Explore Chapter 33 of 'Spring Ming Outer History' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Yang Xingyuan had, over the past few months, felt weighed down by emotional entanglements, which had brought him much vexation. As a result, he gradually cooled off from visiting both Hua Yun and Songzhu Garden. Even towards Li Yun, he was no longer as infatuated and love-struck as before, losing himself in daydreams all day long. Aside from attending classes at the yamen, he spent all his time reading at home. That afternoon, he was sitting under the eaves, flipping through a copy of "Collected Poems of Li Yishan", when suddenly Wu Bipo walked in and said, "How leisurely you are! I have a matter to discuss with you." Yang Xingyuan said, "What is it? Are you going to perform on stage? I can accompany you on the huqin." Wu Bipo said, "You're still talking nonsense. How could a gentleman like you agree to play the huqin for someone?" Yang Xingyuan said, "Then, are you going to give a speech on stage and want me to cheer you on?" Wu Bipo said, "Stop joking. I have a problem that I can't resolve and need to discuss it with you." Yang Xingyuan said, "What is it? Tell me." Wu Bipo said, "Someone has proposed a marriage for me." Yang Xingyuan said, "Which family?" Wu Bipo said, "It's the daughter of an old bureaucrat. She's currently studying at the Tianjin Women's Normal School and is about to graduate." Yang Xingyuan said, "Well, then just accept it. I've heard you say before that your mother is very concerned about your marriage. Isn't this a perfect opportunity?" Wu Bipo said, "But I think otherwise. I believe in free love, and marriage should be free as well. I'm unwilling unless I find someone myself. So, I want to refuse this proposal. However, this old bureaucrat was a close friend of my late father, and I've heard he had a deep connection with him. Moreover, I know this young lady. If I don't agree, how can I face my late father?" Yang Xingyuan said, "That's truly difficult. Then, you should just accept it." Wu Bipo said, "I can't force myself to marry just because of my late father's fate." Yang Xingyuan said, "Marriage requires the consent of the person involved. Others shouldn't interfere. Since you don't agree, of course you can't accept. But how will you resolve the issue with your family?" Wu Bipo said, "It's precisely because it's hard to resolve that I've come to seek your advice." Yang Xingyuan said, "I find it hard to suggest a concrete solution. In my opinion, you could first explain your family situation to that old bureaucrat and see what he thinks. If he can understand, you might shift the blame onto your family." Wu Bipo said, "The difficulty lies right there. He believes that since my father has passed away, I am the head of the household and can decide my marriage entirely on my own. Moreover, my mother is also very supportive." Yang Xingyuan said, "That really is difficult." Wu Bipo said, "I have an idea. I'll just say that I already have someone in Beijing, and we have deep feelings for each other, so I can't betray her. That way, he can't force me." Yang Xingyuan laughed and said, "Where did you get a lover? Who would believe that?" Wu Bipo said, "That's the problem. It's not easy to fabricate a lover out of thin air." Yang Xingyuan said, "There is a way. Just randomly acknowledge someone as your lover, and that's it." Wu Bipo said, "How can that work? Although the term 'lover' isn't a big deal nowadays, for a gentleman in his fifties or sixties, it sounds more shocking than us talking about demons. He would never believe it." Yang Xingyuan said, "If this won't work and that won't work, then I have no solution." Wu Bipo said, "I have a plan. I think only you can help me." Yang Xingyuan said, "How can I help?" Wu Bipo said, "Because my lover should ideally be from the literary and artistic circles for him to believe it. I was thinking of saying it's you..." Yang Xingyuan laughed and said, "Oh! I see. You want to use me as your pretend lover, right?" Wu Bipo smiled and said, "It's a last resort. Fortunately, it's just words from my mouth, not a real affair. Even if rumors spread, it's only temporary and won't matter much." Yang Xingyuan said, "That's fine by me. You can say whatever you want." Wu Bipo laughed and said, "You agreed quite readily. But I definitely won't do it so casually." Yang Xingyuan said, "What do you need then?" Wu