Chapter 22: There are secret rules for street stalls

Three days later, early in the morning, at dawn, a little boy, who was wearing a brand new dark-colored cotton and linen shorts, with a Taoist bun on his head tied with a cloth of the same color, and a book box on his back, and whose gender was somewhat indistinguishable, handed the registration card in his hand to the inner city gate official. After the official checked, he quickly left the city and headed straight for the South City.

At this moment, Wa Lane in the south city was not yet crowded with people. As it was still early, there were only a few people moving on the street. There were waiters who got up early to set up stalls, vendors like the pear seller who got up early to go into the city to sell their goods, and customers who got up early and waited for the market to open. There were not many people.

Li Yaoguang did not dare to waste time. He shook the heavy book box on his back and started searching everywhere in Waxiang, South City.

If I want to tell stories, it is actually best to do so when people are resting after dinner and chatting. However, I am a newcomer here and I have to explore everything. Without experience, I can only be diligent.

Besides, Wa Lane is quite bustling. Although I don't need to occupy the good spots on the street for storytelling, I still have to find a quiet place in the bustling city. It would be better if I have a certain venue, otherwise people will have no place to stay to listen to the story, right?

The conditions were a bit harsh, but fortunately she had been here before, so she had some idea of ​​what was going on.

When passing by the steamed bun shop, he handed over the last copper coin in his hand and asked the price. It turned out that the meat buns in the outer city were the same price as the steamed buns in the inner city. Li Yaoguang hardened his heart and only bought two large meat buns. He carefully put the six copper coins he got back into his pocket, stuffed the buns into the bookcase on his back, put it on his back again, and hurried to the place he wanted.

This is a three-way street intersection, but because one side is adjacent to a residential area, the ancestors planted a ginkgo tree here. Now the tree is a hundred years old and occupies a vast area, occupying the entire street corner. In order to protect the old tree, the surrounding shops and houses are very far away, and the government also transported bluestone to build a large circle under the tree.

The change of dynasties has not damaged this tree, and it has continued to this day. This place has become a scenic spot. In the hot summer, women, children and the elderly in the residential area gather here every day, and most of the passing merchants and pedestrians will also stop here to rest. This is Li Yaoguang's favorite place.

When he arrived, there were already people busy working in the open space under the tree facing the streets on both sides. Li Yaoguang took a closer look and saw a fortune-teller setting up a stall, a letter writer, a craftsman who made baked bowls, and a seller of winnowing baskets and weaving baskets... After looking around, he found that there were no stalls selling food or other things here, so the place was quite peaceful.

There was no need for her to walk along the street and watch these people busying themselves silently. She raised her foot and was about to carefully pass through them when a man suddenly rushed out from behind her and ran towards where she was standing, shouting non-stop.

"Hey kid, that place has always been where I sell rat poison. You're new here, so don't try to take my place."

Seeing the other party rushing over, Li Yaoguang pointed at himself in surprise, "Is this uncle talking about me?"

The other party immediately rolled his eyes and angrily sent her off, "What else?"

Li Yaoguang was amused. He raised his hand and pointed to the place under the ginkgo tree behind them and said with a smile: "Don't worry, uncle. I am going there. I won't take up your seat. I will leave now. Please do as you please."

Then, under the surprised and embarrassed gaze of the rat poison seller, Li Yaoguang walked past the vendors who were looking at him from afar, walked to the ginkgo tree, and stood in a place with clean bluestone, facing the street and with an aisle.

Then the group of vendors saw that the little child took off the book box he was carrying, bent down and fumbled around on both sides of the book box, and somehow after a few clicks, a small computer and a small chair appeared in front of people in the blink of an eye, which made everyone gasp in amazement.

This is not an exaggeration. What is even more exaggerated is that the little guy finally pulled out the stick that had been stuck on the side of the bookcase, pulled it open, and inserted the stick in his hand into the hole added on the side of the bookcase. Everyone was shocked to find that it was not a stick at all, but an oil-paper umbrella!

