Yang Naiwu and Xiaobaicai

In the twelfth year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1873 AD),

in Yuhang County, not far from West Lake in Hangzhou, lived a family surnamed Ge in a small alley. The head of the Ge family had passed away nearly three months prior, leaving behind a widow and her young son

, along with a child bride. For many years, the Ge couple had worked as laborers for Yang Naiwu's household. Although the Ge family lost its pillar after the head of the Ge family's death, fortunately, the Yang family took good care of Ge's wife, allowing her to continue working and even paying her extra wages, thus helping her through her difficult times.

Their son, Ge Xiaoda, worked as an apprentice in a tofu shop in Cangqian Town, twenty miles from the city. Their child bride was named Bi Xiugu. Because of her beautiful and charming appearance, and her fondness for wearing a green shirt and trousers with a white apron around her waist, resembling a delicate little cabbage, people jokingly called her "Little Cabbage!"

Yang Naiwu's parents had both passed away long ago. However, due to his family's accumulated wealth and their prominent status in the area, he didn't need to engage in production and his life was never impoverished. From a young age, Yang Naiwu was well-versed in literature and also interested in medicine and pharmacology; therefore, he aspired to an official position to bring honor to his family, or, at the very least

, to practice medicine and help the needy. Two years ago, Yang Naiwu had married, but unfortunately, she died in childbirth, along with their child. Now, only his widowed sister, Yang Shuying, helped him with the daily household chores, allowing him to focus on this year's provincial examination.

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That day, Ge Yushi, feeling unwell, asked Xiaobaicai to work at the Yang residence for a few days.

Yang Naiwu, reciting poetry, sauntered into his study. There stood a girl of about sixteen or seventeen, with a sweet and charming face; her figure was curvaceous and alluring, captivating him for a moment.

Upon inquiring, Yang Naiwu learned that Xiaobaicai had come to work as a substitute because Ge Yushi was ill. He then asked her to take him to her home to treat Ge Yushi. Yang Naiwu was not only proficient in traditional Chinese medicine but also frequently provided free medical care and medicine to the poor—a fact already well-known. Seeing this firsthand deeply moved Xiaobaicai. During her time working as a substitute, Yang Naiwu noticed Xiaobaicai's exceptional intelligence and began teaching her to read scriptures, write, and draw; and Xiaobaicai indeed lived up to his expectations, studying diligently.

One day, Yang Shuying entered the study and, watching Xiaobaicai's departing figure, a cloud of doubt settled in her heart. She glanced at Yang Naiwu standing by the desk and said, "Brother! Your wife has been gone for a year, and matchmakers are coming in droves..."

Yang Naiwu interrupted his sister, "Am I preparing for the provincial examination this autumn? We can talk about other things after the examination!"

Yang Shuying's reply was irrelevant, but pointed, "It's a pity that such a beautiful girl became the child bride of Ge Xiaoda from the tofu shop; perhaps it was fate." Yang Shuying looked at Yang Naiwu seriously and continued, "If someone seduces her, causing her to lose her reputation in a moment of impulse, that would be a disgrace..."

Yang Naiwu knew what his sister meant and smiled wryly, "Sister! Don't worry about that; I'm not one to be ignorant of propriety!"

"Alas!" Yang Shuying sighed, "Sister, you're overthinking it! But I still must remind you to be careful not to be implicated."

"Yes, I will understand!" On her way home, Xiaobaicai encountered Liu Zihe

,

the only son of Liu Xitong, the magistrate of Yuhang County. Upon seeing Xiaobaicai's celestial beauty, Liu Zihe was instantly captivated and unable to move. Watching her receding figure, he resolved to do anything to possess her. Therefore, Liu Zihe approached Qian Baosheng, the young master of Renjitang Pharmacy, to plot a wicked scheme…

A few days later, on the 100th day anniversary of Ge Xiaoda's father's death, Qian Baosheng instigated the owner of a coffin shop to demand payment for unpaid coffin wood and funeral offerings, imposing a three-day deadline for repayment, threatening to arrest those who failed to pay. With

the three days approaching, Ge Yushi, having exhausted all avenues for borrowing money, had no choice but to ask Xiaobaicai to invite Yang Naiwu to the Ge family home for drinks that night. When Yang Naiwu was already somewhat tipsy, Ge Yushi left Xiaobaicai, who was standing nearby, saying she was going to the kitchen to fetch some vegetables, but she never returned.

Xiaobaicai, not seeing her mother-in-law return for a while, sensed something was wrong and went to pull on the door, only to find it locked from the outside. Xiaobaicai was greatly startled and quickly called out softly, "Mother-in-law..."

Peeking through the crack in the door, she saw her mother-in-law kneeling tremblingly at the entrance, tears streaming down her face, sobbing, "Our whole family's fate... we can only beg you and Second Master..."

Xiaobaicai understood her mother-in-law's meaning, her face flushing red and then pale with shame, wishing she could disappear into the ground. Under the lamplight, Yang Naiwu noticed that Xiugu, who had been radiant and beautiful just moments before, now had a face ashen and a sorrowful expression. Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, Xiaobaicai knelt down abruptly, tears streaming down her face, and called out in a trembling voice, "Second Master Yang..." She then recounted the whole story in detail.

After learning the details, Yang Naiwu immediately took out some silver, saying, "Granny Ge was really wrong. If you had any difficulties, you should have told me. Why did you do something so foolish?"

Xiaobaicai hurriedly knelt down and thanked him, "Second Master, you saved our family!"

Yang Naiwu shook his head, helped Xiaobaicai up, and said, "Miss, you don't need to thank me. You should blame me. Although we are both innocent, locking this door might damage your reputation. I'm truly sorry!" Only then did Xiaobaicai panic and shed a few hot tears.

