During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, four families lived in Fucheng, Hangzhou. One is the Liu Decai family who is a doctor; One is Pei Yuan, who runs a pharmacy. One is the widow's family who lost her husband, and the other is the Xu Hao family who is good at calligraphy. These four families, a marriage with children, formed an in-laws relationship.
Liu Decai has a pair of children. His son, Liu Jun, studied the Four Books and Five Classics since he was a child, and he was very eager to learn. At the age of sixteen, the father found a girl for his son and made an appointment. That girl is Pearl, the widow's daughter. My daughter, Ying Gu, was smart and beautiful since she was a child, and she was engaged to Pei's son.
That year, Liu Jun was twenty years old. Liu Decai saw that his son had reached marriageable age and wanted to marry his daughter-in-law. One day, the couple discussed it and prepared to invite the matchmaker to talk to Sun's family. Pei Wu Yuan just let the matchmaker come first. He said he wanted to marry Ingu for his son. Gong Liu thinks that his son and daughter should have a happy event at the same time. It's good, but the money is too tight to take care of both. So he asked the matchmaker to tell him that his daughter was still young. The dowry is not ready yet, and it will be some time before my son gets married.
Pei Wu Yuan got a reply and felt a little unhappy. It turns out that Pei is an elderly son, dreaming that his son can get married and start a family one day earlier and inherit the incense one day earlier. However, Pei is honest and timid, for fear that this urgent matter will annoy and hurt her in-laws, so she has to endure it for the time being.
Back to Pei's house, I asked the matchmaker Zhang Liusao to say that my son's marriage was over.
The widowed grandson's husband died young, leaving a son and a daughter. Thanks to the widow's frugal housework and careful education, she grew up. Sister Pearl and brother Sun Caicai are only one year apart and look alike. Today, Sister-in-law Zhang Liusao came to propose marriage to Gong Liu's son. She wanted to marry a man and a woman, and could not delay her daughter's marriage, so she agreed.
Soon, fruit was prepared as a gift and sent to Sun's family on an auspicious day. After Sun's widow received it, she hurried to buy a wedding dress.
Who knows, Liu Jun suddenly suffered from typhoid fever, and his health is getting worse every day. Liu Decai thought of his son's marriage and discussed with Liu Ma, saying, "I think this handsome boy is running out of luck. You won't hurt her daughter if you marry in? Sun Jiaxian went back! "
Liu Ma said, "I think it's better to ask Mrs. Zhang Liusao to go there, and don't mention her son's illness. Just say marry her first, be an adopted daughter, and wait until your son is well. Choose another auspicious day to get married. If you are ill, when your daughter-in-law remarries, we can ask the Sun family to pay back the bride price and all the expenses. Isn't this a perfect solution? "
Liu Decai listened to feel reasonable, then according to Liu Ma's meaning, invited Liu sister-in-law to bamboo slips to hasten marriage, and told Liu sister-in-law not to reveal Liu Jun's illness.
But that morning, widow Sun walked into the street and met a neighbor, asking about her in-laws and son-in-law.
Neighbors told her that Liu Jun was very ill and dangerous. When widow Sun heard this, she thought about her daughter's marriage. So she is going to ask Zhang Liusao questions.
Just then, Zhang Liusao came to the door. The widow Sun greeted her sixth sister-in-law and entered the door, anxious to inquire about her son-in-law's illness. Sister-in-law Zhang thought she didn't know the truth, but now she asked questions. She remembered Liu's words in her heart and suddenly she didn't know how to answer them. Widow Sun saw that she was hesitant and anxious. She said to Sister Zhang Liusao, Take my foster mother away and let her have a look. If you are really seriously ill, you'd better wait until your uncle recovers before choosing a date to get married! Besides, the children are not old, so there is no need to be in such a hurry. "
Liu Sao had no choice but to lead her foster mother and go to the Liu family together. Liu Ma met his foster mother. Liu Ma said, "Thank you for your concern. My son just has a little cold. It's nothing serious. There is no need to change the auspicious day. Besides, we have made all the preparations, even the invitations for the wedding banquet have been sent out. If we suddenly reschedule, relatives will not blame you for refusing, but will think that we can't afford to raise a daughter-in-law and won't be laughed at. Please don't worry about the little lady's reply to her in-laws. "
The foster mother said, "My aunt is right. It's just that menstruation is worried about the big official. Let me say hello so that I can go home and tell her and reassure her. "
Liu's mother said, "This official just took medicine and fell asleep with his head covered. I appreciate your kindness. I will tell him later. " As for the auspicious day, it's settled. "
The foster mother was puzzled at this and was about to get up and leave.
