The Complete Book of One Hundred Women - 17

"I'm not so easy to please. Of course I'm leaving! Take me back to your home, whether it's a cowshed or a chicken coop, let me see for myself!"
"Alright then, if you don't mind, I'll go all out!" Things had escalated to this point, and Sima no longer cared about saving face. After Miss Wenjun finished dressing, the two jumped back into the carriage. Sima continued to lead the way, and the carriage rattled out of the Prince's mansion. Just before leaving, the young widow glared fiercely at the Prince who had come to see her off.
"Look, sister," the fiery young woman drove the carriage for over ten miles, and Xiangru pointed to a dilapidated thatched hut ahead and said to Wenjun, "That's my home! The house is so old and broken, it looks like it's about to collapse. Sister, I'm so sorry to have made you laugh!" “
Oh,” Wenjun reined in her horse, looking at the dilapidated house with unusual calm, which comforted Xiangru somewhat: “A woman follows her husband wherever he goes, whether he marries a chicken or a dog. What does it matter if it’s a chicken coop or a dog kennel? As long as it’s her own, that’s all that matters!” With that, the fiery girl jumped off the carriage and headed straight for the thatched hut , Xiangru following closely behind: “Mother, are you home? We have a guest!
” “Who’s your guest?” Wenjun glared at Xiangru with displeasure. Sima smiled mischievously, took the fiery girl’s hand, and introduced her to his mother: “Mother, this is your daughter-in-law!”
“Oh my,” the old lady exclaimed, her aged face blossoming with happiness: “What a good girl! She’s so beautiful!”
“Mother,” Xiangru said as he entered the house, “Please start a fire and cook some food. We’ve been so busy traveling that we haven’t had breakfast yet. Mother, your daughter-in-law is starving!” “
Oh dear, my son,” the old lady said with a troubled expression. Taking advantage of Miss Wenjun’s distracted look, she dragged her idle son to the stove. “Cooking, cooking, you make it sound so easy. Look at this! There’s not a single grain of rice in the pot. What am I supposed to do? And stir-fry some vegetables? There’s not even a piece of meat. Are you going to stir-fry your mother’s thigh?”
“Oh, I see,” Xiangru thought to himself, looking at the empty pot. “My beauty has come. I have to cook her a meal, stir-fry some vegetables. I can’t let her go hungry.” “Mother, don’t worry, I’ll think of something right away!” "
The talented Sima rushed to the free market. Chicken, duck, fish, meat, fresh vegetables, and fruits were all available. Xiangru reached into his sleeve and realized he didn't have a single penny. What to do? Truly, even a hero is troubled by a mere penny!
Without money, he couldn't even get a single vegetable leaf. The talented scholar finally understood the importance of money and regretted his usual extravagance; he had no savings at all! Too late, too late for regrets. Sima was frantic, scratching his head in desperation. Suddenly, a huge "Pawnshop" sign caught his eye. A brilliant idea struck Xiangru. He stepped into the pawnshop and pawned the coat that Magistrate Wang had given him at a low price. With the cash, he happily took the wine and dishes home to entertain his beautiful sister.
The old lady busily prepared the dishes and warmed the wine. Xiangru picked up the wine pot, remembering Wang Jishan's story, and slammed it down in front of Miss Wenjun: 'Sister, you have a great capacity for alcohol, as I've heard. Please, sister!'"
The beautiful young woman readily accepted the offer, picked up the wine pot, grabbed two large bowls, and filled them for herself and Xiangru. "
Great talent, come, drink to that!"
Without waiting for Xiangru to finish, Wenjun tilted her head back and downed the entire bowl of wine. Xiangru was astonished: truly a heavy drinker! The old lady sighed inwardly: "What a woman who can drink! My son probably can't afford to support a daughter-in-law like that!
" "Good capacity for alcohol," Wenjun said, downing her cup first. Xiangru dared not refuse. He held the cup with both hands and bowed to Wenjun, saying, "Such a generous sister, it's my turn!"
"Hmm," Sima respectfully picked up the bowl. Looking at Xiangru's bare arms, Wenjun noticed that the great talent's expensive coat had disappeared after his trip to the free market. Now, he was shirtless, holding the wine bowl. Wenjun asked in confusion, "Young master, where's your coat?"
