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| Simplified Chinese version |
《王秀才议立偏房 严监生疾终正寝 - The Wang brothers deliberate how to make a concubine of the mistress of the house. Yan Ta-yu dies》 | Library Resources |
| 1 | 王秀才议... : | 话说众回子因汤知县枷死了老师夫，闹将起来，将县衙门围的水泄不通，口口声声只要揪出张静斋来打死。知县大惊，细细在衙门里追问，才晓得是门子透风。知县道：“我至不济，到底是一县之主，他敢怎的我？设或闹了进来，看见张世兄，就有些开交不得了。如今须是设法先把张世兄弄出去，离了这个地方上才好。”忙唤了几个心腹的衙役进来商议。幸得衙门后身紧靠著北城，几个衙役，先溜到城外，用绳子把张、范二位系了出去。换了蓝布衣服、草帽、草鞋，寻一条小路，忙忙如丧家之狗，急急如漏网之鱼，连夜找路回省城去了。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
The Moslems were out for blood. They besieged the yamen gate so closely that not a drop of water could have trickled through, and threatened to drag Mr. Zhang out and beat him to death. The magistrate was thoroughly frightened. After a careful investigation he discovered that one of his subordinates had told the Moslems of Mr. Zhang's part in the business. “After all, I am head of the county and they dare not touch me,” he told Mr. Zhang and Fan Jin. “But if they break in and find Mr. Zhang here, there's no knowing what may happen. I must think of a way to get you out of here. Once you have left, all will be well.” He immediately summoned his most reliable men to discuss the question. Luckily, the back of the yamen was hard by the north gate of the city, and after several men had slipped outside the city wall, Mr. Zhang and Fan Jin were lowered to them by ropes. Then Zhang and Fan changed into blue cloth gowns, straw hats and sandals, and, stealthily as stray dogs, swiftly as fish escaping from the net, fled back to the provincial capital. | |
| 2 | 王秀才议... : | 这里学师、典史，俱出来安民，说了许多好话，众回子渐渐的散了。汤知县把这情由细细写了个禀帖，禀知按察司。按察司行文书檄了知县去。汤奉见了按察司，摘去纱帽，只管磕头。按察司道：“论起来，这件事你汤老爷也忒孟浪了些。不过枷责就罢了，何必将牛肉堆在枷上？这个成何刑法？但此刁风也不可长，我这里少不得拿几个为头的来尽法处置。你且回衙门去办事。凡事须要斟酌些，不可任性。”汤知县又磕头说道：“这事是卑职不是。蒙大老爷保全，真乃天地父母之恩，此后知过必改。但大老爷审断明白了，这几个为头的人，还求大老爷发下卑县发落，赏卑职一个脸面。”按察司也应承了。知县叩谢出来，回到高要。过了些时，果然把五个为头的回子问成奸民挟制官府，依律枷责，发来本县发落。知县看了来文，挂出牌去。次日早晨，大摇大摆出堂，将回子发落了。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
Meantime examiners and officials had gone to the yamen gate to pacify the people and speak them fair, until gradually the Moslems dispersed. Magistrate Tang sent a detailed report of the whole business to the provincial commissioner of justice, who summoned him to the provincial capital. On entering the presence of the commissioner, Magistrate Tang took off his gauze cap and kowtowed again and again. “To tell the truth, you acted a little too hastily,” said the commissioner. “To pillory the culprit would have been punishment enough. Why pile the beef on the pillory? What sort of penalty is that? However, this insubordination must be hipped in the bud. I shall have to punish the ringleaders. Go back to your yamen, and take care not to act so rashly in future.” Magistrate Tang kowtowed again. “I bungled this affair,” he confessed. “Since you have overlooked my fault, I owe you the same gratitude that I do to heaven and earth or to my parents. In future I promise to do better. But when your decision is made, Your Excellency, I hope you will allow me to punish the ringleaders in my own county, to recover some of the face I have lost.” When his superior gave his consent, Magistrate Tang thanked him and left. Some time later, five of the Moslem leaders in Gaoyao were found guilty of insubordination and sentenced to be pilloried in their own county. When Magistrate Tang received this order he issued a notice summoning his officers, and the very next morning swaggered into the court and punished the offenders. | |
| 3 | 王秀才议... : | 正要退堂，见两个人进来喊冤，知县叫带上来问。一个叫做王小二，是贡生严大位的紧邻。去年三月内，严贡生家一口才过下来的小猪，走到他家去，他慌送回严家。严家说：猪到人家，再寻回来，最不利市，押著出了八钱银子，把小猪就卖与他。这一口猪在王家已养到一百多斤，不想错走到严家去，严家把猪关了。小二的哥子王大走到严家讨猪。严贡生说，猪本来是他的：“你要讨猪，照时值估价，拿几两银子来，领了猪去。”王大是个穷人，那有银子，就同严家争吵了几句；被严贡生几个儿子，拿拴门的闩，赶面的杖，打了一个臭死，腿都打折了，睡在家里。所以小二来喊冤。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: | He was just about to leave, when two men came in to appeal to him, and he ordered them to approach for questioning. The first was called Wang Er, and he lived next door to Senior Licentiate Yan. In the third month of the previous year the Yan family's sucking pig had strayed into the Wangs' yard, but the Wangs had returned it immediately. Yan said, “To take a pig back like this means very bad luck.” He forced the Wangs to buy it for eighty cents of silver. They had fattened it up till it weighed over a hundred catties, when it wandered into the Yans' yard by mistake. The Yan family shut it up, and when Wang's elder brother went to ask for it, Senior Licentiate Yan said, “It's my pig, and if you want it you must pay me the market price for it.” Wang was a poor man—how could he find the money? But when he started to argue, Yan's sons took the bolt of the door and a rolling-pin and beat him within an inch of his life. He was lying at home now with a broken leg, so his younger brother had come to lodge a complaint. | |