Back home, the foster mother reported everything to the boss's housewife. Widow Sun is always puzzled when she hears this. She walked slowly to her son's room and asked Sun Cai for advice. Sun Cai analyzed and said, "It seems that he is still seriously ill and won't let his foster mother say hello."
Widow Sun said, "Mother thinks so, too, but now we are in a dilemma. We must choose another auspicious day, and if they come, they must follow. However, it seems that we are too ungrateful to watch his family spend a lot of energy and money on confession. It would be embarrassing if the in-laws meet after the official is ready. If you follow them, there will be unexpected changes, but it will be too late to bother you later. "
Sun Cai thought for a moment and said, "How about this: Just ask Mrs. Zhang Liusao to tell them that the wedding date will be decided by them, but we don't accept dowry here, just to celebrate, and bring it back to my parents' home in the third generation, and then send it together when I am well. In this way, even if there are any changes in the future, Pearl will always be a free body, not bound by her family. Isn't this the best strategy to kill two birds with one stone? "
Widow Sun said, "Look at what you said, it's all children's knowledge. What will you do if people promise to get married and are not allowed to go home after three generations? " Unless you are sent disguised as a pearl and put your shoes and socks in a dowry, it is of course best for them to let you come back in three dynasties. If you are not allowed to come back, you can come back by yourself in your own clothes, and they can't hold you back abruptly! "
Sun Cai thinks there is no other way. I have to say yes.
Widow Sun made up her mind, so she called Zhang Liusao and asked her to go to Liu's house to reply. She also repeatedly stressed that the Liu family would not get married until they met the conditions. If she doesn't keep it, she must choose another auspicious day.
The Liu family just wanted to coax their daughter-in-law home, so they agreed to anything.
It's lucky in an instant. The foster mother dressed Sun Cai up first, and then Pearl taught him some manners of women. Brother and sister thought it was very interesting. They went to their mother's room and stood in front of her. Widow Sun suddenly saw her and couldn't tell who was her daughter and who was her son. After careful observation, she found two defects in her son. Pointing to Sun Cailu's big feet outside his skirt, she tugged at his bare earlobe and said, "These two places can't be hidden from others' eyes. "
Pearl said, "I will change a long skirt to cover it later;" Walk slowly and carefully, be careful not to show your feet, who will lift the skirt to see! "
Widow Sun nodded and immediately thought of this. She went to cut a small piece of horn plaster and put it on her son's right ear and said, "If anyone asks, just say there is a small sore in his ear." Let it go. The left ear and left eye are exposed, thus covering it up. It turned out that Sun Cai had an ear hole in his left ear, which he wore when he was young because he was afraid of raising children. Unexpectedly, it came in handy at this time.
At dusk, Sun Jiagang fiddled with it, and the Liu family's wedding procession had reached the door. Widow Sun pretended to cry, put her son in a sedan chair and asked her foster mother to wait on her.
The wedding procession blew all the way, and then took the couple to the Liu family. Liu's mother saw that she was ill and couldn't lie down, so she had to ask her daughter to come out to see him instead of her brother. She and her daughter led the couple into the new house together. She was afraid that her daughter-in-law would sleep alone on their wedding night and let her daughter accompany her new sister-in-law.
Ying Gu promised Liu Ma to get the quilt. At this time, Sun Cai also saw Ying Gu's beauty, and she cheered silently. He thought, it's a pity that I'm engaged, otherwise, I must ask her to be my wife. I thought again: fortunately, I can sleep with her tonight. What a nice day! He guessed that the girl was in her prime, and she expected that her heart had opened. As long as she moves slowly in the future, I'm afraid it's not difficult to get it. Ying Gu came in with a quilt and put it on the bed. Seeing that it was getting late, Liu Ma told them to go to bed early and went to rest himself.
Yinggu went to close the door, and Yinggu took off her clothes first and slept in the bed. The foster mother saw that Sun Cai was up to no good, so she quickly pulled Sun Cai aside and warned him in a low voice: "You must be serious and don't make trouble." Sun Cai perfunctory way: "You don't have to say, you go to sleep." The foster mother only needs to sleep on one side of the bed.
