Ji Tang

Chapter 39
(I just changed the status of the work today, and a reader rewarded me. This is also the first reader to reward me. I have added a chapter for this. Thank you again, Qiao Mu!)
There are also differences between the east and west cities of Chang'an. In addition to their different locations, the two cities of Chang'an also have slightly different types of goods.

East Market and West Market are both commercial districts in Chang'an, but due to their different market locations, the types of goods they sell are also slightly different.

Because the East Market is close to the Imperial City and surrounded by many royal families and dignitaries' mansions, the market is known as "the treasures from all directions are collected". The products sold in the market are mainly high-quality luxury goods. Meet the needs of royalty, nobles and dignitaries.

There are pen shops, wine shops, iron shops, meat shops, engraving and printing shops, etc., as well as people who rent donkeys, buy huqin, performers, famous pipa players, people who sell beautiful things and make money...

The West Market is far away from the Imperial City and is surrounded by many civilian residences. The products sold in the market are mainly clothing, candles, cakes, medicine and other daily necessities related to people's basic necessities of life.

In addition, there are wine bars where exotic singers dance to help the guests, and Hu businessmen traveling from all over the world.Therefore, the West Market is busier than the East Market, and is also known as the "Golden Market".

In addition, the opening hours of the market are also regulated.Generally, the market opens in the morning and must be closed in the evening. Trade transactions are not allowed in the entire Chang'an City at night. Except for the singing and dancing in Pingkangfang, everything else is silent.

But there are exceptions, such as the Lantern Festival and other important festivals, when the emperor and the people are enjoying themselves, the curfew will be temporarily postponed. This is when Chang'an is most prosperous.

Thousands of people come to the streets, juggling, singing and dancing, guessing lantern riddles, and setting off prayer lanterns. The young ladies and gentlemen of each family will be taken out to play by their families at this time. The lively scene fills the sky with cheers soaring into the sky.

"Little girl, little girl! Wait for me."

A girl of about eleven or twelve years old dressed as a maid shouted loudly while trotting.

Not far in front of the maid, a girl who looked older than the maid behind her was running forward as if no one else was around, waving to the maid behind her from time to time to signal her to follow her quickly.

The girl, whom the maid called Xiao Niang, was wearing a lady's dress that was popular in the upper class at the time. Her hair was tied back. Although it was simple, this outfit was not something that ordinary girls could wear.

The most impressive thing is the pair of smart eyes, with the cunning flashing from time to time. She must be a very smart little lady.

"Hoo! Hoo!" The maid finally caught up with her little mother, but the violent exercise made her somewhat out of breath, and it took a while for her to recover.

"Mom, why are you running so fast? Xiaolian almost can't catch you."

"Who told you not to exercise regularly? You are so tired from this short distance. What's the use of you?"

When the girl heard the maid's complaint, she tapped her forehead with her slender hand and said angrily.

"Oops! My dear, you hurt me." The maid is also a spiritual person. After being complained by her own young lady, she covered the spot where she was touched with an innocent look on her face.

"You little girl, who did you learn this from? You are such a drama queen!" The girl helplessly rolled her smart eyes and said.

Xiaolian didn't look like she was accused at all, and said a little aggrievedly: "Didn't you learn that from me? I don't know who pretended to be weak and indifferent in front of someone, even a small basket of vegetables. Can’t lift it?”

"Ah! You girl, don't say that, how can I be like that!"

"There is, there is!"

"You still say? Don't run if I don't tear your mouth apart!" "You would be a fool if you don't run!"

"I didn't expect that Chang'an is quite prosperous! There are even indigenous people from the Malay Peninsula and dancing girls from Central Asia."

Ji Song walked in the bustling West Market, looking at the streets and shops filled with dazzling products and people of all skin colors, as if he had traveled back to the international metropolis of later generations.

Of course, maybe the mentality is different!The ubiquitous sense of superiority that white people in later generations had did not exist in the Tang Dynasty.

No matter where people come from, when they come to the Tang Dynasty, they have only three identities. One is the envoys from foreign countries who come to the Tang Dynasty to request the Tang Dynasty to be canonized. The second is the merchants for the purpose of doing business, and the last one is Zhong is a slave who was sold to the Tang Dynasty and a singer who came to the Tang Dynasty with the caravan for gilding.

No matter what status they came to the Tang Dynasty, they could only be uncivilized people in the eyes of the Tang Dynasty.

Even ordinary people had their nostrils turned upward, and some even looked at them with disdain, as if looking at them would stain their own eyes.

Ordinary people are like this, let alone officials. There may be countries as powerful as the Turks, but I just look down on you, you are just a bunch of uncivilized savages!

In fact, it is not surprising that the people of the Tang Dynasty were like this. At this time, the Central Plains had experienced the rule of the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty and the successive victories in foreign wars. From the eyes of foreigners, the Central Plains was the Celestial Kingdom. Even if they were despised, that was what they deserved. .

The strong despised the weak. This was originally the way of survival between countries and clans at this time. Surrendering to the strong was not a shameful thing, and it was even a matter of pride.

Ji Song found that he had fallen in love with this era. Although the people lived in poverty, they were also extremely strong mentally.

They are not afraid of suffering. As long as the people in power give them a safer environment, they can burst out with power that makes the whole world tremble.

"How can you lie? Do you believe that this girl will go to the government to report you? I am charged thirty guan for just a small bottle of spices. I am crazy about money."

While Ji Song was looking through a carpet shipped from Persia, a quarrel came from not far away.It was none of his business at first, but the woman's voice sounded familiar to Ji Song, which attracted his attention.

"Keep this carpet for me, I'll pick it up later!" Ji Song said to a bearded Western businessman in front of him.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured that I will not sell this product to a second customer before dark." The businessman assured Ji Song in an awkward Guanzhong dialect.

These merchants who crossed the mountains, waded through the Gobi Desert, and escaped the plunder of countless horse thieves, did not have a simple role, and they only appeared so obedient in the Tang Dynasty.

If they leave the territory of the Tang Dynasty, they may immediately become a horse thieves who do all kinds of evil and rob passing merchants.

Ji Song glanced at Fan Shang, said nothing, then turned around and walked towards the place where they had just argued.

"What a peculiar young man, with such a unique temperament. He seems to have seen through me, Zamluo. Could he be the son of a wealthy family?" Zamluo said in a low voice as he looked at Ji Song's leaving figure.

Ji Song didn't know that Zamro was whispering to him behind his back. Even if he knew, he wouldn't care. He was currently watching a strong-looking girl arguing with a helpless Fanshang.

(End of this chapter)