| Chinese Text Project |
《劉二醉罵王六兒 張勝竊聽張敬濟 - Liu Er Drunkenly Curses Wang Liu'er Zhang Sheng Eavesdrops on Zhang Jingji》 | English translation: AI and Chinese Text Project users [?] | Library Resources |
| 1 | 劉二醉罵... : | 詩曰： |
| The poem says: | ||
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白雲山，紅葉樹，閱盡興亡，一似朝還暮。多少夕陽芳草渡，潮落潮生，還送人來去。 阮公途，楊子路，九折羊腸，曾把車輪誤。記得寒芫嘶馬處，翠官銀箏，夜夜歌樓曙。 右調《蘇幕遮》 | ||
| White Cloud Mountain, red-leaf trees; having witnessed all rise and fall, it is as if morning turns to evening. How many sunsets have passed by the fragrant meadow ferry; tides ebb and flow, still sending people away and bringing them back. Ruan Gong Tu, Yangzi Lu; winding paths as twisty as a sheep's intestine, once causing the wheels of carts to go astray. Remember where cold willows echoed with horses' whinnying; green officials and silver zithers, night after night singing in pavilions until dawn. The above is the tune "Su Mu Zhe" (Barrier of Sumeru). | ||
| 2 | 劉二醉罵... : | 話說陳敬濟，過了兩日，到第三日，卻是五月二十日他的生日，後廳整置酒餚，與他上壽，合家歡樂了一日。次日早辰，敬濟說：「我一向不曾往河下去，今日沒事，去走一遭，一者和主管算帳，二來就避炎暑，走走便回。」春梅分付：「你去坐一乘轎子，少要勞碌。」交兩個軍牢抬著轎子，小薑兒跟隨，徑往河下在酒樓店中來。 |
| It is said that Chen Jingji, after two days had passed, on the third day, which was the twentieth day of the fifth month and his birthday, a feast with wine and delicacies was prepared in the rear hall to celebrate his birthday. The whole family rejoiced for an entire day. The next morning, Jingji said, "I have never gone down to the river before. Since I have nothing to do today, I will go there for a while; first, to settle accounts with the overseer, and secondly, to avoid the heat of summer. I'll be back soon after walking around." Chunmei instructed, "You should take a palanquin; don't overexert yourself." He assigned two soldiers to carry the palanquin, with Xiao Jianger following along, and went straight down to a wine shop by the river. | ||
| 3 | 劉二醉罵... : | 一路無詞，午後時分到了，下轎進入裡面。兩個主管齊來參見，說：「官人貴體好些？」敬濟道：「生受二位伙計掛心。」他一心只在韓愛姐身上，坐了一回便起身，分付主管：「查下帳目，等我來算。」就轉身到後邊。八老又早迎見，報與王六兒夫婦。韓愛姐正在樓上，憑欄盼望，揮毫作詩遣懷。忽報陳敬濟來了，連忙輕移蓮步，款蹙湘裙，走下樓來。母子面上堆下笑來迎接，說道：「官人，貴人難見面，那陣風兒吹你到俺這裡？」敬濟與他母子作了揖，同進閣兒內坐定。少頃，王六兒點茶上來。吃畢茶，愛姐道：「請官人到樓上奴房內坐。」敬濟上的樓來，兩個如魚得水，似膝投膠，無非說些深情密意的話兒。愛姐硯臺底下，露出一幅花箋，敬濟取來觀看。愛姐便說：「此是奴家盼你不來，作得一首詩，以消遣悶懷，恐污官人貴目。」敬濟念了一遍，上寫著： |
| With no words exchanged along the way, around mid-afternoon he arrived, got off the palanquin and entered inside. The two overseers came forward to pay respects together, saying, "Is your health better now, Master?" Jingji said, "I am much obliged for the two of you to be concerned about me." His mind was entirely on Han Aijie; after sitting for a while, he got up and instructed the overseer: "Check the accounts so I can settle them." He then turned around and went to the back. Ba Lao welcomed him again, informing Wang Liu'er and her husband. Han Aijie was just upstairs, leaning on the railing in anticipation, writing poetry to express her feelings with a brush. Suddenly hearing that Chen Jingji had arrived, she hurriedly moved lightly on her lotus steps, gently adjusting her Xiang skirt, and came down the stairs. Mother and son beamed with smiles as they greeted him, saying, "Master, a noble person is hard to meet; which breeze has blown you over here?" Jingji bowed politely to the mother and son, then entered with them and sat down in the pavilion. After a short while, Wang Liu'er brought tea up. After drinking the tea, Aijie said, "Please come to my room upstairs, Master." Jingji went up the stairs. The two of them were like fish in water, as if glued together at the knees; they exchanged nothing but words filled with deep affection and secret feelings. Under Aijie's inkstone, a piece of flowered paper was visible; Jingji took it up to look at. Aijie then said, "This is a poem I wrote when I was longing for you not to come, just to pass the time and relieve my boredom. I fear it might sully your noble eyes." Jingji read it once through; written on it was: | ||
| 倦倚繡床愁懶動，閑垂錦帳鬢鬟低。玉郎一去無消息，一日相思十二時。 | ||
| Weary from leaning against the embroidered bed, I feel too listless to move; idly lowering my head beneath the brocade curtain. Since you left without a word, each day of longing stretches into twelve hours. | ||
| 4 | 劉二醉罵... : | 敬濟看了，極口稱羨不已。不一時，王六兒安排酒餚上樓，撥過鏡架，就擺在梳妝卓上。兩個並坐，愛姐篩酒一杯，雙手遞與敬濟，深深道個萬福，說：「官人一向不來，妾心無時不念。前八老來，又多謝盤纏，舉家感之不盡。」敬濟接酒在手，還了喏，說：「賤疾不安，有失期約，姐姐休怪。」酒盡，也篩一杯敬奉愛姐吃過，兩個坐定，把酒來斟。王六兒、韓道國上來，也陪吃了幾杯，各取方便下樓去了，教他二人自在吃幾杯，敘些闊別話兒。良久，吃得酒濃時，情興如火，免不得再把舊情一敘。交歡之際，無限恩情。穿衣起來，洗手更酌，又飲數杯。醉眼朦朧，餘興未盡。這小郎君，一向在家中不快，又心在愛姐，一向未與渾家行事。今日一旦見了情人，未肯一次即休。正是生死冤家，五百年前撞在一處，敬濟魂靈都被他引亂。少頃，情竇復起，又乾一度。自覺身體睏倦，打熬不過，午飯也沒吃，倒在床上就睡著了。 |
