The First Volume of Qinghe County

  Just as Ximen Qing and the others were drinking ten-year-old wine, in a small unknown tavern on the front street, Wu Dalang and Yuan Ge sat face to face beside a small table that was about to collapse, with a plate of peanuts and a plate of five-spice broad beans on it, which was their snack to go with the wine, and they were also drinking the cheapest village wine.

  Wu Dalang raised his coarse ceramic bowl and took a sip: "Brother, since I came to Qinghe County, there are few people who can have a conversation with me. My life is bitter..."

  The words were not yet finished, and Wu Dalang's tears had already rolled in his eyes. Yuange hurriedly advised: "Brother, what can't be passed, tell your brother? Drinking alone is not good."

  Wu Dalang wiped away his hot tears with his dirty sleeve, sighed and said in a self-mocking tone: "Brother, others all say that Liu Niang married me, this three-inch thing, it's like a beautiful flower inserted into cow dung, a piece of good meat fell into the dog's mouth. Who knows that this flower was forcibly given to me by someone else?"

  "Brother, what's going on? Didn't you move to Qinghe County a few years ago and marry Liu Niang?" Yu Ge was only around 14 years old and hadn't drunk much wine before, so he just took a small sip and looked puzzled.

  "Alas, brother! You also know that I originally lived in Yanggu County on the other side of Jingyanggang. Who would have thought that Er Lang had an accident and ran away? I could only make a living by selling pancakes and scraping together a meal. Unexpectedly, one day while doing business on the street, I was called over by Zhang Da Hu of Yanggu County, saying he saw me as pitiful and lonely, wanting to arrange a marriage for me..."

  "This is a great thing that has fallen from the sky, how can brother say it's so miserable?" When he said this, Yu Ge naturally also knew that this marriage was about Pan Jinlian and Pan Liu'niang. He secretly swallowed his saliva, feeling a surge of lust rising up, and quickly drank a mouthful of wine to suppress it. From the first time he saw Pan Jinlian, he had been unable to extricate himself, that chest, that figure, he didn't know how many times he had fantasized about her in his dreams.

  This Wu Dalang is indeed blessed but doesn't know it!

  Wu Dalang couldn't see the envy on Yu Ge's face at all, and he took another sip of wine, his face wrinkled even more: "A free pastry? What a great thing! This woman has grown up, Zhang Da Hu is always lurking around wanting to take her in, but as soon as his wife finds out, she'll strip her of her dowry and kick her out!"

  "Ah..." Yu Ge's mouth was open wide enough to fit an entire pancake in.

  "That Zhang family was very reluctant, and after discussing with his wife for half a day, she wouldn't let Pan Jinlian stay in the Zhang household for even half a day. That's why they deliberately dragged me from the street into the house, gave 20 taels of dowry, and forcibly pushed Pan Jinlian onto me...". Wu Dalang squeezed out these words with great difficulty, his face twisted in distress. Xiangzi was shocked and speechless upon hearing this.

  "Brother originally had a disability, which made people laugh at him. He thought that if he could have a wife to carry on the family line, it wouldn't matter anymore. But unexpectedly, things still didn't go smoothly. Every time he wanted to go out and sell pancakes, there were always some suspicious men lurking around the door. So they decided to move to Qinghe County to live."

  Wu Dalang said up to here, one breath drank the wine in the bowl, and threw the coarse ceramic large bowl on the table: "This peaceful day hasn't passed for long, look at today, and it's already connected with Ximen Qing! And that Wang Po, a living Mabo Liu!"

  Yue Ge accompanied Xiao to fill Wu Dalang's wine: "Brother Dalang, don't blame me for speaking harshly. This Xi Men Da Guan Ren is quite close to the county magistrate. Brother, don't be impulsive, let's wait for Er Lang to discuss it again. Er Lang can conquer fierce tigers, even the county magistrate will look at him with different eyes."

  "Brother! I know all these principles, but this bad breath is really hard to swallow. Look at that woman, today she won't let go, tomorrow she'll still want me to go to the West Gate Mansion to apologize! Tell me, where in the world does a man get dragged by his wife to apologize to her lover? How can I tolerate this?"

  "Listen, brother," said Brother Yu hesitantly, "this Ximen Qing is not someone we can afford to offend, but we can avoid him. At worst, starting from tomorrow, we'll stop selling pancakes and lock our front door, not letting sister-in-law go out."

  "No way! Every day facing that slut, my mind is full of her adulterous schemes. Before my brother comes back, I'll go crazy! Wu Dalang shook his head like a rattle drum: "Today, I called you out, brother, actually there's something I need your help with, but I don't know if you're willing or not?"

  Yu Ge heard this, took a big swig of wine, and patted his still-developing chest: "Brother has something to say, but it's nothing! As long as I can do it for my brothers, there's no need for further discussion!"

  "Good!" Wu Dalang exerted himself and slapped the table with a loud bang: "Brother, finish this bowl of wine first!"

  "Good!"

  Two empty bowls fell back onto the table, Wu Dalang said: "Brother, I also know you often go to Ximen's mansion to buy some fruits and vegetables, familiar with the place, and have made friends with a few servants. From tomorrow on, you help me keep an eye on the main gate of Ximen's mansion. As soon as that scoundrel Ximen Qing leaves the house, come find me at the crossroads, I'm going to catch him in the act!"

