中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì sì huí bó mìng nǚ piān féng bó mìng láng hú lú sēng luàn pàn hú lú 'àn CHAPTER IV.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER IV.
què shuō dài yù tóng zǐ mèi men zhì wáng fū rén chù， jiàn wáng fū rén yǔ xiōng sǎo chù de lái shǐ jì yì jiā wù， yòu shuō yí mǔ jiā zāo rén mìng guān sī děng yǔ。 yīn jiàn wáng fū rén shì qíng rǒng zá， zǐ mèi men suì chū lái， zhì guǎ sǎo lǐ shì fáng zhōng lái liǎo。
yuán lái zhè lǐ shì jí jiǎ zhū zhī qī。 zhū suī yāo wáng， xìng cún yī zǐ， qǔ míng jiǎ lán， jīn fāng wǔ suì， yǐ rù xué gōng shū。 zhè lǐ shì yì xì jīn líng míng huàn zhī nǚ， fù míng lǐ shǒu zhōng， céng wèiguó zǐ jiān jì jiǔ， zú zhōng nán nǚ wú yòu bù sòng shī dú shū zhě。 zhì lǐ shǒu zhōng jì chéng yǐ lái， biàn shuō " nǚ zǐ wú cái biàn yòu dé "， gù shēng liǎo lǐ shì shí， biàn bù shí fēn lìng qí dú shū， zhǐ bù guò jiāng xiē《 nǚ sì shū》，《 liè nǚ chuán》，《 xián yuán jí》 děng sān sì zhǒng shū， shǐ tā rèn dé jǐ gè zì， jì dé qián cháo zhè jǐ gè xián nǚ biàn bà liǎo， què zhǐ yǐ fǎng jì jǐng jiù wéi yào， yīn qǔ míng wéi lǐ wán， zì gōng cái。 yīn cǐ zhè lǐ wán suī qīng chūn sàng 'ǒu， jū jiā chù gāo liáng jǐn xiù zhī zhōng， jìng rú gǎo mù sǐ huī yī bān， yī gài wú jiàn wú wén， wéi zhī shì qīn yǎng zǐ， wài zé péi shì xiǎo gū děng zhēn zhǐ sòng dú 'ér yǐ。 jīn dài yù suī kè jì yú sī， rì yòu zhè bān jiě mèi xiāng bàn， chú lǎo fù wài， yú zhě yědōu wú yōng lǜ jí liǎo。
rú jīn qiě shuō yǔ cūn， yīn bǔ shòu liǎo yìng tiān fǔ， yī xià mǎ jiù yòu yī jiàn rén mìng guān sī xiáng zhì 'àn xià， nǎi shì liǎng jiā zhēng mǎi yī bì， gè bù xiāng ràng， yǐ zhì 'ōu shāng rén mìng。 bǐ shí yǔ cūn jí chuán yuán gào zhī rén lái shěn。 nà yuán gào dào： “ bèi 'ōu sǐ zhě nǎi xiǎo rén zhī zhù rén。 yīn nà rì mǎi liǎo yī gè yā tóu， bù xiǎng shì guǎi zǐ guǎi lái mài de。 zhè guǎi zǐ xiān yǐ dé liǎo wǒ jiā de yín zǐ， wǒ jiā xiǎo yé yuán shuō dì sān rì fāng shì hǎo rì zǐ， zài jiē rù mén。 zhè guǎi zǐ biàn yòu qiāoqiāo de mài yǔ xuē jiā， bèi wǒ men zhī dào liǎo， qù zhǎo ná mài zhù， duó qǔ yā tóu。 wú nài xuē jiā yuán xì jīn líng yī bà， yǐ cái zhàng shì， zhòng háo nú jiāng wǒ xiǎo zhù rén jìng dǎ sǐ liǎo。 xiōng shēn zhù pú yǐ jiē táo zǒu， wú yǐng wú zōng， zhǐ shèng liǎo jǐ gè jú wài zhī rén。 xiǎo rén gào liǎo yī nián de zhuàng， jìng wú rén zuò zhù。 wàng dà lǎo yé jū ná xiōng fàn， jiǎn 'è chú xiōng， yǐ jiù gū guǎ， sǐ zhě gǎn dài tiān 'ēn bù jìn！ ”
yǔ cūn tīng liǎo dà nù dào：“ qǐ yòu zhè yàng fàng pì de shì！ dǎ sǐ rén mìng jiù bái bái de zǒu liǎo， zài ná bù lái de！ " yīn fā qiān chā gōng rén lì kè jiāng xiōng fàn zú zhōng rén ná lái kǎo wèn， lìng tā men shí gōng cáng zài hé chù， yī miàn zài dòng hǎi bǔ wén shū。 zhèng yào fā qiān shí， zhǐ jiàn 'àn biān lì de yī gè mén zǐ shǐ yǎn sè 'ér， héng héng bù lìng tā fā qiān zhī yì。 yǔ cūn xīn xià shèn wéi yí guài， zhǐ dé tíng liǎo shǒu， jí shí tuì táng， zhì mì shì， shì cóng jiē tuì qù， zhǐ liú mén zǐ fú shì。 zhè mén zǐ máng shàng lái qǐng 'ān， xiào wèn：“ lǎo yé yī xiàng jiā guān jìn lù， bā jiǔ nián lái jiù wàng liǎo wǒ liǎo？ " yǔ cūn dào：“ què shí fēn miàn shàn dé jǐn， zhǐ shì yī shí xiǎng bù qǐ lái。” nà mén zǐ xiào dào：“ lǎo yé zhēn shì guì rén duō wàng shì， bǎ chū shēn zhī dì jìng wàng liǎo， bù jì dāng nián hú lú miào lǐ zhī shì？ " yǔ cūn tīng liǎo， rú léi zhèn yī jīng， fāng xiǎng qǐ wǎng shì。 yuán lái zhè mén zǐ běn shì hú lú miào nèi yī gè xiǎo shā mí， yīn bèi huǒ zhī hòu， wú chù 'ān shēn， yù tóu bié miào qù xiū xíng， yòu nài bù dé qīng liáng jǐng kuàng， yīn xiǎng zhè jiàn shēng yì dǎo hái qīng shěng rè nào， suì chèn nián jì xù liǎo fā， chōng liǎo mén zǐ。 yǔ cūn nà lǐ liào dé shì tā， biàn máng xié shǒu xiào dào：“ yuán lái shì gù rén。” yòu ràng zuò liǎo hǎo tán。 zhè mén zǐ bù gǎn zuò。 yǔ cūn xiào dào：“ pín jiàn zhī jiāo bù kě wàng。 nǐ wǒ gù rén yě， èr zé cǐ xì sī shì， jì yù cháng tán， qǐ yòu bù zuò zhī lǐ？ " zhè mén zǐ tīng shuō， fāng gào liǎo zuò， xié qiān zhe zuò liǎo。
yǔ cūn yīn wèn fāng cái hé gù yòu bù lìng fā qiān zhī yì。 zhè mén zǐ dào：“ lǎo yé jì róng rèn dào zhè yī shěng， nán dào jiù méi chāo yī zhāng běn shěng ‘ hù guān fú ’ lái bù chéng？ " yǔ cūn máng wèn：“ héwèi‘ hù guān fú’？ wǒ jìng bù zhī。” mén zǐ dào：“ zhè hái liǎo dé！ lián zhè gè bù zhī， zěn néng zuò dé cháng yuǎn！ rú jīn fán zuò dì fāng guān zhě， jiē yòu yī gè sī dān， shàng miàn xiě de shì běn shěng zuì yòu quán yòu shì， jí fù jí guì de dà xiāng shēn míng xìng， gè shěng jiē rán， cháng ruò bù zhī， yī shí chù fàn liǎo zhè yàng de rén jiā， bù dàn guān jué， zhǐ pà lián xìng mìng hái bǎo bù chéng ní！ suǒ yǐ chuò hào jiào zuò‘ hù guān fú’。 fāng cái suǒ shuō de zhè xuē jiā， lǎo yé rú hé rě tā！ tā zhè jiàn guān sī bìng wú nán duàn zhī chù， jiē yīn dū 'ài zhe qíngfèn miàn shàng， suǒ yǐ rú cǐ。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn cóng shùn dài zhōng qǔ chū yī zhāng chāo xiě de‘ hù guān fú’ lái， dì yǔ yǔ cūn， kàn shí， shàng miàn jiē shì běn dì dà zú míng huàn zhī jiā de yàn sú kǒu bēi。 qí kǒu bēi pái xiěde míng bái， xià miàn suǒ zhù de jiē shì zì shǐ zǔ guān jué bìng fáng cì。 shí tóu yì céng chāo xiě liǎo yī zhāng， jīn jù shí shàng suǒ chāo yún：
jiǎ bù jiǎ， bái yù wéi táng jīn zuò mǎ。 ( níng guó róng guó 'èr gōng zhī hòu， gòng 'èr shí fáng fēn， níng róng qīn pài bā fáng zài dū wài， xiàn yuán jí zhù zhě shí 'èr fáng。 )
ēpáng gōng， sān bǎi lǐ， zhù bù xià jīn líng yī gè shǐ。 ( bǎo líng hóu shàng shū lìng shǐ gōng zhī hòu， fáng fēn gòng shí bā， dū zhōng xiàn zhù zhě shí fáng， yuán jí xiàn jū bā fáng。 )
dōng hǎi quē shǎo bái yù chuáng， lóng wáng lái qǐng jīn líng wáng。 ( dū tài wèi tǒng zhì xiàn bó wáng gōng zhī hòu， gòng shí 'èr fáng， dū zhōng 'èr fáng， yú zài jí。 )
fēng nián hǎo dà xuě， zhēn zhū rú tǔ jīn rú tiě。 ( zǐ wēi shè rén xuē gōng zhī hòu， xiàn lǐng nèi fǔ tǎng yínháng shāng， gòng bā fáng fēn。 )
