(Repost) Revealing the truth behind Wu Song's conspiracy to murder Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian

When we read novels, the author is only responsible for narration; the reader's judgment is up to them. However, often the author's narration is too obscure, making it difficult for the reader to discern the author's true intentions. Wu Song's plot to murder Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian is a case in point. Wu Dalang
suffered
from a pre-existing medical condition, earning him the nickname "Three-Inch Ding, Grain Tree Bark," referring to his short stature and thinness. After Pan Jinlian married into the family, Wu Dalang's physical condition made it difficult for him to conceive. Furthermore, Wu Dalang's name, a homophone for "no great," implies the great loss of offspring. In that society, Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian faced a difficult situation without children, especially since they possessed some wealth, making them targets for their neighbors. Imagine the danger Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian would face if they had no descendants. What could they do?
They could have adopted Wu Song's son. If they had, the story wouldn't have unfolded as it did later. The author's character design, "Wu Zhi," is a homophone for "no nephew"; "Wu Song" means "no descendants to carry on the family line"; and "Wu Erlang" means "no son." Thus, the author effectively blocks the possibility of Wu Song's son being adopted by Wu Dalang. Therefore, Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian are forced to consider "borrowing a seed."
Borrowing a seed was very popular in the Northern Song Dynasty because of the perceived superiority of the local population; even groups from overseas came to borrow seed. The Wu couple initially wanted to keep the benefits within the family, but Wu Song was reserved. After Wu Song left for some reason, the Wu couple could also consider Ximen Qing, the most famous businessman in the area. Things progressed smoothly; through Wang Po's mediation, Ximen Qing agreed to make the sacrifice.
Unfortunately, a complication arose: Wu Dalang fell ill with leukemia (then called scrofula), a disease that, without treatment, would only last a few days, and treatment required arsenic (arsenic is still used to treat leukemia today). Ximen Qing's pharmacy sold arsenic, but to avoid any potential accidents, he rarely sold it to ordinary people with prescriptions. Ximen Qing, unable to resist Pan Jinlian's insistence, prescribed a seven-day supply for Wu Dalang.
Another accident occurred: Wu Dalang, suffering unbearable pain, consumed the entire seven-day supply at once, making his pain even worse. This was considered a medical malpractice incident. Ximen Qing swallowed his anger and paid compensation, which calmed the deceased's family, but the seeds of future trouble were sown.
When Wu Song returned, the coroner presented him with a black bone, claiming it was the remains of Wu Zhi, and showed him Song Lian's writings, stating that bones only turn black after ingesting arsenic (which was not true).
Wu Song, who had previously felt deep remorse for not granting his brother and sister-in-law's request, was now enraged to hear that Ximen Qing had fulfilled the obligation that should have been his. He captured Pan Jinlian, hoping to give his sister-in-law a chance to repent, but Pan Jinlian pointed to her stomach and said, "I am already pregnant with Ximen Qing's child." Enraged, Wu Song stabbed her with his knife, and sure enough, Pan Jinlian gave birth to a baby…
Wu Dalang died from medical malpractice, Pan Jinlian died from the backward thinking of the time, and Ximen Qing died from his own kindness. Through a series of descriptions, the novel's author profoundly reflects the grand and complex realities of life in the Northern Song Dynasty. However, due to the changing environment, later readers have found it difficult to grasp the author's true intentions, leading to many misunderstandings, which is truly regrettable.
P.S.: Based on my research, the above stories may not be entirely unfounded. For example—
1. Song Jiang's name sounds like "sending away the river," meaning "giving up the country";
2. Wu Yong's name sounds like "useless," meaning "useless";
3. The "Pan" in Pan Jinlian and Pan Qiaoyun's names sounds like "betrayal," meaning "betrayal." Shi Nai'an was originally a staff member of Zhang Shicheng, the King of Eastern Wu at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. When Zhang's two sons-in-law later defected to the Ming Dynasty, Shi Nai'an, feeling indignant, deliberately created these two villainous characters in the book to satirize them.
I'm just offering these speculations for your amusement.

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(Repost) Revealing the truth behind Wu Song's conspiracy to murder Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian

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