Text/Murong Zijun
During the Great Song Dynasty, there was a Langzhong named Liu Mingbing in Hangzhou, who came from a wealthy family, and his wife Tan Shixian hui was very assertive, and had a son and a daughter. His son Liu Pu is eighteen years old, and his daughter Huiniang is sixteen years old. Before the son and the daughter of the widow Sun Zhuniang were engaged, the daughter Huiniang and pei jiu's son who opened the medicine shop became engaged and accepted the dowry of the Pei family.
One of Liu Lang's sons and daughters all looked talented and outstanding, and seeing that his son had grown up, he discussed with his wife Tan Shi about handling the marriage for his son. It just so happened that Pei Jiu also asked the matchmaker to come and urge the marriage, hoping that Hui Niang would marry her earlier.
Liu Langzhong said to the matchmaker: The dowry of the younger daughter has not yet been prepared, and when I finish the marriage for my son, I will talk about marrying my daughter. The matchmaker passed Liu Langzhong's words to Pei Jiu. Pei Jiu also had only one precious son, and wanted to do the marriage for his son as soon as possible, so he begged the matchmaker to say it again and again.
Liu Langzhong said unhappily: I first arranged the marriage for my son, and then discussed the marriage of my daughter, and if I said more, I would hurt my temper, and Pei Jiu had no choice but to wait patiently.
Therefore, Liu Langzhong asked the matchmaker's sixth sister-in-law to go to the Sun family to discuss the marriage date of the children, the husband of this sun widow was called Sun Heng, the family was still relatively wealthy, there was a son and a daughter, the daughter Zhu Niang was seventeen years old this year, and the son Yulang was sixteen years old. The two children were still in infancy, Sun Heng died of illness, and Sun Heng's widow refused to remarry.
Zhu Niang promised to Liu Pu from an early age, and Yu Lang hired Xu Ya's daughter Wen Ge. Zhu Niang and Yu Lang were born equally beautiful, and the sisters and brothers were not only talented and perfect, but also very filial piety.
The sixth sister-in-law of the matchmaker went to the widow's house to convey the intention of the Liu family, to choose an auspicious day to marry Zhu Niang, although the widow of Sun was reluctant to marry her daughter, but the marriage of a man and a woman could not be stopped, which was a lifelong event related to the daughter, so it had to be undertaken. She said to the matchmaker: My grandson's family is orphaned and widowed, and the dowry for my daughter will not be too rich, please don't abandon my daughter.
The matchmaker replied to Sun's widow's words, and Liu Langzhong and his wife prepared a rich bride price and sent it to the Sun family together with the auspicious day. After the widow Sun accepted the dowry of the Liu family, she hurriedly purchased a dowry for her daughter, and the Liu family also prepared for the marriage.
Seeing that the wedding date was approaching, Liu Pu fell ill, and the condition was getting worse and worse, Liu Langzhong prescribed medicine for his son and had no effect, therefore, Liu Langzhong and his wife were very anxious, so they discussed with his wife and said: It is better to explain this matter clearly to the Sun family, I see that the child is more fierce and less auspicious, and then choose a day to do the marriage after the child is cured.
Tan Shi was a very clever woman, and she said to her husband: You are also very old, how can you say such a stupid thing? Haven't you heard that all patients are sick and fierce, as long as the happy event rushes out, even if there is no effect, we will not be empty of money.
If the Sun family tells the truth, can our dowry come back? Let's marry Zhu Niang back first, let her accompany my son to recuperate, maybe my son's illness will get better faster, and at night, let our daughter Hui Niang accompany her sister-in-law, isn't this the best of both worlds? Liu Langzhong felt that his wife was right, so he instructed the matchmaker's sixth sister-in-law not to tell the Sun family.
As the saying goes, if people don't know, unless they don't think that Liu Pu's critical illness is known to his next-door neighbor Li Rong. This Li Rong is extremely cunning, the residential courtyard where he lives is connected to the Liu family, a few years ago he and Liu Langzhong discussed buying other people's houses to expand their own residences, Liu Langzhong naturally would not be willing, so he formed a grudge with the Liu family.
