Ming Dynasty Wanli Twenty years (AD 1592), Japan invaded Korea. The king of Korea asked China for help, and the Chinese court sent troops across the sea to resist Japan and aid Korea.
During the war, military rations and pay were insufficient, so the imperial court temporarily implemented a system of sending millet into prison. The so-called acceptance of millet into prison means that as long as you donate a certain amount of grain or gold and silver money, you can enter the Imperial Academy, the highest institution in the country, and become a student.
As a result, if you become a Tai student, you can directly take the exam for civil servants without taking the scholar exam, and you can eventually get an official position. Therefore, as soon as the system was promulgated, it was welcomed by officials and wealthy children. The number of imperial students in the two Imperial Colleges in Beijing and Nanjing suddenly increased to more than a thousand each.
In the Imperial College in Beijing, there was a Taipei student who donated money to attend school. His name was Li Jia. He was from Shaoxing, Zhejiang, and his father was the chief envoy in Jiangnan. At that time, the country's administrative divisions were divided into thirteen chief secretaries, equivalent to thirteen provinces. The chief minister was the highest chief executive in the chief secretary. Li Jia is the eldest son of the envoy Li Bu.
On this day, Li Jia made an appointment with Liu Yuchun, a fellow countryman who was studying in the Imperial College, to visit a brothel, where he met the famous prostitute Du Shiniang.
Du Shiniang entered a brothel at the age of thirteen. Because she was ranked tenth, she was called Du Shiniang. In fact, she is only nineteen years old now. Shi Niang is born with a beautiful face, her face is full of elegance and fragrance, her eyebrows are painted with green mountains, and her eyes are bright and moist with autumn water.
A pitiful piece of flawless jade accidentally fell into the wind and dust. In the past seven years, Shi Niang has captivated countless princes, princes, grandsons, and children from wealthy families, causing them to become confused and obsessed, and even to the point of losing their entire family.
Mr. Li was still young and had never met a beauty. How could he not fall in love with Du Shiniang when he saw her? Ever since I went to a brothel for the first time, I have attached all my feelings to Shiniang.
Shi Niang had long wanted to leave the brothel and become a good person because of her madam's greed for money. Seeing that Mr. Li was not only handsome and talented, but also had a gentle temperament, giving people an impression of loyalty and sincerity, he decided to place his wishes on Mr. Li.
The two of them fell in love with each other, enjoyed themselves day and night, and vowed to stay together all day long, just like a loving couple. It's just that Mr. Li was afraid of his father and didn't dare to allow Shiniang to leave the brothel and live with him.
Mama Du, the madam of the brothel, began to see Mr. Li being generous and squandering money, so she naturally smiled and flattered him in every possible way. Later, when he saw that Mr. Li's pocket was gradually emptying and his money was tight, his attitude changed and he gradually became negligent.
Time flies, and one year has passed before you know it. Li Jia's father heard that his son was visiting prostitutes in the capital and wrote many times to ask him to go back. Because Li Jia was infatuated with Shiniang, he kept delaying his departure. Later, when he heard that his father was angry at home, he was even more afraid to go home.
The ancients said well: "Those who make friends with each other for benefit will be separated by all the benefits." The madam saw that Shiniang was occupied by Mr. Li all day long, and other wealthy children who came here to see her could not get what they wanted. She watched helplessly with a lot of money. Unable to get it, she asked Shiniang many times to send Li Jia away from the brothel.
Little did she know that Du Shiniang was sincerely in love with Mr. Li. Seeing that the tighter his money was, her heart became warmer and she treated him better. Seeing that Shiniang refused to send Li Jia away, the Madam Madam personally used words to ridicule and humiliate Li Jia, hoping to provoke him to stand up. However, Li Jia is a cowardly and modest person by nature and is difficult to anger.
The Madam had no choice but to take it out on Shiniang and scolded: "In a family like ours, we eat and drink guests, see off the old at the front door, and welcome the new at the back. The courtyard is a bustle, and money and silk are piled up. Ever since Li Jia was here, everything has been messy. The account has been in business for more than a year, not to mention new customers, even the old customers have been cut off, and there is clearly an old Zhong Kui, and even the kid can't come to the door. This makes my family live in peace and smoke, what a state it is in!"
Du Shi The mother couldn't bear the scolding, so she retorted: "Master Li didn't come here empty-handed, he also spent a lot of money."
The madam said: "That time, this time. Don't talk about big money now, just call him Take out some small money and let me buy some firewood and rice to support you and your family.The daughter raised by other people's family is a money tree, with thousands of lives, but my family is unlucky. I raised a to return wealth white tiger, which opened the door, and all seven events happened in the old body and mind. Instead, you, a little bitch, raise a poor man in vain. Where will my food and clothing come from? You said to the poor man: If you are able, give me a few taels of silver and let you go with him. Wouldn't it be better if I find another girl to live with? "
Shi Niang asked: "Mom, is this true or false? "
The madam knew that Li Jia was already penniless and had even pawned his valuable clothes, so how could he get any money.
Then she replied: "I never lie, take it seriously." "
Shi Niang asked again: "Mother, how much money do you want from him?
