by C. T. Hsia
Still I feel so very bashful.
MATCHMAKER: Young lady, you should have chosen a rich man from the start; then you could have enjoyed fine food and pretty dresses all your life. How could you marry into the poverty-stricken Qiu family?
MEIYING: Old Lady, what kind of talk is this? (Sings:)
[Oily Gourd]
As for how their pots are covered with spider webs, pans with dust—
That is none other than my fate.
Just think: generals and ministers of old came from humble families.
Now we are forced to live on leeks and salt,
But it is just like the dragon that has yet to receive the beckoning of wind and thunder.
You see him as a commoner in a barren house—
But I contend he is a minister of the Gilded Chamber.14
When he made his marriage proposal,
For me it was love at first sight.
You know: there is neither rhyme nor reason
For poverty and riches.
MATCHMAKER: Young lady, Qiu Hu at present has neither money nor position. If you want to marry a rich man, it’s still not too late!
MEIYING (sings:)
[Joy for All Under Heaven]
People void of treasures in their bellies15 are destined to a life of poverty.
You suggest I marry another, oh, another man—
Yet I would rather suffer first from poverty!
Have you ever seen a noble lady emerging fully fledged from childhood?
In this whole world, there are womenfolk aplenty;
Everywhere under heaven, there is no lack of talk.
But who ever heard of a girl born with her husband’s title and rank?
MATCHMAKER: Young lady, you better go out and see your parents.
(MEIYING goes out and bows to her mother-in-law.)
MEIYING: Mother, why have you summoned me?
MOTHER QIU: Daughter-in-law, I have called you to come out and serve some wine to your parents.
MEIYING: Yes, Mother. Old Lady, bring me the wine.
(MEIYING passes the wine to her parents.)
Papa and Mama, please drink a full cup.
LUO AND WIFE: Capital! Capital! We’ll drink up the wedding wine.
MOTHER QIU: Child, urge them to have some more. Ask them to take their time and drink several more cups.
(EXTRA dressed as DRAFT OFFICER enters.)
DRAFT OFFICER: My superiors have sent me here on official business, which is quite beyond my control. I am the drafting officer. I come with orders from my superiors to draft Qiu Hu into the army. Let us proceed on our way. Oh, here we are at the Lu family village already. Is Qiu Hu at home?
(QIU HU meets the DRAFT OFFICER.)
DRAFT OFFICER: Qui Hu, I have received orders from my superiors that you are a proper conscript,16 and I have come here to draft you.
(DRAFT OFFICER begins to tie up QIU HU.)
QIU HU: Officer, wait a minute please: let me tell my mother.
(QIU HU approaches his mother.)
Mother, there is a draft officer at the gate who has orders from his superiors to take me into the army.
MOTHER QIU: My son, what is to be done?
MEIYING: Old Lady, what’s all that commotion about?
MATCHMAKER: Someone is drafting your Qiu Hu into the army!
MEIYING: Qiu Hu, what is to be done? (Sings:)
[Welcoming the Drums in the Village]
All because of one night’s affection,
My bosom is now filled with grief.
He will be gone,
But then, for Mother-in-law and me,
Who will care, who will inquire about us?
I have avoided the guests.
My innermost thoughts—
How can they be expressed in a few words?
I do not want them to see how I, for his sake,
Will be enduring poverty,
Wiping away tears.
I must not let others say how this girl wallows in sentiment.
MATCHMAKER: Today is just the third day after the wedding. Just as we are celebrating the wedding feast, the draft officer comes. Oh my, I haven’t received my matchmaking fee yet.
MEIYING (sings:)
[Song of Yuanhe Reign]
Keeping himself to a lonely bluish lamp, his lot was bitter;
Living on yellow leeks, he suffered the trials of poverty.
I had hoped that someday he would become a court minister in the Jade Hall with bronze horses at the gate.17
But it turns out this young scholar is a conscript.
Scholars, I’d say, are not as good as others!18
Can it really be said that literary talent wins a place in the world!
