The Romance of the West Chamber: The Bells are Ringing

"Do you know why I said you are a 'Mu Cun, Ma Hu, Shi Jin'?" the matchmaker asked with a smile.

When Zheng Heng heard this, his face became a little ugly, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Mucun, Mahu, Shijin - you think I am a 'village donkey bird'. My ancestors were the gate of the Prime Minister's country, so I am not as good as you." White clothes, hungry men, poor men! Those who are officials should be officials. 'It is the life and death of the country, and it is our responsibility to pass on the family'! Princes, generals and ministers are just like this! I usually drink 20 yuan a pound of tea!”

The matchmaker said proudly: "He relies on his teachers and friends to act as a gentleman, while you rely on your father and brother to bully others. Instead of being ashamed of your poverty, you can win a new name, which is worth listening to. You are just talking in disguise, and you only want to go up. Climb. You said that officials should be officials, but they only spit and don't keep their duties. You said that poor people will always be poor until they grow old, but you don't know the principle of 'a general and a prime minister come from a poor family'!"

"I think I'm so good at studying, and I look down on us scumbags. I'm so stupid. What age are we in, and I still think I can fly to the sky just by studying." Zheng Heng said angrily after hearing this, "He's not a minister or a minister. My son. I'm afraid that he won't be able to study. No matter what the imperial examination high school, he can't even think about entering our government office. Back then, he relied on his ability to study and looked down on people like us who relied on our parents. Haha, the world will teach him. The greatest fairness It’s just—unfair.”

The matchmaker stared hard at Zheng Heng's distorted face, shook her head and said: "Huh, you, you don't know at all. Do you really think Junrui is a poor child from a poor family? His grandfather is also the Minister of Rites! It's just a matter of discussion. The status of the noble family is lower than that of your Zheng family, but now that they are married to our Cui family, which has the highest status, they are also first-class!"

Zheng Heng's face was full of anger, he clenched his fists and said fiercely: "This matter is all the fault of that elder's bald donkey disciple. I will slowly settle the score with him tomorrow!" His eyes revealed a fierce murderous intent, as if I want to cut that disciple into pieces.

The matchmaker frowned slightly, clasped her hands together, and said in a calm voice: "Monks take compassion as the foundation and convenience as the way. Being misunderstood as a good person will lead to disaster." She seemed to want to resolve Zheng Heng's anger, but Zheng Heng simply did not Can't listen.

Zheng Heng's emotions gradually calmed down. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "I will marry Yingying. This is the will left by my sister-in-law. I will choose a day to come to your door with gifts and see what my sister-in-law will do." Deal with me."

The matchmaker frowned, and she didn't seem to agree with Zheng Heng's approach. She put her hands on her hips and said in a stern tone: "Stop being ridiculous, are you going to use brute force? Are you going to marry by force? Are you going to steal the bride at all costs?"

When Zheng Heng heard the matchmaker's words, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in his heart. He said loudly: "If little aunt refuses, I will take twenty or thirty people to carry Yingying on a sedan chair and take off her clothes at my residence. I will give you a wife in the future, and you will no longer be a little wife!"

After he said these words, a ferocious look appeared on his face, as if he had turned into an evil thug.

The matchmaker was shocked by Zheng Heng's words. Her eyes widened and she clasped her hands together. Her heart was filled with anger and fear, as if she saw a fire about to break out.

She took a deep breath, looked at Zheng Heng, with a contemptuous smile on her lips, and said coldly: "Are you Zheng Xiangguo's nephew, or are you a child of Sun Feihu's family? You have a pockmarked face. With a shriveled figure and a character that insists on saving face and suffering, it will be difficult for you to return even if you have a home."

Zheng Heng clenched his fists, and the anger on his face surged like a tide. He stared at the matchmaker, as if fire was about to burst out of his eyes. He said angrily: "Huh, this little girl seems to have been recruited. I won't tell you that I will get married tomorrow. I want to get married."

The matchmaker snorted disdainfully and said, "I won't marry you, I won't marry you."

She actually admired this handsome husband in her heart, but she had to say: "With your kind of virtue, you can only steal Han Shou's limelight and copy He Lang's left-behind fan."

Her tone was full of sarcasm and disdain. After speaking, she turned around and left the inn.

A trace of anger flashed in Zheng Heng's eyes. He took off his coat and thought fiercely: "This girl must be acting with that poor guy. I will go see my little aunt tomorrow and say I don't know. I will just say Zhang I was born in Wei Shangshu's family and became a son-in-law. My little aunt is the most attentive to right and wrong. He has loved me since he was a child, so he must have something to say. Don't mention anything else, just this set of clothes makes her heart beat."

