The Tale Never Ends Chapter 172 The In-Laws

Chongxi's mention of G.o.dmother had inadvertently grazed the surface of Father's stack of former dalliances, and as if the timing could not be worst, Father must have wandered out of the kitchens to take a brief cigarette respite from his cooking and that was when he heard Chongxi saying, "You can too, if you have a G.o.dmother who can save you!"

"Heh heh heh, Uncle Hai," Chongxi giggled as he rubbed his head and said, "Surely your heroics in your heydays have won you scores of many admirers..." Only to have his head banged again. The rest of the table, Xiao Yu included, were snickering quietly, although there was an unmistakable hint of concern in her eyes. She was a more introverted girl, a stark contrast from Yuanyuan, whose temperament was colloquially labeled as a "blabbermouth."

Our banter managed to survive until six in the evening, when Uncle Quan reached my new home in his car with Old Men Xie and Chen in tow. Lin Feng came back after leaving earlier, bringing Yuanyuan's parents with him, and lastly, Xiao Yu's mother arrived with her sister Xiao Xue.

The dinner commenced at seven sharp, with everyone seated around a large round table laden full with a spread of delectable dishes and delicacies never before seen by us (except Uncle Quan, maybe). Father chuckled as he came out of the kitchen, carrying a well-kept keg of liquor Father must have saved only for the special occasion. Something told me that these private stores could well be antiquated brews that Father had been h.o.a.rding since Heaven knew when! He tore the seal off the top, saying, "Well, let's have something good tonight! Tis a season to be jolly!" The aroma of the liquor wafted out of the keg and filled the whole dining hall with the wooden sweetness of the beverage that we could almost taste it. The blind Old Man Chen smacked his lips and chuckled in his usual, vile fas.h.i.+on. But he immediately remembered that of all days, there could be no crude and boorish misdemeanors from him, and immediately restrained himself. Sitting not far away, Chongxi, Lin Feng, and I traded amused looks.

Father drained his gla.s.s, gulping liquor down his throat and he got up, beaming brilliantly at everyone. "On occasion of the New Year, I want this to also be a chance for everyone to meet. Our young ones have reached the age where it is time for us parents to decide on their future!" He elbowed Uncle Quan who, was clearly an inexperienced rookie in matters such as this, got up quickly with his wife and they raised their gla.s.ses to Yuanyuan's father and mother.

Yuanyuan's parents, who were equally greenhorns too in the matters of conjugal arrangements, hurried to their feet as well. The two couples looked at each other awkwardly and a strange silence lulled between them. It was a strange scene for me since I have always been accustomed to seeing Uncle Quan's boisterous and proud outlook. It was the first time I saw him so fl.u.s.tered, an amusing side of him. But Aunt Quan was quick to the take, taking the initiative to speak first. "It might be a tad too early to address each other as in-laws, I think. Although that time would not be far ahead now, since our young ones have been together for so long. I must apologize for any discourtesy and effrontery!" "No, no! I must apologize for our Yuanyuan too if you have found her wanting. Hahaha!" Yuanyuan's father raised his gla.s.s and toasted to the health of their two families.

An infinite number of thoughts must be swirling in their minds now, I mused; both the parents of Lin Feng and Yuanyuan were too anxious and embarra.s.sed that they were beginning to spew nonsense! Lin Feng and Yuanyuan, on the other hand, were together, blus.h.i.+ng so madly that they could hardly utter a word, developing a certain interest in their shoes. Finally, they could take no more and they got up, saying, "All right, Father and Mother! Just drink!" They lifted his gla.s.s and downed it. Seeing this, with jittery smiles on their faces, everyone gulped down their drinks as well. Then Uncle Quan and Yuanyuan's father each took out a red packet, as per our local customs, and gave them to both Yuanyuan and Lin Feng respectively.

Old Man Chen was also aware of this tradition, but as a blind man, he could hardly see anything, let alone searching for a red packet and filling it with a respectable sum of money. His face burned tensely as he grew worried. Then I saw Father slipping a large, stuffed red packet into his hand. "All right, Old Chen. It's your turn now, with Lin Feng's case settled. It's now Chongxi and his girlfriend's! Come on, say something!"

Old Man Chen fumbled with his gla.s.s and struggled against his anxiety to get up, his face still red wildly. He was about to let his reflex to get the better of him by emitting his trademark wicked chuckle when he realized he should not! But he was able to adroitly change it into a gentle giggle I had never thought possible! Somehow, he managed to make himself look more sensible and decent! He raised a gla.s.s into the air, saying, "My boy Chongxi. He has been with me since he was a baby. For so long he has endured many hards.h.i.+ps with me. But you're a big boy now, my son. And you now carry everything I could have taught you. Although this boy might look ordinary and simple, but his skills are the real deal! By my fame as the Blind Master I..." He began to realize he was turning back to his usual self and he quickly controlled himself and altered, "Errr... Well, our children have reached the age of adulthood..." He broke in the end, embarra.s.sed to the point of being unable to speak. "Time to unleash your sharp tongue, Old Man Chen! This of all time it must work!" I observed with amus.e.m.e.nt.

