8. Winter Shelter Market Town
A group of disheveled women walked slowly forward, carrying baskets filled with strange wild fruits. They held their children close, moving with purpose.
Small merchants drove their carts, loaded with goods, shouting for the people ahead to make way.
Some individuals led sheep, others drove cattle, and some carried chickens and ducks, all heading in the same direction.
The sounds of pigs grunting, sheep bleating, cows mooing, and chickens clucking filled the air, mixed with the laughter and cries of children and the scolding voices of merchants. Suddenly, the entire road was alive with noise.
Jason Liu had just emerged from the quiet wilderness into this bustling environment, and it lifted his spirits. The empty feeling of the wild was replaced by the vibrant crowd, making it seem as though he had stepped into a different world.
It was a wonderful feeling.
As Jason Liu soaked in the lively atmosphere, people began to notice him. His appearance stood out as clearly different from those around him, drawing attention the moment he entered the throng.
The previously loud road began to quiet down.
He felt embarrassed as he noticed the Northmen—dressed in tattered clothes and looking rough—lowering their voices and glancing at him with curiosity. When he caught their gaze, they quickly looked away, which only made him feel more out of place.
Do they think I'm a nobleman? he wondered.
In Westeros, only the noble lords and ladies enjoyed the comforts of good food and warm clothing. The common people struggled daily to scrape together enough to eat, leaving little room for personal hygiene or fancy clothes.
Jason Liu stood out with his fair complexion, tall and straight stature, and a confident demeanor that set him apart from the common folk.
It was no surprise that everyone he had met in Westeros recognized him as a nobleman.
Feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny of these unkempt Northlanders, who had a strong body odor, he wanted to avoid being treated like a curiosity. So, he tightened the straps of the backpack on his back and hurried through the crowd, eager to reach the winter shelter market town near Winterfell.
As Jason Liu strode confidently forward, the farmers and women on the road stepped aside, showing him respect and making way.
One man, wearing a tattered straw hat, rushed to herd his pigs out of the way for the "nobleman," only to be knocked aside by the very pigs he was trying to manage. It was a humorous sight, making Jason Liu suppress a smile.
When he passed by a merchant driving a cart, the merchant pulled the reins tightly, removed his hat, and bowed deeply, a respectful smile on his face.
The small trader, unlike the ignorant farmer who rarely left his lord's land, understood the importance of showing respect to a nobleman. Offending a noble could lead to severe punishment—floggings, mutilation, or even death were real dangers for those in lower social classes.
To the nobles, the commoners were often viewed as less valuable than the animals in their barns.
Seeing the small traders around him smile and bow, Jason Liu felt a strange mix of discomfort and understanding. He had grown up in a society that valued equality, so he wasn't used to this kind of humility from lower-class people.
However, he reminded himself that this was a world dominated by power. In this feudal society, the nobles held all the authority, and he needed to adapt quickly.
His experiences along the way made him realize just how much influence noble status held in this world. It also led him to think about the kind of identity he wanted to adopt when interacting with the powerful people of Westeros.
After walking for more than ten minutes, Jason Liu finally reached the winter shelter market town outside Winterfell.
The winter shelter market town consisted of wooden houses built around the Stark family's Winterfell Castle. During winter, after harvesting their wheat and oats, nearby farmers brought their families here to escape the harsh cold and potential attacks from wildlings.
As the population increased, merchants from all over Westeros flocked to the market, coming from places like King's Landing, the West, the East, and beyond.
Merchants even traveled from the southern reaches of Dorne, arriving by boat along the narrow sea to White Harbor, then transporting their goods overland to Winterfell for trade.
They brought a variety of goods to sell: summer red wine from the island of Qarth, kippers from Dorne, weapons and armor from King's Landing, gold jewelry from the West, and grain from the East and Riverlands.
In return, they would take back bear skins, wolf pelts, deer hides, and other furs to sell in the south.
The profits from these trades could be quite significant.
Sometimes, merchants from the free trade city-states across the Narrow Sea would come to the winter town to do business. However, because of the bitter cold in the North and the long journey, they preferred to travel to the more prosperous King's Landing.
As Jason Liu entered the market, a strong smell of mutton hit him. The combination of so many people who rarely bathed, mixed with the droppings of animals, created a pungent odor that was overwhelming.
It took him a moment to adjust to the strong scent and blend into the crowd.
Stalls lined both sides of the road, set up by merchants eager to sell their wares. Behind them stood their carts, piled high with goods, while the merchants called out to attract customers.
Some farmers simply found a spot on the ground, spread out something that looked oily and dirty—perhaps an animal skin or sackcloth—and laid out their apples, carrots, onions, and wheat for people to browse.
Jason Liu carefully navigated the noisy market, trying to avoid the cow dung and horse urine scattered on the ground. He also kept an eye out for children darting around, weaving in and out of the crowd.
"From the master craftsman Mael of King's Landing, a perfect fine steel sword for only 30 silver deer! Only 30 silver deer!"
"High-quality wheat from Hejian Land, just 2 copper stars per pound! Come take a look at this best wheat, full of grains, and at the lowest price!"
"Kipper from White Harbor! Salty kippers for just 10 copper stars each!"
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