Stories Old and New: A Ming Dynasty Collection

4. Ruan San Redeems His Debt in Leisurely Clouds Nunnery

4 Ruan San Redeems His Debt in Leisurely Clouds Nunnery When good marriage affinities go awry, Blame not the gods or fellow men. Just marry your children early, like Xiang Ziping,1 And live the rest of your life in peace and quiet. The above quatrain exhorts parents to settle their debts with their children early. As the saying goes, “A grown son should take a wife; a grown daughter should have a husband. If no marriage takes place, scandals will bring you disgrace.” Goodness knows how many parents have unduly delayed their daughter’s matrimony by being too fastidious in picking the right son-in-law from the right family. How can youngsters who have been awakened to love withstand their desires? In the case of a young man, he would turn to clandestine love a airs or visit houses of ill repute. A young woman, if unanchored in a betrothal, is also likely to go astray, and by that time, regrets will be too late! Let me now tell of a prominent o‹cial, Chen Taichang by name, who lived in Tuyan Lane, o Wutong Street, in the [Song dynasty’s] Western Capital ,2 Henan Prefecture. Of humble origin, he worked his way up the echelons of o‹cialdom till he attained the post of marshal of the palace guards. In his late forties, he took a concubine who bore him no son but only a daughter, whom they named Yulan [Jade Magnolia]. By the time she reached sixteen, this young lady of noble birth raised in the depths of her boudoir was as fresh as a flower and as fair as the moon, and accomplished in the arts of embroidery , sewing, musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Chen Taichang often commented to his wife, “If no worthy husband is found for our talented and beautiful only daughter, my position as a minister in the imperial court as well as my immense wealth would all be to no avail.” He therefore summoned a registered matchmaker and gave her these instructions: “Our daughter is now of age for marriage. Don’t come back to me until you have found an eligible candidate with all of the following three qualities: first, he must be the son of an incumbent o‹cial in the imperial court; second, his looks and talents must match those of our daughter; third, he must have a 94 jinshi degree. Only one who meets all three conditions will qualify for marriage into our family. He who lacks one of the three qualities is not even worth considering.” Candidates in the subsequent search were found to be either qualified scholars but of humble origin, or of eminent family background but with no scholarly achievements, or to be satisfactory in both of these qualities but too distant in age. Therefore, the matter was put o year after year. Time sped by like an arrow, and, before they knew it, Yulan was nineteen but not yet betrothed. It was now the Lantern Festival of the second year of the [Song dynasty’s] Zhenghe reign period [c.e. 1112], and there was to be a joyous celebration as decreed by the imperial court. A host of colored lanterns were piled up in the shape of a hill in front of the Gate of Five Phoenixes. The streets were ablaze with bright lanterns, and the air was filled with the sound of gongs and drums. The curfew in the capital was lifted from the fifth through the twentieth of the first month, and the imperial court rejoiced with the populace. How do we know this? There is a lyric poem to the tune of “Auspicious Crane Fairy” depicting the festive scene: An auspicious mist floats over the palace; Spring descends upon the vermilion gate. It is the middle of the first month when The moon waxes to its fullest. Streets sparkle with hibiscus flowers. Seen from the Dragon Towers, the city Is aglow with candles and lanterns. Where curtains of beads are raised high, Songs and music last all day long, And precious hairpins and bracelets gather. An enviable sight! What better time To be among the silks and the perfumes! In the gentle breezes of the warm night, Midst flowers and cheerful laughter, Hair ornaments twirl around with the hats In clusters all over the place. How wonderful! The capital’s old glory Shines again in these times of peace! Everywhere were people out to view the lanterns, and...