The wards and markets of Chang'an suddenly turned into a giant abacus amusement park. Both sides of the streets were hung with glowing garlic-skin price tags that chimed softly in the breeze. Huwa was riding a wooden cart pulled by a green ox, equipped with a "Taiji Loudspeaker" that automatically broadcasted the *Twenty Rules of the Commercial Alliance*. As he turned into the East Market, he was so startled by the deafening shouts that he almost fell off: "Come look! Abacus Bead steamed buns! Buy ten and get a 'secret edition' free!"
**Stall One: The Steamed Bun Shop That "Administers Exams"**
Uncle Zhang, who sold sesame flatbreads, had completely let loose this time. In front of his stall stood a giant wooden abacus where the Abacus Beads were actually steaming-hot buns. "If you want to eat a bun, you have to answer a question first!" Uncle Zhang waved a bamboo skewer. "Draw an arithmetic question related to 'transparent pricing'; answer correctly and eat for free, answer incorrectly..." He smiled mysteriously and pointed to the garlic-skin trash can next to him, "Penalty: clean up garlic skins for three days!"
Huwa drew a question: "Aunt Li's tofu next door costs eight cash, and my buns sell for ten cash. Is this a violation?" He had just calculated, "A 25% price difference—violation!" when Uncle Zhang handed him a garlic-skin badge carved with "Integrity Supervisor." The surrounding townspeople burst into laughter and applause, packing the stall so tightly not even a dr…
Chapter 572