Once upon a time, in the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty, there was a hero who achieved enlightenment and later ascended to immortality, becoming a figure among the immortals, even leading troops to relieve suffering. He was Master Lü Yan, known as Chunyangzi. He wrote a poem lamenting how people are trapped by emotions, desires, wine, lust, wealth, and fortune, ultimately ending up the same, which is rather meaningless. The poem says:
After the luxury fades, travelers are gone; the flute and zither are silent, the singer's throat chokes.
The heroic sword has lost its splendor; the precious lute lies abandoned, and the golden stars have dimmed.
The jade steps are lonely, drenched in autumn dew; the moon shines on the place of song and dance.
Back then, the singers and dancers never returned, turning into today’s ashes of Xiling.
The meaning of this poem is that once there was great splendor, but now there is not a single person left, the instruments are silent, the heroic spirit is gone, the treasures have all disappeared, and the once vibrant place of song and dance is now reduced to desolate autumn dew and moonlight. Those people have all turned to ash.
In this world, the words "wealth" and "lust" are most harmful. When poor, there is no money for food, the wife and children are hungry, relatives and friends avoid you, and even the greatest ambitions are worn away. What can this be called?
When a horse dies, gold runs out, and loved ones become like strangers.
When rich, it is different; spending money like dirt, drinking the best, doing whatever one wants, and many people are eager to please you. But once there is no money, those people immediately vanish without a trace. This has been the case throughout history; when there is money, people crowd together; when there is none, the door is deserted. Wealth can be truly destructive!
Now let’s talk about lust. Look at those ancients, like Liu Xianghui, who remained unflustered, and the man from Lu, who would not take in a woman, as well as the loyal and righteous Guan Yu; such people are few and far between. We need not even mention those with three wives and four concubines. There are also some lecherous individuals who, upon seeing beautiful women, lavish them with flattery, only seeking to take advantage, completely disregarding reputation and friendships. At first, they spend money like water, indulging in food, drink, and pleasure,
Three cups of wine bring people together, two lanterns play matchmaker.
Later, the truth came to light, leading to fights and even loss of life, separation from spouses and children, and the loss of everything. Shi Chong was so wealthy, yet he died because of Lü Zhu; Xiang Yu was so powerful, yet he was defeated because of Yu Ji. It truly is "the door that gives me life is the same door that brings my death; I can see through it, yet I cannot endure it." Desire can be quite harmful!
Ultimately, few can truly see through the allure of wealth and desire. If one can see through, they would understand that you can't take gold and silver with you when you go, tall buildings will eventually crumble into dust, and luxurious clothing is nothing more than a burial shroud. Those enchanting women, with their beautiful faces, ultimately reduce to nothing but bones. The beautiful stockings, golden lotuses, and pillow talk are all mere illusions. The Diamond Sutra says it well: "Like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow; like lightning, like dew." In life, wanting everything means leaving with nothing in the end. No matter how powerful one is, they will eventually grow old; no matter how wealthy, their family fortune will dissipate; no matter how beautiful, they will age; no matter how intelligent, they will encounter unsolvable problems. It is better to let go of obsessions, cultivate oneself, and nurture one’s nature to attain true happiness.
A breath can be used in countless ways; without stability for even a day, everything falls apart.
Why do I say all this? Because I heard about a wealthy family that later fell into decline, where nothing could be relied upon. They only enjoyed their riches and honor for a short time and ended up with a bad reputation. The women in the family, no matter how beautiful they started out, ended up competing for favor and facing a tragic end.
Good deeds bring good outcomes, while bad deeds bring bad ones; the net of heaven is wide, and nothing escapes it.
In the era of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, there was a man named Ximen Qing in Qinghe County, Dongping Prefecture, Shandong. He was tall, handsome, and elegant, hailing from a well-off family. He was around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. His father, Ximen Da, used to trade medicinal herbs in Sichuan and Guangdong, and later opened a large pharmacy in Qinghe County. They lived in a mansion with five storefronts and seven rooms, with a host of servants and horses. Although they were not super wealthy, they were considered one of the wealthiest families in Qinghe County. Unfortunately, his parents passed away early, and Ximen Qing was spoiled since childhood. He had no interest in studying and spent his days idling away. After his parents' death, he plunged into a hedonistic lifestyle and caused trouble wherever he went. He was proficient in martial arts, gambling, chess, and mahjong, and hung out with a bunch of lazy and irresponsible friends.
His best friend was named Ying Bojue, nicknamed "Ying Huazi," the son of the silk merchant Ying Guan. After squandering his family fortune, he relied on wealthy women for a living and was also good at playing with balloons, mahjong, and other games. Another friend was named Xie Xida, a descendant of the Qianhu of Qinghe, whose parents had passed away early. He was lazy and also lived off wealthy people, and could play the pipa. These two were Ximen Qing's closest friends, along with a few other poor friends, such as Zhu Shinian, Sun Tianhua (nicknamed Sun Guazui), Wu Dian'en (the county's fortune-teller, who was dismissed for misconduct), Yun Lishou, Chang Zhijie, Bu Zhidao, and Bai Laiguang. The name Bai Laiguang didn't sound pleasant to everyone, and he explained that when he was given his name, a tutor said his surname was Bai, linked to the tale of a white fish leaping into King Wu's boat, and also said "Zhou had great generosity, and Tang had light," so he took this name, with his courtesy name Guangtang. In short, these dozen or so people, seeing that Ximen Qing was wealthy and generous, all flocked around him for drinks, food, ladies, and gambling.
