Chapter Seventy-two: Intercept and Kill
This is the first chapter of this book. The author says: Because I have experienced a dream, I will hide the truth and use the "Tong Ling" theory to write this book "Shi Tou Ji". Therefore, it is said that "Zhen Shi Yin" and so on. But what events and people are recorded in this book? He also said: "Now, I am busy with worldly affairs and have not achieved anything. Suddenly, I think of the women I knew in the past and examine them one by one. I find that their behavior, actions, and knowledge are all superior to mine. Why is it that I, a man with a good appearance, am not as good as they are? I am truly ashamed and regretful, but there is no use in regretting now. When I think of the past, I relied on the blessings of heaven and my ancestors, and enjoyed wealth and luxury. But now, I have not achieved anything and have wasted half of my life. I will write a book to tell the world: My crimes are unforgivable, but there are people in the inner chambers who are worthy of praise. It is not right to let them be forgotten because of my own unworthiness. Although I am now living in a humble cottage with a thatched roof and a mud wall, and my daily life is simple, it does not hinder my writing. Although I am uneducated and my writing has no literary merit, what harm is there in using simple language to tell a story? It can also make the inner chambers famous again and please the eyes of the world, dispel people's worries and troubles, isn't that good? Therefore, it is said that "Jia Yu Cun" and so on.
In this chapter, whenever the words "dream" or "illusion" are used, they serve as a reminder to the reader's eyes and also represent the main idea of this book.
Honorable officials, where did this book come from? Although the origin is seemingly absurd and nonsensical, upon closer examination, it has a profound and intriguing meaning. I shall now annotate its history, so that readers may understand without confusion.
Nüwa used 36,500 blocks of stone to repair the sky and left only one unused block on Mount Qingqiu's peak. This stone, after being refined, had become sentient and felt ashamed for not being selected to repair the sky with the other stones. It wept and wailed day and night in sorrow.
At that moment, a monk and a Taoist priest appeared in the distance, approaching with an extraordinary aura. They sat on a rock at the foot of the mountain, engaged in lively conversation. Initially, they discussed matters of spiritual realms and mystical phenomena, but later shifted to topics of wealth and glory in the mortal world.
The stone, having listened intently, felt its worldly desires stirred. It yearned to experience the luxuries of human life, but regretted its own coarseness and inability to interact with humans. The stone then spoke out, addressing the monk and Taoist priest: "Venerable masters, I am a dull and ignorant being, unable to show proper respect. Having overheard your discussion about the glories of the mortal world, my heart is filled with longing. Although I may be coarse and unrefined, I possess some degree of spiritual awareness. Witnessing your transcendent forms and extraordinary abilities, I am convinced that you possess remarkable talents and virtues that can benefit humanity.
If you would graciously bestow upon me a small portion of your compassion, take me with you into the mortal world, and allow me to indulge in its riches and pleasures for a few years. I will forever cherish your kindness and never forget it."
The two sages listened to the stone's plea and responded with gentle smiles: "Ah, the mortal world does have its delights, but they are fleeting and unreliable. Moreover, the phrase 'beauty is imperfect, good fortune is short-lived' aptly describes the transience of worldly pleasures. In an instant, joy can turn to sorrow, and human life is but a brief dream that ultimately ends in emptiness.
It would be better for you not to go." The stone's worldly desires had already been kindled, and it refused to listen to these words. It continued to beg and plead with the two sages.
Recognizing that they could not force their will upon the stone, the sages sighed and said: "This is indeed a case of 'stillness giving rise to movement,' where something emerges from nothing. Very well, we shall take you with us to experience the pleasures of human life. However, when you become disillusioned, do not say that we did not warn you."
The stone replied, "I will not." The monk then added: "Although your spiritual essence is refined, your physical form remains coarse and unremarkable. In this case, there is no alternative but to rely on external assistance.
Fortunately, I can employ my Buddhist powers to aid you. When the time comes for you to return to your original state, I will restore you to your true nature, thus resolving this matter." The stone listened with gratitude.
The monk then recited incantations and performed magical rituals, transforming the large stone into a brilliant, luminous jade that could be held in one's hand. The monk smiled and said: "Your physical form has indeed become a precious object! However, to make it truly remarkable, we must inscribe some auspicious characters upon it, so that people will recognize its extraordinary nature at first glance.
We shall then take you to a land of prosperity and grandeur, where poetry and music flourish, and the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers. There, you can indulge in the pleasures of wealth and luxury." The stone listened with uncontainable joy and asked: "I wonder what extraordinary qualities I have been bestowed with, and to which place will you take me? Please enlighten me, that I may not be confused."
The monk smiled and replied: "You need not ask now; everything will become clear in time." With these words, the monk tucked the stone into his sleeve and departed with the Taoist priest, disappearing into the distance without a trace.
Later, after unknowingly passing through several reincarnations, a certain Taoist priest visited the mountains to seek immortality and suddenly passed by the foot of Qingfeng Peak in the vast wilderness. He saw that on a large stone, there were clear characters, telling a story in detail. The Taoist priest looked from the beginning and found it was actually about Wucai's supplementing heaven, transforming into the mortal world, Mengmang Dashi, and the True Person carrying the red dust, experiencing all the joys and sorrows of life. On the back, there was also a poem that said:
No materials can be used to repair the blue sky, in vain entering the red dust for many years.
This is a matter of past and present, who can remember to make a strange legend? After the poem, it is the place where this stone fell, the birthplace, and a personal experience of a fragmentary story. Among them, family trivia and idle poetry are still complete, which may be interesting and entertaining, but the dynasty, year, geography, country, etc. are lost without examination.
The Storyteller smiled and said, "My teacher is indeed foolish! If you say that there is no verifiable dynasty or era, then why do you use the Han and Tang dynasties as a basis for your story? It's not difficult to create something new. I think that all unofficial histories are similar, but mine is different because it doesn't follow the usual pattern. It only takes the essence of the events and emotions, so why must we be bound by dynasty or era?
Moreover, ordinary people rarely enjoy reading books about governance and politics, but they love to read interesting and leisurely writings. Most unofficial histories either mock and slander officials, or degrade people's wives and daughters, with countless examples of cruelty and evil. There is also a type of writing that is obscene and corrupt, poisoning the minds of young men and causing them harm.
As for books about talented scholars and beauties, they all follow the same pattern, with authors trying to write their own romantic poems and essays. They create fictional characters and stories, but these are often inconsistent and unreasonable. When you read them carefully, you'll find that they contradict each other and lack emotional resonance.
In contrast, my story is based on real events and people I've met or heard about. Although it may not be as impressive as the stories of old, it can still provide some comfort and entertainment. It includes a few poems and familiar phrases that can bring joy and laughter.
