The Complete Book of One Hundred Women - Part 5

"
My poor daughter, what are you doing? Get up, get up, get up quickly! Pack your things, we're all going to the capital together, hehe!"
On his way to the capital for the imperial examinations, Ban'er not only gained a beautiful daughter-in-law but also returned laden with jewels and jade. The old lady was overjoyed, her mouth agape. She hurriedly ordered her son to dismantle the tent, pack their bags, and gave the little donkey to Yao Niang. So, the old lady hobbled along, chattering incessantly; the scholar, carrying his treasure bag, remained silent; Yao Niang rode on the donkey's back, overjoyed; and the little donkey neighed and clattered, the three of them setting off towards the bright red sunrise! After
the rain, the sun rose, and the scholar cooked in the woods.
Yao Niang offered her inkstone for breakfast, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law embarked on their journey.
"The Lady of the Book of Documents says," "
Slaves and maids are ranked at the very bottom of the nine classes of people. Their lowly and despicable nature is evident from this. The sources of slaves and maids are varied, but this is an academic matter, not our area of study. Once reduced to slavery, not only do they lose their personal freedom, but their life and death are entirely in the hands of their masters.
In the Middle Ages, a master killing a slave was as easy as slaughtering a pig, without violating any criminal law; yet, if a slave dared to assault any nobleman, the government would behead them upon the nobleman's request. Alas, how unequal!" In daily life, the various forms of exploitation, abuse, and humiliation inflicted upon slaves were commonplace and need not be mentioned.
Thus, in order to survive and eke out a few days of hardship, all slaves would use every trick in the book to please their masters, losing all dignity and self-respect. Their base behavior was no different from that of a lapdog wagging its tail for mercy. Hence, the idioms "servile and obsequious" and "servile and fawning" arose.
Yao Niang was also unfortunately reduced to a slave, but she refused to bow to misfortune or submit to tyranny. Her stubborn and steadfast will is truly admirable. Through tireless struggle, the girl, repeatedly sold and resold, not only remained chaste but also unexpectedly escaped the den of wolves and tigers, regaining her freedom and finding a suitable husband to start a new life—truly a twist of fate! Chapter 4 of

"The Maidservant 2

": Though beautiful, the concubine is sickly; taking her pulse and getting medicine leads to financial ruin.
After paying the money and completing the formalities, they hastily hired a sedan chair and a band of musicians, making a grand entrance as they escorted the beautiful concubine to Li Youcai's mansion. The rich man's wife, momentarily confused, immediately understood what was happening when she saw the beautifully dressed concubine step out of the sedan chair. She was instantly filled with jealousy, but with others present, the old woman refrained from her outburst, giving Li Youcai some face. After the servants finished their business and dispersed, the old woman grabbed the concubine's arm, grumbling as she shoved her into the inner room, slammed the door shut, and then, key in hand, went to feed the chickens. Li Youcai watched all this with indignation: "Damn it, Zhang San doesn't eat dead children's flesh because the living are spoiled. As for me, Li Youcai, besides eating and working, I have no other hobbies. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't gamble, and I don't frequent brothels. So what? Can't I even have a concubine to enjoy myself? Compared to others, I'm far inferior. People of my caliber all have three wives and four concubines!" Li Youcai grew angrier and angrier, following his wife around, nagging incessantly: "Old woman, I, Li Youcai, have worked myself to the bone for most of my life. What, don't I even have the right to have a concubine?"
The old woman remained silent, busy with her work, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. No matter how much Li Youcai nagged, she refused to hand over the keys. Li Youcai grumbled for a long time, and before he knew it, dusk had fallen. The old rich man begged to let Yao Niang out so the family could have dinner together. The old woman glared at him: "Dream on! One wife and one concubine, how wonderful! Bah, no way!" At dinner, the old woman hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls of rice, then gathered the leftover scraps and soup spoonfuls and gave them to Yao Niang, who was still locked up. Li Youcai shook his head and sighed, unable to do anything about his wife. After hastily tidying up the room, his wife blew out the candle and urged the rich man to go to bed and completely give up his improper thoughts.
"Give up that thought!" it was easier said than done. The old rich man couldn't possibly give up, and he couldn't sleep at all. He tossed and turned, thinking about Yao Niang next door every second: "Sigh, what am I doing? I spent so much money to buy a concubine, but my wife won't let me enjoy her, keeping her locked up in the room. Isn't that a waste? A nap, a second wife, how unforgettable!" The old rich man suddenly remembered Hu Zhuanzhuan's insightful remarks, and he became even more wide awake, his mind filled with lustful thoughts. Just then, he heard the old woman's snoring beside him. Overcome with lust, Li Youcai scrambled to his feet, sneaking out of the house like a thief into the courtyard, intending to climb through the back window into Yaoniang's room to quickly experience the wonderful taste of his "second wife."
