealing garments of ancient Rome that Qin Shou had seen on television, was calling out to sell beautiful women from foreign lands on the slave platform

"Shou Ge'er, West Market, West Market!" In the bustling streets of Qin Shou, Hei Niu repeatedly reminded Qin Shou to go to the West Market to buy beans. If the task could not be completed, he would have to face the bamboo shoots and braised beef again upon returning.

The next morning, as Qin Shou was soundly asleep in his tattered quilt, a rough and boisterous shout of surprise woke him from his beautiful dreams and thoughts of his fiancée.

Qin Shou had a general understanding of the currency exchange system of the Tang Dynasty. One dou is equivalent to 10 liters, and one dou sells for 300 coins, which means one liter naturally sells for 30 coins. Qin Shou did not expect that such coarse wine would be sold at such a high price! If it were distilled three times to produce baijiu, wouldn't it be exorbitantly priced?

As Qin Shou stood behind, the good deeds of the common people were met with exclamations of alarm at the sound of fire prevention. With his arms crossed, he presented himself as a villain, leaving it to others to decide his fate. Qin Shou's robust physique, combined with an invisible aura of pressure, startled Quintus significantly.

Hearsay is not to be trusted, Black Bull, do you have something to attend to early in the morning

Especially the women of the Tang Dynasty, with their diverse appearances on the streets, are countless in their varying figures, from plump to slender. The sight of their full and delicate forms dazzles Qin Shou, making him feel as if he is immersed in a dreamlike beauty of a land of daughters. Particularly when they purse their lips or smile charmingly, they exude an enchanting allure, naturally captivating and deeply enticing.

"Going to the city? Sure!" Qin Shou was initially taken aback, but after a moment of silence, under the expectant gaze of Hei Niu, he turned his eyes and readily agreed.