Bipo smiled and said, "We should at least host a gathering to spread the word, so I have something to base my story on." Yang Xingyuan laughed and said, "That's not worth it. For your own sake, you want me to host a party? Where's the logic in that?" Wu Bipo said, "I haven't finished yet. Why would I ask you to host? My idea is to borrow a place, invite a few friends, and both of us attend. Then, it will seem more plausible." Yang Xingyuan said, "That's acceptable. But where should we host?" Wu Bipo said, "There's a ready place: Pine and Bamboo House, where Li Yun is. What do you think?" Yang Xingyuan laughed and said, "What are you saying? Using me as your pretend lover and hosting in a hutong? What does that mean?" Wu Bipo said, "It doesn't matter for you. It's common for friends from the newspaper office to drink in a hutong. But for me, it requires more consideration." Yang Xingyuan said, "Since you know that, you don't need to consider it." Wu Bipo said, "I suggested Pine and Bamboo House for a reason. If we host there, people will surely say that Yang Xingyuan is hosting at Pine and Bamboo House, which of course isn't strange. But with me present, people will wonder: since I've never had any connection with Li Yun, why am I hosting there? This speculation would serve as excellent advertisement." Yang Xingyuan said, "So you're just trying to take advantage of me." Wu Bipo smiled and said, "Not necessarily. You'll benefit too. In the future, you can tell Li Yun that for her sake, I've shown great face in front of friends. She'll have to express her gratitude. Then, when you ask her for favors, she won't easily refuse." Yang Xingyuan laughed and said, "So, you've truly guessed the son's trail in hidden characters and seen through the beauty's scheme, exhausting gold at the bedside." Wu Bipo said, "Don't joke. Will you do it or not?" Yang Xingyuan said, "Why wouldn't I? But you said to invite a few friends. Which ones?" Wu Bipo said, "For a table of guests, I plan it this way: besides you and me, we'll invite He Jianchen and Shi Chengran, and that's it." Yang Xingyuan said, "Only five people at a table? Isn't that too few?" Wu Bipo smiled and said, "Our true intention is not in the wine. Why do we need many people? Even with just five, Jianchen and Chengran both have a belly full of 'Strange Tales'. Once there, won't they just play along with the scene?" Seeing that he made sense, Yang Xingyuan agreed.
At the banquet, Wu Bibo was indeed very cheerful, showing extreme favor towards Li Yun. Li Yun, knowing that he and Yang Xingyuan were close friends, wouldn't suddenly act as the host without fate or reason. Thinking this, she continuously returned Wu Bibo's gestures. As a result, the atmosphere that day became quite lively. From that day on, Wu Bibo indeed spread many rumors among friends in Beijing, saying that Wu Bibo and Li Yun were involved, and Yang Xingyuan had stepped aside for the better. When this news reached the ears of that old bureaucrat, he believed it to be true and indeed stopped proposing the marriage. However, over the next two or three months, Wu Bibo spent quite a bit of money. He could no longer visit Li Yun, and Yang Xingyuan, seeing his situation, felt sorry for him. Fortunately, Li Yun's feelings towards Yang Xingyuan remained good, and he found a way to smooth things over with Li Yun on his behalf. Thus, although Wu Bibo spent a sum of money, it didn't damage their friendship.
However, Yang Xingyuan never asked about his relationship with Li Yun, and he never mentioned it either. Since it was a private matter, Yang Xingyuan naturally didn't pry further. Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, another two weeks passed. By then, the weather had become very warm, and trees everywhere were lush and green. People in Beijing were busy visiting Er Zha and Xiangshan. There were also those who, aspiring to be refined, avoided mountains and waters but toured ancient temples, believing that during the transition between spring and summer, the verdant ancient trees offered a unique charm. Every year at this time, Yang Xingyuan would visit ancient temples Outside the City for a tour. This year was no exception, so he took a small bag and went alone to Outside the City. This trip would lead to: summoning recluses in the southern regions, suddenly adding romantic affairs; stepping into the northern lanes, again arousing passions.