| 4 | 王秀才议... : | 知县喝过一边，带那一个上来问道：“你叫做甚么名字？”那人是个五六十岁的老者，禀道：“小人叫做黄梦统，在乡下住。因去年九月上县来交钱粮，一时短少，央中向严乡绅借二十两银子，每月三分钱，写立借约，送在严府，小的却不曾拿他的银子。走上街来，遇著个乡里的亲眷，他说有几两银子借与小的，交个几分数，再下乡去设法；劝小的不要借严家的银子。小的交完钱粮，就同亲戚回家去了。至今已是大半年，想起这事来，问严府取回借约，严乡绅问小的要这几个月的利钱。小的说：‘并不曾借本，何得有利？’严乡绅说小的当时拿回借约，好让他把银子借与别人生利；因不曾取约，他将二十两银子也不能动，误了大半年的利钱，该是小的出。小的自知不是，向中人说，情愿买个蹄、酒上门取约。严乡绅执意不肯，把小的驴和米同稍袋都叫人短了家去，还不发出纸来。这样含冤负屈的事，求太老爷做主！”知县听了，说道：“一个做贡生的人，忝列衣冠，不在乡里间做些好事，只管如此骗人，其实可恶！”便将两张状子都批准，原告在外伺候。早有人把这话报知严贡生，严贡生慌了，自心里想：“这两件事都是实的，倘若审断起来，体面上须不好看。‘三十六计，走为上计’！”卷卷行李，一溜烟走急到省城去了。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
The magistrate turned to the other plaintiff, who was between fifty and sixty years old, and asked, “What is your name?” “Huang Meng-tong,” was the answer. “I live in the country. In the ninth month last year I came to the city to pay my taxes. But I didn't have enough money, so I asked a go-between to borrow twenty taels of silver for me from Senior Licentiate Yan at three per cent monthly interest. I signed a contract with Senior Licentiate Yan, but I didn't take the money, for here in town I met a relative from the country who said he could lend me part of the amount and I should borrow the rest from friends in the country. He advised me not to borrow from Senior Licentiate Yan. After paying my taxes, I went back with this relative. That was more than six months ago. Just lately I remembered the agreement I had signed, and came back to town to ask Senior Licentiate Yan to give it back to me. But he demanded that I pay the interest for all these months. 'I didn't borrow the money, so why should I pay interest?' I asked. Senior Licentiate Yan said if I had taken the agreement back at once, he could have lent the money to someone else. As it was, I had prevented his using those twenty taels, and made him lose half a year's interest. Now I must pay it. I realized I was in the wrong, and asked the go-between to speak for me, promising to take Senior Licentiate Yan presents of pork and wine if he would give me back the contract. But he still insisted on having the money. Now he has seized my donkey and grain sacks as a fine, yet he still hasn't returned that contract. I ask you, sir, to judge such underhand dealings!” “A man who is a senior licentiate ranks among the scholars,” declared Magistrate Tang, “yet instead of doing good deeds, he cheats poor people like this. Disgraceful!” He approved both plaintiffs' petitions, and told them to wait outside. Now somebody had already reported this to Yan. He was panic-stricken, and thought, “Both complaints are true, and if I have to appear in court I shall lose face. Better make myself scarce.” He bundled some things together and fled to the provincial capital. | |
| 5 | 王秀才议... : | 知县准了状子，发房出了差，来到严家，严贡生已是不在家了，只得去会严二老官。二老官叫做严大育，字致和；他哥字致中；两人是同胞弟兄，却在两个宅里住。这严致和是个监生，家有十多万银子。严致和见差人来说了此事，他是个胆小有钱的人，见哥子又不在家，不敢轻慢，随即留差人吃了酒饭，拿两千钱打发去了。忙著小厮去请两位舅爷来商议。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: | The magistrate signed a warrant and sent runners to Yan's house to arrest him, but he had flown. Then they went to his younger brother Yan Da-yu. These two brothers did not live together. Yan Da-yu had bought himself the rank of a scholar of the Imperial College and had more than one hundred thousand taels of silver. But, rich as he was, he was timid. When the runners showed him the warrant and he learned that his brother was not at home, he dared not offend them. He entertained them to a meal, gave them two thousand coins and sent them off. Then he hurriedly ordered a servant to ask his two brothers-in-law over to discuss the matter. | |
| 6 | 王秀才议... : | 他两个阿舅姓王，一个叫王德，是府学廪膳生员；一个叫王仁，是县乐廪膳生员。都做著极兴头的馆，铮铮有名；听见妹丈请，一齐走来。严致和把这件事从头告诉一遍：“现今出了差票在此，怎样料理？”王仁笑道：“你令兄平日常说同汤公相与的，怎的这一点事就吓走了？”严致和道：“这话也说不尽了；只是家兄而今两脚站开，差人却在我这里吵闹要人，我怎能丢了家里的事，出外去寻他？他也不肯回来。”王仁道：“各家门户，这事究竟也不与你相干。”王德道：“你有所不知。衙门里的差人，因妹丈有碗饭吃，他们做事，只拣有头发的抓，若说不管他，就更要的人紧了。如今有个道理，是‘釜底抽薪’之法。只消央个人去把告状的安抚住了，众人递个拦词，便歇了。谅这也没有多大的事。” |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