| After reading it, Jingji praised her endlessly with great enthusiasm. In no time, Wang Liu'er arranged wine and delicacies upstairs, moved the mirror stand aside, and set them on the dressing table. The two sat side by side; Aijie poured a cup of wine, and with both hands offered it to Jingji. She bowed deeply in greeting, saying, "Master has not come for some time now; my heart has never ceased thinking about you." "Earlier, Ba Lao came and brought many gifts of money. The whole family is deeply grateful to him." Jingji took the wine in hand, bowed respectfully and said, "Due to my poor health, I have failed to keep our appointment. Sister, please do not be angry." After finishing the wine, he also poured a cup for Aijie and offered it to her. The two sat down, pouring each other drinks. Wang Liu'er and Han Daoguo came upstairs, also joining them for a few cups of wine. Then they each went downstairs to attend to their own affairs, leaving the two of them to enjoy a few more drinks and catch up on old stories. After some time, when they were well into their wine and the mood was hot with passion, it was inevitable that they would rekindle their old feelings. In the midst of their intimacy, there was boundless affection and emotion. After dressing, they washed their hands and poured more wine, drinking several cups again. With hazy eyes from the wine, their lingering passion was far from spent. This young man had been unhappy at home for some time and his heart longed for Aijie, so he had not been intimate with his wife. Today, upon seeing his lover again, he was unwilling to stop after just one encounter. Indeed, they were destined lovers and bitter enemies, meeting by fate from five hundred years ago; Jingji's soul was completely ensnared by her. After a short while, their passion flared up again and they engaged in another round. Feeling exhausted from the exertion, unable to endure any longer, he didn't even eat lunch and fell asleep on the bed. | ||
| 5 | 劉二醉罵... : | 也是合當禍起，不想下邊販絲綿何官人來了，王六兒陪他在樓下吃酒。韓道國出去街上買菜蔬、餚品、果子來配酒。兩個在下邊行房。落後韓道國買將果菜來，三人又吃了幾杯。約日西時分，只見灑家店坐地虎劉二，吃的酩酊大醉，軃開衣衫，露著一身紫肉，提著拳頭走來酒樓下，大叫：「採出何蠻子來！」唬的兩個主管見敬濟在樓上睡，恐他聽見，慌忙走出櫃來，向前聲諾，說道：「劉二哥，何官人並不曾來。」這劉二那裡依聽。大拔步撞入後邊韓道國屋裡，一手把門簾扯去半邊，看見何官人正和王六兒並肩飲酒，心中大怒，便罵何官人：「賊狗男女，我肏你娘！那裡沒尋你，卻在這裡。你在我店中，占著兩個粉頭，幾遭歇錢不與，又塌下我兩個月房錢，卻來這裡養老婆！」那何官人忙出來道：「老二你休怪，我去罷。」那劉二罵道：「去你這狗入的！」不防颼的一拳來，正打在何官人面上，登時就青腫起來。那何官人也不顧，徑奪門跑了。劉二將王六兒酒卓，一腳登翻，家活都打了。王六兒便罵道：「是那裡少死的賊殺了！無事來老娘屋裡放屁。娘不是耐驚耐怕兒的人！」被劉二向前一腳，跺了個仰八叉，罵道：「我入你淫婦娘！你是那裡來的無名少姓私窠子？不來老爺手裡報過，許你在這酒店內趁熟？還與我搬去！若搬遲，須吃我一頓好拳頭。」那王六兒道：「你是那裡來的光棍搗子？老娘就沒了親戚兒？許你便來欺負老娘，要老娘這命做甚麼？」一頭撞倒哭起來。劉二罵道：「我把淫婦腸子也踢斷了，你還不知老爺是誰哩！」這裡喧亂，兩邊鄰舍並街上過往人，登時圍看約有許多。有知道的旁邊人說：「王六兒，你新來不知，他是守備老爺府中管事張虞候的小舅子，有名坐地虎劉二。在灑家店住，專一是打粉頭的班頭，降酒店的領袖。你讓他些兒罷，休要不知利害。這地方人，誰敢惹他！」王六兒道：「還有大似他的，睬這殺才做甚麼？」陸秉義見劉二打得凶，和謝胖子做好做歹，把他勸的去了。 |
| It was also fated for trouble to arise; unexpectedly, He Guanren, a silk and cotton merchant from below, arrived. Wang Liu'er accompanied him downstairs for drinks. Han Daoguo went out to the street to buy vegetables, delicacies and fruits to accompany their wine. The two of them had sexual relations downstairs. Later, Han Daoguo returned with the fruits and vegetables; the three of them drank a few more cups together. Around the time of sunset, a man named Liu Er, known as Zuodi Hu from the Sajia Inn, appeared. He was drunk beyond recognition, unbuttoning his clothes to reveal a body covered in purple bruises, and stormed down to the wine shop with clenched fists, shouting loudly, "Bring out that He Manzi!" Fearing that the two overseers saw Jingji sleeping upstairs and worried he might hear, they hurriedly stepped out from behind the counter to bow respectfully and said, "Brother Liu Er, Master He has not come here at all." Liu Er would not listen. With big strides, he stormed into the back room where Han Daoguo was and with one hand tore half of the door curtain away. Seeing Master He drinking wine side by side with Wang Liu'er, he became furious and began to curse at him: "You damned dog, I'll f your mother!" I've been looking for you everywhere, yet here you are! łoż You stayed in my inn, occupied two courtesans, several times refused to pay for your stay, and also owed me two months of rent, yet you come here to keep a mistress!" Master He hurriedly came out and said, "Old Liu Er, don't be angry. I'll just go." Liu Er cursed, "Go to hell, you damned dog!" Without warning, Liu Er threw a punch that landed squarely on Master He's face, causing it to swell and bruise instantly. Master He paid no heed and ran out the door without delay. Liu Er kicked over Wang Liu'er's wine table with one foot, smashing all the wares on it. Wang Liu'er shouted in anger, "What kind of damned murderer are you, looking for a death!" You have no business coming into my house to fart around. I am not a woman who can be easily frightened!" Liu Er took a step forward and kicked her, sending her sprawling on the ground. He cursed, "I'll f your whore mother!" What kind of nameless, surnameless tramp are you?" Have you not reported to Master and been permitted to work in this inn?" You'd better move out!" If