Gu Wangyan [Complete] - 13

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Chapter Eleven: Huan'e's Lustful Scheme Subdues the Fierce Wife Hou, Alleviating Her Jealousy, and Gifts a Beautiful Maid .

The eleventh chapter, "Dull Old Man's Ramblings,"

states:
Huan'e is a foolish creature, yet he possesses considerable cunning in this area. Hou, though fierce and monkey-like, still falls into his trap. Initially, he is eager, gaining the pleasure of the beautiful woman; ultimately, he is subdued, gaining her replacement. Isn't Huan'e even more monkey-like? You Hungong taught him for years, yet he never mastered a single copy of the *Three Character Classic*. Si Fu, in just a few nights, taught him to be so clever; truly worthy of the title "teacher," demonstrating the importance of choosing a good teacher.

Tong Zida's erotic works never had a chance to be innovative, but Huan'e was the first to imitate them—a truly ingenious idea.

Xiang Gu's marriage to Ma Tai was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. Had she married someone like Niu Geng, wouldn't this clever and lustful woman be another Qi Jie? As for stealing from the old monk, it seems predetermined. Isn't the character "Xiang" (fragrant) composed of the characters "He" (grain) and "Ri" (sun)? Some say: the character for "fragrant" (香) is composed of "sweet" (甘) instead of "sun" (日), making this argument somewhat forced. I laughed and said: not only is the character for "sun"

(日) used in modern writing, but "sweet" (甘) also means delicious, so it's better. Ma Tai's marriage to Xiang Gu implicitly conveys the saying "a clever wife often sleeps with a clumsy husband," a lament for the mismatched pairing of a beautiful woman throughout history. However, Ma Tai was too foolish, and Xiang Gu seemed too embarrassed. Yet, later, she greatly benefited from his foolishness; as the saying goes, "a loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

" The episode where Xiang Gu seeks out maids and servants reflects the real displeasure of the mistress with her servants. The portrayal of these ignorant and wicked servants perfectly captures the petty nature of men, truly embodying the term "lackey."

Ma Shiying was actually born to a Miao maid, not to be disgraced. As for the affairs of Jian Shi, A Dai, and Ma Tai, although these are all fictionalized by the author, Ma Shiying's actions, even if they disgraced his ancestors, would not have been enough to atone for his sins, let alone the disgrace he inflicted on himself and his wife and children. Traitors and rebellious officials deserve to be punished by everyone. Anyone with a heart of loyalty and righteousness will surely rejoice upon reading this.

The section about Hou Jie's mission, if not mentioned at all, would be an omission, as we only see his name at the beginning and then know nothing of his whereabouts. Now, by including it, not only is Hou Jie not forgotten, but Wei Zhongxian is not forgotten either.

Nowhere in the world is more remote than Yunnan and Guizhou. Many people have visited other places and can still describe their customs and traditions. But in Yunnan and Guizhou, very few have actually traveled there. Even if they have, they may not be able to record their experiences. Now, this detailed account allows the reader to experience a virtual journey from the moment they open the book—a truly delightful experience. Furthermore, the inclusion of this section also serves a purpose. Like a play interrupted by a dramatic interlude of singing and dancing halfway through, it provides a refreshing break before the actors return, making the experience even more interesting.

Liu Wentao and Wang Shizhen were real people, and their deeds were true. Although unrelated to this biography, their karmic retribution is evident, hence their inclusion as a stark reminder to those who betray their principles.

Chapter Eleven: Huan E's Lustful Scheme Subdues His Fierce Wife, Hou Shi, Alleviating

Her Jealousy and Giving Away a Beautiful Maid. Appendix: The Bald-

Hearted Envoy Enjoys His Beauty; The Imperial Envoy Travels to a Foreign Land. It is said that Huan E returned from Qian Gui's house. Upon arriving home, he dismounted and hurried to the main room. Seeing Qian Gui's dashing and handsome appearance, he was greatly aroused. He saw Hou Shi already undressed on the bed, leaning against the pillow, half-covered by the quilt. Huan'e approached and said, "Grandma, you're still not asleep?" Hou Shi replied, "Where have you been all day? Why are you only coming back now? I've been waiting for you." Hearing this, Huan'e hurriedly took off his clothes, saying, "Brother Jia invited me to dinner today and wouldn't let me go, so I only just got back." He then got into bed and embraced her, saying, "I'm being affectionate, don't be upset." Hou Shi laughed, "You're so affectionate, why am I upset?" Huan'e said, "The other day, Brother Tong invited me to dinner, and he had a book in his study. I opened it and saw it was all about men and women having sex. I memorized a few positions; let's see if it's interesting. You should follow my lead." Hou Shi nodded with a smile. Huan'e lifted the covers, propped up her buttocks, turned her around, and performed a thrusting motion, penetrating her a few times. Hou Shi said, "It's not going all the way in, and it's not satisfying enough." She told him to try another position. Huan'e then helped Hou Shi up, laid her on the pillow, and performed a thrusting motion. Hou, finding it unsatisfying, lay down, stretched out her legs, and begged him to mount her. Huan E said, "I've done this thousands of times, it's all so boring now. It'd be fresher if you mounted me and we did a little something." Hou, at this point, let him do as he pleased, turning around without resisting. Huan E lay on his back, raising his buttocks, and told Hou to straddle him, aiming his penis at him and thrusting in fully. He then thrust twice more, leaving only his testicles outside, barely enough space. Hou felt a tingling, itchy sensation against her clitoris, a pleasure she had never experienced before. Huan E held her waist with one hand and her buttocks with the other, while Hou also braced herself with his hands. Together they thrust, moving up and down, one coming down, the other meeting, each thrust never leaving her clitoris. After a long while, Hou climaxed. She leaned down, put her tongue into Huan E's mouth, and smacked it for a while. Having enjoyed the pleasure, he rested for a moment, then his lust returned, and he resumed his activities. Huan E, having already seen her alluring figure at Qian Gui's house, was already aroused. Now, his passion had subsided, and he could no longer control himself, his penis gushing forth. It gradually shrank. Hou Shi, in the midst of her pleasure, suddenly realized her manhood was gone. She touched it and found it limp and lifeless, like a madwoman. She asked, "How did you end up like this while we were doing it?" Huan E replied, "I've already ejaculated, I can't go on." Hou Shi, her lust still raging, was unwilling to stop. She could only straddle him and try to stimulate him in every way possible, but he wouldn't come. In her haste, Hou bit him on the head, cursing, "You heartless bastard, are you deliberately trying to make me hard?" Huan'e said, "How could I do anything to you? It won't get hard, so there's nothing I can do." Hou said, "What should we do? Do you have a way to make it hard?" Huan'e said, "There's a wonderful method, but you have to plead with it. Maybe it will get hard." Hou pinched him and laughed, "With all these tricks, how can I plead with it?" Huan'e said, "I heard people say that if this thing goes soft, it's hard to get it up again. You have to smack it with your mouth to make it hard." Hou glanced at him and said, "It's all dirty from being in there for a while, how can you smack it? Don't be impatient." "I'm so angry, I'll just bite it off!" Huan'e laughed. "If you want to bite, I can't say anything. Since you think it's dirty and won't sip it, and I can't reach it myself, there's nothing I can do." Hou Shi got anxious and said, "The other day you loved Jiao Hua and peeked at him urinating. Tell him to come and sip it for you." Huan'e said, "No, no, I was just caught off guard the other day and got a beating. If I ask him to sip it today, I'll break every bone in my body. No, I can't do that. My life is more important than my shoulder bone." Hou Shi chuckled and slapped him, scolding, "You rascal, always talking nonsense. I can't call him, you call him here."

Huan'e was just about to fall asleep when he heard her call and went to the bedside. Huan'e grabbed her delicate hand and tried to pull her onto the bed. The maid saw that Hou Shi was awake and struggled to escape. Huan'e, grinning, held her back. Hou said, "Just come on up, what's all this fuss about?" The maid, obeying her mistress's command, dared not disobey and climbed onto the bed. Huan'e, holding his penis, laughed and said to her, "I'm letting you try something new. You savor this thing for me."

The maid, still a virgin, had never seen this strange object before and turned her head away. But this thing, every man has it, what are its three strange features? It has never been shaved; its head is even shinier than a monk's. It has no bones; its back is even harder than a wealthy man's. It has never seen the sun; its face is even darker than a long-distance traveler's. When the maid first saw this monster, she thought it was a Zen monk, yet it had a full beard. She thought it was a monk with a beard, yet it had no eyes, ears, nose, or tongue. She thought it was a Taoist priest, yet it was bald and without a Taoist hat. She thought it was a big-nosed Hui Muslim, yet its beard was never cut. Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment, as if she were furious at this monster. She turned her face away, ignoring him. Madam Hou, eager to get him hard so she could do her thing, saw him not only refusing to join in but also acting this way, and angrily scolded, "You little slut, I kindly invited you to try something new, and you act like this! Don't expect a good beating!" The maid was also eager to try it out, but upon closer inspection, she wasn't sure what kind it was. She was afraid her mistress would be jealous, so she feigned shyness, not wanting to refuse her advances. Now, seeing her mistress's insistence on inviting her to the table and her anger towards the guest, she lowered her pink neck, parted her red lips, and, with one hand grasping his penis and the other encircling his scrotum, took the glans into her mouth like a child suckling. Upon closer inspection, one could see that this purple-fleshed flute had no openings; it could only be tasted but not made a sound, and the two small breasts were actually wrapped in walnut shells. Indeed:

Without seeing its strange shape, how could one know this thing was new?

Huan E was often captivated by this girl, who was far more beautiful than Hou Shi. He would often glance at her a few times, fearing his grandmother would become suspicious, and asking for a kiss seemed impossible. Now, with her acting so coquettishly, how could he not be aroused? In no time, his manhood sprang up, exceptionally hard. Hou Shi, who had been enjoying herself, suddenly stopped. Just as she was feeling distressed, seeing the two of them acting like this, she became even more anxious, her buttocks twisting wildly. Huan E, seeing her pitiful yet amusing distress, said, "I'm coming." Hou Shi, hearing this, quickly lay on her back, her legs straight up like two pheasant fans, her red cleft exposed, waiting for him to penetrate her. Huan E thrust in, holding her tightly, and said to the delicate flower, "You're not allowed to go in, but you can push my buttocks from behind. It'll help me push harder." The girl, also wanting to witness this scene, complied and pushed forward with all her might. Hou Shi was impatient; her buttocks bounced wildly, and with Jiao Hua pushing her from behind, each thrust felt real. She felt she had never experienced such pleasure since marrying her husband. After a while, Hou Shi suddenly cried out, "Oh, that's enough, I've lost it!" Her face was flushed, her nose and lips were pale, her eyes were closed and her mouth was open, her legs fell down, her hands were scattered on the mattress, her limbs were limp, her whole body was numb, and she fell fast asleep. Seeing this, Huan E knew she was in extreme pleasure. She gently pulled out, hugged Jiao Hua tightly, kissed her several times, and whispered, "Sweetheart, I've missed you for so long, hurry up and do it."

The girl was fifteen or sixteen years old and had long been aware of the situation. She had never dared to think about it because of her mistress, but now, seeing this scene, she was overwhelmed with desire and her lust was boundless. Although she pretended to refuse, she smiled and let her master undress and take off his pants without resistance. Huan E laid her down, climbed on top of her, felt for the key point, and thrust straight in. He penetrated most of it at once. The girl was still a virgin, and Huan'e, having longed for her for so long, was overjoyed and forgot she was a virgin. Suddenly, the girl jumped up in pain, tears welling in her eyes, but dared not make a sound, lest she disturb her mistress.

At first, when the girl was sucking him, although she tasted the strange flavor in her mouth, she didn't yet know what the sensation was like in her lower orifice, but she felt very aroused. Later, seeing the mistress's intense activity and the way she was enjoying herself, she thought it would be a pleasurable experience. Firstly, she was careless, and secondly, she hadn't expected him to be so vigorous and direct. She then realized that this fruit was spicy at first and sweet later. The beginning wasn't pleasant. Fortunately, seeing that there was a lot of clear fluid flowing from her vulva during their pleasure, and Huan'e's penis was soaked in Hou's vaginal fluid, both were still slippery, so she wasn't in a mess. Seeing that she had suffered, Huan'e felt both pity and love, and thus gently and tenderly began to work on her with a gentle, grinding motion. Although the girl hadn't yet experienced pleasure, it wasn't as bitter as before. It was just like this:

her delicate form unaccustomed to wind and rain, she needed the protection of the spring breeze.

After a while, she felt a little sweetness. They kissed and smacked their lips; Huan'e's penis was inside her vagina, and her tongue entered Huan'e's mouth, and from then on, they touched and copulated each other. Just as they were getting intimate, Hou Shi suddenly woke up. She wasn't actually sleepy; because she felt completely relaxed and extremely happy, she had unconsciously drifted off to sleep. Therefore, she woke up not long after, and Huan'e was gone. She looked down and saw the two of them doing it. Even sleeping in bed was unacceptable, but how could she allow others to do such things? Jealousy welled up inside her, and she cursed, "How dare you! What have you done!" She jumped up, slapped Huan'e twice, and reached for the girl. Seeing the fierce situation, the girl didn't even have time to put on her pants. She rolled off the bed with her bare bottom exposed, scraping the skin off her knees. Fearing that her mistress would grab her and bite her, she endured the pain, got up, and ran outside. The matriarch, Hou, was about to get out of bed to chase after her, but Huan'e held her tightly, saying, "Madam, firstly, the wind has chilled your body, and secondly, it's none of his business, please forgive him." Hou slapped him, saying, "You did such a daring thing behind my back, and you still dare to plead for the girl?" Huan'e said, "How could I dare to hide it from you? How could I dare to plead for the girl? I originally wanted to have a good time with you, but you were asleep, and I didn't dare disturb you. My thing was so swollen and uncomfortable, so I had no choice but to use it to relieve the heat. And you hit me!" Hou angrily said, "You still argue with me!" and raised her hand to slap him again. Huan'e smiled obsequiously, "It's all my fault. At first, I wanted to do it with him, but he was afraid of you and refused no matter what. I had to force him to do it. It really had nothing to do with him. If you hit him, wouldn't I be the one who harmed him? Think about it, if I had any ulterior motives towards him, would I dare to do it so boldly next to you? If you doubt that I'm lying, look at this thing of mine, it's still swollen like this." Hou looked down and sure enough, that thing was still standing there. She grabbed it with a smile and scolded, "You strange thing, one moment it's soft like cotton, you won't get hard no matter what. The next moment it's hard and you act like this, always wanting to eat and then wanting to eat again." Seeing that he wasn't very angry, Huan'e felt that things could still be resolved. Without saying another word, he laid him down, spread his legs, and thrust into him from between. After another round of intense lovemaking, he finally fell asleep. This time, Hou was completely intoxicated, and all her previous anger had vanished. She fell into a deep sleep, snoring loudly.

