As the music of the Sogdian Whirl of Yanshou Ward in Chang'an overturned the tavern's door curtains, Pei Hongxiu's abacus-bead cocktail shaker slammed onto the bar with a crash, the beads bouncing among the Persian glazed cups to form the character for "Marvel": "My lord! This Abacus Three Lives Drink has three layers—" The abacus beads leaped into the liquor, spelling out "Sweet," "Sour," and "Astringent." "First drink the sweetness like abacus-bead candy, then taste the sourness like Lady Pei's sideways glance, and finally the astringency like a Hu merchant's unpaid tears!"
Sogdian dancer Nazha's abacus-bead veil suddenly slipped, and the abacus beads bounced into the shape of the character for "Dance" amidst her hair—every single strand intertwined with abacus beads, falling into the formation of playing the pipa behind her back as she danced. A certain Hu merchant stared in utter astonishment, and the abacus beads instantly hopped onto his eagle-beak hat, embroidering blue crystal patterns that read "Show admission: ten guan," prompting Pei Hongxiu to slap her thigh and laugh heartily: "Rascal! Watching a beauty requires paying an abacus fee!"
Yuqing's exotic blessing pavilion drifted with the scent of frankincense, and abacus beads bounced into the shape of the character for "Mystic" atop the divination crystal ball: "This is the 'Abacus Tarot Deck'—" The abacus beads jumped into the Taoist child's palm, spelling out "Draw." "Draw the 'Abacus Reversed' card, and you mu…
Chapter 228