Seventy-three drunken nights together

Looking at the sumptuous dishes laid out on the table, I couldn’t help but think how, when Granny Li was alive, even a few pieces of braised pork were a luxury for her. Now that she’s gone, no matter how lavish the feast, she can no longer taste it. How I wish Granny Li could have lived to see us return and fulfill our filial duty. But all of that is now in the past.

Unable to contain myself, I held my sister and wept bitterly. Instead, she patted my shoulder, comforting me, “Brother, there is fate in all things. It’s already a blessing that we managed to find each other again in this vast sea of people. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even know where to look for my childhood home.”

Our home had suddenly become lively, and the curious villagers couldn’t help but come over to see what was happening. Aunt Wang, upon seeing two elegant and beautiful women in my house, couldn’t help but ask, “Ah Feng, who are they? Are they your girlfriends?”

I thought of how Jin Yulian’s name was carved as ‘daughter-in-law Mo Lian’ on Granny Li’s tombstone—she could be considered my girlfriend. Nodding, I replied, “Aunt Wang, this is my girlfriend,” and gestured toward Jin Yulian.

Aunt Wang exclaimed in surprise, “Wow! Ah Feng, your girlfriend is really beautiful—and she looks wealthy, too. You’re something else.” Hearing me introduce her as my girlfriend, Jin Yulian felt a little shy and smiled, nodding to Aunt Wang in greeting.

Aunt Wang then looked at my sister and asked, “Ah Feng, and who is she? Is she a relative of yours?”

Thinking that Granny Li’s daughter had returned—a cause for celebration—I saw no reason to hide it. “Aunt Wang, you might not believe it, but she’s my sister, the daughter my mother lost thirty years ago.”

Aunt Wang was visibly astonished. “Who would have thought that Li Guihua’s daughter would return—and she looks like she’s done well for herself! It seems Li Guihua is watching over you from above.”

I nodded offhandedly, “Yes.” Aunt Wang wanted to ask more, but I brushed her off with a few casual remarks. In truth, I hoped she would leave soon. At that moment, I wanted only to be quietly together with my sister and Jin Yulian, without anyone else’s intrusion.

After all, I had suffered much at the hands of the villagers when I was young; apart from Aunt Wang, Ironhead Lin, and Fatty Wang’s families, I held little affection for the others.

Seeing I wasn’t much in the mood for conversation, Aunt Wang simply gave us a friendly farewell and left.

After finishing the memorial rites, we tidied up the table and sat down for dinner. Perhaps it was the mix of joy and sorrow weighing on us, but my sister, Jin Yulian, and I all felt the urge to drink. Glutinous rice wine—homemade and familiar—meant no need for restraint in our own home.

We poured drinks for one another, offering comfort as we drank. With wine easing our hearts, words came more freely. It was then that Jin Yulian, after downing a cup, could no longer keep things hidden. She confessed about how I had gone to prison in place of her brother.

When my sister learned that I had taken the blame and gone to jail for money to treat Granny Li’s illness, she hugged me, her voice choked with emotion. “Brother, you’ve suffered so much. Your sister understands your pain.” I replied sadly, “Sister, but even so, I couldn’t save our mother’s life.” She answered, “Brother, you can’t blame yourself. You did everything you could.”

With tears in her eyes, Jin Yulian said, “Sister Li, that was the worst mistake of my life. Can you forgive me?” My sister embraced her, comforting her, “Yulian, I understand, and I don’t blame you. On the contrary, I am grateful. When our mother needed her children most, you were there for her. You cared for her and took care of the funeral arrangements. Both Ah Feng and I are deeply grateful to you. And out of remorse, you’ve continued to help and care for Ah Feng, even willing to marry a man fresh out of prison. I understand the hardship and pain you’ve endured.”

Hearing this, Jin Yulian was overcome by her own sorrows and wept as well.

I wanted to comfort her, but as I recalled my own hardships, I simply drank several more cups. Only wine could numb the ache in our hearts. In the end, the three of us drank ourselves thoroughly drunk.

By then, night had fallen. Too drunk to drive back to the city, we kindled a fire to keep warm—winter nights in the countryside are colder than in the city. Exhaustion soon overcame us; after all, we had driven all day, and none of us had slept well the night before.

Seeing my sister and Jin Yulian both weary and tipsy, I noticed there was only one bed and a single quilt in the room. I said, “Sister, you and Yulian should take the bed.”

My sister replied, “Brother, what about you? Come, sleep with us.” Seeing my hesitation, she pulled me onto the bed, saying, “Don’t force yourself. There’s no one else here—just family.”

Since my sister and Jin Yulian had only taken off their outerwear and slept in their clothes, and I was thoroughly drunk and dizzy, I didn’t overthink it. I quickly took off my jacket and collapsed onto the bed.

The bed was small to begin with, and with the three of us squeezed together, it became even more cramped. But after drinking so much, we could have fallen asleep even in a muddy ditch. Soon, all three of us drifted off.

I slept straight through until after eight the next morning. Only then did we slowly wake. I realized, to my embarrassment, that I had been holding my sister all night, while Jin Yulian was holding onto me. Fortunately, since we’d all slept fully clothed, it wasn’t too awkward upon waking.

We got up and straightened our clothes. Suddenly, I noticed that the curtain at the window had been lifted at one corner. I hesitated; I could have sworn I’d drawn it shut the night before. Could someone have been spying on us?

I quickly opened the door to check outside. Just as I did, I heard a noise by the window. “Who’s there?” I called out. Opening the door, I caught a glimpse of a figure fleeing, soon disappearing into a nearby bamboo grove.

Having spent so little time in the village after leaving for school in the county, I no longer recognized all the villagers. Judging by the back alone, I couldn’t tell who had been spying.

Jin Yulian, slipping on her coat, came out and asked, “Who was that just now?” I shook my head. “I didn’t see clearly.” My sister followed, asking, “Ah Feng, what’s going on?” I replied, “Sister, someone was spying on us last night.”

Given that two beautiful, well-to-do women had unexpectedly arrived at our house, it was only natural that the villagers’ curiosity would be piqued and someone would come to sneak a look.

—End of Chapter.