Raise your cup and drink deep in brotherhood; who cares about family ties?
When a storm brews unexpectedly, true friendships are revealed.
People like Ximen Qing, who come from a wealthy family yet have a disreputable son and associate with a group of bad friends, will eventually squander their wealth, no matter how rich they might be. How can they expect to have a good life? However, Ximen Qing has always been strong-willed, cunning, and deceitful in his dealings. He lends money at high interest and even has connections with the four notorious traitors of the court: Gao, Yang, Tong, and Cai. He meddles in county affairs for personal gain. This is why the people in the county fear him, referring to him as "Ximen Daguoren" (Mr. Ximen). His first wife, Chen, died young, leaving behind a daughter, Ximen Dajie, who was betrothed to Chen Jingji, the son of Chen Hong, who is related to the commander of the imperial guard in Dongjing, but the marriage has not yet taken place. After his first wife died, no one took charge of the household, so he married Wu, the daughter of Wu Qianhu from the Qinghe Left Guard, as his second wife. Wu is around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, born on August 15th, and is nicknamed Yuejie. After marrying into the Ximen family, everyone calls her Yueniang. Yueniang is virtuous and capable, and she obeys Ximen Qing in everything. The household also has several maidservants, all of whom have been played with by Ximen Qing. He also became involved with a courtesan named Li Jiaor, taking her as a concubine. He also kept Zhu Erjie (Zhu Diu'er) from South Street as a mistress for a while and later married her as a third wife. However, Zhu Erjie is in poor health, and Ximen Qing frequently seeks pleasure elsewhere.
The host sings and laughs, enchanted by beauty, and throws a banquet next door.
For a few days, I lie beneath the blooming peach blossoms, while the peonies, always pitiful, bloom.
One day, Ximen Qing was sitting idle at home and said to Yuemen: "It's the twenty-fifth of September. On the third of October, my brothers will gather. We need to prepare several tables of good wine and invite some courtesans to have a good time with my brothers. Can you arrange this for me?" Yuemen said: "These people are not good people. They only come to your house to eat, drink, and have fun. Since you started hanging out with them, when have we had a good life? Also, Zuo Erjie's health is not good. I advise you to drink less." Ximen Qing impatiently said: "I hear what you say about other things, but I don't want to hear about this. You say they are not good people, that's true. But Ying Erge is a good person, sensible, and reliable. Xie Zhichun is also capable. Instead of always scheming like this, why don't we become sworn brothers on that day and take care of each other in the future?" Yuemen said: "Becoming sworn brothers is good, but in the future, more people will rely on you. Do you want to rely on others? Like a puppet on a string - just one breath away!" Ximen Qing smiled and said: "Wouldn't it be better if everyone could be relied on? When Ying Erge comes, I'll talk it over with him."
It is said that a few people were chatting when suddenly, a clever young servant ran over and said he was Ximen Qing's personal servant, Daian. Daian said: "Ying Er and Xie Da are outside and want to see you, sir." Ximen Qing said: "I was just about to look for them, and here they are." Ximen Qing walked to the hall and saw Ying Bao wearing a brand new black Luo hat, a semi-new sky-blue silk shirt, silk stockings, and silk shoes, sitting at the top. Sitting at the bottom was Xie Xida. When they saw Ximen Qing come out, they quickly got up and saluted: "Brother, it’s been ages since we saw you." Ximen Qing asked them to sit down, served tea, and said: "My brothers, I've been feeling down lately and haven't been out much. You haven't come to see me either."
Count Ying said to Xie Xida, "See, I told you brother would say that!" Then he said to Ximen Qing, "Brother, you misunderstood. We ourselves don’t even know what we’ve been busy with all day! Our two legs can’t keep up with the speed of our mouths!" Ximen Qing asked, "What have you all been busy with these past few days?" Count Ying replied, "Yesterday I went to the Li family to see a child, the niece of your second sister-in-law, Guiqing, her sister, called Guijie'er. I haven't seen her in a long time; she has grown up to be absolutely stunning! When she grows up, who knows how many hearts she’ll steal! Her mother repeatedly urged me yesterday: 'Second father, you must find her a good family.' Who knows, she might even become your daughter-in-law in the future!" Ximen Qing said, "Is that so? Let's go visit her when we have time." Xie Xida then said, "Brother, you won't believe it, this child is indeed beautiful." Ximen Qing said, "Did you go to her house yesterday? Where did you go a few days back?" Count Ying replied, "A few days back, Brother Bu Zhidao passed away, and we were at their home helping to arrange the funeral. His sister-in-law repeatedly asked me to tell you thank you for the offerings you sent. Since their place is small and they didn’t prepare any good food or drinks, they felt really bad about it." Ximen Qing said, "I heard he wasn't in good health, but I never thought he’d leave us so soon. Just a few days ago he gave me a real gold fan, and I was just thinking about how to repay him; I never expected he’d... sigh!"