As for the twists and turns of fate, the joys and sorrows, I've tried to follow the truth without embellishment or fabrication. My goal is not to impress readers with my writing skills but to provide them with a genuine account.
In today's world, poor people are burdened by their daily struggles, while rich people are consumed by their desires. Even when they have some free time, they're often distracted by their own interests and worries. Where do they have the energy to read books about governance and politics?
So, I don't want people to praise my story as extraordinary or remarkable. I only hope that when they're feeling tired or bored, they'll pick up this book and find some comfort in it. Perhaps it can even help them live a longer and healthier life by reducing their stress and anxiety.
Furthermore, I hope that my story will offer readers a fresh perspective, different from the usual clichés and stereotypes found in other books. My teacher, what do you think?"
The Empty Void Daoist listened to this and pondered for a moment, then reviewed "The Story of the Stone" again. He saw that although there were some words criticizing corruption and condemning evil, it was not intended to satirize the times or curse the world. As for the relationships between ruler and minister, father and son, all the usual moral obligations were praised and commended without end. This was truly unlike other books. Although the main theme discussed emotions, it only recorded actual events and did not fabricate or falsely claim things. It did not indulge in sensual pleasures or make private agreements. Since it did not interfere with the world at all, he copied it from start to finish and asked about its origins. From then on, the Empty Void Daoist, due to his empty nature, gave rise to emotions, transmitted emotions into emptiness, and awakened to emptiness through emotions. He thus changed his name to the Emotional Monk and renamed "The Story of the Stone" to "The Record of the Emotional Monk". Dong Ru Kong Mei Xi then titled it "The Precious Mirror of Wind and Moon". Later, because Cao Xueqin spent ten years revising it in the Daguanyuan, making five revisions, compiling a directory, and dividing it into chapters, he titled it "The Twelve Beauties of Jinling". He also wrote an absolute poem:
A sheet of absurd words, a handful of bitter tears!
Everyone says the author is crazy, but who can understand the meaning behind it?
When you go out, it's already bright, and look at what story is on the stone. According to the inscription on the stone:
When the land of Wu fell to the southeast, in this southeastern corner there was a place called Gusu, with a city called Panmen, which was one of the most wealthy and elegant places in the world. Outside Panmen, there was a street called Shili Street, inside which there was an alley called Renqing Alley, where there was an old temple, because the location was narrow, people all called it Hulu Temple. Next to the temple lived a family of rural officials, with the surname Zhen, named Fei, and courtesy name Shi Yin. His wife, Feng Shi, was kind, virtuous, and well-versed in etiquette. Although their family was not very wealthy or noble, they were still considered a respected family by the locals. Because Zhen Shi Yin had a calm and composed nature, he did not think about fame or fortune, every day he only enjoyed viewing flowers, trimming bamboo, drinking wine, and reciting poetry, truly a divine and elegant person. There was just one thing lacking: this year he was already fifty years old, but under his knees there were no sons, only one daughter, named Yinglian, who was only three years old.
In a remote mountain, during the sweltering summer days, a scholar sat idly in his study, tired of reading and dozed off on his desk. He fell into a deep sleep and dreamed of a place he couldn't recognize. Suddenly, a Buddhist monk and a Taoist priest appeared before him, walking and talking as they went. The Taoist asked the monk, "Where are you taking this foolish creature?" The monk smiled and said, "Don't worry, there's a romantic case that needs to be resolved, and these people haven't been born yet. Let's take advantage of this opportunity to bring them into the world." The Taoist replied, "So another cycle of romance and tragedy is about to begin? But where will they end up?" The monk laughed and said, "This is a strange story, one that has never been heard before. It all started with a magical grass called 'Jiangzhu' that grew on the banks of the Spirit River in the Western Paradise. A heavenly maiden named Xianyu would water it every day with ambrosial dew, allowing it to live for centuries. As time passed, the grass absorbed the essence of heaven and earth and was nourished by the rain and dew, eventually transforming into a human form, that of a woman. She wandered outside the realm of love and longing, eating honeyed fruits and drinking the waters of the River of Sorrow. However, she still had to repay the debt of gratitude for Xianyu's kindness, so her heart remained entwined with a deep and unending passion."
But then Zhen Shiyin and Jia Da heard it clearly, but didn't know what the "stupid thing" was. So they couldn't help but go forward and pay their respects, laughing and asking: "Two immortal masters, please." The monk also hurriedly returned the courtesy and asked. Shi Yin said: "Just now I heard the immortal master's discussion of cause and effect, which is a rare thing in the world. But this disciple is foolish and cannot understand it clearly. If you can open up my stupidity and explain it in detail, this disciple will listen carefully and be able to understand slightly, and also avoid the suffering of being sunk." The two immortals smiled and said: "This is a profound mystery that cannot be revealed beforehand. When the time comes, don't forget us two, and you can jump out of the fire pit." Shi Yin heard this and didn't dare ask again. He smiled and said: "The profound mystery cannot be revealed beforehand, but just now you mentioned 'stupid thing', I don't know what it is. Can I see it?" The monk said: "If you ask about this thing, there's a bit of a connection." Saying that, he took it out and handed it to Shi Yin. Shi Yin received it and looked at it, and it turned out to be a piece of bright and beautiful jade, with clear characters carved on it, reading 'Tongling Baoyu' (Magic Spirit Treasure Jade). On the back there were also a few lines of small characters. Just as he was carefully looking at it, the monk said they had arrived at the Illusory Realm, and forcibly snatched it from his hand. Together with Dao Ren, they passed through a large stone archway, on which was written in four large characters: 'Tai Xu Huan Jing' (The Great Void Illusory Realm). On both sides there was also a couplet that read:
When false becomes true, truth also becomes false. When nothing exists, something still remains. Mr. Shi was lost in thought and followed the past, when he took a step forward, suddenly hearing a loud thunderclap, as if a mountain collapsed and the earth cracked open. Mr. Shi let out a loud cry, and when he opened his eyes again, all he saw were flames burning brightly, banana leaves swaying gently, and more than half of what he had dreamed about was forgotten. Then he saw his wife holding their daughter Yinglian and walking towards him. When Mr. Shi saw that his daughter was even more lovely and charming, he stretched out his hand to take her from his wife's arms, hugged her tightly, played with her for a while, and then took her to the street to watch the lively scene of people passing by. Just as they were about to go inside, a monk and a Taoist came from afar: the monk was bald-headed and barefooted, while the Taoist had a crippled foot and disheveled hair, looking crazy and laughing wildly as they approached. When they arrived at Mr. Shi's door, seeing him holding Yinglian in his arms, the monk burst into loud wailing, then turned to Mr. Shi and said: "Donor, why are you holding this unlucky creature who will bring misfortune to her parents?!" Mr. Shi listened but thought it was just nonsense and ignored them. The monk continued to say: "Give her up! Give her up!" Mr. Shi became impatient and wanted to go inside with his daughter, when the monk pointed at him and recited four lines of verse saying:
Spoiled and pampered, you laugh foolishly, while lotus flowers face the snow alone.