Huan'e, recalling her earlier encounter with Jiaohua, exclaimed happily, "My wish of the past few years has finally been fulfilled today! How can I not have a good time with her?" She glanced at Hou Shi, who was already fast asleep, and thought, "He only cares about himself and won't give me a moment's rest. Just now, I was getting a little excited with the maid, and he got jealous. I'll definitely subdue him before I can have a good time with that maid." She

had made up her mind. The next morning, as she was about to leave, she saw Wu He come in, his face covered in sweat and panting. Huan E, seeing him, asked, "Where have you been? You're so out of breath." Wu He replied, "There's some news outside that I've come to tell you. Would you be interested in going to see it, sir?" Huan E asked, "What is it?" Wu He said, "The wife of Governor Ma of Fengyang, a beautiful young woman of only sixteen or seventeen, has been taken to the Central City Censorate by her husband for adultery. Because the officials have family matters to attend to, they haven't arrived at the yamen yet and are still waiting at the gate. I saw that it wasn't far, so I came to ask if you would be interested in going?" Huan E said, "I was just about to go out myself; it would be interesting to go and see it along the way." He ordered his servant to bring a donkey for Wu He to ride. [In Jiangnan and Beizhi, there are donkey hirers at every alley entrance, which is quite cheap.] He mounted his horse and arrived there, and indeed saw a large crowd. Huan E rode forward and saw a boy of sixteen or seventeen, dressed very elegantly. He looked somewhat foolish and dull, but not particularly ugly. Two long tubes of snot trailed from his lips, and drool dripped from his mouth. Huan'e couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. [Don't laugh, sir; he was a couple with her when he was twelve or thirteen.]

He sat there, his large eyes wide open, looking around, with seven or eight servants standing beside him. A young woman, exceptionally beautiful, sat in a curtainless sedan chair, wearing a blue cloth shirt and skirt, a headscarf covering her eyebrows. Her chin was bowed, her face as white and tender as tofu, yet with a hint of rouge. She was filled with shame, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, sitting with her nose in her eyes, seemingly lost in thought. An old monk, with short white hair and beard, his mouth resembling a fishbone, was bound by ropes, wearing only a summer shirt, his buttocks bare, tied to the sedan chair poles. He squatted on the ground with his eyes closed, guarded by four or five burly, wicked servants. Huan'e, somewhat naive, asked a bystander, "How come such a young woman is with a naked old monk?" A man nearby laughed, "They're having an affair. This young woman isn't wearing any pants either. Their two pairs of pants are right next to that respectable young man, aren't they?" Huan'e looked and saw a rolled-up garment—a bright red crepe shirt and a linen shirt. [The monk's shirt and pants were made for him by Xianggu as new clothes, but he didn't expect to be embarrassed here.] Huan'e then asked, "How did this affair begin, and how did her husband catch her? How can such a young woman be attracted to such an old monk? What's the reason?" The bystander said, "Who knows the details? We just came to see for ourselves, and this is all we hear. When the officials arrive to interrogate her, we'll know for sure." Huan'e dismounted and went with Wu He to a teahouse to chat and wait for the spectacle.

Now, let us speak of this elegant yet foolish young master, the son of Ma Shiying, the Governor of Fengyang, named Ma Tai. A born oddity, utterly ignorant of human affairs. He slurred speech, not only making his words difficult to understand, but also failing to speak coherently. He would eat whatever was given to him, and if not told to stop, he would eat incessantly. If not given food, he would simply stop, showing no interest whatsoever. [In truth, he was a blessed man.] He knew nothing of hunger or satiety. [In times of famine, for a poor man to have such a large appetite was truly a great fortune.] For example, when eating, if someone forgot to tell him to stop, he would eat until his belly was bulging, determined to finish. [This is precisely what is meant by having a large appetite for good fortune.] He was the same with clothing, unaware of heat or cold. [He possessed a certain ethereal quality.] His wet nurse, Yang Shi, doted on him, treating him like a child even at this age. She took care of him from dawn till dusk, feeding him and dressing him. His father, Ma Shiying, was from Guizhou. Ma Shiying's father, named Ma Da, was a kind and honest old scholar. He was childless in middle age and couldn't afford a concubine. Just then, a family sold a Miao maidservant, a little over twenty years old. The family disliked her because she was helpless and had a dark, ugly face, and sold her for a very low price. Ma Da wanted her to bear a son, not her appearance, so he bought her and kept her by his side.

Just one year after she entered the household, she gave birth to Ma Shiying. [This was truly a real foal.] But a strange thing happened: this Miao maidservant, like most others, could carry a child in her womb, her vagina knew how to give birth, and she knew how to nurse, yet her behavior and speech were very different from ordinary people. As the saying goes: "Nine cents of silver for ten silver babies, not even a trace of human life." This barbarian woman, however, had a good vagina, and her son, Ma Shiying, actually passed the imperial examinations, became an official, and even a high-ranking official.

Even so, he was still somewhat different from those born to Chinese women. How can we tell? Ma Shiying was inherently cunning, greedy, and harsh; his peculiar mind was quite different from others. For example, if people said he was bad, he would know it and become even more wicked. If people said he was treacherous, he would listen and become treacherous to the extreme. People said Wang Anshi was stubborn, and it was understandable that he was born with such a stubborn nature. But Ma Shiying had another strange trait. Did he have no good qualities at all in his life? If someone praised him, he would be even better. But he would never act according to those good qualities; he would insist on changing his ways to become bad. Isn't this different from others? Ma Shiying was quite intelligent; he entered school in his teens. His parents passed away before he was twenty, leaving him with only his wife, Jian (Jian means donkey. A horse and a donkey mate to produce a mule, which is a mixed breed. It's not surprising that Ma Tai was born a fool), an old servant woman, and a young servant named A-Dai, living as a family of four. This fool was his birth mother's nephew, also a Miao, and a cousin of Ma Shiying. Because he was different, he was treated as a servant.

This fool was even more foolish than his old Miao wife. He was incredibly dull, understanding nothing of human affairs. Seeing his simple-mindedness, Madam Jian teased him, saying, "Get me a piece of charcoal and wash it white." He actually took a piece and washed it from morning till night until it was pulverized. He brought back some fragments and said to Madam Jian, "I've washed it all day, it's all torn, and it's still not white." Madam Jian couldn't help but laugh. One day, after eating chicken, some was left for him. Madam Jian said, "You're eating such good food as chicken, be careful your ears don't fall off. Tie them up before you eat." He indeed tied them with a string before eating. After finishing, he touched them and said to Madam Jian, "Grandma, my ears didn't fall off." Madam Jian laughed and told Ma Shiying, thinking it was a joke. Unexpectedly, Ma Shiying was secretly delighted upon hearing this. Why? Ma Shiying worked as a tutor in another county, only returning home for a few days a year during the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and New Year's. This woman, surnamed Jian, was both alluring and promiscuous. Since Ma Shiying was often away from home, he feared his young wife might engage in illicit affairs. Seeing that this fool was so simple-minded, what was there to worry about? He even let him sleep in the main room. Not only did he not prevent her from having an affair with his sister-in-law (the term "sister-in-law" is quite strange; perhaps it's a custom of the Miao people?), but he also feared that Jian might commit adultery, so he appointed her as a "supervisor of illicit affairs." (I wonder which government office this position falls under?) This woman, surnamed Jian, was extremely lewd, and Ma Shiying was not only despicable but also quite incompetent. His tutoring job was three parts for survival and seven parts to avoid corvée labor. Therefore, Ma Shiying was pleased with the fool's simplicity, knowing there would be no future trouble.

Before Ma Shiying went to teach at the academy, Jian Shi, though at home every night, could not satisfy his desires. After he left, he conceived a strange new idea. In Yunnan and Guizhou, there was a local yellow radish, about the same thickness as a carrot, but a foot long. Every day he would buy two large ones, scrape them smooth, and keep them for his nighttime pleasure. When he was in high spirits, he would call them "Yellow Heart and Liver." The weather in Guizhou was hot, and these radishes were available year-round. He, having been with his fake husband surnamed Huang, didn't have any other thoughts.

One day, in the sweltering heat of June, he spent some time with old Huang at night, but he had exhausted himself, sweating profusely. He sighed, "This 'Yellow Heart and Liver' is fine for temporary relief, but if we're talking about the proper way of life, how can it compare to that precious meat?" Thinking of this, his desire burned fiercely. Suddenly, he was thirsty and wanted some cool water to quench his thirst. He was staying in the east room, and the old maid was sleeping in the west kitchen. He called out several times, but received no answer. The night was deep and still, and the room was narrow and shallow, making it inconvenient to shout. She had no choice but to get up, put on a long robe, and take a lamp to the west room to fetch water. Just as she stepped out, she saw Ah-Dai lying naked on a bench, a six- or seven-inch-long, thick and large penis dangling across his legs. Sai-shi caught a glimpse of it and felt a chill run down her spine. She quietly approached, shone the lamp on it, and examined it closely. The more she looked, the more she loved it. She was no longer thirsty; her heart pounded, and her face burned. She thought to herself, "This fool has such a wondrous thing. If I were to take advantage of him, not only would there be many pleasures, but my husband would never suspect a thing. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" Just as she was about to push him away, a sudden pang of guilt struck her. She said, "Even so, I'm still embarrassed. I'll bear with it." Without fetching water, she returned to her room. Just as she was about to get into bed, a feeling of unease gripped her as if she were still in the main room. She took the lamp and came out again, examining it closely by its light. She was about to reach out and touch it when she quickly withdrew, saying, "Oh no, what if someone finds out?" She turned away, but couldn't resist looking back. Consumed by lust, she disregarded everything else and went to him, grabbing his penis in one swift motion. The foolish man awoke with a start. Seeing his mistress in the lamplight, he was terrified and almost cried, saying, "I won't do it again, please forgive me, Madam." Madam Jian smiled and whispered, "Don't make a sound. Come with me, I have something to ask you." He got up, but Madam Jian, still holding his penis, led him into the room like a beast of burden. She placed the lamp on the table, sat down on the edge of the bed, and asked him with a smile, "What is this thing called?" He replied, "It's called a penis. Grandma, please forgive me, I won't dare to do it again." Jian asked again with a smile, "You're so old now, have you ever seen a vagina?" He said, "I don't know what a vagina is, but I recognize a chicken." Jian said, "Have you ever seen a vagina?" He said, "That time Grandma gave me chicken meat and told me to eat it with my ears tied up, I know how to eat it, right?" Seeing that he still didn't understand, Jian became angry, took off her shirt, and, naked, spread her legs and pointed to her vulva, asking him, "Look what this is?" He looked at it and said, "This is my husband's mouth." "Mrs. Jian laughed heartily and asked, 'Why is it your mouth?' He replied, 'Your mouth has a mustache, and this has a mustache too. Isn't it your mouth?' Mrs. Jian laughed and said, 'Come to bed.' He said, 'Grandma, please forgive me, I won't do it again.' Mrs. Jian pulled him onto the bed, then lay on her back with her legs wide open, pointing to her vulva and saying, 'Put your penis in this mouth.' He said, 'Grandma, please forgive me, I won't do it again.' Mrs. Jian was aroused and broke out in a sweat. After thinking for a moment, she got up, pressed him down, and rubbed his vulva. Although he kept saying, 'Grandma, please forgive me, Grandma, please forgive me,' his vulva became hard. Mrs. Jian was overjoyed, so she straddled him, positioned her vulva, and sat on him several times until he was fully inside, sitting up and down repeatedly. Ah-Dai kept saying, 'How wonderful, how wonderful.' Mrs. Jian squatted for a while, then ejaculated once." Tired, she got down and asked Ah-Dai to climb on her stomach. Ah-Dai said, "Grandma, please forgive me, I won't do it again." Knowing it was useless to talk to him, Jian pulled him onto her, took his penis, and inserted it into her vagina. He immediately saw the radish Jian used beside the pillow, grabbed it, and said, "Grandma, let me eat it." He put it in his mouth and ate it, saying, "Delicious, delicious." Jian laughed and said, "I'll give you some, but you have to do as I say." She then cupped him in her hands and began to thrust in and out. After a while, he started pulling and pulling himself in and out. Jian was overjoyed, not expecting Ah-Dai's penis to be so large and so long-lasting, going on and on without stopping. He thrust several times, and Jian lost control several times, truly beyond her expectations. After a long time, he finished and lay on Jian's stomach.

Jian loved him too, and after a while, feeling a little uncomfortable, she told him to get down, and he did. Madam Jian instructed him, "You mustn't tell anyone about this, not even that old woman. If your husband finds out, he'll beat you to death, and I won't be able to get you this anymore." He knew this and readily agreed. From then on, Madam Jian asked him to keep her company every night, [the radish seller lost a customer.] Ma Tuying had no suspicions.

