Volume One, Chapter 11: The Sucker?

The market in Shangwan County was like a pot of boiling soup, with various sounds, smells, and colors swirling and rising within it. As the old uncle’s donkey cart came to a stop near the corner where eggs were sold, Xiao Ning couldn’t wait to jump off. His eyes, sharp as probes, scanned this vibrant jungle of ancient commerce.

At that moment, a loud, piercing shout rang out like a stone thrown into boiling water, instantly capturing Xiao Ning’s attention:

“Yellow Fat! Selling Yellow Fat! Fun little Yellow Fat clay figures! Don’t miss out as you pass by!”

Xiao Ning froze in his tracks, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

Yellow Fat!

He quickly turned toward the voice and saw not far away a peddler carrying a shoulder pole, waving a small, grayish clay figure in his hand as he shouted energetically. The clay figure was simply shaped, round-headed and chubby, endearing in its simplicity.

Xiao Ning’s heart skipped a beat. He had seen the design in a museum in his previous life and read about it in the *Dreams of Splendor in the Eastern Capital*. These were popular toys in Bianjing during the Northern Song era. From nobles to common children, everyone adored them! They served not only as children’s toys but also as drinking companions during adult banquets—truly the ancient equivalent of the hottest collectible figures!

Sure enough, the peddler’s shouts acted like a magnet, instantly drawing a crowd of children. Boys and girls alike clustered around, standing on tiptoes, stretching their necks, eyes sparkling with longing.

“Mother! I want a Yellow Fat!”

“Father! Buy me one! Just one!”

“Grandma! Look at the little tiger shape! I want that one!”

The children's pleading voices rose and fell, creating a lively scene.

Xiao Ning squeezed through, using his small stature to slip nimbly to the front. He examined the clay Yellow Fat figures displayed on the peddler’s pole.

There were quite a few varieties: chubby babies, little tigers, small dogs, even tiny riders on horseback. But the craftsmanship—

Xiao Ning’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.

Too crude!

These so-called “Yellow Fat” figures were roughly shaped from ordinary clay, then thrown into a kiln to harden. There was no paint, not even basic polishing; their surfaces were uneven, dull gray, utterly lacking aesthetic appeal. Compared not only to his modern standards but even to the Song dynasty pottery he had seen unearthed in museums, these fell miles short.

“Little one, which one do you like? This chubby baby, thirty wen! This little tiger, more delicate, fifty wen!” The peddler noticed Xiao Ning’s careful scrutiny and quoted prices casually but with a hint of arrogance, as if selling rare treasures.

Xiao Ning inwardly winced at the prices. Fifty wen! That could buy several pounds of white rice! No wonder the parents around hesitated, most wearing reluctant expressions; some scolded their children sharply, warning against wasting time on toys, while others sighed helplessly. Few were willing to pay.

A huge business opportunity!

Xiao Ning’s heartbeat quickened slightly. The demand was so strong, yet the supply so poor! If only he... if only he could apply modern aesthetic principles to improve the design and craftsmanship, even just adding some simple colors, creating more delicate, charming figures, combined with marketing strategies like limited editions or storytelling backgrounds, he could carve out a lucrative niche in this market! The profit margins would be enormous!

But just as this spark of excitement flared, it was doused with a bucket of cold water.

Eight years old!

He glanced down at his small palm, then looked around at the adults who hesitated over a few dozen wen.

An eight-year-old child, shouting and selling improved Yellow Fat figures in the market? Who would believe it? Who would dare buy? Even if someone believed, where would the startup capital come from? Who would fire the kiln? How to sell? How to avoid the attention of thugs, ruffians, or jealous competitors?

Though the idea of improving toys was a relatively natural entry point, unlikely to be seen as strange, his age was an insurmountable obstacle. With all his dragon-slaying skills, he couldn’t even lift the sword! Xiao Ning felt a chill in his heart—full of knowledge and insight far ahead of his time, yet now bound by invisible chains, unable to move forward.

Just as Xiao Ning was feeling dejected by reality’s constraints, a small commotion stirred at the edge of the crowd.

A boy about ten years old, dressed in a lake-blue silk robe, parted the crowd and walked in. He had fair skin, a slightly plump build, and an air of privileged arrogance in his brows.

