During the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a pair of brothers in Liangfeng County, their parents died early, and the two brothers depended on each other, and they all said that the nine sons of the dragon were different, and the same was true for the two brothers.
After the death of his parents, he started a business with the only little savings in the family, relying on not being afraid of tiredness and willing to endure hardships, and slowly accumulated a lot of family property, and his life is getting better and better, and he also takes good care of this younger brother.
The younger brother's name is Zhang Bao, his personality is not like his brother at all, he doesn't do his job when he is young, and he causes trouble every day. When he grew up, he ate, drank, prostituted, and gambled.
Zhang Fu advised his younger brother not to do this many times, but Zhang Bao still went his own way, and complained that his brother had seized his parents' property and did not give it to him, and asked for a split many times.
Zhang Fu had no choice but to agree to his younger brother's request, divide the family property into two, and pay for him to marry a wife.
This year, Zhang Fu went out to do business, leaving his daughter-in-law Liniang at home. Unexpectedly, Zhang Fu left for three years, and there was no news for three whole years, and no one knew whether he was alive or dead.
During the past three years, because Zhang Fu was not at home, no one restrained Zhang Bao, and he was even more lawless, not only losing all his family property, but also owing a lot of gambling debts. Every three or five days, creditors come to collect debts, and Zhao Bao has no way to seek wealth, so he puts his mind on his brother Zhang Fu's family property.
Zhang Bao wanted to meddle in his brother's legacy many times, but his sister-in-law Liniang looked at it too closely, and he couldn't intervene, so he regarded Liniang as a thorn in his eye, a thorn in the flesh, and wanted to get rid of it quickly.
As the old saying goes, "If it's not a family, it's not a family." "This Zhang Bao's wife is not a good thing, she is lazy to eat all day long, and she is very frivolous and profligate.
Since Zhang Bao lost all his family property, he always complained that he was a poor man and had no money for her enjoyment. Looking at my sister-in-law Liniang again, she guards so many fields and properties by herself, and her life is very rich, and she has long been so red-eyed.
On this day, Zhang Bao and his daughter-in-law said: "My brother has been missing for three years, and there is no news. Why did my brother leave the family property to let her Liniang monopolize it alone. ”
Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law also agreed: "That's it, how can you share half of the family property left by your brother." ”
Zhang Bao suddenly said with a fierce face: "If Liniang is also gone, then the family property left by my brother will not be mine." ”
In the end, Zhang Bao and his daughter-in-law decided to sell Liniang, so that they could not only occupy the family business left by their brother, but also earn an extra amount of silver.
On this day, Liniang asked a few people to help plough the land, and then Zhang Bao suddenly came to Liniang and said anxiously: "Sister-in-law, my brother has a letter." ”
When Liniang heard the sudden letter from her husband, who had been missing for three years, she didn't have time to think about it, and asked anxiously: "What did your brother say in the letter!."”
Zhang Bao said sadly, "The letter said that my brother is seriously ill outside, and I am afraid that it will not be cured, so let my sister-in-law prepare for the funeral!."”
Li Niang heard that her husband was dying for a long time, and there were other things in charge there, so she hurriedly entrusted the affairs of the family to Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law, and she followed Zhang Bao to find her husband.
Zhang Bao was afraid that Liniang would find something wrong on the road, so he specially invited a sedan chair for her, and said with a good name: "Sister-in-law, this time the journey is far away, in case sister-in-law is tired and sick on the road, who will take care of my brother at that time." ”
As soon as Li Niang heard this, she agreed to Zhang Bao's request, and the sedan chair was lifted quickly along the way. It turned out that Zhang Bao had already sold Liniang to the scoundrel Zhang Er Mazi in the next county for fifty taels.
Along the way, Zhang Bao fantasized about the days after getting his brother's family property, and his heart was as sweet as pouring honey, and he reached out and touched the fifty taels of silver in his arms, and he was even more happy.
