In the lyrics it sings:
Ah, so tired I can't even function, not wanting to get up at all, feeling dazed and lazy, half-hidden behind the old curtains. My eyes are strained, only seeing the lush green grass, tears streaming down, soaking the fallen flowers. Remembering the past makes my heart ache terribly, drifting like clouds, like rain, like the wind. The geese returning are counted mournfully from upstairs, and sad tears fall drop by drop, making my heart feel extremely pained.
Pan Jinlian, seeing her child gone, is spirited and particularly happy every day, pointing at the maid and scolding: "You wicked woman! I’ve seen through your usual dishonesty long ago, and today you actually made a mistake again! You're like a pigeon that has dropped its egg—unable to speak; like a spring stool that has broken its back—no chair to sit on; like an old hag who has sold her mill—unable to push it; like a brothel keeper who has lost her main girl—no hope left! How can you be like me!" Li Ping'er listened clearly from inside the room, too afraid to speak, secretly crying. Her heart felt heavy with anger, compounded by sorrow and sadness, her spirit becoming more and more dazed, unable to find peace even in her dreams, and she was eating less and less each day. Ever since the day after Guange's burial, Wu Yiner returned home. Old Feng brought in a thirteen-year-old maid, spending five taels of silver to purchase her from Sun Xue'e, to work in the house, and she was renamed Cui'er.
Li Ping'er, on one hand missing her child, and on the other hand, out of anger, had her old illness flare up again, causing her to bleed continuously. Mr. Ximen Qing invited a doctor to see her, prescribed medicine for her to take, but the medicine had no effect at all; but the more she took, the worse her condition became. In less than two weeks, she had grown so thin that her face was pale, and she was no longer the beauty she once was! Truly, she was skin and bones; how could anyone endure such sorrow? In early September, the weather was cool, the autumn wind blowing. Li Ping'er slept alone in the room at night, the cold, silver bed, moonlight shining through the gauze window. She couldn't help but miss her child, sighing softly, when she thought she heard someone knocking on the window. Li Ping'er called the maid, but everyone was fast asleep and didn’t hear her, so she got out of bed, slipped on her shoes and draped her embroidered coat over her shoulders, and opened the door. Looking out, she thought she saw Hua Zixu holding the official's son, calling out to her, saying he had found a new house and asked her to move in together. Li Ping'er couldn't bear to leave Ximen Qing, refused to leave, held her child close, but was pushed down by Hua Zixu. She woke up in shock, realizing it had all been a dream. Terrified and drenched in sweat, she cried until dawn broke. Truly, she was lost in her emotions and confusion. As the poem goes:
"The slender new moon casts its light on the silver screen,
In the boudoir, a person longs to lose their soul.
Regretting the many fleeting romances,
One must understand that love is the root of all sorrow."
At this time, Lai Bao's cargo ship from Nanjing had arrived again, and a young man named Wang Xian was sent to collect the cart tax and fees. Ximen Qing wrote a letter instructing Rong Hai to take one hundred taels of silver, as well as gifts such as sheep, wine, and silk, to thank the supervisor: "Just let them know that this batch of goods has already been taxed, and I hope you'll show some leniency." The ten shops at home had been renovated and were set to open on the fourth of September, the day the goods were unloaded, with a total of twenty large carts being loaded. That day, over thirty relatives and friends came to give gifts and congratulations, and Xia Tingxi also sent gifts and cash envelopes. Qiao Dahut had invited twelve musicians and acrobats. On Ximen Qing's side, Li Ming, Wu Hui, and Zheng Chun, three young performers, were singing and playing. Gan and Han were selling goods at the counter, one collecting money and the other introducing products, while Cui was in charge of collecting living expenses. Ximen Qing, dressed in a red robe and hat, burned paper money while everyone toasted and congratulated him. Fifteen banquet tables were set up in the backyard, laden with an abundance of dishes and drinks. Everyone drank heartily, and the atmosphere was vibrant. The guests included Qiao Dahut, Wu Dajiu, Wu Erjiu, Hua Dajiu, Shen Yifu, Han Yifu, Wu Daoist, Ni Xiucai, Wen Kuixuan, Ying Baojue, Xie Xida, Chang Zhijie, as well as Li Zhi, Huang Si, Fu Zixin, and other assistants and neighbors, filling up the seats. The three young performers put on a show titled "Nan Lv · Hong Na Ao" before the banquet, singing "The Primordial Beginning of Tai Chi." After a while, following five rounds of drinks and several dishes, the musicians played, the acrobats performed, and everyone raised their glasses in a toast. Ying Baojue and Xie Xida started playing the game of flying cups, which made the atmosphere even more festive.
The banquet went on drinking until sunset. Ximen Qing sent most of the people away, leaving only Wu Dajiu, Shen Yifu, Han Yifu, Wen Kuixuan, Earl Ying, and Xie Xida, who rearranged the tables to keep drinking. That day, after the grand opening, the staff tallied up the accounts, which came to over five hundred taels of silver. Ximen Qing was overjoyed, closed the shop for the night, and invited Gan, Han, Fu, Cui Ben, Ben Si, and Chen Jingji over for drinks. After a while of music and singing, he sent the musicians off, leaving just three young performers to sing at the table.
