The poem says:
The rain beats on the pear blossoms, making them feel even more desolate; how many times have I felt my heart break as tears fall like beads. After a year apart, it still feels like three; emotions are tangled like thousands of threads.
Good verses are often drawn from autumn; the soul often dissipates in dreams. When will the fragrant silk be revealed once more? How many mornings and evenings have I let down Wushan?
Since Pan Jinlian left with Spring Plum, she has been feeling gloomy alone in the house; but let's put her aside for now. Let's talk about Chen Jingji. The next day, when he brought food, he pretended to go collect debts and rode his donkey to Sister Xue's house. Sister Xue was home and let him in to sit. Jingji tied up the donkey, sat down, and had a sip of tea. Sister Xue intentionally asked him, "Oh, you brother-in-law, what brings you here?" Jingji replied, "I was collecting debts on the street and happened to pass by here. Yesterday, the young lady (referring to Pan Jinlian) came out, and I spoke a few words with her." Sister Xue pretended to be very angry and said, "You, brother-in-law, yesterday your mother-in-law sternly told me that you two are always sneaking around, doing those shameful things, and that's why your mother-in-law was sent away. She told me to keep a close watch on you both, so you wouldn't meet or talk. You need to get out of here fast; if your little helper sees you, he will go back and report, and there will be trouble. At that time, I will also be in trouble." Jingji chuckled and took out a silver coin from his sleeve: "Think of this as tea money; keep it, and I'll thank you another day." Sister Xue's eyes lit up when she saw the money and said, "Good brother-in-law, thank me another time! Just last year in December, you gave me two pairs of button flowers for the pillow in your shop. It's been a year now, and the principal and interest should total eight silver coins; give it to me." Jingji said, "That's nothing; I'll give it to you tomorrow."
Sister Xue invited Jing Ji into the inner room to meet Chun Mei while asking her daughter-in-law, Sister Jin, to prepare the dishes. "I'll go buy some tea and snacks," she said. She also brought a pot of wine and some meat dishes for them to enjoy together. When Chun Mei saw Jing Ji, she said, "Brother-in-law, you are a kind person, but you are truly a ruthless executioner! You've put us in such a terrible situation, leaving us utterly embarrassed!" Jing Ji replied, "Sister, now that you have left her family, I won't be sticking around there much longer either. 'Wives and children seek refuge,' let Xue Mama help you find a good family. I'm as good as pickled leeks—no longer useful. I need to go to Tokyo to see my father, and after I return, I will divorce her daughter, as long as I can get back the boxes I stored at my home."
Before long, Sister Xue brought tea, snacks, and wine, setting them on the kang table for the two of them to enjoy drinks and chat. Sister Xue also joined them for a couple of drinks, while drinking, she remarked how heartless Pan Jinlian was: "A beautiful young lady like that comes out of the house without even decent clothes or jewelry. Even if she’s going to work for someone else, she should at least put in some effort to look decent. And she still wants to pay the old prices. It's like transferring water from one bowl to another—some is bound to spill. Turns out she is so stingy. When she left in a hurry, it was thanks to the little girl Xiaoyu helping her; her mother brought her two pieces of clothing. Otherwise, what would she wear to cover herself when working for others?"
After they had enough to drink, Sister Xue asked her daughter-in-law, Sister Jin, to take the child outside, allowing the two of them to be alone in the inner room for a while. It was just like:
The clouds drift lightly at the sky's edge, while the waters run deep below. Written in this life without interruption, bound together to find joy in the next.
After they finished, the two reluctantly said goodbye. Sister Xue, worried that Pan Jinlian might send someone to spy on them, hurriedly urged Jing Ji to leave, and he rode the donkey back home.
