Jinpingmei

Chapter Seven
The poem said: I am really capable of being a matchmaker, and I rely on my two legs to walk courteously.Lip guns are used to matching widowed men, and tongue swords can strengthen women's hearts.

Lishi flowers are often worn on the head, and wedding cakes and ingots are supported in the sleeves.There is only one unbearable thing, half adult and half defeated.

It is said that Mrs. Xue, a green flower seller in Ximenqing's family, carried a flower box and couldn't find Ximenqing all over the place.Seeing Dai An'er, the servant of Ximen Qing's personal envoy, he asked, "Where is the high official?"

Dai'an said: "My father settled accounts with Uncle Fu in the shop."

It turned out that Ximen Qing's family opened a herbal medicine shop, and the manager's surname was Fu Mingming, whose character was Zixin, and ranked second, so he was called Uncle Fu.After hearing this, Mrs. Xue went straight to the door of the shop, opened the curtain, and saw Ximen Qing was settling accounts with the supervisor, she nodded and called him out.Seeing that it was Mrs. Xue, Ximen Qing hurriedly left the supervisor and came out, and the two walked in a secluded place to talk.Ximen Qing asked, "What do you have to say?"

Mrs. Xue said: "I have a marriage matter. I came to tell the high-ranking officials. If you care about your old man's favor in the situation, you will be in the nest of the dead Sanniang. How about it?"

Ximen Qing said: "Which family do you say this marriage belongs to?"

Mrs. Xue said: "This lady, speaking of it, your old man also knows that she is the head lady of Bu Yang's family outside the south gate. She has a good penny in her hand. There are also two Nanjing Babu beds. I can't get my hands on clothes for four seasons." Go, there are four or five boxes. Needless to say, gold bracelets and silver chains, there are thousands of taels of silver in hand. There are also three or two hundred tubes of good Sansuo cloth. Unexpectedly, he went to sell cloth as a man and died outside. He was a widow for a year Many, no children around, only one uncle, who is only ten years old. You are young, why should you guard him! There is a daughter from his family, who wants to advocate his marriage. This lady is not 25 or six years old this year. Tall and tall, with a good-looking figure, he looks like a man of light when he is dressed up. He is handsome and charming, and he is a master of discipline, a needle-pointing female worker, and a Shuanglu chess piece. To tell the truth, his maiden name is Meng. The third sister, who lives in Stinky Water Lane. She can also play Yueqin very well. If a high-ranking official sees her, she will be on the stack with a single arrow."

Ximenqing heard that the woman could play the yueqin, so he could think of it, so he asked Mrs. Xue: "Since this is the case, when will we meet and see?"

Mrs. Xue said: "It doesn't matter if you see me. Let me discuss with your old man: Now his family is only the girl's eldest. Although it is his uncle Zhang Si, the hickory is one mile short. This old woman married Sun Weitou, who lived in the house of Mr. Xu on Banbian Street in the north. Tiltou died. This woman has been a widow for 40 to [-] years. She has no male or female flowers. She only supports her nephews and nieces. The high-ranking officials only fall on him. Beg him. What this woman loves is money. She knows that her nephew and daughter-in-law have something, but she doesn't care about asking anyone. She only hopes to ask for a few taels of silver. There are a lot of jokes in the family of high-ranking officials. Take a piece and buy a load of gifts , go to see him in person tomorrow, give him a few taels of silver, and knock him down with one punch. Just ask someone next to him to talk, and this woman insists on insisting, who dares to do anything!"

When Mrs. Xue spoke, Ximen Qinghuan protruded from the corners of her forehead and brows, smiling happily on her cheeks.It's exactly: the matchmaker said that Meng Ji loves to marry a rich man.If you are destined to meet thousands of miles away, if you are not destined to meet face to face, you will not meet each other.

Ximenqing made an appointment with Mrs. Xue that day, and tomorrow is a good date, so he bought a gift and went to his girl's house.Mrs. Xue finished speaking and went away with the flower box.Ximen Qing came in to settle accounts with Mr. Fu.One night view is not a problem.