Good to avoid the Lantern Festival after, it is time for smoke and fire to disappear. Mr. Shi heard clearly, hesitated in his heart, and wanted to ask about their origins. Only to hear the Taoist say: "You and I don't have to travel together, let's part ways here and go our separate ways." The monk said: "Wonderful! Wonderful!" After finishing speaking, the two of them left, and there was no sign of them again. Mr. Shi thought to himself at this time: These two people must have a background, should try to ask, now it's too late to regret.
He was lost in thought when he suddenly saw a poor scholar named Jia Yu Cun, also known as Rain Village, who lived next door to the gourd temple, walk out. This Jia Yu Cun was originally from Hu Zhou and was of a family of poets and officials, but because he was born at the end of an era, his family's foundation had been exhausted, and only he was left, with no one else in his hometown to rely on, so he came to the capital to seek fame and fortune. He had arrived last year and was temporarily living in the temple, making a living by selling calligraphy and writing. Therefore, Shi Ying often interacted with him. At this time, Yu Cun saw Shi Ying and hastily paid his respects, saying: "Sir is standing at the door, looking out, is there some news on the street?" Shi Ying smiled and said: "No, I was just taking my little girl outside to play, it's really boring, brother has come at the right time, please come in and talk, we can both pass this eternal afternoon." As he spoke, he had someone take his daughter inside, and he himself took Yu Cun by the hand into the study. A young servant brought tea. They had just talked for three to five sentences when suddenly a servant rushed in to report: "Old Master Shi has arrived to pay his respects." Shi Ying hastily got up to apologize, saying: "Please forgive me for not being able to greet you properly, please sit for a moment, I'll come right away to accompany you." Yu Cun also hastily stood up and said: "Sir, please go ahead. As someone who often comes here, it's no trouble to wait a bit." As he spoke, Shi Ying had already gone out into the front hall.
Here is the translation:
It was raining in the village, and Jia Yu Cun was flipping through books to alleviate his boredom. Suddenly, he heard a woman's cough outside the window, so he got up to take a look. It turned out to be a maid picking flowers. She had a pretty face, clear eyes, and although she wasn't extremely beautiful, there was something charming about her. Jia Yu Cun couldn't help but stare.
The maid from the Xue family picked some flowers and was about to leave when she suddenly looked up and saw someone in the window. He was wearing old clothes, and although he looked poor, he had a robust build, a broad face, and a square mouth. His eyebrows were like swords, and his eyes shone like stars. The maid quickly turned around to avoid him, thinking to herself: "This man is so majestic, but yet so shabby. I think he must be the Jia Yu Cun my master often talks about, who has been intentionally helping us with our difficulties. But we don't have any relatives that poor, so it must be him for sure." She thought this and couldn't help but turn her head twice.
Jia Yu Cun saw her turn her head back and thought to himself that the woman had taken a liking to him. He was overjoyed, thinking that she must be a kindred spirit who understood him. A little servant came in, and Jia Yu Cun asked about dinner, but it wasn't ready yet, so he took his leave through a side door.
After the guests left, Zhen Shiyin knew that Jia Yu Cun had taken his leave and didn't go to invite him again.
It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Rongguo had just finished a family banquet at home. He then set another table in his study and walked to the temple under the moonlight to invite Yucun. It turned out that since Yucun saw Zhen's maid looking back at him twice, he thought she was someone who understood him, so he kept her in mind all the time. Now it happened to be Mid-Autumn Festival again, and he couldn't help but feel nostalgic under the moonlight. He then composed a five-character poem with a fixed rhythm:
No need to ask about the three lives, frequently adding a piece of sorrow.
When coming, lower your head; when going, look back several times.
Alone with the wind and shadows in front, who can share the moonlight with me?
The toad's light seems to have a will of its own, first shining on the Jade Maiden's Tower. After Rain Village finished reciting his poem, he thought again about his lifelong ambitions and how they had not yet been fulfilled, so he scratched his head and let out a long sigh to the heavens, then loudly recited another couplet:
In the midst of seeking a good price for jade, I wait for the right moment to take flight. Just then, Mr. Shi walks in and hears this, laughing and saying: "Brother Yu Cun truly has grand ambitions! Yu Cun hastily laughs and says: "I'm just casually reciting someone else's poem, how dare I be so bold?" Then he asks: "Mr. Shi, what brings you here tonight?" Mr. Shi smiles and says: "Tonight is Mid-Autumn Festival, commonly known as the 'Reunion Festival'. I thought Brother Yu Cun, living in a monk's quarters, might feel a bit lonely, so I specially prepared some wine and invited him to my study for a drink. Will you accept this humble invitation?" Yu Cun listens and doesn't decline, smiling and saying: "Since you've shown such kindness, how could I refuse this grand gesture?" Saying this, he follows Mr. Shi back to the other side of the book institute. Before long, tea is finished, and wine cups and plates have been set out. The fine wine and delicious food are not worth mentioning. The two sit down, first sipping their drinks leisurely, then gradually becoming more enthusiastic in their conversation, until they start drinking freely. At this time, every household on the street is playing music and singing, with a bright moon hanging above, its light shining brightly. The two become even more exhilarated, and as the wine flows, Yu Cun becomes about 70-80% drunk. His excitement uncontainable, he faces the moon and composes an impromptu poem:
When it's time for a family reunion on the 3rd or 5th day of the month, the warm sunlight shines brightly on the jade balustrade.
The moon had just risen high in the sky, and people on earth were all looking up at it with admiration. Shi Ying heard this and exclaimed: "Wonderful! I have always said that my brother would not be a common man for long, and now his poem shows signs of greatness, he will soon be able to walk among the clouds! Congratulations, congratulations!" He then poured a cup of wine to celebrate.
Rain Village sighed and said: "If it weren't for my late start in life, I might have been able to make a name for myself in the world of learning. But now, with no money for travel expenses, the road to the capital is long, and without selling my writings, I wouldn't be able to get there."
Shi Ying didn't wait for him to finish speaking and said: "Why didn't you say something earlier? I have always had this intention, but every time we met, you never mentioned it, so I didn't dare to bring it up. Now that you've brought it up, although I'm not talented, I still understand the meaning of 'righteousness' and 'profit'. And since next year is a big exam year, you should hurry up and go to the capital, take the exam, and make your mark! As for travel expenses and other things, I'll take care of them for you."