Later, Ma Shiying won several official positions, and Jian Shi's household became filled with maids and servants, making it difficult for her to enjoy herself with Adai. She often praised Adai to Ma Shiying, saying he was honest and reliable, not only a friend from their impoverished days but also her mother-in-law's nephew [and, moreover, her husband]. She urged Ma Shiying to truly elevate him. Ma Shiying, believing Adai's past service as a prisoner, treated him well, providing him with fine clothes and food. However, when he wanted to arrange a marriage for Adai, Jian Shi repeatedly objected, saying, "With his current status, how could he possibly engage in marital relations? Wouldn't that ruin someone else's daughter?" Ma Shiying believed her. Jian Shi, firstly, couldn't forget her feelings for Adai and feared that if she arranged a marriage for him, he would fall in love with someone else. Secondly, her talk of Adai's idiocy further convinced Ma Shiying. She then persuaded Ma Shiying to build a small room for Adai near the inner gate of the house, so he could guard the gate. Ma Shiying, whose household was growing wealthy, agreed. Adai was built to live in the room and guard the gate. Ma Shiying, unaware of Jian's treacherous scheme, had Ah Dai stay at the door so he could have opportunities to sleep with him. However, Ma Shiying was late returning from a banquet, and the servants had all left. He dismissed the maids and secretly went to Ah Dai's room to have his way with him, doing so several times.

One day, after another round of lovemaking, they returned to their main room. Just as she had fallen asleep, Ma Shiying came home, and she undressed and went to bed, where she and Jian began to make love. There was Ah Dai's semen inside her. Ma Shiying asked, "Why is it so sticky inside?" Jian lied and replied, "I've been having vaginal discharge these past two days." Ma Shiying said, "Why didn't you say so sooner? This is a cold in the lower body. Call a doctor tomorrow." The next day, a doctor was indeed called to examine her, prescribe two doses of medicine, and leave her a warming uterus pill. Jian secretly found this amusing. Later, Jian became pregnant and gave birth to Ma Tai, whose father she herself did not know. If we're talking about Ma Tai's stupidity, then he's undoubtedly the son of a fool. He had such a son, neither wise nor foolish; whether young or old, everyone knew he was a simpleton. Only Ma Shiying considered him a peerless prodigy, surpassing even the likes of Liu Yan, Li Mi, and Dunhuang of the Tang Dynasty. He also had a penchant for praising his son, [as the proverb says: "No one knows the faults of their own son." This refers to Ma Shiying.] He would say, "These ignorant people say my son is foolish, but he's not foolish at all; even his foolishness is different from others. He's a fool with his own kind of fortune. [As the proverb says: "Ordinary people often have great fortune. This doesn't necessarily mean someone as foolish as your son. Someone as unusually foolish as your son must have a great fortune."] In my opinion, he perfectly embodies the ancient poets. Haven't you heard Su Dongpo's poem? He said: "

I only wish my son were foolish and dull, so he could reach high office without disaster or hardship."

When his son turned sixteen or seventeen, he wanted to arrange a marriage for him. They wanted a daughter from a good family and a perfect daughter. Young Master Ma's foolishness was extraordinary, truly exceptional, a kind of foolishness known to all. What family of good standing would be willing to marry him? However, Madam Jian, with her keen insight, saw his foolishness and wanted to stop her husband from taking a wife. She thought to herself: "Ah-Dai never knew how to do this before. I could teach him. He'll naturally learn after we get married. Surely he'll learn this skill." Now, there was a wealthy man named Niu Zhi. His daughter, Xiang Gu, had grown up to be a beautiful and elegant woman. A few lines praised her: "

More fragrant than jade, more genuine than flowers.
Willow eyebrows like distant peaks, cherry lips like blooming cherry blossoms.
Golden hairpins adorned with jade, jade feet in a flowing skirt.
And more extraordinary, her mind brimming with new and erotic verses."

Not only was she strikingly beautiful, but she was also very literate, thanks to her mother, Madam Ji. When he was thirteen or fourteen, he was incredibly clever and quick-witted. He didn't bother with proper books like the *History of Women* or the *Classic of Filial Piety*, but instead secretly read the erotic novels his mother kept on their pillows for their lovers. [These books were easier to understand and more interesting than the *History of Women* and the *Classic of Filial Piety*; this will be mentioned later. Readers should be cautious and respectful.] He had a good memory and memorized everything he read. How could such a clever and mischievous daughter remain chaste after reading these erotic tales? But she had no choice but to endure it. She longed to marry him as soon as possible and emulate his charm. Little did she know that her father was, as the saying goes, a wealthy ox that no one in the village recognizes. [A wealthy ox is comparable to a unicorn; if the unicorn heard of this, wouldn't it be lamentable?] He only cared about money and power, insisting on a marriage of equal social standing. He only sought to curry favor with the powerful and didn't care about his daughter's well-being. Hearing that the Ma family was looking for a wife, he was willing to marry her. Fearing that Ma Shiying would look down on her for not being an official, she even asked Minister Niu to write a letter to persuade her to marry him. Ma Shiying, seeing that she was a cousin of the Minister and hearing of her beauty and intelligence, thought she was a suitable match for a worthy man. Although he might not be entirely satisfied, no other family would agree to marry her, so he had no choice but to go through the betrothal process. He knew that Fengyang had suffered from bandits, and his family had accumulated countless silver reserves; how could he leave them in such a dangerous place? Therefore, he bought a large house in the capital and left his son to look after it. Seeing that his son was still young, he feared that someone would steal his silver, so he took out 500,000 taels of silver from his official purse. He instructed his head steward, Wu Yi, to have a silversmith make 1,000 large ingots of 500 taels each, as a family heirloom. Moreover, such large amounts of silver would be impossible to steal, and even if a large group came to rob, how many could he take? He felt somewhat at ease.

Unexpectedly, Wu Yi colluded with the silversmith to cast 300 taels of silver into empty shells and filled them with 200 taels of black lead. He knew the protagonist's silver was only hoarded and never spent. This large ingot was untouched; why not share it and steal it, without any way to verify it? Ma Shiying, deceiving the emperor and mistreating his subordinates and commoners, had worked hard all his life to acquire this stolen goods, only to be deceived by Wu Yi, who easily and effortlessly took half. He kept all the ingots at home, staying at his post with his wives and concubines. He had a plan: if the bandits returned, he would be unable to defend himself, so he would abandon his savings at office and return home with his wives and concubines, still living a wealthy life.

Now, on the day of Ma Tai's wedding, Yang Shi had repeated the wedding vows to him thousands of times, but he only rolled his eyes and opened his mouth wide, refusing to agree. Yang Shi was so anxious she gritted her teeth, sweating profusely. She talked until her mouth was practically bleeding, but he acted as if he hadn't heard her at all, leaving Yang Shi helpless. The men and women in the household all knew that their young master's marriage was pointless, but who dared to object to their master's will?

The bride's entry, the wedding ceremony, the nuptial cup exchange—all were instructed by the wet nurse, Yang Shi. She pulled him to bow, made him kowtow, and made him kowtow, like a puppeteer. Xiang Gu thought that with her talent and beauty, her father would surely find her a handsome and dashing husband. Who knew she would marry such a beastly creature? She couldn't help but weep uncontrollably, a sight that saddened all who witnessed it. Niu Zhi, seeing his in-laws were not home, wanted to flatter his father-in-law and personally escort his daughter to the door. Only he, upon seeing this virtuous man, exclaimed happily, "What a fine son-in-law! He truly deserves to be a noble young master, generous and blessed, unlike the sons of ordinary families."

That evening, Yang Shi whispered many more words in Ma Tai's ear. [These earnest instructions, however, were received by the young master in a daze, and he did not understand. What could be done?] She hurriedly pushed him to sit down, helped him take off his clothes, laid him down to sleep, and then left, closing the door behind her. Xiang Gu was filled with resentment, but now that she was here, she knew she couldn't escape. Perhaps knowing a little about matters of the heart could alleviate her years of pent-up frustration. She sat waiting for the groom to come and help her undress, to perform some wedding rituals. But after sitting for a while, he didn't do anything. When she looked at the groom, he was already fast asleep, snoring away. Helpless, she took off her own blanket, pulled over a pillow, and lay down on it, still fully clothed, fuming. She thought and thought, unable to sleep all night. The next morning, she woke up only to weep bitterly. Only after much coaxing from Yang Shi did she finally agree to comb her hair and wash her face. She didn't eat or drink anything all day, her eyes constantly wet with tears. The woman, surnamed Yang, couldn't bear it and advised her, "Now that you're married, crying won't help. Although you're not her enemy, there's nothing we can do." She then whispered to her, "He's been dull-witted since he was little, and even now, I still have to teach him how to dress and eat. He probably knows nothing about marriage. I taught him thousands of times yesterday, but he still didn't understand. Now that you're husband and wife, what's there to be ashamed of? Go to bed and teach him; maybe he'll learn then. This is something no one else can teach you." Hearing this, Xianggu understood and stopped crying.

That evening, Yang undressed Ma Tai and laid him to sleep. She then whispered to Xiang Gu, "You two are a long-lasting couple, don't be shy. Be more shrewd and teach him a lesson." She persuaded him to undress and lay him down as well, covering them both with a blanket before leaving. Niu Shi pondered Yang Shi's words. Though he was simple-minded, could he really be so ignorant as to be so foolish? If she could teach him this skill, it could provide some amusement at night. She wanted to speak on his behalf, but knew it was useless. "Why don't I touch it myself and see what it looks like, to let him see it for himself? Perhaps my tender hands will make him happy," she thought. So she reached down to his waist. Although he knew from novels that this thing grew below the waist, he didn't know where it was. She reached down from below his abdomen. Unexpectedly, her fingernails were long and sharp, just pricking his penis. Ma Tai cried out and rolled off the bed. He cried out, "Mother, something terrible has happened! Come quickly and save me!" Yangshi, who was just about to go to sleep, heard him and, not knowing why, rushed over to see him. She found him sitting naked on the floor. Yangshi asked him, "Why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing down here?" He replied, "I'm afraid of that man! He's going to pinch my penis! I won't sleep with him!" Niushi, having seen him roll down and cry out, was startled. Hearing his words, she was filled with shame. Yangshi, knowing he had taught him this, quickly scolded, "Don't talk nonsense! Go to bed and sleep properly!" He kept shouting, "I'm afraid of him! I'm afraid of him! I won't sleep with him! I'll sleep outside!" Seeing his incoherent words, and also afraid of embarrassing Xianggu, Yangshi could only say, "Don't talk nonsense!" while quickly dressing him and taking him to the study to sleep. She then came back in and comforted Xianggu a few more times. Xiang Gu could only weep and reluctantly lie down. A poem, "The Nightingale," describes Xiang Gu: "

Suppressing tears, I lay on the bed, intending to indulge in wild abandon tonight, but who knew that good things would turn into a curse? Coming to kiss that person, I first lost face, ashamed to the point of having nowhere to hide. My heart is filled with torment; a joyful heart turned into tears."

Yang Shi then went to the horse-riding platform. The next day, Yang Shi brought him in, and the couple ate together. Upon seeing Xiang Gu, he cried out, "I'm afraid he'll pinch my penis!" and struggled to run away. With many maids and servants nearby, Xiang Gu blushed with shame, and tears streamed down her face like broken pearls. Another poem, "The Nightingale," describes: "

The sight only deepens my sorrow, the thought of it breaks my heart, hearing these words truly makes me indescribably ashamed. My cloud-like hair is disheveled, my clothes are stained with tears, my golden lotus feet have withered in vain. I hate the heavens, how could they force the Weaver Girl to be paired with the Cowherd?"

Yang Shi had no choice but to take him out, never daring to bring him back in. Xianggu was filled with resentment, but had nowhere to vent her anger. Lying alone in bed that night, she thought, "I thought my father would surely choose a handsome and talented husband for me, but instead he sent me to this hell. If I had married a sensible and understanding man, I don't know how happy I would have been these past two nights in bed." She sighed twice, then closed her eyes and focused her mind, imagining what a handsome man he would be like, how tender they would be in bed, what kind of scene that would be. After thinking for a while, she drifted off to sleep. Her thoughts turned into dreams. She was still at home, a daughter, when a servant woman came and said, "I just saw a very handsome young man riding past at the door. Everyone says he's my son-in-law, a perfect match for you, Miss. I wonder how happy you will be after you marry him tomorrow." Hearing this, though she didn't dare ask for details, she was overjoyed. A few days later, she heard that a decorated sedan chair had arrived to take him as her husband. Busy with decorations, though feigning shyness, she was secretly overjoyed. She boarded the bridal sedan chair amidst deafening drums and music, illuminated by lanterns, the "Three Hundred Dragons" game ringing out like spring thunder. Arriving at the house, she was helped inside, where they exchanged vows. Stealing glances at the groom, she was indeed handsome and dashing, thinking to herself, "The ancients spoke of Pan An throwing fruit, and he was no match for him." A short while later, the crowd dispersed, and the groom quickly got into bed. She embraced her fragrant shoulders, whispering in her ear, "It's late, please sleep." A tingling sensation ran through her, but she couldn't answer. The groom then began to move,

his hands moving with a shy, almost coy, touch.

She laid her down. The groom undressed and slipped into the covers, beginning to undo his belt. He had to feign shyness, pretending to grasp it. She touched her cheek, saying, "Tonight is the beginning of our marriage, let's not waste this precious night." Her whispered words, soft and tender, made it impossible for her hand to loosen. He removed her red trousers, and she felt a surge of joy and pleasure. Just as he leaned over her, about to savor the sensation, a loud shout rang out. An old monk lifted the bed curtains, declaring, "This 'red brocade' should be mine!" He shoved the man off the bed, grabbed Xiang Gu, and carried her away. The man also got out of bed and chased after him, but the monk fought him fiercely. Xiang Gu, naked and held by the monk, felt both ashamed and angry. Suddenly, she awoke with a start; it was all a dream. She relived the dream day and night, her heart aching, and for a whole month, her tears never dried. Returning home, she cried loudly under the moonlight. In a secluded place, she told her mother in detail about the groom's wonderful deeds. Her mother, a former prostitute who had become a concubine, dared not complain about her husband. She only subtly and gently conveyed her feelings. Niu Zhi said, "You woman, with your shallow understanding, what do you know? He is a noble young master, naturally honest and reliable. He is a blessed man, naturally different from others. This is our daughter's good fortune; surely it would be better if it were that frivolous and vain young man, Xu Hua Ziya?" Ji Shi dared not speak further. Xiang Gu stayed at home for a while, then her father sent her to her husband's house. As soon as she entered, she began to cry, as if she were in a sea of sorrow, her brow never faltering, her heart never finding any relief. Yang Shi pitied her, fearing she would cry herself sick, so she took her to the upper floor of the gate, lowered the bamboo curtain, and looked out at the street to dispel her melancholy. Their family had more than ten storefronts, all multi-story buildings, but this one was empty. After sitting for a while, they saw people coming and going on the street. The vendors were shouting and hawking their wares, making it quite lively. Just then, they saw an old monk striking a gong and chanting, soliciting money, surrounded by many people of all ages. Xiang Gu also listened for a while, finding his chanting clear and melodious, quite pleasing to the ear. Then he said to Madam Yang, "Mother, this old monk sings quite well. Let him come in and sing for us."

