Jia Pingwa - Ruined City

“I’ve learned my lesson after what Zhidie has been through.”

“Perfect!” Ruan clapped. “Perfect. I’ll drink to that.”

They cheered again, and everyone drank a toast.

“Stop talking about lovers,” Niu Yueqing said. “I can’t stand that word; it sounds more like a prostitute to me.”

She had thrown cold water on the party, and no one knew what to say now. Wang Ximian finally said, “Fill the glasses. We’re here to congratulate Zhidie on winning the case, so I suggest we each toast him.”

Instead of picking up his glass, Ruan reached for some food with his chopsticks. “Don’t drink too much in the morning, since you need to work; drink your fill at noon because you have to attend a standing committee meeting; drink less at night because you have to go home and face your wife.”

Everyone laughed.

“Did you get that from that junkman?” Wang asked. “What standing committee meeting do you have to attend? And today isn’t Saturday, so why would you be facing your wife? Fill up his glass, Liu Yue.”

“I’ll drink it up. I will,” Ruan said. “Down the hatch. You down the glass when the feeling is deep, you lick the glass when it’s not.”

Ruan clinked glasses with Zhuang and then downed the contents.

“Let’s not copy his uncivilized way of drinking,” Wang said.

The others clinked glasses with Zhuang and drank. When Niu Yueqing came out with the food, Meng Yunfang gave her a glass so she could toast with the others. Zhou Min clinked his glass with hers twice, saying it was for Wan’er’s sake.

“Let Liu Yue toast Zhuang Laoshi,” Niu Yueqing said, which she did.

Zhuang thanked everyone when he saw that they had emptied their glasses. He raised his, but his hand shook so much he had trouble bringing it down to drink. When he finally did, he tossed down the contents and teared up, causing the room to fall silent. Zhou Min went over and rested his hand on him. “Did the liquor go down too fast?”

Zhuang’s lips quivered. He sniffled loudly, eventually choking up.

“He’s moved,” Niu Yueqing added. “That’s how he is. He cries when he’s sad, but he also cries when he’s happy. The case dragged on for so long, and so much happened during the process, that now that it’s over, he’s worked up to see you all here.” She turned to Zhuang. “Why don’t you go rest? Come back and have a drink with us after you calm down.”

“I’ll do that. I’m sorry, everyone. Enjoy yourselves.” He went into their bedroom.

Wang’s wife followed him in and asked softly, “What’s bothering you, Zhidie?” He shook his head. “You can’t hide it from me. You shouldn’t have that look on your face now that you’ve won the case. I noticed it the moment I came in,” she persisted.

“No more questions, please,” Zhuang said. “Go on out there with the others. I’ll be fine once I rest up.” She was about to sit on the edge of the bed to talk to him when Niu Yueqing came in.

“Zhidie has lost weight, so I’m afraid it’s up to you to make him feel better,” Wang’s wife said. “After Gong Jingyuan’s death, we all understand how fragile life is, so it’s more important than ever for us to take care of ourselves.”

“That’s what everyone says,” Niu Yueqing said, “and I feel the pressure. He belongs to everyone now, and I’m just his keeper. I’d have trouble explaining myself if his health suffered, but does he listen to me? He knows he’s in poor health, but he’s so willful that no matter what he does, he doesn’t know when to stop. It would be a miracle if he didn’t lose weight.”

“Men are all like that,” Wang’s wife said.

With his head down, Zhuang silently filled his pipe. Niu Yueqing snatched it away and put it on the bedside table. “Look at him. He’s smoking again. I keep telling him not to smoke so much, but he won’t listen to me. Now he’s even smoking a pipe.”

“What are you doing in there, Yueqing?” Meng shouted from the living room. “Both hosts have left the table before their guests. Afraid we’ll drink all your liquor?”

“I’ll be right there,” she said. “And I’ll get you good and drunk.” She took Wang’s wife out with her.

They all drank another round as firecrackers exploded again downstairs, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. “Who could that be?” Niu Yueqing wondered aloud. “Go greet them, Liu Yue.”

The girl went out, but returned quickly. “Dajie, it’s—”

“Who is it?” Niu Yueqing asked.

“It’s — you know,” Liu Yue said as she went to her room.

“Anyone who comes is a guest, so why are you acting like that?” Niu Yueqing looked up to see a refrigerator being carried in, followed by more people bringing in more things: a TV set, a washing machine, a stereo system, an air-conditioner, a toaster oven, four blankets, two pillows, vacuum water bottles, washbasins, mirrors, rinsing cups, toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, a porcelain bowl, and a pair of chopsticks. After putting down their loads, the newcomers went out into the hallway, since there was no place for them to sit. The last to enter was Dazheng, whose appearance elicited a cry from Niu Yueqing.

“Ai-ya! It’s you, Dazheng. Why didn’t you call first? We’d have gone down to meet you at the gate.”

“My mother told me to have these dowry items delivered. There are also two large modular cabinets, sofas, and loveseats, but they’re too bulky to move, so we put them in the new place. You have a lot of guests today.”

“Zhidie, come out here!” Niu Yueqing shouted. “Come see who’s here!”

Zhuang was pleasantly surprised when he came out of the bedroom. After inviting Dazheng to have a seat, he asked the men in the hallway to come in.

“No need for that,” Dazheng said. “I’ll send them home.” They waved and walked off, but Zhuang caught up with them and passed out cigarettes.

When he came back inside, he said to his friends, “Do you know who this is? It’s Dazheng, our mayor’s son and Liu Yue’s future husband.”

Supporting himself on the sofa back, Dazheng stood up, smiled, and took out a pack of cigarettes. He tore it open and passed them around. He was grinning. Everyone had heard about the engagement between the mayor’s son and Liu Yue, and that had made them envious of the girl’s good fortune. Now, after seeing what he was like, they entertained their own thoughts about the pair; they stood up to accept the cigarettes. He was invited to sit with them amid a cacophony of “Pleased to meet you,” “Congratulations on your engagement to a beauty.” Someone even mentioned the mayor’s accomplishments and asked Dazheng to pass on their regards. Business cards were offered.

“You’re all Xijing celebrities,” Dazheng said as he read the cards.

“Stop that celebrities nonsense,” Meng said. “Have a drink. I’ve been looking for someone to play finger-guessing games with. Now I can do that with the bridegroom.”

“Are you drunk on coconut juice?” Niu Yueqing said. “They’re not married yet, so he’s not a bridegroom. Raise your glasses, everyone, and toast the mayor. Dazheng, you are your father’s surrogate. Pick up your glass. Make yourself at home. Liu Yue, where are you? Why are you acting so shy?”

Liu Yue came out of her room in a new outfit. “You go ahead and drink,” she said bashfully. “I can’t hold my liquor.”

“At least you’ll have to toast him.”

“I thought she’d disappeared,” Meng said. “Turns out she went in to put on makeup. Like they say, a woman makes herself up for the one she loves.” They all laughed.

Dazheng raised his glass to toast Liu Yue, who clinked hers with his and ran into the kitchen.