Without glancing at the children eyeing the Yellow Fat figures, he casually swept his gaze over the peddler’s pole and said in a tone of entitlement and unquestionable authority:

“I’ll take them all.”

His voice was soft but landed like a giant stone thrown into a pond.

“Oh wow! A big spender has arrived!”

“Wow! Taking them all!”

“So rich!”

The surrounding children erupted in envious cheers and chatter, their eyes filled with admiration for the boy in blue.

What surprised Xiao Ning even more was the peddler’s reaction.

The previously arrogant peddler’s face instantly lit up with obsequious smiles upon recognizing the buyer, his back bending as he spoke with near servility: “Ah! Young Master Lu of the Lu family! How rude of me! Why no attendants today? I’ll have the Yellow Fat delivered straight to your residence so you won’t be troubled!”

The boy in the blue robe—Young Master Lu—merely replied with a faint “Hmm,” acknowledging the offer.

“Lu family? The Lu family?”

“The one with two successful imperial examinees in the family?”

“No wonder they’re so generous!”

The adults nearby also turned their heads, whispering with voices full of reverence.

Xiao Ning understood immediately. A family with two imperial exam graduates was a prestigious household in Shangwan County and even the wider Wannanfuchu region! This boy was not only a “rich guy” but also a “noble guy”! Even Xiao Ning, with two lifetimes of experience, couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy inside.

Young Master Lu seemed accustomed to such attention, ignoring the peddler’s flattery and the onlookers’ murmurs. After paying (Xiao Ning didn’t catch the exact amount, but judging by the peddler’s grinning face, it was substantial), he walked to a quieter stone step by the street and sat down.

Yet Xiao Ning keenly noticed that this young lord, who had just spent lavishly on all the Yellow Fat figures, showed no joy. Instead, his brows were slightly furrowed, his expression listless, carrying a weariness and boredom beyond his years. Resting his chin on his hands, he stared blankly at the passing crowd like a golden bird trapped in a gilded cage.

Running away from home? Skipping school?

Several thoughts flashed through Xiao Ning’s mind. Judging from the boy’s solitary, downcast state and his impulsive spending, he was almost certain that Young Master Lu had quarreled with his family, stormed out in a huff, and now found himself in the awkward position of “rich and idle, too bored to stay home, but afraid to return and get scolded, with nowhere to go.”

The easiest to influence—or rather, the easiest to befriend!

Xiao Ning’s eyes lit up once again, even brighter than when he first spotted the Yellow Fat opportunity. A bold idea cleaved through the gloom in his heart like lightning.

Why must he do business by collaborating with adults? This “rich noble” before him was a walking gold mine and a universal pass! Startup capital? A mere trifle to his family! Connections? The Lu family’s reputation was a golden brand! Kilns? Maybe they had one, or a single word from them could easily secure one!

Moreover… Xiao Ning pictured his cousin Xiao Yun’s serious little face. Xiao Yun always took on the “older brother” role, looking after him. Wasn’t that a perfect “cover”? He could hide behind Xiao Yun, letting his cousin deal with Young Master Lu, while he worked behind the scenes with plans and ideas! A preliminary plan, leveraging Young Master Lu’s resources combined with his own creativity and using his cousin as a “white glove” operator, quickly took shape in Xiao Ning’s mind.

No more hesitation.

Xiao Ning took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and set off on his short legs straight toward the dazed Young Master Lu sitting on the stone steps.

He sat down beside the boy without a word, close but not too close.

Young Master Lu noticed someone had joined him and lazily glanced over. Seeing a boy dressed in coarse cloth but with a handsome face, he paid no mind and turned back to his daze.

Xiao Ning didn’t speak immediately. He imitated Young Master Lu, propping his chin on his hands and staring blankly at the street for a while, as if he too were a bored child. Then, as if suddenly recalling something amusing, a faint, subtle smile curved at the corner of his mouth.

Next, he made a strange motion that left Young Master Lu somewhat puzzled.

Xiao Ning carefully extended both hands, palms up, and held them out in front of him as if cradling something extremely precious and fragile. His movements were gentle and focused, eyes fixed intently on his empty palms, his expression serious to the point of being... eerie.

Young Master Lu: “...?”

He turned to look suspiciously at the boy beside him, his brow furrowing tighter. What was this kid up to?