you delay moving, I'll give you a good beating." Wang Liu'er retorted, "Who are you anyway, some ruffian from the streets?" Do I not have any relatives left?" Are you trying to bully me, and what do you want with my life anyway?" She fell down in a heap and burst into tears. Liu Er cursed, "I could kick your whore's intestines out! Don't you even know who the master is!" The commotion here attracted nearby neighbors and passersby on the street, who quickly gathered around to watch. A passerby who knew the situation said to Wang Liu'er, "You're new here and don't know. He is Liu Er, the brother-in-law of Zhang Yuhou, an official in the residence of the Garrison Commander. His nickname is Zuodi Hu." He lives at Sajia Inn and is the top ruffian in town, a leader among those who harass taverns. You'd better give him some space; don't be ignorant of the consequences." No one in this area dares to provoke him!" Wang Liu'er said, "There are even bigger ones than he is; why should I pay attention to this damned fool?" Lu Bingyi saw Liu Er beating up fiercely, and together with Xie Pazi, tried their best to pacify him until he finally left. | ||
| 6 | 劉二醉罵... : | 陳敬濟正睡在床上，聽見樓下攘亂，便起來看，時天已日西時分，問：「那裡攘亂？」那韓道國不知走的往那裡去了，只見王六兒披髮垢面上樓，如此這般告訴說：「那裡走來一個殺才搗子，諢名喚坐地虎劉二，在灑家店住，說是咱府里管事張虞候小舅子。因尋酒店，無事把我踢打，罵了恁一頓去了。又把家活酒器都打得粉碎。」一面放聲大哭起來。敬濟就叫上兩個主管去問。兩個主管隱瞞不住，只得說：「是府中張虞候小舅子劉二，來這裡尋何官人討房錢，見他在屋裡吃酒，不由分說，把帘子扯下半邊來，打了何官人一拳，唬的何官人跑了。又和老韓娘子兩個相罵，踢了一交，烘的滿街人看。」敬濟聽了，便曉得是前番做道士，被他打的劉二了。欲要聲張，又恐劉二潑皮行兇，一時鬥他不過。又見天色晚了，因問：「劉二那廝如今在那裡？」主管道：「被小人勸他回去了。」敬濟安撫王六兒道：「你母子放心，有我哩，不妨事。你母子只情住著，我家去自有處置。」主管算了利錢銀兩遞與他，打發起身上轎，伴當跟隨。剛趕進城來，天已昏黑，心中甚惱。到家見了春梅，交了利息銀兩，歸入房中。 |
| Chen Jingji, who was sleeping in bed, heard the commotion downstairs and got up to check. By then it was already late afternoon; he asked, "What is all that noise down there?" Han Daoguo had already fled in an unknown direction. Wang Liu'er came upstairs with disheveled hair and a dirty face, telling him this and that: "A damned ruffian came from somewhere, his nickname is Zuodi Hu Liu Er who lives at Sajia Inn. He claims to be the brother-in-law of Master Zhang Yuhou in our household." He came looking for trouble at the tavern and, without cause, kicked and beat me up. He cursed you a while before leaving." He also smashed all our household wares and wine utensils into pieces." She burst into loud sobs as she spoke. Jingji immediately called the two overseers to investigate. Unable to hide the truth any longer, the two overseers had no choice but to say: "It is Liu Er, Master Zhang Yuhou's brother-in-law from the household. He came here looking for Master He to collect rent money. Seeing him drinking in the room, he tore half of the curtain away without hesitation and punched Master He, scaring him off." He also quarreled with Old Han's wife, kicked her over, causing a commotion that drew crowds of people from the street." After hearing this, Jingji realized it was Liu Er who had beaten him up before when he was pretending to be a Taoist priest. He wanted to make it public, but feared Liu Er's violent and unruly nature; he knew he could not fight him off at the moment. Seeing that it was getting late, he asked, "Where is Liu Er now?" The overseer replied, "He was persuaded by us to leave." Jingji comforted Wang Liu'er and said, "Don't worry, mother and son; I am here. Everything will be fine." "Just stay where you are. When I go home, there will naturally be a way to deal with this matter." The overseer calculated the interest and silver money, handed it over to them, and sent them off as they got into a palanquin with attendants following. Just as they hurried back into the city, it was already dusk; he was very annoyed in his heart. After arriving home and seeing Chunmei, he handed over the interest money and returned to his room. | ||
| 7 | 劉二醉罵... : | 一宿無話。到次日，心心念念要告春梅說，展轉尋思：「且住，等我慢慢尋張勝那廝幾件破綻，亦發教我姐姐對老爺說了，斷送了他性命。叵耐這廝，幾次在我身上欺心，敢說我是他尋得來，知我根本出身，量視我禁不得他。」正是： |
| There was nothing more that night. The next day, he was full of thoughts about telling Chunmei. He turned the matter over in his mind: "Wait a moment; let me slowly find some flaws in Zhang Sheng's behavior. Moreover, I should have my sister tell Master and ensure that this man loses his life." This wretch is unbearable; he has deceived me several times. He dares to say I was found by him, knows my true background and origin, and thinks I cannot stand up to him." Indeed: | ||
| 冤讎還報當如此，機會遭逢莫遠圖。踏破鐵鞋無覓處，得來全不費工夫。 | ||
| Grudges and hatred should be repaid in this way; when an opportunity arises, do not hesitate to act. After wearing out iron shoes searching for something, you find it without any effort at all. | ||
| 8 | 劉二醉罵... : | 一日，敬濟來到河下酒店內，見了愛姐母子，說：「外日吃驚。」又問陸主管道：「劉二那廝可曾走動？」陸主管道：「自從那日去了，再不曾來。」又問韓愛姐：「那何官人也沒來行走？」愛姐道：「也沒曾來。」這敬濟吃了飯，算畢帳目，不免又到愛姐樓上。兩個敘了回衷腸之話，乾訖一度出來，因閑中叫過量酒陳三兒近前，如此這般，打聽府中張勝和劉二幾樁破綻。這陳三兒千不合，萬不合，說出張勝包占著府中出來的雪娥，在灑家店做表子。劉二又怎的各處巢窩，加三討利，舉放私債，逞著老爺名壞事。這敬濟聽記在心，又與了愛姐二三兩盤纏，和主管算了帳目，包了利息銀兩，作別騎頭口來家。 |