After considering for a while, Yang Naiwu said, "Things have come to this point, and it's difficult to make amends. Perhaps after I pass the imperial examination, I can give Ge Xiaoda several hundred taels of silver to marry another wife, and also help him open a tofu shop. Then I can formally marry you into my Yang family. Perhaps this can achieve the best of both worlds."

Xiaobaicai blushed deeply upon hearing this, but was quite willing. She shyly lowered her head and personally poured two cups of wine, which they drank together. Yang Naiwu drank his wine with mixed feelings. He was delighted to have such a beautiful wife, but also worried about how to face his clan and neighbors.

The strong wine made Yang Naiwu gradually lose control of his moral constraints; he couldn't help but become frivolous with Xiaobaicai. Xiaobaicai was grateful for Yang Naiwu's chivalrous help; she also had feelings for him. Therefore, she shyly and half-heartedly threw herself into his arms.

The intoxicating scent of alcohol, mingled with a unique masculine aroma, flowed from their tightly pressed lips to Xiaobaicai's, causing her to become dizzy with passion. Her heart pounded, her breathing became erratic, and her whole body felt waves of heat, leaving her weak and limp, as if recovering from a serious illness, leaning against Yang Naiwu's chest.

Although Xiaobaicai was Ge Xiaoda's child bride, they had not yet consummated their marriage. Although Ge Xiaoda sometimes acted impulsively, he was restrained by the lack of permission from his elders and thus only touched her. Several times, Ge Xiaoda couldn't resist pulling at Xiaobaicai's belt, but she always stopped herself at the last minute, quickly escaping into the room, leaving him to ejaculate by himself.

To Xiaobaicai's surprise, she was acting out of character. Not only did she not want to refuse Yang Naiwu's unrestrained caresses, but she also hugged him tightly. A desire she had never felt before rose from the depths of her heart, and an indescribable feeling gradually filled her body, like a tingling itch or a soreness. Sometimes she felt as if a thousand ants were crawling inside her; other times she felt an emptiness that desperately needed to be filled.

Yang Naiwu felt two soft and elastic mounds of flesh pressing and rubbing against his chest, as if transmitting the throbbing of his heart. The delicate fragrance of a young girl, like orchids, wafted into his nostrils, reaching the top of his head. Due to the continued surge of his emotions, he breathed heavily and irregularly, as if he had fallen into a state of blissful oblivion.

Yang Naiwu's lips moved! Giving Xiaobaicai a chance to catch her breath, she let out a soft sigh; but then, as Yang Naiwu's wet, soft tongue skillfully teased her cheeks and earlobes, she couldn't help but let out a soft moan. Waves of tender contact sent shivers down Xiaobaicai's spine; a strange pleasure, a surge of heat, gathered deep within her lower abdomen, as if gathering energy about to burst forth.

Yang Naiwu's lips and tongue rubbed against Xiaobaicai's pink neck, gently pulling open her clothes. Like the opening of a curtain on a stage, Xiaobaicai's pink neck, soft breasts, cleavage... slowly revealed themselves. A dazzling, piercing whiteness made Yang Naiwu suddenly feel dizzy, causing him to close his eyes instinctively, but pressing his hot lips to her breasts.

The coolness of her nakedness didn't make Xiaobaicai feel cold; instead, it made her heart burn even hotter. As if unable to bear such extreme heat and cold, Xiaobaicai let out weak moans from her slightly parted cherry lips. Her delicate body seemed powerless and swaying; yet, her hands, as if possessing immense strength, tightly clung to the back of Yang Naiwu's head, pressing it against her chest.

As her clothes silently slipped down to her ankles, Xiaobaicai felt Yang Naiwu suckle and hold her erect nipples, his large hands covering her densely haired vulva, causing her to lose her balance and slowly collapse to the ground. Yang Naiwu followed suit, pressing down on her, his lips still on her nipples; his hands still not leaving her vulva.

The cold floor seemed to bring Xiaobaicai somewhat back to her senses from the throes of passion, but at this moment, she felt a pang of hatred for this clarity. Xiaobaicai tightly closed her eyes, as if afraid that if she opened them, all these beautiful emotions would suddenly shatter.

In a dazed and confused state, Xiaobaicai felt Yang Naiwu guiding her hand to grasp a hard object. She was momentarily bewildered, then realized it was a male phallus. A mixture of shyness and reluctance made her pull her hand away, then tighten it again, letting the hot, hard, and slightly trembling penis throb and swell restlessly in her palm.

Xiaobaicai tried to feel this thing through touch, something she had only heard of but never truly seen before. Her palm and delicate fingers moved gently, as if examining a rare, unseen treasure. The novelty and surprise made Xiaobaicai forget that she should feign any girlish reserve or shame; instead, it stirred the most natural and primal lust within her.

Involuntarily, Xiaobaicai writhed like a snake, allowing Yang Naiwu's knuckles, pressed against her vulva, to rub her labia and clitoris. Yang Naiwu, busy licking every inch of Xiaobaicai's smooth skin while also caressing her vulva and reluctant to let her hands leave his penis, was in a strange position, clinging to her.

The friction of their lips and skin seemed to awaken the lustful poison within Xiaobaicai, as if awakened worms were crawling and biting her lower abdomen, causing her to let out a seductive moan from between her clenched teeth.

The soft "mmm ahh" sounds not only captivated Yang Naiwu but also drew him to Xiaobaicai. Yang Naiwu spread Xiaobaicai's flawless white thighs apart, pressing their lower bodies together, and with a slight sway of his hips, his glans rubbed against her labia like an experienced horse, quickly becoming covered in her vaginal fluid.