yǔ cūn yóu wèi kàn wán， hū tīng chuán diǎn， rén bào：“ wáng lǎo yé lái bài。” yǔ cūn tīng shuō， máng jù yī guān chū qù yíng jiē。 yòu dùn fàn gōng fū， fāng huí lái xì wèn。 zhè mén zǐ dào：“ zhè sì jiā jiē lián luò yòu qīn， yī sǔn jiē sǔn， yī róng jiē róng， fú chí zhē shì， jù yòu zhào yìng de。 jīn gào dǎ sǐ rén zhī xuē， jiù xì fēng nián dà xuě zhī‘ xuě’ yě。 yě bù dān kào zhè sān jiā， tā de shì jiāo qīn yǒu zài dōuzài wài zhě， běn yì bù shǎo。 lǎo yé rú jīn ná shuí qù？ " yǔ cūn tīng rú cǐ shuō， biàn xiào wèn mén zǐ dào：“ rú nǐ zhè yàng shuō lái， què zěn me liǎo jié cǐ 'àn？ nǐ dà yuē yě shēn zhī zhè xiōng fàn duǒ de fāng xiàng liǎo？”
mén zǐ xiào dào：“ bù mán lǎo yé shuō， bù dàn zhè xiōng fàn de fāng xiàng wǒ zhī dào， yī bìng zhè guǎi mài zhī rén wǒ yě zhī dào， sǐ guǐ mǎi zhù yě shēn zhī dào。 dài wǒ xì shuō yǔ lǎo yé tīng： zhè gè bèi dǎ zhī sǐ guǐ， nǎi shì běn dì yī gè xiǎo xiāng shēn zhī zǐ， míng huàn féng yuān， zì yòu fù mǔ zǎo wáng， yòu wú xiōng dì， zhǐ tā yī gè rén shǒu zhe xiē bó chǎn guò rì zǐ。 cháng dào shí bā jiǔ suì shàng， kù 'ài nán fēng， zuì yàn nǚ zǐ。 zhè yě shì qián shēng yuān niè， kě qiǎo yù jiàn zhè guǎi zǐ mài yā tóu， tā biàn yī yǎn kàn shàng liǎo zhè yā tóu， lì yì mǎi lái zuò qiè， lì shì zài bù jiāo jié nán zǐ， yě bù zài qǔ dì 'èr gè liǎo， suǒ yǐ sān rì hòu fāng guò mén。 shuí xiǎo zhè guǎi zǐ yòu tōu mài yǔ xuē jiā， tā yì yù juàn liǎo liǎng jiā de yín zǐ， zài táo wǎng tā shěng。 shuí zhī yòu bù céng zǒu tuō， liǎng jiā ná zhù， dǎ liǎo gè chòu sǐ， dōubù kěn shōu yín， zhǐ yào lǐng rén。 nà xuē jiā gōng zǐ qǐ shì ràng rén de， biàn hē zhuóshǒu xià rén yī dǎ， jiāng féng gōng zǐ dǎ liǎo gè xī làn， tái huí jiā qù sān rì sǐ liǎo。 zhè xuē gōng zǐ yuán shì zǎo yǐ zé dìng rì zǐ shàng jīng qù de， tóu qǐ shēn liǎng rì qián， jiù 'ǒu rán yù jiàn zhè yā tóu， yì yù mǎi liǎo jiù jìn jīng de， shuí zhī nào chū zhè shì lái。 jì dǎ liǎo féng gōng zǐ， duó liǎo yā tóu， tā biàn méi shì rén yī bān， zhǐ guǎn dài liǎo jiā juàn zǒu tā de lù。 tā zhè lǐ zì yòu xiōng dì nú pú zài cǐ liào lǐ， yě bìng fēiwèi cǐ xiē xiē xiǎo shì zhí dé tā yī táo zǒu de。 zhè qiě bié shuō， lǎo yé nǐ dāng bèi mài zhī yā tóu shì shuí？ " yǔ cūn xiào dào：“ wǒ rú hé dé zhī。” mén zǐ lěng xiào dào：“ zhè rén suàn lái hái shì lǎo yé de dà 'ēn rén ní！ tā jiù shì hú lú miào bàng zhù de zhēn lǎo yé de xiǎo jiě， míng huàn yīng lián de。” yǔ cūn hǎn rán dào：“ yuán lái jiù shì tā！ wén dé yǎng zhì wǔ suì bèi rén guǎi qù， què rú jīn cái lái mài ní？”
mén zǐ dào：“ zhè yī zhǒng guǎi zǐ dān guǎn tōu guǎi wǔ liù suì de 'ér nǚ， yǎng zài yī gè pì jìng zhī chù， dào shí yī 'èr suì， dù qí róng mào， dài zhì tā xiāng zhuǎn mài。 dāng rì zhè yīng lián， wǒ men tiān tiān hǒngtā wán shuǎ， suī gé liǎo qī bā nián， rú jīn shí 'èr sān suì de guāng jǐng， qí múyàng suī rán chū tuō dé qí zhěng hǎo xiē， rán dà gài xiàngmào， zì shì bù gǎi， shú rén yì rèn。 kuàng qiě tā méi xīn zhōng yuán yòu mǐ lì dà xiǎo de yī diǎn yān zhī zhì， cóng tāi lǐ dài lái de， suǒ yǐ wǒ què rèn dé。 piān shēng zhè guǎi zǐ yòu zū liǎo wǒ de fáng shè jū zhù， nà rì guǎi zǐ bù zài jiā， wǒ yě céng wèn tā。 tā shì bèi guǎi zǐ dǎ pà liǎo de， wàn bù gǎn shuō， zhǐ shuō guǎi zǐ xì tā qīn diē， yīn wú qián cháng zhài， gù mài tā。 wǒ yòu hōng zhī zài sì， tā yòu kū liǎo， zhǐ shuō‘ wǒ bù jì dé xiǎo shí zhī shì！’ zhè kě wú yí liǎo。 nà rì féng gōng zǐ xiāng kàn liǎo， duì liǎo yín zǐ， guǎi zǐ zuì liǎo， tā zì tàn dào：‘ wǒ jīn rì zuì niè kě mǎn liǎo！’ hòu yòu tīng jiàn féng gōng zǐ lìng sān rì zhī hòu guò mén， tā yòu zhuǎn yòu yōu chóu zhī tài。 wǒ yòu bù rěn qí xíng jǐng， děng guǎi zǐ chū qù， yòu mìng nèi rén qù jiě shì tā：‘ zhè féng gōng zǐ bì dài hǎo rì qī lái jiē， kě zhī bì bù yǐ yā huán xiāng kàn。 kuàng tā shì gè jué fēng liú rén pǐn， jiā lǐ pō guò dé， sù xí yòu zuì yàn 'è táng kè， jīn jìng pò jià mǎi nǐ， hòu shì bù yán kě zhī。 zhǐ nài dé sān liǎng rì， hé bì yōu mèn！’ tā tīng rú cǐ shuō， fāng cái lüè jiě yōu mèn， zì wéi cóng cǐ dé suǒ。 shuí liào tiān xià jìng yòu zhè děng bù rú yì shì， dì 'èr rì， tā piān yòu mài yǔ xuē jiā。 ruò mài yǔ dì 'èr gè rén hái hǎo， zhè xuē gōng zǐ de hùn míng rén chēng‘ dāi bà wáng’， zuì shì tiān xià dì yī gè nòng xìng shàng qì de rén， ér qiě shǐ qián rú tǔ， suì dǎ liǎo gè luò huā liú shuǐ， shēng tuō sǐ zhuài， bǎ gè yīng lián tuō qù， rú jīn yě bù zhī sǐ huó。 zhè féng gōng zǐ kōng xǐ yīcháng， yī niàn wèi suì， fǎn huā liǎo qián， sòng liǎo mìng， qǐ bù kě tàn！”
yǔ cūn tīng liǎo， yì tàn dào：“ zhè yě shì tā men de niè zhàng zāo yù， yì fēi 'ǒu rán。 bù rán zhè féng yuān rú hé piān zhǐ kàn zhǔn liǎo zhè yīng lián？ zhè yīng lián shòu liǎo guǎi zǐ zhè jǐ nián zhé mó， cái dé liǎo gè tóu lù， qiě yòu shì gè duō qíng de， ruò néng jù hé liǎo， dǎo shì jiàn měi shì， piān yòu shēng chū zhè duàn shì lái。 zhè xuē jiā zòng bǐ féng jiā fù guì， xiǎng qí wéi rén， zì rán jī qiè zhòng duō， yín yì wú dù， wèi bì jí féng yuān dìng qíng yú yī rén zhě。 zhè zhèng shì mèng huàn qíng yuán， qià yù yī duì bó mìng 'ér nǚ。 qiě bù yào yì lùn tā， zhǐ mù jīn zhè guān sī， rú hé pōu duàn cái hǎo？ " mén zǐ xiào dào：“ lǎo yé dāng nián hé qí míng jué， jīn rì hé fǎn chéng liǎo gè méi zhù yì de rén liǎo！ xiǎo de wén dé lǎo yé bǔ shēng cǐ rèn， yì xì jiǎ fǔ wáng fǔ zhī lì， cǐ xuē pán jí jiǎ fǔ zhī qīn， lǎo yé hé bù shùn shuǐ xíng zhōu， zuò gè zhěng rén qíng， jiāng cǐ 'àn liǎo jié， rì hòu yě hǎo qù jiàn jiǎ fǔ wáng fǔ。” yǔ cūn dào：“ nǐ shuō de hé cháng bù shì。 dàn shì guān rén mìng， méng huáng shàng lóng 'ēn， qǐ fù wěi yòng， shí shì chóngshēng zài zào， zhèng dāng dān xīn jié lì tú bào zhī shí， qǐ kě yīn sī 'ér fèi fǎ？ shì wǒ shí bù néng rěn wéi zhě。” mén zǐ tīng liǎo， lěng xiào dào：“ lǎo yé shuō de hé cháng bù shì dà dào lǐ， dàn zhǐ shì rú jīn shì shàng shì xíng bù qù de。 qǐ bù wén gǔ rén yòu yún：‘ dà zhàng fū xiāng shí 'ér dòng’， yòu yuē‘ qū jí bì xiōng zhě wéi jūn zǐ’。 yǐ lǎo yé zhè yī shuō， bù dàn bù néng bào xiào cháo tíng， yì qiě zì shēn bù bǎo， hái yào sān sī wéi tuǒ。”