Therefore, Li Rong went to tell Sun Widow with joy that Liu Pu was critically ill, and Sun Widow was very surprised to hear it, but the Liu family did not mention a word. She was afraid that she would harm her daughter, so she asked the old servant woman Liu Mother to call the sixth sister-in-law to inquire, and the sixth sister-in-law was also embarrassed, only to say that Liu Gongzi was just a chance cold, not a serious illness, and it would be good to rest for a few days, and not to shelve the family affairs.
Sun Widow still did not believe it, so she asked Mother Liu to follow the sixth sister-in-law to the Liu family to visit the son-in-law's condition, and the sixth sister-in-law could not get away with it, so she had to accompany her to the Liu family. Just as Liu Langzhong was walking out of the gate, the sixth sister-in-law hurriedly gave Liu Langzhong a look and said: Mother Liu was entrusted by the Sun family to visit Gongzi's illness.
Liu Langzhong knew what was going on as soon as he heard it, so he first let the two of them go to the hall, and then hurried to the room to report the matter to his wife. Tan Shi came to the hall and said to Mother Liu: Xiao'er encountered wind and cold, and he had just taken medicine to sleep. Saying that, he couldn't help but pull Mother Liu to the new house to watch, saying: You see, all the bedding has been purchased.
Mother Liu saw that the new house was very neat and exquisite, and everywhere was full of a strong festive atmosphere, and it was really impeccable, so she went back after lunch.
When Mother Liu returned home, she told her master what she had seen, and Widow Sun had no idea for a while, but Mother Liu said that the Liu family did not let her see Liu Gongzi. This shows that the son-in-law's illness is not light, so he asked Mother Liu to go back to the room to rest, and then called her son Yulang to discuss the matter.
Yu Lang said: Let the sixth sister-in-law pass on the message, the days will not change, but we do not bring a dowry, when the sister returns to the door in three days, don't we know the brother-in-law's condition? If the brother-in-law has nothing to do, we will send it to the Liu family together with a dowry, and if they do not agree, it will prove that the brother-in-law's condition is very serious.
Widow Sun pondered for a while and said to her son: The method you said is also very good, but when it comes to your sister's big day, you have to go to Liu's house in place of your sister, and if you find that Liu Gongzi is indeed terminally ill, you will quickly change into the robe and shoes and socks I prepared for you, and you just have to come back, and his family will not dare to stop you.
Yu Lang listened and hurriedly waved his hand and said: Everything else is easy to say, this matter can not be done, in the future this matter will be known, teach me how to be a nickname? Widow Sun then lost her temper and said: Even if others find out, it is just a joke, you are the only man in our family, you do not protect your sister, who will protect her. Yu Lang saw that his mother was angry, so he had to agree, and the next day, he sent a matchmaker to inform the Liu family that the wedding date was still the same.
In the blink of an eye, when it came to the wedding date, the widow of Sun put Yulang on makeup, and sure enough, she was as beautiful as her daughter, and outsiders could not see that Yulang was a man. Handsome face, like a big girl standing tall, although the feet are much larger than the woman, but with a long skirt to cover will not let people find, as for the ear is not decorated, let Liu mother use a small medicine on the ear, if someone asks, it will say that the ear and eye have chancre, temporarily can not wear earrings.
In this way, Yu Lang got on the flower palanquin and let Liu's mother accompany him, and the flower palanquin arrived at the door of Liu's house, and Bin Xiang said to Liu Langzhong and his wife: The new person will be out of the car, and no groom will come out to greet her, is it difficult to let the bride worship the church alone and become a relative?
Tan Shiyun said lightly: Let the younger sister Hui Niang greet the newcomer on behalf of her brother, anyway, the bride enters the door of my Liu family, and this matter is decided by our Liu family. So Hui Niang happily took the bride for her brother and worshiped the heavens and the earth, and all the guests laughed and closed their mouths, and the music sounded, and the newlyweds were ushered into the new room. Tan Shi went to his son's room and said: Today for you to marry your daughter-in-law Oki, you must strongly raise your spirit to go over and take a look.
Who knew that even shouted his son three times, Liu Pu did not make a sound, it turned out that Liu Pu was weak, was shocked by the drum music and passed out, Tan Shi hurriedly let people take hot soup, poured a few mouthfuls of his son, Liu Pu slowly woke up. Therefore, Liu Langzhong stayed behind to take care of his son, and Tan Shi went out to lead the new people to meet the guests. When the guests saw the beauty of the bride, they all applauded.