Sun Cai blew out the lamp, undressed and went to bed with Ying Gu, leaned his head on Ying Gu's pillow and asked Ying Gu's age first. Yinggu answered fifteen. I asked Ying Gu who she was engaged to. Yinggu was shy and refused to answer. Sun Cai succeeded in talking and laughing, fighting and hugging.
The foster mother was still listening to them talking and laughing at first, and she had picked up her heart. Later, she heard the bedstead creaking and creaking, and knew that they had a relationship, but she was so anxious that she couldn't sleep a wink all night.
The next day, the foster mother found an opportunity to say to Sun Cai privately, "How could you do this last night?"
Sun Cai said, "How can I live with a beautiful woman sleeping beside me?" ! As long as you don't say, who else will know! "
Just then, Ying Gu came to accompany the "bride" again. The foster mother has to worry. The two of them are getting closer and more loving each day. The foster mother didn't talk much, but she was secretly worried and sweaty. Seeing that the three dynasties had passed, the foster mother urged Sun Cai to go home. Sun Cai refused. The foster mother wanted to go home and report to Xiaosan first, but she was afraid that someone would break into the house and break their affair, so she had to close the door every night.
Besides, widow Sun disguised her son to marry the Liu family, and she was also worried. She pulled her fingers every day, looking forward to her son's coming home, but after three dynasties, she still didn't see her son and her foster mother didn't come back to send a voice message. She was worried about something and couldn't help but feel uneasy. Widow Sun had to invite Mrs. Zhang Liusao to the Liu family in person to ask a question and promised to return to the Three Dynasties. Why didn't she send her daughter home after three dynasties?
Who knows that as soon as Zhang Liusao took a message, Ms. Liu scolded her and said, "Although it was agreed, it was because his family refused to marry her daughter, so we had to agree." There has always been a reason that the new wife will return to her family after the three dynasties! " Liu Zhang, the eldest sister-in-law, was stunned, speechless and afraid to reply.
Yinggu doesn't want to go back to Sun. She was naturally happy to hear that her mother had rejected Liu's sister-in-law, but she and Sun Cai were secretly making a loving couple.
That day, the two were teasing in the room. When they heard someone talking outside, they stopped at once. Yinggu, sharp-eyed, saw her mother and brother step into the door together and quickly got up to meet them. Sun Cai was at a loss, his heart was weak, but his face was red. Liu Ma thought his daughter-in-law was shy and didn't care. Ingenious, she greeted her brother with concern and advised him to go back to his room to rest so as not to be exhausted. She helped her brother back to his room with Liu's mother.
When Sun saw that he had left, he thought to himself, "Although this brother-in-law is ill, he is a handsome man. My sister is a good couple when she marries him. " I also thought, "My brother-in-law will recover soon. He wants to sleep in a new house, and my body will not be exposed at once! " When Ying Gu came back, Sun closed the door and said to Ying Gu, "Your brother is well, and I can't stay any longer. Otherwise, something will happen between us. "
Ying Gu said, "If you say you want to go, just go. Leave me, what shall I do in my life? "
Sun Cai said, "I am not an ungrateful person. It's a pity that you are engaged to someone else, and I have hired a woman. What do you think you can do? "
Ying Gu said, "If you can't marry me, how can I face others?" ? I will follow you no matter what, even if I die, my soul will follow you. "Say, sob pharynx pharynx to cry.
Sun Cai wiped her tears and encouraged, "Let's find a way together."
However, after some reasoning, they still can't think of any tricks up their sleeves. Ying Gu threw herself in Sun Cai's arms, and Sun Cai held her, sobbing with the same sadness and helplessness.
Just then, Liu Ma happened to pass by the door of the new house. Suddenly, she heard someone crying inside. She looked through the door and saw her daughter-in-law and daughter crying in a low voice. When mother Liu saw this, she understood something. His face was livid with anger, and his hand shook. He grabbed Ying Gu's clothes and dragged her to an empty room in the back. He shouted, "What are you hiding from?"
