In the Ming Dynasty in the late 16th century, social crises lurked. In the Wanli period, due to the continuous use of troops, the treasury was even more empty. In order to raise military salaries, the imperial court stepped up the search for people's fat and ointment, and temporarily opened the case of accepting millet into prison, as long as they donated silver and grain, they could enter the prison.
There is a Li Jia in Shaoxing Mansion, Zhejiang, when he heard the news, he went to discuss with his father, and he also wanted to donate a student to study in prison.
Li Jia's father was a political envoy in charge of a province. Li Buzheng knew that Nasu was so cheap to be imprisoned: he was good at studying, easy to move, and he would have a future in the future, so he agreed and gave his son 1,000 taels of silver.
Li Jia and fellow villager Liu Yuchun came to the capital together, and as usual, they made a sum of money, and they all became superintendents and became students.
These students in the superintendent are all eunuchs and rich children, and they have no intention of studying at all, and they only get together to talk about looking for flowers and willows.
One day, Li Jia and Liu Yuchun traveled to the teaching workshop together and met a famous concubine in the hospital. The Ji surname is Du Mingyu, ranked tenth, and the courtyard is called Du Shi Niang.
This Du Shi Niang's face is like a lotus calyx, her lips are like cherries, and her eyes are even more charming and moving.
They then drank together. Du Siniang was very happy to see Li Jia's handsome face and gentle temperament; Li Jia also fell in love with Du Siniang at first sight and didn't want to leave.
Since then, Li Jia has come to teach the workshop every day. Nadu Shi Niang died of her parents when she was a child, and she fell into the dust by mistake at the age of thirteen. In the past seven years, I don't know how many sons and grandsons have fallen for her and offered her courtesy, Du Siniang was indifferent, but she was affectionate to Li Jia.
Shi Niang saw that the bustard was greedy for money and unjust, and she had a good ambition for a long time, and now she saw that Li Gongzi was loyal and sincere, so she had the heart to promise each other. The two love each other is getting closer and closer, happy and happy at dusk, staying together all day long, like a couple.
Since Du Siniang got along with Li Jia, she no longer received other guests. Because Li Gongzi was willing to make a lot of money, the old bustard also looked at him differently, and tried every means to send other sons and brothers who came to the door.
Lao Buzheng heard that his son was visiting a brothel at home, and wrote several times to ask him to go home, but Li Jia and Shi Niang had a strong relationship, and they refused to leave all day long.
Du Siniang saw that Li Jia was so affectionate to herself, so she told him her willingness to be good. Although Li Jia loves Du Siniang very much, he is afraid of his father's strict etiquette and strict nature, and will never agree to marry a prostitute as his wife, so he does not dare to accept it for a while.
The days and months have passed, and I don't feel that there is more than a year. Li Jia heard that Lao Buzheng was angry at home, and he didn't dare to ask for money again, but the 1,000 taels of silver he brought were about to run out, which made him very anxious.
The old bustard saw that Li Gongzi's bag was gradually empty, and his hands were not careful, so he was lazy. There is a saying: Those who fellowship with Eli will benefit from all their gains. Seeing that Shi Niang refused to send Li Jia out of the hospital, the old bustard provoked him to get up with cold words.
Li Jia was ridiculed, although he was angry in his heart, he couldn't let go of Du Shi Niang, so he stayed patiently. Du Siniang treats him with true affection, seeing that the shorter his hands are, the hotter his heart becomes.
Seeing that Li Jia was still not discharged from the hospital, the old bustard scolded Shi Niang every day: "We are a family of people, eaters and wear guests, the front door sends the old, the back door welcomes the new, the courtyard is like a fire, and the money and silk are piled up." Since Li Jia has been here for more than a year, what has become of my family?
