A Fine Wine for Heartache

"Sister Bai?"

Qingqing stared at the rows of empty jars arranged neatly on the table. She counted them incredulously.

"Eight jars? Sister, you're mad. I knew you liked drinking, but this is too much. To think you scolded me on the vices of gluttony." She snorted.

The figure in white did not turn but reached out one hand silently for the jar beside her.

Qingqing leaned forward and snatched the hat off in a quick motion. The veil rippled in the air and Bai's face emerged from the white folds. She did not raise her eyes but turned the cup slowly in her fingers, studying a chip on its rim absently.

"I want to drink myself into forgetfulness, or into bravery, whichever comes easier." she whispered listlessly. "Let me alone, Qingqing."

Qingqing looked keenly at her. She sat down opposite her and took the last jar of wine. "You've drank so much already, it's only fair that I get the rest, so don't complain. Meanwhile, you are going to talk and tell me what happened."

Taking a gulp, she nodded in approval. "You've good taste, Sister! I couldn't pick a better wine to console a broken heart with. Now, what happened with the physician?"

Bai sank her head onto her hands. "I promised to marry him." she moaned.

With an exasperated sigh, Qingqing knocked her knuckles against Bai's bowed head. "Sister, I always thought you were intelligent, it must be all that wine going to your head. Since you like him that much, why not?"

Bai lifted dull, heavy eyes to her. "Qingqing, I would give anything to be a common mortal woman and spend the rest of my life as his wife."

Qingqing shrugged, sipping her wine. "That I cannot understand, but why such desperation? Marry him and be happy while you can if that is what pleases you. What are you upset about?"

"I--I did not tell him--what I am." Bai's voice fell to a miserable whisper. "Qingqing--I must tell him--but now it is even harder. The more I know he loves me, the harder it is to face the risk of his rejection."

Qingqing slammed the jar down. She was losing her temper. "But why must you tell him?"

"I am too wretched to cry. I am a fool, Qingqing. A weak fool. I do not deserve him." Bai was not listening.

"You're making a fool of yourself, indeed," Qingqing said crisply. Her eyes were bright and hard, and there was a red spot burning in her cheeks. "I don't have the patience to talk you through this. To think I went to all that trouble, thinking I was helping you to have some fun."

She leaned across the table and forced Bai to look at her. "Mortal men come like flies for our beauty. In order to possess us they do all sorts of cruel or stupid things. If managed well they can be useful and give us pleasure. But once they find out what we are they will try to hurt us.

However kind your physician is, he cannot change his nature. It is better this way, Sister. For you and for him. Stop deluding yourself."

Bai gazed back at her, a lost expression on her face, and pulled back suddenly.

Abruptly she put her head down on her arms. At that moment, she did not look like a powerful snake spirit, but simply a woman with heartache. Qingqing's face softened slightly.

"I'll see you get married if I have to drag you into the bridal chamber myself, and let you thank me later after you've gotten over this fit of weakness." she said more quietly. She pushed the empty bottle over to join the others. "Well, that's the last of the wine--more's the pity! Sister, wake up."

There was no answer. Qingqing poked Bai's shoulder gingerly.

She gave an exasperated groan. "Out like a light, and what am I to do with her? She didn't look that drunk."

Getting up, Qingqing draped Bai's arm around her neck and heaved. She managed to get her onto her feet, swaying dangerously.

"Wait a minute, maiden! Where do you think you are taking her? The lady hasn't paid for all the wine she drank!" The landlord ran over and blocked their way, eyeing them suspiciously.

Qingqing rolled her eyes. "Seriously! Sister really owes me for this." Grumbling, she freed a hand to feel inside her belt. She still had one silver coin left, which she flipped at the landlord, maliciously hitting him smack in the nose. "There, take your money and get out of the way if you're not going to give me a hand," she snapped.

With Suzhen leaning heavily on her, Qingqing clumsily brought her past the curious stares of the other customers until they reached the staircase. She hesitated.

"Ah, I'm going to have to ask Blockhead for his help! What a bother. Sister, you'd better thank me for this later. Sit here first while I find those two idiots. If I used my powers here everyone would be on us--more's the pity."

Unceremoniously she dumped Suzhen at the top of the staircase, leaning her against the railings, and ran down.

Yuanzheng and Xiaohu had wandered to the doorway of the inn, peering in curiously.

"Strange. Did Sister Qing suddenly want to drink after the roast chicken? She's an interesting person." Xiaohu asked. He grinned. "Do you think she'll treat us to wine as well? I wouldn't mind."

Yuangzheng rapped him on the head sternly. "You're still calling her Sister Qing? She's not of our class, though I have no idea what her background is like. People like us should be careful not to act too familiar, it might get us in trouble one day. Especially you. She might be from a rich family that would be enraged to hear you talk so casually about her."

Xiaohu rubbed his head. "Rich family? Pah, did you see the way she ate that chicken drumstick just now? I tell you, she's probably a thief who stole those clothes from a fine lady, that's all. Why would a rich lady treat us to roast chicken, anyway?" he demanded.

Yuanzheng had no answer to this, so he fell silent. He started. "Look. It's her. Is she waving--at us?"

Qingqing was waving wildly at them. When they just stared at her, she put her hands to her mouth and shouted crossly, "You! Blockhead! Xiaohu! Can't you see me, are you blind? Come over here, hurry up. I need your help."

A young waiter with a haughty expression stopped Xiaohu neatly as he crossed the threshold. "No beggars in here! Stay outside if you don't want to get kicked."

Xiaohu fell back, making a face at him. He looked at Qingqing and shrugged his shoulders.

Qingqing stamped her foot impatiently. "Well, you then! Hurry up, blockhead."

Yuanzheng came in uncertainly. He had never stepped inside the inn before, mainly because they did not have money to spend on drinking and eating fine food. Qingqing ran over and caught his arm. "Were you a turtle in your past life, that you move so slowly? Or perhaps you were a block of wood, that would explain a lot of things." she snapped.

Huffing, she dragged him over to the staircase. "My sister is dead drunk and I can't get her down the staircase by myself. Making a fool of herself like this, and to think she scolds me for causing trouble!"

She stopped short to shout suddenly, "Hey, you, what do you think you're doing? Do you think ten fingers is too many for you? Because I'll help you bite off a few if you don't take your hands off her!"