The words say:
On a day with a north wind, the land appears jade-like. The frozen colors blend with the waves, and cold mist rises from the waves. Mountains hide behind blushing clouds meeting the water, with the withered grass being merciless, seemingly within the blushing clouds.
In the faint scent of longing, I chase after bitter feelings. Only at night do good dreams allow one to sleep. The waning moon should not lean alone against the tall building; as wine fills the sorrowful heart, it transforms into tears of longing.
Ximen Qing only gets up when the sun is high. A servant comes in to report that the scaffolders are waiting outside and asks if they should take down the tent. Ximen Qing scolds him briefly, telling him to let them take it down and asking what he should do! The scaffolders then begin to take down the tent, moving the mats, ropes, and wood across the street. Yuxiao comes in and tells him it’s gloomy outside. Ximen Qing asks him to fetch his clothes from the warm kang, preparing to get up. Yue Niang says, “You worked hard all night, and it’s gloomy outside; why not sleep a bit longer? It’s no big deal if you don’t go to the yamen today.” Ximen Qing replies, “If I don’t go to the yamen, I’m worried Zhai Qin Jia will come asking for the documents.” Yue Niang says, “Then you must get up; I’ll have the maid make some porridge for you to eat.” Not having combed his hair or washed his face, Ximen Qing puts on his fur coat and felt hat before heading to the garden study.
Since the boy left, Ximen Qing asked Wang Jing to manage the garden study and Chun Hong to manage the front hall study. In the winter, Ximen Qing only stayed in the Cang Chun Ge study. There was a warm kang with a floor stove, a brass brazier, and warm oil silk curtains. The room was adorned with oleander, various chrysanthemums, bamboo, orchids, as well as writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, vases, ancient zithers, and calligraphy and paintings arranged very elegantly. As soon as Ximen Qing entered, Wang Jing quickly lit the incense. Ximen Qing asked Wang Jing to go and call An'er to invite Ying Bojue over. Wang Jing went out and instructed An'er. Ping An came in and told Wang Jing that Xiao Zhou was waiting outside. Wang Jing went into the study and told Ximen Qing, who then called Xiao Zhou in. Xiao Zhou bowed and said, "You called for me, let me comb your hair and massage your shoulders." Ximen Qing asked him why he hadn't come for so long, and Xiao Zhou said that Liu Niang had passed away, so he was busy and didn't have time to come. Ximen Qing sat in the drunken chair, opened his hair, and let Xiao Zhou comb it. At this time, An'er brought Ying Bojue in. Bojue was wearing a felt hat, a green velvet jacket, and a pair of worn black boots. He lifted the curtain and entered to pay his respects. Ximen Qing was having his hair done and said, "No need to bow, please sit." Bojue pulled up a chair and sat by the brazier. Ximen Qing asked him why he was dressed like that, and Bojue said it was snowing outside and very cold. The rooster didn’t crow yesterday when he got back, and this morning he couldn't get up. If it weren't for the officials coming to urge him, he would still be sleeping. Ximen Qing said he could really sleep, but he got up early because he wasn't at ease. Ever since sending that person away, he had been busy receiving General Huang, chanting scriptures, and had been busy ever since. Today, Madame Yue told him to sleep in a bit, but he was still thinking about the Zhai family coming to ask for books, as well as dismantling the shed. On the 24th, he had to send Han and the little steward out. The funeral cost a pretty penny, not to mention relatives and friends; those officials and scholars would surely come by to pay their respects.
The count said he was troubled by this matter; he needs to choose a few key people to thank, and the rest can just be greeted when they meet. Who doesn’t know that there’s always something going on at the Ximen household? Just as he was speaking, Huatong brought over two bowls of milk simmered with butter and sugar. The count picked up one, saw the white butter floating on top like lard, and said, "Good stuff, really hot!" After taking a sip, he found it fragrant and delicious, finishing it off in just a few gulps. Ximen Qing finished combing his hair and had Xiaozhou clean his ears, while the milk was left untouched on the table. The count said, "Brother, you should have some too; it’d be a shame if it gets cold. Drink a bowl in the morning to nourish your body." Ximen Qing said, "I won’t drink; you go ahead, I’ll just have some porridge later." The count didn’t hold back and downed it in one go. After cleaning his ears, Ximen Qing had Xiaozhou give him a massage with a wooden roller. The count asked if the massage felt good. Ximen Qing said, "To be honest, I often feel sore all over at night; my waist and back ache. If I don’t get a massage, it’s really tough to deal with!" The count said, "You’re so heavy, eating such rich food every day; how can you not have phlegm?" Ximen Qing said, "Ren Hoxi often says that although I am physically strong, I am weak inside. He gave me a jar of Bai Bu Yan Ling pills, saying it was made by Lin Zhenren for the emperor, and told me to take it mixed with human milk every morning. I’ve been feeling down lately and haven’t taken it yet. You all say I have a lot of people around me, and there’s always something going on; ever since she passed away, who has the heart to deal with all this?"
