"Drunken Spring Breeze" - 4

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Chapter Six: The Eldest Daughter Marries, Yet Her Heart Remains Young; Her Delicate Beauty and Unwavering Devotion only intensify Her Obsession

; A beautiful night unfolds, a painting unfolds, wine is light, affection is deep, a lonely shadow grows thin; flowers fade into the distance by
the balustrade, a sober girl leans against it, laughing as she watches. I am not Liu or Ruan, I once stumbled upon the path to Peach Blossom Spring, writing until I was half-asleep, green hair and red face half-painted.
《Reduced Character Magnolia Flower》

Now, let's talk about Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy. Since hiring Mr. Gong to study at home for several years, he has become somewhat fluent in literature
and classical Chinese, and his knowledge is not entirely lacking. Mr. Gong said, "Although you are not particularly gifted, you are quite focused. While you
are still young and full of vigor, why not go straight to the monks' quarters at Zhiping Temple in Shihu, where there are few people?
I'll study there for a year or two, and then you'll be better prepared for the next exam." Zhang San, the supervisor, followed his teacher's advice and
prepared to study. However, there were few monks, so he bought a page named Wen Gui. He also bought many ancient and modern
texts, again purchased by Zhang Jun. They traveled on a pleasure boat with Mr. Gong. On the auspicious first day, two tables of wine were prepared
, and they ate along the way. Upon arriving at the monks' quarters at Zhiping Temple, they first paid some rent and then began studying there.

As he was leaving, he instructed his third wife, "You're twenty-six or twenty-seven this year;
you should be more mature. If you embarrass yourself again, I won't let you off easily. Besides, I was originally led astray by Mr. Yang, but now I've reformed.
Are you going to say that the magistrate sets fires while the common people light lamps?" The third wife replied, "I understand. No need to tell me . I can't wait any longer; I'll have Ah Long
come and invite you." Zhang San, the student, said, "No, studying is more important
. I won't be back until the teacher enters the city. Fine! I'll give Ah Long this chance; he can't
go any further." The third wife smiled and agreed. Zhang San, the student, had no choice but to comply, but the third wife,
having received this remark, became even more audacious. She thought that since her husband had tolerated her, there wouldn't be any major trouble on the way
.

On the first night after entering the city, he wanted to find someone, but he hadn't found them beforehand, so he asked Ah Long to accompany him
. How could Qiu Hua refuse? At the first watch of the night, Ah Long was in the midst of a passionate encounter when he suddenly heard a footstep on the wall of the bed, knocking
several times. It turned out that Matthew had come for an itch that afternoon, and Ah Long had instructed him to find an actor who played female roles
, named Guan She. He was handsome and knew how to be seductive. Third Sister loved him like a treasure, but
although he was good at intercourse, it didn't last long. After sleeping with him for one night, she gave him a tael of silver and let him go.

New and old women came and went, and she had been with countless men. Even her brothers, knowing of
her lewd behavior, said, "It would be better if she died soon, at least she could have some peace." At home, she was indulging in debauchery day and night
. Her eight or nine-year-old son had hired a tutor to teach him to read, but Third Sister also took advantage of the tutor.
The son saw this with his own eyes and was furious, wanting to tell his father. At that time, the wet nurse's husband had died, and she had long relied on this family
. She repeatedly said to her son, "Your father doesn't care, why should I become his enemy? There's an old saying: 'A son
shouldn't speak ill of his mother.' A son should only cover up his mother's shameful deeds." The son had no choice but to give in. The wet nurse told
this to Third Sister. From then on, she kept everything from her son.

When Wenbi grew up, he took it upon himself to marry Li Er, also a groom. Ma
Xiuyang acted as matchmaker, inviting Along and Zhang En to a meal and drinks. He first asked Along to take Wenbi to the Zhiping Temple to kowtow to Zhang San, a student
, before they would get married. However
, this Li Er was cunning and extremely good at flattery. On their first night together, he begged Ma Xiuyang to let him serve the lady first before he dared to sleep with Wenbi. If this were a respectable
woman , she would be furious. Third Sister, however, was already known for her lack of propriety and lack of ambition. She even claimed to know
about hierarchy. At dusk, she actually had sex with Li Er. One night, Youhua said to Wenbi, "We
brothel owners, even if a young lady like me were to steal her, no decent man would go to patronize her. Your mistress is so
dissolute, I'm afraid she can't remain a respectable woman."

A few days later, he kept urging her to go out. The Third Mistress's heart was in turmoil, her mind infatuated, and she obeyed Youhua. Whenever
someone wanted to patronize her, she would go to the boat, the temple, and other places. She had no manners whatsoever
.

Suddenly one day, Mr. Gong wanted to go home for a visit. Zhang San, the student, also returned home. Just then, the Third Mistress
was taken to a wet nurse by a man from Huizhou. Qiuhua only said, "The mistress went to Guanyin Mountain to burn incense." Zhang San
asked, "Who went with her?" Qiuhua said, "It was Li Er." He hurriedly called, "Along, go quickly! Tell the mistress
to come back quickly." Along searched for a day and found that it was Ma Xiuyang who had gone with her on the boat
. Having explained the reason, Third Sister could no longer hide it and had to tell the guests she was going home. It was already dusk when
she arrived . Zhang San, the student, didn't want to, so he went to the wine boat to accompany the Huizhou guests and
slept with them as usual.

Half a year later, on the eighteenth of August, everyone went to Shihu to see the moonlit night. Third Sister was picked up by a group of
dissolute young men and taken to a boat. She didn't know that the Zhiping Temple where her husband studied was right by Shihu. She
chatted and laughed with these young men. At that time, they were playing drinking games, punishing people for not doing what they were told, and in the midst of the excitement, the boat
arrived and moored at the shore. As fate would have it, Zhang San, the student, had just finished lunch and heard
that there were many pleasure boats, so he went out to stroll around. He stumbled upon this very boat, where Third Sister was punishing people for not doing what they were told
, but she was busy playing drinking games and hadn't seen her husband on the shore. Zhang San, the student, rubbed his eyes and said
, "Am I seeing things? Is it really my wife, that wicked woman? Could she really be out here serving drinks?"
Hearing her voice again, he became even more convinced. He said, "Enough! Enough! I can't live like a human being anymore.
Wait, if I were to uphold my husband's authority, I should naturally kill her, to avenge my deceased father. But her
brothers are not good people; they say I've indulged her, that I haven't managed the household properly, and that my future is in jeopardy. I'll just pretend I don't know,
and study with my teacher for another six months. I won't need to go back home. Gradually, I'll collect all the money from the various inns
. Next year, the year of Yi Mao, is the year of the imperial examinations again. I'll inevitably transfer to the Northern Academy and go to Beijing. I'll write
a letter to divorce her and send it back, telling her to go back to her parents' home. I guess people won't laugh at me so much anymore." He took
a few steps back, still seething with anger, and returned to Zhiping Temple.

The next day, he sent Wen Gui back to say that the temple was very quiet and perfect for studying, and that even his son and teacher
had been invited to the temple. This was Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, preparing to take his son to Beijing. His wife,
fearing her son would grow up and become an eyesore, quickly packed up the bedding and sent both her son and tutor to
Zhiping Temple. A poem testifies to this:

"A woman in an empty room, rises in the middle of the night with a long sigh.
Moreover, she is as wanton as a sparrow, preferring a simple bed.
She has lost her husband's heart, knowing only to love her lover.
She no longer cares for her own son, treating him like a stranger.
Little does she know there is no end in sight, she can only shed tears for herself. "

Now, Zhang San, the student of the Imperial Academy, took his son home for the New Year. He feigned joy,
revealing nothing. After the Lantern Festival, he instructed A Long: "This year I've transferred to the Northern Academy, hoping to pass the imperial examination."
"We need to prepare five thousand taels of silver for the trip to the capital. You can instruct the various inns to redeem any impurities, and at least calculate the total
. Besides the silver we'll take, we can start over." Ah Long reported, "Your Highness has spent too much. I originally
wanted you to calculate the accounts so I could understand."