The moonlight was gentle, the breeze was soft, the birds chirped in the trees, and the crickets chirped in the cracks in the wall. Ah, what a beautiful summer night! At this moment, how many loving couples were embracing each other, making love! Wow, I can't resist! I want to make love too! My little beauty, here I come! With a creak, the old rich man excitedly pushed open the window and clumsily climbed into the room. He saw Yao Niang curled up alone on the bed. Li Youcai was overjoyed: "Hehe, Yao Niang, I'm here! Hehe..."
Having escaped the wolf's den, she had fallen into a dog's kennel. Lying on the hard, cold bed, Yao Niang sighed sadly: Had she been moved from a pile of dung to a latrine? When would this animalistic life of being sold and bought again end? Suddenly, a creaking sound and the sound of hurried footsteps came from the windowsill. Yao Niang trembled: Oh no, the old man is in! That stinking old coffin-like fellow wants to defile my body! What should I do? Submit to him, yield to him, give him my virginity, and let him do as he pleases? No, no, I can't! As Yao Niang silently uttered the word "no," the old rich man's dry hand lifted the corner of the blanket. Immediately, a foul, sour, and rotten stench assaulted her face, making her nearly vomit. She sat bolt upright, avoiding the old rich man's touch as if fleeing a plague: "Ghost, ghost, ghost..."
"It's me, Yao Niang, it's me, there's no ghost," seeing Yao Niang desperately trying to dodge, Li Youcai assumed she was embarrassed. He lifted the blanket, preparing to slip inside, when Yao Niang suddenly jumped up, screaming hoarsely: "Ghost, ghost, there's a ghost, a ghost is coming! Help!"
"My beauty, don't be afraid, I'm not a ghost, I'm your master! Don't scream, listen to me, look carefully, I'm not a ghost, I'm a person, I'm your master!"
"Ghost," Yao Niang wouldn't listen: Who doesn't know you're the old rich man? Sleeping with you? Forget it, dream on! Get out of here, you ugly old thing! Yao Niang shoved Li Youcai aside, wearing only her underwear, leaped onto the windowsill, screaming as she jumped down, trying to escape into the yard. Li Youcai panicked: "Damn it, you little slut, you think you can run away? No way!" The over-fifty-year-old Li Youcai, with a surprising agility, followed closely behind Yao Niang, jumping out of the house as he chased after the refusal-to-yield concubine, urgently calling to his wife: "Old woman, get up quickly, help me chase her! The little slut is trying to escape! If she gets away, all that money will be wasted!"
"What? Trying to run away? No way! She was bought with money!" Despite their complete disapproval, incomprehension, and opposition to their husband taking a concubine, the two old misers finally reached a consensus: they absolutely couldn't let her escape. She was bought with their money; she belonged to them, just like the heifer they bought before the Spring Festival—the private property of the Li family!
The two adulterers chased and harassed her for a long time before finally capturing Yao Niang. In the darkness, the old woman panted heavily, her claw-like fingers mercilessly pinching and twisting Yao Niang's delicate face. Her sharp nails scratched Yao Niang's fair skin, drawing blood. The old woman still wouldn't let go, viciously torturing the poor Yao Niang: "You little slut, why are you so beautiful? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass me? Fine, today, you're in my hands. I'll make you beautiful, I'll make you young, I'll make you tender. I'll destroy all of that, and I'll also kill my husband's philandering! I'll strangle you, I'll twist you to death, I'll scratch you to death!"
"Ouch—oh," Yao Niang groaned in pain, covering her bloodied face. The old rich man hurriedly blocked the old woman's vicious hands: "No, no, this won't do! Such a beautiful little face, it's such a pity to scratch it. Do you know how much this little face is worth?"
"I'll scratch, I'll scratch, I'll scratch!" The old woman's jealousy was inflamed by Yao Niang's beauty. She couldn't tolerate Yao Niang's beauty and wanted to ruthlessly destroy it: "Hmph, I'll not only scratch her little face to pieces, but I'll also tear her tender little cunt apart! I'll tear her cunt apart and make her a worthless piece of trash that no one wants!"
The old woman acted immediately, her claws reaching for Yao Niang's crotch. Yao Niang instinctively closed her legs. The old rich man sighed and begged, "My dear wife, please, I bought her for ten thousand coins, and before I even got to enjoy her, you're scratching and picking at her. Such a beautiful flower is being ruined like this! It's such a pity! Oh, I beg you, please stop picking at her!"
