The lyrics sing: "A beauty's life is fragile, alas, youth fades away in an instant, buried beneath the yellow earth. Does heaven not care at all? Isn't good and evil just a result of our own actions?"
She had both a beautiful appearance and a clever mind, yet she left this world early. This is so unfair; asking the heavens, but the heavens remain silent.
What a shame that such beauty and fragrance, fleeting away in an instant, are now lost in such misery. Where have all the prosperity and wealth gone?
How many high-rise buildings have enjoyed prosperity, how many people have strolled along purple paths for outings, how many homes have decorated their green windows with brocade, how many sisters have eyes that are like paintings? Disappointments in life have existed throughout history.
(Cui Lou Yin)
The next day, Yue Niang prepared a table of offerings and some joss paper. Eldest Sister was dressed in mourning attire and took a sedan chair to the Chen family's grave. Xue Sao went ahead with the offerings. When she saw Chen Jingji standing at the door, she said, "Brother-in-law, don't pretend you don't know. Your mother-in-law has come to burn paper for your father and bring Eldest Sister over." Jingji said, "My mother-in-law? Putting up door gods on the sixteenth day of the first month - half a month late! She only comes to pay respects after people have been buried!" Xue Sao said, "Brother-in-law, your mother-in-law said that widows aren’t always in the loop, and she didn't know your family had buried someone. She came late, don’t take it the wrong way." Just then, Eldest Sister's sedan chair arrived. Jingji asked, "Who has come?" Xue Sao said, "Who else could it be? Your mother-in-law is upset; she came to bring Eldest Sister and burn paper for your father." Jingji shouted angrily, "Get this woman out of here! So many good people have died, why do I still need her?" Xue Sao said, "As the saying goes: when you marry a chicken, follow the chicken; when you marry a dog, follow the dog. What are you talking about?" Jingji said, "I don’t want her here, why isn’t she going?" The bearers didn’t budge, and Jingji kicked them twice and cursed, "Hurry up and leave, or I'll break your legs and shave her head bald!" The bearers, after being kicked, quickly carried the sedan away. Xue Sao called for her mother-in-law, Zhang Shi, but the sedan was already gone.
Sister Xue had no choice but to let Zhang Shi accept the offerings and go back to tell Wu Yueniang. Wu Yueniang's face turned white with anger and she cursed, "This unreasonable short-lived scoundrel! In the past, your family moved in to live with us because of a lawsuit; we supported you for several years, but today you bite the hand that fed you! I truly regret that trouble caused by that dead idiot in the first place, making me look like a fool today and allowing him to be so audacious!" She said to her eldest daughter, "Sweetheart, have your in-laws mistreated you? You are their family in life and their ghost in death; my family can't take you in. Go again tomorrow, don't be scared of him; he won't do anything to you. If he dares, isn't there law in this world to punish him?" And so the night went on.
The next day, another sedan chair was sent, and Dai An went along to send the eldest daughter back to Chen Jingji's home. To her surprise, Chen Jingji wasn't home; he had gone to tend to his father's grave. Zhang Shi was very polite and invited the eldest daughter to stay, saying to Dai An, "After the master returns home, speak kindly to your in-laws, thank them for the offerings, and don't get into a fight with him. He was like that because he drank yesterday. I'll talk to him gently." As she entertained Dai An, she also comforted the eldest daughter.
In the evening, Chen Jingji returned from the cemetery and saw his eldest sister. He kicked and hit her, cursing, "You shameless woman, what are you doing here again? You said I was freeloading at your house, but your family has taken so much from me and built such a large family business, raising a son-in-law for free! So many good people have perished; why do I need a shameless woman like you?" The eldest sister also cursed back, "Shameless! Unjust! The shameless woman who goes out and harms others, it’s not your turn to take it out on me!" Jingji yanked her hair and landed several punches. His mother came over to break it up, but he pushed her down. His mother cried and cursed, "You beast, you’ve lost your mind, you don’t even recognize your own mother!" Later that evening, he sent a sedan chair to take his eldest sister back, threatening, "If you don’t return the dowry, I swear I’ll kill you!" The eldest sister was terrified and hid at home, never daring to show her face again. It’s true: who would’ve thought that things could change so quickly, turning friends into foes in an instant?