The madam said: "If it were someone else, it would cost at least a thousand taels of silver. Poor poor man can't afford it. As long as he has three hundred taels, I will buy another girl to replace you." There was just one condition, he had to pay me the money within three days. Pay money with your left hand, hand over people with your right hand. If there is no money after three days, I will not care about the situation. I will beat the bachelor out with a cane. Don't blame me for being ruthless at that time! "
Du Shiniang said: "Although Mr. Li lives in the capital and doesn't have much money around him, he still has a way to get three hundred taels of silver together. It's just that three days is too tight. How about limiting him to ten days?
The madam thought: "This poor man has nothing in his hands. Even if he is given a hundred days, he will not be able to produce any money." Without money, even if his face was covered with iron sheets, he would be too embarrassed to come to the door. At that time, Shiniang was speechless. "
then agreed: "For your sake, I will extend the grace period to ten days." On the tenth day, no money came, but I can’t blame me. "
Shi Niang said: "If the ten days are up and there is no money, I don't think he will have the shame to come again. I'm afraid that when he has three hundred taels of silver, his mother will regret it again.
The madam said: "I am fifty-one years old, and I believe in Buddhism and eat vegetarian food. How dare I lie?" If you don’t believe me, I’ll give you a high five. If you regret it, I’ll be a pig or a dog! "
That night, Du Shiniang discussed life-long matters with Mr. Li on his pillow.
Li Jia said: "It's not that I don't have this intention. But to let you leave here, it will cost at least a thousand taels of silver. How can I do it now that I have no money? "
Shi Niang said: "I have made an agreement with my mother. I only need three hundred taels of silver, but it must be delivered within ten days. Although the money around Lang Jun has been used up, doesn’t Lang Jun have any relatives or friends in the capital from whom he can borrow money? If you can borrow this number, your body will belong to your husband, and you will no longer be affected by the pious woman .
Li Jia said: "My relatives and friends all distanced themselves from me because I was nostalgic for the brothel." Tomorrow I can only pretend to leave for home, go to various houses to say goodbye, and ask them to borrow travel expenses. If you put it together like this, you might be able to get three hundred taels of silver. "
Early the next morning, Li Jia left the brothel to visit his relatives and friends, telling them that he was planning to leave Beijing and return to his hometown. The relatives and friends were very happy when they heard about it, but when they next heard that Li Jia wanted to borrow travel expenses , I don’t really buy it.
As the saying goes: “When it comes to money, there is no fate. "What's more, they also saw clearly that Mr. Li is a wanderer who is obsessed with fireworks. He has not come home for more than a year. His father was very angry with him at home.
He suddenly said that he wanted to go home today. Who knows whether it is true or not? . If he gets the travel money through deception and goes to a brothel again, and his father finds out about it, he will regard our good intentions of borrowing money as malicious intentions, and he will always be offended. It is better to refuse to lend him money now.
then replied: : "Money is tight right now and I can't borrow money. I'm so ashamed!" Ashamed! "Everyone answered like this, as if they had agreed upon it, but no one was willing to generously lend him one or twenty taels of silver.
Li Jia ran for three days in a row, without borrowing anything, and he did not dare to borrow anything. Mother said honestly, she had no choice but to fumble. On the fourth day, there was still no gain. Li Jia was already ashamed to go back to the brothel to see Du Shiniang. Because he usually used the brothel as his home, he didn't even have a place to stay. Now he has nowhere to stay. He had no choice but to stay at the residence of fellow villager Liu Yuchun.
Liu Yuchun saw Mr. Li's sad face and asked why. Li Jia told Du Shiniang one by one that he was willing to marry a good man.
After hearing this, Liu Yuchun shook his head and said, "Not necessarily, not necessarily. Du Shiniang is the number one prostitute in the capital. If you want to be a good person, the betrothal gift will be more than a thousand gold. Then why does the Madam only only have three hundred taels? I guess it's because the Madam thinks you have no money. Taking possession of her daughter, she plans to send you out.
Du Shiniang has been with you for a long time, and because of her feelings, she can't speak frankly. Knowing that you are empty-handed, she deliberately used three hundred taels of silver to sell her favor, limiting you to ten days. If you can't get the money after ten days, you will be embarrassed to come to the door again.
Even if you come to the door again, they will make fun of you, making you feel boring, and naturally you will not be able to live in it. This is how fireworks drive away guests. Plan. Please think twice, brother, and don't be deceived by them. From what I see, it's better to break up early."
Li Jia was speechless for the last half of the time, confused in his heart.
Yuchun added: "Brother, don't make a mistake. If you really go back to your hometown, it won't cost you much in travel expenses, and someone will lend it to you. If you want three hundred taels, don't say ten days, even ten months." In today's world, no one is willing to care about your urgent needs. The madam also calculated that you would not be able to borrow money, so she deliberately tried to make things difficult for you."
Li Jia said: "My dear friend, what you see is very true."
Although he said so, But she still couldn't let go of Du Shiniang in her heart. She still ran around and complained, but she never dared to go back to the brothel. Instead, she stayed at Liu Yuchun's place every night.
In the blink of an eye, on the sixth day, Du Shiniang returned to the courtyard after not seeing the young master for several days. She was very anxious and asked Si'er, the servant in the courtyard, to go to the street to look for him. Si'er searched the streets and happened to meet the young master.
Si'er called out: "Brother-in-law Li, mother is watching you at home."
The young master was embarrassed to go see Shiniang, so he replied: "I don't have time today, come tomorrow."