The next day, Ximenqing got up early, sorted out his clothes and hats, took a piece of ruler, bought four plates of Tangguo, pretended to be a box of poles, and asked someone to carry them.Mrs. Xue led, Ximenqing rode on the head, followed by the servant, and came to Miss Yang's house.Mrs. Xue went in first to inform the girl, and said: "There is a rich man nearby who wants to talk to the eldest lady. I said that the only aunt in the family is the eldest. Come face-to-face first, meet your old man in person, and then dare to go to the door Look at it from the outside. Today, the little daughter-in-law brought her here, and she is waiting at the door."

When the mother-in-law heard it, she said, "Ah, Baoshan, why don't you speak first!"

While ordering the servant girl to order some good tea, she said: "Please."

Sister-in-law Xue tried her best to push in and put down the box first, then sent the empty box out, and then invited Ximen Qing to come in and meet her.This Ximen Qing was wearing a big hat, and he only called out in one voice: "Miss, please accept the gift."

After giving up for half a day, the mother-in-law received half a gift.The host and guest sat down, and Mrs. Xue stood beside her.The mother-in-law asked, "what's your surname?"

Mrs. Xue said: "He is one of the richest men in Qinghe County, a senior official from Ximen. He opened a big herbal medicine shop in front of the county. The family's money is over Beidou, the rice is rotten, and there is no lady who is in charge of the house. I heard that there is a lot of money outside our house. The lady is going to get married, so I came here to see my aunt and talk about the marriage."

The mother-in-law said: "The officials want to talk about my nephew and daughter-in-law. Why bother to buy a gift again, so that the old man is disrespectful and ashamed of it."

Ximen Qing said: "Young lady, I don't have any presents, I'm afraid."

The old lady thanked her twice, took the presents, and brought tea.After eating, the old woman said: "I am cowardly if I say nothing. When my nephew was here, he earned a penny. Unfortunately, he died first, and now it is in his hands. At least there are thousands of taels of silver." Stuff. I don’t care about officials, whether they are small or big, as long as I have a good sutra with my nephew. I am his own daughter, and I am not separated from each other, so I have a coffin book with me, and I have never asked for yours. With an old face, I became a stinky mouse with Zhang Si's old dog, and insisted on your two. When I was married, when it was the birthday season, the officials let him go around, and recognized me as a poor relative. But you are poor."

Ximen Qing smiled and said, "Don't worry, old man, I will know everything I say. As long as you can make up your mind, don't say one coffin book, that's ten, even a small man can afford it."

As he said that, he asked the boy to bring the worship box, took out six ingots of 30 taels of Xuehua official silver, put it in front of him, and said, "What's wrong with this, first buy a cup of tea with your old man, and when you get married tomorrow, I will return it to you." 70 taels of silver and two bolts of satin, and your old man is the endowment. During the four seasons and eight seasons, just come and walk."

Seeing the 30 taels of official silver with glistening white eyes, the old godly woman laughed all over her face, and said, "Officials are superior, it's not that the old man has a weak mind, and since ancient times, it has been broken first and then not messed up."

Mrs. Xue interjected and said, "You old man is too caring, so caressing about it! I am not such a high-ranking official, but I still have to put on a box to recognize my relatives. You old man doesn't know, but now magistrates, magistrates, and relatives are also very concerned. It’s not easy to come and go. How much can your old man eat him?”

The mother-in-law who talked in one sentence is shit.After two courses of tea, Ximen Qing wanted to get up, but the mother-in-law couldn't keep her.Mrs. Xue said: "Since I saw my aunt today, tomorrow I can go outside to see each other."

The mother-in-law said: "My nephew and daughter-in-law don't need to be a big official. Baoshan, you just tell me, don't marry such a family, and then marry such a family!"

Ximen Qing made his resignation and got up.The old woman said: "I don't know that the senior officials will descend, and I am in a hurry without preparation. If the officials are empty, don't blame me."

Sent out on crutches.After two steps, Ximen Qingrang went back.Mrs. Xue sent Ximen Qing to the horse, because she said: "Is my claim reasonable? You old man go back first, I'm still here to talk to him. You have to go out the door early tomorrow."

