"Come one, come all! Everyone passing by, stop and take a look! Drinking water's on clearance today! Originally ten thousand Credits a liter, now it's not nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine, not eight thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine! Here's my price: three thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine!"
"This special offer lasts today only! My dear lady, don't miss your chance-it won't come around again!"
"What? You're not buying? You're here to sell water?"
"Why didn't you say so sooner? All that spit I wasted talking cost me at least ten Credits."
"If you're selling, it's two thousand Credits a liter. How much have you got?"
In an alley on the west side of town, a freshwater merchant's voice oozed slick salesmanship.
Inside his shop, built from blue sheet metal, he took an earthenware jar from the middle-aged woman across from him, then pulled a glass measuring vessel out from under the table.
The young merchant lifted the jar and was about to pour the water into it.
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice, so familiar he could hardly believe it:
"Sampo."
The young man raised his head and looked toward the shop entrance.
The instant he saw that figure-
His body gave a violent shudder, and the earthenware jar smashed on the ground.
Tears spilled from his eyes.
The middle-aged woman beside him began berating him loudly, demanding compensation for her loss.
But the young merchant couldn't hear a word. He simply grabbed a handful of money from the drawer and shoved it into the squawking woman's hands.
The middle-aged woman clutched the money and squeezed it between her fingers. Without even counting it, she hurried away with a delighted expression, afraid to stay a moment longer.
At last, the young merchant spoke:
"Big Bro!"
By then, Chu Mu