"Oh, oh, this, this!" After downing a bowl of wine, seeing the beautiful young woman's confused gaze, Xiangru was extremely embarrassed, his face flushing red from his cheeks to the roots of his neck: "Sister, please forgive my poor state. I am as poor as can be, and I had to pawn my outer garment to entertain you!"
"Oh, why bother! If you have money, drink; if you don't, don't force yourself!" The talented scholar pawning his clothes to entertain her deeply moved Wenjun. She put down the wine pot, pushed open the creaking door, and walked to her carriage: "Giddy up!" The young woman jumped into the carriage, raised the whip, and the horses neighed and galloped out of Sima Xiangru's dilapidated courtyard. Changqing was momentarily confused: Why? Was the beauty angry? Did she think my family was too poor!
"Son," the old lady sighed regretfully, "They look down on us. Look, they're gone." She paused, then seemed to console herself, "We can't afford to support a daughter-in-law like that!" "It's good that you've left..."
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that Wenjun returned to Xiangru's house on foot. Entering, she tossed a heavy sack in front of the scholar: "To entertain me, you pawned your clothes; your sincerity will never be forgotten. To show my loyalty, I've sold my carriage and horse. Please use this money to buy some brewing equipment so we can make a living and support our elderly mother!"
"What? Brewing?" Xiangru's eyes widened. Sima had always looked down on merchants; he never dreamed he'd be doing business himself. "Sister, I'm a scholar; how can
I do such a lowly thing?" "Stop pretending to be high and mighty!" Wenjun pouted, scolding him. "You can't even afford food, yet you're putting on airs. Enough nonsense, our winery opens tomorrow!" "
What a good daughter-in-law!" Xiangru frowned, unwilling, but the old lady was overjoyed. "What a clever girl! She's much better than my son. She knows how to support the family, work, and earn money. Son, why are you frowning? We couldn't find such a good daughter-in-law even with a lantern!" "
The new bride entered her husband's family home and immediately got to work. Miss Wenjun used the money from selling her carriage to buy brewing materials and equipment. She built a bamboo shed next to the thatched house, erected a chimney, and the fiery young woman, lightly dressed, rolled up her sleeves and trousers, personally tending the stove with the skills she had learned from her father. Xiangru, still frowning, dressed in servant's attire, a hemp rope around his waist, and barefoot, squatted in front of the stove under the fiery young woman's direction, adding firewood to the firebox.
'Ha, success! Finally, the wine is ready!' The bamboo shed was filled with smoke, and the pungent smell of fermented grains made Xiangru squint, but the fiery young woman didn't care at all. Seeing the wine dripping out, Miss Wenjun's sweaty face beamed with the joy of success. She grabbed a wooden ladle, scooped some up, and drank: 'Wow, not bad, the taste is quite pure!'" "
Hehe," the rich aroma of the brewed wine also aroused Xiangru's craving for alcohol. He stood up, stretched his aching limbs, and snatched the wooden ladle from his wife's hand: "Let me have a taste too." Xiangru took a big gulp: "Hmm, not bad, not bad, keep up the good work!"
The young couple, holding the wooden ladle, took turns savoring the fruits of their labor, drinking until Xiangru's head was spinning again. Looking at the beauty before him, he was overcome with passion. Miss Wenjun understood perfectly, threw down the wooden ladle, embraced Xiangru, and right there in the brewing shed, by the stove, smelling the intoxicating aroma of the wine, the couple made love passionately.
Wenjun busily brewed wine at the stove, the mellow aroma rising to the roof beams.
The bright fire in the stove enhanced their passion, and another round of lovemaking took place in the thatched hut.
Three rounds sealed their fate, arranged in the Bagua diagram.
"Alright, alright, stop this nonsense! The barrel is full!" Seeing the clear wine overflowing from the barrel, the fiery woman was overjoyed. She pushed aside the frantically working Xiangru, fastened her trousers, and rushed to the barrel. To Xiangru's astonishment, the beauty clenched her teeth and strained her arms, lifting the full barrel onto a farm cart. "Husband, let's go sell wine!" she cried.