DRAFT OFFICER: Qiu Hu, hurry up. You see the date written here on the induction orders; you can’t be even one day late.
QIU HU: Officer, please wait a moment.
MEIYING (sings:)
[Beauty on Horseback]
This bully is ruthless by nature,
This fellow is indeed a yokel.
I see this rascal, this hooligan,
Meanly, viciously, brandishing his crude cudgel.
That merciless wretch—
He would rather beat to death an auspicious kylin!19
MOTHER QIU: My son has been married for only three days. Out of the blue he is taken away to the army. Who will take care of me? How this pains me to death!
MEIYING (sings:)
[Roaming at the Four Gates]
Just a moment ago at our wedding feast,
We were drinking wine and intimately conversing.
But now, with sword in hand,
You leave for military service.
I recall it was just last night when marriage brought harmonious union.20
Scarcely were the phoenix quilts warmed,
Yet today we, we see you off as you depart from the old wicker gate.
[Victorious Gourd]
Say no more about how entwining jade-white arms leave powdery traces!
Soon you’ll be lying in armor, and scales will sprout on the ground.21
You must know that in times out of joint, the sword is mightier than the pen.
When tossed human heads roll,
And warm, spurting blood splatters—
This is the time when you could serve your country
And garner honors with merit.
QIU HU: Meiying, I have to go now. Be sure to take good care of Mother, and be especially filial to her.
MOTHER QIU: My son, you have to go now, but write often and let me know how things are.
MEIYING (sings:)
[Flowers in the Rear Courtyard]
Just as we have secured the blessing of heaven and earth for our marriage,22
And have supposedly avoided separation by choosing the right day and month,
We have to look ahead to your ambition of attaining honor and glory in ten years,
And I am grateful for our single wedding night.
Knitting my eyebrows, I reflect—
Could it be that at our wedding
I alighted from the carriage and offended Jupiter,23
Or, while worshipping the ancestors, turned my back on their images?
A young wife has met with a terrible fate—
Now they send her mate off to the borders,
Away from this village.
[Willow Leaves]
I can see that he has a home that bars return,
The bliss of our new union is indeed over all too soon!
Must I spend the rest of my life like a lonely, widowed phoenix?
Haven’t you ever thought about
Consulting the fortune-teller—
Why didn’t he select an auspicious day for the wedding?
MOTHER QIU: My son, go now. Be careful on your journey. Write often so I won’t worry about you.
QIU HU: Yes, Mother. Take good care of yourself.
MEIYING (sings:)
[Coda]
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Few will be the letters the wild goose brings across the boundless sky;
When compared with your whereabouts, the border region seems nigh.
I must hold back my tears as I face the parting wine goblet.
Gazing afar, I see the green willows, so fresh beside the roadside inn.24
You will first sojourn in a mountain village, in a riverside lodge. (Speaks:)
Qiu Hu—
QIU HU: I’m here.
MEIYING (sings:)
I cannot help but
Be concerned about his very being. (Speaks:)
To think that I crossed the threshold last night, and today he is leaving for the army. (Sings:)
Yet, one night as husband and wife seals a bond for all nights to come.
This is the beginning: henceforth I will wear out my soul with dreaming.
At this moment I can only suppress my sorrow,
And with tears settle down to await the eventide.
(MEIYING and MATCHMAKER exit.)
QIU HU: Father- and Mother-in-law, please look after my mother and wife. I am leaving for the army now.
LUO AND WIFE: This is your family’s obligation and also our daughter’s ill fortune. You better go now.
(QIU HU bows and bids them farewell.)
QIU HU: Officer, I’ll go with you now. (Recites:)
Lament not the unequal measures of literary talent and good fortune—
Even though we have to part after three days of marriage.
For if I put my literary talents to good use while in the army,
I’ll surely distinguish myself and return home wearing brocade.
(QIU HU and DRAFT OFFICER exit.)
LUO AND WIFE: Qiu Hu has gone. We’ll be going now, Mother Qiu.