"Hmph," the old woman finally stopped pinching. When her claws were pulled from between Yao Niang's legs, the rich man could clearly see that blood was dripping from her sharp fingernails, with even tiny bits of flesh clinging to them. Under the moonlight, they glistened. A gentle breeze carried an alluring, pungent fragrance. Li Youcai was heartbroken: "Alas, before I could even deflower her, the old woman struck first! Alas, it's all over. I spent ten thousand coins, but didn't even get to taste her freshness. One poke from the old woman's finger, and all ten thousand coins are wasted! That spendthrift old woman!"
The old woman's claws hadn't touched the girl's private parts, but had scratched several bloody marks on Yao Niang's inner thighs. In unbearable pain, Yao Niang's body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground, stubbornly refusing to get up. Li Youcai had no choice but to grab Yao Niang's thighs and have his wife pull Yao Niang's arms, dragging her back into the house like a piglet and throwing her back onto the bed. Yao Niang groaned, kicked her legs, foamed at the mouth, and trembled violently. Li Youcai cried out with a mournful face, "It's over, she's gone mad!"
Whether she was truly mad or pretending, Yao Niang kicked and thrashed about on the bed, sometimes crying and sometimes laughing, throwing whatever she could grab. Soon, the house was a mess, furniture was overturned, and objects were smashed. Li Youcai and his wife attacked simultaneously, and after a struggle, they finally managed to pin the mad Yao Niang down on the bed. Yao Niang stopped struggling, groaned a few times, and then fell asleep peacefully.
Li Youcai finally breathed a sigh of relief and began tidying the room. Before he finished, a loud yelp came from Yao Niang, who had woken up. After a few silly giggles, she reverted to her old ways, crying and laughing, hitting and making a scene. Li Youcai and his wife teamed up again and subdued Yao Niang. His wife, panting heavily, said, "This spendthrift! You'd better get rid of her as soon as possible, otherwise, our family fortune will be ruined by this jinx!"
"But," Li Youcai was also annoyed by Yao Niang's antics, "this little thing, acting crazy, who would we sell her to? Who would want her?"
"Take a look at her first, and get rid of her as soon as you're cured!"
Following the old woman's instructions, Li Youcai invited a quack doctor to treat Yao Niang. The doctor held the young beauty's arm, pinching and squeezing it with great seriousness. Finally, he wrote out a prescription for Chinese medicine. Li Youcai took the prescription to the Chinese medicine shop. The shopkeeper was a bald old man. The abacus beads clicked loudly, startling the old man who valued money above all else: "Too expensive! I can't afford this medicine. I won't see her!"
The old man was stingy and refused to pay for his sick concubine's medicine, so the crazy Yao Niang gave Li Youcai a hard time. She cried and made a scene all day long, throwing and kicking whatever she saw and bumping into. She relieved herself everywhere, making the Li mansion stink and causing chaos in the courtyard. His wife stomped her feet in anger: "You old fool, look what you've done! You have money to burn, but you've bought a living ancestor!"
Such a life was indeed unbearable. Li Youcai decided to treat his mad concubine, but this time, he refused to hire any doctor who prescribed random remedies. The old rich man, on someone's advice, hired a mad fortune teller who was barely better than his concubine. This fortune teller firmly believed that a ghost was possessing the concubine, and that once the ghost was expelled, her illness would naturally be cured. With the consent of Mr. and Mrs. Li, the fortune teller pulled out a long, rusty needle. He instructed the couple to hold down Yao Niang while he, holding the needle, mercilessly stabbed her. A scream rang out, and Yao Niang immediately fainted, her body convulsing horribly. The wife was worried: "Sir, could you kill her?"
"It's alright," the fortune teller flatly denied. The rusty needle continued to probe into Yao Niang's body, and drops of bright red blood seeped out continuously. The wife's hands trembled as she watched: "Sir, if you kill her, this ten thousand coins will be completely wasted!"
The fortune teller's rusty needle not only failed to drive away the ghost but also left Yao Niang half-dead. Mr. Li, fearing that something might go wrong and he would lose both his money and his wife, had no choice but to send the fortune teller away. Looking back at his mad concubine, she was on the verge of death. This wouldn't do; he couldn't let her die like this. He had to save her and then seize the opportunity to strike. To save the ten thousand coins, Li Youcai had no choice but to grit his teeth and spend the money to summon a renowned physician. The so-called physician merely examined Yao Niang briefly before pulling out a pill: "This is my family's ancestral remedy, called 'One Pill of Miracle.' Give it to her; it will work instantly, she'll be better right away!"
The remedy was indeed effective. After taking it, Yao Niang opened her beautiful eyes slightly, gazing at Li Youcai with utter peace, as if she had become a different person: "Master, how are you?"
