by Shi Nai-An
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"Not this time," said Wu Sung. "I will come to visit you again.
When they were all down below seeing Wu Sung off Mrs. Wu spoke to him, "Uncle, I hope that you will not forget to come and live with us here, or else the people will laugh at us. We are relatives, and not strangers." She then addressed her husband, "You had better prepare a room, and ask your brother to come to live here. Do not give our neighbors the opportunity of saying that we do not know how to do things properly."
"What you say is quite right," said Wu Ta-lang. Turning to his brother he said, "Brother, you must come and live here, and let me be proud of it."
"As you both press me," said Wu Sung, "I will get my baggage and come over here this evening."
"Then don't forget to do so," said Mrs. Wu, "because I shall look forward upon you."
Wu Sung left them, went down the Purple Stone Street, and was soon at his quarters. The district magistrate was sitting on the bench, so Wu Sung went to him and said, "I have a brother here who lives on Purple Stone Street, and I should like to go and live with him, I assure you that this would not interfere with my duties here. I would not dare to do it without your authority so I now ask for your esteemed permission."
"That is a matter of brotherly duty," said the district magistrate, "and I cannot place any obstacle in your way. You will of course attend to your duties in the yamen as before."
Wu Sung expressed his thanks, and then going to his room packed up his things, including the new clothes and other things which had been presented to him. He then summoned a soldier to carry his baggage to his elder brother's home.
Upon seeing him arrive Mrs. Wu laughed and was as delighted as though she had received a great deal of gold at midnight.
Wu Ta-lang got a carpenter to fix up a room for his brother, and furnished it with a bed, a table, two chairs, and a stove.
When every thing was ready Wu Sung brought his baggage upstairs, and then dismissed the soldier.
Early the next morning Mrs. Wu quickly arose, and got
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ready the hot water for washing the face and cleaning the teeth; she gave it to Wu Sung and called him. He dressed and wound his turban round his head. As he was leaving Mrs. Wu spoke to him, "Uncle, I hope you will come back early for your meal, and not go anywhere else."
He promised to do this, and then went to the yamen to register his attendance there before 7 a. m. He attended to his duties at the yamen, and then left about noon to return home.
Mrs. Wu had had a wash, and manicured her nails. She was very spick-and-span. She had prepared the food, and arranged the table for three persons. They all sat down, and she presented Wu Sung with a cup of tea.
Wu Sung said, "Please do not be so courteous to me or I am afraid that it will only upset me. I shall then have to send a soldier here to look after me."
Mrs. Wu called out several times, "Uncle, you must make yourself at home. We are brothers of the same parents and I am not treating other people in this way. If you brought a soldier here to cook your food it would not be clean, and that would not suit me."
"In that case I must submit to your kind attentions," replied Wu Sung.
Shortly after coming to the house Wu Sung gave Wu Ta-lang some money to purchase cakes, fried crisp, tea, and fruit, and asked him to invite the neighbors to attend an entertainment. They all came with gifts for Wu Sung, and Wu Ta-lang afterwards gave another dinner.
After a few days Wu Sung bought a roll of variegated satin, and asked Mrs. Wu to make herself a suit of clothes. Mrs. Wu laughed and said, "Uncle, as you present me with this silk I dare not refuse it."
Thenceforth Wu Sung stayed at the house of his brother, and Wu Ta-lang continued selling cakes on the street while Wu Sung attended to his duty at the yaman as usual Mrs. Wu prepared the food, and was evidently much pleased to wait upon Wu Sung, who could not help being very grateful. The woman in everything she said never failed to try to stir up Wu Sung's feelings towards herself. Being a very straightforward man he did not pay much attention to that.
After staying about a month with Wu Ta-lang he noticed
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that it was winter-time. Every day there was a bitter cold wind, and the sky was covered with clouds. One day there was a heavy downfall of snow, and it continued to fall all the day without stopping.
The following day Wu Sung got up early, and went to the yamen to register his attendance, and he did not return from his duties about noon. Meanwhile Wu Ta-lang had been sent off by his wife to hawk the cakes on streets.
