Zhu Maichen
There is a repertoire in Kunqu Opera (originated in the Kunshan area of Suzhou) called "Zhu Maichen's Divorce of His Wife", which tells the story of Zhu Maichen, a famous minister of the Western Han Dynasty, who was originally poor and sorrowful, but studied hard. His wife Cui Shi was unwilling to live a poor life, so she forced Zhu Maichen to write a letter of resignation and remarry someone else. After Zhu Maichen became the Huiji Taishou, Cui was delusional that her ex-husband could accept her again, so he stopped Zhu Maichen's horse team on the road and asked for reconciliation. Zhu Maichen took a bowl of water and splashed it on the ground, saying, "If you can take the water back into the bowl, I will make peace with you." "The metaphor is hard to recover. Cui Shi was ashamed and ashamed, and committed suicide by throwing himself into the water.
It's no use crying over spilt milk.
The true record in the Book of Han is like this.
Zhu Maichen is a native of Wu in Huiji County, probably from Suzhou now, so this "Zhu Maichen's Divorce of His Wife" can also be regarded as a celebrity in Suzhou. What about this buddy, his family is very poor, he likes to read, and he doesn't like to work. He started as a woodcutter and sold firewood to pay for food. But he was really studious, and often read books while carrying firewood, and his wife followed with firewood.
Husband and wife both carry firewood
Zhu Maichen's buddy is a little nervous now, reading and singing, his wife felt shy, so she interrupted several times: "You are a woodcutter, what song do you sing and what book do you read, stop singing!" Are you ashamed! I feel like others are listening and watching, and I'm shy. Zhu Maichen not only didn't listen, but sang higher and higher, and sang more and more cheerfully. His wife was annoyed and angry, and said, "Let's get a divorce!" You've divorced me! Zhu Maichen explained with a smile: "Wife, the fortune teller said that I will be rich and noble at the age of fifty." I'm in my forties this year, you've been suffering with me for so long, endure it for a few more years, and I'll repay you well when I'm rich! His wife was even more angry and scolded, "Oh! A person like you, who doesn't know when he will starve to death in the wilderness, will still be rich? Dream your big dreams! The old lady is no longer serving! Zhu Maichen couldn't keep it, so he had to divorce and go with her.
Shoot and scatter
Later, Zhu Maichen was recommended by nobles, was appreciated by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, was reused, and became the Taishou of his hometown Huiji County, which is equivalent to the number one leader in the province and city. He returned to his hometown in fine clothes, and rushed back to his hometown of Wudi in a carriage of horses, and met his ex-wife on the road, who had already married again and was still living a hard life. Zhu Maichen asked his subordinates to park, let his ex-wife and husband sit in the car behind, and took them to live in his Taishou Mansion, eating and drinking every day. After living for a month, his ex-wife could not bear this humiliation and hanged herself.
Li Bai "Concubine Thin Poems"
So, is Zhu Maichen wrong or his ex-wife wrong?