Du Siniang was scolded, and couldn't help replying: "Then Li Gongzi didn't come to the door empty-handed, and he also spent a lot of money." The old bustard sneered and said, "At that time, at this time, you only teach him to spend a little money today!" ”
The old bustard knew that Li Jia's bag was empty and his clothes were exhausted, so he said to Du Shi Niang: "You told the poor man that you have the ability to buy you for a few taels of silver, and I don't want to beg a girl to live." ”
Shi Niang tentatively asked her how much silver she wanted. The old bustard looked disdainful and said, "If it were someone else, I would have asked for a thousand pieces of silver; The poor man could not afford it, and he only had to pay three hundred taels, but he had to pay it within three days. ”
Shi Niang knew that Li Jiake was living outside, and it was difficult to take measures for this money for a while, so she asked Lao Bustard for a few days. The old bustard thought to himself that the poor man had a pair of empty hands, even if he was limited to a hundred days, and he would not be able to take out a silver tael, so he said generously: "Look at your face, it will be ten days wide, and there will be no silver taels, and the stick will go out." ”
Shi Niang knew that the old bustard was untrustworthy and unrighteous, and she would regret it when the time came, and asked her to make up her mind. Who knows, the old bustard deceived Li Jia at the end of the road, the pawn was exhausted, and the gambling curse and punishment oath were sworn at the moment, and Shi Niang high-fived was determined.
That night, Shi Niang told Li Jia about this matter and asked him to hurry up. Li Jia was penniless, and it was difficult to raise three hundred taels of redemption silver, so he couldn't help but feel sad.
Shi Niang reminded him that there are always some relatives and friends in Kyoto, can he go to borrow money. Li Jia knew that those relatives and friends refused to borrow money because of their obsession with fireworks, and if they talked about borrowing travel expenses, they might be able to make up the money.
Early the next morning. Li Jia got up to freshen up, and said goodbye to Shi Niang and went out.
Li Jia came to the three relatives and four friends, and if he got up to say goodbye, everyone was also happy. Later, when they mentioned that they were short of travel expenses and wanted to borrow, their relatives and friends refused to resist it.
Relatives and friends all know that Li Gongzi is a wanderer, and they are afraid that he will cheat him and repay the fat powder money, if his father knows, his good intentions will become malice, so he refuses to lend him money.
Li Jia ran for three days in a row, but he didn't get anything, and he didn't dare to tell Shi Niang clearly, but he was vague and had the right to deal with it.
On the fourth day, there was no hope, and Li Jia was ashamed to return to the hospital. On weekdays, he had no other place except the Du family, so he had to go to Liu Yuchun's apartment to spend the night.
Liu Yuchun saw Li Jia's sad face and asked him why. Li Jia explained Du Shi Niang's willingness to marry in detail. When Liu Yuchun heard this, he shook his head and said: "Not necessarily, not necessarily, Du Shi Niang's worth is more than three hundred taels of silver, this is probably a plan for fireworks to chase customers." ”
Although Li Jia felt that what Liu Yuchun said was reasonable, he really couldn't let go of Du Shi Niang in his heart, so he still went outside to tell him, and he didn't enter the courtyard at night. He stayed in Prison Liu's apartment for three days.
Du Shi Niang didn't see Li Jia enter the hospital for several days, and she was very anxious, so she sent her little girl Si'er to the street to look for it.
Si'er came to the street and happened to meet Childe. Si'er shouted: "Brother-in-law Li, Shi Niang is watching you at home." Childe felt shameless and replied: "I don't have any effort today, come tomorrow." Si'er obeyed Shi Niang's order and insisted on pulling him back.
Li Jia was also worried about Shi Niang, so he had no choice but to enter the hospital with Si'er. When I saw Shi Niang, I told me how to borrow money, it was really "I don't believe that it is easy to go up the mountain to catch a tiger, and it is really difficult to tell someone", and said and shed tears.
Shi Niang knew that he was not careless, but the world was really cold, so she asked him to hide his true feelings from the bustard mother for the time being, and slowly think of a way. Shi Niang prepared her own wine and food to relieve her sorrows with her son.
