In the middle of the market is a two-story non-staple food mall. There is still a circle of shops in the structure of the mall. There are three floors of shops inside and outside. There are dozens of large and small shops, all of which are run by small businessmen.
A hand-to-mouth business.
A commercial house worth 100,000 yuan was enough to buy two buildings in the 1990s. However, in order to make ends meet, small traders had to buy their own houses and land without a place to live.
You can make do on the second floor of the shopping mall, but without the business of subsistence, family life cannot be maintained.
There are many people in the big market, and the sanitary conditions are not good. Since a large number of people live in the market, but the sales rooms are not equipped with living bathrooms, you can see families carrying trash cans all morning.
Dump domestic garbage and feces into the sewer outside the door.
The stench of all kinds of garbage outside is overwhelming, and there are still people in the sales room who have to make fires to cook, do small businesses, and live in the large market. It is very much like the slums abroad in Shen Dapeng's impression.
Shen Dapeng rarely came to the big market before, firstly because buying vegetables and cooking has always been her mother's job, and secondly because the environment is dirty and messy. Walking in the big market, you might step on the excrement of unknown people.
, and there are all kinds of pungent smells that always make people feel like they are about to be poisoned.
But even in such an environment, small traders still have to survive and sell goods, and people still have to live for food, clothing, housing and transportation, and buy the necessities of life.
If it were in the past, Shen Dapeng would have turned around and left without hesitation when he saw the market environment and smelled the stench. But now he knows how difficult it is to be a human being and can appreciate the hardships of life. See
Looking at the small traders in the market who ignore the mess in order to survive and make money, I actually feel awe-inspiring.
Perhaps, the simplest people are the most deserving of more understanding and respect.
In the winter in the north, dripping water turns to ice, and the smell in the market is not as unbearable as in summer. It is also the last time to purchase New Year's goods, and farmers from surrounding villages and towns in Qingshu County have also rushed to the county's large market to buy New Year's goods.
Before the 15th day of the first lunar month, there are very few buses from villages and towns to the county. People have to try their best to prepare for the rations between the 30th and the 15th day of the first lunar month. Among them, big fish and meat are naturally the first choice for the Spring Festival, so during the first half of the year
Month is the busiest time for business in the market.
During the holidays, it is the busiest and most tiring time for all merchants, but it is also the time when they make the most money and are happiest. If they had a choice, perhaps merchants would hope that every day would be a holiday. Even if they are a little tired, they can at least make money.
Money, instead of the usual ten hours a day, earning just enough to support the family.
In the grocery store, people are close to each other, feet touching each other. If you are not careful, you may step on or be stepped on by others. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is a sea of people. Shen Dapeng and his mother squeezed in and out of the crowd, walking
Stop and go, picking out the ingredients needed to celebrate the New Year.
Pork, beef, chicken, fresh vegetables, wherever my mother went she would chat enthusiastically with the stall owner, while Shen Dapeng followed behind carrying bags and vegetables.
"Sister Liu, is this your son? He's really tall and handsome."
"Sister Liu, your son has brought glory to our county. He is the number one scholar in the country. He will definitely have a bright future in the future."
"Sister Liu, your son looks like you. He's good-looking, but he's too thin. He needs to buy more meat!"
"Sister Liu..."
Every time Liu Fengxia introduces her son to others, she can hear everyone praising the son of the No. 1 Scholar, and her face is filled with a contented smile. Maybe this is a low-key show off, but no one does not express envy.
After all, most people live for the sake of their children. Who doesn’t want their children to be able to honor their ancestors?
Shen Dapeng just followed him around the market and immediately became a hotly discussed topic. He inevitably became what everyone calls "other people's children." It is estimated that these parents will hold meetings with their children in the evening.
"Mom, are you familiar with them all? During this shopping trip, at least a dozen people will talk to you."
Shen Dapeng was carrying a pile of ingredients in large and small packages, weighing more than ten kilograms, but it was obviously not heavy for a young man like him.
"Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, they are open for business every day. I come here to buy groceries every now and then. Even if we become familiar with each other after a long time, since you have become the number one scholar in the country, I can take advantage of you. Here
You have gained some fame in the market, you boy, my love for you is not in vain."
Liu Fengyun, who is in her forties, actually holds her son's wrist like a little girl, as if she is showing off to everyone that such an outstanding child is my son, and you... are just jealous.
"Mom, if you take me here to buy groceries every day, their children will probably go crazy."
Looking at his mother's kind face, Shen Dapeng suddenly had the urge to hug his mother, but due to the inconvenience of the large packages of ingredients in his hands, he had to give up the idea.
"I don't care about them. My own son has a lot of potential. Why don't you let me show it off? Then my life has been in vain?"
"You also have a husband who is a deputy county magistrate. Why don't you show off?"
"Your dad? Ignore him. My son has become promising, and I still care about him?"
Liu Fengyun pointed to the stall selling dry goods in front, "I'm going to buy some seasonings over there. Just wait for me at the door. Find a tricycle. A taxi costs five yuan, and a tricycle is only two yuan."
"Okay." Shen Dapeng guessed that his mother was tired of showing off, and he didn't like the feeling of being praised to the heavens. The peddler said it was envy, but in fact it was just a way of communicating. Even if he was already too busy, he still wanted to praise him a few times. In the end,
It's just to sell goods to my mother. I can't call it hypocritical, but it always has a small thought and purpose.
His mother went to buy seasonings, and Shen Dapeng returned the same way. When he arrived at the main entrance of the market, there was a neat row outside. Seven or eight human-powered tricycles were waiting at the door according to the rules. The tricycles were all made of transparent plastic sheets.
The frame can play a role in blocking wind and snow in winter, which can be regarded as a very user-friendly service.
These tricycles are relatively strict with each other. They line up in order and do not fight or rush, which can reduce a lot of quarrels and conflicts.
Shen Dapeng didn't want to break the so-called rules, but his mother was still shopping and it would take a few minutes to come out. In order not to delay the business of the first tricycle, he directly chose the last tricycle. When he got on the tricycle, he instantly noticed
I saw several other tricycle riders looking at me strangely.
"Young man, go take the car in front. We have rules and we are all queuing up." Through a layer of fogged plastic sheet, the tricycle master pointed to the first car in front and spoke softly, but also contained