yǔ cūn dī liǎo bàn rì tóu， fāng shuō dào：“ yǐ nǐ zěn me yàng？ " mén zǐ dào：“ xiǎo rén yǐ xiǎng liǎo yī gè jí hǎo de zhù yì zài cǐ： lǎo yé míng rì zuò táng， zhǐ guǎn xū zhāng shēng shì， dòng wén shū fā qiān ná rén。 yuán xiōng zì rán shì ná bù lái de， yuán gào gù shì dìng yào jiāng xuē jiā zú zhōng jí nú pú rén děng ná jǐ gè lái kǎo wèn。 xiǎo de zài 'àn zhōng tiáotíng， lìng tā men bào gè bào bìng shēn wáng， lìng zú zhōng jí dì fāng shàng gòng dì yī zhāng bǎo chéng， lǎo yé zhǐ shuō shàn néng fú luán qǐng xiān， táng shàng shè xià jī tán， lìng jūn mín rén děng zhǐ guǎn lái kàn。 lǎo yé jiù shuō：‘ jī xiān pī liǎo， sǐ zhě féng yuān yǔ xuē pán yuán yīn sù niè xiāng féng， jīn xiá lù jì yù， yuán yìng liǎo jié。 xuē pán jīn yǐ dé liǎo wú míng zhī bìng， bèi féng hún zhuī suǒ yǐ sǐ。 qí huò jiē yīn guǎi zǐ mǒu rén 'ér qǐ， guǎi zhī rén yuán xì mǒu xiāng mǒu xìng rén shì， àn fǎ chù zhì， yú bù lüè jí’ děng yǔ。 xiǎo rén 'àn zhōng zhǔ tuō guǎi zǐ， lìng qí shí zhāo。 zhòng rén jiàn jī xiān pī yǔ yǔ guǎi zǐ xiāng fú， yú zhě zì rán yědōu bù xū liǎo。 xuē jiā yòu de shì qián， lǎo yé duàn yī qiān yě kě， wǔ bǎi yě kě， yǔ féng jiā zuò shāo mái zhī fèi。 nà féng jiā yě wú shèn yào jǐn de rén， bù guò wéi de shì qián， jiàn yòu liǎo zhè gè yín zǐ， xiǎng lái yě jiù wú huà liǎo。 lǎo yé xì xiǎng cǐ jì rú hé？ " yǔ cūn xiào dào：“ bù tuǒ， bù tuǒ。 děng wǒ zài zhēn zhuó zhēn zhuó， huò kě yā fú kǒu shēng。” èr rén jì yì， tiān sè yǐ wǎn， bié wú huà shuō。
zhì cì rì zuò táng， gòu qǔ yī yìng yòu míng rén fàn， yǔ cūn xiáng jiā shěn wèn， guǒ jiàn féng jiā rén kǒu xī shū， bù guò lài cǐ yù duō dé xiē shāo mái zhī fèi， xuē jiā zhàng shì yǐ qíng， piān bù xiāng ràng， gù zhì diān dǎo wèi jué。 yǔ cūn biàn xùn qíng wǎng fǎ， hú luàn pàn duàn liǎo cǐ 'àn。 féng jiā dé liǎo xǔ duō shāo mái yín zǐ， yě jiù wú shèn huà shuō liǎo。 yǔ cūn duàn liǎo cǐ 'àn， jí máng zuò shū xìn 'èr fēng， yǔ jiǎ zhèng bìng jīng yíng jié dù shǐ wáng zǐ téng， bù guò shuō " lìng shēng zhī shì yǐ wán， bù bì guò lǜ " děng yǔ。 cǐ shì jiē yóu hú lú miào nèi zhī shā mí xīn mén zǐ suǒ chū， yǔ cūn yòu kǒng tā duì rén shuō chū dāng rì pín jiàn shí de shì lái， yīn cǐ xīn zhōng dà bù lè yè， hòu lái dào dǐ xún liǎo gè bù shì， yuǎn yuǎn de chōng fā liǎo tā cái bà。
dāng xià yán bù zhe yǔ cūn。 qiě shuō nà mǎi liǎo yīng lián dǎ sǐ féng yuān de xuē gōng zǐ， yì xì jīn líng rén shì， běn shì shū xiāng jì shì zhī jiā。 zhǐ shì rú jīn zhè xuē gōng zǐ yòu nián sàng fù， guǎ mǔ yòu lián tā shì gè dú gēn gū zhǒng， wèi miǎn nì 'ài zòng róng， suì zhì lǎo dà wú chéng， qiě jiā zhōng yòu bǎi wàn zhī fù， xiàn lǐng zhe nèi tǎng qián liáng， cǎi bàn zá liào。 zhè xuē gōng zǐ xué míng xuē pán， biǎo zì wén qǐ， wǔ suì shàng jiù xìng qíng shē chǐ， yán yǔ 'ào màn。 suī yě shàng guò xué， bù guò lüè shí jǐ zì， zhōng rì wéi yòu dǒu jī zǒu mǎ， yóu shān wán shuǐ 'ér yǐ。 suī shì huáng shāng， yī yìng jīng jì shì shì， quán rán bù zhī， bù guò lài zǔ fù zhī jiù qíngfèn， hù bù guà xū míng， zhī lǐng qián liáng， qí yú shì tǐ， zì yòu huǒ jì lǎo jiā rén děng cuò bàn。 guǎ mǔ wáng shì nǎi xiàn rèn jīng yíng jié dù shǐ wáng zǐ téng zhī mèi， yǔ róng guó fǔ jiǎ zhèng de fū rén wáng shì， shì yī mǔ suǒ shēng de zǐ mèi， jīn nián fāng sì shí shàng xià nián jì， zhǐ yòu xuē pán yī zǐ。 hái yòu yī nǚ， bǐ xuē pán xiǎo liǎng suì， rǔ míng bǎo chāi， shēng dé jī gǔ yíng rùn， jǔ zhǐ xián yǎ。 dāng rì yòu tā fù qīn zài rì， kù 'ài cǐ nǚ， lìng qí dú shū shí zì， jiào zhī nǎi xiōng jìng gāo guò shí bèi。 zì fù qīn sǐ hòu， jiàn gē gē bù néng yǐ tiē mǔ huái， tā biàn bù yǐ shū zì wéi shì， zhǐ liú xīn zhēn zhǐ jiā jì děng shì， hǎo wéi mǔ qīn fēn yōu jiě láo。 jìn yīn jīn shàng chóng shī shàng lǐ， zhēng cǎi cái néng， jiàng bù shì chū zhī lóng 'ēn， chú pìn xuǎn fēi pín wài， fán shì huàn míng jiā zhī nǚ， jiē qīn míng dá bù， yǐ bèi xuǎn wéi gōng zhù jùn zhù rù xué péi shì， chōng wéi cái rén zàn shàn zhī zhí。 èr zé zì xuē pán fù qīn sǐ hòu， gè shěng zhōng suǒ yòu de mǎi mài chéng jú， zǒng guǎn， huǒ jì rén děng， jiàn xuē pán nián qīng bù 'ān shì shì， biàn chèn shí guǎi piàn qǐ lái， jīng dū zhōng jǐ chù shēng yì， jiàn yì xiāo hào。 xuē pán sù wén dé dū zhōng nǎi dì yī fán huá zhī dì， zhèng sī yī yóu， biàn chèn cǐ jī huì， yī wéi sòng mèi dài xuǎn， èr wéi wàng qīn， sān yīn qīn zì rù bù xiāo suàn jiù zhàng， zài jì xīn zhī， - qí shí zé wéi yóu lǎn shàng guó fēng guāng zhī yì。 yīn cǐ zǎo yǐ dǎ diǎn xià xíng zhuāng xì ruǎn， yǐ jí kuì sòng qīn yǒu gè sè tǔ wù rén qíng děng lèi， zhèng zé rì yī dìng qǐ shēn， bù xiǎng piān yù jiàn liǎo guǎi zǐ zhòng mài yīng lián。 xuē pán jiàn yīng lián shēng dé bù sú， lì yì mǎi tā， yòu yù féng jiā lái duó rén， yīn shì qiáng hèlìng shǒu xià háo nú jiāng féng yuān dǎ sǐ。 tā biàn jiāng jiā zhōng shì wù yī yī de zhǔ tuō liǎo zú zhōng rén bìng jǐ gè lǎo jiā rén， tā biàn dài liǎo mǔ mèi jìng zì qǐ shēn cháng xíng qù liǎo。 rén mìng guān sī yī shì， tā jìng shì wéi 'ér xì， zì wéi huā shàng jǐ gè chòu qián， méi yòu bù liǎo de。
