by Shi Nai-An
The next day Mrs. Wang went to see Sung Chiang, and talked this matter over with him. At first Sung Chiang was averse to marrying the girl but with Mrs. Wang's strong advocacy of the match, he at last agreed to live with the girl. He then rented a house in an alleyway on the west
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of the yamen, and furnished it, and then asked Mrs. Yen and her daughter to go and live there. In less than a fortnight he gave the girl Yen Po-hsi many ornaments for the head, and clothed her in rich silks. The mother also had good clothing and there was nothing lacking in the way of luxuriant life.
At that time Sung Chiang slept with Yen Po-his every night, but gradually he became a less frequent visitor. Now why was this? Previously Sung Chiang had been very keen on practicing with spears and cudgels, and was not given to running after women. Yen Po-hsi was about nineteen years of age, and like all girls of that age was found of sexual enjoyment. Therefore she did not like Sung Chiang.
One day Sung Chiang made a mistake in bringing his assistant Chang Wen-yuan to Yen Po-hsi's house to drink wine. Chang Wen-yuan had beautiful eyes, white teeth, red lips, and spent his leisure idly. He was quite a gay bird, and was also quite a good player on string and wood instruments. When Yen Po-hsi saw Chang Wen-yuan (nicknamed Chang San) she was much pleased with him and noticed him carefully. Chang Wen-yuan was a gay spark, and he noticed the effect he had produced. He also noticed the sly movements of her eyes and eyebrows, and knew there was something behind them, which he accordingly bore in mind.
Whenever Sung Chiang was away, Chang Wen-yuan (Chang San) seized the opportunity to go to the house to presumably visit her. The girl Yen Po-hsi used to invite him to drink tea or wine, and after some talk they came to an understanding. She never gave a thought of Sung Chiang, and when he came she always insulted him. Sung Chiang was not a woman chaser and thenceforth he went to the house once every ten days. But Chang San and Yen Po-hsi stuck together like glue and varnish. He went there at night and left the following morning, and all the neighbors knew this.
Consequently Sung Chiang heard rumors, and half believing them he thought that his parents had not selected the girl for him and there was no reason for him to lose his temper about her. He would simply stay away from the house. So he did not go there for several months. Mrs. Yen many
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times sent a man to invite Sung Chiang to oome to the house, but he always sent a reply that he was to busy.
It happened one day that Sung Chiang went into a tea house just opposite the entrance to the yamen, and sat down to drink tea. He there noticed a big man wearing a white Fanyang felt cap, a black and green silk wadded coat, puttees wound round his calves, hempen shoes with eight rows of laces, a sword at his side; he carried a bundle on his back, and was perspiring heavily, and panting for breath. He looked inside the yamen as he passed. He was stumbling along, and Sung Chiang seeing this, left the tea house, and followed the man. When they had walked about thirty steps the man looked round, but seeing Sung Chiang did not recognize him. But Sung Chiang saw something in the man's face which seemed familiar, yet he could not remember where he had met him before. He thought a little without finding a clue. The man stopped, and looking carefully at Sung Chiang thought that he also knew him, but not being certain he did not care to speak.
Sung Chiang thought, "This is somewhat strange, but why does the man look at me like that?" He also did not like to speak to the man. The man crossed the road, and entering a hairdressing saloon asked, "Who is that clerk over there!" The shopkeeper said that he was Sung Chiang. The man taking hold of his sword, and stepping forward saluted Sung Chiang by the sound "ngo," and then asked, "Do you not recognize met"
"I think I know your face," said Sung Chiang.
"Let us go to another place, and have a talk," said the man.
They then went into a small quiet alleyway where the man suggested that they go into an inn there. They did so, and finding a secluded cabinet upstairs they sat down there. The man took off his sword, placed his bundle under the table, and then suddenly stooped down and kotowed. Sung Chiang did the same and said, "Do not do that. May I know your name?"
"Benefactor! How is that you forget me?" asked the man.
"But who are you?" asked Sung Chiang. "I seem to know your face, but I quite forget your name."