After The guests left, Yu Lang returned to the room, and Mother Liu unloaded the jewelry for him, fortunately, no one found out that he was a boy. Tan Shi couldn't bear to let the newcomer sleep alone at this good night, so he called his daughter Huiniang and said: Tonight you will accompany your sister-in-law in the new room, and Huiniang happily agreed and forcibly threw Mother Liu out.
Late at night, Yulang still did not dare to sleep, Hui Niang thought that her sister-in-law was shy, so she slowly chatted with her sister-in-law, she also advised Yu Lang to say: I am also tired, let's lie down and talk, saying, Hui Niang first took off her clothes and lay down, and urged Yu Lang to hurry up and sleep.
Yu Lang saw that he could not get rid of it, so he undressed and put it into the account, and he lay down side by side with Hui Niang and asked: How old is my sister this year? Hui Niang said sixteen, and asked her if she could be matched, hui niang just smiled and did not answer. After repeated questioning, I learned that Hui Niang promised to the Pei family.
The more the two talked, the more speculative, Yu Lang couldn't help but hug Hui Niang and say some sweet words. At this time, Hui Niang found out that Yu Lang was a boy, but her heart had moved, or she couldn't help but ask Yu Lang: Why do you want to pretend to be my sister-in-law? Yu Lang told Hui Niang about his persecution by his mother.
In this way, the two secretly became husband and wife, and besides, This Mother Liu did not trust Yu Lang, and when she heard the whispers of the two outside, she knew that Yu Lang and Hui Niang had done something that should not be done. Early the next morning, when Liu's mother dressed Yulang's makeup, she persuaded him to be careful.
And said that the three dynasties have passed, Yulang and Huiniang are inseparable every day, Liu Mother urged Yulang to go back, and Yulang ignored it, helpless, Liu Mother had to go back first, she was afraid of affecting herself again. As soon as Mother Liu arrived home, she told her master Sun Widow about Yulang and Huiniang.
Sun Widow listened like five thunderbolts, and sent relatives to pick up Yu Lang back, but all of them were rejected by Yu Lang, Sun Widow was not at ease, and forcibly drove Liu Mother back to Liu's family, so that she still had to protect her son, so Sun Widow was worried that she could not eat well and sleep unsteadily.
On this day, Liu Pu's illness was almost better, so he went to the new room to visit the bride, just saw his sister and the bride laughing in the new room, when he saw the beautiful bride, the condition suddenly improved for a long time, Yulang saw Liu Pu come over, hurriedly said a million blessings, see that Liu Pu also looks like a table of talents, but also secretly happy for his sister.
Liu Pu's front feet just left, Yu Lang was uneasy, so he said to Hui Niang: Seeing that your brother's body has healed, he just came over and is about to share a room with me, I have to hurry back to secretly change my sister, so as not to expose the matter, Hui Niang listened to it and cried quietly, Yu Lang was also sad, so the two of them hugged and cried.
Just as Tan Shi was passing in front of the new house, he suddenly heard a cry from the room, and looked through the gap in the window, only to see his daughter-in-law and daughter hugging and crying, as if they were parting from life and death. In fact, she found that the two people behaved suspiciously yesterday, inseparable every day, and today this matter is even more strange, so she opened the curtain and went in, who knew that the door was closed tightly in the daytime, so she said angrily: Open the door quickly, why close the door in the daytime.
Tan Shi entered the house and found that both of them were too frightened to look up, so he had an ominous omen in his heart, so he pulled his daughter to his room for interrogation, Hui Niang first did not open her mouth, Tan Shi was angry, he took the broom and hit her daughter, Hui Niang was beaten, and this told the truth. He also begged her mother to resign from the Pei family's marriage, and she wanted to marry Yulang as a wife.
Liu Langzhong also returned at this time, and when he heard the crying in the room, he and his son Liu Pu entered the house to inquire, so Tan Shi scolded sun widow for being too immoral and hurt her daughter. After the father and son of the Liu family understood the truth of the matter, Liu Langzhong was so angry that he threw up his sleeves and left directly, Liu Pu advised his mother: The matter has come to this point, what is the use of scolding his sister again, the ugliness of the family cannot be publicized, be careful that the wall has ears, and slowly discuss it.
