Mrs. Feng walked to the front hall entrance and saw Dai An serving tea in the hall. Dai An nodded to Mrs. Feng and said, "Please go ahead, my father and Second Master Ying will be here once they finish their conversation. The boy has already brought the wine." Upon hearing this, Mrs. Feng hurriedly left.
It turned out that Earl Ying was speaking with Ximen Qiang, saying, "The thirty thousand taels of wax money owed by Li Zhi and Huang Si that year have arrived, totaling one thousand two hundred taels, along with substantial interest. The permit has been issued, so the silver can be collected at Dongping Mansion. Do you want to do this business?" Ximen Qiang said, "I'm not going to do it! They are trying to pass off inferior goods as good ones, buying and selling official positions. I am busy with my yamen; I don't have time to deal with them. Why should I help them?" Earl Ying said, "Brother, if you don't have time, let them find someone else. All you need to do is lend them two thousand taels at a five percent monthly interest. Let them take the silver and return it to you; what do you think?" Ximen Qiang said, "Since you brought it up, I will lend them one thousand two hundred taels. I've only collected ten percent of the harvest from my farm; I haven't received the money yet!" Earl Ying, seeing Ximen Qiang hesitating, said, "Brother, if you really don't have the money, then allocate an additional five hundred taels in goods, totaling one thousand five hundred taels for them; they dare not shortchange you." Ximen Qiang said, "If they shortchange me, I have a way to deal with them. Also, Brother Ying, you can give him the silver, but he cannot use my name to deceive people outside. I’ve heard that even our yamen’s jail might not be able to contain him." Earl Ying said, "Brother, you have a duty as the custodian. If he uses your name out there and something goes wrong, what am I supposed to do? Brother, rest assured, if anything goes wrong, I’ll let you know. It's settled; I will have him prepare the documents tomorrow." Ximen Qiang said, "Don't let him come tomorrow; I have other matters to attend to. Have him come the day after tomorrow." Earl Ying then left.
Xi Menqing asked Dai An to prepare the horses and put on the blinkers, then inquired if the young chess player had arrived. Dai An replied, "He’s gone to get the whip." After a while, the whip was brought over, and Xi Menqing mounted the horse and went straight to Niupi Alley. Unexpectedly, Han Daoguo's younger brother, Han Er, lost all his money gambling and, starving, ran to his sister-in-law's house to ask Wang Liu'er for some wine. He pulled a piece of small intestine from his sleeve and said, "Sister-in-law, my brother hasn’t returned yet, let’s share a pot of liquor." Wang Liu'er, fearing Xi Menqing would come back and seeing Old Feng in the kitchen, didn’t want to pay him any mind. "I won’t drink. If you want to drink, go ahead by yourself; I have no time for you. Your brother isn’t home, so don’t meddle!" Han Er stared intently, unwilling to leave. He saw a jar of white clay wine under the table, labeled with red paper, and asked, "Sister-in-law, what kind of wine is this? Let’s open it and have a drink. Hey, you enjoy it by yourself!" Wang Liu'er said, "You better not touch it, this was sent by the master. Your brother isn’t back yet. Wait until he returns, and I’ll pour you a cup." Han Er replied, "Wait for what brother? Even if this is the emperor's wine, I want to have a drink!" Just as he was about to move the wine jar, Wang Liu'er shoved him away and snatched the jar into the house. Han Er was pushed onto his back and took a long time to get up, feeling both shame and anger, muttering curses, "Damn whore, I brought you food out of kindness, seeing you all by yourself, wanting to share a drink with you. You ignore me and push me down. I told you not to be so proud; you’ve hooked up with a rich man and ignore me, trying to drive me away and humiliate me on purpose. Don’t let me catch you again, I’ll make you, you worthless whore, bleed on the spot!" Wang Liu'er, seeing his harsh insults, felt her face flush with anger, her cheeks instantly turning red. She grabbed a stick and chased him out, scolding, "You starving beggar! You’re drunk, coming to my house to make a scene! I won’t let you get away with this!" Han Er continued to curse the whore all the way outside. Unexpectedly, Xi Menqing was riding over and saw him, asking who it was. Wang Liu'er replied, "Who else could it be? It’s that brat Han Er. Seeing his brother isn’t home, he lost all his money gambling and came to drink and hit me. When his brother is home, he often gets beaten by him." Upon seeing Xi Menqing, Han Er took off running. Xi Menqing said, "That bastard, tomorrow I’ll go to the yamen and give him a lesson!" Wang Liu'er said, "You’ve made the master angry again." Xi Menqing replied, "You don’t understand, don’t spoil him." Wang Liu'er said, "The master is right. Goodness has always been taken advantage of, and kindness brings disaster." She then invited Xi Menqing to come inside.