But it doesn't look like it's going to rain, does it? I can only say that this guy may look small, but he is quite well equipped.

Noticing everyone's silent gazes on her, Li Yaoguang took back her hand from the oil-paper umbrella pole, patted it gently, and then bowed to everyone who was looking at her. "I'm new to your precious place, and I'm doing the job of a storyteller. I'm new here and don't know the rules, so please take care of me, seniors. I'd like to thank you in advance."

As the saying goes, don't hit someone who smiles at you.

When everyone heard this, they realized that it was a storyteller, and it had nothing to do with their livelihood, so they either nodded, smiled, or returned the greeting, and then silently withdrew their gaze and continued with their own work.

The only one who came to warn Li Yaoguang at the end was the rat poison seller, ahem, the rat poison seller. Thinking of his overly nervous gaffe just now, he positioned his small wooden cart selling rat poison and quietly moved to the front of Li Yaoguang who was busy. Li Yaoguang coughed lightly in discomfort.

Li Yaoguang looked up when he heard the voice.

"Hello uncle, what's up?"

Seeing Li Yaoguang's innocent look and a genuine smile on her face that showed she didn't care about his rudeness just now, the visitor felt even more ashamed of his excessive behavior. In order to make amends, he coughed lightly again uncomfortably and then spoke.

"That kid, aren't you a newcomer here? I'd like to kindly remind you that when you come here to practice your art, you have to pay the head of your art group some favors. You also have to pay the yamen runners who come to patrol the streets a lot of tributes, and you also have to pay the street bullies protection fees. In addition, although you don't occupy the street, you still have to pay the stall fee. If they see that you are doing well, they may charge as much as we do for those who occupy the street. It all depends on the mood of the yamen runners. But since you call me uncle, I'd like to remind you that if the money collectors come, no matter who they are, you can't confront them even if you don't have any business. You have to give them what you should give, otherwise you won't have a peaceful life, understand?"

This was someone's kindness, so of course he had to know it. Li Yaoguang was not someone who didn't understand the ways of the world. Although he lamented that the six copper coins in his pocket were probably not enough, he still sincerely thanked the person in front of him and stood up and bowed deeply.

"I know, I know. I would like to thank you for your guidance."

Such politeness and solemnity made the other party even more uncomfortable. He waved his hands and took two steps back, trying to avoid Li Yaoguang's thanks.

He just misunderstood the boy's feelings just now, and he really had no other intentions. But the boy actually bowed to him? This made him... "Forget it! Since you respect me, I, Lao Shu Li, will accept your bow. From now on, in this Nanshi Waxiang, you can come to me if you don't understand anything."

"Oh, it's Uncle Li. He's actually from the same family. I'm not talented, but my last name is also Li. I'm here to greet Uncle Li."

Seeing the other party slapping his thin chest, Li Yaoguang quickly beat the snake with a stick and bowed again, obediently following the advice, "I'll have to trouble Uncle Li to take care of me in the future."

This, ah this, ah this this this...

Don't be fooled by this man who looks as thin and mean as the rat poison he sells, he is actually a really nice person.

After receiving two consecutive bows from Li Yaoguang, he felt more and more uncomfortable. He rubbed his nose and said, "There's no need to be so polite." Then he ran away in a hurry. He was afraid that if he delayed any longer, the fool in front of him would still bow to him.

God have pity on him. Lao Shu Li has been a lazy man for more than 30 years, making a living by selling rat poison. This is the first time in his life that someone has treated him so politely and respectfully. Even his own children have never treated him like this. How could he not be at a loss?
The vendors nearby saw the interaction between the two, one big and one small. Although they didn't come close, they pricked up their ears and watched quietly. After watching the whole scene, they looked at each other, smiled knowingly, and silently accepted this new companion.

(End of this chapter)