Si'er followed Shiniang's order and Grab the young master and won't let him go until he dies.
said: "Mom asked me to come look for you, and I must come with me no matter what."
Mr. Li was also worried about Du Shiniang, so he had no choice but to return to the brothel with Si'er. Li Jia was silent when he saw Shiniang.
Shi Niang asked: "How is things going?"
Li Jia couldn't help but shed tears in his eyes.
Shi Niang asked: "Is it because I am too unkind to borrow three hundred taels of silver?"
Li Jia said with tears: "As the saying goes: 'If you don't believe it is easy to catch a tiger on the mountain, it is really difficult to tell someone.' I ran for six days in a row. , I didn’t borrow a penny, I came to see my sister empty-handed, so I didn’t dare to go back to the hospital these days. Today, I was called upon to endure the shame and come here. It’s not that I don’t care, it’s just the way the world is.”
Shiniang said: "Don't let Qianpo know this. Langjun just stays here tonight. I have something to say to you."
In the evening, Shi Niang prepared her own wine and food to have a good time with the young master.
After sleeping until midnight, Shi Niang said to the young master: "Is it true that Mr. Wang can't borrow any money? What will happen to my lifelong affairs?"
Mr. Li just shed tears and could not answer a word.
Gradually it was dawn at the fifth watch, and Shi Niang said to Li Jia: "There is one hundred and fifty taels of broken silver hidden in the mattress where I sleep. I saved it privately. You can take it, sir. Three hundred taels of silver, I will bear half of it, and the husband will try to borrow the other half. I'm afraid it will be easier. There are only four days left, so don't delay."
Shiniang got up and handed the mattress to Li Jia. Li Jia was pleasantly surprised. Wang Wang asked the boy servant to carry the mat to Liu Yuchun's residence. Li Jia told Yuchun what happened at night, and the two of them took apart the quilt. Sure enough, they saw a lot of silver wrapped in the quilt. They took it out and counted it, exactly one hundred and fifty taels.
Liu Yuchun was shocked and said: "This woman is really thoughtful! Since we are true to each other, we cannot betray her. I will try to borrow money on behalf of my brother."
Li Jia said, "My dear brother, I will never betray you."
So, Liu Yuchun took Li A stayed at his residence and went around to borrow money on his own. Within two days, one hundred and fifty taels of silver were collected.
Liu Yuchun handed the money to Li Jia and said, "I borrowed money on behalf of my brother, not because of him, but out of sympathy for Du Shiniang."
Li Jia was so happy that he had three hundred taels of silver, beaming with joy. Go to see Shiniang. It had just arrived on the ninth day, and there was still one day left before the deadline.
Shiniang asked: "It was hard to borrow a penny a few days ago, how come you have one hundred and fifty taels all of a sudden now?"
Li Jia told Shiniang about Liu Yuchun's help.
Shi Niang put her hands on her forehead and said, "The husband and concubine are able to realize their wish, all thanks to Liu Jun's power!"
The two spent the night happily in the courtyard.
When she got up the next morning, Shiniang said to Li Jia: "As soon as you hand over the money today, I will go with your husband. You should prepare the expenses for the car and boat. I borrowed twenty taels of silver from the sisters in the courtyard yesterday. , Sir, you can accept it as expenses along the way."
Li Jia was worried that he had no travel expenses and could not speak out. He was really happy to see Shiniang thinking so carefully.
As the two of them were talking, they heard the Madam knocking on the door and shouting: "Today is the tenth day..."
Li Jia didn't wait for the Madam to finish speaking, then opened the door and said, "Thanks to Mom, I'm here to invite you." He said while putting three hundred taels of silver on the table.
The madam did not expect that Li Jia was rich, so her expression changed, as if she had regrets.
Shi Niang quickly said to the Madam: "My son has been in my mother's house for eight years and has earned no less than thousands of taels of gold, silver and silk. Today's good deeds were ordered by my mother herself. I don't owe a cent of the three hundred taels of silver, and I don't owe any money." Exceeded the time limit.
If the mother broke her promise and regretted it, and the husband left with the money, the son would commit suicide immediately. I am afraid that I would lose all my money and regrets."
The madam thought about it and was speechless, so she had to accept the money and said: Shiniang said: "The matter has come to this, and I can't keep you anymore. If you want to leave, you can leave today. You are not allowed to take away any of your usual clothes and accessories!" After saying this, Shiniang and Shiniang were taken away. Exit the room and lock the door with a lock. It was September, and Shi Niang had just gotten up. She had not yet washed herself, so she had to put on her old clothes and pay homage to the Madam. Mr. Li also made a bow. The two left just like "a carp escapes from its golden hook, sways its tail and shakes its head and never comes back."
After leaving the courtyard, Mr. Li said to Shiniang: "I'll call a sedan to pick you up. Let's go to Liu Yuchun's residence for the time being. Let's discuss it later."
Shiniang said: "The sisters in the courtyard usually get along well with each other, so we should say goodbye. What's more, I have been lent them the travel expenses, so I must thank them."
So she and Mr. Li went to the sisters to say thank you and say goodbye. Among the
sisters, Xie Yuelang, Xu Susu and Du Shiniang have the closest relationship. Shiniang went to Xie Yuelang's place first. Yuelang was surprised to see Shiniang with a bald bun and old clothes. Shiniang explained the reason to her and introduced Mr. Li to meet her.
