Apricots on Textile Stall in Gulou Beijing

Heavy overcast skies diffuse tropical bright light across a textile trader's stall in Gulou, Beijing. Crumpled bolts of silk and cotton fabric drape the wooden counter, their muted blues and earthy browns contrasting with piles of golden apricots. The fruit shows soft bruises and dark spots where afternoon heat has softened the skin. Rough linen sacks sit beside the textiles, their woven texture catching the flat daylight. A metal scale rests on the far right edge, its surface dull against the vibrant produce. The apricots cluster tightly, their fuzzy skins slightly damp from the humid air, resting directly on the rough wood grain of the stall table.