Chinese Literature

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prepared in mushroom juice and two bowls of old wine can last one for over two hours.... You should not have missed the chance to understand that joy!”

He closed his eyes and sighed wearily. He remembered the fine porcelain set of wine jug and cups he had at home. He also recalled the finely carved seals, books, the masterpieces of old calligraphy and paintings he owned. Then suddenly he thought how interesting the painters and engravers had been in his little town. Where were they now?

He sighed again. He felt the need to talk, so he told his friend of his family life and how his 18-year-old daughter had always stood by his table, bent over and taken a sip from his cup when he was drinking, while his wife would scold her smilingly, “Look at this imp!”

Old Pan listened to him very patiently, like a diligent student attending lessons in the classroom. Mr. Li realized that his remarks could not be of any interest to his friend, but he just had to say all these things. He felt there were a great many things pressing on his mind that he had to get rid of.

He was dizzy. Leaning his arms on the edge of table, he laid his head on them.

“Drunk?” his companion asked him. “Shall we go back to the school?”

He shook his head.

All the other customers had gone. The place had become very quiet, not like a restaurant at all. And obviously there were not many people in the street either, Only sometimes a swishing sound came from outside, difficult to tell whether it was the wind blowing or a car passing by.

Mr. Li suddenly raised his head and asked:

“Eh, Old Pan, where is your wife staying now? Is she with her family or with yours?”

“With mine. Why.?”

“That’s good. That’s good,” he muttered. “The most unpleasant people in the world are one’s in-laws. I have nothing against marriage, but parents-in-law. ... DI’m really afraid of them!’ At this point, he opened his eyes quite wide and continued: “If our town had not fallen into the hands of the Japanese, I would not have sent my wife to her. family, even if I’d had to beg for food! My wife’s family, her family .. . from her father down to her little nephew . . . all of them are despicable, hasty, mean and selfish! And how vulgar they are! None resembles a human being in any way!... And then she... she... in a letter

-- grumbles ... complains. ... She cannot get used to living with them again. ... She wants to come here. ... What am Ito do! If my wife and daughter come, what will they live on? What work can they do? If they don’t work, why should they come here? ... If I hadn’t thought I’'d do some work, I would not have come here, either.

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