Crimes & Mysteries

CHAPTER 7Ximen Qing Meets Meng YulouOne day there came to Ximen Qing's house an old woman called Xue. She was a seller of flowers made of kingfisher feathers, and was carrying a box of them. She could not find Ximen, but seeing Daian, asked him where his master was."My father," said the boy, "is in the shop, going through the accounts with Uncle Fu."The old woman went straight to the shop door, pulled aside the lattice, and looked in. Ximen Qing was going through the books with his manager. With a movement of the head she signaled to him to come out. He left the shop at once, and they sought a...

CHAPTER 6The FuneralWhen Ximen Qing left the old woman's house, it was broad daylight. Old woman Wang went out and bought a coffin, some paper offerings, incense, candles and paper money. When she came back, she lighted a lamp, and set it before Wu Da's body. The neighbors came to offer their condolences, and Pan Jinlian covered her lovely face and pretended to sob."How did the gentleman die?" the neighbors asked."There was something amiss with his heart, and, although we never expected anything like this, he got worse and worse and at last we saw that he could not get better. Last night, abou...

CHAPTER 5The Murder of Wu DaWhen deep in mystic contemplationSounding the shallows of this world's emptiness,Even the marriage most blessed by Fate seems full of evil.Men in their folly crave for love,Yet, when in calm collectedness they study it,Hateful it seems.Leave the wild grassesGather not the idle flowersSo, thy truest self, the vigor of thy manhood,Will know the peace of Nature.A simple wife, young children, and plain fareWith these need no man suffer the pangs of loveOr lose his fortune.Yun'ge could not contain his anger at the way old woman Wang had treated him. He took his basket an...

CHAPTER 4Ximen Qing Attains His EndThe sun streams through the painted doorway into the bedchamber.There stands a maiden whom no gold can buy.She leans against the doorHer lovely eyes, like beams of sunshine, seek to pursue her loverBut he has gone so far, her tender feet may never hope to follow.Old woman Wang took the money and started for the door. Smiling, she said to Jinlian, "I must go to the street to buy a jar of wine; you will keep his Lordship company, won't you? If there is a drop left in the jar, warm two cups and drink them with him. The best wine is to be had in East Street. I sh...

CHAPTER 3 The Old ProcuressXimen Qing was desperately anxious to possess Pan Jinlian. He gave the old woman no peace."Stepmother," he said, "if you bring this business to a happy end, I will give you ten taels of silver.""Sir," said the old woman, "you may have heard, perhaps, of setting a love snare. The expression implies much that is difficult and is, indeed, what is more commonly known as wife stealing. Before a man can set about this wife-stealing business with any prospect of success, five things are essential. He must be as handsome as Pan An. His member must be at least as ...

CHAPTER 2Pan JinlianWu Song went to the inn near the Town Hall, packed his baggage and his bedclothes, and told a soldier to carry them to his brother's house. When Pan Jinlian saw him coming, she was as delighted as if she had discovered a hidden treasure. She bustled about preparing a room for her brother-in-law and setting everything to rights. Wu Song sent back the orderly, and stayed the night at his brother's home. The next day, he rose very early, and Jinlian hastened to heat water for him. He washed, combed and tied his hair, and then made ready to go to the office to sign the r...