One day, on the Qingming Festival in March, Wu Yueniang prepared incense, paper money, offerings, and carried two large food boxes to go outside the city to pay respects and tend to the grave of Ximen Qiang. She left Sun Xue'e, her eldest sister, and the maids at home to watch the house. She took Meng Yulou, Xiaoyu, and nurse Ruyi, holding Xiao Ge'er, and they all took a sedan chair to the grave. She also invited Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu to go together. After leaving the city gate, they saw the expansive countryside, adorned with vibrant spring colors, blooming flowers, and lush willows, filled with visitors. Spring is the most beautiful of all the seasons, with bright sunshine, a gentle breeze blowing the willow branches, blooming flowers, and stirring up fragrant dust. The warm weather is referred to as "Xuan," while the cold is known as "Liaoqiao." Riding a horse is called a "treasure horse," sitting in a sedan chair is called a "luxurious carriage," walking on the road is called a "fragrant path," and the swirling dust is known as "fragrant dust." The blooming flowers and sprouting grass are called "spring signals." The sunshine is bright, and the scenery is harmonious. The peach blossoms are charming, the willow branches sway gracefully. The orioles sing, the swallows dance. The warm sunshine glimmers, and the river glimmers with emerald green. Across the river, hanging high on the green willow tree is a swing, but it's unclear whose home it belongs to. What a beautiful spring scene it is! As the poem goes:
Wherever Qingming is celebrated, there’s no smoke, paper money flutters in the breeze on the outskirts. People laugh and sing in the fragrant grass, the apricot blossoms dance in the changing weather. The warbler speaks on the crabapple branch, the drunken revelers nap by the willow banks. The lovely ladies compete for the best painting, the colorful ribbons sway as if they were fairies in flight.
Wu Yueniang and her group arrived at the cemetery in Wuliyuan by sedan chair. Dai An carried a food box and went to the kitchen to cook while the cooks were busy preparing, but I won't elaborate on that. Yueniang, accompanied by Yulou, Xiaoyu, and the wet nurse Ruyi holding Xiaoge, went to the living room of the courtyard to drink tea and wait for Wu Dajinzi, but she did not show up. Dai An went to the altar in front of Ximen Qing's grave, set up offerings of sacrificial animals, rice, and paper money, and waited for Wu Dajinzi. It turned out that Dajinzi had trouble finding a sedan chair, and it was not until almost noon that she and Wu Dajinzi hired two donkeys to come along. Yueniang said, "Dajinzi couldn't find a sedan chair, so how can she ride a donkey here?" After having tea and changing clothes, they all went to sweep Ximen Qing's grave. Yueniang held five incense sticks, took one herself, gave one to Yulou, and gave another to the wet nurse Ruyi to offer incense for Xiaoge, and the remaining two were given to Wu Dajinzi and Wu Dajinzi. Yueniang inserted the incense into the incense burner, bowed deeply, and said, "My brother, you were kind to people when you were alive, and now you are revered as a spirit. Today is Qingming Festival, your wife Wu Sanjie, Meng Sanjie, and your one-year-old child Xiaoge have come to burn paper money for you in front of your grave. Bless him with a long life, and may he one day come to tend your grave. My brother, we were a couple, and thinking of your past and your words truly saddens me." After the worship, Yueniang covered her face and wept bitterly. Yulou stepped forward to offer incense and also bowed deeply, crying with Yueniang. After Yulou finished offering incense, the wet nurse Ruyi knelt down to offer incense and kowtow with Xiaoge in her arms. Wu Dajinzi and Dajinzi also offered incense. After the ceremony, Dai An set the paper money ablaze. Then everyone went to the shed in the courtyard to set up tables for a meal and drinks. Yueniang asked Wu Dajinzi and Dajinzi to sit at the head of the table, and she and Yulou accompanied them. Xiaoyu, Ruyi, and the maid Lan Hua from Dajinzi's family also sat on the sides to drink. I won't dwell on the drinking details here.
Furthermore, Zhou Shoubei's family also visited the graves that day. The night before, Chunmei slept beside Shoubei and pretended to dream, waking up in tears. Shoubei hurriedly asked, "Why are you crying?" Chunmei said, "I dreamed that my mother was crying and said she raised me, but I didn't burn paper for her during Qingming and Cold Food Festival, so I cried." Shoubei said, "This is also your stepmother; it's your filial piety. Where is your mother's grave?" Chunmei replied, "It's behind Yongfu Temple outside the South Gate." Shoubei said, "It's okay; Yongfu Temple is the ancestral hall of our family. Tomorrow our family will go to the grave; you have someone carry some offerings to burn paper money for your mother; that would be nice." The next day, Shoubei had the family prepare food boxes, wine, fruits, and other offerings, and went straight to the family grave in the southern part of the city. There were manors, halls, gardens, ancestral halls, and altars. Grandma, Sun Erniang, and Chunmei all traveled in sedan chairs, making a grand procession to the grave.
