2023-05-24

Can’t sleep, but instead my mind is full of Guo Da’s version of “Invitation to Wine” in Shaanxi dialect.

Let’s imagine this drinking party.

“(Tipsy, eyes half-closed) Brother Cen (pointing left), Master Danqiu (pointing right), let’s drink (squinting, wrinkling nose, hands raised), don’t stop the cups!”

So vivid, and then: “Let me sing a song for you, please lend me your ears” (I’ll sing one for my brothers)

Then he starts singing—how adorable!

After the song, hearing his brother next to him say they’re out of money and can’t drink anymore, he frowns, looks him up and down: “Master, why say you have little money? Just go buy more and we’ll drink together!” (Brothers, no one leaves until we’re all down) Then he lifts his head, arrogantly pointing outside: “Five-flowered horse, thousand-gold fur, call the boy to trade them for fine wine, and together we’ll drown the sorrows of ages!”

(Searched through my album for two drinking pictures, toast to the immortal)

• 🧩 A Fragment of Life