One of the brothers-in-law was called Wang De and the other Wang Ren. They were scholars, one of whom drew a subsidy from the prefectural school and the other from the county school. Both of them made a very good thing out of teaching, and were famous as tutors. When they received Yan Da-yu's message, they came at once. Yan Da-yu told them all that had happened. “There's even a warrant out for his arrest. What's to be done?” he asked. Wang Ren laughed and said, “Your brother is always saying how friendly he is with Magistrate Tang. How could he be frightened away by a little thing like this?” “Never mind that,” said Yan Da-yu. “The fact is that my brother has gone, while runners from the yamen have been to my house looking for someone to arrest. I can't drop my own business to go and look for him. And he wouldn't come back anyway.” “His private affairs have nothing to do with you,” said Wang Ren. “That's where you're wrong,” protested Wang De. “Because our brother-in-law is rich, the runners will consider him as lawful prey. If nothing is done, they can make things hot for him. I suggest that we go to the root of the matter by sending mediators to satisfy the plaintiffs. Then we can address an appeal to the magistrate and avoid further trouble.” | |
| 7 | 王秀才议... : | 王仁道：“不必又去央人，就是我们愚兄弟两个去寻了王小二、黄梦统，到家替他分说开；把猪也还与王家，再折些须银子给他养那打坏了的腿；黄家那借约，查了还他。一天的事，都没有了。”严致和道；“老舅怕不说的是；只是我家嫂也是个糊涂人，几个舍侄，就像生狼一般，一总也不听教训。他怎肯把这猪和借约拿出来？”王德道：“妹丈，这话也说不得了。假如你令嫂、令侄拗著，你认晦气，再拿出几两银子，折个猪价，给了王姓的；黄家的借约，我们中间人立个纸笔与他，说寻出作废纸无用。这事才得落台，才得耳跟清静。”当下商议已定，一切办得停妥。严二老官连在衙门使费共用去了十几两银子，官司已了。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
“If mediators are needed,” said Wang Ren, “we two can call on Wang Er and Huang Meng-tong, and talk them round. We'll return the pig to the Wang family along with some silver to compensate for the elder brother's broken leg. And we'll look for Huang's contract and return it to him. Then we shouldn't have any more trouble.” “Yes,” said Yan Da-yu. “But my sister-in-law is a silly woman and my nephews are like young wolves—they never listen to reason. They'll refuse to return the pig and the contract.” “This is a serious matter,” said Wang De. “If your sister-in-law and nephews are stubborn, that will be your bad luck. Because then you will have to pay the Wangs for the pig. As for the contract, in our capacity as mediators we will draw up a statement for Huang Meng-tong to the effect that the old contract is null and void. That's the only thing to do. Then you'll hear no more about it.” They decided at once that this was the only solution, and handled the whole business very competently. And when Yan Da-yu had spent over ten taels of silver on the plaintiffs and yamen officials, the case was closed. | |
| 8 | 王秀才议... : | 过了几日，整治一席酒，请二位舅爷来致谢。两个秀才，拿班做势，在馆里又不肯来。严致和吩咐小厮去说；“奶奶这些时心里有些不好。今日一者请吃酒，二者奶奶要同舅爷们谈谈。”二位听见这话，方才来。严致和即迎进厅上。吃过茶，叫小厮进去说了。丫鬟出来请二位舅爷。进到房内，抬头看见他妹子王氏，面黄肌瘦，怯生生的，路也走不全，还在那里自己装瓜子，剥粟子，办围碟。见他哥哥进来，丢了过来拜见。奶妈抱著妾出的小儿子，年方三岁，带著银项圈，穿著红衣服，来叫舅舅。二位吃了茶，一个丫鬟来说：“赵新娘进来拜舅爷。”二位连忙道：“不劳罢。”坐下说了些家常话，又问妹子的病，“总是虚弱，该多用补药”，说罢，前厅摆下酒席，让了出去上席。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
A few days later, Yan Da-yu invited the two Wang brothers to a feast to express his gratitude. When they made excuses and would not come, he ordered his servant to tell them that their sister was unwell and wanted to see them too. On hearing this, the two scholars came. Yan Da-yu invited them into the front hall and offered them tea, then told a servant to inform his wife that they had arrived. Presently a maid invited them to Mrs. Yan's room, and they went in. Their sister had grown very pale and thin. She looked too frail to walk, yet she was preparing melon seeds, chestnuts and other sweetmeats for them. When she saw her brothers, she left her work and stepped forward to welcome them; and the nurse brought in the concubine's three-year-old son, in a silver necklet and red suit, to see his uncles. While they were sipping tea, another maid announced, “The new wife asks permission to pay her respects.” “We won't disturb her,” the Wang brothers responded politely. Then they sat down for a chat and asked after their sister's illness, urging her, since she was so weak, to take more cordials. While they were talking, a feast was laid in the front hall and they were invited to the table. | |
| 9 | 王秀才议... : | 叙些闲话，又提起严致中的话来。王仁笑著问王德道：“大哥，我倒不解，他家大老那宗笔下，怎得会补起廪来的？”王德道：“这是三十年前的话。那时宗师都是御史出来，本是个吏员出身，知道甚么文章！”王仁道：“老大而今越发离奇了，我们至亲，一年中也要请他几次，却从不曾见他家一杯酒。想起还是前年出贡竖旗杆，在他家扰过一席。”王德愁著眉道：“那时我不曾去！他为出了一个贡，拉人出贺礼，把总甲、地方都派分子，县里狗腿差是不消说，弄了有一二百吊钱，还欠下厨子钱，屠户肉案子上的钱，至今也不肯还，过两个月在家吵一回，成甚么模样。” |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