Ximenqing took out a tael of silver and made donkey money with Mrs. Xue.Mrs. Xue picked it up, and Ximen Qing went to Malai's house.He was still talking and drinking at Miss Yang's house, and he didn't go home until dusk.

Stop babbling.On the next day, Ximen Qing chose a neat hat and sleeves, and rode a white horse, followed by two young men, Dai'an and Ping'an, and Mrs. Xue came out of the south gate on a donkey.Not long after, we arrived at the head of Yang's house.But it sits in a gatehouse facing south and north, with pink and green walls.Mrs. Xue asked Ximen Qing to get off the horse and go in together.Inside, the gate is illuminated by the wall, and the screen wall is screened by bamboo fences. There are bonsai of pomegranate trees in the courtyard, an indigo vat on the platform, and two cloth stools.Mrs. Xue pushed back the vermilion fan, and the three rooms were seated upside down. The upper and lower chairs and tables were bright, and the curtains were chic.Mrs. Xue asked Ximenqing to sit down, and walked inside.After a while, he came out and said to Ximen Qing's ear: "Ma'am, I haven't finished dressing yet, please sit down, old man."

I saw a young boy bring out a cup of Furen to make tea, and Ximen Qing ate it.Mrs. Xue pointed her fingers and said to Ximen Qing: "Except for the girl in this family, this lady is the only one who is older. Although there is his uncle, he is still young, so I don't know anything. Back then, there was a deceased official in the shop. The day is not counted as silver, and copper coins are also sold in two large baskets. Every time I ask him to buy wool green shoe upper cloth, it must be a third of a foot. There are twenty or thirty dyed meals in a day, and it is this lady who proposes to sort them out. There are two maids and one servant. The older girl is 15 years old, and her name is Lanxiang. The younger girl is called Xiaoluan, and she is only 12 years old. When you go through the door tomorrow, you will come with him. I will say it for you For this marriage, I hope Dian will live in two rooms."

Ximen Qing said, "It doesn't matter."

Mrs. Xue said: "Your old man bought Chunmei last year and promised me some big cloth, but he hasn't given it to me yet. I'll just thank you tomorrow."

Just as I was talking, I saw a girl called Mrs. Xue.Not long after, I only heard the ring pendant and the fragrance of orchid musk. Mrs. Xue hurriedly opened the curtain, and the woman came out.Ximen Qing opened his eyes to look at the woman, but he saw: moon painting, smoke painting, powder makeup and jade carving.Jun Pang'er is neither fat nor thin, and his pretty figure is hard to lose and hard to increase.The plain forehead is slightly numb, which is naturally beautiful; the skirt reveals a pair of small feet, which makes Zhou Zheng feel pitiful.Wherever you walk, the fragrance of flowers grows delicately, and when you sit down, it is full of beauty.

Ximen Qing was overjoyed at the first sight.The woman walked down the hall, looked upright and said a blessing, and sat down on the chair opposite.Ximen Qing stared at it for a while, and the woman lowered her head.Ximen Qing said: "The little man's wife has been dead for a long time, and he wants to marry a lady to manage the family affairs. I don't know how respectful it is?"

The woman peeked at Ximen Qing, saw that he was a romantic figure, she was very satisfied, so she turned her face and asked Xue Po: "Guy Geng, an official? How long has it been since you lost your wife?"

Ximen Qing said: "The villain wasted his 28 years old, unfortunately his first wife has been gone for more than a year. I dare not ask, how young is my wife?"

The woman said: "My family is 30 years old."

Ximen Qing said: "It turns out that I am two years older."

Mrs. Xue interjected from the side: "Wife is two years old, golden days are growing. Wife is three years old, gold accumulates like a mountain."

