Later, her father asked about my past. The liquor had loosened my tongue.
*"I know your father passed young,"* he said. *"Your mother remarried. When?"*
*"Dad died when I was thirteen. Mom left when I was fourteen. My grandfather raised me until he passed in '85."*
He calculated. *"So you were fifteen."*
*"Yes."*
*"Any other family?"*
*"None."*
*"How'd you survive after that?"*
*"I didn't, not really. No money. Mom took the house. I collected bottles, then… ran with street kids. Did some petty theft."*
Under the table, Li Fang kicked my leg.
Drunk and dazed, I stared blankly at her. She kicked again, eyes flashing a warning. Still, I didn't grasp it.
Her father slammed his cup. *"What's shameful about surviving? Every young man stumbles! Petty theft? That's called being lost—not broken. What matters is you found your way back."* He turned to me. *"Drink, son."*
Only then did I understand Li Fang's fear. I raised my cup.
He served me more pork. *"Hunger makes thieves, not villains. Li Fang told me why you fought that man—he deserved worse. Sometimes a man must do what a man must do."*
Moved, we clinked glasses again.
*"But that was youth talking. Prison was your lesson. Now you're grown. Listen—a man carries his family. Think twice before acting. When you were jailed, who suffered? You had no one then. But next time? Your wife. Your children."*
My nose burned. I nodded hard.
Seeing my tears, he sighed and thumped my back. *"We all err. When I was young, I did speculation—nearly crushed by it. Your aunt almost left me. Mistakes don't define you. Coming back does."* He paused. *"I've one daughter. I'd keep her forever. But she's chosen you. Build a life together. That's where hope begins."*
Even through the liquor haze, his meaning struck me.
Tears came first. Then snot bubbled out.
Through it all, one sentence anchored me.
After Li Fang wiped my face, I blurted, *"But Uncle… I've no money."*
He stood so fast the table rattled. *"Money? Rich lives, poor lives—both breathe the same air! I give you my daughter because you're solid!"* He pointed to her room. *"That room fits two. No bride price. No banquet. Just go register after New Year's."* His voice thickened. *"Call me 'Dad' now if you're ready."*
I sobbed harder than I ever had. Harder than when my grandfather died.
I hugged him, crying into his shoulder: *"Dad!"*
Later, drunk beyond memory, I passed out in Li Fang's bed—
And woke to the first dawn of my new life.