"Uncle Man, you sold out of lamb so quickly?" At the city gate, a young man driving a medium-sized steam truck and waiting to enter the city rolled down his window, stuck out his head, and called to an old man sitting on an ox cart, wrapped in a sheepskin coat and sheepskin hat.
The two seemed to know each other, and likely lived in the farms, villages, and towns near You Province City. Those farms, villages, and towns also fell under You Province City's jurisdiction; more than half the population under the city's administration lived in the surrounding countryside.
"New Year's is almost here. All my lamb went to regular customers, and the moment I reached the market, it was all snapped up, so I came back early!" The old man tugged his sheepskin hat lower and spoke amid clouds of frosty breath. "Why are you alone today? Where's your brother?"
"My brother's strong, and he's kept up his boxing and kicking all these years. Last night, my uncle came back and said the newly established bow office in town was recruiting a few archers. The pay's good—more than ten gold coins a year—and if he does well, he might even become a pavilion chief someday. So he told my brother to give it a try. My brother left before dawn today. If he's lucky, he'll be eating from the public coffers from now on. This truckload of winter mushrooms and winter cabbage was ordered by Manager Liu from Delicacy Tower. I don't need my brother's help with it—I just need to deliver it there, and the Delicacy Tower staff will unload it for me!" the young man in the truck said. Seeing a vehicle ahead pass the inspection point, he edged his steam truck forward as well.
"Hahaha,