| One day, Jing Ji came to the riverside tavern and saw Aijie and her son. He said, "I was greatly startled those days." He also asked Lu Zhuguan, "Has Liu Er been moving about?" Lu Zhuguan said, "Since that day he left, he has never come again." He also asked Han Aijie, "Has Master He not been coming around?" Aijie said, "He has never come either." After finishing his meal and settling the accounts, Jing Ji could not help but go up to Aijie's room again. The two of them exchanged some heartfelt words, and after finishing their business, Jing Ji took advantage of a quiet moment to call over the wine server Chen San'er and instructed him in this manner: go and find out several flaws about Zhang Sheng and Liu Er within the household. This Chen San'er, in a thousand ways and ten thousand ways wrong, revealed that Zhang Sheng had taken over Xue'e who came out from the household, and she was now working as a prostitute at Sa Jia's inn. Liu Er, on the other hand, was doing various shady dealings in different places—charging interest and lending money secretly—all while misusing Master's name to do bad things. Jing Ji took these words to heart. He gave Aijie two or three taels of spending money, settled the accounts with the overseer, collected the interest silver, and then bid farewell, riding back home on a horse. | ||
| 9 | 劉二醉罵... : | 閑話休題。一向懷意在心，一者也是冤家相湊，二來合當禍起。不料東京朝中徽宗天子，見大金人馬犯邊，搶至腹內地方，聲息十分緊急。天子慌了，與大臣計議，差官往北國講和，情願每年輸納歲幣，金銀彩帛數百萬。一面傳位與太子登基，改宣和七年為靖康元年，宣帝號為欽宗。皇帝在位，徽宗自稱太上道君皇帝，退居龍德宮。朝中升了李綱為兵部尚書，分部諸路人馬。種師道為大將，總督內外軍務。 |
| Let us set aside these idle words. For a long time, he had kept this intention in his heart; one reason was that fate brought enemies together, and the second was that disaster was bound to arise. Unbeknownst to them, in the imperial court of Dongjing, Emperor Huizong saw that the Jin forces had invaded the border and advanced as far as the interior regions; the situation was extremely urgent. The emperor grew anxious and, after deliberating with his ministers, sent envoys to the northern kingdom to seek peace. He was willing to pay millions of taels in silver, gold, and colored silk as annual tribute each year. At the same time, he abdicated in favor of his crown prince, who ascended the throne and changed the era name from Xuanhe to Jingkang Year One. The former emperor was given the title Qinzong. While the new emperor reigned, Emperor Huizong styled himself as Taishang Daojun Huangdi (the Supreme Taoist Emperor) and retired to Longde Palace. In the imperial court, Li Gang was promoted to Minister of War and assigned troops from various regions. Zhong Shidao was appointed as a general-in-chief, overseeing both internal and external military affairs. | ||
| 10 | 劉二醉罵... : | 一日，降了一道敕書來濟南府，升周守備為山東都統制，提調人馬一萬，前往東昌府駐紮，會同巡撫都御史張叔夜，防守地方，阻擋金兵。守備領了敕書，不敢怠慢，一面叫過張勝、李安兩個虞候近前分付，先押兩車箱馱行李細軟器物家去。原來在濟南做了一年官，也撰得巨萬金銀。都裝在行李馱箱內，委託二人押到家中：「交割明白，晝夜巡風仔細。我不日會同你巡撫張爺，調領四路兵馬，打清河縣起身。」二人當日領了鈞旨，打點車輛，起身先行。一路無詞。有日到了府中，交割明白，二人晝夜內外巡風，不在話下。 |
| One day, an imperial decree was issued to Jinan Fu, promoting Zhou Shoubei to the position of General-in-Chief of Shandong. He was ordered to command ten thousand troops and proceed to Dongchang Fu for garrison duty. There he would join with the touring censor Zhang Shuye in defending the region and resisting the Jin forces. The garrison commander received the decree and did not dare to be negligent. He summoned Zhang Sheng and Li An, two of his attendants, and gave them instructions: first, they were to escort two carts carrying delicate belongings back home. Indeed, during the year he served as an official in Jinan, he had amassed a huge amount of gold and silver. All were packed into the luggage carts, entrusted to these two men for delivery home: "Make sure everything is handed over clearly and carefully guard them day and night." "I will soon join with your touring censor, Master Zhang, to mobilize troops from four directions and set out from Qinghe Xian." The two men accepted the imperial order on that day, made preparations for the carts, and departed ahead of time. There was no incident along the way. On a certain day, they arrived at the residence and completed the handover clearly; the two men then patrolled inside and outside day and night. This need not be detailed further. | ||
| 11 | 劉二醉罵... : | 卻說陳敬濟見張勝押車輛來家，守備升了山東統制，不久將到，正欲把心腹中事要告訴春梅，等守備來家，發露張勝之事。不想一日因渾家葛翠屏往娘家回門住去了，他獨自個在西書房寢歇，春梅驀進房中看他。見丫鬟跟隨，兩個就解衣在房內雲雨做一處。不防張勝搖著鈴，巡風過來，到書院角門外，聽見書房內彷彿有婦人笑語之聲，就把鈴聲按住，慢慢走來窗下竊聽。原來春梅在裡面與敬濟交媾。聽得敬濟告訴春梅說：「叵耐張勝那廝，好生欺壓於我，說我當初虧他尋得來，幾次在下人前敗壞我。昨日見我在河下開酒店，一徑使小舅子坐地虎劉二，來打我的酒店，把酒客都打散了。專一倚逞他在姐夫麾下，在那裡開巢窩，放私債，又把雪娥隱佔在外姦宿，只瞞了姐姐一人眼目。我幾次含忍，不敢告姐姐說，趁姐夫來家，若不早說知，往後我定然不敢往河下做買賣去了。」春梅聽了，說道：「這廝恁般無禮。雪娥那賤人，我賣了他，如何又留住在外？」敬濟道：「他非是欺壓我，就是欺壓姐姐一般。」春梅道：「等他爺來家，交他定結果了這廝。」 |
