The poem says:
Wandering. Meeting for a drink, three thousand pairs of red shoes, twelve golden hairpins. Elegant and popular, dismounting from the carriage to enjoy the banquet at the Spring Terrace.
The graceful courtesans of Dongshan, worthy of praise, the wine cups of Beihai. Let’s join in the fun. As we return to the Phoenix Pool, what’s the point of coming back?
- From the tune "After the Jade Butterfly"
Ximen Qing took a day off today and didn't go to the yamen. When he got up in the morning, he sat in the front hall and had Dai An deliver two tables and some gifts to the Qiao family. One was for Madam Qiao Wu and the other for Madam Qiao Dahu, both with premium rock sugar and fresh fruits. Madam Qiao Wu returned two handkerchiefs and three taels of silver, while Madam Qiao Dahu gifted a length of green silk, but we won’t go into those details.
After Lord Ying bid farewell to Ximen Qing, he went to Huang Si's house. Huang Si took out ten taels of silver from his assistants to thank Lord Ying: "Master Ximen Qing asked me to come here for the festival mainly for the issue regarding the document for the five hundred taels of silver. How can we possibly have enough money and provisions?" Lord Ying asked, "How much more do you need?" Huang Si said, "Li San doesn't know about this, so I can only rely on borrowing from the inner minister, where the interest is usually fifty percent. It's better to use the relationship of the yamen; with some arrangements from the higher-ups, we can save some money. I’ll borrow another fifty taels, bringing the total to one thousand taels, and I can also pay the interest every month." Lord Ying nodded and said, "No problem. If I help you out, how will your six assistants show their gratitude?" Huang Si said, "I will tell Li San, the assistants will also give you five taels of silver." Lord Ying said, "Forget about those five taels. Let me tell you, five taels of silver won't do; it's a simple matter, I can take care of it for you. I won't go to his place for drinks today; tomorrow he will invite us to see the lanterns at night. You two should pick up four nice dishes early tomorrow and prepare a jar of Jinhua wine. No need to call the opera singers; there are Li Guier and Wu Yiner in his house, who haven’t been called upon yet! Call six drummers from your courtyard; I'll bring them along. He will definitely invite you two to sit down, I'll chime in, and I guarantee I'll help you out. Gather five hundred taels of silver, a total of one thousand taels of silver document, pay thirty taels of interest per month, all settled; think of it like marrying a wife for a month. As the saying goes: A scholar can know the world without going out. When paying money and provisions, add more wood to the incense, and mix in more tar with the wax; who's going to find out? We're not trying to actually catch fish, just to stir up some muddy waters, using his reputation to get things done." In this way, they reached an agreement. The next day, Li San and Huang Si did buy wine gifts, and Lord Ying brought two young boys to carry the gifts to Ximen Qing's house.
Ximen Qing was handling the matter of sending tables in the front hall when he saw Ying Bojue arrive. He greeted him with a bow and said, "I hope I didn't disturb you at your home yesterday; I returned home late." Ximen Qing continued, "I went to Zhou Nanxuan's place for drinks yesterday and got home close to midnight. I didn't see any new relatives, so I left early. The yamen is closed today, so I didn't go in." Once he sat down, Ying Bojue called Li Jin to bring in the gifts. After a while, two servants brought the items in and set them down at the entrance. Ying Bojue said, "Li San and Huang Si asked me to pass on their thanks to you. There aren't many good things around during the festival, so we picked up a few small gifts to show our appreciation." The two servants stepped forward and kowtowed. Ximen Qing said, "What’s with the gifts again? I can't accept them. Have them taken back." Ying Bojue replied, "Brother, if you don't take them, it'll be awkward to send them back. They also wanted to invite opera singers to entertain, but I stopped them and only called six musicians to wait outside." Ximen Qing said to Ying Bojue, "Since they are here, why not let them hang out for a bit?" Ying Bojue agreed and called Li Jin to instruct him to tell his father: "Master has accepted the gifts, so no need to send anyone to invite them. Tell your father and Huang Si's father to come here early and sit for a while." Li Jin agreed and went down. After a while, the gifts were taken in. Ximen Qing had Dai An seal up two taels of silver as a reward for him, and he bowed and left. The six musicians were waiting below.
