(4-97) My first serious introduction to the Chinese culture were two novels: The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (alas not a complete translation) and The Water Margin. Both books were interesting and sometimes amusing and I learned quite a lot from them about the Chinese. But what really took me in was this: whenever friends met, or strangers becoming friends, first thing to do was having a feast with lots of good things to eat and drink. This is my kind of life. I love to enjoy the good things of life and I found it even more fun to share these with people appreciating them too.

But, as one might say, this is literature and old stuff, anyway. What significance has it today? Well, a few years after reading those books, my wife started to work for a Chinese organization and it all came true. Whenever there was an official occasion, or an unofficial, both of us were invited.

We also became friends with some of her colleagues. They were our guests and we theirs. And every time we met, we had a good time, watching Chinese opera on TV, playing games with our friends and their kids, doing karaoke or simply talking about life, the universe and everything until the small hours of the morning. Of course, there always was a meal with several dishes and they always were excellent. So we learned something about Chinese cooking, too.

As our fascination with the Chinese culture grew, we decided to learn the language, too. Again we were lucky, having a very good teacher. We often drove her home after the lessons and, later, met her family, too.

By now, all those people have returned home again and my wife does not work for the organization anymore. But we still have contact with some of her former colleagues and also with our Chinese teacher.

The title? Well, Sung Jiang is one of the central figures in The Water Margin. He got into trouble when he wrote a rebellious poem on the wall of an inn after a good meal and too many cups of wine. As for the second part, we all know Stanley Kubrick, do we?