Jinpingmei

Chapter 64
The poem said: Jade perishes in contemplation quietly, weeping in the light and pitying each other in the dark.Often picture nymphs and butterflies downstairs, remember the effect of mandarin ducks and emeralds in front of the curtain.

Only the dream soul can make rain, and there is no mind to learn is not smoke.The bright teeth of Zhu Yan return to the loess, and the pulse is empty to find the fate of rebirth.

It is said that the crowd dispersed, and it was already time for the rooster to sing, so Ximen Qing went to rest.Dai'an took a big jug of wine and a few plates of food, and had to eat with Fu's buddy and Chen Jingji in the shop.Buddy Fu, the old man, couldn't sit still when we got here, so he laid down the bed and fell on the kang, saying to Dai'an, "you can eat in peace, brother-in-law Chen won't even think about coming."

Dai'an called in Ping'an, and the two ate the wine for one minute and one for the other.After receiving the guy, Ping An went to sleep in the porter's room.Dai'an closed the door of the shop, Shang Kang and Buddy Fu fell asleep on their feet.Buddy Fu said to Dai'an because of gossip: "Your Liu Niang is gone, and it will be enough for him to wait for the coffin to read scriptures."

Dai'an said: "His fortune is good, but he doesn't live long. My father spared the money, but he can't use my father's money. My Liu Niang married my father, but I can't hide it from you, old man. How many leaders he brought! Others don't know I know, I know. Don’t talk about silver, but there are only gold beads, jade belts, sash rings, buns, and precious gems. I don’t know how many there are. Why does my father feel hurt? It’s not about people, but about money. If you talk about Liu Niang's personality is not as good as hers in the whole family. She is humble and kind. She just smiles when she sees people. She never drinks every time I drink, and never misses every word of "slave" at me. It makes me buy it every time. I only pick up pieces of things. Every time I say: "Mother, you can weigh it." He laughed and said: "Take it, what do you call it. What do you want if you don't want it? Just buy it for me." That's it." This family, who doesn't lend him money? Only borrow it, and no one returns it. It doesn't matter if you pay it back or not. It's okay for my aunt and my third mother to make money. It's just Wu Niang and Er Niang who are stingy It’s tight. He is in charge of the house, and I suffer from plague every time. Huisheng buys things, and I don’t count as much with you. If you are tied to a ghost, a penny is only nine and a half cents, and it’s only nine cents. come out!"

Buddy Fu said, "Your aunt is better."

Dai'an said: "Although my aunt is good, Mao Sihuo is good at home. Every time my mother kisses and talks, you just don't annoy him. No matter who, he will scold you a few words. Boss It's not as good as Liu Niang, who has no complaints from all people, and often speaks for my convenience in front of my father. Whenever I ask about the big things in the sky, I ask him to tell my father every time, and there is no objection. It's just Wu Niang, she said in action: "Look if I'll tell daddy or not!" He just mentioned it in his mouth. Now sister Chunmei is an aura star again. ──Everyone is born in his room."

Buddy Fu said, "Your Wu Niang has been here for several years."

Dai'an said: "Your old man knows it, and he remembers the time when we came. He didn't recognize a single mother. Once he came, he would cry and go home. Now that Liu Niang is dead, this Ahead is his world again, tomorrow the manager will clean the garden, if it’s not clean, he’ll even spray his head with the dog’s blood he scolded him for!”

The two talked for a while, and the buddy Fu fell asleep on the pillow.Dai'an also had wine, closed his eyes, and didn't know the heights of the sky and the earth. He didn't get up until the red sun was three poles.