Most gamblers can't have money in their hands, but if they have money, they can't help but want to gamble for money, Zhang Bao is like this, with fifty taels from selling his sister-in-law in his arms, this hand is itching and unbearable, and the road is not halfway away, so he turned into the casino.
To say that Li Niang is also a smart woman, since Zhang Bao left to go to the gambling house, Li Niang did not hear the little uncle speak for a long time, and she became suspicious in her heart, and when the sedan chair man rested, she found that Zhang Bao was gone, and she knew that she was afraid that she had been deceived.
Li Niang thought to herself: "If something really happened to her husband, Zhang Bao said that he would not leave halfway, and now Zhang Bao said goodbye, which can only mean that he did not receive a letter from her husband at all, but why should he lie to himself?"Li Niang thought for a while and understood, it must be for her husband's property.
Suddenly, Liniang shouted to stop the sedan chair and said: "Sorry big brothers, I was too anxious to go out and forgot to bring silver, I'm afraid there will be no money to reward you at that time, please make a hard trip, send me back to get some silver taels, rest assured that I won't let you run in vain, I will reward some more silver taels when the time comes, please drink big brothers!."”
These two sedan chair men are Zhang Ermazi's subordinates, and they are also two greedy money-grubbers, they know that Zhang Bao's selling of his sister-in-law was done secretly, and no one knows. The two thought that Li Niang was still in the dark, thinking that it would be good if they could cheat some money and flowers, and said: "This lady, we have already walked half the way, how to calculate the cost of the journey back now!."”
Li Niang said helplessly: "I can't help it, I don't have a penny with me now, even when I get to the place, I don't have money to see a doctor for my family, so let's do it, you send me back to get the money, and I will pay double the travel expenses." In addition, I am rewarding the two eldest brothers with a meal of wine money, how about it!”
When the two heard that they could not only cheat double the travel fee, but also pay for more drinks, they immediately agreed. The two turned around and sent Liniang back again.
When she arrived at the door, Li Niang said: "The two eldest brothers have worked hard, you wait for me outside for a while, and I will come out immediately after entering the house to get the money." After saying that, Li Niang walked into the house quickly.
After Li Niang entered the house, about a quarter of an hour later, she saw a group of servants with sticks rushing out of the house, followed by Li Niang.
Seeing this, the two palanquin men knew that the matter had been revealed, only to see Liniang angrily pointing at the two and shouting: "It's the two of them, call me." A group of people rushed up to the two palanquin drivers and beat them indiscriminately, so that the two of them were holding their heads and running away.
Besides, Zhang Bao, he has been in the casino for a day and a night, at this time he has already lost the fifty taels of ** obtained from selling his sister-in-law, and he plans to go home and sell his brother's property to get back the capital.
I never thought that I met Zhang Ermazi just out of the casino, Zhang Bao didn't know that his sister-in-law was not fooled at all, he said with a cheap smile: "Brother Erma, how does my sister-in-law feel!."”
Zhang Er Mazi gave him a big slap as soon as he raised his hand when he heard this, and scolded: "Okay, you Zhang Bao, you deceived people and deceived the master." ”
Zhang Bao covered his swollen and red face with one hand, and asked in confusion: "Zhang Ermazi, why did you beat me?" I'm going to lie to you......”
Zhang Ermazi grabbed Zhang Bao's collar, pulled him down in front of him, and said viciously: "You are pretending to sell your sister-in-law, you are really cheating money!."I don't want to talk nonsense with you, give me back the fifty taels, and I won't care about you. ”
Zhang Bao said: "Why did I pretend to sell people, I personally sent the sedan chair, and the two sedan chair drivers can testify ......."”
Before Zhang Bao could finish speaking, Zhang Ermazi slapped Zhang Bao's face with a big mouth, and scolded: "You are embarrassed to say that she has already run home, not only that, but she also let the family beat my two men to serious injuries, and now those two are still lying at home." Don't talk nonsense, pay back!”
