Chapter 6: Dinner

In Sang Shen’s memory, Uncle was a cheerful man.

When he visited the countryside as a child, Uncle always had endless witty remarks to amuse the kids.

But now, at the dinner table, he seemed quiet.

“Dad, drinking today?”

Cousin broke the silence, nudging his arm.

“Rare occasion.”

He smiled.

“Uncle, something on your mind?”

“No, no.”

Uncle shook his head.

“Haha, just thinking what to say to you… Thought too much and forgot what to say.”

“Shen Shen, eat more.

This pork and lamb, we bought special for you.”

“Why say that?”

Uncle sounded a bit annoyed.

“It’s not like we can’t afford it usually.”

“I didn’t say we couldn’t.”

Auntie glanced at him.

“What’s with you?”

“Ahem… not specially bought. We eat this stuff anyway.”

Uncle paused, seeming caught in his words.

“We’re tired of it. Eat up, or it’s wasted.”

“Okay…”

“And your cousin.”

Auntie smiled.

“She’s just picking at rice, no veggies? Don’t be shy. You’re my distant niece, family. Treat this like home.”

“Yeah, eat up.”

Cousin Sang Rou shoveled rice into her mouth. A grain flew out, earning a side-eye from Uncle.

“How’s your health?”

Auntie fished for conversation.

“Pretty good, eating and sleeping fine, heh…”

Sang Shen grinned, putting some spicy potato strips in Yin Xing’s bowl.

“Bro, what’re you doing? With all this meat, you give her veggies? Braised pork, bass, lamb, or this braised beef’s good too.”

“No, no, I like this dish.”

“That’s you, not her.”

Sang Shen forced a laugh, covering up.

“She likes what I like.”

“Then she must love beef.”

Sang Rou piled five or six slices of braised beef into Yin Xing’s bowl. She added a golden fried chicken leg from a chipped plate.

Yin Xing lowered her head. She neither refused nor thanked, just took a small bite of beef.

Click.

Sang Shen couldn’t resist snapping a photo of the lavish spread. He caught Yin Xing eating delicately in the shot.

“What’s that?”

Sang Rou’s eyes widened.

“Oh, a phone.”

“A phone?”

“Yeah.”

“Looks like a glass block. It takes pictures?”

“It does.”

“Cool… City folks got fancy stuff.”

Sang Rou coughed.

“Lend it to me later.”

“Uh… it’s Yin Xing’s…”

“Hey, good sis, can I borrow your phone?”

Sang Rou raised her voice playfully.

“Ahem!”

Uncle smacked her back, unimpressed.

“Enough, acting like a kid! At your age, others are married with kids!”

“Dad, that’s what you really wanted to say, huh?”

“When you get married, I’ll finally relax.”

“Yeah, Rou Rou, a woman’s prime is short. Old maids get passed over.”

“Tch, why do I need someone to want me? Can’t a woman be independent? Do we have to rely on men?”

Yin Xing shoved her chair back with a scrape. Without a word, she covered her mouth and stumbled outside. At the door, everyone heard a retch and violent coughing.

“Oh, I’ll check on her!”

Sang Shen dropped his chopsticks and rushed out.

Sang Rou clicked her tongue.

“What’s up? Food poisoning?”

“Nonsense.”

Auntie frowned.

“I washed everything clean today.”

“I bet your talk was so gross it made her puke.”

Uncle half-joked, half-serious.

“No way!”

Uncle nodded, his smile fading.

“Hong Hua, these beans aren’t cooked through, are they?”

“I cooked them… maybe the heat was too low.”

“Take them away. Don’t send someone to the hospital.”

“Mom, beans gotta be fully cooked.”

“They should be fine…”

“It’s okay.”

Uncle kept Auntie from feeling bad.

“With so many dishes, rushing happens. You think minutes passed, but it’s barely one.”

“Yeah, they were crisp. Probably undercooked.”

Auntie nodded, hurrying the beans to the kitchen.

Water splashed by the outdoor sink. Through the blur, Sang Shen was likely wiping Yin Xing’s mouth and washing her face.

Soon, they returned to the table.

“Yin Xing’s been feeling off today…”

Sang Shen said sheepishly.

“No, no, probably the beans.”

Uncle waved it off.

“Uh…”

Sang Shen hesitated, then went along.

“Could be.”

“Eat the rest. The meat’s definitely cooked.”

Sang Rou livened things up, nudging Uncle’s arm.

“Dad, why’re you so quiet? Eating and drinking beer without a word?”

“Got things on my mind.”

“Don’t think. Chat about something. Like, our cousin looks kinda frail?”

“Yeah.”

Sang Shen improvised.

“Her parents died from poor health. She’s been weak since childhood. Family trait, heart condition.”

“Oh, gotta be careful then.”

“Bro, you managing okay on your own?”

“I’m trying.”

“If she’s not eating well, she might end up in the hospital. Don’t let her waste away.”