In the course of conversation Senior Licentiate Yan's name came up. Wang Ren said to Wang De with a laugh, “I can't understand, brother, how anyone who writes so badly ever passed the examination and became a stipendiary.” “That was thirty years ago,” Wang De answered. “In those days the examiners were all censors—what did they know about compositions?” “He's been growing more and more peculiar,” said Wang Ren. “Since we are related, we invite him to several feasts each year, but he never offers us so much as a cup of wine. It was only the year before last, when he became a senior licentiate and put up a flagstaff, that he invited me to a feast.” “I did not go,” said Wang De with a frown. “He made that senior licentiate rank a pretext to extract presents from everybody. County runners—even village heads—all had to fork out. He pocketed more than two hundred strings of cash altogether. But he never paid his cook, nor the butcher—even now he still owes them money. Every month or so they make a scene in his house. It's shocking.” | |
| 10 | 王秀才议... : | 严致和道：“便是我也不好说。不瞒二位老舅，像我家还有几亩薄田，日逐夫妻四口在家里度日，猪肉也舍不得买一斤，每常小儿子要吃时，在熟切店内买四个钱的哄他就是了。家兄寸土也无，人口又多，过不得三天，一买就是五斤，还要白煮的稀烂；上顿吃完了，下顿又在门口赊鱼。当初分家，也是一样田地，白白都吃穷了。而今端了家里花梨椅子，悄悄开了后门，换肉心包子吃。你说这事如何是好！”二位哈哈大笑；笑罢说：“只管讲这些混话，误了我们吃酒。快取骰盆来。”当下取骰子送与大舅爷：“我们行状元令。”两位舅爷，一个人行一个状元令，每人中一回状元吃一大杯。”两位就中了几回状元，吃了几十杯。却又古怪：那骰子竟像知人事的，严监生一回状元也不曾中。二位拍手大笑。吃到四更尽鼓，跌跌撞撞，扶了回去。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
“I am really ashamed of him,” said Yan Da-yu. “Though I have a little land, I don't mind telling you, our family of four usually feel it would be extravagant to buy pork. When my son is hungry, we just buy four cash worth of cooked meat for him. But although my brother has no land and so many mouths to feed, every other day he buys about five catties of pork and insists on having it cooked to a turn. Then they finish it all in one meal, and in the evening he gets fish on credit again. We inherited the same amount of land, but he has just eaten up his property; and now he sneaks out the family's ebony chairs through the back door to exchange for pork dumplings. What can I do about it?” The Wang brothers burst out laughing, then said, “We've been so busy talking about that fool, we've forgotten to drink. Let's have the dice. Whoever wins first place among the palace scholars shall drink a cup.” Wang De and Wang Ren became palace scholars in turn, and drank a dozen cups apiece. Strangely enough, the dice seemed to know human affairs; because Yan Da-yu did not become a palace scholar even once. Wang Ren and Wang De clapped their hands and roared with laughter, drinking until after midnight when they were carried home. | |
| 11 | 王秀才议... : | 自此以后，王氏的病，渐渐的重将起来。每日四五个医生用药，都是人参、附子，并不见效。看看卧床不起，生儿子的妾在旁侍奉汤药，极其殷勤；看他病势不好，夜晚时，抱了孩子在床脚头坐著哭泣，哭了几回。那一夜道：“我而今只求菩萨把我带了去，保佑大娘好了罢。”王氏道：“你又痴了，各人的寿数，那个是替得的？”赵氏道：“不是这样说。我死了值得甚么；大娘若有些长短，他爷少不得又娶个大娘。他爷四十多岁，只得这点骨血，再娶个大娘来，各养的各疼。自古说：‘晚娘的拳头，云里的日头。’这孩子料想不能长大，我也是个死数，不如早些替了大娘去，还保得这孩子一命！”王氏听了，也不答应。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
Mrs. Yan's illness went from bad to worse. Every day four or five doctors came to prescribe expensive cordials for her, but in vain. Soon she was completely bed-ridden, and Concubine Zhao, the mother of the little boy, stayed by her bedside, giving her draughts of medicine and waiting on her hand and foot. After it became clear that the mistress was not going to recover, the concubine brought her child to the foot of the bed every evening and sat there weeping. And one night she said: “All I pray for now is that Buddha will take me away in your place and let you get well.” “That's a silly way to talk,” said Mrs. Yan. “Everyone's span of life is fixed. How can you change with someone else?” “Don't say that,” begged the concubine. “What does my death matter? But if anything happened to you, ma'am, the master would certainly marry again. He is over forty but has only one son; and if he marries again, the new wife will care only for her own children. A stepmother is always cruel. Then my son wouldn't live to grow up, and that would be the death of me. I'd rather die now, instead of you, to save this child's life.” Mrs. Yan said nothing. | |
| 12 | 王秀才议... : | 赵氏含著眼泪，日逐煨药煨粥，寸步不离。一晚，赵氏出去了一会，不见进来。王氏问丫鬟道：“赵家的那里去了？”丫鬟道：“新娘每夜摆个香桌在天井里哭求天地，他仍要替奶奶，保佑奶奶就好。今夜看见奶奶病重，所以早些出去拜求。”王氏听了，似信不信。次日晚间，赵氏又哭著讲这些话。王氏道：“何不向你爷说，明日我若死了，就把你扶正做个填房？”赵氏忙叫请爷进来，把奶奶的话说了。严致和听不得这一声，连三说道：“既然如此，明日清早就要请二位舅爷说定此事，才有凭据。”王氏摇手道：“这个也随你们怎样做去。” |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