Shiniang told Li Jia, "This sister lent me the travel expenses the day before yesterday. Sir, I would like to express my gratitude." Li Jia bowed repeatedly.
Yuelang took care of Shiniang's grooming, and at the same time asked people to invite Xu Susu to meet her. After Shiniang finished dressing up, Yuelang and Susu dressed up Shiniang with their own clothes and prepared a banquet to celebrate Shiniang and Mr. Li.
That night, Yue Lang gave up his bedroom to Mr. Li and Shiniang. The next day, another big banquet was held, inviting all the sisters in the courtyard. Everyone who had a close relationship with Shiniang was invited to pour wine and congratulate Shiniang and Mr. Li, and Shiniang also thanked them one by one. Everyone drank happily, played music, sang and danced, and left until midnight.
Shi Niang and the young master are still staying at Yue Lang.
At the fifth watch, the ten niangs asked the young master: "Where will we settle down when we go? Have you ever thought about it?"
Li Jia said: "My father is so angry that if he knows that I have married a prostitute, he will It will definitely be intolerable, and it will affect you too. After much deliberation, I haven't come up with a suitable solution."
Shiniang said: "How can we cut off the love between father and son? However, since we can't communicate for a while, why not I went with my husband to a resort in Suzhou and Hangzhou for a temporary stay. The husband went home first to ask his relatives and friends to persuade him to make peace in front of his father, and then he took his concubine back home. This is more appropriate for all aspects."
Li Jia said: "This is a good idea."
The next day, the two of them said goodbye to Yuelang and went to Liu Yuchun's place to pack their bags.
When Du Shiniang met Liu Yuchun, she knelt down and bowed down, thanked him for his kindness, and said: "In the future, my husband and I must repay you deeply."
Yuchun quickly replied: "Shi Niang loves what she loves, If you don't change your mind because of poverty, you are truly a hero among women.I'm just blowing the wind, nothing more than a trivial matter! "
The three of them drank for another day. The next day they chose an auspicious day for their trip, hired carriages and horses, and Shi Niang sent a servant to send a letter to Xie Yuelang to say goodbye.
On the day of departure, Xie Yuelang, Xu Susu and the sisters all Come to see her off.
Yue Lang said: "Sister Ten has traveled thousands of miles with her husband, and her purse is empty. We are all very sorry. The sisters have prepared a small gift, hoping that the tenth sister will accept it, and it may be helpful when she is tired on the road. "
After saying that, she asked someone to bring a tightly sealed stationery box with golden flowers on the outside. She didn't know what was inside. Shi Niang neither opened it nor refused, but just thanked her repeatedly. That's it.
After a while, the carriages and horses were ready, and the coachman urged them to set off. Liu Yuchun and all the beauties sent Shiniang and Mr. Li out of Chongwen Gate in the east of the city.
Mr. Li and Du Shiniang took the car to the Luhe River in the east of Tong County , there happened to be an official ship from here to Guazhou, Jiangsu, so the two booked a cabin and left the car to get on the ship.
When they got on the ship, Li Jia had no money left on him. The twenty taels of silver that Shi Niang originally gave him were obtained. After that, he went to the pawn shop to redeem a few clothes and bought some necessary items for the journey. What was left was just enough for the carriage fare. The young master felt depressed and didn't know what to do.
Shiniang said: "You don't have to, Mr. Lang. Sorrow, the gift given by the sisters, will definitely help us. "With that said, Li Jia took out the key and opened the stationery box.
Li Jia felt ashamed and embarrassed to see what was in the box.
He saw Shiniang taking out a red silk bag from inside. Put it on the table and said, "Mr. Lang, you can open it and take a look. "
Li Jia lifted the silk bag with his hands and felt it was a bit heavy. When he opened it, he saw that it was full of silver. He counted it and found it was fifty taels.
Shi Niang locked the box and did not say that there was anything else in the box. There was nothing else, I just said to the young master: "Thanks to the kindness of all the sisters, not only can I have my travel expenses, but it will also be helpful to stay in Suzhou and Hangzhou temporarily in the future.
Li Jia was surprised and happy, and said excitedly: "If I hadn't met Enqing, I, Li Jia, would have had to live in a foreign country and die without a burial place." This love and virtue, I will never dare to forget each other even when I grow old! "
From now on, whenever Li Jia talks about the past, he will shed tears of gratitude.
Arriving at Guazhou , the official ship docked at the pier. Li Jia hired another private ship to put his luggage and prepare to continue his journey early the next morning. Although Na Guazhou is just a small town, it is where the Grand Canal enters the Yangtze River, diagonally across the river from Zhenjiang. It has always been the hub of water transportation in the north and south of the Yangtze River.
Although it was winter at that time, it was in the middle of winter. , the moon is as bright as the water, the young master and Shiniang are sitting on the bow of the boat admiring the moon.
The young master said: "Since I left the capital, I have been trapped in the cabin with people around, so I can't be happy. Today I am finally alone in a boat, with no other people to interfere with me, and I am far away from the northern part of the Great Wall. I am approaching the south of the Yangtze River for the first time. It is just a good time to have a drink to relieve my depression. How does Enqing feel? "
Shi Niang said: "I haven't talked or laughed for many days, but I also have this wish. The husband just said it, which shows that he and I have the same affection. "
Li Jia then put the wine and food on the bow of the boat, sat down on a mat with Shiniang, exchanged cups and drank freely.