A few days later, Jingzhi sent two embroidered silk handkerchiefs, two pairs of trousers to Chunmei, and a pillow to Sister Xue. He bought wine and drank with Chunmei in Sister Xue's room. Unexpectedly, Pan Jinlian sent An Xiaogu to urge Sister Xue: "Why haven't you sent the girl away yet?" An Xiaogu saw the donkey tied up at the door and told Pan Jinlian when he got home: "Brother-in-law is also there." Pan Jinlian was very angry and repeatedly sent people to call Sister Xue over, scolding her harshly, saying, "You take the girl to work for others, today postponed to tomorrow, tomorrow postponed to the day after tomorrow, you are not in a hurry to help me get rid of her, hiding and keeping a man, earning money to spend on your family. If you don't send her away and return the girl to me, I will let Feng Mama sell her, and you can forget about coming to my house again." Sister Xue, after all, was a matchmaker, sharp-tongued, and said, "Oh! Are you saying I'm not doing my job right? Am I hitting you with the stick of the God of Wealth? You have taken care of me, how could I not send her away? Yesterday, I took her to see several main families, but it didn't work out. You want sixteen taels of silver, we matchmakers don't have that much money to spend." Pan Jinlian also said, "The servant said that Chen's son was drinking with the girl in your house today." Sister Xue said anxiously, "Oh! Oh! Another trouble. It was last December when I gave two pairs of pillows to a family, in our shop on Lion Street, the silver was received, today brother-in-law sent me another pillow. I offered him some tea, but he just rushed off on a donkey. When did he ever drink here! It turns out that our honored guest is so quick to lie!" Pan Jinlian was speechless, saying, "I'm just afraid he might make a mistake." Sister Xue said, "Am I a three-year-old child? How could I not know these things? If you instruct me like this, how can I not do things properly? He didn't stay there for long, gave me a pillow, didn't even drink tea and left. When did he ever see our girl! Everything must be based on evidence, don't wrong me. Since this is the case, now the Prefect Zhou's mansion needs people, I want her to have a better future, only twelve taels of silver. If he can add to thirteen taels, I'll pay you the silver. By the way, Prefect Zhou had eaten at our house before, and had met our girl because he could sing a few songs and was handsome, that's why he paid so much. It's not selling a daughter; others can't afford that much." Sister Xue and Pan Jinlian negotiated the price.
The next day, Chunmei was dressed up early in the morning, adorned with beautiful jewelry and wearing pretty clothes, and was sent to the military office in a sedan chair. When Zhou Shoubei saw that Chunmei had become even more beautiful than before, with an attractive figure and small feet, he was very pleased and gave her fifty taels of silver. Sister Xue brought it home, deducted thirteen taels, and handed it to Pan Jinlian, then took out one tael of silver and said, "This is the lucky money that Lord Zhou gave me. Can't you give me a little something here?" Pan Jinlian had no choice but to give her another five cash, leaving her with thirty-seven taels and five cash. Nine out of ten matchmakers earned a living this way.
Chen Jingji discovered that Chunmei had been sold and could no longer go to Jinlian. He noticed that Yue Niang was avoiding him at every turn, with the main door tightly shut. That night, Yue Niang came out personally, carrying a lantern to look around before locking up and going to bed, leaving him with no opportunity to make a move. Jingji was anxious and first quarreled with Sister Ximen twice, crying and cursing at her, "I'm your son-in-law living under your roof, and I'm getting the short end of the stick when it comes to food! Your family has taken so much gold and silver from me; you're my wife, yet you don't look after me and instead say I'm eating your family's idle food! I'm eating your family's food for nothing!" Sister Ximen just cried.
On November 7th, it is Meng Yulou's birthday. Yulou prepared some wine, dishes, and snacks, and asked Chunhong to take them to the front shop for Jingji and Fu's colleague to share a meal. Yuniang stopped him, saying, "This person is not good; don’t bother inviting him. If you want to eat with Fu's colleague, let him eat alone." Yulou disagreed. Chunhong still brought out the wine and dishes and placed them on the counter. They had finished a large pot of wine, but it wasn't enough; Jingji asked Lai'an to get more. Fu's colleague said, "Brother-in-law, there is no need to buy more wine; this wine is enough, I don't want to drink anymore." Jingji insisted, so Lai'an had to go again. After waiting for a long time, Lai'an came back and said there was no more wine. Jingji was already a bit drunk, but he still insisted on getting more; Lai'an had no choice. Jingji took the money, bought the wine, and came back to drink. While drinking, he scolded Lai'an, "You little thief, don't dawdle! Your master doesn't like me; even your servants bully me. I'm your family’s son-in-law; I haven't had enough to eat or drink. It was fine when my father-in-law was alive; now that my father-in-law is gone, you've turned your backs on me, ignoring me everywhere, squeezing me out. My mother-in-law believes the words of the servants; everything gets handed to the servants, not to me. Forget it, I'll just put up with it!" Fu's colleague advised, "Brother-in-law, stop talking. If they don't respect you, who will they respect? I guess the backyard is too busy; that's why they didn't send the wine to you in time. It's okay for you to scold him; walls have ears. You're drunk like this; be careful not to leak secrets." Jingji said, "Old colleague, you don't know, I feel uncomfortable. My mother-in-law believes the words of the villain, wronging me. Even if I slept with others, did others sleep with me? If I didn’t sleep with every woman in this house, I'll report it to the officials. At most, my mother-in-law will be accused of adultery; I'll be fine. I'll divorce your daughter now and then report it to the officials. No, I'll go to Wanshoumen in Beijing to lodge a complaint, claiming that your family has taken so much gold and silver from mine, all of it embezzled and bribed stolen goods. By then, all of your shops will be confiscated, and your wives will be sold. I'm not trying to take advantage; I just want to stir up trouble! You should treat your son-in-law better; that's when everyone gets along!" Fu's colleague saw him getting more and more out of control and said, "Brother-in-law, you're drunk. Wang Nineteen, stop drinking, stop talking nonsense." Jingji stared at Fu's colleague and scolded, "You old thief, saying I'm talking nonsense! Saying I'm drunk; did I drink your family's wine? Am I not your family's honored guest as a son-in-law? Why do you exclude me too? Let me tell you, don't panic. Over the years, you have made money from my father-in-law, eaten and drank your fill, wanting to kick me out, take control, and do business to make money to support your family. I will file a complaint tomorrow and include you in it!" Fu's colleague, being timid, put on his clothes and fled. After the servant finished packing up and left the room, Jingji fell asleep on the bed.