Every day, with tears in her eyes, Concubine Zhao nursed the sick woman and would not leave her. One evening, however, she left the room and did not come back for some time. “Where is the new wife?” asked Mrs. Yan. A maid told her, “Every evening the new wife burns incense in the courtyard and cries, praying to heaven and earth to let her die in your place, ma'am. This evening she thought you seemed worse, so she went out earlier to pray.” Still Mrs. Yan looked rather sceptical. The next evening, however, when the concubine cried as she poured out all her fears again, the wife said, “Very well. We can suggest to the master that when I die he should make you his wife.” At once Concubine Zhao called Yan Da-yu in, and told him what the mistress had said. “In that case,” said Yan, who had been hoping for this, “I must invite my brothers-in-law tomorrow morning to settle the matter, in order that we may have witnesses.” “Do as you think best,” said his wife, with a weary wave of her hand. | |
| 13 | 王秀才议... : | 严致和就叫人极早去请了舅爷来，看了药方，商议再请名医。说罢，让进房内坐著，严致和把王氏如此这般意思说了，又道：“老舅可亲自问声令妹。”两人走到床前，王氏已是不能言语了，把手指著孩子，点了一点头。两位舅爷看了，把脸本丧著，不则一声。须臾，让到书房里用饭，彼此不提这话。吃罢，又请到一间密屋里。严致和说起王氏病重，吊下泪来道：“你令妹自到舍下二十年，真是弟的内助！如今丢了我，怎生是好！前日还向我说，岳父岳母的坟，也要修理。他自己积的一点东西，留与二位老舅做个遗念。”因把小厮都叫出去，开了一张橱，拿出两封银子来，每位一百两，递与二位老舅：“休嫌轻意。”二位双手来接。严致和又道：“却是不可多心。将来要备祭桌，破费钱财，都是我这里备齐，请老舅来行礼。明日还拿轿子接两位舅奶奶来，令妹还有些首饰，留为遗念。”交毕，仍旧出来坐著。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
Accordingly, Yan Da-yu sent to invite the Wang brothers to come early the next day. When they had seen the doctor's prescriptions and discussed what other famous physicians could be called, Yan took the brothers into his wife's room and told them their sister's wish, saying: “Ask her yourselves.” They went up to the bed. Mrs. Yan was too weak to speak, but she pointed at the child and nodded her head. The two brothers pulled long faces and said nothing. Presently they were invited into the library to eat, but still they made no reference to the matter. After they had eaten, Yan Da-yu took them into a private room; and after speaking about his wife's illness, he said with tears, “Since your sister married me twenty years ago, she has been a true helpmate. But now that she is dying, what am I to do? The other day she mentioned that your parents' tombs needed repairing, and that she had a little gift to leave you as a memento.” Having sent the servants out of the room, he opened a chest and took out two packets of silver, each containing a hundred taels. These he gave to Wang De and Wang Ren, saying, “Please don't take me amiss.” The Wang brothers took hold of the silver with both hands. “Please don't have any scruples,” Mr. Yan went on. “When you need money for sacrifices I'll be responsible for all expenses. Tomorrow I will send sedan-chairs to fetch your wives. Your sister has some trinkets to give them as souvenirs.” | |
| 14 | 王秀才议... : | 外边有人来候，严致和去陪客去了，回来见两位舅爷哭得眼红红的。王仁道：“方才同家兄在这里说，舍妹真是女中丈夫，可谓王门有幸。方才这一番话，恐怕老妹丈胸中也没有这样道理，还要恍恍忽忽，疑惑不清，枉为男子。”王德道：“你不知道，你这一位如夫人关系你家三代。舍妹殁了，你若另娶一人，磨害死了我的外甥，老伯老伯母在天不安，就是先父母也不安了。”王仁拍著桌子道：“我们念书的人，全在纲常上做工夫。就是做文章，代孔子说话，也不过是这个理。你若不依，我们就不上门了！”严致和道：“恐怕寒族多话。”两位道：“有我两人作主。但这事须要大做，妹丈，你再出几两银子，明日只做我两人出的，备十几席，将三党亲都请到了，趁舍妹眼见，你两口子同拜天地祖宗，立为正室，谁人再敢放屁！”严致和又拿出五十两银子来交与，二位义形于色去了。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
They had just gone back to the outer room when some guests arrived, and Mr. Yan went out to entertain them. By the time he came back, the Wang brothers' eyes were red with weeping, and Wang Ren said, “I was telling my brother that our sister is truly a woman in a million and does credit to our family. For I doubt if even you, sir, ever conceived such a noble scheme. If you still hesitate, then you are no true man.” “Do you realize,” asked Wang De solemnly, “that the perpetuation of your line depends on making Concubine Zhao your wife? For if our sister dies and you marry another, the new wife may torture our nephew to death. Then not only will your parents in heaven be ill at ease, but our ancestors also.” Striking his fist on the table, Wang Ren declared, “The great thing about us scholars is our adherence to principles. If we were writing a composition to speak for Confucius, we should take exactly the line that we are taking now. If you refuse to listen to us, we will never visit you again.” “I am afraid my relatives may object,” said Mr. Yan. “You can count on us,” the brothers assured him. “But this thing must be done in a big way. Give us a few more taels of silver, and tomorrow we shall act as hosts and invite over a hundred of your relatives to a feast. While our sister's eyes can still see, you and Concubine Zhao shall worship heaven and earth and the ancestors together, showing that she is your lawful wife. Then your relatives will have to hold their tongues.” Yan Da-yu gave another fifty taels of silver to the Wang brothers, who then left, exuding righteousness from every pore. | |
