Fourth Master Shaw looked around, raised his glass, and said with a laugh, "Well, I heard a saying the other day: 'You never know if an accident or tomorrow will come first.' You can't go through life with a long face all the time. As the ancients said, 'If there's wine today, drink it today,' and 'One must enjoy life to the fullest when the time is right.'"
Preston Forrest also laughed heartily and raised his glass. "Of the three thousand Tang poems, that's my favorite line! 'One must enjoy life to the fullest when the time is right!' Come on, bottoms up!"
The atmosphere at the table finally relaxed a bit. Everyone raised their glasses—be it wine or juice—and downed it in one gulp.
After everyone put down their glasses, Zeke Locke ladled a spoonful of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall into Ivy Holden's bowl. "Lady Eden, this Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is stewed perfectly. You should try some."
"Thank you," Ivy Holden said softly.