When he had drunk just right, the young master said to Shiniang: "Enqing's singing overwhelms all the beauties in the capital, and I meet you. At the beginning, every time I heard it, I couldn't help but feel moved. Later, things went wrong and each other became depressed, and Enqing's singing was not heard for a long time. Tonight there is a bright moon over the Qingjiang River, and there is no one around in the night. I wonder if I would be willing to sing a song for me? "
Shiniang was also very interested at this time, so she opened her throat and sang the song "Little Taohong" from Yuanren's "Moon Worship Pavilion" in a clear and graceful way: "The number one scholar holds the cup and Chanjuan..."
By chance, another boat was moored not far from Mr. Li and Du Shiniang's boat. There was a young man on the boat, his surname was Sun Mingfu, a native of Huizhou, Jiangsu. His ancestors had been salt merchants for several generations, and his family was extremely wealthy.
Sun Fu was two years old. Ten, he was also an imperial student in the Imperial Academy, but he was not in Beijing but in Nanjing. That Sun Fu was a romantic by nature, and he spent his whole day in brothels and courting women, and he was a frivolous young man who mocked the wind and the moon.
That night, Sun Fu also moored his boat at Guazhou Ferry and was drinking alone in the boat. Suddenly he heard singing coming from the river, the singing of phoenixes and the singing of luanans, which was wonderful.
Sun Fu stood on the bow of the boat and listened for a long time, and then he realized that the singing was coming from a neighboring ship not far away. He was about to go and have a look, but the singing stopped again, and the river returned to silence and calm.
Sun Fu sent his servants to inquire around. They only knew that it was the boat hired by Mr. Li, but they did not know the origin of the singing woman on the boat.
Sun Fu thought: "This singer must not be a girl from a good family. How can I meet her?"
He stayed up all night thinking wildly. At the fifth watch, we could only hear the wind blowing loudly on the river. At dawn, the clouds were thick and the snow was flying. As described by Liu Zongyuan of the Tang Dynasty : "Thousands of birds have disappeared, and thousands of people have disappeared. A man in a boat and a coir raincoat fishes alone in the cold snow in the cold river."
The river was blocked by wind and snow, and the boat could not move. Sun Fu asked the boatman to move the boat next to Mr. Li's boat. He wore a mink hat and a fox fur coat and opened the window to pretend to look at the snow.
It happened that Shi Niang had just finished dressing up. With her delicate hands, she opened the curtains beside the boat and poured water out. Her pink face was slightly exposed, but Sun Fu could clearly see: What a beautiful country! Sun Fu couldn't help but be shaken, and stared at him, hoping to take another look, but he failed to do so.
Sun Fu was not reconciled, so he recited two lines from the poet Gao Qi's "Plum Blossom Poetry" aloud: "The noble man lies in the snow-covered mountains, and the beauty comes under the bright moonlight in the forest."
Li Jia heard this in the boat. Someone was chanting poetry in a neighboring boat, and he stuck his head out of the cabin to see who it was. From this look, it was exactly what Sun Fu wanted. Because the purpose of Sun Fu's poem was to lure Mr. Li to stick his head out, so that he could take the opportunity to talk and build relationships. Of course, it goes without saying that the drunkard’s intention is not to drink.
When Sun Fu saw Li Jia sticking out his head, he quickly raised his hands to salute and asked: "My dear friend, may I have your name?"
Li Jia told him his name, place of origin, identity, etc. while returning the salute, and he also asked Sun Fu in return. Rich situation.
Sun Fu told Li Jia his name, place of origin, identity, etc. They happened to be both Taixue students, so they inevitably talked about Taixue gossip, and they gradually became familiar with each other.
Sun Fu said: "The wind and snow hindered the boat trip. God has allowed me to meet my brother. I am very honored. I am bored on the boat. I want to invite my brother to go ashore to have a drink in a restaurant to experience the sea of teachings from my brother. I hope your brother will not refuse. ."
Li Jia said: "We meet by chance, how can we disturb my dear friend?"
Sun Fu said: "Where did your brother go! 'All the four seas are brothers'."
So he asked the boatman to move the boat closer to the boat. On the gangplank, they asked the boy servant to hold an umbrella to welcome Li Jia as he crossed the boat. The two bowed and saluted again at the bow of the boat. Sun Fu asked Mr. Li to go first, and he followed.
After walking a few steps ashore, they saw a restaurant. The two of them went upstairs to choose seats and sat by the window. The waiter in the restaurant served food and wine, and Sun Fu raised a glass to persuade them. The two drank and enjoyed the snow in high spirits.
naturally started by talking about some elegant words such as poems and songs, and then gradually introduced the romance and romance into the story of brothels and flowers. The two of them are both people who have been together before, and they understand each other intimately. The more they talk, the more they become more and more congenial, and unknowingly they become like close friends.
Sun Fu saw that the time had come to speak, so he asked the boy servant to leave, and then asked in a low voice: "Who was the woman who sang in Brother Zun's boat last night?"
Li Jia was just trying to show off that he was proud of his love affair, so he said truthfully: "She is Du Shiniang, a famous prostitute in Beijing."
Sun Fu asked again: "Since she is a famous prostitute in Beijing, why did she follow brother Zun?"
