Chapter 301 - 241: A Thousand Qi Blood Pills, a Street-side Wine Stall

Chapter 301: Chapter 241: A Thousand Qi Blood Pills, a Street-side Wine Stall

The wine stall had a unique way of attracting customers: a wooden clapper, much like a temple block. When struck with a thin stick, it produced a rhythmic TOK TOK TOK.

Upon hearing this sound, the city’s poor, who loved a drink but couldn’t afford a proper tavern, would come out to the street and wait.

He usually wouldn’t stop for just one person. Only when a group of three to five had gathered would Old Man Liu find a clean corner and set down his stall.

These eager drinkers would then surge forward, scrambling to grab one of the tin wine flasks.

The flasks were made to a standard size, holding a generous pour—always a bit more, never less.

But some, due to years of use, were covered in scuffs and marks; some even had their bottoms dented inward.

A dented flask, of course, held a little less wine.

The difference might only be a fraction of an ounce, but to these destitute drinkers, while they could part with an extra coin, they wouldn’t stand for a single drop less of wine.

Once they’d snatched a suitable flask, the drinkers would have it filled, then buy some roasted soybeans or pickled peppers to go with it. If they were in a good mood or had earned a bit more that day, they might splurge on a portion of pig’s head meat or sheep’s brain.

As for the beef tripe and chicken feet, few men ever ordered them. They were mostly sold to the women who enjoyed a drink; the average man didn’t care for such things.

In their words, ’It’s all dry and stringy, and a real pain to eat. What’s the point?’

The truth was, chicken feet and beef tripe had very little meat, making them a poor value.

Once they had their wine and snacks, they would squat off to the side, take a blissful first sip, then toss a few soybeans into their mouths. The look of pure enjoyment on their faces made it seem as if they were eating not soybeans, but the finest delicacies; as if they were gathered not around a humble wine stall, but a grand banquet table in a fine restaurant.

The business might have seemed unremarkable, but Old Man Liu had managed to save enough from it to buy his son three paddy fields in the countryside.

For a commoner from the very bottom of society, this was an astonishing achievement.

So he was content. He worked from dawn until dusk, dedicating himself to his small wine stall.

His business was especially good at the end of the year when it snowed.

He had an ingenious idea: he added a small brazier to his stall, offering a bit of warmth on the frozen, snow-covered streets.

Thanks to this simple addition, he was able to turn a tidy profit at the end of every year.

But this year was an exception.

A great calamity had left the entire Imperial Capital desolate and deserted. Forget drinkers—there was hardly a soul on the streets.

Today, Old Man Liu had already wandered through half the district and still hadn’t made a single sale.

He gritted his teeth, rubbing his cheeks, which were swollen and red from the cold, then quietly made his way toward the border of the North and South City.

The people of South City were poor to begin with. Between the curfew and the heavy snow, many hadn’t earned enough to eat for days. With no money for food, who could possibly be in the mood for wine?

So he decided to take a risk and try his luck at the border between the North and South City.

The people living there were generally more well-off. Even if they were cooped up at home, they could still get by.

Besides, with the situation worsening, many taverns and restaurants had closed their doors. There was nowhere for people to go if they wanted a drink.

’In a situation like this,’ he thought, ’my little stall might just be able to attract some customers.’

Of course, there were risks.

’The people here generally have some status,’ he mused. ’I’m just a poor old man. If I offend someone, I’ll be in big trouble.’

But to earn enough for a meal today, he decided he had to take the chance.

CLACK! CLACK! CLACK!

Accompanied by the dull, monotonous clacking, Old Man Liu threaded his way through the streets, his carrying pole digging into his shoulder.

The Imperial Capital was unnaturally cold today. Though the sun was high and bright, its rays offered no warmth. Instead, they only cast a blinding glare upon the slick, icy ground.

Old Man Liu squinted, picking his way carefully. After turning down two alleys, he finally heard the sound of a latch being drawn. A middle-aged man poked his head out, a look of pleasant surprise on his face. "Hey, you, the wine seller! Don’t leave!"

Old Man Liu stopped in his tracks and turned.

"Sir, are you looking for a drink?"

"Of course! What else would I be doing, getting a haircut?"

The middle-aged man stepped out of his house. He lifted the lid of the wine container, took a sniff, and frowned.

"This wine isn’t anything special. You don’t have anything better?"

"Sir, we’re just a small operation, we can’t afford the good stuff. This is just your standard brew. Please, see if it’s to your liking!" Old Man Liu said with an apologetic smile.

"Hmph. I usually drink at the Yu Xian Building. They have proper aged Lotus-Blossom White there. Tsk, tsk. A pity I can’t get out there now." The man sighed, but then had a flask filled. He also ordered a plate of pig’s head meat and squatted by the brazier to start drinking.

At the same time, the sound attracted the attention of a few neighboring households. People poked their heads out, and seeing the wine stall with a customer already eating, they too began to emerge from their homes.

The men of the Imperial Capital love nothing more than a bit of commotion.

They might ignore an empty stall, but once one person shows up, a crowd is sure to follow.

Having run a wine stall for half his life, Old Man Liu understood this principle well, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.

Sure enough.

Before long, seven or eight people had bought wine and snacks and were gathered around the stall, eating and drinking.

The conditions were crude, but in these extraordinary times, no one could afford to be picky.

Taking alternating sips of wine and bites of food, they all looked as blissful as immortals. Some of the more robust men were already breaking a sweat.