In February, Ah Long managed to gather four thousand taels from the various inns and presented the accounts to Zhang San, the student, for a face-to-face settlement
. It turned out that Third Sister had overspent; one-third of their wealth had already been spent. Fortunately, the family
was wealthy enough to redeem and pawn items without much embarrassment. After that, even the head of the household could no longer entertain guests. Zhang San
sighed and didn't argue further.

Because of the trip to the capital, both teachers had to take their leave. In early March, a family banquet was prepared
for the couple to drink and bid farewell. During the banquet, Zhang San wept incessantly. When Third Sister asked him why, he remained silent
. The next day, after packing and disembarking, he asked his son to go with him. His wife remained calm on the road and showed no suspicion.
Just before leaving, he said to his wife, "I'm only taking Zhang Jun and Wen Gui to the capital. You're over
thirty , not young anymore. You mustn't be so careless. We've been husband and wife; I only wish you
a better future. Our son is my son; don't worry about him." He then shed tears again. His
wife said, "A long journey requires good fortune; don't be like this. Once you pass the imperial examinations, you'll have to return home
." Zhang San, the student, and his son disembarked and headed north.

He was worried that carrying so much silver would be inconvenient traveling alone. Upon reaching Zhenjiang, they happened to find a grain ship from Suzhou
heading to the capital . He took Wen Gui, found an empty grain ship, arranged for cabins and official lodging, and boarded at Zhangjiawan.
Including the temple's offerings and rewards, they received a total of ten taels and five mace of silver. Thinking to himself, "Even if I arrive in the capital late, I
'm not well-educated enough to pass the examinations!" he asked when the grain ship would cross the river. The grain ship replied, "In about ten
days. The masts have been erected, and we're waiting for a favorable wind before setting sail." Zhang San, the student, said, "I still need
to pick up my application for the Northern Examination in Nanjing. I wonder if I can wait that long?" The grain ship replied, "We were afraid you'd be impatient,
so we gave a shorter timeframe. It's still early. It will be more secure in twenty days." Zhang San then invited the captain
to an inn, paid one tael and five mace of silver upfront, and signed a contract, agreeing to pay the remaining six
taels on the disembarkation date. Upon arriving in Linqing, he gradually made up the difference. He returned to the ship and temporarily left his son, Wengui,
at a friend's shop, Pan's shop, even storing his luggage in a storeroom. He took Zhang Jun with him and hired
a sedan chair and a donkey overnight to go to Nanjing to pick up his application for the Northern Examination. The journey, including the return trip, took eight days, and they arrived back in Zhenjiang. He
thought to himself, "If the divorce papers are delayed, it will be my wife keeping a lover after all. Besides, Zhang Jun has a wife at home, so he
won't stay with me for long. The grain ships are safe and stable, and we don't need many people to do things for us. I might as well write the divorce papers here and give them to
Zhang Jun to take back. But I don't know what my son thinks. I'll ask him quietly and just say he's just taking a stroll."
He locked the building door, instructed Zhang Jun to look after the place, and took his son and Wen Gui to the west gate, where
they sat down in a quiet teahouse.

Zhang San asked his son, "Do you know if your mother is promiscuous?" The son replied, "Yes, I know. I often
tell my father, but the wet nurse keeps telling me not to. She says something like, 'A son shouldn't speak ill of his mother.'" Zhang San
said, "I've become a bad person, so I packed up three or four thousand taels of silver and went to Beijing to start a new
family business . This good-for-nothing woman has become increasingly outrageous. Later, even your daughter couldn't find
a husband for you. I brought you out here to write a letter of divorce and send Zhang Jun back so she can remarry. Would you
agree?" The son said, "Although I'm only ten years old and don't understand things, every time I go out
, a group of servants point at me and say, 'The little turtle has come out of its hole.' I don't know how much I've suffered. It's not that I'm
a son who doesn't remember his mother's kindness, but I truly don't recognize her as my mother." Zhang San said, "Good, good
son, you have ambition. Don't say anything to Zhang Jun." After eating some fruit and drinking two
pots of tea , he returned home with his money. He wrote a letter of divorce, and also a letter to his two elder brothers. The letter read:

"I, your foolish younger brother, have unfortunately married a woman of questionable character, who is promiscuous and unrestrained. You two brothers are surely aware of this. The reason
I left home for the north before, without daring to bid farewell, was because I had no face to see you two brothers. Now, her own son
also refuses to acknowledge his adulterous mother as his mother. I have already taken him north. I beg you two brothers to give this letter of divorce to her so
that she may quickly remarry. Although my family's wealth has been ruined, I still have several servants. Ah Long has an account,
which I have settled and approved." Out of consideration for our past marital bond, I will still give this woman one hundred taels of silver,
along with her personal clothes and trunk, but she is not allowed to continue living in my residence. The rest of the money is to be kept by
my two elder brothers. If I do not return, it belongs to my two elder brothers; if I do return, they may return whatever amount they wish. Please
consider the family's situation. If she complains, she is also a student and will likely face public scrutiny.
Please remember our brotherly bond in all matters. Words cannot express my feelings.

Having finished writing, I sealed the letter of divorce inside the letters to my eldest and second elder brothers, called Zhang Jun over, and instructed him: "I
will give you one tael of silver for travel expenses. Take a boat to Suzhou tonight and deliver this letter to my eldest and second elder brothers; they have
important matters to discuss. Do not come home first, lest you miss this crucial matter." Zhang Jun obeyed and left. The next day,
Zhang San, a student, packed all his belongings and moved them onto the grain ship. He also received six taels of silver, waiting for a favorable wind
to sail across the river. It was truly a case of:

"The carriage goes east, the horse goes west; the greatest bitterness in life is separation.
Don't speak too much, for regret comes too late."

Now, Zhang Jun arrived in Suzhou by boat. Not daring to disobey his master's orders, he delivered the book to the eldest son's house. Zhang Da opened
the book and read it, then asked, "Where is the Third Master now?" Zhang Jun replied ,
"Still in Zhenjiang." Zhang Da asked, "Did he instruct you on when to come?" Zhang Jun replied, "He didn't mention it when he sent me. I've been wondering about this all the way here, thinking the Third Master no longer needs me. I wonder if the First Master's letter mentioned whether he needs me or not?" Zhang Da said, "He didn't say whether he needs you or not, but something has happened at home. You go back now, and I'll come back after discussing it with the Second Master." Zhang Jun left. Zhang Da called out again , saying, "Wait a moment, let me ask the Second Master to discuss this!" The Second Master arrived immediately, and Zhang Da showed him the book. Zhang Er looked at it and asked, "Has Zhang Jun gone back yet?" Zhang Jun replied, " The Third Master instructed me to deliver the book first before letting me go back. Since I don't have the Lady's book, I dare not go back first." The two brothers discussed for a while in the back hall, and then the clan head was invited. It turned out that the old scholar Zhang was a newly wealthy man. The clan head, wearing only a small cap and a white robe, sat down. The two brothers first explained the situation to him before bringing the book. The clan head said, "I can't read, just tell me ." Zhang Jun, who had been eavesdropping, learned that his master had divorced his mistress. He dared not move, waiting until the three of them had discussed it and come to Xinjia Lane together. Third Sister was drinking with her family in the room when she heard that her two elder brothers had arrived. She was startled and said, " It's been a long time since we last met. What brings you here?" She went out to greet them. The two brothers and the clan head could only bow in greeting.