Li Jia then told how he first met Du Shiniang and how they fell in love with her. Later, Du Shiniang How Shiniang wanted to get married, how he borrowed money to get her to leave the capital, and so on, he described the whole story in detail.
After hearing this, Sun Fu said: "It is naturally a beautiful thing for my brother to bring a beautiful woman back home, but I wonder if my family can tolerate it?"
Li Jia said: "My wife is nothing to worry about, but my father has a strict temperament. , I don’t know what to say to him."
Sun Fu further asked: "Since your father-in-law may not be compatible with her, where will your father-in-law take the beauty home and settle her? Have you told her about this situation and discussed what to do? "
Li Jia replied with a frown: "This matter has been discussed with her. "
Sun Fu asked: "Does she have any good ideas? "
Li Jia said: "She wants to live temporarily in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Let her younger brother go home first and ask relatives and friends to clear it up in front of his father, and then take her back. What do you think of this approach? "
Sun Fu thought for a while, deliberately made a serious look and said: "I just got acquainted with my elder brother, and we have a close relationship. I'm afraid my elder brother will blame me. "
Li Jia said: "I just want to ask my friend for advice. You are welcome.
Sun Fu then said: "Your Majesty, as you hold a high position, you must strictly abide by etiquette and laws. Since I have scolded you for wandering in immoral places, how can I tolerate you marrying an unruly woman back home now?" As for relatives and friends, who wouldn’t cater to your father’s wishes?
If you ask them to intercede, you will definitely be rejected. Even if there are one or two people who are willing to speak for you in front of your father, they will change their words as soon as they see your father's firm attitude.
In this way, the respected brother cannot be in harmony with his family, and the retired brother cannot be accountable to the beauty. Even if you live in Suzhou and Hangzhou temporarily, it is not a long-term solution. Once you run out of money, wouldn't it be a dilemma? "
Li Jia knew that most of the fifty taels of silver in his hand had been used up at this time. When he heard Sun Fu say that he had run out of money, he was in a dilemma and nodded in agreement.
Sun Fu took the opportunity to say again: "I still have something to say from the bottom of my heart. , I wonder if my brother is willing to listen? "
Li Jia said: "Thanks for your love, my dear friend, please feel free to tell me if you have any suggestions.
Sun Fu deliberately said: "Well, we are not close, so it is better not to talk about it." "
Li Jia said eagerly: "Brother, please give me some advice.
Sun Fu then said: "Since ancient times, it has been said: 'Women's water nature is impermanent. ’ What’s more, it’s a woman with fireworks, less true and more false. Since Du Shiniang is a famous concubine in the capital, her acquaintances must be all over the world. Maybe she has an old love in the south, and now she is using you to bring her here, and then she will abandon you to find a new love. "
Li Jia said: "I'm afraid that won't happen.
Sun Fu said: "Even if it doesn't happen, the children from Jiangnan are the best at seducing women. If your brother leaves a beautiful woman to live alone in Suzhou and Hangzhou, there is no guarantee that there will be no slander. If you let her go home with you, you will This angered your father even more. My brother is really in a dilemma.
Besides, the family relationship between father and son cannot be severed after all. If you offend your father for a concubine, or abandon your family for a prostitute, you will definitely be considered a frivolous and dishonest person. When the time comes when your wife does not recognize you as her husband, your brother does not recognize you as your brother, and your friends do not recognize you as your friend, how can you stand between heaven and earth? Therefore, brother, you must think twice before you act! "
After hearing Sun Fu's words, Li Jia felt at a loss. He couldn't help but move his seat next to Sun Fu and asked, "Brother, can you teach me anything?
Sun Fu said: "I have an idea, and it's easy for my brother to handle. I'm afraid that my brother is addicted to his pillow love with Du Shiniang and refuses to do this, which will make the younger brother waste his time!"
Li Jia said: "If the elder brother really has a good way to enable the younger brother to return home and share the family happiness with his family, then the older brother is the younger brother's benefactor, so what can't he say to the younger brother?"
Sun Fu said: "Your Majesty is angry because I heard that you are obsessed with flowers and willows in the capital and spend money like water. I am afraid that you will become a bankrupt in the future and will not be able to inherit the family business." You returned empty-handed now, which just ignited the anger in his heart.
If the elder brother can give up his pillow love with Du Shiniang and follow the younger brother's idea, the younger brother is willing to give one thousand taels of silver to his elder brother. The elder brother took the thousand taels of silver home to see his father-in-law and told him that you were teaching in a private school in the capital and had not spent a penny randomly. When your father-in-law saw the money, he would definitely believe your words to be true.
From then on, the family was harmonious and there would be no more gossip. In a moment, misfortunes can be turned into blessings. Please consider your decision yourself, brother.It’s not that the younger brother is coveting Du Shiniang’s beauty, he is actually loyal to his brother’s interests! "
That Li Jia was originally a person with no independent opinions, and was indeed very afraid of his strict father. Now that Sun Fu's words touched his heart, he stood up and bowed and said, "Brother's words made the younger brother understand. My mother has been with me for thousands of miles, so it is difficult to suddenly cut off her relationship. Please let the younger brother go back to the ship to discuss with her, and get her consent. Then the younger brother will reply to his elder brother.