| Meanwhile, Chen Jingji saw that Zhang Sheng was delivering the carts to his home and learned that the garrison commander had been promoted as General-in-Chief of Shandong and would soon arrive. He wanted to tell Chunmei about the secret matters in his heart so that when the garrison commander came home, he could expose Zhang Sheng's wrongdoing. Unbeknownst to him, one day his wife Ge Cuiping had gone back to her mother's home for a visit. He was alone in the west study room resting when Chunmei suddenly entered the room to see him. Seeing that no maidservants were following, the two of them undressed and engaged in intimate relations together in the room. Unbeknownst to them, Zhang Sheng was ringing a bell as he patrolled and passed by. He came to the side gate of the study courtyard and heard what seemed like a woman's laughter from inside the study room. He stopped the bell sound and slowly approached the window to eavesdrop. It turned out that Chunmei was inside having sexual relations with Jingji. Zhang Sheng overheard Jingji telling Chunmei, "This wretch Zhang Sheng has been treating me very unfairly. He claims that I owe my position to him for finding me and has on several occasions defamed me in front of the servants." "Yesterday, when I saw that I had opened a tavern by the river, he immediately sent his brother-in-law, Liu Er the local bully, to attack my tavern and drove away all the customers." "He relies entirely on his position under my brother-in-law to set up dens, lend money secretly, and has also hidden Xue'e outside for illicit relations, keeping it a secret from my sister alone." "I have endured this several times and dared not tell my sister. Now that my brother-in-law is coming home, if I do not speak up soon, in the future I will certainly no longer dare to go down by the river for business." After hearing this, Chunmei said, "This wretch is so impudent. "As for that lowly woman Xue'e, I sold her; how come he has kept her living outside?" Jingji said, "He is not just oppressing me—he is oppressing you as well." Chunmei said, "When Master comes home, I'll have him deal with this wretch for sure." | ||
| 12 | 劉二醉罵... : | 常言道：「隔牆須有耳，窗外豈無人。」兩個只管在內說，卻不知張勝窗外聽得明明白白，口中不言，心內暗道：「此時教他算計我，不如我先算計了他罷。」一面撇下鈴，走到前邊班房內，取了把解腕鋼刀，說時遲，那時快，在石上磨了兩磨，走入書院中來。不想天假其便，還是春梅不該死於他手。忽被後邊小丫鬟蘭花兒，慌慌走來叫春梅，報說：「小衙內金哥兒忽然風搖倒了，快請奶奶看去。」唬的春梅兩步做一步走，奔了後房中看孩兒去了。剛進去了，那張勝提著刀子，徑奔到書房內，不見春梅，只見敬濟睡在被窩內。見他進來，叫道：「阿呀，你來做甚麼？」張勝怒道：「我來殺你！你如何對淫婦說，倒要害我？我尋得你來不是了？反恩將仇報！常言「黑頭蟲兒不可救，救之就要吃人肉」，休走，吃我一刀子！明年今日是你死忌！」那敬濟光赤條身子，沒處躲，只摟著被，吃他拉過一邊，向他身就扎了一刀子來。扎著軟肋，鮮血就邈出來。這張勝見他掙扎，復又一刀去，攘著胸膛上，動彈不得了。一面採著頭髮，把頭割下來，正是： |
| As the old saying goes: "Even a wall has ears; how could there be no one outside the window?" The two of them kept talking inside, unaware that Zhang Sheng outside the window had heard everything clearly. Though he said nothing aloud, in his heart he thought: "If they are going to plot against me now, I might as well plot against them first." He put down the bell and went to the front guard room, took out a steel knife for cutting wrists, and without delay, after sharpening it twice on a stone, rushed into the study courtyard. Unbeknownst to Zhang Sheng, Heaven had other plans; Chunmei was not fated to die at his hands. Just then, a young maid named Lanhuar came running in from behind, panicking and calling out to Chunmei: "Young Master Jin'ge suddenly collapsed with convulsions—please come quickly, Madam." Startled, Chunmei hurried off in two steps for every one, rushing to the back room to check on her child. Just as she had gone in, Zhang Sheng rushed into the study room with his knife and found Chunmei gone. He saw only Jingji lying inside the quilt. Seeing him enter, Jingji called out, "Oh my! What are you doing here?" Zhang Sheng angrily said, "I have come to kill you!" "How could you speak ill of the concubine and try to harm me?" "Did I not find you for nothing?" "You repay kindness with hatred!" As the saying goes, "A black-headed worm cannot be saved; if you try to save it, it will eat your flesh." Don't run—take my knife! "This day next year shall mark your death anniversary!" Jingji, completely naked and with nowhere to hide, could only clutch the quilt. Zhang Sheng pulled him aside and stabbed at his body with the knife. The blade pierced his soft ribs, and blood immediately gushed out. Zhang Sheng saw Jingji struggling and struck again with another blow, this time slashing across his chest. Jingji could no longer move. While holding onto his hair, he cut off his head. It was indeed: | ||
| 三寸氣在千般用，一日無常萬事休。 | ||
| "When a breath of life remains, one can do a thousand things; but once death comes in a day, all matters come to an end." | ||
| 13 | 劉二醉罵... : | 可憐敬濟青春不上三九，死於非命。張勝提刀，繞屋裡床背後，尋春梅不見，大拔步徑望後廳走。走到儀門首，只見李安背著牌鈴，在那裡巡風。一見張勝凶神也似提著刀跑進來，便問：「那裡去？」張勝不答，只顧走，被李安攔住。張勝就向李安戳一刀來。李安冷笑，說道：「我叔叔有名山東夜叉李貴，我的本事不用借。」早飛起右腳，只聽忒楞的一聲，把手中刀子踢落一邊。張勝急了，兩個就揪採在一處，被李安一個潑腳，跌番在地，解下腰間纏帶登時綁了。嚷的後廳春梅知道，說：「張勝持刀入內，小的拿住了。」 |
