Kung Ichi

By Hsun, Lu

Book Id: WPLBN0000631365
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.4 MB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	Kung Ichi
Author:	Hsun, Lu
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Literature, Literature & thought, Writing.
Collections:	Classic Literature Collection, Blackmask Online Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Blackmask Online


Citation APA MLA Chicago Hsun, B. L. (n.d.). Kung Ichi. Retrieved from https://self.gutenberg.org/

Description
Excerpt: THE wine shops in Luchen are not like those in other parts of China. They all have a right?angled counter facing the street, where hot water is kept ready for warming wine. When men come off work at midday and in the evening they buy a bowl of wine; it cost four coppers twenty years ago, but now it costs ten. Standing beside the counter, they drink it warm, and relax. Another copper will buy a plate of salted bamboo shoots or peas flavoured with aniseed, to go with the wine; while for a dozen coppers you can buy a meat dish. But most of these customers belong to the short?coated class, few of whom can afford this. Only those in long gowns enter the adjacent room to order wine and dishes, and sit and drink at leisure. At the age of twelve I started work as a waiter in Prosperity Tavern, at the entrance to the town. The tavern keeper said I looked too foolish to serve the long?gowned customers, so I was given work in the outer room. Although the short?coated customers there were more easily pleased, there were quite a few trouble?makers among them too. They would insist on watching with their own eyes as the yellow wine was ladled from the keg, looking to see if there were any water at the bottom of the wine pot, and inspecting for themselves the immersion of the pot in hot water. Under such keen scrutiny, it was very difficult to dilute the wine. So after a few days my employer decided I was not suited for this work. Fortunately I had been recommended by someone influential, so he could not dismiss me, and I was transferred to the dull work of warming wine.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents: KUNG I?CHI, 1 -- Lu Hsun, 1