Butcher Zhang was a rough man, and his only way of disciplining his child was through beating.
Seeing his son crying and making a scene in the street, Butcher Zhang immediately kicked him.
After being kicked, the boy cried even louder, wailing as he shouted for straw sandals, drawing the attention of passersby.
Seeing his son behaving this way, Butcher Zhang became even angrier and raised his hand to slap the boy.
Liu Bei, standing nearby, quickly stepped forward to intervene and said:
"Brother Zhang, the child wants straw sandals. I'll give him a pair, so please don't hit him."
Saying this, he bent down, wiped the boy's tears, and asked:
"Little brother, the weather is very cold right now, and straw sandals aren't suitable. Why do you want to buy them?"
With tears in his eyes, the boy sobbed as he replied:
"I don't know why, I just really like straw sandals."
Liu Bei didn't know why either, but seeing the boy cry made him feel particularly distressed.
He turned around, took out his best pair of straw sandals, placed them in the boy's hands, and said gently:
"Little brother, don't cry anymore. I'll give you these straw sandals, okay?"
The boy looked at the sandals in his hands, broke into a smile through his tears, and said to Liu Bei with gratitude:
"Great! Thank you, big brother!"
Hearing the boy call him "big brother," Liu Bei's heart trembled. The way the boy said it felt so natural, as if they were truly brothers.
Liu Bei said nothing, only sighed, shouldered the unsold straw sandals, and walked into the cold wind.
The boy watched Liu Bei's departing figure and memorized his face deeply.
...
As Liu Bei trudged home against the cold wind, the banquet with Yuan Shu and the others was also coming to an end.
Everyone was quite drunk, even the usually refined Zhou Yi and the courteous Xun You had become uninhibited.
Cao Cao could barely stand,
Yet he still leaned on Zhou Yi's shoulder and slurred:
"Brother Zhou Yi, you… you're not keeping your word! Just now, you said you'd play the qin for me.
But now… now, you're not playing!"
Zhou Yi waved his hand, set down the guqin he carried on his back, took a large swig of Laughing at the Mortal World, and boldly said to Cao Cao:
"Brother Mengde, whatever song you want to hear, I shall play it for you!"
Cao Cao shook his head and said:
"I don't want to hear an old song… I want a new… new song. Can you play that?"
Zhou Yi confidently replied:
"As long as someone sings, I can follow along and play it on the qin."
Zhou Yi's musical skills were second only to Cai Yong's in Luoyang, and playing along to a song was an easy task for him.
Hearing this, Cao Cao turned to Yuan Shu and said:
"Gonglu, lately, many people say you… are a talented scholar!
Hahaha, besides being a wastrel, now you have a new title.
Do you dare to sing a song and collaborate with Brother Zhou Yi? Let me see what you've got!"
By this time, Yuan Shu was also thoroughly drunk. Looking at the lantern-lit city of Luoyang, he suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit.
He stepped forward, placed his foot on the railing of Drunken Immortal Tower, and shouted:
"Why wouldn't I dare?!"
Many citizens out for a night stroll were drawn by Yuan Shu's voice and looked up to watch his drunken state.
Cao Cao also took a big sip, shaking the "Xiao Hongchen" in his hand, and laughed at Yuan Shu.
"Gonglu, make up a song using 'Xiao Hongchen' as the theme.
If you can't come up with one, you're a big fool! Hahaha!"
Yuan Shu glanced at Cao Cao's drunken antics and sneered disdainfully before turning to Zhou Yi and asking:
"Junior brother, are you ready?"
Zhou Yi smiled. "I can start anytime."
Yuan Shu nodded, then shouted to the crowd below:
"I am Yuan Shu, Yuan Gonglu! You all recognize me, right?
The wine in my hand is called 'Xiao Hongchen'! You all know it, right?
Today is the Lantern Festival, and I'm in a great mood, so I'm treating everyone to some wine!
Now, I will sing a song here, and anyone who cheers for me can come to Drunken Immortal Tower and receive a bottle of Xiao Hongchen.
Only 100 bottles! First come, first served!"
As one of Luoyang's top celebrities, almost all the commoners recognized Yuan Shu, or at least had heard of his name.
Now, hearing that he was giving away Xiao Hongchen, a wine worth 200,000 coins per bottle, everyone gathered around.
If they managed to grab one, they could sell it for instant fortune!
Yuan Shu looked at the excited crowd below, appreciating the concert-like atmosphere, and nodded in satisfaction.
This was the proper level of prestige for someone like him to perform a song.
He took a bold swig of Xiao Hongchen and began singing:
"Life itself is just a play,
Why dwell on grudges and dismay?
Fame and fortune,
What are they?
You can't take them when you go away.
The world's uncertain, joys and sorrow sway,
If not this life, then another day.
Love and hate,
What do they say?
The boat will float when waters lay.
Wave your sleeves, don't look behind,
Drink and rejoice, it's the time!
Gold is fine, but hard to find,
I stride with ease down paths divine!
I laugh with pride, again and again,
Watching the world, untouched by time.
I laugh with pride, again and again,
Living my life, carefree and fine!"
At first, the crowd only stayed for the free wine.
But gradually, they were drawn in by Yuan Shu's bold lyrics and Zhou Yi's elegant melody.
Zhou Yi, affected by Yuan Shu's passion, played his guqin with extraordinary skill.
At this moment, the system suddenly alerted:
"Ding! Zhou Yi now sees the host as a kindred spirit, greatly increasing his favorability!
Current favorability: 80 (Sworn Friendship)."
Yuan Shu was stunned—this was an unexpected surprise.
He had struggled to win over his junior brother for so long, yet one duet had suddenly raised their bond so much.
Cao Cao, who had been slumped over the table in a drunken haze, suddenly sobered up halfway after hearing Yuan Shu's song.
Muttering to himself, he said:
"Gold is fine, but hard to find? Yuan Gonglu, is this why you squander your wealth...
So this is what Xiao Hongchen truly means."
For the first time, Cao Cao felt like he couldn't see through Yuan Shu.
At first, he thought Yuan Shu was just a foolish spendthrift. He had no emotional attachment to him, only conspiring with Yuan Shao to swindle his money.
Later, he realized Yuan Shu wasn't stupid. The reason they could take his money wasn't because they were smarter but because Yuan Shu simply didn't mind.
But today, after hearing this song, he finally understood—money meant nothing to Yuan Shu.
As the song ended, the audience erupted into thunderous applause, with many shouting for Yuan Shu to sing again.
Yuan Shu waved his hand and said to the crowd:
"I'm tired. Not singing anymore.
You may come and collect the wine now!"
Hearing this, the crowd surged forward in a frenzy.
Yuan Shu shouted again, "No pushing! Line up to receive it! Anyone who doesn't line up loses their chance!"
Hearing his words, the people immediately quieted down.
Yuan Shu was very pleased with the result—this was the kind of respect a rich man deserved.
Being rich and willful didn't mean doing whatever you wanted, but rather, being able to refuse whatever you didn't want to do, and openly rejecting whatever you didn't like.
(Author's Note):
In the story, the song "Xiao Hongchen" is actually "Proud Laughter," written and composed by Xiao Chong, arranged by Liang Bojun and Xiao Chong, and sung by Li Lifeng. It's an old song.