MOTHER QIU: My son has gone, so I cannot very well ask you, Mother Luo, to stay. What a poor hostess I am! (Recites:)
I sincerely wanted to have my guests stay—
But what else could I do now that Qiu Hu has been drafted?
LUO AND WIFE (recite:)
If he doesn’t return home by next year,
Should we let our child remain a widow all her life?
(Exit together.)
ACT 2
(COMIC dressed as SQUIRE LI enters.)
LI (recites:)
Acre by acre the fields stretch to the distant village,
The masters play with monkeys in grand homes.
Peasants have no choice but to work hard hoeing and tilling
And drink a jar of cold, sour wine.25
I am Squire Li. I have money, grain, land, riches, and treasures—everything but a pretty and charming wife. Only this is enough to make things unpleasant for me. ?I am a rich landowner in the village, and all the peasants around here owe me money and grain. But people have been laughing at me because for all my wealth I don’t have a good wife. How can I put up with such insults? There is an old man in the village named Squire Luo. He was once a rich man, but now he is poor. He has borrowed some grain, which he hasn’t yet returned to me. He has a daughter named Meiying, who is very beautiful. She married Qiu Hu, but it’s been ten years since Qiu Hu left for the army. I am going to send for Squire Luo and tell him that Qiu Hu is dead and ask him to give me his daughter’s hand in marriage. If he agrees, I’ll forgive him the forty piculs of grain he owes me. What’s more, I’ll give him some more money and presents. Since the old fellow is very poor, he surely will accept my offer. I have sent someone to get him, and he should be here soon.
(SQUIRE LUO enters and recites:)
People say that being summoned by the rich
Is a sign of good fortune.
I was once a rich man—
Why am I at others’ beck and call?
I am old Squire Luo. It’s been ten years since Qiu Hu was drafted into the army. I owe Squire Li forty piculs of grain and haven’t paid my debt yet. Today Squire Li has sent for me. This is an important matter. I’ll go and see what he has to say. Since nobody is around, I’ll go in myself.
(LUO greets Li.)
LUO: Squire, what can I do for you?
LI: Hey, old man, I sent for you because there is something I want to talk to you about. While in the army, your son-in-law, Qiu Hu, ate some bean curd and died of diarrhea.
LUO: Who said so?
LI: That’s what I’ve heard people say.
LUO: Ah! What are we to do!
LI: Don’t worry, old fellow. Let me ask you, since your son-in-law is dead, how could your daughter, who’s still so young, remain a widow all her life? You might as well let your daughter marry again.
LUO: What are you talking about?
LI: If you don’t agree, I’ll take you to court for the forty piculs of grain you owe me. You’ll be hounded to death! If you give me your daughter in marriage, I’ll forget about my forty piculs of grain. What’s more, I’ll send you gifts of red silk, mutton, wine, and money. What do you think?
LUO: Let me consider this carefully! Even if I were to agree, I’m afraid my wife would never go along with it.
LI: No problem. Go ahead and take with you the gifts of silk and money now. The two of you can then discuss it carefully. Once she has accepted the betrothal gift of red silk, I’ll come right over with mutton and wine.
LUO: Take your time. I’ll bring her the red silk first. (LUO leaves the house.) Since I’ve consented, what’s there for my wife to object to? I’ll go first to take this gift of red silk to Mother Qiu. (Exits.)
LI: Since that old fellow has given in, why should I worry that his daughter won’t marry me? Now, armed with mutton, wine, and clothes, I will take Meiying as wife. Just wait until she comes to my house—how I’ll spin her around and get down to business! What fun that would be! This is just what people have in mind when they say,
The night of painted candles in the bridal chamber,
When a pounding mallet hangs on the golden roster.”26
(MOTHER QIU enters.)
MOTHER QIU: I am the Woman Liu, the mother of Qiu Hu. Since my son left for the army, it has been ten years, and I’ve never heard a word from him. Fortunately, I have my daughter-in-law to depend on. She has supported me by rearing silkworms and selecting cocoons, mending and patching, washing and starching clothes for others. I haven’t been feeling well these days, and I don’t know what’s going to happen. Why are my eyelids twitching all the time? I’d better sit down quietly to wait and see what happens.