"You go yourself! I'm not going!" Xiangru shook his head violently, sweat splattering everywhere. "I'm so embarrassed! I won't go! I'd rather die than go!"
“Why?” Wenjun encouraged, “What’s there to be ashamed of? It’s homemade wine, not stolen! Come on!” Xiangru, helpless, could only follow behind Wenjun, his head drooping: “Oh, my goodness! If acquaintances see me, a member of the prestigious Sima family, running a small business, where will I put my face?” The more Xiangru thought about it, the more embarrassed he felt. His steps slowed, and the distance between him and Miss Wenjun grew longer and longer. The fiery young woman knew Xiangru was reluctant and didn’t bother with him, pushing her wheelbarrow swiftly towards the market.
“Wine for sale! Come and buy! Freshly brewed rice wine this morning!” Pushing her wheelbarrow into the free market and placing it by the roadside, the young widow, dressed as a vendor, called out boldly. Miss Wenjun, unrestrained and free-spirited, utterly humiliated the talented scholar Sima Xiangru. Her cries of "Selling!" were like steel needles, relentlessly piercing Sima Xiangru's pride. Seeing the crowd gather around Wenjun, some scrutinizing the wine in the wooden barrel with critical eyes, others leering at the hot young woman's sweaty face, Sima Xiangru watched from afar, his heart burning with shame: "It's all my fault, Sima Xiangru, for letting my wife show herself in public. What kind of man am I? What self-respect do I have left?
" "Hey, you're so picky!" Amidst the clamor, Miss Wenjun's captivating voice rang out again. She scooped up some wine and introduced it to the crowd: "Whether it's good or bad, you'll know once you try it. Try it first, then buy. If you don't like it, don't buy it!"
Haha, who would have thought that Sister Wenjun was truly a natural businesswoman? Like father, like daughter! Xiangru hid in a corner of a restaurant, watching the fiery young women hawking drinks to the crowd, muttering to himself.
"Oh, my idol!" came Wang Jishan's call from behind. Sima turned around, and Wang asked with concern, "What are you doing here so early in the morning? Has someone invited you to lunch?"
"No, no," Xiangru stammered, "Just taking a stroll in the morning!"
"Your idol has quite the refined taste! Why do you suddenly enjoy wandering the streets and alleys? Is it to gain inspiration for your writing?"
"Husband," Wang was staring intently at Xiangru when Wenjun across the street suddenly snapped at him, "What are you chatting about? Come help me! Why are you acting like nothing's wrong, like this has nothing to do with you!"
"Oh dear," seeing the young widow ladling wine for a customer, Wang finally understood everything. He chuckled at the incredibly embarrassed Xiangru, "This is truly a case of the sun rising in the west! How come my idol, whom I admire so much, is selling wine! Hehe," he said, then wandered over to Miss Wenjun, sniffing the aroma of the wine, "Wow, fine wine, still maintaining the style of the Zhuo family's famous wine..."
"Go away, go away," the young widow glanced disdainfully at the minor official, "Get out of my way, don't delay my business!"
"Hehe," Wang said with a grin, "My dear Miss, how can you treat your customers like this? Miss is brewing wine, how can I, Wang, not come to support you? I want to buy wine, I want to buy many catties of wine, Miss, I'll buy all your wine!"
"No!" Wenjun coldly refused, "Anyone can buy, but not you. I won't sell you a single drop!"
"Hehe," Wang, having been rebuffed, continued his playful antics: "My dear lady, if you want to do business here, you can't offend me. You should try to build a good relationship with me!"
"Why?"
"Miss, you really have a bad memory. Have you forgotten what I, Wang, do? I'm the local tax official. All the taxes of businesses are under my jurisdiction. If you treat me politely, I can waive your wine tax!"
Miss Wenjun had been selling wine all morning, and the petty official Wang had been lingering around the young widow, joking and pestering her all morning. Finally, Miss Wenjun pushed up the empty wine barrel and winked at Sima Xiangru: "Husband, we've sold out of wine. Let's go home!"