| 15 | 王秀才议... : | 过了三日，王德、王仁，果然到严家来写了几十副帖子，遍请诸亲六眷，择个吉期。亲眷都到齐了，只有隔壁大老爹家五个亲侄子，一个也不到。众人吃过早饭，先到王氏床面前写立王氏遗嘱。两位舅爷王于据、王于依都画了字。严监生戴著方巾，穿著青衫，被了红紬；赵氏穿著大红，戴了赤金冠子，两人双拜了天地，又拜了祖宗。王于依广有才学，又替他做了一篇告祖先的文，甚是恳切。告过祖宗，转了下来，两位舅爷叫丫鬟在房里请出两位舅奶奶来，夫妻四个，齐铺铺请妹丈、妹子转在大边，磕下头去，以叙姊妹之礼。众亲眷都分了大小。便是管事的管家、家人、媳妇、丫鬟、使女，黑压压的几十个人，都来磕了主人、主母的头。赵氏又独自走进房内拜王氏做姐姐，那时王氏已发昏去了。行礼已毕，大听、二厅、书房、内堂屋官客并堂客，共摆了二十多桌酒席。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
The next day, accordingly, Wang Ren and Wang De came to Mr. Yan's house and wrote scores of invitations to relatives from the various branches of the family. And all of them came, with the exception of Senior Licentiate Yan's five sons from next door. When the guests had breakfasted, they went to Mrs. Yan's bedside to witness her will, which her brothers drew up and signed. Meantime Mr. Yan put on a scholar's cap, a blue gown and red silk sash, while Concubine Zhao dressed herself in crimson and put a gold chaplet on her head. As they worshipped heaven and earth and the ancestors, Wang Ren drew on his vast erudition to write a most moving announcement of this marriage to the Yan ancestors. And having informed the ancestors, they left the shrine. Then Wang Ren and Wang De sent for their wives, and kowtowed together to the new husband and wife. All the relatives congratulated them in order of seniority, after which the stewards, menservants and maidservants did reverence to their master and mistress. The new wife went in alone to bow before the dying mistress, calling her “Elder Sister.” But Mrs. Yan had already lost consciousness. These ceremonies at an end, the guests crowded into the great hall, second hall, library and inner chambers to sit down to more than twenty tables. | |
| 16 | 王秀才议... : | 吃到三更时分，严监生正在大听陪著客，奶妈慌忙走了出来说道：“奶奶断了气了。”严监生哭著走了进去，只见赵氏扶著床沿，一头撞去，已经哭死了。众人且扶著赵氏灌开水，撬开牙齿，灌了下去。灌醒了时，披头散发，满地打滚，哭的天昏地暗。连严监生也无可奈何。管家都在厅上，堂客都在堂屋候殓，只有两个舅奶奶在房里，乘著人乱，将些衣服、金珠、首饰，一掳精空；连赵氏方才戴的赤金冠子，滚在地下，也拾起来藏在怀里。严监生慌忙叫奶妈抱起哥子来。拿一搭麻替他披著。那时衣衾棺椁，都是现成的。入过了殓，天才亮了。灵柩停在第二层中堂内。众人进来参了灵，各自散了。次日送孝布，每家两个。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
They feasted till midnight. Mr. Yan was acting as host in the great hall when his son's wet-nurse burst in breathlessly, and cried, “The mistress has passed away!” Weeping, Mr. Yan went to the bedroom and found his new wife beating her head against the bed. At his entry, she gave a cry and fainted. They helped her up, prized open her teeth and poured hot water down her throat. Then she came to herself and rolled on the floor, tearing her hair and sobbing as if her heart would break. Not even her husband could calm her. While the servants were in the hall and the guests in the other rooms, the two sisters-in-law took advantage of the confusion to whisk away the clothes, gold, and pearls. One of them even picked up the gold chaplet that the new wife had let fall, and concealed it in her clothes. Mr. Yan told the nurse to bring in his son, and threw a coarse linen cloth over the child's shoulders as a sign of mourning; the coffin had been ready for some time. They placed the corpse in the coffin, which had been set in the central hall. It was now dawn. All the guests filed in, bowed before the coffin and went home. | |
| 17 | 王秀才议... : | 第三日成服，赵氏定要披麻戴孝。两位舅爷断然不肯道：“‘名不正则言不顺’你此刻是姊妹了，妹子替姐姐只带一年孝，穿细布孝衫，用白布孝箍。”议礼已定，报出丧去。自此，修斋、理七、开丧、出殡，用了四五千两银子，闹了半年，不必细说。赵氏感激两位舅爷入于骨髓，田上收了新米，每家两石；腌冬菜，每家也是两石；火腿，一家四只；鸡、鸭、小菜不算。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
