One of the Ten Forbidden Books of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: A Regret Under the Sea

① He was also a lover.
So he returned to his room, grabbed a red cloth, wrapped it around his head, disguised himself as a Boxer, and ran out of the inn to blend in. He had just crossed the Rainbow Bridge when he looked back at the inn where he was staying; it was already ablaze. The Boxers were burning and killing along the way, and not a single soldier came out to stop them. As he walked, he suddenly heard the sound of cannons booming from the direction of the Purple Bamboo Grove. Bohe feared something was wrong, so he deliberately turned into a side alley, winding and turning for more than half a mile, until he saw a patch of crumbling ruins that hadn't been completely burned away. At the end of this burning area, however, stood a house, remarkably intact. He thought to himself: "Could I find refuge here?" With that thought, he stepped over the rubble. Following the wall, he found a small door. What lay inside this small door remains to be seen; let us find out in the next chapter.
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Chapter Seven: Clever Response, Safe Escape from Danger, Mistake in Deliberation Leads to the Tragedy of Husband and Wife. Bohe approached the small door and pushed it; it was closed. He knocked twice, but no one answered. Exhausted from walking, he leaned against the small door to rest. After resting for a while, he faintly heard voices inside. Listening closely, he suddenly saw the door open, and Bohe slipped inside. Four or five people inside cried out in alarm, begging for mercy. Bohe realized that his red headband made them mistake him for a Boxer, so he quickly removed it and bowed to them, saying, "Please don't misunderstand me. I'm a refugee. See for yourselves; I have no weapons. I was just tired from running and wanted to rest here, but I didn't mean to disturb you." The four or five people were surprised. One of them said, "Since we've come here, it's fate. In these chaotic times, we shouldn't take another bite. Let's stay here and hide together." Bohe was overjoyed and thanked them profusely. Then one of them closed the small door. When Bohe looked, there were five people in total. When he asked what was going on, he learned that these five were all employees of the rice shop. This building was the rice storehouse. The storefront of the rice shop was on the main street in front, but it had been burned down. The broken bricks and tiles that had collapsed blocked the front door of the rice storehouse. This small door was a back door. The alley outside the back door was a very secluded place, so the employees took refuge here. Bohe, after exchanging names with the others, offered a plan: "Since this is a rice warehouse, we should be able to keep from starving with the rice we have stored.
But if the Boxers find us, we're doomed. Why don't we go out at night and block both sides of the alley with bricks and tiles? Wouldn't that be safe?" One of them said, "That's a good idea, but there are only six of us. How can we block both ends in one night? Why don't we take some bricks and tiles and block the back door? No one will come. If you don't believe me, look at the front door; it's blocked with broken bricks and tiles, isn't it?"
Bohe asked, "If we go out and block it, how will we get back in?" The man said, "We'll take a ladder out, block it, and then climb the ladder and come in through the wall." Everyone agreed it was a brilliant idea. That night, they did the same and blocked the alley. From then on, Bohe stayed here to avoid the chaos. Every day he only heard the sounds of gunfire and cannons outside, and at night he saw red lights illuminating the sky, but thankfully they were all in the distance.
The six men were in a daze, forgetting the days that had passed. They often heard the sound of footsteps outside the front door, but there was no sound outside the back door.
About a month passed. Suddenly one day, they heard deafening cannon fire outside, much louder than before, and they could vaguely hear cries and shouts. After that, there was silence for more than ten days, except for the occasional one or two explosions. ① Bohe said, “We haven’t heard any news for several days. We think things have calmed down outside. We should try to get out.” The five men replied in unison, “If things were calm, why wouldn’t our boss come to check the warehouse? It must not be calm yet.” Bohe said, “After the chaos of war, why would anyone rush to check the warehouse? Besides, there’s no fixed destination for those fleeing the chaos; many have gone far away and haven’t returned. You who are free can wait here. I have business to attend to and plan to leave first.” The five men said, “The door is blocked. How can we get out? Are we going to dig it up again?” Bohe said, “I dare not trouble myself with that. But please lend me a ladder. Once I’m on the wall, I can take the ladder outside and then bring it back in.” Knowing he was determined to leave, the five men did as he asked and escorted him out.
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①This refers to the Allied Forces breaking through Tianjin City. The author uses a suggestive approach, leaving the interpretation to the reader.
Bohe climbed over the wall and left the rice shop, emerging from the alleyway. He saw only desolation; all the houses had burned down, leaving only rubble. Many dead bodies lay on the road, their flesh mangled and bloodied, a scene of utter chaos. He thought to himself, "I escaped death by a hair's breadth; what a stroke of luck!" As he looked down to find his way, he suddenly heard a shout behind him. Turning around, he saw a foreign soldier holding a rifle. Bohe took off running, but a gunshot rang out, and he stumbled and fell. Just as he was getting up, the soldier was already beside him, taking the few taels of silver he still had with him and leaving. Bohe waited until the soldier was gone, then got up and continued walking. Suddenly, he felt a dampness beneath him. Looking down, he saw blood flowing from his right thigh, and a scorched hole in his thin riding breeches. He realized he had been shot. There was no place to find a wound heap. In his haste, he grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and pressed it against the wound before continuing on his way. He hadn't walked far when he felt his thigh get wet. Turning around, he saw blood gushing out, and a scorched hole in the back of his pants. He grabbed a handful of dirt and pressed it against his wound. Looking ahead, he saw a cluster of interconnected houses, without any signs of fire. He walked into the houses and found himself on a main street. All the shops on both sides were closed, a desolate sight. His wound was throbbing with pain, and he walked with difficulty, hoping to find someone to offer him a place to rest. He looked around and suddenly saw a shop. Although the doors were properly secured, two were slightly ajar, as if they were loosely closed. He went over and gently pushed them open, asking, "Is anyone inside?"
He asked three or four times, but received no answer. Bohe was in excruciating pain and, disregarding everything else, he forced his way inside, closed the door behind him, and sat down on a chair nearby. He sat for a long time, but saw no one. He peered out from the back and saw a courtyard with three single-story houses inside. The side room served as the kitchen, the stove and pots covered in dust, looking as if they hadn't been used in a long time. Mustering my courage, I went into the flat-roofed room, but there was no one there, only eight large trunks on the floor. Returning to the shop, I found it was a pharmacy, completely empty. ① So I first unbolted the door, then searched the cabinets, finding some rehmannia root and polygonatum, which I gathered together, intending to use them as provisions to stay for a few days. I also found several plasters, and without checking if they were the right ones, I applied two to my wounds. Upon closer inspection, I realized the bullet had struck the flesh beside my thigh, fortunately not hitting the bone, but passing through the flesh. After applying the plasters, I went into the flat-roofed room. I
lifted the trunks; they were very heavy. There was a bed nearby, without a mattress or mat, so I swept away the dust and lay down haphazardly. From then on, I temporarily hid in this pharmacy. ②--------① Only then did I realize it was a pharmacy; this vividly depicts my panicked state.
②If Dihua knew this, she would be heartbroken.