After Ximen Qing sat down, Wang Liuer quickly went into the house and called the maid Jin'er to bring a cup of nut tea for Ximen Qing to drink, and asked him to kowtow. Ximen Qing said, "Alright, good girl, you can serve me like this." He then said, "Where is Aunt Feng? Why didn't she pour you some tea?" Wang Liuer said, "Aunt Feng is in the kitchen helping out." Ximen Qing continued, "I had someone bring over the wine, Zhu Ye Qing, a gift from a court official, which has a lot of medicinal herbs and is quite strong. I saw the wine you had here a few days ago was not very good, so I brought this jar of wine." Wang Liuer thanked him again, saying, "Thank you for the wine. That's right, we're not doing well, living in this remote alley without a good tavern; where can we find good wine? We can only buy it on the main street." Ximen Qing said, "When Han Er comes back, discuss with him; I will give you some silver to buy a house in Shizi Street, so you and your husband can move there. The shops are nearby, and it will be very convenient for buying things." Wang Liuer said, "You are right. It’s sad for you to be stuck here. It will be easier for you to move around, with less gossip—we have nothing to feel guilty about, so we’re not afraid of them. He can do whatever he wants, whether he’s home or not; he will still walk this path." With that, the table was set in the room, inviting Ximen Qing to come in and sit down.
After a while, the dishes and drinks were laid out, and the woman accompanied Ximen Qing to drink. Before long, the two were sitting side by side, having a great time. As they drank more, they took off their clothes and got on the bed to have fun, enjoying themselves. The woman had already made the bed all cozy, and there was a fragrance in the quilt. Ximen Qing was captivated by the woman's allure and wanted to take her. He took out a brocade pouch from his pocket and opened it to reveal a variety of intimate items inside. The woman lay on the pillow with her legs raised high... Ximen Qing's mind raced with desire, and they... Ximen Qing called the woman by her nickname: "Wang Luer, my darling, you have no idea how much I've been longing for you. It's great to meet you today! Let's never be apart in life and death!" The woman said, "Dada (Ximen Qing's nickname), what if you get tired of me and decide to leave?" Ximen Qing said, "After being together for a long time, you will find out that I am not that kind of person." After their passionate encounter, they realized it was mealtime. Ximen Qing encouraged the woman to let out her pleasure... It was truly an unforgettable experience. As the saying goes: "The pleasure is exquisite, the joy of the private garden." There is also a poem as proof: "Beautiful couple, loving to play in the backyard. Usually just walk in front of the door, but the vanguard blocks the way. It's hard to resist in the house. Turning the silk reins to turn the horse back, affectionately playing with me, causing the slave's powdered face to blush." Ximen Qing and the woman cuddled and held each other until the early hours, when the servant came to fetch him, and he finally went home. The next day, he sent two people to the yamen to arrest the troublemakers and claimed they were thieves. Without a second thought, they were beaten until their legs were bloody. They lay on the bed for a month, almost losing their lives. From that point on, they never dared to approach that woman again. This confirms the saying: "He who is petty is no gentleman; a man without vice is no true husband."
After a few days, Lai Bao and Han Daoguo returned from the capital and told Ximen Qing about what had happened: "The steward Zhai really liked Han Daoguo's daughter and said, 'Father, you've worked hard.' He invited us to stay at his mansion for two days and also sent a reply. He gave you a green horse, gave fifty taels of silver to Han's daughter as a wedding gift, and gave us twenty taels of silver for our travel expenses." Ximen Qing said, "That's more than enough." After reading the reply, he saw that the letter mainly expressed gratitude. From then on, the two families became in-laws, and their relationship naturally became very close. Han Daoguo and Ximen Qing bowed in thanks before returning home. Ximen Qing said, "Han, please take back the wedding gift for your daughter. This is also a reflection of your care for your daughter." Han Daoguo repeatedly declined, saying, "I am truly grateful for your immense kindness. The money was already there before. How can I accept it again? I’ve already troubled you enough, and I feel so embarrassed!" Ximen Qing said, "If you don’t take it, I’ll be really upset. Take it back, don’t spend it just yet; I have other plans." Han Daoguo thanked him over and over, said his goodbyes, and left.