He repeated what he had said. The third sister-in-law calmly replied, "My lords, he's always
cheating on his wife and frequenting brothels, leaving me alone in my empty room. It's not my fault." The eldest brother-in-law said, "Third
sister-in -law, you're really shameless. Don't blame my brother; your son won't even acknowledge you as his mother, let alone
your husband. My brother even gave you a hundred taels of silver, his clothes, and his trunk. He's a good man
." The third sister-in-law said, "It's not true that my son doesn't acknowledge me. I'm leaving. I just ask that you two
gentlemen take care of my son." Zhang Da said, "Of course, don't worry about it." The third
sister-in-law burst into tears. The clan chief said, "Third Sister, it's your own fault, you can't blame
your husband . Quickly pack your things and go back to your parents' home." Third Sister said, "The letter of divorce is in his own handwriting, no need
to say more. But the clan chief and the two uncles also need to write it on and sign it. I'm not old
, I know I can't keep it." Zhang Da and Zhang Er had no choice but to sign it along with the clan chief and give it to Third Sister,
then they all went into the room.

They told her to pack up the original four large trunks and four leather trunks, and let her
take . They also told A Long to exchange the silver stored in the inn for one hundred taels and give it to Third Sister. Wen Bi and his wife
followed. Zhang Er said, "A Long hasn't paid his bills, he can't go. If he pays his bills,
you can stay at my house, or leave on your own, or follow Third Sister to get married." Zhang Jun and
Zhang En will stay here to guard the house and things, your mother told him to go by himself. Third Sister cried again.
After bidding farewell to the clan chief and his two uncles, she disembarked from the small boat and headed towards the Gu family home in Loumen. This was the harlot's
own doing . Though it was said to be a separation in life, it was a separation in death. Thinking of this sorrowful scene, one cannot help but shed tears. A poem testifies to this
:

"The harlot never loves her husband, only knows how to seek pleasure like bees and butterflies;
Abandoning herself midway is a trivial matter, ask if there is any ending or conclusion."

Now, let's talk about the Third Sister moving to her parents' home, which surprised her brothers. Only for the sake of their parents, and because they coveted what she
had , they stayed. She lived there for half a year. Her deceased father, who had long been involved in collecting rent and lending money, had incurred
the resentment of the villagers. Her second son continued this tyrannical ways, and already had seventy or eighty enemies who reported him to
the provincial fearing implication and disgrace, claimed to be studying in the capital, learning ceremonies at his school, and concealed
his whereabouts by falsifying his records. Gu Er was arrested and brought to justice, but could not withstand the torture and died in prison. Third Sister Zhang simply
opened and became a brothel, acting as Wenbi's husband's purchasing agent and also as a brothel healer. Fearing that staying at her parents' home would
be inconvenient, she rented another house and lived in Yingge Lane, entertaining clients with great fanfare.

Before long, after five or six years of this, she was nearly forty and began to consider
leaving her profession. A client, Scholar Huang Liu, took a liking to her and, thinking she had no madam,
agreed to marry her without a hefty dowry. However, Scholar Huang Liu already had a concubine, a female herbalist, whom even
his first wife feared. How could he tolerate Third Sister Zhang? A fight broke out on their first night together. Third Sister Zhang said, "I'm not some nobody
; I come from a humble family. Everyone knows Zhang San Niang, the Hundred Flowers. Scholar Huang, please take me home properly
, don't cause any trouble." Scholar Huang Liu was at a loss. That day, his group of good friends
each contributed to congratulate her. There was a man named Zou Siguan who was a confidant of Scholar Huang. Huang had no choice but to ask
Zou Siguan if he could stay in an empty building in his house for a while, and then find a place to move to after things were settled. Zou Siguan readily agreed
. Zou Siguan originally lived outside Changmen Gate, in a building near the river. He enjoyed watching the boats come and go
. Scholar Huang hired a small boat that night, took his wife, San Niangzi, and two or three leather trunks, and gave them to Zou Siguan
, asking him to come home with him, saying he would come the next afternoon.

San Niangzi and Zou Siguan arrived at the house together. Zou's wife was very virtuous and welcomed them
in, settling him in the back building. Buying things outside Changmen Gate was very easy, so they quickly laid out wine and food. Zou's wife
sat with him, and San Niangzi said, "No one comes here, and it's nighttime. Why don't you invite Siguan to come and
sit ?" Zou's wife went to speak to him. Zou Siguan came over, and they all drank together. Fearing they might
have some

excused herself and went downstairs. The man and woman drank some more wine. Madam Zou, slightly tipsy, said with a grin, "
I'll have another round tonight. Do you expect me to sleep alone the first night? Fourth Master, you must keep me company tonight!
" Fourth Master Zou replied, "If you hadn't married Huang Liu Lao, I would have been obliged. Now you're my friend's concubine
, how can I allow that?" Madam Zou said, "Judging from today's situation, it's unlikely we'll end up together. Besides,
no one will know, so what's the harm?" Their conversation deepened, and they consummated
their relationship on the bed next to each other.

To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter.

Chapter Seven: Facing Lawsuit, Lust Remains Unquenched; Seeking an Old Flame, Incurable Folly

; Separated by Busy Times, When Leisure Time Comes, I Pick Up My Pen and Write a Love Poem, Unrelated to the Organization. A love affair,
a bond forged in the vastness of the mountains, a familiar face by my side, a karmic entanglement, a bond from a past life.
(From "Remembering Qin'e")

Now, let's talk about the Third Sister, who, after becoming involved with Zou Siguan, and whose wife is virtuous, even
considered abandoning Huang Liuxiu and marrying Zou Siguan. Huang Liuxiu came the next day, still showing some tenderness towards her
, but later, the closer he became to Zou Siguan, the more distant he became from Huang Liuxiu—a natural progression. During their conversation
, Third Sister said to Huang Liu, "Your concubine is so fierce, you might as well let me go! I'm
in my forties , and if I don't find a husband while my looks are still fresh, what will I do when no one wants me?"
Huang Liu asked, "Who do you mean to marry?" Third Sister replied, "I don't care who it is, as long as the wife
is virtuous, I'll marry him." Huang Liu said, "Zou Siguan's wife is the best, what do you think of marrying Zou Siguan?
" Despite all the disagreements, Third Sister thought Huang Liu's words were kind and true, and casually replied,
"Okay! Okay!" Huang Liu was suspicious and said nothing more. He turned and left.

Huang Liu left, and Zou Siguan went home. After San Niangzi said this, Zou Si said, "This is bad
! She clearly admitted she wanted to marry me. There's a thread now, even if it wasn't there. Huang Liu is a clever man; he'll definitely
be suspicious. He might send you away somewhere else soon, or inquire about the situation, which would be undesirable." San Niangzi said,
"He didn't spend much on betrothal gifts to marry me. Besides, his concubine is too ruthless; she can't tolerate me.
It's not that I'm heartless; I'm not afraid of him!" From then on, Huang Liu didn't come for a whole month. Zou
Si only said, "If San Niangzi invites him, tell her you just arrived." San Niangzi ignored him, insisting
he end things. Huang Liu thought to himself, "He's one of the most desirable men in the world; can he really
tolerate ? If I get along well with Zou Si, then it's all good!" So he wasn't very affectionate and went home smugly
.

A few days later, unexpectedly, he hired a boat, brought bedding, and finally arrived at Zou's house at night.
He watched from below the riverbank. It was truly a case of:

"An open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hardest to guard against. "

After listening for a while, he heard no sound. He drank alone in the boat.