Madam Yang, seeing that he was an elderly monk, thought it wouldn't be a problem and was eager to entertain him, so she told the gatekeeper to call him in. They went downstairs together and went to the hall. The monk sang for a while, and his voice was melodious and pleasant to listen to, even clearer than when they had heard it from afar. Madam Niu asked her to prepare some vegetables for him to eat, and then asked, "You speak quite well, how much do you remember?" The old monk replied, "This old monk has only remembered a few bits and pieces; to sing the whole thing would take a month or two." Xianggu then asked, "Master, how old are you this year?" The old monk replied, "This old monk is seventy-eight years old this year." Xianggu said, "You are still quite robust, sir." The old monk said, "I am a poor monk, with little to eat and wear, and I am old and frail." As he spoke, she brought him food and told the maids to fetch one hundred coins for him, saying, "Master, come again tomorrow. If you sing well, I will give you a robe." The monk quickly bowed and thanked her, then, leaning on his cane, Madam Niu had someone see him out. She then instructed the gatekeeper, "When the old monk comes tomorrow, you may come in and speak." She then returned to her inner room, and the rest of the evening passed without further mention.

The next day after dinner, a family member came in and said, "The old monk is here." Madam Niu said, "An eighty-year-old monk, let him in, what's there to be afraid of?" She then told the servants to lead him to the bedroom, where they served him tea, rice, snacks, and fruit while he sang. As evening approached, the monk wanted to leave, but Madam Niu insisted he finish the story. The monk said, "Madam, there's much more to come. If I wait until I finish, I won't be able to go back." Madam Niu said, "It's alright. If you can't go back, older people can sleep in the ancestral hall." The monk was eager to please his grandmother so he could swindle clothes and money, so how could he disobey? Hearing this, he sat down as she asked. At this time, Ma Shiying and his wife were not home, Ma Tai was a simpleton, and Madam Niu was the matriarch of the household; who wouldn't obey her? Why shouldn't she stay? Besides, everyone got to listen to the singing. The monk finished speaking late into the night. Madam Niu told the servants to bring bedding and curtains and take him upstairs to sleep. It turned out that the downstairs room where he lived was his bedroom, while the upstairs room was where his ancestors' incense was kept. The monk slept upstairs. The next day, Madam Niu instructed the servants to make him a new set of summer clothes. [The monk must have been very pleased with himself at this time.] She kept talking about it for several days, refusing to let him go back. For the past few months, Madam Yang had seen Xiang always looking gloomy and tearful, constantly sighing and lamenting, never once seeing him smile. But since the monk had come to sing for a few days, she had finally seen him smile, and he was eating more, unlike his previous listless and lazy self. She also refused to let the monk go, keeping him around to keep him company.

The monk was served three meals a day and had servants attending to him, so they were happy for him to stay. Madam Niu, pitying his old age, sent a young maid, about ten years old, to help him up and down the stairs and look after him. They talked until four in the morning before resting, and Madam Niu slept on the large eight-step bed. Because of the heat and stuffiness, she got up early the next morning and leaned against the bench to cool off. Madam Niu called to the young maid, "Go upstairs and see if the old monk is awake yet?" At this time, all the maids were still fast asleep, exhausted from the previous night. This young maid, not knowing what she was being told, had gone to bed early, so she was the one who woke up early. The maidservant came down after a while, grinning, and said, "That old monk hasn't woken up yet. I lifted the curtain and saw him sleeping naked, with that little thing in his waist." She gestured with her hand, saying, "It's this long, this thick. Hard and throbbing, quite a handful." Niu Shi paused, thinking: I've read in novels that as people age, their blood declines, and that thing becomes useless. How can this old monk, in his eighties, still be so vigorous? I married such a fool; what kind of chastity have I upheld? Am I destined to be a daughter my whole life? If this monk is still useful, I might as well go with him, firstly to taste the flavor of this thing, and secondly to avoid living a widow's life. And no one will suspect anything, how wonderful! Besides, in my dream last time, the old monk who robbed me said my virginity should have been his; who knows if it should have been this old monk?" He then instructed the young maid, "You're a maid; you can't speak such village gossip, it's shameful. If you dare to spread rumors or tell anyone, I'll slap you if I find out. [Before testing the groom, I'll frighten the servant to avoid gossip. Who knew this would backfire, a foreshadowing of later trouble.] You must remember this well and not speak nonsense." The maid, terrified, quickly withdrew.

Once Niu's lust was aroused, how could she restrain herself? She looked around; all the maids were still snoring. She quietly went upstairs, lifted the curtain, and sure enough, there was that monk's magnificent member, about five inches long, standing erect. Although she had read many erotic books, they only described its shape, but she had never seen it before. Now, seeing this thing, bald and smooth, with a gleaming purple sheen, was truly a rare sight, better than living a thousand years. She was secretly overjoyed, unable to express it. She plopped down on the edge of the bed, bent over, and carefully examined it for a while. The light from the window shone through, making the glans of his penis glow a vibrant purple, causing her heart to pound. Her vulva throbbed with a painful, pulsating sensation. Unable to bear it any longer, she pushed him away twice. The monk opened his eyes, saw her smiling face, and quickly pulled the covers over himself, saying, "I fell asleep for a moment and didn't know you were coming, Madam. I'm naked, please forgive me." Madam Niu blushed, maintaining a ladylike demeanor, and whispered, "You should sleep a little more tonight. I'll sleep in the main room. When it's quiet, quietly go downstairs; I have something to tell you. Don't be late." The monk readily agreed. After speaking, fearing the maids would wake up, Madam Niu hurried downstairs and returned to her room. The maids soon rose and helped her comb her hair and wash her face.

But was this monk really seventy-eight years old? This bald scoundrel was only over fifty. He had spent his life indulging in whoring and gambling, and had never married. He had spent all his family's wealth and had nowhere to go. He considered becoming a robber, but feared being caught and killed. Or, being young and strong, he thought of begging, but feared no one would be willing to part with him. Left with no other choice, he became a monk. He didn't know the scriptures, but having read some books in his youth, he knew a few characters and had enjoyed storytelling since childhood. As he grew older, he idled away his time, often listening to storytelling. He had a good memory and had memorized many stories. Knowing he couldn't charm men by performing for alms, he decided to swindle money from women instead. How could young women dare to approach a strong, imposing monk? Fortunately, he was born with prematurely white hair; by his fifties, his hair and beard were completely white, making him look like an old man. He then pretended to be a decrepit old man, moving with difficulty. He was hunched over, leaning on a cane, and walking quickly looked like he was about to fall. He claimed to be nearly eighty years old, hoping people would take pity on him and give him a few coins. He didn't have the heart to seduce women. [The monk never expected to encounter such a woman today; it was truly an unexpected surprise. A brilliant touch.] He only wanted to earn a few coins to make ends meet. Whenever he felt aroused, he thought, "What woman would love such an old man with white hair and beard?" Although he had lustful thoughts, how could he dare to flirt with women? Since arriving here a few days ago, seeing this woman, Ms. Niu, with her graceful figure and charming words, although he was attracted to her, [The monk was a lustful devil; no one could resist such beauty. Moreover, this monk's background was questionable, and having encountered such a lustful woman, it was impossible not to be attracted.] his penis merely twitched in his trousers; how could he dare to have any bold flirting thoughts? Seeing such a family, he wished he could feign sincerity and beg for some food, clothing, and money—that would be a great blessing. How could he dare to harbor the slightest evil thought? Unexpectedly, Ms. Niu was a collector of old antiques and said these words to him. He had long been separated from women, and suddenly, with the arrival of the Red Phoenix Star, it was truly a stroke of good fortune.

Madam Niu had some official business to attend to that night, and having risen early, she had slept half the day. Seeing their mistress sleeping, the maids and servants dared not disturb her with the monk's chanting. The monk, having nothing else to do, saw Madam Niu asleep and, understanding the situation, also secretly went upstairs to sleep, resting his spirits for the important task that night. Madam Niu slept until the afternoon before waking, instructing the maids and servants, "The bed is too hot to sleep at night; please bring a cool bed to the main room for me to sleep on." Everyone hurriedly carried it out, hung up a gauze curtain, embroidered quilts and mattresses, and laid out a cool bamboo mat and pillow. After dinner at dusk, they called the monk. Around midnight, they saw the maids and women yawning incessantly, only dozing off. Knowing they were sleepy, they finally told them to go to sleep. After sending the monk upstairs, he went to bed and rested. He instructed, "You all go to sleep; there's no need for you to stay here. I don't need anyone to keep me company." The maids, who were worried about not having a place to hang their mosquito nets for the night and being bitten by mosquitoes, were very grateful for their mistress's kindness and consideration for them. They quickly went to sleep separately. Niu Shi woke up in bed and listened intently for a long time, but there was no sound; it seemed that everyone was asleep. She faintly heard a rustling sound on the stairs and knew that the monk had come. She had never been with a man before, and at this moment, she felt a little embarrassed. Moreover, she had never experienced this before and did not know whether it was sweet or spicy, so her heart started to pound. Suddenly, the mosquito net was lifted, and the monk, naked, crawled onto the bed and hugged her tightly. He noticed that Niu Shi was still wearing trousers, so he quickly took them off and then climbed on top of her. Fearing his impetuousness, Niu quickly whispered in his ear, "Don't be rash, I'm still a virgin." The monk asked in surprise, "Grandma, what's the reason?" Niu replied, "I've been married for over half a year, but my husband hasn't slept with me yet, so I've come to find you." The monk was overjoyed. Although he was over fifty years old, he had never met a virgin. How fortunate he was to be able to pluck a fresh

flower today! Gently and slowly, tenderly and warmly, he used much saliva and exhausted his energy before they finally united. A few lines describe their pleasure: One, a white-haired bald man, indulged in lust, thrusting his jade pestle horizontally. One, a beautiful young woman, spread her delicate body, pressing against the bed. One, newly kissing a virgin, was overjoyed. One, encountering a male yang for the first time, was timid. This woman disregarded the three obediences and four virtues of female education. That bald monk disregarded the five precepts and three refuges in Buddhist scriptures. For the virgin, she never imagined giving her virginity to the old bald man. For the monk, today was truly like a withered vine entwined with a fresh flower. The next one, her voice timid and hesitant. The previous one, full of joy. In the study, the foolish groom lies alone. On the cool bed, the old monk sleeps beside him.

Although the monk's manhood wasn't particularly impressive, Niu was young and new to this, and felt hurt. She asked him to get down. The monk said, "It's natural to feel some pain the first time you lose your virginity. Just bear with it; it's only this once. Next time, it will be sweet. If you give up because of the pain this time, it will still hurt next time, and you won't get what you want. You'll suffer even more." Niu remembered reading similar things in novels, so she could only bite the blanket and endure it. She thought to herself, "I once read a joke in a book. A young woman asked her sister-in-law, 'Is sex between men and women really pleasurable?' Her sister-in-law coaxed her, 'What's so fun about it? Every time you do it, you suffer.' The young woman believed her and was very worried. When she returned home after her wedding month, she laughed and said to her sister-in-law, 'You lied to me. Why did you describe the pleasure of sex as suffering? What's there to be ashamed of?' She thought, 'There must be something wonderful about sex. I'll just have to endure this one time.'" After a while, the monk ejaculated, pulled out his penis, and gently nurtured it. After a while, he was aroused again because he hadn't been to this place for a long time. Although Niu hadn't experienced much pleasure, it wasn't as painful as before, when the rooster crowed at dawn. Niu invited him to come again that night. The monk quietly went upstairs. He used a fine white handkerchief to wipe his vulva clean, and carefully examined the semen on the handkerchief, which was covered with bright red rouge. He sighed, tears streaming down his face, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Although he had tasted the flavor of being a woman for the first time, he had initially thought that with his looks and talent, his father would surely find him a handsome and charming husband. Who knew he would be married to such a fool? He had no choice but to think of this old monk taking the blame for him, and that he had taken his virginity. He felt ashamed. Hence, he sighed and wept. The next night, he had sex with the monk again, and only then did he truly experience the pleasure. From then on, he never let the monk leave. (Three characters missing below) (He thought this) Such matters, being only done between the two of them in bed, were naturally easy to keep secret. Unexpectedly, others knew even more clearly. Moreover, once people have a secret affair, their casual laughter or every action, though they try to conceal it, will inevitably reveal their true nature. Furthermore, the worst thing is to be observant; when you're not paying attention, no matter how unnoticed you are, once you are, there will be flaws everywhere.