His wife was very happy to see her husband return home. She took the luggage and brushed the dust off him while asking how the journey was: "How is the child doing there?" Han Daoguo detailed what happened on the road and said: "It's a good family. The child is staying in a three-room house there, with two maids serving, and as for clothes and jewelry, they are plentiful. The next day, I took her to meet the lady. Manager Zhai was very happy and let us stay for two days. The feast was so lavish that we couldn't finish it all. He also gave a gift of fifty taels of silver. I declined repeatedly, but the big man wouldn't take no for an answer and even asked me to bring the money back." Then he gave the silver to his wife. His wife finally breathed a sigh of relief and then said to Han Daoguo: "Tomorrow, we need to give Lao Feng a tael of silver as a thank-you. He often came to keep me company while you were away. We also have to give him a tael at the big man's place." Just as she was saying this, a maid came to serve tea. Han Daoguo asked, "Where did this girl come from?" His wife said, "This is the maid we just bought, named Jin'er. Come give your father a bow!" After bowing, the maid returned to the kitchen.
His wife recounted the story of Ximen Qing in great detail, "Since you left, he has come over three or four times, bringing along one or two taels of silver each time. Once, I’m not sure what happened, he showed up in a foul mood and angrily went to relieve himself. He got caught and was taken to the yamen, where they gave him a good beating, and he hasn’t dared to come back since. The big guy thought it was a hassle and promised to help us buy a house on the main street so we could move in." Han Daoguo said, "No wonder he didn’t want to accept this silver at first and told me to take it back and not spend it; it turns out it’s for this reason." His wife replied, "Well, with fifty taels of silver, he will definitely add a few more taels for us tomorrow to buy a good house. I've given myself to him, so he ought to take care of me." Han Daoguo said, "I’ll go to the shop tomorrow. If he comes, just say you don’t know; don’t brush him off, and go along with whatever he says. It’s tough making money these days, so we can’t let this mess things up!" His wife laughed and said, "Even thieves are scared of people! You’ll enjoy your luck; you have no idea how much I’ve been through!" The couple laughed for a while, sent him off to grab dinner, and then they rested. The next morning, Han Daoguo went home to get the key, opened the shop, and gave Old Feng one tael of silver as a token of thanks. No need to go into the other details.
One day, Ximen Qing and Xia Tixing returned from the yamen. Xia Tixing saw Ximen Qing riding a tall stallion and asked, “Why aren’t you riding that white horse? Why did you switch to this one? This horse is really nice; I wonder what its temperament is like?” Ximen Qing replied, “That horse is resting at home for a couple of days. This horse was given to me yesterday by my in-law, Zhai Yunfeng, who is from Dongjing, and it was sent by General Liu from Xixia. It’s only four years old and can run fast or slow. It does have a bit of a problem, though; it tends to stumble. It lost some weight during the bumpy ride initially, but it has been eating better lately.” Xia Tixing said, “This horse runs quite well, but it’s only suitable for running on the streets; don’t take it too far. Here, it’s worth about seventy or eighty taels of silver. The horse my student rides went lame again yesterday. This morning, I had to borrow this horse temporarily to come to the yamen, which is a bit of a hassle.” Ximen Qing said, “No problem! If you need a horse, I have a yellow one at home that I can give you.” Xia Tixing quickly replied, “I really appreciate your generosity.” Ximen Qing said, “You’re welcome. I’ll send someone to drop it off once I get home.” The two walked to the west street corner, and Ximen Qing went home. After getting home, he had Dai An send the horse over. Xia Tixing was very happy and rewarded Dai An with one tael of silver, also giving him a thank-you note, saying, “I’ll swing by the yamen tomorrow to say thanks.”