Just then, Han Daoguo came in, bowed, and sat down, saying, "I’ve just contacted all the families, and the boat's all set. We're all set to leave on the 24th." Ximen Qing ordered, "Let’s settle the accounts, convert the money, and pack up tomorrow." He then asked, "How much money did the two shops sell in total?" Han Daoguo said, "A total of over six thousand taels." Ximen Qing said, "Exchange two thousand taels into a package, give it to Lai Bao and have him head to Songjiang to trade for cloth, and come back before the New Year. Each of you can take five taels of silver to start, and pack ten pieces of luggage at home." Han Daoguo said, "There is one more thing, my family used to work for the Yunwang Mansion, and their official duties were tax-exempt. What should I do?" Ximen Qing said, "Why wouldn't you have to pay taxes? Like Lai Bao, he also has duties from the Yunwang Mansion, and he only pays three qian of silver per month." Han Daoguo said, "Lai Bao had his duties canceled on the official documents from the Taishi Mansion, so no one dared to trouble him. My duties are inherited, and I still have to manage the remaining laborers." Ximen Qing said, "Okay, write a petition, I'll go ask Ren Houxixi, and have him go to the mansion to talk to Wang Fengcheng to get your name canceled, and you won’t have to worry about taxes anymore. Just have someone take care of the rice and grains every month." Han Daoguo thanked him. The Count chimed in, "Brother, you've sorted this out for him, so he can leave with peace of mind." After a while, Xiaozhou finished massaging, and Ximen Qing headed to the back to get his hair done, and told them to get some snacks ready for Xiaozhou.
After a while, Ximen Qing came out, wearing a fuzzy hat and a plush long robe, and gave Xiao Zhou a couple of silver coins. He then asked Wang Jing to invite Scholar Wen. Before long, Scholar Wen arrived, dressed neatly. After some pleasantries, a table was set up beside them, and porridge was served. The Count and Scholar Wen sat at the head of the table, Ximen Qing sat beside them, and Han Daoguo sat at an angle. Ximen Qing instructed An, "Bring another bowl of porridge and a pair of chopsticks, and ask my brother-in-law to come over to eat porridge together." Soon, Chen Jingji arrived, wearing a mourning cap and a white silk robe, bowed to the Count and the others, and sat down at an angle. After a while, the porridge was finished, and the household servants cleared the table, and then Han Daoguo got up to leave. Ximen Qing then asked Scholar Wen, "Is the letter ready?" Scholar Wen replied, "I've written it already; please have a look, and I'll make a formal copy." Saying this, he took the letter out of his sleeve and handed it to Ximen Qing. The letter read:
To the esteemed Lord Zhu Guo Yunfeng from Ximen Qing of Qinghe County: Since our acquaintance in the capital, I may have inadvertently been rude, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye. My father has unfortunately lost his spouse, and I am grateful for your distant generosity and teachings, which show your deep affection for me. Words can't express my gratitude, and I’ll remember it for life. I only worry that due to my official position, I may have overlooked some things, and I hope you can offer some guidance and speak well of me to the Lord. All my blessings come from your assistance. I'm writing to check on you, and I miss you dearly, hoping you think of me too. Additionally, I have enclosed ten gauze handkerchiefs from Yangzhou, ten pieces of silk handkerchiefs, twenty pairs of gold-plated toothpicks, and ten black gold wine cups, as a small token of my appreciation, and I hope you'll accept them with a smile.
After reading the letter, Ximen Qing immediately instructed Chen Jingji to fetch the stationery and ink from the study. He then sealed the letter, and together with Wen Xiucai, he copied it onto fine brocade letter paper, carefully sealing it and affixing a wax seal. He also gave the messenger, Wang Yu, five taels of silver, and with that, the matter was settled.
The snow was heavy that day, and Ximen Qing invited Wenxiu to stay in the study to enjoy the snowfall. He cleaned the table and brought wine and food. Just then, someone peeked in from behind the warm curtain. Ximen Qing asked who it was, and Wang Jing replied, "It's Zheng Chun." Ximen Qing asked him to come in. Zheng Chun held two boxes high in his hands, knelt in front of Ximen Qing, and there was a small gold box on top. Ximen Qing asked what it was, and Zheng Chun said, "My sister Yue knew that yesterday father and Sixth Sister were reciting scriptures very hard, so she sent these two boxes of snacks for father and everyone to enjoy together." He opened the boxes; one was a fruit-filled pastry, and the other was butter-fried snails. Zheng Chun said, "This was picked by Sister Yue herself, knowing that father enjoys this, she specially came to pay respects to father." Ximen Qing said, "Thank you to your family for sending tea yesterday, and today your sister Yue has taken the trouble to send these." Bao Yu said, "Great! Bring it over, I was just about to try it! My daughter used to pick snails; now another daughter has picked them." He squeezed one into his mouth first, then took another and handed it to Wenxiu, saying, "Old sir, you should taste this too. After eating this, your teeth will grow back, and you'll feel reborn. This rare thing can add ten years to your life!" Wenxiu took a bite, and it melted in his mouth, saying, "This is from the Western Regions and is quite rare. Nourishing the lungs and heart, it is truly a top-notch delicacy." Ximen Qing asked again, "What's in the small box?" Zheng Chun knelt quietly in front of Ximen Qing, handed over the box, and said, "This is what Sister Yue asked me to bring to father." Ximen Qing placed the box on his knee and was just about to open it when Bao Yu snatched it away, opened it, and found a square red silk handkerchief with concentric patterns; inside was a bag of hand-peeled melon seeds. Bao Yu gave the handkerchief to Ximen Qing and ate all the melon seeds. When Ximen Qing reached for some, only a few were left, and he scolded, "You greedy ghost, you've got me all worked up! Leave a few for me to taste; it's a matter of courtesy." Bao Yu said, "It's a gift from my daughter; if I don't show her respect, who else should I?" Ximen Qing said, "Since Mr. Wen is here, I can't scold you, but you're really something!" Saying that, he put the handkerchief in his sleeve and told Wang Jing to take the box away.
