Xia's surname is Xia, and he is a member of the same clan as Old Master Xia, five generations apart. According to their generational ranking, Xia Zhi should address Old Master Xia as "Big Uncle". Because he is the sixth among his brothers in the clan, people call him Old Sixth Xia.

  Xia Laoliu was driving a mule-drawn cart, loaded with baskets, leaving only a small space in the front for him and his wife to sit. They had come around the bend on purpose to pick up Old Master Xia.

  The car hadn't even arrived yet, and Xia Lao Liu and his wife had already jumped off the car, respectfully shouting "Xia Lao Ye Zi". Both of them were over thirty years old, but still had to address Xia Zhi as "Lao Shu" (Old Uncle) just like Xiao Hei Yu Er.

  Upon hearing the sound of the vehicle, Old Lady Xia rushed out of the house with several cushions in hand and, with the help of Xia Liu's wife, spread them out on the vehicle. Old Man Xia got on first, then Xia Qiao carried Little Hei up onto the vehicle, followed by Xia Zhi. The three of them sat down on the cushions, after which Xia Qiao moved two baskets onto the vehicle and placed them beside Xia Zhi.

  "There are a lot of people today, be careful." Old Lady Xia kept reminding, "Sixteen, take care of your uncle."

  "Don't worry." Xia Zhi smiled and waved goodbye to Old Lady Xia.

  Xia Lao Liu and his wife jumped onto the carriage, the whip lightly cracked, and the horse cart started moving. They soon left the village, the sky was still not bright, there were only sparse vehicles and pedestrians on the road, looking at the direction, they were all heading to Linshui Town, and they were all carrying goods.

  Those who set out so early are mostly going to do business and sell things.

  Xia Lao Ye Zi asked Xia Lao Liu about the current market price of baskets. It turned out that Xia Lao Liu had a family heirloom skill, which was weaving baskets and hampers. After finishing them, he would sell them at the nearby market. As for Lin Shui Town's market, Xia Lao Liu was very familiar with it.

  His daughter-in-law also went to the market with him to sell baskets, and she was familiar with Linshui Town. She introduced herself to Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu, because she saw that Xia Zhi had two baskets with her, and knew they were also there to sell things. She enthusiastically told Xia Zhi which part of the market sold fruit.

  The market in Linshui Town is very large, roughly divided into several sections, with different areas selling different things. If you don't know the place, you'll definitely get lost at first. Xia Zhi felt grateful in her heart, although she didn't plan to sell that basket of cherries in the fruit market.

  Xia Lao Liu's wife was very good at talking, and she also told Xia Zhi that her cherries were selling well and should be able to sell for a good price. "Cherries are originally expensive on our side, this basket of cherries should be able to sell for quite a bit of money." Because Xia Zhi was young, she jokingly asked Xia Zhi, "After selling the cherries, what do you plan to buy?"

  "I plan to buy some paper and pens." Xia Zhi replied with a smile.

  Xia Lao Liu's wife was very surprised. Xia Lao Ye and Xia Lao Liu also turned their heads to look at Xia Zhi, with an expression of relief on Xia Lao Ye's face.

  "Old man, Sixteen is indeed the daughter of a scholar, look at what she's planning to buy!" Xia Laoliu said to Old Man Xia, then reminded Xia Zhi, "Sixteen, that paper and pen are precious, be careful with them."

  "Go ahead and buy whatever you want." Old Xia said with a smile, "Not enough? I have some here."

  "Old man, you indeed have a keen eye for talent and are willing to spend money! Otherwise, how could you have cultivated such a talented son like my brother?" Xia Laoliu and his wife both said with a smile.

  "It doesn't matter whether he passed the imperial examination or not, as long as he can recognize characters and read. When Xia was 16, his father also taught him with great care, I didn't teach him anything." Old Master Xia was very humble, but the smile on his face couldn't be hidden.

  The sky gradually brightened, and the pedestrians and vehicles on the road also became more numerous. Many people either knew Xia Laoliu or recognized Old Man Xia, and they all greeted him warmly, with some even praising Daqing as he trotted alongside the cart.

  Many households in the village raised dogs, but there were not many large and handsome wolfhounds like Daqing. Some people even asked how much Daqing was selling for. Xiao Heiyu hurriedly told Lao Ye that Daqing was not for sale, because after being asked twice, Xiao Heiyu felt a sense of crisis, and had Daqing jump onto the car.

  The car was packed with a lot of things, so they didn't have much room to sit comfortably. When Da Qing jumped in, it became even more cramped. Xiao Hei Yu wrapped his arms around Da Qing, but he was still smaller than Da Qing. He hugged Da Qing's head, and half of Da Qing's butt sat on Xia Zhi's lap, with her tail swishing back and forth.

  Now, there are more people watching the summer solstice. A thin little girl, with two baskets in her hands and a big dog sitting on her lap, this is also a rare sight.

  Everyone chatted and laughed along the way, so they didn't feel that the journey was too long. The outline of Linshui Town was shrouded in morning mist, gradually becoming clearer before their eyes.

  This is indeed a prosperous big town.

  The market is at the east end of the town, along the riverbank of Qing Shui River, extending all the way to the streets and alleys in the middle of the town. The bamboo basket market is right next door, and they got off here. Looking westward, various stalls are crowded together, but they stretch out in an orderly manner, without any mess, and it's impossible to see the end.

  The Great Buddha Temple is located at the westernmost end of the market.

  Because Xia Zhi took two baskets, which were quite heavy, Xia Laoliu and his wife said they would take them to the fruit market. The fruit market is a bit far from here, but it's close to the west end of the market, which is also near the Great Buddha Temple.

  Xia Lao Ye Zi didn't respond, because Xia Lao Liu and his wife were also coming to sell things. Sending them over would take time and delay business. Especially today, coinciding with the temple fair, there were many people, and business would be especially good. "I'll take the two of them over, you all focus on your own business."

  The couple didn't insist: "We'll leave in the afternoon. After selling the baskets, the child's mother still wants to take a stroll and buy some things. Old man, don't be in a hurry, take your time with whatever you need to do, the car is waiting here, we can go back together."

  Mr. Xia nodded and carried the heavier flower basket in front, while Xia Zhi carried the cherry blossom basket and followed behind with Xiao Hei Yu. Xiao Hei Yu wanted to help Xia Zhi carry the basket, but he was shorter than Xia Zhi, so they tried it out and stumbled a bit, and Xia Zhi didn't agree.

  There are more and more people in the market. Old Xia walked while telling Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu that he came to Linshui Town today, and attending the fair was just an accessory. The main thing is that he had made an appointment with several old friends to get together and chat.

  Xia Laoye often helps people mediate disputes and make peace. Whenever there's a big land deal in the village, they'll ask him to be a witness. People from nearby villages also come to seek his help. So Xia Laoye has many things to do and many friends.

  Xia Lao Ye Zi said that after sending them to the market he would have to leave and couldn't stay with them, Xia Zhi wasn't surprised.

  "Old uncle, are you following me or following my grandfather?" Xia Zhi asked Xiao Hei Yu.

  "Need you ask! Of course I'll go with you, Xia Zhi. And I'll help you sell cherries and flowers too!" said Xiao Hei Yu, who had come to play with Xia Zhi today and thought selling cherries and flowers was just another form of play.

  "Sixteen, you take your uncle." Arriving at the fruit market, Old Man Xia put down his basket and instructed Xia Zhi, then counted out ten big coins from his front pocket.

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