romantic dream

Chapter 1: A dissolute young man falls into depravity; fireworks trap a passerby; a speech on a romantic dream.

Chapter 2: Yuan Youying meets an old friend at the teahouse; Wu Gengyu tells the news at the drill ground. Chapter 3: Lu

Shu visits a friend in Beiliu Lane; Wu Zhen smokes

in Xihua Hall. Chapter 4: Yuan You causes trouble at the noodle shop; he collects a private debt; Wei Bi displays his official power on the pleasure boat.

Chapter 5: A sworn brotherhood is formed at Xiaojinshan; a love story unfolds at Jinlou; a jade pendant remains.

Chapter 6: Lu Wenhua plots against a prostitute; Wu Yingshi arranges a gathering at a brothel.

Chapter 7: Drinking and playing drinking games; making a scene at the teahouse.

Chapter 8: Bravery and fighting; robbing and resolving disputes; a banquet is held to apologize.

Chapter 9: The various masters pass on their skills; collecting fees; a scribbling and pledging. Chapter

10: A Beautiful Woman's Strange Dream Under the Red Silk Curtain; The Great Master of the White-Robed Nunnery Issues Spiritual Oracles

Chapter 11: Discussing Makeup; The Prodigal Son Spends Money as Matchmaker;

The Procuress Demands Gratitude

Chapter 12: The Swallow Prime Minister Writes the Dragon Boat; Yuexiang's First Experience of Love Chapter 13: Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival;

Lu Shu Watches the Dragon Boat Race; Yuexiang Holds a Birthday Banquet Chapter 14: Yuexiang Catches a Cold; Don't Be Ruthless and Show Off Your Tigerish Power

Chapter 15: Sending a Flower Basket; The Toad Makes a Fortune; The Procuress Receives Congratulatory Gifts Chapter 16

: The Monk of the Hundred Sons Hall Begs for Alms; Ma Pi Fights with Magic in the Great Hall

Chapter 17: Yuexiang Gets Jealous and Makes a Scene with the Leopard; Wei Bi Competes for Love and Beats the Turtle

Chapter 18: Words of Bitter Advice Chapter 19: Brother Jia Advises His Friend to Inquire About the Roots of the Problem; Aunt Lu Inquires About the Servant; Chapter 20:

The Soybean Paste is Overturned; Aunt and Nephew

Discord; The Vinegar Bottle is Thrown; Husband and Wife Turn Against Each Other; Chapter 21: Yuan Youying Intentionally Takes a Favor; Zhen Shuanglin Determines to Leave the Courtesan 's Husband's Wrongful Devotion; Chapter 22 :

