During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a young carpenter named Zhang Dashan in Huaining County, Anqing Prefecture, Nanzhili, who opened a coffin shop in the town, and lived a fairly comfortable life.
In the west of Huaining County, a small village called Xiazhang Village, at this time is very lively, today is the village Li Yuanwai's only son on the day of the big day, Li Yuanwai set up a hundred tables of flowing water seats, used to feast the village's men, women and children.
Li Yuanwai is an outsider, who came to this village after fleeing the famine, and later married a girl in the village, which really settled down.
But after marriage, because Li Yuanwai had no skills, and his family was hungry for a meal, he had no choice but to go to the business road with several young people in the village.
He had been gone for three years, and suddenly one day, this Li Yuanwai came back from outside, and at the same time brought back a large wooden box in a carriage.
However, on the second day of his return, his wife, who has always been physically tough, suddenly died at home, Li Yuanwai casually pulled a bamboo mat to wrap his wife's body, and hastily buried it, and within a few days, a bewitching woman lived with Li Yuanwai.
Later, Li Yuanwai and the woman gave birth to a son named Li Ming, who was frail and sickly since he was a child, and he did not marry a daughter-in-law until he was in his thirties.
No, a few days ago, a matchmaker in the next town suddenly came to Li Yuanwai's house, saying that there was a girl who was born good-looking, but the family was poor, as long as Li Yuanwai was willing to contribute some money, the daughter-in-law here couldn't run.
When Li Yuanwai heard this, as long as he could marry a daughter-in-law for his son and inherit the lineage for the old Li family, it would naturally be okay to spend some money.
After the matchmaker got the money, she just touched the bottom of the silver with her hand, and then said: "Just rest assured, stay at home and prepare the wedding needs, and I will bring the bride to the church to get married in five days." ”
After hearing this, Li Yuanwai sent the matchmaker away, and then he was overjoyed, and he held the things needed for the wedding at home, and waited for the bride to pass the door.
On this day, the mother of the county official died, and he sent someone over to ask Zhang Dashan to send a good coffin over! Hearing that it was needed by the county magistrate, Zhang Dashan naturally did not dare to slack off, picked a good Nanmu coffin and tied it to the carriage, and then rushed to the county.
Because the coffin is what the dead need after all, and openly walking on the street is afraid of torturing others, so before going out, Zhang Dashan covered the coffin with a big red silk, which is called Chongxi locally.
When the carriage was halfway there, because of a heavy rain last night, the road was muddy, and the wheels were stuck in the mud puddle and they couldn't get up, and they still couldn't help how to whip the horse's buttocks.
Seeing that it was getting later and later, if you couldn't pull it up, I was afraid that I would have to sleep in this barren mountain tonight, just when Zhang Dashan was sweating profusely, he saw a team of relatives coming in front of him, although he felt a little inappropriate, but Zhang Dashan still stepped forward to ask for help.
Seeing this, the white-faced matchmaker led by the other party did not refuse, and immediately asked several people to stop the sedan chair and easily pushed the carriage out of the pit.
Zhang Dashan stepped forward and bent down to thank him, but saw the fan in the matchmaker's hand, everyone lifted the sedan chair, and set off again.
Just as Zhang Dashan picked up the horse and was about to continue on his way, he casually glanced at the ground, which immediately made him break out in a cold sweat, only to see that the team that had just gotten married, except for the place where the white-faced matchmaker walked, left footprints, but nothing was left where everyone else walked.
Immediately, Zhang Dashan turned his head and shouted to the matchmaker: "Grandma, your thing fell to the ground!" ”
I saw that the grandmother slowly turned her head, glanced at Zhang Dashan meaningfully, and said, "Young man! Be nosy! Otherwise, ......After speaking, he glared at Zhang Dashan fiercely, and the horse seemed to feel some terrifying existence, and almost overturned the coffin on the cart to the ground.
Zhang Dashan hurriedly calmed the panicked horses, and then did not dare to say more and patted the horses and walked forward, when he was about to arrive at the county seat, he happened to meet the county officials who came to answer, so Zhang Dashan handed over the carriage to them, and asked by the way when leaving: "Is there anyone in this county who is married today?" ”
As a result, the official shook his head after hearing this, and left directly with the carriage.
Zhang Dashan followed the footsteps of the matchmaker all the way, but saw that the direction of the footprints was leading to Xiazhang Village, could it be that the sick stupid son of Li Yuanwai's family married his daughter-in-law? No wonder someone informed me to go back to drink the wedding wine two days ago, and Zhang Dashan thought secretly in his heart.
Although this Li Yuanwai is not welcomed by the people in the village, there is indeed something strange about today's marriage, and immediately, Zhang Dashan decided to go back to have a look, in case something happens.
When Zhang Dashan arrived at the entrance of the village, he saw that Li Yuanwai's house was red from a distance, and the sedan chair at the door was the one he met on the road today! Zhang Dashan ran to the sedan chair to take a closer look, but saw a foul smell emanating from the sedan chair.