Xie Xida sighed and said, "Our group of brothers is down to nine now." Then he said to Count Ying, "The third day of the third month is our gathering day; we'll need to trouble Brother Ximen to host the gathering and let the brothers get together." Ximen Qing said, "Yes, I was just thinking of telling the steward. Our gatherings as brothers are always just eating and drinking, not much practical significance. It would be better to find a temple, draft a document, and swear brotherhood, supporting each other in the future. At that time, I will contribute some money to buy offerings, and everyone can pitch in a little too. I'm not forcing anyone; it's about brotherhood, and everyone contributing a little money also shows camaraderie." Count Ying quickly said, "Brother is right; burning incense and praying requires sincerity, and everyone must be wholehearted. Even though we’re like mice pulling a tortoise—pretty unproductive." Ximen Qing laughed and said, "You fool, who asked you to contribute a lot? Stop talking nonsense!" Xie Xida said, "It's best to have ten people sworn as brothers; now that Brother Bo Zhidao is gone, who will replace him?" Ximen Qing thought for a moment and said, "The second brother from the Hua family next door, he's the nephew of the eunuch Hua, has money, and often walks in the yard. His house is only separated by a wall from ours, and we have a good relationship, so let's have the servant invite him." Count Ying clapped his hands and said, "Is it the guy from the Hua family who keeps Wu Yiner in the yard?" Ximen Qing said, "That's him!" Count Ying laughed and said, "Brother, quickly have someone invite him. Hanging out with him means we'll have another drinking buddy." Ximen Qing laughed and said, "You glutton, always thinking about eating!" Everyone laughed. Ximen Qing immediately called for Daian and said, "Go to the Hua family next door, tell the second brother that on the third day of the third month, I want to swear brotherhood with ten brothers; invite him to join. See how the second brother responds, and come back and tell me. If he's not home, tell his wife." Daian promised and went. Count Ying asked, "Will it be at your place or at the temple?" Xie Xida said, "There are two temples nearby, Yongfu Temple and Yuhuang Temple; either one will do." Ximen Qing said, "Swearing brotherhood isn’t something the monks handle; I'm not familiar with the monks at Yongfu Temple, but I know Wu Daozhang at Yuhuang Temple; it’s spacious and quiet." Count Ying said, "Brother is right; it seems that the monk at Yongfu Temple has a good relationship with Sister Xie, so he wants to recommend him to go there."
"Xie Xi burst out laughing and yelled, 'You old fool, not getting to the point, just rambling on!'"
As they were speaking, Dai An returned and said to Ximen Qing, "Brother Hua Er isn't home. I spoke to his wife. When she heard, she was thrilled and said, 'Since it's Lord Ximen who wants to become sworn brothers with your Er Ge, he definitely has to come. When he returns, I will definitely persuade him to come and pay his respects to you, Lord Ximen.' She even gave me some snacks." Ximen Qing responded and said to Ying and Xie, "Brother Hua Er has quite a strong-willed wife." After saying this, he took another sip of tea. The two got up and said, "Brother, we will take our leave now and inform the other brothers to contribute money. I will first let Daoist Wu know." Ximen Qing said, "Understood, no need to see you off." The two accompanied them out the door. Count Ying took a few steps, turned around, and asked, "Should we invite the opera troupe that day?" Ximen Qing replied, "That works, the brothers can joke and have a good time; it will be more lively." After saying this, Count Ying and Xie Xi Da left together.
A few days later, on October 1st, Ximen Qing was sitting in the room of Yue Niang early in the morning when a young servant suddenly entered, holding a beautifully crafted gift box. He bowed to Ximen Qing and said, "I am a servant of the Hua family. My dad asked me to drop something off for you, Lord Ximen. That day, you invited my father, but he had to take care of something and couldn't make it. I heard you are having a gathering on the third day of the month, so my father asked me to bring some money first for your use. You can figure out how much you need tomorrow, and if it's not enough, we'll cover the rest." Ximen Qing opened it and saw that it was written on the note, "Sharing funds: one tael." He said, "That's too much, no need to make up the difference. Don't come the day after tomorrow; everyone will go to the temple together on the morning of the third." The young servant agreed and was about to leave when Wu Yue Niang called him back, asking the maid Yu Xiao to pick two steamed pastries for him, saying, "This is for you as a snack. When you get back, say hi to your mom for me and tell her that Lady Ximen will invite her over in a few days." The young servant thanked her and then left.
Ximen Qing had just sent away the servant from the Hua family when Ying Bao of the Ying family arrived. Dai An led him in, performed a kowtow, and said, "My father asked me to bring everyone's share of money." Ximen Qing took the eight envelopes without looking at them and gave them all to Yue Niang, saying, "You keep them for now. You can use them to buy things when you go to the temple tomorrow." He got up to see Zhuo Erjie, but just as he was settling in, Yuxiao came to call him, saying, "Mom wants to see you for a chat." Ximen Qing replied, "Why didn’t you mention it sooner?" Then he went to the upper room and saw Yue Niang laying out a pile of money, pointing and laughing, "Look at this money. Ying Er's share amounts to one yuan and two fen, while others have three fen, five fen, red, yellow... they look like gold. Our family has never seen so much money. Keeping it might tarnish our reputation. It's better to return it." Ximen Qing said, "Don't worry about it. Just leave it be. We've got plenty of money at home; it’s no big deal." After saying that, he left.
On the second day of the second lunar month, Ximen Qing took out four taels of silver, had Lai Xing buy a pig, a sheep, several barrels of Jinhua wine, as well as incense, candles, paper money, chickens, ducks, and other sacrificial items. He also sealed five taels of silver and instructed Lai Bao, Dai An, and Lai Xing, "Take them to the Jade Emperor Temple and tell Master Wu, 'Our master is going to swear brotherhood tomorrow. Please write a prayer for us, and in the evening, we will have a banquet at your place. Please prepare in advance; our master will be coming in the morning.'" Dai An came back shortly after, saying, "It's been delivered. Master Wu knows about it."
