In the past, I went to the pub for a drink every day at daybreak with several of my old friends. After drinking, we went to the teahouse to play cards and chess. I often didn’t go home until midnight. I lived happily, humming a little tune every now and then, feeling that my life was very pleasant. My wife was worried that drinking and staying up late like that would hurt my body, and she said to me: “You are getting old, and every day you drink, smoke, play cards, and even stay up until midnight. Why do you live like this?” I said airily: “My wife, I tell you, this is enjoying life—do you understand? We are already 60; if we don’t enjoy life now, when shall we? Can we live for another 60 years?” I turned a deaf ear to her words, and still went out to play early in the morning and came back late at night as before, immersing myself in these things….
