A Chance Encounter and a Romantic History

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Author: Jiang Hai Zhuren

Volume

One, Chapter One: In Yangzhou, a woman devoted to marrying a beautiful man secretly encounters a lover

. The poem reads: Enemies are bound to meet, and who can resist romance when they meet? Resentment always arises from kindness; what enmity is there without love?

It is said that during the Song Dynasty, in Jiangnan Province, there was a scholar named Huang Shangqing, whose wife was Zhao. That year, he passed the imperial examination with top honors and was appointed magistrate of Anyang County, Henan. Unexpectedly, Zhao fell ill at home and died within a month. The scholar was heartbroken and had to arrange her burial. Feeling lonely, he sought solace in books. After some time, he decided to remarry. However, there were no exceptional beauties in his area. Thinking of the beautiful scenery of Yangzhou, he decided to go there first, marry a woman, and then take up his post. Having made his decision, he took several family members and arrived in Yangzhou one day.

Upon entering the official inn, he immediately found a matchmaker. The high-ranking official instructed, "Find a gentleman who is both talented and handsome, with unparalleled beauty; a generous reward will follow." The matchmaker, upon hearing this, kowtowed and left. As she left the shop, she pondered the matter, concluding that only the daughter of Cai Jiansheng in Guihua Lane possessed unparalleled beauty and refined elegance; she thought she could be a suitable wife. She decided to visit the Cai family first. Soon, she entered the Cai family's gate and saw Cai Jiansheng in the main room, wearing glasses and reading a book. The matchmaker stepped forward to greet him, asking, "What book are you reading, sir?" Cai Jiansheng replied, "It's 'The Story of the Red Plum Blossom.'" The matchmaker then asked, "What language does it speak of?" Jiansheng said, "My literacy is limited, so I don't understand it entirely. It's roughly a story about men and women in love and romance. What brings you to my house?" The matchmaker then explained the situation. The student repeatedly said, "If you wish to marry Xian, please do so. But if she is to be a concubine, my family, being a local official, will absolutely not agree." The matchmaker said, "I truly wish to marry a lady; sir, please do not doubt me." The student then spoke with the woman, Wang, and she immediately agreed. The matchmaker took her leave and went to the official inn to report the matter.

Minister Huang happily said, "My departure date is urgent. I will send the gifts tomorrow morning, and the wedding will take place here tonight. The day after tomorrow, I will depart for my post in this province to settle my wife, so I have no time to inquire further. Please be careful." The matchmaker also stayed at the inn. At dawn, he prepared satin, hairpins, and three hundred taels of silver as betrothal gifts and sent them to the Cai family. Because he did not have time to prepare the dowry, Minister Cai gave five hundred taels of silver as compensation and personally escorted his daughter to the wedding. He was not spared the formalities of bowing and exchanging vows. One day, after the banquet, in the evening, Minister Huang and the bride removed their hats and clothes. Upon closer inspection, he realized she was only twenty-nine years old. Indeed:

more eloquent than flowers, more fragrant than jade.

The high-ranking official was overjoyed, personally removing his undergarments to reveal a fair and delicate body, adorned with a pair of tiny, exquisite lotus feet, their beauty radiating affection. The couple traveled with ease, arriving at their ancestral home in just a few days. They entrusted all household affairs, large and small, to Cai, and set off on their journey. But let's leave that aside.

Cai, having grown up traveling throughout Yangzhou, was remarkably quick-witted. Upon arriving at the Huang family home, she felt quite constrained, having become a lady. After more than two months, she spoke to her maid, Ailian, saying, "Is there anywhere to visit here? I'd like to relax and unwind." Ailian replied, "Huayan Temple is very lively; it's a perfect place to relax." Upon hearing this, the lady immediately dressed herself impeccably, becoming as beautiful as a flower, like a celestial being. She and Ailian boarded a sedan chair and went to Huayan Temple. Indeed, it was the Huayan Temple:

the bell tower soared straight into the blue sky, golden bells at the corners of the hall jingled in the breeze. Auspicious vapors rose from the incense burner, and the three precious statues gleamed in purple gold.

The lady arrived before the hall, paid homage to the Buddha statues, bowed four times, and then toured the various scenic spots in the rear hall before returning home after noon.

Meanwhile, in the temple rested a pearl seller from Guangdong named Cao Yuexin, just over twenty years old. He was exceptionally handsome and intelligent, with a face as white as powder. In Guangdong, where women were known for their promiscuity, who wouldn't be attracted to such a handsome young man? Therefore, he was nicknamed "Idol." His parents had come from Jiangnan to sell pearls and stayed at this temple. That day, while strolling in the hall, he suddenly bumped into Lady Cai, and was so startled that his soul flew out of his body. He followed her sedan chair all the way to the Huang Yamen, where he saw Lady Cai enter. What will happen next? Let's find out in the next chapter.

Chapter Two: Cao Ma's Clever Plan for the Lost Pearl; Madam's Lustful Thoughts at Midnight

. It is said that when Ai Dou saw Madam enter the inner chambers, he diligently inquired about her. Master Huang had taken office, and Madam, a native of Yangzhou, was alone at home. She returned to the temple, tossing and turning all night, lost in thought: "In Guangdong, I've met many women, but none have been as elegant as this beauty. What should I do? If I enter the inner chambers and see her one more time, I'd die content."

