The poem says:
Regretting deeply the past, after many years, a deep sense of resentment. Crossing the Yue River and Wu Mountain, like a screen or barrier, perfect for exploring, yet too weary to raise my eyes alone.
Enjoying fireworks, listening to string melodies, only indulging in fleeting pleasures, which leads to heartbreak. Frequently turning to my art, forcing myself to read letters often, as if witnessing it with my own eyes.
Chen Jingji arrived at the Guard Office. After dismounting, Zhang Sheng went in to inform Chunmei. Chunmei instructed him to first go to the guard's quarters to take a hot bath, then let the nanny change his clothes, shoes, and hat. After getting ready, he could report to Chunmei. The Prefect had not finished work yet, so Chunmei told Jingji to get spruced up in the back hall before coming out to see her. Jingji knelt and bowed to Chunmei as soon as he entered, calling her sister. Chunmei returned the gesture and then sat down. The two reminisced about the past and both started crying. Chunmei was afraid that the Prefect would return from work and not see anyone around, so she gave Jingji a discreet signal, saying, "If he asks you later, say we are cousins. I am a year older than you, 25 years old, born on the 25th of April at noon." Jingji said, "I understand." After a while, a maid brought tea, and after they drank it, Chunmei asked, "Why did you go to become a monk? The Prefect didn't know I was your sister and mistakenly beat you. He regretted it. If he had kept you back then, it would have been better, but unfortunately, that nasty woman Xue'e was also there, making it hard to help you out. That's why you were let go. After sending that nasty woman away, Zhang Sheng was sent to find you everywhere, but didn't expect you to be working outside the city, ending up in this situation." Jingji said, "Sister, it's a long story. After we parted ways, I was supposed to marry Liu Jie, but my father died in the capital, and when I returned late, I didn't get married and was killed by Wusong. I heard that you were kind-hearted and buried him in Yongfu Temple, so I went there to burn paper for him. Later, my mother also passed away, and after the funeral, I got swindled out of money. When I returned home, my eldest sister died, and that wicked mother-in-law of mine accused me of a crime, taking away everything from my house. After a court case, we had to sell the house, and I ended up with nothing. Thanks to my father's friend Wang Xing'an, I was sent to Yan Gong Temple in Linqing to become a monk. Out of nowhere, I got jumped by some thugs and was brought to your place. After I left your place, my relatives and friends turned their backs on me, so I worked in the temple. Thanks to you looking out for me, Zhang the steward found me, and I could see you again. It feels like I've come back to life!" When they spoke of the sad part, both of them cried.
While speaking, the guard finished his shift, and he opened the curtains on both sides before coming in. Chen Jingji quickly knelt. The guard hurriedly returned the greeting, saying, "I didn’t realize you were Brother Xian before; I was deceived by the servants and offended you. Please don’t be angry." Jingji said, "I was rude before; I apologize for my lack of familiarity, please forgive me." He bowed again. The guard helped him up and let him sit down. Jingji, being very considerate, refused to take a seat and instead sat beside the chair. The guard sat down, accompanied by Chunmei. After a moment, tea was served. After drinking tea, the guard asked, "Brother Xian, how old are you? Why haven’t I seen you? Why did you become a monk?" Jingji said, "I’m twenty-four. My sister is one year older than me, born at noon on April 25th. After my parents passed away, our family fell on hard times, and my wife also died, so I became a monk at Yanguo Temple. I didn’t know my sister had married into a wealthy family and couldn’t come to see me." The guard said, "Since you left, your sister has been very worried, sighing constantly, until now. She has sent people to look for you but hasn’t been able to find you. It’s truly a blessing to finally meet today!"
Dear readers, although the magistrate and Ximen Qing know each other, this week they are not well acquainted with Chen Jingji. The magistrate is an upright person, and although they have interacted in the past, he has never cared about other people's private affairs. During normal banquets, he always dines with officials such as Jing Dujian and Xia Tixing, and has never seen Jingji. Moreover, Jingji used to be a monk; who would have guessed he was Ximen Qing's son-in-law? So they kept it a secret, and the magistrate believed he was Chunmei's cousin. The magistrate instructed the servants to set the table and serve the wine. Soon, the table was filled with an array of dishes, soups, rice, and snacks, gleaming with silver pots and jade cups. The magistrate conversed with Jingji, dining until evening and only wrapping up after the candles were lit. The magistrate ordered the servant Zhou Ren to clean the West Academy, where there were beds available. Chunmei brought out two sets of bedding and pillows for Jingji to rest. They also assigned a young servant to attend to him, and he was given two sets of silk clothes. Chunmei invited him to have his meals in the back hall every day. Indeed, fortunes can change in an instant. Time flies, and days and months slip by, and before you know it, you can see the plum blossoms blooming in the twelfth month, and suddenly it’s New Year's Day. Before you know it, the apricot blossoms burst into full bloom, and the new lotus leaves brush the water.