In a short while, the dishes were laid out and the wine was poured. After just one round of drinks, Dai An said, "Li Zhi and Huang Si have brought the silver." Ximen Qing asked how much, and Dai An said, "They said one thousand taels, the rest will be delivered next time." The Count said, "Look at these two fools, they even kept it from me. They were upset that you recited scriptures yesterday and didn't show up; turns out they went to Dongping Prefecture to deliver the silver. When you get the silver, you should also send out less. These two fools have taken on too much debt from others; I'm worried they might pressure them too much in the future. Yesterday, the Xu Neixiang from the north was angry and wanted to personally go to Dongping Prefecture to collect the silver. I'm worried he might pressure them too much, and by then, your funds could be in trouble!" Ximen Qing said, "I'm not afraid of him. I don't care about Xu Neixiang or Li Neixiang, to be honest; worst case, I'll just have their servants arrested and locked up. I'm not going to deal with it." He then said to Chen Jingji, "You go weigh their silver."
It's been a long time. Chen Jingji came back and said to Ximen Qing, "The one thousand two hundred taels of silver has been exchanged, and I've given it to your sister. Huang Si said that he still needs to ask you to say a word." Ximen Qing said, "Just tell him I'm with guests right now. Anyway, as long as he wants to sign the contract, let him come back on the 24th." Chen Jingji said, "No, he said there is something he wants to ask you." Ximen Qing said, "What is it? I'll go take a look." Ximen Qing walked to the hall, and Huang Si knelt down and kowtowed, "One thousand two hundred taels of silver, brother-in-law has received it. I will repay the rest later. I have something I want to ask for your help." He began to cry. Ximen Qing helped him up and said, "What is it after all? Speak quickly." Huang Si said, "My father-in-law Sun Qing and a partner, Feng Er, are trading cotton in Dongchang Prefecture. Feng Er has a son, Feng Huai, who does not work properly and sneaks out to see prostitutes. The day the cotton was lost, my father-in-law scolded him a bit, and Feng Er gave his son a few hits. His son fought with my nephew Sun Wen, knocked out a tooth of Sun Wen's, and injured himself. Later, others broke them up. Unexpectedly, his son died of tetanus half a month after returning home. My father-in-law is a well-known local tycoon called Bai Wu, nicknamed Bai Qianjin, who is known for colluding with bandits. He instigated Feng Er to file a complaint at the yamen and made a big deal out of it. The case was first accepted by General Lei, but General Lei was busy serving the imperial ship and had no time to handle it, so he transferred it to the local Tong magistrate. The Bai family bribed the Tong magistrate and paid neighbors to give false testimonies, claiming that my father-in-law was also inciting the fight. Now the Tong magistrate wants to arrest my father-in-law. Please have mercy on us; write a letter to General Lei. Even if he is detained for a few days, clarify the situation and present it to General Lei for review so that my father-in-law still has a way out. The fight had nothing to do with my father-in-law, and it was Feng Huai who died later. Sun Wen shouldn't be blamed for it alone."
Ximen Qing looked at the document, which stated: "In Dongchang Prefecture, prisoners Sun Qing and Sun Wenxiang are to be presented, requesting leniency." Ximen Qing said, "General Lei Bingbei visited for drinks a few days ago. We only met briefly and aren't very familiar. How can I possibly write him a letter?" Huang Si knelt down and cried, pleading, "Please, sir, if you don't help, my father-in-law and nephew will both die. Now that Sun Wenxiang has already escaped, if you can release my father-in-law, it would be a huge favor. My father-in-law is sixty years old this year, and there is no one at home. If he stays in prison through the winter, he definitely won't make it." Ximen Qing pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll go ask Master Chao Guanqian for help—he and General Lei are both successful candidates in the same year." Huang Si kowtowed again and took out a gift list for "one hundred measures of white rice" from his sleeve, as well as two letters of silver from his waist. Ximen Qing refused them, saying, "I don't need your money!" Huang Si said, "If you don't accept it, it's the same for Master Chao." Ximen Qing said, "That's alright, I'll send a gift to thank him once this is all sorted out."
As he was speaking, Ying Bojue came out from the side door: "Brother, don't speak up for Huang Si. He doesn't usually offer incense, only seeks help when he's desperate. Yesterday when you were reciting scriptures, he didn't even offer you a cup of tea or come to visit. Today he's here asking for your help!" Huang Si bowed to Bojue: "Second Uncle, please don't say that! Because of this matter, I've been busy for half a month; how could I find the time to come? Yesterday I went to the mansion to collect the money, and today I'm here to hand over the money and to ask for your help to save my father-in-law. You have repeatedly refused to accept gifts. We really have no other way." Bojue saw a hundred taels of silver placed in front of him and asked, "Brother, will you speak up for him?" Ximen Qing said, "I'm not familiar with Lei Binbei; I have to find Chaoguan Qian to help. Tomorrow I will send a gift to thank Qian; why should I accept his gift?" Bojue said, "Brother, you're not doing it right. When someone comes to ask for your help, you want to send a gift to thank them? This doesn't make sense. If you don't accept it, it might seem like you think it's too little. Listen to me, just accept it. Even if you don't like it, it's the same when thanking Qian tomorrow. Huang Si, listen: depending on the fate of your father-in-law and brother-in-law, if they can be pardoned this time, it's truly fortunate. Your father has never cared about your money; just set up a table with some drinks in the courtyard so we can enjoy the day." Huang Si said, "Second Uncle, you've put in so much effort; there's no need to mention setting up the wine. My father-in-law will also send gifts to thank you. Honestly, I've been running around trying to sort things out for his father and brother, but I haven't found a way. If you don't help, what can I do?" Bojue said, "Fool, you're with his daughter; if you don't help him, who will?" Huang Si said, "His daughter is crying at home." Ximen Qing was persuaded by Bojue and accepted the list of gifts, but he asked Huang Si to take the gifts back. Huang Si said, "You're truly a good person; why are you so calculating?" and was about to leave. Bojue said, "Come here, I'll tell you: when do you need the petition?" Huang Si said, "I need it urgently to save a life. I hope you can write the petition today and send someone over. Tomorrow morning, my son will go with them. I don't know which official to send; I will take care of it." Ximen Qing said, "I'll help you write it." He then called for Daian and instructed, "You will go with Mr. Huang tomorrow."