Five or six days passed, and no one came. The wound slowly healed. However, the medicine, which could serve as a substitute for food, was running out, and he planned to abandon this place and go elsewhere. Suddenly one day, there was a very urgent knocking at the door. He thought to himself, "Oh no, the master has come. How should I deal with him?" Then he heard voices outside the door, but they weren't Chinese. He became even more frightened and dared not open the door, sitting blankly in the inner room. At this moment, the knocking became even more urgent. Listening carefully, he realized it wasn't knocking, but the sound of something heavy banging on the door. He panicked even more and dared not move. Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the door opened, and a group of people rushed in. Looking closely, he saw five foreigners and two Chinese. The five foreigners were all carrying foreign guns. They first looked around the shop before entering together. Bohe, now cornered and with nowhere to turn, secretly lamented, "I'm going to die this time!" The foreigner saw this and muttered a few words. The Chinese man beside him then relayed the message: "The officer asks, 'Who are you? What are you doing here?'" Bohe, knowing the Chinese man was an interpreter, quickly devised a plan and said, "I'm a shop assistant in this store. The owner has gone to avoid the chaos and asked me to watch over the store for him."① The interpreter relayed this to the foreigner. The interpreter then asked, "How many days have you been watching over it?" Bohe replied, "More than a month." The interpreter spoke several more words with the foreigner. The interpreter then asked, "Are you lying? What have you eaten and drunk for more than a month?" Bohe said, "For the past month, I've only eaten things like rehmannia and polygonatum as my staple food; and I drink a little dried plum as tea." He then took out rehmannia and dried plum from his bedside to show him. The interpreter spoke several more words with the foreigner. The foreigner licked the dried plum again, smiled, and said a few more words. The interpreter then said, "The officer said, 'It's rare to find such a good person as you in China.' What valuables do you have here? Where are you going? Tell me, and the officer will inform you and escort you out of the country." Bohe said, "I don't have anything valuable, just these eight trunks. My employer and I are both from Guangdong. My employer went back to Guangdong first, and before leaving, he asked me to take these eight trunks back for him." The interpreter was surprised and said, "How come you're from Guangdong, yet you speak with such a northern accent?" Bohe said, "I've been in the north for many years."
The interpreter said, "Then we're from the same hometown. I wonder if you can still speak your local dialect?" Bohe said, "Of course I can!" and then spoke a few words in Cantonese with him. The interpreter was overjoyed and told the foreigner. The foreigner then took out some foreign paper and a pencil from his pocket, drew many foreign characters, and handed them to Bohe. The interpreter said, “This is the official note. If you take this and a foreigner questions you, just show it to him, and there will be no trouble. Wait here, and I'll have someone carry your trunks to the riverbank, hire a small boat, and take them to Dagu. There, you can catch a transport ship from Yantai, then transfer to a steamship to go back.”
Bohe was overjoyed, thanked him profusely, and saw him out the door.
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①What a resourceful man!
A short while later, more than ten people arrived, claiming to be acting on the orders of the foreign lord to help carry the luggage. Bohe had them carry the eight leather trunks directly to the riverbank, hired a small boat, and took them down. As the group was about to leave, ①Bohe stopped them, untied his leg strap, took out a gold leaf, and gave it to them as payment for their labor. The group cheered, bowed in gratitude, and left. The small boat then rowed towards Dagu.
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①The foreign lord's order was given without even asking for wages; how lamentable!
Along the way, whenever foreign soldiers patrolled in their small boats, Bohe would show them his official documents, which they would then grant passage. Indeed, the journey was unimpeded. Upon reaching Dagu, dozens of grain transport ships were moored. Bohe boarded one, had eight leather trunks carried aboard, found a seat, and gave the boatman a gold leaf as a token of his gratitude. Now, leaning against the deck, he reflected on his journey since leaving Beijing, feeling as if it were a dream. His fellow passengers were all scattered and lost, some had lost their children, others their parents or siblings. Now gathered together, it was truly a scene of "tearful eyes meeting tearful eyes, heartbroken souls facing heartbroken souls," each with furrowed brows and sighs. This sight stirred up his own anxieties. He thought of his parents and siblings, wondering what had become of them, and of Dihua and her daughter, wondering where they were now. Thinking of this, he too felt a deep sadness and unhappiness. He silently thought to himself, "I've told a huge lie out of thin air. I lied about eight large leather trunks, and I have no idea what valuables are inside. If they're all gold and silver treasures, this windfall would be quite substantial." He felt a surge of secret joy. ① He sat on the ship for more than ten days, chatting with his fellow passengers, and wasn't too lonely. Only when the ship was full did it set sail for Yantai. Upon arriving in Yantai, Bohe took off two gold leaves to pay the fare, called a barge, loaded the luggage, and went ashore to an inn. He claimed he had lost the key during the chaos and had a coppersmith unlock it. It turned out that the eight leather trunks were mostly filled with valuables, clothes, gold, silver, jewelry, and other precious items. Overjoyed, he planned to go to Shanghai. Coincidentally, in the next room, there was a date merchant named Xin, styled Shuhuai, from Ningbo, who regularly traveled to Dongchang to sell dates. This year, due to the unrest in the north, the price of dates plummeted. He took the opportunity to buy a lot of cheap goods, which he had already sent south. He was currently staying at an inn, waiting for the steamship to return to Shanghai. Bohe, feeling lonely, struck up a conversation with him. Learning that he was also going to Shanghai, they agreed to travel together. A few days later, a steamship arrived, and they set off together.
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①A discerning reader, even before finishing the story, already knows Bohe's character.
Upon arriving in Shanghai, they stayed together at the Dafang Inn in Yangjingbang. After settling their luggage, they went to visit his father-in-law, Zhang Heting, at his foreign goods shop. However, upon inquiring, they learned that Zhang Heting, missing his family in Beijing, had taken a steamship to Tianjin in early May to fetch his family. Bohe had no choice but to return to the inn. From then on, he stayed in Shanghai, living with Xin Shuhuai, but we will leave that aside for now.
After Chen Jilin sent his eldest son to escort Bai and her daughter out of the capital, he moved his family to Xila Hutong outside Donghua Gate, believing that this place, being close to the Forbidden City, would offer some peace. A few days later, the situation worsened, and Jilin repeatedly sent his youngest son, Zhong'ai, to seek refuge. Zhong'ai refused, saying, "Serving one's parents is a son's duty. Even in ordinary times, this is the way; how much more so in times of crisis? In this perilous time, if a son abandons his parents, what value do parents have in having a son? If it's because you fear death is pointless, it's better to escape to preserve the family line, but my brother has already left the capital. How can our parents be left alone?"① Jilin had no choice but to let him stay by his side.
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① This portrays Zhong'ai as a truly filial son, for there is no one in the world who is affectionate yet unfilial, nor is there anyone who is filial yet not affectionate.
On the fifteenth day, news spread that Dong's army had entered the capital. Japanese clerk Sugiyama Akira was killed by Dong Zhuo's army outside Yongding Gate. The Boxers then joined forces with Dong Zhuo's army to make things difficult for foreigners.
The streets were filled with Boxers, especially in the Legation Quarter, where they gathered in large numbers, ready to attack the legations. The area around Xila Hutong was also bustling with Boxers. From then on, Ji Lin dared not even go to the government offices, keeping his doors closed to avoid the chaos. Father repeatedly urged Zhong'ai to flee, but Zhong'ai said, "If Father tells me to go alone, I would rather die than go. In my opinion, it would be better for both of us to leave the capital together to avoid the chaos. Although we are not allowed to ask for leave, life is more important than fame and fortune. The Ministry of Works is not a place to guard the territory, so why should we stay here? Besides, this chaos was actually summoned by the princes and ministers, so why should we stoop to their level?" Ji Lin said, "That's true, but there is still a responsibility. If everyone runs away, who will handle the affairs of this ministry? Although I haven't been to the ministry these past few days, if something happens, they can still send a message, and I can still go and handle it. It's not too late to leave when it's extremely dangerous." Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Zhong'ai had no choice but to give up.