After Mrs. Wu, Wu Dajiu, and the matchmaker had their meal, they were afraid of being late, so they instructed Dai'an and Lai'an to pack up the food boxes and wine, and go to a lively place in Xinghua Village's restaurant with a good view to set up a table and wait. Since the matchmaker didn't have a sedan chair, they had the sedan chair carriers carry the sedan chair, and they themselves did not sit, bringing a group of people, with Wu Dajiu leading a donkey behind them, all going for an outing. In March, peach blossoms were in full bloom, and in the five-li-long Xinghua Village, there were officials and nobles coming out to visit the grave, creating a vibrant scene with blooming flowers and lush willows, bustling with crowds. As they walked, they spotted a beautiful, well-kept temple nestled in the shade of green trees.
The mountain entrance is towering, the temple is tranquil. The inscription above is distinct, the two Vajra statues below stand imposing. The five main halls are adorned with green dragon-scale tiles; the two monk quarters feature turtle-back bricks with floral inlays. The front hall is dedicated to favorable winds and timely rains, the back hall honors the past and future. The bell and drum towers rise majestically, the scripture hall looms large. The flagpole soars into the sky, the pagoda subtly pierces the azure sky. The wooden fish is suspended horizontally, the cloud board is suspended high. The candles before the Buddha flicker warmly, the incense smoke wafts gently from the burner. The banners flutter endlessly, the Guanyin hall adjoins the ancestral hall; the canopies intertwine, the Guimu position leads to the Arhat hall. The celestial protectors occasionally descend, and the revered beings arrive annually to vanquish demons.
Wu Yueniang asked, "What is the name of this temple?" Wu Daju said, "This is Master Zhou's incense courtyard, called Yongfu Zen Forest. When my brother-in-law was alive, he donated several dozen taels of silver to this temple to rebuild the Buddha hall, which is why it looks so new." Yueniang said to the old lady, "Let's go in and take a look." So they led a group of people into the temple. Before long, a young monk saw them and hurried to tell the elder, "Many people have come..." The elder came out to welcome them, saw Wu Daju and Yueniang, joined his palms in greeting, and quickly asked the young monk to open the door to the hall, saying, "Please feel free to visit; I will go make tea for you." The young monk opened the door to the hall and led Yueniang and the group to visit the Buddha hall on both sides, and then they came to the elder's quarters. The elder quickly made tea, and Wu Daju asked for the elder's Dharma name. The monk said, "This humble monk's Dharma name is Daojian. This temple is the incense courtyard of Master Zhou's family. I have the honor of being the elder of this temple, managing more than a hundred monks here. There are also many wandering monks in the meditation hall who usually meditate and practice, repaying the kindness of donors from all quarters." While preparing the meal in his quarters, he invited Yueniang, saying, "Please have a seat, donors." Yueniang said, "I shouldn't disturb the elder's meditation." While taking out five taels of silver and letting Daju give it to the elder, she burned incense in front of the Buddha. The monk thanked her, saying, "I have nothing special to offer. Donors, please sit for a moment; there's no need for any expense." Before long, the young monk brought out some vegetarian dishes and biscuits. The monk ate with them, and just as they were about to start eating, they suddenly spotted two men in blue running towards them, calling out to the elder in a rush, "Elder, come out quickly to greet; the young lady from the mansion has come to make offerings!" The elder hurriedly donned his robes and hat and instructed the young monk to quickly tidy up, "Please wait in the small room until the young lady finishes her offerings, then come back to sit for a while." Wu Daju wanted to take his leave, but the monk insisted they stay and wouldn't let them go.
The monk hurriedly rang the bell and drum, ran out of the mountain gate to await her arrival on the road outside. A group of people dressed in green surrounded a large sedan chair, moving as swiftly as clouds blowing in from the east. The bearers of the sedan chair were drenched in sweat, their clothes thoroughly soaked. The elder bowed and said, "I wasn't aware that you were coming, young lady. I should have welcomed you earlier; I apologize for the delay." Chunmei in the sedan chair replied, "Elder, there's no need for such formality." The attendants quickly ran to the Golden Lotus Tomb behind the temple, busy setting up the offering table and paper money. When Chunmei's sedan chair arrived, it bypassed the temple and went straight to the Golden Lotus Tomb beneath the poplar tree at the back. The attendants in green flanked her. Chunmei calmly walked to the tomb, lit incense and bowed four times, and said, "Mother, today Pang Dajie specially came to burn paper money for you, hoping you’re doing well over there and have money to spend when you need it. If I had known that you died at the hands of your enemy, I should have brought you back home to live with me, no matter what. I regret having delayed you, but now it’s too late for regrets." After speaking, she instructed the others to burn the paper money. Chunmei knelt before the tomb and broke down in tears.
