Chapter 27: To Live, One Must Live Resoundingly

At noon, Chen Xuewen went out to buy some groceries, and Wu Lihong took to the kitchen, preparing a table full of dishes.

Li Eryong sat at the table, gazing at the spread in amazement. "Wow, I never would have guessed! Sister Hong, you’ve got some real skill in the kitchen."

Chen Xuewen also cast a look of surprise at Wu Lihong. He hadn't expected that this woman, whom he had always thought of as a tough, rebellious girl, would possess such culinary talents. The dishes were a feast for the eyes and the palate, rivaling the home-cooked meals of his own mother.

Wu Lihong gave a proud smile. "Hmph, I’ve been cooking since I was eight years old. Back then, I was the one who fed the whole family."

"Eight years old?" Chen Xuewen asked, startled. "Your parents were really comfortable letting you do all that work?"

At the mention of this, Wu Lihong’s expression grew uncomfortable, and her eyes reddened slightly.

A thought suddenly occurred to Chen Xuewen. He recalled that during their school days, Wu Lihong’s parents had never once shown up at school. Whether it was for parent-teacher conferences or later, when she was called in for truancy or fighting, it was always her elderly grandmother who arrived. He hadn't dwelled on it much before, but now, it suddenly struck him that Wu Lihong’s family background might not have been very good.

"Alright, I’m starving," Li Eryong said, breaking the tension. "Let’s dig in!" He picked up his chopsticks and began to devour the food. The three of them had barely eaten since the previous night and were famished.

Watching the two men eat, a soft smile appeared on Wu Lihong’s face.

She turned and headed into the kitchen, returning with two bottles of liquor. "To celebrate Wenzi’s new lease on life—come on, let’s drink until we drop today!" she said with a laugh.

Li Eryong immediately grabbed a glass, but Chen Xuewen stopped him. "You two go ahead; I’ll pass."

"Don't be like that," Li Eryong urged. "It’s such a happy day, you have to drink!"

Chen Xuewen waved his hand. "The last time I drank, it led to my family being destroyed. From now on, I’m done."

Li Eryong and Wu Lihong exchanged a look and quietly set their glasses down, their expressions somber. The tragedy of Chen Xuewen’s parents would undoubtedly remain a lifelong wound in his heart.

Neither of them drank. After the meal, Wu Lihong briskly began to clear the dishes. Li Eryong pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Chen Xuewen. "Want one? A smoke after a meal is better than being an immortal."

Chen Xuewen smiled and shook his head. "When I was in prison, someone told me: if you want to become a person of true stature, don't touch anything that can get you hooked. Only by mastering one's own desires can a person go further and stand higher than the rest."

Li Eryong, cigarette dangling from his lips, looked at Chen Xuewen in confusion. "Wenzi, where did you pick up such grand philosophies? It’s just a cigarette—is it really that serious?"

Chen Xuewen offered a faint smile and said nothing more.

Li Eryong took a few puffs, then ground the cigarette butt into the floor. "So, what’s the plan now?"

"If this whole mess hadn't happened," Chen Xuewen said softly, "I would be at university in another city right now."

Li Eryong spat on the ground. "Damn it, that dog Zhou Hao has ruined so many lives. Why don't you go back to school? You’re only nineteen; you still have a chance."

Chen Xuewen shook his head. "Forget it. After half a year in prison and everything that’s happened since, I can’t go back." He let out a bitter laugh. "My parents lived honest, humble lives, yet they were bullied for as long as I can remember. Their greatest wish was for me to make something of myself. Since I’m the one who survived, I have to fulfill that wish. As long as I’m alive, I’m going to live with fire and purpose."

Li Eryong looked at him and grinned. "Wenzi, you really are like a different person after this stint in jail. You never used to talk like that."