A few days later, news spread that the German minister had been killed by the Boxers. Dong's army was about to attack the legations. Zhong'ai again urged his father to flee, but Ji Lin refused. Two days later, the Beijing Gazette published an imperial edict, which was more than 600 words long. It was nothing more than a scathing denunciation of foreigners and a reward for the Boxers. Ji Lin sighed, “According to this imperial edict, foreigners are indeed hateful for bullying our country and invading our land, but why not devise a way to deal with them, cheer up our spirits, strive to become strong, and establish ourselves in an invincible position before arguing with them? What good will it do to merely gather some rioters to fight them hand-to-hand?” Zhong Ai said, “This imperial edict is tantamount to sending a declaration of war to the foreigners. Chaos is imminent. Father, you should leave quickly.” Ji Lin said, “If we wait another two days, and the situation becomes too tense, we may have to flee temporarily.” Before he finished speaking, they suddenly heard a commotion outside the door. His family reported, “Dong’s army is passing by, and the Boxers are mixed in with them. They are attacking the legations in Jiaomin Lane.” Zhong Ai said, “Father, you should leave quickly! If we wait any longer, it may be too late!” Ji Lin was also anxious, so he told Li to pack their belongings and prepare to leave the next day.
That night, suddenly a commotion arose from near and far, and flames shot into the sky. Zhong Ai couldn't resist going out to investigate. He saw that everyone on the street was a Boxer, a dense, throng of people shouting, "Burn the church! Burn the embassy! Kill the Russians!" Reaching Qianmen Street, he saw the fire still to the west and dared not go far, retreating back home. When he arrived home, he saw the main gate wide open and was greatly alarmed. He rushed inside and was horrified by what he saw. To find out what horrified him, please read the next chapter.
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Chapter Eight: On the Use of Emotion, Righteous Words Criticize Vulgarity, and the End of the Day: A Loving Mother Abandons Her Beloved Child. It is said that Zhong Ai went out to investigate, and when he returned home, he was already shocked to see the main gate wide open. Upon entering, he saw blood everywhere, and both his parents had been killed. This shock was so great that he was terrified, his soul almost leaving his body. He fell backward to the ground and fainted. The poor thing had no one to help her. After resting for a while, she regained consciousness and burst into tears. After crying for a while, she tried to call for her family, but no one answered.
She went outside and looked around. The coachman and two servants she had brought from the south were all gone. The servant she had brought from the south had also been killed in the backyard. She went to the kitchen and found an old woman, panicked and hiding in the woodpile. When Zhong Ai called her to get up and ask her questions, she was still trembling. After trembling for a while, she was able to speak and said, "A group of Boxers, I don't know why, opened the gate and asked the master where he was from. The master replied that he was from Guangdong.① They said they were all foreigners and killed him. When the lady cried out, she was also killed. The two young masters and the coachman all wrapped their heads in red and went with the Boxers." Zhong Ai had no choice but to come out, tell her to close the gate, and help carry the body properly. She couldn't help but cry again. At dawn, she bought three coffins, hired someone to sew up the head, and hastily buried the body. Unable to hold a proper ceremony, he was sent to the Guangdong cemetery for burial. After the funeral, he planned to flee. However, most of his gold, silver, and valuables had been looted by the Boxers, and his heavy belongings were unsellable. He searched through all his chests and stashes, finding only about ten taels of silver remaining. He decided he couldn't go far. He heard that Ansu County had no Boxers, and the county magistrate, Li Zhuoran, was a fellow graduate of his father's examinations and a trusted friend. He decided to seek refuge with him. Having made up his mind, he hired his maid, abandoned all his furniture, and sent all his calligraphy, paintings, and clothes to the Nanhai Guild Hall in Mishi Hutong for safekeeping. Then he left through Zhangyi Gate, rented livestock, and traveled via Lugou Bridge and Changxindian to Ansu County.
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① The young man gained fortune by identifying himself as a Cantonese, while the gentleman suffered misfortune because of it. It seems that at this time, the people of Guangdong experienced both fortune and misfortune.
Upon receiving Zhong Ai, Li Zhuoran learned of his impending death and, overcome with grief, allowed him to stay. In the ninth chapter of "Zhong Ai's Residence," it is written that He Ting, who was in Shanghai, heard rumors of trouble in the north in April. Newspapers were buzzing with discussion, and he was very anxious. By the end of April, he had sent a telegram to Ji Lin, but received no reply. After the Dragon Boat Festival, he hurriedly boarded a ship to Tianjin to go to Beijing to fetch his family. Upon arriving in Tianjin, he found the people in a state of panic, unable to live a peaceful life. Foreign soldiers guarded the railway from Tanggu to Tianjin, and warships from various countries filled the area outside the Great Wall. He first went to a foreign firm on Shanghai Avenue to find a friend and inquire about the situation, explaining his reason for going to Beijing. His friend strongly advised against it, saying, "Absolutely not! Not only is going to Beijing forbidden, but even going to the Purple Bamboo Grove is out of the question! It would be better to stay at my firm for a couple of days and then decide what to do." Although He Ting was determined to go, everyone in the firm said it was forbidden, and some people from the interior were even migrating to Shanghai to escape the chaos, so he dared not go. Within days, chaos erupted. Boxers attacked Zizhulin on one side, while foreign troops seized the Dagu Forts on the other. Rumors spread like wildfire, and the Guowen Daily newspaper office was destroyed by the Boxers, cutting off all communication. A few days later, the Allied forces arrived and attacked Tianjin. Those who had sought refuge in Shanghai hid in cellars, their food supplies exhausted. They cooked peanut porridge as a substitute for meals, but this caused them severe diarrhea. At this time, shipping between Tianjin and Shanghai ceased, making escape impossible, and even news from Shanghai was cut off. It wasn't until September that Lu Chunbo established a relief association in Shanghai, chartered a steamship, and sailed directly to Tianjin to transport refugees back to Shanghai, allowing Heting to return. He then entrusted Luo Huanzhang, an officer of the relief association, to search for his wife and daughter. Upon returning to Shanghai, he received two telegrams and a letter from Dihua, learning that his wife and daughter were in Jining. He first sent a telegram to inform them, then set off overnight, traveling to Zhenjiang, then via Qingjiangpu, rushing to Jining, only to learn that his wife had passed away. He took his daughter and transported the coffin to Shanghai, temporarily lodging it at Guangzhao Villa. Once
everything was settled, Heting finally spoke to Dihua about the lack of news of Bohe after their separation. Dihua, not wanting to say anything in front of her father, simply said, "Since there's a relief association, he'll naturally have to go to Shanghai. Please keep an eye out for him, Father." Heting replied, "He knows I have a shop. Since he's in Shanghai, he'll come to my shop. He's probably still stranded in the north, who knows? I'll have to ask someone to inquire there. Besides, there's no news from my in-laws either; I'm very worried. I'll write a letter and ask someone to inquire." With that, he left.
It turned out that Heting had a concubine who had given birth to a three-year-old son two years ago in Shanghai. Because he was born in the Year of the Dog, his nickname was Gou'er (Dog). Dihua, living with her stepmother, always avoided suspicion, not daring to show any distress, only weeping alone by the lamplight at night.
