Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1113: Chapter 383: Han Feng Returns Home, New Road Pass Rules, Xia City Street Vendors, and the Black-Robed Child Blocking the Way

”The Outer City of Daxia is divided into four sections: east, south, west, and north. Each section is further subdivided into 16 districts, each accommodating over 100,000 people. Currently, only the East City is activated. When I last visited, there were 11 districts; I’m not sure how many there are now. Look ahead, that’s the core region of the Outer City right now.”

With her husband’s explanation, Tan Rou immediately lifted her head and looked ahead, toward the east. One look, and she immediately understood.

Although there are many trees in Xia City, they are planted on both sides of the main road. The types of trees are clearly carefully selected, and their value decreases sequentially, probably meaning the rarer ones are planted further inside, so standing on the main road, the view is completely unobstructed.

Several kilometers to the east of the main road, a vast cluster of buildings stands majestically. Inside, the fires flicker, and smoke curls sparsely above, just as Han Feng had mentioned earlier, that is the current core region of the Outer City.

The four people continued walking along the main road and soon reached the cluster of buildings.

”Mom, look, what’s that hanging on top of that house? It’s spinning non-stop.”

”Such a fragrant aroma, are they cooking? I’ve never smelled something so good before.”

”Dad, look at the clothes they’re wearing, they’re so nice.”

......

Han Ming and Han Rui, the two young ones, had long since gotten off their father’s lap and were walking on their own. Once in the building area, they excitedly broke away from Han Feng’s hand, looking here and asking there, their faces filled with curiosity and exploration.

The four continued walking further in, and suddenly heard the cries of vendors from the streets.

”Xianghan Point, two coins a pack, take a look!”

”Sour Crystal Fruit skewers, five coins per skewer, delightful sweet and sour taste, come have a look.”

”Chen’s exclusive dried mane meat, seasoned with refined salt, heavy on the salt, delicious and not greasy, 140 coins per catty, only 50 catties available today, no deception, come have a look, everyone.”

.........

Not just Han Ming, Han Rui, and Tan Rou, but even Han Feng hadn’t seen this scene when he came at the end of last year; now hearing shouts from all directions and seeing the variety of items in many roadside houses, the family of four was dumbfounded.

”Dad, this Sour Crystal Fruit skewer smells so good! I want to eat it...”

Children’s ability to embrace new things is the strongest, and while Han Feng and his wife were still processing it all, Han Ming had already pulled his brother to a nearby stall, eagerly pointing at a string of red items on the stall, pleading with their father to buy some.

On that stall, everything was sold in strings, with typically four fist-sized fruits strung together.

Han Feng recognized immediately that those fruits were the commonly seen Crystal Fruits in Longyou, but Crystal Fruits are white, with not much fragrance, usually the staple food for smaller camps.

However, the Crystal Fruits displayed on the stall were as red as gemstones and emitted an extremely pleasant fragrance. With just this appearance, not only were the children Han Ming and Han Rui attracted, but even wife Tan Rou couldn’t resist stopping and sniffing closer.

The owner of the stall was an elderly man who seemed over sixty, with cultivation only in the Earth-digging Realm. His business was indeed good, with many people queuing up to buy.

The money handed over by the customers to the stall owner were silver round plates, about six to seven centimeters in diameter, with a square hole in the center. Both sides of the plates were engraved with a beautiful ”Xia” character. After staring for a while, Han Feng’s expression slightly shifted.

”Thousand Forged Level iron plates, silver in color due to the dense forging patterns. A Thousand Forged Level iron coin, even though it’s so small, would likely require hundreds of pounds to cast just one piece—is this the currency used for circulation by Great Xia?”

Soon, Han Feng noticed that someone had paid with silver.

The old stall owner accepted the silver, weighed it briefly, then took a jar from below and carefully counted nine larger Ten Thousand Forged Iron coins, plus five Thousand Forged Iron coins, as change for the customer.