"Ah, good, good," seeing Yao Niang return to normal, the old rich man was overwhelmed with emotion: Ah, finally she's alright; those ten thousand coins weren't wasted after all! Hey, it's more than ten thousand coins! These past few days, the old rich man has been like a headless fly, flitting about everywhere trying to cure his concubine's illness. He's consulted almost every doctor and shaman in the area, wasting money, spending money unnecessarily, and spending money meaninglessly. He's spent a fortune, at least three thousand coins, meaning this concubine must have cost thirteen thousand coins!
Since the concubine's value is so high, she should be cherished, like a fine piece of Jingdezhen porcelain bought at great expense. She can't be pushed, shoved, or handled carelessly. Otherwise, she'll collapse to the ground, and what's the point of talking about thirteen thousand coins? Everything will be gone! Therefore, Li Youcai and his wife treat Yaoniang with utmost care. Please don't misunderstand, this is definitely not humane care, but rather the cherishing of livestock or valuable possessions!
However, Mr. and Mrs. Li were too optimistic. The next morning, the effects of the medicine had likely worn off, and Yao Niang's old ailment relapsed. The wealthy old man sighed and had no choice but to go to the divine doctor's house to beg for a magic pill. After Yao Niang took it, everything was fine. From then on, every morning upon waking, Yao Niang had to take a magic pill to get through the day normally; otherwise, she would throw a hysterical tantrum, smashing pots and pans. The price of the divine doctor's magic pill was extremely high; a pill the size of a soybean was exchanged for a stone of red sorghum, far exceeding the price of opium. Furthermore, according to the divine doctor, after taking the magic pill, one must also consume appropriate food with each of the three daily meals; otherwise, it would have no effect. This so-called appropriate food consisted of expensive mountain delicacies and wild game. Over time, no matter how wealthy a family was, they could not afford it!
To ensure Yao Niang received a daily dose of the "miracle pill" and enjoyed three delicious meals a day, Li Youcai had no choice but to pawn his property for cash to fund his concubine's expenses. Within a hundred days, Li Youcai was completely exasperated. He calculated on his fingers that in those hundred days, with a daily pill and three meals of delicacies, Yao Niang's value had skyrocketed from 13,000 coins to 54,000 coins. At that time, the price of a good acre of land was only 5,000 coins, meaning Li Youcai had spent ten acres of fertile land to acquire this concubine. However, time was passing, and when would it end? No, even two more Lis couldn't afford to support such a concubine!
Chapter Five: The Country Bumpkin Abandons His Maid to Pay Off Debts; Wang Da Nao, in Desperation, Abandons His
Concubine. Misfortune never comes singly. Since buying Yao Niang, the concubine had become erratic, frequently falling ill, her behavior unpredictable, neither alive nor dead. Meanwhile, even the heavens seemed to be against the wealthy landowner. While Yao Niang took her medicine daily, the heavens refused to send a single drop of rain. As a result, Li Youcai's hundred acres of fertile land, along with the two hundred acres of waterlogged land he leased from Wang Da Nao, cracked open with fissures the size of fingers due to the drought. The newly sprouted seedlings were scorched by the blazing sun, resulting in a complete crop failure across three hundred acres. This left the old landowner utterly bankrupt!
"Forget it," facing bankruptcy, Li Youcai could no longer afford to play hard to get. He secretly began looking for a buyer for Yao Niang, but forget about the neighbors or anyone within a hundred miles. Everyone knew Li Youcai had bought a bottomless pit that could never be filled. Forget about transferring it; even giving it away for free, no one would dare take it! Who would want to watch a spendthrift like Yao Niang enter their household?
Unable to sell the medicine, Yao Niang found herself in a predicament, while her creditors came knocking daily demanding payment. It turned out that to buy medicine for Yao Niang, the wealthy old man had not only pawned his property but also taken out massive loans, hoping to pay them all off after the autumn harvest and then redeem the property. Now, seeing that the old man had a complete crop failure, the creditors feared their loans were lost and were coming to collect. The biggest creditor, and the one most difficult for the old man to deal with, was Wang Da Nao. Although he had leased land at a low price, the amount was enormous—two hundred acres yielded nothing—a real headache for the miser.
These past few days, Wang Da-Nao has become a frequent visitor to Li Youcai's mansion. The man is currently in mourning, and just as the sun peeks over the horizon, Wang Da-Nao, swaying his large, round, shiny head and dressed in a long, wide mourning robe, enters the mansion, berating the nouveau riche with a stern face: "Hey buddy, what about my land rent? You know I'm in mourning, and in a few days, my three-year mourning period will be over. I desperately need the money to hold a grand memorial service for my father. Buddy, I'm not forcing you, I really need the money! If I weren't in such a hurry, I wouldn't have rented the land to you at such a low price. My father's death anniversary is fast approaching, and I can't afford to delay! Even with my big head, I, Wang Da-Nao, wouldn't dare wear the label of unfilial piety! Buddy, I beg you, please help me, isn't that enough?"
