In the plaza, a wave of clamor and heat threatened to overturn the makeshift platform.
The assembly was over.
Everyone surged madly toward the other side of the plaza, toward the shack of the "Cooperative Guild Exchange Post."
They pushed and shoved, each wanting to be the first to the front to see how many Merit Points the good items cost.
A literate artisan was pushed to the very front. He strained his throat to read out the list, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"Iron sickle, thirty Merit Points!"
"One hundred beeswax candles, thirty Merit Points!"
The crowd's breathing grew heavy. This price was just within reach if they stretched themselves. 'Reclaim three *mu* of land or hunt five wild boars...' The quicker-witted ones had already begun to calculate.
The artisan swallowed, his gaze moving down the list. His voice rose unconsciously.
"Thick wool coat, eighty Merit Points!"
"A bag of refined sea salt, five pounds… one hundred Merit Points!"
