The poem goes:
Plant a single blue jade in Lantian; it is a sight to behold. Treasure it in every way, for it is a jewel in your hand.
Amazed by its enchanting transformation, distinctly different from the past. Upon meeting at first glance, we laugh foolishly, yet few understand.
That night, Yue Niang and Wang Guzi slept on the same kang. Wang Guzi asked Yue Niang, "Why have you not had any happy news lately?" Yue Niang said, "Happy news? A few days ago in August, because we bought the house across from Qiao Dahus, we always went over to take a look. When going up the stairs, I slipped and lost my pregnancy of six or seven months. There has been no happy news since then!" Wang Guzi said, "Oh, it was already seven months developed!" Yue Niang said, "It happened in the middle of the night; the maid and I carefully looked at it with a lamp, and it was a boy baby." Wang Guzi said, "Oh, what a pity! How did you slip? Is it because of the abnormal fetal position? Having a child would put you ahead of others. Look at the sixth sister we know; she had a son shortly after marriage—how good!" Yue Niang said, "Children's matters depend on fate." Wang Guzi said, "It's not the end of the world. There is a Master Xue, a practitioner in our community, who can write spells, recite incantations, and prepare medicine. Two years ago, Chen Langzhong's wife, who was middle-aged and childless, often had miscarriages and failed to keep it several times. She also took Master Xue's spell-infused medicine. Now she has a chubby son, and the whole family is very happy. It just needs something that's hard to come by." Yue Niang asked, "What is it?" Wang Guzi said, "You need the swaddling clothes used to wrap the baby at birth, wash them with wine, burn them to ashes, and take them along with the spell-infused medicine on a Renzi day, secretly on an empty stomach. If you calculate the day, you can conceive in a month; it's very accurate!" Yue Niang said, "Is Master Xue a man or a woman? Where does she live?" Wang Guzi said, "She is a female nun in her fifties. She used to live in Dizang An, and now she has moved to Fahua An in the south as the abbot, and she’s very accomplished! She is well-versed in scriptures, can also speak the Diamond Sutra and various karma sutras, and she could go on about it for a month. The main thing is to move around in the big households. If you invite her, she might be gone for ten days to two weeks." Yue Niang said, "Invite her tomorrow." Wang Guzi said, "I know; I'll help you get the spell-infused medicine. It's just hard to find the swaddling clothes; you won't find them around here. How about you borrow some clothes from the previous child?" Yue Niang said, "How can I take from others to benefit myself? I'll give you money; you can slowly help me find it." Wang Guzi said, "You can only ask the old lady for it; she has it. I'll prepare the spell-infused medicine for you; it’ll definitely work. It's rare that you can conceive again tomorrow; no matter how many kids you have, ten stars can't compare to the moon!" Yue Niang reminded, "Keep this to yourself." Wang Guzi said, "Okay, grandma, am I stupid? Would I tell anyone?" After their conversation, they went to bed. The night went by.
The next day, Ximen Qing returned home from the temple, and Yue Niang had just woken up to comb her hair. Yu Xiao brought over the clothes, and Yue Niang sat down. She said, "Yesterday, Sixth Sister was waiting for you to celebrate your birthday at home. Why didn't you come?" Ximen Qing explained that the ritual had not yet ended, and Wu's family had put in a lot of effort the night before, setting up many tables for the banquet—"Uncle Wu came first and kept me there with Brother Hua, Brother Ying, and Xie Xi Da. There were also two young performers singing and playing, and we drank all night. This morning, I went back to the city first; Brother Ying and the others are still at it." After he finished speaking, Yu Xiao handed him tea, and Ximen Qing drank it. He did not go to the yamen but walked to the study in front and fell asleep on the bed. After Pan Jinlian and Li Ping'er finished washing and getting ready, they came out holding the child and all went to the main room to drink tea. Yue Niang said to Li Ping'er, "His father is at home today. I called him to have tea and snacks in the front, but he didn't eat. Now that there is food, you should dress your little Taoist and bring him to the front to show his father." Pan Jinlian said, "I'll go too; I'll dress him up as a Taoist." So she put on her golden hairpin, wore a Taoist robe, donned a talisman, and put on small shoes and socks, eager to grab the child. Yue Niang said, "Let his mother hold him; don’t get your honey-colored peach embroidered skirt dirty." So Li Ping'er held Guan Ge'er, and Pan Jinlian followed her to the front west chamber. The bookboy saw them lift the curtain and quickly hid away. Jinlian saw Ximen Qing sleeping with his face inward and pointed at the child, saying, "Old man, you sleep so soundly! The little Taoist is here to see you. The food is ready in the main room, calling you to eat, and you still won't get up, still sleeping!" Ximen Qing had been drinking all night and was completely oblivious to everything around him, sleeping soundly.
