Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

Xiaoyu stood in front of a stall filled with coal stoves and briquettes, and shouted to the gathered crowd, "Everyone, these coal stoves are well-made and provide excellent warmth. Today's special offer: only five guan each. And these briquettes are of excellent quality and long-lasting, costing ten wen per jin. In this cold winter, these will keep your home warm."

When the people heard the price, they began to talk among themselves.

An old man walked forward, examined the coal stove carefully, and said, "This price is quite fair. In this cold weather, having a good coal stove is extremely important."

Several young men gathered around and lifted a coal stove to test its weight. One of them said, "This coal stove is heavy enough. It's worth the five coins."

A woman nearby squatted down, grabbed a handful of coal briquettes, and examined them. She said, "These coal briquettes look solid. Ten cents a pound isn't expensive. I'll buy some to keep my family warm."

So, people started buying it enthusiastically.

Li Hao, Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao were very busy, collecting money and helping customers carry coal stoves and coal briquettes.

Yuyu watched excitedly from the side, and from time to time handed a piece of cotton cloth to the people who bought the coal briquettes and coal stoves to warm their hands, and said happily: "Thank you, I will buy you back when you like it!"

Xiaoyu felt a little pity when she saw the elderly and children shivering in the crowd.

She stood in front of the tavern, her eyes gently sweeping over the crowd as she spoke loudly, "Today, we are working to provide welfare for the poor elderly and orphaned children. Anyone with only elderly or young children at home can come here and receive a free coal stove and plenty of coal briquettes to keep out the cold winter, warming both their bodies and their hearts."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the crowd, and then bursts of admiration broke out.

An elderly man walking alone, with a hunched back, slowly stepped forward, tears glistening in his cloudy eyes. "I am old and helpless, but fortunately I have received the care of a benefactor. This kindness is as deep as the sky and the earth."

Several ragged children gathered together, their eyes full of curiosity and expectation.

The little boy in the lead said timidly, "Sister, we don't have any adults with us. Can we really take them?"

Yuyu quickly stepped forward, took the little boy's hand, and said with a sweet smile, "Of course, it's just to keep you warm."

For a time, there was a constant stream of elderly people and children coming to collect their gifts.

Li Hao, Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao recorded and distributed the gifts in an orderly manner to ensure that every bit of warmth was delivered.

Although those people who did not meet the requirements did not receive the free benefits, they were moved by Xiaoyu's family's good deeds and donated money to buy coal stoves and coal briquettes.

The scholar and the beggar who were in front of the Zuixianlou perfume shop were now walking slowly along the street.

The scholar looked up and saw a large crowd gathered at Zuixianlou in front of him. He asked curiously, "What are they selling there? It's so lively."

The beggar rubbed his red, frozen hands and replied, "I heard they're selling coal briquettes and coal stoves. They'll keep you warm."

The scholar was intrigued when he heard this and quickly asked, "How much money does it cost?"

"A coal stove costs five strings of cash, and a pound of coal balls costs ten coins." The beggar answered truthfully.

The scholar frowned slightly, and after thinking for a moment, a hint of joy appeared on his face again: "I see, although the price of the coal stove is really high and we can't afford it, I can still consider these coal briquettes. I can buy some and take them back home. It will be warmer at night and I won't be tortured by this cold winter all the time."

The beggar nodded repeatedly, and the two of them quickened their pace and walked towards the crowd.

When I got closer, I saw that each coal stove was exquisite and the coal briquettes were piled up like a mountain. The sounds of people around bargaining and choosing and buying were endless.

The scholar went to where the coal briquettes were placed, squatted down and carefully examined the texture of the coal briquettes, as if he was trying to determine whether they were as easy to use as the rumors said.

The beggar watched eagerly, hoping that the scholar could make a decision as soon as possible, so that this cold day could have some warmth.

After carefully examining the coal briquettes, the scholar had an idea in mind. He turned to the beggar and asked, "Brother, these coal briquettes look good, and the price is acceptable. Would you like to buy some? I'll take them home to add to the fire to help me get through this cold night."

The beggar looked embarrassed, scratched his head, and said hesitantly: "I am short of money. The little money in my pocket has to be used to make a living. I really can't spend any extra to buy these coal briquettes."

The scholar sighed slightly and patted the beggar's shoulder: "That's right, never mind. I'll buy some more. If you feel cold, come to my place and get some fire. I can't let you get cold."

After that, he shouted to Li Hao, "Boss, weigh me a few pounds of coal briquettes."

Li Hao responded with a smile and told the waiter to get a scale to weigh the coal. The scholar stood aside, hoping that the coal briquettes could bring some warmth to his home in this cold winter.

The beggar looked at the scholar with gratitude, and kept muttering words of thanks.

The beggar looked at the increasing number of people around him, and a look of embarrassment appeared on his face. He quickly said to the scholar, "Brother, you see more and more people are coming now. I am wearing such shabby clothes that I really stand out here. I will leave first and not bother you to buy coal briquettes. When you are done, we can find another place to meet."

The scholar understood the beggar's concerns and nodded, saying, "Okay, then you can go and take shelter first. I'll go over there after I buy my things. It's freezing out here, so don't go too far."

The beggar responded, then crouched down and took advantage of the gap in the crowd to hurriedly walk into a small alley. His figure soon disappeared from everyone's sight.

Only the scholar was left standing there, waiting for the coal briquettes to be weighed, while the tavern was still bustling with people coming and going, all busy making these items that could withstand the cold winter.

The scholar asked Cheng Chumo, who was busy weighing, "I want ten pounds of these coal briquettes. How much is it? I heard it's ten coins per pound."

The waiter skillfully manipulated the scale bar to ensure the weight landed steadily, and replied with a smile, "Sir, you have good eyesight. It's exactly ten coins per catty. If you want ten catties, that would cost a hundred coins."

The scholar nodded slightly, took out his purse from his pocket, carefully counted out a hundred coins, handed them over, and said, "Okay, here's the money. Please wrap it carefully for me and don't spill it."

The clerk took the money, deftly wrapped the coal briquettes in coarse cloth, tied the opening tightly, and handed it to the scholar: "Don't worry, sir, it's wrapped tightly. Take it and go. If you like it, come back next time."

The scholar took the coal ball, thanked him, and walked towards the place he had agreed with the beggar.

As the scholar reached the agreed place with the bag of coal briquettes, the beggar came up to him. Seeing the bulging bag, he couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Why did you buy ten kilograms?"

The scholar said: "Although I am a poor scholar with little money, and you don't have much to keep warm, I bought ten pounds and gave you half a pound."

The beggar waved his hands: "How can this be possible?"

The scholar opened the package, took out half a pound of coal briquettes, and handed them to the scholar, saying earnestly, "Brother, we know each other well. We are both people struggling to survive in this cold winter. I accept your kindness, but you must take this half a pound of coal briquettes to keep you warm."

The beggar was stunned for a moment, his eyes slightly red, and he quickly refused, saying, "Brother, you have a hard time, how can I take yours? I bought these just to keep us both warm, you can keep them for yourself."

But the scholar insisted on giving it to the beggar and forced the half pound of coal balls into the beggar's hands.

The beggar said gratefully, "You are so kind, brother. You have always taken care of me, and now you still think of me at this time. If I accept all of it, I will feel really bad. Please don't refuse it."

Seeing this, the scholar could no longer refuse, so he held the half-pound coal briquettes tightly and said with emotion, "Then... then I'll accept it, brother. From now on, we will share the good and the bad together, and we must get through this cold winter together."

The two smiled at each other and walked further and further away on the cold street.