Early in the morning on the third day of the third month, Ximen Qing finished his morning routine and asked Dai An to invite Huazi Xu to have breakfast together and go to the temple, while also reminding the others at Ying Bojue's place. Just as Dai An invited Huazi Xu, Ying Bojue and a group of brothers arrived: Ying Bojue, Xie Xida, Sun Tianhua, Zhu Nianshi, Wu Dian'en, Yun Lishou, Chang Zhijie, Bai Laiguang, along with Ximen Qing and Huazi Xu, making a total of ten. They entered and exchanged respectful greetings. Bojue said, "We should get going." Ximen Qing replied, "Let's have breakfast first." Then he had tea and dishes brought out. After breakfast, Ximen Qing changed into fresh clothes and tidied himself up, and they all went to the Jade Emperor Temple together.
Not far from the temple, they spotted the grand entrance, flanked by magnificent buildings and towering walls. The main entrance had an arched gate, all painted with red mud; inside, three pathways adorned with river motifs were lined with white stones. The main hall gleamed with gold and jade, with steep eaves on the two corridors. The Three Purities were enshrined in the center, with the Supreme Old Lord reclining against a blue ox in the rear hall.
Entering the second hall and passing through a side door, they reached the Wudao Daoist temple. On both sides of the entrance were lush flowers and trees. Ximen Qing looked up and noticed a couplet hanging on the lintel:
"The cave is timeless, the pot holds its own universe."
Wu Daoguan usually recited scriptures and held ceremonies in the three spacious halls. The halls were kept spotless, with the Jade Emperor at the center, flanked by a host of star officials, and pictures of the four great marshals—Ma, Zhao, Wen, and Guan—hung nearby. After Ximen Qing and the others entered, they first offered tea and then stood up to take a look around. Bai Laiguang tugged at Chang Zhijie and led him to the portrait of Marshal Ma and, seeing the marshal's imposing presence, depicted with three eyes, said to Chang Zhijie, "Brother, what's going on here? In this world, you only need to open one eye and close the other; why add another eye just to keep an eye on others' faults?" Hearing this, Count Ying chimed in teasingly, "Silly brother, if he’s got an extra eye to watch you, isn’t that a good thing?" Everyone burst into laughter. Chang Zhijie pointed to the portrait of Marshal Wen and said, "Second brother, this one dressed all in blue is rather peculiar; he might be an ancestor of Lu Qi!" The count chuckled and called out, "Mr. Wu, come over here; I have a joke for you." Wu Daoguan actually walked over to listen. The count said, "There was a Taoist who died and met Yama. Yama asked, 'Who are you?' The Taoist replied, 'I am a Taoist.' Yama had the judge check, and indeed he was a Taoist and had committed no crime. So, he was allowed to come back to life. After reincarnating, the Taoist ran into a worker from a dyehouse he used to know. The worker asked, 'Master, how come you’re back again?' The Taoist said, 'I am a Taoist, so they let me come back.' The worker remembered this and, when he saw Yama, also claimed to be a Taoist. Yama checked him and saw both his hands were blue, so he asked what was going on. The worker replied in the tone of a dyehouse worker, 'I used to hang out with Marshal Wen... you know...' " At this point, everyone was in stitches.
They walked to the right and saw Guan Di with a red face below, with a black-faced Marshal Zhao Yuan Tan depicted above, and a large tiger painted beside them. Bai Laiguang pointed at the tiger and said, "Bro, look at this tiger, could it be a vegetarian? Why is it following people around?" The count chuckled and replied, "You don't know, this tiger is his personal bodyguard!" Xie Xida leaned over, stuck out his tongue, and said, "If I had such a bodyguard following me, I wouldn't be able to stay for a moment; I’m afraid it would eat me!" The count laughed and said to Ximen Qing, "This kid still dares to show his face!" Ximen Qing asked, "What's going on?" The count said, "Someone like Zichun is afraid of his bodyguard; with seven or eight of us together, if we wanted to eat you, wouldn’t you be scared out of your wits?" After saying that, everyone burst into laughter again. At that moment, Wu Daoguan came over and said, "Gentlemen, speaking of this tiger, our Qinghe County has suffered a lot from this tiger these past few days! I can’t tell you how many passersby it has attacked; even hunters have died by the dozen." Ximen Qing asked, "What happened?" Wu Daoguan said, "You gentlemen might not know yet, I just heard about it. A few days ago, a young apprentice went to Cangzhou's Henghai County to beg for alms from Master Chai, and only returned after staying for five to seven days. Our Qinghe County is close to Cangzhou, and there’s a Jingyang Ridge where a white-eyed tiger has recently appeared, often coming out to eat people. It’s really dangerous for travelers passing through, and they must travel in groups. The county has put up a reward of fifty taels of silver to capture it, but so far, it hasn't been caught. Those poor hunters, I can only imagine how much they've had to suffer!" Bai Laiguang jumped up and said, "We became sworn brothers today; let’s go catch the tiger tomorrow; we can earn some money to spend." Ximen Qing said, "Are you really willing to risk your life?" Bai Laiguang laughed and said, "With money, who needs to worry about life!" Everyone laughed again. Count Ying said, "Let me share another joke with you: a man was carried away by a tiger, and his son wanted to save him, taking a knife to cut the tiger. The man, caught in the tiger's jaws, shouted, 'Son, be careful when you cut, don't damage the tiger skin!'" Everyone burst into another round of hearty laughter.
