In the distant island of Hainan, where winters are warm and springs never end, I recall a night 12 years ago when my comrade, Chen De'an, and I sat by the sea, sipping on a bottle of coconut wine as we bid each other farewell. The winds were strong that night, and the waves crashed against the shore with an endless rhythm. Our laughter echoed across the bay as we toasted to our friendship.
Chen De'an was more than just a brother; he was my partner in crime during our military days. We shared countless memories – some bitter, some sweet – but through it all, our bond remained unbreakable. His love for fishing mirrored my passion for drinking; yet together, we found joy in each other's company.
As time passed and life took us down different paths, our connection began to fade like the setting sun on Hainan's horizon. Yet even though years went by without contact or communication between us both - save occasional phone calls or QQ chats - those early memories still lingered within me like an old flame.
The call came unexpectedly one day: "Where are you? I'll come pick you up." It was Chen De'an's voice on the line again; his urgency brought back memories of past adventures. When we finally met at a hotel in Foshan months later - amidst laughter and reminiscing over old wounds - it felt as if no time had passed at all.
We talked about everything under the sun: from fish to war stories to family matters that weighed heavy on his heart. As he spoke candidly about his struggles caring for his elderly father while juggling work responsibilities as a special police officer out of town frequently for duty trips; there was something profound in his words that resonated deeply with me.
That night before parting ways once again after sharing stories into dawn light hours away from their home village near South China Sea coastlines—where they lived amongst their ancestral rice fields—Chen De'an pulled out an expensive imported whiskey bottle which had been stored since six long years earlier simply waiting for this reunion moment so cherished by him then raised glass saying "Brother let’s have two rounds now".
And thus amidst blossoming wood flowers gently dancing with wind blowing outside streetside Buddha statues' shadowy embrace—it seemed hard not cherish every precious second spent along side someone who truly understood what made life worth living despite its challenges & hardships endured silently behind closed doors—then suddenly vanished leaving only faintest echo whispers left echoing deep within soul longing forevermore...