Two days later, in mid-October, Xia Tixing brewed chrysanthemum wine in his home and invited two young girls to help invite Ximen Qing over for a few drinks to thank him for sending the horse. After finishing lunch and taking care of some matters, Ximen Qing went to Xia Tixing's house. Xia Tixing prepared a lavish banquet specifically for Ximen Qing. When he saw Ximen Qing arrive, he was particularly pleased, hurried down the stairs to greet him, and led him into the hall to pay his respects. Ximen Qing said, "Why go to such trouble?" Xia Tixing replied, "This year we brewed some chrysanthemum wine at home, and since we have nothing to do, I invited you to have a few drinks, not wanting to invite anyone else." After some pleasantries, they took off their outer garments and sat down as host and guest. After drinking tea, they played chess, then they started the feast with wine and lively conversation, while the two young girls sang and played nearby. Indeed: A golden goblet filled with fragrant wine, urging the zither to sing of the partridge.
Let’s set aside the matter of Ximen Qing drinking at Xia Tixing's house and talk about Pan Jinlian. She felt very uncomfortable as Ximen Qing hadn’t returned to their shared room for several days, and she had been sleeping alone on the cold bed. That day, she opened the corner door, lit a bright silver lamp inside, leaned against the bed's curtain, and played the pipa. Late into the night, she had sent Chunmei several times to check, but there was no response. As the saying goes: "The silver zither plays tirelessly through the long night; in the lonely empty room, it is hard to bear to play." She picked up the pipa, placed it on her lap, and gently played a piece of "Erfan Jiang'er Shui," singing: Bored, I lean against the curtain, struggling to fall asleep.
Suddenly, she heard a clattering sound from the eaves, thinking it was Ximen Qing coming back, she hurriedly asked Chunmei to check. Chunmei came back and said, "Madam, it’s not him; it’s just the wind outside, and it’s snowing." Pan Jinlian then sang again: Listening to the wind's clear sound as snow falls against the window, watching the ice flowers drift. After a while, the lamp oil was nearly burned out, and the incense was almost gone. She remembered to refill the oil and relight the incense, but since Ximen Qing still hadn’t arrived, she felt too lazy to move. She sang:
Too lazy to pick up the precious lamp, too reluctant to light the incense. Enduring through tonight, dreading tomorrow morning. Thinking carefully, when will this trouble be resolved? Remembering, tonight my heart is anxious, wasting my youthful years! The one you cast aside is now somewhat elevated but not entirely out of reach.
Speaking of Ximen Qing, around the middle of the night, he returned from Xia Tingxing's house after drinking. The weather was gloomy on the way, with rain and snow falling, melting on his clothes. He rode home with a servant carrying a lantern, heading straight for Li Ping'er's room. Li Ping'er greeted him, helping him brush off the snow on his body and taking his clothes. Ximen Qing was dressed in just a satin coat, sitting on the bed, asking, "Is the little official asleep yet?" Li Ping'er said, "The little official was tired from playing and just fell asleep." Yingchun brought tea, which Ximen Qing drank. Li Ping'er asked, "You came back quite early tonight?" Ximen Qing said, "Xia Longxi invited me over for a feast since I gave him that horse a few days ago. He even called two little maids. After sitting with him for a while, when it started snowing, I came back early." Li Ping'er said, "You drank, let the maids pour some wine for you to drink. Be careful not to catch a cold on such a snowy day." Ximen Qing said, "There's still grape wine; pour some for me. They drink chrysanthemum wine at his house; I find it a bit too fragrant; I'm not really a fan." So Yingchun set down a table, with several plates of leftovers alongside exquisite fruits and vegetables. Li Ping'er moved a small stool to sit beside him, with a small brazier under the table.
As the two enjoyed their drinks, Pan Jinlian sat alone in her room, holding a pipa on the bed, the lamp on the table casting a dim, unclear light. She wanted to sleep but feared Ximen Qing might return unexpectedly; yet, not wanting to sleep, she felt both tired and cold. She had to let her hair down and loosely tie it up, pull down half of the bed curtain, wrap herself in a blanket and sit, perfectly illustrating the saying:
Weary, leaning on the embroidered bed, too lazy and sorrowful to sleep; the embroidered quilt hangs low, the brocade canopy hangs empty. If I had known that love is so fickle and easily cast aside, I wouldn't have betrayed my heart.
She sang again:
Regretting the fickleness of love, I wallow in idle sorrow.