Having survived the remaining years, the major events in the north were largely settled, and after the canal was opened, there were steamships to Tianjin. He Ting wrote a letter, provided travel expenses, and sent Li Fu to the capital to deliver a letter to Chen Jilin. Li Fu bid farewell and left. Not long after, a letter arrived from Li Fu, informing him that Jilin and his wife had been killed, Zhong Ai had gone to Shaanxi, and Bo He was still missing. Upon receiving this news, Di Hua was even more grief-stricken. More than a year passed in this way,① and Di Hua secretly shed far more than a vat of tears. Suddenly one day, He Ting returned home dejectedly and said to Di Hua, "Where have you been talking about all this time, that beast from the Chen family?" Di Hua was stunned and speechless. He Ting slammed his hand on the table and said, "He's always been in Shanghai, but he's been hiding and won't come to see me!" Upon hearing this, Di Hua silently recited a Buddhist prayer, "As long as the traveler is safe, even if Father is angry, he can be persuaded to calm down."② He Ting continued,③ "In Tianjin, I don't know how he swindled a lot of gold, silver, jewelry, and clothes from people. The year before last, he went to Shanghai and befriended a guy named Xin Shuhuai. Xin Shuhuai seduced him, and he met countless scoundrels and started indulging in prostitution in Shanghai. Last year..." In May, he took in a prostitute named Jin Ruyu. A few months later, Jin Ruyu ran away with all his money, leaving him penniless. He then became addicted to opium. Since last winter, he's been destitute, staying in small opium dens in the Hongkou area, and recently he's even been reduced to begging. Can you believe it? Isn't that infuriating? ④ Upon hearing this, Dihua felt as if cold water had been poured over his back, as if thunder had struck his head, as if a thousand arrows had pierced his heart. A mix of emotions welled up inside him. Seeing his father's anger, he dared not speak. Heting sighed heavily again. Dihua said, "This is due to my unfortunate fate, Father, please don't be angry and ruin your health." Heting said, "When I saw him as a child, he was very clever. Even as he grew up, I was very pleased with his proper manners. I never imagined he would change like this. I'll send someone to find him now. Once he's found, I'll have him stay at our home and make sure he quits opium first." Dihua lowered her head and said, "Father, you only have pity on your daughter!" Heting sighed, got up, and left.
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① Another year passed, and it was the year of Renyin.
② Hearing this, he was happy without resentment or anger—what a sentiment!
③ To recount Bohe's past.
④ It wouldn't be difficult to tell from Heting's perspective, but if it were told from Bohe's side, the various ugly behaviors of visiting and marrying prostitutes would inevitably be too much to write about. From this, it can be seen that obtaining things unjustly is inauspicious.
Di Hua wept silently, wondering why her son had gone so astray; it must have been due to his association with the wrong people. She hoped that by finding him this time, her father's admonitions would bring him back to his senses. She thought, "Young men often misbehave; it's understandable. He's separated from his parents, with no one to supervise him, so it's natural for him to have moments of confusion. He's just ruined his health too much." Thinking it over, she blamed herself for being too reserved on the day they left the capital, for refusing to ride in the same carriage with him, leading to their separation. She felt increasingly remorseful and began to pinch herself with her fingernails.
Now, let's talk about He Ting's acquaintance, Bu Shuming, who ran an opium den. When Bo He had money, he often bought opium there. Because he bought so much, they became acquainted, and through their names, they knew a little about Bo He's background. One day, He Ting told him about his missing son-in-law. Shuming asked for his son-in-law's name, and it was indeed Chen Bo He, who then recounted the story. He Ting then asked him to look for him, promising to return and tell his daughter, before going back to his den. A short while later, Shuming brought Bo He in, and Bo He naturally went to pay his respects. When He Ting looked at him, he saw that Bo He was emaciated and had a dark complexion. It was March, and Shanghai was still cold; Bo He was only wearing a tattered bamboo cloth long gown and was shivering. He Ting was both annoyed and amused. In front of Shuming and the many employees, he couldn't say anything to him. After Shuming had sat for a while and left, He Ting took Bo He home, sat him down in his study, and asked him about his past. ① Bohe said, “Because I was separated from you and ended up in Shanghai, I dared not meet you.” ② Heting laughed and said, “Who doesn’t know that you made a fortune in Tianjin, came to Shanghai and had a great time at whoring, married a prostitute, and then she ran away with you, leaving you in this miserable state! That’s all in the past, no need to mention it. Why did you take up opium again? This thing is a lifelong burden, and I hate it to the bone when I see it. You can stay here with me from now on, quit opium first, and properly resume your old business here, so that you can have a better future.” Bohe said, “I’m not addicted to opium, I just play around.” ③ Heting said, “That’s good. Your parents are gone, can you believe it?” Bohe was shocked and said, “When did this happen?” Heting said, “It’s clear that you’ve been living a life of debauchery, not even bothering to inquire about your parents.” After saying this, he took out Li Fu’s letter and showed it to him, and couldn’t help but shed tears. ④ He Ting went upstairs and asked his aunt to fetch a set of cotton clothes, which he then had a maid take down for Bo He to change into. Turning to Di Hua's room, he told her that he knew Bo He had arrived and wanted him to stay, urging him to quit smoking. Di Hua's face flushed crimson; she wanted to speak, but couldn't utter a word. He Ting said, "Daughter, just say what you have to say, why be so formal?" Di Hua was about to speak when she paused, her face turning red again. He Ting said, "Strange! What is it that you can't say?" Di Hua then stammered, "Daughter has heard that if you don't quit smoking properly, it can cause illness. Father wants him to quit smoking and also needs to have a doctor come and treat him." ⑤ He Ting said, "That's easy. Doctor Peng Banyu and I are old friends. I'll write a note when I get back, asking him to come by once a day when he's making his rounds." Having said this, he went downstairs, then deliberately turned back and smiled, "Daughter, don't worry, I won't make things difficult for him." These words made Di Hua's cheeks flush crimson. He Ting then smiled and went downstairs. Dihua thought to herself that her father truly loved his daughter; his anger from before had vanished the moment he arrived. She had obeyed his every word, and she wondered how fortunate she was to have such parents, but how she could ever repay them. Then, seeing Bohe arrive and willing to stay at her home to quit smoking, she felt a surge of joy. She hoped that after he quit smoking and recovered his health, her wish would be fulfilled. ⑥--------① Heting was also sentimental.
② This lie was too forced.
③ Everyone who smokes claims they are not addicted; it's laughable.
④ Upon hearing the news of his parents' tragic death, the son, upon receiving the news, added "inevitably" to the words "shedding tears," revealing his filial piety. Such a son truly exists in this world; it's truly lamentable.
⑤ Seeing these passages, I felt like crying, for reasons unknown.
⑥ How considerate!