Huang Si thanked Ximen Qing and left. When he reached the entrance, he asked Dai An for the pouch for the silver. Dai An went into the backyard, where Yuxiao and Xiaoyu were helping Madame Yue to make clothes. Noticing Dai An waiting for the pouch, Yuxiao said, "I'm busy right now, no time. Let him come back tomorrow to pick it up." Dai An said, "Huang Si will be leaving for Dongchang Prefecture early tomorrow morning; he won't have time to come back. Please pack it for him." Madame Yue said, "Just give it to him directly, don't make people wait." Yuxiao said, "Is the silver still there on the bed?" She walked into the inner room, dumped the silver onto the bed, picked up the pouch, and said, "Take it! It's such a hassle; whoever takes his pouch is like being stuck with a leech!" Dai An said, "If no one wants it, whoever wants it can take it!" So he took it out, walked to the entrance gate, and shook out three taels of broken silver. It turned out the wrapping was torn, so when Yuxiao poured it out, some spilled out from the bottom of the pouch. Dai An said, "Good thing I picked up over a dozen copper coins." He secretly hid them in his sleeve. He then handed the pouch to Huang Si, and they agreed to set off early the next morning.
Ximen Qing returned to the study and had Wen Xiucai finish writing the letter to give to Dai An. He looked out at the swirling snow, resembling dancing willow catkins and falling pear blossoms. Ximen Qing opened a jar of fine wine and had Chun Hong warm the wine, while Zheng Chun played the qin and sang, singing "A Gentle Breeze Beneath the Willows." Just as he was singing, the qin boy came in and said that Uncle Han wanted him to bring a note for Ximen Qing to read. After reading it, Ximen Qing instructed the qin boy to give the note to Doctor Ren, asking him to come to the residence tomorrow to help with the cancellation of the errand. The qin boy said it was too late and suggested they go tomorrow instead. A moment later, An Er brought in eight bowls of rice and two large plates of steamed buns with rose goose oil, and Ximen Qing, Chen Jingji, and two others ate together. Ximen Qing also asked Wang Jing to take two bowls of rice, a plate of snacks, and two cups of wine to Zheng Chun, who declined to eat, but Ximen Qing insisted that he drink a cup. Wang Jing also declined, but Ximen Qing insisted he drink a little. Ximen Qing commented that these two boys were foolish for not enjoying good food. With half a cup of wine remaining, Ximen Qing had Chun Hong finish it and then asked him to sing a southern tune.
Ximen Qing suggested that they take turns drinking while Chun Hong sang. They began to take turns, with the rule that they would roll dice to determine the points and then compose poetry based on the theme "snow." If they answered correctly, they would drink a cup; if not, they would drink a large bowl. Wen Xiucai rolled a one and said, "The snow lingers, and the mandarin ducks are many." When it was Ximen Qing's turn, he rolled a five, pondered for a long moment, and finally came up with, "Plum blossoms bloom in the snow." Wen Xiucai pointed out that he was wrong for using the word "snow" twice. Ximen Qing argued that he was referring to light snow and heavy snow. Ximen Qing had Wang Jing pour the wine, and Chun Hong sang the southern tune "Listening to the Horse Rest":
On a cold night without tea, I head to the nearby village in search of an inn. The light snow drifts over the monk's hut, densely falling upon the song tower, distant blocking the return boat.
By the river, I take delight in exploring the plum blossoms, while in the courtyard, I delight in admiring the burning silver wax. As far as the eye can see, it resembles willow catkins floating down from the sky.
Ximen Qing was about to drink alcohol when Lai'an brought over several plates of fruit snacks, including a plate of crispy snails soaked in butter and a plate of small black dumplings wrapped in orange leaves. Ximen Qing asked everyone to guess what they were, but no one could. Ximen Qing revealed the answer, saying they were "Yimei" (a type of medicinal treat) brought from a ship in Hangzhou, made with various medicinal herbs and honey, wrapped around bayberries, and then wrapped in mint and orange leaves. Consuming them helps nourish the lungs and relieve phlegm. Ximen Qing asked Wang Jing to pack a few Yimei for Wenxiu's wife. He also asked Zheng Chun if the snails were picked by his sister Yuejie, to which Zheng Chun confirmed. Ximen Qing sighed, reminiscing that only his late sixth sister knew how to pick such snails, and now they have no one left in the family who can. Ximen Qing joked that now they have a daughter who can pick snails. Ximen Qing laughed and said he was talking nonsense. Wenxiu chuckled, remarking that the two old gentlemen were quite generous. Ximen Qing said Wenxiu had been his friend for twenty years. Chen Jingji saw that their conversation was getting a bit heated, so he politely excused himself and left. Wenxiu covered his mouth and chuckled.