"How can I help you!" Seeing that the creditor was pressing him hard and there was no way to escape, he knew that the ancestral worship could not be delayed, but where would Li Youcai get the money to repay the debt? The old miser, in a desperate act, Li Youcai spread his hands: "I really have no money to pay your rent. I, Li, am penniless. The house is mortgaged to the pawnshop. Now, right here in front of you, I officially declare myself bankrupt. I still have a concubine here; if you want her, take her home."
"Sigh, it's true what they say, you can borrow rice to cook, but you can't get rice to cook!" Seeing Li's shameless and destitute state, Wang Da Nao was at his wit's end. He sighed deeply: "Sigh, Dad, your death anniversary is coming soon, but your son has no money to celebrate. What should I do?" "
Look," just as Wang Da Nao was worrying about not being able to get the money, Li Youcai shoved Yao Niang in front of him. Looking at this fat, big-eared fellow, Yao Niang timidly shrank back, her beautiful face slightly flushed. Wang Da Nao's eyes lit up: Wow, she really lives up to her reputation; this little girl is quite pretty!
Having observed three years of mourning for his father and abstained from women for over a thousand days, Wang Da Nao couldn't help but be filled with lust upon seeing a beautiful woman: "Not bad, not bad, this little wench is really pretty. My mourning period is almost over, and these three years have been so hard on my little brother." He thought, "It seems Li really can't pay the rent, and the house is already pawned. Anyway, I can't get anything back. I might as well take his concubine back to my mansion. After my father's death anniversary, I can finally have some serious sex. This little wench will be my first delicious meal on that day." Thinking this, Wang Da Nao grinned, his fat body leaning towards the beautiful woman: "I heard people say you're a spendthrift. They say that once you entered the Li mansion, it really did fall into ruin. Now, your master has transferred you to me. I, Wang, refuse to believe it. I'll take you home and train you properly, and see if you're obedient!" "Woman, get ready, please come with me!" Li winked at the old woman, who pulled Yao Niang over, grumbling as she straightened Yao Niang's clothes. Looking at the beauty in the inner room, Wang Da Nao exclaimed sincerely, "Hehe, this young lady is indeed quite pretty, her looks are very charming. I really want to take her in, hehe... Alas, no, I can't! During the mourning period, we cannot have sex. Any impure act would tarnish the good name of our ancestors, a grave offense! I'll take her home first and keep her safe until the mourning period is over, then I'll enjoy her properly! As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait, hehe."
"Yes, enjoy yourself. She's definitely a tender slut, still untouched," Li said with a hint of regret. Wang Da Nao was puzzled. Li explained, "This spendthrift won't let me near her. The moment I get close, she becomes agitated and goes crazy. Sigh, I've wasted fifty thousand coins on her, ruining my family and business. In the end, I didn't even get a taste, not even a hair on her head. Looking back, I'm such a country bumpkin!"
"Hahaha," Wang Da Nao sneered, "Country bumpkin!" Finally, he happily helped Yao Niang into the carriage and instructed the servants, "Since we're not going to get the rent money anyway, and we can't explain it to Madam, let's not go back to the mansion. Let's go straight to the old man's grave!"
"Yes," the coachman understood his master's intentions perfectly. Like Li Youcai, Wang Da Nao was a henpecked husband. He'd gone out to collect debts, but instead of money, he'd brought back a beautiful woman. He worried his wife would be furious and berate him in front of all the servants—how embarrassing that would be!
Wang Da Nao was indeed a filial son. To mourn his father, he'd built a simple hut in front of his grave, dressed in mourning clothes, and lived alone there year-round, faithfully fulfilling his filial duty. The carriage soon arrived at the small hut in front of the grave. Before the carriage had even stopped, Wang Da Nao jumped down with a thud, grinning and winking at the coachman. The coachman understood, stuck out his tongue at his master, and shoved and pushed the beautiful woman into the hut. The
filial son had kept vigil at the grave for three whole years, his penis swollen and round.
He spent his days reciting poetry, and his nights tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
In my dream, I joyfully embraced a beautiful concubine; upon waking, my crotch was stained with semen.
Today, having obtained a slender and graceful woman, I fearlessly thrust forward.
Wang Da Nao grabbed Yao Niang, his fat hands like iron clamps, firmly gripping her slender waist, rendering her unable to move. Wang Da Nao grinned and began to kiss her cheeks indiscriminately. Yao Niang desperately tried to push him away, crying, "Master, you know what day this is! Doing this will ruin our ancestral feng shui! From now on, our family will decline, we'll fail the imperial examinations..."