Jing Ji had been staying at the Prefectural Office for about a month. One day, on April 25th, it was Chunmei's birthday. Wu Yueniang sent over some gifts: a platter of longevity peaches, a platter of longevity noodles, two geese, four chickens, two platters of fruit, and a jar of fine wine. Dai An, dressed in a blue robe, delivered the gifts along with a greeting card. The Prefect was sitting in the hall when the gatekeeper announced that the gifts had arrived. Dai An handed over the greeting card and knelt down to kowtow. The Prefect glanced at the card and remarked, "Thanks to your grandmother for her thoughtfulness and for sending these gifts." He instructed the servants, "Take the gifts inside, serve tea to the guests. Give the greeting card to the servant to hand over to your uncle. Give the guest a handkerchief, three silver coins, and a hundred coins to the bearers. Ask them to write a reply on the greeting card." After that, the Prefect changed into his clothes and went to return the favor. Dai An waited in the hall, anticipating the return of the greeting card. At that moment, a young man in a straw hat, a blue silk robe, sandals, and fresh socks walked out from the side door, holding a greeting card and reward money. He handed it to the servant and went to the back. "This guy looks just like Brother Chen! How could he be here?" The servant handed the reward money and handkerchief to Dai An before leaving.
After returning home, Dai'an told Yuemong about his visit to the Chen family. He saw in the reply, it said, "Zhou Men Pang's family kowtows." Yuemong asked, "Didn't you see your sister?" Dai'an replied, "I didn't see my sister, but I did see my brother-in-law." Yuemong chuckled and said, "You little rascal, your family still has such a big brother-in-law! The Commandant is so ancient, and you still call him brother-in-law?" Dai'an said, "It's not the Commandant, it's our family's brother-in-law. I just walked in, Master Zhou was in the hall, I handed him the letter and bowed, he said, 'Troubling your grandma again with such a heavy gift.' Then he instructed the servants to serve me tea, 'Have your uncle take care of the letter, give him a handkerchief, three taels of silver, and give a hundred wen to the box carriers.' After that, Master Zhou got dressed and rode off. After a while, I saw him come out from the side door, gave the servants the reply and reward money, then went inside, and I came out with the box. If it wasn't him, who else could it be?" Yuemong said, "You little rascal, don't talk nonsense! How would that kid know where to scrounge for food? If he didn't freeze to death or starve to death, what could he possibly do in that mansion? Why would the Commandant recognize him and take him in?" Dai'an said, "Grandma, want to bet? I saw it clearly, even if he turned to dust, I would still recognize him!" Yuemong asked, "What did he have on?" Dai'an said, "Wearing a new wavy hat, a gold hairpin, a blue gauze robe, sandals, and clean socks, living pretty well." Yuemong said, "I just don’t buy it." Let's drop this for now.
Chen Jingji stepped into the backyard, while Chunmei was still inside grooming and dressing up. Jingji showed her the greeting card from Wu Yueniang and asked, "How did her family send gifts to you? What's going on here?" Chunmei then told the whole story from start to finish about meeting Yueniang at Yongfu Temple during the Qingming Festival, including how Ping'an stole from the pawnshop, how Wu Xunjian questioned Ping'an, how he interrogated Yueniang about her affair, how Xue Sao helped plead her case, how the commander resolved the matter, and how her family sent gifts to thank her. During the New Year, I went to her house to celebrate Xiaoge's birthday, and we got to know each other. She said she promised to send me a gift on my birthday. After listening, Chen Jingji glanced at Chunmei and said, "Sister, you really lack ambition! For that shameless woman, you have broken up our sisterhood and even caused the death of Liuji. It's best to never have any contact with her again, and you're still pleading for her! Even if Wu Dian'en tortured Daian into confessing to the affair, let them both be punished together; what does it have to do with us? If she did not have an affair with Daian, why did she give Xiaoyu to him? If I were here earlier, I would never let you plead for her. She is our enemy; why are you still associating with her? It's been dreary for days in June—think about it!" Chunmei was left speechless by Jingji's words. Chunmei said, "Let bygones be bygones; I have a good heart and don't hold grudges." Jingji said, "Doing good deeds now does not bring good rewards!" Chunmei said, "Since she sent gifts, we can't just accept them for nothing! She is still waiting for us to invite her!" Jingji said, "In the future, don't bother with that shameless woman; why invite her?" Chunmei said, "It's not polite not to invite her. Send her an invitation; whether she comes or not is up to her. If she comes, you stay in the study and don't come out to see her; we just need to avoid her in the future." Jingji was so furious that he fell silent, walked to the front, and wrote an invitation. Chunmei asked the servant Zhou Yi to invite Wu Yueniang. Yueniang dressed up and came out, with the nanny Ruyi carrying Xiaoge, followed by Daian. Chunmei and Sun Erniang dressed up and came out to welcome her, invited Yueniang to the back hall, exchanged greetings, and sat down. Ruyi bowed with Xiaoge in her arms. Jingji hid in the study and did not come out, allowing Chunmei and Sun Erniang to host the guests in the back hall, and called Han Yuchuan and Zheng Jiaoer to provide some entertainment.
