To be honest, the pottery sold in this shop is quite different from what you’d usually find in a pottery store. There are very few everyday pottery items, while most are exquisitely crafted, high-quality luxury pottery pieces intended for indoor display, and some of them are even damaged.
Xie Pangbo knew these pottery items were looted by the rebel army from the wealthy district; these people from poor backgrounds truly wouldn’t let a single coin slip by!
Xie Pangbo looked idly at the bronze shop across the street, which used to be a jewelry shop. He estimated that all the gold and silver jewelry was taken by those soldiers and turned into a bronze shop. But inside, there were hardly any practical bronze items—mostly decorative pieces, like bronze statues.
Xie Pangbo couldn’t help but grumble inwardly; he didn’t think these items could sell under the current circumstances.
After some casual chat with a neighboring shop companion, Xie Pangbo noticed figures moving at the market entrance: The one called Alakosia was right; people really have come today!
The pottery shop was located near the market entrance, giving him a clear view. The incoming people were Sarabia citizens; they looked around at the entrance for a moment before rushing down the street. Some who were calmer came to the pottery shop first to ask, "Where are the flour, vegetable, and meat vendors?"
"Moved to the very back." Xie Pangbo pointed with his hand, thinking that these rebels were cunning to place the food shops at the far end of the market, forcing Sarabia civilians to pass all the shops. But if they’re not interested in buying, no matter how clever they are, it won’t work.
Despite his thoughts, he couldn’t help but start shouting, "Selling pottery, finest pottery! Collins’ black pottery, Athens’ red pottery! And paintings by famous artists! These pottery items could be found in the homes of wealthy nobles in the past, but now you have the opportunity to own them! Come buy them, don’t miss out on this great opportunity!..."
Xie Pangbo shouted until his mouth was dry, and then paused to take a sip of water from a wooden cup.
At this moment, a short, chubby figure cautiously approached.
Xie Pangbo’s eyes lit up, and he immediately put on a smiling face, nodding and bowing as he said, "Soricles, good morning! Are you here to buy pottery?"
Soricles, a Sarabia merchant and town councilman, was wealthy yet frugal and prefered to live in a common area rather than build a residence in the wealthy district. Precisely because of this, he luckily escaped the rebel army’s purging. This man lived simply but had a hobby—collecting fine pottery.
Having dealt with Soricles before, Xie Pangbo felt business was coming and acted very courteously.
Soricles also recognized Xie Pangbo and, surprisingly, asked in a low voice, "Did you also join those rebe... uh, Free Italy?"
"I didn’t! They just forced me to work for them; dare I disobey?" Xie Pangbo quickly defended himself in a low voice.
Soricles didn’t pay much attention to what he said and leaned closer to anxiously ask, "What on earth does Free Italy plan to do with us?! You work for them; do you know?!"
Xie Pangbo did know, as Alakosia had mentioned it several times, hoping that when Sarabia citizens inquired, they could be informed and thus relieved of their doubts and worries.
"Soricles, I heard from a steward of theirs that as long as you don’t violate the decrees they’ve issued in the city and continue living orderly, they won’t harm you or seize your property. Even if they leave in the future, they will still ensure your safety and the integrity of your property, leaving this town intact..."
After saying this, Xie Pangbo added an emphasis, "Of course, this is just what I’ve heard from them. Whether they can truly carry it out, we’ll have to see..."
Perpetually anxious these past days, Soricles completely ignored Xie Pangbo’s final caution, only hearing what he wanted, and sighed with relief, "If only this could be true! That would be wonderful! Oh dear!"
With a cry of pain, Soricles dropped the sack he carried on his shoulder to the ground, ignoring his sprained back to first check if any wheat spilled out of the bag.
Xie Pangbo couldn’t help but ask, "Why do you come out alone to buy things? Aren’t you bringing your slaves?"
"Cannot bring! Cannot bring!" Soricles shook his head repeatedly: "What if once out, they run off to join the rebe... Free Italy?"
Xie Pangbo was silent. He indeed heard that the rebel army had so far not demanded slaves from the civilians, but if a slave voluntarily fled to join them, they would certainly accept them. However, given Soricles’ status, he only had five or six slaves in his household. If one or two really ran away, he would be heartbroken!
Soricles’ overly cautious demeanor unconsciously made Xie Pangbo’s attitude shift, finding himself daring to mentally mock this Sarabia councilman, something previously unimaginable.
"Say no more." Soricles gathered himself and looked at the pottery displayed in the shop with an envious expression, "Can these pottery items really be bought?"
Xie Pangbo immediately perked up and said, "Soricles, you’re an expert. You could surely tell that most of this pottery came from the residences of those noblemen. They’re all top-quality, exquisite pottery. There are connoisseurs within Free Italy too, but they think these pottery items aren’t as practical as ordinary pots and are inconvenient to transport, so they are selling them instead. The base prices offered aren’t too high, either.