zài lù bù jì qí rì。 nà rì yǐ jiāng rù dū shí， què yòu wén dé mǔ jiù wáng zǐ téng shēng liǎo jiǔ shěng tǒng zhì， fèng zhǐ chū dū chá biān。 xuē pán xīn zhōng 'àn xǐ dào：“ wǒ zhèng chóu jìn jīng qù yòu gè dí qīn de mǔ jiù guǎn xiá zhe， bù néng rèn yì huī huò huī huò， piān rú jīn yòu shēng chū qù liǎo， kě zhī tiān cóng rén yuàn。” yīn hé mǔ qīn shāng yì dào：“ zán men jīng zhōng suī yòu jǐ chù fáng shè， zhǐ shì zhè shí lái nián méi rén jìn jīng jū zhù， nà kàn shǒu de rén wèi miǎn tōu zhe zū lìn yǔ rén， xū dé xiān zhe jǐ gè rén qù dǎ sǎo shōu shí cái hǎo。” tā mǔ qīn dào：“ hé bì rú cǐ zhāo yáo！ zán men zhè yī jìn jīng， yuán gāi xiān bài wàng qīn yǒu， huò shì zài nǐ jiù jiù jiā， huò shì nǐ yí diē jiā。 tā liǎng jiā de fáng shè jí shì piányí de， zán men xiān néng zhe zhù xià， zài màn màn de zhe rén qù shōu shí， qǐ bù xiāo tíng xiē。” xuē pán dào：“ rú jīn jiù jiù zhèng shēng liǎo wài shěng qù， jiā lǐ zì rán máng luàn qǐ shēn， zán men zhè gōng fū yī wō yī tuō de bēn liǎo qù， qǐ bù méi yǎn sè。” tā mǔ qīn dào：“ nǐ jiù jiù jiā suī shēng liǎo qù， hái yòu nǐ yí diē jiā。 kuàng zhè jǐ nián lái， nǐ jiù jiù yí niàn liǎng chù， měi měi dài xìn shào shū， jiē zán men lái。 rú jīn jì lái liǎo， nǐ jiù jiù suī máng zhe qǐ shēn， nǐ jiǎ jiā yí niàn wèi bì bù kǔ liú wǒ men。 zán men qiě máng máng shōu shí fáng wū， qǐ bù shǐ rén jiàn guài？ nǐ de yì sī wǒ què zhī dào， shǒu zhe jiù jiù yí diē zhù zhe， wèi miǎn jū jǐn liǎo nǐ， bù rú nǐ gè zì zhù zhe， hǎo rèn yì shī wéi。 nǐ jì rú cǐ， nǐ zì qù tiǎo suǒ zhái zǐ qù zhù， wǒ hé nǐ yí niàn， zǐ mèi men bié liǎo zhè jǐ nián， què yào sī shǒu jǐ rì， wǒ dài liǎo nǐ mèi zǐ tóu nǐ yí niàn jiā qù， nǐ dào hǎo bù hǎo？ " xuē pán jiàn mǔ qīn rú cǐ shuō， qíng zhī niǔ bù guò de， zhǐ dé fēn fù rén fū yī lù bēn róng guó fǔ lái。
nà shí wáng fū rén yǐ zhī xuē pán guān sī yī shì， kuī jiǎ yǔ cūn wéi chí liǎo jié， cái fàng liǎo xīn。 yòu jiàn gē gē shēng liǎo biān quē， zhèng chóu yòu shǎo liǎo niàn jiā de qīn qī lái wǎng， lüè jiā jì mò。 guò liǎo jǐ rì， hū jiā rén chuán bào：“ yí tài tài dài liǎo gē 'ér jiě 'ér， hé jiā jìn jīng， zhèng zài mén wài xià chē。” xǐ de wáng fū rén máng dài liǎo nǚ xí rén děng， jiē chū dà tīng， jiāng xuē yí mā děng jiē liǎo jìn qù。 zǐ mèi men mù nián xiāng huì， zì bù bì shuō bēi xǐ jiāo jí， qì xiào xù kuò yī fān。 máng yòu yǐn liǎo bài jiàn jiǎ mǔ， jiāng rén qíng tǔ wù gè zhǒng chóu xiàn liǎo。 hé jiā jù sī jiàn guò， máng yòu zhì xí jiē fēng。
xuē pán yǐ bài jiàn guò jiǎ zhèng， jiǎ liǎn yòu yǐn zhe bài jiàn liǎo jiǎ shè， jiǎ zhēn děng。 jiǎ zhèng biàn shǐ rén shàng lái duì wáng fū rén shuō：“ yí tài tài yǐ yòu liǎo chūn qiū， wài shēng nián qīng bù zhī shì lù， zài wài zhù zhe kǒng yòu rén shēng shì。 zán men dōng běi jiǎo shàng lí xiāng yuàn yī suǒ shí lái jiān fáng， bái kōng xián zhe， dǎ sǎo liǎo， qǐng yí tài tài hé jiě 'ér gē 'ér zhù liǎo shèn hǎo。” wáng fū rén wèi jí liú， jiǎ mǔ yě jiù qiǎn rén lái shuō：“ qǐng yí tài tài jiù zài zhè lǐ zhù xià， dà jiā qīn mì xiē " děng yǔ。 xuē yí mā zhèng yào tóng jū yī chù， fāng kě jū jǐn xiē 'ér zǐ， ruò lìng zhù zài wài， yòu kǒng tā zòng xìng rě huò， suì máng dào xiè yīngyǔn。 yòu sī yǔ wáng fū rén shuō míng：“ yī yìng rì fèi gōngjǐ yī gài miǎn què， fāng shì chù cháng zhī fǎ。” wáng fū rén zhī tā jiā bù nán yú cǐ， suì yì cóng qí yuàn。 cóng cǐ hòu xuē jiā mǔ zǐ jiù zài lí xiāng yuàn zhù liǎo。
yuán lái zhè lí xiāng yuàn jí dāng rì róng gōng mù nián yǎng jìng zhī suǒ， xiǎo xiǎo qiǎo qiǎo， yuē yòu shí yú jiān fáng wū， qián tīng hòu shè jù quán。 lìng yòu yī mén tōng jiē， xuē pán jiā rén jiù zǒu cǐ mén chū rù。 xī nán yòu yī jiǎo mén， tōng yī jiā dào， chū jiā dào biàn shì wáng fū rén zhèng fáng de dōng biān liǎo。 měi rì huò fàn hòu， huò wǎn jiān， xuē yí mā biàn guò lái， huò yǔ jiǎ mǔ xián tán， huò yǔ wáng fū rén xiāng xù。 bǎo chāi rì yǔ dài yù yíng chūn zǐ mèi děng yī chù， huò kàn shū xià qí， huò zuò zhēn zhǐ， dǎo yě shí fēn lè yè。 zhǐ shì xuē pán qǐ chū zhī xīn， yuán bù yù zài jiǎ zhái jū zhù zhě， dàn kǒng yí fù guǎn yuē jū jìn， liào bì bù zì zài de， wú nài mǔ qīn zhí yì zài cǐ， qiě zhái zhōng yòu shí fēn yīn qín kǔ liú， zhǐ dé zàn qiě zhù xià， yī miàn shǐ rén dǎ sǎo chū zì jǐ de fáng wū， zài yí jū guò qù de。 shuí zhī zì cóng zài cǐ zhù liǎo bù shàng yī yuè de guāng jǐng， jiǎ zhái zú zhōng fán yòu de zǐ zhí， jù yǐ rèn shú liǎo yī bàn， fán shì nà xiē wán kù qì xí zhě， mò bù xǐ yǔ tā lái wǎng， jīn rì huì jiǔ， míng rì guān huā， shèn zhì jù dǔ piáo chāng， jiàn jiàn wú suǒ bù zhì， yǐn yòu de xuē pán bǐ dāng rì gèng huài liǎo shí bèi。 suī rán jiǎ zhèng xùn zǐ yòu fāng， zhì jiā yòu fǎ， yī zé zú dà rén duō， zhào guǎn bù dào zhè xiē， èr zé xiàn rèn zú cháng nǎi shì jiǎ zhēn， bǐ nǎi níng fǔ zhǎngsūn， yòu xiàn xí zhí， fán zú zhōng shì， zì yòu tā zhǎng guǎn， sān zé gōng sī rǒng zá， qiě sù xìng xiāo sǎ， bù yǐ sú wù wéi yào， měi gōng xiá zhī shí， bù guò kàn shū zhuóqí 'ér yǐ， yú shì duō bù jiè yì。 kuàng qiě zhè lí xiāng yuàn xiāng gé liǎng céng fáng shè， yòu yòu jiē mén lìng kāi， rèn yì kě yǐ chū rù， suǒ yǐ zhè xiē zǐ dì men jìng kě yǐ fàng yì chàng huái de， yīn cǐ suì jiāng yí jū zhī niàn jiàn jiàn dǎ miè liǎo。
An ill-fated girl happens to meet an ill-fated young man. The Hu Lu Bonze adjudicates the Hu Lu case.
Tai-yue, for we shall now return to our story, having come, along with her cousin to madame Wang's apartments, found madame Wang discussing certain domestic occurrences with the messengers, who had arrived from her elder brother's wife's home, and conversing also about the case of homicide, in which the family of her mother's sister had become involved, and other such relevant topics. Perceiving how pressing and perplexing were the matters in which madame Wang was engaged, the young ladies promptly left her apartments, and came over to the rooms of their widow sister-in-law, Mrs. Li.
This Mrs. Li had originally been the spouse of Chia Chu. Although Chu had died at an early age, he had the good fortune of leaving behind him a son, to whom the name of Chia Lan was given. He was, at this period, just in his fifth year, and had already entered school, and applied himself to books.