After a while, the young chess player brought tea, and Ximen Qing had tea with Ying Bojue, and then invited Ying Bojue to sit in the West Wing. Ximen Qing then asked Ying Bojue, "Did you not visit Xie Zichun today?" Bojue replied, "I got up in the morning, and Li San came to my house, gave gifts, and left. Who has the time to go over there?" Ximen Qing told the young chess player to quickly invite Xie Dad. After a while, the young servant set the dining table, and the two of them ate together before clearing the table. Ximen Qing and Ying Bojue then drank and played backgammon together. Since Xie Xida hadn't arrived yet, Bojue asked Ximen Qing first, "Brother, how much will you give Li San and Huang Si tomorrow?" Ximen Qing said, "Gather the old documents, then create a new one for five hundred taels of silver." Bojue replied, "That's fine. Brother, it's better to gather a thousand taels, so it's easier to calculate interest tomorrow. Just to reiterate, you don't need that gold; give him one hundred and fifty taels, and there's no need to look for more." Ximen Qing agreed, saying, "You are right. I'll get him three hundred and fifty taels tomorrow, convert it to a document for a thousand taels of silver, so the gold won't just sit around at home."
Playing backgammon, Dai An ran over and said, "Ben Si brought in a large screen made of mother-of-pearl and marble, as well as two sets of copper gongs and drums, saying they are from the White Prince's in-law, and he wants thirty taels of silver for them. Do you want them, Father?" Ximen Qing said, "Let him bring them in for me to see." After a while, Ben Si and two others carried them in and placed them in the hall. Ximen Qing and the Count put down the backgammon and went to take a look. Wow, the screen was three feet wide and five feet tall, resembling a table, inlaid with gold and black shell; it was truly stunning! The Count carefully looked at it and whispered to Ximen Qing, "Brother, look at this screen, it looks like a crouching lion guarding the home! Those two sets of copper gongs and drums are colorful, with ornate cloud patterns carved into them; they look exquisite." Someone quickly said, "Brother, snatch it up quickly! Not to mention the two sets of copper drums, just this screen alone is worth fifty silver taels!" Ximen Qing said, "I wonder if he’ll come to reclaim it tomorrow." The Count said, "Redeem what? This is a guaranteed win; in three years, the interest will be piling up, and we'll make a fortune!" Ximen Qing said, "Alright, head to your brother-in-law's shop and grab thirty taels for him."
After sending Ben Si away, Ximen Qing cleaned the screen and placed it in the center of the hall. He looked around; it was truly beautiful, resplendent in gold and gilded! Then he asked, "Have the musicians eaten?" The zither boy replied, "They are eating over there." Ximen Qing said, "Tell them to finish their meal and come perform a piece." So, a large drum was brought out to the hall, and bronze gongs and drums were set up in the corridor. The music began, thundering and truly uplifting. Just as they were playing, the chess boy came to report that Xie Xida had arrived. Xie Xida came in and greeted Ximen Qing and the count. Ximen Qing said, "Xie Zichun, come over and have a look at this screen. What do you think it's worth?" Xie Xida studied it intently for quite a while, praising it incessantly, saying, "Brother, this screen, even if bought cleverly, is worth at least a hundred taels of silver; they wouldn’t let it go for less." The count said, "Look, these two bronze gongs and drums only cost thirty taels of silver in total." Xie Xida clapped his hands and exclaimed, "My goodness, what a bargain! Not to mention the screen, you can't buy these two bronze gongs and drums for thirty taels of silver! Just look at the craftsmanship, the vermilion lacquer, just like the ones in the government office, and there’s at least forty pounds of bronze here; how much do you think that's worth! Truly, when one encounters good fortune, their spirit is lifted. Brother, you are really lucky; you’ve hit the jackpot!"
After talking for a while, Ximen Qing invited Xie Xida to take a seat in the study. Soon, Li Zhi and Huang Si also arrived. Ximen Qing said, "Why are you bringing gifts again? I can't accept this." Li Zhi and Huang Si hurriedly replied, "We wouldn't dare, just a little something for you to enjoy, dear sir. Since you called us, how could we not come?" They quickly grabbed some chairs and sat down. After a while, the servant, Huadong, brought in five cups of tea, and everyone drank the tea. After a while, Dai An came over and asked, "Father, where should we set the table?" Ximen Qing said, "Just set it here." Dai An and Huadong carried over an Eight Immortals table and placed it next to the brazier. The count and Xie Xida sat at the head of the table, Ximen Qing sat in the main seat, and Li Zhi and Huang Si sat on either side. After a while, they brought out delicious food and fine wine, everything you could ask for, and musicians played outside the window. Ximen Qing invited Wu Yiner to give a toast, and everyone raised their glasses and drank heartily.