The next morning, after rising and washing, she strolled to the front hall, bowed, and said, "Disciple Cao Yuexin, I came here to sell pearls. Yesterday, I saw Madam Huang, and my heart was captivated by her. Disciple humbly beseeches the gods: if fate decrees a marriage between us, I beg for the highest divination slip. If not, I beg for the lowest." Holding the slip container, she drew the third slip, which read: "A

predestined relationship from a past life, now bound by a thread. Keep your mouth shut like a bottle, do not utter a word before anyone."

Overjoyed, he bowed several times to the gods and said, "If this disciple's wish is fulfilled, I shall offer sacrifices on the banner." Returning to his bedroom, he devised a brilliant plan: he must disguise himself as a woman selling pearls, using the pretense of selling them to gain entry into the inner chambers. Perhaps this would work. However, his feet were large; how could he possibly find a pair of large women's shoes to wear? Oh well, he would simply lower his skirt. He quickly took a packet of fine pearls and a string of small beads, placing them beside him. He hurried to a secondhand clothing store and bought a blue silk shirt, a white silk skirt, an undergarment, a headscarf, and the like. He went to a secluded ancestral hall and began to dress. Looking perfectly presentable, he stepped out of the hall and looked in a well; he was indistinguishable from a woman. Emboldened, he went to the Huang family's residence.

The gatekeeper, seeing he was a woman selling pearls, did not stop him. He walked step by step to the back of the hall and saw Madam Huang in the courtyard, watching goldfish play in the water. The idol, speaking in Yangzhou dialect, called out, "Greetings, Madam! Here are some beautiful pearls; please show them to Madam." Madam replied, "Since you have such fine pearls, bring them to my room, Chunlai." Hearing this, the idol turned and went into the fragrant room, looking around; it truly was a paradise. Madam said, "Sit down." Ailian then brought tea and they drank. The idol took out a box of the fine pearls and examined it. Madam picked out more than ten pearls and asked, "Are there any more?" The idol replied, "There are plenty." He then took out the string of pearls from his sleeve, opened it, and found that the top was knotted, but the bottom was deliberately untied. He twisted the bottom half and gave it to Madam. Madam took it, and the idol released it, causing the pearls to tumble to the ground, startling Madam so much that her face turned bright red. The idol said, "Madam, don't worry, let me pick them up." With that, he went to look for them. He picked up more than twenty seeds and said, "There were sixty in total, but more than half are missing. They rolled into the cracks in the bricks. It's getting late, so I'll have to come back and look for them tomorrow." The lady said, "What are you saying? If you turn around and find a few missing tomorrow, just say my maids took them. You can stay here tonight and look again tomorrow morning. You can rest assured whether you find them or not." When Aidou heard that he could stay here, he felt overjoyed. He said, "How can I disturb you here, Madam?" The lady said, "That's alright. I'm just afraid your husband is waiting for you over there." Aidou said, "My husband has been gone for two years, and the mourning period is over." The lady asked, "What is your surname?" Aidou replied, "My humble surname is Cao." The lady immediately told Ailian to prepare some wine and food and invited Cao's mother to drink. After a while, candles were lit, dinner was laid out, and the lady invited him to sit down. Ailian poured wine for him. The lady called to Ailian, "Don't walk around here. If you step into that pearl in your shoe, it will be hard to find tomorrow. You can leave the wine pot here, go eat dinner, and come back to the room before going to bed." Ailian obeyed and left.

The lady and Cao's mother drank a few more cups. The lady said again, "With your youthful beauty, why not remarry and settle down for life?" Cao Mama replied, "The word 'husband' gives me a headache, but I'd be happier without him." The lady said, "What do you mean? With a husband, you'll be cared for, have children to carry on the family line, and avoid being bullied." Cao Mama said, "Madam, you don't understand. If you marry a good husband, you'll enjoy life. Like me, I married this country bumpkin the other day, with a rough temper, smelly body, and prone to hitting me. I had nowhere to turn." The lady said, "According to you, you're determined not to remarry? I'm afraid you can't bear the sound of rain on a cold window or the wind blowing through your blankets. You'll still miss your husband then." Cao Mama said, "Madam, others can't speak harshly to me, but I can stand firm. If you don't mind my nagging, let me tell you something. I live with a palace maid. When she was in the palace, she never had a man like him. The inner palace uses something called the Thirty-Six Palace Items..." It is spring, ten times more interesting than men's things. The people in each palace go up and down every time, taking turns every night, which is indescribable. He lives with me, sleeps with me at night, and enjoys his own pleasure, so what is the use of a husband? I often go to other people's houses to sell goods, and there is a young widow. I help him out, and he is alive and well. The lady smiled and said, "Did you take it with you?" "I brought a few of these things with me," Cao Ma said. I wanted to stay with my friend's widow by chance. If I didn't take it with me, it would ruin his interest, so I kept it with me. The lady said, "No one is here. Let me have a look. What does it look like?" Can a thing become a spirit and cause mischief? "This thing is strange," Cao Ma said. "There are two things you should not look at. You should not look at it in the daytime, and you should not look at it in front of the lights." The madam smiled and said: "If you say this, it will never catch people's eyes." "Cao Ma said: "Habits can catch people's eyes. "The lady said, "I'm talking about the eye. "Cao Ma said: "I also know, deliberately teasing. "Let's listen to the analysis next time.

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A Chance Encounter and a Romantic History

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