The spring cold was sharp, and Old Man Wu, wrapped in a cotton coat, sat on the ashen wooden chair gasping for breath. The alcohol-flag fluttered high in the chilly wind like a mudfish dancing weakly for a moment before hanging limp.
"There should be good business today."
In Yue Country, located in the south where the climate is warm and humid, snow in winter is a rarity. Last year's heavy snow was even more unusual; it had compressed the entire ancient Lidao Road, making it impassable for horses and carts. Old Man Wu had only received three groups of guests all winter, but now that spring had arrived and the snow had melted, with a bit of cold still lingering, it was an excellent time for a drink.
Old Man Wu leaned back lazily in his wooden chair, scratching his back. The dilapidated chair creaked a chorus of complaints underneath him. Squinting his eyes, he peered through the window to see a cloud of yellow dust rising from the road in the distance.