He also thought to himself: "Our two families have lived together in the capital since childhood. I am used to picking up chapters and sentences. My uncle has promised me to get married. Who dares to say no to me? If I let go of Diao, wait and see where Yingying will go. ?" His tone was full of arrogance.

"Huh, let me temporarily put aside my thoughts of oppressing the kind and being domineering, and approach Yingying with a lingering mood." Zheng Heng nodded, determined to go tomorrow.

The next day in the west wing of Pujiu Temple, Mrs. Cui Xiangguo was sitting on the couch with serious eyes and a solemn expression. Zheng Heng's sudden arrival and his failure to greet her in person made her feel wary. She knew very well that her decision would affect the fate of two young people and even change the direction of the entire family.

"Yesterday Zheng Heng came here, but he didn't come to see me. He just called the matchmaker to ask about the marriage." The lady thought in her heart, "Doesn't this child know me? According to my thoughts, I agree with the child in my heart. Besides, the Prime Minister I already made a promise when I was alive, but if I violate my late husband’s last words, what kind of master would I be?”

Although she thought so in her heart, she also thought to herself: "But that Zhang Gong has already written a marriage letter to my Yingying, and that's it. What Zheng Heng said is because he is young and energetic, which is human nature." , not surprising. I am preparing to have a banquet. I wonder if he dares to come to see me today? "

So he told his servants: "You don't need to report when you see my nephew Zheng Heng coming. Let him come in directly to see me."

Not long after, Zheng Heng came to the west wing. Seeing his wife crying, he bowed and said, "Little aunt, my nephew is here to visit you."

When the lady heard what Zheng Heng said, she looked at Zheng Heng and said, "Nephew, since you have come to this Hezhong Mansion, why don't you come to see me?"

When Zheng Heng heard his wife's words, his face was filled with sadness, and he said, "What shame does my nephew have to come to see my little aunt!"

The lady said angrily: "The incident of Yingying being raped by Sun Feihu, when you couldn't get out of the situation, I promised it to Zhang Sheng."

Zheng Heng was shocked when he heard his wife's words. He immediately regained his composure and said, "That Zhang Sheng? Is he the number one scholar in the new subject?"

The lady nodded and said, "A letter came last month, saying that I won the top prize."

"When I was looking at the rankings in the capital, I was 24 years old. Zhang Gong of Luoyang was paraded through the streets for three days. On the second day, he came to the door of Wei Shangshu's house. Shangshu's young lady was wearing a colorful wedding dress and was walking on the imperial street. , a ball is hitting him." Zheng Heng had already thought about it, so he spoke without any hindrance.

The lady was shocked and said: "Isn't that..."

"I also watched on horseback, and almost hit me." Zheng Heng said out of nowhere, "His servant Mei Xiang and more than ten people dragged Zhang Shengheng down to the minister's house. "

The lady stamped her feet and said, "Hey, how could this happen?"

I heard the number one scholar shouting: 'I have a wife, I am the son-in-law of the late Cui Xiangguo. ’ Who knew that a powerful scholar would be willing to listen? Just drag it in. "

The lady frowned and said anxiously: "What should we do?"

"This is the fate he should have had. Out of helplessness, Shangshu said: 'My daughter has been ordered to marry a colorful building, so you can let the Cui family's young lady be your concubine. He hooked up first and then married. No. You should marry her as your official wife.' This incident caused a sensation in the capital, so I do recognize him."

Zheng Heng's tone was full of disdain and ridicule for Zhang Sheng. He looked into his lady's eyes, as if challenging her decision. He knew that he had to use all means to make Madam change her mind.

The lady said angrily: "I knew that this scholar had no good will, and today he really let down my Cui family. In my family, Prime Minister Cui, has there ever been any reason to be a concubine with someone? Although Zhang Sheng married a wife according to the imperial decree, but this It’s rude, my child, you can choose an auspicious day tomorrow, follow my uncle’s arrangements, and still come over and be my son-in-law!”

"Yes, I would like to listen to my aunt's arrangements." Zheng Hengxi said, "But if Mr. Zhang is dissatisfied, what should he do?"

The lady snorted and said: "Don't worry, I'm here. If Mr. Zhang dares to complain even a little, I will find a way to let him know how powerful he is. Just choose an auspicious day, prepare for the visit with peace of mind, and leave the rest to me. Come and do it.”

Zheng Heng secretly rejoiced: "Wonderful! My little aunt fell into my trap!"

He also thought to himself: "Although the new top scholar is currently compiling the history of the country in the Hanlin Academy, he will be awarded an official position one day, and then it will be too late! I have to prepare the banquet, tea ceremony, and bonuses quickly, and marry Yingying on an auspicious day! "