When Zhang Bao heard this, he immediately played a scoundrel: "That's none of my business, anyway, I have already handed over the person to you, as for the person who ran away, what does it have to do with me." Besides, the fifty taels have already been lost by me, and there is no one to ask for money. ”
As soon as Zhang Er Mazi heard this, he knew that Zhang Bao was planning to play a scoundrel with himself. Zhang Er Mazi didn't talk nonsense with him, and directly pressed Zhang Bao to the ground and beat him, and said while beating: "Since you have no money, then use your life to pay off the debt today!."”
After a while, Zhang Bao was beaten with a blue nose and swollen face and begged for mercy, and finally wrote a loan shark IOU, and Zhang Er Mazi was willing to let him go.
This time, Zhang Bao was beaten all over his body, and even his arm was broken, and he lay at home for three months. Zhang Er Mazi also came to the door every now and then to force debts, and in desperation, Zhang Bao had to smash the pot and sell iron to pay back the money.
Zhang Bao, who suffered a big loss, hated Liniang even more in his heart, and he discussed with his daughter-in-law that he must find a way to get rid of this thorn in the eye and a thorn in the flesh.
Zhang Bao's wife suddenly said: "I have a distant cousin who is very rich, and he has always wanted to take a beautiful concubine. Why don't we sell her to my cousin. ”
Zhang Bao immediately agreed, and after Zhang Bao's wife found her cousin and negotiated the price, she found Liniang and pretended to apologize.
After she saw Liniang, she said pitifully with tears in the corners of her eyes: "Sister-in-law, it's all because Zhang Bao is addicted to gambling, I didn't expect that if I didn't give him money, he would do something like that, you have a lot of adults, forgive him for being confused for a while." Hey......Sister-in-law, don't worry, I will discipline him well when I go back. ”
Seeing that her brother-in-law had already admitted her mistake, Li Niang thought: "Zhang Bao is her husband's brother after all, no matter what, they are a family, since she has nothing to do, it is not good to make it too ugly." He said, "Don't worry, I've forgiven him, and I hope he won't have another time." ”
A few days later, Zhang Bao's wife came to Liniang crying, and Liniang asked, "Brother and sister, what's wrong with you, crying so sadly." ”
Zhang Bao's wife choked up and said, "My mother died of illness ......”
Li Niang hurriedly comforted: "Brother and sister are still mourning, don't be too sad, no one can escape from old age, sickness and death!."”
Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law said: "I want to ask my sister-in-law to accompany me back to my mother's house for my mother's funeral, I don't know if my sister-in-law is willing to accompany me back!."”
Seeing her crying so sadly, Liniang changed her clothes and went out with her without saying a word. As soon as I went out, I saw a carriage parked at the door, Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law said that she had invited it, and the two got into the carriage and came directly to Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law's mother's house.
When the two arrived at her mother's house, Liniang found that she was jubilant inside and outside the house, and there was no funeral at all.
Li Niang was taken to a room by her brother and daughter-in-law, and there were two big men guarding the door at the door, and after a while, a middle-aged man walked into the room, and circled around Li Niang, a pair of colored Mimi's eyes kept looking at her, and the middle-aged man looked at it for a while, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, and then turned around and left.
Liniang had already understood at this time, and she seemed to have been sold by Zhang Bao and his wife again.
After about a quarter of an hour, Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law walked into the room with a smile and said to Li Niang with a smile: "Congratulations to sister-in-law." ”
He Xizhi, if you don't explain it today, I will die here. Li Niang said sharply.
Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law thought that her sister-in-law was really killed, and when the time came, she would have to fight if she didn't make a good fuss, so she told Liniang the truth, and said that it was for Liniang's good.
Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law said: "The eldest brother has been missing for three years and has not been heard from, and it is estimated that there is more luck than luck." The younger brother and sister couldn't bear to be widowed when their sister-in-law was so young, so they helped their sister-in-law find a good family. This man is my cousin, their family is rich and powerful, you have seen people just now, if my sister-in-law follows him, I will wait to enjoy happiness in the future!”