After a while, the Count finished a generous cup of wine, and it was Ximen Qing's turn to roll the dice. Ximen Qing rolled a seven and pondered for a while before saying, "I said, 'Fragrant silk belt,' and the next line goes: 'The Eastern Lord's intentions are clear, pear blossoms are like snow.'" The Count said, "You're wrong, that line is in the ninth character, you owe a drink as punishment!" So, Lao Yan poured a generous cup of wine and placed it in front of Ximen Qing, asking Chun Hong to sing a little ditty, saying, "My little brother, do you have jujube pits hidden in your stomach - can you belt out a few lines?" Chun Hong then sang a passage.
After three rounds, it was getting late, and they lit the candles. After finishing his drink, the count remarked, “Since your brother-in-law isn’t here, Mr. Wen, you should continue the game.” Scholar Wen picked up the dice, rolled a one, and thought for a moment. Seeing a couplet hanging on the wall: “The wind stirs the frail willows by the flat bridge at dusk; the snowflakes touch the cold plum in the little courtyard of spring,” he recited the second line. The count said, “Not counted, not counted! That’s not what you thought of yourself; you should drink a cup!” Chunhong poured another cup of wine. Scholar Wen, who couldn't hold his liquor, sat in a chair and dozed off, then got up to take his leave. The count wanted to keep him, but Ximen Qing interjected, “Let it go! Mr. Wen is a scholar and can’t handle his drink.” He then instructed the servant, “Make sure Mr. Wen gets home safely to rest.” Scholar Wen thanked him and left. The count noted, “We've really had a lot to drink today; we're all feeling it.” After drinking for a while longer, the count got up and said, “The floor is slippery; I’ve had enough to drink.” Then he said, “Brother, tomorrow you let Dai An send him a letter.” Ximen Qing replied, “No need for you to worry; I’ll take it early tomorrow morning.” The count lifted the curtain, saw the overcast sky and slick road, asked for a lantern, and set off with Zheng Chun. Ximen Qing gave Zheng Chun five coins and packed a jar of plums for him to take to his sister, Zheng Yue’er. As they were about to leave, Ximen Qing grinned at the count and said, “You two be careful on the road.” The count replied, “Less talk; everyone should take care of their own doorstep. I’m off to find that little troublemaker Zheng Yue’er!” After saying that, the musician saw them out.
Ximen Qing gathered his belongings, leaning on Lai An, and entered the corner door with a lantern. Passing by Pan Jinlian's door, he saw it closed, so he quietly slipped into Li Ping'er's room. He lightly knocked on the door, Xiu Chun opened it, and Lai An went out. Ximen Qing entered the room, caught sight of Li Ping'er's silhouette, and asked, "Is the meal ready?" Ruyi Er emerged and replied, "We just prepared it together." Ximen Qing sat down, and Ying Chun brought tea for him to drink. Ximen Qing instructed her to loosen her belt, and Ruyi Er knew he wanted to rest here, so she quickly made the bed, warmed the bedding with a hot water bottle, and allowed him to rest. Xiu Chun closed the corner door, and they all spread out blankets on the floor to sleep. Ximen Qing wanted tea; the two maids understood his intention, so they quickly pushed Li Ping'er in to sleep with him. Li Ping'er took off her clothes and got into bed, Ximen Qing took advantage of the alcohol and medicine, and after a round of passion, Li Ping'er lay on the bed, with her legs raised high, enthusiastically responding to Ximen Qing. The sounds of their passion echoed through the still night. Ximen Qing felt that Li Ping'er's body was as soft as a melon, and he embraced her... Li Ping'er was utterly compliant. Ximen Qing said, "My child, your skin is as fair and clear as your mother's. Holding you is like sleeping with her. You must attend to my needs, and I will take good care of you." Li Ping'er said, "Dad, you are really too kind! I have been without a husband for a long time. You don't despise me, and I am content to see you every day!" Ximen Qing asked, "How old are you?" Li Ping'er said, "I was born in the Year of the Rabbit, so I am thirty-one." Ximen Qing said, "You are a year younger than me." Seeing her charm and wit, especially in bed, delighted him. The next morning, Li Ping'er served him to dress and wash, with great diligence, leaving Ying Chun and Xiu Chun to the side. She also asked Ximen Qing for some onion-white silk: "Make a cloak for Mother to wear in mourning." Ximen Qing consented and instructed a servant to fetch three pieces of onion-white silk from the shop: "Each household should make one."
"Behind Pan Jinlian's back, he was secretly giving money, clothes, and jewelry to Li Ping'er, giving her everything she could want!"
The next day, Pan Jinlian heard about this and ran to Yue Niang and said, "Sister, why don't you teach him a lesson! That shameless man snuck over to that room yesterday and slept with Li Ping'er for a night. He throws himself at every woman he sees, without any sense of right or wrong. What if a child comes of this? Who will take responsibility? It will be just like with Lai Wang's wife, making him wear a green hat; how will he hold his head up in the future!" Yue Niang said, "You all just want me to say something, while you all secretly act like the good ones, treating me like a fool. I'm done dealing with this! You go argue with him yourselves; I won't deal with these trivial matters." Seeing Yue Niang say this, Jinlian didn't say a word and went back to her room.
Early in the morning, Ximen Qing saw that the weather was nice and had Dai An go to deliver a letter to Qian Zhu Shi's house. After he returned to the yamen, Ping An came to report: "Someone from Zhai's family is here to pick up the letter." Ximen Qing handed him the letter and asked the man, "Why didn't you come to collect it yesterday?" The man said, "I got held up for two days delivering a letter to the governor." After saying this, he took the letter and left. After eating, Ximen Qing went to the house across the street to check the settlement of silver, pack goods, and keep accounts. On the 24th, he burned paper and sent five people to the south: Han Huo Ji, Cui Ben, Rong Hai, and Hu Xiu. He wrote a letter to Miao Xiaohu, thanking him for his generous gift.
