next day
"Carlo, I'm going to the market today, do you want to come?" Mara asked her son.
"Yes, Mother, I would love to." The little boy was about six or seven years old.
"Let's go then!"
The little boy walked over and took his mother's hand.
The market was bustling with activity this morning, thanks to the excellent weather and the fact that spring planting had just finished.
Mara, holding her son Carlo's hand, excitedly looked around. Although she had been to the market before, this was the first time she had done so.
"Madam, look at this. This walnut is a very fine thing; only someone like you deserves to have it. It's very delicious and can be kept for a long time," a vendor called out to Mara, who was looking around.
Not long ago, after Ma Si Ke earned some copper coins, Mara has changed a bit and does indeed look somewhat like a lady. Of course, it could also be the merchant's flattery.
"How much?" Mara asked as she stepped forward.
"One copper coin each." The vendor picked up a walnut and handed it to Mara.
Mara didn't take it. She was a little surprised. One copper coin was so expensive! Now one copper coin could buy two loaves of black bread.
Two loaves of black bread could barely feed half a person. She figured there wasn't much to eat about this thing called a walnut.
The outer shell looks very hard and thick. She wouldn't have bought this before, or even looked at it.
But she still buys them now; it's not like she's buying them to eat. She's just buying them for other people. Her husband says she can buy anything.
However, she wouldn't agree to the vendor's price. "These walnuts don't look very good, and one copper coin each is too expensive. I'd better go look elsewhere."
The vendor understood her meaning and quickly tried to persuade her to stay, "Madam, these walnuts are very precious. If you think the price is a bit high, we can discuss it."
Mara pretended to stop and said, "Let me take another look." She then took the walnuts from the vendor.
"Look, this walnut of yours is so ugly, it probably won't taste good inside either. Three for one copper coin!"
Mara held up the walnuts, pointing to their uneven surface. Actually, she thought even three copper coins were too expensive.
"Ah!" The vendor was startled; three copper coins for one walnut meant he was going to lose a fortune. "Madam, although the walnuts don't look very appealing on the outside, they taste delicious on the inside, and they can be stored for a long time, so you can eat them whenever you want. It's very convenient, but your price is a bit too low."
"What price do you want to sell it for?" Mara asked the vendor.
"Madam, I'll give you three for two copper coins. This is already the lowest price." The merchant made a slight concession compared to before.
"Alright then! Three copper coins for seven. That's all I can offer," Mara said, offering a price she could barely accept.
"Madam, could you please quote the price one copper coin at a time?" The merchant seemed a bit lost on the calculations.
Mara was speechless. "Didn't I learn this from you? Are you going to sell it or not?"
The vendor was still trying to calculate how many walnuts were in one copper coin.
Mara glanced at the vendor and said, "How about this? You take ten walnuts at a time, and I'll buy seven for three copper coins and three more for two copper coins. You don't need to calculate; I'll buy them all."
The vendor thought it was a good idea and did so. The walnut transaction was complete. Watching Mara leave, the vendor packed up his now empty stall with satisfaction.
Mara continued to stroll through the market, but she didn't find anything particularly special, except for this walnut.
"Mother, I want to eat honey." The little boy Carlo saw the honey seller not far away.
Sweet things are a luxury everywhere, and honey is no exception here.
Although Mara has some copper coins now, she is still reluctant to spend them to buy honey.
However, seeing her son's expression, she gritted her teeth and went over.
"That jar is worth 20 copper coins," the honey seller said.
"Ah!" Mara was startled. That jar of honey, about the size of a rice bowl, cost 20 copper coins.
The little boy Carlo stood on tiptoe, his eyes filled with longing.