Yang Naiwu freed one hand to support his penis, aiming it at Xiaobaicai's vaginal opening, and slowly thrust it in. As her plump labia parted, the scarlet, swollen glans seemed to struggle as it squeezed into Xiaobaicai's untouched virgin territory.

"Ah! Ugh!" A piercing pain made Xiaobaicai feel as if her vaginal opening was being torn apart. She involuntarily gripped Yang Naiwu's arm tightly, barely managing to utter a sound of "Pain!" before hot tears streamed down her temples. Xiaobaicai tried to pull away to alleviate the pain, but Yang Naiwu's hands gripped her legs tightly, not only preventing her from moving an inch, but also seemingly using the force of her twisting motion to penetrate even further.

Yang Naiwu was experienced in the pain of a virgin's first night. He remembered his wedding night, when it took him two or three hours to penetrate his wife, and he ejaculated hastily amidst her cries and sobs, which made her resent him for days.

Although he didn't let Xiaobaicai avoid his caresses, he no longer forced himself on her. Yang Naiwu lowered his chest, pressing it against her full breasts, and gently breathed into her ear, saying, "Relax your body, and the pain will naturally lessen..." As he spoke, Yang Naiwu kneaded her breasts with his firm chest and stroked her cheeks with his lips.

The gentle movements made Xiaobaicai slowly feel the fullness in her vagina, gradually replacing the tearing pain; the comfort of being caressed returned to her body little by little. She slowly and carefully savored the feeling of fullness and expansion within her vagina, a wondrous sensation of oneness that both shyly and joyfully relaxed her tense nerves.

Although Xiaobaicai wasn't a philosopher or a poet, she couldn't help but marvel at the Creator's wondrous arrangement, creating bodies that could fit together so intimately. She began to feel the intense pleasure of their union; the penis, swelling and contracting with each breath, was effectively stimulating her unreachable itch. Gushes of love fluid flowed like a spring, a kind of "when soldiers come, generals will meet them; when water comes, earth will dam it" kind of feeling.

Yang Naiwu began to thrust shallowly, clearly feeling the sharp angled part of his glans sometimes being caught, sometimes sliding smoothly in and out at the entrance of her vagina. With each thrust, a thick, slippery fluid, still tinged with blood from the moment of deflowering, was drawn out. The warm, tight cave seemed to possess a mysterious allure, drawing Yang Naiwu deeper and deeper, driven by an irresistible urge to penetrate, seeking greater pleasure through deeper penetration.

The hot, hard penis, with its prominent veins, rubbed against the folds and bumps of the vaginal walls, bringing Xiaobaicai an extraordinary sense of comfort. A sensation she had never experienced before spread throughout her body, causing her to spasm and tremble, her soft, weak moans rising again. A dizzying, intoxicating feeling amplified her lust, making her yearn for that thick, hard, hot penis to penetrate even deeper into her vagina. Xiaobaicai's supple waist began to sway slightly, her suspended lower body moving.

Yang Naiwu's thrusting was slow, but the range of motion was wide. When he penetrated, he reached the very depths of her tightly closed vagina; when he withdrew, the tip of his penis rubbed against her tender labia. Yang Naiwu seemed to be savoring every corner, every fold, every bud inside Xiaobaicai's vagina through the touch of his penis...

Each friction accumulated into a little bit of pleasurable sensation. Through the comfort emanating from deep within her vagina, Xiaobaicai gradually felt the joy of sex. With soft moans, she involuntarily wrapped her snow-white thighs around Yang Naiwu's waist, her hips taut as she greedily devoured his penis.

Yang Naiwu's emotions seemed to have reached their limit, and he hurriedly tightened his grip on Xiaobaicai's soft waist, beginning a sprinting thrusting motion. Her buttocks rose and fell rapidly, propelling his penis forward quickly and powerfully. The splashing sounds of her vaginal fluid, mixed with the slapping sounds of muscles colliding, seemed to be playing a symphony of debauchery, accompanied by bursts of moans and gasps.

The pent-up desire exploded within Xiaobaicai's body. She seemed unable to withstand such intense stimulation, sometimes appearing paralyzed and unconscious, sometimes stiff and unyielding, sometimes wildly shaking her head and neck, letting her neatly styled hair fall loose, her glossy black hair cascading down her sides, highlighting her rosy cheeks.

Yang Naiwu's penis, gradually numbed by the intense friction, suddenly felt a tingling, throbbing sensation. He knew he was about to ejaculate, and immediately thrust deeply a few times, then pressed tightly against their point of contact, awaiting that moment of pleasure. Xiaobaicai, immersed in pleasure, suddenly felt Yang Naiwu's even more intense thrusts. These thrusts almost made her breathless. She squinted at Yang Naiwu with alluring eyes, only to see him with a serious expression, his firm skin revealing prominent veins, glistening with sweat.

The sudden swelling of the penis, followed by the gushing of hot semen, struck the uterine wall, causing Xiaobaicai to let out a hoarse scream. Her entire body felt as if it had been thrown into the air, as if torn into countless pieces. A dizzying, spinning sensation made her lose consciousness as her mind rang out. After

an unknown amount of time, Xiaobaicai gradually regained consciousness, but was immediately immersed in the whispered words of love in her ear. She glanced at the white apron stained with filth and specks of crimson not far beside her. Although it was somewhat shocking and infinitely shy, she secretly thought: "Right now, I am the happiest person in the world..."

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Yang Naiwu didn't leave the Ge family's house through the back door until late at night, only to be seen by Qian Baosheng returning from the casino. Qian Baosheng, consumed by jealousy, outwardly appeared indifferent, but inwardly harbored malicious intentions. Under cover of night, he posted notes reading "Sheep Eats Cabbage" at the gate of the Yang family ancestral hall and the entrance to Taiping Alley, subtly implying that Yang Naiwu had seduced respectable women, hoping to bring him to ruin through public condemnation.