At first, Ingu wanted to deny it. But seeing my mother so angry, I knew I couldn't hide it at this stage, so I had to squeak out the truth. Hearing this, mother Liu beat her chest and shouted, "Sun thief bitch! Lie to me with your son! Since you have hurt my daughter, I will not let your son go! " While swearing, Liu's mother opened the door and rushed out. Ingu caught up with her and grabbed her mother's skirt, but she was pushed hard and fell to the ground.
Sun Cai saw Ying Gu being dragged out, knew that things were exposed, and was in a hurry in his room. She saw the foster mother rush in and said, "The aunt behind is urging this matter. You'd better go! " At the urging of the foster mother, she quickly opened the suitcase, took out the robe and shoes and socks she had brought, forced the foster mother to change them for him, pulled him out of the room, closed the door and left the Liu family in a hurry.
Widow Sun was surprised to see her son and foster mother suddenly come back, but she found that they looked flustered and couldn't help asking, "Why are you still in such a hurry to get home?" Are you afraid that someone will chase you? " After the foster mother told the stories of the Liu family one by one, the widow Sun was also uneasy. She blamed her son for corruption and hurt other girls, and complained that the foster mother didn't come back to report the case earlier, which led to things getting out of control. But complaining is complaining, and I haven't complained about a solution that can be handled and solved, so I have to wait for Liu's action in fear and trembling.
On the other hand, Liu's mother shouted and scolded all the way, desperate to find Sun, rushed all the way to the new house and broke in, but there was no one inside. Ying Gu also arrived here at this moment. It was a little relieved to see Sun Cai slip away without being caught by his mother. Then she cried and said, "My daughter accidentally did this wrong thing. Her mother wanted to beat and scold her, and her daughter didn't complain. But now my daughter can only make up for it by marrying a talented man. I begged my mother to discuss it with my father and go back to Pei's house to kill us all. Otherwise my daughter doesn't want to live. "
Liu's mother said, "You talk too casually! The Pei family gave bride price and dowry. You said you'd give it back, so cheap? If people ask why, don't you tell them that my daughter has found a man herself? "
Seeing that her mother refused to agree, Ying Gu cried more and more. Liu's mother is poor and angry, but she can't help it.
At this time, Liu Decai just came back from seeing the doctor and walked through the new house. Like a savior, Liu's mother told me exactly what happened just now.
Hearing this, Gong Liu complained that Liu Ma said, "It's all your fault. When my son was seriously ill, I took another day off. You gossip. Insist not to, and then Sun Jia Niang inquired about the truth, and you made a fuss and cheated others. Until the wedding, you insisted on your daughter's company, and now you are a good companion! "
Liu Ma had expected her husband to give her a plan to vent her anger, but she was scolded, jumped up in a low-paid job and ran into Gong Liu, who was also very angry and pulled her hair. The discerning person hurried forward to persuade, but they could not be separated. Liu Jun heard the sound, stood up from the sofa, made two steps in three steps, ran to the new house, and came to decompose. The poor son of the old couple recovered as soon as possible, fearing that he would be tired. The two sides just stopped, but they kept cursing. When Liu Jun asked about the situation, he was sallow with anger and remained silent for a long time before saying, "Wash your dirty linen in public! What has happened, it's no use arguing again. Let's find a way slowly. " Gong Liu and Liu Po think it's right. It's a rest.
It is said that it is a shame to wash your dirty linen in public, but the family has been turned upside down and the neighbors have heard about it! Well-intentioned people have already embellished it and spread it to Pei's family.
Pei's cousin has been complaining about the Liu family for a long time because of the frustration of her only child's marriage. Now she has heard that her daughter-in-law who hasn't gone through the door has done an ugly thing, so why not add fuel to the fire! That Pei Gong couldn't help it, and ran directly to the door of Liu's house clamoring for breaking off an engagement, saying that Pei's family was innocent and couldn't want anything that would ruin the family style. Liu Decai was ashamed, jumped up and scolded, and the two men fought. Inside, Liu Ma and Liu Jun heard the sound outside. When they came out to see the fighting, they quickly stepped forward and pulled away. Pei Yuan pointed to Liu Decai with five fingers and said, "You played very well. I am waiting for you in the government office! " I walked away swearing all the way.
Full of resentment, I hate widow Sun, saying that this is a thief bitch, and my family has a bad reputation. I can't sue her in the yamen. How can I swallow this resentment!