This Mrs. Li was also the daughter of an official of note in Chin Ling. Her father's name was Li Shou-chung, who had, at one time, been Imperial Libationer. Among his kindred, men as well as women had all devoted themselves to poetry and letters; but ever since Li Shou-chung continued the line of succession, he readily asserted that the absence of literary attainments in his daughter was indeed a virtue, so that it soon came about that she did not apply herself in real earnest to learning; with the result that all she studied were some parts of the "Four Books for women," and the "Memoirs of excellent women," that all she read did not extend beyond a limited number of characters, and that all she committed to memory were the examples of these few worthy female characters of dynasties of yore; while she attached special importance to spinning and female handiwork. To this reason is to be assigned the name selected for her, of Li Wan (Li, the weaver), and the style of Kung Ts'ai (Palace Sempstress).
Hence it was that, though this Li Wan still continued, after the loss of her mate, while she was as yet in the spring of her life, to live amidst affluence and luxury, she nevertheless resembled in every respect a block of rotten wood or dead ashes. She had no inclination whatsoever to inquire after anything or to listen to anything; while her sole and exclusive thought was to wait upon her relatives and educate her son; and, in addition to this, to teach her young sisters-in-law to do needlework and to read aloud.
Tai-yue was, it is true, at this period living as a guest in the Chia mansion, where she certainly had the several young ladies to associate with her, but, outside her aged father, (she thought) there was really no need for her to extend affection to any of the rest.
But we will now speak of Chia Yue-ts'un. Having obtained the appointment of Prefect of Ying T'ien, he had no sooner arrived at his post than a charge of manslaughter was laid before his court. This had arisen from some rivalry between two parties in the purchase of a slave-girl, either of whom would not yield his right; with the result that a serious assault occurred, which ended in homicide.
Yue-ts'un had, with all promptitude, the servants of the plaintiffs brought before him, and subjected them to an examination.
"The victim of the assault," the plaintiffs deposed, "was your servants' master. Having on a certain day, purchased a servant-girl, she unexpectedly turned out to be a girl who had been carried away and sold by a kidnapper. This kidnapper had, first of all, got hold of our family's money, and our master had given out that he would on the third day, which was a propitious day, take her over into the house, but this kidnapper stealthily sold her over again to the Hsueeh family. When we came to know of this, we went in search of the seller to lay hold of him, and bring back the girl by force. But the Hsueeh party has been all along _the_ bully of Chin Ling, full of confidence in his wealth, full of presumption on account of his prestige; and his arrogant menials in a body seized our master and beat him to death. The murderous master and his crew have all long ago made good their escape, leaving no trace behind them, while there only remain several parties not concerned in the affair. Your servants have for a whole year lodged complaints, but there has been no one to do our cause justice, and we therefore implore your Lordship to have the bloodstained criminals arrested, and thus conduce to the maintenance of humanity and benevolence; and the living, as well as the dead, will feel boundless gratitude for this heavenly bounty."
When Yue-ts'un heard their appeal, he flew into a fiery rage. "What!" he exclaimed. "How could a case of such gravity have taken place as the murder of a man, and the culprits have been allowed to run away scot-free, without being arrested? Issue warrants, and despatch constables to at once lay hold of the relatives of the bloodstained criminals and bring them to be examined by means of torture."
Thereupon he espied a Retainer, who was standing by the judgment-table, wink at him, signifying that he should not issue the warrants. Yue-t'sun gave way to secret suspicion, and felt compelled to desist.
Withdrawing from the Court-room, he retired into a private chamber, from whence he dismissed his followers, only keeping this single Retainer to wait upon him.
The Retainer speedily advanced and paid his obeisance. "Your worship," he said smiling, "has persistently been rising in official honours, and increasing in wealth so that, in the course of about eight or nine years, you have forgotten me."
"Your face is, however, extremely familiar," observed Yue-ts'un, "but I cannot, for the moment, recall who you are."
"Honourable people forget many things," remarked the Retainer, as he smiled. "What! Have you even forgotten the place where you started in life? and do you not remember what occurred, in years gone by, in the Hu Lu Temple?"
Yue-ts'un was filled with extreme astonishment; and past events then began to dawn upon him.
The fact is that this Retainer had been at one time a young priest in the Hu Lu temple; but as, after its destruction by fire, he had no place to rest his frame, he remembered how light and easy was, after all, this kind of occupation, and being unable to reconcile himself to the solitude and quiet of a temple, he accordingly availed himself of his years, which were as yet few, to let his hair grow, and become a retainer.
Yue-ts'un had had no idea that it was he. Hastily taking his hand in his, he smilingly observed, "You are, indeed, an old acquaintance!" and then pressed him to take a seat, so as to have a chat with more ease, but the Retainer would not presume to sit down.
"Friendships," Yue-ts'un remarked, putting on a smiling expression, "contracted in poor circumstances should not be forgotten! This is a private room; so that if you sat down, what would it matter?"
The Retainer thereupon craved permission to take a seat, and sat down gingerly, all awry.
"Why did you, a short while back," Yue-ts'un inquired, "not allow me to issue the warrants?"