Yang Naiwu's great-uncle, holding the note, arrived at the Yang family home in a rage, his face stern, angrily reprimanding Yang Naiwu for tarnishing the reputation of the Yang family's scholarly tradition. Yang Shuying, while trying to calm her great-uncle, also urged her brother to temporarily leave home to study in Suzhou and prepare for the autumn examinations. Yang Naiwu, left with no choice, hurriedly departed, without even a chance to say goodbye to Xiaobaicai.

Upon hearing the news, Xiaobaicai rushed to the ferry to see Yang Naiwu. With the elders of the Yang clan present, Xiaobaicai dared not approach. She hid behind a willow tree, watching Yang Shuying see Yang Naiwu off onto the boat. As the small boat receded further and further away, her heart bled…

Meanwhile, Ge Xiaoda, having heard the rumor of “the sheep eating the cabbage,” was furious and immediately abandoned his work at the tofu shop to return home. Seeing her angry son, Ge Yushi dared not admit that it was all her idea, and could only smooth things over by agreeing to let Ge Xiaoda and Xiaobaicai marry and consummate their marriage.

Xiaobaicai, already in love, though extremely unwilling, dared not admit to having been intimate with Yang Naiwu, and could only claim that her father had just passed away; and that her mother-in-law, Ge Yushi, was ill, hoping to postpone the matter. These high-sounding words left Ge Xiaoda speechless on the surface, but deep down he was filled with remorse.

That night, Ge Xiaoda drank half a jar of wine alone, then staggered into Xiaobaicai's room. Emboldened by the alcohol, he grabbed Xiaobaicai's ample breasts. Startled awake by the commotion, Xiaobaicai quickly sat up and huddled in a corner, stammering, "...You...what are you...doing...you...don't...come...don't..."

Ge Xiaoda exhaled a strong smell of alcohol and mumbled, "...Don't...don't be afraid...I...I am...your...husband...today I...want to...consummate...our...honeymoon...come...come...come..." Ge Xiaoda clumsily climbed onto the bed and reached out to pull at Xiaobaicai's clothes.

"...No...don't come any closer...don't come any closer..." Xiaobaicai pleaded, pushing away Ge Xiaoda's hands while kicking wildly with her legs. "...Waaah...no...no...waaah...please..."

Her frantic resistance only fueled Ge Xiaoda's lust. *Slap!* Ge Xiaoda slapped Xiaobaicai hard, sending her sprawling onto the bed, blood trickling from her mouth and feet. *Hiss!* Ge Xiaoda lunged forward and ripped open Xiaobaicai's clothes, revealing her snow-white breasts, which shone brightly in the dim light, their soft, elastic breasts bouncing as they bounced. Xiaobaicai quickly covered herself with her hands, still begging for mercy.

Ge Xiaoda's bloodshot eyes suddenly lit up. He roughly grabbed Xiaobaicai's hands, twisting them forcefully to the sides, then lowered his head and buried his face in her breasts. Ge Xiaoda's rough skin and short, stiff stubble stung Xiaobaicai's face, making her feel frightened, nauseous, and ashamed, causing her to struggle incessantly.

When Ge Xiaoda opened his mouth and sucked on her breast, Xiaobaicai couldn't help but shiver. A strange feeling rose from the bottom of her heart, like the tingling sensation of her first night. Although she continued to struggle, her strength was obviously much weaker; and the twisting of her struggle seemed to bring her some frictional pleasure. Although she was still murmuring, "...No...No..." her heart was suppressing its resistance.

'Hiss!' It was the sound of tearing fabric again. Ge Xiaoda was clearly too lustful to wait for her to slowly undress. He impatiently tore open Xiaobaicai's pants, exposing her long, snow-white thighs and her hairy, prominent vulva. Gazing at that alluring body, Ge Xiaoda couldn't help but feel regretful. He'd kept such a beauty by his side for years, never having possessed her sooner, only to have Yang Naiwu snatch her away.

Filled with anger, revenge, and a desire to ravage, Ge Xiaoda showed no mercy. He brutally spread Xiaobaicai's thighs, kneeling on her while simultaneously pulling out his engorged penis and thrusting it rapidly into her open, "O"-shaped vagina. The tight opening couldn't withstand the forceful penetration; Ge Xiaoda's penis not only went all the way in but also seemed to push Xiaobaicai's body upwards with its residual force.

Fortunately, Ge Xiaoda's penis wasn't too large, preventing Xiaobaicai from being overwhelmed. However, her dry vagina, deprived of lubrication, still felt a burning pain from his forceful insertion. However, with a forceful thrust, the pleasurable sensation of his penis slamming into her clitoris instantly overwhelmed Xiaobaicai's fading shame and resistance, washing them away without a trace. Once

inside, Ge Xiaoda began to pump relentlessly, disregarding any sense of pace or careful savoring; he simply thrust and pumped rapidly, as if using the intense movements to vent his pent-up dissatisfaction and resentment.

These rough movements, however, gradually brought waves of oppressive pleasure to Xiaobaicai. Her psychological resistance had completely surrendered to physical pleasure; her vagina began to overflow with lustful fluids; her snow-white arms encircled Ge Xiaoda's back; and her legs involuntarily wrapped around his buttocks. At this moment, Xiaobaicai was completely conquered by lust!

The rapid thrusting caused Ge Xiaoda to ejaculate quickly, streams of hot fluid gushing into Xiaobaicai's body, causing her to tremble violently. She clenched her limbs tightly, holding onto the still convulsing Ge Xiaoda, who gradually went limp, enjoying the intense pleasure of their close embrace.