Jinlian and Lipinger each sat on one side of the bed, placing the child in front of them. They soon woke up Ximen Qing. He opened his eyes and saw the little official wearing a Taoist robe in front of him, with a happy smile. He quickly picked him up and kissed him. Jinlian said, "What a dirty mouth to kiss the child with! Little Taoist Wu Yingyuan, get him some water. You tell him that you were plowing in the fields yesterday; why are you so tired today, sleeping in broad daylight? Yesterday, Wu Ma waited for you the whole time. You are so bold for not coming to pay your respects to Wu Ma." Ximen Qing said, "The ritual ended late yesterday, and I had to thank the guests afterward; I drank all night. The alcohol hasn't worn off today, so I'll take a quick nap here, and then go to the Shang's place for drinks later." Jinlian said, "You go, come back soon; I'll wait for you." Lipinger said, "His aunt has set up the meal and made sour bamboo shoot soup for you to eat." Ximen Qing said, "I don't feel like eating now; I'll go drink some soup." So he got up and went to the back room.
When Pan Jinlian saw him leave, she sat down on the bed, her feet on the ground stove, saying, "Oh, so this is a heated bed." She reached out and touched the bedding, "It's really warm." She saw a copper wire stove with a warming brick on the table next to her, picked it up without thinking, and said, "Sister Li, bring me some sweet pastries from the snack box on the incense table over there." She uncovered it, took a few, and toasted them on the heated bed, holding them between her legs, wrapped in her skirt to warm her body. After sitting for a while, Lipinger said, "Let's go inside; his father should be coming out after eating." Jinlian said, "So what if he does come out? Are you scared of him?" So the two of them carried the little official and went into the inner room. After quite a while, Ximen Qing finished his meal, ordered the horse to be saddled, and went to the Shang's place for drinks later. Pan's mother-in-law was the first to leave.
In the evening, Wang Guzi was about to go home. Yue Niang secretly gave her a couple of taels of silver, telling her not to mention it to the master, and to quickly ask Xue Guzi to bring the talisman. Wang Guzi took the silver and said to Yue Niang, "I'll be back in sixteen days this time. I'll help you get that sorted out." Yue Niang replied, "Okay, as long as you get it done for me, I'll thank you before you even come back." So Wang Guzi bid farewell and left. Now, folks, you should know that the nuns and matchmakers in those wealthy households are not to be underestimated. They are in the deep palace courtyards, mingling with those women, appearing to discuss scriptures and doctrines, but secretly exchanging flirtatious glances, capable of anything! As the saying goes: The most mysterious cannot be spoken of; the deep palace courtyards are filled with intrigue. If these people all attain enlightenment, the Western Paradise will still remain dark and endless.
