"Heartless vegetables for sale! Heartless vegetables for sale!"
As he entered the market, the first thing he saw was an old woman hawking her wares.
Chong Houhu stepped forward and asked, "Old woman, how much are these heartless vegetables? Didn't you used to sell them by the bundle? Don't try to swindle me. Are you raising the price on the spot?"
Seeing that Chong Houhu was broad and stout and looked like a noble, the old woman turned away and muttered something before putting on a smile. "His Majesty has standardized the weights and measures. I sell these vegetables by the jin now. Two coins per jin."
"What if I want to buy them by the liang?" Chong Houhu grew interested.
The old woman said, "Half a jin for one coin."
"What if I only want three liang?"
The old woman: "..."
"Not for sale."
Three liang? Was he going to break a copper coin into pieces?
"Oh, then I won't buy any."
Chong Houhu walked on with perfect confidence and soon came across an old man.
"Old man, what are you selling?"
"Charcoal! Would you like some charcoal, my lord? Spring may have arrived some time ago, but a man of your wealth and standing must often enjoy meat roasted on a Pao Luo. Charcoal is essential for that!"
"Oh." Chong Houhu nodded and kept walking. The Charcoal Seller's expression shifted. All that talk had been wasted.
A few steps farther on, a large group of burly middle-aged men were hawking all kinds of wild game.
Chong Houhu approached a snake catcher to ask about them. To his surprise, they were ordinary people who had volunteered to join the Hunting Team.
The Hunting Team led by Lei Kai was doing better and better. It included not only official personnel