At dawn the next day, Du Shi Niang handed over a mattress to Li Jia, saying that there was one hundred and fifty taels of broken silver inside, which was his own private savings, please try to make up another one hundred and fifty taels, and don't miss the deadline.
Li Jia was pleasantly surprised, and when he arrived at Liu Yuchun's apartment, he told Yuchun about his feelings for coming at night. And he took apart the mattress, and there were a hundred and fifty taels of silver in it.
Faced with the facts, Yu Chun was shocked and said: "This woman really has a heart, since it is true love, you can't live up to it, I will definitely try it for you." ”
After two days of traveling, Liu Yuchun scraped together one hundred and fifty taels of silver and handed it over to Li Jiadao: "I raised money for you, not for you, I really pity Shi Niang's sincerity." ”
Li Jia took three hundred taels of silver, smiled, and happily came to see Shi Niang, and told Liu Jiansheng again. Shi Niang was very happy and felt that they could get their wish, all thanks to Liu Jun's great help.
The next day, Shi Niang got up early and said to Li Jia: "If you pay two silver, you can go away and fly high." I borrowed twenty taels from my sister yesterday, and you can take it as a fare. Li Jia was worried that the road expenses were not settled, but he didn't dare to speak; Now he took the silver, and he was overjoyed.
While the two were rejoicing, the bustard mother pushed the door in and shouted, "Sister-in-law, today is the tenth day." Before the words fell, Li Jiaxi diligently held three hundred taels of silver.
The bustard's mother didn't expect her son to have silver, and suddenly changed color. Seeing that she seemed to be remorseful, Shi Niang said coldly: "The good thing is promised by my mother herself, and three hundred taels is not owed, and the deadline has never passed." If the mother breaks her trust and the son commits suicide immediately, the son will immediately take back the silver, and then the people and money will be empty, and there will be no regret. ”
The old bustard was speechless, and after planning for a long time, he said: "It's already like this, I can't keep you." It's just that if you want to go, you will go immediately, and you will not think about it at all. With that, he pushed Gongzi and Shi Niang out of the door and locked them casually.
At that time, the weather in September, Shi Niang got out of bed, she had not yet freshened up, and only wore old clothes. Li Jia and his wife left the gate of Bustard.
Du Siniang has been in the hospital for many years, and she gets along well with the sisters on weekdays, so she left, and went to say goodbye to Li Jia at everyone's place.
They went to Xie Yuelang's house first, who was their closest confidant. Yuelang saw Shi Niang's bald old shirt and asked the reason. Shi Niang told what happened. Yuelang was very angry, and felt that the bustard's mother's heart was too vicious.
Xie Yuelang was grooming Shi Niang, and at the same time invited Xu Susu and those sisters who were good with Shi Niang to come to the house to meet.
Xie Yuelang and Xu Susu each gave gifts. Some took out Cui Tian Jin Chuan, some took out Yao Hairpin Baoer, some took out brocade sleeve flower skirts, and some took out Luan belt embroidered shoes, dressing Du Shi Niang up with a new look.
Xie Yuelang prepared a feast to celebrate. At the banquet, the sisters all praised the lamps with Li Jia and his wife, and said that they would send some plates to Shi Niang. Shi Niang just nodded in thanks.
That night, Du Shi Niang stayed at Xie Yuelang's place, and Li Jia went to Liu Yuchun's apartment to say goodbye. The two agreed to meet tomorrow at Chongwenmen.
The next day, when the sisters sent Du Shiniang to Chongwenmen, Liu Yuchun and Li Jia also arrived. When Du Siniang saw Liu Yuchun, she fell down and bowed down to thank him for his thoughtful virtue.
Liu Yuchun admires Du Shi Niang's love and righteousness, does not change her heart for poverty, and is a heroine among women. He raised his glass and toasted them.
At this time, the sisters handed Shi Niang a gold-painted box, saying that it was some gifts from everyone (in fact, it was Shi Niang's private savings). Shi Niang didn't shirk, but just thanked him diligently.
