The Lunar New Year was approaching, and Wanjin Town was bustling with life.
Stone Bodhisattva stood a little dazedly on the main street, watching the crowds coming and going, unsure for the moment where he ought to go.
Because these new soldiers like him had been at it for almost a year now, they'd managed to save up a pile of copper coins. Harano, wanting to boost the economy and liven up the market, conveniently put a wartime readiness level into place. For now, it was at level four—no immediate risk of war, mostly focusing on training—so they started arranging for soldiers to take leave by shifts, urging all these fellows with money to go spend it. Whether they ate and drank or bought whatever junk struck their fancy, the best case would be if they returned flat broke.