He immediately ordered a servant to bring in 50 taels of silver and two sets of winter clothes. He also said: "The nineteenth is the day of the imperial examination, you can buy a boat ticket and go upriver, wait until you've achieved great success, and we'll meet again next winter, won't that be a wonderful thing?"
Rain Village took the silver and clothes, thanked him briefly, and didn't think much of it. They continued drinking and chatting until the third watch of the night, when they finally parted ways.
Shi Ying sent Rain Village off and then went back to his room, sleeping until the sun was high in the sky. He thought about what had happened the previous night and decided to write two more letters of recommendation for Rain Village to take with him to the capital, so that he could find a place to stay with some officials.
He sent someone to deliver the letters, but when they came back, they said: "The monk said that Master Jia went into the city at five drums this morning and left a message saying 'scholars don't care about good or bad luck, they only care about reason and justice', and he didn't have time to say goodbye."
Shi Ying heard this and could only give up. Time really flies, and before you know it, another year has passed.
Shi Ying ordered his servants to take the children to watch the lanterns on New Year's Eve. In the middle of the night, one of the servants, Huo Qi, took the young girl Lin Daiyu outside to pee, but when he came back, she was gone! Huo Qi searched for her all night until dawn, but couldn't find her anywhere. He was so scared that he didn't dare go back to his master's house and ran away to another village.
Shi Ying and his wife were frantic with worry when their daughter didn't come home that night. They sent several people to look for her, but no one could find any trace of her. The couple had only this one child, and now she was lost, they couldn't stop crying day and night, and almost died from grief.
After a month, Shi Ying got sick, and his wife, Feng Shi, also fell ill from worrying about their daughter.
It was the fifteenth of the third month, and in the temple of the gourd monks were making offerings, but they were not careful, and the oil pot caught fire, burning the window paper. Many houses in this neighborhood used bamboo fences and wooden walls, which also caught fire due to fate. One after another, five or six houses were burned down, turning the whole street into a sea of flames. Although soldiers and civilians came to rescue them, the fire had already spread too far, and it was impossible to put it out. The fire burned for one night before gradually dying down, but no one knew how many houses had been burned. Only the Jia family's house next door had been reduced to a pile of rubble. Fortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Jia and their servants were not injured. Mr. Jia was so anxious that he stomped his feet and sighed. He had no choice but to discuss with his wife and move to their country estate. However, in recent years, the weather had been unfavorable, and bandits had risen up, stealing crops and land, making it difficult for people to live peacefully. As a result, officials and soldiers were cracking down on them, making it hard for Mr. Jia to settle down. He had no choice but to sell his estate and take his wife and two maids to his father-in-law's house.
He, Shao Yu's father-in-law, was named Feng Su, a native of Da Ru State, and although he was engaged in agriculture, his family was still quite wealthy. Now seeing his son-in-law come to such a state, he felt somewhat unhappy. Fortunately, Shi Yin still had some silver from the sale of his land that he hadn't used up yet, so he took it out and entrusted Feng Su to buy some cheap houses and land for him as a plan for future food and clothing. Feng Su half-jokingly and half-seriously gave him some thin land and dilapidated houses. Shi Yin was a scholar who wasn't accustomed to managing farms and fields, and with great difficulty supported himself for one or two years, but felt increasingly impoverished. Every time Feng Su saw him, he would say some sarcastic words, and in front of people and behind their backs, he would complain that they didn't know how to live well, only liking to eat and be lazy. Shi Yin knew that he couldn't please others, and his heart was filled with regret, and also because of the shock and anger from the previous year, he had accumulated injuries, and as a person in his later years, poverty and illness attacked him together, gradually revealing the signs of approaching death.
Just then, as he was hobbling along with his crutch and had arrived at the street corner to clear his mind, he suddenly saw a lame Taoist priest approaching from the other direction, dressed in tattered and worn-out clothes, muttering some phrases to himself.
Everyone knows that immortals are good, but they can't forget their merits and fame!
Where have all the heroes of past and present gone? A deserted tomb with a pile of grass has buried them.
Everyone knows that immortals are good, but gold and silver cannot be forgotten!
Regretting that gatherings are too few, and when they finally happen, eyes are closed.
Everyone knows that immortals are good, but only a loving wife is unforgettable!
When you're alive, people talk about your kindness; when you die, they follow others.
Everyone knows that immortals are good, but only children and grandchildren can't forget!
Many parents have been foolish since ancient times, who has seen filial sons and grandsons? Mr. Shi heard this and came forward to say: "What are you talking about? I only hear 'good' and 'fine'. The Taoist priest smiled and said: "If you really hear the two words 'good' and 'fine', then you're considered enlightened. You should know that in the world, good is fine, and fine is good. If it's not fine, then it's not good. If you want it to be good, it must be fine." This song of mine is called "The Song of Goodness". Mr. Shi was originally a wise man, and as soon as he heard this, he understood it in his heart. He smiled and said: "Wait! Let me annotate your 'Song of Goodness' for you, how about that?" The Taoist priest smiled and said: "Go ahead, go ahead."
A humble abode, once filled with the sound of music and dance, now lies empty and still. The grass is withered, the willows are bare, and the only sound is the rustling of spider silk on the carved beams. The green gauze that once covered the windows is now torn and tattered.
They say that youth is a time of beauty and vitality, but how can it be when one's hair has already turned gray? Yesterday, I escorted a coffin to the grave, and tonight I lie in bed with my lover. Gold and silver fill the chests, but the eyes of the beggars are filled with scorn.
I sigh at the brevity of human life, never knowing that I myself will soon be gone. The teachings of the ancients are clear, but who can guarantee a long life? I chose to follow the path of luxury, but who would have thought that I would end up in this state?
Because I despised the small hat, I ended up wearing shackles; yesterday I pitied the beggar's tattered clothes, and today I disdain the luxurious robes. The world is a chaotic mess, and it seems that one moment you're on stage, and the next you're off.
It's all so absurd, and in the end, we're just making clothes for others to wear. The crazy Taoist heard this and clapped his hands, laughing and saying, "Well said, well said!" Then he grabbed the shoulder bag from the scholar's back and took off without a word, disappearing into the distance.
The news of this spread like wildfire through the streets, and people talked about it as if it were a sensational piece of gossip. When Madame Feng heard the news, she cried until she was almost dead, and then had to discuss with her father what to do next. They sent people out to search for any news of the scholar, but there was none.
In the end, they had no choice but to rely on the support of their parents to get by. Fortunately, there were still two old maidservants who attended to Madame Feng, and together with her father, they made a living by selling needlework at night. Although Mr. Feng complained bitterly, he could do nothing about it.
