Tuesday morning could not be more usual for vegetable saleswoman Tang Wenying -- getting up at 6 AM to purchase stock from Renianglu wholesale market in Lhasa and then returning to the booth in Hebailin market.
However, Tang feels more energetic than ever before so that she even feel sincere rather than annoyed about the bargaining.
"Real happiness lies in a stable life," she said.
The scarred plateau city is reviving from the nightmare four days ago as people's life returns to normal.
The main streets in the downtown areas, which were scattered with rubbish and rocks, are alive again with buses, taxies and and bicycle rickshaws running through and people flowing home.
Queues can been seen in front of cashiers in many supermarkets. "Buyers are much more than in the days before," said Yang Yuan, manager of Baiyi supermarket in west suburban Lhasa.
The market has resumed business since midday on Monday. More preparation had been done before its reopening.
"What the citizens need most is food, so we've prepared 35 percent more vegetables and bread," Yang said.
Chicken, noodles and rice stuffed a buyer's basket. "I will cook a yummy dinner for my family, " said a citizen Wan Jiangmin.
"The prices remain the same as before the unrest, which is really beyond my expectation," said Wan.
Vegetable farmer Cai Baixing was busy working at his green house nearby the Tibet University Road with his son.
"The traders of the Niangre Wholesale Market called me early in the morning to prepare 150 kilograms of celery," said Cai. "It's the old price, 2.4 yuan per kilogram."
Sources with the regional department of commerce said supplies of daily life necessaries in Lhasa has gradually resumed with six major farmers markets and five main supermarkets reopened.
"Though lots of shops and some markets have been looted, we have prepared stocks before, so the supply won't be a problem," said an official with the department.
Schools in Lhasa have also resumed operation, but most parents have chosen to accompany their children to the entrance gates.
"The situation has returned to normal and my son is dying to see his classmates," a woman who was surnamed as Luo told Xinhua in front of the Lhasa No. 1 Primary School on the Duosengge Road.
(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2008)