Around dusk, he heard the window creak open, and two doors were pushed open. Zou Si's voice came through,
saying, "Good moon, good moon, Third Lady, have you come to see the moon?" A voice inside replied, "Oh, I'm here
." Huang Liu quietly stepped out and stood in the shadows at the bow of the boat, looking up clearly. He saw Zou Si embracing Third
Lady in his arms, looking at the moon, kissing her—how utterly affectionate! Huang Liu didn't call him out yet, waiting to see
what he would do next. After watching for a while, they suddenly heard Third Sister say, "These past two days, that turtle Huang Liu has been
neglected and hasn't come again. But I can't let it go completely; you and I are still having an affair. I
'll sue him for forcibly taking a married woman; he's a scholar, so I doubt he'll dare to stand up for me." Zou Si
said, "If you're willing to show your face and go to the government, I have friends in both prefectures and counties; getting a complaint approved
will be very easy. But how can I allow you to file a complaint in my own home? Wouldn't that damage my friends' reputation?" Third
Sister got angry and said, "I've been tormented by you for over half a year. Now that you want me as your wife,
what do you care about reputation?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Liu's anger rose from his heart, and evil thoughts took hold. He shouted, "You filthy
slut ! I still have your hair in my hand! Are you afraid you'll fly to heaven? You don't need to sue me, I'll sue
you two first. If I don't make you take off your pants and give you a good beating, I, Huang Liu, swear I'm not a man!" Zou
Si saw Huang Liu downstairs and took a step back to hide. The Third Sister chimed in, "Since you married me, are you afraid
that slut at home will embarrass me by sending me to other people's homes? You're shameless!" They cursed each other for
a while. The Third Sister also went upstairs and closed the window. Huang Liu also set sail towards the city gate
, thinking about a plan to file a complaint. He opened the Changmen Gate and entered the city that night to find his brothers to go to the house where the complaint was to be filed and
make arrangements.

Putting aside Huang Liu's complaint, let's talk about Zou Si saying to Third Sister: "Now you have to go to
his house and see what he's up to. Does he think he'll eat you? If he stays at my house, what will happen to this lawsuit?" Third
Sister said: "Alright, alright! I already turned him down. It's only because you tricked me into this situation, making me want to marry you
, that things have come to this. I'll fight this with you, even with my belly full
, that's what makes a hero." Zou Si said: "I didn't file a complaint with him, if..." " If you insist on suing, go to the city
tomorrow and go to Brother Zhang's house, who writes petitions. Ask him to help you write the petition, but there's no witness
." Third Sister said, "Why don't you be the witness?" Zou Si said, "He's probably
suing me too now. How can the defendant be the witness?" Third Sister thought for a moment and said, "There's a Mr. Yang. My
ex-husband's family used to run a business. He's greedy. Let's find him to be the witness." Having made up their minds, Zou Si
asked his wife to prepare some wine and food, and the two drank together. After a few cups, Zou Si got excited and said
, "You've settled things with him and married me. You're my wife now. I'm still Huang Liu's
concubine You can go all out and let me have a good time." Third Sister said, "
We'll be in the city for a few days before the lawsuit starts, so we can't go all out. Let's have a little farewell." The two of them started fighting, and
the fight was really fierce and earth-shattering. There's a folk song to prove it:

"A good woman, she leaps and mounts, lifting her two bare legs, slippery under the straw.
Half-heartedly humming, half-joking, she plays as she pleases, deliberately teasing. Even if she lifts up two girls, they're not good women
, but rather cunning and shrewish, making a fool of themselves, quite a sight."

Now, let's talk about Third Sister's grand performance. Clearly, it was a farewell to Zou Siguan
. She thought there would be a reunion, but little did she know their fate had run its course, and she could no longer enjoy the night. The next day, she called a small boat,
and the two of them , like husband and wife, went to Zhang Da's house to write a petition. They wrote a petition, invited Mr. Yang,
explained the terms of the petition, and entrusted it to Zhang Da to deliver. Zou Siguan wanted Third Sister to stay at Zhang Da's house, but
it was inconvenient for them to sleep together, so he had to return home.

Little did they know that Huang Liuxiu was a litigious man, cunning and shrewd, well-versed in the ways of the yamen. Even after the lawsuit was approved and the
constables arrived, Huang Liuxiu didn't bring the culprit. He learned that Third Sister had gone to the city to file a lawsuit and was staying at Zhang's
house . Zou Si went to the city every day and left every night. The witness was Yang Xiao from the east city, an old,
unambitious scholar. Huang Liuxiu secretly sent someone to invite him, bribing him by saying that Third Sister's marriage
was arranged by Yang Xiao, but Zou Si had abducted him and escaped, only to be caught by Huang Liuxiu, hence the lawsuit. He gave
Mr. Yang two taels of silver, promising eight more if he won the case.

This old Yang was a greedy man, and seeing that Zou Si hadn't given Third Sister any money, and that the food and drink
were only average, his heart changed. He readily agreed and worked for Huang Liuxiu. Huang Liu had
made the arrangements and given the constables three or five taels of silver. They
then took Huang Liu, a scholar, to the court and reported to the magistrate: "Zou Si and Gu Shi have been on the run without success. We've learned they're hiding at Zhang Da's house. Zhang Da is a cunning man, and we dare not
arrest him. We beg Your Honor to issue a decree ordering Zhang Da's arrest for joint trial before we dare to come with you." The magistrate immediately
wrote on the decree: "Arrest Zhang Da for trial." The constables, having received their money and now wanting the defendants
' belongings, rushed to Zhang Da's house like wolves.

Zou Si and Gu Shi had just finished eating when the constables grabbed them and dragged them away. The Third Sister
couldn't even hire a sedan chair. Zhang Da, an acquaintance of the constables, glanced at them and let them go. With no one else around
, they were taken directly to the county seat. The constables settled them in, placing them near the main gate. They reported to the magistrate, who, before the court had even adjourned,
ordered them brought in for trial.

The details are needless to say. As they were being brought in, Mr. Yang was also among them. Zou Si exclaimed in surprise,
"The Gu family's lawyer is another bailiff. Why is our case being brought in under his name?" It
turned out that Huang Liulian, the original bailiff for the Gu family's case, had also been paid and was already working there. Both bailiffs and
both bailiffs were placed on the table. The messenger reported, "Zhang Dayuan is not home. Zou Si and Gu Shi
are said to staying at home." The magistrate remained silent, glanced at the two petitions, and then called to Yang Xiao, "
What do you say?" Mr. Yang replied, "I was originally a teacher. Gu Shi's ex-husband, Zhang Jiansheng, was
my student. Because of Gu Shi's promiscuity, I divorced him and he went to Beijing and hasn't returned for ten years. Gu Shi opened her door to entertain guests
, which was disgraceful. I advised her to settle down and marry Huang Xiucai. I was the matchmaker, hoping that he
would change his ways after he turned forty. Unexpectedly, he committed adultery with Zou Si and ran away. No wonder Huang Xiucai
filed this complaint." The magistrate called Huang Liu over and shouted, "You are a scholar, yet you shouldn't have taken a prostitute as a concubine
. I'll spare you the punishment out of consideration for your scholarly reputation. You only have to pay ten taels of silver to the monk Bantang Muling to repair the banks of the Tiger Hill Pond."

