The Romance of the West Chamber: The Bells are Ringing

The matchmaker was in a hurry and asked: "Brother, how could this happen? Why is it so difficult for me to get rid of my slave status? Now that Cui Yingying and Zhang Gong are married, I will marry Cui Yingying, and Zhang Gong will take me as his concubine soon. Room, can’t I get rid of my slave status?”

Qintong muttered: "But I just heard what you said, and I feel that Cui Yingying may not be willing."

The matchmaker was stunned and frowned: "What do you mean..."

Qintong nodded: "Yes, I think sister, although you and Cui Yingying are sisters, Cui Yingying..., she is your master after all, and she may not want you to be her dowry.

The matchmaker's face turned slightly red, and she said with some embarrassment: "Sister-in-love? Just saying, how could any sister strangle her sister so hard? Then... what should I do? I can't always be a slave."

Qintong thought for a moment and said with firm eyes: "Sister, I will take you to listen to what they have to say. Maybe you can get some clues from it."

The matchmaker blushed and said, "Are you looking for a room?"

"Yes!" Qintong laughed.

The matchmaker hesitated: "Isn't this bad? If someone finds out..."

Qintong interrupted her: "So what if someone discovers you? As long as I'm here, what are you afraid of, sister?"

When the matchmaker heard this, her heart warmed, and her eyes were full of courage: "Brother, as long as you are here, I am not afraid."

Qintong looked at the matchmaker and felt a warm current in his heart. He said softly: "Sister, close your eyes, don't open them unless I tell you.

The matchmaker was confused, but she still closed her eyes obediently, thinking: "What happened to this brother today? Is it because he has become enlightened and wants to kiss me secretly?"

I felt Qin Tong reach out his hand and wrap his arms around the matchmaker's waist. The matchmaker was shy and hugged the piano boy tightly.

The matchmaker closed her eyes tightly in anticipation, and suddenly felt her body lighten up and rise into the air.

The matchmaker was startled and wanted to open her eyes, but she didn't dare. She felt Qintong hugging her, rising and falling a few times, as if she was lying on a high place.

The matchmaker was panicked, and the piano boy said softly: "Sister, don't be afraid. I'm here."

The matchmaker only heard Qintong whisper in her ear: "Sister, you can open your eyes now."

The matchmaker opened her eyes according to words and was startled. She wanted to scream, but she quickly covered her mouth.

It turned out that they were actually on the roof of the bridal chamber, with the tiles of the roof beneath them. The piano boy signaled the matchmaker to keep quiet, and gently opened some tiles to let the sounds below come through.

The matchmaker and the piano boy carefully leaned down and listened. I heard the intimate sounds of Cui Yingying and Zhang Gong coming from below.

The matchmaker blushed with embarrassment and looked at the piano boy, seeming to blame him for bringing her up here to hear such an embarrassing sound.

Qintong was helpless, and this was not what he expected.

The two of them lay on the roof without saying a word. The matchmaker couldn't help but reach out and grab the piano boy's big hand. She felt warm in her palm and felt reassured in her heart. At the same time, he looked at the bottom of the house, which was very high from the ground. He was very surprised and thought to himself: "I didn't expect that Qin Tong brother has such good skills. He can jump up to the house while holding me, as if he were walking on flat ground!"

The two of them were flustered and out of breath, but they carefully suppressed it.

After a long time, Cui Yingying was heard softly suppressing a small scream, and then she immediately stopped. Zhang Sheng took a few deep breaths.

After a while, Cui Yingying's voice was long and gentle: "Husband, do you really only love me?"

"Madam, that's natural!" Zhang Gong quickly expressed his stance.

Cui Yingying said: "Then you still want to take the matchmaker as your concubine?"

Zhang Gong was silent for a moment and finally said: "Yingying, I have a wife and you alone are enough."

Cui Yingying sighed softly: "Logically, I should come here with the matchmaker, and the matchmaker will be your concubine. However, my mother is used to the matchmaker's care, so it is better to let the matchmaker continue to take care of me."

Zhang Gong held Cui Yingying's hand tightly: "What I'm saying is that there are many slaves in my Zhang family. It doesn't matter if we have one more or one less!"

Cui Yingying nodded: "My husband is right. It's just a slave. If the husband needs it in the future, he must take a concubine and just buy another one."

Zhang Gong laughed and said, "My lady really knows my thoughts! It's no wonder that I love my lady so much!"

The sound of intimacy between the two started again.

The matchmaker couldn't help feeling very sad when she heard this. She knew that now, even if Cui and Zhang made an agreement, it would no longer be possible for her to marry her, becoming Zhang Gong's concubine would be a thing of the past, and it would be impossible to get rid of her slave status. Qintong was also a little sad. He carefully restored the tiles and said softly: "Sister, let's go down."