Earl Ying got tipsy and stepped outside to take a leak. He called over Li Ming and asked, "Whose pretty little performer with the bun is that?" Li Ming replied, "You don’t know, do you, Second Dad?" He then told him, "He is Zheng Feng's younger brother, Zheng Chun. A few days ago, you drank at his house and even took a liking to his sister, Ai Yue'er." The Earl said, "Really? No wonder I saw him at the funeral a few days ago." He then went back to the table and said to Ximen Qing, "Bro, you’ve got yourself another little brother-in-law." Ximen Qing laughed and said, "Don’t talk nonsense." He then called for Wang Jing, "Fill up Earl Ying’s glass." The Earl said to Wu Dajiu, "Old Uncle, what do you think we should do? This drinking is really doing a number on me." Ximen Qing said, "I’m punishing you for talking nonsense." The Earl thought for a moment, chuckled, and said, "It’s fine, I can still drink; drinking won’t kill me." He then said, "I’ve never been good at drinking in silence. Get Zheng Chun up here to sing a tune for me, and then I’ll leave." So, the three young performers came up to play and sing. The Earl told Li Ming and Wu Hui to step aside, saying, "I just want Zheng Chun to play the zither and sing a little something to go with the drinks." Xie Xida said, "Zheng Chun, come over and sing one for the Earl." Ximen Qing said, "As I told Huazi: sing a song, and let’s have a drink." He had Dai An bring two large wine glasses and place them in front of Earl Ying. Zheng Chun plucked the zither strings and gently began to sing "Qing Jiang Yin":
A girl of sixteen or seventeen saw a pair of butterflies frolicking. With fragrant shoulders leaning against the pink wall, like spring bamboo shoots, and tears like marbles, she called Mei Xiang to drive them away to fly elsewhere.
After Zheng Chun finished singing, the count took a sip of wine, and Dai An quickly poured him more. Zheng Chun sang again:
As I turned around the carved railing, I saw him, leaning against the wisteria trellis; feigning shyness, she adjusted her phoenix dress, not speaking of last night's conversation, playfully pinching the flower petals.
After the count finished his meal, he quickly pushed the bowl towards Xie Xida, saying, “Enough, I can’t eat anymore, I can’t eat anymore! These two big bowls of rice have filled me up.” Xie Xida replied, “You silly boy, why push it to me if you can’t eat anymore? I’m not your servant!” The count said, “Silly boy, I’m going to be an official tomorrow, you’ll definitely benefit from it.” Ximen Qing said, “You rascal, at most you’ll just be a lowly official tomorrow.” The count laughed, saying, “Silly child, once I become a minor official, I’ll let you have the position of a major official.” Ximen Qing laughed and told Dai An, “Get some melon seeds to throw at this kid!” Xie Xida quietly tossed a melon seed at the count’s head, saying, “You little brat, Mr. Wen is here—what nonsense are you spouting?” The count said, “Mr. Wen is a scholar, he doesn’t care about these trivial matters.” Scholar Wen said, “You two gentlemen and this old gentleman get along really well. At the banquet, a harmonious atmosphere makes everyone happy. Happiness is in the heart, and joy naturally shows, leading one to dance with abandon.”
Aunt Shen said to Ximen Qing, “Brother-in-law, don’t be like this. Invite Uncle Wu to the table, let’s play a game—either roll dice, guess riddles, or play cards, whether it’s poetry, lyrics, or rapid-fire tongue twisters, whoever can’t keep up has to down a cup of wine. This way, it’s fairer and everyone can have a good time.” Ximen Qing said, “Auntie is right.” He first poured a cup of wine for Uncle Wu, letting him go first. Uncle Wu picked up the dice cup and said, “Everyone, I propose a game: count in order, when you hit a number, say a flower name, and then add a word after the flower name, no matter if it’s poetry or lyrics, say a sentence. If you can't keep up, you have to down a cup of wine. I'll take the first turn—
"A throw of a little red die, the red plum blossom speaks to the white plum blossom."
Uncle Wu threw a two, take another drink. After finishing the drink, it was Uncle Shen's turn. Uncle Shen said:
"A double throw of lotus blossoms, the rippling water plays with colorful mandarin ducks."
Uncle Shen also threw a two, drank two cups, and passed the dice cup to Uncle Han. Uncle Han said:
"A triple throw of spring plums, don’t fix your hat under the plum tree."
After Uncle Han threw, he drank, and passed the dice cup to Scholar Wen. Scholar Wen said: "I am tasked—
A quadruple throw of top scholar red, where red and purple aren’t considered disrespectful attire."