Liu Yuchun and the sisters sent them out of Chongwen, Shi Niang was like a lost goose, particularly sad, broke up at this time, I don't know when we met, I couldn't help but shed tears.
After parting, Du Siniang and Li Jia went south. On the way, the couple discussed: If they go back now, Li Jia's father will definitely not be compatible, so they decided to let Shi Niang live in Hangzhou temporarily, and when they made sense of their father, they would come to pick up Shi Niang and go home.
They traveled to the Lu River, hired a boat, and headed for Hangzhou. At this time, it was the middle of winter, the wind and waves were calm, looking at the dry grass all over the field and the wild geese, the couple really had a feeling of bitterness.
After two days, Li Jia's bags were empty, and he couldn't help but feel depressed. Shi Niang persuaded him not to be worried, and took the spoon to open the gold box. Li Jia was beside her, feeling ashamed, and she didn't dare to peek into the box, only to see her take out a red silk bag.
Shi Niang handed over the fifty taels of silver in the red silk bag to Li Jia and said, "The things given by the sisters are not only the travel expenses, but also the living expenses in Hangzhou. Li Jia was grateful and said, "If I don't meet Enqing, I, Li Jia, will be in a foreign land, and I will die without a place to be buried." This is a virtue, and the white head does not dare to forget it. ”
The boat arrived in Guazhou and anchored overnight. The moon is as bright as water, all the sounds are silent, Li Jia and Shi Niang sit on the bow of the boat while drinking, while admiring the moon.
Drinking until he was half-drunk, Li Jia asked Shi Niang to sing a song on the night of the bright moon in Qingjiang to relieve the depression of the day. Shi Niang came on a whim, so she cleared her throat and sang a song "Little Pink". The warbler's song also reached the ears of the people across the boat.
This man was Sun Fu, the son of a wealthy salt merchant, who was imprisoned and studying in Nanjing. He used to laugh at Qinglou, and when he heard this singing, he knew that the singer must not be a good family. In order to see her, I moved my mind all night.
When it came to the fifth watch, suddenly the river wind was blowing, the clouds were dense, and the snow was flying. The chaotic earth, the filthy world, was suddenly covered by the white and crystal snow.
Due to the wind and snow, the boat could not be opened. Early in the morning, Sun Fu pushed the window and pretended to watch the snow, which coincided with Shi Niang pouring water. Sun Fu saw that she had a beautiful face, and it was really a national color, and he couldn't help but shake his heart.
In order to see Shi Niang again, Sun Fu stood on the bow of the boat and chanted a poem: "The snow is full of mountains, and the beauty under the moon and the forest comes." Li Jia heard the sound of poetry outside the ship, so he stretched out his head out of the cabin to look.
This look is exactly what Sun Fu's plan is. Sun Fu's poetry is to lure people out of the cabin, so that they can take the opportunity to talk. Hurriedly raised his hand at the moment and asked, "Brother's surname?" Li Gongzi said his name and place of origin, and he had to ask Sun Fu as well. The two of them talked some gossip in Taixue, and gradually became familiar with each other.
Sun Fu invited Li Jia to go ashore for a drink; Li Jia was polite and left the ship to go ashore.
Not far away, there is a restaurant. The two of them went upstairs, picked a clean table, and sat by the window. The bartender served wine and food, and the two enjoyed the snow and drank.
Let's talk about Sven's clichés first, and gradually introduce the matter of flowers and willows. The more they talked, the more speculative they became, and they suddenly became confidants.
Sun Fuping went left and right and asked in a low voice, "Who sang on the boat last night?" Li Jia was about to show off his skills, so he told the truth: "She is the famous Ji Du Shi Niang in Beijing." ”
When Sun Fu heard this, he raised his glass and asked, "Since they are sisters in the song, how can they return to their brothers?" Li Jia said in detail from the first time he met Shi Niang to Shi Niang's marriage.