The next morning, Fu, the assistant came to the backyard and told Yue Niang everything that happened the day before, crying and wanting to resign to settle accounts and quit the business. Yue Niang advised, "Assistant, focus on your business and don't pay attention to that bastard. Just forget him like you would toss away a pile of dung. When your family came to stay with us because of the lawsuit, what treasures did you bring? Only some of your sister's dowry and personal belongings. Your father ran off to Tokyo, and at that time we were worried sick day and night that someone would harm you. You were only sixteen or seventeen when you came, still not fully grown. We raised you in our home for a few years and taught you various trades. Now that you've spread your wings, you repay kindness with malice, ruining everything. It's cruel for a kid to talk like that; it's just not right. Tomorrow, heaven will take care of him! Assistant, focus on your business and ignore him. He will feel ashamed on his own." Yue Niang comforted Fu, the assistant.
One day, the shop was packed with people coming to redeem their stuff. Rui Yi brought a pot of tea for Fu while holding Xiao Ge'er and set it on the table. Xiao Ge'er was wailing in the wet nurse's arms. Chen Jingji pretended to be serious and said to those people, "My brother, be good, don't cry." He told everyone, "This child listens to me; if I tell him not to cry, he really won't cry." The crowd was taken aback. Rui Yi said, "Brother-in-law, you really know how to talk; the more you say, the louder the child cries. I'll go inside and talk to him." Chen Jingji stepped forward and kicked Rui Yi twice, scolding, "You messy creature, I’m right, aren’t I? I just kicked your butt." Rui Yi rushed to the backyard with the kid, crying as she told Yue Niang, "Brother-in-law spoke to Ge'er like that in front of everyone." Yue Niang, at the dressing table combing her hair, was speechless for a moment before fainting. Suddenly,
**The Jingshan jade is flawed, it's a pity for Ximen Qing's main couple; the Baojian flower is withered, it's a pity that it took ninety days to match with Dongjun. Her beauty is fading, like the peony leaning against the red fence in the West Garden; her lips are silent, like Guanyin in the South Sea entering meditation. Yesterday, the spring wind in the small garden was fierce, blowing down the Jiang plum blossoms on the spot. Xiaoyu panicked, quickly called the family to help Madam Yue sit on the kang. Sun Xue'e jumped onto the kang, busy for a while, fed Madam Yue ginger soup, and after a while, Madam Yue finally recovered. She felt anxious and choked, unable to cry. Nanny Ruyi told Meng Yulou and Sun Xue'e about Chen Jingji's joking with everyone, saying, "I advised him well, and he kicked me twice, leaving me feeling dizzy." Xue'e helped Madam Yue, waiting for everyone to leave before whispering to Madam Yue, "Don't be angry, if you get seriously ill from anger, it will be more troublesome. This boy is having trouble with the woman from the Pan family because of Chunmei's matter, that's why he said those things. Now that it has come to this, let's just take matters into our own hands. Eldest sister has already been married off, it's like selling off land, let's not worry about him so much. As the saying goes, 'keeping a toad brings trouble', let's not care about what he does at home! Tomorrow, lure him to the backyard, beat him severely, kick him out, let him go home. Then call Wang Po to take that woman away, sell her off or marry her off, just like getting rid of trash, quickly deal with her, solve everything in one day. What’s the point of keeping her around for no good reason?" Madam Yue said, "You're right." So they discussed and planned their strategy.**
The next day, after finishing their meal, Yue Niang arranged for seven or eight maidservants and wives, each holding a stick. They called the servant boy over, lured Chen Jingji into the backyard under the pretense of wanting to talk. After closing the gate, they made Chen Jingji kneel down and asked him, "Do you know what your crime is?" Chen Jingji refused to kneel, raised his head, pretending not to care. Yue Niang was furious, so she, along with Xue'e, Lai Xing's wife, Zhang Qing, Zhongqi'er, Xiaoyu, Xiuchun, and others, all worked together to hold him down and give him a beating. Ximen's eldest sister passed by but didn't come to his rescue. Desperate, he pulled down his pants, exposing