It turns out that Ximenqing often sleeps in front of the coffin, and in the morning Yuxiao comes out to fold the bed, and Ximenqing combs his hair at the back.The book boy had his head disheveled, and Yao Shi and him were in the front barging their teeth and teasing each other, and it took half a day to go in the back.I didn't want Ximen Qing to go back to the room to rest that day, Yu Xiao chased people away and didn't get up, so she came out secretly, made an appointment with the book boy, and went to work in the garden study.Unexpectedly, Pan Jinlian got up early and went to the hall suddenly, only to see that the lamp in front of the coffin was gone, and the tables and chairs in the shed were scattered all over the place. There was no one there, only Hua Tonger was there sweeping the floor.Jin Lian said: "The root of the thief prisoner, you are the only one who is clean, where have they all gone?"

Hua Tong said: "He hasn't woken up every day."

Jin Lian said: "Let's put down the broom and go to the front and tell your brother-in-law, if you have white silk, bring one. Your grandma Pan still lacks a filial skirt, and bring him a pair of beards tied around her waist. He is home today. go."

Hua Tong said: "I'm afraid my brother-in-law is still asleep, wait until I ask him."

After a long time, he came back and said: "Brother-in-law said it wasn't his head and tail, Brother Shutong and Brother Cui Ben were in charge of the filial account. Mother asked Brother Shutong what he wanted."

Jin Lian said: "You know where that servant has gone, you go and find him."

The painting boy looked into the wing room and said, "I just came here, I dared to comb my hair in the garden study."

Jin Lian said: "You sweep the floor yourself, and wait until I ask the prisoner where to go."

Because he walked into the garden study, he suddenly heard someone laughing inside.Pushing open the door, I saw Shutong and Yuxiao doing well on the bed.Then he scolded: "Good prisoner, you two have done a good job!"

The two were so frightened that they couldn't do their hands and feet, and they knelt down on the ground and begged.Jin Lian said: "The thief imprisoned Genzi, take a piece of filial silk and a piece of cloth, and send you to Grandma Pan's house."

The book boy quickly brought it and handed it over.Jinlian came back to her room.

That Yuxiao followed into the room, knelt on the ground and said, "Wu Niang, don't tell Dad."

Jin Lian then asked: "Thief dog meat, tell me the truth, how many times have you stolen it in the past? Don't hide a word from me, just let it go."

Then Yuxiao explained the reason for stealing from him.Jin Lian said: "Since you want me to forgive you, you have to obey me in three things."

Yuxiao said: "Mother spared me, and I will agree to my mother if I ask you a few things."

Jin Lian said: "The first thing is that in your mother's room, if you have any big or small things, you can come and tell me. If you don't tell me, I will find out, and I will not forgive you. The second thing is that if I ask you what you want, you will not let me go." Bring it out to me. The third thing, your mother has never been pregnant, how could he have it now?"

Yu Xiao said: "I'll tell Wu Niang that my mother is like this. After eating Aunt Xue's clothes talisman medicine, she will have it."

Pan Jinlian kept everything in mind, so she didn't tell Ximen Qing.

The book boy saw that Pan Jinlian sneered and led Yuxiao into the room, so he knew that there was some disharmony in this matter.He packed up a lot of handkerchiefs, sweat towels, tooth-picking hairpins and buttons in the kitchen cabinet of the study room, and he also had a dozen or so taels of silver in his own pocket. Out of the city, I hired Changxing Toukou, went to the pier, took a boat in the village, and went to my hometown in Suzhou.It's exactly: smash the jade cage and fly the colorful phoenix, open the golden lock and walk away the dragon.

That day, sister Li Gui, Wu Yin'er, and Zheng Aiyue were all going home.In the morning, Xue Neixiang and Liu Neixiang sent people to carry three animal tabletops to sacrifice the burnt paper.Each of them gave one or two taels of silver to stay with them, and called two singers to come and sit with Ximen Qing during the day.I am waiting to send the filial silk, and the boy who is looking for the book wants the key, but I can't find it in the whole place.Buddy Fu said: "He asked me in the morning to ask for 20 taels of silver from the cabinet to buy filial silk. He said that father told him that there was not enough filial silk. How dare he buy it outside the door?"

Ximen Qing said: "I didn't tell him, how can I ask you for money?"