Scholar Wen only drank one cup of wine, and it was the Count's turn. The Count said: "I can't read a single word, I won’t take it seriously, I'll just say a tongue twister instead:
A hasty-footed old child, in the left hand holding a yellow soybean bucket, in the right hand holding a cotton flower fork, just keeps running ahead. A yellow and white flower dog bites at that cotton flower fork, and that hasty-footed old child puts down the yellow soybean bucket in his left hand, walks forward to hit that yellow and white flower dog. Not knowing who was fighting whom, the dog and the hand were at it."
Ximen Qing laughed and scolded: "You idiot, who uses their hand to tease a dog? It’s strange if the dog doesn’t bite!" The Count said: "Who told him not to bring a stick! I don’t have a cane now— I can only take the dog's wrath." Xie Xida said: "Master, look, this guy even called himself a fool." Ximen Qing said: "He should be punished with a drink; that doesn't count. Xie Xida, you go!" Xie Xida said: "I’ll say one too, even better than his:
A broken tile on the wall and a mule below it. The broken tile falls, hitting the mule. Not knowing if the broken tile hurt the mule or if the mule smashed the tile."
The Earl said, "You make fun of me, but your old shrew of a wife is as useful as a mule, and I’m as useless as a broken tile. We're a perfect pair, like a broken millstone and a lame donkey." Xie Xida said, "Your old hag of a wife, a handful of black beans wouldn’t even feed a dog; no one wants her." The two of them started arguing, each had a drink, and then it was Han Daoguo's turn. Han Daoguo said, "Respected elders, how could I possibly go first?" Ximen Qing said, "Go in order, don't refuse." So Han Daoguo said: "Five throws of plum blossoms, encountering immortals among the flowers." After he threw, it was Ximen Qing's turn. Ximen Qing said, "I want to throw a six: Six throws of stars in the sky, cold stars falling into the blue pool." Indeed, he threw a six. The Earl saw it and said, "Brother, this winter you will definitely be promoted and become wealthy; good fortune will come knocking." So he poured a large glass of wine for Ximen Qing. At this time, Li Ming and the others came up to play music and sing, and it was very late before they dispersed. Ximen Qing sent Xiao You'er out to tidy up and set up a watch schedule for Han Daoguo, Gan Huoji, Cui Ben, and Lai Bao, telling them to keep a close eye on the doors, and then he left. The night passed without incident.
The next day, the count came with Li Zhi and Huang Si to repay the money, saying, "This time we only collected one thousand four hundred fifty-six taels of silver, which is still not enough to settle the debt. I've only managed to repay three hundred fifty taels to the old man for now. I’ll gather the rest next time; I can't afford to delay." The count added a few more kind words on his behalf. Ximen Qing called Chen Jingji to count the silver carefully and sent them away. The silver was still on the table when Ximen Qing asked the count, "Chang Er Ge said he found a house, four rooms in total, for only thirty-five taels of silver. When he came to tell me, my child was sick, and I was a bit flustered, so I sent him away. I don't know if he mentioned it to you?" The count replied, "He told me, and I said, your approach is wrong. This guy is unreliable; he's all over the place and isn't in the right frame of mind to talk to you. Don't look for the landlord anymore; when I see him, I will ask for you." Ximen Qing said, "That's fine. After you finish your meal, take fifty taels of silver. Today is a good day; help him buy the house. The rest, let Chang Er Ge open a small shop to earn some money each month to support their living." The count said, "You are taking care of him, brother." After a while, the food was served on the table, and Ximen Qing stayed with him until they finished the meal, saying, "I won't keep you any longer. Take the silver and handle this matter." The count asked, "Do you want me to bring a servant with me?" Ximen Qing replied, "Stop talking nonsense, just go." The count said, "That's not what I meant. I still have some matters today. To be honest, it's my cousin Du Sang Ge's birthday today. I went to deliver a gift in the morning, and he sent a servant to invite me to visit in the afternoon. I just wanted to let you know that I’ll take a servant with me to buy the house so he can relay your message back." Ximen Qing said, "In that case, let Wang Jing go with you." So he called Wang Jing to go with the count to the Chang family.
Chang Zhijie was at home when the Count happened to drop by, so he quickly let him in and sat down. The Count took out some silver and showed it to Chang Zhijie, saying, "Sir, as we agreed, let's finalize the house today. But I'm really busy; Du Sange has asked me out for drinks. I can't leave until I've taken care of your business." Chang Zhijie quickly called for his wife to bring some tea, saying, "Brother, with your generosity, how could I refuse!" As they talked, the tea was served. After they finished the tea, Chang Zhijie called the household servants and went to Xinchijie together, gave the money to the house seller, and then signed the deed. The Count asked Wang Jing to go home and let Ximen Qing know. Chang Zhijie accepted the remaining money at the Count's request. He then said goodbye to Chang Zhijie and headed to Du's house for drinks. After Ximen Qing reviewed the deed, he had Wang Jing take it to Chang Er, and that wrapped things up.
It is said:
When you need help, seek out a great man; when helping others, do so in urgent times. Everything in the world is inferior; who knows that kindness and virtue are noble.