That day, the big girl of the Zhens' family was buying thread at the door when she suddenly heard the sound of shouting on the street, and everyone said that the new magistrate had arrived. The girl hid inside the door to take a look, only to see a group of soldiers rushing past, one by one, and soon a large sedan chair carrying an official in a black hat and a dark robe passed by. The girl was startled and thought to herself that this official looked familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before. She then entered the house and didn't think about it anymore. Until evening, just as she was about to rest, she suddenly heard a loud knocking at the door, and many people were shouting, saying: "The magistrate's office has sent someone to ask questions." Feng Su heard this and was so frightened that he stared blankly, not knowing what kind of disaster had occurred.
One game's win or loss is hard to predict, the fragrance of tea has been exhausted and it's still wandering around. If you want to know the rise and fall of things, you should ask a bystander with a cold eye.
But then Feng Su heard the public runner's summons and hastily came out to smile and ask questions. Those people just shouted: "Quickly invite out Zhen Ye!" Feng Su hastily smiled and said: "My surname is Feng, not Zhen. Only my son-in-law has the surname Zhen, but he has been a monk for over a year now, I don't know if you are asking about him?" Those public runners said: "We also do not know what's true or false, because we received orders from Master Ta to come and ask, since he is your son-in-law, bring him along with you to see Master Ta in person, so as to avoid running around." Saying this, they did not allow Feng Su to speak further, everyone pushed and pulled him away. The people of the Feng household were all shocked and frightened, unsure what was happening.
That night, at around two watches, Feng Su returned home, beaming with joy. Everyone was eager to ask him what had happened. He said: "It turns out that the newly promoted Master Jia Hua is from Hu Zhou and used to know my son-in-law. Just now, he passed by our gate and saw Xiangyun buying thread, so he thought my son-in-law had moved in here. I explained everything to him, and Master Jia was moved to sigh. He also asked about his granddaughter, and I told him she had gone missing while watching the lanterns. Master Jia said: 'Don't worry, I'll send someone to search for her.' After chatting for a bit, he left and even gave me two taels of silver."
Zhen Shi-yin couldn't help but feel sad in her heart. The night passed without incident. The next day, Rong Yu sent someone with two taels of silver, four pieces of brocade, to thank Zhen Shi-yin, along with a secret letter asking Feng Su to persuade Zhen Shi-yin to let Xiangyun become his second wife. Feng Su was overjoyed and couldn't wait to flatter him, so he persuaded his daughter, and that night, they sent Xiangyun off in a small sedan chair.
Rong Yu was delighted, as one would expect. He rewarded Feng Su with a hundred taels of gold and thanked Zhen Shi-yin with many gifts, instructing her to take good care of herself while waiting for news about her daughter's whereabouts. Feng Su returned home without saying anything.
But it was said that Jiao Xiang, this maid, was the one who had been sent back to Yu Cun that year. Because of a casual glance, she had brought about this affair, which was also an unexpected and strange fate for herself. Who would have thought that her destiny would be so prosperous? Without expecting it, she ended up by Yu Cun's side, and in just one year, she gave birth to a son. Half a year later, Yu Cun's legitimate wife suddenly fell ill and died, and Yu Cun made Jiao Xiang his official wife.
Because of a single mistake, he became a superior man. It turned out that Yu Cun had been very proud since he received the silver from Shi Ying that year and had entered the capital at the age of 16. By the time of the imperial examination, he unexpectedly passed with high honors, was selected as an official in the outer court, and had now been promoted to prefect of this province. Although he was talented and capable, he couldn't help but have some greedy and cruel tendencies, and he also relied on his talent to bully others. Those officials all looked at him sideways. In less than a year, his superiors found an opportunity to accuse him of being cunning and deceitful, altering official rituals, and were furious, immediately dismissing him from office. When the document arrived, all the officials in the prefecture were overjoyed. Although Yu Cun was extremely ashamed in his heart, he didn't show a hint of resentment on his face, still smiling and carefree as he handed over his official duties, sent his family and dependents back to their hometown with some accumulated wealth, made arrangements for them, and then set out alone, traveling the world and visiting famous scenic spots.
That's right, I've arrived at the Rongguo Mansion again because I heard that this year's salt control is Lin Ruhai. This Lin Ruhai, whose surname is Lin and given name is Hai, with the courtesy name Ruhai, was a former jinshi and has now been promoted to be the Daifu of the Lanling Temple. He is from Suzhou and has just been appointed as the Salt Control Censor, having taken office for over a month. Originally, Lin Ruhai's ancestors had inherited the title of Marquis, but by the time it got to Ruhai, it was already the fifth generation. At first, the title was only passed down for three generations, but due to the current emperor's great kindness and virtue, which surpassed that of previous dynasties, an extra favor was granted, allowing the title to be passed down to Ruhai's father for another generation; by the time it got to Ruhai, he had already risen through the ranks based on his own merit. Although they were a family of high officials, they were also a family of scholars. Unfortunately, the Lin family was not very prosperous, with limited descendants, and although there were several branches, they were all just relatives of Ruhai's generation, without any close or direct line of descent. Now Ruhai is already 40 years old, but he only has one three-year-old son who died last year. Although he has several concubines, it was his fate to have no more sons, and there was nothing that could be done about it. Now he only has his wife, nee Jia, who gave birth to a daughter named Daiyu, who is now five years old. Since the couple had no son, they treasured her like a precious gem, and seeing how intelligent and delicate she was, they even made her learn to read and recognize a few characters, just pretending that she was their son, to alleviate the desolation of having no children.
It was raining in the village, and Yu Cun had just caught a cold, so he stayed at an inn for about a month to recover. Due to his physical exhaustion and financial difficulties, he was looking for a suitable place to rest temporarily. Fortunately, two old friends were also living in this area, and they heard that Mr. Jia was hiring a Western teacher, so Yu Cun asked his friends to help him get the job and make arrangements for his stay. The good thing was that there was only one female student and two accompanying maidservants, and the female student was young and extremely weak, so the workload was not heavy. Just as another year passed, Mrs. Jia, the mother of the female student, suddenly fell ill and died. The female student took care of her mother's funeral and mourned her death, and then planned to leave the school. However, Lin Ruhai wanted the girl to continue studying in mourning, so he kept her there. Recently, due to the girl's excessive grief, she triggered an old illness and did not attend school for several days. Yu Cun was bored with his idle life, and whenever it was a sunny day after meals, he would go out for a walk.