Sun Fudao: "Brother returning with a beautiful woman is a happy thing, but I don't know if it can be compatible in the Zun Mansion?" What if it is incompatible? Li Jia said that his father was strict, so he temporarily let Shi Niang live in Hangzhou, and asked Sun Fu how to deal with it.
Sun Fuyin was silent for a long time, and pretended to be serious and said: "Between the first meeting of the younger brother, the exchange is shallow and deep, and I am afraid that I will be surprised. Li Jia said: "Relying on the wisdom of the advice, why be humble? So Sun Fu said that it would not be easy for his father to change his mind; Temporarily living in Hangzhou is not a long-term plan, in case the road is exhausted, wouldn't it be a dilemma!
Li Jia's fifty taels of silver had already spent most of it at this time, and when it came to the exhaustion of the road expenses and the dilemma, he nodded unconsciously and said yes. Sun Fu took the opportunity to say again: "The generation of fireworks, there are few truths and more fakes, and it is difficult to guarantee that there will be no ** things in the future." ”
Sun Fu grasped Li Jia's fear of his father, and said: "Father and son are family, and they must not be extinguished." If you touch your father for the sake of a concubine, and abandon your house because of a prostitute, you will be ashamed of the world. Li Jia was at a loss at this time, and couldn't help but leave the table and run to Sun Fu to ask him what he had to say.
Sun Fu said: "I have a plan, and it is very convenient for my brother." I'm afraid that my brother will indulge in the love of the pillow seat, and he may not be able to do it. Li Jia said: "If my brother has a good plan to make me relive the joy of family, I am my brother's benefactor, what is the inconvenience to say?" ”
Sun Fu said: "The Lord is so angry with his brother, but he is obsessed with flowers and willows, and he spends money like dirt." If my brother can cut his love, I am willing to give him a thousand gold, and my brother will get a thousand gold to repay the respect for the adult, and the family will be harmonious from now on. It's not that I'm greedy for beauty, but I'm really thinking about my brother. ”
Li Jiayuan was a person who had no idea, he was afraid of Lao Tzu in his heart, and Sun Fu said that he had doubts in his chest, and he got up and said: "Brother Wen's great teaching, suddenly open the mouth." ”
Although Li Jia thought it was a good idea, he thought that Shi Niang had been following each other for thousands of miles, and he had a deep affection for him, and he was afraid that it would be difficult to break off, and he said that he would go back to discuss with her before making a decision. So Sun Fu calculated the wine money, and the two went downstairs to return to the boat.
Li Jia returned to the boat and saw that Shi Niang was eagerly waiting for him, so he was embarrassed to say it directly, and fell asleep on the shop sullenly.
Shi Niang saw that he just sighed, so she sat at the head of the bed and couldn't sleep at night. When Li Jia woke up in the middle of the night, she repeatedly asked him why he was depressed. Li Jia was forced to finally tell the truth.
When Shi Niang heard this, it was like a pour of cold water, cold from the outside to her heart, and tears fell like rain. She thought that she would have a happy family if she was thousands of miles away, but who would have expected that the pearl would be secretly cast and put a piece of sincerity into the water.
At first, she only thought that Li Jia was falling for someone else's job, and then she thought about it, Li Jia was really a thin lover who saw money. At this time, she only hated that she had been blind before, and she took him so seriously, and she was extremely sad and angry.
Shi Niang sneered and said, "The one who planned this plan for Lang Jun is a big hero." Since you are afraid that your father will not allow it, I can't tire you of the relationship between father and son. I am willing to obey this matter, and it is as you wish. ”
She asked again, "Have you ever received a thousand taels of silver?" Li Jia held back his tears at this time and said: "Without your consent, how dare you accept the cash." Shi Niang took care of him: see Sun Fu tomorrow morning, collect the thousand taels of silver and check the full number, and then follow him to the boat.
At this time, before dawn, Shi Niang got up and picked up the lamp to freshen up. She said that today's makeup is to welcome the new and send off the old, which is extraordinary. Shi Niang dressed herself up in a fragrant breeze and a radiant glow.