As she spoke, the little maid took out three cups of candied golden oranges to make tea.The woman got up, took the first one first, wiped off the water stains on the edge of the cup with her slender hands, and handed it to Ximen Qing, wishing all blessings.Seeing the woman standing up, Mrs. Xue took the time to lightly lift up the woman's skirt with her hands, revealing a pair of three-inch long, half-forked, pointed golden lotus feet, wearing a pair of bright red and golden cloud head white silk. High and low shoes.Ximen Qing saw it, full of joy.The woman took the second cup of tea and handed it to Mrs. Xue.He took a cup to sit with him.After tea, Ximenqing asked Tai'an to present two brocade handkerchiefs, a pair of Baochai, and six gold rings in a square box, and put them on a tray.Mrs. Xue asked the woman to thank her.Because I asked the officials about the date of the salute: "Slave is here to make preparations."

Ximen Qingdao: "Since I have been granted by my wife, on the 24th of this month, some small gifts will come to the door. Marriage is allowed on the second day of June."

The woman said: "In this case, the slave will have someone tell the girl tomorrow."

Mrs. Xue said: "The senior officials have already spoken at the aunt's house yesterday."

The woman said: "What did the girl say?"

Mrs. Xue said: "Grandma heard the big officials talking about this, so she didn't like it! She said, don't marry this kind of family, and then marry that kind of family! I will be the hard matchmaker and guarantee this marriage."

The woman said: "It's good that the girl said so."

Mrs. Xue said: "What a lady, how could I be a matchmaker and dare to lie like this."

After finishing speaking, Ximen Qing made his remarks and got up.

Mrs. Xue sent her out of the alley, and said to Ximen Qing: "Seeing this lady, what do you think, old man?"

Ximen Qing said: "Sister-in-law Xue, you are actually tired."

Mrs. Xue said: "You old man go ahead, I will come as soon as I have a word with the eldest lady."

Ximen Qing rode into the city.Mrs. Xue turned to the woman and said, "Miss, you can marry this official."

The woman said: "But I don't know if there is anyone in the room? What's your physiology?"

Mrs. Xue said: "Good grandma, there is someone in the house, who is a brain? I said it was a lie, you can see it when you go there. Who doesn't know his old name? One of the richest men in Qinghe County, he is famous for selling raw medicines and releasing officials. Debt to Ximen Qing, a senior official. The magistrates of the county and the magistrate are all in contact with him. Recently, he married the Admiral Yang of Tokyo, and they are all four relatives. Who dares to provoke him!"

The woman arranged wine and meals, and was eating with Xue's sister-in-law when she saw An Tong, a servant from his girl's house, with four pieces of yellow rice noodles, jujube cakes, two pieces of sugar, and dozens of moiwowo in the box, so she came to ask : "Have you ever been framed by that family? Grandma said: This family does not marry, and it is very difficult to marry."

The woman said: "Thank you grandma for your concern. Now it's fixed."

Mrs. Xue said: "My God, my God! If my matchmaker would not lie, my aunt would have said it was coming."

The woman received the cake, took out the box, filled a box full of dim sum and bacon, and gave An Tong another fifty or sixty Wen, and said: "When you get home, please pay respects to grandma. The day of the house is set to salute on the 24th, the second day of the lunar month. Marry every day."

The boy has gone.Mrs. Xue said: "What did my aunt bring to you? Give me some, and I will take it home for the children to eat."

The woman gave him a piece of candy and ten moiwowo before going out, no problem.

In addition, his uncle Zhang Si, leaning on his little nephew Yang Zongbao, wanted to keep the woman's things, and wholeheartedly promoted Shang Juren, the son of Shang Tui official in Baoda Street, as his successor.Ruo Xiaoke's family has something to say, if you don't want to hear it, it's Ximen Qingding, knowing that he is the man who controls the government, so you can't move.It is better to think about everything than to break it.Then he came to the woman and said, "Young lady should not accept Ximen Qing as an interposer. It is still up to me to marry him. He is from a family of poets and ceremonies, and he has a farmland. That guy has dominated the government for many years, and he is a cunning and rogue. He saw a good-looking lady in his family, but she was the daughter of Wu Qian's family. In the past, you used to be big or small? Besides, there are three or four wives in his room. The girl above doesn’t count. When you go to his house, there will be a lot of people, and there will be some anger!”