(LUO enters.)
LUO: I, Squire Luo, am on my way to the Lu family village.27 When I see Mother Qiu, I’ll know what to do. There’s no need for anyone to announce my arrival. I’ll go straight in myself. (LUO greets MOTHER QIU.) Mother Qiu, how have you been lately?
MOTHER QIU: Have a seat, Squire Luo. What brings you here today?
LUO: Your son hasn’t been home for a long time, so I have come over to visit you and to cheer you up. Here is some wine. Let me offer you three cups.
MOTHER QIU: Thank you! What have I done to deserve this wine?
(LUO passes her three cups of wine.)
LUO: So you have drunk the wine! Also, here is a piece of red silk for my daughter. She can use it to make a dress.
MOTHER QIU: Indeed, I’ve put you to too much trouble. When Qiu Hu returns home, I’ll have him thank you in person for your kindness. (MOTHER QIU accepts the piece of red silk. LUO claps his hands and laughs.)
LUO: Done! Done! It’s all done!
MOTHER QIU: What do you mean by saying “Done! Done!” and what’s all done?
LUO: Mother Qiu, the wine and the piece of red silk are not mine, but the gift of Squire Li, who lives in our village. These three cups of wine are the wine of acceptance; the piece of red silk makes the betrothal binding. Qiu Hu is dead and Squire Li wants to marry Meiying. He will bring the mutton and the wine in person. I’ll be going now. (Recites:)
It was Squire Li who made up the plot,
And you who’ve accepted the betrothal gift.
You’d better have Me
iying remarry soon,
Lest you be brought to court and suffer humiliation. (Exits.)
MOTHER QIU: That old fellow is void of propriety! He’s gone now. How can I tell Meiying when I see her? Where is Meiying?
(MEIYING enters.)
MEIYING: My name is Meiying. Ten years have passed in a trice since Qiu Hu left. I have been supporting my mother-in-law by doing menial jobs28 for others. She hasn’t been feeling well these days. I’ve just come from the silkworm nursery, so I’ll go in to see her now. Ah! Qiu Hu, who knows when you’ll come home? (Sings:)
[Zhenggong mode: Proper Decorum]
To think that for only one night’s fleeting intimacy,
I’ve heaved in vain a thousand endless sighs.
In vain have we been called man and wife.
Qiu Hu has left behind his aged mother,
Who is consumed by sickness,
And day after day she keeps to her pillow, languishing in bed. (Speaks:)
Someone told me, “Meiying, send for a doctor to look after your mother.” That was probably the right thing to have done! (Sings:)
[Rolling Silken Ball]
It’s not that I did not want to send for a physician to come and take her pulse,
But where could I get the money for medicine to cure her?
Furthermore, the doctors in this village are all good-for-nothing quacks!
For days I’ve been imploring heaven and earth
That son and mother may soon be happily reunited.
A wife, it’s often said, is just the plaster on the wall.29
I pray that sooner or later my white-haired mother-in-law will be well. (Speaks:)
Oh, heavens! (Sings:)
But as for that young man of mine—
When will he ever return home?
Letters have ceased and news is rare!
(MEIYING greets MOTHER QIU.)
Mother, have some gruel.
MOTHER QIU: Meiying, there’s one thing I’d like to tell you. Even though Qiu Hu is not at home, since you are still young, you’d better keep yourself well-groomed. When the peddler comes, you ought to doll up with some rouge and powder. Don’t let others laugh at you because of your shabby looks and disheveled hair.
MEIYING (sings:)
[Daiguduo]
Mother stated her view:
I ought to put on something new.
But am I really the kind of woman who doesn’t know the ins and outs of decent grooming? (Speaks:)
Oh, Qiu Hu! (Sings:)
He’s been gone five years—ten years;