Mrs. Wu went to her neighbor Mrs. Wang, and asked her to go and buy some wine and meat for her. She then went into Wu Sung's room, and lit a charcoal fire. She thought that this was a fine opportunity to make Wu Sung conforming to her desires. She was absolutely alone by herself, and stood behind the screen near the front door. She soon saw Wu Sung treading his way through the snow as though he were walking through fragments of white jade. She raised the screen, and greeted him with a smile, asking whether he was cold.
Wu Sung thanked her for thinking so much about his welfare. He entered, and took off his felt cap. Mrs. Wu held out both hands to receive it from him. But Wu Sung said, "I cannot trouble you to wait upon me in this way." He shook the snow off the cap, and hung it on the wall. He then unloosened his cummerbund, and took off his parrotgreen silk clothing. He went into his room, and hung up his clothing there to dry.
Mrs. Wu asked him why he had not returned for his dinner at an earlier time as usual, and Wu Sung explained that he had met a friend in town who had invited him to dinner. There was another friend who also asked him to dine, but he had declined his invitation and came straight home.
"So that was it," she said. "Well, come close to the fire."
"All right," replied Wu Sung. He then took off his boots, changed his socks, and put on a pair of warm slippers. He then drew a chair to the fire and sat down. Mrs. Wu went downstairs, and barred the front door, and looked the back door. She then got the wine, fruit, and vegetables and carrying them upstairs, placed them on the table.
"Where has my brother gone that he has not returned yet?" asked Wu Sung.
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"Your brother has gone selling cakes as usual," replied Mrs. Wu. "We two can drink our wine together."
"We had better wait until he comes when we can dine together," said Wu Sung.
"But why wait until he arrives?" said Mrs. Wu. "We need not wait for him." While saying this, she took a jug of warmed wine from the fire.
"Please sit down," said Wu Sung. "I will attend to warm the wine."
"Uncle," replied Mrs. Wu, "be at ease." She drew a chair close to the fire and sat down there. Close by her side there was a table, and on it she put some wine and food. Pouring out a small cup of wine she held it in both hands, and looking at Wu Sung she said, "Uncle, please drink this full cup of wine."
Wu Sung took the cup, and drank the wine at a gulp.
The woman refilled the cup and said, "The weather is very cold so please drink a cup with me,"
"Just as you like," replied Wu Sung, and drank off the second cup. He then filled a cup, and handed it to the woman who drank the wine. She in turn filled another cup, and placed it in front of Wu Sung. She then unloosened her upper dress, and displayed a little of her breast. A little of her hair was also hanging loosely. With smiling face she spoke to Wu Sung, "A certain man has told me that you are keeping a singsong girl on the East Street before the yamen. Is that true or not?"
"You should not listen to such nonsense," said Wu Sung, "I am not that kind of man."
"I do not believe you, I am afraid that your deeds might differ from your words."
"If you do not really believe me, then ask my brother," replied Wu Sung.
"But what does he know," said Mrs. Wu. "If he knew such matters he would not sell cakes on the streets now. Please drink another cup of wine, uncle."
As Wu Sung drank the wine she kept filling his
cup, so that he had soon drunk about four cups. She also drank the same quantity so that very soon she was unable to restrain her wanton feelings, and began to talk unguardedly.
Through her words Wu Sung now understood a little, but he declined to take any notice of her, and. hung down his head.
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She went downstairs, to put some more wine on the fire and Wu Sung stirred up the fire in his room with a poker. She came upstairs again with a fresh jug of wine in one hand and squeezing Wu Sung's shoulder with the other she said, "Uncle, are you not afraid of the cold as you wear so little?"
