128: Chapter 127: The Trading Hall 128: Chapter 127: The Trading Hall “Isn’t this just like a marketplace?” a middle-aged lady said as she looked at the stands in the hall—made of wood, they were almost exactly like those in a vegetable market.

“The rent is pretty cheap, half price for a limited time!”

“What does ‘automatic consignment’ mean?

Is anyone willing to give it a try?”

Everyone looked at each other, but no one made a move.

At first glance, it all seemed novel, yet no one was willing to spend money on renting a stall.

Most people were accustomed to selling unwanted items to one of the stores in the territory.

Eateries would buy food ingredients, general stores would take in plants, equipment shops would accept hides, furniture stores sought wood, and the copper coin pawnshop would buy anything.

Mu Ying wasn’t worried about the business of the trading hall.

Although everyone could find a place to sell their collected materials, once they passed through the shopkeeper’s hands, they would sell for several times their original price.

While prices at the shops weren’t high, the gap between the price of raw materials and finished products was huge.

This was especially true for food.

Even though no one rented a stall right away, some people had already gone back to prepare.

Everyone here was from before the apocalypse, and the food industry was known for its huge profits.

Meat and vegetables bought for a few copper coins could be cooked and sold for several times that amount.

Not everyone who went to the bakery or eateries to buy food was wealthy, many simply didn’t have enough ingredients or were reluctant to spend money on kitchen utensils and the like.

So there was no need to worry too much about the sales of either ingredients or food items.

And the barrier to entry was low, requiring very little capital.

Indeed, when Mu Ying arrived at the trading hall the next day, she could see from afar that two stalls near the entrance had been rented out.

The number was less than Mu Ying had anticipated.

However, as she approached and heard the shouts, her mouth twitched.

At the first stall on the left upon entering, Dong Xiaogang and a middle-aged woman were standing.

“Joint stall of the Female Guard Team, the mountain climbing club, and the Coastal Team—vegetables, wild fruits, fresh meat, furs, we’ve got it all!

You can’t go wrong or be deceived…”

The middle-aged woman’s voice was loud and commanding, the most attention-grabbing on the scene.

“Accepting similar materials for cooperative stall sharing—”

Next to her, Dong Xiaogang also began to shout, but he was abruptly cut off by the woman covering his mouth.

Dong Xiaogang: ?

Mu Ying: …

Well, that explained why there were only two stalls; turns out they had come together.

Looking at the stall next to them, which was filled with food and a variety of items, two people were managing it, indicating another joint effort.

When she glanced in that direction, the vendors there also got excited.

This was the Lord, the richest person recognized in their territory, with substantial purchasing power.

So Mu Ying heard an increasing number of sales pitches.

“Top-quality tea eggs steeped in wild mountain tea!

Only 1 copper coin each, satisfaction guaranteed or it’s free!”

“Steamed buns with wild greens for just 1 copper coin each, cheap and filling!”

…

Mu Ying was stunned; she gained a new understanding of the territory inhabitants’ thriftiness and their sense of community.

They somehow managed to share stalls cooperatively even with a day’s rent as low as 1 copper coin.

“It’s time for my shift; I’m coming in!” Lu You shouted as he ran into the hall.

Seeing Mu Ying standing at the doorway, he didn’t even think twice, grabbing a good piece of meat wrapped in a leaf from his own stall and stuffing it into her hand, “Here you go, this is for you.

The trading hall’s opening has gone so well, we’ve all unified our prices.

Just this morning, the boss from the food establishment came to sell vegetables, so much more cost-effective than before, and more convenient, too.

We really owe you our thanks.”

“Yeah, yeah, take these steamed buns and eggs, too.

Some NPCs even came to us to buy food just now, and our tea-flavored eggs are getting rave reviews!”

The person from the adjacent stall said, handing over a leaf-wrapped package.

Oh well, let them be, she wasn’t planning on making money from the trading hall anyway.

If they wanted to share stalls, that was fine by her!

Mu Ying consoled herself, not taking advantage of them.

She not only paid for the items she was given, but she also purchased much more.

She saw it as a way to support their businesses.

By the time her figure disappeared outside the hall, the stall owners began their discussion.

“The Lord is cool on the outside but warm on the inside.

She’s not at all willing to take advantage of us and is so dedicated to supporting our business.”

“Right?

But does the Lord really love tea-flavored eggs that much?

She bought out the entire pot—we wonder how long it will take her to eat them all!”

“And there are so many wild vegetable wraps, too.”

“This is nothing; it wouldn’t even get stuck in your teeth.

The Lord’s home is filled with so many animals.

I think she took some for the Wolf Pack and Gungun as well.”

“Ah, the Lord is truly a good person.

Being the strongest Druid herself, she doesn’t lack any food.

She must be doing it to take care of us!”

“Aunt Zhu, why didn’t you let me speak just now?” Dong Xiaogang tugged at the sleeve of the person beside him.

“Um, well…”

Mu Ying, carrying her items, returned to her Tree House.

As soon as she entered, everything in her hands disappeared, leaving behind only two tea-flavored eggs.

The reason she bought so many tea-flavored eggs, apart from supporting the businesses, was that she hadn’t had them in a long time.

Looking at those eggs that clearly had the flavor cooked into them, how could she resist?

As expected, when she peeled the egg, it had dense brown marbled patterns, and it was extremely delicious at the first bite.

She wondered where they found the tea plants, as there weren’t any in her Plantation yet.

Gungun, attracted by the smell, placed his front paws on the dining table and licked his tongue.

“Want some?” Mu Ying asked.

Gungun sniffed and nodded vigorously.

His gaze was filled with longing as he looked at the remaining egg on the table.

A small figure, about the same height as the egg, was struggling to peel the shell.

Just as he had removed the shell, he felt a chill on his back.

Statue Shi Yin: ?

He turned around and saw Gungun’s expectant gaze, then without any hesitation, picked up the peeled egg, bypassed the open mouth of Gungun waiting to be fed, and delivered the egg to Mu Ying’s hand.

Mu Ying remembered the time, a long time ago, when she took a large pack of tea-flavored eggs back to the mountains.

She was young then, without much money, and tea-flavored eggs were an affordable snack she really enjoyed.

When she went back to the mountains for a holiday, she brought a pack to share with Shi Yin and the Wolf Pack.

What did she say at the time?

Oh yes, “The tea-flavored eggs are especially delicious, I can eat three at a meal, you all will surely like them too!”

Then Mu Ying taught Shi Yin how to peel the eggs, but the first one he peeled, he gave to her, ignoring the drooling Wolf Pack beside her.

Afterward, Shi Yin came to enjoy peeling tea-flavored eggs and feeding them to her more than eating them himself.

The Wolf Pack, too, learned to peel eggs on their own because of their unscrupulous Wolf King.

This scene was so similar to today.

Mu Ying smiled.

Just like before, she ate the egg Shi Yin peeled and then took out another tea-flavored egg from the Storage Pouch and handed it to Gungun, “You could try eating it as it is.”

Gungun’s digestive abilities were extraordinary; he could even digest Iron Bamboo, so an eggshell was nothing.

Gungun: ?

Aren’t I your most cherished little darling?

He puffed out his cheeks, deciding to sulk in the corner for a while.

Of course, he didn’t forget to take the tea-flavored egg with him.