Chapter 157: Wine Barrel Becomes a God
As it was almost time for dinner, the onlookers gradually dispersed.
Sister Yu called me outside and whispered, "Uncle Xiaolin is a drunkard. He drinks while teaching. Xiaolin's parents didn't want him to come. But according to local customs, the maternal uncle is the most senior, and the paternal uncle is the most senior. It would be unreasonable not to invite him. Wait a minute, take it easy. I can't persuade him."
After Sister Yu left, Xiao Lin pretended to go look for Sister Yu and came out, whispering, "My uncle can drink, you can drink moderately."
I once performed a magic trick with her that turned wine into water, and said with a smile, "If he can't drink it, I'll drink it for him." Xiaolin rolled her eyes at me.
Xiaolin's mother said, "Xiao Wan, it's time to eat."
There was a round table in the dining room. Xiaolin's parents sat at the top. Her uncle sat with me on the left. Principal Zhu of the village primary school sat with my brother-in-law on the right. Sister Yu and Shitou sat at the bottom. At the other table sat Xiaolin's seventh and eighth aunts and some children.
Her uncle read a few sentences, picked up the wine glass, and said, "On this occasion of the New Year, my brother and his wife have distinguished guests visiting us. It is truly a pleasure to have friends from afar. We have specially prepared vegetables and light wine. Please do not be picky, come and welcome us."
I clinked glasses with them seriously and drank it in one gulp.
The principal said, "Brother Tao's family is about to have a happy event. I would like to toast to you two first."
After Principal Zhu finished drinking, I raised my cup and said, "Uncle, aunt, Uncle Tao, Principal Zhu, Sister Yu, little brother, I offer a toast to everyone and wish you a happy new year."
After saying that, he finished it in one gulp.
Then my brother-in-law stood up and toasted.
I took the cup to another table to toast Xiaolin's aunts and uncles.
After all, it was New Year's, and casual conversation was not allowed at the table. So, the table really became just about drinking. Either you toasted him, or he toasted you.
Whoever's cup is empty, someone will fill it.
Uncle Xiaolin is a real drunkard. He clinked glasses with me. It was my first time visiting him, and it was during the Spring Festival, so I couldn't just say, "I can't do it anymore."
I forced myself to drink with him.
Principal Zhu said he could only drink so much and withdrew from the drinking. Xiaolin's father, out of politeness, only offered a token glass. Uncle Xiaolin was a heavy drinker, and he got upset when no one drank with him. Seeing that I could drink a little, he kept pouring me more.
My brother-in-law said, "Uncle Tao, Shanhong can only be used for three taels of white wine at most."
He actually said, "It's up to the host. It's just a glass of wine, isn't it?"
I really wanted to turn the wine in my glass into water, but that felt impolite. So I had to patiently accompany him. Principal Zhu said, "You guys drink, I'm done. Excuse me."
Xiaolin whispered a few words into her father's ear. Her father said to Uncle Xiaolin, "Xiao Wan's alcohol tolerance...don't try to persuade him."
His uncle refused to agree. He seemed to be a man who could handle a lot of alcohol, but he was determined to be tough. After finishing a bottle and a half and feeling a bit tipsy, he said to Xiaolin's father, "Let's get two bottles."
Xiaolin's father was a little embarrassed and said, "It's best to drink in moderation."
"Then don't ask me to be your guest."
Xiaolin's mother said, "Okay, go get it."
Xiao Lin said, "Uncle, you're a little tipsy, drink less."
"Where...drunk...drunk?"
At this point, everyone at both tables was really embarrassed. I winked at Xiaolin and said, "Uncle can drink, so I'll drink with him. You can get two big cups."
Xiao Lin knew I had the technique, so she went to get the cup. Her parents were so frightened that their faces turned pale: "Xiao Wan, don't drink anymore, her uncle..."
Xiaolin took the glass. Her parents stared at her, and she winked. Her parents were still a little worried. I took the wine, opened the bottle, poured a glass, and drank it in one gulp.