Then he summoned Gu Shi to the court. Without further ado, he ordered her to be dragged away and beaten. He pulled out three scepters and gave her fifteen strokes of the cane.
The bailiffs reported, "Take off your clothes? Or not?" The magistrate replied, "How can I not take off my clothes for adultery
?" The bailiffs, like hawks and swallows, yanked her down, slamming her to the ground. They ripped off her trousers, revealing her
snow-white buttocks. With a shout, they brought down the paddle. But the bailiffs, thinking she was a woman, were weak
and didn't strike hard enough. The young woman, never having been tortured before, was in excruciating pain and stood upright. Her hair
was directly facing the magistrate, who roared, "This vile woman is despicable!
Take her outside the second gate and give her a good beating!" The bailiffs, again like hawks and swallows, dragged her outside the second gate. The young woman, holding up her trousers with one hand
, murmured, "Gentlemen, the officials are far away; please be lenient with me. I will repay your kindness."
The officials agreed. Sure enough, half of the fourteen blows landed on the ground. He was only left with some sore skin,
and after the beating, he was brought back to the courtroom and made to kneel down. The magistrate then called for Zou Si, and berated him, saying, "You scoundrel!
Although she was once a prostitute, she has reformed. You shouldn't have abducted her!" Zou Si was about to argue when
the magistrate pulled out eight scepters and ordered forty strokes of the cane. The bailiffs all pulled them off and gave him a full
forty strokes. After the beating, Zou Si climbed up and reported, "Scholar Huang has taken this woman for free, only because he's jealous of his concubine
. He's keeping Gu Shi at my house; it's not like I conspired to abduct her. If Your Honor charges me with abduction
, I will never confess. Besides, a scholar has two concubines who are both prostitutes, both
taken for free. How could he kindly accuse me on behalf of one of his concubines? Gu Shi doesn't want
to be alone , so she's suing him, hoping for a divorce and remarriage. What does this have to do with me?" "Such a heartless beast, unworthy of heaven
or earth, I beg Your Honor to grant me justice!" The magistrate, however, because Huang Liu was originally from a family that had passed the imperial examinations, had a great deal of influence
with him. He had spoken to the magistrate beforehand and was not pursued further. He could only say, "According to your statement, you said you were staying at your house, but it turns out he
opened the door to thieves? A concubine cannot be sent. How can a concubine of a prostitute who has reformed be sent? Very well, I will only question you thoroughly. If you
have the strength to be flogged, you can be spared penal servitude. Gu Shi did not remain a reformed woman and has been running around. I hereby order the original officer to take her to
be sold by the government." The official price was set at twelve taels. They all wrote confessions, Zou Si bailed them out, and they were all driven out. It is truly said:

Even if one's heart is as hard as iron, though one may flee the government, the law is like a furnace.

Let's not talk about the Third Sister facing legal trouble at home. Now, let's talk about Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, who, with his son, arrived in Beijing and stayed at a place near
the Imperial River Bridge, a place that was neither a restaurant nor a proper inn. He was thinking of finding a partner to open a shop near the front gate, but
he was eager to do so.

Half a month later, the long-absent man had no choice but to go with his friends to Dongjiang Rice Lane to find a young
woman to patronize. There was a madam from Shanxi named Zhao, whose adopted daughter was named Yu Niang, twenty-one years old
, beautiful and dignified, not like someone of prostitution. Zhang San, a student, hosted the trip and
stayed at her house. He returned to his lodgings the next morning. They continued to visit each other for more than six months. The following

February, he was appointed to a position in the Imperial Academy. After serving twenty-four months, he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel and ranked fourth in the civil service examination, qualifying for the position of registrar. Instead of finding a partner to open a shop, he rented a house with five or six rooms
in the Ganshiqiao area to the west , bought some equipment, and used two hundred taels of silver as a dowry to marry Zhao Yu Niang , making her partly his legal wife and partly his concubine, taking care of her at home. His son, who had been tutored and named Zi Zi, studied for two years . He still married the daughter of the Li family, a Suzhou native who owned a shop in Qianmen. Seeing that Yu Niang was respectable, Zhang Ziyi thought to himself, "She's better than my stepmother." He called her "Mother" repeatedly, showing considerable filial piety. A few years later, Zhang Ziyi was seventeen. Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, asked a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for his son, and also bought a maid from the capital to marry Wen Gui. The family was harmonious and looked like a respectable family. But that's another . Now, let's talk about Zhang San's wife. She was brought back by the former official. All the use of the cane was confessed to by the former official . The former official's surname was Gui, and his name was Gui Wen. He was originally a libertine, and that very night he had an affair with San's wife. He thought of helping her out, hoping to establish a long-term relationship. The next day, he went to Huang Liuxiu's house, retrieved a leather trunk he hadn't brought, and went to Zou Si's house to collect the trunks and belongings he had brought . He sold what he could. He also helped him recruit ten friends at the yamen, one tael each, forming a ten-tael money group, totaling twelve taels, which he deposited in the treasury. The treasury manager, also wanting to help the woman, didn't charge him a large sum and gave him the money. Now that he was pregnant again, he asked Guiwen to rent three reopen his business. Although he was over forty and had a seductive appearance, he still had admirers. A-Long, who had gone out the other day, had married a wife who later died, leaving him alone and destitute. He had come to follow San Niangzi, buying things and serving guests. When San Niangzi was free, she would reminisce with him , and they enjoyed each other's company day and night, so he wasn't too neglected. It was just a group of people from the government offices, coming and going, and seven or eight out of ten had patronized him. Even so, he only truly loved the young master surnamed Yu; the others were just for show. There's a Wu folk song to prove it: " The young lady has a brother in her heart, everyone is waiting, when they come they're all second-rate, childless wontons are just noodles, good for a temporary scene, for the sake of romance." Now, let's talk about how Third Sister and Young Master Yu got together. This Young Master Yu knew a few plays, so he seduced Third Sister into playing the leading female role, while he played the young female role. They hired a teacher, Zhu Lianhua, to teach them "The Story of the Secluded Chamber and the New Moon " and "Pan Bizheng Steals the Poem." But it was Young Master Yu playing the leading male role, Third Sister playing the leading female role, and Zhu Lianhua playing Jin'an. Although the music was a bit off-key, it was still exceptionally moving, causing a sensation throughout Suzhou, truly making his door as bustling as a marketplace. Guests came every night, and he drank with everyone every day. Zhang Da and Zhang Er were both gone, and Huang Liu, the scholar, couldn't very well intervene. The Gu family clan were just villagers, and none of them recognized him. This commotion lasted for four whole years. Just now, Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, was chosen to be the registrar of Wen'an County in Shuntian Prefecture. If he hadn't committed his misdeeds, wouldn't he have been a young mistress? That winter, Yu the doorman married a daughter of the Cha family. He, being too old and no longer working as a doorman, moved to the eastern half of the city. He was attracted to her handsome face and her ability to perform acts all night long , like a chicken pecking at its prey, his head bobbing against her vulva, making her feel numb all over and incredibly pleasurable. Thus, the spirit of the third daughter ended up in his body. Yu the doorman also said he was good at seduction, unlike his wife at home. He no longer knew how to lose things. It seemed he was shot dead; he would come to Third Sister's house every ten days, stay for two or three nights, or if something happened at home, he wouldn't come for seven or eight days. In the eastern part of the city, there was a place called Hanjiabin, where a very wealthy student named Gu lived. He was known for his love of wine and women, and frequented brothels. If someone offended him while drunk, he would beat young women. Having heard of Third Sister's reputation , he invited her to his house to see her perform. That day, Student Gu invited several friends who were opera enthusiasts to help him perform two plays. Third Sister repeatedly refused.

He said, "I'm not very good at acting, I only know one or two pieces. It requires the original troupe of Master Yu to perform with me; how could I possibly get along with
others?" Master Gu had no choice but to give up, saying, "I'll invite Master Yu over tomorrow, I must
ask him for guidance ." Everyone took their seats and
drank wine. It was a beautiful full moon, shining directly on the courtyard. They ate until the second watch, and everyone offered their talents by singing. Master Gu repeatedly begged Third Sister to sing a piece, but she refused, saying, "I'll embarrass myself tomorrow
! I only know these few pieces; if I sing them today, how can I sing them again tomorrow?" Master Gu
was somewhat annoyed after drinking. After the banquet, he saw the guests to the door. He saw a beautiful, exceptionally bright moon. This
eastern half of the city was a quiet place, unlike the bustling western half, where people often took young ladies for moonlit walks. Master Gu
became happy and wanted to stroll along the street. Third Sister said, "Excellent! Excellent! Let's go
to Master Yu's house together tonight and arrange to meet him tomorrow, then everything will be settled!" They went out together and walked along the road.