Then she called Chunmei over: "Go outside and see if your father has come back yet? Come tell me quickly." Chunmei went out, and after a while came back, saying: "Mother, father hasn't come back yet. When he comes back, he probably won't even bother to see you; he's drinking in Madame Liu's room right now!" When Pan Jinlian heard this, it felt as if several knives were stabbing her heart. She cursed the unfaithful man, unable to contain her tears. She placed the pipa heavily to the side and sang again:
My heart itches with pain, my mind is troubled and anxious. I let go of sweet peaches in search of sour dates. I mistook you for my true love. Looking back, my heart aches, wasting my youth! The one you left me for—are they of higher status, not lower?
Ximen Qing was drinking when he suddenly heard the sound of a pipa. He asked, "Who is playing the pipa?" Yingchun replied, "It's Wu Niang playing the pipa over there." Li Ping'er said, "So Wu Niang is still awake. Xiu Chun, go quickly and invite Wu Niang to come drink with us. Tell her it's my invitation." Xiu Chun left. Li Ping'er quickly instructed Yingchun, "Set up a seat and put out a pair of chopsticks." After a while, Xiu Chun returned and said, "Wu Niang has finished washing up and won't come." Li Ping'er said, "Yingchun, go invite Wu Niang again. Tell her that both your father and I are inviting her." After a while, Yingchun came back and said, "Wu Niang has closed the side door and said she's going to bed." Ximen Qing said, "Don't believe that little vixen; I'll go with you to bring her over. We must bring her over and play chess with her." So he and Li Ping'er went to Pan Jinlian's room. After knocking for a while, Chunmei finally opened the side door. Ximen Qing pulled Li Ping'er into Pan Jinlian's room and saw Pan Jinlian sitting on the bed with the pipa beside her. Ximen Qing said, "You little vixen, why didn't you come after being invited so many times!" Jinlian sat on the bed, unmoving, with a dark expression on her face. After a while, she said, "That unfortunate person has been left to fend for herself in this cold room; why bother me? Don't waste your efforts, save it for elsewhere." Ximen Qing said, "You girl! An old lady of eighty without teeth—what's there to talk about? Sister Li has invited you to play chess with her; she's been waiting for you." Li Ping'er said, "Sister, yes. I've set up the chess pieces over there; let's play a game and have some wine." Jinlian said, "Li sister, you go ahead; I'm not going. You don't know how uncomfortable I feel; I'm not as free and easy as you are. I haven't been able to eat for days; who understands my pain? I'm worried every day!" Ximen Qing said, "You girl, why aren't you feeling well? If you're feeling unwell, let me know sooner so I can get a doctor for you." Jinlian said, "If you don't believe me, let Chunmei bring me my mirror so I can see. I've lost so much weight these past few days!" Chunmei handed the mirror to Pan Jinlian, who then looked at her reflection in the light.
This really fits with that saying:
Shamed by the reflection in the water, wiping off the powder makeup to make her man look thinner. Shutting out the leisurely wind and moon behind closed doors, letting the plum blossom show off on its own.
Ximen Qing looked at himself in the mirror and asked, "Why haven't I lost weight?" Pan Jinlian said, "What are you comparing yourself with? You drink and eat meat every day, you're as round as a barrel, just picking on others!" Ximen Qing didn't say a word, sat down beside her on the bed, hugged her neck and kissed her, then reached into her pajamas. Noticing she was still fully dressed, he put his hands around her waist, saying, "My darling, you've lost some weight." Jinlian said, "You're so annoying, your hands are so cold, freezing me! Am I not good enough for you? Who knows my grievances? My tears are swallowed in silence." After a round of passion, Ximen Qing took her to Li Ping'er's room, played a game of chess, and drank a bit of wine. When he was leaving, Li Ping'er saw Ximen Qing looking tired, so she asked him to stay and rest. This echoed the lines of a poem: A thin waist reveals worries, tears only for deep affections.
Ximen Qing took a nap in Li Ping'er's room, waking up feeling refreshed. Li Ping'er tenderly served him, asking about his well-being, making him feel utterly at ease. Ximen Qing felt a swell of pride, thinking this was the true life. He enjoyed the happiness of being surrounded by women, as well as the satisfaction brought by power. However, what he didn't realize was that this apparent happiness was slowly leading him into the abyss. He was indulging in wine and women, neglecting the feelings of those around him, as well as the potential dangers. Beneath his seemingly strong exterior, he harbored a profound emptiness and anxiety. These seemingly carefree days were fraught with hidden dangers, like the calm before a storm. He didn't know that Pan Jinlian's tears were just a microcosm of his reckless life, foreshadowing the brewing storm ahead.