The Gold at the Bedside is Exhausted; The Brothel's Cold Face is Deep in Dreams; The Prodigal Son's Infatuation is Deep; Chapter 23: Lu Shu Returns Home at the Courier's Place; Wu Zhen's Feud Begins; Chapter 24: The Constable Makes a Scene at the Brothel; A Close Friend Secretly Investigates a Death Row Inmate; Chapter 25 : Bribing the Guards to Loosen the Torture Instruments; The Confession is Revised and the Testimony is Changed; Chapter 26: Because of the Prohibition of Prostitution, Fenglin Rents a House; To Combat Opium, Jia Ming Exchanges Ginseng; Chapter 27: The Sisters are Reunited After the Gift of a Golden Hairpin. The Twenty-Seventh Chapter: Wang Da Niang Sells Her Daughter Due to Poverty; Lan Xiao Gu's Lustful Temptation ; The Twenty-Eighth Chapter: Feng Lin's Deep Affection as She Visits the Sick; Jia Ming Presents a Poem; The Twenty-Nineth Chapter: Feng Lin Breaks Her Oath and Remarries; Qiao Yun Returns Home with Money; The Thirtyth Chapter: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, Yuan You Falls Ill; Shuang Lin Prays to the Gods; The Thirty-One Chapter: The Short-Lived Man Examines His Will; The Infatuated Mistress Takes Poison and Dies; The Thirty-Two Chapter: Following the Law, Criminals Are Exiled; A Virtuous Woman Is Enshrined in the Shrine; 　　Chapter One: A Prodigal Son Falls into Depravity; Fireworks Set Up a Passerby's Tale of Romantic Dreams 　　; The Poem: Accustomed to sleeping among flowers and willows, leaning against green and red every morning. 　　For years, infatuated with brocade and silk, suffering endless deception from courtesans. 　　Last night, vows of eternal love were made; today, we go our separate ways. 　　All the love and affection have come to naught; romance and beauty are but a dream. 　　—From the poem "West River Moon" (右调《西江月》) . 　　It is said that during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Guan Zhong, in governing Qi, established a system of 300 female servants to ensure the safety of merchants. Originally intended to enrich the country and facilitate commerce, this practice unexpectedly spread far and wide, continuing through the ages. Recently, it has become ubiquitous. Yangzhou, with its extravagant lifestyle, boasts brothels and pleasure quarters , rivaling even Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing. 　　Countless people have squandered their fortunes, ruined their lives, and even lost their lives due to their infatuation with fireworks. Instead of repenting, they offer excuses like, "I'd rather die beneath the peonies; even as a ghost, I'd be romantic." 　　Although the prohibitions were strict, and some wise prefects and counties issued edicts forbidding it, as the saying goes, "Even a tortoise can reach the bottom of the sea." No matter how strictly the government enforced the law, these people with shady connections had the means to cultivate relationships with their cronies, relatives , and powerful connections within the government, as well as with their clerks and servants outside. Spending money on official business was nothing more than empty talk and a staged performance . 　　When a young man reaches fifteen or sixteen and leaves his study, he must rely on the guidance of his father and elder brothers. Choosing the right friends is paramount. As the saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one stays near ink gets stained black." If young men can make good friends, they can learn from each other, diligently study, strive for success, and bring honor to their families. Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants can all achieve their goals and build their own businesses . If one encounters dissolute friends who indulge in prostitution, gambling, and prostitution, and if one's family spoils them and doesn't check on them properly, and if they are unaware of the hardships their parents faced in building the business and only care about their own extravagance, they will gradually degenerate and inevitably become wicked. 　　Although the word "gambling" in gambling is bad, it still involves winning and losing. Only the word "prostitution" is truly harmful. I have witnessed those young men who, relying on their fathers' and brothers' wealth, when they reached fifteen or sixteen years old, loved to wear a few fashionable and fancy clothes. At first, they would simply go to the market near the schoolyard, have tea with friends, and play games like gambling with porcelain, fruit, and other trinkets. Seeing the pleasure boats emerging from the Tianning Gate water gate, some carrying female prostitutes—some combing their hair, some dressed as men—in red skirts and green jackets, adorned with powder and rouge, some singing grand songs, others folk songs, the melodious flute notes and cheerful voices captivating the young men, they decided to hire a pleasure boat to follow them. This was merely a matter of observation, costing them only a little in terms of boat fare and food, and wouldn't cause any major harm. 　　What's most frightening is that if someone among them happens to recognize these people, they'll be led inside, have a couple of tea parties, gradually become acquainted, and then be offered drinks and lodging. Even if you're usually stingy, those courtesans from the brothels will use their sweet talk to swindle your money into their pockets, making you treat your wife like a stranger and doubting that such a relationship can last . 　　And what's even more ridiculous is that when your parents ask you to do something, like buy a piece of clothing, you'll reply with excuses like "I'm too busy," or " I have money but no thread," making countless excuses. But if a courtesan you like comes along, wanting any clothes or jewelry, even if you have no money, you'll find a way to borrow it immediately to win her favor. But these courtesans, no matter how much you agree to the task, never once say a word of thanks. If it's clothing, the complaints will be about the fabric, color, and fit ; the lace and pattern; or whether it's too long or too short. If it's jewelry, the complaints will be about the gold's pale color, the silver's poor purity, the outdated design, the poor gold tempering, or the inferior jadeite. Hairpins will be too long or too short, bracelets too big or too small, brooches too thin or too fat, and ear picks too light or too heavy. It's all about using money to fill an insatiable greedy trough. 　　Even if a son grows up and doesn't study well, doesn't do proper things, or makes mistakes, his parents won't easily lay a hand on him or scold him. No matter how angry they are, they might say a few words, and if the son disobeys, they'll still have to talk back. Only in this world of jokes, where these female fans would readily twist, hit, scold still giggle and feign gentleness, claiming it was just playful banter, afraid that a harsh word would offend them. There's nowhere else to joke like this. If people in this world could treat their parents with the same care they show their lovers— making them clothes when they ask, providing them with food when they want, never retaliating when hit or scolded—they would be the most filial children in the world.