Since Niu Shi had seduced this monk, her treatment of him had naturally doubled. At night, when they were doing that thing, in their ecstasy and forgetfulness, they inevitably made some noises. Sometimes they would smile softly, sometimes they would pant heavily. Were all the maids and servants sound asleep? In the quiet of the night, surely one or two wouldn't have overheard something? Within a few days, the maids told the servants, and the servants told their husbands, and the whole family knew about it. Some of the family members who knew about it, knowing that this was not something the servants could control, simply pretended not to know. Besides, the master was a simpleton, so there was no point in talking. Some ignorant and reckless servants gossiped behind her back. Then there was that two-faced woman, trying to please her mistress, who told Niu Shi all this. Niu Shi, feeling ashamed and angry, sent the monk away. She secretly gave him twenty taels of silver, enough for him to live on for a month or two, and told him to come back when things calmed down. Just as Niu Shi was enjoying herself, the old monk, whom she cherished dearly, was gone, and she vented her anger on the maids. She didn't look for them in the tea or the food, but like a blacksmith, she only knew how to beat them. She beat the maids until they were terrified, their faces covered in blood and their bodies bruised and battered. Gradually, she moved on to the wives of these gossipy men. For example, if they called out and the response was a little slow, she was accused of deliberately ignoring her mistress because she was young, and she would be beaten. If the response was a little loud and quick, she was accused of being temperamental, and she would be beaten again. Or, for some reason, if they were slightly slow, they were accused of being bold and disobedient, and they would be beaten again. If they walked too fast, they were accused of being arrogant and disrespectful, and they would be beaten again. If they answered softly, they would say, "Are you ignoring me?" And that too, they would be beaten. If they answered loudly, they would say, "I'm not deaf, are you bullying me or trying to intimidate me?" And that too, they would be beaten. They

would pick fights like this, beating these servants as if they were being beaten to death. At best, they would get a few slaps on the face; at worst, they would be whipped dozens of times. Each of them would be beaten until their noses were flattened, their mouths crooked, and their skin torn and bleeding. Although they dared to be angry to their faces, they dared not speak out, but they would cry and tell their husbands in private, which was only natural. These ignorant servants would inevitably grumble and complain, "They're just taking it out on everyone because they squeezed out the monk." They said a few ignorant things. Someone then heard this from Madam Niu, and she devised a plan. She went to her father's house and said, "A man's wife is supposed to be filial to her parents-in-law. We are far apart and haven't even met them yet. Although parents-in-law love their children dearly, we ourselves are also unhappy. I want to go to my post to see them. It's only a four or five-day journey. I came to tell you, Father, that I will go soon." Niu Zhi was very good at flattering his father-in-law, and since his daughter spoke the truth, he praised her, saying, "This is your filial piety as a daughter-in-law, a very good thing. But you are young and inexperienced, and it's inconvenient for you to travel alone. I'll have your brother go with you." Niu returned home, packed her luggage, and took a few old female servants with her. She also took the eight or nine servants who had gossiped about her the other day. Who dared to disobey? Niu then chose a day to set off, and Niu Geng also took six or seven servants, making a group of more than twenty men and women. They crossed the river to Pukou and arrived in Fengyang in five days. They first sent someone to inform them.

Ma Shiying and Jian Shi heard that their daughter-in-law and brother had arrived, and hurriedly sent someone to welcome them into the yamen. Niu paid her respects to her parents-in-law, expressing her longing for them and her intention to care for them. The Ma couple, upon seeing their daughter-in-law, were indeed pleased with her appearance and virtuous manner. They were overjoyed to have such a wonderful daughter-in-law. Niu Geng also paid his respects, and a theatrical performance and banquet were held. This served both as a welcome party and a family reunion, and the festivities lasted for several days. Afterwards, with nothing else to do, they chatted casually. Ma Shiying inquired about family matters, and Niu Shi used this opportunity to say, "My son, if you behave yourself and don't meddle in other people's business, I, as your wife, will have to take care of things. It's just that these servants you brought are taking advantage of my youth and are disobedient. Although I can't hit them, I do scold them a few times. Because I'm bored and have been staying home for a couple of days with an old monk in his eighties or nineties who talks about karma, these wicked servants have spread countless rumors and slanders against me. It's nothing to me, but if outsiders hear about it, wouldn't it be a disgrace to you, my in-laws? That's why I brought them here, hoping you will reprimand them next time." Ma Shiying doted on this daughter-in-law, and how could he not be angry after hearing her words? The next day, in the main hall, without saying a word, he ordered the eight or nine servants who had come with him to be beaten twenty times each, for showing no respect for the young mistress and without distinguishing right from wrong. The strong, whitish canes used by the governor's yamen could kill in ten strokes, but the bailiffs, because they were beating a servant in the manor, had been given special consideration, and their legs were torn apart, blood splattered all over them. These servants could only endure the beating; how could they dare to utter a word in court about the young mistress's affair with a monk? Seeing the beating, Madam Niu's anger and resentment dissipated, and she secretly rejoiced that her trip had been worthwhile. After staying for more than ten days, Ma Shiying, unaware that her husband and daughter-in-law had not yet consummated their marriage, felt sorry for his young daughter-in-law and didn't want him to stay any longer, so he wanted to send him home. He said to Madam Niu, "My son, you've done your filial duty by coming. But there's no one else at home, so you should go back." Seeing that she had been dealt with, Madam Niu assumed the servants would not dare to say another word. He wanted to go back and have a good time with the monk, but he couldn't say it out loud. Hearing that he was being called back, he was overjoyed. He deliberately said some words of reluctance to leave his parents-in-law, feigning a longing expression, and even shed a few tears. He doted on Ma Shiying and Jian Shi, giving them many gifts. Out of consideration for his daughter-in-law, he also generously gifted Niu Geng and prepared a farewell feast. He sent a dozen servants and men to escort him back. Before leaving, he instructed the men he had previously beaten: "You must be careful from now on. If you act as recklessly as before, I will find out and have you executed." The family members swallowed their anger and followed him back. When Niu Shi arrived home, Niu Geng also returned. Two days later, fearing his parents-in-law would worry, he sent the messenger back to his post. He then visited his parents' house and stayed for two or three days. Before leaving to go home, he happened to meet the monk on the street, beating his bowl and chanting. Niu Shi was overjoyed and asked a servant to invite the monk to her home.

When Niu arrived home, she had just entered her room when the servant reported that the monk had arrived. Niu invited him in, and after he sang for a while, she gave him food. As the night was about to end, she told him to go upstairs to sleep. Around the second watch, seeing that everyone was asleep, Niu secretly went upstairs herself and turned the family ancestral hall into a place for pleasure. Both of them were long-awaited, and the monk, having received more than ten taels of silver from Niu, had been nourished with chickens and fat meat for the past two months, making him even stronger. Niu, having also been through many trials, was now able to resist the urges of a great enemy. Two lines from *The Romance of the Western Chamber* perfectly describe their situation at that moment: "

One indulged in unrestrained passion, the other silently wriggled."

The two worked intermittently, resting and then working again, one on top and the other off, busy all night long. As the fifth watch of the night drew to a close, Madam Niu finally went downstairs to retire for the night. Feeling refreshed and relaxed, she slept until nearly noon. Madam Niu assumed the maids and servants were all afraid of him and dared not utter a word. Several of the hateful gossipy servants, having each received a severe beating in Fengyang, assumed there would be no more idle chatter and openly began to have fun with the monk. During the day, whenever they were in a good mood, they would go upstairs for some amusement. At night, they would either invite the monk to sleep in their bed or let him go upstairs to sleep, becoming completely unrestrained. These servants all went to tell their husbands. Madam Niu only thought that authority could subdue the masses, but little did she know the immense resentment that could grow within a person. Even a tired dog can turn on its prey, let alone a human. No one would not seek revenge. How much more so would they seek revenge on an ignorant and subservient person? The servants gathered together and said, "He's clearly a kept man. The other day, when he went to the old master's house, he gave us that beating, almost killing us. Today he's hooking up with a monk again. Why don't we catch him in the act and see what he has to say? Let's vent our anger." Some of the older servants, who knew a bit more and were afraid of trouble, said, "Forget it, we'll just accept our bad luck for the beating the other day. There's an old saying, 'A son shouldn't catch his mother in adultery.' We servants shouldn't catch our mistresses in adultery. If we're not careful, we'll get ourselves into trouble, and that would be terrible. Let's just keep our lives and eat a bowl of coarse rice." Among them was a younger man named Wu Zhi, the son of the head steward Wu Yi. He was extremely stubborn and always relied on being the son of the head steward to stand out and show off among the servants. He then stepped forward and said, "I'll risk my life to do it. I think if I invite the young master to come along, it'll be like catching a husband in the act of adultery. What's there to be afraid of?" Three or four others echoed, "Brother Wu, this is a good idea, that's exactly how it works." The others then advised, "No, you can't do that. Do you think the young master will say a word? Even if we catch them in the act, the young master can't be killed. Are we, as servants, going to take on a separate crime and kill him for him? If we don't kill him, we can't have a private settlement, and we'll have to go to the authorities. First, the young master won't be able to explain, and second, officials will protect each other. In that case, we'll end up getting ourselves into trouble. I advise you to save yourself some trouble." Wu Zhi said angrily. "You men, like wives, have no guts whatsoever; you're incapable of anything great. I'm going to bring him to justice and make that adulterous woman look bad so I can vent my anger." The three or four said, "Brother Wu is right. As the saying goes, 'A scholar's rebellion will not succeed in three years.' Don't have too many carpenters, or you'll ruin the whole house. We've made up our minds; that's how it will work." The others said, "We're just wives; let you men do it. But if you don't do it right, even wives like us can't do it." Wu knew this: "Bah! You worthless blabbermouths, it's a waste to give you your human skin." So he ignored their advice. The five of them were of one mind, informed their wives, and locked up the maids. These women only wanted revenge; they didn't know the consequences. They were still smug.

That night, Niu had been enjoying herself with a monk in his bed until midnight, and they were all exhausted. The maids, who had been watching closely, quietly opened the doors and informed the others. Wu Zhitong's four servants rushed into the study, where Ma Tai was fast asleep. They shook him awake. Knowing it was useless to talk to him, they simply dressed him, carried him, and rushed to the main room. Seeing Niu Shi and the monk embracing and sleeping, one of them grabbed two pairs of trousers. Another punched the monk twice, dragged him naked off the bed, and tied him up. Niu Shi, at this point, had no choice but to squat on the bed, covering herself with a blanket. The servants said, "Madam, you can't refuse. We've caught them in the act, what are you saying? Please come down and take her to the yamen." Another said, "Are you going to let her go naked? We won't give her trousers, but she needs clothes." They demanded a maid's blue blouse and skirt and forced her to put them on. Niu Shi, being young and terrified, was overwhelmed with shame and allowed herself to be manipulated. It was already dawn outside, and just as everyone was about to leave, Yang Shi stumbled in and blocked their way, saying, "What a mess you've made! He's just a young man and woman, where are you going to send him?" Wu Zhi said, "You're an elderly wet nurse, the young master doesn't know anything. If you don't guard against him, he'll do something like this, and you still dare to protect him? I'm afraid if the old master finds out, you'll lose half your position. Where are you going? Let's go to the yamen and see what the government decides." Yang Shi had no answer, knowing she couldn't stop them, so she took off her turban and covered Niu Shi's head with it. The crowd escorted them to the front hall, where they called for a sedan chair. Yang Shi still held onto Niu Shi, refusing to let go, but Wu Zhi went up and shook her away. He made Niu Shi sit in the sedan chair, removed the curtain, and kept a close eye on her, lest she try to kill herself inside. Then another sedan chair from the household was taken to Ma Tai. This fool was manipulated by others; he didn't even know he was being forced to do hard labor. Seeing that things had escalated to this point, the remaining family members, fearing further trouble if they couldn't handle the situation privately, sent a few with their master and several others to the Niu family to report to Niu Zhi.

Niu Zhi was greatly alarmed and immediately went to Minister Niu to tell him. Because it concerned everyone's reputation, the matter was reported to the Censorate. The censor, named Shou Ketuo, was Minister Niu's protégé. He sent a servant to the yamen to plead with him to handle the matter discreetly. The servant, upon arriving at the yamen, learned that the officials had other business to attend to and hadn't come to the yamen. He then went to the yamen to report and provide details. Censor Shou summoned the head constable and instructed him: "Go to the yamen. Tell Niu to go back. Young Master Ma doesn't need to wait. Just arrest Ma Tai's five servants. Give the monk a pair of trousers to wear and keep them under guard until tomorrow morning's court hearing." The head constable received the order and went to the yamen, instructing Niu and Ma Tai to go back. He locked up the five servants by name and had his men take them to guard them. The monk was untied and then locked up again. He was given a pair of trousers to wear and taken away separately. [The case of adultery was handled lightly; the Censorate is truly trustworthy.] At this moment, the servants, seeing the situation was dire, looked at each other in bewilderment, regretting their past misdeeds, but it was too late. [Because of one ignorant and wicked young man, four reckless servants were sent.] As for Madam Niu, she hadn't returned home. Niu Zhi, not knowing how the Censorate had reported the matter, sent his son with a dozen or so servants to inquire from afar. Hearing that Madam Niu was summoned back, they brought her home.