Wu Yuexiang was in the monk's room and only knew that the young mistress of the estate had arrived. The abbot went out to greet her, but she did not enter. She asked the young monk, who said, "The sister of the young mistress recently passed away. Today is Qingming Festival, and she came specifically to make offerings and burn joss paper." Meng Yulou said, "Could it be Chunmei who has come? Why haven't we seen her?" Yuexiang said, "Where could her sister have died and been buried here?" She then asked the young monk, "What is the young mistress's surname?" The young monk said, "Her surname is Pang. A few days ago, she gave the abbot four or five taels of silver to have prayers and rites performed for her sister." Yulou said, "I heard her father say that Chunmei's family name is Pang, and she is called Sister Pang. Could it be her?" Just then, the abbot arrived and instructed the young novice, "Prepare the tea properly." After a while, the sedan chair was brought into the abbot's quarters and set down. Yuexiang and Yulou, along with others, looked out from behind the curtain in the monk's room, wanting to see what this young mistress looked like. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed Chunmei. However, she looked even more stunning than before, tall and slender, with a round face like a full moon. She was adorned in exquisite finery, wearing an elaborate headdress bedecked with pearls and jade, phoenix hairpins partially inserted, a bright red embroidered jacket, an emerald green skirt with a wide gold hem, and delicate anklets that jingled with every step. She was quite different from before. Her bun was grand, with phoenix hairpins half undone. Hoop earrings hung low by her ears, and golden hairpins trailed behind her. The red embroidered jacket highlighted her jade-like skin, while the green skirt reflected the golden lotus underneath. As she moved, the jade ornaments on her chest jingled, and when she sat down, a scent of musk and orchids filled the air. Her neck was adorned with delicate powder, and her eyebrows were meticulously drawn with flower hairpins. Her movements were astonishing, her beauty rivaled that of the most exquisite flowers, and her demeanor elegant and gentle, like a fairy descended from a celestial palace. If not born in a magnificent pavilion, she must have been raised in a fragrant chamber. She appeared as graceful as a celestial being from the Purple Palace descending from the azure sky, like a celestial fairy from the Palace of Blooming Flowers gracing the mortal realm.
The elder intentionally set up a tall chair for Chunmei. After the elder bowed, a young novice brought in the tea. The elder handed the tea to Chunmei and said, "I was unaware that you, Miss Chunmei, were coming to pay your respects. Please forgive me." Chunmei replied, "I appreciate your past chanting and rituals for my ancestors." The monk said, "I cannot accept such praise. Thanks to your generous donations, Miss Chunmei, I invited eight monks to conduct a day-long ritual of chanting scriptures. In the evening, we burned some joss paper for her ancestor. Once the ritual was completed successfully, two stewards were sent into the city to inform you, Miss Chunmei." Chunmei finished her tea, and the young novice took the teacup. The elder continued to chat with Chunmei, effectively blocking Wu Yueniang and the others from coming out, making it difficult for them to come out.
Madame Yue was worried about it getting late, so she asked the little monk to invite the elder out, intending to take her leave. However, the elder was reluctant to let them leave and walked to the abbot's room to speak to Chunmei, saying, "I have something to tell you, young lady." Chunmei said, "Elder, please speak freely." The elder said, "Just now, there were several young ladies playing in the temple, unaware that you, young lady, had arrived. They are now about to leave, and I wonder what your thoughts are?" Chunmei said, "Why not invite them to meet?" The elder quickly went to invite them. Madame Wu, however, was reluctant to come out, saying, "Elder, there is no need. It is getting late; we should take our leave." The elder felt guilty for not properly hosting them after receiving their offerings, so she urged them repeatedly. Madame Wu, Meng Yulou, and Wu Dajinzi could not refuse, so they had to come out. When Chunmei saw them, she said, "So it is two madams and the elder." She first invited the elder to step forward, and the elder hurriedly bowed, feeling flustered, she said, "Sister, you have changed so much; you have aged me." Chunmei said, "Dear elder, please do not say such things. I am not that kind of person. Respect for seniority and etiquette are natural." After bowing to the elder, she also bowed to Madame Yue and Meng Yulou. Madame Yue and Yulou wanted to return the gesture, but Chunmei refused. She helped them up, kowtowed four times, and said, "I did not know that several madams were here. If I had known, I would have invited you out to meet earlier." Madame Yue said, "Sister, since you entered the mansion, I have been very rude. I haven't visited you; please don't take offense." Chunmei said, "Dear madam, how could I possibly blame you, given my