"Sigh," at Miss Wenjun's call, Sima Xiangru seemed to finally feel relieved. He followed behind the young widow, as if he had done something wrong, without even raising his head or saying goodbye to Wang, just making his escape. Witnessing his idol fall into such a state, Wang was deeply saddened. He sighed and decided to help his idol out of his predicament. Returning to his residence, Wang ordered his servants to load a cart with the goods that merchants usually presented—cloth, rice, porcelain, bamboo crafts, and so on—filling it to the brim. The servants then drove it, churning and groaning, to Xiangru's house. Returning from selling wine, Miss Wenjun was in the courtyard preparing brewing materials for the next day. Seeing the fully loaded cart enter the courtyard, she looked on with suspicion. Wang jumped off the cart, grinning, and approached the young widow: "This is a small gift for my idol; please accept it!"
"Take it back," Miss Wenjun said sternly before Xiangru could speak. "I don't want it. Take it all back! Don't give me that nonsense..."
With that, Miss Wenjun went into the bamboo shed, and the small distillery began production again.
Wenjun inherited her father's business, brewing strong liquor at the stove.
Fine wine was loaded onto the cart, and she traveled through the streets and alleys.
She loudly called out her wares, unafraid of looking foolish.
The old man was so ashamed that he gritted his teeth and roared.
"I'm furious! She's completely disgraced this old man!" Upon hearing that his daughter was buying wine at the free market, Old Master Zhuo slapped his thigh in anger. "Sigh, it's all my fault for spoiling her since she was little. She's become more and more willful. It's the father's fault for not teaching his daughter properly. Last time she eloped in the middle of the night, I didn't pursue the matter, I didn't kill her according to family law, I've already given her face. She's my own child, I can't be so cruel! But she's too outrageous. She takes advantage of my kindness. She's a grown girl, and she has no shame at all, showing her face in the market selling wine. Doesn't she make us a laughingstock? Sigh, what sins have I committed to raise such a child! Waaah, waaah..." As he spoke, Zhuo Wangsun's nose tingled, and tears streamed down his face. His servant, Xiao Er, hurriedly stepped forward. "Master, don't cry. What will you do if you cry yourself sick? How about this, I'll go to the market and buy all of Miss's wine, so as not to embarrass the Zhuo family in public!"
"This, this," the old landlord said noncommittally, pointing at the servant's nose and venting his anger on the waiter: "You, you knew but didn't report it, secretly letting the young lady go. I'll settle this score with you sooner or later!"
"Master," the steward interjected, "We can settle his score later. The current situation is that the young lady is selling wine in the market every day, which is indeed a disgrace to the family. This servant thinks it would be better to go with the flow and help her and Xiangru get together!"
"Hmm," Zhuo Wangsun stopped crying and wiped away his sour tears: "Go with the flow? How?"
"Master," the steward suggested, "Some time ago, you planned to marry your daughter to Wang Jishan and promised the young lady a dowry. Master, now that things have come to this, why not make it all possible for the young lady and Xiangru to get together? Have the dowry you promised sent to the Sima family in full. With this dowry, the Sima family may not be extremely wealthy, but they will be comfortably well-off, and the young lady will no longer have to sell wine and embarrass herself!"
"Hmph," mentioning Sima Xiangru only fueled Master Zhuo's anger. "What is he? A good-for-nothing idler. What can he do besides pedantry? A useless, impoverished scholar! How can I let him squander the money I've worked so hard to earn!"
"Master," the steward advised, "Xiangru is indeed dissolute and lazy, but he is full of learning. In my humble opinion, he will surely rise to prominence one day. Besides, Xiangru was once a distinguished guest of your household. Why humiliate each other like this?"
"That's true," Master Zhuo's anger dissipated somewhat after the steward's explanation. He understood and ordered his servants to gather a hundred servants, count out five million strings of copper coins, and send them all to the Sima residence so that his daughter could live a comfortable life. The steward cautioned, "Master, I know a little about the Sima family's situation. If we send these hundred servants over like this, they won't even have food to eat, let alone a place to sleep! You can send the cash first, and then send the servants over after Miss has finished repairing the house!"