Dai'an was hosting guests in the parlor. He saw a servant boy carrying a plate of food and snacks from behind and walking towards the study. Dai'an asked him who it was for, and the boy replied, "It's for my uncle." Dai'an asked, "What’s your uncle’s last name?" The boy answered, "Chen." Dai'an quietly trailed behind him to the study. The boy lifted the curtain and went in to set down the food. Dai'an quietly slipped out and went back to the parlor. He waited until dark, and when the family came to pick her up, Lady Wu took a sedan chair home. After returning home, she told Lady Wu everything: "Chen's brother-in-law is really staying at his place." Ever since Chunmei was held back by Jingji, the two families haven't seen each other.
It is:
Who knew kids faced so many hurdles, turning thoughts into grudges? Jingji was secretly seeing Chunmei in the house, and no one had a clue. When the commander was out, Chunmei and Jingji would hang out in the room, eating, drinking, playing chess, and just chatting. When the commander was around, the maid would bring him food in the study. Sometimes during the day, Chunmei would drop by the study to hang out with him for a bit before heading back. The two were pretty close, but the details aren’t worth going into.
One day, the guards took some soldiers out on patrol, and it happened to be the Dragon Boat Festival. Chunmei set up a banquet table in the flower pavilion at the West Academy, where she, Sun Erniang, and Chen Jingji drank xionghuang wine, ate rice dumplings, and had a wonderful time. The maidservants were bustling around, attending to them. Chunmei had Haitang and Yuegui, two maids, perform music and sing to liven up the festivities. They continued eating as a cool breeze began to blow, signaling the end. Chunmei raised a large golden lotus cup to toast. After a few rounds, Sun Erniang couldn't handle her liquor and went back to her room to take a break. Only Chunmei and Jingji remained in the flower pavilion, drinking and playing a guessing game, taking turns with their drinks, enjoying themselves immensely. After a while, a maid brought lanterns, and the wet nurse, Jin Kui, and Yu Tang also managed to put Jin Ge to sleep. Jingji lost the game and retreated to the study to drink, refusing to come out. Chunmei first sent Haitang to invite him, but Jingji didn't come out. Then she sent Yuegui and instructed her, "If he still doesn’t come, you’d better find a way to drag him over. If you can't, come back and I'll slap you ten times!" Yuegui went to the West Study, pushed the door open, and saw Jingji lying on the bed, fast asleep and motionless. Yuegui said, "Madam's going to be mad at me, so I had to drag you here!" Jingji, half asleep, said, "It's not my business if she hits you. I'm drunk and can't eat anymore." Yuegui pulled him up and pushed him, saying, "I'll drag you over no matter what. If I can't, then I’m not worth my salt!" Pushing and shoving, Jingji pretended to be drunk, jokingly pulled Yuegui into a playful embrace and kissed her. Yuegui got angry and said, "She kindly invited you, and you act like this!" Jingji said, "My dear sister, if you agree, we can still make it a good thing, right?" He kissed Yuegui again before they walked to the flower pavilion together. Chunmei had Haitang pour more wine, and the two played chess while drinking, thoroughly enjoying themselves. They played until all the maidservants had fallen asleep. Chunmei then asked Yuegui and Haitang to fetch tea from the back, and the two of them removed their hairpins and accessories in the flower pavilion, revealing beautiful jade ornaments, their lips painted a deep red, giving off a sweet fragrance.