In the blink of an eye, Ximen Qing was already twenty-five or twenty-six years old. He had finished paying respects to his parents and was sitting in the main room after breakfast. Yueniang said, "It's Qiao's eldest daughter's birthday on the first day of the month. Let's send a gift over. As the saying goes, relatives and friends should keep in touch often. Just because we've lost our child, does that mean we shouldn't send gifts?" Ximen Qing said, "Of course we should." So he instructed Lai Xing to buy four boxes of gifts, a set of silk garments with embroidery, two gold handkerchiefs, and a box of hairpins. He wrote a letter and had Wang Jing deliver it. After Ximen Qing gave his instructions, he went to his study in the Cangchun Pavilion. He saw Dai'an return after delivering the letter and report, "Master Qian received your letter and immediately sent a messenger. Huang's son and I went to Dongchang Prefecture to see Master Lei. Master Lei immediately issued a summons to the magistrate to expedite the re-trial of the case. Even his son, Sun Wenxiang, was set free. Only ten taels were awarded for funeral expenses, and he was acquitted, sentenced to seventy lashes, and fined. Then I reported back to Master Qian at the customs office, retrieved the reply, and came back." Ximen Qing was very pleased with Dai'an's efficiency. Upon opening the reply, I found it was a letter from Lei Bingbei to Master Qian. The letter read:
I have received your letter and have already taken care of it. However, Feng Er had already reprimanded his son for this matter before. Moreover, he and Sun Wen also fought; both were injured, and later Feng Er's son died. This was outside the statute of limitations, and holding him accountable and demanding his life is unfair. I have decided to give Feng Er twenty taels of silver for burial expenses, and this concludes the matter.
At the end of the letter, it read: "Respectfully yours, Lei Qiyuan, who has served you for many years, bows once more."
Ximen Qing was very happy after reading the letter and asked, "Where is Huang Si's brother-in-law?" Dai An said, "He went home after he got out. Tomorrow he and Huang Si will come together to kowtow to you. Huang Si's father-in-law gave me one tael of silver." Ximen Qing ordered someone to bring him his shoes, and Dai An kowtowed and retreated. Ximen Qing lay on the bed and fell asleep. Wang Jing lit incense on the table and quietly went out. After a while, he suddenly heard someone lifting the curtain, only to see Li Ping'er bursting in, dressed in a purple-red top and a white silk skirt, her hair disheveled and her face pale. She walked to the bed and said, "Brother, you are sleeping here. I came to see you. I was falsely accused and locked up, covered in blood, dirty and stinking, and I suffered for a long time. Thanks to you for speaking for me in the yamen yesterday, my sentence was reduced by three levels. That guy wouldn't give up, still insisting he’ll sue you and have me taken away. I was worried I wouldn’t have time to warn you, afraid you might suddenly be harmed. I need to find a safe place to stay now; you must be careful and watch out for him. Avoid drinking out unless it’s necessary, and come home early. Remember my words, don’t forget!" After speaking, the two embraced and cried. Ximen Qing asked, "Sister, where are you going? Tell me." Li Ping'er suddenly let go of her hand, only to realize it was just a dream. Ximen Qing woke up crying from the dream and saw the sunlight shining through the curtain; it was already noon, feeling utterly distressed. As the poem goes: "The remaining snow clears the paper window, the ashes from the stove are creeping onto the bed. In this unexpected encounter, a dream of longing, the wind rustles the plum blossoms on the embroidered bed."
I didn't expect that after just delivering the gift to Qiao's in-laws in the morning, Mrs. Qiao had Qiao Tong deliver the invitation, inviting Lady Yu and the sisters. A servant said, "Master is sleeping in the study." No one dared to ask. Lady Yu welcomed Qiao Tong in the back, and Pan Jinlian said, "Take the invitation; I'll go ask him." So she pushed open the study door, saw Ximen Qing sleeping with his body crooked, and sat down beside him, saying, "My dear, what are you muttering to yourself here? I thought you had disappeared; turns out you were just napping here!" As she spoke, she looked at Ximen Qing and asked, "Why are your eyes so red?" Ximen Qing said, "I probably slept with my head pressed against something." Jinlian said, "It looks like you've been crying." Ximen Qing said, "Nonsense, why would I cry?" Jinlian said, "Maybe you're thinking of someone special." Ximen Qing said, "Don't talk nonsense; there's no one in my heart!" Jinlian said, "Li Ping'er is in your heart, the wet nurse is in your mind, we are all outsiders; we don't count." Ximen Qing said, "You little minx, you’re at it again." Then he asked, "Let's talk about serious matters—I buried Li Dajie the day before yesterday; what clothes did you put on her?" Jinlian said, "Why are you bringing this up?" Ximen Qing said, "Nothing, just asking." Jinlian said, "You must have a reason for bringing it up. She wore two sets of brocade dresses, a white silk coat, a yellow silk skirt; her undergarment was a purple silk jacket, a white silk skirt, and a red undershirt." Ximen Qing nodded. Jinlian said, "I've been a vet for twenty years; can't I figure out what's wrong with a donkey's belly? You’re thinking about her, so why ask me?" Ximen Qing said, "I just dreamed about her." Jinlian said, "Thinking in the day, dreaming at night. She's dead, and you still think of her like this. People like us, you never really cared about; when we die, no one will miss us!" Ximen Qing hugged her neck, kissed her, and said, "You little mouth, you really know how to talk." Jinlian said, "My dear, your wicked thoughts can't fool me!" The two of them cuddled for a while, feeling extremely sweet, the fragrance was overwhelming. Ximen Qing's desire stirred, hugging her... Ximen Qing saw her wearing a golden tiger hairpin on her head, with a jade plum flower hairpin on the cloud of fragrance, pearls scattered on her temples; he felt a thrill. Just as he was enjoying himself, he heard Lai'an call from behind the curtain, "Ying Baojue is here." Ximen Qing said, "Invite him in." Pan Jinlian quickly said, "Lai'an, don't let him in; wait for me to go out." Lai'an said, "He's already inside, in the small courtyard." Pan Jinlian said, "Quick, let him hide!" Lai'an went out and told Ying Baojue, "Second Master, you hide first; there's someone inside." Ying Baojue walked to the pine tree wall and looked at the snow-covered bamboo. Wang Jing opened the curtain, only to hear the sound of a rustling skirt; Jinlian quickly ran out.
