Chinese Merry Tales (1909)/8
Chapter VIII.—Tea or Bath. (留茶.)
WHEN a visitor calls, the host should of course prepare tea to entertain the guest. One day a visitor came. The host did not have any tea leaves. He told a young servant to borrow some from a neighbor. Having gone for half a day, he did not return. As the pot was boiling, water was added from time to time, until the pot was full of water. The tea was, after all, not ready. His wife called him aside and said: "The visitor is not likely to get any tea to-day; you had better ask him to stay and take a bath."