He filled another glass and drank it in one gulp. He showed the empty bottle and said, "Uncle Tao, I'll drink the whole bottle first as a token of my respect. If you're ready, I'll pour you some more."
Aside from Xiaolin and my brother-in-law, everyone else was stunned. Uncle Tao watched me finish the bottle without changing his expression or heartbeat. He stared at me with wide eyes.
I smiled and said, "If you can't finish this cup, I'll drink two-thirds for you."
Uncle Tao waved his hand: "Forget it, forget it. You drink like water, a real drinker. I'll have dinner with you."
Inside and outside the house, people who had already finished eating were talking behind my back, wondering how I could drink so much. After the meal, Uncle Xiaolin patted me on the shoulder and said, "Xiao Wan, not bad. You're a well-traveled person."
After saying this, he couldn't hold back any longer and said he'd leave me alone. He went home and found a bed to sleep in. Principal Zhu was left to stay with me. The principal was a smart man. He ordered someone to bring me a cup of strong tea, which I drank, and then offered to walk with me outside to get some fresh air.
The fortune teller was a drunkard, and the news spread quickly. Those who had originally gone to Xiaolin's house to watch the fun all flocked to Xiaolin's house again.
Principal Zhu took me to look here and there, and told me that this was originally a wealthy man's compound and told me the history of the wealthy family.
He couldn't believe that I seemed to know this courtyard better than he did. I was particularly fond of its window grilles, rambling on and on about everything from dragon patterns to bamboo, peony, and Ganoderma lucidum patterns.
Principal Zhu was amazed and said that the carving art in this courtyard was a culmination of dragon patterns, bamboo patterns, and Ganoderma lucidum patterns, and it was complete and detailed.
That group of curious people surrounded me, glancing at my face from time to time. They wanted to know how Xiaolin fell in love with this wine barrel.
The people watching over the wine barrels saw that I was calm and could actually have a normal conversation with the principal, so they followed me in a group, wanting to hear my "drunk talk."
I asked, "How many descendants are there in this courtyard?"
Principal Zhu said, "Three."
I looked at the century-old gable wall, clasped my hands and observed: "If he had three sons, the eldest son's family would be poor and only have daughters. The second son's family would be better off, and the third son's family would be even more prosperous."
Principal Zhu was stunned and looked at me: "You know this too?"
I smiled faintly: "The rich man should die a violent death."
Principal Zhu looked me up and down and said, "Mr. Wan, I admire you from the bottom of my heart for saying that. And besides me, no one else knows about this."
"Are you his descendant?"
Principal Zhu nodded.
I hurriedly bowed and said, "I'm sorry, I offended you."
He smiled and said, "That's all in the past. I'm the descendant of his second son."
The audience members who followed me ran up to me one by one to look directly at the barrel. How come this barrel not only didn't get drunk, but even impressed the principal? The principal was the most prestigious person here. No matter who had a distinguished guest, they always asked the principal to accompany them.
Principal Zhu asked, "How did you know that?"
I pointed at the stonework on the main entrance and said, "It must have cracked about a third of the way there, not long after it was installed. But it didn't affect its bearing capacity. Plus, given the conditions at the time, it was difficult to carve a new one, so we had to make do with it. The first third of the stonework is a little weaker, while the last two-thirds is stronger."
Principal Zhu clasped his hands together and said, "Mr. Wan, Xiaolin made the right decision to follow you. You will have endless money in the future."
"You're too kind."
The eyes of the group of people watching the barrels gradually changed. It was as if I had suddenly become a god. They glanced at me from time to time, trying to draw some divine look from my face.
At about two o'clock, we said goodbye.
Many people stood in the square to see me off. The principal, in particular, shook my hand and said, "Xiao Wan, you are well-educated and well-spoken. Come often."
Diagonally, the boy named Shitou rushed out from the crowd and came to hold my hand again.
I suddenly realized that he was mute. My heart ached, and I held his hand tightly and said to him, "Brother, I will come to see you next time."
He nodded.
I bent down, kissed his face and waved to him.
The car drove more than a hundred meters, and the Kobayashi family and the principal were still there waving.
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