| Pitifully, Jingji was still young and had not yet reached his thirty-ninth year; he died a tragic death. Zhang Sheng, holding the knife, searched around the room and behind the bed but could not find Chunmei. In a big stride, he rushed straight toward the back hall. As he reached the entrance of the ceremonial gate, he saw Li An carrying a bell and a plaque, patrolling there. Seeing Zhang Sheng rush in like a vengeful spirit holding a knife, Li An asked, "Where are you going?" Zhang Sheng did not answer and kept walking forward. He was stopped by Li An. Zhang Sheng immediately lunged at Li An with his knife. Li An coldly laughed and said, "My uncle is none other than Yecha Li Gui of Shandong; I don't need to borrow anyone's skills." He swiftly kicked out his right foot, and with a loud thunk, the knife in Zhang Sheng's hand was kicked to one side. Zhang Sheng panicked, and the two of them grappled together. Li An delivered a powerful kick, sending Zhang Sheng crashing to the ground, where he was immediately bound with the sash from his waist. The commotion reached Chunmei in the back hall, who said, "Zhang Sheng entered with a knife and was caught by my servant." | ||
| 14 | 劉二醉罵... : | 那春梅方救得金哥蘇醒，聽言大驚失色。走到書院內，見敬濟已被殺死在房中，一地鮮血橫流，不覺放聲大哭。一面使人報知渾家。葛翠屏慌奔家來，看見敬濟殺死，哭倒在地，不省人事。被春梅扶救蘇醒過來。拖過屍首，買棺材裝殯。把張勝墩鎖在監內，單等統制來家處治這件事。 |
| Chunmei had just revived Jin Ge when she heard the news, which startled her to pale with shock. When she arrived at the study courtyard, she saw Jingji already dead in the room, with blood flowing across the floor. She could not help but let out a loud cry of grief. At the same time, she sent someone to inform her husband. Ge Cuiping hurried home and upon seeing Jingji dead, collapsed on the ground in tears, losing consciousness. She was revived by Chunmei's efforts to save her. They carried the body over, bought a coffin, and prepared it for burial. Zhang Sheng was locked in the prison cell, waiting for the General-in-Chief to return home and deal with this matter. | ||
| 15 | 劉二醉罵... : | 那消數日，只見軍情事務緊急，兵牌來催促。周統制調完各路兵馬，張巡撫又早先往東昌府那裡等候取齊。統制到家，春梅把殺死敬濟一節說了。李安將凶器放在面前，跪稟前事。統制大怒，坐在廳上，提出張勝，也不問長短，喝令軍牢，五棍一換，打一百棍，登時打死。隨馬上差旗牌快手，往河下捉拿坐地虎劉二，鎖解前來。孫雪娥見拿了劉二，恐怕拿他，走到房中，自縊身死。旗牌拿劉二到府中，統制也分付打一百棍，當日打死。烘動了清河縣，大鬧了臨清州。正是： |
| Within a few days, military affairs became urgent once more, and soldiers came to urge them on. Zhou Tongzhi had finished mobilizing troops from all directions, and Zhang Xunfu had already departed ahead of time to wait at Dongchang Fu for the forces to assemble. When the General-in-Chief returned home, Chunmei recounted how Jingji had been killed. Li An placed the weapon before him and knelt to report what had happened earlier. The General-in-Chief was furious, sat in the hall, and summoned Zhang Sheng. Without asking for details, he shouted to the guards: "Alternate five strokes at a time—beat him one hundred times with sticks," which immediately killed him. He immediately dispatched flag bearers and quick messengers to go down by the river to arrest Liu Er, the local bully, and bring him back in chains. Sun Xue'e, upon seeing that Liu Er had been arrested, feared she would be taken as well and went into her room to hang herself. The flag bearers brought Liu Er back to the residence, where the General-in-Chief ordered him beaten one hundred times with sticks and he was killed on the same day. The incident stirred up Qinghe Xian and caused great turmoil in Linqing Zhou. Indeed: | ||
| 平生作惡欺天，今日上蒼報應。 | ||
| "Those who commit evil and defy heaven in their lifetime will, on this day, face the retribution of Heaven." | ||
| 16 | 劉二醉罵... : | 有詩為證： |
| There is a poem to attest: | ||
| 為人切莫用欺心，舉頭三尺有神明。若還作惡無報應，天下兇徒人食人。 | ||
| When you are a person, never act with deceit; three feet above your head, there are gods and spirits watching. If doing evil goes without retribution, then the world will be filled with wicked men who devour each other. | ||
| 17 | 劉二醉罵... : | 當時統制打死二人，除了地方之害。分付李安將馬頭大酒店還歸本主，把本錢收算來家。分付春梅在家，與敬濟修齋做七，打發城外永福寺葬埋。留李安、周義看家，把周忠、周仁帶去軍門答應。春梅晚夕與孫二娘，置酒送餞，不覺簇地兩行淚下，說：「相公此去，未知幾時回還，出戰之間，須要仔細。番兵猖獗，不可輕敵。」統制道：「你每自在家清心寡欲，好生看守孩兒，不必憂念。我既受朝廷爵祿，盡忠報國。至於吉凶存亡，付之天也。」囑咐畢，過了一宿。次日，軍馬都在城外屯集，等候統制起程。一路無詞。有日到了東昌府下，統制差一面令字藍旗，打報進城。巡撫張叔夜，聽見周統制人馬來到，與東昌府知府達天道出衙迎接。至公廳敘禮坐下，商議軍情，打聽聲息緊慢。駐馬一夜，次日人馬早行，往關上防守去了。不在話下。 |