Yu Erguan lived in front of Xuanmiao Temple. It was a two-mile walk from Tianguan Temple to Xuanmiao Temple;
a man wouldn't have dreaded it, but San Niangzi was exhausted. When they arrived at Yu Erguan's house, he wasn't home. San
Niangzi simply sat and waited for him. Gu Jiansheng said, "Do you know if he'll come back? Let's go!
" San Niangzi said, "Let me go in and ask; I don't know where he's gone." When they went in to ask,
they weren't received, only told, "He went to Zhang Sanniang's brothel; he won't be back tonight
. Don't wait for him." Hearing this, San Niangzi came out, determined to go home. She said, "My period
started; I'll come again tomorrow." Gu Jiansheng was furious, his eyes blazing with anger. But he didn't retaliate; he simply
went out with her to San Niangzi's house.

Upon arriving home, she asked, "Has Second Master Yu come yet?" Ah Long replied, "I waited for
quite a while before he left." Third Sister said, "I told you he couldn't wait, he must have gone." Without inviting Gu
Jiansheng and the others inside, she stood blankly in the guest room. Suddenly, Gu Jiansheng reached into Third
Sister's crotch and touched her, then roared angrily, "I haven't had my period! How dare you lie to me? Am I not a high-
ranking official? You dog of a woman, how dare you be so insolent!" He grabbed her hair, threw her to the ground, and began kicking and punching
her . The others could no longer stop her; after a beating, Third Sister even urinated. Only then did they finally calm down.
All the way out, she cursed and cursed like a thousand harlots.

Third Sister was beaten half to death. Ah Long helped her into the room, where she collapsed onto the bed, crying loudly,
"It's all because of my own lack of ambition that I've become such a person. The government has already beaten me, but this thousand-cutting
torture is even more cruel than the government's. I might as well hang myself!" Ah Long tried to persuade her again. She was in excruciating pain,
half-dead . Her friends and the man from the Yu family all came to comfort her. She took a lot of medicine and slept
for two months before she could get out of bed. At this time, she thought of her husband and discussed it with Ah Long: "I still have
about a hundred taels of silver, hidden in the ceiling. Why don't I take a grain ship to Beijing to find my husband?
If won't take me in, I can perform a couple of plays. Although I'm old, I don't feel that old yet, so I'm not afraid
no one in the capital will want me." Ah Long said, "That's excellent. Let me ask the grain ship."

What happened next? Let's find out in the next chapter.

Chapter Eight: Zhang Jiansheng Returns to His Hometown; Zhao Yu'er Willingly Keeps a Quiet Bed.

The willow breeze blows too fiercely, the peach blossom rain is sudden, and the moss is cold. This moment is unbearable, my heart breaks for two or four
nights.
I roll up the mandarin duck quilt, hiding my coral tears. New and old are always changing, how can the withered flowers ever be understood again?
(Bodhisattva's Charm)

Now, let's talk about Zhang San, the Third Imperial Scholar, who, after completing his term as a Third Military Officer in Wen'an County, was promoted to the position of Yingyang Guard Officer in Nanjing. He resigned
from his superior and returned to Beijing. After settling accounts and making arrangements for his family, he traveled south by water. This time, he wouldn't stay at
Ganshiqiao in the west, but instead found a place to stay east of Qianmen. It was near Lu Shilang's residence
, a bustling area. Now a Beijing official, he inevitably visited relatives and friends in Suzhou, visiting
various shops and general stores, including satin shops, silk shops, and shops selling fans and combs

. One day, he visited a satin shop owned by a man surnamed Xu. The owner wasn't home; an old servant received the invitation
. Seeing the official in a gauze hat and green collar, riding a horse, he didn't recognize him at all. However, Zhang San, a student,
recognized him as the old steward from the other day, the one who had been traveling between the shops. He then asked, "Do you recognize me? You've
grown quite old." The old servant thought for a moment before laughing and saying, "So it's Master Zhang San! Congratulations!
Congratulations! You've become an official." Master Zhang San called him aside and asked, "Are the ladies and my sister
here?" The old servant replied, "That year, when we invited you,
Master Zhang San, you didn't come. My husband, the high-ranking official Xu, went home, and some people spread rumors, causing a commotion at home for over ten days. He then betrothed my sister to a newlywed scholar, Master Peng. But
on the very first night of the wedding, the groom woke up in the middle of the night, saying she was a broken pot and ran
away. His father, also an old scholar, threatened to sue and make a scene the next day, forcing my sister to return
home. He refused to give her back to my family. The high-ranking official was very embarrassed and gave his two ladies and sister..." "Sister, you've all been beaten.
She said , 'I'm thirty-eight years old, and I still have no son, only this daughter. I was hoping she'd marry and become
a son-in-law. Now that I've been so disgraced, what good family would want to marry you?' There was no other way, so my husband
sold our house, took the family, and boarded a dragon-cloth boat to the capital. Two or three years later
, we finally got a small shop. The Lu family lost their wife, so they married you as their second wife, and last year they had a daughter
." Zhang San, the student, said, "Times change, things change so much, it's lamentable! It's lamentable! This afternoon, go
to Lu Shilang's place and ask about the newly promoted Nanjing magistrate, Master Zhang. I still want to reward you, and I also need to trouble
you with something; don't break your promise." The old servant said, "I will definitely come to Master Zhang's house this afternoon." It was truly:

A floating leaf returns to the vast sea; where in life do we not meet again?

It turned out that Zhang San, the student, was only uneasy because he had defiled the daughter of the high-ranking official Xu. The old servant, having received
a small reward, relayed the message to the young ladies. He asked his son's father-in-law, Mr. Pu, to act as matchmaker, proposing
a marriage between the two-year-old daughter of the Lu family and his son's newly adopted grandson. Mr. Pu, along with the Xu and Lu
families, all owned shops in the capital and met daily. The high-ranking official Xu was unaware that this was none other than the wayward Zhang San, the Imperial Academy student
, who had become his lifelong partner. Only Zhang San, the Imperial Academy student, and the four ladies and daughter of the Xu family truly understood each other
. They were busy with this marriage for over a month.