So, the old landlord ordered his servants to deliver a cart full of copper coins to the Sima residence. Around noon, the cart returned with a million copper coins. Master Zhuo was greatly suspicious. The servant stepped forward and reported, "Master, as you instructed, I drove the cart to the Sima residence, but neither Miss nor Sima were there. Only Xiangru's mother was home. The old lady told me that this morning, Sima suddenly received an imperial edict and was taken away by officials from the capital with great fanfare!"
"Ah," Master Zhuo exclaimed, speechless. The steward, the servants, and the master and servants exchanged glances. "What? Has the Sima family truly become powerful?" (Chapter
Six: Wang Jishan presents a concubine to bribe an idol; the newly appointed noblewoman sternly admonishes her husband. The emperor
launched a military campaign against the southwestern barbarians, a war that lasted several years, resulting in heavy losses and depleted resources. The southwest was not yet pacified, and troubles arose on the northern border. Caught between two conflicting interests, the emperor had no choice but to make peace with the barbarians. So, who should be sent?) A minister recommended Sima Xiangru, praising his literary and military talents, especially his silver tongue, which could talk the dead back to life. He deemed him the perfect candidate. The minister's words reminded the emperor: "Hmm, that makes sense. Sima is indeed a master talker!"
Thus, the emperor issued an edict summoning Sima to the capital and appointing him General of the Palace Guard. Of course, the emperor couldn't disappoint Lady Wenjun, so he also bestowed upon her a corresponding title. After the official appointments and promotions, the emperor ordered Sima Xiangru to choose an auspicious day to depart for the southwest to negotiate peace with the barbarians. Xiangru bid farewell to the emperor and decided to travel from Shu to the southwest. Shu was abuzz with excitement. Hearing that the imperial envoy was returning home in glory and was currently on his way, the governor of Shu ordered the prefecture to be decorated with lanterns and streamers, and he himself, dressed in official robes, prepared to go out to welcome him.
However, the prefect arrived late. Sima Xiangru's good friend, the newly appointed county magistrate Wang Jishan, arrived first. To show his utmost respect for his idol, Magistrate Wang, carrying an arrow and crossbow, walked out of the city. Upon seeing Changqing's carriage, he knelt down with a thud: "My idol, I foresaw this day would come! Enough of the pleasantries, my idol, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest in my humble abode!"
"Oh," Sima Xiangru jumped off his horse and helped his old friend up: "Get up, why bother? We're brothers, why are we arguing like this?"
Old friends meeting again, of course, exchanged pleasantries. At Wang Jishan's repeated invitations, Changqing decided to go to the Wang residence. Miss Wenjun, who harbored a deep prejudice against Wang, couldn't persuade her husband and, in a fit of pique, went back to her parents' home alone. When his daughter returned, Master Zhuo's attitude underwent a complete 180-degree turn. First, he meekly apologized to his daughter, and then, in front of his sons, solemnly announced: Wenjun would share the Zhuo family's property equally with the men of the Zhuo family! Ha, Master Zhuo treats his daughter like a son, which is truly rare in feudal times. This shows how important Miss Wenjun is in her father's eyes.
"Where is the son-in-law?" After making such a grand promise, Master Zhuo suddenly realized that he had been so busy pleasing his daughter that he had neglected his son-in-law. This wouldn't do. Strictly speaking, the son-in-law is more important than his daughter. If the son-in-law isn't distinguished, how could his daughter receive such treatment?
"He went to the Prince's mansion," Wenjun muttered unhappily. Upon hearing this, Master Zhuo exclaimed, "How can this be? The son-in-law came all the way from the capital. Why didn't he visit his father-in-law? He went to a friend's house first. It's not that I'm being nosy, but that Sima kid is too unreasonable. Waiter," Master Zhuo ordered a servant to drive to the Prince's mansion, "Quickly, bring Xiangru back to me! I want to see him!"
The waiter rushed to the Prince's mansion. Before even entering, he smelled the delicious aroma of the dishes. The Prince's mansion was like a New Year's celebration, warmly welcoming its distinguished guest, of course. The waiter found Sima and conveyed the master's intentions. While Xiangru was hesitating, Wang waved to the waiter, "You go back first. I want to have a good drink with my idol, and we'll catch up tonight."