"I, I," Wang Da Nao suppressed his burning lust, "Beauty, I know, I know, I didn't do anything! I just kissed her, it's nothing!" As he tried to justify himself, Wang Da Nao reached for Yao Niang's crotch. Yao Niang tried her best to avoid him, crying, "Master, you mustn't! If you get your hands stained with my filth, how will you offer sacrifices to Father?"
"Sigh," a single sentence reminded Wang Da Nao, and he obediently withdrew his hand, "I'm dying of lust, I'm dying of lust, my little brother is about to explode!"
"Master," Wang Da Nao was feeling incredibly frustrated when the coachman's voice rang out from outside the door, "Madam is here!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Da Nao released Yao Niang and turned his face to the window. A dignified and elegant middle-aged woman appeared on the horizon. Wang Da Nao's big head buzzed: Oh no, this is terrible! Madam has found out! What am I going to do?!
As the noblewoman slowly approached, a large, dark crowd appeared behind her. Wang Da Nao recognized them all; they were relatives and neighbors of the Wang family. As they walked, they chattered amongst themselves: "Wow, Brother Wang is really something! To fulfill his filial duty, he's been living alone by the grave for three years. What a filial son! We admire him! He's a great role model for us all!"
"Oh no, this is bad!" Hearing the relatives' comments and glancing at the beautiful young woman beside him, Wang Da Nao felt extremely ashamed. "I, Wang, have been observing mourning for my father for three years by the grave. Everyone within a hundred miles knows about it. And now, suddenly, a beautiful young woman appears out of the house. How am I supposed to explain this?" Gossip is a fearsome thing. Once it starts to get serious, the spittle could drown me, Wang: "Pah! What a filial son! He's just a damn good-for-nothing, pretending to mourn his father while secretly having an affair with a concubine right there at his father's grave! Oh my god, it's disgusting! He's ruined the Wang family's ancestral graves. Other people's ancestral graves emit auspicious smoke, but the Wang family's ancestral graves... well, they emit lewdness! "
This was too terrible. Wang Da Nao couldn't bear to think any further: "Heavens, what am I going to do? Give me some advice! Have I wasted these three years, over a thousand days,
just for some woman?" In despair, Wang Da Nao vented his inexplicable anger on the innocent Yao Niang. He grabbed the girl's hair and twisted and shook her viciously: "You're such a spendthrift! You've ruined my reputation!"
“Master,” seeing Wang Da Nao’s predicament, Yao Niang thought her chance to escape had come, “If you want to preserve your reputation, please release me as soon as possible before Madam enters the room…”
“What? What did you say?” Yao Niang’s words seemed to remind Wang Da Nao. He stopped and stared blankly at Yao Niang, somewhat reluctant, or more precisely, unwilling to give up before having possessed her: “Release you? Do you know you’re here to pay off the land rent? Two hundred acres, isn’t that enough? You’re just going to release me like that?”
“Master, time is of the essence. Please weigh the two hundred acres of land rent against your lifelong reputation. Which is more important?”
"Oh," regardless, reputation was paramount. Seeing his wife and relatives gathering at the small house, and with time running out, Wang Da-Nao didn't have time to think further. "Go!"
Wang Da-Nao grabbed Yao Niang's arm with one hand, and with the other, he lifted the quilt and pulled up a heavy silk sack. "My beauty, go. Consider this money as travel expenses. Go quickly, as far away as possible. Remember, don't let anyone see you, understand? For the sake of my reputation, you must escape!"
"Thank you, sir!" Yao Niang was overjoyed by Wang Da-Nao's actions. She excitedly took the sack and knelt at Wang Da-Nao's feet with a thud. "I will never forget your great kindness, sir!"
"Go quickly!" Wang Da Nao pushed open the window, gazing at the beautiful woman, truly reluctant to part with her. "Go quickly, jump out from here. Behind the house are only weeds. Don't look up. Climb over the grass, and you'll reach the grave mound. Beauty, no need for thanks. As long as you remember me, Wang, from time to time, that's enough..."
"Thank you, sir," Yao Niang nimbly jumped out of the window, saying with deep affection, "This humble servant will always remember you, sir!"
Chapter Six: The Filial Son Buries His Concubine and Pays Respects to His Deceased
Father; The Young Woman Sees the Man of Her Dreams. "Madam, what brings you here!" Having released Yao Niang, Wang Da Nao walked out of the small house as if a heavy burden had been lifted, yet also as if something was lost. He respectfully approached his wife, who coldly stared at her fat, pig-like husband: "What did you gain from collecting debts at the Li residence?"
"Nothing," Wang Da Nao lied. "That old fellow is bankrupt; he can't get anything from us."