  "Hmm..." Although Ximen Qing had just performed very well, almost to the point of becoming sworn brothers with Wu Dalang, to be honest, Ximen Qing was one of his biggest clients. The fruits and vegetables he sold were all sent to the Ximen household, which barely supported his mother at home. If he offended Ximen Qing like this, not only would he suffer greatly, but also cut off his own livelihood.

  Watching Wu Song's embarrassed expression, Wu Dalang could guess a bit and raised his hand to pour Wu Song a bowl of wine: "Before Erlang returns, brother doesn't ask you to do anything to Ximen Qing, just scare them a bit and make that woman behave herself. If it's really difficult for brother, then consider these words as if I never said them."

  Yu Ge weighed the pros and cons, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Wu Dalang sighed again: "Brother, I know you have an elderly mother to support at home, and selling fruit is not a proper occupation. When Er Lang returns, I'll take charge and let him provide some financial assistance, so you can start a small business or even get a job in the government - it's not impossible."

  This pie was thrown out, and Yu Ge's eyes lit up: "Brother, are you telling the truth?"

  "Not a single false word." Wu Dalang replied firmly.

  "Alright, since that's the case, I'll agree to brother's request." Yu Ge also readily agreed. Since Wu Dalang could resolve his own concerns, there was nothing more to say, anyway it was just reporting a message, Yu Ge thought he would definitely be able to do it.

  "Dry mother, my life is bitter...". Pan Jinlian looked at Wang Po with tears in her eyes: "Since I was sold to Zhang's household as a maid, there hasn't been a single good day. After marrying this good-for-nothing, every day I wish I could find a rope to hang myself."

  "Sixth lady, don't say such depressing words, why must you seek a short life?" Wang Po persuaded with a bitter tone: "I think the young master is also a decent person who lives a simple life. Women suffer all their lives, and it's the same no matter who they marry. Besides, there's still that little uncle who's a tiger-beating hero, many people are envious of him. You also saw that day when he was carrying the tiger through the streets, how many women in Qinghe County were staring at Wu Erlang?"

  "Don't mock me, Sister-in-law..." Pan Jinlian's face turned slightly red. On that day when Li Tiger was paraded through the streets, she had also gone to watch the commotion. Wu Song was wearing a strong and impressive outfit at the time, which caught everyone's attention.

  No one expected that from this one womb, two such different people could be born. The older brother was a weak and sickly child, while the younger brother was strong and robust. Wu Dalang's face was flushed with excitement as he led his brothers into the house to introduce them, at which point Pan Jinlian's heart was in great turmoil, and she nearly fainted from happiness.

  "Good grief..." Wang Po was like a cunning fox spirit, and with one glance, she saw through Pan Jinlian's thoughts: "If this tiger-beating hero weren't your brother-in-law, that would be great."

  Pan Jinlian feigned anger, but forgot her tears: "If you tease me again, don't blame Sixth Lady for turning against you."

  "Hehehe, never mind, never mind." Wang Po laughed and looked like an old fox: "Sixth Lady, do you still remember the last time we went to the Jade Emperor Temple to burn incense, and the old lady begged Wu Daoquan to draw a divination slip for you?"

  A sunny spring in March. A good marriage.

  How could Pan Jinlian not remember? The sign was secretly grasped in Pan Jinlian's hand, hidden in her sleeve, and deceived Wu Daoguan to bring it back. Now it is still stuffed under the quilt. When Pan Jinlian was bored, she would secretly take out the sign and look at it over and over again.

  She was already someone else's wife, why did she get this stick of incense? Every time Pan Jinlian saw the stick of incense, she wished she could rush downstairs and go to the Jade Emperor Temple to ask Wu Daogui a clear question.

  Pan Jinlian was lost in thought, and Wang Po covered her mouth and laughed: "Sixth Lady, what do you think of Ximen Qing today?"

  "Ah? Official Ximen?" Pan Jinlian's pretty face turned even redder, as if the feeling of being touched on her chest had not yet dissipated.

  "Ximen the official is still young, with such a large Chinese medicine shop at home, business is booming. At home, there is one wife and one concubine, the wife's surname is Wu, her body is not very good, recently the concubine just died of illness, the matchmakers in this county are all eyeing him, don't know how many want to talk about marriage with Ximen the official. The old woman also acts as a matchmaker, do you want me to go to Ximen's house tomorrow and introduce you?" Wang Po continued to say persistently.

  "I've heard that man is a bully, the tyrant of our county. Are you trying to push me into a fire pit? Besides, I'm already married to the Wu family, it's not possible." Pan Jinlian anxiously interrupted Wang Po.

  "Oh?" The old woman laughed again: "The old lady saw that the big official, Ximen, was looking at Liu Niang with different eyes! Liu Niang accidentally dropped the bamboo pole and hit the big official, but it seems that the big official didn't get angry, instead he wants you to stay away from him. It's likely that he secretly has a crush on you and can't extricate himself..."

  "Mother-in-law only knows how to talk nonsense..." Pan Jinlian flatly denied, but Wang Po's words inadvertently seemed to pluck a string deep within her heart, causing her own heart to be greatly disturbed.

  Pan Jinlian took a deep breath, calmed herself down, thought for a moment, and bit her lip: "Ximen Daifu left quickly, tomorrow I'll go back to the Ximen Mansion to apologize in person!"

  "Isn't your heart moved by spring?"

  "Ah-Ma!!!!!!"