Leaving aside Dihua's thoughts, let's talk about Heting going to see Bohe and giving him another good plea for advice, but Bohe simply lowered his head and remained silent. ①After settling him in, He Ting went to the shop and asked an experienced shop assistant to come to his home to accompany Bo He to a bathhouse. He also wrote a note inviting Peng Banyu to stay at his future in-laws' house. If he could reform himself, quit his smoking habit, and get married, wouldn't that be wonderful? But alas, in Shanghai② he became restless and uneasy at home. After three or four days, he grew impatient and slipped out. If
he had just gone for a walk and returned, it wouldn't have mattered. But this time, he didn't come back. He Ting, seeing that he hadn't returned for two days, became suspicious. He went to the study and found that his beloved Xuande incense burner on the table was gone. He had no choice but to go to Bu Shuming again and ask him to look for it. After three days of searching, he finally found it and brought it back. His cotton robe was also gone; he was wearing a short coat. When asked, he said he had pawned it, but when asked about the pawn ticket, he said he had sold it; when asked about the Xuande incense burner, he said he had also sold it at a street stall. ③He Ting could only sigh and offered further earnest advice. Di Hua was even more grateful to her father for his kindness. However, Bo He remained unrepentant and, after returning, stayed for two days before sneaking out again. This happened three or four times, and He Ting, exasperated, came to discuss with his daughter how to persuade him to change his ways. The father and daughter looked at each other with sorrow. Dihua knelt before her father and said, "I have a plan, please forgive my sins before I dare to speak." Heting said, "Why do you do this, daughter? Get up quickly, speak freely!" Dihua said, "I studied with him since childhood, and we are used to each other. Later, we were engaged and moved away for several years. When we left the capital, we were companions again. At that time, because we had not yet been married, I avoided him at every turn. But one of the coachmen refused to go, leaving only one carriage. He refused to ride with me and followed on foot, which is why we got separated and are still separated today. It is clearly my fault that he is suffering. He has now contracted a chronic illness, and despite your earnest advice, he will not listen." "—." She paused, then after a long while, tears streamed down her face as she said, "I think everyone has feelings for their children. When I left the capital, he was very considerate of me. Today, after informing Father, I intend to swallow my shame and go see him to persuade him in person. Perhaps he will change his ways. I hope Father will forgive my impropriety." ⑤ He Ting sighed, "Daughter, get up. You've known each other since childhood; even a meeting wouldn't be impropriety. Go see him. If you can persuade him to change, that's good. If not, then I've ruined your life." Di Hua rose with tears in her eyes, and He Ting got up and went to the shop, letting his daughter persuade him.
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① Generally, when someone tries to persuade another, if he bows his head and doesn't answer, it means he doesn't agree in his heart; this must be known.
② Shanghai is indeed an ominous place, how lamentable.
③ The prodigal son is depicted like a painting.
④ Even now, she still blames herself.
⑤ This forced departure is truly painful for Di Hua.
Dihua got up to go downstairs, but felt a flush rise to her face and ears, her legs went weak, and her heart pounded wildly. She sat down again, pressed her chest, and stood up again to leave, but for some reason, her heart wouldn't stop pounding. After resting for a while, she finally managed to get down the stairs with some effort. When she reached the door, her heart pounded again. Finally, she calmed down and entered the room, her face flushing once more. ① Bohe was lying on the couch. When he saw Dihua enter, he was secretly surprised and felt ashamed, which showed on his face. ② He could only get up to greet her, saying, "Sister, please sit down!" Dihua felt her heart pounding and couldn't answer. She just sat down by the desk. After a long while, she said, "It's been a long time since I've seen you, my dear brother. You've lost a lot of weight." Bohe lowered his head and didn't answer. ③ Dihua said, "Since we were separated that day, I wonder how you got to Shanghai, my dear brother?" Bohe still lowered his head and didn't answer. Dihua said, "It's always my fault for being too cautious, which has led to this situation, my dear brother. Let's not dwell on the past. My father has invited you to stay here temporarily. If there's anything I've done wrong, please feel free to speak frankly. Don't take it to heart or be so formal." Upon hearing this, Bohe's face immediately flushed crimson. Dihua said, "My father's advice to you to quit smoking is well-intentioned; if you're not feeling well, you can quit slowly. There's no need to be too hasty and harm your health." Bohe suddenly said, "I'll never be able to quit these two cigarettes in my entire life!" Dihua had started to say this and was about to continue when he was unexpectedly interrupted by this remark. He stopped in his tracks, thinking to himself: He used to be so gentle and mild-mannered, how could he have changed so much? Then she said, “It doesn’t matter if you can’t quit, but this is what my father hates most. Even if you can’t quit permanently, why not quit for a few months to make my father happy? After we’re married, you can smoke as much as you want, and I won’t dare stop you.” Bohe said, “Even if my father came back to life, these two puffs of tobacco are my life, I can’t quit. I’m penniless right now, what can I use for the wedding? I’ve made up my mind, if I do well, that’s fine, if not, I’ll become a monk!” Dihua was taken aback, wondering why things had turned out this way. Just as she was about to say something, someone knocked on the door. The maid opened the door, and it was her father who had brought Peng Banyu to see her for treatment. She quickly avoided him by the back door and went upstairs. She thought to herself: There’s no one in the world who can’t be moved, why is he like this today, so indifferent to me? Could it be that I’m not sincere enough, which is why I’m like this? Or am I not good with words, and he’s not moved? Alas! How can I lay bare my heart for him to see? ⑤ Lost in thought, tears streamed down her face again. After a while, He Ting saw Peng Banyu out and came upstairs to ask, "How did you persuade him, daughter?" Di Hua was about to answer when a maid ran up and said, "Young Master Chen has gone out again." What will become of him? We'll find out in the next chapter.
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① How could she know such thoughts and feelings in her young lover?
② At this moment, their two red faces reflected each other, a truly beautiful sight.
③ It's strange that Bo He didn't answer!
④ It's not that she was being distant, but rather that she was naturally distant.
⑤ And then she blamed herself; Di Hua was no lover, but a saint!
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Chapter Ten: Escaping to the Empty Gate, Lost in Melancholy, Encountering the Old Sword, Hastily Fleeing the Sea of Hatred It is said that He Ting, upon hearing that Bo He had gone again, sighed deeply and said, "Daughter! This is your fate, and there's nothing I can do about it!" Di Hua couldn't help but shed tears. He Ting had no desire to ask any further questions. He casually walked away, not bothering to look for Bo He anymore, letting him wander off as he pleased. He had hoped that after suffering so much outside, Bo He might change his mind someday. But who knew that Bo He's departure would be so utterly untraceable? Poor Di Hua was heartbroken, her depression indescribable. Sometimes her aunt would come to comfort her, only to stir up her longing for her mother. From then on, she became listless and ill, eating and drinking little, growing thinner and thinner each day.
Zhang He Ting loved his daughter dearly and wanted to find Bo He to bring him back and comfort him. But he also feared that Bo He would still try to escape, which would only worsen his daughter's illness. He was truly torn.
That day, with nothing to do at the shop, he returned home to visit his daughter. Di Hua was resting against a pillow. After He Ting sat down, they chatted idly for a while before gradually bringing up the matter of Bo He. He sighed and said, "In truth, it's all my fault for ruining this matter for my daughter. When the Chen family came to propose marriage, you were only twelve or thirteen years old. You shouldn't have agreed so hastily, leading to this mistake today." Di Hua said, "Father, please don't say that. Everything in the world is preordained. What's done is done, and I dare not blame fate. At this moment, I can only let nature take its course. I only remember how affectionate the Chen family elders were to me when we lived together. Now that things are settled..." "Regarding the relationship between father-in-law and mother-in-law, I have not shown any filial piety. He has also unfortunately fallen in with those bad friends, becoming completely addicted. I, being of poor virtue, cannot move him to change his mind. This is precisely my fault. Why did you bring this up, Father?" ① He Ting said, "I have an idea. Let's find him and bring him back. We don't need him to quit smoking; we'll just set up smoking paraphernalia and let him smoke as much as he wants. We'll choose a day to hold the wedding ceremony and have him marry into our family. Then I can slowly persuade him. Perhaps he can continue studying, or perhaps he can help out at the shop." This adds another layer of worry to my mind: what if he remains the same after marriage? Wouldn't that be even more difficult? ② Dihua said, "Logically, this is not something a girl should interfere in. However, as things stand, there's nothing we can do now. Father, just do as you say. I think the ancients said, 'Sincerity can move even metal and stone.' After marriage, I might be able to move him with my sincere heart; who knows? ③ If not, then it will be like those two lines from Mencius: 'He who does things without being asked to do them is a fool.'" "What comes unexpectedly is fate. ④ We can only accept our fate and dare not complain. Now that we know his whereabouts, it's fine. But now that we know, if we delay any longer, and he suffers outside, even Father will have no way to face his parents." ⑤ He Ting nodded silently after hearing this, and after a long while said, "In that case, I will go and find him." After saying this, he went out by himself, thinking to himself: My virtuous daughter, it's a pity she was married to this scoundrel. It was all because I made a promise too hastily that day.