The matchmaker nodded and closed her eyes, tears gurgling down from the corners of her closed eyes.

The piano boy hugged the matchmaker tightly and carefully came down from the roof. The two stood opposite each other, looking at each other in silence.

The matchmaker was devastated. Originally, by becoming Zhang Gong's concubine through dowry, she could get rid of her slavery and live a free life, but now this expectation has become a mirror, and she couldn't help but burst into tears.

She hugged Qintong tightly and sobbed softly: "What should I do? My dream is shattered like this."

Hearing this, Qintong comforted him: "Sister, don't be sad, I will always be with you."

The matchmaker was still sobbing: "But I just want to be a good man and live an ordinary civilian life."

Qintong felt a little helpless. He could not provide any solution and could only accompany the matchmaker silently and comfort her.

The two were silent for a moment, and the matchmaker's mood gradually stabilized. She wiped away her tears and took a deep breath: "Thank you, brother. Don't worry, I will beg Cui Yingying and Zhang Gong again, and beg them to take off my clothes." Slave status."

Qintong looked at the matchmaker and felt a little hesitant. He refrained from saying, "Stop humiliating yourself." He knew that the matchmaker had already endured too many blows and humiliations, and he didn't want her to be hurt any more.

The matchmaker wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down. She looked up into the distance and thought firmly in her heart: "I must get rid of my slave status and become a good citizen of the common people."

She turned and left, heading towards Mrs. Cui Xiangguo's room. She knew that if she wanted to become Zhang Gong's concubine, this was the only way.

The matchmaker came to Mrs. Cui Xiangguo's room and knelt down in front of her: "Madam, please help me. Please persuade the young lady and the number one scholar to let slaves accompany them in marriage."

Mrs. Cui Xiangguo looked at the matchmaker and felt a little unbearable: "Matchmaker, I understand your difficulties, but I can't make the decision without authorization."

The matchmaker clasped her hands: "I know, but this is the only way I can go."

Mrs. Cui Xiangguo sighed: "It depends on what Yingying and Zhang Gong want. If they don't agree, I have nothing to do."

The matchmaker's heart sank, she knew that Mrs. Cui Xiangguo's words made sense. But she also knew that if she could not become Zhang Gong's concubine, she would never be able to get rid of her slave status.

Early the next morning, the matchmaker packed everything early and waited quietly at the door of the bridal chamber. She felt a little nervous. She didn't know if she could convince Cui Yingying and Zhang Gong to let her become a concubine in the dowry today.

Time passed little by little, and the sun shone through the clouds in the courtyard. The matchmaker stared at the door of the bridal chamber intently, looking forward to the appearance of Cui Yingying and Zhang Gong.

Finally, at three o'clock in the morning, the door of the bridal chamber opened. Cui Yingying and Zhang Gong walked out slowly. Their faces were a little tired, but the affection in their eyes was beyond words.

The matchmaker hurried forward to greet them, helped them wash up, and prepared breakfast for them. Her movements are gentle and skillful, showing her care and concern for her master.

After breakfast, the matchmaker knelt down again and begged Cui Yingying and Zhang Gong: "Two masters, please let me dowry you. I am willing to be your concubine and take care of your lives."

Cui Yingying secretly thought: "The matchmaker knows too many secrets about me. If she goes as a dowry, she will be with me all day long. But if she really becomes Zhang Gong's concubine, there is no guarantee that she will not be jealous. If I tell Zhang Gong those things about me, it will be over."

Therefore, Cui Yingying only said that she wanted the matchmaker to take care of Mrs. Cui Xiangguo, but she never relented and agreed to the matchmaker's dowry.

The matchmaker knelt on the ground, with tears streaming down her face, and begged: "Little madam, please help me. I am willing to be the concubine of the No. [-] Scholar and take care of everything for him."

Cui Yingying looked at the matchmaker and felt a little unhappy. If the matchmaker didn't say that she would be Zhang Gong's concubine, it would be okay, but if she said that, she would be desperate.

Cui Yingying's face darkened and she was about to walk away. She faked a sigh and said, "Matchmaker, I understand your difficulties, but this matter is of great importance and I cannot make a decision easily."

The matchmaker burst into tears and cried: "My dear madam, please help me. I am willing to give everything for you and the No. [-] Scholar."

Cui Yingying thought to herself: "Hmph, Matchmaker, Matchmaker, the more this happens, the more scared I am!" She was silent for a moment, and finally said: "Matchmaker, you get up first. This matter must be listened to by the No. [-] Scholar."

The matchmaker stood up in tears, wiped away her tears, stepped aside silently, and looked at Zhang Gong longingly.