Wu Daoguan had prepared all the items for the ritual and walked over, saying, "Gentlemen, let's start burning the paper." He took out the document and said, "The document has been written, but who will be the eldest brother and who will be the second brother? Please arrange the order so I can write your names." Everyone spoke in unison, "Of course, Ximen Qing should be the eldest brother." Ximen Qing said, "Let's go by age; Ying Er Ge is older than me, so Ying Er Ge should be the eldest brother." Count Bai stuck out his tongue and said, "Sir, please don't put me down! These days, it's all about money and status, not age! If we're going by age, there are definitely people older than me. If I become the eldest brother, there are two points that aren't right: first, I don't have the prestige and virtue of the great official; the brothers all respect you; second, I was originally called Ying Er Ge, but now if I become the eldest brother, I'll have to start calling myself Ying Dage. What if two more people come, one called 'Ying Er Ge' and the other 'Ying Dage'? Should I still be called 'Ying Er Ge' or 'Ying Dage'?" Ximen Qing laughed and said, "You're just rambling on!" Xie Xida said, "Brother, stop refusing." Ximen Qing repeatedly declined, but was forced by Huazi Xu, Ying Baiyue, and others, so he had no choice but to take on the role of eldest brother. The second was Ying Baiyue, the third was Xie Xida, and the fourth was Huazi Xu, because he had money, so he became the fourth brother. The rest were arranged in order. Wu Daoguan finished writing the document, lit the incense and candles, and everyone lined up in order. Wu Daoguan opened the document and read aloud:
On this day, the faithful of Qinghe County in Dongping Prefecture, Shandong Province, including Ximen Qing, Ying Bojue, Xie Xida, Hua Zixu, Sun Tianhua, Zhu Nianshi, Yun Lishou, Wu Dian'en, Chang Zhijie, and Bai Laiguang, gathered to cleanse their hands, burn incense, and seek a blessing. They humbly recognize the profound bonds of the Peach Garden, with many hearts inspired and willing to emulate its spirit; the deep friendship of Guan and Bao, with various surnames pursuing the same aspirations. Moreover, since all the world can be brothers, how can those of different surnames be less than kin? Therefore, on this day in the year of Zhenghe, we prepare offerings of pigs and sheep, golden resources for the phoenix carriage, and reverently knock on the altar, praying sincerely. We bow to the Heavenly Emperor in the Golden Palace, the deities of the five directions, the city god and local deities of this county, and all passing spirits, relying on this true incense for universal observation. We humbly recall that although Qing and others may have different days of birth, we hope to die at the same time and pledge that our promises will remain forever strong; may we share joy and peace, supporting one another through difficulties, and strive to establish bonds that are ever-renewing. We should always remember the less fortunate during times of prosperity, so we have a foundation to rely on from beginning to end. Our bonds deepen with each passing day and month, and our friendship is as vast as the sky and as deep as the earth. We sincerely wish that from this alliance onward, we will harbor no grievances, and we pray that everyone may enjoy long lives and boundless blessings in every household. May all in this time be under our protection; this is a humble communication.
On the day of Zhenghe, after Wu Daoguan finished his recitation, everyone worshipped, and then they performed eight bows in front of the deity's statue. Afterward, they sent off the deity, burned paper money, and collected the offerings. Soon after, Wu Daoguan had the pigs and sheep unloaded, and arranged chicken, duck, fish, meat, fruits, and pastries, filling two large tables. Ximen Qing sat at the head, with others seated in order, while Wu Daoguan accompanied them. After a while, as the wine circulated, everyone started playing guessing games, laughing and joking, creating a lively atmosphere, which I shall not elaborate on. It was just as if:
We first saw the sun rise over Fusang, then watched the dawn carriage carry the mountains.
After getting drunk, a lovely person helped me away, as the new crescent moon arched over the treetops.
Dai An'er whispered to Ximen Qing, "The Madam asked me to take you home, saying that San Niang is really ill today and you should hurry back." Ximen Qing immediately stood up and said, "It's not that I want to spoil the fun, my third wife is really sick; we should head back now." Hua Zixu said, "I'm on the way with you, let's go back together." The Count said, "What are we supposed to do if both you rich guys leave? Hua Er Ge, why don’t you stick around a bit longer?" Ximen Qing replied, "His family has no one at home; if we go back together, it’ll ease his sister-in-law’s worries." Dai An'er said, "When I got here, Er Niang had Tian Fu'er get the horses ready." At that moment, a young servant came over and said to Hua Zixu, "The horses are ready, and the Madam wants you to head home." So the two of them stood up together, thanked Wu Daoguan, and said goodbye, telling the Count and the others, "You continue to have fun; we are leaving first." Then they headed out and rode off, leaving behind a few drinking buddies to continue their revelry in the temple.
