Green Mountain

East Market was bustling, with carriages shuttling back and forth and pedestrians weaving through like threads.

As New Year’s Day approached, the long streets were filled with citizens purchasing new year goods.

Merchants set up stalls along the street, some selling Spring Festival couplets, some selling Buddha Flowers, gold banknotes, candles for worshipping deities, and some selling cured meats, sausages, wind-dried chickens, and pressed ducks, presenting an array of dazzling goods.

In the midst of the busy market, Chen Ji suddenly felt the festive spirit, this being the first Spring Festival he would experience in this world... no, it should now be called New Year’s Day.

Chen Ji walked ahead while Xiao Man followed behind, bouncing and hopping with joy.

He turned around, puzzled, and asked, "Why are you so happy?"

Xiao Man replied with a smile, "After the young master went to the Medical Hall, Wang Gui, annoyed by my talking back to him, demoted me to a third-class maid. I only get to rest one day every two months. Moreover, on several occasions when I had a day off, Wang Gui made me clean chamber pots, trim flowers and plants, and pick vegetables. It’s been a long time since I was able to leave the mansion."

Chen Ji fell silent for a moment, "Xiao Man, why did you sell yourself to the Chen family?"

Xiao Man answered lightly, "My brother was getting married, and we didn’t have enough money at home, so my parents sold me to a broker when I was nine."

Chen Ji asked nonchalantly, "Who bought you for the Chen Mansion?"

Xiao Man replied as if it were obvious, "Auntie, of course. Don’t you remember? I clearly do. It was so cold that day, the Human Tooth stuck straws in our hair and made us stand at the entrance of the Imperial Capital’s Six Livestock Farm. Auntie was just passing by and didn’t intend to buy me because I was too small to work. But at that time, that Human Tooth was hitting and scolding me, and Auntie took pity on me, so she bought me for two taels of silver."