“Ah, you all, eat more buns and talk less about these things, talk less about these things!” Mr. Harris didn’t like hearing such topics: “We commoners should talk less about these things, don’t let the constables hear, and also, Little Michael, stop listening, come with me to buy groceries!”

“Alright, boss!” Grace Bolton quickly responded, not knowing why, but he was very strong, as strong as an adult, able to carry over a hundred jin, which was why the boss had taken him in. So whenever groceries needed to be bought or things needed to be carried, I was often called to help.

Following the boss out of the shop, there were five markets in the city, among which the South Gate Market facing the Yangtze River was the most prosperous. There were at least dozens of food stalls of various sizes, making it the ideal place for travelers preparing to board boats on the great river to get their breakfast.

The city gates opened at mao hour (Beijing time 5:00 to 7:00) and closed at you hour (Beijing time 17:00 to 19:00).

Grace Bolton focused his attention and saw a large number of workers coming and going at the docks, entering and exiting the South Gate. The dock was outside the city, and as workers moved back and forth, goods from boats that had arrived yesterday were constantly being unloaded at the dock and sent into the city. For a while, carts and horses bustled, and crowds flowed endlessly.

On the Yangtze River dock, ships were lined up, heading east down the river, and there was even trade with Japan, Ryukyu, and various places in the South Seas. Seeing all this, Grace Bolton frowned slightly.

Although Yangzhou was established early, starting from Emperor Wu of Han, located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze, near Huai and by the river, with convenient transportation, and as the southeast region developed, its military and economic status became increasingly important. During the Three Kingdoms period, it became a fiercely contested area between Wei and Wu. In the Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties, Yangzhou, as the “imperial domain,” held a status above all other provinces, known as the “Divine Land.”

However, such prosperity was beyond imagination, especially the workers. It seemed that, in Chinese history, it wasn’t until the mid-Ming dynasty that true development and prosperity began, and only then did Hangzhou see the emergence of “hired households,” workers separated from agriculture.

But now, all of this was already here.

Thinking of this, a trace of suspicion arose in his heart.

Although he was pondering, he didn’t slack off in his work. Mr. Harris haggled at the market, bought vegetables and meat, and prepared to go back to make buns. The evening was another sales peak, and they also had to prepare the next morning’s batch at night, so the load was heavy.

The old vendor was a man surnamed Su, already over fifty, his body a bit thin and weak. Seeing Grace Bolton grab over a hundred jin of goods in each hand, he smiled and said hoarsely, “This helper of yours looks young, but he’s strong. Back in the day when I was in the Bamboo Flower Gang, I had that kind of strength too!”

At this point, the old man suddenly stopped, looked down at his now lame leg, let out a long sigh, and coughed a few times.

“Mr. Foster, a true man doesn’t boast of past glories. You, the old master of the Bamboo Flower Gang, are still doing well. Didn’t you open a vegetable shop? Business is good, isn’t it?” Mr. Harris quickly interrupted him.

“That’s true, thanks to the gang leader’s blessing.” Sitting on a stool, Mr. Foster wanted to say more, but saw Grace Bolton already carrying the goods back, paused for a moment, and fell silent.

“Bamboo Flower Gang, why does that sound so familiar?” Carrying over a hundred jin of vegetables, Grace Bolton felt no effort at all, and was surprised by his own body as he hurried back to the shop. By now, it was already noon.

At this moment, he saw Mrs. Clark busy cooking. Grace Bolton wanted to help, but he felt several gazes on him, so he just organized the vegetables and meat.

Henry Cooper also came to help, then said softly, “Ah, Mrs. Clark is busy again!”

“We’re busy here too. Let’s help Mrs. Clark after we finish our own work!” Grace Bolton said calmly.

Henry Cooper looked at him suspiciously. The young man before him, though dressed in old clothes like himself, had handsome features and a clear, spirited look, with an indescribable bearing. A trace of envy flashed in his eyes before he lowered his head to continue sorting vegetables and washing meat.

Grace Bolton noticed this. For some reason, he was extremely sensitive to others’ gazes, and his eyesight and hearing were also very sharp. Besides, he was, after all, someone who had lived a second life.

He looked at the boss’s wife and Henry Cooper, then at himself, and sighed inwardly. Although he worked diligently, his words and actions were out of place among them. Not to mention others, even he himself could clearly feel it.

Because of him, Mrs. Clark had unknowingly suffered some losses. This was not a place where he could stay for long!

But there was still a mystery in his heart that hadn’t been solved, and his fragmented memories hadn’t fully returned. Although he had some understanding, now was not the time to leave.

“Mrs. Clark, let me help you!” After finishing his own tasks, Grace Bolton went to help Mrs. Clark.

Mrs. Clark looked a bit haggard, from hard work and also from being bullied by the head wife. Seeing him come to help, she lowered her eyes and said softly, “No need, you go do something else. I’ve almost finished here.”

Grace Bolton nodded helplessly. Of course, the helpers’ lunch wasn’t very good. Without showing any emotion, he finished his meal, cleaned up the chopsticks and bowls, and had a bit of free time in the afternoon.