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① Upright and righteous, not just about personal feelings.
② It would have been better if this idea had come up earlier.
③ Such a person, hoping to be moved, is truly foolish.
④ This girl is well-versed in Mencius, and smiled.
⑤ Who knew that it was just as you expected.
After seeing this, this early marriage is not advisable! ① Thinking this, he followed his footsteps to the opium den on Sanma Road to visit Bu Shuming and ask about Bo He's whereabouts. Shuming said, “He’s been suffering from poverty and illness lately. He came to my place a couple of days ago and borrowed two cents. He was in terrible shape. I even advised him, ‘Your father-in-law treats you very well, why don’t you want to stay there? Why not go back to your father-in-law’s house? They won’t need you to feed them.’ He replied, ‘I’m not used to relying on others.’ After hearing that, I couldn’t persuade him any further.” He Ting was neither amused nor annoyed, and could only sigh. He then begged Shuming to help him find him. Shuming sent a shop assistant to look for him. After a long time, the assistant returned and said, “He’s very ill. He was originally staying at the Guanghua Chang opium den in Hongkou, but because his illness was so severe, they were afraid something might happen to him, so they sent him to Guangzhao Hospital.” He Ting was shocked when he heard this. He quickly said goodbye to Shuming, got into a carriage, and rushed to Guangzhao Hospital to see him. He found Bohe in a very coma. He asked the servant attending to the patient for the prescription, and the diagnosis was malaria turning into typhoid fever, a dangerous illness. Anxious, he wrung his hands and stamped his feet, approaching Bohe's bedside and asking, "My dear son-in-law, how are you feeling?" Bohe opened his eyes, looked at him, then closed them again, replying, "Not so much." When asked again, he didn't answer. ④ Helpless, Heting could only instruct the servant to take good care of him, promising a generous reward once he recovered. Having said this, he went home. He pondered this matter, unsure whether to tell Dihua or not, he was at a loss.
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①Those with young children, listen carefully; do not read this lightly as a novel.
②It fully depicts the prodigal son 's behavior.
③That's his ambition, a smile.
④The illness is vividly described.
Back home, he could only vaguely say that Bohe was a little sick and would come when he recovered. Dihua pressed him relentlessly, asking what the illness was, where it was, and why he hadn't been invited home to recuperate. Unable to withstand his persistent questioning, He Ting had no choice but to tell the truth. ①. Di Hua exclaimed in surprise, "How can this be! Although there are people to serve you at the hospital, they are all public people. How can you ask them for tea or water? Why doesn't Father invite him to come home to recuperate?"
He Ting sighed, "I ask him to speak, but he doesn't respond. How can I talk to him again?"
Dihua was even more panicked and, disregarding everything else, said, "Father, may I go see him?" Heting said, "Go ahead, but don't try too hard to persuade him to come home. If he doesn't want to come to my house, he must have some other reason. He's too sick to move right now, so it wouldn't be difficult to carry him here, but he's always been unwilling. If we force him to come when he can't resist, he'll inevitably get angry, and if the patient gets angry, wouldn't that just make him sicker?"② After saying this, he told the driver to prepare. Dihua took an old woman and a young maid with her, and they rode together to Guangzhao Hospital.
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① He was already very anxious.
② Heting was good at being considerate, and this was not just because of his dignified appearance.
Upon entering the ward, they saw four plank beds set up in the room, three of which were empty. Bohe was sleeping on one of the beds, his face pale and lips thin, his body emaciated, and his eyes tightly closed. Dihua felt a pang of sorrow but couldn't speak. She sat down on the edge of the bed and gently touched her forehead, finding it dry and hot. Bohe opened his eyes and saw that Dihua couldn't help but shed tears. He cried out, "Chen Lang! How are you feeling?"① Bohe said weakly, "It's been tough!" Dihua said, "This is all my fault. I hope you will take good care of yourself. Once you recover, I would gladly be reduced to a concubine to atone for my sins." Bohe shook his head. Dihua bent down and said, "My father advised you to quit smoking, which was well-intentioned. Since you can't quit, it's alright. I wonder if you got sick from trying to quit smoking?" Bohe said, "No." Dihua said, "My lord, please take care of yourself and recover. It's inconvenient here, so why don't you come to my house? I will set aside all shyness and suspicion and personally serve you medicine." Bohe sighed and said, "I can't move now. I'll talk about it again tomorrow when I feel better." As he was speaking, someone brought in a bowl of medicine and said, "Mr. Chen, it's time to take your medicine. Would you like me to help you up?" Dihua said, "It might be inconvenient to help you up. Could you please bring me a spoon?" The person agreed and went to get it. Dihua personally fed him with the spoon. At this time, Bohe didn't even have the strength to swallow the medicine. As it went in, it dribbled out of the corner of his mouth. Overwhelmed with grief, Dihua asked, "How is Chen Lang?" Bohe choked twice and said, "I was momentarily unconscious, but if I try to feed him again, he can swallow it." Dihua fed him another spoonful, but spilled half of it, so she quickly wiped it away with her handkerchief.
She told a maid to fetch a bowl of water from the back, rinsed her mouth, and told the old maid and maids to go outside. She then held the medicine in her mouth, bent down, and fed it to Bohe. After watching him swallow, she fed him again. She fed him more than twenty mouthfuls, but Bohe shook his head and said, "I won't eat anymore." Dihua looked at the bowl and saw that only half a mouthful of medicine had been placed in it before it was set aside. Bohe said, "Your mouth tastes bitter." Dihua said, "Chen Lang! My heart is even more bitter!" As she said this, tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, and she began to sob. Bohe sighed and said, "Sister!" He only called out once before falling silent. Dihua said, “My lord! You must not address me like that anymore. I am now yours, and serving you medicine is my duty. Please take care of yourself and don’t worry about this or that.” ③--------①How many
times had she called him “my virtuous brother” before? ②At this moment, she suddenly stirred Chen Lang’s heart, which he had been longing for.
③Knowing his gratitude, she told him not to feel it; her thoughtfulness was meticulous.
Just then, Heting arrived, followed by the maid and the old woman. Heting asked, “Are you feeling better?” Dihua replied, “I just took my medicine.” Heting sat down on an empty bed nearby. Dihua said, “It’s too heavy for me to go home now. But how can this thin person, who’s just skin and bones, endure sleeping on this plank bed? Please ask Father to go home and have someone send over a palm-fiber couch. Everything used here is of the finest quality; please also send over a teacup or teapot.” Heting said, “That’s easy; I’ll go home first.” Dihua said, “I plan not to go home today. I’ll go home tomorrow after I’ve taken better care of her.” Heting hesitated and asked, “But where will you sleep tonight?”