Wu Sting now understood more of her ways. He was not pleased but did not reply to her. Seeing his silent attitude, she took the poker out of his hand and said, "Uncle, you need not trouble about the fire. I will poke the fire for you. I wish that your heart could be always as hot as the fire." Now Wu Sung understood her almost completely, and was highly upset, but he did not say a word. Mrs. Wu was now very lustful so throwing the poker down she filled another cup, drank half of it, and looking at Wu Sung said, "If you would love me heartily then drink the remainder of this wine." Wu Sung seized the cup, and threw it on the floor saying, “Sister-in-law, you are evidently not ashamed at all!”and at the same time he pushed her alway from him. Glaring at her he said, "I am a decent man, and am not of immoral character. I am not like a pig or dog without morals. Yon must not be shameless like this. If your lustful words came to my ears, my eyes might recognize you as my sister-in-law, but my fist would not take any notice of such relationship. So let us have no more of this."
Mrs. Wu was now blushing all over her face and removing a stool she said, "I was only playful. I did not expect that you would take it serious; you are indeed strange to compliment." She then removed all the dishes and took them down below, while Wu Sung remained in his room fuming with rage.
About two o'clock Wu Ta-lang returned carrying his load of cakes, and knocking at the door he was immediately admitted by his wife. He put his things down in the kitchen, and then noticed that both his wife's eyes were red with crying. He asked whom she had been quarreling with.
She replied, "It is all due to your lack of energy, and your allowing an outsider to insult me."
"Who has insulted you?" asked Wu Ta-lang.
"Whom do you think!" asked his wife. "It was none other than that fellow Wu Sung. I saw him return when it was snowing, and I quickly prepared some mulled wine for him.
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When he saw me alone he began to flirt me with bad words."
"My brother is not that kind of man," replied Wu Ta-lang. "He is always honest. Do not speak in such a loud tone or else our neighbors may hear what you say, and they will laugh at us." He pushed her to one side, and went upstairs to see Wu Sung. "I see, brother," he said, "you have not eaten your repast; let us have some together."
Wu Sung did not speak. He thought just a moment, then took off his slippers, put on his leather boots, and fastened them. He put on his felt cap, buckled his belt, and then walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" asked Wu Ta-lang in a loud voice. But he got no reply, and Wu Sung left the house without saying a word. Wu Ta-lang went to the kitchen and asked his wife, "Do you know where he has gone? He did not reply to me, and went in the direction of the yamen."
"You stupid ass!" replied his wife. "Isn't it very obvious! He is ashamed of himself, and does not care to face you. I will not approve of your allowing that man to stay here."
"Since he has gone we shall be the laughingstock of our neighbors," said Wu Ta-lang.
"You idiotic imp!" replied his wife. "His flirting with me would of course make our neighbors laugh! You may live with him if you want. But I cannot tolerate that kind of man to come and live here again. You write out a document divorcing me, and then you can go and join him."
What could Wu Ta-lang say to this? But while these two were talking they saw Wu Sung arrive with a soldier who took away Wu Sung's baggage, and they both left the house without saying a word.
Wu Ta-lang ran after him and asked, "Brother, why are you removing your baggage?"
"Brother, you must not ask, because if I told you you would have to wear a mask. Just let me go," replied Wu Sung.
What could Wu Ta-lang say? So he let Wu Sung go.
Mrs. Wu was still muttering to herself in the house. "Well!" she said, "people know that Wu Sung is a relative of ours,
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and also a lieutenant, and they will assume that he helped us, but they will not understand why he has now turned against us. Truly it is, 'A flower and a cydonia are only nice to look at.' You can go, and I will give thanks to Heaven for your departure, you, an ungrateful our.,,
Wu Ta-lang could not understand his wife being so abusive, and he was very much upset. After Wu Sung's departure Wu Ta-lang resumed his job of hawking cakes on the street. At first he had thought of going to the yamen and talking the matter over with his brother, but his wife was emphatically opposed to that idea, therefore he did not go.
About ten days afterwards, the district magistrate, who had been at that place for more than two years, and had amassed a great deal of money, decided to send it to a relative at Eastern Capital for safe-keeping until he could use it to insure promotion. But he was afraid of the dangers of sending it by road, and was on the lookout for a reliable man to convey it. Suddenly he thought of Wu Sung who was just the man he wanted. So he sent for Wu Sung to talk the matter over, and upon the latter's arrival he said, "In the Eastern Capital I have a relative to whom I want to send some presents, and also a letter inquiring about his health. But I am afraid that on the journey it would not be safe and that a brave man here like you must undertake the task. You would not decline this toilsome task, and if you do this for me I will greatly promote you when you return."