When the woman heard Huatou, she knew that Zhang Si meant to break the relationship, so she pretended to say: "Since ancient times, there are too many boats to hinder the road. If there is a big lady in his family, I am willing to let him be my sister. Although there are many people in the room, as long as the husband is the master. If the husband likes it, it doesn't matter if there are many. If the husband doesn't like it, he will have a hard time with only one slave. Besides, if there are no four or five in a rich family? You don't have to worry too much, you have a reason to be a slave, and it's not a problem."

Zhang Sidao: "This is not the only one. He is most used to beating wives and killing wives, and he is also responsible for picking and trafficking people. If he doesn't like it, he will make the matchmaker sell it. Can you bear his anger?"

The woman said: "fourth uncle, your old man is poor. Although a man is powerful, he doesn't beat his wife who is diligent and easy-going. When I go to his house, I will settle the family. I can't say anything inside or out. How dare he be a slave? "

Zhang Sidao: "I didn't inquire about it. There is a 14-year-old unmarried girl in his family. I am really afraid to go to his house. What's wrong with three nests and two dollars?"

The woman said: "what does the fourth uncle say? When slaves come to his house, the big ones are the big ones, and the young ones are young ones. They treat the children well. They are not afraid that the man will not like it, and the daughters will not be filial. Don't say one, even if there are ten, it's okay. thing."

Zhang Sidao: "There is one more important thing. This person behaves improperly and only sleeps outside. He is false inside and outside the willow. He has less debts. I'm afraid he will trap you."

The woman said: "fourth uncle, your old man is in trouble again. It is common for him to do some romantic activities outside when he is a young man. Slaves, where do they control a lot? It is a common saying: in the world, if money comes, then Is it a long-term poor and long-term rich family? Besides, marriage and fate are all determined in previous lives, so you don't need to bother so much."

Zhang Si saw that she couldn't talk to the woman, so when it was time for him to eat, he robbed him of some words, so he had no color, drank two cups of green tea, got up and left.There are poems as evidence: Zhang Si scattered Chu words for no reason, who would think that the marriage is the front.The beauty loves Ximen Qing, and she is always idle when talking about breaking her throat.

Zhang Si returned home in shame, discussed with his wife, and waited for the woman to get up, pointing at his nephew Yang Zongbao to stop the woman's cage.

Stop babbling.On the 24th, Ximen Qing saluted.By the 26th, twelve monks were invited to chant scriptures and burn their spirits, and it was his girl who strongly advocated.Zhang Si invited several neighbors to talk to the woman on the first day when the woman was about to get up.At this time Mrs. Xue is leading Ximen Qing's family's young servants as companions, guarding the mansion's ten or twenty military prisons, and is coming in to carry the women's bed curtains and dowry boxes.He was stopped by Zhang Si and said, "Don't carry Baoshan! I have something to say."

On the one hand, I went in with my neighbors to see the woman.Sitting down, Zhang Sixian said: "Everyone, neighbors, listen: I, Zhang Long, should not have said that your man Yang Zongxi and your uncle Yang Zongbao are both my nephews. Unfortunately, my eldest nephew died today. , earning money in vain. Some people advocate you, that’s all. Zhengnai’s second nephew Yang Zongbao is young, and all the karma is on me. He was born of your manly mother and compatriots, so there is no reason for his share in the family property Son? Today, I’m here to face your neighbors, just open your cage, let everyone have a look, see if there is anything, everyone will understand.”

The woman burst into tears when she heard the words, and said: "Listen, you old man is bad! I didn't murder a man maliciously, and today I am ashamed and married again. He has money in his hand and no money. You know, I saved up a few taels of silver and put them all on this house. I didn’t take the house with me, but left it with my uncle. I didn’t move a single bit of housework and other things. It’s just that there are three or 400 taels of silver owed outside, and the paperwork and contracts have been handed over. With your old man, I have been begging for money at home one after another. How about any more money?"

Zhang Sidao: "It doesn't matter if you don't have any silver taels. Now I just open the cage for everyone to take a look. There is one, and you still take it, and I don't want yours."