| At that time, the General-in-Chief had the two men beaten to death and thus removed a local menace. He ordered Li An to return the Mahou Da Hotel to its original owner and have him settle the capital back home. He instructed Chunmei to remain at home, where she would join Jingji in observing a vegetarian retreat and holding seven-day memorial rites, and then arrange for the burial at Yongfu Temple outside the city. He left Li An and Zhou Yi to look after the house, while taking Zhou Zhong and Zhou Ren with him to the military headquarters for duty. At dusk, Chunmei and Sun Erniang prepared wine to see him off. Unconsciously, she shed two lines of tears and said, "Master, I do not know when you will return from this departure; during battle, you must be careful." "The barbarian troops are rampant and should not be underestimated." The General-in-Chief said, "You must remain at home with a clear mind and few desires; take good care of the children and need not worry." "I have already received rank and salary from the imperial court, so I must serve with loyalty to repay my country." "As for fortune or misfortune, survival or death, they are left in the hands of Heaven." After giving his instructions, he spent one night there. The next day, the troops were all gathered outside the city, waiting for the General-in-Chief to set out on his journey. There was nothing noteworthy along the way. After several days, they arrived at Dongchang Fu. The General-in-Chief sent a blue flag with an order to announce their arrival and enter the city. Governor Zhang Shuyi, upon hearing that General Zhou had arrived with his troops, went out of the yá (government office) together with Dongchang Fu's Prefect Da Tiandao to welcome them. They went into the public hall, exchanged courtesies and sat down, discussed military affairs, and inquired about the urgency or slackness of enemy movements. They stayed overnight with their horses tethered; the next day they set out early, leading their troops to go and defend Guanshang. This is not further discussed here. | ||
| 18 | 劉二醉罵... : | 卻表韓愛姐母子，在謝家樓店中聽見陳敬濟已死，愛姐晝夜只是哭泣，茶飯都不吃，一心只要往城內統制府中，見敬濟屍首一見，死也甘心。父母、旁人百般勸解不眾。韓道國無法可處，使八老往統制府中打聽，敬濟靈柩已出了殯，埋在城外永福寺內。這八老走來，回了話。愛姐一心要到他墳上燒紙，哭一場，也是和他相交一場。做父母的只得依他。雇了一乘轎子，到永福寺中，問長老葬於何處。長老令沙彌引到寺後，新墳堆便是。這韓愛姐下了轎子，到墳前點著紙袋，道了萬福，叫聲：「親郎我的哥哥！奴實指望和你同諧到老，誰想今日死了！」放聲大哭，哭的昏暈倒了，頭撞於地下，就死過去了。慌了韓道國和王六兒，向前扶救，叫姐姐，叫不應，越發慌了。 |
| Meanwhile, Han Aijie and her mother, while staying at Xiejialou Inn, heard that Chen Jingji had died. Aijie wept day and night, refusing to eat either tea or food; she was determined to go to the General-in-Chief's residence in the city to see Jingji's body with her own eyes, and even if it cost her life, she would be content. Her parents and others around her tried every means to dissuade her in vain. Han Daoguo, having no other option, sent Ba Lao to the General-in-Chief's residence to inquire. He learned that Jingji's funeral had already taken place and his body was buried at Yongfu Temple outside the city walls. This Ba Lao came back with a reply. Aijie was determined to go up to his grave, burn paper offerings, and weep for a while; after all, they had once been close companions. Her parents had no choice but to agree to her request. They hired a sedan chair and went to Yongfu Temple, where they asked the abbot where he had been buried. The abbot instructed a novice monk to lead them to the back of the temple, where the new grave was located. Han Aijie stepped down from her sedan chair and, before the grave, lit a paper offering bag. She said a prayer for his well-being and called out, "My beloved elder brother!" "I truly hoped to grow old with you together; who could have foreseen that today you would be dead!" She let out a loud wail and wept so violently she fainted, her head striking the ground as if dead. Han Daoguo and Wang Liu'er were thrown into a panic, rushing forward to support and revive her. They called out "Sister," but she did not respond, which only made them more frantic. | ||
| 19 | 劉二醉罵... : | 不想那日，正是葬的三日，春梅與渾家葛翠屏坐著兩乘轎子，伴當跟隨，抬三牲祭物，來與他暖墓燒紙。看見一個年小的婦人，穿著縞素，頭戴孝髻，哭倒在地。一個男子漢和一中年婦人，摟抱他扶起來，又倒了，不省人事，吃了一驚。因問那男子漢是那裡的，這韓道國夫婦向前施禮，把從前已往話，告訴了一遍：「這個是我的女孩兒韓愛姐。」春梅一聞愛姐之名，就想起昔日曾在西門慶家中會過，又認得王六兒。韓道國悉把東京蔡府中出來一節，說了一遍：「女孩兒曾與陳官人有一面之交，不料死了。他只要來墳前見他一見，燒紙錢，不想到這裡，又哭倒了。」當下兩個救了半日，這愛姐吐了口粘痰，方纔蘇醒，尚哽咽哭不出聲來。痛哭了一場起來，與春梅、翠屏插燭也似磕了四個頭，說道：「奴與他雖是露水夫妻，他與奴說山盟，言海誓，情深意厚，實指望和他同諧到老，誰知天不從人願，一旦他先死了，撇得奴四脯著地。他在日曾與奴一方吳綾帕兒，上有四句情詩。知道宅中有姐姐，奴願做小，倘不信－－」向袖中取出吳綾帕兒來，上面寫詩四句，春梅同葛翠屏看了。詩雲： |
| Unbeknownst to them, that day was the third day after his burial. Chunmei and her wife Ge Cuiping, riding in two sedan chairs with attendants following behind, carried three sacrificial offerings to visit his grave and burn paper offerings for him. They saw a young woman dressed in plain white mourning clothes, her hair styled in a funeral knot, weeping and lying on the ground. A man and a middle-aged woman were seen embracing her to help her up, but she collapsed again, unconscious. This startled them greatly. They then asked the man where he was from, and Han Daoguo's husband and wife stepped forward to bow respectfully, telling him their entire story: "This is my daughter-in-law, Han Aijie." Chunmei, upon hearing the name "Aijie," immediately recalled that they had met before at Ximenqing's household and also recognized Wang Liu'er. Han