Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 334: Random Notes

Cheng Chumo, who was listening, also advised, "Yuyu, listen to your mother and go and rest. We are here for the pot-throwing game, so nothing will go wrong."

Qin Huaidao smiled and added, "Yes, Yuyu, after you have rested well, you might be able to come up with more interesting ideas."

Yuyu hesitated for a moment. She really didn't want to leave this lively scene, but seeing her mother's concerned eyes, she finally nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go rest for a while."

Xiaoyu held Yuyu's hand and walked into the tavern. Along the way, Yuyu looked back from time to time, muttering, "I'll come back to help after I've rested."

When they arrived at the inner room, Xiaoyu asked Yuyu to sit on a soft chair, brought a cup of warm tea, and said, "Hurry up and drink some water to moisten your throat."

Yu Yu took the teacup, gulped down a few sips, then leaned back in his chair, his eyes still looking towards the pitching pot field, a satisfied smile on his face.

After a while, in the warm atmosphere, Yu Yu gradually closed her eyes and fell into a sweet dream.

Xiaoyu gently covered her with a blanket, looked at her daughter's cute sleeping face, and raised the corners of her mouth slightly. Then she walked out quietly and continued to busy herself with the affairs of the tavern.

The next morning, sunlight shone through the window onto Yu Yu's face. She opened her eyes drowsily and stretched.

Xiaoyu was already busy outside. When she saw Yuyu coming out, she smiled and said, "You're awake. Come and have something to eat."

After breakfast, Xiaoyu began to arrange the day's affairs. She looked at Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao and said, "Chumo, you're usually carefree, but you can be quite attentive sometimes. Today, you'll be watching over the front of the tavern and greeting the guests. Don't let anyone get upset. Huaidao, you're calm and attentive, so I'll leave the guests playing pot-throwing in the backyard to you. Be careful." The two men nodded in agreement.

Yuyu was so excited listening to this that she pulled Xiaoyu's sleeve and said, "Mom, what about me?"

Xiaoyu patted her head and said, "You will be responsible for giving everyone some ideas today. If you come up with something fun, tell everyone."

After the pub opened, guests came in one after another.

Cheng Chumo stood at the door and greeted in a loud voice: "Dear guests, please come in!" His enthusiastic appearance attracted many passers-by to stop.

Qin Huaidao was in the backyard, maintaining order in the game of touhu in an orderly manner.

A young man accidentally fell while playing pot-tossing. Qin Huaidao hurried forward to help him up and asked with concern, "Young master, are you okay?"

The young man smiled and waved his hands: "It's okay, it was my own carelessness."

Yu Yu walked around the tavern, his eyes rolling around.

Suddenly, she saw a diner in the corner looking bored, and an idea struck her. She ran over and said, "Let me tell you a funny story."

The guest smiled and nodded.

Yu Yu told the story vividly, and the people around were attracted and burst into laughter from time to time.

Xiaoyu watched all this behind the counter, feeling very relieved.

Yuyu wandered around the tavern bored, dragging her feet on the ground and muttering, "This is so boring..."

From time to time she lifted the door curtain, took a look outside, and then put it down in disappointment.

The winter in Chang'an seems to be covered by a thin layer of frost, and even the wind is bitingly cold.

Yu Yu sniffed, exhaled a breath of white air, and rubbed her red, frozen hands.

"Huh, the weather is getting colder and colder." She tightened her jacket and began to pace aimlessly again, from the counter to the window, and then from the window back to the wine barrel, her eyes full of boredom and anticipation.

At this time, Xiaoyu came out from the kitchen with a bowl of steaming hot tea in her hand. Seeing Yuyu's appearance, she said distressedly: "Yuyu, come and have some tea to warm yourself up."

Yu Yu's eyes lit up, and she ran over quickly, took the bowl with both hands, and took a big gulp. The boiling hot tea slid down her throat and warmed her heart.

"Mom, why is it so quiet today?" Yu Yu put down the bowl and asked with a look of grievance.

Xiaoyu patted her head and said with a smile, "In winter, everyone likes to stay at home. When the New Year approaches, more people will come out."

As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of wind brought a chill into the tavern, and the curtain at the door was blown violently.

"Mom, I'm back!" With this loud shout, a young man stepped into the tavern. It was Xiaoyu's son Li Hao.

He was covered in a thin layer of frost, his cheeks were red from the cold, and the white breath he exhaled instantly dissipated in the cold air.

"Hao'er, come in quickly. It's really cold today." Xiaoyu greeted him hurriedly.

Li Hao stamped his feet, brushed off the coldness on his body, and said, "Mom, the weather is getting colder and colder. I just came from over there. We have a lot of coal stored, enough to get through this winter. Don't worry about heating."

A bunch of dogs came over.

Li Hao smiled and rubbed the dog's head.

Li Hao looked at Xiaoyu and said, "Mom, I was thinking, since there are not many customers recently, why don't we tidy up the tavern, repair the tables and chairs, and paint the walls. Then, when the New Year comes and there are more people, we can give the tavern a new look."

Xiaoyu nodded in agreement: "Hao'er, this is a good idea. We can use this time to tidy up the store."

Cheng Chumo, who was listening nearby, immediately became interested: "Count me in. I'm strong, and I'll take care of all the lifting!"

Qin Huaidao also responded: "I know a thing or two about carpentry. I'll fix the tables and chairs."

Yu Yu warmed his hands with his breath and muttered, "It's so cold. Why do they store so much coal?"

Xiaoyu was wiping the counter when she heard her daughter's grumbling. She smiled and explained, "Silly girl, it's cold in winter, and coal is used for heating. Besides, they're stockpiling this coal in preparation for the New Year."

Yuyu blinked her big eyes, looking puzzled: "Is that so?"

Xiaoyu paused, "During the Lunar New Year, everyone wants to be comfortable at home. If the tavern is warm, customers will be willing to come. And if it snows and the roads are difficult to travel on, and customers stay at home, our tavern should be able to keep those who stay warm, right?"

Yuyu nodded.

At this time, Li Hao walked in from outside, with a cold air on his body.

He patted the snowflakes on his shoulders and said, "Mom, Yuyu, I just checked and saw that we have stored our own coal for the winter, and it is of good quality."

Xiaoyu smiled with relief: "Thank you for your hard work, Hao'er. Please pay more attention to it these days and don't let the coal get damp."

Cheng Chumo yelled, "It's so cold today! I'm freezing to death!"

Qin Huaidao smiled and said, "Are you discussing the New Year's celebration?"

Xiaoyu asked them to sit down and told them about their plans for stockpiling coal and celebrating the New Year.

Cheng Chumo clapped his thigh and said, "That's a good idea. We can prepare some special New Year's dishes and wine then!"

Qin Huaidao also nodded: "I also know some small games for the New Year. We can play them in the tavern and have some fun."