They were about to head to Zhangjiawan to find a boat to return south, but the official boats were inconvenient, and hiring a boat themselves was risky
, so they delayed for several days. Then, the first grain ships from Suzhou arrived, and Ah Long inquired at the front gate, finding
the Xu family's shop. He had someone lead him to Zhang San's place, and was delighted to find him at home. Ah Long kowtowed
and stood up. Zhang San, the student, said, "I've been away from home for over twenty years, and you haven't sent a single letter
to inquire about the master's well-being. What brings you here today?" Ah Long first explained that his elder and second masters had expelled him
, leaving him to wander far from home. Then he gradually began to tell the story of his third daughter's reformation and her search for her husband and the high-ranking official.
" That's it." Zhang San, the student, roared, "I've already divorced her! I've heard she's a prostitute, disgracing her parents and brothers
. What kind of worthless thing is she? Who gave you, my servant, the right to bring her to Beijing?" A-Long knelt down again and said, "
My eldest and second masters passed away last year. I refused to come with them, so they tried to manipulate me. I said that if the master
didn't take me in, I would go back." Zhang San ordered the eldest master to be brought out, but Zhang Ziyi didn't recognize
A-Long. Seeing her young master come out, A-Long knelt down and kowtowed. Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, said to his son, "
My father and I have been away from home for a long time, all because of your mother's promiscuity. Unexpectedly, your eldest and second uncles have passed away one after another, and my
property has been scattered. Of the three brothers, two have died of illness; how can this not be painful? Moreover, your mother, who was promiscuous
, could no longer stay in Suzhou and took a grain ship to the capital. I have severed all ties of duty and will not take her in.
I wonder what you think?" The son replied, "I remember an old saying: 'A mother who leaves the temple is cut off from her husband.'
If the father doesn't acknowledge her, the son naturally won't either. Perhaps you and I can both help with travel expenses so he can return on
the same grain ship." Zhang San said, "My father and I are now heading south to take up our posts. He will
find peace and quiet in Beijing." Whether he returns south or not is none of my concern. Besides, my divorced wife is no longer part of my family
. Fine! Take out thirty taels of silver, consider it yours and his." He told Zizi to get the silver,
and then called Ah Long over, instructing him: "Take this thirty taels of silver for his travel expenses. Whether he returns
or not is none of my concern. Just don't say that she is my divorced ex-wife. Young master, you must maintain your dignity. If
you say she is my ex-wife, whether in Suzhou or Beijing, I will definitely send you to the authorities and have you
executed for adultery. Women will be driven to despair. Even if you don't say she is my ex-wife, no matter what bad things you do, she
is no part of my family." Zizi took out the silver and handed it to his father. Zhang San, the student, had it sealed,
wrote down the amount, and gave it to Ah Long to take. He also instructed: "You are not allowed to come to my door again. Now that I am
an official, I will send you to the military headquarters and have you beaten half to death." Ah Long hurriedly agreed and left. A
poem testifies to this:

A prodigal son repents and starts a family, but alas, a promiscuous woman clings to
the pleasure quarters; Her dealings with her son and mother are not wrong, abandoning licentiousness is never a bad thing.
Let the storms rage on as they may, I return home, happy to have my official career;
From now on, north and south will diverge, I'll leisurely retire from the cold office.

Now, Ah Long, having taken thirty taels of silver, returned to Zhangjiawan and boarded the grain ship, recounting his entire story
from beginning to end. Third Sister said, "If he won't take me in, am I afraid I'll have nowhere to go? If
I had followed the rules a little, I'd be a mistress by now. I wonder which scoundrel has become a mistress
so easily ?" Ah Long said, "I was ordered by my master not to ask a single question and rushed here.
I said whether we go back or not was up to you, just don't say it's Zhang Third Sister. What do you think now? Whether
we go to the city or not, decide quickly." Third Sister said, "I'm already forty-six years old, and I haven't been a concubine
for long. I'll marry you and that will be my lifelong commitment. But..." "Earning more silver
is not a long-term solution; it's just sitting around eating away at our savings. I know a few plays, and my singing is decent. Let's have you as my husband,
and you as my wife. We'll move to the city and find a teacher to learn some opera, and you can learn to play the drum and clapper.
If a good man comes along, we'll take him in; otherwise, we won't keep the ordinary ones. We can make a living by performing for a few years. By the time we're over fifty
, you'll be in your forties. With a horse and a saddle, you won't be lonely
. How about we become husband and wife tonight?" Ah Long said, "That would be great, but if you get too close to someone else, I'll be jealous.
" Third Sister said, "There's no need for jealousy between husband and wife. But what should we call each other now?" Ah Long said, "
My surname is An. I'm a descendant of An Lushan, who drifted to the south. Since you're marrying me, you
can be called Third Sister An." That night, they bought three sacrificial animals. The two shameless people bowed to heaven and earth
. They made their marriage on the boat, and used five coins of silver to buy wine and food on the boat.

The two men drank and ate heartily in the cabin, becoming thoroughly drunk. It was early July, still warm, and
they were both naked. They pulled a mat from the bed and spread it on the deck. Ah Long pushed the woman down
and, drunk, ejaculated into her. With each thrust, a gush of fluid flowed freely. One, oblivious to the consequences
, was relentlessly pursuing the other. The woman moaned and cried out, oblivious to the hundred people
walking around the boat. No prostitute in history could rival him. Though she was destined for
such philandering, his wild abandon kept everyone on the boat asleep until the second watch, and the two men sobered up. They got up,
drank a few more cups of cold wine, and went to bed.

The next day, they returned the money owed to the grain ship. They hired a carriage and entered the city. Fearing that Zhengyang Gate
was near Zhang San's residence, they entered through Shuncheng Gate instead. They first found a restaurant to rest, and asked the owner
to find them a room the next day. They found one near a gathering place for actors, and hired a teacher to teach San Niangzi opera and
A Long drumming. Later, San Niangzi learned some miscellaneous operas, and A Long learned drumming. They joined the Zheng Huang family troupe
and did business for two or three years. However, because San Niangzi was taken advantage of too often, one day she suddenly
experienced lower abdominal pain, and within a week, she died. She was originally a daughter of a good family, and
married into a good family, but because of a single wrong thought, and without repentance, she ultimately fell into depravity.
Therefore , her life ended in regret, and she died far from home. A poem testifies to this:

"Women's promiscuity has been known since ancient times, and they must always restrain their bodies and minds;
It was only because her husband was young and foolish, that he learned to think and desire for satiation."
Zhang Lang and Li You gathered for pleasure, letting the yin bathe in the yang;
their extraordinary debauchery lasted only twenty-odd years, leaving a warning for the ages.

Now they had lost their first adulterous woman. Now, Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, because hiring a boat was inconvenient, discussed it with
his relative and hired four mule sedan chairs, with six mules for his men and women, and set off south
. The first night, they left the city late and, after traveling a short distance, stayed at Changdian. Although it was a small place
, during the Wanli era, the people were peaceful and the land prosperous; even a wealthy man with large luggage could rest anywhere without
the disturbance .

In the middle of the night, Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, dreamed that he was in the City God Temple in the capital, going up to the hall to kowtow. The City God
said, "Zhang, because you have reformed and stopped indulging in lewdness, I will not reduce your official rank or deprive you of
food and clothing, only shorten your lifespan by ten years. Being an official is not very fulfilling. After you take office,
you and your son should be admitted to the prison according to regulations. With a small career, you can preserve your family's property. Some of the family's land
is still managed by your nephew. Next year, quickly request to return home due to illness. After a year of preparations, you will pass away
. Zhao Yu'er is your wife; there is no need to worry about her remarrying." Zhang San, the student, kowtowed and thanked him, then suddenly
awoke, realizing it was all a dream. That night, he told Zhao Yu'er. The next day, he also told his son, Zhang Ziyi
, who was greatly surprised.

Enough of the idle chatter along the way. Upon arriving at Huangjiaying, they crossed the Yellow River and hired two boats at Qingjiangpu.
The boat carried him all the way to Yizhen County. However, due to the lack of official connections, no yamen runners came to fetch him. He hired a riverboat himself
, and with a favorable wind, he moored at Shuixi Gate. Taking advantage of the proximity, he rented a house near Shuixi Gate
and settled his family there. He chose an auspicious day to take up his post. Not long after, he prepared the necessary
paperwork for paying the required donations in Shangyuan County, and paid the donations for his son, Zhang Ziyi. Before receiving his official appointment from the capital, he went to the Imperial Academy, met with the Chancellor and
Instructor, and began his official duties. Although his writing was poor, he was generally presentable and respected by others. He served for
half a year.

