Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

The seventh day of the first month

The lanterns in Chang'an City still retain the festive atmosphere of the New Year, and the snow on Zhuque Street sparkles in the morning light.

Yu Yu jumped and pushed open the wooden door of "Zuixianlou", and the red ribbon on her pigtails swayed happily with her movements.

"Mom! Brother! Come and see! The wine jar that was frozen last winter is now thawing!"

Li Hao followed behind with a broom in his hand, his black cloth shorts covered with snow particles.

Xiaoyu held the calico cat in her arms, two noisy dogs following at her feet. She smiled and instructed, "Run slowly, don't fall. Bring out the peach blossom wine you brewed before the New Year. We need to clean up the tavern today to welcome new guests."

Yu Yu hummed a discordant tune and climbed onto the carved wine cabinet.

The half piece of osmanthus candy that she secretly hid last year was now stuck to the red seal on the wine jar.

"Calico Cat, do you think there will be any Hu merchants from the Western Regions this year, bringing with them dancing Persian cats?"

The tabby cat meowed lazily and wrapped its tail around Yu Yu's wrist.

The morning light weaved through the dust that Li Hao swept up with his broom like golden threads.

He suddenly stopped and pointed at the spider web on the beam: "Yuyu, you couldn't reach it last year, but now you might be able to do it by standing on tiptoe."

The little girl's eyes lit up. She stepped on a wooden stool and waved a feather duster. The red ribbon swept across the beams and scared away two sparrows that were building a nest.

Xiaoyu opened the carved window lattice facing the street, and the fresh air rushed into the tavern, carrying the morning bell of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the distance.

She skillfully wiped the bronze wine vessel, reflecting Ah Fu's chubby figure.

"Hao'er, replace the sign at the door. Last year's has faded. Yuyu, go to the backyard and pick some new plums. We'll make our first pot of wine this year."

Wangcai suddenly barked at the door. It turned out to be Manager Wang from the silk shop next door.

"Xiaoyu, Happy New Year! I've been thinking about your peach blossom wine." Shopkeeper Wang rubbed his red hands and looked at the new plum wine that Yuyu brought out.

"There's still dew on the plum petals. This year's wine will surely be fragrant!"

When the sun climbed up to the eaves, Zuixianlou looked brand new.

The vermilion lacquered gate was shining brightly, and the newly replaced wine flag fluttered in the breeze, with the three large gold-plated characters "Zuixianlou" shining brightly.

Yuyu held Ah Fu and sat at the door, watching the people passing by on the street.

"Mom, will we make a lot of money and buy a lot of new clothes this year?"

Xiaoyu smiled and patted her daughter's head, her eyes sweeping over her busy son and the bustling tavern: "Yes, as long as our family works together, these days will be like new wine, getting sweeter and sweeter."

Li Hao added a piece of charcoal to the brazier. The aroma of wine, plum blossoms and the warmth of the charcoal fire slowly flowed in the spring light of the Tang Dynasty.

The sun was getting higher and higher, and the sunlight slanted through the carved window lattices, casting a layer of warm light on the tavern.

Just when the Yu Yu family was busy, the door of the tavern was pushed open, and Brother Afu and Sister Acai strode in, wrapped in the spring breeze.

Brother Afu was wearing indigo shorts and a red belt around his waist, looking very heroic.

He clasped his hands together and said in a loud voice, "Boss, Happy New Year! Since we heard the tavern was opening today, Ah Cai and I rushed here early. Leave the rest of the work to us!"

Sister Acai followed behind him, smiling brightly. She was dressed in a light green skirt, looking neat and clean. The wooden hairpin in her hair swayed gently with her steps.

"Yes, Madam, we're really thinking about Zuixianlou! At the beginning of the new year, we must help the tavern prosper!"

Xiaoyu's eyes flashed with joy, and she hurried over to greet him: "You've arrived just in time! Come in quickly, we're super busy right now."

Yuyu's eyes sparkled like two black gemstones. She held Ah Fu in her arms and jumped to Ah Fu's side. Looking up, she asked, "Ah Fu, Ah Cai, did you have anything delicious to eat during the New Year? Did you see anything fun?"

Afu laughed heartily and reached out to touch Yuyu's head, almost knocking her pigtails askew. "Of course! We also saw someone performing a monkey show. The monkey was very clever and made everyone laugh."

As he spoke, he had already swiftly taken the broom from Li Hao's hand and started sweeping with skillful movements, sweeping quickly and cleanly with each stroke.

Ah Caijie walked over to Xiaoyu, took the rag from her hand, and carefully examined the bronze wine vessels she was wiping. She praised, "Boss, you've taken such good care of these wine vessels. This year, we'll use them to serve wine. I'm sure our guests will be even happier seeing them."

After saying that, he began to wipe the wine cabinet carefully, not leaving out any corner.

With the participation of Brother Afu and Sister Acai, the cleaning progress in the tavern was much faster.

After cleaning the ground, Brother Afu climbed up the ladder and cleaned up the dust and cobwebs on high places.

After Sister Cai finished wiping the wine cabinet, she began to arrange the tables and chairs, placing each table and chair neatly and wiping the table tops so that one could reflect a person's reflection.

Yuyu held Afu in her arms and watched Afu and Acai work curiously, asking a few innocent questions from time to time.

While working, Brother Afu and Sister Acai patiently responded to Yu Yu, making her giggle.

Inside the pub, the sounds of cleaning, chatting, laughing, Ah Fu's barking and the dogs' barking mixed together, playing a lively New Year's melody.

As the tavern was cleaned spotlessly, everyone arranged the newly arrived wine jars neatly. Zuixianlou was now brand new and ready to welcome guests from all directions.

Xiaoyu looked at the busy crowd with a gratified smile on her face. "With you all here, I feel much more at ease. In the new year, let's work together to take Zuixianlou's business to the next level!"

Everyone responded, and laughter echoed in the pub, full of anticipation for the new year.

As he was speaking, there was a sudden noise outside the tavern, the sound of horse hooves and laughter intertwined.

Yu Yu ran to the door curiously and looked out, only to see a group of young men in bright clothes and riding horses approaching.

Cheng Chumo, the leader, laughed heartily: "Haha, we finally made it! Today is the opening of Zuixianlou, we must have a big party!"

Qin Huaidao followed closely behind, his face as white as jade, gently waving his folding fan: "Chu Mo, your voice is so loud that I'm afraid the whole street can hear it."

Wei Shuyu was gentle and elegant, and nodded with a smile: "New Year, new atmosphere, Zuixianlou will surely be full of guests."

Li Dejian was wearing a brocade robe and had sharp eyes. As soon as he entered the door, he began to look at the layout of the tavern.

Fang Yiai patted Yuyu's head carelessly: "Little guy, do you miss your brothers?"

Crown Prince Li Chengqian was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had an extraordinary demeanor. He smiled and said, "I've been looking forward to this day since the beginning of the year. Zuixianlou is a unique place in Chang'an. We must help Xiaoyu's family run it well."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark shadow floated down from the beam like a ghost. It was the secret guard Wu Liao.

He knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, everyone has arrived safely."

Xiaoyu, Li Hao and the others were surprised and delighted. Xiaoyu hurried forward and saluted: "Your Highness and the gentlemen are here."

Li Chengqian raised his hand to interrupt: "No need to be so polite. I promised to help you before the New Year, and I won't break my promise."

Cheng Chumo snatched the broom from Afu's hand and said, "I'm good at this job, go do something else!"