Speaking of Li Guizhen's family servant, Bao'er, and Wu Yiner's maid, Lamei, both came to pick up Li Guizhen. When Li Guizhen heard that Bao'er had come, she hurried to the door, whispered to Bao'er for a while, then returned to the room to bid farewell to Yu Niang, saying she had to go home. Yu Niang insisted that she stay, saying, "We are going to Wu Dajinzi's house later, so come with us. You can come back from Wu Dajinzi's house later, no need to take a sedan chair, just walk back with us." Li Guizhen said, "Niang, you don't know, there is no one at home, my sister is not at home, my fifth aunt has invited many guests for a box meeting, and they are all waiting for me. They waited for me all day yesterday and got anxious, so they sent Bao'er to pick me up. If it were any other time, of course I would be willing to stay a few more days." Seeing that she was unwilling to stay, Yu Niang asked Yuxiao to pack up the Yuanxiao and sugar crisps, hand them to Bao'er, and also gave Li Guizhen a couple of silver coins to send her on her way. Li Guizhen first said her goodbyes to Yu Niang and the others, then her maid took her to the door, had Huatong help carry her package, arrived at the study door, and asked Dai'an to call Ximen Qing out to talk. Dai'an slowly lifted the curtain, went in to Ximen Qing and said, "Li Guizhen is leaving, please come out to talk." Ximen Qing said, "This little demon is still here!" Ximen Qing said, "She is leaving today." Then he walked to the front yard. Li Guizhen kowtowed to Ximen Qing four times and said, "I have disturbed you, Father and Mother." Ximen Qing said, "You can leave tomorrow." Li Guizhen said, "There is no one at home, my mother sent Bao'er to pick me up." She added, "I have one more thing to tell Father: don't send away the child in my maid's room. My maid talked to him a bit last night. He is still young and doesn't understand anything. He promised not to do it again. Don't send him away, there is no one to take care of him in my maid's room, it is very inconvenient for her! Keep this child." Ximen Qing said, "Since you said so, then keep him." He ordered Dai'an, "Go tell the Madam not to look for a matchmaker again." Dai'an saw Huatong carrying Li Guizhen's package and said, "Let me carry Guizhen's package, let Huatong go to the back and talk." Huatong agreed and went to the back courtyard. After her conversation with Ximen Qing, Li Guizhen walked to the window and said, "Ying Bo Jue, I won't say goodbye to you, I'm going home." Ying Bo Jue said, "Drag this little demon back, don't let her go, let her sing a little song for me first." Li Guizhen said, "Once your mother is free, she can sing for you." Ying Bo Jue said, "Leaving in broad daylight, that little demon really gets off easy, maybe she will entertain a few more men at night!" Li Guizhen said, "You're such a tease!" and left with a smile. Dai'an followed her, escorted her to the sedan chair, and saw her off.
After Ximen Qing finished chatting with Guijie, he went back to his room to change clothes. Ying Bojue said to Xie Xida, "That little vixen Guijie from the Li family is simply a wild one, even more fascinating! On such an important day, she is still hanging around someone else's place? The old madam asked her to go back; I wonder if there’s someone waiting for her back home!" Xie Xida said, "Your guess is quite accurate." Then he whispered a few words to Ying Bojue. After a few words, Ying Bojue said, "Keep your voice down, I had no idea!" Soon, the sound of Ximen Qing's footsteps rang out, and the two stopped talking. Ying Bojue embraced Wu Yiner, and they drank together, saying, "My goddaughter, gentle and considerate, is a hundred times more wonderful than that shameless little vixen from the Li family!" Wu Yiner smiled and said, "Second uncle, you really have a knack for putting others down. There are good and bad people everywhere; how can you say one’s better than the other? Guijie didn't offend you, did she?" Ximen Qing said, "Why are you asking her? You’re just talking nonsense!" Ying Bojue said, "Don't mind her; I am living with my goddaughter. Goddaughter, come here, play the pipa for me first." Wu Yiner calmly picked up the pipa, gently strummed the strings with her delicate fingers, and sang a piece called "Willow Shaking Gold." After Ying Bojue finished his drink and handed it to Xie Xida, Wu Yiner sang another piece. But let’s put a pin in Wu Yiner’s playing, singing, and drinking for now.