Speaking of this Yulang, he ran to Mother Liu's room to hide, and said that his affair with Huiniang had been exposed, and Mother Liu quickly took out the Daoist robe prepared in advance for Yulang to change into, and then hurriedly left the Liu family. The two stumbled back home, and when The widow Sun knew that the Liu family had discovered the truth of the matter, she had no choice but to resign herself to fate.
Just when the Liu family was about to settle accounts with the widow of Sun, Li Rong next door learned about the tricky affairs of the Liu family from the mouth of a small servant of the Liu family, so he hurried to Pei Jiu's house and urged him to go to the Liu family to be accountable, so that everyone would know about the ugly affairs of the Liu family, liu Langzhong also had no face to live here, and he took the opportunity to buy the Liu family's residence.
Pei Jiu listened to Li Rong's account, he was so angry that he almost vomited blood, and when he came to the Liu family, he dragged Liu Langzhong and scolded: When I first asked you Liu family to hurry up and handle the marriage affairs for the children, you pushed back three or four, and now your daughter has done this ugly thing, ruining my family's reputation, quickly return my family's dowry, and slap Liu Langzhong when he says it.
Tan And his son heard the noise and came out to inspect, only to see that her husband and Pei Jiu were wrestling together, and they were both beaten up with blue noses and swollen faces, Tan Clan screamed and scolded, and forcibly dragged Pei Jiu aside, Pei Jiu saw that Liu Jiu's family was full of people, so he scolded and went back.
Liu Langzhong was also half angry at this time, so he got up from the ground and went to Yamen to angrily accuse Sun's widow, just as Pei Jiu was also angry and was telling Liu Langzhong in court to hide his daughter's scandal.
After Qiao Taishou inquired about the situation, he understood: Liu Langzhong sued Sun's widow for cheating on marriage, and Pei Jiu told Liu Langzhong to teach her daughter to have no way out, and even indulged her daughter and Yulang, the son of Sun Widow's family, to do such an ugly thing, fortunately, she knew it early.
Therefore, Qiao Taishou sent a messenger to summon Liu Pu and Hui Niang, as well as the three members of the Sun family, to the court, qiao Taishou saw that the Liu family brothers and sisters were born so beautiful, no wonder Pei Jiu had to go crazy, Hui Niang looked so beautiful, but now she has become the daughter-in-law of someone else's family.
Looking at Yulang's sisters and brothers, the two were like a pair of pink beauties, almost like immortals in the sky. Therefore, he deliberately reprimanded Yu lang as a male body, and should not dress up as a woman to seduce the women of the good family.
Yu Lang just wanted to distinguish, but he saw that Hui Niang was about to pass out in shame, so he bowed his head and did not make a sound.
Qiao Taishou said to Yu Lang: I should have beaten you to a board, but this is a big mistake caused by the parents of the two families, forgive you for the time being. Then Qiao Taishou asked Hui Niang again: The matter has come to an end, and now you are willing to marry the Sun family or the Pei family, although say it, I will be the master for you.
Hui Niang said shyly: I am already a yulang person, willing to marry the Sun family.
However, Pei Jiu was not happy to hear this, and roared at the court, saying that he could not complete the adulterer and adulteress. Qiao Taishou scolded him and said: Huiniang has not yet married into the Pei family, you have no right to interfere in her marriage, when the elders must have the appearance of elders, forgive people and spare people, let the Liu family return your dowry.
At this time, Liu Langzhong said: Yulang, the son of Sun Widow, had previously hired Xu Ya's daughter Wenge, but she had not yet done the marriage, and our family naturally would not let Yulang Navangge be a concubine.
Qiao Taishou laughed and said: Summon xu Ya's father and daughter and Pei Jiu's precious sons, and today I will marry these three couples. After a while of kung fu, Xu Ya took her daughter Wen Ge to the court, and then Pei Jiu's son also came.
Qiao Taishou judgment: Yulang and Huiniang have married, this is Providence, Xu Ya's daughter Wen Ge and Pei Jiu's son are a natural couple, Liu Pu and Zhu Niang are beautiful and talented, a match made in heaven.
Everyone listened to it and was convinced, and Qiao Taishou let the three couples become relatives in the hall. This incident caused a sensation in the Hangzhou government, and it was said that the three couples had met the Qing officials.