Some men are obsessed with fireworks, drinking every morning and partying every night,

completely . They're out there making a fortune while starving at home.

They frequent brothels, indulging in prostitutes and staying out all night, forgetting their wives sleeping alone at home.

Some virtuous women lament their misfortune, keeping it to themselves, unable to speak ill of their husbands in public,

for the sake of their reputation. Then there are those who lack understanding of morality, waiting for their husbands to return home after their escapades

, only to argue, curse, and even contemplate suicide. Even worse are those shameless, despicable women

who claim their husbands indulge in debauchery both outside and at home, engaging in countless immoral and disreputable acts behind their husbands' backs

. They are gossiped about, accused of using money from selling flowers to buy brothels.

Little do they know that when they first set out in these places, money is readily available and the work is easy. These courtesans

flatter them relentlessly, saying they can't bear to be apart from them, wanting to follow them to the end, some even wishing to leave their former lives and die together. Even while you're still

in their room, other guests arrive in the other room, and they say the same things. And then there are those clever and capable

friends who, through endless scheming and countless acts of conscience, amassed money to bribe these

sycophants. They knew perfectly well that these sycophants were just sweet-talking sweet-talkers, using money to deceive people, yet they insisted

, "These sycophants are just like everyone else in the world, they're only sincere with me." If they didn't think this way

, and weren't mentally challenged, why would they willingly give their money to them?

These places don't care how much money you've spent; when you run out of money, or are in debt,

or are struggling to make ends meet, these sycophants turn on you, forgetting all the previous affection and

treating you with cold indifference. Even the inner and outer circles are this mercenary. Let alone being ridiculed by those courtesans for not having money, even

being slightly dressed in shabby clothes would make one ashamed to go. There were also those with sly faces who would fight and

quarrel over a courtesan, even resorting to violence, causing trouble and ending up in court. Others might offend

officials' relatives or associates in these places, or be arrested during a night raid, and sentenced to flogging, imprisonment, or exile. No

matter how much , once you caused trouble, they would either pack up their money and return to their hometown or open another business

. They would leave you to bear the consequences alone, while they remained unscathed.

Many friends waste money in these places, which is a minor matter. The real problem is that

they don't , and then, because these prostitutes despise them, they incur the consequences of their promiscuity, suffering from all sorts of ailments, such as boils,

carbuncles, and sores. At best, this results in a broken head and a festering nose; at worst, it can lead to death from the poison. Some public figures and powerful ruffians also

use their influence in these places to bully others, indulging in lavish banquets and luxurious accommodations. These prostitutes, fearing their power, outwardly

flatter them but secretly harbor resentment. If they manage to contact a constitutional commissioner, a close associate, or a relative, they can file a complaint, send a

petition, and eventually be arrested by the authorities, who knows how their troubles will ensue. This is truly a case of "it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark."

How many men who crave sex would actually encounter a prostitute offering them money, or even bring money to leave their profession? Let alone the fact that

such a cheap opportunity is impossible these days, even if it were one in ten thousand, and a prostitute did offer you a sum of money to leave your profession, you should

consider that she obtained that money by selling her parents' bodies. Now she's offering her body to you, using her money. You should also

consider that you have a wife, sisters, daughters-in-law, and daughters at home. If you were to pay someone else's money to sleep with another man

, how could you possibly accept that?

The word "prostitution" has so many harmful effects and not a single good one. And who knows what's even more harmful than "prostitution"

itself ? Opium is currently popular, and it's rampant in these kinds of frivolous settings. Whenever enthusiasts arrive at these

places, regardless of their addiction or whether they're actually addicted, they always have to light up the opium den and call a prostitute to sleep there as a substitute. Those who are

addicted need no explanation, but those who aren't use the light to chat and laugh with the

prostitute . A bite or two today, a few bites tomorrow, and in just a few days, the addiction is established,

impossible to break. This is a lifelong torment, only ending in death—isn't this harm upon harm?

I myself, due to youthful ignorance and a penchant for wandering, have been infatuated with these opium dens for over thirty years. I don't know how many prostitutes

I've seen inseparable from me, how many vows of eternal love we've made. Some

wanted to leave their ways and follow me, while others remained with me.