himself. This startled the women, causing them to drop their sticks and flee. Yue Niang was both angry and amused, scolding, "What a spineless coward!" Chen Jingji thought, "If it weren't for this trick, how would I have gotten away?" So he got up, holding his pants, and ran out. Yue Niang sent the servant boy to follow him and settle the score, then handed him over to Fu for further punishment. Chen Jingji knew he couldn't stay any longer, so he packed up his belongings, said nothing, and left Ximen Qing's house, going directly to his uncle Zhang Tuanlian's house, where he moved into his old house. Only gratitude and resentment remain, destined to be remembered for all time.
Pan Jinlian heard that Chen Jingji was beaten and driven away from the house, growing more and more anxious. One day, after hearing Xue'e's words, Yue Niang asked Dai'an to call Aunt Wang. Since her son Wang Chao followed the guests from Huai Shang and swindled a hundred taels of silver and brought it home, she became wealthy, stopped selling tea, bought two donkeys, set up a mill, and even bought a cabinet to start the mill. When she heard that the West Gate family was calling her, she quickly dressed and rushed out. On the way, she asked Dai'an, "My brother, it's been a long time since I saw you. Why did you leave so early? Did you get married?" Dai'an said, "Not yet." Aunt Wang said, "Your father's passed away, so why did your family call for me? Could it be that your fifth sister gave birth to a son and asked me to hold him?" Dai'an said, "Fifth sister did not give birth to a son, but she has a son-in-law. It is the eldest sister who invited you, to take that son-in-law out to get married." Aunt Wang said, "Heavens, heavens, look! I said this lascivious woman, your father passed away, she couldn't hold on. Sure enough, a leopard cannot change its spots, she's up to her old tricks again. Is he the son-in-law of your eldest sister? What is his surname?" Dai'an said, "His surname is Chen, called Chen Jingji." Aunt Wang said, "I remember last year, I went to beg your father because of my son's matter. When I arrived at your house, your father was not there, that lascivious woman wouldn't even let me sit in the house, couldn't even offer me a seat, just had a maid pour me a cup of tea and sent me away. I thought I'd be stuck putting up with her for life, I didn't expect to come out today! What a shameless woman, even if I am your family's matchmaker, helping you find such a good family, even if it were a stranger, she shouldn't treat anyone like that!" Dai'an said, "He was causing trouble with our brother-in-law at home, almost making the eldest sister angry to death yesterday. The brother-in-law has already been driven away, only she is left, now please take her away." Aunt Wang said, "She came in a sedan chair in the first place, she must leave in a sedan chair. She also has luggage, we need to get a trunk ready for her." Dai'an said, "There is no problem with this, the eldest sister has already prepared it."
No Simplified Chinese text was provided. Please share the text you'd like translated!
As they chatted, they arrived at Ximen Qing's house. Once inside Lady Yu's room, they greeted each other, took their seats, and the maid brought in tea. Lady Yu said, "Lao Wang, I wouldn't have called you over if it weren't urgent." She then explained Pan Jinlian's situation in detail: "Things are complicated right now, and we really need your help. Please take her away—either find her a husband or let her go off on her own to live her life. My husband is gone, and I can't deal with these people. That deadbeat spent so much on her; it's only fair she gets a beating. Now it’s up to you to sort things out and see what kind of dowry you can get. I’ll say a few prayers for her father to help him move on; think of it as closure." Wang Po said, "You still care about the money? All that matters is getting rid of this trouble. I understand, I will handle it properly." She added, "Today’s a good day; let her go. And one more thing, she came with her luggage and a sedan chair, so we need to get her a sedan chair." Lady Yu said, "Give her one box, but she doesn’t need a sedan chair." Xiao Yu said, "You only say that when you're upset, but she’ll definitely need a sedan chair when she leaves. Otherwise, if the neighbors see her walking, it will be embarrassing and people will laugh." Lady Yu stayed silent and asked the maid Xiu Chun to fetch Pan Jinlian.
