Chapter 78: Washing Hands in a Golden Basin

"Retiring from the pugilistic world is not such a simple affair!"

Inside the tea house, an old man clad in a sheepskin coat, took a few puffs from his long-stemmed pipe, blowing smoke rings and shaking his head as he said, "This 'ceremony of washing hands in a golden basin' originally referred to a ritual that boatmen, who delivered grain to the Chang'an palace of the Han dynasty, performed at the shore of the Wei River after going ashore, signifying the completion of their tasks for the official family."

"The basin isn't actually made of gold but copper. Over time, the practice spread to various trades, and everyone adopted the custom."

The speaker was Old Donkey Head, a lifelong driver who had traveled far and wide and seen much. In his older years, he spent most of his time amongst the regulars of the Xianyang Tea House.