Capturing Shandong’s market culture as it evolves with the times
Whenever I return to my hometown Laizhou, a small town in Shandong province, I would always make a trip to the local market. Known among locals as the daji (大集, big market), it’s not only a trading center but also a social hub. Every five days all year round, sellers gather at the busiest crossroads in town to set up their stalls. Local visitors are often as preoccupied with searching out familiar faces in the crowds as with perusing goods to buy. They’ll exchange greetings and catch up on the latest gossip around town. When I was a child in the 1990s, my father would often run into his mute friend on market days. I watched as they exchanged signs and murmurings with glee in the busy crowd. But since both have passed away, and I’ve moved to live in a different city, I became a mere visitor to this bustling marketplace.
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