Time flies.
Before we knew it, it was market day.
Shoura Village experienced an unusually lively moment.
Starting at the crowing of the roosters at dawn, vendors gradually arrived from outside the village, pushing their carts.
As the sun rose higher, the streets of Shoura Village became exceptionally lively.
All sorts of stalls sprang up like mushrooms after rain, colorful banners swayed gently in the breeze, the air was filled with the aroma of various foods, and the shouts of vendors echoed through the streets.
Teiichi arrived at the market early, choosing what to eat that day.
Many people on Shoura Island share the same goal as Teiichi.
After all, this kind of market only happens twice a month.
You can't usually eat this even if you want to.
Many families eat all three meals here on this day.
Of course, besides food, the market also sells all sorts of other things.
Clothing, miscellaneous items, vegetables, meat, etc.
On this day, the villagers of Shoura Island also purchase the things they need for the next two weeks.
A sign caught Teiichi's attention.
The stall's sign prominently displayed the words "Saikou no Ramen" (The Best Ramen).
Teiichi grinned and went to the stall, finding a spot to sit down.
The boss was a middle-aged, robust man with a cloth wrapped around his head, looking very simple and unpretentious.
Seeing another customer arrive, the owner greeted him warmly, "Hey, young man, what would you like to order?"
Teiichi look at the recipe.
emmm...
There are only 10 types of noodles in total.
So he said, "One of each kind, please!"
The shop owner paused, clearly surprised. He turned and asked, "Are there any family members coming later?"
Teiichi shook her head and said with a smile, "No, it's just me eating, so don't worry about cooking. I have a big appetite!"
Hearing Teiichi's words, the boss still hesitated.
Helpless, Teiichi took out some money from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"I can settle the payment with you first!"
"Oh! No need, no need, please have a seat, I'll be right there!"
Seeing that Teiichi had taken out his money, the boss immediately agreed and then quickly got to work.
Before long, bowls of steaming hot ramen were served on the table.
Teiichi raised his chopsticks and reached into the bowl.
"Rustling sound--"
With one bite of noodles, the springiness of the noodles and the deliciousness of the broth immediately fill your mouth.
Teiichi meal, I felt...
Hmm... the taste is just average, and yet they have the nerve to call it the best ramen.
"Mommy! Mommy! This noodle soup is so delicious!"
The little girl's voice came from beside them.
Teiichi turned his head and saw a little girl clumsily using chopsticks to pick up noodles and put them into her mouth, occasionally leaning her little head over to sip some soup.
Her face beamed with a satisfied and happy smile, as if this bowl of ramen was the most delicious food she had ever eaten.
Teiichi smiled slightly and started eating heartily as well.
"Hey! Mr. Takeuchi, it's time for this month's stall fee!"
The unusual words quickly caught Teiichi's attention, Teiichi he looked in the direction from which the voice came.
A skinny, blond-haired man stood there, gesturing with one hand towards the ramen stall owner.
Upon seeing the visitor, the ramen stall owner, with a gloomy expression, counted out some money from the cash box under the stall and handed it over.
After taking the money and counting it, the blond-haired man smiled with satisfaction.
He then walked behind the stall and put his hand on the ramen stall owner's shoulder.
"Hey, Mr. Takeuchi, why didn't your daughter come along this time?"
Mr. Takeuchi shrugged, trying to shake off the blond man's hand that was on his body, but failed before speaking.
She wasn't feeling well, so she didn't come.
"What a coincidence! Why does she always seem to feel unwell around market time?"
The blond-haired man tightened his grip on Takeuchi's Takeuchi, pulling him closer, and whispered, "If she doesn't come next time, don't even think about coming!"
Upon hearing Takeuchi, Mr. Takeuchi paused in his work without replying.
Seeing this, the blond-haired man smiled with satisfaction and was about to say something more when he felt a strange sensation of being watched.
Following the gaze, he was about to hurl a few curses, but swallowed his words after seeing the person's attire.
His eyes flickered, and he turned to Mr. Takeuchi, saying, "Remember what I just said!"
They then moved on to the next stall.
After seeing Huang Mao leave, Teiichi didn't pay any more attention and continued eating with his head down.
Soon, all ten bowls of noodles were Teiichi.
The owner quickly came over to settle the bill.
"Guest, how's the food?"
"Mmm, it tastes pretty good!" Teiichi, then asked, "Who was that person just now?"
Upon hearing Teiichi's question, Takeuchi's face immediately darkened. "That one just now? He's the village chief's son!"
Is a stall fee something everyone who comes to the market has to pay?
Mr. Takeuchi shook his head. "No, he just wanted to keep it himself!"
"Then you'll still pay?"
Takeuchi gave a wry smile. "If we don't pay, he can make sure no one dares to buy anything from you. If no one comes, then we've come for nothing!"
Teiichi asked, "So what are your plans after this?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Takeuchi sighed, "Let's wait and see! After all, one day here is equivalent to several days' worth of work setting up a stall on Nagashima!"
Teiichi nodded upon hearing this and did not ask any further questions.
I can't control this kind of thing. The village chief's son didn't do anything that warranted murder. It's fine for me to intervene today, but if I'm not around, their lives will only get worse.
As for threats, their effectiveness decreases rapidly over time unless one can come regularly.
However, I've been here for so many days, why haven't I seen the village chief's son run out before...?
Amidst the owner's welcoming greetings to come again next time, Teiichi left the stall and strolled around the market.
Throughout the day, Teiichi strolled slowly through the streets of Shoura Village, his gaze occasionally sweeping over each stall, but most of the time, his attention was focused on the direction of the village chief's house.
To Teiichi's disappointment, the village chief only came out briefly around noon today.
Moreover, even when they go out, they don't have much interaction with the vendors.
Just like any other villager, I strolled around the market. At most, because the vendors were hired by the village chief and I was more familiar with him, I would chat with them a bit more.
Apart from that, there was nothing unusual.
As the sun sets, vendors push their increasingly empty carts on their way home.
Teiichi stood beside a food stall, silently calculating the time and observing the movements of the vendors.
The streets gradually quieted down, with only a few food stalls remaining, intending to catch one last wave of customers before leaving.
When he confirmed that the last few stalls would also be closing up and leaving after nightfall, Teiichi secretly made a plan.
He took out a small booklet from his pocket and lightly sketched a few lines with a pen, noting down the locations of the stalls and the faces of the stall owners.
I plan to talk to White Feather tonight and ask White Feather to notify the members of the Kakushi Division to investigate whether any of these vendors will suddenly disappear in the coming days.
If any of these vendors subsequently disappear, then it can only mean that ghosts ambushed and killed them on the way.