On the one hand, let people look for it in the silk shop outside the door, where can it be found!Yue Niang said to Ximen Qing: "I guess this slave is a bit strange. I don't know what to do, and I stole a few taels of silver and left. You still have a look in your study, I'm afraid you will take something else."

Ximen Qing went to the two study rooms and looked at them. He saw the keys hanging on the wall in the warehouse, and many sweat towels and handkerchiefs were missing from the big cupboard. The steward came to the place and ordered: "I will visit and arrest you in three streets and two alleys everywhere."

Come there!It's exactly: not only worrying about returning home, but also the smoke and water of the five lakes are vast.

On that day, Neixiang Xue came here in a sedan chair since noon.Ximenqing invites Uncle Wu, Earl Ying, and Wen Xiucai to accompany him.First went to the spirit to offer incense, made an inquiry, and then celebrated with Ximen, saying: "It hurts, it hurts! What's wrong with Mrs. Ru's son died?"

Ximen Qing said: "Unfortunately, I died of collapse. Thank you, my husband, for your concern."

Xue Neixiang said: "It's not too long, I'll just express my opinion."

Seeing the hanging shadow, he said: "What a beautiful lady! It's just that you are young and enjoying happiness, but you died too early."

Wen Xiucai said from the side: "The lack of uniformity of things is also the emotion of things. There is a definite number for the poor to live forever. Even a saint can't be strong."

Xue Neixiang turned around and saw Wen Xiucai wearing a scarf, because he said, "Which school does this old gentleman come from?"

Wen Xiucai bowed and said: "Students are not talented, and they are well-known."

Xue Neixiang said: "Let me take a look at the coffin of the lady."

Ximen Qing ordered the left and right sides to lift up the curtains on both sides, and Xue Neixiang went in to look at it, and praised him very much: "What a board! How much did you buy it for?"

Ximen Qing said: "It's also a pair of relatives, the student returned to him."

Earl Ying said: "My old man, please give it a try. It's authentic. What's the name?"

Xue Neixiang looked at it carefully and said, "This board is either Jianchang or Deputy Zhenyuan."

The count said: "Even Zhenyuan is not worth much."

Xue Neixiang said: "The highest one must be Yang Xuanyu."

The earl said: "Yang Xuanyu is thin and short, how can you see it! This board is still on Yang Xuanyu. It is called the Peach Blossom Cave, and it is located in Wuling River, Huguang. In the past, Tang Yufu entered this cave and saw Maou in Qin Dynasty hiding here. Bing is a place rarely visited by people. This board is more than seven feet long, four inches thick, and two feet and five widths. It also depends on half of the in-laws, and it also costs 370 taels of silver. Father-in-law, you have never seen it, untie the incense Fragrant, with flowers and colors inside and out."

Xue Neixiang said: "It's the lady who waited for the great blessing to enjoy this board. I'm in the house of an official, and when I die tomorrow, I haven't waited to send it yet."

Uncle Wu said: "My husband is easy to say, those who have a share in the imperial court enjoy great honors, how can we foreign officials catch up with him. My husband is approaching Qingguang, and he will pass on Jinkou on behalf of Wansui. All the descendants will wear python waist jade, so why not!"

Xue Neixiang said conveniently: "This talking brother, may I ask for your last name?"

Ximen Qingdao: "This is Brother Wu, brother-in-law, and he sees the position of a thousand households in this guard."

Xue Neixiang said: "Is this the lady Ling?"

Ximen Qing said: "No. It's the brother of Jianjing."

Xue Neixiang replied to Uncle Wu and said, "Lord Wu, you've lost sight of me!"

After looking at it for a while, Ximen Qing moved into the rolling shed, and placed a high chair in front of it. Xue Neixiang sat down, and the tea maker brought tea to eat.Xue Neixiang said: "Eunuch Liu, why don't we come here? Ask me to meet you as promised."

The man in Tsing Yi knelt down and said: "The young one invited Mr. Liu to come. Mr. Liu's sedan chair has already been served, so come here."