The woman said: "Don't you want to see the shoes and feet of slaves?"

Just in a mess, I saw the girl coming out from behind on crutches.Everyone said: "Girl come out."

All sing in unison.The girl returned the Wanfu and sat down with everyone.The girl opened her mouth and said: "My neighbors are superior. I am him and my daughter, and I am not separated from him. Is it possible that I have a place? The dead are also nephews, and the living are also nephews. It hurts to bite ten fingers." Now don't say that he has no money in his man's hand, but he has 10 taels of silver, you just have to take a look at him. He has no one around, a young woman, why don't you teach him to marry?"

All the neighbors shouted loudly: "The girl is right!"

The mother-in-law said: "Could it be that the things that accompany his natal family can also be kept from him? He has never done anything to me behind his back. He said that I will protect him, and it must be fair. To tell you the truth, my nephew and daughter-in-law usually have Benevolence, the old body is reluctant to part with him, he is so gentle. Otherwise, the old body will not care about him."

That Zhang Si glanced at the old woman and said, "You are so fair! There is no place where the phoenix has no treasure."

This sentence only revealed that the old woman was really sick, and immediately became angry, Zi swelled up, and appointed Zhang Si to scold: "Zhang Si, stop talking nonsense! Although I can't be the head of the Yang family, you old glib , Is it the son of the Yang family [into Japan]?"

Zhang Sidao: "Although I have a different surname, my two nephews are raised by my sister. You are an old lady who is an outgoing girl. How can you set fire on one side and water on the other?"

The girl said: "Such a shameless old dog with bones! He is a young woman and a tender woman. What do you plan to do by keeping him in the house? It is not for lust, but for conspiracy to enrich yourself with money."

Zhang Sidao: "I'm not trying to make money, I'm afraid that Yang Zongbao will grow up later and will not live. It's not like you, a veteran killer, who moved the big to lead the little, yellow cat with black tail."

The girl said: "Zhang Si, you old flower root, old servant, old fan mouth, you are so deceitful and talkative, and when you die tomorrow, you won't use the rope to carry it."

Zhang Sidao: "You old harlot who chews your tongue, earning money to focus on your tail, no wonder you have no children."

The girl was in a hurry, and cursed: "Zhang Si, old thief Canggen, old pig and dog, I have no children, it is better than your mother and son go to the monastery, raise monks, [in Japan] Taoist priests, you are still asleep."

The two almost didn't fight at the moment, thanks to the persuasion of all the neighbors, they said: "Old uncle, let the girl have a word."

Seeing the two of them yelling together, Mrs. Xue took Ximen Qing's young servants as companions, and sent them to the military prisons to drive them into trouble. They rushed to carry the women's bed curtains, dowry, and cages. Lift it up, and a gust of wind will move it away.The eyes of the four qi were wide open, and he was speechless for a long time.Seeing that nothing happened, the neighbors appeased them for a while, and they all dispersed.

On the second day of June, Ximen celebrated a big sedan chair and four pairs of red gauze lanterns. His younger uncle Yang Zongbao, with a bun on his head and a green gauze dress, rode on a horse and sent his sister-in-law to marry.Ximen Qing congratulated him with a piece of brocade and a jade sash.The two girls, Lan Xiang and Xiao Luan, followed to make the bed and fold the quilt.The young servant Qintong was 15 years old, and he also brought him here to serve him.On the third day, Ms. Yang's family and the wife's two sister-in-laws, Mrs. Meng and Sister-in-law, all came to celebrate her birthday.Ximen Qing and his girl Yang 70 taels of silver and two horses.Since then, relatives have been in constant communication.Ximenqing tidied up three rooms in the west wing and made a room with him.Ranked third, named Yulou, so everyone in the family called Sanyi.At night, he rested in his room for three nights.It's exactly: in the gold account, there are still two newcomers; in the red brocade quilt, there are two old things.There are poems to prove it: how can you see the sentimental love, it is difficult to teach people to have no blessings.Where does the wind blow Liezi, and every night is beautiful on the willow branches.

(End of this chapter)