Et market is the heartbeat of local social life
vendor works hard here.”
With its myriad stalls, the wet market is tidy and bright. Gone are the wet floors of old days. In the fish area, vendors were busy cleaning freshwater catches. In the meat area, flanks were hung or placed on tables, according to the body parts of animals.
There are around 25 stalls selling vegetables in the market. Pan’s stall was among the most crowded. One of his regular customers asked the owner, surnamed Pan, after his mother-in-law, who used to sell vegetable in the market as well.
“She is 73 years old,” Pan replied. “I don’t want her to have to work here anymore. However, she still works at home. The vegetables I sell are not from wholesale markets but rather come from the gardens of my motherin-law or our neighbors. My family has 2,001 square meters of farmland in Pudong.”
Pan adds a small bunch of free scallions to every order. It’s a common gesture at the market to build relationships with customers.
For the vendors like Pan, fast arithmetic, a good memory, excellent communication skills and a knowledge of cooking tips are basic requirements.
“The wet market is a stage of social life,” said Zhao’s wife, Han Xuemei. “People from all walks of life can be seen here.”