Some were tricked out of their money, some reformed themselves, some absconded with their wealth back to their hometowns, and some opened

new businesses elsewhere. The love they once shared, when fate brought them apart, led them to go their separate ways. Therefore, I viewed this game

of deception with coldness and dread, and once wrote a seven-character poem: "The bewitching array of Pingkang is numerous, its ambushes

numerous, beware!

Willow banners and flower pennants are no match for its power, its light blades and sharp axes are hard to withstand.

Frequent smiles seduce the soul, its crimson lips gently suck brains.

Once caught in the net, it's hard to break free; the best way to conquer it is not to face it at all

." One day, having nothing to do, I strolled in the countryside and suddenly remembered those courtesans in the Firework Village, how I had been

so . Following my footsteps, I unknowingly arrived at a place where I could see a towering, precipitous mountain with jagged

rocks in the distance. At

the foot of the mountain lay a bottomless pool, its waves surging and seemingly endless. Walking from the pool to the foot of the mountain, I saw a stone tablet over five feet high standing at its base, inscribed with six large characters:

"Self-Illegible Mountain, Bottomless Pool." Unsure of what lay on the mountain, I climbed, clinging to vines and creepers. After winding my way

for several miles, I came to the summit, where many ancient, towering trees stood, and two old men sat facing each other at the base of one of these ancient trees.

One was a white-haired, youthful-looking man with an air of otherworldly wisdom; the other was white-haired, toothless, and with a

withered

face, holding a book of unknown origin. They were both reading it together. At this moment, my legs were aching and I was lost. I bowed to the two old men and asked, "Gentlemen

, I have lost my way. Could you please show me what lies ahead?" The white-haired, youthful-looking man

looked up and said, "The future is bright, but the future is uncertain. Ask yourself, why waste your breath?" I found his words cryptic

and bowed again, asking, "May I ask your names, your ages, your dwelling place, and what book you are reading?" The

white-haired man... The child-faced man said, "I am the Old Man Under the Moon, having lived through countless ages. Originally residing in the celestial realm, my duty is to oversee marriages in the human world

. Whenever a man and woman in the mortal world are not yet united, their feet are tied together with a red thread, thus a thousand-mile marriage depends entirely on this single thread. Out of

pity for those foolish men and women in the mortal realm who have karmic ties from past lives, which they should resolve in this life, whether it takes three or five years, or once

or twice, with a compassionate heart, I always tie the thread for them, bringing about a happy union. Unexpectedly, this has led to many families ruined and lives lost..."

I committed immoral and disrespectful acts. Therefore, God was angered and banished me here, declaring that I could only

return to the celestial realm when all people in the world refrained from lust. Because I had nothing to do in the mountains, I often spent time with this old man. The man with white hair and missing teeth

said, “My name is Guo Shi, courtesy name Lai Ren. I am not from Huiguo County, Fuzhou. I am not yet sixty years old. In my youth, due to

ignorance, I stumbled into a fireworks display and was brutally attacked by those women with sharp tongues and venomous words, leaving me weak and withered, my hair white and my teeth

missing. Fortunately, my life was not yet over, and I escaped the trap of infatuation. I saw through the illusions of the world and lived in seclusion here. Bored during the long days, I wrote a book about what I

had seen , entitled ‘Dreams of Love and Lust.’ Today, I brought it to share with my old friend for amusement, and unexpectedly we met…” "Then

come again."

I asked again, "May I ask, Immortal Master, what story is in this book? From which dynasty does it originate? I humbly request your clarification

." Guo Lai Ren said, "If you ask about this book, although it is called 'Romance and Lust,' it does not involve lewdness. It is unlike those unofficial histories and anecdotes, which

are all fabricated using the Han, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties as pretexts. Where there is a loyal minister, there must be a treacherous minister plotting against him. There are also stories of foreign

rebellions, beautiful women marrying foreigners, battle formations, and monsters causing chaos. There are also all sorts of erotic songs and lyrics,

either about young ladies keeping lovers." Seduction and illicit engagements are thwarted by others, preventing their union. The man disguises himself as a woman, and the woman as a man,

and they elope. Or perhaps the father-in-law or mother-in-law, driven by greed, forces a written annulment agreement. Framing and

framing are used to extract confessions through torture. A prison break is attempted; in times of crisis, either the Old Woman of Lishan or Venus arrives to the rescue. Finally, after achieving

the highest rank in the imperial examinations, becoming an imperial inspector, and receiving the imperial sword, one repays kindness and avenges with unwavering resolve. The author may also

harbor resentment and desire to ruin someone's family reputation, hoping to... "To vent their anger. Or perhaps they yearn for the wife and daughters of that man, but their desires are not fulfilled, so they want to

show off their erotic poems and erotic verses, and write many romantic tales and folk songs. Those kinds of books are most likely to corrupt people's

minds and are extremely detrimental to the world.