Dihua said, “There’s no time to sleep; don’t worry about that.” The old woman beside them said, “We went to the back garden just now and saw some women taking care of the female patient. They have separate rooms; if you get tired, you can ask them if you can rest there for a while. That might work.” Heting, hearing this, had no choice but to let her daughter have her way and went ahead. Someone was sent over a palm-fiber couch, bedding, teapot, teacups, and the like. Dihua asked someone to first remove the plank bed across the street and install a palm-fiber couch. Turning around, she saw a broken opium smoking paraphernalia on the table and wondered how it could be used. She then asked someone to fetch a smoking paraphernalia from the shop for temporary use. The person agreed and left. These people were nothing more than shop assistants and outreach workers; they all knew that Bohe was an unmarried son-in-law and Dihua was an unmarried daughter. Seeing this action, they couldn't help but whisper among themselves, some saying it was rare, others saying it was shameless, their opinions varied. ①① This person, defying convention and doing as he pleased, was indeed remarkable.
Leaving aside the whispers, let's talk about Dihua. After setting up the palm-fiber couch, she asked the old woman to help Bohe up. Bohe put one hand on Dihua's shoulder, and Dihua supported her waist with her hand, helping her down onto the couch. Bohe smiled at Dihua, and Dihua blushed involuntarily.
Suddenly, she thought, "I've already resolved to come here to serve him medicine. Seeing him smile shows his joy; how could I be shy and make him uneasy? Generally, when a sick person is happy, they recover easily. Making him happy is my duty." With that thought, she smiled at Bohe and helped him to bed. She sat cross-legged on the bed, leaned down, and spoke softly and tenderly. She then took off the white jade double happiness pendant beside her and showed it to Bohe, saying, "Since we were separated, I haven't dared to leave this for a single day." Upon seeing it, Bohe couldn't help but shed tears. Dihua quickly said, "I showed it to you only to let you know how much I've missed you. How could you be sad because of this?" As she spoke, the smoking paraphernalia was brought over. Dihua sent the old maid away first, leaving only the young maid to serve him, and then lit the tobacco for Bohe. Unfortunately, this paraphernalia had never been used before, and it was difficult to prepare before handing it to him. At this point, Bohe could no longer smoke from the gun; he used a small bamboo tube inserted into the mouthpiece. Dihua, holding the gun in one hand and a lamp in the other, was able to smoke. ①① Such was the suffering of opium smoking.
Dihua stayed in the courtyard all day, not even eating dinner. Around midnight, Bohe developed a high fever and became delirious. The little maid lay asleep on the empty bed.
Dihua was deeply saddened, repeatedly calling softly, "Chen Lang!" Bohe was lucid for a while, then confused, and endured the night. The next morning, the hospital doctor came to see him, taking his pulse but shaking his head and prescribing medicine. Dihua administered the medicine as she had the day before. The patient was now completely unable to open his eyes. At noon, Heting brought Banyu to see him, and Dihua no longer avoided him. Ban Yu looked at it and shook his head. He then looked at the hospital's prescription and said, "The hospital's rules don't allow for not prescribing medicine, but as long as the patient is still alive, medicine must be given. This prescription isn't wrong at all; it's just doing our best. I wouldn't dare prescribe this medicine if I encountered this illness. Old He, I think you should prepare some things for his funeral! It's only within the next hour or two!" He Ting did as he
was told and pinched hard. Di Hua suddenly burst into tears, crying, "Chen Lang! I've caused you so much suffering!" "①Ignoring the presence of her companion, she rushed to the bedside to check on him. She saw that Bohe's cheeks were flushed, his forehead yellow and lips white; he was barely breathing. Dihua cried, "Chen Lang, look who I am!" Bohe slightly opened his eyes and said, "Sister! I have wronged you!" "Having said that, her body slowly grew cold, the redness on her cheeks faded, and she breathed her last. ②--------①It was as if her voice could be heard.
②It was too late for the prodigal son to turn back; a sorrow that would last for eternity.
Dihua's grief was extraordinary; she cried as if her life depended on it. Heting kept stamping his feet, Banyu sighed, and the little maid, seeing this, panicked and also began to cry. The servants in the courtyard, knowing that someone had died, hurriedly carried her to the mortuary. Heting then went to prepare clothes and a coffin. Dihua, weeping like a child, personally bathed and dressed her.
She then borrowed a pair of scissors from the woman who was attending to the female patient in the courtyard, cut off all ten of her fingernails, and cut off a lock of her hair, wrapped them together, and put them in Bohe's sleeve, saying, "Chen Lang, if you know in the afterlife, please take me with you!" Having said this, he burst into tears. Those watching also wept for him. One of them, who knew the situation, said, "This is still his fiancée!" The crowd praised him even more.
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I too wept!
Enough of this digression. Now that the funeral rites were complete, and since a proper ceremony couldn't be held within the hospital, the body was taken to Guangzhao Villa and temporarily placed in the mortuary. Dihua tearfully bid farewell and followed her father home. Heting sat lost in thought in the main room, while Dihua went upstairs. After a moment of reflection, Heting sighed and was about to go to the shop when he suddenly saw Dihua come downstairs, clutching a handful of hair, kneeling before him, and bursting into tears. He Ting looked on in astonishment and saw that all 108,000 strands of hair on his head had been cut off at the root. He was terrified and cried out, "Daughter! What are you doing?" Di Hua cried for a long time before finally saying, "Your unfilial daughter begs Father to show her special mercy and allow me to become a nun!" He Ting stamped his foot and said, "Daughter! Why are you doing this? Although I am a businessman, I am not the kind of scoundrel who doesn't understand reason. If you want to stay, do you think I won't allow it? Why did you cut off your hair without even discussing it with me?" Di Hua cried... She said, “Father! You have pitied your daughter for losing her parents-in-law first, and your brother-in-law is not yet married. You ask me to go to the funeral and observe mourning, but I have nowhere to go, and there is no reason for me to remain at my parents' home. This path is out of my own desperation. I hope you will consider me married and that I will remain a widow in the Chen family. I originally planned to end my life, but I fear that my death would cause you even more grief. Therefore, this is the best of the worst options. Father, you have always loved your daughter; please grant me this one last time!”① Having said this, she burst into tears. Her aunt tried to comfort her but to no avail. Helpless, He Ting had to ask someone to introduce him to the abbot of the Baode Nunnery in Hongkou, and a date was chosen for him to come and fetch her.
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① Truly pitiful, I too shed tears for her!
On that day, Dihua first bid farewell to her ancestors and mother, then bowed to her husband in the sky, and finally to her father, saying, "Your daughter is unfilial, having abandoned you halfway through the journey. I hope you will not worry about me from now on. If Heaven and Earth have feelings, I wish that in the next life we could be father and daughter again, to atone for my unfilial sins in this life." Heting, upon hearing this, couldn't help but burst into tears, saying, "Daughter, you have suffered so much!" Dihua then knelt before her aunt, saying, "Your daughter is unfilial, having abandoned you halfway through the journey. Now, nearing sixty, I need someone to take care of me at all times. I hope you will be kind and supportive. As your daughter, I will repay your great kindness in every lifetime." She then kowtowed. Her aunt hurriedly pulled her back and returned the kowtow, both of them weeping together. After crying for a while, Dihua picked up her five-year-old brother, Gou'er, and said, "Good brother! Obey your father's orders outside, and listen to your mother's teachings at home. When you grow up, be filial to your parents. Your sister's unfilial sins have reached the heavens; you don't need to remember me." This made the five-year-old child also weep bitterly. After everyone bid each other farewell, Dihua rose and went to Baode Nunnery, where
she shaved her head and became a nun that very day. Since Dihua's ordination, Heting had been constantly sighing and depressed.