Today, I strolled to the outskirts of the city, intending to appreciate the scenery of the countryside. Suddenly, I found myself walking along a winding mountain path surrounded by water, where dense forests and bamboo groves thrived. Hidden from view was an old temple, its entrance leaning precariously, its walls crumbling, with an inscription above the door reading "Zhī Tōng Temple". Next to the door hung a pair of old, worn-out couplets
Behind, there is surplus to forget the shrinking hand; ahead, there is no road to think of turning back. Yucun looked at it and thought: "These two sentences, although the text is shallow and near, the meaning is deep. I have also traveled some famous mountains and temples, but I have never seen this topic before. There must be a twist in it that is not yet known. Why not go in and try?" Thinking of this, he walked in, only to find an old monk cooking porridge. Yucun saw him and didn't take it seriously. When he asked the old monk about the two sentences, the old monk was both deaf and muddle-headed, with loose teeth and a dull tongue, and his answers were not relevant to the questions.
The village head, impatient, came out again and went to the tavern in the middle of the village to drink three cups of wine to help pass the time. As he was about to enter the tavern door, he saw a guest who had been drinking get up and come out to greet him, saying "What a coincidence! What a coincidence!" The village head quickly looked over and saw that it was Leng Zixing, an antique dealer from the capital with whom he had done business before. He thought highly of Leng Zixing as a capable and talented person, and Leng Zixing also admired the village head's refined name, so they got along famously. The village head laughed and asked: "Brother, when did you arrive here? I didn't know. Today we meet by chance, what a strange fate!" Leng Zixing said: "I returned home at the end of last year, and now I'm on my way back to the capital. I took this route to visit an old friend and repay his kindness, so I stayed for two days. I have no urgent business, so I'll linger here for a couple of days. By the middle of the month, I'll set off again. Today my friend had something to do, so I strolled around and rested my feet, not expecting such a wonderful encounter!" As they spoke, Leng Zixing invited the village head to sit down with him, and ordered more wine and dishes to be brought up. The two of them chatted idly and drank, discussing what had happened since they last parted ways.
Here is the translation:
"Has there been any news in the capital recently?" asked Yuanchun.
Zixing replied, "There's nothing much to report, but something strange has happened in your family."
Yuanchun laughed and said, "I have no relatives in the capital, what are you talking about?"
Zixing smiled and said, "You share the same surname, aren't you from the same clan?"
Yuanchun asked who it was.
Zixing replied, "It's the Rongguo House of the Jia family. Would that tarnish your family's reputation?"
Yuanchun laughed and said, "So it's them. If we trace our ancestry back, my family has many descendants, from the Eastern Han dynasty to the present day, with branches all over the country. Who can keep track of them all? But if we look at the Rongguo branch, they are indeed part of our clan. However, their glory is not something we can easily associate ourselves with, and it's better for us to maintain a distance."
Zixing sighed and said, "Sir, please don't say that. The Ning and Rong families have also declined, unlike their former glory."
Yuanchun asked, "But didn't the Ning and Rong families used to be very large? How can they have declined?"
Zixing replied, "That's a long story."
Yuanchun said, "Last year I visited Jinling and saw the remains of the Six Dynasties. I walked past the entrance of their old house in Shitou City. The Ningguo House was on the east side of the street, and the Rongguo House was on the west side, occupying almost half of the street. Although the front gate looked deserted, from behind the wall, the halls, pavilions, and gardens inside still looked majestic and beautiful. How can you say they've declined?"
Zixing smiled and said, "You're a scholar, but you don't understand! The ancients said, 'A dying insect with a hundred legs will not stiffen.' Although they may not be as prosperous as before, compared to ordinary families of officials, their atmosphere is still different. Now they have many descendants, many affairs to attend to, and many servants and retainers who are wealthy and respected. However, there's no one who can manage the household finances, and they cannot reduce their expenses. Although the exterior may not be in shambles, the interior has been exhausted. This is still a minor matter. What's more serious is that such a family of scholars and poets, with a tradition of education, has produced descendants who are inferior to each other from generation to generation!"
Yuanchun listened and was amazed, saying, "How can a family that values literature and education not teach their children well? I don't know about other families, but the Ning and Rong families are known for their strict education."
"Exactly, I was just talking about these two families. Let me tell you: the Rongguo Duke and the Ningguo Duke were brothers born of the same mother. The Ningguo Duke was older and had four sons. After his death, Jia Dahu took over the title and raised two sons: the elder son, Jia Fu, died at the age of 19, leaving only the second son, Jia Jing, to inherit the title. Nowadays, he is obsessed with Taoism and only cares about burning incense and refining elixirs, neglecting everything else. Fortunately, he had a son named Jia Zhen early on, who inherited the title because his father wanted to become an immortal. His father refused to return to their hometown and instead lived outside the city with some Taoist priests. This Jia Zhen had a son of his own, 16 years old now, named Jia Rong. As for Jia Jing, he doesn't care about anything else.
As for the Rongguo House, you see, the strange events I mentioned earlier happened here. After the death of the Rongguo Duke, his eldest son, Jia Daisan, inherited the title and married a lady from the Shi family of Jinling. He had two sons: the elder son, Jia She, and the younger son, Jia Zheng. Now, Jia Daisan has passed away, but the old lady is still alive. The eldest son, Jia She, inherited the title, while the second son, Jia Zheng, loved to hunt from a young age and was doted on by his grandfather. Originally, he was supposed to take the imperial examination, but unexpectedly, when Jia Daisan was dying, he left behind a testament that moved the Emperor to grant the eldest son the title immediately. When asked if there were any other sons, Jia Zheng was introduced and granted a special appointment as a junior official in the Ministry of Rites. Now, he has been promoted to the position of Deputy Minister.
Jia Zheng's wife, Lady Wang, gave birth to a son named Jia Ju, who entered school at 14 and married before turning 20, but died soon after having a child. Her second pregnancy resulted in a daughter born on New Year's Day, which was already unusual. Unexpectedly, she became pregnant again and gave birth to another son, who was even more extraordinary - as soon as he was born, he came out with a piece of jade in his mouth, which had many characters inscribed on it. He was named Baoyu. Isn't this an extraordinary and strange event?"
Yu Cun smiled and said, "Indeed, it's strange. I'm afraid this person has a great origin." Zi Xing coldly smiled and said, "Everyone says so, but his grandmother treats him like a treasure. When he was one year old, Old Master Zheng wanted to test his future aspirations, so he laid out all the things in the world for him to grab. Who knew that he didn't take any of them, only stretching out his hand to grab some cosmetics and jewelry? Old Master Zheng got very angry and said, 'He will be a dissolute person in the future!' Therefore, he was not pleased with him. But old lady Shi still treats him like her life depends on it. It's strange to say, now that he has grown up to seven or eight years old, although he is extremely mischievous, his cleverness and awareness are unmatched by a hundred people. When talking about children, he also says strange things: 'Girls are made of water and flesh, boys are made of mud and flesh. When I see girls, I feel refreshed, when I see boys, I feel gloomy and suffocated.' Do you think it's funny or not? He will definitely be a dissolute person in the future! Yu Cun hastily stopped him with a serious expression, saying, "No! Unfortunately, you don't know this person's origin. Probably Old Master Zheng also mistakenly regarded him as a dissolute person. If he hadn't read many books and understood things, and had the power of knowing and understanding the world, he wouldn't be able to understand."