The poem expresses:
The egret takes flight, veiled by the snow, while the parrot's chatter is revealed among the willow's branches.
The Earl entered the room and greeted Ximen Qing before sitting down. Ximen Qing asked him, "Why haven't you come recently?" The Earl said with a distressed look, "Brother, I'm really stressed out!" Ximen Qing asked, "What's wrong again? Tell me quickly." The Earl helplessly said, "There's no money at home, and my concubine gave birth to a child yesterday. It's fine during the day, but the baby won't stop crying at night. I have to get up to hunt down diapers and blankets, and even ask my mother for help. Unfortunately, my older brother sent Yingbao out to the village to haul hay, so the house is busy and I can't find anyone to help. I had to light a lantern and ask Deng Laoniang from down the alley to help with the baby." Ximen Qing asked, "Help with what?" The Earl said, "Help with a servant boy." Ximen Qing scolded, "You idiot, why are you still moping around when you just had a son? Is it Spring Flower's child?" The Earl smiled and said, "It's your Spring Lady." Ximen Qing said, "That little demon, who asked you to have her? Even your mother complains!" The Earl explained, "Brother, you don't know, it's cold in winter. Unlike you wealthy people with bright futures, having a son is a joy. We're struggling just to put food on the table and clothes on our backs, so why do we need this child? There are so many people in the house to feed and clothe, I'm worried sick. Yingbao is busy working every day, and my elder brother doesn't care. All the daughters are married off, and it’s all thanks to you! This second child is growing up, turning thirteen next year. The matchmaker came yesterday. I said, 'It's too early, wait.' I was worried, and then in the middle of the night, another 'misfortune' came up. In the middle of the night, where do I get money? My concubine saw me frowning and had no choice, so I gave her a couple of silver. Tomorrow she has to wash clothes, everyone will know, what about the full moon wine? I might as well just hide out at the temple for a few days." Ximen Qing laughed, "If you take off, those monks will take you for a ride. You fool, always looking for small advantages." He laughed for a while, and the Earl deliberately remained silent. Ximen Qing said, "My brother, don't worry, how much do you need? Tell me, I'll help you." The Earl said, "Not much." Ximen Qing said, "Enough for you to manage. If it's not enough, take some clothes." The Earl said, "Brother, if you're willing to help, twenty taels of silver will be enough. I'll write you an IOU. I feel bad asking you for help, it's such a hassle."
Ximen Qing refused his IOU, he said, "Don't bring up this nonsense, we are friends, why would we need an IOU?"
Just as he was speaking, Lai'an brought in the tea. Ximen Qing called the servant, "Put the tea down and go call Wang Jing." After a while, Wang Jing arrived. Ximen Qing instructed, "Go to the backyard and tell your mother that in the compartment on my bed in the inner room, there are two bundles of silver that Lord Song, the censor, sent a few days ago. Bring one of them." Wang Jing agreed and quickly brought the silver. Ximen Qing handed the silver to Ying Bojue, saying, "Take these fifty taels and use them. The seal hasn't been broken; open and take a look." Bojue said, "This is too much." Ximen Qing said, "Take it; both of your daughters are grown up. It's time to get them some shoes, socks, and clothes. It’s also good to be decent during their full month." Bojue said, "You're right, brother." He opened the silver, all of which were of excellent quality, and he was overjoyed, repeatedly thanking Ximen Qing, saying, "Brother, you are really too kind. Do I really not need to write you an IOU?" Ximen Qing said, "Silly child, who's keeping track of that? Anyway, I am your elder; otherwise, why would you come to me when you have nothing to do? This kid isn't just yours; we're all raising him together. Truth be told, after the full month, bring Chunhua over, promise me for a little while, and it will be considered as interest." Bojue said, "Your Spring Aunt has been getting thinner these days, just like your mother!" The two chatted for a while, and Bojue asked, "How is Huang Si's situation?" Ximen Qing said, "Qian Long's report has arrived, Lei Bingbei immediately interrogated the prisoners, re-investigated the case, and released Sun Wenxiang and his son, only sentencing them to ten taels of silver for burial costs." Bojue said, "They really hit the jackpot! Even if they light a lantern, they wouldn't find such kindness! If you haven't confiscated from him, then don't. Even though you don't care, it's good to send some money to Lord Song. Don't let him off easily; have him throw a feast and invite us. If you don’t bring it up, I will. Let his nephew off the hook, and let the small stuff slide!"