"Your illustrious office," replied the Retainer, "has brought your worship here, and is it likely you have not transcribed some philactery of your post in this province!"
"What is an office-philactery?" asked Yue-ts'un with alacrity.
"Now-a-days," explained the Retainer, "those who become local officers provide themselves invariably with a secret list, in which are entered the names and surnames of the most influential and affluent gentry of note in the province. This is in vogue in every province. Should inadvertently, at any moment, one give umbrage to persons of this status, why, not only office, but I fear even one's life, it would be difficult to preserve. That's why these lists are called office-philacteries. This Hsueeh family, just a while back spoken of, how could your worship presume to provoke? This case in question affords no difficulties whatever in the way of a settlement; but the prefects, who have held office before you, have all, by doing violence to the feelings and good name of these people, come to the end they did."
As he uttered these words, he produced, from inside a purse which he had handy, a transcribed office-philactery, which he handed over to Yue-ts'un; who upon perusal, found it full of trite and unpolished expressions of public opinion, with regard to the leading clans and notable official families in that particular district. They ran as follows:
The "Chia" family is not "chia," a myth; white jade form the Halls; gold compose their horses! The "A Fang" Palace is three hundred li in extent, but is no fit residence for a "Shih" of Chin Ling. The eastern seas lack white jade beds, and the "Lung Wang," king of the Dragons, has come to ask for one of the Chin Ling Wang, (Mr. Wang of Chin Ling.) In a plenteous year, snow, (Hsueeh,) is very plentiful; their pearls and gems are like sand, their gold like iron.
Scarcely had Yue-ts'un done reading, when suddenly was heard the announcement, communicated by the beating of a gong, that Mr. Wang had come to pay his respects.
Yue-ts'un hastily adjusted his official clothes and hat, and went out of the room to greet and receive the visitor. Returning after a short while he proceeded to question the Retainer (about what he had been perusing.)
"These four families," explained the Retainer, "are all interlaced by ties of relationship, so that if you offend one, you offend all; if you honour one, you honour all. For support and protection, they all have those to take care of their interests! Now this Hsueeh, who is charged with homicide, is indeed the Hsueeh implied by 'in a plenteous year, (Hsueeh,) snow, is very plentiful.' In fact, not only has he these three families to rely upon, but his (father's) old friends, and his own relatives and friends are both to be found in the capital, as well as abroad in the provinces; and they are, what is more, not few in number. Who is it then that your Worship purposes having arrested?"
When Yue-ts'un had heard these remarks, he forthwith put on a smile and inquired of the Retainer, "If what you say be true, how is then this lawsuit to be settled? Are you also perchance well aware of the place of retreat of this homicide?"
"I don't deceive your Worship," the Retainer ventured smiling, "when I say that not only do I know the hiding-place of this homicide, but that I also am acquainted with the man who kidnapped and sold the girl; I likewise knew full well the poor devil and buyer, now deceased. But wait, and I'll tell your worship all, with full details. This person, who succumbed to the assault, was the son of a minor gentry. His name was Feng Yuean. His father and mother are both deceased, and he has likewise no brothers. He looked after some scanty property in order to eke out a living. His age was eighteen or nineteen; and he had a strong penchant for men's, and not much for women's society. But this was too the retribution (for sins committed) in a previous existence! for coming, by a strange coincidence, in the way of this kidnapper, who was selling the maid, he straightway at a glance fell in love with this girl, and made up his mind to purchase her and make her his second wife; entering an oath not to associate with any male friends, nor even to marry another girl. And so much in earnest was he in this matter that he had to wait until after the third day before she could enter his household (so as to make the necessary preparations for the marriage). But who would have foreseen the issue? This kidnapper quietly disposed of her again by sale to the Hsueeh family; his intention being to pocket the price-money from both parties, and effect his escape. Contrary to his calculations, he couldn't after all run away in time, and the two buyers laid hold of him and beat him, till he was half dead; but neither of them would take his coin back, each insisting upon the possession of the girl. But do you think that young gentleman, Mr. Hsueeh, would yield his claim to her person? Why, he at once summoned his servants and bade them have recourse to force; and, taking this young man Feng, they assailed him till they made mincemeat of him. He was then carried back to his home, where he finally died after the expiry of three days. This young Mr. Hsueeh had previously chosen a day, on which he meant to set out for the capital, and though he had beaten the young man Feng to death, and carried off the girl, he nevertheless behaved in the manner of a man who had had no concern in the affair. And all he gave his mind to was to take his family and go along on his way; but not in any wise in order to evade (the consequences) of this (occurrence). This case of homicide, (he looked upon) as a most trivial and insignificant matter, which, (he thought), his brother and servants, who were on the spot, would be enough to settle. But, however, enough of this person. Now does your worship know who this girl is who was sold?"
"How could I possibly know?" answered Yue-ts'un.
"And yet," remarked the Retainer, as he laughed coldly, "this is a person to whom you are indebted for great obligations; for she is no one else than the daughter of Mr. Chen, who lived next door to the Hu Lu temple. Her infant name is 'Ying Lien.'"
"What! is it really she?" exclaimed Yue-ts'un full of surprise. "I heard that she had been kidnapped, ever since she was five years old; but has she only been sold recently?"
"Kidnappers of this kind," continued the Retainer, "only abduct infant girls, whom they bring up till they reach the age of twelve or thirteen, when they take them into strange districts and dispose of them through their agents. In days gone by, we used daily to coax this girl, Ying Lien, to romp with us, so that we got to be exceedingly friendly. Hence it is that though, with the lapse of seven or eight years, her mien has assumed a more surpassingly lovely appearance, her general features have, on the other hand, undergone no change; and this is why I can recognise her. Besides, in the centre of her two eyebrows, she had a spot, of the size of a grain of rice, of carnation colour, which she has had ever since she was born into the world. This kidnapper, it also happened, rented my house to live in; and on a certain day, on which the kidnapper was not at home, I even set her a few questions. She said, 'that the kidnapper had so beaten her, that she felt intimidated, and couldn't on any account, venture to speak out; simply averring that the kidnapper was her own father, and that, as he had no funds to repay his debts, he had consequently disposed of her by sale!' I tried time after time to induce her to answer me, but she again gave way to tears and added no more than: 'I don't really remember anything of my youth.' Of this, anyhow, there can be no doubt; on a certain day the young man Feng and the kidnapper met, said the money was paid down; but as the kidnapper happened to be intoxicated, Ying Lien exclaimed, as she sighed: 'My punishment has this day been consummated!' Later on again, when she heard that young Feng would, after three days, have her taken over to his house, she once more underwent a change and put on such a sorrowful look that, unable to brook the sight of it, I waited till the kidnapper went out, when I again told my wife to go and cheer her by representing to her that this Mr. Feng's fixed purpose to wait for a propitious day, on which to come and take her over, was ample proof that he would not look upon her as a servant-girl. 'Furthermore,' (explained my wife to her), 'he is a sort of person exceedingly given to fast habits, and has at home ample means to live upon, so that if, besides, with his extreme aversion to women, he actually purchases you now, at a fancy price, you should be able to guess the issue, without any explanation. You have to bear suspense only for two or three days, and what need is there to be sorrowful and dejected?' After these assurances, she became somewhat composed, flattering herself that she would from henceforth have a home of her own.
"But who would believe that the world is but full of disappointments! On the succeeding day, it came about that the kidnapper again sold her to the Hsueeh family! Had he disposed of her to any other party, no harm would anyhow have resulted; but this young gentleman Hsueeh, who is nicknamed by all, 'the Foolish and overbearing Prince,' is the most perverse and passionate being in the whole world. What is more, he throws money away as if it were dust. The day on which he gave the thrashing with blows like falling leaves and flowing water, he dragged (_lit_. pull alive, drag dead) Ying Lien away more dead than alive, by sheer force, and no one, even up to this date, is aware whether she be among the dead or the living. This young Feng had a spell of empty happiness; for (not only) was his wish not fulfilled, but on the contrary he spent money and lost his life; and was not this a lamentable case?"
When Yue-ts'un heard this account he also heaved a sigh. "This was indeed," he observed, "a retribution in store for them! Their encounter was likewise not accidental; for had it been, how was it that this Feng Yuean took a fancy to Ying Lien?
"This Ying Lien had, during all these years, to endure much harsh treatment from the hands of the kidnapper, and had, at length, obtained the means of escape; and being besides full of warm feeling, had he actually made her his wife, and had they come together, the event would certainly have been happy; but, as luck would have it, there occurred again this contretemps.
"This Hsueeh is, it is true, more laden with riches and honours than Feng was, but when we bear in mind what kind of man he is he certainly, with his large bevy of handmaids, and his licentious and inordinate habits, cannot ever be held equal to Feng Yuean, who had set his heart upon one person! This may appositely be termed a fantastic sentimental destiny, which, by a strange coincidence, befell a couple consisting of an ill-fated young fellow and girl! But why discuss third parties? The only thing now is how to decide this case, so as to put things right."
