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.