He saw that he was saying something important, and hurriedly asked him to explain. Yucun said: "The heaven and earth give birth to people, except for the two kinds of great kindness and great evil, the rest are not much different. If it is a great kindness, then it should be born in response to the fortune, if it is a great evil, then it should be born in response to the calamity. The fortune gives birth to a peaceful world, the calamity gives birth to a dangerous world. Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, Wu, Zhou, Zhao, Kong, Meng, Dong, Han, Zhou, Cheng, Zhang, Zhu, and others were all born in response to the fortune. Chiyou, Gonggong, Jie, Zhou, Qin Shi Huang, Wang Mang, Cao Cao, Huan Wen, An Lushan, Qin Hui, and others were all born in response to the calamity. The great kindness is to govern the world with virtue, the great evil is to disturb the world with violence. The clear and bright spirit, the orthodox energy of heaven and earth, is what the kind people possess, the cruel and perverse energy, the heterodox energy of heaven and earth, is what the evil people possess. Now in this prosperous age of peace and stability, where everything is calm and tranquil, those who possess the clear and bright spirit are all alike, from the imperial court to the common people. The remaining spirit that has no place to go becomes the sweet dew, the gentle breeze, and spreads throughout the four seas. But the cruel and perverse energy cannot spread in the midst of the glorious transformation of heaven and earth, so it condenses and fills up in the deep valleys and great gorges. Occasionally, when the wind blows or the clouds gather, there is a slight movement, a thread of energy that mistakenly leaks out. When this happens to meet with the clear and bright spirit, they cannot coexist, the evil energy becomes jealous of the good energy, and they struggle against each other, like the wind, water, thunder, and lightning, which when they meet in the earth, cannot be eliminated or avoided, and must clash and explode before they can disperse. Therefore, this energy must also be possessed by people, and only after it is fully expressed and exhausted will it disperse. Those who are born with this energy, whether male or female, cannot become kind and virtuous people, nor can they become great villains or evil-doers. Placed among the multitude of people, their intelligent and brilliant spirit is above that of the multitude, but their perverse and heterodox attitude is below that of the multitude. If they are born in a noble or wealthy family, they will be romantic and passionate, if they are born in a poor but refined family, they will be elegant and refined scholars. Even if they are occasionally born in a humble or lowly family, they cannot become ordinary soldiers or servants, nor can they be driven and controlled by common people, they must become famous and renowned artists. Like the ancient sages such as Xu You, Tao Qian, Ruan Ji, Xie Lingyun, Liu Ling, Wang Huizhi, Guo Ziyi, Chen Shubao, Tang Minghuang, Song Huizong, Liu Tingzhi, Wen Feiqing, Mi Nan Gong, Shi Manqiu, Liu Jingxian, Qin Shaoyou, and others of the past generation, such as Yi Yunlin, Tang Bohu, Zhu Zhishan, Li Longji, Huang Binxian, Jing Xinmo, Zhuo Wengong, Hong Xiu, Xue Tao, Cui Ying, Chao Yun, this is all a matter of being born in a different time and place.
Zixing said: "According to you, 'If successful, then king and noble; if defeated, then a thief.' Yucun said: "Exactly so! You don't know that since I resigned from office, I have traveled extensively throughout the provinces for two years and also met two unusual children. Therefore, when you mentioned Baoyu just now, I guessed that he was also one of this kind of person. No need to say more, in Jinling City alone, there is the Imperial Commissioner of the Bodyguard, Zhen family's head of the Provincial Administration, do you know him?" Zixing said: "Who doesn't know! The Zhen and Jia families are old friends and have a long-standing relationship. The two families get along extremely well, even I have been in contact with them for more than one day."
"Last year, I was in Jinling and someone recommended me to go to the Zhen family's residence as a tutor. When I went there to take a look, who would have thought that such a noble and wealthy family would be so courteous? It turned out to be a rare gem of a tutoring position. However, this student, although still in his early stages of learning, was more exhausting than one who had already passed the imperial exams. What's even more laughable is that he said: 'I must have two daughters accompany me while I read, or else I won't be able to recognize characters and my mind will be muddled.' He would often tell his servants: 'These two words "daughter" are extremely noble and pure, even more so than the sacred names of Amitabha Buddha and Yuanshi Tianzun. You must not profane them with your filthy mouths. Whenever you need to say them, you must first rinse your mouth with clean water and fragrant tea, or else you'll be punished severely.' His cruelty, recklessness, and foolishness were all so abnormal. But as soon as he started learning, he would go in and see the daughters, and suddenly become warm, gentle, and refined, completely transformed into a different person. As a result, his parents had also scolded him to death several times, but couldn't change him. Whenever they beat him until he was sore, he would start calling out 'sister' and 'younger sister'. Later, I heard that the daughters inside were teasing him: 'Why do you call out for your sisters when you're in pain? Are you trying to get them to plead on your behalf? You should be ashamed!' His response was truly ingenious. He said: 'When I'm in extreme pain, calling out "sister" and "younger sister" might just relieve the pain, so I've discovered a secret method: whenever I'm in agony, I'll call out for my sisters.' Do you think this is laughable or not? It's also because his grandmother was foolish and ignorant, and would often scold me for disciplining her grandson. So I resigned from that tutoring position and now work at the Lin family's residence as a tutor. You see, such a son will definitely not be able to uphold his ancestors' legacy or follow his teachers' advice. It's just a pity that the daughters in that household are all rare gems."
Zixing said: "In the Jia family, there are currently three daughters. The eldest daughter, Yuan, has been selected to serve as a female historian in the palace due to her virtuous and talented nature. The second daughter, Ying, is the child of Old Master Jia's concubine. The third daughter, Tan, is also Old Master Jia's biological daughter. The fourth daughter, Xi, is actually the younger sister of Ningguo's Zhenyeye.
Because Lady Shi loves her granddaughters so much, they all live with their grandmother and study together. It's said that each one is more talented than the last."
Yu Cun said: "What's even more remarkable is the Jia family's custom of naming their daughters after men's names, just like the boys. They don't use those flowery characters like 'Hong', 'Xiang', and 'Yu' like other families do. How did they come to adopt this custom?"
Zixing said: "It's not that way at all. It's just that the current generation of sisters were born on the first day of the first month, so they're named Yuan. The others are also named after characters from the 'Thousand Character Classic'. The previous generation was also named after celestial bodies.