That's right:
In the flower pavilion, joy mingles with the slanting clouds; the fragrant sweat condenses, permeating the crimson silk. In the deep courtyard, the sun lingers, but no one comes. Just look at the yellow birds pecking at the famous flowers. The two were having a great time when suddenly, Haitang brought in tea: "Please, Grandma, go to the back. Jin Ge'er has woken up and is crying for you, Grandma!" Chun Mei accompanied Jing Ji and had another two cups of wine, then rinsed her mouth with tea before getting up to head to the back. The maids tidied up the things, and Xi'er helped Jing Ji back to the study to rest.
The court issued an order for the guard to lead the troops, together with Zhang Shuye, the governor of Jizhou, to suppress the bandit Song Jiang at Liangshan Marsh, and instructed them to set out as soon as possible. The guard said to Chun Mei, "You take good care of the children at home, and have the matchmaker help your brother find a good family. I will take his name to the army camp. If he happens to achieve merit, the court will reward him with a promotion, and you will also have something to be proud of." Chun Mei agreed.
After two or three days, the guard packed his belongings and organized the troops, leaving Zhang Sheng and Li An at home to watch over things, while only taking his family member Zhou Ren with him.
One day, Chunmei called Xue Sao over and said to her in a roundabout way, "Before he left, his father instructed you to help my younger brother find a wife. You must find a suitable girl who matches his family background. A girl around sixteen or seventeen is fine, as long as she is beautiful and clever. He can be a bit hot-headed." Xue Sao said, "Honestly, I was thinking that even a family like your sister's wouldn’t be good enough." Chunmei said, "You better watch out or I'll slap you! I'll have him call her a concubine, and I’m not joking!" After that, Chunmei asked the maid to serve tea to Xue Sao. Just then, Chen Jingji came in to eat. Xue Sao greeted him, saying, "Uncle, it's been a long time since I've seen you. Where have you been? It's great. Grandma just instructed me to help you find a good wife. How will you thank me?" Chen Jingji blushed and said nothing. Xue Sao said, "Why aren't you speaking, old man?" Chunmei said, "Don't call him uncle anymore, that's all in the past. Just call him Uncle Chen." Xue Sao said, "I really need to be punished for being so forgetful and always getting names wrong. From now on, I'll call you Uncle." Chen Jingji couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "That really hit home for me." Xue Sao pretended to be annoyed and playfully nudged him, saying, "Look at you, saying such nice things. I'm not your shadow, how did that hit home for me?" Chunmei also laughed.
For a while, Yuegui prepared tea and snacks for Xuesao, saying, "I'll do my best to help you find a good family and a good girl, and I'll let you know." Chunmei said, "Whether it's betrothal gifts, dowry, or jewelry, as long as it's a good family and a good girl, they can enter my house." Xuesao said, "I understand, I promise to satisfy you." After a while, Jingji finished his meal and went ahead. Xuesao was still sitting there, asking Chunmei, "When did he come back?" Chunmei told her about his decision to become a monk: "I brought him back to be part of my family." Xuesao said, "That's great, you have a good eye." She continued, "A few days ago, on your special day, did his mother come to congratulate you?" Chunmei said, "He sent a gift first, and then I had someone invite him to come. He sat for a day and then left." Xuesao said, "I was busy making beds at someone else's place that day, and I was really worried." She asked, "Did Chen Uncle also see his mother come?" Chunmei said, "Would he even bother to see her? We almost argued over inviting him. He blamed me for pleading on his family's behalf, saying I had no backbone. Even if Wu Dian'en beat up his servant, it's just to help him get promoted; what’s it to you? You help him find a wife, think about how good he was to you before?" Xuesao said, "He's right. At this point, he's not holding grudges anymore." Chunmei said, "Since we accepted his gift, it's not right not to invite him to sit. It's better for him to be cold-hearted than for us to be ungrateful." Xuesao said, "No wonder you have such great fortune, you have a good heart!" After talking for a while, Xuesao took the flower basket and said her goodbyes and left.
Two days later, Chunmei's matchmaker said, "Miss Zhu from the city is fifteen this year and seems suitable, but she doesn't have a mother." Chunmei thought she was too young and turned her down. The matchmaker then mentioned the second daughter of Ying Bojue, who was twenty-two. Chunmei objected, saying Ying Bojue had passed away, and the dowry wouldn’t be much, so it was not suitable. So, they turned down all the marriage proposals.