“But my master,” the waiter refused to leave, but Wang Jishan grinned, “Master, what is your master? Without my introduction, would your master have met my idol? Without my idol, how could his daughter be so glorious, becoming a noble lady? Humph, she's just a widow; she should be thanking me for what she has today, you know? She should be thanking me! Go, go, go, get out of here!”
Wang impatiently pushed the waiter away, becoming increasingly angry as he spoke: “To pursue this charming young widow, I, Wang, have exhausted all my schemes, spent countless amounts of money, and almost lost my life. In the end, I didn't even get a hair on her head. Not only that, my foolish actions have benefited the young widow, allowing her to climb up to Sima, and rise to the top in one step. Now, we are not on the same level anymore. After a trip to the capital, the young widow has transformed into a noble lady, while I am just a small county magistrate, and not even officially appointed yet!”
"Go away, go away!" Thinking of this, Wang became even angrier. He felt that both Master Zhuo and Zhuo Wenjun owed him a lot. The Zhuo family's current glory was brought to him by Wang. "Go away, go back! I never want to see those bastards from the Zhuo family again!"
"Hmph, I was just conveying the master's message," the waiter glared at Wang Jishan with dissatisfaction. "Why are you, a dignified county magistrate, getting angry at my servant? You want me to leave? I won't leave. I'll stay here and see what you can do about it!"
"Fine, don't leave then. I can't be bothered with you," Wang really ignored the waiter and shouted loudly, "Let's start the feast! Hehe!"
"Waiter," Xiangru warmly invited the waiter to take a seat. The Zhuo family's servants were very determined. No matter how Sima tried to persuade them, they wouldn't budge. At the same time, they still tried to persuade Sima, "Come back to the Zhuo family with me. The master is waiting for you!"
"Don't rush," Xiangru said evasively, "I'll just manage for now, I'll be at the Zhuo residence soon!" With that, Xiangru returned to the dining table, looking at the sumptuous dishes, and said apologetically, "Old friend, I've troubled you again. It's just the two of us eating, why did you cook so much? Can we possibly finish it all?"
"Idol, this is nothing, there are even better dishes yet!" Saying this, Wang gave Xiangru a lewd smile, then clapped his hands, "Hey, come here quickly, don't be shy! Hehe,"
"Master, they're here," amidst the clapping, two beautiful young women stepped forward, standing shyly before Wang. Wang turned to Xiangru, "My idol's success and high status have greatly excited me. I didn't know what gift to give to express my joy, so after much thought, I've decided to present these two women as a token of my affection! I wonder what my idol thinks of this dish, hehe,"
"Oh, this won't do! Such a grand gift is beyond my ability to accept!" Xiangru
declined, but Wang insisted. The two beauties were passed back and forth like objects. Finally, Xiangru couldn't refuse any longer and smiled slightly at the two beauties, inviting them to take their seats. Wang was overjoyed and happily whispered in his idol's ear, "My idol, they're both virgins! I bought them at great expense. I've already arranged rooms for you. After the banquet, you'll deflower them! Hehe."
So that's what Wang was up to! Seeing the two beauties sitting on either side of Sima Shi, the waiter thought to himself: "Good! You dare to play with women behind my young lady's back! I'll go back and tell my young lady that she's not someone to be trifled with. She'll definitely make you, Sima Shi, pay!" So, taking advantage of Sima Shi and Wang's inattention, the servant Xiao Er slipped away!
"Come, come, everyone relax," seeing the two beauties so reserved, Wang poured them a cup of wine: "Here, hold it properly, have a drink with my idol!"
With a bang—, Changqing, arm in arm with a beauty, was drinking triumphantly when the door suddenly swung open. Everyone was startled and turned to look. There stood Miss Wenjun, dressed casually, her face contorted with rage, a robe bestowed by the emperor hanging from her wrist: "Sima, get out here!"
"Ah, sister," Sima shuddered upon seeing Miss Wenjun, timidly pushing the two beauties away, stammering, "Sister, what is it?"