Two hours later, the two men each took a form paper to complain, but they ran into each other in front of the government office building. Magistrate Xu first asked Pei why he complained, and then asked why he complained. After questioning the two, Lord Xu sent someone to summon the widow's mother and son, brother and sister to the court for hearing.
In a short time, five people have been brought to the class. Master Xu looked up and saw Sun Cai's brother and sister with red lips and white teeth. No matter their eyebrows and faces, they look exactly the same, beautiful and charming Liu Jun is handsome and tall, and Ying Gu is gorgeous and lovely. He secretly admired: "What two young children." I already have a perfect meaning in my heart. So he asked widow Sun, "Why do you want to dress your daughter up like a daughter, cheat the Liu family and harm his daughter?"
The widow's son-in-law is dying, and the Liu family refuses to reschedule. Afraid of delaying their daughter, they dressed up their son to celebrate and agreed to go home in the three dynasties. He added, "This is only a temporary solution. I didn't expect Liu's family to want her daughter's company, so this happened. "
Xu Gongping: "So that's it." He also asked Sun Cai: "It is very wrong for you to pretend to be a bride and cheat girls. You should be punished according to your crime. I think you are still young, and your fault is directly caused by your two parents, so I forgive you for the time being. " Sun Cai gratefully kowtowed to give thanks.
Xu's adult asked Ying Gu again, "What did you do wrong, so don't mention it. Do you think you want to marry Pei Jia or Sun Cai? "
Ying Gu cried and said, "My little daughter has lost her moral integrity. How can she marry someone else? Besides, Sun Cai and I have deep feelings. If the owner insists on separating the little girl from Sun Cai, the little girl will have no face to live and laugh at others, only to die. " Say and burst into tears. Seeing her sincerity, Lord Xu was very sympathetic and told her to stand aside.
Adult Xu said to Pei, "Ying Gu should have married your family, but she has lost her moral integrity. If you marry her back, you will be defeated and laughed at. " That's why she was awarded to Sun Cai as his wife today, so that Sun Cai can return your previous dowry and let your son marry another daughter-in-law. "
Pei Wu Yuan said; "Daughter-in-law did something disgraceful, and the villain naturally didn't want it, but Sun Cai ruined my marriage, and the master awarded my daughter-in-law to him. How can a villain be content! Ask the master to marry his wife to someone else. "
Xu Zhu said, "Since you don't want this daughter-in-law, why bother to be this enemy!" "
I didn't expect Liu Decai to report: "Sir, Sun Cai has a wife. How can a little girl marry him as a concubine? "
Xu Zhu thought Sun Cai had no wife, so he mediated. When Sun heard that he had a wife, he scolded him and said, "Since you are engaged, you shouldn't hurt Liu's daughter. Now what do you think should be done with Ying Gu? "
Sun Cai lowered his head and dared not answer. Master Xu asked again, "Did your wife go through the door? Which daughter is it? "
Sun Cai said, "It's Xu Hao's daughter. She hasn't entered the door yet. "
Xu thought for a while and said to Pei, "Well, Sun just married your daughter-in-law. I'll give your son his wife who hasn't been to the door. You have to be calm! "
Pei Wu Yuan said, "Your Excellency knows very well that I dare not disobey you. I'm afraid Hao Xu won't. "
Master Xu said nothing, only let Pei go back and took his son Pei Zheng to the government office. He also sent someone to call Xu Hao and ask him to take his daughter to class. When Pei and the painter arrived, Mr. Xu saw that their babies were born week by week. He couldn't help laughing and said, "Pei's daughter-in-law was lured away by Sun Cai. Today I decided to marry your daughter to Pei Zheng, Pei's son. What do you think? "
Xu Hao saw that the county magistrate was in charge and did not dare to disobey. Adult Xu watched himself mediate two disputes and contributed to two marriages. He was very satisfied. He immediately picked up a pen, wrote down the verdict, read it out in court, and everyone listened. Everyone was convinced and kowtowed to thank them. Then, Master Xu drew six pieces of red silk from the warehouse, ordered three couples to dress up, invited three bands, three sedan chairs and carried three brides. Let the groom and parents get married. On that day, all three families were immersed in celebration and joy. Celebration and joy also infected everyone, and all of a sudden the whole Hang Cheng was a sensation.
Since then, this marriage case and this romantic county magistrate have been praised as elegant things everywhere. Later, it spread more and more widely and for a longer time, and it has been circulated until now.