After the passion subsided, perhaps truly exhausted, or perhaps under the influence of alcohol, Ge Xiaoda collapsed onto Xiaobaicai and fell fast asleep. As her breathing returned to normal, Xiaobaicai felt a pang of sadness, and two hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She pushed Ge Xiaoda away, looking at him with a sorrowful expression. Xiao Baicai resented the cruel twist of fate, unable to grow old with Yang Naiwu; she resented Ge Xiaoda's forced intimacy; she resented Ge Xiaoda's incompetence, having just ignited her desire only to hastily end it all; she resented…

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While ill, Ge Yushi learned that Ge Xiaoda had forced himself on Xiao Baicai and had no choice but to urge them to get married. Xiao Baicai had no choice but to agree. However, Ge Yushi's inner guilt haunted her, causing her illness to worsen, and she passed away a few days later.

After the marriage, Ge Xiaoda continued to work at the tofu shop, only returning home once every ten days or half a month. Xiao Baicai also tried to stay home as much as possible, doing needlework to supplement the family income, silently enduring the arrangements fate had made for her. Only occasionally would she recall Yang Naiwu's tender words, causing her to often weep.

However, fate seemed to be jealous of beauty, and even this peaceful, desireless life was denied to her. It was as if the god of destiny wouldn't rest until Xiaobaicai was pushed into an abyss, constantly creating turmoil in her life.

Meanwhile, Liu Zihe watched helplessly as Xiaobaicai was first "eaten by the sheep" and then formally married Ge Xiaoda, while he watched the cooked duck fly away. His wicked schemes yielded him no benefit whatsoever, and he became increasingly anxious and restless. Liu Zihe quickly went to Qian Baosheng, the owner of the Chinese medicine shop, offering him some benefits to help him achieve his wish.

Qian Baosheng, under the pretext of inviting Xiaobaicai to sew flowers, secretly slipped a sleeping potion into her tea. After drinking the tea, Xiaobaicai felt dizzy and, before collapsing, saw Liu Zihe's twisted, distorted face, seemingly leering, as if he were stepping into the room and embracing her…

When Xiaobaicai awoke from her unconsciousness, she found herself lying naked on the bed, her genitals still wet with a man's excrement. She immediately understood what had happened, and was filled with unbearable pain. Dejected, Xiaobaicai walked to the deep well by the back door, muttering to herself, "Naiwu! We are not destined to meet in this life, but we will meet again in the next…"

Just as Xiaobaicai was about to throw herself into the well, her father-in-law's third sister discovered her. The third aunt, in a panic, shouted to stop her and rushed towards Xiaobaicai, pushing her away. Little Baicai stumbled and fell to the ground, finally releasing her pent-up grievances and bursting into tears. Her aunt held her and comforted her, asking about her reasons for trying to end her life, but Little Baicai only cried silently.

Heartbroken and feeling utterly hopeless, Little Baicai frantically ran to the "Zhunti Nunnery" wanting to shave her head and become a nun, but the old nun refused to take her in and instead asked someone to find Ge Xiaoda to take her home. However, no one understood why Little Baicai would suddenly try to end her life.

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The hurried gongs and drums cleared the way; the deafening firecrackers rose and fell, and the whole village joyfully welcomed Yang Naiwu home after passing the autumn examination. Yang Naiwu also hosted a banquet, inviting relatives and neighbors, and even took time to visit Little Baicai's house to invite her to the feast. Alas, though the woman remained the same, everything had changed. The reunion of the former lovers brought a heartbreaking outcome.

Although Xiaobaicai was a married woman, their reunion led them to embrace passionately, disregarding their respective statuses, and pour out their longing for each other.

Coincidentally, Ge Xiaoda, suffering from a burning leg ailment, was heading home to rest when he heard men's voices and Xiaobaicai's sobs from inside. Suspicious, Ge Xiaoda peeked through the window, his anger flaring. He had heard rumors of "sheep eating cabbage," and now he had witnessed and overheard their rendezvous that evening.

After a moment's thought, Ge Xiaoda tiptoed away, rushing to Chenghuang Mountain to buy a sharp dagger, intending to catch them in the act when he returned home at nightfall. Ge Xiaoda gritted his teeth, determined to personally kill the adulterous couple to atone for this humiliation.

That night, Liu Zihe, having tasted the sweetness of adultery, wanted to take advantage of Ge Xiaoda's absence at work to harass Xiaobaicai again. Xiaobaicai pleaded, "Don't do anything immoral anymore!" Liu Zihe, however, leered and approached Xiaobaicai, ignoring her pleas.

Suddenly, a torrential pounding came from the hall door, and Ge Xiaoda shouted from outside, "Open the door! Open the door now!"

Upon hearing Ge Xiaoda's voice, Liu Zihe cried out, "This is bad!" and hurriedly tried to escape, but Ge Xiaoda had already locked the back door from the outside. He had no choice but to hide behind the door, waiting for an opportunity.

Xiaobaicai cautiously opened the front door, and Ge Xiaoda, after glancing at his wife, began searching for her lover. Taking advantage of Ge Xiaoda's momentary lapse in attention, Liu Zihe crouched down and darted out of the Ge family's gate, fleeing like a wisp of smoke.

Ge Xiaoda, suppressing his anger, grabbed his wife by the chest, and menacingly raised the bull-ear-shaped knife in his hand, ready to strike. Xiao Baicai, however, showed no fear, thinking that being killed would be the end of it all. Just then, her aunt and sixth uncle from next door returned from a banquet at the Yang family's house, escorting her third aunt home. Seeing the scene, they intervened, some stopping her, others persuading her, and finally managed to disarm her. Enraged

by the commotion, Ge Xiaoda became bedridden. At her aunt's insistence, Yang Naiwu was brought in to treat him. Yang Naiwu provided medicine and treatment, and Xiao Baicai took meticulous care of him. After a few days, Ge Xiaoda's condition improved significantly.