Xue Neixiang asked again: "Have those two singers come here?"

Ximen Qing said: "Come here in the morning. ──Call up!"

After a while, he came to kowtow in front of him.Xue Neixiang said: "Have you ever eaten?"

The man said: "The little one has eaten every now and then."

Xue Neixiang said: "Since we have eaten, if you agree with your heart every day, I will reward you very much."

Ximen Qing said: "Old man, the students are preparing an opera here, sing and listen to my husband."

Xue Neixiang asked, "Where is the actor?"

Ximen Qing said, "It's a group of Haiyan actors."

Xue Neixiang said: "That barbaric voice haha, who knows what he is singing! Every time the sour boy suffers for three years under the cold window, travels for nine years, and comes to Beijing to apply for the exam with a piano, sword and bookcase on his back. I don’t have a wife and children by my side, so I don’t like him. You and I are naked and old, what do you want him to do?”

Wen Xiucai laughed beside him and said, "My old man's words are too unreasonable. If you live in the same place, you will speak in unison, and if you live in Chu, you will speak in unison. If you live in a tall and spacious mansion, your old man will not be moved by his heart?"

Neixiang Xue clapped his hands and smiled and said, "I forgot that Wen Xian'er is here. Every time you are a foreign official, you only protect foreign officials."

Wen Xiucai said: "Although it is a scholar-bureaucrat, it is only a scholar's work. The old man cuts down a branch and damages the forest, the rabbit dies and the fox is sad, and the things hurt the same kind."

Xue Neixiang said: "No way. In one place, there are virtuous and foolish people."

Just as he was talking, he suddenly reported from left and right: "Eunuch Liu got off the sedan chair."

Uncle Wu waited to go out to welcome them in, and bowed to Lingqian.After the ceremony was over, Xue Neixiang said: "Eunuch Liu, why are you here?"

Liu Neixiang said: "Tong Xu's family from the north came to visit, sat with him for a while, and sent him away."

Sit down at the same table and pass tea to the left and right.Because of the question, he agreed: "Has the memorial table been set?"

The person below said: "It's all ready."

Liu Neixiang said: "Let's burn the paper every time we go."

Ximen Qing said: "Old man, you don't need to be too polite, you've already seen it in your head."

Liu Neixiang said: "Why do you come here? It's still a personal sacrifice."

Immediately, the left and right held the incense, and the two inner faces were incensed, handed three cups of wine, and bowed down.Ximen Qing said: "My old man, please get up."

So he got up after two prostrations, Ximenqing returned the salute, and went back to sit down in the roll shed.Then clean up the seats, pass the wine and sit on the table.The two in-laws sat on the left and right, Uncle Wu, Wen Xiucai, Earl Ying followed, and Ximen Qing accompanied them.The younger brother's drum beats, and he handed over the closed eye post.The two inner ministers looked at it for a while, picked a piece of "The Story of the White Rabbit by Liu Zhiyuan" and sang it a few times. Impatiently, they called the two singers to go, played the fishing drums, faced up side by side, and sang loudly Sang a set of "Han Wen Gong Snow Embraces Blue Pass" story and went on.

Xue Neixiang talked to Liu Neixiang, and said, "Brother Liu, you don't know that yesterday, on the tenth day of the eighth month, it rained heavily, and the thunder and lightning smashed the fur of the fur on the inner Ningshen Temple, scaring you to death." There were many palace people. The imperial court was terrified, and ordered all the officials to repair provinces, and to proclaim the "Spirit Book" in the Shangqing Palace every day to build a sacrifice. The slaughter was banned for ten days, the judiciary suspended the sentence, and all officials were not allowed to play. Yesterday the Dajin sent envoys to the table If you want to cut off the three towns in the inland area, you will be allowed to follow the old thief Cai Jing. The soldiers and horses in charge of the children will be handed over to the imperial censor Tan Ji and Huang An's ten envoys to control the troops on the three sides. There are many officials to discuss. Yesterday Lidong, Long Live came out to offer sacrifices to the Taimiao. A doctor of Taichang Temple, named Fang Zhen, cleaned it in the morning and saw bleeding from the brick joints of the Taimiao. The northeastern corner of the hall was sunken. In the first book, it was extremely stated that Tongzhang is too big, and eunuchs cannot be crowned kings. Now immediately send officials to take Tongzhang back to Beijing with the gold medal."