This book of mine is a compilation of true stories I have witnessed, without additions or deletions, and

it has just been completed. It is a coincidence that I have met you here, which must be a predestined connection. I am giving this book to you. Take it back with you, and it may serve as a warning to the world.

Do not read it indiscriminately." After saying this, he handed the book to me. I did not even have time to open it before I tucked it into my sleeve.

In the blink of an eye, a gust of wind blew, and the two old men disappeared without a trace. I hastily bowed in thanks to the sky and descended the mountain along the same path . Reaching the

pool, I was surprised to find it was no longer the desolate place I had imagined. Both banks were planted with flowers and willows, green and red, and I saw many houses

and many courtesans, their sleeves green and skirts red, their faces powdered and rouged. They invited me into their houses.

These courtesans chattered and flirted, some asking for jewelry, some for clothes

, some for money, some for toys, some for wine, and some for lodging. Unable to resist my desires, I shared

a beautiful woman's bedchamber with her, making love until sunrise. When I awoke and opened my eyes

, there were no houses, no beautiful women; only a skeleton sleeping in the wilderness beside me.

Startled, I screamed and awoke—it was all a dream. He felt something in his sleeve, took it out and saw it was

a book with the words "Dream of Love and Lust" written on it. Surprised, he opened the book and read four lines:

"Why this dream of love and lust? It's all absurd talk.

Perhaps it can awaken the foolish, let them laugh and scold.

" But he wondered who this "Dream of Love and Lust" was about, and what they did. If the reader doesn't mind the tedium,

please read on, and the answer will be revealed.

Chapter Two: Yuan Youying Meets an Old Friend at the Teahouse, Wu Gengyu Discusses the News at the Training Ground.

It is said that in Jiangdu County, Yangzhou Prefecture, Jiangnan, there lived a man named Yuan You, courtesy name Youying. His grandfather, Yuan Zhang, was a student of the prefectural school.

His father, Yuan Shou, passed the imperial military examination. Yuan You was spoiled from a young age and did not study properly. He was also physically weak and unable to learn martial arts.

His grandfather, through a legal process, obtained a ninth-rank official position

for him. He married a woman surnamed Du, but they had no children. Yuan You was cunning and shrewish, indulging in prostitution and wandering the streets. Relying on

the power of his grandfather and father, he habitually engaged in loan sharking, always charging 90% plus 20% interest, or 80% plus 10% interest. He also associated with a gang of scoundrels, engaging in

gambling, prostitution, fraud, and all sorts of evil deeds.

When he was in his twenties, the provincial governor ordered the arrest of Yuan You in Jiangdu County. His grandfather and father used

countless connections and spent a great deal of money to ensure that Yuan You was only lightly stripped of his ninth-rank official position and sentenced to penal servitude, being exiled to

Changshu County in Suzhou Prefecture. After serving his three-year sentence, Yuan You was released. His grandfather (Yuan Zhang) had already passed away. Yuan You paid respects to his parents and

met

, thanking her for her years of hard work serving his parents-in-law. Lady Du returned the greeting, and they reminisced about their separation, their emotions a mixture of sorrow and joy. A feast was held at home ,

and the family was reunited. A few days later, Yuan You and Lady Du discussed selling some of their clothing and valuables for money, and resumed their arson lending

, earning enough interest to live on. Yuan You was a habitual wanderer, and he continued to

socialize , associating with people of similar backgrounds. True to the saying "birds of a feather flock together," his

acquaintances were nothing more than those who habitually engaged in arson and womanizing.

One afternoon, Jia Ming, a clerk from the Salt Transport Office, and Wu Zhen, a customs officer,

were chatting idly at the Fanglai Teahouse in the training ground. Their conversation revolved around the brothels. One said that a certain gentleman from a certain brothel was

of good character, another said that a certain gentleman from another brothel was good at socializing, yet another said that a certain gentleman sang opera well, a certain gentleman sang

folk songs well, a certain gentleman sang Xipi and Erhuang songs well, a certain gentleman was good at acting, a certain gentleman had a high alcohol tolerance, a certain

gentleman had a good stage presence, a certain gentleman was good at boxing, and a certain gentleman had a good bed.