Suddenly, Zhang Ziyi, a student of the Imperial Academy, had the idea of returning home. He submitted
a document to the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate stating: "I am old and ill, requesting retirement." The Ministry of Personnel checked his age and appearance records and found him to be only in his fifties, still strong and healthy
, and refused to grant him a medical certificate. Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, pleaded with a fellow graduate in the Ministry of Personnel and
a fellow townsman, and only after repeated requests were they granted permission to submit a petition, which was then forwarded to the Ministry of Personnel in Beijing. Zhang San also obtained a temporary leave of absence for
his son at the Imperial Academy and prepared to return to Suzhou. He hired porters to carry the carriage and horses.
From Jurong and Baiyu, all the way to Danyang, he disembarked. Although he was a minor official, it was still a pleasant journey.
A song from the Imperial Garden testifies to this:

"Officials and officials, their faces gleaming, children sing praises by the pond, villagers and women are all amazed, and those around them all
obey. In the carriage, embroidered with bird-feathered silk, a face radiant with spring breeze.

" Zhang San arrived in Suzhou, and his boat docked at Changmen. Thinking of his ancestral home in Xinjia Lane, where his wife had
humiliated him , he felt embarrassed. He first sent someone to inform his first and second wives. It turned out that the eldest son's line had died out, leaving only
two sons from the second son's family. The elder son was adopted into the
eldest son's family, while the younger son continued the family line, and they lived together. The eldest son's house was inhabited only by his adoptive mother, who was about sixty years old. The two brothers went to the boat at Changmen and met
Zhang San, a scholar, along with Zhao Yuniang and Zhang Ziyi. Everyone was saddened. They invited their third uncle to
the eldest son's old residence at Nancang Bridge to settle his family and make further arrangements. Zhang San arrived at the eldest son's house and met his widowed
sister-in-law. An ancient poem testifies to this:

"I left home young and returned old, my accent unchanged, my hair gray;
Children I meet don't recognize me, laughing, they ask, 'Where do you come from, stranger?'"

A few days later, the two nephews returned all the accounts held at the inn. They said that
the father without settling the accounts. Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, said, "Thanks to my two brothers for managing things for me, I have
n't been ruined by that wicked woman. And what's this talk of interest?" He then sold the house in Xinjia Lane, wrote down all
the accounts, and handed them over to his son, Zhang Ziyi. He instructed him, "I see you don't patronize prostitutes
or engage in any improper activities. You're not only unlike the son of a harlot,
but
you're even more like me. It's just that in my youth, my blood was still hot, and I was corrupted by a tutor, almost losing my life and my family. Luckily, I reformed myself and didn't end up destitute. You're not good at starting businesses, but you're good at maintaining them. Just be careful and protect the family. Even if I were a minor official
, it would be easier for me in the capital, so I did some business, but I never made any money. You must never have such
thoughts." Zhang Ziyi knelt and accepted the lesson. From then on, he and his wife managed the household. Zhang San and
Zhao often hired a small pleasure boat to go to various places around Tiger Hill and Guanyin Mountain for entertainment.

More than a year later, Zhang San, a student of the Imperial Academy, suddenly fell ill. Medicine proved ineffective, and he knew his time was short. He called to his son and
daughter-in-law, and with tears in his eyes, instructed them: "I have been a poor husband, wandering the world. Only because of my ill fate have I been able to
return home
, and my happiness will not last long. Your stepmother, Zhao, though from Qingxi, seems to be chaste. You and your husband must treat her as your own mother. She is over forty and has no relatives in the south. A little filial piety is as good as
filial piety towards me. My grandson is seven years old and should be taught by a tutor. But choosing a tutor is of utmost importance; if the tutor
is unworthy , it will only bring trouble. Secondly, my granddaughter-in-law breastfeeding is not a long-term solution. We are not a poor family
; what harm is there in hiring a wet nurse? For now, this one is fine. From now on, regardless of gender, once a child is born, we will have a wet nurse
. Raising a few good sons for your grandfather will make me happy even in death." He then called to his two nephews and
gave them instructions. He then spoke to Zhao Yuniang several times, and at midnight, he passed away.

Zhang San was originally a good Zhang San, foolish in his youth but not simple-minded in his
old age; A single thought of reformation

brings forgiveness from Heaven, a virtuous wife and filial son are truly admirable. It is said that Zhang Ziyi's father died, and the funeral
was held with all the proper rites. His father-in-law, Old Official Pu, happened to be returning south to buy goods and had already paid his respects. He then said to his daughter, "Your mother and sister-in-law miss you dearly. You
were born in Beijing, why not persuade your husband to transfer to a government office in Beijing? It would be like having a deceased relative with some capital, allowing him
to open an official shop near Qianmen in Beijing. It wouldn't be a waste of their wealth, and they could even get a small official position. At least my
son could call her 'Grandma,' that would be good." Pu told her husband this in bed. Zhang Ziyi
, originally born in Suzhou but raised in Beijing, immediately agreed.

He had scraped together seven or eight thousand taels of silver, and entrusted all household affairs to his stepmother,
preparing to travel to the capital by official boat in February or March of the following year. He left Old Man Pu behind in Suzhou. He had prepared two thousand taels
of silk and satin beforehand.

Time flew by, and the New Year passed, and spring arrived in the blink of an eye. However, because his mourning period was not yet over, he could not
travel south . He was appointed to a position at the Imperial Academy to study in the north, and went directly to Beijing with Old Man Pu. He left Zhao Yuniang
at home, lonely and miserable.

But because she had truly reformed and had no more evil thoughts, she now
had as well as two or three maids of various ages. She was extremely kind to others but extremely strict in managing her household. Normally cheerful, she
was always happy, but when serious matters arose, she would become stern and her smile would vanish. At night,
she slept alone in an empty room, with her maid, Pianyun, telling her to sleep in the inner room. Before dusk had settled, she ordered everyone to turn off their lights and go to sleep
. Only in her own room was there a single oil lamp lit. Pianyun thought to himself, "Why won't I sleep in my room
? Could it be that the young mistress is up to something?" That night, he secretly climbed up to the roof and looked down, but there was no
movement . The next night, when he climbed up again, he saw Zhao Yuniang sitting under the lamp, sighing a few times. Suddenly,
she opened her leather trunk, took out a cloth bag, and opened it to reveal a shiny object, about seven or eight inches long, made of some unknown material
. She then untied her skirt, sat naked on the drunken chair, and put the object inside
. She pulled her fingers in and out, humming and moaning. After half an hour, her eyes closed,
and she stopped breathing. She dazed for a while, then woke up groaning, "Joy! Joy!" Pianyun was so
captivated by the sight that he fell down with a loud thud. Zhao Yuniang hurriedly put the object back into the bag, without even
drying it. There's a hanging branch as proof:

A hard-hearted woman yielded to the world and became a concubine, her luck far from being pleasant. Who knew Zhang Sanlang
would first abandon her, leaving her restless and sighing constantly.
Even if she were to take Mr. Jiao as her husband, she'd only be met with disdain by the young maid.

This Zhao Yuniang remained steadfast in her empty room, devoid of any lust. Not to mention her family and the nephews of the first and second wives.
He was respected so much that even outsiders spoke of his unwavering loyalty, sighing, "How rare! How rare!" Unexpectedly,
the girl Pianyun relayed Mr. Jiao's words to a cook, and the story gradually spread. Some
laughed at him. Those who didn't know the truth sighed, "Poor thing! Poor thing! This alone clearly shows he's a
devoted widow." Zhang Ziyi, in Beijing, heard of his chastity at home and respected him even more. He frequently sent
letters home, and his mother and mother were extremely grateful, no longer daring to neglect him in the slightest. He was
vastly different from the woman who raised him, the Third Sister.

Eighteen years later, Old Master Pu passed away. Zhang Ziyi then closed his official shop, carefully taking his wife
back to Suzhou to live out his remaining years.

(End of "Drunken Spring Breeze")

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