At this time, Liu Zihe, wanting to possess Xiao Baicai permanently, conspired with Qian Baosheng to plot a poisonous scheme. When Yang Naiwu's prescription arrived at Renjitang Pharmacy, Qian Baosheng personally added arsenic to the formula. After ingesting it, Ge Xiaoda bled from all seven orifices and died.

Xiao Baicai was terrified. Liu Zihe bluntly admitted to poisoning Ge Xiaoda, saying, "So we could be husband and wife forever." He added, "I'll rent a house in Hangzhou and come pick you up in two days."

Ge Wenqing, the aunt's son, returned from the funeral and found Ge Xiaoda's blood-stained clothes. Sensing something amiss, he filed a complaint in Yuhang County. Magistrate Liu Xitong of Yuhang County approved the complaint, opened the coffin, and examined the body. He confirmed that Ge Xiaoda had indeed died from arsenic poisoning and immediately brought Xiaobaicai to court for questioning.

Liu Zihe had just returned from Hangzhou by boat when Qian Baosheng eagerly pulled him into the county office. There, they found Xiaobaicai kneeling in the main hall, while Liu Xitong sat on the throne, questioning the adulterer. Liu Zihe turned pale with fright. Qian Baosheng said, "Quickly, tell your father to step down!" Thinking quickly, Liu Zihe dashed towards the inner courtyard.

Just as Liu Xitong was about to use torture to find out the adulterer's name, his personal servant brought him a teacup. Liu Xitong lifted the lid and saw a note inside: "Madam orders that the court adjourn immediately." Liu Xitong had no choice but to leave the court and return to his inner quarters, only to be told by his wife that the adulterer was actually his beloved son.

Liu Xitong then hired a clerk, spending four thousand taels of silver, in exchange for the clerk's four words: "Transplanting a flower into a tree." The clerk said, "As long as Xiaobaicai is willing to shift the blame for what the young master did onto Yang Naiwu, Yang Naiwu will be implicated and never be able to recover; the young master will be safe!"

So the clerk called Xiaobaicai over and told her that as long as she pushed everything onto Yang Naiwu, after the case was closed, she would be the young mistress of the county magistrate's family. Yang Naiwu was a newly appointed scholar, and his academic achievements could replace his life; at most, he would lose his academic achievements, but he could take the next exam and become a scholar again. However, if she implicated the young master, the Liu family would be cut off from the family line...

Liu Xitong's wife also came out, affectionately took Xiaobaicai's hand, and said with a smile, "My good daughter-in-law, if you do as the clerk says, the Liu family, the Yang family, and the Ge family will all be safe and sound. You are our savior!"

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

This day was the auspicious day for Yang Naiwu's wedding. On their wedding night, coinciding with Yang Naiwu's recent success in the imperial examinations, a double celebration, the house was filled with guests. Just as the banquet was about to begin, Liu Xitong, the magistrate of Yuhang County, sent his son with congratulatory gifts and invited Yang Naiwu to the yamen to discuss his upcoming examinations in the capital.

Yang Naiwu entered the yamen, and Liu Xitong, beaming, laid out a feast and invited Naiwu to take a seat. Just then, a yamen runner announced the arrival of the convicted woman, Xiaobaicai. Liu Xitong told Yang Naiwu to wait a moment, as he hurried off to the main hall to hear the case. However, the yamen runners attending Naiwu encouraged him to secretly observe the trial from the main hall. Sitting on a stone bench under the carved wooden panel, Naiwu could see everything in the hall through the gaps in the carved railings, but Xiaobaicai could not see Yang Naiwu. This was yet another wicked idea from the clerk.

When asked about Yang Naiwu's treatment of Ge Xiaoda on October 3rd, which resulted in Ge's improved condition, and the subsequent follow-up visit on October 6th, during which he was given a packet of sedative medicine, which Ge Xiaoda took, he died that night bleeding from all seven orifices, Yang Naiwu was shocked and stunned. He wanted to defend himself, but being an eavesdropper, he couldn't rush out. Next, Qian Baosheng was interrogated. Qian Baosheng said, "Yang Naiwu bought three qian of arsenic from Renjitang Pharmacy on October 7th, and there's an account book as proof..."

When Liu Xitong returned to the living room and questioned Yang Naiwu about the case, Yang Naiwu offered various explanations, claiming he was in Hangzhou receiving guests on October 6th, and how could he have bought arsenic to harm someone on the 7th? Liu Xitong coldly laughed, "The witnesses and physical evidence are all there; the case is irrefutable." Three days later, the provincial education commissioner issued a decree stripping Yang Naiwu of his academic honors.

This trial of Yang Naiwu was no ordinary one; news spread like wildfire. Yang Naiwu's sister, along with her friends the Kong brothers, scholars, and officials, all came to witness the proceedings. Whips, rattan canes, leg irons, and red-hot irons were prepared in the courtroom…

If Yang Naiwu uttered a single "no," he would be subjected to torture to extract a confession. Yang Naiwu's screams of agony echoed through the courtroom… Finally, Xiao Baicai was brought in to confront Yang Naiwu. Seeing the horrific state of Yang Naiwu after his torture, Xiao Baicai realized she had been deceived, but the damage was irreversible.