Furthermore, Huatong ran to the backyard. Madame Yue was sitting in the main room with Meng Yulou, Li Ping'er, Big Sister, Xue'e, and the Master. They saw Huatong come in. Madame Yue was about to ask him to call Lao Feng to take Xia Hua out, but Huatong said, "Master told me to tell my lady not to take Xia Hua out." Madame Yue said, "Your father said he would sell her, why not sell her now? Tell the truth, who told your father not to take her out?" Huatong said, "Just now I was holding Aunt Gui's package. Aunt Gui told my father before leaving to keep Xia Hua to serve. Father let Daian come in to tell my lady, but Daian didn't come in, so I came in, and then he snatched the package and gave it to Aunt Gui." Madame Yue was a little angry and scolded Daian, "You treacherous slave, playing both sides and deceiving the master! When he was asked to be a matchmaker, he said the master wanted to take Xia Hua out. Turns out he was the troublemaker. Now he secretly sent Xia Hua back. When she comes back, I will settle the score with her!" Just as she was speaking, Wu Yiner came in singing a tune. Madame Yue said to her, "Your family's Lamei has come to pick you up. Li Jia's Gui'er has gone back. Are you going back home too?" Wu Yiner said, "Since my lady wants me to stay, I'll head home later." She then asked Lamei, "Why are you here?" Lamei said, "Mom asked me to come see you." Wu Yiner asked, "Is everything okay at home?" Lamei said, "Everything is fine." Wu Yiner said, "If everything is fine, why did you come to pick me up? Go back. My lady wants me to stay here, and I have to go to Auntie's house with everyone in the evening. I'll head home later." After that, Lamei was about to leave. Madame Yue said, "Call her back and give her something to eat." Wu Yiner said, "Grandma will give you something to eat. Wait, pack your clothes and take them home. Tell your mom not to send a sedan chair. I'll come back home in the evening." Then she asked, "Why didn't Wu Hui come?" Lamei said, "His eyes are uncomfortable at home." Madame Yue instructed Yuxiao to take Lamei to the backyard, served her two bowls of meat, a plate of steamed buns, and a bowl of wine. She also brought her box and filled it with a box of yuanxiao and a box of delicate pastries for her to bring home.
Wu Yiner's clothes and bag were placed in Li Ping'er’s room. Li Ping'er had already chosen a set of fine brocade satin clothes, two gold-embroidered sweat towels, and a couple of taels of silver, which she placed in her package. Wu Yiner happily said, "Mother, I don't want these clothes." She smiled and added, "Honestly, I don’t have a white jacket to wear. Mother, please take back this satin dress and just give me any of your old white silk jackets to wear." Li Ping'er replied, "My white jacket is too big for you; it won’t fit." She called for Yingchun: "Take the key and get a whole piece of white silk from the wardrobe for Yiner. Tell your mother to have the tailor make you two good jackets." She then asked, "Do you want it patterned or plain?" Wu Yiner replied, "Mother, I want it plain; it matches better with Jia." She smiled at Yingchun and said, "Sorry to trouble you to run upstairs again. Next time, if I don’t have anything good to offer you, I’ll sing a song for you."
After a while, Yingchun came down with a piece of plain white silk from Songjiang, labeled "Weighs thirty-eight taels," and handed it to Wu Yiner. Yiner quickly bowed four times to Li Ping'er and then deeply bowed eight times to Yingchun. Li Ping'er said, "Yin Jie, please take back this satin dress; it can be used for a banquet in the future." Wu Yiner said, "How can I take back this dress after Mother has rewarded me with white silk for a jacket?" So she bowed again to express her gratitude.
Before long, Wax Plum finished eating and took everything home. Yue Niang said, "Yinjie, this is what I like. Don't follow her example; yesterday and today, it's like a wild tiger that can't be restrained, can't stay put for a moment, just wanting to go home. How busy can it be at home? She doesn't even bother to sing properly. When she sees her family come to collect her, she doesn't even eat and leaves. Yinjie, don’t imitate her." Wu Yiner said, "Good mother, this is my home; how could I just go anywhere else? Even if there's an empty room, I wouldn't dare stay anywhere else. Guifei is young and doesn't understand; mother, don't be angry." Just then, as they were talking, the servant from Wu Dajinzi's house came to invite them, saying, "Our mother asked San Guiniang to send a message, asking all the sisters, including Guifei and Yinjie, to come over early. Also, please invite Xue Guiniang to come over." Yue Niang said, "Go home and tell your mother that we will be there soon. Erniang can't go because her legs hurt; she's at home. Your uncle is drinking in front today; there's no one at home, and Jiejie isn't going either. Lige has gone home. It’ll just be the eldest sister, Yinjie, and the six of us going. You don’t need to prepare anything at your place; we'll just sit for a bit and head back in the evening." Then she asked the servant, "Who’s singing at your place?" The servant said, "It's Yudajie." After speaking, the servant left first. Yue Niang talked to Yulou, Jinlian, Lipinger, the eldest sister, and Wu Yiner, and instructed the nanny to take care of the children at home, all dressed up, a total of six sedan chairs set off. Yu An, Qi Tong, and Lai An, three young servants, and four bodyguards followed the sedan chairs to Wu Dajinzi's house. It’s exactly: Thousands of homes with lights at night.