After hearing this, Li Niang pretended to be happy and said, "Brother and sister, you are also kind, why didn't you tell me earlier?"You see that I have no children, no daughters and no worries now, if you had told me earlier, then I would have been able to live as a widow for two years less!”
Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law was even more happy after listening to Liniang's words, and grabbed Liniang's hand and said excitedly: "Great, I thought you wouldn't agree!."”
Li Niang then sighed.
What's the matter, sister-in-law, are you still dissatisfied?”
Li Niang said: "I'm just sorry for my set of gold jewelry, Brother Zhang Bao used to give me a set of gold jewelry, I like it very much, hey!."Now it's yours, I'm afraid that Zhang Bao will take it to gamble ...... then”
Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she hurriedly interrupted without waiting for Liniang to finish speaking: "Zhang Bao must not know about this matter, if he knows it, he will definitely lose it." Sister-in-law, where is that set of jewelry now? ”
The jewelry is now kept by one of my confidants, and I can rest assured that this man is faithful to me, and if he doesn't see me, he will not die and give it to others!”
Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law was obsessed with money, so she secretly took Liniang to rush home in a carriage to get jewelry. What she didn't expect was that as soon as Liniang went home, she closed the door, and no matter how she knocked on the door, no one paid attention, so Zhang Bao and his family were happy again!
After more than half a month, Zhang Bao bought a red dress and came to the eldest brother's house to cry loudly, kowtowing and confessing while crying: "Sister-in-law in the past half a month, the more I think about it, the more I feel sorry for you, sister-in-law, blame me for being a gambling loser, and I have the evil intention of selling my sister-in-law.
Today I specially bought a new dress for my sister-in-law to make amends, if you are willing to forgive your brother, wear it, if you refuse to forgive your brother, you will tear this dress and cut it, brother, I have no complaints!After saying that, he handed over the red clothes with both hands.
Liniang was kind-hearted, and when she saw her brother-in-law crying, kowtowing and apologizing, she also deliberately bought clothes to make amends for herself, Liniang thought that he really found out with her conscience, so she put on the new clothes, and Zhang Bao saw that Liniang was wearing the new clothes, so she left with a thousand thanks.
Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law saw Liniang wearing a set of bright new clothes and asked, "Sister-in-law, what day is it today, how good are you dressed!."”
Li Niang replied: "It's not a day, this dress was given by Zhang Bao, and I have to be asked to wear it." ”
When she heard what beautiful clothes were given by Zhang Bao, and then looked at the shabby clothes on her body, she was so angry that she scolded, her wife was wearing rags, but he bought good clothes to give to others, she not only scolded her husband, but also scolded the eighteenth generation of the ancestors of the Zhang family.
Li Niang saw that the more she scolded, the more vicious she became, so she said: "I don't wear this dress properly, if you don't dislike it, take it and wear it!."”
When Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law heard this, she hurriedly said: "How can I dislike such good clothes!."”
Li Niang entered the house and took off her clothes, and then handed them to Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law. After Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law got the clothes, she didn't wait to go home, so she hurriedly put them on in Liniang's room, and the new clothes were worn behind Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law's smiling mouth couldn't close, and she didn't smell beautiful in front of the mirror for a long time.
That night, a group of masked bandits broke into Zhang's house, and strangely enough, the gang did not rob any money, but only robbed a woman dressed in red......
At this time, Zhang Bao gambled in the casino for several days, and finally lost only a pair of pants, before he came out dejectedly, but he didn't expect to hit a person as soon as he got out of the casino, and he was about to scold, when he saw that the person was his eldest brother who had been missing for three years.
It turned out that Zhang Fu really had a serious illness, so he didn't go home for a few years. After he recovered from his illness, he went to Suzhou to sell cloth and made a fortune, because he was worried about the Liniang at home, so he took the silver two home, but he didn't expect to meet his brother before he got home.