The scholars and officials argued their case with reason, but Liu Xitong ignored them all. Finally, he ordered the bailiffs to make Yang Naiwu kneel on a red-hot chain. Black smoke billowed, and his skin was charred and mangled. The Kong brothers and other scholars and officials wanted to file a complaint, but Liu Xitong acted like a thug, overturning the case and falsely accusing the scholars of causing a disturbance in court.

Yang Shuying spent a considerable sum of money to see her badly injured brother. After learning the truth, she said, "Since that's the case, I will go to the Hangzhou prefecture tomorrow to file a petition for redress."

The clerk of Yuhang County advised Liu Xitong to immediately go to the Hangzhou prefectural government office in a blue robe and hat. The clerk said, "You and the prefect are related by marriage; bringing generous gifts will further strengthen the relationship. With this double blessing, we have no choice but to wrongfully implicate Yang Naiwu!" At the same time, he had Xiaobaicai and Liu Zihe pay respects to their ancestors, thus formally tying the knot. Madam Liu Xitong told Xiaobaicai, "From this day forward, you will be a member of the Liu family in life and in death!" Xiaobaicai was speechless with grief, her heart filled with a mixture of anger, hatred, sorrow, and worry...

The wicked advisor, fearing Xiaobaicai might change her testimony in Hangzhou, had her go to the women's prison and see her aunt struggling in the water dungeon, crying out, "Sister-in-law, save me!"

The advisor, like a ghost, told Xiaobaicai, "If you change your story, the magistrate will be furious. Ge Wenqing will be exiled to the frontier, your aunt and Wenqing's wife will be sold into prostitution, and your aunt will be begging on the streets. At that time, you will be unable to live or die, and everything will depend on your word!" Xiaobaicai's heart was torn apart, her soul broken.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Liu Xitong, carrying generous gifts and dressed in a blue robe and small hat, arrived at the Hangzhou prefectural government office to request an audience. Prefect Chen Lu of Hangzhou smiled and helped Liu Xitong up, and the two reached a tacit understanding.

The Hangzhou prefectural government office was even more imposing and strict than that of Yuhang County. Yang Naiwu, shackled and chained, was dragged to the office in a wooden cage. Chen Lu began the retrial, and Yang Naiwu cried out, "Innocent!" Chen Lu ordered Yang Naiwu to be taken away and Xiaobaicai to be brought in, asking, "Was your husband murdered by Yang Naiwu?"

Xiaobaicai knew that the prefect before her was Liu Xitong's father-in-law, and recalling her aunt's struggle in the water dungeon and the clerk's vicious words, she reluctantly whispered, "Yes!" After her statement was recorded, Liu Xitong finally felt relieved.

Next, the prefect brought Yang Naiwu to court. However, what was thrown in front of Yang Naiwu was Xiaobaicai's confession, which changed "murdering her husband" to "adultery and murder." Yang Naiwu was struck dumb, crying out, "Injustice!" After being subjected to severe torture, he finally lost consciousness. A bailiff forced Yang Naiwu to press his fingerprint onto a pre-prepared confession, and then threw him into the death row cell. The Hangzhou prefecture sentenced Yang Naiwu to be executed in the autumn. After approval by the Zhejiang governor, the case was reported to the Ministry of Justice in the capital. Once approved, the execution would be carried out immediately.

However, this injustice aroused indignation among the officials and scholars of Zhejiang, who jointly petitioned the Ministry of Justice. Furthermore, the Kong brothers had already informed Xia Tongshan, a Zhejiang native serving as the Minister of Justice and head of the Autumn Execution Division, of the true circumstances of the "Yang case." Xia Tongshan wrote next to the Zhejiang governor's report on Yang Naiwu's execution: "Inaccurate and untrue; dismissed for retrial."

Governor Yang Changjun of Zhejiang had no choice but to order another official to retry the case. Hundreds of officials were involved in the trial, and dozens of hearings were held, but due to official collusion, the injustice remained unaddressed. Fortunately, Xia Tongshan's subordinates intervened, repeatedly reporting and rejecting the charges. Furthermore, with the death of Emperor Tongzhi

and the ascension of Emperor Guangxu, the execution of serious criminals was suspended, and Yang Naiwu's case dragged on for three years. Through Xia Tongshan's efforts, the Empress Dowager Cixi issued an imperial edict ordering a joint trial by the three provincial governors, the provincial judge, and the provincial governor of Zhejiang to clarify the injustice. Unfortunately, the Hangzhou prefect's concubine, who was also the provincial judge's goddaughter, invited the judge to a nighttime stroll on West Lake, using the opportunity to sow discord, claiming that the case involved Zhejiang officials in Beijing who were ostracizing the battle-hardened Xiang Army. This further complicated the case, as the three provincial governors were all leaders of the Xiang Army, and the various prefectures and counties were their subordinates. Even after the joint trial, the injustice remained unresolved. 　　For Yang Shuying, the only way to save her brother was to travel to the capital with three petitions (i.e., legal documents) and appeal to the Ministry of Justice. The key to overturning the case was for Xiaobaicai to confess the real culprit. Yang Shuying decided to visit Xiaobaicai in the women's prison.