"Your worship," remarked the Retainer smiling, "displayed, in years gone by, such great intelligence and decision, and how is it that today you, on the contrary, become a person without any resources! Your servant has heard that the promotion of your worship to fill up this office is due to the exertions of the Chia and Wang families; and as this Hsueeh P'an is a relative of the Chia mansion, why doesn't your worship take your craft along with the stream, and bring, by the performance of a kindness, this case to an issue, so that you may again in days to come, be able to go and face the two Dukes Chia and Wang?"
"What you suggest," replied Yue-ts'un, "is, of course, right enough; but this case involves a human life, and honoured as I have been, by His Majesty the Emperor, by a restoration to office, and selection to an appointment, how can I at the very moment, when I may strain all my energies to show my gratitude, by reason of a private consideration, set the laws at nought? This is a thing which I really haven't the courage to do."
"What your worship says is naturally right and proper," remarked the Retainer at these words, smiling sarcastically, "but at the present stage of the world, such things cannot be done. Haven't you heard the saying of a man of old to the effect that great men take action suitable to the times. 'He who presses,' he adds, 'towards what is auspicious and avoids what is inauspicious is a perfect man.' From what your worship says, not only you couldn't, by any display of zeal, repay your obligation to His Majesty, but, what is more, your own life you will find it difficult to preserve. There are still three more considerations necessary to insure a safe settlement."
Yue-ts'un drooped his head for a considerable time.
"What is there in your idea to be done?" he at length inquired.
"Your servant," responded the Retainer, "has already devised a most excellent plan. It's this: To-morrow, when your Lordship sits in court, you should, merely for form's sake, make much ado, by despatching letters and issuing warrants for the arrest of the culprits. The murderer will naturally not be forthcoming; and as the plaintiffs will be strong in their displeasure, you will of course have some members of the clan of the Hsueeh family, together with a few servants and others, taken into custody, and examined under torture, when your servant will be behind the scenes to bring matters to a settlement, by bidding them report that the victim had succumbed to a sudden ailment, and by urging the whole number of the kindred, as well as the headmen of the place, to hand in a declaration to that effect. Your Worship can aver that you understand perfectly how to write charms in dust, and conjure the spirit; having had an altar, covered with dust, placed in the court, you should bid the military and people to come and look on to their heart's content. Your Worship can give out that the divining spirit has declared: 'that the deceased, Feng Yuean, and Hsueeh P'an had been enemies in a former life, that having now met in the narrow road, their destinies were consummated; that Hsueeh P'an has, by this time, contracted some indescribable disease and perished from the effects of the persecution of the spirit of Feng.' That as the calamity had originated entirely from the action of the kidnapper, exclusive of dealing with the kidnapper according to law, the rest need not be interfered with, and so on. Your servant will be in the background to speak to the kidnapper and urge him to make a full confession; and when people find that the response of the divining spirit harmonizes with the statements of the kidnapper, they will, as a matter of course, entertain no suspicion.
"The Hsueeh family have plenty of money, so that if your Worship adjudicates that they should pay five hundred, they can afford it, or one thousand will also be within their means; and this sum can be handed to the Feng family to meet the outlay of burning incense and burial expenses. The Feng family are, besides, people of not much consequence, and (the fuss made by them) being simply for money, they too will, when they have got the cash in hand, have nothing more to say. But may it please your worship to consider carefully this plan and see what you think of it?"
"It isn't a safe course! It isn't a safe course!" Yue-ts'un observed as he smiled. "Let me further think and deliberate; and possibly by succeeding in suppressing public criticism, the matter might also be settled."
These two closed their consultation by a fixed determination, and the next day, when he sat in judgment, he marked off a whole company of the plaintiffs as well as of the accused, as were mentioned by name, and had them brought before him. Yue-ts'un examined them with additional minuteness, and discovered in point of fact, that the inmates of the Feng family were extremely few, that they merely relied upon this charge with the idea of obtaining some compensation for joss-sticks and burials; and that the Hsueeh family, presuming on their prestige and confident of patronage, had been obstinate in the refusal to make any mutual concession, with the result that confusion had supervened, and that no decision had been arrived at.
Following readily the bent of his feelings, Yue-ts'un disregarded the laws, and adjudicated this suit in a random way; and as the Feng family came in for a considerable sum, with which to meet the expense for incense and the funeral, they had, after all, not very much to say (in the way of objections.)
With all despatch, Yue-ts'un wrote and forwarded two letters, one to Chia Cheng, and the other to Wang Tzu-t'eng, at that time commander-in-chief of a Metropolitan Division, simply informing them: that the case, in which their worthy nephew was concerned, had come to a close, and that there was no need for them to give way to any extreme solicitude.
This case had been settled through the exclusive action of the young priest of the Hu Lu temple, now an official Retainer; and Yue-ts'un, apprehending, on the other hand, lest he might in the presence of others, divulge the circumstances connected with the days gone by, when he was in a state of penury, naturally felt very unhappy in his mind. But at a later period, he succeeded, by ultimately finding in him some shortcoming, and deporting him to a far-away place, in setting his fears at rest.
But we will put Yue-ts'un on one side, and refer to the young man Hsueeh, who purchased Ying Lien, and assaulted Feng Yuan to death.
He too was a native of Chin Ling and belonged to a family literary during successive generations; but this young Hsueeh had recently, when of tender age, lost his father, and his widowed mother out of pity for his being the only male issue and a fatherless child, could not help doating on him and indulging him to such a degree, that when he, in course of time, grew up to years of manhood, he was good for nothing.
In their home, furthermore, was the wealth of a millionaire, and they were, at this time, in receipt of an income from His Majesty's privy purse, for the purvey of various articles.
This young Hsueeh went at school under the name of P'an. His style was Wen Ch'i. His natural habits were extravagant; his language haughty and supercilious. He had, of course, also been to school, but all he knew was a limited number of characters, and those not well. The whole day long, his sole delight was in cock-fighting and horse-racing, rambling over hills and doing the sights.
Though a Purveyor, by Imperial appointment, he had not the least idea of anything relating to matters of business or of the world. All he was good for was: to take advantage of the friendships enjoyed by his grandfather in days of old, to present himself at the Board of Revenue to perfunctorily sign his name and to draw the allowance and rations; while the rest of his affairs he, needless to say, left his partners and old servants of the family to manage for him.
His widowed mother, a Miss Wang, was the youngest sister of Wang Tzu-t'eng, whose present office was that of Commander-in-Chief of a Metropolitan Division; and was, with Madame Wang, the spouse of Chia Cheng, of the Jung Kuo Mansion, sisters born of one mother. She was, in this year, more or less forty years of age and had only one son: this Hsueeh P'an.
She also had a daughter, who was two years younger than Hsueeh P'an, and whose infant name was Pao Ch'ai. She was beautiful in appearance, and elegant and refined in deportment. In days gone by, when her father lived, he was extremely fond of this girl, and had her read books and study characters, so that, as compared with her brother, she was actually a hundred times his superior. Having become aware, ever since her father's death, that her brother could not appease the anguish of her mother's heart, she at once dispelled all thoughts of books, and gave her sole mind to needlework, to the menage and other such concerns, so as to be able to participate in her mother's sorrow, and to bear the fatigue in lieu of her.
As of late the Emperor on the Throne held learning and propriety in high esteem, His Majesty called together and singled out talent and ability, upon which he deigned to display exceptional grace and favour. Besides the number called forth from private life and chosen as Imperial secondary wives, the daughters of families of hereditary official status and renown were without exception, reported by name to the authorities, and communicated to the Board, in anticipation of the selection for maids in waiting to the Imperial Princesses and daughters of Imperial Princes in their studies, and for filling up the offices of persons of eminence, to urge them to become excellent.
Ever since the death of Hsueeh P'an's father, the various assistants, managers and partners, and other employes in the respective provinces, perceiving how youthful Hsueeh P'an was in years, and how much he lacked worldly experience, readily availed themselves of the time to begin swindling and defrauding. The business, carried on in various different places in the capital, gradually also began to fall off and to show a deficit.
Hsueeh P'an had all along heard that the capital was the _one_ place for gaieties, and was just entertaining the idea of going on a visit, when he eagerly jumped at the opportunity (that presented itself,) first of all to escort his sister, who was going to wait for the selection, in the second place to see his relatives, and in the third to enter personally the capital, (professedly) to settle up long-standing accounts, and to make arrangements for new outlays, but, in reality, with the sole purpose of seeing the life and splendour of the metropolis.