As the three were talking enthusiastically, a young man of about twenty years old walked into the teahouse. He had a fair, round face

, delicate eyebrows and bright eyes, and a long braid at the back of his head, about two ounces long (black) braid. He wore a small, sapphire blue woolen

cap adorned with gold trim, embellished with a kingfisher feather and red gold peony flower, inlaid with a large ruby, and fastened with a large red thread knot. A large,

red silk tassel extended from the back of the cap. He wore a pale blue cotton overcoat with a poppy pattern, over which was

a navy blue woolen jacket with a white brocade lining and gold-embroidered laurel-shaped buttons. A dry green jade

dragon ring hung from the buttons, connected to a five-piece gold toothpick with gold rings and chains. Pine-green lace trim peeked out from under the overcoat, and a belt with lotus

-root trousers with a jade-colored Western-style silk lining. He also wore light blue Hangzhou silk

stockings with a double dragon motif embracing a pillar. He wore a pair of sky-blue satin shoes inlaid with white feathers and twenty-eight layers of felt soles. On his left

thumb was a red-gold ring with a green jadeite base, and on his fourth finger was a red-gold barrel-hoop ring.

On the back of his two fingertips were round gold bracelets weighing about four ounces. In his right hand, he carried a genuine ebony fan with

thirty-two ribs, gilded on both sides, made by Zhang Ziyuan. A handsome young man followed behind him.

The young man entered the teahouse and, upon seeing Yuan You, immediately went up to him, bowed, and said with

a smile , "Brother Youying, it's been a long time! It's a pleasure to meet you today."

"Yuan You recognized him immediately; it was Lu Shu, the man he had befriended in Changshu when he was being questioned before. This man

was not yet twenty years old. His father was a jailer in Changshu County, and because of his

intelligence , competence, and shrewdness, he was favored by various officials and had connections both inside and outside the court, thus accumulating considerable wealth. Lu Shu had no sisters; he was an

only child. His father doted on him, letting him roam freely all day. He had met Yuan You in a Changshu brothel, and they became sworn

brothers , spending every day together like siblings. Later, when Yuan You was released after serving his sentence, Lu Shu prepared a farewell feast, provided him with travel provisions,

food, and tea, and personally escorted him to the boat, bidding him a tearful farewell."

Lu Shu is currently married at home to a woman from a scholarly family. She is unattractive and the couple does not

get along well, often sleeping in separate rooms. Therefore, after more than two years, she has not conceived. Lu Shu's father has an older sister married in Yangzhou

. Because Lu Shu spends his days indulging in pleasure and is eager for a grandson, his father gave Lu Shu five hundred taels of silver to go to Yangzhou to buy a concubine

, and also gave him several dozen taels of silver for travel expenses, instructing him to go to Yangzhou to stay with his aunt and ask his uncle to handle the matter.

Having heard that Yangzhou is a prosperous place, Lu Shu secretly took about a thousand taels of silver and three or four hundred dollars from his mother's savings

, putting them in his luggage, and only arrived in Yangzhou yesterday. His uncle's family

lived in Nanhexia, inside the Chaoguan Gate, and he was in charge of the accounts of the salt merchants.

Lu Shu had met his uncle and aunt and stayed overnight in their study.

This afternoon, having nothing to do, he took his young servant, Xiao Xizi, who had come with him, to the drill ground to play. They watched several magic shows, foreign paintings

, and Western-style performances, listened to a section of Huai opera, and heard some cross-dressing performers singing a few songs.

Now, thirsty and hungry, he walked into Fanglai Teahouse and unexpectedly met Yuan You. He bowed and said, "Brother, it's been a long time

! It's been a long time!

" Yuan You, seeing that it was Lu Shu, quickly returned the greeting, saying, "It's a pleasure to meet you, my worthy brother! Please accept my greetings." He invited him to sit at a table. Xiao

Xizi greeted Yuan You, who then invited his servant to sit at the same table for tea. Lu Shu introduced himself to Jia Ming and Wu Zhen

. Yuan You then said to Lu Shu, "Are your parents well at home? I was deeply grateful for the care you provided while I was away.