There's proof right now: your esteemed wife, Lady Lin, is actually Jia Ming, the younger sister of Old Master Jia and his concubine. If you don't believe me, you can go back and ask around to confirm it."
Yu Cun slapped his hand on the table and laughed: "No wonder my female student reads the character 'min' as 'mi', and writes it with one or two fewer strokes! I've always been puzzled by this. Now that I hear your explanation, it's clear.
I also noticed that my female student speaks and acts differently from other girls of her age. I suspected that her mother must be someone special, and now I know she's a member of the Rongguo family. It's no wonder she's so talented! Alas, her mother passed away last month."
Zixing sighed: "The four older sisters are all gone, leaving only this young one. The older generation is also gone, leaving only these younger ones to carry on the family line. Who knows what the future holds for them?"
Yucun said, "Exactly. Just now I was talking about this Zheng Gong, who already has a son-in-law with a jade pendant and also has an eldest son's weak grandson. How can this Lao Ai not have one that is not good? Zixing said, "After Zheng Gong had Yu'er, his concubine gave birth to another child, but it's unknown whether he's good or bad. There are currently two sons and a grandson, but who knows what the future holds. If you ask about Lao Ai, he also has two sons, with the eldest named Jia Yun, who is now over twenty years old. He married the niece of Wang Shi, Zheng Gong's wife, two years ago. This Master Yun currently holds a position as a Tongzhi and doesn't like to read books. He's good at adapting to situations and speaking eloquently, so he's been living with his uncle Zheng Gong, helping with household chores. Who would have thought that after marrying his wife, everyone from top to bottom praised her? Master Yun has retreated a step: saying she's extremely beautiful, eloquent in speech, and has a deep and subtle mind, truly one in ten thousand men can't compare to her."
Yu Cun smiled and said, "As I expected, my previous words were not wrong. The people we just talked about are probably the ones who came from both the orthodox and unorthodox paths. It's hard to say for sure." Zi Xing said, "Whether they're orthodox or unorthodox, let's just focus on our own accounts. You should have another cup of wine." Yu Cun said, "Exactly, I got carried away with talking and ended up drinking a few more cups." Zi Xing laughed and said, "Talking about other people's business is perfect for washing down the wine, so what's the harm in having a few more cups?" Yu Cun looked out the window and said, "It's getting late, let's be careful and close the city gate. We can slowly enter the city and continue our conversation later, it's not impossible." The two men got up and settled their wine bill. Just as they were about to leave, they heard someone behind them calling out, "Brother Yu Cun, congratulations! I came specifically to bring you some good news!"
But just as Yucun turned around, he saw that it was not someone else, but rather Zhang Ruguang, a former colleague who had been dismissed and was now seeking to be reinstated. He was originally from this place and had returned home after being dismissed, but had recently heard the news that those who had been dismissed were going to be reinstated. He was therefore searching everywhere for connections and doorways, and suddenly ran into Yucun, so he hurriedly congratulated him. The two men exchanged greetings, and Zhang Ruguang told Yucun about this news, which made Yucun very happy. They chatted for a couple of sentences before parting ways and returning home. Leng Zixing heard these words and quickly offered his advice, telling Yucun to ask Lin Ruhai to go to the capital to seek help from Jia Zheng. Yucun understood what he meant, so he bid farewell and returned to his residence, where he hastily looked for a reliable source to confirm the news.
Here is the translation:
"Tomorrow, I will discuss this with my mother as if it were a matter of great importance. As for what you said, 'Heavenly fate has brought us together, and since your family's decline, our family's matriarch has been thinking about your young daughter having no one to rely on for education. Previously, she had already sent a boat to come and fetch her, but since the young girl was not yet fully recovered from her illness, they did not set out immediately. Now that I am thinking of repaying the kindness of our family's teachings, how could I not do my best to repay this debt? Please be at ease. I have already made arrangements for this and have written a letter of recommendation, which I will entrust to my elder brother to fully assist with. As for any expenses that may arise, I have already clearly indicated them in the letter to my elder brother, so you need not worry about it.'
"Rain Village bowed and thanked him profusely, asking at the same time: 'I don't know what position your esteemed father currently holds? I fear that I am too rustic and do not dare to suddenly enter the capital and disturb him.' Lin Ruhai smiled and said: 'If we speak of our family relationships, then you and my elder brother are still of the same lineage. He is the grandson of Duke Rong. My elder brother has succeeded to the title of General of the First Rank, with the name Xie and the courtesy name Enhou. My second elder brother's name is Zheng, with the courtesy name Cunzhou, and he currently serves as a Supervisor in the Ministry of Works. He is a man of humility, kindness, and integrity, and has inherited the virtues of our ancestors. He is not one of those arrogant and frivolous officials who are only concerned with their own interests. That is why I have written to entrust him with this matter. Otherwise, not only would it be an insult to your esteemed family, but I myself would also be unwilling to do so.'
"Rain Village listened and finally believed the words that Lin Zhixiao had spoken yesterday. He then thanked Lin Ruhai again. Lin Ruhai said: 'I have already decided that on the second day of next month, your young daughter will enter the capital, and you can travel together with her. Wouldn't that be convenient for both of us?' Rain Village nodded in agreement, feeling very pleased in his heart. Lin Ruhai then handed over some gifts and farewell presents, which Rain Village accepted one by one."
That girl Lin Daiyu, having just recovered from her illness, was originally reluctant to leave her father behind and go, but could not bear the thought of disobeying her paternal grandmother's wishes, who had also said: "Your father is approaching fifty years old and has no intention of taking another wife, and you are often ill and still very young, with no mother to care for you above and no sisters or younger siblings below to support you. Now that you have your maternal grandmother and aunts to rely on, it's just right to reduce my worries about you, why would I not want you to go?" Daiyu listened, then shed tears as she bid farewell, following her mother and several elderly women from the Rongguo household onto the boat and departing. Yucun had another boat with two young boys, which followed Daiyu's boat as they traveled.
He arrived in the capital, entered the imperial city, and after adjusting his clothes and hat, he brought a small boy and held Xue Pan's name card to the gate of Rongguo House. At that time, Jia Zheng had already read his sister-in-law's letter and hurriedly invited him to meet. Seeing Yu Cun's majestic appearance and refined speech, and also because Jia Zheng liked scholars, respected talent, helped the weak, and was in line with his ancestors' style, he treated Yu Cun with extra courtesy. He assisted him wholeheartedly and soon arranged for a reinstatement vacancy. Less than two months later, the position of Jinling's Ying Tianfu became available, and he successfully filled this vacancy. After bidding farewell to Jia Zheng, he chose an auspicious day to set off.
