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Chun-Bing Party
by Hideo Yokokawa
for Wei Gang and Cao Yang

Thank you very muc
h for your coming all the way to the hospital to inquire.
20 days have passed since I was discharged.
I am getting back to my normal condition,
but it's still a bit difficult for me to go out.
So, let's surround the table together at my house.
In the evening of the 26th, Fumie will serve with her shabu-shabu,
and in the morning of the 27th, I will cook sesame rice porridge.
I'd like to ask you to cook your most favorite menu for the lunch of the 27th.
How about it?

-- Yeah, okay. That's fine.

But, since their schedule was changed for the 27th afternoon,
the cooking by Wei Gang and his wife Cao Yang was moved up to the 26th.
Wei Gang, Cao Yang and I go to buy the various ingredients
at the nearby supermarket.

Saying "Your kitchen knife doesn't cut well, so I brought my whetstone",
Wei Gang begins their cooking by putting an edge on the knife.
And it takes five long hours for them to finish their cooking.

very thin strips of potatoes
fried cellophane noodles
fried green pepper
bean sprouts dipped in lukewarm water
garlic slivers
thinly sliced Welsh onions
scrambled eggs
fried pork
julienne carrots

These ingredients are one by one seasoned with
salt, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, sake, pepper, ginger, garlic, etc.,
served on the plates and placed upon the overburdened table;
the traditional elaborate dish called Chun-Bing
to celebrate the spring in Manchuria.
The eyes of my wife and daughters shine vividly.

We eat them by choosing these ingredients at will and
wrapping them bit by bit in thin steamed wheat skins of the size of a hand
like Indian nan or Mexican tacos.
It is a sure thing that no people can go above Chinese
when it comes to cooking wheat flour.

The ingredients are mixed together and melt in our mouths.
Drinking beer, sake, wine; any drink fits with the tastes of these dishes;
Cheering up, we just repeat, Delicious! Good! Tasty!
Our chatter becomes animated.
No boss, no guests. Without discrimination. In harmony and esteem.
Drinking and eating good amounts. Carefree. More than two hours.

This friendship!
How should it be called
other than supreme bliss?

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