May I abode?" Lu Shu replied, "My parents are doing well under your protection.

I apologize for any inconvenience you caused me while I was away. I have been thinking of you every day since you returned home. I was sent by my father to Yangzhou to visit my aunt, but I only arrived

yesterday and have not yet had the chance to pay my respects to your parents and to inquire after the well-being of my brother and sister-in-law. I am so sorry!" Yuan You said,

"You are too kind."

They then reminisced about their separation. Yuan You then asked, "What is your esteemed uncle's name, address, and occupation? I will pay my respects to him

tomorrow morning ." Lu Shu replied, "My relative's surname is Xiong, his given name is Dajing. He works in the Salt Administration and resides in Nanhexia. I will

arrive at your residence tomorrow morning; I would not dare to make an unwarranted visit."

Just then, a young man, about twenty years old, entered the teahouse. He had a fair complexion,

wore a lotus-colored brocade flat-topped cap adorned with a double-tiered hibiscus flower supported by a piece of jade and gold, inlaid with a large ruby. The cap was tied with a large red ribbon, and a

large red fringe, about two feet long, trailed behind his head. He wore a pale blue tribute brocade robe, over which was a military jacket with a large gold

floral pattern on the outside, a jade-colored brocade lining, and gold osmanthus-shaped buttons. He wore a jade ring with a dragon and tiger

design on his finger, and a gold toothbrush with a three-piece gold chain. He wore trousers with a pine-green brocade surface and a bright red silk lining. On his feet were

fashionable black satin shoes. In his hand, he carried a large square

fan with genuine Xiangfei bamboo ribs, a white alum surface, and calligraphy and paintings by famous people. He swayed as he entered the teahouse with his servant. The waiters hurriedly greeted him, "Young master has arrived!

" The young man did not respond and went inside.

When Yuan You saw the young man enter, he stood up and said to him, "Brother Qingyuan, please sit down." The

young man smiled amiably at Yuan You, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Youying, please." After some polite exchanges,

they sat down at a table. The young man inquired about their names, and Yuan You pointed to Jia and Wu, saying, "This gentleman's surname is Jia,

given name Ming, courtesy name Xinpan. This gentleman's surname is Wu, given name Zhen, courtesy name Yingshi; both are from this area." He then pointed to Lu Shu, saying, "This

brother's surname is Lu, given name Shu, courtesy name Wenhua. You are from Changshu County. You arrived in Yangzhou yesterday, and we made a pact in Changshu

." The group then asked the young man's name, and Yuan You answered on his behalf, "This gentleman..." His name was Wei Bi, courtesy name Qingyuan, and he loved making friends.

His father was currently a candidate for official in Lianghuai, and his residence was in Caomi Lane. After everyone had finished introducing themselves, they were chatting idly. Some

small business owners, carrying bamboo baskets or trays, came to Wei Bi's table,

grabbed some melon seeds, candied fruits, and other items, placed them on the table, and called out "Young Master." Without mentioning the price, they went to sell them to other tea tables

. Wei Bi then distributed the melon seeds and other items to everyone.

Then, some people picked up a tumbling basket containing colorful porcelain, foreign-style sweaters, purses, banknotes

, sachets, fan covers, dominoes, chess pieces, erotic films, and cigarette boxes. They stood next to Wei Bi, coaxing him into playing tumbling

. Wei Bi picked out four colorful porcelain teacups with figures from the basket and agreed on a price of 380 coins per round. The gambler

sat down on a small stool tucked inside the basket, swept the dust off the floor with a small broom, then

took out six Kaiyuan coins from the hole in the basket, scattered them on the ground, arranged them into three characters and three patterns, and handed them to Wei Bi. He then

held Wei Bi's wrist with his right hand and gestured to the gambler standing nearby, saying,

"Call it out!"

The gambler nodded in agreement. Wei Bi arranged the six coins on his fingers and dropped them on the ground. The gamblers counted the coins,

carefully checked the patterns, picked them up, and handed them back to Wei Bi. Wei Bi then dropped the coins again. He played five rounds in total, only winning two

, meaning he lost three rounds. Wei Bi said, "It's over." The man, without even asking for money, stood up,

grabbed a small stool, and, carrying his gambling basket, went with the others who were collecting the winnings. Yuan You asked the waiter to buy some scallion pancakes, chicken

buns, and other things, and everyone ate. In the afternoon, they chatted idly. Being young and playful, they found themselves increasingly compatible and became quite

friendly.

