The economic base determines the superstructure, and I am very clear about this truth. In this world, there must be a complete commodity economy system.
Combining the speculation of the Black Trade Convoy, it is probably the situation of trade routes and self-sufficiency in various countries.
Holding a cigarette in my mouth, I took out a lighter, but there was no flammable gas left. A good-quality one yuan lighter can last for two months with normal use. Today is already the sixty-eighth day...
I put the lighter back in my pocket as a memento of my past.
Today's Mountain Dotch is as calm as ever. I started a busy day after waking up early. Fetching water, watering plants, having breakfast, reading books, and of course, stealing a glimpse of my wife's cute sleeping face.
Around 9:30 in the morning, a long-lost trumpet sound rang out, which is the symbol of the Black Trade Convoy.
"Are you going out?"
"Do you want to buy something?"
"No, I just... want to take a walk with you."
After saying this, I realized that I can even use colloquial words like "take a walk" now.
"Sure."
"Do I have to wear this black cloak?"
"Well... you have to wear it."
"Oh..."
"Hehe, do you have to wear it too?"
"No, I don't need it."
If you go shopping with the Black Trade Convoy, wearing the black cloak is mandatory. This rule should apply to the monsters as customers. On the other hand, the human sellers, regardless of gender, all wear black hats.
This is quite an interesting rule, probably considering that some monsters may look terrifying and easily scare some timid merchants. The merchants wearing hats are probably just to distinguish their identities.
Once again, I arrived in front of the leader's carriage of the Black Trade Convoy. The black sun pattern carried a hint of evil, and it was more accurate to say that the entire carriage was made of black wood. This reminded me of some dark forces in Western magical movies. Could this world have super cool headless knights?
I tapped the solid black wooden signboard with force, feeling in a good mood.
Then, the signboard vertically rose up.
Hmm... vertically rose up...
I didn't mean to do something dangerous. I just tapped it twice, but the creaking metal friction sound sounded like a signal for a trap. Could a few hidden arrows shoot out from inside?
Fortunately, there were no hidden arrows. There was only one person inside the carriage.
But this person, I know him...
Aren't you the owner of the bar!
"It's you!"
Me and the bar owner exclaimed at the same time, startling my wife, almost making her take out her short bow.
"Mr. Raul, I didn't expect to meet you here."
"Yes, yes."
Who would have thought? Instead of running your bar properly, you're here running a side business?
"And who is this?"
"Oh, this is my wife."
"So it's Mrs. Raul, nice to meet you."
The bar owner was dressed in a smart suit. Although he was a little older, he still had the ruggedness and charm that could rival young men. He reached out his hand in a friendly gesture.
Under my indication, my wife also reached out her hand to shake hands with him.
Then, this impudent guy actually tried to kiss my wife's hand!
Can other people just kiss my wife's hand as they please?! Fortunately, I was quick enough and quickly pulled my wife's beautiful little hand back. It's already good enough that you can shake hands, isn't it a bit too much to go beyond that, even if you're wearing gloves?
I know, I know, kissing the hand is a courtesy for gentlemen and ladies, but I'm not a gentleman, and my wife is not a lady. I'm just a man from Northeast China, and only I can kiss my wife.
My actions stunned both my wife and the bar owner. For the bar owner, it probably felt like only saying the word "you" after saying "hello" and then having his mouth covered...
"Sorry, sorry. My wife doesn't like..."
"Ah, it's okay, it's okay."
This old fox, the surprised expression on the bar owner's face lasted less than two seconds, and then a polite smile appeared. This saved us from unnecessary embarrassment.
During the subsequent conversation, I learned that the bar owner's name is Simmon. According to his own introduction, he is responsible for organizing the entire Black Trade Convoy. The history of trading goods with various monsters goes back a long time. Uncle Simmon had the Black Trade Convoy since he was a child, and at that time, it was even larger than it is now.As the three of us strolled around, Simmon kept talking nonstop, introducing the history and current situation of the Black Merchant Group. I could grasp the main points. The precursor to the Black Merchants were a group of scattered traveling merchants who exchanged rare materials related to magic with monsters in return for human goods.
Later, these merchants made a lot of money, and their business grew bigger and their footsteps reached further. However, the danger also increased. Many monsters did not know whether these Black Merchants were traders or enemies invading their homeland. So, during that period, being a Black Merchant was a very dangerous profession. In this period, the Black Merchants developed their resting place into a small village, which is now Night Fall Town. It was during this period that the rule of monsters wearing black cloaks and merchants wearing black top hats was formed.
Later on, there was a major event in the kingdom. I didn't understand what exactly happened, but from the long sentences, words like war, death, and magic kept appearing. After that event, the living space for Black Merchants continued to shrink. The kingdom started prohibiting contact between humans and monsters, even in terms of trading goods. The Black Merchants, whose financial routes were cut off, experienced a difficult period. Some chose to return to the kingdom to do other businesses, while others chose Night Fall Town.
It was because of those Black Merchants who returned to Night Fall Town that it became the only human settlement outside the kingdom's territory and possibly the only place in the world that allowed contact between monsters and humans.
Simmon's introduction had a lot more details, but I couldn't listen to it all. In any case, there was a very thought-provoking question that arose: gold coins and silver coins. I observed carefully and noticed that monsters used the same gold coins, while the silver coins that merchants received were also unified. And when spending in Night Fall Town, only silver coins were accepted.
In other words, only Black Merchants would accept gold coins, and everyone else would only accept silver coins. So where did the gold coins go? Or perhaps, a better question would be: where did the gold coins come from? However, I didn't ask this question because even if he was willing to explain it to me, I wouldn't understand.
I just confirmed with him that the kingdom did not use gold coins as currency. Simmon also showed me another type of currency used in the kingdom, which were these large denomination banknotes, with the smallest being a hundred.
Clues that could be pieced together echoed in my mind - information from the map, the history of gold coins and Black Merchants, and the current situation of Night Fall Town. All of it pointed to a stunning situation - Night Fall Town had formed a commodity economy based on trade routes with monsters.
Looking around, the long procession of caravans gave a vibrant and prosperous feeling, even though it lacked the hustle and bustle of a bazaar. Perhaps this was the best proof that Night Fall Town had a good relationship with monsters?
This visit to the Black Merchants wasn't without any shopping plans. Although I wasn't sure if they had cotton, the top priority on my shopping list was quilts and cotton clothes.
Casually strolling around with the Black Merchants, Simmon had the air of a gracious host, constantly pointing out things I should buy. Tea pots, combs, mechanical lighters, glass jars for food storage, peculiar snacks, exquisitely crafted small boxes... everything except the quilt I wanted to buy.
However, my wife and I were having a great time. I understood her joy because there is no woman who isn't happy when shopping, especially with her husband by her side. I was happy because I got to see many peculiar monsters, even though I couldn't see what they looked like under their cloaks. Their minor flaws would sometimes be revealed, especially that little guy who left a trail of water wherever he went. I really wanted to poke fun at him.
We could eat whatever we wanted and buy whatever we wanted. That's what shopping is all about. Who cares if they have quilts or not? I love the Black Merchants! I love my wife!