Daoguo then explained in detail how they had come from the Cai family residence in Dongjing: "My daughter-in-law once met Master Chen briefly, but did not expect that he would die." "She only wanted to come here before his grave to see him once, burn paper money, and did not expect that she would faint from grief again." After the two of them tried to revive her for a while, Aijie finally coughed up some phlegm and regained consciousness, though she still wept silently without being able to speak. After a long, painful weeping session, she stood up and bowed deeply to Chunmei and Cuiping four times like lighting candles. She said, "Though I was with him only as a fleeting wife, he made me vows of eternal love, his feelings deep and sincere; I truly hoped to grow old together with him, but Heaven did not grant our wishes. Now that he has died first, leaving me alone in this world." "When he was alive, he once gave me a piece of Wu linen handkerchief with four lines of love poetry written on it. "I know there is an elder sister in your household, and I am willing to be a concubine. If you do not believe me—" she reached into her sleeve and took out the Wu linen handkerchief; on it were four lines of poetry, which Chunmei read together with Ge Cuiping. The poem reads: | ||
| 吳綾帕兒織回紋，灑翰揮毫墨跡新。寄與多情韓五姐，永諧鸞鳳百年情。 | ||
| "The Wu linen handkerchief is embroidered with interwoven patterns; fresh ink flows from the brush in bold strokes." "Sent to affectionate Han Wujie, may phoenix and dragon harmonize for a hundred years of love." | ||
| 20 | 劉二醉罵... : | 愛姐道：「奴也有個小小鴛鴦錦囊，與他佩載在身邊。兩面都扣繡著並頭蓮，每朵蓮花瓣兒一個字兒：寄與情郎陳君膝下。」春梅便問翠屏：「怎的不見這個香囊？」翠屏道：「在底褲子上拴著，奴替他裝殮在棺槨內了。」當下祭畢，讓他母子到寺中擺茶飯，勸他吃了些。王六兒見天色將晚，催促他起身，他只顧不思動身。一面跪著春梅、葛翠屏哭說：「奴情願不歸父母，同姐姐守孝寡居。明日死，傍他魂靈，也是奴和他恩情一場，說是他妻小。」說著那淚如泉涌。翠屏只顧不言語。春梅便說：「我的姐姐，只怕年小青春，守不住，卻不誤了你好時光。」愛姐便道：「奶奶說那裡話？奴既為他，雖刳目斷鼻也當守節，誓不再配他人。」囑付他父母：「你老公婆回去罷，我跟奶奶和姐姐府中去也。」那王六兒眼中垂淚，哭道：「我承望你養活俺兩口兒到老，才從虎穴龍潭中奪得你來。今日倒閃賺了我。」那愛姐口裡只說：「我不去了。你就留下我，到家也尋了無常。」那韓道國因見女兒堅意不去，和王六兒大哭一場，灑淚而別，回上臨清店中去了。這韓愛姐同春梅、翠屏，坐轎子往府里來。那王六兒一路上悲悲切切，只是舍不的他女兒，哭了一場又一場。那韓道國又怕天色晚了，雇上兩匹頭口，望前趕路。正是： |
| Aijie said, "I also have a small mandarin duck embroidered pouch that I gave to him to wear by his side. Both sides are embroidered with paired lotus flowers, and each petal of the lotus has a single character: 'Ji Yu Qinglang Chen Jun Xia' (Sent to my beloved husband Master Chen)." Chunmei then asked Cuiping, "Why don't you see this sachet?" Cuiping said, "It was tied to his underpants; I placed it in the coffin when I dressed him for burial." After finishing their rites, they invited the mother and daughter to the temple where tea and food were served, persuading them to eat a little. Wang Liu'er saw that it was getting late in the day and urged her to leave, but she remained unmoved, not wanting to go. While kneeling before Chunmei and Ge Cuiping, she wept and said: "I would rather not return to my parents but instead stay with you, dear elder sister, as a widow in mourning. If I die tomorrow, at least my soul can be near his; after all, we shared deep affection and love, and he would say that I am the wife of his household." As she spoke, tears poured from her eyes like a spring. Cuiping remained silent and said nothing. Chunmei then said, "My dear elder sister, I am afraid that she is still young and in the bloom of youth; if she cannot hold out, it would be a waste of her prime." Aijie replied immediately, "Madam, what are you saying?" "For his sake, I would even gouge out my eyes and cut off my nose if necessary; I swear to remain chaste and never remarry another." She instructed her parents, "You old couple should go back home. I will stay with Madam and my elder sister at their residence." Wang Liu'er, tears streaming down her eyes, wept and said, "I had hoped you would support my husband and me until old age; it was only after great danger that I managed to rescue you from the tiger's den and dragon's pool. Today, you have instead abandoned me." Aijie kept saying in her voice, "I am not going with you. Even if you leave me behind, I will go home and die." Seeing that his daughter was determined not to go, Han Daoguo wept bitterly with Wang Liu'er and tearfully parted from her before returning to the inn in Linqing. Han Aijie, together with Chunmei and Cuiping, rode in a sedan chair back to the residence. Wang Liu'er wept bitterly along the way, unable to part with her daughter, crying one session after another. Han Daoguo was also afraid that it would get too late and rented two horses to press on ahead. Indeed: | ||
| 馬遲心急路途窮，身似浮萍類轉蓬。只有都門樓上月，照人離恨各西東。 | ||
| "The horse moves slowly, the heart is anxious, and the road seems endless; one's body is like a drifting duckweed or a tumbleweed." "Only the moon above the city gate shines upon parting sorrows, separating people to east and west." |
URN: ctp:jinpingmei/ch99