Sun Fu said: "Brother, please speak tactfully and politely. Since she is sincerely for you, she is not willing to bear to separate your father and son, so she will definitely make your return home come true." "
The two drank for a while. At this time, the wind stopped and the snow stopped, and it was getting late. Sun Fu asked the boy servant to calculate and pay for the wine, and then returned to the boat hand in hand with Li Jia.
Du Shiniang arranged the wine in the boat. Guo was about to have a drink with the young master, but she didn’t know that the young master had not returned all day, so she had to light a lamp and wait for the young master to come back. Finally when Li Jia returned to the ship, Shiniang quickly got up to greet him. She saw that the young master looked bad and seemed to have something unhappy in her heart. , then he poured a full cup of hot wine to persuade the young master. Li Jia shook his head and refused to drink, said nothing, fell on the bed and fell asleep.
Although Shiniang was unhappy, she still put away the cups and plates to help the young master. He put his clothes on the pillow and said hello: "What did you see today and why are you so depressed? "
Li Jia just sighed and didn't speak. After asking three or four times, the young master had fallen asleep. Shi Niang didn't know what happened, so she sat on the bedside and couldn't fall asleep. In the middle of the night, Li Jia woke up and sighed again.
Shi Niang asked: "What unspeakable thing does Mr. Lang have that makes him sigh like this?" "
Li Jia stood up surrounded by the quilt. He stopped talking several times and burst into tears.
Shi Niang held the young master in her arms and comforted him with soft words: "I have been in love with my husband for two years. After years of hard work and hardship, we finally have today. However, I have followed the young master for thousands of miles and never seen the young master mourning. Now that I have arrived in the south of the Yangtze River, I am just enjoying the joy, but instead I see the young master so sad. There must be a reason for this. Husband and wife share life and death together, and any matter can be discussed, but the young master must not hide anything. "
Li Jia was repeatedly questioned by Shiniang, and she could only say with tears: "I, Li Jia, are poor in the end of the world, and I owe you to your benefactor for not abandoning me and obeying me despite humiliation. This is really a great kindness. However, I thought over and over again that my father holds a high position, adheres to etiquette, and has always been strict in temperament. Now that I go home like this, I will definitely increase his resentment and be expelled.
You and I are wandering outside, when will the end come? The happiness between husband and wife cannot be guaranteed, and the family relationship between father and son cannot be guaranteed. Today I was invited to have a drink by Sun You from Huizhou and planned this matter for me, which made my heart feel like a knife. "
Shi Niang was shocked and asked, "What do you want to do?" "
Li Jia said: "The so-called authorities are confused, but bystanders know clearly. Sun You came up with an idea for me which is good, but I'm afraid Enqing won't agree! "
Shiniang said: "Who is Sun You? If his idea is good, why can't he agree to it?
Li Jia said: "Sun You is famous and rich. He is a son of a salt merchant in Huizhou and a young romantic man." I heard Enqing singing last night, so I asked about it. I told him about your and my difficulties, and he was willing to hire you to follow him for one thousand taels of silver. I have received one thousand taels of silver, so that I can give an account to my father; you can also follow your grandson friend and have someone to rely on. It's just that I can't bear to be separated from you, so I cry. "
After saying that, she burst into tears again.
Shi Niang suddenly let go of her hands, sneered and said, "The person who came up with this idea for you is really a hero! The husband has a thousand taels of silver, so he can restore the relationship between father and son, and the concubine is with someone else, so there will be no one to take care of her. ‘It’s about love, it’s about etiquette and justice’, it’s really the best of both worlds! Where is the thousand taels of silver?
Li Jia wiped his tears and said: "Without Enqing's consent, the silver is still left with Sun You and has not been taken over." "
Shiniang said: "Go and agree to him early tomorrow morning, don't miss the opportunity. However, a thousand taels of silver is not a small amount. It must be counted clearly and delivered to the gentleman before I can cross the boat to avoid being deceived by the villain."
It was already the fourth watch at that time, and Shi Niang didn't sleep either. She got up to wash herself and said, "Today's makeup is to welcome the new and see off the old, which is extraordinary. "
So she dressed up with makeup, moisturized with makeup, the fragrant breeze was blowing, and her embroidered coat was radiant.
Shi Niang finished dressing up, and it was already dawn. Sun Fu sent a boy servant to the bow of the boat to wait for the news. Shi Niang watched Li Jia from the side, and saw He was delighted and seemed to be happy, so he urged him to reply quickly and pay the silver as soon as possible. Li Jia went to Sun Fu's ship to reply and asked for the silver to be cashed immediately.
Sun Fu said: "It is very easy to cash the silver, but you must first pay the silver. Bring over the beauty's dressing table as proof.
Li Jia replied to Shiniang, who pointed to the gold-painted stationery box and said, "If you can, just carry this over." "
Sun Fu was very happy when he saw the stationery box. He immediately asked someone to send a thousand taels of silver to Li Jia's boat. Shiniang looked at it in person and found that it was accurate. So she held the side of the boat with one hand and greeted Sun with the other. Fu. Sun Fu was so happy when he saw Shiniang waving.
Shiniang said to him: "The box just now can be carried over temporarily. There is a return certificate issued by the Imperial Academy to Li Lang. I want to find it and give it to him. "
Sun Fu thought that Shiniang was a turtle in the urn and could not escape, so he asked the boy servant to carry the box back to Li Jia's bow.