"Then, how should we arrange the old man's memorial service?"
“This,” Wang Da Nao Nao was truly troubled, scratching his head helplessly, “This, this, what should I do!”
"Brother, you're so filial! You're so persevering! None of us can compare to you!" The Wang couple were worrying about the expenses for the memorial service when the crowd gathered around, showering them with praise and compliments. This offered some solace to Wang Da Nao, who was feeling deeply disappointed at losing his beloved Yao Niang. "Thank you for the compliments! Thank you all!" Since
everyone had come to support him and jointly commemorate his deceased father, Wang Da Nao naturally wanted to fulfill his duties as host, preparing a feast to entertain his relatives and friends. "Where's the driver? Get the cart, let's go home!"
Wang Da Nao was preparing to take his wife home for a grand banquet, but the driver was nowhere to be found. Wang Da Nao grumbled and searched around the grave. The crowd gathered in small groups in front of the small house, and out of boredom, someone started showing off the offerings they had prepared for the dead: "Look, this is the offering I prepared for the old man—a genuine Huizhou inkstone!"
"Your Hui inkstone isn't worth as much as my precious jade! This is top-grade white jade from the Western Regions, perfect for carving name seals!"
The group proudly displayed their treasures and jade artifacts. Wang Da Nao, fuming, searched for his driver. Suddenly, a guest asked, "Brother, what offerings have you prepared for the old man?"
"Such a filial son!" Before Wang Da Nao could speak, someone immediately interjected, both encouraging and commanding, "Brother Wang's offerings are certainly not meager!"
"Where has this good-for-nothing run off to? I'll teach him a lesson!" Unable to find his driver, Wang Da Nao had a sudden inspiration: "Gentlemen, the weather is so beautiful, the scenery so lovely! I'd like to entertain you here, so we can all gather and celebrate with our father in the afterlife! What do you all think?"
"Excellent! That makes sense!" everyone agreed. "Yes, let's have a picnic at the old man's grave! It would be very charming!"
"Madam," Wang Da Nao was leading the guests to choose the ideal spot for their picnic when the coachman suddenly appeared in front of the small house. Wang Da Nao turned his head and broke out in a cold sweat: It's over, it's really over!
There was Yao Niang, tied to the carriage by the coachman, trembling with fear and staring blankly at Wang Da Nao with despair. Her pitiful expression seemed to say: Master, what should I do? I only ran a short distance before your coachman caught me! Master, please save me!
What a spendthrift! Forget it, I don't even know what to do myself, how can I save you! Wang Da Nao was so angry he stomped his feet, watching helplessly as the coachman brought the carriage to his wife. The coachman jumped down and knelt on one knee: "Madam, this maid was brought from the Li family to pay off a debt, but she tried to escape in the chaos and was caught by this servant!"
The coachman's words filled Wang Da Nao with utter despair. His face turned ashen, his eyes blazed with fury, and he trembled violently: It's over, it's over! I, Wang, am not afraid of being scolded by my wife in public, but my reputation is completely ruined! I am an unfilial son, a heinous criminal, utterly unforgivable!
"Heh heh," the wife turned her face, smiling at Wang Da Nao. The henpecked husband was momentarily confused. What was going on? Why wasn't his wife angry? Seeing everyone whispering and staring at the beautiful woman in the carriage, the lady paused for a moment, thinking to herself: "That scoundrel, during the mourning period, he's been quite the womanizer. For the sake of the Prince's reputation, I tolerated it. But he's gone too far, bringing a wild woman to the grave to cause trouble, ruining the Prince's feng shui!" However, the lady then thought again, "What's the use of scolding him now? It won't help, and it'll only make me lose face. As the saying goes: 'When the husband is lowly, the wife is lowly; when the husband is honored, the wife is honored.'" Although I have a bad temper, I understand this simple truth. So, the lady deliberately cleared her throat and frankly explained to everyone, "Oh dear, everyone, look, my husband is becoming more and more successful and filial, tsk tsk," she said, smacking her lips sweetly, "He said a long time ago that he would definitely give my father a big gift on the anniversary of his death. I asked him what the gift was, but he wouldn't tell me, saying that he would definitely surprise me. Wow, my husband is so thoughtful, and he really dares to spend money. To show his filial piety, he let Li Youcai cultivate the only two hundred acres of land in the family for a year in exchange for his concubine, as the most important and precious gift on the anniversary of my father's death..."
The Wang family matriarch was cruel and wicked; nothing is more vicious than a woman's heart.
Pretty maids and beautiful concubines were buried alive with him, amidst the rotten wood and decaying earth, a chilling scene.