Yue Niang was in the main room when Meng Yu Lou came to tell her that her brother Meng Rui would be leaving for Chuan Guang to trade goods in a few days. "He’s currently saying goodbye to our father and sitting in my room. Where is he? Sister, can you send a servant to let him know?" Yue Niang replied, "He’s in the garden study with Ying Er. He also wanted to invite our father. It would have been nice if Sister Pan Liu had invited him earlier! Qiao Tong sent a message, waiting for a reply. Are we going tomorrow? I kept Qiao Tong here to have tea, but after waiting a long time with no one showing up, Qiao Tong left. A little later, he came back and asked me, 'Did you tell him?' He didn’t respond, just hummed and said, 'I forgot.' The message was still tucked away in his sleeve. Turns out he’s quite the irresponsible one! I don’t know what he was doing before; he came in after a long time, just when I hadn’t said anything. I gave him a bit of a scolding, and then he left." After a while, Lai An came in, and Yue Niang asked him to invite Ximen Qing because Meng Er Jiu had arrived. Ximen Qing stood up and said to the count, "You don't have to leave just yet; I'll be back soon." He walked to the backyard, and Yue Niang first mentioned the message from the Qiao family inviting them. Ximen Qing said, "You go alone that day. We're in mourning; we shouldn’t all go out!" Yue Niang said, "Meng Er Jiu came to say goodbye to you; he will be going to Chuan Guang in a day or two. He’s in San Jie’s room." She then asked, "Who did you want that silver for earlier?" Ximen Qing replied, "For Ying Er's family, Chun Hua gave birth to a son last night and asked to borrow some money. He said his second daughter is also grown up, and he is quite worried." Yue Niang replied, "That’s good. At his age, he finally has a child; I really don’t know what Er Sao is thinking! Tomorrow, let’s send some rice porridge to him." Ximen Qing said, "Of course. Don’t forget to send out invitations for the full moon party, inviting everyone to visit his house and see how Chun Hua is doing." Yue Niang chuckled and said, "Anyway, it’s pretty much the same as your family; they’re all just as human, how different can it be!" Meanwhile, she had Lai An go to invite Meng Er Jiu.
Before long, Meng Yulou and his second uncle came to visit Ximen Qing. After some pleasantries, Ximen Qing had a chat with them for a while and then took them to the study to meet the earl. He instructed the servant to prepare food and wine, and the three of them shared some drinks. Ximen Qing then asked for another pair of chopsticks, saying, "Please ask Master Wen to join your second uncle at the table." After a while, Lai An returned to report, "Master Wen is not here; he went to see Master Wang Ni." Ximen Qing said, "Then let’s have your brother-in-law sit for a bit." Eventually, Chen Jingji arrived, greeted his second uncle Meng, and then sat down. Ximen Qing asked, "Second uncle, when are you setting off, and how long will you be gone?" Meng Rui said, "I’ll be leaving on the second day of the second lunar month; I haven’t pinned down the exact time yet. I still need to go to Jingzhou to buy paper, then go to Sichuan and Guangdong to deal in incense and wax, and I’ll be busy for at least a year or two. Once the goods are sold, I will return home. This time, I’ll be passing through Henan, Shaanxi, and Hanzhou, and when I come back, I’ll take the river route—that’s a round trip of seven to eight thousand miles." The earl asked, "Second uncle, how old are you now?" Meng Rui said, "I’m twenty-six by the old count." The earl said, "You’re still young, yet you know so much about traveling the rivers; us old-timers can only sit at home."
Not long after, the dishes were served again, filling the table. Uncle Meng Er ate until dusk before saying goodbye and leaving. Ximen Qing saw him off, then came back and drank with the Count for a while. They bought two warehouses, and Ximen Qing put Chen Jingji in charge of organizing the warehouses. He asked Yueniang to find two sets of brocade clothes belonging to Li Ping'er, as well as gold and silver paper money, and put them all in the warehouse. Then he said to the Count, "Today is Li Ping'er's six or seven, let's burn some paper money instead of reading scriptures for the warehouse." The Count said, "Time passes by quickly; it's been nearly half a month since Sister-in-law passed away." Ximen Qing said, "On the fifth day, it will mark the end of her seven-day mourning period; we must read scriptures for her." The Count said, "Let's read Buddhist scriptures this time." Ximen Qing said, "The main house mentioned that when Li Ping'er was alive, she made some vows because she gave birth to a child, including inviting some nuns to chant scriptures and pray for her." Seeing that it was getting late, the Count said, "I don't want to keep you and your sister-in-law from burning paper money." He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your kindness; I'm very grateful!" Ximen Qing said, "No need to be polite, my son, just remember to bring gifts when your child is a month old." The Count said, "Do I still need to bring gifts? I'll bow to you now, and I'll definitely bring my family to visit when the time comes." Ximen Qing said, "When the time comes, bring Chunhua along so I can see her." The Count laughed and left. Ximen Qing ordered the servants to pack up and then went to Li Ping'er's room. Chen Jingji and Daian had already finished organizing the warehouse and sealed it. That day, the Jade Emperor Temple, Yongfu Temple, and Baoen Temple all sent in the written prayers. Ximen Qing watched Yingchun prepare the soup and rice and set up the offerings, lit incense and candles, and asked Xiuchun to invite Lady Wu and the others. Ximen Qing and Li Ping'er burned paper money, took out the items from the warehouse, had Jingji watch over them, and burned them at the front gate. It was as follows: The fragrant soul won't perish with the ashes, but will reunite in the next life with unfinished ties.