"As I am indebted to you fo my present position," said Wu Sung. "how dare I offer excuses? Since you commission me to undertake this work I will go. I have never been to the Eastern Capital, and when I get there I can have a good look around the town. If you, sir, would have the present ready by to-morrow I could leave then."
The magistrate was much pleased at this, and offered him three cups of wine.
Having received the orders of the district magistrate, Wu Sung left the yamen, and returned to his quarters. Then he gave a few ounces of silver to a soldier and ordered him to buy a bottle of wine, and some dried fish, meat, and fruit.
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and took them to Wu Ta-lang's house on the Purple Stone Street. By a lucky concurrence Wu Ta-lang who had just returned from his cakes selling, happened to see Wu Sung at his house door giving orders to the soldier for cooking the food.
When Mrs. Wu saw the wine and food arriving she thought that Wu Sung had been thinking of her, and was coming back to her. She would not show that he had aroused her feelings, but would quietly ask him a few questions. She went upstairs; powdered her face; dressed her hair; put on some pretty colored clothes, and then went downstairs to receive Wu Sung. She greeted him, "Uncle, I was not aware that I had treated you badly. You have not been here for several days but I wonder what made you to do so. Every day I told my husband to go to the yamen, and talk matters over with you. When he returned he said that he could not find you. I am much pleased to see you here to-day. But why have you bought so many things?"
"I specially came here to-day to talk about a matter with you and my brother," replied Wu Sung.
"Then let us go upstairs," said Mrs. Wu.
So all three went upstairs. Wu Sung conducted Mr. and Mrs. Wu to the seats of honor, and then taking a stool sat down in the inferior position. The soldier brought the wine and food and placed them on the table. Wu Sung invited his brother and the latter's wife to partake the wine. Mrs. Wu would not take her eyes away from Wu Sung, but the latter gave all his attention to the wine. After they had drunk about five cups of wine Wu Sung ordered the soldier to fill up the cups again, and then taking his own cup in his hand h
e addressed Wu Ta-lang, "Elder brother, to-day I have been ordered to go to the Eastern Capital, and I have to start on my journey to-morrow. I expect to be gone not less than forty days, or at most two months. Now you have ever been rather weak, and when I am abroad I am afraid that you may be insulted. If you have been selling, say ten lots of cakes each day, then beginning from to-morrow I want you to sell only five lots. Every day go out late and come back early. Do not drink wine with men. When you return home lower the screen, and lock the door. Avoid scandal at all. If anybody insults you do not have a row with him, but wait until I return when I will discuss matters
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with him. If you will listen to my advice, then drink this wine.”
Wu Ta-lang took the cup of wine from Wu Sung, and replied, "Younger brother, what you say is right, and I will follow your advice."
When Wu Ta-lang had drunk the wine Wu Sung refilled the cup, and turning to Mrs. Wu he said, "Madame, you are so clever that I need not say much to you. My brother is sincere, and he has entrusted his affairs to you. People have a saying, 'A strong exterior is not so much as a strong interior.' Now sister-in-law, if you look after the household affairs well my brother will not be annoyed. Have you heard of the ancient saying, 'If the fence is not broken the dogs cannot enter."'
While listening to this, Mrs. Wu was blushed, and her face then turned to brown. When he had finished his speaking she pointed at her husband with her finger and abused him saying, "You stupid ass! What language an outsider is now insulting me with! I do not wear a man's cap, but I am quite a termagant. I could hold a man in my fist; I could support a horse on my shoulders; and I could allow men to walk over my face without flinching. I am not like the turtle women who rouge their faces, and then draw their heads in when anybody approaches. Since I married Wu Ta-lang not even an ant have dared to come in my room, so how could a dog enter even if my fence was broken. You only speak confusedly. If you have anything to say say clearly. If you throw a brick or a tile it will of course strike the ground somewhere."