Suddenly, a man drinking tea at the next table walked over to Yuan You's table, sat down next to him, and without greeting the others,

said, "Do you know two pieces of news?" Yuan You replied, "No." The man said, "Across

the river from the Hongqingyuan Soft Market, there's a branch employee named Ai Lin, from Yancheng, who has been working for a tailor for over a year

. The tailor's wife is jealous and often quarrels with him. Last night, Ai Lin locked himself in his room to sleep, and I don't know where he was

doing..." He ate some raw opium. This morning, Cheng Yi got up in his wife's room and found Ai Lin's door closed.

He called out but received no response. Suspicious, he opened the door and found Ai Lin dead in bed. Cheng Yi quickly

prepared a coffin and buried Ai Lin. He then sent the coffin to Yancheng. He wondered who Ai Lin's family was,

what they said, and how things ended. Also, a new clerk named Xiu has recently joined the family of the clerk on Gengzi Street.

Hong, also from Yancheng, was only sixteen years old this year. She was of good character, without any scars or pockmarks, and had bound feet less than four inches long. She was paid twenty thousand

coins a season, bundled together. However, just as the bundled payment was settled, [this Xiu Hong lived upstairs, but unexpectedly, the night before, she secretly opened

her window and somehow climbed onto the roof,] moving from roof to roof until she reached a house in Liancheng Lane, where she jumped

down. The family was startled, suspecting a thief. They lit a lantern and, upon closer inspection, saw it was a woman, greatly surprised. When asked about her situation

, Xiu Hong said that the family had forced her into prostitution, beating and scolding her day and night, so she had escaped in the dark. The family

, who didn't know if Xiu Hong held a clerk position in some government office and also had a scholar in the family, handed Xiu Hong over to the local constable to have her investigated by the authorities. Unexpectedly, Xiuhong's

father took the bundled price and didn't return to his home in Yancheng. The next morning, he caused a scene at Zhuizi's house demanding

Xiuhong's return, turning the house upside down. Later, the director of Baochitang found out and took Xiuhong to Lizhentang to arrange a marriage for her, intending to send her father to the authorities, accusing

him of selling his daughter into prostitution. Only then did he flee in panic. Her father, who had been a falconer, now had lost both his daughter and his money.

Zhuizi was fortunate to have a good relationship with a clerk, who intervened and pleaded with the family in Liancheng Lane to avoid further pursuit. They also spent

a considerable amount of money on the local constables and wardens. Considering the bundled price they had taken, Zhuizi's family calculated the expenses and almost ended up in

legal trouble. In your opinion, are these two events strange or not? Can they be considered news? Everyone was

surprised and intrigued.

After speaking, the man returned to his original table to drink tea.

Lu Shu asked, "Who is this man?" Yuan You replied, "His name is Wu Gengyu. He's a martial arts student who frequents brothels, known for his

shady dealings, gambling, and extortion.

We've only ever nodded to him when we met; we're never close to him.

It's ridiculous that he's suddenly appeared at our table today and said such absurd things."

Jia Ming said, "It's best to keep your distance from such people. Just pretend you didn't hear what he said." The group chatted idly for a while

longer, until the sun gradually set. Yuan You invited Lu Shu to dinner, but Lu Shu said, "I didn't leave a message today, and I'm afraid

my aunt is worried.

I will sincerely visit her tomorrow morning to pay my respects, and then I will be sorry to bother you again." Seeing that Lu Shu was determined not to bother him, Yuan You said,

"I originally intended to visit your relative's house tomorrow morning, but since you have invited me to your humble abode,

I will be waiting for you. I would be honored if you could join me for lunch tomorrow." Jia Ming, Wu Zhen, and Wei Bi all agreed, "We

will definitely come and keep you company tomorrow."

Lu Shu bid farewell to everyone and left with Xiao Xizi. Yuan You then instructed the waiter to write the bill. The waiter and the water pipe vendor

all agreed. Yuan You and his men, each with their servants, left the teahouse. He then instructed Jia Ming and his two companions, "I hope you will

grace us with your presence tomorrow. I will be waiting for you at my home. I will not need to trouble you to accept my invitation." The three men agreed and went their separate ways home.

What Let's find out in the next chapter.

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