After Huan'e and Wu He sat in the tea room for a while, his servant came and said, "Master, please go back. Everyone has left." Huan'e asked why, and the servant said, "I don't know the details. I just saw a constable relaying the orders from the censor to arrest the monk and his family, and to send the young master and his wife back." Huan'e said, "I've waited half a day for nothing, what a disappointment." He bid farewell to Wu He and went to the flower shop to buy a few pills of "Bed-Lifting Incense" and several "Golden Spear Unyielding Purple Gold Pills." That evening, he first took the aphrodisiac with liquor, and then the couple went to bed together. Huan'e rested his head on Hou's arm, sucking on her breasts and touching her genitals, fiddling and probing, pretending to be playful, while secretly inserting two "Bed-Lifting Incense" pills into her vagina. Before long, Hou's waist began to twist and turn restlessly. She said to Huan'e, "I feel really strange here today. It's so hot and itchy, it's unbearable." Huan'e said, "I guess it's because you're thinking about doing *that*, that's why you're itchy." Hou said, "Nonsense! Even if I wanted to do *that*, it wouldn't make me this itchy. It feels like insects are crawling on me, and it's burning hot and scorching. I can't describe how uncomfortable it is." Huan'e pretended to be sleepy and ignored her, no matter what she said. Hou couldn't bear it any longer. Seeing that he was silent, she reached out and touched his waist. Huan'e's drug had taken effect, and his penis was as hard as an iron pestle, throbbing wildly. It was as hot as a burning coal. Hou couldn't resist touching it and turned to face him. Her vulva was right in front of his penis when he pretended to turn over and face away. Hou Shi grew anxious and pushed him, saying, "Wake up, I have something to say." Huan E deliberately said, "I just fell asleep, why are you calling me? We can talk tomorrow." Hou Shi said, "Don't pretend to be a fool after eating turtle meat. I'm really feeling unwell today, and for some reason, your thing is hard again. Come and help me." Huan E said, "I wanted to sleep, and you're waking me up again. Let's get this straight first. If I'm really enjoying myself and you want me to stop, won't that be too much trouble for me? If you want me to do it, I'll only stop when I'm completely exhausted. Don't refuse to stop when I'm in the mood." Hou Shi laughed and said, "Like a fortune teller eating crabs, you're just making things up." "What is it? You're quite the expert, aren't you? You can make noodles in plain water, and I'll see you eat them. You're the one who's always been the one who loses more often than I'm afraid of you. Yesterday you were all soft and snotty, begging for a pretty girl to suck your tongue. Have you already forgotten after just one night?" Huan'e couldn't take it anymore and got up, saying, "Let's see how you pay today. You're all talk now, but you won't be any softer later!" Hou said, "What's the use of empty words? You'll see if you do it. Since you're all talk, if you soften up and beg for a pretty girl to suck your tongue again, I won't allow it." Laughing, she quickly lay down on her back. Huan'e clamped her legs between her ribs and wiggled her glans around her vulva, but wouldn't penetrate. In her haste, Hou lifted her buttocks, but he pulled back. Only after Hou lowered her buttocks did he thrust his glans downwards, causing Hou to twist and turn in frustration, cursing, "You heartless bastard, do you want me to die?" Huan'e chuckled and ignored her, suddenly thrusting his penis forcefully downwards, all the way to the root. After a couple of thrusts, Hou felt a hot, full sensation inside, finding it incredibly pleasurable. She eagerly raised her buttocks to meet him, but Huan'e pulled out again. This happened several times, and her vaginal fluids gushed out in waves, like urination, as she groaned with her eyes closed.

Seeing that he had done enough to Hou, Huan'e spread his legs apart, bent down, and grabbed him tightly with both hands. Then he began to thrust forcefully and relentlessly, making Hou tremble with pleasure, losing control repeatedly. At first, he tried to hold Hou's waist with both hands, but later his arms went limp and he could no longer hold him. Hou fell into a deep sleep, as if he were being tortured to death. Huan'e continued his wild thrusting. After a while, Hou regained his breath and cried out, "Good brother, please spare me! I can't take it anymore. My whole body feels paralyzed. If you keep going, my bones will all fall apart." Huan'e didn't answer him. Relying on the effects of the drug, he resumed his ruthless thrusting, reaching the very tip of Hou's penis and penetrating to the very root of the penis, thrusting over a thousand times more. Hou Shi lost control twice more, and was truly unable to move. She also felt some pain in her genitals, and pleaded in a soft voice, "Are you really going to kill me? Please rest." Huan E said, "We already said that. I was just getting into it, and now you want to stop. You said you weren't afraid, so why are you saying things you shouldn't have said before? You said I forgot what I said the night before, but how come you forgot what I just said? You're worried about yourself, how can I live like this?" Hou Shi really couldn't hold on any longer, so she said, "If you're not satisfied, let Jiao Hua come and do it." Huan E said, "If I let him do it, will you get angry?" Hou Shi said, "I'm letting him take my place, why will I get angry?" Huan E was overjoyed to hear this, and called Jiao Hua.

Jiao Hua had been enjoying herself last night when her mistress startled her away. This beautiful thing, unsatisfied, was like a child seeing sesame candy—fragrant and sweet—how could she not want to eat it? Hearing their movements, she quietly came over and hid behind the bed to eavesdrop. The sounds were of two or three kinds, each more interesting than the last. At first, the mistress was groaning anxiously, the sound coming from her mouth. Then came a happy groan, the sound coming from her nostrils. Next came a half-dead, half-alive sound, a faint sound from her throat, which was masked by the sound from below, like someone walking in mud, slipping and sliding. The sound from her throat was barely audible. The maid was so anxious that her face flushed and her vagina felt wet. Her throat felt hot, and she kept swallowing. She wanted to leave but couldn't bear to, she wanted to listen but couldn't bear to. Just as she was feeling distressed, she suddenly heard the mistress say that she should come and take her place. It was like a beggar finding a gold ingot. She couldn't be happier than that. Her legs, which had been so sore and numb that she couldn't move, suddenly became strong at these words, and she hurriedly went to the bedside.

Huan'e lifted him onto the bed and was about to remove his trousers when she reached down and found his bare buttocks exposed, her hand covered in his wetness. His legs were also soaking wet. She quickly removed his shirt, revealing two soft, steamed-cake-like breasts pressed tightly against his chest, each nipple the size of a fingertip. His skin was smooth and delicate, making him incredibly endearing. She kissed him twice and laid him down. Because of her impoliteness the previous night, she dared not be rash today, gently inserting herself. Since both his clothes were soaked and had been touched by the young monk the night before, she felt no difficulty and entered him fully. His delicate flower felt no pain, only a slight fullness. Knowing that pleasure was to come, like eating an olive—no taste of sourness before sweetness—she bravely endured it. Seeing that he was no longer hesitant, Huan'e unleashed her skills, and they began their battle. She then displayed her archery prowess, hitting the bullseye every time.

The maid had seen what her mistress looked like before, and without realizing it, she crossed her two white, tender, lotus-root-like legs to either side, her delicate buttocks swaying and groaning softly. Huan'e, seeing this, was utterly captivated. The effects of the drug had worn off, and she unconsciously ejaculated. He held her tightly, and after a short while, pulled her out and wiped her clean. The delicate flower had tasted this delicious treat; indeed, it was delightful. This boneless little fish was more palatable than any wild game, exotic fruit, or rare delicacy. Satisfied, she didn't even put on her clothes, happily holding her in her arms as she went to sleep. Huan'e looked at Hou Shi; she was truly asleep, motionless, her body naked, her vulva wide open. Huan'e looked down and smelled a fragrant aroma wafting from within, knowing it was the scent of the drug from the previous night's incense. He pulled the blanket over her. He smelled her breath; it too was fragrant. He gently kissed her twice, then lay down. He was exhausted from the night and slept until sunrise before waking up.

Hou Shi also woke up and asked Huan E, "How late did you and the maid stay up while I was asleep?" Huan E replied, "It was because of your kindness that I dared to do this. Since you were asleep, how could I hide my pleasure from you? It's alright if she gets lost. That maid was afraid of your law, and she left after a short while. I covered you with the blanket and slept with you. Although I wasn't quite done, I was afraid of tiring you, so I didn't dare move. I just gave her two light kisses and had to endure it before falling asleep." Hou Shi was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling with happiness. She kissed him twice and said, "You respect, love, and cherish me like this. What more can I say? If you always act like this without shirking your duties, I'd even be willing to let the maid serve you." Huan E was overjoyed, as if a treasure had fallen from the sky. He hurriedly said, "Grandma, you've been so kind to me, I'll naturally be even more diligent every day from now on, how could I be lazy?" He hugged Hou and tried to touch her again. Hou said, "The sun is high in the sky, and I'm still feeling weak and lethargic. You should save your energy for tonight." Huan'e wasn't really happy at this moment, because he knew that giving him Jiaohua was just a way of expressing his gratitude. Seeing Hou's polite refusal, he accepted the invitation. Hou reached out and touched his penis, which was already limp, and laughed, "You were so energetic and vigorous at night, how come you're so weak now?" After laughing for a while, the two of them got up to wash their faces and comb their hair.

Jiaohua was full of energy, smiling broadly, and served him diligently. Madam Hou called her over and instructed her, "You see, you're quite timid, yet you know the rules. From now on, I'll promote you, and you'll serve your mistress closely, but you're not allowed to do anything behind my back. If you sneak a bite or sip, and I find out, it'll be terrible. You don't need to go to any other maids; you can sleep on a bed behind mine." The maid smiled and quickly kowtowed seven or eight times, replying, "Thanks to Madam's kindness in treating me like this, how could I dare to be dishonest?" Madam Hou then gave her several pieces of her own clothing and a few pieces of jewelry. Jiaohua kowtowed again in thanks. Needless to say, she was secretly delighted. Huan'e, watching from the side, was so pleased that her eyes were practically closed with laughter, thinking to herself, "What a brilliant plan! What a wonderful way to please a jealous mistress! Not only have I managed to subdue her completely, but I've also gained a beautiful maid. How delightful!" From then on, whenever the couple did anything, they would have Jiaohua by their side. She would push them, carry their legs, and act as a helper. She would also wipe them down, no longer as timid as before. He knew how to make a scene and get a smile from Madam Hou. But after Madam Hou had her fill, the leftovers often reached him as well. Although they weren't quite satisfying, they were still better than the days when he would just starve and swallow his saliva. Although this made Huan'e incredibly happy, he was also caught between two sides. Every day, he pretended to be attentive and cheerful in front of Madam Hou, putting on a grateful and repaying act, which was quite nauseating.

Suddenly one day, a servant came in and said that his second uncle had been sent on a mission to Yunnan and had now returned by waterway, arriving at Shangxinhe. He sent someone to deliver the message. Huan'e hurriedly got up and rode off to meet him. Madam Hou ordered wine to be prepared and served. Before long, they came home together. They entered the main room and the brother and sister met. After the formalities, they sat down and chatted for a while. Hou Jie brought many local gifts as presents: areca nuts in straw husks, Pu'er tea, chicken cocoon vegetables, chess pieces, ivory pen holders, elephant tail toothpicks, Shuixi leather saddles, leather basins, leather bowls, and leather plates. Huan E thanked him and accepted the gift. A short while later, wine and food were laid out, and he and his wife sat down to chat.

You might ask, what business did Hou Jie have going to Yunnan? And why did he come to Nanjing by waterway? He was the second son of Hou Taichang, the younger brother of Hou Min, and the elder brother of the Hou family. He served as an official in the capital, rising through the ranks to become the Chief Minister of the Imperial Stables. Having managed horses for a long time, he knew their quality well. At this time, Wei Zhongxian was establishing his inner court and disliked the large horses for their lack of agility. He knew that the horses produced in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces could climb mountains and cross slopes as easily as flat ground. He wanted to order local officials to send them, but feared they would only send a limited number to fulfill their obligations, which wouldn't be satisfactory. Therefore, he specially dispatched Hou Jie to select and purchase horses from these three provinces, sending him there by express courier. Hou Jie accepted this lucrative mission, traveling from Henan through Tongguan to Shaanxi and then to Sichuan. Although he was sent by Wei Zhongxian, he was considered an imperial envoy, and officials of all ranks along the way presented him with gifts and food, creating quite a spectacle, too numerous to describe.

One day, he arrived at Wugong County in Hanzhong Prefecture. The magistrate, named Mu Ren, was a close protégé of Hou Taichang and a member of the Mu clan. He traveled a long distance to welcome the imperial envoy, not only to greet him but also to flatter his elder brother. They arrived together at the county seat, where Mu Ren stayed in the yamen as a sign of their close relationship. After exchanging pleasantries and serving wine, Magistrate Mu said, “My jurisdiction is a small, remote city, without even any opera performers. Your Excellency’s arrival in this open county is truly unwelcome. I have a courtesan, a young servant, whom I wish to have served. What do you think, Your Excellency?” Hou Jie laughed, “The ancients said: ‘

A few close friends, a delicate woman in a red dress,
two bright silver candles, a clattering dice bowl.

’ These are all wonderful things; why not?” Magistrate Mu then ordered his servant to summon him. He had already summoned him to the yamen to serve him; upon hearing the summons, he gracefully entered and kowtowed to Hou Jie. Hou Jie, seeing that he was quite handsome, praised him with four lines: "

His fair face glows with rosy light, his lips are a deep crimson.
His eyebrows are like small crescent moons, his hair is like newly piled clouds."

Hou Jie was delighted to see her. When he spoke to her, she had a soft, sweet Beijing accent, which made her even more endearing. "How can a government office bring in a prostitute?" he asked. "During the late Ming Dynasty, the whole country had official prostitutes. Their husbands were called 'music households,' their names were recorded in the register, and this position was passed down through generations, a hereditary system from which they could never escape. They were like the turtles on the copper coin register. They paid a yearly fee, called 'gold and silver,' which was sent to the imperial treasury for the concubines' cosmetics. This was a strange policy established by the Yongle Emperor, which had a harmful influence on later generations. Officials were allowed to summon them for service, but they were not permitted to openly stay overnight. Presumably, secret lovers had no way to keep track of the accounts." The woman sang sweetly beside him, playing songs of border customs to accompany the wine. After the wine was finished and the lamps were lit, Hou Jie and the prostitute chatted and laughed, clearly wanting to linger. Magistrate Mu laughed, "This young lady is quite young and has a voluptuous figure. If you, Your Excellency, don't find her vulgar, let her keep you company; it's worth a night's sleep at the Tao Gu Post Station. What do you think, Your Excellency?" Hou Jie laughed, "This is Your Excellency's official residence; how can that be?" Magistrate Mu said, "If Your Excellency is indeed in such a mood, then that's fine." Hou Jie was also quite fond of this kind of thing, but along the way, due to the respect shown to the imperial envoy, he couldn't go to prostitutes. Now, seeing that Magistrate Mu was saying this, he was just in line with his tastes, so he said, "Since you have such a refined taste, how could I refuse?" The drinking was over. Magistrate Mu led him to the study, where the bed had already been made. After chatting for a while, he smiled at Hou Jie and said, "Enjoying pleasure is a short night, a moment is worth a thousand pieces of gold; I won't keep you company any longer." He then told him to go inside.

Hou Jie got into bed, and the prostitute helped him undress and fall asleep. Then he got into bed himself, also undressing completely. Hou Jie stroked her body; her skin was very smooth, her breasts soft and tender, quite alluring. He was aroused and thus... and so it went. Afterwards, they slept together. Hou Jie asked her, "I heard you speak with a Beijing accent, how did you end up here?" The woman initially hesitated to answer, but after repeated questioning, she tearfully explained that her father's surname was Liu. He was from Beijing and a student at the Imperial Academy. She had eloped with her cousin, but unfortunately, her cousin died, and she had been tricked into coming here by a musician. She told him the whole story, tears streaming down her face. Hou Jie asked, "What do you want now?" She replied, "I only wish to escape this hellhole and become a good man's wife; even if I die, I will have no regrets." Hou Jie said, "Your resolve is firm. I will share this one night with you, and I will save you." The woman wanted to get out of bed to thank him, but Hou Jie held her, saying, "No need." She kowtowed dozens of times beside the pillow, and Hou Jie pulled her back to sleep. The woman, grateful for his kindness, flirted and flattered him. Hou Jiexing's desire returned, and they made love again before retiring.