The next day, white mourning was sent to all the relatives-two lengths of cloth for each house. The new wife insisted that she should wear heavy mourning, but on this point the Wang brothers were adamant. In unison they quoted one of the sayings of Confucius, and warned her, “You must conform to etiquette. Now you stand in the relationship of a sister to the dead woman, and a younger sister mourning for her elder sister should only wear mourning for one year—fine linen and a white cloth head-dress.” The ceremony to be used was agreed upon, and the date of the funeral announced. They fasted, held the funeral, and spent four or five thousand taels of silver, observing the rites for half a year. We need not dwell on the details. The new Mrs. Yan felt very much indebted to the Wang brothers. After the harvest she sent them two piculs of rice apiece, two piculs of pickled vegetables and four hams, to say nothing of chickens, ducks and other delicacies. | |
| 18 | 王秀才议... : | 不觉到了除夕。严监生拜过了天地祖宗，收拾一席家宴。严监生同赵氏对坐，奶妈带著哥子坐在底下。吃了几杯酒，严监生吊下泪来，指著一张橱里，向赵氏说道：“昨日典铺内送来三百两利钱，是你王氏姐姐的私房。每年腊月二十七八日送来，我就交与他，我也不管他在那里用。今年又送这银子来，可怜就没人接了！”赵氏道：“你也莫要说大娘的银子没用处，我是看见的。想起一年到头，逢时遇节，庵里师姑送盒子，卖花婆换珠翠，弹三弦琵琶的女瞎子不离门，那一个不受他的恩惠？况他又心慈，见那些穷亲戚，自己吃不成，也要把人吃；穿不成的，也要把人穿。这些银子，彀做甚么！再有些也完了。倒是两位舅爷从来不沾他分毫。依我的意思，这银子也不费用掉了，到开年替奶奶大大的做几回好事，剩来的银子，料想也不多，明年是科举年，就是送与两位舅爷做盘程，也是该的。” |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
Soon New Year's Eve came round. Mr. Yan worshipped heaven and earth and the ancestors, then sat down to a feast with his new wife opposite him and the nurse and child sitting at one side of the table. After drinking several cups of wine, tears rolled down Mr. Yan's cheeks as he pointed to a chest and said, “Yesterday the pawnshop sent three hundred taels of interest over. That was my first wife's private property. It used to come every year just before New Year's Eve, and I always gave it to her and let her do what she liked with it. Now they have sent it again, but there is no one to take it.” “You can't say there is no use for her money,” said the new wife. “I remember how she used to spend it. In the old days, at every festival the nuns would send her presents and the flower-girls would give her little trinkets, while those blind girls who often came to play the three-stringed lyre wouldn't budge from the door. She gave them all money, she was so kind. And when she saw poor relations she would feed them even if she had nothing to eat herself, and give them clothes even if it meant going without herself. The money was all too little for her. Even if it had been more, she would have used it all. Her two brothers were the only ones who did not take a cent from her. To my mind it would be better to keep the money to spend it on charity after New Year in her name. And what's left won't be much; it could be given to your two brothers-in-law for their travelling expenses when they go to take the examination next year. This would be only right and proper.” | |
| 19 | 王秀才议... : | 严监生听著他说。桌子底下一个猫就扒在他腿上，严监生一靴头子踢开了。那猫吓的跑到里房内去，跑上床头。只听得一声大响，床头上掉下一个东西来，把地板上的酒坛子都打碎了。拿烛去看，原来那瘟猫把床顶上的板跳蹋一块，上面吊下一个大篾篓子来。近前看时，只见一地黑枣子拌在酒里，篾篓横睡著。两个人才扳过来，枣子底下，一封一封，桑皮纸包著。打开看时，共五百两银子。严监生叹道：“我说他的银子那里就肯用完了！像这都是历年聚积的，恐怕我有急事，好拿出来用的。而今他往那里去了！”一回哭著，叫人扫了地。把那个乾枣子装了一盘，同赵氏放在灵前桌上，伏著灵床子，又哭了一场。因此，新年不出去拜节，在家哽哽咽咽，不时哭泣；精神颠倒，恍惚不宁。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
As she was speaking, a cat under the table crawled up Mr. Yan's leg, and he gave it a kick. The frightened cat shot into the bedroom and jumped onto the canopy of the bed. Then they heard a great crash. Something had fallen from the top of the bed and smashed the wine vat on the floor. Taking a candle they hurried in to look, and found that the silly cat had knocked off a piece of the bedstead, bringing down a big wicker basket full of dates which had fallen in the wine. Now the dates were scattered on the ground, the basket lying on its side; and it took the two of them to right it. Then, under the dates, they discovered paper packages containing five hundred taels of silver. “I knew she couldn't have spent all that silver,” said Mr. Yan with a sigh. “This must be what she saved over the years. She wanted to keep it in readiness for whenever I might need money in a hurry. But where is she now?” He shed tears again, and called servants to sweep the floor while he and his new wife put a plateful of the dates on the table before the shrine and, kneeling there, wept again. Because of this, Mr. Yan did not go out to pay New Year visits, but stayed at home weeping from time to time, feeling out of sorts and in low spirits. | |
| 20 | 王秀才议... : | 过了灯节后，就叫心口疼痛。初时撑著，每晚算帐，直算到三更鼓。后来就渐渐饮食不进，骨瘦如柴，又舍不得银子吃人参。赵氏劝他道：“你心里不自在，这家务事就丢开了罢。”他说道：“我儿子又小，你叫我托那个？我在一日，少不得料理一日。”不想春气渐深，肝木克了脾土，每日只吃两碗米汤，卧床不起。及到天气和暖，又强勉进些饮食，挣起来家前屋后走走。挨过长夏，立秋以后病又重了，睡在床上。想著田上要收早稻，打发了管庄的仆人下乡去；又不放心，心里只是急躁。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