He therefore, had, at an early period, got ready his baggage and small luggage, as well as the presents for relatives and friends, things of every description of local production, presents in acknowledgment of favours received, and other such effects, and he was about to choose a day to start on his journey when unexpectedly he came in the way of the kidnapper who offered Ying Lien for sale. As soon as Hsueeh P'an saw how _distinguee_ Ying Lien was in her appearance, he formed the resolution of buying her; and when he encountered Feng Yuean, come with the object of depriving him of her, he in the assurance of superiority, called his sturdy menials together, who set upon Feng Yuean and beat him to death. Forthwith collecting all the affairs of the household, and entrusting them one by one to the charge of some members of the clan and several elderly servants of the family, he promptly took his mother, sister and others and after all started on his distant journey, while the charge of homicide he, however, treated as child's play, flattering himself that if he spent a few filthy pieces of money, there was no doubt as to its settlement.
He had been on his journey how many days, he had not reckoned, when, on a certain day, as they were about to enter the capital, he furthermore heard that his maternal uncle, Wang Tzu-t'eng, had been raised to the rank of Supreme Governor of nine provinces, and had been honoured with an Imperial command to leave the capital and inspect the frontiers.
Hsueeh P'an was at heart secretly elated. "I was just lamenting," he thought, "that on my visit to the capital, I would have my maternal uncle to exercise control over me, and that I wouldn't be able to gambol and frisk to my heart's content, but now that he is leaving the capital, on promotion, it's evident that Heaven accomplishes man's wishes."
As he consequently held consultation with his mother; "Though we have," he argued, "several houses of our own in the capital, yet for these last ten years or so, there has been no one to live in them, and the people charged with the looking after them must unavoidably have stealthily rented them to some one or other. It's therefore needful to let servants go ahead to sweep and get the place in proper order, before we can very well go ourselves."
"What need is there to go to such trouble?" retorted his mother; "the main object of our present visit to the capital is first of all to pay our respects to our relatives and friends; and it is, either at your elder uncle's, my brother's place, or at your other uncle's, my sister's husband's home, both of which families' houses are extremely spacious, that we can put up provisionally, and by and bye, at our ease, we can send servants to make our house tidy. Now won't this be a considerable saving of trouble?"
"My uncle, your brother," suggested Hsueeh P'an, "has just been raised to an appointment in an outside province, so that, of course, in his house, things must be topsy-turvey, on account of his departure; and should we betake ourselves, like a hive of bees and a long trail, to him for shelter; won't we appear very inconsiderate?"
"Your uncle," remarked his mother, "is, it is true, going on promotion, but there's besides the house of your aunt, my sister. What is more, during these last few years from both your uncle's and aunt's have, time after time, been sent messages, and letters forwarded, asking us to come over; and now that we've come, is it likely, though your uncle is busy with his preparations to start on his journey, that your aunt of the Chia family won't do all she can to press us to stay? Besides, were we to have our house got ready in a scramble, won't it make people think it strange? I however know your idea very well that were we kept to stay at your uncle's and aunt's, you won't escape being under strict restraint, unlike what would be the case were we to live in our own house, as you would be free then to act as you please! Such being the case, go, on your own account, and choose some place to take up your quarters in, while I myself, who have been separated from your aunt and cousins for these several years, would however like to stay with them for a few days; and I'll go along with your sister and look up your aunt at her home. What do you say; will this suit you or not?"
Hsueeh P'an, upon hearing his mother speak in this strain, knew well enough that he could not bring her round from her determination; and he had no help but to issue the necessary directions to the servants to make straight for the Jung Kuo mansion. Madame Wang had by this time already come to know that in the lawsuit, in which Hsueeh P'an was concerned, Chia Yue-ts'un had fortunately intervened and lent his good offices, and was at length more composed in her mind. But when she again saw that her eldest brother had been advanced to a post on the frontier, she was just deploring that, deprived of the intercourse of the relatives of her mother's family, how doubly lonely she would feel; when, after the lapse of a few days, some one of the household brought the unexpected announcement that "our lady, your sister, has, with the young gentleman, the young lady and her whole household, entered the capital and have dismounted from their vehicles outside the main entrance." This news so delighted madame Wang that she rushed out, with a few attendants, to greet them in the large Entrance Hall, and brought Mrs. Hsueeh and the others into her house.
The two sisters were now reunited, at an advanced period of their lives, so that mixed feelings of sorrow and joy thronged together, but on these it is, of course, needless to dilate.
After conversing for a time on what had occurred, subsequent to their separation, madame Wang took them to pay their obeisance to dowager lady Chia. They then handed over the various kinds of presents and indigenous articles, and after the whole family had been introduced, a banquet was also spread to greet the guests.
Hsueeh P'an, having paid his respects to Chia Cheng and Chia Lien, was likewise taken to see Chia She, Chia Chen and the other members.
Chia Cheng sent a messenger to tell madame Wang that "'aunt' Hsueeh had already seen many springs and autumns, while their nephew was of tender age, with no experience, so that there was every fear, were he to live outside, that something would again take place. In the South-east corner of our compound," (he sent word,) "there are in the Pear Fragrance Court, over ten apartments, all of which are vacant and lying idle; and were we to tell the servants to sweep them, and invite 'aunt' Hsueeh and the young gentleman and lady to take up their quarters there, it would be an extremely wise thing."
Madame Wang had in fact been entertaining the wish to keep them to live with them, when dowager lady Chia also sent some one to say that, "Mrs. Hsueeh should be asked to put up in the mansion in order that a greater friendliness should exist between them all."
Mrs. Hsueeh herself had all along been desirous to live in one place with her relatives, so as to be able to keep a certain check over her son, fearing that, if they lived in a separate house outside, the natural bent of his habits would run riot, and that some calamity would be brought on; and she therefore, there and then, expressed her sense of appreciation, and accepted the invitation. She further privately told madame Wang in clear terms, that every kind of daily expense and general contribution would have to be entirely avoided and withdrawn as that would be the only thing to justify her to make any protracted stay. And madame Wang aware that she had, in her home, no difficulty in this line, promptly in fact complied with her wishes.
From this date it was that "aunt" Hsueeh and her children took up their quarters in the Pear Fragrance Court.
This Court of Pear Fragrance had, we must explain, been at one time used as a place for the quiet retirement of the Duke Jung in his advanced years. It was on a small scale, but ingeniously laid out. There were, at least, over ten structures. The front halls and the back houses were all in perfect style. There was a separate door giving on to the street, and the people of the household of Hsueeh P'an used this door to go in and out. At the south-west quarter, there was also a side door, which communicated with a narrow roadway. Beyond this narrow road, was the eastern court of madame Wang's principal apartment; so that every day, either after her repast, or in the evening, Mrs. Hsueeh would readily come over and converse, on one thing and another, with dowager lady Chia, or have a chat with madame Wang; while Pao-ch'ai came together, day after day, with Tai yue, Ying-ch'un, her sisters and the other girls, either to read, to play chess, or to do needlework, and the pleasure which they derived was indeed perfect.
Hsueeh P'an however had all along from the first instance, been loth to live in the Chia mansion, as he dreaded that with the discipline enforced by his uncle, he would not be able to be his own master; but his mother had made up her mind so positively to remain there, and what was more, every one in the Chia mansion was most pressing in their efforts to keep them, that there was no alternative for him but to take up his quarters temporarily there, while he at the same time directed servants to go and sweep the apartments of their own house, with a view that they should move into them when they were ready.
But, contrary to expectation, after they had been in their quarters for not over a month, Hsueeh P'an came to be on intimate relations with all the young men among the kindred of the Chia mansion, the half of whom were extravagant in their habits, so that great was, of course, his delight to frequent them. To-day, they would come together to drink wine; the next day to look at flowers. They even assembled to gamble, to dissipate and to go everywhere and anywhere; leading, with all their enticements, Hsueeh P'an so far astray, that he became far worse, by a hundred times, than he was hitherto.
Although it must be conceded that Chia Cheng was in the education of his children quite correct, and in the control of his family quite systematic, yet in the first place, the clan was so large and the members so numerous, that he was unable to attend to the entire supervision; and, in the second place, the head of the family, at this period, was Chia Chen, who, as the eldest grandchild of the Ning mansion, had likewise now come into the inheritance of the official status, with the result that all matters connected with the clan devolved upon his sole and exclusive control. In the third place, public as well as private concerns were manifold and complex, and being a man of negligent disposition, he estimated ordinary affairs of so little consequence that any respite from his official duties he devoted to no more than the study of books and the playing of chess.
Furthermore, this Pear Fragrance Court was separated by two rows of buildings from his quarters and was also provided with a separate door opening into the street, so that, being able at their own heart's desire to go out and to come in, these several young fellows could well indulge their caprices, and gratify the bent of their minds.
Hence it was that Hsueeh P'an, in course of time gradually extinguished from his memory every idea of shifting their quarters.
But what transpired, on subsequent days, the following chapter will explain.
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