Jinlian walked to the dressing table in the evening, let down her hair, and combed it into a bun. She applied white makeup to her face and red lipstick to her lips, adorned herself with gold pendants and decorative stickers, and then wore a gold hair hoop. She changed into a red dress with gold embroidery, paired with a blue skirt, and dressed like a young maid, ready to have some fun with the others. She had someone call Lixiang to come see. Lixiang chuckled and replied, "Sister, you look like a little maid when you dress up! I have a red cloth handkerchief in my room; let's cover your head. When I go out later, I’ll tell them that your father has found another maid, scare them, and they will believe it!" Chunmei walked in front with a lantern. When she arrived at the entrance, she met Chen Jingji, and she said with a grin, "I thought it was someone else; it turned out to be Wuniang messing around!" Lixiang shouted, "Brother-in-law, come here, let me tell you something. You go in and see them first, do as I say." Jingji said, "I know how to trick them." So he went into the upper room first. Everyone was sitting on the kang, sipping tea. Jingji said, "Mother, look, Dad paid sixteen taels of silver to Xue Saozi for a twenty-five-year-old girl who can sing and dance; she just came in a sedan chair." Yuemeng said, "Really? Why didn't Xue Saozi come to tell me first?" Jingji said, "She was afraid you would scold her, so she left as soon as the sedan chair arrived at the gate. The girl has already been taken inside." Mrs. Dai had not spoken yet, and Miss Yang said, "The official already has so many sisters; what does he need her for?" Yuemeng said, "Oh, come on, don’t worry about it! If you have money, buy a hundred; what's so special about it? We wives are like soldiers—just here to fill the ranks!" Yuxiao said, "I’ll go check it out." Under the moonlight, Chunmei walked in front with a lantern, followed by Lai'an also with a lantern, while Lixiang followed behind, covered her head and wearing a red dress. Meng Yulou and Li Jiaoer hurried out to see. After a bit, they walked into the room. Yuxiao nudged Yuemeng and said, "This is your master; why aren’t you bowing?" Then she uncovered the cover. Pan Jinlian bowed like a candle and couldn't help but giggle. Yulou said, "Hey, you little maid, you laughed before you even bowed!" Yuemeng also laughed and said, "This Sixth Sister is really something! She fooled us all." Yulou said, "I don’t buy it." Miss Yang said, "Sister, how can you tell she doesn't believe it?" Yulou said, "Our Sixth Sister usually bows, bows her head, then takes two steps back and bows again." Miss Yang said, "It's still Sister who can tell; if you say you don’t buy it, then I’m sold." Li'er said, "I believe it too. When she had her head covered just now, she laughed herself and didn’t recognize it at all." Just then, Qintong walked in with a felt bag and said, "Dad is back." Meng Yulou said, "Go hide in the main room. When he comes in, I'll fool him again."
No text was provided for translation.
After a while, Ximen Qing came back, and Yang Gu-niang and the old matriarch went out. Ximen Qing entered the room and took a seat. Yueniang remained silent nearby. Yulou said, "Today, Xue Siniang sent a twenty-year-old maid in a sedan chair, saying you asked her to buy it. You’re so old, still taking care of these things?" Ximen Qing smiled and said, "I never asked her to buy a maid! It's that old hag who tricked you!" Yulou said, "Ask Big Sister? The maid is here; I'm not lying to you. If you don't believe me, I'll call her out to show you." So she called Yuxiao, "Go and bring the new maid in to meet your father." Yuxiao covered her mouth and smiled, didn't dare to go pull her, walked forward, came back, and said, "She refuses to come." Yulou said, "I'll go and pull; this cheeky servant, before even touching her, dares to confront the master! Truly disobedient!" Saying that, she walked to the Ming room. Just then, she exclaimed, "You naughty maid, I really want to give you a good telling off! You don't go in, just pulling people, can't even pull her!" Yulou smiled and said, "Good servant, which family raised you so rudely, not coming in to bow to your master!" Saying that, she pulled her in. Ximen Qing looked under the light and saw that it was actually Pan Jinlian, dressed as a maid with her hair styled up, laughing so hard her eyes were nearly closed. Jinlian sat on the chair next to him. Yulou said, "What a bold maid! Just arrived and sitting so insolently in front of the master!" Yueniang smiled and said, "While your master is at home, quickly bow to him." Jinlian did not move, went to Yueniang's inner room, took off the hairpin, and combed her hair again. Yueniang said, "What a shameless woman! Where did you pick up these bad habits, combing your hair again?" Everyone laughed again. Yueniang said to Ximen Qing, "Today, Qiao's family sent Qiao Tong to deliver six invitation cards, inviting us to the lantern festival on the twelfth. Shall we send some gifts over tomorrow?" Ximen Qing said, "Tomorrow morning, let Lai Xing buy four dishes and a cask of good wine to take over. We'll also send out invitations for the fourteenth, inviting Qiao's wife, as well as Zhou's wife, Jing's wife, Xia's wife, and Zhang's mother-in-law. The old matriarch doesn't need to return. Have Ben Si gather a few folks to set off some fireworks and prepare a few sets of fireworks. And also have the little servant who performed with Wang Huang's family come to put on a scene from 'The Story of the Western Wing.' Bring Wu Yin'er and Li Guijie over. You all can enjoy the lanterns and drinks at home while Ying Erge, Xie Zichun, and I head to Lion Street to drink upstairs." After that, the wine was served in no time.