humble background?" Seeing the nanny Ruyi holding Xiao Ge'er, she said, "The little brother has grown so big." Madame Yue said, "You and Yuer come over and kowtow to sister." Ruyi and Xiaoyu ran over, smiling, and kowtowed to Chunmei. Madame Yue said, "Sister, please accept their gesture." Chunmei took a pair of gold and silver hairpins from her head and inserted them into Xiao Ge'er's hat. Madame Yue said, "Thank you for the hairpins; won't you give sister a curtsey?" Ruyi held Ge'er and actually curtsied to Chunmei, making Madame Yue extremely happy. Yulou said, "Sister, since you did not enter the temple today, how would we have had a chance to meet?" Chunmei said, "It's because my mother was buried behind this temple. I endured a lot because of her, and she had no relatives. If I didn't think of her, burn some joss paper for her, how could I live with myself?" Madame Yue said, "I remember your mother passing away several years ago; I didn't know she was buried here." Meng Yulou said, "Madam, you may not know what Sister Pang said; she said Pan Liu died. Thanks to sister, she was buried here." Madame Yue fell silent after hearing this. Wu Dajinzi said, "Who else but you would show such kindness, not forget the past, and bury her? You come to burn joss paper for her during every festival." Chunmei said, "Dear madam, think about how she used to praise me! She died so miserably, so lonely and helpless; how could I not bury her?" After that, the elder instructed the little monk to set up a table for a vegetarian meal. Two large tables of the Eight Immortals were filled with exquisite snacks and various vegetarian dishes, as well as fine tea. After the meal, they tidied up and headed home. Wu Dajiu was being entertained in the monks' room, so we won't discuss him further.
Meng Yulou got up, thinking about visiting Jinlian's grave to burn some joss paper for her; after all, they were sisters. Seeing that Yuemen did not move, she took out five dollars and asked the young monk to buy some joss paper. The old monk said, "Don't buy, I have gold and silver paper here, just take a few sheets to burn." Yulou gave the money to the old monk and sent the young monk to Jinlian's grave under the poplar tree. When she arrived at the grave, she noticed it was a low mound of yellow earth, with a few willow branches and weeds growing. She lit a stick of incense, burned the joss paper, bowed, and cried, saying, "Sixth Sister, I didn't know you were buried here. Today Meng Sanjie accidentally came to the temple and burned some joss paper for you, hoping you are doing well over there. If you need anything, this should be enough." She burst into tears. Ruyi, the nurse, carried Xiaoge and followed Yulou to the back of the grave. Yuemen was talking to Chunmei in the abbot's room, asking Ruyi not to take the child, worried it might scare him. Ruyi said, "Don't worry, I know." She then carried the child to the grave, waiting for Yulou to finish burning the joss paper and crying before returning.
Chunmei and Yuemeng washed their faces, changed their clothes, and instructed the young lad to open the food box, laying out a spread of fruits, desserts, dishes, and snacks on two tables. There were silver bowls and chopsticks set out, and a steamer filled with wine. Da Jinzi, Yuemeng, and Yulou were asked to sit down, with Chunmei taking the main seat. The nanny and Xiaoyu stood by. Wudajiu set up a table alone in a monk's room. While they were enjoying their drinks, two young men in green clothes suddenly arrived, knelt and said, "The master is in Xinzhuang, and he sent us to invite the young lady to watch acrobatics and various performances. The grandmother and the second grandmother have already gone, so please hurry over." Chunmei replied calmly, "You can go back; I understand." The two men nodded but hesitated to leave, so they waited below. Da Jinzi and Yuemeng stood up to say, "Sister, don't bother. It's getting late, and you have things to do; let's go." Chunmei refused to let them leave and asked the servant to bring a large clock to persuade them, "We rarely gather together; let's cherish this friendship and not break this family relationship. I don’t have any family ties here; wait until tomorrow when your family has a happy event, then I will go back home." Yuemeng said, "Sister, you are being polite; how could we ever disturb you? In a few days, I will come to see you." After finishing a cup of wine, Yuemeng said, "I have drunk too much wine, and since Da Jinzi doesn't have a sedan chair, it’s too late to leave." Chunmei said, "Since Da Jinzi doesn't have a sedan chair, I have an extra pony here; let her ride it and send her home." Da Jinzi politely declined several times before finally getting up to say goodbye. Chunmei called the old monk and had the young lad bring out a large piece of cloth and five coins for the old monk. After thanking the old monk, they were sent out of the mountain gate. Chunmei and Yuemeng bid farewell, watched Yuemeng and Yulou get into the sedan chair, and Chunmei also got into the sedan chair. The two parted ways, and a group of people headed towards Xinzhuang. As the saying goes, "Leaves will meet again; how can people not find their fate?"
