Li Zhiyuan wasn't angry. Instead, as he passed behind Old Tian, he lightly smoothed out those two needles.
The alcohol in Old Tian's system instantly surged, and he once again clinked glasses with Li Sanjiang, buddy-buddy once more.
Liu Yumei had already eaten and returned to her room. As soon as Li Zhiyuan and Alii sat down, Aunt Liu came out with the food from the pot.
The two kids had washed their hands and tidied up, but the earthy smell clung to them, making her want to laugh. Probably only Xiao Yuan would take Alii to plant fields.
It's just a pity. That place isn't suitable for her, otherwise, it'd be great to sit at Big Beard's house, bask in the sun, and watch the two kids tend to the garden while cracking sunflower seeds.
They were halfway through the meal when suddenly, with two "thud" sounds, Grandmaster and Old Tian first rested their heads on the table and passed out drunk.
Li Zhiyuan was about to stand up when Uncle Qin came over, lifting Li Sanjiang with one hand.
"Uncle Qin, take Old Tian to Grandmaster's room too, let them share a bed."
"Alright."
Uncle Qin lifted Old Tian as well and went upstairs.
After eating, Li Zhiyuan took Alii back to the East Room, then went upstairs, took a bath, returned to his room, and started reading.
He hadn't been reading long when he heard noises from the next room.
Li Sanjiang woke up needing to pee. Still drunk and groggy, he saw the also passed-out Old Tian beside him when he got up.
"Old buddy, need to let some water out?"
Old Tian tried to open his eyes and said, "Drink, thirsty, drink!"
"Pah! Wishful thinking!"
Li Sanjiang nudged Old Tian, "I mean pee."
Old Tian: "Pee, need to pee."
Li Sanjiang: "You wait here, I'll go first and bring you back a chamber pot."
Saying this, Li Sanjiang got out of bed, wobbled, pushed open the door, and went out.
The toilet was behind the house, but going downstairs at night to pee was a hassle. When Li Zhiyuan first lived here, Li Sanjiang taught him how to pee with ease.
Walking to the northwest corner of the terrace, you unbutton your belt and can release freely.
Lying on the bed, Old Tian stubbornly said, "I don't need you to bring me a chamber pot; I can go pee myself..."
Old Tian climbed out of bed, clutched clogs in hand on the floor underneath, and crawled step by step outward.
Li Sanjiang stood in the northwest corner, squinting, half-dazed, as he noticed something large crawling below him.
"Oh my!"
This startled Li Sanjiang.
Old Tian sat on the ground, continuously scooching himself to the edge. With half his butt hanging off-outside, he began unfastening his belt.
"Brother Li, let's compete to see who can pee the farthest!"
"Compete, my ass. I stand to pee, you sit to pee. How can you beat me?"
"Not necessarily, I'm telling you, I've never married, no kids, saving it all up, strong as ever!"
"Tch, like nobody else has saved it up."
Li Zhiyuan stood behind them, watching quietly as the two old men drunkenly played a game only kindergartners would compete in.
He wasn't worried about Grandmaster falling over, but Old Tian was another story.
Even if Old Tian was usually agile, he was truly drunk tonight.
However, Li Zhiyuan was somewhat curious. Though Grandmaster drank to drunkenness, he usually lay down and slept soundly till morning; he'd never shown off this way.
Tonight seemed different.
"Look, I peed five meters far!"
"Ten meters for me!"
"A hundred meters for me!"
"A thousand meters!"
"I poured it on the moon!"
"Why can't you see the sun? Because I put it out!"
Race ended.
Old Tian cried, slapping the ground with both hands, crying wretchedly.
Li Sanjiang: "What's there to cry about? Fine, you win, you win!"
Successfully drunk, emotions finally burst that had been pent up for a long time:
"I'm a useless person, useless! I'm a useless person!"
"Doesn't matter. By this age, how many are agile?"
"I can't do it. I watched that kid grow up, and now I can't stand by his side to help him. I just freeload his merit."
"What's merit? Is it tasty?"
"I don't know."
"Alright, you're still helpful, can perform tricks, and tend to plants.
Unlike me, my kid doesn't even lack money now, can even afford to invite me out to eat fine restaurants, sigh.
Before, whenever he asked for pocket change, I'd be so happy. Now, even if he asks, I'd be embarrassed to give."
Old Tian: "He's just humoring you."
Li Sanjiang: "Exactly, handing it over feels just like humoring."
Old Tian: "Your kid's very capable; mine was always so opinionated growing up, respected few, but feared yours."
Li Sanjiang: "That's right, Little Yuanhou's smart, good at studying, who's not impressed?"
Old Tian: "Different. Your kid's truly impressive."
Li Sanjiang: "Of course, I know, can't not know my own kid? Now what I can do is save more money for him, fix up the old house, buy an apartment in the city for his marriage."
Old Tian: "Does he need you saving to buy a place for marriage?"
Li Sanjiang: "Let me tell you, that girl's grandma is so shrewd, if something's missing, they'll nitpick every detail!"
Old Tian: "Hahahahaha!"
"What's so funny? Come on, I'll carry you back to sleep."
"No need to carry me, I can walk myself."
"How will you walk?"
"I have hands."
"Your feet?"
"Broken, totally broken, can't move, bitten by worms, full of poison below the waist."
"Then I'll take you to see the doctor; I know a doctor, no good with usual illnesses but great with strange ones."