"I met you before," said the man, "at the village of Ch'ao
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Kai, where you saved our lives. I am Liu Tang, the Red Haired Devil."
I Sung Chiang was startled at this, and said, "How brave you are! I am afraid that if the yamen people see you you would be in danger."
"I do not care a damn," said Liu Tang. "I have specially come here to thank you for your assistance in the past."
"And how is Ch'ao Kai and his followers?" asked Sung Chiang. "Who told you to come here?"
"Ch'ao Kai himself told me to come here to thank our benefactor," said Liu Tang. "He is now commander of the bandits at Liang Shan Po, and Wu Yung is the second in command. Kung-Sun Sheng is third in command. Lin Ch'ung manages everything, and he killed Wang Lun. Tu Chien, Sung Wan, Chu Kwei, and Lin Ch'ung, the old leaders at Liang Shan Po together with our seven make a total of eleven leaders now. At our stronghold there are altogether about eight hundred men, and large supplies of grain. They have not forgotten your kindness, and have sent me to present a letter to you, and also one hundred ounces of gold. Then I must find Chu Tung, and also thank him for what he did." He opened his bundle, and taking out a letter handed it to Sung Chiang. The latter after reading it lifted up the front part of his long gown, and brought out his letter case. While he was doing this Liu Tang had placed the gold on the table, and Sung Chiang picked up one piece and put it into his letter case along with the letter. He then asked Liu Tang to put the remainder of the gold back in his bundle, and ordered the waiter to bring wine, a large piece of meat, vegetables, and fruit for Liu Tang to eat. It was getting evening by the time Liu Tang had finished his food and wine, and the servant had left them. Liu Tang then wanted again to open the bundle, and give the gold to Sung Chiang but the latter prevented him from doing so and said, "Younger brother, please listen to me! You seven leaders at the mountain stronghold will be in need of money. I have enough money at home to meet my needs, so I request you to keep this gold at your stronghold, and when I am in need of it I will call for it. I am not polite because I have taken a piece of the gold. Chu Tung has also got enough money at home, so
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that you need not send him any money. I will explain the matter to him when I meet him next time. Younger brother, I cannot invite you to come and stay at my house because if anyone saw you it would be very awkward. To-night there will be bright moonlight and you had better then depart, and get back to your mountain stronghold. Please convey my compliments to your leaders, and ask them to excuse me for not going personally to see them."
"Elder brother and benefactor," said Liu Tang, "I was told to come here, and make a small recompense for your kindness. I have to obey the orders of my leaders Ch'ao Kai and Wu Yung and as I have not done as they required how dare I go back? If I go back like this I shall be punished for dereliction of duty."
"As your commanders are so severe," said Sung Chiang, "I will write a letter explaining the matter and give it to you.
Liu Tang pleaded hard for Sung Chiang to take the present, but the latter was still unwilling to do so. Sung Chiang borrowed a pen and ink from the wine shop proprietor, and wrote a letter, and gave it to Liu Tang. Liu Tang was an honest man, and seeing that Sung Chiang would not accept the gold he put it back in his bundle. Seeing that it was dark Liu Tang said that he would go, and Sung Chiang said that he would not detain him because they knew each other so well. Liu Tang saluted four times, and Sung Chiang then called the innkeeper and said to him, "This gentleman leaves here an ounce of silver, and I will come to-morrow, and settle your account." Liu Tang then put his bundle on his back, took up his sword, and went out with Sung Chia
ng. It was quite late, but there was a full moon as it was then the middle of the eighth month.
Sung Chiang took Liu Tang by the hand and said, "Younger brother, please be careful. Do not come here again, as it is a dangerous place for you as there are so many policemen about. I cannot go with you any further so I will now take leave of you."
So Liu Tang took his departure by the west road towards Liang Shan Po. Sung Chiang walked home, and on the way he thought, "If a policeman had noticed our meeting what a row there might have been? So Ch'ao Kai is now a bandit
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(has fallen into the grass). It will surely develop into a great affair."