When Ximen Qing got home, he bid farewell to Hua Zixu and went inside, asking Wu Yueliang, "Why is Zhuo Erjie so seriously ill?" Yueliang replied, "I said there was someone sick at home on purpose, worried you’d get held up with those folks, so I had Dai An'er say that. She’s getting worse every day; you need to look after her well at home." Hearing this, Ximen Qing went to check on her and then stayed home to keep an eye on her.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's already October 10th. One day, Ximen Qing was having a doctor come to treat Zhuo Erjie. As he walked into the hall, he saw Ying Bojue walking in with a smile. Ximen Qing and Ying Bojue greeted each other and sat down. Bojue asked, "Brother, how is your sister-in-law's illness?" Ximen Qing replied, "The situation is not too good; I’m not sure what’s wrong." Then he asked, "When did you guys leave that day?" Bojue said, "Wu Dao Guan was very hospitable and insisted we stay; we ended up leaving close to two in the morning. We were all drunk, but your brother went home early." Ximen Qing asked, "Have you eaten?" Bojue didn't want to admit he hadn't eaten, so he said, "Brother, guess." Ximen Qing said, "You definitely ate." Bojue covered his mouth and said, "You won't be able to guess this." Ximen Qing laughed and said, "Just admit you didn't eat; why be so evasive?" He then called a servant, "Bring out the food; I will eat with Second Uncle." Bojue said, "How about we go out to eat instead? I heard something interesting I want to tell you about and show you." Ximen Qing asked, "What interesting thing?" Bojue said, "It's about the tiger on Jingyang Ridge that Wu Dao Guan mentioned a few days ago. It was punched to death by a person yesterday." Ximen Qing said, "You’re just pulling my leg again; I don't believe it." Bojue said, "Brother, listen to me; let me tell you all about it." He then vividly described how a man named Wu Song killed the tiger with his fists. After finishing, Ximen Qing shook his head and said, "Since that's the case, let's eat up and go check it out together." Bojue said, "Brother, let's not waste any time; let's go sit in a restaurant on the street." At this time, Lai Xing'er came to set things up, and Ximen Qing said, "Tell your mother not to cook, bring me some clothes to change into, will you?"
After a while, after changing into their clothes, Ximen Qing and the count walked out hand in hand. On the way, they ran into Xie Xida, who smiled and said, "Hey, man, are you here to see the tiger hunt too?" Ximen Qing replied, "That's right." Xie Xida said, "There are so many people on the street; it's so packed you can barely move." So they all sat down at a big tavern on the street. Before long, they heard the sound of drums and gongs, and everyone went to take a look. They saw a group of hunters carrying long spears, with the dead tiger being carried behind them, looking like a giant sack that four men struggled to carry. Finally, on a big white horse sat a strong man, the tiger hunter. Ximen Qing looked at him, nibbling on his finger, and said, "I reckon that guy's got the strength of a water buffalo; otherwise, how could he have taken it down?" The three of them chatted over drinks, and we shall not elaborate further.
So, what did the strong man approaching them look like? He was a towering figure, easily over seven feet tall; with a broad face, probably in his mid-twenties. His eyes were piercing and bright, like two distant stars; his hands looked like a pair of iron pestles when raised. His toes lifted off the ground, like the tigers and leopards of the deep mountains had lost their edge; when his fists fell, even the bears and wolves of the valleys would be scared stiff. He wore a headscarf with a '万' pattern, decorated with two silver flowers; his body was wrapped in a bloodstained patched coat, draped in a piece of red brocade.
This person is none other than Wu Erlang from Yanggu County, as Baron Ying mentioned. He came to look for his brother, but accidentally killed a tiger and was greeted by the county magistrate. Everyone watched as he was welcomed into the county. At that moment, the magistrate was entering the hall, and Wu Song dismounted and carried the tiger into the hall. The magistrate looked at Wu Song and thought, "Only an extraordinary person could kill this tiger!" He called Wu Song up to the hall. After bowing, Wu Song explained how he killed the tiger. The officials on either side were stunned. The magistrate rewarded him with three cups of wine in the hall and also gave him fifty taels of reward money that the townsfolk had contributed. Wu Song said, "I am grateful for the magistrate's favor, but it was just luck that I killed the tiger. I can't accept this reward! The hunters have suffered punishment because of this beast, so it would be better to divide the reward among them, which would show your generosity." The magistrate said, "Since that is the case, we will listen to the hero." Wu Song then divided the fifty taels of reward money among the hunters. Seeing his righteousness and loyalty, the magistrate decided to promote him and said, "Although you are from Yanggu County, which is close to my Qinghe County, I recommend you to be the head of the patrol here, specializing in capturing thieves in the east and west of the river. How does that sound?" Wu Song knelt and thanked, "I am grateful for the magistrate's promotion." The magistrate immediately had a document written and recommended Wu Song to be the head of the patrol that day. Local wealthy families came to congratulate him, celebrating for days on end. Wu Song was about to return to Yanggu County to find his brother, but unexpectedly became the head of the patrol in Qinghe County, which thrilled him. This matter spread throughout the two counties of Dongping Prefecture, and everyone knew Wu Song's legendary name. It is indeed:
A brave hero with unmatched skills, boldly takes on Jingyang Hill. Drunk, he killed a tiger in the mountains, and from then on, his reputation spread far and wide.
One day, while wandering the streets, Wu Song heard someone calling out from behind, "Brother, the magistrate has promoted you to be the head of the patrol, why are you not taking care of me!" Wu Song turned around and saw that this person...