But I was wrong; Old Man Chen faltered and silence took him as he craned down, overwhelmed by the pouring emotions of nostalgia. The blind old man instead threw back his head and gulped down a mouthful of liquor, feeling its heat coursing down his throat. But Xiao Yu's mother, a career woman who had single-handedly saved her family from ruin, quickly caught the gist of what Old Man Chen was trying to say and finished it for him. "Of course, you cannot be more right, Old Master Chen. The kids are big now and it's time for them to spread their own wings. Please don't feel sorry for them. The greatest legacy you can give, and have given him, is the legacy of your character and faith. Therefore, I'm sure you have educated and nurtured Chongxi well. He's an honest person and it is all thanks to you."

Old Man Chen said nothing. He merely sank back into his seat and smiled dryly, but not before he remembered about the red packet. He pulled it out of his pocket and held it into the air, saying, "Take this, girl. I'm afraid Chongxi can be a fool sometimes, so he'll be depending on you." That won some laughter from everyone around the table. Chongxi was smiling too, although his grin was laced with pain. He knew best of all how difficult it was for Old Man Chen to speak in such manner and how reluctant he felt as if he was giving his own son away. But it was partly true; they had been through thick and thin together for so long and this could be the end to their time together, even though this was hardly an engagement dinner or a wedding. But it would not be far before they tie the knot, and for Old Man Chen, his surrogate son would be starting a family of his own soon. Still, the Blind Master was happy for his prized protege.

Realizing that the atmosphere around the table was diminis.h.i.+ng, Father stood up and raised his gla.s.s again. "Well, finally, for my son and Ala." He beamed at us. "Your future will be b.u.mpy, Son. But these are mere growing pains you'd have to endure nonetheless. But I'm happy you are able to affirm your love for each other through tribulations, Ala. And as a father, there is no more that I can ask." Father and Mother emptied their gla.s.s and handed Edelweiss a red packet. But I noticed a trace of sadness in her smile, and that could only be her longing for Aunt Ulan, who should have been here today. But everyone had deftly avoided mentioning her.

The dinner went on cheerfully, although I did not realize that the time that Old Man Chen had unspoken concerns of his own. It must be a secret shared between Father, Mother and him, although this matter would return later to plague us.

The day of Chinese New Year was abundant with friends and guests coming to visit. It was only on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year when we could finally take a long-welcomed breather. We booked a flight and Edelweiss and I went to Inner Mongolia to visit Aunt Ulan and G.o.dmother. It had seemed only yesterday when we left, but I know that it was like an eternity for Edelweiss.

We were first noticed by one of the girls manning the guard post at the gates of Aunt Ulan's campsite. She dashed inside, screaming at the top of her voice exuberantly, "The Young Master is home! The Young Master is home!" I grinned at Edelweiss and we trotted inside. Aunt Ulan and G.o.dmother hurried out of their cabins and were beaming widely when they saw us. I smiled and paid my New Year's respects to them, while Edelweiss was hugging Aunt Ulan tightly, sobbing profusely like a newly-wedded maid on her first visit home.

Life was carefree and simple here in the prairie, unlike the wanton suffocation of the hectic monstrosity called city life. And with most of the girls here Amazonian plunderers and marauders, dissimilar to the fragile and delicate behavior of city girls, no one was perturbed by my lone male presence here. But I was rather surprised to find Aunt Ulan looking younger and more youthful than before, which could only be attributed to G.o.dmother's cosmetic genius. "Oh, Heavens! Look at my Aunt Ulan and G.o.dmother! You look so young and gorgeous! Heh heh heh!" I complimented at once, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of both my foster mothers who giggled while pointing at me.

Unexpectedly, I went to bed badly drunk that night. Between the one hundred more girls of Aunt Ulan's camp and the ten more young fox demons who had followed G.o.dmother here, I had to gulp down gla.s.s after gla.s.s of liquor as every one of them came to me for a toast with the newly-wedded Young Master. Perhaps only Father, with his mysterious way to remain sober, could weather this torrent of overflowing liquor.

The sun was bright up in the sky when I finally woke up to a heavy hangover. It was already noon when I peered at the time displayed on my phone. I rubbed my hair, still feeling groggy, and had a late breakfast before I went to see Aunt Ulan and G.o.dmother, indicating to them my intent to visit the Labyrinthian Canyon.