Unexpectedly, just as she finished speaking.
Before Chen Xuan could refuse,
Su Wanqiu gave her a scolding.
On usual days,
she might just say a few words,
but this time Chen Xuan was going to the black market, how could he take her along.
Even if he wasn't going to the black market,
taking her still wouldn't do,
after all,
it's more than ten li from here to the county town, who knows if it's safe.
Chen Xuan is indeed a Martial Artist,
but bringing her, an ordinary woman, would just be a burden, it would definitely be less safe than going alone.
Her sister really acts on a whim.
Just got scolded the day before,
and here she is again, truly tiresome.
She's completely a child!
Seeing Su Yun beside him being scolded to tears, like little pearls dropping, Chen Xuan could only smile wryly.
However,
he didn't speak up for her either.
This little girl is like a donkey, needing a beating every now and then.
....
After an unpleasant breakfast,
Su Wanqiu brought over a large burlap sack to Chen Xuan.
"I made this last night, took apart a few sacks and re-stitched them, it should hold that big White Tiger."
Receiving the sack, Chen Xuan noticed her hands were covered in redness, with many pin pricks.
He immediately felt sorry for his sister-in-law.
Truly, for this family, for him, she's been quietly working from behind.
Don't think it was merely just taking apart a few sacks and re-stitching, it was very troublesome.
Time-consuming and labor-intensive!
Probably started after he left last night,
who knows how long it took,
this morning,
she was up early making breakfast.
"Thanks, sister-in-law." These words genuinely came from Chen Xuan's heart.
.....
After packing up the White Tiger, Chen Xuan bid a simple farewell and left home.
At this moment,
there were only two women in the main room.
Su Yun, with her head down, quietly worked on a shoe sole, not daring to speak.
Seeing this,
Su Wanqiu ignored her.
Her sister really seemed like she'd never grow up, couldn't be treated too nicely.
Otherwise,
she'd just remain a child!
...
Going west from Shuanggang Village, it takes about a dozen li to reach Yunze County.
In his memory,
it seemed like he had only been once,
when his older brother was still alive and they went to town to sell their hunted game.
With a six-hundred-jin White Tiger on his back,
fortunately, Chen Xuan was now an Eighth-Grade Martial Artist,
otherwise,
he might not even be able to handle it.
The entrance to the black market is not within the county town,
so,
he didn't have to enter the town.
He also saved on the city entry tax.
After spending almost two hours, Chen Xuan arrived at the moat to the east of Yunze County.
Ferry!
A few small boats, each with a boatman wearing a bamboo hat and dressed in black.
This is the entrance to the black market,
and these boats are specifically for taking people to the black market.
One of the boats already had several people on it.
When Chen Xuan just arrived,
the boatman on this boat called out, "10 copper coins to enter the black market!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan thought to himself, 'What a rip-off!'
Just to enter, it costs 10 copper coins; collecting this entrance fee alone is quite a lucrative income.
However,
he still paid the money honestly and got on the boat.
Unexpectedly,
once he was on board, the boatman shouted, "Depart!"
Then,
the small boat steadily headed towards the center of the lake.
Chen Xuan glanced around.
Including the boatman, there were 10 people on this boat.
Even though people were not far from each other, no one spoke a word.
Chen Xuan didn't know if there was a rule against speaking on the boat, but to avoid trouble, he just sat in a corner, with the sack beside him, yet his hand held tightly onto the sack's opening.
"Young man, the stuff in your bag is quite heavy, if I'd known, I would have charged you double."
The boatman rowed with a hint of struggle.
"Ah, sorry sir, I didn't know the rules, I'll make it up next time, next time, huh."
Suddenly being pointed out,
Chen Xuan was startled.
Likewise, the boatman paused, his oar stopped for a moment.
Sir!
A slight smile at the corner of his mouth!
"Next time, bring me a bottle of wine, this is back-breaking work!"
The boatman said gloomily, then added, "Don't forget!"
Uh?
Chen Xuan really wanted to roll his eyes,
he was just saying it casually,
couldn't believe the old guy took it seriously.
Doesn't he know "next time" means there won't be one?
This face... so thick!
However,
being his first time at the black market, unfamiliar with the place, he didn't want to offend anyone, so he could only force a reply, "Alright, I'll definitely bring you a bottle of wine!"
Afterwards,
the small boat fell silent again, except for the sound of water.
About half an hour later,
buildings appeared one by one.
An island!
This is the black market.
After the boat docked, one by one, people began disembarking, Chen Xuan was the last one.
"That thing of yours should fetch a good price, and remember, no fighting in the black market, or heads will roll!"
As he got off the boat,
the boatman suddenly gave a reminder.
This startled Chen Xuan at first.
He had never let go of this sack, how did this old guy know.
But,
he still respectfully cupped his fist, "Thank you for the reminder, sir, I understand!"
Then he got off the boat.
...
The black market is divided into four regions: east, south, west, and north.
Each region trades different things,
Wang Daming had mentioned all this to him.
He should be heading to the Eastern Domain.
So, he followed the cobblestone path, according to the directions, towards the Eastern Domain.
Soon,
a huge gate appeared in Chen Xuan's view.
Above the gate,
the two words "Eastern Domain" were written with a flourish.
At the gate,
a recliner was laid with some beast's fur that he couldn't identify.
A middle-aged man in green lay on it with his eyes closed.
Behind him,
stood two burly men, with longswords at their waists, each about 1.8 meters tall, one on the left and one on the right.
Seeing this,
Chen Xuan approached and respectfully said, "Sir, I am here to the Eastern Domain to sell some hunted beasts!"
However,
the man in green on the chair didn't even lift his eyelids, and said blandly, "Stall fee, 10 copper coins!"
10 again, another 10!
Chen Xuan, though it hurt, honestly took 10 copper coins from his pocket and handed them over.
The man on the right took the money, and the one on the left tossed him a wooden plaque.
The number 038 was carved on it.
Seeing his confusion, the man on the left knew it was his first time in the black market, so he explained, "Booth number 38, find it yourself!"
"Thank you!"
Chen Xuan nodded to express his thanks and then continued inside with the sack on his back.
After he left,
the man in green on the recliner said, "Xiaoli, you're quite nice, aren't you!"
"Hehe, Lord Yuan, that guy looks like a first-timer, I just reminded him to prevent any trouble from happening, so it wouldn't come back on us!"
"Hmm, you think things through quite thoroughly."
"Oh!"
Yuan Hong stretched out as he lay there, yawning.
"You both keep an eye out, I'm going to snooze for a while!"
Behind him, both men exchanged glances and smiled wryly together.
Lord Yuan really isn't concerned with minor things!
"""