After the Lantern Festival, he felt stabs of pain in his heart. At first he just put up with them, doing his accounts as usual every night until midnight; but gradually he lost his appetite and wasted away till he was nothing but skin and bones. Yet he grudged the money to buy ginseng. His wife begged him, “Don't trouble about all your business—you aren't well.” But he retorted, “My son is still small. Who else is there to see to things? As long as I live I must manage my affairs.” As spring wore on, however, he had a liver complaint and had to take to his bed, able only to drink a little gruel every day. When the weather became warmer, he forced himself to eat and made the effort to get up and walk about. But by autumn he was worse again and had to keep to his bed. When it was time to reap the early rice, he sent his stewards and menservants down to his estates; but he could not rest easy in his mind. | |
| 21 | 王秀才议... : | 那一日，早上吃过药，听著萧萧落叶打的窗子响，自觉得心里虚怯，长叹了一口气，把脸朝床里面睡下。赵氏从房外同两位舅爷进来问病，就辞别了到省城里乡试去。严监生叫丫鬟扶起来勉强坐著。王德、王仁道：“好几日不曾看妹丈，原来又瘦了些──喜得精神还好。”严监生请他坐下，说了些恭喜的话，留在房里吃点心，就讲到除夕晚里这一番话，叫赵氏拿出几封银子来；指著赵氏说道：“这到是他的意思，说姐姐留下来的一点东西，送与二位老舅添著做恭喜的盘费。我这病势沉重，将来二位回府，不知可会得著了？我死之后，二位老舅照顾你外甥长大，教他读读书，挣著进个学，免得像我一生，终日受大房里的气！”二位接了银子，每位怀里带著两封，谢了又谢，又说了许多的安慰的话，作别去了。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
One morning he had just taken his medicine when he heard the rustle of falling leaves against the window, and felt a fearful premonition. He heaved a long sigh, and turned his face to the wall. The new wife brought the Wang brothers in to see how he was before they left for the provincial examination. Ordering a maid to help him, Mr. Yan struggled to a sitting position. “We have not seen you for many days, and now you are thinner than ever,” said the brothers. “It's good, though, that you still look so cheerful.” Mr. Yan asked them to be seated, wished them success in their coming examination, and offered them refreshments. He told them what had happened on New Year's Eve, and asked his wife to bring in some silver. “This was her idea,” he told them. “She suggested that this small sum of money that my wife left should be given to you for your trip. I am very ill, and don't know if I shall see you again. After my death, I beg you to watch over your nephew as he grows up. Help him to study and pass the prefectural examination, so that he need not be bullied as I have been all my life by my brother.” Wang De and Wang Ren accepted the silver, each taking two packets. They thanked Mr. Yan profusely, said all they could to comfort him, then took their leave. | |
| 22 | 王秀才议... : | 自此，严监生的病，一日重似一日，再不回头。诸亲六眷都来问候。五个侄子穿梭的过来陪郎中弄药。到中秋已后，医生都不下药了。把管庄的家人都从乡里叫了上来。病重得一连三天不能说话。晚间挤了一屋的人，桌上点著一盏灯。严监生喉咙里痰响得一进一出，一声不倒一声的，总不得断气，还把手从被单里拿出来，伸著两个指头。大侄子上前来问道：“二叔，你莫不是还有两个亲人不曾见面？”他就把头摇了两三摇。二侄子走上前来问道：“二叔，莫不是还有两笔银子在那里，不曾吩咐明白？”他把两眼睁的溜圆，把头又狠狠摇了几摇，越发指得紧了。奶妈抱著哥子插口道：“老爷想是因两位舅爷不在跟前，故此记念。”他听了这话，把眼闭著摇头。那手只是指著不动。赵氏慌忙揩揩眼泪，走近上前道：“爷，别人都说的不相干，只有我晓得你的意思！”只因这一句话，有分教：争田夺产，又从骨肉起戈矛；继嗣延宗，齐向官司进词讼。不知赵氏说出甚么话来，且听下回分解。 |
| The Wang brothers deliberate...: |
From that time onward Mr. Yan sank daily. All his relatives came to ask how he was, his five nephews taking it in turn to help the doctors administer cordials. But after the Mid-Autumn Festival the doctors stopped prescribing medicine, and all the stewards and servants were summoned back from the estates. For three days Mr. Yan hovered between life and death, too weak to speak. On the evening of the third day an oil lamp was lit on his table, and the room was crowded with relatives. They could hear the beginning of the death-rattle in his throat; but he refused to die. He took his hand from beneath the quilt and stretched out two fingers. The eldest nephew stepped up to the bed and asked, “Do you mean that there are two relatives who haven't come, uncle?” Yan shook his head. The second nephew stepped forward and asked, “Do you mean there are still two lots of silver you haven't told us about, uncle?” Yan stared hard at him, shook his head even more vehemently, and held out his fingers more earnestly than ever. The wet-nurse, who was carrying his son, put in, “The master must be thinking of the two uncles who aren't here.” But when he heard this, he closed his eyes and shook his head. Only his fingers did not move. Then the new wife hastily stepped forward, dabbing at her eyes. “They're all wide of the mark,” she said. “I'm the only one who knows what you mean.” But to know what it was, you must read the chapter which follows. |
URN: ctp:rulin-waishi/5