He had just turned about two corners when he heard a man behind him calling out, "Head clerk! Where are you going? I have not seen you for these last few days." Turning round Sung Chiang was startled.
Sung Chiang was now made fierce,
His good heart turned to evil
We will now see who the man was.
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CHAPTER 20
THE BROTHEL-KEEPER WHILE DRUNK STRIKES
T'ANG NIU-ERH; SUNG CHIANG WHILE
ANGRY KILLS THE GIRL YEN PO-HSI
WHEN Sung Chiang had left Liu Tang he took advantage of the bright moon ight to stroll towards his home, but he happened to meet the woman Yen who quickly came forward and said to him, "Although I sent requests for you to come and visit us yet you did not come probably because you are such an important person. My worthless daughter may have said some bad things and offended you, but I will punish her and tell her to apologize to you. By chance I meet you this evening so I should be glad if you would come with me."
I am very busy at the yamen to-day," said Sung Chiang, “and I cannot arrange to get away, but I will come some other day."
"That will not do," said the woman Yen. "My daughter is expecting you at home, and I think you had better go and console her. Why do you act so harshly?"
"I really am very busy to-day," said Sung Chiang, "but I certainly will go to-morrow."
The woman Yen said, "But I want you to go to-day." She took hold of Sung Chiang's coat, and pulled him, "Who has been estranging your mind against us? I and my daughter will have to depend on you for the remainder of our lives. You must not listen to what other people say about us as that is only idle talk. You yourself must take charge of our affairs. Whatever wrong my daughter has done I am responsible for. I think you had better come with me this time."
"You need not tug at me like that," said Sung Chiang, "I am really too busy to go now."
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"If you neglect your business a little," said the woman Yen, "the magistrate will not punish you. I let pass this opportunity, I am afraid that we shall have a difficulty in meeting again. I hope you will come with me to my home where I shall have something to tell you."
Sung Chiang being a quick-tempered man was annoyed at the woman still holding his coat so he said, "Release me at once! I will go with you."
"Then do not run away," said the woman, "because I cannot catch you."
"Why you speak to me in such a way!" said Sung Chiang.
They both started off, and when they reached the house Sung Chiang stopped in front of the door. The woman spread out her arms behind him and said, "As you have come so far why do you not enter? " Sung Chiang then entered, and sat down on a stool inside. Now the woman was very crafty, and being afraid that Sung Chiang might try to get away, she sat down by his side and called out to her daughter, "Daughter, your lover has arrived!" Yen Po-hsi was upstairs lying on the bed, and was just idly thinking and gazing at the lamp. When she however heard her mother say that her lover had arrived she at once thought it was Chang, and got up at once. She put her hair in order while she muttered to herself. "That fellow again. I am tired of waiting for him. I shall have to box his ears!" She hurried downstairs, and looked through the door screen. There was a glass lamp which gave a good light in the room, and by its aid she saw Sung Chiang sitting there. Upon seeing this she immediately turned round, and going back upstairs again lay down on the bed. Mrs. Yen had heard her daughter come downstairs and then go back, so she called out:
"Your lover is here. Why did you go back upstairs?"
"Is this room too far away?" asked the girl Yen Po-hsi, still lying on the bed. "Cannot he come here! As he is not blind why does he not come himself. Or is he waiting for me to fetch him? You are too talkative!"
Mrs. Yen said, "My daughter has not seen you arrive. She is very bitter about your being absent for so long. You must expect to be abused in this way." Laughingly she said, "How would it be if I go upstairs with you?"
