Extra 4 Drinking and sleeping together

Anyone drinking with Pan Yue would mistakenly believe that the person in front of them is an alcoholic.

They shared a bottle of baijiu, and Pan Yue downed five of the eight bottles of beer. She requested a bottle of wine after the alcohol had barely entered their tummies.

Pan Yue persisted in urging the assistant instructor to drink, and the persuasion eventually turned into a finger-guessing game. The assistant instructor also drank a lot, regardless of who won or lost. Anyway, they'd both drink after a game.

Pan Yue wrapped her arm around his shoulders, and they began calling one other brothers; quite intimate.

The two had a really joyful conversation, chatting about what she saw and heard overseas and other topics.

From the US-Iraq War to the Syrian crisis, human rights, the Occupy Wall Street march, starving African children, the drug trade, and poetry and songs.

Two such unlikely individuals actually drank to the point of spouting poems and competing against one another.

One side recited the line "Raise your glass to invite the bright moon[2]" and the next sentence was recited by the other side "and the shadows will form three people."

Pan Yue laughed heartily and drummed the table to join him in singing. The assistant instructor was clearly inebriated; otherwise, he would not have sung military songs.

Pan Yue had also served as a soldier, so she was familiar with these songs and could easily follow along.

Diners came and went, all shooting interested glances at their table. The woman who didn't behave like a woman was unquestionably the center of attention.

The assistant instructor was sprawled on the table at the end of the booze binge.

Pan Yue merely let out a contented belch, paid the bill on wobbly legs, and hoisted the assistant instructor.

She swatted him hard across the shoulder.

"Useless man, you can't stand this small amount of alcohol."

There were fifteen or sixteen bottles of beer, one bottle of baijiu, and two little bottles of Erguotou under their table. This amount of liquor was nearly equal to the drinking capacity of four people.

Pan Yue was convinced she wasn't intoxicated because she remembered she couldn't drink and drive, and she couldn't cause trouble for Pan Ge. Pan Ge would lose face if she was arrested for drunk driving by traffic police.

"Hey! Hey! Are you returning to the barracks? I want to go home. Come on, talk to me."

The assistant instructor's arm was slung across her shoulders, and he'd dozed off with his head down. In response to Pan Yue's question, he simply waved his hand and said nothing.

"Shit! You’ll get a serious administrative penalty if you return to the barracks like this. Forget it, laoniang should take you in."

Pan Yue was actually a kind person. She had no choice but to find a means to bring him back to her house in order to keep him from being punished.

"F*ck! Stand up by yourself, you ass. Don't f*cking press on laoniang; laoniang is almost out of breath."

The assistant instructor was still pushing her down with his body tilted. Pan Yue wanted to take a taxi, but she couldn't since her hands were occupied. He'd fall to the ground as soon as she let him go.

"Hey man, you refused to be with me a few nights ago, so why are you putting pressure on me today? Do you consider Laoniang to be your rag doll, with which you can play as you please? Do you think you could have eaten laoniang's tofu so easily if it hadn't been for your friendship with my younger brother?"

Pan Yue supported him by pulling his arm towards her. Several folks in the vicinity gazed at her, surprised. Her statements became increasingly ambiguous as they were spoken. But why did they sound a bit strange? What was the nature of this man and woman's relationship? Were they really that close? Were they in a relationship? Sweethearts who sleep together and go out at night?

Pan Yue eventually flagged down a taxi and helped him in. The driver frowned when he smelled the overpowering stench of alcohol.

"Don’t puke in my car."

"Don't worry. If he feels like vomiting, I’ll force him to swallow it. Drive to the military compound."

The driver pursed his lips but had no choice but to start driving.

Pan Yue burped, which stank awfully. She had a lot of drinks today, but she wasn't intoxicated. She remembered to take the guy and return home, didn't she?

The assistant instructor was comparatively a lightweight. He was barely awake and soon fell sideways on Pan Yue's shoulder, simply leaned on her, and began snoring.

"Useless man."

This was the start. It felt great to go all out and drink as much as she wanted.

Her mother had already returned. She no longer wanted Pan Yue after being absolutely dumbfounded by this daughter.

Pan Yue did not want to leave, so she lived in the military compound at her Third Maternal Uncle's house, which was Leizi's parents' house.

So she had no choice but to bring the assistant instructor to the military compound.

Pan Yue stayed in the West Wing by herself because although Leizi and Tian Yuan didn't stay there much, their room was regularly dusted and kept tidy. It was her temporary home.

General Pan was in his office at the time, and Mama Dang Hong was also in the hospital. There was no one else in the house but a housekeeper who cooked.

Pan Yue dragged the man to her room as if he were a dead dog. Thankfully, he retained redeeming qualities and did not vomit in the taxi. Aunt Housekeeper assisted Pan Yue in bringing him into the room and throwing him on the bed. Pan Yue wiped the sweat from her brow.

"Is he sleeping here? When will he be leaving?"

"He’ll leave as soon as he sobers up. You don't have to be concerned about us, Auntie. I'll be OK as soon as I get some sleep. Carry on with your work; don't worry about us."

"But he’s like this, what if you guys need something? Someone needs to look after you."

"Aren't I here? Don't worry, I'll look after him. Please make some hangover soup while you're cooking. When we wake up, we'll drink it."

Pan Yue pushed Aunt Housekeeper out, and the door shut before she could say anything.

"Hey, what’s the big rush?! I made sour plum soup and was wondering if you’d like a bowl!"

Pan Yue didn't hear the housekeeper’s question. She felt woozy when she turned around and walked into the room. She took off her jacket, tossed her shoes aside, threw herself on her back, and collapsed next to the assistant instructor, unable to wake up.

Aunt Housekeeper shook her head. These children are becoming more and more unrestrained. They would have had to endure blame and shame if they slept in the same room in old times.

Isn't there a saying that men and women shouldn’t be alone together after the age of seven? Well, times have changed.

Aunt Housekeeper shook her head and walked to the kitchen to cook dinner. General Pan was seated alone at the dinner table when Mama Dang Hong returned home and came for dinner after freshening up.

"How come Yueyue didn't come home for dinner?"

Mama Dang Hong didn't see Pan Yue after she got home from work and assumed she was playing crazily once more.

"She's sleeping in her room. There's also a man in the room. I saw that they drank a lot, so I didn't call them. It's time to wake them up."

Mama Dang Hong was taken aback. There was a man in Pan Yue’s room?

What’s this situation? How can a girl bring some guy to her room?

Footnotes:

[1] Black whistle=bad call. Corrupt officiating; dubious call in sports. I'm not sure which island country the author is talking about. The most hits I saw were for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

[2] For those who are interested, the poem and explanation may be found here.