After a few days, Xue Sao brought flowers and took out a wedding invitation from her sleeve. It was written on a big red paper: "The eldest daughter of Ge Yuanwai, who runs a storytelling shop, is 22 years old, born in the Year of the Rooster on the 15th day of the 11th month, with the nickname Cui Ping." "She looks like a painting; although not tall, she has an oval face, is gentle and intelligent, and is exceptionally skilled in needlework. Coming from a well-off family with both parents alive, the family runs a successful storytelling shop in the streets, doing business in Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing. She comes with a dowry that includes bed curtains and storage boxes from Nanjing." Chunmei said, "Since she is so good, let's agree to this marriage!" and asked Xue Sao to go deliver the message. Xue Sao hurriedly agreed. The poem says:
To seek a beautiful bride from the embroidery room, red leaves are the best matchmakers.
A celestial weaver ties a fragrant silk, and countless marriage fates are fulfilled. The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl in the sky, talented scholars and beautiful ladies on earth.
When Xue Sao returned, Ge Yuanwai was pleased to accept the proposal from the Prefectural Governor's residence and sent a matchmaker. Chunmei prepared two loads of tea leaves, snacks, fruits, and had Sun Erniang go in a sedan chair to finalize the marriage at Ge Yuanwai's house. When she returned, she said to Chunmei, "That girl is really good, extremely beautiful, and the two families are a perfect match." Chunmei selected an auspicious date for the formal engagement. They presented sixteen trays of snacks, fruits, and tea, two trays of headwear and jewelry, two trays of pearls and jade, four jars of wine, two sheep, a set of gold and silver headwear and jewelry, two sets of silk robes, seasonal clothing, cotton fabric, silk, twenty taels of gold, and more. An astrologer picked June 8th for the wedding. Chunmei asked Xue Sao, "Does the Ge family have any maidservants to accompany the bride?" Xue Sao replied, "They have bed curtains and dowry items, but no maidservants." Chunmei said, "Let's buy a maid who is thirteen or fourteen years old to serve her and help with daily tasks like fetching water." Xue Sao said, "I'll bring one tomorrow."
The next day, Xue Sao indeed brought a maid and said, "This is the maid from the household of merchant Huang Si's son, only thirteen years old. Huang Si was arrested for embezzling state grain along with Li San and the one who stood as a bail guarantor for our family. They were all caught and detained for over a year, lost all their assets, and even sold their house. Li San died first, and his son Li Huo was also detained. Our bail guarantor Seng Bao'er is now wandering outside, working as a horse driver for others." Chunmei asked, "Is she coming as a guarantor?" Xue Sao said, "She is no longer called a guarantor; she has changed her name to Tang Bao." Chunmei said, "This maid is from Huang Si's family; how much does she cost?" Xue Sao said, "Just four and a half taels of silver, desperate for money to pay off debts." Chunmei said, "How about three and a half taels? Give her that." She then gave her three and a half taels of silver and wrote a contract of sale. She was given the name Jin Qian'er.
Soon it was the eighth day of the sixth month. Chunmei dressed to the nines, wearing a bright red robe and a golden belt, and sat in a lavish sedan chair carried by four bearers, heading to marry the daughter of the Ge family. Chen Jingji rode a white horse, wearing a blue robe, a Confucian headdress, black boots, and a gold hairpin, looking majestic. The poem goes:
After a long drought, sweet rains finally fall; old friends reunite in distant lands. In the candlelit bridal chamber, names are inscribed on the gold list. A fresh life unfolds with each passing moment.
When they arrived at the residence of the Commandant, the bride's sedan chair stopped. The veil was lifted, and the bride carried a precious vase as she entered the gate. The fortune teller led the bride into the bridal chamber, first worshiping the heavens and the earth, and then entering the chamber. Chunmei had the newcomer sit on the bed, then left. After the fortune teller finished the rituals, collected the gift money, and left, the band also packed up. Jingji and Miss Ge Cuiping went together to thank the in-laws and returned after drinking heavily. In the evening, the newlyweds spent a blissful evening together. The poem goes:
How many spring moments bloom—apricot blossoms unfurling red buds, the wind teasing the green willows.
That night, Jingzhi and Miss Ge Cuiping hit it off very well. Three days later, Chunmei hosted a banquet at the mansion for relatives and friends, but let's not get into the details. Chunmei always let the newlyweds eat together during meals, calling each other brother-in-law and sister-in-law, eating and sitting together. The maids and servants didn't dare to say a word. Chunmei set aside three beautifully decorated rooms for the newlyweds, with a study outside and inside, there were a bed, a table, books, and letters. Chunmei often visited the study to chat with him, quietly nurturing their bond. As the poem goes:
"In the morning, share the feast at Jingu,
In the evening, by the beautiful tower’s view.
Don’t speak of joy and delight,
As fleeting moments chase the sunset light."