Hey, isn't this Brother Dashan? A tall, lanky young man exclaimed with joy.
Zhang Dashan was startled by this sudden shout, and then looked up at the other party, it turned out to be Wang Hai, the son of the widow in the village.
A few years ago, Wang's widow died of her husband, because the family was poor, and she couldn't even afford a coffin, and finally Zhang Dashan gave them a coffin for free, and since then, this Wang Hai is full of gratitude to Zhang Dashan in his heart.
Xiaohai, have you seen the bride in this sedan chair today? Zhang Dashan asked.
As soon as Wang Hai heard Zhang Dashan talk about the bride, his face showed a trace of horror, and then he said: "How have you ever seen it!" I touched her hand today, but her hand was as cold as ice, and it didn't look like a living person. After speaking, Wang Hai's legs trembled unconsciously.
Zhang Dashan heard this, nodded, and then pulled Wang Hai in, as soon as he entered the door, Zhang Dashan met the matchmaker today, the matchmaker saw that Zhang Dashan's role had obviously changed, and then walked to the side of Li Yuanwai's father and son, and didn't know what to say in his ear, only to see that the Li family father and son drove Zhang Dashan out angrily.
Zhang Dashan knew that he had been chewed by the matchmaker, and he couldn't eat this wedding banquet, so he said to the menacing Li family father and son: "Listen to me, today's marriage can't be accepted, and if you are not careful, I am afraid that your life will not be guaranteed!" ”
As soon as these words came out, the father and son of Li Yuanwai became even more angry, especially the sick Li Ming, who coughed angrily, and Zhang Dashan was nervous for a while, for fear that he would not be able to lift it in one breath and pass it like this.
Get out, get out of here! After speaking, he grabbed Zhang Dashan and pushed it out, and even Wang Hai drove out together.
Brother, listen to my advice, don't sleep in the same bed with the bride tonight, otherwise you won't see the sun tomorrow," Zhang Dashan said as he retreated.
After Zhang Dashan was driven out of the door, Li Yuanwai directly closed the door to prevent this Zhang Dashan from stealing in and making trouble again, and then went over and patted the matchmaker's shoulder, indicating that everything had been done.
Brother Dashan, what's going on with this Li Yuanwai, why is there so much hostility towards you? Wang Hai asked.
After hearing this, Zhang Dashan smiled coldly, and then said: "If I don't come tonight, they will definitely die!" After speaking, he pulled Wang Hai and hid in the big tree on the side.
In the house, after Li Ming visited the bride, he hurriedly returned to the room, looking at the bride sitting on the edge of the bed, Li Ming was so excited that he couldn't speak at the moment, and he just looked at the bride's hijab with trembling hands.
When he lifted the hijab to see the face of the fresh lady, Li Ming suddenly screamed in fright, and the unpleasant liquid under his legs flowed all over the ground.
I saw that under the red hijab was a miserable face as white as snow, the boss with two bulging eyes, and a scarlet tongue sticking out of his rotten mouth, and when he saw Li Ming lift the hijab, he smiled at him, and then threw himself directly from the bed, and sucked wildly at Li Ming's mouth, but no one could hear Li Ming's shouting in his throat.
In the hall, at this time, Li Yuanwai was shuttling between the tables with a wine glass, and he was indescribably proud. It's just that what Li Yuanwai didn't notice was that the matchmaker hadn't drunk a sip of wine from beginning to end, and just sat on the side and watched all this coldly.
Finally, after three rounds of drinking, everyone present was drunk on the table, and at this time, the matchmaker got up and walked to Li Yuanwai, who was lying on the ground, and stepped on Li Yuanwai's head with one foot, however, before she could be proud, her feet were fixed on the ground, and she couldn't move a bit.
What's going on? The matchmaker said with a panicked face.
Ha ha! How dare you make an axe in front of me with this trick? As soon as the words fell, I saw that Li Yuanwai walked out of the side room next to her, and behind her were his wife and sick son.
I saw that the sick Li Ming was quite angry at the moment, and threw the red-clothed puppet in his hand on the ground, and scolded in his mouth: "Just fool me with this thing?" Bah! It's unlucky! ”
The old matchmaker still wanted to struggle, but after struggling for a while, she gave up, only to see her remove the human skin mask on her face, revealing a face with a slight vicissitudes of life.
Seeing this, Li Yuanwai bowed his body and said with a playful face: "Miss Song, don't come to harm!" ”
Seeing this, Li Yuanwai's wife also said, "Miss, don't come to harm, do you remember me?" After speaking, he didn't forget to spit on the matchmaker.
Hum! Two shameless people! Kill my relatives and take my property! I won't let you go even if I become a ghost! The matchmaker shouted.
When Li Yuanwai heard this, he was not angry but happy, and then said: "Thirty-five years ago, you were allowed to escape, do you think you can still escape today?" I knew who you were from the day you took my money! I know you're going to plot against me, so I'll just do it, remember the few times I slapped you? Just to settle you here! After speaking, Li Yuanwai stopped being verbose, picked up a big knife and slashed at the matchmaker.
