Sweet and Sour: Tales From China by Carol Kendall & Yao-Wen Li

A Rare Bargain

Two friends stopped for a drink at a wine shop that advertised its wares on two scrolls fastened to a wall:

Sweet new wine per catty: 1 copper
Best aged vinegar per catty: 2 coppers

They ordered the wine, but at the first swallow they choked and gasped and spat; tears ran down to their chins.

"Agh...!" cried one, sticking his tongue out and fanning it. "That's not wine! They've given us the vinegar by mistake!"

"Sssst!" said his friend, kicking his leg. "Not so loud, stupid one-- they'll charge us double!"

-Ching Dynasty (1644-1911)

Sweet and Sour: Tales From China by Carol Kendall & Yao-Wen Li

Tags: book excerpts Chinese Folklore China