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When Sung Chiang heard the girl Yen Po-hsi talk in this way he was somewhat annoyed, but as the woman was now pulling at his coat again he gave way and went upstairs. There was a large room upstairs with six rafters, and one half near the entrance was occupied by a table and several stools. The other half was a bedchamber with a bedstead carved on three sides, and railings at the head and foot. The bed had red gauze curtains, and at the side was a clotheshorse with towels hanging on it. On a yellow lacquered table was a pewter lamp, a bowl for washing the hands, and a brush. On both sides of the table were two stools. In front of the table there was hanging a picture of a woman. Facing the bed were four plain chairs standing m a row,
Upon entering the room Sung Chiang sat down on a small stool close to the bed. Mrs. Yen went to the bed and assisted her daughter to rise, and said, "The chief clerk is here! Your bad disposition and talk has hurt his feelings. He did not want to come here. You stay at home and only think about him. Now after great difficulty I have induced him to come. Why do you not get up, and say something to him? Your manner will, turn him against you."
The girl Yen Po-hsi shook off her mother's hand, and said, "Why are you doing this? I did not do anything bad, and as he himself did not want to come here, what have I got to apologize for?"
Sung Chiang heard this but held his peace. The woman, placed a chair close to Sung Chiang and pulled Yen Po-hsi towards it saying, "Now you sit down near your lover. You may not apologize, but you must not be so irritated."
But the girl did not want to sit close to Sung Chiang, and sat down opposite him. Sung Chiang bent his head down, and the girl turned her head to one side so as not to look at him.
Mrs. Yen said, "If we have no wine how can we have pleasure? I have a bottle of wine, and I will buy some fruit and then we can have a talk with this head clerk. My daughter, while I am away I want you to sit near this head clerk, and do not feel ashamed."
"As this woman stays here I am not able to get away,"
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thought Sung Chiang. "But as soon as she leaves here I will go after her."
Mrs. Yen saw that Sung Chiang still wanted to leave so when she left the room she fastened the door with a kind of latch so that it could not be opened from inside. Sung Chiang perceived the move, and thought that Mrs. Yen had correctly judged his intention. On getting down below Mrs. Yen went to the kitchen, and saw a pan of water on the stove so she added fuel to the fire to make it boil. She then went to the alleyway and bought some fruit, fresh fish, cooked chicken, a condiment of fish. Upon returning home she arranged this food on a tray, filled a jar with wine, and half filled a pewter kettle with it, and then placed the latter in the pan of boiling water to warm the wine. When it was warm she poured the wine into a winepot, and filled several bowls with vegetables; brought out several wine cups; three pairs of chopsticks; and placing these all on a tray took them upstairs. She placed them on the table in the outer room, and then opening the door of the inner room, she took them in and placed them on the yellow varnished table.
She saw that Sung Chiang was still holding his head down and her daughter turning her head away, so she said, "Daughter, get up and offer a glass of wine." '
"You two can drink together," said Yen Po-hsi, "as I am not in a good frame of mind."
"Daughter," said Mrs. Yen, "
since you were a child your parents have been indulgent to you. But you cannot be wayward to any other person."
"But if I won't offer him wine -- what then?" asked Miss Yen. "Do you think he can throw a sword and cut off my head?"
Mrs. Yen laughed at this, and said, "Now it is my fault. But he is well-mannered, and not the same as you. If you will not offer him wine, then you can at last turn your head this way and drink the wine."
But as Miss Yen Po-hsi was still unwilling to turn her head, Mrs. Yen herself offered Sung Chiang a glass of wine, and he felt constrained to drink it. Mrs. Yen laughed and said, "I hope that you will not be offended. You must not pay attention to other people's idle talk, and to-morrow I will tell you
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matters fully. People outside saw you come here very often and being jealous spread all kinds of nonsensical stories, and tried to make a stink. Take no notice of what they say. Now drink up your wine." She filled three glasses of wine, and placed them on the table. She then spoke to her daughter again, "Do not behave in this childish manner, but drink a glass of wine at least."
"You need not bother me any more," said Miss Yen Po-hsi, "I have had enough to eat."
"Daughter," said Mrs. Yen, "you ought at least to drink wine with San Lang, your lover."
Miss Yen Po-hsi heard this but thought that as she preferred Chang San she would not submit to any annoyance from this fellow. However, if she did not make him drunk he would certainly get a further hold upon her. She then exerted herself and drank half a glass of wine.