When 　　Xiaobaicai saw Yang Shuying, to her surprise, Yang Shuying neither scolded nor hit her. Instead, she offered her some pastries, addressed her as "sister," and said that she herself was bad, having forced Yang Naiwu to go to Suzhou to study, thus separating them and causing their current misfortune. 　　Xiaobaicai felt a surge of warmth in her heart and slowly knelt before Yang Shuying, saying, "Please tell your brother, elder sister, this life is over. In the next life, I can only repay you as a cow or a horse..." She finished speaking and burst into tears. 　　Yang Shuying said, "Xiugu, do you still have the heart to save my brother?" 　　"I have never forgotten this heart and this wish." 　　Having received Xiaobaicai's confession, Yang Shuying traveled a long and arduous journey to the capital. Thanks to Xia Tongshan's help, the Ministry of Justice finally accepted Yang Shuying's petition. Since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, Yang Shuying was only the third ordinary person to dare to petition the Ministry of Justice and even roll on a bed of nails. 　　On the day the Ministry of Justice opened the petition, from the gate to the main hall, guards from the military prison lined both sides, each exuding a menacing aura and imposing presence, leaving only a narrow passage in the middle. At the end of the passage stood a strange object, like a butcher's bench, with rows of canine-tooth-like steel nails stuck into it, gleaming coldly in the sunlight. 　　Yang Shuying, carrying the "Petition Opening" sign, walked to the bed of nails, handed the petition to the clerk, and, with tears streaming down her face, cried out in a piercing voice, "Your Honor, please redress this woman's grievances!" After shouting, she closed her eyes tightly and threw herself onto the bed of nails. 　　"...In Jiangnan there is no sun or moon, but in China there is a clear sky." Yang Shuying recited the petition word for word on the nail board. Even a single word's error would mean all her efforts were in vain, and the Ministry of Justice would not approve the petition. 　　The Minister of Justice could only say, "This minister grants your request and will report it to His Majesty." 　　After all the criminals were brought to the capital ahead of schedule, Liu Xitong bribed officials throughout the Ministry of Justice, instructing them not to torture Xiaobaicai too harshly. However, when the Third Aunt was being tortured, she revealed the truth: "It doesn't hurt at all." 　　The Minister of Justice was greatly shocked and immediately sentenced Yang Naiwu and Xiaobaicai to be executed the next day. That evening, a banquet was held in a secret room for Yang Naiwu and Xiaobaicai to meet and say goodbye, hoping that... In his final moments, a man reveals his true feelings, while the Minister, the Prince, and Xia Tongshan eavesdrop in the next room. 　　Yang Naiwu enters the secret room and sees wine and meat, knowing it's his last meal before execution. However, there are two pairs of chopsticks; he doesn't know who the third person is. When Xiaobaicai sees Yang Naiwu, she is filled with shame and utter disgrace. 　　Yang Naiwu says, "A true man does not rejoice in life or grieve in death. Neither life nor death, neither life nor death, life and death, death and life—I have long understood this. Come, let's drink a cup together." 　　Xiaobaicai holds the wine cup, her heart breaking, and shakes her head, saying, "I don't drink." 　　Yang Naiwu says, "This is a wedding cup!" " 　　A wedding cup?" Xiaobaicai asks in surprise. 　　"We weren't born on the same day, but tomorrow on the execution ground, we'll die on the same day," Yang Naiwu said, bursting into laughter. 　　Xiao Baicai wept uncontrollably, "Second Master Yang, I've repaid kindness with enmity! I've caused your family's ruin and your suffering under the torture of vinegar... I... I'm the worst woman in the world! Even if you beat me to death here, I'd rather die before you..." She then knelt before Yang Naiwu. 　　Yang Naiwu rose from his seat and helped Xiugu up, "I, Naiwu, am willing to lose my family's fortune and be disgraced. My poor sister traveled thousands of miles to the Ministry of Justice to endure the nail-board punishment, to file a complaint. If I execute her, she will surely be implicated for falsely accusing an official and will also face execution. And her young child is still so small. These lives, the future of these families... all because of me, Yang Naiwu..." At this point, Yang Naiwu wept bitterly. 　　Xiao Baicai felt as if a thousand arrows pierced her heart, her soul breaking: "I hate it so much!" 　　"What do you hate?" Yang Naiwu asked. 　　"I hate that I met Master Yang too late. Now the case is closed, and our lives are about to end. I also hate that the real culprit is still at large!" " 　　Who is that adulterer?"

Xiao Baicai said, "It's Liu Zihe, the son of the villain Yu Hang County."

Yang Naiwu suddenly realized, "Yu Hang County, how ruthless!"

No sooner had Yang Naiwu finished speaking than all four wooden doors along the wall suddenly swung open. In the next room sat Prince Chun, the Minister of Justice, Xia Tongshan, and other important officials, with several eunuchs standing by. Yang Naiwu and Xiao Baicai were completely stunned.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

After three years, the nationally shocking case of Yang Naiwu and Xiao Baicai was finally resolved. Half of the officials in Zhejiang province were dismissed, exiled, or even embezzled.

Although Yang Naiwu escaped death, he was punished for sharing a room with Ge Bi (Xiao Baicai) to teach and paint, failing to avoid suspicion. He was stripped of his scholar title and never reinstated, and was given five zhang of white cloth to return home to farm and study.

Xiao Baicai was ultimately deemed unchaste and, fearing torture, made a false confession. She should have been beheaded, but was instead executed with her body bound in silk. However, Empress Dowager Cixi, wanting to see Xiao Baicai's appearance, found her beautiful and charming and took a liking to her. On a whim, she wrote "Exempt from Death" on one of Xiao Baicai's palms and "Granted Return" on the other. But Empress Dowager Cixi ultimately said, "You have ruined the lives of over a hundred of my civil officials; your sins are not small. Become a nun and cultivate your next life!"

So Xiao Baicai went to the "Zhunti Nunnery" outside the Twin Pagodas outside Yuhang County to become a nun. At only twenty-two years old, Xiugu spent her life with wooden fish and prayer mats.

Yang Naiwu's right foot was crippled due to torture. He tore open a piece of the five-zhang-long white cloth he had been given as a reward and hung it on his door, inscribing a couplet: "The Jing and Wei rivers have always been different; right and wrong have always been based on evidence."

The scenery of Yuhang remains unchanged, and the streams flow on.

(The End)

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