The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 42 - 0 He has his troubles too (first update)

Chapter 42: 042 He has his troubles too (first update)

Chapter 42: 042 He has his troubles too (first update)

Li Xianyun pointed toward the area where fruit was being sold and said, “Let’s go take a look over there.”

From a distance, there were many simple sheds, one connected to another.

It had rained lightly late last night, and now the road was still somewhat damp, narrow, and extremely muddy.

Under the sheds lay multiple fruit stalls, selling grapes, apricots, peaches, Hami melons… The variety of fruit was quite complete, and the prices were cheap; it was truly a case of good quality at a low price.

Li Xianyun looked at the three people and said, “We opened the Ice Porridge Shop in the East Market partly because there is a huge target audience, and on the other hand, because the supply is abundant and fresh, and we don’t have to pay for transportation, which can save quite a bit of cost.”

Bater looked at Li Xianyun with admiration, having not expected that the princess consort was not only skilled in medicine but also had a mind for business.

Li Xianyun quickly noticed a problem: there were many fruit vendors here, but there were very few customers buying anything.

The Khitan climate is dry, and fruit is abundant.

The Khitan people love to plant trees; as one walks the streets and alleys of Khitan, it is common to see many trees planted in front of houses and behind them. With the shade of green trees and the pleasant rustling of leaves, the scenery is delightful.

The trees they plant are mostly fruit trees, including apricot, cherry, peach, and date trees. Wooden frames are often built along eaves, with grape vines climbing over them, producing layers of grape leaves and bunches of grapes hanging down, growing well and looking so tempting it could make one’s mouth water.

Li Xianyun only learned after arriving in Khitan that there were seedless grapes in the world. Each grape was about the size of a little fingernail, crystal clear, fragrant, and delicious, making it an excellent ingredient for ice porridge.

In Khitan, every household has fruit, so the demand for fruit among the populace is not great. It is understandable that there are not many customers.

But for such a large market to have so few customers is indeed very unusual.

As Li Xianyun and her companions walked by, the eyes of the fruit vendors lit up, and they began to call out their wares frantically.

“Come look at the fresh fruit here!”

“Honored guest, what fruit do you need? I have everything you want right here.”

A very honest and simple-looking old man directly cut open a round Hami melon, revealing the moist, yellow flesh inside.

The old man pinched off a piece of Hami melon and handed it to Li Xianyun, smiling with a gap-toothed grin, “Young man, try the Hami melon, guaranteed sweet and delicious. If it’s not sweet, you don’t have to pay.”

The old man was about to press the Hami melon into Li Xianyun’s hands.

Bater grabbed his arm swiftly, and snapped coldly, “What are you doing?! Don’t be impolite!”

The old man was stunned, looking bewildered at the tall, burly man before him.

Li Xianyun took the Hami melon from the old man and said, “Bater, put your hand down.”

Upon hearing this, Bater released his grip, but not without giving the old man a warning look.

“Uncle, you did say, ‘No sweetness, no money,'” Li Xianyun said with a smile.

That one sentence broke the awkward atmosphere.

A smile spread across the old man’s weathered face as he said, “I never go back on my word.”

Li Xianyun smiled and gently took a bite.

The Hami melon was sweet and juicy, so delicious that it touched the heart.

The old man watched Li Xianyun with a grin and said, “How about it? Young man, tastes good, doesn’t it? Would you like a whole Hami melon?”

Li Xianyun, still chewing, replied, “I’ll take one.”

The old man was very pleased and said, “Alright then.”

As he spoke, he called out to a dirty-looking child sitting on a stool, “Balang, come and help.”

The child looked to be around seven or eight years old, but worked with practiced ease, stretching out the net bag.

The old man was delighted to place the Hami melon into the net bag, hooked it with the iron hook on the scale, hung a weight, and began to weigh it.

This old man was indeed honest, raising the scale high and intentionally weighing a few taels less.

“How much?” Li Xianyun asked.

The old man said, “Young man, it’s two jin and six taels, ten wen.”

Li Xianyun glanced at Youlan.

Youlan was about to hand over ten wen from her sleeve to the old man, but Bater stopped her.

“Let me pay for it.”

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As he spoke, he was about to take out money from his chest.

Li Xianyun laughed and said, “You don’t need to worry about the money. Let Youlan pay.”

With a smile, Youlan handed the ten wen to the old man.

Bater took the Hami melon, how could he let a woman carry something heavy?

Li Xianyun looked around and asked the old man, “Old uncle, why are there so few people buying fruit?”

The old man sighed upon hearing this and said, “Young man, I can tell you’re not local. Last winter, the Khitan experienced a once-in-a-decade blizzard that lasted for over a month, killing many livestock.”

“For people who live off herding, livestock is their grain, their livelihood. Without livestock, they can’t sustain their lives. Therefore, many people have come out to sell fruit.”

“But when every household has fruit and everyone is struggling to get by, who will come out to buy fruit? So, of course, there are fewer customers, right?”

He paused before adding, “But even with fewer customers, we fruit vendors still have to come out to set up our stalls. Staying at home earns not a single wen. We might as well come out, earning a little is still something.”

“Sometimes we stand out here all day and can’t even make ten wen. Young man, I won’t hide it from you, I’ve been here all morning, and you are my first customer. Finally made my first sale, I should thank you.”

The old man said, revealing a kind and joyful smile.

Li Xianyun didn’t expect the common people of the Khitan to live such hard lives. She blurted out, “Don’t those in power care about the people’s lives?”

“Of course they care,” the old man lowered his voice and said, “Khan wants to develop arable land to solve the food problem, but I’ve heard that many ministers oppose it, saying that Khitan are nomadic people and can’t go against our ancestors’ laws. In my opinion, we should listen to Khan. Tradition or no tradition, legal system or no legal system, the most important thing is that the people survive.”

Li Xianyun nodded her head, agreeing completely. Policies that start with the welfare of the people are indeed the right moves.

The image of Yelu Yan, tall and erect, couldn’t help but appear in her mind. So he also had his worries.

No wonder he said last night that when he felt upset, he would go to the top of the tower for a while.

Such a strong person also has such a fragile side, which can’t help but make one feel a pang of heartache.

As the word “heartache” slipped out, Li Xianyun was completely stunned; she must be mad to find Yelu Yan pitiable and heart-wrenching.

Li Xianyun asked, “Old uncle, your family must have a lot of unsold fruit, right?”

The old man nodded and said, “Isn’t that the truth? Every family has a lot of unsold fruit. Grapes, apricots, Hami melons, many just rot on the trees, rot on the ground, it’s such a waste to see.”

He paused before asking, “Young man, why do you ask this?”

Li Xianyun said, “I’m thinking about how to help you solve the problem with these unsellable fruits.”

Hearing this, the old man’s eyes lit up, feeling like he had encountered a noble person. He said, “Young man, if you really can help us with the unsellable fruits, that would be a great help, everyone for miles around will thank you.”