Before the lady could finish speaking, a commotion erupted at the grave. Relatives and neighbors alike showed even greater respect for Wang Da Nao Nao. Only Wang Da Nao Nao himself knew the truth. He had been unwittingly elevated to the position of the most filial son by the lady, and it seemed he wouldn't be able to step down anytime soon. Well then, since he couldn't step down, he'd just go with the flow: "It's nothing, it's nothing. The kindness of parents is like the warmth of spring; a lowly servant like me is nothing to boast about!"
Ah, forced to be buried alive with the dead? My life is over! Hearing the lady's words and the murmurs of the crowd, Yao Niang's vision went black. Overwhelmed by fear, she even urinated. She looked around, desperately searching for Wang Da Nao Nao's shadow, her mouth agape, but she couldn't utter a sound.
"You little slut!" The lady walked past the carriage, glaring fiercely at Yao Niang. "You wretched thing, you want to ruin my family too? No way! My husband was just confused for a moment, but I'm still sober. Give up now, I'll send you to the Western Paradise in a bit, to sleep with my old man in the underworld!"
Amidst the cursing, the stove was already set up. To impress the lady, Wang Da Nao directed the servants to start a fire and cook. The lady then hired a bricklayer and a shaman to open her father-in-law's grave, preparing to bury all the offerings brought by Yao Niang, relatives, and neighbors, so they would turn into a pile of withered bones and decaying earth.
"Hey buddies, everyone's here!" The table was buzzing with excitement. Wang Da Nao, finally enjoying a good meal, was urging everyone on. He picked up his glass and took a long, heartfelt sip: "So fragrant! Such good wine! It's been so long!"
Suddenly, a strong gust of cold wind swept across the lavish table, crackling loudly. Then, dark clouds gathered, and thunder roared: "Oh no! It's going to rain!"
"Hey, it hasn't rained for months! This rain is just in time! If it rains, that would be wonderful!"
Those who depended on the heavens for their livelihood cheered around the table, raising their glasses to the dark sky in unison: "Heaven has finally shown mercy! Thank you, Heaven! I toast you!"
"Yes, it's because Brother Wang is so filial! His great filial piety moved Heaven, and it has finally sent us this sweet rain!"
"Yes, Brother Wang not only fulfilled his filial duty for three years, but also presented the old man with a generous gift. The old man, in the afterlife, was so moved that he shed tears, and that's why it started raining!"
"You've got to be serious," someone thought, thinking the flattery was excessive, and muttered, "What do you think the old man is? A god? An immortal? Where does he get such supernatural powers? Let me tell you, it's because Heaven saw how generous we are, how lavish we are, and how valuable our offerings are. We are all well-educated and courteous people, so as a reward, Heaven is preparing to send down a heavy rain!"
While the bricklayers were rebuilding the tomb chamber, in front of the stone tablet, the shaman whom the lady had hired at a high price was boiling mercury, preparing to pour it into Yao Niang's belly. A strong wind swept in, and the furnace fire flickered and went out after a few moments. The shaman looked up at the sky and anxiously urged his apprentice, "Quick, get that maid in the right position. We're about to give her the mercury. If it rains, all this mercury will be wasted!"
The so-called position was a blueprint conceived by Wang Da Nao. It involved having Yao Niang kneel on both knees, holding a supposedly authentic Huizhou inkstone given by relatives. On the inkstone were Huizhou ink and a famous writing brush. Yao Niang, dressed as a maid, had pearls in her hair and jade earrings. In short, all the sacrificial offerings given by relatives and neighbors were either worn or hung on Yao Niang.
"Listen to me, kneel properly!" The lady glared sternly at Yao Niang. Desperate, Yao Niang refused to yield. The servants dragged and pulled her until she was properly positioned. The shaman, holding a bowl of mercury, muttered incoherently. Seeing this, the apprentice leaped forward, intending to pry open Yao Niang's mouth. Yao Niang's head buzzed: Was she going to die like this?
The
rain began to pour down. Wang Da Nao sat in the center of the table, drinking and chatting with his guests. Just as Madam Wang was instructing the shaman and others to pour mercury into Yao Niang's mouth... Suddenly, with a whoosh, rain poured down from the sky, cascading over everyone's heads. Chaos erupted at the table as people dropped their cups and scattered for cover. The shaman's vessel was instantly filled with rainwater, causing him to shake his head and sigh in frustration. The servant, who had been dragging the young lady along, couldn't withstand the onslaught and, seeing his wife run into a small room for shelter, released his grip, preparing to flee.
Clang, clatter, crackle, splatter…
Then, something terrible happened: the rainwater pouring down on their heads suddenly turned into hard ice, pelting down on the scattering people with screams of agony: "It's hailing! It's hailing!"
As they spoke, hailstones the size of eggs, like a meteor shower or countless large meteorites, overturned the table and shattered the altar.

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