Now, let's talk about the woman's father, Liu Biantao, and a man named Wang Shizhen, both from Wanping County, Shuntian Prefecture, Beijing. They both lived outside Fuchengmen. They were born of the same age, lived in the same village, studied together in childhood, and attended the county school together, becoming very close friends. When Wang had a son and Liu had a daughter on the same day, villagers and relatives brought soup dumplings to congratulate both families, saying, "This is a blessed son and daughter-in-law bestowed by Heaven." The two were also happy and thus arranged their marriage. Not long after, Wang Shizhen and his wife contracted a serious illness. He entrusted his young son and family fortune to Liu Wentao, saying, "I am originally from elsewhere and have no close relatives to rely on. You and I have been friends since childhood, and we are also family. I entrust this orphan to you. After he is grown and married, I will give him my family fortune, and then I can die in peace. I trust you are a righteous man and will not fail my trust." He then passed away. After the funeral, Wang Shizhen's entire estate passed to Liu Wentao. Liu, through careful management, amassed immense wealth within a few years. He then paid a grain tax to enter Yongzhou and betrothed his daughter to a nobleman. Wang's son, now fifteen, was still not allowed to attend school. Disheveled and unkempt, with exposed elbows and heels, he lived among the servants, even using a shovel for food. Liu Wentao never allowed him to see him once a year. In

the fifth year of the Tianqi reign, an imperial edict was issued to select candidates for the Imperial Academy. Hoping for a lucky break, Liu Wentao enrolled in a monastery. The monastery was less than half a mile from his home. One night, the son of his neighbor, the Guo family, suddenly died, and monks were summoned to chant sutras and prepare the body for burial. The monks and their disciples all went, entrusting Wentao to guard the monastery. He was studying late into the night, his mind weary, and he leaned against the table, dozing off. Suddenly, he heard a gust of wind whistling from afar, gradually approaching the monastery. It suddenly pushed open the door and reached the central courtyard. The lamps were dim, the moon was dim, the eaves horses neighed mournfully, and the bamboo on the walls rustled sadly. He awoke with a start. My heart was filled with unease and my spirit was low. I rose and sat on the mat under the curtain, cross-legged, waiting for the monk to return. After a short while, I heard someone calling my name outside the door. Listening closely, I recognized the voice of my old friend, Wang Shizhen. My hair stood on end in shock, my legs trembled, and I held my breath, afraid to make a sound. After a moment, he pushed open the door and entered the room. He sat on a bamboo chair in front of the bed and began to recount his story: "When you were seven or eight, your family was poor, so you came to study at my house. I gave you my clothes and food, never being stingy. When you grew up and went to take the county and city examinations, I shared all the expenses with you. When you were applying for a higher degree, you couldn't afford clothes and food, so I provided them for you. When you were thirty and still unmarried, I helped you get married. Later, we had children and arranged marriages. Over the years, you have had enough to eat and wear without any income. Whose help did you rely on? You once pointed to heaven and earth, swore to the sun and moon, and called upon the gods and spirits, and told me..." "I dare to cut off my head, I dare to rip out my heart, I dare to rip out my liver and diaphragm, for I will never forget the Emperor's kindness." His words still echoed in my ears, the earth beneath his grave not yet dry. He had changed my daughter's marriage, enslaved my son, swindled my wealth, ungrateful and treacherous, worse than a dog or pig. Heaven and earth, ghosts and gods, are all blazing down upon you; do you still yearn for officialdom, for rank and wealth, for glory in your village, for momentary fame? I have spent over ten years in the netherworld, harboring deep resentment, never forgetting it. Today I have come to bid you farewell; death will come tonight."

Wen Tao was terrified. He shook his clothes and leaped out of the window, Wang staggering behind. Reaching the palace, bewildered and confused, in the pitch-black darkness, he could not find his way. He could only hear footsteps behind him, the pursuit relentless. He cried out for his life, running around the palace, Wang continuing his relentless chase. At the fourth watch, Wen Tao, exhausted and breathless, collapsed to the ground. Wang leaned against the palace pillar, cursing incessantly. After the monk finished chanting sutras at the bereaved family's home, he was about to place the body in its place for burial when he lost sight of it. A thorough search yielded no results, much to the family's astonishment. The monk then left, returning home to find Wen Tao lying on the ground groaning. Another person was leaning against a pillar, holding a torch; this was the body that Guo's family had lost. Greatly alarmed, they sent their disciples to inform the bereaved family and to call Wen Tao's wife. Soon they arrived, and Guo's wife carried the body home. Liu's wife fed Wen Tao ginger juice, and he revived at dawn. When asked what had happened, Wen Tao recounted the whole story, leaving all who heard him speechless. He was then carried home, but he went mad with wide eyes and died a few days later. He had no children, and his wife also died of illness shortly after. Liu Wen Tao's uncle

took over the household, but returned all his property to Wang's son. His daughter had initially been betrothed to a wealthy man, but the man died young, leaving her still unmarried. A cousin of hers frequently visited their home, and they became increasingly intimate. The girl suddenly became overjoyed, and unable to wait for a matchmaker, she secretly married him without her father's knowledge. Later, their affection deepened, but fearing their parents' discovery, they packed all their jewelry and fled together. They escaped all the way to Baoding Prefecture, where the cousin contracted typhoid fever. By then, he was penniless and unable to afford medicine, and died a few days later. A merchant from Shaanxi happened to be in the shop and, seeing the woman's beauty, offered to bury her husband, open the shop's accounts, and marry her. The woman, having nowhere else to go, had no choice but to go with him. This was truly a case of:

knowing she was not his companion, yet following her in her haste.

Who knew that upon arriving home, she would find herself a prostitute. As the saying goes: "Returning home in the middle of the night without a lamp, like a crow returning home." She had fallen into a living hell, forced to offer herself as a prostitute, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, becoming a courtesan. When Hou Jie questioned her, she told him the whole story. Hou Jie felt a pang of pity and told Magistrate Mu the next morning. Immediately, someone brought the woman, accusing her of abducting a woman into prostitution, severely punishing her with thirty strokes of the cane and two months in cangue. The official entered and asked Hou Jie, "Did the old magistrate take this woman with him, or is my brother keeping her here awaiting his return?" Hou Jie laughed and said, "I don't need her. I beg the old magistrate to choose a virtuous, unmarried man to marry her; that would be a great act of kindness." Magistrate Mu knew that there was a young, unmarried clerk in his office, so he summoned him and ordered the treasury to take ten taels of silver for his wedding expenses. The couple thanked him profusely, and Hou Jie and the magistrate left happily. Liu Wentao, greedy and treacherous, was robbed of his soul by Wang Shizhen. Are there no fears among the heartless men of the world? The woman fell into prostitution, and the property went to Wang's son; where is the benefit of love? This passage can serve as a scathing critique of heartless men, not a general statement. But let's leave that aside

and talk about Hou Jie's departure. Magistrate Mu tried his best to persuade him to stay, but to no avail. The place was poor, and he could not offer a generous gift, but he offered three cups of wine as a parting gift, accompanying him for a hundred miles before parting. Hou Jie traveled by day and night, and soon arrived at the plank road. Having seen many towering mountains, steep cliffs, ancient pines and strange trees, and exotic flowers and plants, I found my world quite novel and soon arrived in Chengdu. This prefecture was situated on a flat plain amidst thousands of mountains, with fertile fields stretching for miles—truly the ancient land of abundance. Upon entering the city, I met with the King of Shu and, together with the governor, issued an edict to officials in various prefectures to purchase horses. After staying for over two months, I selected one thousand fine Sichuan horses and handed them over to the governor. A commander with over a hundred soldiers was dispatched to deliver them to the Eastern Depot in the capital for settlement.

Every winter, Miao women would gather prickly pears to sell in the market. If a merchant from Zhejiang, Hubei, or Henan bought them, the Miao women would rejoice, saying it was a good deal, signifying a good customer. If a local bought them, the price would be doubled. If a person from Jiangnan showed interest, they would present a basket as a gift, saying, "I love you, don't leave." "I love you, don't leave" means "We have a predestined connection." If someone tried to harass her, she would angrily shout, "You shameless wretch!" "Shameless wretch" means "You have no shame."

When the Miao men and women in the mountain villages see someone dressed in fine clothes, riding a horse, and surrounded by servants, their entire families come out to worship. Those who don't know the situation shout loudly, "Come out and look at the Han officials!" "Look at" means to gaze upon. "Han officials" refers to Han Chinese officials. If someone dismounts and passes by their home to ask for water or fire, the entire family kneels and offers it, such is their love and admiration for China. In Weiqingwei, two sharp peaks rise abruptly from the flat ground, each a thousand feet high, with a temple on top. Every mid-spring, tourists flock there. In the plains, there is a Pearl Spring, also known as Island Spring. Normally there is no water, but when paper money is burned, the spring gushes forth like boiling water, spraying several feet high. On Tiantai Mountain, there is a Temple of the Goddess, the residence of female Taoist priests. The lush trees make it a pleasant place to visit. There is a spring with a single spoonful of water that can supply the drinking water of 100,000 people without end.

Anshun Prefecture, formerly known as Xi'an Prefecture during the Yuan Dynasty, boasts a city wall of nine li (approximately 2.5 kilometers). Its palaces and markets are grand and magnificent. Houses are built with white stone walls and stone tiles, and its bustling marketplace far surpasses that of Guiyang. There was once a plan to establish the provincial capital here, but due to the inferior weight of the soil compared to Guiyang, the plan was abandoned. Adjacent to the city is Puding Guard, which was established in the early Ming Dynasty as the Puding Military and Civilian Commandery to govern three prefectures, wielding considerable power. Therefore, the people of Guizhou only speak of Puding and are unaware of Anshun, having long been intimidated by its power. Anshun is a vital passage to western Guizhou. Forty-five li (approximately 2.5 kilometers) west of the pass is Longjing (Dragon Well). Every year on the day of the Autumn Equinox, a sound like a drum emanates from the well, audible for dozens of li (approximately 30 kilometers), known as "Dragon Drumming," signifying abundant rain in the coming year. Reaching Anzhuang Guard, the landscape changes again. The mountains are chaotic, all towering thousands of ren (approximately 6.6 kilometers) high. The mountain peaks rise abruptly, their summits resembling spears and bamboo shoots, too numerous to count. Five li (approximately 2.5 kilometers) southwest of Anzhuang Guard is Guanyin Cave, dedicated to the Great Master An. Within the cave lies another cave, where stalactites drip and form pillars. Several meters in circumference, when struck, produce the sounds of a bell and a drum. Straight up to the right is another double-bright cave, beside which lies yet another, extremely small and dark cave; the wonder of this place is beyond description.

Fifteen li further is Baishuipu; after traveling less than a li, a waterfall appears like a curtain, cascading down a rock face. The surrounding peaks rise straight up, reaching into the clouds. Five li further is Baihong Bridge, where the waterfall cascades even more swiftly. It bends three or four times into the stream, quickly crossing the bridge westward. Following the stream after crossing the bridge, suddenly a continuous rumbling sound is heard. The travelers say this is the sound of the spring at Wangshui Pavilion. Five li further, one ascends to Wangshui Pavilion. A dragon abyss plunges straight down, a thousand white ribbons spraying pearls and swirling snow, plunging into a hundred-foot-deep green pool. Even with a clear sky and gentle breeze, the rushing water splashes as if walking in a thick fog; the thunderous sound heard several li earlier must be this. Across the river are the four characters "Snowy Silk River in Clear Weather." Locals say there's a water rhinoceros in the pool, often appearing on clear, moonlit nights. At the Dragon Pool, a sheer cliff rises several feet, with raging waves. Inside is a Water Curtain Cave, its depths unfathomable. Baling Bridge is Guansuo Ridge, where the water flows from the northwest, originating from the mountains, joining the Panjiang River, and flowing into the sea in western Guangdong.

Guansuo Ridge is the most precipitous mountain in Guizhou, its path winding and twisting upwards. Halfway up the mountain is a temple dedicated to Guan Yu, also known as Longquan Temple. There is a Horse Running Spring, its water sweet and clear, drinkable, said to have been used by Guan Yu in his youth. The spear thrust forth. The temple sits atop a high platform, below which grows extraordinary bamboo, called Mianzhu (绵竹). Commonly known as "Flagpole Bamboo" (幡竿竹), its girth is as large as a pine tree, lush and lovely. Outside the temple gate is the Mute Spring (哑泉), where, during Zhuge Liang's southern expedition, soldiers mistakenly drank its water and became mute. Later generations sealed it, and a stele inscribed "Eternal Mute Spring" (亘古哑泉). At the western peak is the Temple of Shunzhong King Suo, where an iron spear, weighing over a hundred jin (approximately 50 kg), guards the mountain gate; it is commonly called the Little Guan Yu Temple (小关王庙). The temple is magnificent, and the Miao people all fear its power and virtue; those who enter the temple invariably prostrate themselves in worship.

Below the ridge is Guanshan Post Station (关山驿), and west of this, all are high peaks. The sky was pierced by clouds and mist, regardless of the weather, filling the valleys. Elephant Trunk Ridge, with its two towering peaks flanking a ridge, resembled an elephant's trunk. It was three zhang wide and over a hundred zhang long. Climbing its western peak, one could see the mountains of eastern Guizhou as mere mounds.

The summit was Yongning Prefecture, a vast, boundless expanse of land, not far from the sky. The mountaintop was shrouded in mist, thick clouds turning to rain, never clearing. In autumn, even wearing heavy furs, the cold was biting. The water here flowed westward, the terrain rugged and treacherous. For dozens of li before and after the station, many postal workers had died, their bodies lying stiff along the roadside, the stench overwhelming.

