Lynn emerged from the forest, and his view broadened and brightened.
Ahead was another piece of untouched wasteland.
After walking for more than another hour.
In the distance, he saw a village standing on a piece of cultivated land.
Wisps of smoke continuously drifted out from the chimneys of the deep brown wooden houses.
In this newly illuminated morning, one felt an inexplicable tranquility and peace.
Red pointed ahead, speaking respectfully, "Master Lynn, that’s the village I’m talking about."
Lynn nodded, and the three of them walked on the small path in the cultivated fields towards the village.
Before reaching the edge of the village, Lynn wiped his left hand on the slightly moist mud, then smeared the mud on his face.
Kuisi and Red, though somewhat puzzled, did not ask any questions.
Master Lynn doing this naturally had his reasons.
As they stepped into the village, figures started appearing in Lynn’s sight.
All were dressed in the most ordinary coarse wool robes or linen tunics and pants.
In front of them, various items were displayed.
These people were villagers from the vicinity, coming here to participate in the market.
Usually, they were hired by the Manor Lord to help out, earning some income, and also cultivated the land rented from the Manor Lord, planting crops.
Handicrafts made during leisure or surplus food would be brought to the village market for sale.
There were also some merchants.
The village market was not like a small town with designated market spots.
A village market typically gathered at a customary village spot, and any items for sale were laid by the roadside, and trading could commence.
Local villagers who needed to purchase items would come, find suitable goods, negotiate prices, and once agreed, money would be exchanged for goods, completing the transaction.
There weren’t very many rules.
The arrival of Lynn and the others didn’t draw much attention; people looked briefly before withdrawing their gazes.
At the edge of the road, Kuisi and Red knowingly placed down two baskets of smoked fish, standing idly in place.
Some passing villagers didn’t even glance at Kuisi and Red.
Lynn couldn’t help but say, "What are you standing around for? Sell the fish!"
Kuisi’s face instantly showed a hint of tension, she struggled to speak, "Smoked fish... smoked fish..."
Her voice was so low that even Lynn, standing nearby, could barely hear.
Lynn looked at Red, who hurriedly said, "Master Lynn, I truly don’t know how."
Lynn shook his head, scanning the villagers coming by, "Smoked fish... aromatic and crispy smoked fish... tender inside, come and see."
His words naturally casual, without tension or burden.
Though Lynn was indeed an ennobled Lord, his status was merely that of an exiled illegitimate child.
He wished to command his servants, but at present, he lacked the capacity!
Everything relied on his efforts.
Even Kuisi and Red before him were only hired workers.
Listening to Lynn’s calls to sell, Kuisi and Red grew inexplicably anxious.
Some villagers passing by, hearing Lynn’s enthusiastic calls, couldn’t help but glance over.
Seeing the baskets filled with golden, appetizing smoked fish, two villagers walked up.
"Oh, how much for this smoked fish? Looks pretty good!"
"Yes, it even smells of pinewood?"
Lynn replied, "Pine Wood... it’s Pine Wood, ladies, smoked fish made with Pine Wood."
A woman in a waist-belted robe knowingly nodded, "I did think it carried a pine scent... how much is your smoked fish?"
Lynn smiled in response, "One pence, you can buy two pounds of smoked fish for one pence!"
The waist-belted woman seemed to ponder, "One pence... it’s quite reasonable!"
Equivalent to exchanging two pounds of fish for one pound of wheat.
To purchase a pound of wheat, it cost one pence.
Ordinary villagers working in the Manor Lord’s manor for a day could earn one or two pence.
Bear in mind, smoked fish was indeed meat.
Exchanging a day’s labor for a pound of smoked fish wasn’t expensive.
Rather, it was somewhat cheap.
The waist-belted woman took out a small, worn leather pouch, extracted one pence, and handed it to Lynn, "May I choose myself?"
Lynn looked at Kuisi, who immediately understood, reaching to take the pence.
Lynn replied, "Madam, you certainly may, but you can only select about two pounds of smoked fish from the basket."
The waist-belted woman nodded, "Don’t worry, young sir, I’m not one to be stingy for petty gains!"
Beside her, a plump woman with a wool felt hat showed equal eagerness; her family hadn’t had meat for a long time.
The plump woman said, "I can’t help it, I want four pounds, I want to eat meat, even if it’s fish!"
The waist-belted woman was somewhat surprised, "Four pounds? That’s two days’ wages for your husband, aren’t you worried he’ll send you into the pigsty?"
The plump woman was unconcerned, "With his build, who’s sending whom is another matter, young sir, I want to buy four pounds of smoked fish!"
Lynn smiled and responded, "Certainly, you may also choose yourself."
With these two women leading, things gradually became simpler.
Villagers passing by saw five or six people gathering around the two baskets, continually picking out smoked fish.
The bandwagon effect often makes people conclude the goods must be decent; even if the need isn’t high, they can’t resist buying some.
Additionally, Kuisi, influenced by Lynn and the villagers’ buying enthusiasm, became more outgoing.
"Aromatic and crispy smoked fish... tender inside..."
Watching the smoked fish in the baskets sell quickly relieved Lynn’s mind slightly.
Spending a day and risking being recognized, coming to this village was worthwhile.
More than an hour later.
The two baskets of fish were sold out.
Kuisi and Red, carrying the baskets, came to Lynn’s side.
Handing the pence to Lynn, Kuisi said, "Master Lynn, here are seventy pence from selling the smoked fish."
Lynn looked at Kuisi and asked, "Are you sure you didn’t sell wrongly?"
Kuisi was taken aback, not expecting Lynn to suddenly question her.
Not only Kuisi, but Red beside her also felt a bit anxious, momentarily unclear of Lynn’s intention.
Kuisi’s mind quickly scanned through.
A few seconds later, she firmly replied, "No mistake, Master Lynn."
Lynn had been watching the entire time; indeed, Kuisi hadn’t sold wrongly.
Without scales, the weight of the smoked fish sold was all by feeling, naturally resulting in discrepancies.
That was unavoidable.
All the pence due had been collected.
The inquiry was merely to ensure Kuisi’s confidence.
Lynn nodded, "Let’s go, buy something."
From talking with villagers buying smoked fish, he learned the village was called Kent Village, with most of the Free People employed by Manor Lord Fletcher.
The surrounding lands, forests, and pastures all belonged to Fletcher.
Kent Village wasn’t large, with only ten or so wooden houses.
Approaching a wooden house, a black Feldspar slab displayed various ironware.
Here was Kent Village’s Blacksmith Shop.