1月24日，岁末年首，离传统的春节还有21天。街道上车流如梭，商场里人头攒动，人们开始购买年货，准备欢庆本世纪最后一个春节。在号称为苏北地区最大的小商品批发市场──淮阴市汇通市场里，更是热闹非凡，生意兴隆。傍晚时分，小商贩们数着腰包里的“收获”，个个眉开眼笑， On January 24, at the end of the year, there were 21 days away from the traditional Spring Festival. The traffic on the streets was buzzing with the crowds in the shopping malls. People began to purchase New Year’s goods to prepare for the celebration of the last Spring Festival of the century. In what is known as the largest small commodity wholesale market in Northern Jiangsu, the Huitong Market in Huaiyin City, is even more lively and prosperous. In the evening, small traders counted the “harvest” in their pockets, all grinning.