Pan Jinlian raised a toast to Ximen Qing and his friends, and the sisters drank together. Ximen Qing saw Pan Jinlian dressed like a maid, with heavy makeup under the light, which stirred up inappropriate thoughts in his mind as he kept giving her suggestive looks. Pan Jinlian understood his intentions, so she went back to her room to change her hairstyle, tied up her Hangzhou-style hair bun, freshened her makeup, and added a bit of color to her lips. A lavish spread of food and wine awaited them in the room. Soon enough, Ximen Qing arrived, seeing Pan Jinlian still in her hair bun, he was delighted, pulled her close, and had her sit on his lap while they chatted and laughed. Before long, Chunmei served the food and wine. Pan Jinlian toasted him again. Ximen Qing said, "Little demon, you already toasted me earlier, why are you bothering yourself again?" Pan Jinlian smiled and said, "That was a toast with everyone together earlier; this glass of wine is for you from me. I make you spend every year, so don’t complain." Ximen Qing was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth; he quickly took the wine and hugged her. Chunmei poured the wine, and Qiuju served the dishes. Pan Jinlian asked, "Let me ask you, the Qiao family is having a gathering on the 12th, are we all going? Only the eldest sister is going?" Ximen Qing said, "They have already sent out invitations, why wouldn't you all go? Tomorrow, have the nanny take the baby out for a bit, so you don’t have to cry and look for your mother at home." Pan Jinlian said, "The eldest sister and the others have clothes to wear, I only have a few old clothes, and none of them are fit to wear. You should let us have some of those new fabrics from the south to make ourselves some clothes! They have been lying around, are they going to magically turn into babies? Tomorrow we’ll be hosting a feast at home, inviting all the ladies, so we can meet them and not be laughed at. I’ve been talking for ages, and you’re just pretending not to hear me." Ximen Qing smiled and said, "Since that's the case, call Zhao the tailor tomorrow to whip up a few pieces for you." Pan Jinlian said, "If we wait for the tailor until tomorrow, it’ll be too late." Ximen Qing said, "Tell Zhao to bring a couple of helpers and whip up two or three pieces for you; the rest can be made slowly later." Pan Jinlian said, "I have told you before, at least pick two sets of bright colors for me; how can I be the same as them? You’ve never gotten me any decent clothes." Ximen Qing smiled and said, "You little minx, you really know how to charm." The two kept drinking and chatting until late into the night before heading to bed. The two were like a pair of lovebirds in the quilt, all wrapped up together, entwined all night.
The next day, Ximen Qing returned from the government office, opened the box, and took out the satin fabric woven from the southern region. Each person was to receive a decorated long-sleeved robe, a set of brocade attire, and another set of decorated garments. Only Yue Niang would receive two sets of large red long-sleeved brocade robes and four sets of decorated clothes. In the living room, he had the qin boy call for tailor Zhao. Upon seeing Ximen Qing, tailor Zhao quickly bowed. A piece of felt was laid out on the table, and he took out scissors and a ruler, first cutting for Yue Niang: a large red brocade robe with colorful, decorated long sleeves, a satin robe featuring a patch of a beast and a qilin; a black brocade robe with a five-color gourd-shaped phoenix pattern; a set of large red satin brocade jacket with golden qilin patches, and a bright blue wide skirt adorned with golden patterns; a set of sandalwood-colored decorated brocade robe with patches, and a large red skirt with golden branches and green leaves adorned with flowers. The other four women—Li Jiao'er, Meng Yulou, Pan Jinlian, and Li Ping'er—each had a large red five-color long-sleeved decorated brocade jacket and two sets of decorated satin clothes. Sun Xue'e received only two sets, without a robe. In no time, a total of thirty pieces of clothing had been cut. He paid tailor Zhao five taels of silver as payment for his work. Simultaneously, he summoned over a dozen tailors to expedite the production at home; but we won't go into more detail about that. It was exactly: Golden bells and jade pendants adorn the maiden, while brocade and jewels embellish the lovely girl.