The costume is over, and the sky is dawning. Shi Niang saw from the mirror that Li Jia was happy and happy, and her heart was like a knife, but she held back her tears and urged Li Jia to reply quickly and redeem the money as soon as possible.
Li Jia came to Sun Fu's boat and replied that Shi Niang had agreed, and quickly took the silver taels to redeem it. Sun Fu didn't believe that Shi Niang could get it so easily, and asked Li Jia to use her dressing table as a proof.
When Li Jia took Shi Niang's gold box, Sun Fu was overjoyed, and took out **1,000 taels and handed it to Li Jia.
Shi Niang personally inspected the silver that Li Jia got back, and found that the number of feet was exactly right, so she beckoned Sun Fu to get on the boat. Sun Fu saw that Shi Niangyan was wearing heavy makeup, and her soul was not possessed.
Shi Niang asked Sun Fu to return her gold painting box, saying that Li Jia's road strip was in it and wanted to return it to him. Sun Fu said yes again and again, waved his hand and asked the scholar to bring the gold box and put it on the bow of the boat.
Du Siniang took the key and unlocked it in front of everyone, and there were drawers and small boxes inside. She asked Li Jia to open the first drawer, which was filled with jade Mingjue and Yao hairpin treasures, which were worth hundreds of gold.
People's hearts are not worth it, what a pity for pearls. Li Jia's negative heart made Shi Niang's thoughts discouraged, her heart was like an arrow piercing, and after Li Jia saw it clearly, she casually threw them into the water. Li Jia, Sun Fu, and the people on the two boats were all surprised.
She also asked Li Jia to look at the second and third drawers, which contained jade pipes and gold pipes, ancient jade purple gold toys, which were worth thousands of gold, and Du Shi Niang also threw them into the water. At this time, there were many people watching from the boat and the shore, and they sighed in unison: "It's a pity, it's a pity! "But I don't know why.
When I opened the last drawer, I saw a large handful of night pearls, and other pearls such as emeralds and cat's eyes, which I had never seen before, and I didn't know how much it was worth. Du Shi Niang was about to throw them into the river again, Li Jia was extremely remorseful at this time, and grabbed Shi Niang's hands and cried loudly.
That Sun Fu also came to persuade, Shi Niang pushed Li Jia away, and scolded Sun Fu sharply: "You deceived Li Jia with adultery, deceived Li Jia with rhetoric, and used silver to ** his heart, and broke up our husband and wife, you are my enemy, don't think I will marry you!" ”
Shi Niang turned to angrily reprimand Li Jia: "What is hidden in the box is my life savings, no less than 10,000 gold." Who knows that you are a mere daughter, and you will be abandoned in the middle way, and I will be sincere. Sigh that I am as guarded as jade, and hate that you have no beads in your eyes. Today, everyone has their own ears and eyes, and they will prove together, it is not me who bears you Li Jia, but you who bear my ten mothers! ”
Li Jia was scolded by Shi Niang so ashamed and bitter, and regretted and cried, and was about to step forward to apologize, Shi Niang jumped into the heart of the river with the treasure box.
Onlookers on the boat and on the shore urgently called for help, and several young fishermen jumped into the river one after another despite the cold and freezing, but there was no trace of Shi Niang.
At that time, the onlookers gritted their teeth and angrily scolded Li Jia for being unfortunate and Sun Fu for being greedy and murderous, and they rushed up to beat these two boys. The panic made Li and Sun tremble, and they hurriedly shouted to start the boat and fled for their lives.
Li Jia was in the boat, looking at the thousand taels of silver, remembering Du Shi Niang's character, and was extremely sad and angry. When he returned home, he was full of regret and depression, and he never recovered.
Sun Fu was frightened that day, and was sick and bedridden for more than a month, and his illness became more and more serious, and he seemed to see Du Shi Niang scolding loudly beside the bed all day long, and soon died.