It was too late to say that it was too late, but when I heard a loud cry outside the door, a figure jumped down from the big tree outside the door, and blocked the big knife that had been cut down.
Li Yuanwai, don't come unharmed! Zhang Dashan said.
Hum! Dashan, I still advise you not to meddle in this old woman's affairs, otherwise you will definitely not be able to get away today! Li Yuanwai threatened.
Hearing this, Zhang Dashan didn't pay attention to Li Yuanwai, but walked straight to the matchmaker, stomped on the ground and stomped her feet, and the matchmaker lifted the restriction on the spot.
Okay, now that I've lifted the restrictions for you, it's time to tell you what you're doing it for! Zhang Dashan said.
After hearing this, the matchmaker immediately fell into painful memories, it turned out:
Thirty-five years ago, this matchmaker was twenty years old, and her father was the second grade of the imperial court.
When he learned that Li Yuan had nowhere to go, the Lord Song took him back and made him a personal guard, and later, because of his outstanding performance, he gradually won the trust of Lord Song, and even prepared his daughter to marry him.
But at this time, a holy decree of the imperial court made all this change dramatically.
At that time, there was a lot of rain in the south, and the people were displaced and there was no harvest, so the imperial court sent Lord Song as the minister of the Qin Mission, responsible for allocating silver for disaster relief.
At this time, after Li Yuanwai saw the official silver allocated by the imperial court, he immediately had bad intentions, so he communicated with the maid in the house, poisoned more than 100 people in the Song Mansion with poison, and then pulled the silver, and the entire house was turned into ashes with a fire, only Miss Song, who went out to worship the Buddha, escaped.
After Zhang Dashan listened, he nodded thoughtfully, so he said to Li Yuanwai: "Presumably your ex-wife also died at your hands!" ”
So what? None of you want to leave today, so let's all stay! After speaking, Li Yuanwai rushed up directly.
When Zhang Dashan was about to dodge, the old matchmaker on the side suddenly rushed out and fought with Li Yuanwai, and after a while, the matchmaker was beaten upside down and flew out.
He's already possessed by a ghost, I'm no longer an opponent, little brother, I'm offended today, so you better run away quickly," said the matchmaker who fell to the ground.
Escape? Escape? No one can escape! After saying that, he rushed over again.
Seeing that Li Yuanwai was menacing, I am afraid that he would not be able to escape today, and at the last moment, he took out the ink fountain on his waist and threw it at Li Yuanwai, only to hear a scream, and Li Yuanwai was knocked to the ground, and his body was also changing.
Quickly, take the opportunity to destroy the ghost, otherwise there will be endless troubles," said the old matchmaker.
When Zhang Dashan heard this, he immediately got up and moved forward, pulled out the ink line, and tied Li Yuan directly, the charm couldn't bear the pain, and was about to fly away after giving up his body, only to see a golden needle in the old matchmaker's hand fly by, shoot directly on the body of the charm, and turn it into powder on the spot.
When Zhang Dashan finished all this, Li Yuanwai broke free of the ink line at some point, drilled out of the dog hole by the wall, and disappeared into the night.
The old matchmaker sighed deeply when she saw this, and said, "It seems that this revenge has never been avenged."
Not necessarily! Zhang Dashan said with a smile, and then the door of Li Yuanwai's house was opened, and Li Yuanwai and his wife were pushed in, and behind them were a group of officials. It turned out that when Zhang Dashan knew all this, he asked Wang Hai to report to the official first, and sure enough, everything was unexpected.
Half a month later, the county government officially accepted the case of the Song Dynasty's extermination, and finally in front of the evidence, Li Yuanwai took all the punishments, and finally Li Yuanwai and his wife were beheaded, all the family property was confiscated, and his son did not participate in it and was not taken into custody.
A month later, as the executioner's knife fell, Mr. and Mrs. Li ended their sinful life and paid the price for what they had done 35 years earlier......
Written at the end: As the saying goes: "Good and evil will be rewarded in the end", although those who do evil can escape for a while, they will eventually pay the price for what they have done!
Li Yuanwai could have relied on this opportunity to get the opportunity to improve his life, but he chose another path of no return, not only ruining the lives of others, but also sending himself to a point of no return, and in the end, he was also devoured by the evil fruits he planted and paid a painful price.
Here, I also warn everyone in life that we must be reasonable and legal in life and do things, and we must not be blinded by temporary interests and eventually go to the point of no return.
Don't take evil as small, don't take good as small."
Good things should start from small things, accumulate small things into big things, and can also become big things; Bad things should also start from small things, otherwise they will add up to a lot and will also cause bad things.
Therefore, don't stop doing good things because they are small, and don't do them because bad things are small.
If there is too much small good, it will become a great good for the world, and if there is too much small evil, it will be "enough to mess with the country".