Chapter 11: Selling Oranges

After two days and one night on the road, the Sun siblings finally arrived at the provincial capital.

The escort agency’s usual business was to transport goods to the prefectural city, occasionally taking orders to escort people as well. Upon reaching the city gate, those traveling together would part ways, much like passengers disembarking from an intercity bus at the station—everyone leaves the vehicle, and as for where they go next, that’s their own problem.

The Sun siblings, arriving at the station with weary faces, stood before the bustling, lively prefectural city, feeling a bit intimidated. The city was vast, the gates majestic, imposing enough to unsettle anyone.

Before coming, Chunlan had already inquired about where to sell their goods at a good price. She was told the East City was the most lucrative, but since commoners were generally not allowed in that district, it was recommended they try selling in the West City instead. There, plenty of moderately wealthy families resided, and as long as the goods tasted good, buyers would not hesitate to pay handsomely.

Following these directions, the siblings clumsily hauled five large baskets of tangerines into the city. The prefectural capital did not charge an entrance fee for individuals, but merchants selling goods were a different matter. The gate guards asked if they intended to sell their tangerines inside.

Sun’s elder sister mustered courage and replied that they were visiting relatives and had brought some local specialties as gifts. She even pulled out several pounds of tangerines from the baskets to offer the gatekeepers.

Seeing their awkward situation, the guards seemed to think they were bringing worthless gifts to relatives and waved them through without charge.

The siblings expressed profuse thanks and, confused but relieved, pushed their cart into the city, asking passersby along the way for directions to the West City.

Following various instructions, they wandered in circles but still couldn’t find the West City. They considered selling where they stood, but when they heard the price was 20 wen per pound, every passerby shook their head and cursed them for being fools—who would pay such a price for tangerines?

It wasn’t the fault of the curious strangers. Five wen per pound was already a high price for sweet tangerines, especially considering pork sold for only ten wen per pound. Ordinary tangerines priced at 20 wen were simply absurd; any buyer would be a fool indeed.

Some who had tasted the tangerines found their flavor unique and worth the cost, but lacking money, they had to decline.

After an hour of squatting there, they had sold only ten pounds. Seeing the sky darken early in winter, they sought an abandoned temple or an empty, dilapidated house to spend the night, planning to ask again the next day how to reach the West City.

Someone told them they were currently in the South City, and it would take an hour to reach West City—too far to travel before nightfall.

So they resolved to find a remote, uninhabited spot to weather the night and set out early the next morning.

Hauling five large baskets slowed their pace considerably.

They searched east and west but found no ruined temple or broken, empty dwelling.

As for staying in an inn, the siblings hadn’t even considered it. Even their food for the city—dried sweet potatoes—was brought from home.

Hungry, they nibbled on the dried sweet potatoes; thirsty, they drew water from wells, scrimping and saving every coin.

Night fell darker; the city’s small vendors and shopkeepers had all gone home, and shops gradually closed. In the cold winter, residents returned early to their hearths.

Chunlan’s lips turned bitter with worry. Why was there no ruined temple around? After all, this was a prefectural city; there shouldn’t be a shortage of houses. Even the shabby ones were inhabited.

Uncertain and trembling, Bo-min pulled the cart, not knowing where to go next.

Just then, three young men passed by.

Chunlan summoned her courage and stepped forward to ask, “Sir, could you please tell us if there is a local earth temple nearby?”

Their village’s earth temple, though made of yellow clay, was spacious enough to shelter people. The siblings assumed the city’s earth temple would be similar.

The man approaching was none other than the second son of the He family, He Erlang. Seeing a man and a woman shivering in the cold, he asked curiously, “What do you mean, an earth temple?”

Two servants followed behind him, also eyeing the siblings in puzzlement.

Bo-min, honest and straightforward, explained, “Brother, we want to find an earth temple to spend the night, but we don’t know where one is.”

Chunlan thought, “Oh no, my brother is too naive,” but since he had already spoken plainly, she could only smile helplessly.

For reasons unknown, perhaps some hidden fate, He Erlang felt a sudden pang of sympathy. Smiling, he said, “There is an earth temple nearby, but it won’t shelter you for the night.”

He pointed to a small hut not far off, about a meter in length, width, and height. “That’s the earth temple—see for yourselves.”

The siblings stared in disbelief, speechless.

The servants looked at them with pity. “There’s no temple here for you to sleep in tonight—you’ll have to sleep out in the open.”

He Erlang, seeing the siblings’ anxiety and confusion, pondered for a moment and said, “If you trust me, come with us. My family has a house where you can stay for the night.”

He paused and added, “No charge.”

Then he turned and walked away, leaving it up to them whether to follow.

The siblings, having no kin or acquaintances, naturally hesitated to follow strangers. Coming from the countryside, they were simple but not foolish.

The He family servants, seeing they did not follow, earnestly said, “We are from the He family of Guangnan, a most virtuous household. Please come with us—we won’t harm you.”

They glanced at the two—apparently brother and sister. The boy looked plain, but the girl was dignified and pleasant to the eye.

He Erlang, seeing their hesitation, kindly added, “It might rain tonight. Even if you don’t come with us, please find shelter quickly.”

The sky was gray and overcast, promising rain either tonight or tomorrow.

Chunlan’s heart raced. Knowing the rain was imminent, she kept searching for an earth temple or at least a roofed ruin.

Seeing these three men, who did not look malicious, she summoned courage and said, “Thank you, Master He. We will go with you.”

Still cautious, she and her brother prepared to run if something seemed amiss. As strong farm folk, they were confident they could handle three slender city men in a fight.

He Erlang led the way with his two servants, while the siblings followed behind, pulling their cart.

One servant asked curiously, “Where are you from, hauling tangerines to sell here?”

Five large baskets of tangerines drew attention—they were far too many for mere gifts.

Bo-min answered simply, “We come from Sun Village. It took two days and a night to reach the city to sell our tangerines, but no one here wants to buy—they say the price is too high.”

He Erlang asked curiously, “How much do you sell them for?”

Bo-min blushed and said, “Twenty wen per pound.”

Even the He family servants were shocked. He Erlang’s eyes widened. “Twenty wen per pound? It would be surprising if anyone bought them.”

The He family was wealthy, but they never paid more than five wen a pound for tangerines. Who had dared to set such an outrageous price?

Chunlan, displeased, whispered a retort, “Our tangerines are unique—no one else in the city has them. Twenty wen is still a bargain.”

Though spoken softly, all four heard her. One servant was about to reason with the rustic girl, but before he could speak, He Erlang said, “We’re here. Laifu, please arrange for them to stay in the vacant house to the west.”

He Erlang bowed slightly to the siblings then walked off, another servant opening the gate as they entered the He family compound.

Laifu led Chunlan and Bo-min to a large courtyard on a different street, opened the door, and showed them two adjacent empty rooms. Smiling, he said, “You’ll stay in these two rooms.”

He glanced at the twenty-wen tangerines and kindly advised, “When someone calls you for dinner later, just go. If anyone asks, say you were sent by the Young Master.”

He said no more and quickly left.