Jing said.
Gu Jing gave master two bottles of wine. ‘Master keep these two bottles of wine for yourself to drink. I brought a carton of beer too. Later we can drink beer together.’
‘Little girl, are you scared I’ll drink too much and faint?’ master asked.
Gu Jing laughed. ‘I’m scared master will drink too much and master can’t tell the difference between sky and ground. Master you’re getting old, don’t turn into a corpse.’
‘Show me your moves!’ master said.
‘I’m not scared of you. I’ll show you my moves!’ Gu Jing said.
Zhen Lang heard master and Gu Jing’s loud commotion and he shook his head helplessly in the kitchen.
Gu Jing attacked master for a while. ‘Hey old man, how’s your old injury? It seems like you’re holding back.’
Master scoffed. ‘I’m going easy on you because you’re my pupil. I’m scared you’ll faint if I attack you using my real strength.’
Gu Jing retrieved her leg and she sat on the floor. ‘Old man, if your arm is in bad condition then come to the city with me. I’ll ask Mr Vet to find you two good specialists and I’ll pay for master’s treatments.’
‘Mr Vet?’ master asked.
‘Mr Vet is Zhen Lang. Back then master said he’s a pretty face but a black belly. Master’s right, back then he’s a black belly and now he’s still a black belly,’ Gu Jing said.
‘Back then you two were close. Now why are you gritting your teeth talking about him? But he’s a black belly. On the outside he looks easy to bully but he’s a dangerous bad person,’ master said.
Gu Jing opened the carton of beer. She passed a can of beer to master and she took out a can of beer for herself. ‘He’s not a complete black belly. At least he doesn’t pee on the streets, he’s not an alcoholic, he’s not a playboy, he’s not a gambler, he knows how to cook, he knows how to save money, he knows how to do housework, he’s a hard worker, he’s handsome-’
‘Little girl you know a lot about the little boy. The way you talk about him sounds like you’re choosing a husband,’ master said.
‘Of course I know him. I’ve seen him since he’s a little boy. I even know how many hair strands he has on his chest,’ Gu Jing said.
‘How many?’ master asked.
Gu Jing laughed. ‘Guess, if master guess the wrong number then you need to drink beer. Master, you can guess how many times you want.’
Gu Jing thought about Zhen Lang in his bathrobe and his chest looked more beautifully sculpted than a girl’s chest.
Gu Jing shook her head to get rid of her smile. She didn’t want to think about the hateful Zhen Lang.
Master scratched his head and he spoke loudly. ‘Little boy, how many hair strands do you have on your chest?’
Zhen Lang brought bowls of hot dishes to the dining room. ‘What do I get if I tell master how many strands of hair I have on my chest?’
Gu Jing’s hands trembled and she nearly dropped the can of beer in her hand. ‘Why are you here?’
‘Taste the dinner dishes and tell if it’s delicious,’ Zhen Lang said.
‘Did you add poison? First tell me why you’re here. Master is my teacher, master isn’t close to you,’ Gu Jing said.
Master drank a can of beer. ‘We’re close. Who says we’re not-’
‘In the past I used to wait for you while you trained. Master watched me grow up too. Of course we’re close,’ Zhen Lang said.
Zhen Lang exchanged a secret look with master whilst Gu Jing nodded her head and she ate dinner.
‘Mr Vet, help master find specialists for his old arm injury,’ Gu Jing said.
Master rotated his arms. ‘Master is healthy, it’s not necessary.’
Gu Jing and Zhen Lang raised their eyebrows and they stared at master’s arms.
Master picked up a pair of chopsticks, he ate dinner and he didn’t dare to refuse treatments for his old arm injury.
‘Where’s a good spot to sit?’ Zhen Lang asked.
Zhen Lang wiped food stains off the corner of Gu Jing’s mouth. She moved her face away from his hand, but his hand brushed her hot cheeks.
‘Mr Vet, you can choose to sit anywhere,’ Gu Jing said.
Gu Jing reasoned by the morning, Zhen Lang would be married so she wouldn’t need to put up with him anymore.
‘Ok, I’ll think about it,’ Zhen Lang said.
Zhen Lang cooked and cleaned the whole night. Whilst Gu Jing and master drank, ate, sang and laughed merrily.
Zhen Lang picked up the empty beer cans and he put them in the recycling bin. He saw Gu Jing and master rolled around on the floor and he sighed. He pulled Gu Jing off the floor. ‘Little girl, let’s go home.’
‘Um,’ Gu Jing said.
Gu Jing drank too much and she felt tipsy. She waved bye to master and she followed Zhen Lang home.
Zhen Lang held Gu Jing’s hand and he led her home. The moonlight lit the long road home.
‘How long has it been since we walked home together like this? More than ten years?’ Zhen Lang asked.
‘Since you sabotaged my chances to try out for the national team,’ Gu Jing said.
‘Don’t you mean since you secretly received my love letters from other girls and ate their gifts? Then you didn’t dare to face me, right?’ Zhen Lang asked.