Liu Neixiang said: "You and I are now out as local officials, and we don't do the court affairs. As the saying goes, we live a day. Then the sky collapses, and there are four big men. Tomorrow, Da Song's Jiangshan Guanqing was ruined by these sour seeds. Wang Shijiu, let's all eat wine!"

Because I asked the singer who sang Daoqing to come up, I ordered: "Sing a story about 'Li Bai is so greedy for drinking'."

The man stood in front of the table, beat the fishing drum, and sang again.

Eat until sunset, order the servants to watch the sedan chair and get up.Ximen Qing couldn't keep the money, so he sent it out of the gate, shouted and left.When he came back, he ordered the candles to be lighted, and the tables to be rested, leaving Uncle Wu, Earl Ying, and Wen Xiucai to sit, and he asked the servants to invite Buddy Fu, Buddy Gan, Han Daoguo, Ben Dichuan, Cui Ben and Chen Jingji to come back. sit.Called the disciples to tell: "I still found yesterday's "Jade Ring" and uploaded it."

Yin said to the Earl: "The taste of Nanxi Opera is unknown to the inner minister. If I had known that he would not listen, I would not keep him today."

The earl said: "Brother, I really want to let you down. He only likes "Lan Guan Ji" and playing folk songs and wild tunes for the minister's job. Xiao's big Guan eyes there are joys and sorrows!"

So the lower part moved the drum boards, and sang slowly one by one the endless folds of yesterday's "Jade Ring", and performed them all.Ximen Qing ordered the servants to frequently pour wine at the table.The earl sat at the same table with Ximen Qing, and asked, "The three of his sisters haven't gone home yet, why didn't they ask him to come out and pass a glass of wine?"

Ximen Qing said: "You still think about that dream, he gets impatient every time he goes!"

The count said, "How often does he live here for two or three days?"

Ximen Qing said: "Wu Yin'er has lived here for a long time."

On the same day, everyone sat down until the third watch, and the play was over, so Fang got up and scattered.Ximen Qing invited Uncle Wu to accompany the sacrificial officials early tomorrow.I gave the actor four taels of silver and sent him out.

On the next day, Zhou Shoubei, Jing Dujian, Zhang Tuanlian, Xia Tixing, and many officials of the joint guards all shared their funds and set up a table for pigs and sheep to pay homage.Ximenqing prepares the banquet, and Li Ming and other three younger children wait on him and agree.At noon, only the sound of drums was heard, and the ceremony came.Uncle Wu, Earl Ying, and Wen Xiucai greeted him at the door, and all the officials got off their horses and changed their clothes in the front hall.After a long time, the sacrifices were laid down, all the officials came to the coffin, Ximen Qing and Chen Jingji returned the salute.The Li students drink the salute, finish the three offerings, kneel beside them to read the blessings, and finish the sacrifices.After Ximen Qing came down to thank the gift, Uncle Wu and others asked all the officials to go to the roll shed and take off their plain clothes. After tea, they sat on the banquet table, drinking wine and wine.Li Ming and the other three young children played and sang on the silver zither and sandalwood board.All the officials drank happily until sunset.Ximen Qing wanted to leave Uncle Wu and the others to sit, Uncle Wu said: "Everyone has been disturbing you for days, brother-in-law has worked hard, let's go to rest."

Then I said goodbye and went home.It is exactly: green peaches and dew seeds in the sky, red apricots planted against the clouds by the sun.The richest people in the family tend to be attached, and they don't talk about wealth for a long time.

(End of this chapter)