As soon as Jin Lian entered Wang Po's room, she quickly greeted her and then sat down. Wang Po said directly, "Hurry up and pack your things; the matron wants me to take you out today." Jin Lian replied, "My husband has been dead for so long; what have I done wrong? Why should I be driven out for no reason?" Wang Po retorted, "Don't pretend to be clueless! As the saying goes, 'A snake knows its own burrow,' everyone knows what they've done. Don't try to pull tricks or gossip; I'm not someone to be easily fooled. There are no banquets that don't end; the tallest tree gets chopped down first, and people fear being famous, just like trees fear being noticed. Flies don't bite a seamless egg; don’t think that taking care of a man is a proper way to make a living. I’m going to send you away now." Seeing the situation was dire, Jin Lian knew she couldn’t stay long and bravely said, "If you’re going to hit, don’t hit the face; if you’re going to scold, don’t air out the dirty laundry! If you have power, don't use it all; if you're going to drive someone away, don’t drive them to the edge. I've been your daughter-in-law for quite some time; how can I believe those gossiping servants and lewd women and be driven away so heartlessly? I can leave, but everyone should stand firm; it’s best to avoid scandals as we grow older." Jin Lian and Yue Niang cried together. Yue Niang went to Jin Lian's room to help her pack two boxes, a small table, four sets of clothes, some jewelry, and a quilt. Other shoes and similar items were packed into the boxes. Then she called Qiu Ju over and locked the door. Jin Lian got dressed, bid farewell to Yue Niang, and wept heartbrokenly before Ximen Qing's spirit. She then went to Meng Yu Lou, and the two sisters wept for a long time as they said goodbye. Yu Lou secretly gave Jin Lian a pair of gold hairpins, a set of blue-green garments, and a red skirt, saying, "Sister Liu, we haven’t had much time together, but I hope you find a good family and live a good life. As the saying goes, 'A long journey must end.' If you find a good family, send someone to tell me, and I'll come to see you; our sisterly bond will remain." After saying this, the two sisters parted with heavy hearts. Just before leaving, Xiao Yu secretly gave Jin Lian two gold hairpins. Jin Lian said, "Sister, you are truly a good person." Wang Po had already sent someone to move Jin Lian's boxes and table. Only Yu Lou and Xiao Yu accompanied Jin Lian to the door and watched her get into the sedan chair before heading back.
It is:
All the sorrows in the world boil down to nothing but the parting of life and death.
When Jinlian arrived at Wang Po's house, Wang Po set her up in the inner room, sharing her bed at night. Her son, Wang Chao'er, a strong young man still unmarried, slept in the outer room. The next day, Jinlian dressed up beautifully, peeking at people from behind the curtain. When she had nothing to do, she sat on the kang bed, tweezing her brows or playing the pipa. When Wang Po was out, she played leaf cards and chess with Wang Chao'er. Wang Po went out to run errands and feed the donkey, ignoring her. Day after day, Jinlian and Wang Chao'er got together. At night, when Wang Po fell asleep, Jinlian sneaked into the outer room to have an affair with Wang Chao'er, causing the bed to creak. Wang Po was awakened by the noise and asked what the sound was. Wang Chao'er said, "It's the sound of a cat catching a mouse under the cabinet." Wang Po mumbled sleepily, "It's all this bran in the house that attracts those sneaky cats prowling around at night, making it impossible to sleep." After a while, she heard the noise again, the bed creaking, and Wang Po asked again. Wang Chao'er said, "It's the sound of a cat biting a mouse, chewing something in the kang bed hole." Wang Po listened carefully and indeed heard the cat's cry, so she didn't say anything. After Jinlian and the young man finished, they quietly returned to bed. A few lines of doggerel compared the mouse to Jinlian and Wang Chao'er:
Your body is small, but your courage is great, your mouth is sharp, and you are too mischievous. You hide from people, squeaking in their ears, disturbing people in the middle of the night and preventing them from sleeping. You don't follow proper moral principles, but prefer to burrow into crevices. There is another thing that is not honest, and you just can't help your greedy, sneaky ways.