”One tael of silver, giving you ninety-five coins in change.”

Using Thousand Forged Iron coins as the base, one tael of silver equals 100 coins, and one Ten Thousand Forged coin equals 10 coins, following the rules set by the Eight Towns Chamber of Commerce in Moao Mountain!

Han Feng instantly realized, having been to Jinshan City and bought things in the Chamber of Commerce in Jinshan Town, that Great Xia now uses the same monetary system as the Eight Towns.

The problem is, the Eight Towns only allow their Chamber of Commerce to operate this way, and although they sell externally, they don’t permit ordinary people to directly conduct transactions like this!

Great Xia has simply opened up, allowing everyone to trade this way...

Han Feng’s expression slightly shook, and many thoughts raced through his mind.

Meanwhile, it was finally his turn in line.

He waved generously with his hand, buying four skewers, receiving eight Ten Thousand Forged coins as change from the stall owner, and continued walking forward with his wife.

But soon, a small incident occurred.

”You two, hold on!”

A little fellow wearing a black silk velvet hat, wrapped in a small black robe, not even revealing his face, suddenly blocked Han Ming and Han Rui, standing in front of them.

Although the little fellow was significantly taller than Han Ming and Han Rui, from the sound of his voice, one could tell he was at most five or six years old.

Han Ming and Han Rui, newcomers to Xia City, were still excited; seeing a peer blocking them didn’t scare them but excited them more.

”Who are you!”

”Why should we stop?”

As they spoke, Han Feng behind them stared at the little boy in the black robe, his expression immediately growing heavy, but soon he realized something and looked behind the little boy, his expression turning incredibly excited.

”Hmm, because I’m a big bad guy, when I tell you to stop, you have to stop. Now I’m going to ask you a question: if you can answer it, I’ll treat you to something delicious, how about it?”

Han Ming was not shy at all, waving the Sour Crystal Fruit skewer in his hand and said, ”My dad bought us something delicious, I don’t need your treat!”

”Yikes......”

Seeing what was in Han Ming’s hand, the little boy in the black robe couldn’t help but let out a disdainful sound and then purposefully acted mysteriously. ”Sour Crystal Fruit skewers, they’re sour and tangy, what’s so delicious about that? Sugar-coated gourd skewers, one bite—sweet, fragrant, and sour—that’s the real good stuff...tsk tsk...”

The little boy in the black robe, full of mischief, exaggeratedly smacked his lips as he seemingly recalled the delightful taste of the sugar-coated gourd skewers.

Han Ming and Han Rui were immediately captivated. Having just tasted the Sour Crystal Fruit skewers, they believe it’s the best-tasting thing ever. Upon hearing from the child in front that there’s something even more delicious, their mouths watered.

”As long as you answer my question, I’ll treat you. What do you say?”

”Alright, go ahead!”

”How old are you? Specify your age and months, you must tell me clearly.”

No one had expected the little boy to ask such a question.

Han Feng had already guessed the little boy’s identity, so his expression became somewhat tense, but realizing something, he eagerly turned to his two sons, nearly answering for them.

Older brother Han Ming spoke first: ”I’m five years and one month old.”

Following him, younger brother Han Rui said: ”I just turned four.”

”Hahaha, you’re only a month older than me, and you’re even younger by a year—you’ll have to wait till next year to start cultivation, that’s great! We can play together in the future!”

After hearing their age, the little boy in the black robe started clapping happily, directly approaching Han Ming and Han Rui, removing the black veil from his face, issuing an invitation to play together in the future.

Upon hearing the little boy’s words, Han Feng instantly understood. The little boy was frustrated due to his age being insufficient for cultivation, and therefore seeking out companions who share the same predicament.

Seeing the little boy’s true appearance, Han Feng’s expression was filled with profound shock, realizing that his earlier speculation was correct. Hearing the invitation to his two sons to play together in the future, his expression became deeply excited.