Wu Song wanted to find his brother Wu Da. After the brothers parted ways because of a famine, Wu Da moved to rent a house on Zishi Street in Qinghe County. Everyone thought he was weak and unattractive, giving him the nickname "Three-Inch Ding, the Bark of a Grain Tree," saying he had a rough build and a narrow face. His honesty made him an easy target for bullying. Wu Da had no means of making a living, carrying a pole and selling pancakes every day. Later, after his wife passed away, he was left with a twelve-year-old daughter named Ying'er, and the two depended on each other for everything. Six months later, he lost all his savings and moved to rent a place right at Zhang Yuanwai's doorstep. The servants at Zhang Yuanwai's home, noticing his honest and simple nature, often looked out for him and helped him with his pancake sales. Wu Da would often just sit in the shop, being especially kind to the servants, so everyone liked him. They even praised him in front of Yuanwai, who didn't even bother to ask him for rent.
Zhang Yuanwai was a wealthy man, owning over a hundred houses, and now in his sixties, he had no children around him. His housekeeper, Mama Yu, was quite strict, and there were no pretty maids in the household. Yuanwai often sighed and said, "At my age, without children, what good is my money?" The housekeeper suggested, "Then you can ask a matchmaker to buy you two maids, teach them to sing and play, and serve you." When he heard this, Yuanwai was thrilled and quickly thanked her. After a while, the housekeeper indeed found a matchmaker and bought him two maids, one named Pan Jinlian and the other Bai Yulian. Bai Yulian, eighteen years old and from a family of musicians, was fair and delicate. Pan Jinlian was the sixth daughter of a tailor from the South Gate and had been beautiful since childhood, with her feet bound small, hence the name Jinlian. After her father's death, her mother struggled to support the family, and at the age of nine, she was sold to the Wang family to learn singing, playing, reading, and writing. She was very smart, and by her teens, she could do makeup, play the piano, sing, and was skilled in needlework and writing. At fifteen, after Wang Zhaoxuan died, her mother redeemed her for thirty taels of silver and sold her to Zhang Yuanwai, where she joined Bai Yulian. Yuanwai taught them to sing and play, and since Jinlian was already skilled, she picked it up easily. Jinlian learned the pipa, while Yulian learned the zheng, and the two shared a room. Initially, housekeeper Mama Yu held both of them in high regard and even adorned them with gold and silver jewelry. Later, after Bai Yulian's death, only Jinlian remained, and by the age of eighteen, she had grown even more beautiful. Zhang Yuanwai wanted to take her as a concubine, but because of the housekeeper's strictness, he couldn’t. One day, when the housekeeper was out at a neighbor’s for dinner, Yuanwai secretly summoned Jinlian to his room, and... Indeed:
Don't be surprised to meet late on the terrace; Liu Lang is still the same old Liu Lang.
After the master started an affair with Jinlian, he suddenly developed several kinds of ailments: back pain, tears, deafness, a runny nose, and frequent trips to the bathroom. The steward found out about this and quarreled with the master for several days, even severely beating Jinlian. The master realized he couldn't keep this a secret, so he angrily provided Jinlian with a dowry, wanting to marry her off. The household staff all said that Wu Da was a decent guy, without a wife or children, and still living in his house, which made perfect sense. The master still wanted to see Jinlian, so he didn't ask for any dowry and married Jinlian to Wu Da. After Wu Da married Jinlian, the master often took care of him. When Wu Da didn't have money to buy cakes, the master would secretly give him money. When Wu Da went out to sell cakes, the master would sneak off to see Jinlian. Even if Wu Da occasionally caught them, he didn't dare say anything. This continued for quite a while, until one day, the master fell seriously ill and died. The steward discovered the truth and was furious, so he ordered the servants to drive Jinlian and Wu Da out. Wu Da had to rent two rooms on the west side of Zishi Street and continue selling cakes.
After Jinlian married Wu Da, she found him simple and unattractive, so she disliked him very much. She often quarreled with him and complained about the master: "How can a guy like this even exist! He's always hanging around me, and when I hit him, he still retreats. He only knows how to drink and doesn't care about important matters. I'm really unlucky to have married him! It's just too much to bear!" When she was alone, she would sing "Mountain Goat" to express her dissatisfaction:
In the beginning, the marriage was mismatched, I thought you were a real man. No bragging here, but how can a crow ever compare to a phoenix! I am true gold buried in the earth, he's nothing but a piece of cheap metal, how can he compare to my gold! He is originally a block of stone, how can he even touch my jade-like body! It's like finding a treasure in a pile of dung. But no matter what, I can't find beauty in my heart. Just remember: I'm a gold brick, not some lump of dirt!
Generally speaking, if a woman is somewhat beautiful and clever, it's fine for her to find a good man. However, if she were like Wu Da, even with a good temperament, he can still be a bit annoying. Since ancient times, beautiful women and talented men have always been a perfect match, yet Jin Lian ended up marrying someone like Wu Da.