Zhang Fu asked: "In the past few years, everything has been okay at home?"”
After Zhang Bao saw his brother, he was shocked, and when he saw his brother asking about the situation at home, he immediately hugged Zhang Fu and cried bitterly: "Big brother, you have been there all these years, and you don't know how to write a letter to your family to report your safety." My sister-in-law thought you were dead, and she couldn't bear the loneliness and ran away with other men. It's all to blame for my brother's incompetence and didn't help you watch your sister-in-law. ”
After listening to his brother's words, Zhang Fu felt indescribably uncomfortable, and he was depressed all the way. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the house, he saw Liniang, and when Liniang saw her husband coming back, she pounced happily, and the two hugged and cried.
Zhang Bao saw that Liniang was still at home, and hurriedly ran home in shock, and found that his wife was missing, and he was complaining in his heart, at this time Zhang Fu kicked the door open, and scolded when he entered the house: "Okay, you conscience Zhang Bao, you actually want to sell your sister-in-law to occupy my family property, do you still have a little brotherhood in your heart?"”
Zhang Bao swore to the sky and said: "Brother, I'm your own brother, can I still lie to you, it's my sister-in-law who doesn't abide by women's morals and wants to go with wild men." Now that I see my brother coming back, I am afraid that I will expose her, so I will sue the wicked first and stir up feelings between our brothers. Brother, do you believe in your brother, or do you believe in her?”
Zhang Bao said that he was awe-inspiring, and Zhang Fu didn't know who to believe. At this moment, Lai Hu, the town's head snake, broke into Zhang's house with his men, and as soon as he entered the door, he shouted: "Zhang Bao is there, let Lao Tzu come out." ”
Zhang Bao saw that it was Lai Hu, and he was already too frightened to make a sound, so he hurriedly hid behind his eldest brother Zhang Fu, Zhang Fu stepped forward and asked, "I don't know what you are looking for?"”
Lai Hu said viciously: "Zhang Bao's kid sold me a woman, and the woman actually stole my money and ran away with my housekeeper." I don't ask for someone for him, I ask for someone to ......”
It turned out that Zhang Bao sold Liniang to Lai Hu, and the two discussed that in the evening, Lai Hu would send someone to Zhang's house and rob him when he saw someone wearing red clothes. The last time he sold Liniang, he was messed up by his daughter-in-law, so this time he didn't say anything from his daughter-in-law, but by mistake his daughter-in-law put on Liniang's red clothes and was snatched away by Lai Hu.
Zhang Bao's daughter-in-law is romantic, and she accepted her fate after being robbed, but she really didn't like it when she saw that Lai Huzhang was too ugly. Within two days, they hooked up with the housekeeper, and the two were afraid that Lai Hu would know, so they stole a lot of Lai Hu's gold, silver and jewelry and eloped.
Lai Hu has no money and money, of course, he has to ask Zhang Bao for compensation, Zhang Bao is addicted to gambling and has money to pay Lai Hu, he really wants no one and no money.
Lai Hu suffered a big loss, how could he give up, he pointed to Zhang Bao and said: "If you can't come up with the money today, I will arrest you and take you to the coal kiln to work as a coolie." ”
Zhang Bao knew that if he couldn't come up with the money today, Lai Hu would definitely not let him go, so he hurriedly knelt in front of his brother and sister-in-law and begged his brother and sister-in-law to save him.
Zhang Fu, who knew the truth of the matter, said sadly: "You have repeatedly harmed your sister-in-law, and you have repeatedly been unrepentant, until just now you were still deceiving me and slandering Liniang, you still have my eldest brother in your heart, and there is still a trace of brotherhood." After speaking, he led Liniang out of the room.
In the end, Zhang Bao failed to sell his sister-in-law, but sold himself to the coal kiln as a coolie, which was really self-inflicted.