The city... About two li to the north lies Guanyin Cave, ten li deep. A leisurely stroll there with a candle is a delightful experience. Inside is a stone bed, smooth as marble. Sitting or lying on it produces a clear, ringing sound; turning or shifting it is like the cacophony of string and

wind instruments. The inscription on the stone reads "The Immortal's Bed." Thirty li west of Xinpu is a pool, a hundred zhang deep. Beside the pool rises a towering stone wall, shaped like a thousand-layered cake—a truly wondrous sight. An iron chain bridge spans the Panjiang River. The river originates deep in the mountains of the Wusa Miao region. It never dries up, even in winter. Here, seventy-seven springs are found, all converging on a single stream. Qujing Road flows through Bijie and into An'nan County, where it joins the Wumei River in western Guangdong and flows into the sea, a necessary route for people entering Yunnan. Two peaks stand guard, separated by a single river. The cliffs are a thousand feet high, and the current rushes swiftly. This natural boundary between Guizhou and Yunnan is a place where boats often capsize and drown.

In the second year of the Tianqi reign (1622), the supervisor Zhu Jiamin began to forge thirty-seven iron ropes, each several circumferences in circumference and several tens of feet long. He drilled holes in the huge rocks on both cliffs to thread them through, then covered them with wooden planks, resembling a plank road. However, the ropes were long and weak; people walking on them constantly rose and fell, their bodies swaying and unable to support themselves. Those traveling by carriage must dismount. The former ascends the bank, while the latter begins their ascent. If they proceed in succession, the danger increases. The uphill climb is only about a mile, but it is steep and difficult, no less so than the ascent of Guanling.

In An'nanwei, there is a peak piercing the sky, upon which stands the Yuan Emperor Temple. South Pass also has a similar peak, upon which stands the Jade Emperor Pavilion; both can be climbed for panoramic views. Below the pavilion is the South Peak Temple. There is a saying: "Cold Peak Station, Hot Pan River, travel to An'nan to seek fire." Within eighty li, the temperature changes three times, a unique phenomenon in the world.

From the South Pass uphill to the General's Drinking Horse Spring, one traverses five clouds... The path leads to a slope, past the Fairy Cave, and through the Old Crow Pass. All are winding and sloping, but the stone paths are wide and level enough for travel. A stone carving beside the path, in red ink, reads "The Bird Path is Heavy," quite magnificent. Crossing the Ten Thousand People Bridge, one reaches Jiangxi Slope, where the mountain ridge is relatively flat, yet still winding and turning upwards. Deep ravines and deep valleys fill the view, leaving one feeling lost.

Emerging from the south gate, one ascends to Guanyin Cave, passing Jiufeng Temple, where the entire mountain is covered with arhat pines. The mountains of Qian were once barren; from here, forests begin to appear. White clouds often fill the valley, regardless of whether it's sunny or cloudy. Crossing the plank bridge, one reaches Parrot's Mouth, a very steep ridge where parrots dwell. Wusi Temple. From here upwards, mountains rise from mountains. Water from the large mountains flows into streams, while water from the smaller mountains, surrounded by peaks, has no outlet and flows underground or into caves. In spring and summer, during heavy rains, the mountain peaks overflow like lakes; in autumn and winter, the water dries up, turning the area back into land. Baiyun Slope is extremely steep, with two towering cliffs spanning thousands of feet, flanked by a stream. The stream flows gurglingly, and looking down, one feels a vast and boundless expanse.

Xinxing is located at the junction of Guizhou and Yunnan, with countless high mountains rising above the clouds. Even the Guanling Mountains, though steep, cannot surpass it. Biyun Cave is located several kilometers outside the city. Inside, a stone screen stands at the entrance; visitors stroke it, its surface smooth and lustrous like jade. A secluded spring flows beside it, its sound like the striking of a zither. Inside, there is a stone gong, which rings clear when struck. The cave is very dark inside; after walking about a hundred steps, it suddenly opens up into a narrow passage, a sliver of sky. Sunlight filters through the cracks in the stone, revealing everything in the cave. There are large yellow figures, each as big as a bushel, and two large earthen figures, each a Arhat. Some lean against the screen, standing alone; some sit cross-legged beside a couch; some perch on the cliff, gazing upwards, their beards and eyebrows clearly defined. Several fathoms high on the cliff face, a dragon seems to rise, its scales poised to move, its claws and teeth seemingly dancing. Further in, giant waves surge into the sky, and a stream flows across the land. A torch was lit for illumination, and a narrow path led to the side, barely wide enough to squeeze through. After several twists and turns, the alchemical furnace and medicine stove appeared. Around another bend, a magnificent pagoda rose into the sky, its exquisite structure remarkable. A little further on, there were thousands of acres of stone fields, a five-bay stone pavilion, and stone beds and stools. Emerging from the cave, one stood atop a peak, overlooking countless mountains, which appeared as mere mounds.

Observing the Big Dipper at night, one was astonished by its low position. Considering that the North Pole rises 45 degrees above the Earth's surface in Beijing, 32 degrees in the Jiangnan region, and 24 degrees in Yunnan, the Big Dipper's low position is indeed remarkable. Higher elevations mean stronger winds, hence... It is said that Guizhou is rainy every day, and Yunnan is windy every day. The wind often blows sand and uproots trees, yet it always comes from the southwest, the reason for which remains unknown.

He collected enough horses in Yunnan and sent them to the capital first. Then he prepared to set off, and the officials all received generous gifts. When he passed through Guizhou, he had already proclaimed the imperial edict to procure horses. By the time he returned to Guizhou, the horses had all gathered in the provincial capital. He selected a number, and having obtained enough, he sent officials to escort them. He also received many gifts.

Upon arriving in Zhenyuan, he first wanted to get on the water quickly, and then... Wanting to enjoy the scenery along the waterways, we took a boat (Zhouqiu) to Chenzhou, and then transferred to another boat to Changde. Along the way, we encountered some treacherous rapids and shoals, with the Hungry Ghost Cave Rapids being particularly large and dangerous. Waves crashed against the boat, surging straight into the hull. Despite our efforts to resist, our clothes and bedding were almost always soaked. Even more treacherous were the rapids, some stretching for over a mile, with large waves and treacherous rocks; a slight miscalculation would cause the boat to break apart and sink. The Great King Rapids, the Second King Rapids, and the Third King Rapids were also dangerous, with the Great King Rapids being the most perilous. From the rapids, we could see the boats ahead submerged in the giant waves, only their masts visible. At the end of the day, looking back at the boat after descending the rapids, it felt as if we were on a mountaintop. Although the boat's swiftness was delightful, it was also terrifying.

Traveling from Pingxi, the rocks on the right bank of the river resembled stacked snow, each rock having several thousand layers. They were square like volumes of books, high and low, forming a vast expanse. Such formations were numerous along the river, and the area was commonly known as the "Thousand Scrolls of Books." On the left bank of Chenxi County, to the west, was a massive chamber, imposing in appearance but hollow inside, called the Bell and Drum Cave. Inside the cave was a library, said to be where King Mu of Zhou stored his books. Slightly ahead of the Nanmu Cave, on a cliff face, a boat, about eight feet long, was hidden in a crevice. Xu, commonly known as the sandalwood boat left by an immortal. At Daoshuiyan Immortal's Shell Stone in Changde, the rocks are all sheer cliffs, with a winding, high, and wide waterfront. Ten stone caves are carved into the top, overlooking a deep ravine. Inside one of these caves are five wooden coffins, traditionally believed to be sandalwood coffins. Locals say that when the water rises, strong men use ropes to pull them ashore. The coffins decay, but the remains remain. Boatmen jokingly try to poke them with poles, but thunderbolts strike them angrily, and it is unknown when they were left.

Shanjuan Mountain, where Shanjuan abdicated during the reign of Emperor Yao and lived in seclusion. Today, on the summit of the solitary peak is the auspicious altar of Mr. Shanjuan, and on the shore is the fishing spot of Mr. Shanjuan. The village of Wan is also called Shanjuan Village. The mountains are majestic and the winding islets follow the stream, inspiring a sense of detachment from worldly concerns. The Chenjiang River, upon reaching this point, stands like a pillar; beyond it stretches a hundred miles of flat land, leading directly to Dongting Lake. The Baini Kiln of Dongting Lake is over ten miles long, but the lake water is less than a foot deep. Boats must travel in water level five feet high, and are forced to navigate through the muddy waters. The sound of snails, clams, and broken stones scraping against the boat's planks is incessant. A sudden, strong wind allows them to pass through in an instant. The boatmen believe this to be a sacred kiln, impassable without strong winds.

For several miles, when the water level is low, it takes human labor to push and pull the boat along. There were two such boats. The ends of the poles were all fitted with horizontal planks, shaped like the character for "divination" (卜). The sharpest of these was so that a person could not be pulled out even with mud. Beyond this point, there was the Tongmu Cave between Dongting Lake and the lake. Before reaching the cave, a few miles in, the sky was overcast for four days, and the boat sailed through black winds and turbid waves. The boatmen whispered in alarm, hastily cutting up livestock and burning earth. At first, they did not understand why. A short while later, they saw a divine tree approaching the boat, but it turned back after less than ten feet. Looking towards the boat, they found it wrecked, and were saved by a raft. The boatmen's expressions calmed down, and they said, "This is a spirit of the camphor tree. Whenever there is a violent storm and the day is dark, it comes out to roam the lake."

The head of the deity, dark green like a snail's shell, moves back and forth before and after the Sacred Tree Cave, remaining unchanged since time immemorial, hence the name Sacred Tree. To the left of Yuezhou City Gate stands an iron ox, crouching and looking west with its mouth open, as if to swallow the lake. This is likely based on the principle of the Five Elements' restraint, similar to the bronze ox in Yunnan Province controlling water. Outside the gate, in the sand dunes, are five iron buttons, one of which is smaller, its origin and purpose unknown.

The new embankment is a place where fish and rice accumulate, with houses stretching for fifteen miles along the river, and a small river connecting to Shahu Lake. Merchants gather in the upper and lower Honghu Lakes, as well as Mianyang, Xiantao, Jingzhou, Anlu, and other places, with rows of wells and streets, a scene of prosperity. A few miles south of Hankou is the seat of Hanyang Prefecture, and crossing the river to the east is Wuchang, the provincial capital.

Within ten miles are two prefectures, which are strategically located at the crossroads of Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, and Sichuan, and control the two rivers to the left and right, hence the strict security here. Shangcheng was where Tingjian, the son of the ancient Gaoyang clan, was enfeoffed. In the first year of the Suihe era of Emperor Cheng of Han, Kong Ji, a descendant of the Yin dynasty, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Shaojia, hence the name Shangqiu. This is the place where Sun Shu'ao, the prime minister of Chu, buried a snake.

In Tianjia Town, there is the Wu Ganxing Ba Temple, where divine crows dwell, flitting about on the river. Sailing ships passing by, regardless of whether they are given cakes or grains, are fed to them. The crows fly and catch the food, none falling. After eating, some gather at the top of the masts of boats and escort them out of the temple grounds; locals say this is a general sending messengers to see off guests. Their calls are hoarse and resemble those of a kind bird; they can be heard for thirty li in all directions, a truly wondrous sight.

Twenty li further on is Fuchi, and one hundred and ten li to Jiujiang. Passing Jingjiangkou Town, locals call it "Squatting Fish Mouth." The locals say that every year a "pig-like dragon" wreaks havoc here. When the weather is cold and the water is low, the banks collapse and houses are destroyed. Now the old banks are in the middle of the river. Boats moored here are fried in oil, and the dragon emerges from the boat; people are very wary of this. In the summer months, however, they do not avoid it. From then on, passing through Anqing, Wuhu, and Caishi, they reached Nanjing and went up the Xinhe River. There were no records of the journey along the way; they simply sailed downstream on the Yangtze River with their sails unfurled.

While drinking with Hou Jie, Huan'e said, "I've often heard people talk about Yunnan, which I thought was not far from the edge of the world. I never imagined that you, Second Brother, would actually travel there! Could you tell me in detail what you saw and heard? I'll remember it. Firstly, it will broaden my horizons, and secondly, when I tell people about Yunnan's historical sites, I can also boast about them." Hou Jie had set out from Beijing, traveling through Henan, Shaanxi, and Sichuan, then from Sichuan to Huguang, through Guizhou, and finally to Yunnan, recounting the scenery and sights he had seen and heard in the six provinces. Huan'e found it even more fascinating than when he had someone recite folk songs, so he listened every day. [This is where the author's pedantic nature is most evident; it's not that the author is being sarcastic.] After drinking, everyone rested for the night. The next day, a theatrical banquet was held, with Jia Wenwu and Tong Zida invited to accompany them. The next day, Hou Jie was about to depart, but Huan E and Hou's wife wanted him to stay a few more days. Hou Jie said, "I was ordered to stay for only one year, and that period is almost up; I dare not delay."

His wife, seeing that there was a deadline, couldn't insist he stay. Jia Wenwu and Tong Zida came to pay their respects. Jia Wenwu personally invited him, but he declined. [Vulgar people love to make such connections.] Hou Jie quickly returned the greeting and was about to leave. Huan E instructed his family and cooks to prepare a farewell banquet at Pukou. He personally escorted him across the river and hired a porter. Huan E stayed with him for the night. The next morning, he returned to the capital to report.

Hou Jie's head steward, Si Xia, presented his son-in-law with two Burmese bells. One was the size of a soybean, meant to be held in the hand. The other was the size of a hazelnut, with a knob-like shape, used by women in their stoves. [This steward was indeed clever; worthy of being a head steward. He will later receive a generous reward from his son-in-law.] Huan E was overjoyed and rewarded him with two hundred taels of silver. That very evening, he and Lady Hou experimented together, with him touching one while inserting another into her vagina. Lady Hou felt a tingling sensation all over her body, moaning with pleasure. The next morning, she wrapped it in silk floss and stored it away like a precious treasure for future use. To know what happens next, please read on.

End of Volume Eleven (of the "Guanwangyan")

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