“Talking like she’s a pet.”

Uncle glared.

“Stop spouting nonsense. It’s not that easy to die. Just needs better nutrition. Take two cases of milk home. We don’t drink it much here.”

“Nah, Dad, that milk’s knockoff. One’s called Guang Yue, the other Yi He. Don’t make her sick.”

“Well… we’ve got a can of formula. Your cousin sent it. That’s fine.”

“Leftover from her kid’s weaning? Yeah, that should work!”

The talk was mundane, domestic. But it warmed the table’s mood.

The chatter kept going, giving the dinner a cozy feel.

“Oh, the village chief talked to me yesterday. It’s doable, just a bit tricky.”

“Tricky?”

Auntie frowned.

“No worries, I’ll handle it.”

Uncle cut her off.

“The village issues the proof, I take your household papers and IDs to the county.
It’ll be done. You won’t need to go. Just need a few one-inch photos later.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll…”

“No rush. Give them to me when the proof’s ready. I’ll pick it up.”

Uncle looked at Yin Xing, who’d set her chopsticks down.

“Yin Xing, full? Don’t be shy. Treat this like home.”

“…Yeah.”

“She doesn’t eat much.”

“No wonder she’s so thin.”

Cousin clipped a piece of lamb into her bowl.

“Eat more, or you won’t grow. You’re still developing!”

“Yeah, Yin Xing, eat up.”

Auntie nodded.

“She’s full when she says so. Her appetite’s small, like mine… ha, haha…”

Sang Shen laughed awkwardly, taking the lamb from her bowl.

“I’ll eat it for her.”

“Don’t steal your sister’s food!”

Sang Rou teased, tapping his fingers with her chopsticks.

“Put it back, let her eat!”

“No, she really can’t. No appetite lately. It’d go to waste.”

Yin Xing nodded lightly, saying nothing.

“Rou Rou, don’t force her to eat.”

Uncle smacked her back.

“Eat your own.”

“She looks like a breeze could knock her over.”

“It’s fine. She can’t finish, come back tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow’s not fresh.”

“We can’t finish today either.”

“…Why cook so much then?”

“Eat yours.”

Auntie cut her off.

“You talk the most at this table.”

“Tch! Living alone’s the best…”

Dinner ended amid scattered small talk.

Auntie cleared the dishes. Sang Rou, trying to slip away, was called back to help. Uncle alone saw Sang Shen off.

“Uncle, no need to walk me. It’s just a few steps.”

“No trouble. Full stomach, good for a stroll.”

“Uh…”

Sang Shen knew it was an excuse but nodded, scratching his head.

The three walked quietly. Yin Xing moved faster this time. Uncle and Sang Shen lagged behind.

They were just too slow.

Passing a few mixed-style houses, they reached a corner lined with rice fields. Sang Shen broke the silence.

“Uncle, cut back on drinking.”

“Haha, sure.”

Uncle agreed quicker than expected, throwing Sang Shen off. After a few seconds, he spoke again.

“Drink less, it’s better for you. Also, get a checkup when you can. Catch problems early. Many cancers are treatable if found soon.”

Uncle laughed, ruffling his hair.

“Why so worried about your old uncle?”

“You’re my uncle, aren’t you?”

“Alright, I’ll get checked.”

Uncle’s face wasn’t smiling much.

“Don’t regret it when it’s liver cancer.”

“…Yeah.”

Uncle sighed.

“Health’s first. Money can be earned again.”

Sang Shen said the obvious.

“Right.”

“Quit smoking too.”

“Haha, fine, saves money.”

“Yeah… and, Uncle, no need to make so much food for me.”

Sang Shen looked at the oiled paper package in his hand.

“With all that food, sending Cousin for pastries was too much. Look, it’s extra.”

“No big deal. Those are for your breakfast. Cook some porridge or soak them in hot water.”

Uncle glanced at Yin Xing, who’d slowed from tiredness.

“Dinner’s optional, but breakfast isn’t. Especially for Yin Xing. She’s frail, can’t skip meals.”

“Yeah, I’ll convince her… Uh, we’re almost there. We’ll go the rest ourselves.”

“Alright, I’m heading back.”

“Uncle, be careful on the road.”

“Haha, I could walk this path blind!”

“Still, watch out, don’t fall into the fields.”

Sang Shen teased.

“You’re not drunk, right?”

“That’s insulting!”

It was Uncle’s happiest, most relaxed line of the day.

Sang Shen chuckled, then sobered.

“Anyway, be careful.”

“Yeah, you two sleep early.”

“Okay.”

At the road’s junction, Sang Shen half-turned. He watched Uncle vanish into the dark.

Though the sky’s stars sparkled, bright enough to light every path.

Thinking this, he glanced up.

As if in sync, Yin Xing, silent the whole way, spoke softly.

“Stars… only want to light themselves.”

“Yeah, lighting the path ahead depends on us.”