At the beginning of the month, when the moon rose and the wind was cool, there was a scent of wine in my sister-in-law's house. This is strange because I remember that Bai Xinghua doesn't seem to drink alcohol. How could there be a smell of wine in her house?
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, I'm here." I pushed open the door and found that the hall was lit up with lights. Even lanterns were hung on both sides of the door. The scene seemed like it was celebrating some festival.
"YiHeng?" Hearing my voice, Bai Xinghua walked out of the room somewhat flustered. When she saw me, she couldn't help but ask: "Why are you here? It's not weekend today."
"I have something to do and came back early."
Bai Xinghua blushed and wore a light white dress with a floral headband wrapped around her head. Her overall appearance was charming and attractive which made me feel intoxicated for a moment.
"What can you have?" Bai Xinghua smiled at me and waved her hand: "Come on, let's eat together."
"Sister-in-law, did you drink alcohol?" As we walked inside together, I asked.
"Yes ah," said Bai Xinghua as she walked inside while saying to me: "Today is April 8th which is our Miao people's festival."
"What kind of festival requires drinking alcohol?" I curiously asked.
"Wudu Festival," said Bai Xinghua smilingly as she invited me to sit down at the table before bringing out an earthenware jug filled with orange-black colored liquor from which she poured me a bowlful saying: "This is Wudu liquor; try some too since it's good for your health."
"Wudu?" Looking into my cup where there were obvious dregs floating about including what appeared to be centipede legs, I asked: "As far as I know, Wudu should refer to scorpions, snakes, geckos, centipedes and toads. Actually we Han people also have a festival related to the Five Poisons which is the Dragon Boat Festival. During that time we usually drink realgar wine and sprinkle lime in corners of our rooms while thoroughly cleaning them with the aim of warding off evil spirits."
I didn't drink at first but instead talked with Bai Xinghua about some customs.
"It seems like you know quite a bit," said Bai Xinghua. "Indeed you celebrate similar festivals during Dragon Boat Festival but it's hot earlier in southern regions so before Grain Rain arrives Wudu appears hence our Wudu Festival is in early April which is exactly one month ahead of your Dragon Boat Festival."
"I see; different climates result in different seasonal changes but this liquor..." Looking at my cup again with suspicion written all over my face.
"This is specially brewed by me using materials such as scorpions, venomous snakes, geckos, centipedes and toads," said Bai Xinghua smilingly while looking at me: "So this liquor can be very poisonous; drinking it might kill someone for sure."
"Then why are you drinking?" I looked at her smilingly.
"I don't want to live anymore; what's wrong with that?" Due to having drunk alcohol her eyes were blurred making her character more cheerful than usual while she spoke humorously.
"Sister-in-law don't scare me okay? What you're saying isn't true right?" Picking up my bowlful of liquor ready for drinking.
"Hey! You better think carefully ah because this liquor called 'Wudu Heartbreak Powder' really can cause death after being consumed." Bai Xinghua reached out her hand stopping me then seriously looked into my eyes saying: "YiHeng, I'm telling you the truth. Just a moment ago, I really didn't want to live anymore and this liquor is what I used for suicide."
Hearing Bai Xinghua's words, I smiled slightly then put down my bowlful of liquor before picking up the jug beside me and pouring her another cup saying: "Then let's drink some more together; since you want to commit suicide then I'll accompany you in dying for love."
"What are you talking about?" Bai Xinghua gave me a white glance while smilingly holding up her cup of liquor saying: "Stop joking around okay? This liquor can dispel poison and dampness from our bodies which is good for our health but it's just too strong. I'm afraid that after drinking it, you won't be able to handle it."
"I have divine power protecting my body so there's nothing forbidden," said as we clinked cups before raising them high and gulping down all the contents.
"Hey! Don't drink so recklessly because this isn't a beverage..." Seeing my actions, Bai Xinghua hurriedly stood up wanting to stop me but
A flame rushed down my throat, and I hadn't even put down my wine bowl before I grabbed my neck and fell to the ground in agony.
"Cough cough cough, wow, sister-in-law, this is really poisonous wine. I'm going to die. Help me! Give me water quickly!"
I rolled around and screamed in pain.
Bai Xinghua panicked and quickly poured a bowl of water for me and then looked at me somewhat helplessly: "What should we do? If you drink water after drinking this wine, the medicine will take effect faster, and you'll be even more miserable."
"Hahaha, it's okay," seeing Bai Xinghua's nervous look, I laughed a little bit and got up from the ground like nothing had happened.
"Hey hey hey! You scared your sister-in-law to death!" Seeing what had happened, Bai Xinghua was angry with me while hitting me.
I grinned at her and made her sit down again. Then I poured another bowl of wine for her and said: "Sister-in-law, I know you've always treated me like a child but actually I'm not a child anymore. There are many things that I understand but don't say out loud. My parents used to worry about something happening between us but now they're not worried anymore because it's not impossible."
"YiHeng,you're drunk." Bai Xinghua looked at me as she spoke.
Indeed, I was a little drunk; feeling the alcohol rushing through my body gave me an opportunity to express what had been on my mind for some time:
"When one is brave enough under influence of alcohol he speaks his heart out... Whether or not it's true doesn't matter much," smilingly said YiHeng as he clinked his cup against hers saying cheers!
"YiHeng,stop drinking now otherwise if your parents find out that you're drunk, they'll blame me." Bai Xinghua took a sip of wine and tried to stop me but I had already finished the bowl.
Seeing my condition, Bai Xinghua became anxious and quickly grabbed the wine jar and hid it in her room.
"Sister-in-law, don't stop me from drinking," I slurred as I got up unsteadily to chase after her.
"Okay okay YiHeng, your feelings are understood. Please don't make a scene anymore," said Bai Xinghua as she turned around to hold him by his shoulders and sat him down at the table.
"Sister-in-law," YiHeng looked at her with drunken eyes before calling out to her.
Bai Xinghua was a little nervous and moved away slightly while holding onto her forehead: "What should we do now?"
"I'm not leaving tonight," shouted YiHeng loudly towards her direction.
"You're going to die!" exclaimed Bai Xinghua in shock before pulling him up by his arm and leading him outside towards home through a small forest nearby where only one crescent moon could be seen shining brightly in the dark sky above them. Once there she stopped walking saying: "YiHeng, I won't go inside with you this time. Be good; walk back home on your own like an adult would do okay? When you get back home just go straight into bed for some rest alright? Sister-in-law is begging you please?