The Scent of Jiaozi and Awkward Times~
WHO: Arthur and Yao
WHEN: Sunday Early Afternoon (April 11th)
WHERE: A narrow alleyway in Huayuan.
WHAT: “Next time,” Arthur thought. “No shortcuts.”
RATING: ...Let’s not go there.
It was only by sheer reflex that Arthur ducked and manoeuvred himself out of the path of a turning man with the long stalks of some unrecognisable vegetable slung over his shoulder. Had he not moved in time, those very same vegetables would have crashed into Arthur’s face and sent him flying backwards like in some sort of slapstick comedy routine. Carried by his momentum, Arthur weaved through the various people in front of him - not taking any time to actively think about his movements lest he crash into someone during his ponderings.
It really was quite crowded - more so than he had ever expected.
Apparently a local merchant infamous for his singular goods and stingy ways was having an exceedingly rare one day discount of sorts - so said a local in one hurried breath before sprinting off to join the flow of people that rushed down the narrow street.
Perhaps it was his mistake to go off gallivanting in a district he had yet to properly walk around and take in the sights on a Sunday afternoon, but he honestly had nothing else to do. It really was shocking to realise that he had never visited Huayuan despite it being in such a close proximity to his house. Why it was only a five minute stroll from his front door to Morong Street.
But he really hadn’t anticipated the heavily impacted streets.
Another local, one who seemingly had no interest in the ongoing sale, kindly told Arthur that Shizhen Medicine - a place that he had heard in passing and had quite the selection of herbs - wasn’t too far up ahead and that Arthur should take a left at the stand with the couple selling the leeks (that were quite good, but far too expensive) and just keep going until he saw what he was looking for.
So far Arthur had seen both leeks and husband-wife shopkeepers, but neither at the same time. Granted, it was hard to tell with so many people filling the streets...
Suddenly the flow of people that Arthur had been mindlessly following stopped and completely jammed the street from side to side. Pushing himself on the tips of his toes, Arthur looked over the heads of the people in front of his to see what the hold up was. It was when he saw the local who had informed him of the the miserly vendor and his his day of generosity among the throng that he realised that he had finally come across the source of the chaos.
Settling back onto the flats of his feet, Arthur sighed mournfully and fruitlessly looked for an opening among the mass of people. Scurrying off to the other side of the street still looking, but not expecting much, Arthur suddenly noticed an impossibly narrow alleyway off to the side. It was perhaps maybe only the width of three people side to side and seemed absolutely impractical for anything useful, but it was also gloriously empty.
Taking one last look back at the crowd that wasn’t sure to disperse for quite some time, Arthur quickly darted into the alleyway without a second thought. It wasn’t exactly at a leek stand, but a left turn was still a left turn. Just maybe...with a little bit of luck and no more path-diverting crowds, it wouldn't be too troublesome to find his destination.
WHEN: Sunday Early Afternoon (April 11th)
WHERE: A narrow alleyway in Huayuan.
WHAT: “Next time,” Arthur thought. “No shortcuts.”
RATING: ...Let’s not go there.
It was only by sheer reflex that Arthur ducked and manoeuvred himself out of the path of a turning man with the long stalks of some unrecognisable vegetable slung over his shoulder. Had he not moved in time, those very same vegetables would have crashed into Arthur’s face and sent him flying backwards like in some sort of slapstick comedy routine. Carried by his momentum, Arthur weaved through the various people in front of him - not taking any time to actively think about his movements lest he crash into someone during his ponderings.
It really was quite crowded - more so than he had ever expected.
Apparently a local merchant infamous for his singular goods and stingy ways was having an exceedingly rare one day discount of sorts - so said a local in one hurried breath before sprinting off to join the flow of people that rushed down the narrow street.
Perhaps it was his mistake to go off gallivanting in a district he had yet to properly walk around and take in the sights on a Sunday afternoon, but he honestly had nothing else to do. It really was shocking to realise that he had never visited Huayuan despite it being in such a close proximity to his house. Why it was only a five minute stroll from his front door to Morong Street.
But he really hadn’t anticipated the heavily impacted streets.
Another local, one who seemingly had no interest in the ongoing sale, kindly told Arthur that Shizhen Medicine - a place that he had heard in passing and had quite the selection of herbs - wasn’t too far up ahead and that Arthur should take a left at the stand with the couple selling the leeks (that were quite good, but far too expensive) and just keep going until he saw what he was looking for.
So far Arthur had seen both leeks and husband-wife shopkeepers, but neither at the same time. Granted, it was hard to tell with so many people filling the streets...
Suddenly the flow of people that Arthur had been mindlessly following stopped and completely jammed the street from side to side. Pushing himself on the tips of his toes, Arthur looked over the heads of the people in front of his to see what the hold up was. It was when he saw the local who had informed him of the the miserly vendor and his his day of generosity among the throng that he realised that he had finally come across the source of the chaos.
Settling back onto the flats of his feet, Arthur sighed mournfully and fruitlessly looked for an opening among the mass of people. Scurrying off to the other side of the street still looking, but not expecting much, Arthur suddenly noticed an impossibly narrow alleyway off to the side. It was perhaps maybe only the width of three people side to side and seemed absolutely impractical for anything useful, but it was also gloriously empty.
Taking one last look back at the crowd that wasn’t sure to disperse for quite some time, Arthur quickly darted into the alleyway without a second thought. It wasn’t exactly at a leek stand, but a left turn was still a left turn. Just maybe...with a little bit of luck and no more path-diverting crowds, it wouldn't be too troublesome to find his destination.