Episode 18: The Auspicious Gambling Den

Everyone had gotten off the cart. Zhou Changhe placed the three baskets belonging to the Jin family under the city wall where it was shaded.

“Yun, you can leave these baskets here. Wait here for a while. I still have some business to attend to, so I’ll leave first. Uncle Shi Chu is still around; if you need to go back, just wait here,” Zhou Changhe instructed.

“Got it, Uncle. You go ahead,” Meng Yun replied politely.

Jin Yanchuan imitated his wife’s gesture and waved his hand.

“All right,” Zhou Changhe said as he drove the donkey cart away.

Meng Yun held Jin Qiao’er with one hand and pulled Jin Yanchuan with the other, wary of losing the two children in the bustling crowd.

She took a careful look at the ancient, orderly street, the shops, and found them quite similar to those depicted in TV dramas. Most buildings were two stories tall, with a few three-story ones. Shop signs hung above the stalls, colorful banners fluttered in the breeze—inns, taverns, teahouses, general stores, cloth shops, pastry shops—an array dazzling to the eye.

The street was lively with pedestrians carrying baskets and shoulder poles, bustling to and fro.

Fifteen minutes later, Jin Shan and his two sons, drenched in sweat, finally caught up. As soon as they entered the city gate, they spotted Meng Yun and her family.

“Yun’er, you must have been anxious,” Jin Shan said, glancing at Jin Yanchuan. Seeing his eldest son looking well, he was relieved.

“No worries, Father. You all cool down, have some water, then we’ll continue,” Meng Yun said, pulling out a water pouch.

“Ah, good,” Jin Shan handed it first to Jin Yanzhe, then Jin Yanan, and finally drank himself.

This small gesture held the deep love of a father for his children, warming Meng Yun’s heart.

“Chuan, are you thirsty?” Jin Shan asked.

“Dad, I’m not thirsty. I’ve already drunk twice and am almost full,” Jin Yanchuan patted his stomach.

“Ah,” Jin Shan smiled warmly at his son. After resting a moment, the three men lifted the bamboo baskets onto their backs.

“Yun’er, hold Chuan tight. There are many people today; don’t let yourselves get separated,” Jin Shan cautioned.

“Got it, Dad,” Meng Yun replied with a smile.

The family wove through the crowd, heading straight west toward the city’s agricultural market. The market opened only on assembly days; on other days, there were fewer vendors and customers.

Upon reaching the west side, Meng Yun suddenly felt as if she had arrived at a popular tourist spot during a holiday—there were crowds beyond description.

The market stalls were set up haphazardly. The local authorities had drawn boundary lines, and within those limits, vendors took their spots in order. Officials collected fees—usually two copper coins per stall.

Those who paid received a paper slip as proof of payment, serving as a receipt for both parties.

Jin Shan was familiar with the rules. He stopped beside a vendor selling mountain goods, spread out a gray cloth, then arranged their vegetables neatly.

Meng Yun spotted water spinach, chives, spinach, scallions—all tender and green, looking irresistibly fresh.

The family stood there, waiting for customers to show interest.

“Dad, don’t we need to call out to attract buyers?” Meng Yun asked, noticing most vendors were simply standing quietly. It seemed unlikely anything would sell.

“Huh? Call out what?” Jin Shan looked puzzled. That was how he had always sold before. If someone asked, he sold; if not, he waited.

“Dad, how do we sell these?” Meng Yun questioned.

“They’re all one copper coin per jin,” Jin Shan answered.

Meng Yun understood.

“Chuan, Qiao’er, watch me call out, and you’ll do the same later,” Meng Yun began to shout.

“Fresh vegetables, only one copper coin per jin! Come take a look if you need some!” she called out, then glanced at the Jin family, who all stared at her incredulously.

“This is really fresh, only one copper coin per jin!” Right after her first call, an elderly lady approached. She was dressed in fine cotton clothes and wore a silver hairpin, indicating a comfortable household.

“Yes, ma’am. These are from our own garden, just picked. See, the dew is still on them,” Meng Yun praised her vegetables.

“They look good. I’ll take two jins of each,” the lady said generously.

Jin Shan and Jin Yanan quickly weighed out two jins of each of the five vegetables—ten jins total—for ten copper coins.

“Ma’am, please come again after you’ve eaten well!” Meng Yun smiled warmly.

The lady smiled and left.

“Chuan, Qiao’er, give it a try,” Meng Yun encouraged.

Qiao’er was a bit shy, but Jin Yanchuan had no sense of embarrassment and called out just as his wife had.

After a few calls, several pretty young girls pulled their mothers over.

“Little brother, how much are the vegetables?” one girl asked Jin Yanchuan, eyes sparkling.

“Each kind is one copper coin per jin,” Meng Yun answered.

“Little brother, please weigh me three jins of water spinach, two jins of chives, and one jin of scallions,” the girl said with a bright smile.

“Oh,” Jin Yanchuan was unsure how to respond.

Jin Shan hurriedly weighed the vegetables. “Miss, that’s six copper coins total.” He handed the vegetables to Meng Yun, aware that his stern appearance made some people reluctant to approach, so he kept his distance.

The girl paid with copper coins and cast a lingering glance at Jin Yanchuan as she left.

Meng Yun felt a twinge of discomfort—selling vegetables felt like her husband had to rely on his looks.

The good start lifted their spirits, and they began calling out with enthusiasm.

Soon, they sold an entire basket of vegetables.

“Dad, Chuan and I will look around. Once you finish selling, meet us at the city gate,” Meng Yun said.

“All right, here’s the money you made. Buy whatever you like,” Jin Shan took out the thirty-some copper coins earned earlier.

“Thank you, Dad,” Meng Yun accepted the coins and pulled Jin Yanchuan along.

Jin Shan watched their disappearing figures with some worry.

“How much for these vegetables?” someone interrupted his thoughts.

“Wife, where are we going?” Jin Yanchuan asked curiously as Meng Yun dragged him along.

“To a fun place,” Meng Yun replied.

She led Jin Yanchuan into a clothing shop and bought two cloaks.

“Wife, why dress like this?” Jin Yanchuan was almost enveloped in black, even his head covered. Meng Yun tied a black veil over him.

“I’m taking you somewhere secret. You can’t tell anyone. If you do, I won’t let you cuddle with me anymore. Understand?” Meng Yun warned sternly.

“Okay, I won’t tell,” Jin Yanchuan nodded eagerly, afraid of losing her affection.

Meng Yun adjusted her own attire and led Jin Yanchuan through twisting streets until they entered a shop with four gilded characters on the door: Lucky Gambling House.

Inside, the noise was overwhelming.

“I bet big!”

“No take-backs!”

“Open!”

“Ah, I won!”

Some were ecstatic, others frantic. Were it not for a purpose, Meng Yun would never bring Jin Yanchuan to such a place.

“Is your boss here?” Meng Yun asked quietly of a waiter.

“Our boss is no ordinary person. You’re not someone who can just see him,” the waiter replied haughtily.

Meng Yun said nothing more and pulled Jin Yanchuan toward a dice betting table.

As the dealer shook the dice, everyone placed their bets.