Shiniang took out the key and opened the lock. There were some drawers and small boxes inside. Shiniang's name was Li Jia. Jia opened the small box on the first floor and took a look, only to see green feather pearls, Yao hairpins and earrings stuffed inside, worth about hundreds of taels of silver. Shiniang suddenly threw them into the river, Li Jia, Sun Fu and two boats Everyone else was surprised.
Shi Niang asked Li Jia to open the second layer of small boxes, which contained some jade flutes and gold tubes; and then opened the third layer of small boxes, which were filled with ancient jade and purple gold playthings, worth thousands of taels of silver. . Shi Niang suddenly threw them into the river again.
At this time, the people watching on the shore gathered around and shouted in unison: "What a pity, what a pity!" "
Everyone was wondering what was going on when Du Shiniang opened the last layer of the small box. There was a small box in the small box, with rare treasures such as luminous pearls, emeralds, and cat's eyes shining brightly inside. No one knew how much it was worth.
Everyone cheered in unison, and the noise was like thunder. Shiniang was about to throw them into the river again. At this time, Li Jia was filled with regret, hugged Shiniang and cried, and Sun Fu also came to persuade him.
Shi Niang pushed Li Jia aside, pointed at Sun Fu and cursed: "Li Lang and I went through many hardships to get here. You used your adulterous heart to slander me and said that it is mine to break people's marriages and love." Enemies. Even after I die, I will appeal to the gods. Are you still dreaming of having fun on the bed?
then said to Li Jia: "I have been in the world for many years and have saved some money in private. It was originally for a lifetime event." Since I met you, we have vowed to remain forever. When I left the capital, I pretended to ask my sisters to give me a gift. In fact, the treasures hidden in the box were worth no less than ten thousand taels of silver.
I originally wanted to use them to decorate the husband, and let him take them home to meet his parents. Maybe the husband's family would feel pity for the concubine, so that he could be entrusted to me for the rest of his life, and I would have no regrets in life or death. Unexpectedly, my husband didn't have deep affection for my concubine, he listened to the slanderous words, abandoned me halfway, and betrayed my sincerity.
Now, I will open the treasure box in public to let you know that it is not difficult to get a mere thousand taels of silver. I only hate that there is jade in my concubine's box, but there is no pearl in my eyes! My life has been a rough one. I fell into the world of prostitution. I was abandoned just after I was separated from her. Now everyone is here to testify that the concubine does not disappoint the husband, it is the husband who disappoints the concubine! "
Everyone in the audience was moved to tears after hearing this, and they all scolded Mr. Li for being heartless and heartless. Li Jia was ashamed and painful. He regretted and cried at the same time. Just when he was about to apologize to Shi Niang, Shi Niang had already hugged the treasure box and jumped to Jiang's heart. Everyone's heart skipped a beat. They shouted in unison, calling for help, but they saw dark clouds in the middle of the river, rolling waves, and everything was gone. It was a pity that a famous prostitute who was as beautiful as a flower was buried in the belly of a fish.
Everyone watching on the shore gnashed their teeth, Filled with righteous indignation, they both shouted that they were going to beat Li Jia and Sun Fu. They were so frightened that they were at a loss. They hurriedly called the captain to open the boat and ran away.
Li Jia looked at the one thousand taels of silver in the boat and recalled Shiniang's treatment of him. Thousands of favors, countless benefits, shame and regret day and night, depression and illness, falling into madness, from which he will never recover.
Sun Fu had been sick in bed ever since he was frightened that day. He saw Du Shiniang pointing at him and scolding him all day long, and finally fell ill and died shortly.
Besides, Liu Yuchun finished his studies in the Imperial College, packed up and returned to his hometown. On the way, he stopped at the foot of Guabu Mountain in Jiangsu Province. Early the next morning, Yuchun accidentally dropped the copper basin into the river while washing her face, and quickly asked a fisherman to help salvage it.
What the fisherman picked up was a small box. Yuchun opened the box and saw that it was full of pearls and rare treasures, so he rewarded the fisherman generously and put the small box on his bedside to play with.
That night, I dreamed of a woman coming from the center of the river. When I looked carefully, I saw that it was Du Shiniang. Shiniang stepped forward to salute Yuchun and told Li Jia about his ruthlessness.
added: "I was grateful to Mr. Liu for his generosity and helped me with one hundred and fifty taels of silver. I wanted to repay the favor slowly after my relationship with Li Lang was completed, but I didn't expect it would end like this. However, I always think about Mr. Liu's kindness. , I can never forget it. This morning, I asked the fisherman to give me a small box as a gift, and we talked about our feelings, and we will never see each other again."
After Shiniang finished speaking, Yuchun suddenly woke up, only to know that Du Shiniang was dead. It was really I sighed.
Later generations commented on Du Shiniang's story and believed that Sun Fu was not a good person because he took advantage of others' love with money. Li Jia failed Du Shiniang's true love and was a mediocre idiot, so it is not worth talking about. Only Du Shiniang can be called an eternal heroine, but she failed to find a true and sincere husband. Instead, she mistook Mr. Li, like a pearl and a jade, and threw her money at the blind man. The result was thousands of kindnesses. It is a pity and a pity that it is running water.
Description: This article is adapted from the novel of the same name in Volume 32 of "Warning Words" compiled by Feng Menglong.