"Hmph, you know better than anyone what it is," Miss Wenjun stepped forward, throwing the robe from her wrist in front of Sima:
"White as snow on the mountain, bright as the moon in the clouds.
Hearing you have two minds, I come to sever our ties."
"Wow," Wang exclaimed in surprise, "What literary talent! Your lady is truly skilled at witty remarking!"
"Go away, this is none of your business!" Miss Wenjun glared at Wang: You bastard, I knew nothing good would come of you two getting together. Look, you've taught my husband to play around with women! This won't do, absolutely not! Xiangru belongs to me. I abandoned all shame and disregarded my reputation to finally win him over, so Sima must belong to me. I absolutely cannot let any woman share him: "You're not learning good things yourself, and you've corrupted Xiangru. I'll settle the score with you later!"
Under Wenjun's glare and rebuke, Wang's face darkened, and he dared not speak out. The two beauties wisely withdrew from the table and slipped out of the restaurant. Seeing that Sima Shi stood silently to the side, Wenjun grabbed a wine cup, filled it herself, and ignored Wang Jishan. She raised her cup to Sima Shi, who smiled wryly and picked up his own cup. "Sister, don't be angry. It was just a momentary whim, a bit of fun. Why
take it so seriously?" "A bit of fun?" Wenjun glared at Xiangru. "Husband, can something like this be a source of amusement? Is this child's play?"
"But," Xiangru was quite dissatisfied with Wenjun's domineering attitude, "Sister, what's the big deal? Taking wives and concubines is a social trend. Not to mention that I am already a high-ranking official, even among ordinary people, which man doesn't have multiple wives and concubines? Today, is there anything wrong with me accepting a woman sent by a friend?"
"Since that's how it is, I won't stop you anymore!" Hearing Xiangru's eloquent words, Wenjun was deeply saddened: Yes, Xiangru hadn't gone too far, she was just jealous. Women, women, can't you have a man's complete love? If you can't have it, don't force it. Thinking of this, Wenjun tried hard to control herself and not let the bitter tears well up in her eyes. The beauty tilted her head back and gulped down the wine, leaving Sima and Wang speechless. After finishing one cup, she refilled it. Xiangru reached out to snatch it, but Wenjun nimbly dodged aside, raising her cup high:
"Today we drink together, tomorrow we'll be by the ditch.
Strolling along the imperial ditch, the water flows east and west."
Holding the cup, she gazed at the clear liquid inside, and couldn't help but recall that impoverished yet incredibly happy life of brewing wine. Sad tears welled up in her eyes: "How precious the past was! If I had known that today would come, that my husband would become powerful and take concubines, we would have preferred to stay home and brew wine forever. Though poor, we would have lived a carefree life. I would tend the stove, my husband would add firewood, we would have been loving and devoted, living a life free from worldly strife—how wonderful!"
“Madam, if that’s your intention,” Xiangru sensed an unprecedented, intense love in Wenjun’s tearful eyes, a love so strong that she couldn’t bear to share it with anyone else. “Sister, Ruyi has regretted it. Sister, you mustn’t leave Ruyi!”
“Eek, eh, eh,” Wenjun’s nose stung after drinking her third cup of wine, and she could no longer hold back her sobs. Wang shrugged and slunk away. “This kind of woman is rare indeed. She won’t even let me take a concubine. Humph!”
“Beast,” Wenjun cursed Wang’s retreating figure, still holding her wine cup, muttering to herself, “How pathetic that such a walking corpse, this good-for-nothing, can live in this world! So vulgar, besides primal gratification, he doesn’t even know what true love is until death. How stupid! I’d rather die than be his concubine! Alas, I have only one wish in this life,” she continued, reciting:
“So sad, so very sad, no need to weep at weddings.
I wish to find a single-hearted man, to stay together until our hair turns white.”
"Sister, if you understand and regret it," Wenjun's poem moved Xiangru deeply: "Sister, if you have no other intentions, I wish to be your devoted lover, to grow old together and never be apart! If you know you were wrong, if you will never again have the thought of taking a concubine. Sister, if I will stay with you for life, I will listen to you in everything, big or small. You will manage everything in the household and control the finances."

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