Suddenly one day, a man burst into the shop and bowed deeply to Heting. Heting was startled and saw it was Zhong'ai. After bowing, Zhong'ai suddenly asked, "Uncle, do you know where my brother is now?" Upon seeing Zhong'ai, Heting's heart sank further. He grasped Zhong'ai's hand and invited him to sit in the guest room, saying, "Your brother is gone!" Upon hearing this, Zhong'ai burst into tears, crying, "Brother! It really is you!" and collapsed to the ground. After a long while, Heting, filled with sorrow, managed to calm him down. Zhong'ai then asked if his brother had married since arriving in the city. Heting sighed and recounted how they had left the capital together, separated halfway, and how he had fallen seriously ill in the hospital, his daughter personally attending to his needs, and his ordination. He only wondered about the source of the windfall that his brother had made in Tianjin. Zhong Ai wept and said, "My sister-in-law is so affectionate and virtuous! Brother, you have wronged her so badly!" ① He Ting asked Zhong Ai about his affairs over the past two years. Zhong Ai said, "Since I went to Shaanxi, I worked as a purchasing agent for over a year. With the help of Inspector Sun, I managed to earn about ten thousand taels of silver. Wen Tong also recommended me for a position as a patrol inspector. After returning to the capital, I helped Inspector Sun for a few more months before requesting leave to go to Beijing. I first transported my parents' coffins south, intending to visit them in Suzhou before transporting them back to Guangdong. They arrived today, and I carried the coffins to Guangzhao Villa. Unexpectedly, I saw another coffin with the same inscription, 'The Coffin of Chen Bohe, Duke of Nanhai.' My heart was filled with trepidation." Confused, he hurriedly went to his brother-in-law to inquire, only to find it was indeed his elder brother. ② He wondered if his sister-in-law had returned after becoming a nun? Are men allowed to enter Baode Nunnery? Could he please see his sister-in-law? He Ting said, "I'm afraid men cannot enter the nunnery. Today is the anniversary of my late wife's death, and my daughter has returned home to pay her respects. She is probably still at home."
Zhong Ai said, "In that case, I would be grateful if you could take me there to see her." He Ting then took him home, had him sit in the study, and sent a maid upstairs to inform him. After a while, Di Hua came down, dressed as a nun, pale and thin, with no spirit. Zhong Ai couldn't help but burst into tears, kneeling on the ground and saying, "My brother has wronged my sister-in-law, and I couldn't come south sooner, causing her to suffer this. I've come today to beg for forgiveness." Di Hua also cried and returned the bow, saying, "Uncle, please rise.
It's because I'm cursed with loneliness and widowhood that I harmed your brother, so I became a nun to repent. Thinking about it still pains me deeply. Uncle, you mustn't say such things. I hope you take care of yourself, marry your aunt soon, and have children to establish an heir for your brother. Although I've become a nun and cannot be a mother, I am still your brother's flesh and blood." Upon hearing this, Zhong Ai wept even more uncontrollably.
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①My lord, you are mistaken. No virtuous and chaste person is without affection.
②The reason I suddenly burst into tears is indeed because of you.
After sitting for a while, Di Hua took his leave and went upstairs, and Zhong Ai also took his leave. He Ting said, "Where does my nephew live? If you don't mind the inconvenience, why not stay here?" Zhong Ai replied, "When I left the capital, someone wrote a letter recommending me to stay at the Dechang Inn. My luggage has already been moved there. Moreover, I am leaving for Suzhou today; although I am in mourning for my late brother and cannot get married, I must first meet my father-in-law and set a date." After saying this, he took his leave, went to Dechang Inn to retrieve his luggage, and went straight to Suzhou. He first entered an inn and went to check the address he had written down before. But when he arrived, the place was no longer the same. He asked two neighboring houses, and they all said that Wang Zhongshu had returned that year and died not long after. Only seven days after his death, his wife and children took their daughter to Shanghai to find a son-in-law. Zhong Ai thought to himself: I am the son-in-law, so why would he be looking for one? Besides, how can he be looking for a son-in-law during a period of mourning? Helplessly, he asked several houses, and they all said the same thing. He had no choice but to return to Shanghai dejectedly and stay at the Dechang Inn again, where he was unhappy all day long. ③--------①In the end, it was still self-blame; how could the word "love" possibly express it all!
②Calculating what would happen a hundred years later, it truly meant love that would last until the seas dried up and the rocks crumbled.
③This concludes the entire book.
The book owner, Gui Quanshu, inquired about the situation and said, "Perhaps they have no men left and have come to Shanghai to seek refuge with relatives; it's hard to say. Why not place an advertisement to inquire?" Zhong Ai followed his advice and placed an advertisement seeking the family of Wang Letian, the Grand Secretary. Half a month passed without any news. Zhong Ai was even more unhappy, thinking to himself: For years, I have remained chaste,① hoping to achieve marriage today, but who knew it would come too late; I don't know where my cousin has moved to. Seeing him depressed all day, Gui Quanshu couldn't help but try to cheer him up. One day, he invited some friends to go to a brothel with Zhong Ai for drinks and entertainment. For a time, the lights were bright, the music was loud, and everyone started playing drinking games. Zhong Ai still showed no interest. Suddenly, a graceful prostitute, her long dress trailing on the ground, approached and sat down behind one of Zhong Ai's friends to his right. Zhong Ai stared intently, a chill running down his spine. This woman bore a striking resemblance to Wang Juanjuan, though slightly taller. The prostitute also kept glancing at Zhong Ai. Zhong Ai suddenly remembered playing with Juanjuan as a child, and how, when they were engaged, everyone would whisper, "Will we be cousins when we grow up?" This was a common saying. This woman looked so much like him; he couldn't believe it was really her. He decided to bring up that saying. Thinking this, when the prostitute turned to look at him, he said, "Will we be cousins?" Upon hearing this, the prostitute blushed deeply, immediately stood up, and said to the customer, "I have to go to another place. Come back later." With that, she ran away.
At that moment, Zhong Ai felt as if a cold water had been poured over his back; his vision blurred, and he and his chair fell backward to the ground. Everyone was greatly alarmed, assuming he had heatstroke, and tried to treat him with some haphazard medicine.
Zhong Ai said, "I fainted occasionally, it wasn't heatstroke, I'm fine now." Gui Quanshu, unaware of the situation, hurriedly took him back to his cell. Zhong Ai compared himself to his brother, and then to his sister-in-law and Juan Juan, feeling that fate was cruelly cruel! Drifting in the dusty sea of life, there was no day of solace. ②Thinking of this, all hope vanished. He immediately arranged to transport the coffins of his parents and brother back to Guangdong for burial, distributed the ten thousand taels of silver he had earned to his impoverished relatives and friends, let his hair down, and went into the mountains, disappearing without a trace.
--------
①The four words "keeping oneself pure as jade" alone are enough to fully express Zhong Ai's feelings.
②In a book, Bohe is dissolute, and Juanjuan is a prostitute; surely there's something to write about? Yet, the author uses only metaphorical descriptions, without explicitly stating anything, and the meaning is self-evident. It's not that the author couldn't write realistically, but rather that he didn't want to sully his pen with such vulgarity. How does this compare to novels that exclusively depict lewdness? This is what is meant by a sea of love and hate!
*West River Moon
*: Jingwei couldn't fill the sea of hate, Nuwa couldn't mend the sky of love. A good marriage is a bad marriage; what's the point of saying it's tied by a single thread? Why does the heartless young master not meet the fickle beauty? Arrangements are reversed, encounters are continuous; only here does true love appear
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One of the Ten Forbidden Books of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: A Regret Under the Sea

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