In mid-November of Year 58, the Mediation Office along the street in the Clan Grounds opened as usual.
The fish seller's carrying pole lay across the steps. The firewood seller's pole leaned against the wall. Neither man would give way.
The white wooden sign still hung in its usual spot, bleached pale by the morning sunlight. The director crouched inside the doorway, sorting out the lot-drawing tube. A calico cat lay beside it, basking in the sun with narrowed eyes.
The street in the Clan Grounds was just waking up. The fish seller and the firewood seller had simply clashed over a stall space that morning.
The fish seller started shouting first.
"This is my usual spot! He just had to shove a bundle of firewood in here and squeeze my crucian carp into the corner!"
The firewood seller slammed his carrying pole against the ground. The calico cat's ears twitched beside the lot-drawing tube.
"Your bucket leaked all over my shoes! It leaked yesterday, and it's still leaking today. You think you can claim any stall space you like?"
An older woman holding a baby stood nearby. At the shouting, she drew the child closer to her chest, but the corners of her mouth curved upward.
The two men drew closer as they argued. Their loads bumped together, flinging droplets onto each other's trouser legs. Several crucian carp thrashed about, splashing water all over one of the firewood seller's legs.
The neighbors gathered in a circle. No one tried to intervene; they were all waiting to see how the Mediation Office would rule. Usually, something like this would end up before the Elders. With Kiyoshi here this time, everyone wanted to hear what he would say.
Kiyoshi walked over. He neither raised a hand nor stepped between them.
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