Every day, Wu Da would carry a load to sell pancakes and return only at night. After Wu Da left each day, Jin Lian would hide behind the curtain, munching on sunflower seeds, deliberately flaunting her small feet to lure in those young rascals. Every day at the door, she would play the huqin, tell riddles, and sing: "How did a good piece of lamb end up in a dog's mouth?" She could come up with all sorts of smooth talk. As a result, Wu Da could no longer stand living on Zishi Street and wanted to move. He discussed it with Jin Lian, who replied, "You fool, renting a cramped, run-down place will only lead to people gossiping behind our backs! Why not spend a little more money to pawn for a nicer house, so we can live more impressively and avoid being bullied?" Wu Da replied, "I don’t have money to pawn for a house!" Jin Lian said, "Pah! Useless thing, you’re a man and can’t even handle this little matter, always making me suffer! If you don’t have money, just use my jewelry; it’s not that hard! We can find a way to make up for it later." After hearing this, Wu Da pulled out over a dozen taels of silver and pawned a two-story building with four rooms and two small courtyards near the county office, which was very clean. After moving to Xijie Street, Wu Da kept selling pancakes and going about his life.
That day, I didn't expect to run into my own brother Wu Da. The two brothers were thrilled to see each other. Wu Da quickly invited Wu Song over, took him upstairs, and called Jin Lian out to meet Wu Song. Wu Da said, "A few days ago, it was your uncle who killed the tiger at Jingyang Ridge, and now he has become a district head; he is my own brother." Jin Lian stepped forward and said, "Hello, Uncle." Wu Song returned the greeting with a deep bow. Jin Lian quickly helped Wu Song to his feet and said, "Uncle, please get up; you don't have to be so formal." Wu Song replied, "Sister-in-law, you don't need to be polite either." After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they finally stood up. Soon after, their youngest daughter, Ying'er, brought in some tea. Wu Song noticed how beautiful Jin Lian was and lowered his head. Soon after, Wu Da came back with wine and snacks to treat Wu Song.
Wu Da went downstairs to buy some wine and snacks, leaving Jin Lian and Wu Song upstairs. Jin Lian looked at Wu Song's tall and mighty figure, handsome looks, and remembered that he had killed a tiger, definitely strong. She thought to herself, "Both brothers were born of the same mother; why did I really get unlucky marrying Wu Da, who is so thin and small and not good-looking? Now Wu Song is so strong; why not have him move in with me? Maybe fate is right here!" She smiled and asked Wu Song, "Uncle, where do you live now? Who cooks for you usually?" Wu Song said, "I just became the head of the village; I have to go to the yamen every day, and it's inconvenient to live elsewhere, so I found a place in front of the county and hired two soldiers to cook for me." Jin Lian said, "Uncle, why don't you live at home? It's better than letting soldiers cook for you in front of the county; it’s not exactly hygienic. Living together, it’ll be convenient if you want to drink some soup. I can cook for you myself, and it’ll be clean and hygienic." Wu Song said, "Thank you, sis." Jin Lian asked again, "Uncle, do you have a wife? Do you want to invite her over for a get-together?" Wu Song said, "I’m not married." Jin Lian asked, "Uncle, how old are you?" Wu Song said, "I’m twenty-eight." Jin Lian said, "So Uncle is three years older than me. Where did Uncle come from this time?" Wu Song said, "I lived in Cangzhou for more than a year, thinking that my brother was still living in the old house, but he got bullied by others, so I moved here. If someone as strong as you, Uncle, who would even dare to bully me!" Wu Song said, "My brother is a good guy, not as tough as I am." Jin Lian smiled and said, "Why do you say that! As the saying goes, without some ability, how can one stand firm? I am straightforward and don’t have much respect for weak men." Wu Song said, "My brother doesn't cause trouble, so you don’t have to worry about it, sis." The two kept chatting away upstairs. Here's a poem to prove it: Uncle and sister-in-law meet by chance, showing off their good looks.
With selfish intentions, she wanted to set up a joyful gathering, secretly trying to seduce Wusong with sly words. While Jinlian was chatting with Wusong, Wudai returned from the market with groceries. He placed the groceries in the kitchen, headed upstairs, and called out, "Sister-in-law, come down for a moment." Jinlian said, "Look at you, so inconsiderate! Uncle is here with no one to accompany him, yet you want me to come down." Wusong said, "Sister-in-law, do as you please." Jinlian suggested, "Why not invite Wang Po from next door to help us out? It's so deserted here." Wudai went to invite Wang Po from next door to help. Wang Po set the table and brought everything upstairs—fish, meat, fruits, and snacks. Then they poured some wine. Wudai asked Jinlian to sit in the main seat, Wusong opposite, and Wudai on the side. The three of them sat down to drink, with Wudai pouring wine for everyone. Jinlian lifted her glass and said, "Uncle, please forgive our humble hospitality and enjoy a drink." Wusong said, "Thank you, sister-in-law, no need to say that." Wudai kept pouring wine, and Jinlian smiled and said, "Uncle, why not have some meat and fruit?" She even handed the best dishes to Wusong. Wusong, being an upright man, regarded Jinlian as nothing more than his sister-in-law. What he didn’t realize was that Jinlian was a servant girl who knew how to charm people. Jinlian kept him company for a few drinks, her gaze fixed on him the entire time. Wusong felt uncomfortable and had to lower his head. After a while, they finished the wine, and Wusong got up to leave. Wudai said, "Second brother, it's all good, have a few more drinks." Wusong said, "No, I'll swing by to visit you and sister-in-law another time." The two of them escorted Wusong downstairs. As they left, Jinlian said, "Uncle, you must move in with us, or else people will make fun of us. Family is more important than anyone else, so it's good for us to stand up for ourselves." Wusong said, "Since you’ve invited me so warmly, I’ll move in tonight." Jinlian said, "I’ll be waiting for you right here!"