One day, Chen Jingji heard that Wang Po was matchmaking for Pan Jinlian at her house, so he took two coins with him and went to Wang Po's house. Wang Po was sweeping up donkey dung at the front door, and Chen Jingji approached and bowed deeply. Wang Po asked, "Who are you looking for, brother?" Chen Jingji said, "May I come in to have a chat?" Wang Po allowed him to enter. Chen Jingji asked, "Is Sister Pan Liu from the Ximen Qing family here for matchmaking?" Wang Po inquired, "What is your relationship with her?" Chen Jingji replied with a smile, "To be honest with you, I am her brother; she is my sister." Wang Po looked him up and down and said, "She has a brother? I didn't know that; don't try to fool me! Are you the son-in-law of her family surnamed Chen, sneaking around here? I can't be fooled!" With a smile, Chen Jingji took out two coins and placed them on the table, saying, "These two coins are for you to have tea; let me see her once, and I will thank you again another day." Wang Po saw the money and became more stern, saying, "Don't thank me! The main wife of her family has ordered that no idle people are allowed to see her. Let's not beat around the bush: if you want to see her once, you have to give me five taels of silver; to see her twice, ten taels; if you want to marry her, give me one hundred taels; my ten taels matchmaker fee is separate. These two coins aren't even enough for a drink; what do you expect to do with them?" Seeing how stubborn this old woman was, Chen Jingji took out a pair of gold and silver hairpins weighing five qian from his head, he knelt down and said, "Wang Po, please accept this; I'll make sure to add another tael of silver another day, I promise it won't be less. Let me see her once and say a few words."
Wang Po then accepted the hairpin and money, instructing, "You go in to see her, speak your piece, and come out. You're not allowed to exchange glances; just sit quietly. That one or two taels of silver, bring it tomorrow!" She then lifted the curtain and let Chen Jingji into the inner room. Pan Jinlian was sitting on the kang, and upon seeing Chen Jingji, she complained, "You scoundrel! You've made me feel like I don’t belong anywhere, in a tight spot, humiliated! You didn’t even bother to come see me! We were doing well, and now look at us, torn apart like this—who's to blame?" As she spoke, she grabbed Chen Jingji and broke down in tears. Wang Po was also anxious, fearing others would hear. Chen Jingji said, "Sister, I’d go to hell and back for you, and you suffer for me. How could I not come to see you? Yesterday I went to Sister Xue's house and heard that Chunmei was sold to the garrison, and that’s how I learned you left the Ximen family and ended up here matchmaking. I came to s
Pan Jinlian said, "Now Wang Po is asking for one hundred taels of silver. Do you have it?" Chen Jingji replied, "Where am I supposed to get that much?" Wang Po said, "Your mother-in-law claims that the favors your father owes her are worth this much. It must be one hundred taels, not a penny less!" Chen Jingji said, "To be honest, Six Sister and I have a deep relationship and cannot be separated. For the sake of your face, can you take half off? Fifty or sixty taels will do. I will pawn two or three rooms at my uncle's place, marry Six Sister, and consider it a fresh start. Please ask for less." Wang Po said, "Don't even mention fifty or sixty taels; you can't even scrape together eighty taels! Yesterday, the silk merchant He Yuanwai from Huzhou offered seventy taels; the old man Zhang from the main street, who is now in charge of the criminal court, sent two bailiffs and offered over eighty taels, even exchanging silver, but it was still not enough, so they all went back. You think you can just talk nonsense to me? I won't take that!" Wang Po shouted to the street, "Which son-in-law thinks he can marry his mother-in-law and be disrespectful in my house?" Chen Jingji was frightened, grabbed Wang Po, knelt down, and begged, "Madam Wang, please don't shout. I will give you one hundred taels! My father is in the capital; I will go there tomorrow to get the money." Pan Jinlian said, "Since you are considering me, don't argue with Wang Po. Hurry and get the money. I'm afraid it will be too late; someone else will marry me, and then I won't be yours." Chen Jingji said, "I'll hire a fast horse and be back in ten days at the earliest, or two weeks at the latest." Wang Po said, "There's an old saying: you pay before you eat. My ten taels of matchmaker money cannot be reduced; I want to make it clear first." Chen Jingji said, "There is no need to say that. The favor is as heavy as a mountain; I will not forget it." After that, Chen Jingji bid farewell, left the house, packed his luggage, hired a fast horse early the next morning, and went to the capital to get the money. This departure is like the old saying goes: When the azure dragon and white tiger travel together, fortune and misfortune are both unpredictable.
