Explore Chapter 7 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.
It is said that Yang Xingyuan was in the Guild Hall when one day he received a letter from Wu Bibo. The letter stated there was an extremely interesting matter Bibo wished to share, and he urged Xingyuan to come to the Qingyun Pavilion teahouse for a chat the next day. Upon reading the letter, Yang Xingyuan did not know what it was about. However, knowing that Bibo was not a frivolous person, he went as scheduled.
Upon arriving at Qingyun Pavilion, Wu Bibo was already waiting downstairs. The two went upstairs and found a seat. Bibo said, "I invited you today to introduce a friend to you." Xingyuan asked, "Who is it?" Bibo replied, "This person's surname is He, given name Dashan, style name Jingzhai. He is an old educator and currently a professor at the national university. He has an interesting story, so I specifically asked you to come and talk about it."
Just as they were speaking, a man in his fifties appeared. He wore an old felt hat, a gray cloth robe, and a black satin mandarin jacket over it. His appearance was quite stiff. Bibo stood up to greet him and said to Xingyuan, "This is Mr. He." He then introduced Yang Xingyuan to He Dashan. He Dashan looked Yang Xingyuan over and said, "So you are Mr. Yang Xingyuan? I often read your articles in the newspaper and greatly admire them." Xingyuan modestly declined the praise.
The three sat down, and He Dashan said to Bibo, "You can now tell Mr. Yang about that matter you mentioned earlier." Bibo said to Xingyuan, "This Mr. He recently rented a house in the city's Anjing Temple Lane, planning to bring his family to Beijing. The house is an old-style residence with a deeply secluded courtyard. On the first day Mr. He moved in, he heard the sound of a woman weeping in the backyard. At first, he thought it was a neighbor. But the sound grew closer, as if coming from the next room. Being bold, Mr. He went to the backyard to investigate. He saw three small rooms there, locked. Peering through a crack in the window, he saw a young woman in old-fashioned clothes, covering her face and weeping. Mr. He coughed, and the woman suddenly vanished. Finding this strange, Mr. He asked the landlord the next day. The landlord said the backyard rooms had always been used for storing杂物, and no one lived there. Unconvinced, Mr. He had the landlord open the door. Inside, there were indeed some old furniture covered in dust, with no sign of habitation. Mr. He wondered if he had imagined it. That evening, he heard the woman's weeping again. This time, Mr. He quietly went to the backyard and peeked through the window. The woman reappeared, sitting on a chair, combing her hair before a mirror. Mr. He clearly saw that she wore a late Qing dynasty hairstyle and clothes from thirty years ago. Only then did he realize he had encountered a ghost. However, as a scholar who never believed in ghosts, he gathered courage and knocked on the door. The woman turned around. Mr. He saw that her face was pale, but her features were quite delicate. Seeing Mr. He, the woman was not afraid. Instead, she stood up and bowed, saying, 'Are you the new master here? I am from the Guangxu era of the former Qing dynasty. Wronged, I hanged myself and was buried here. My soul finds no peace, so I weep here every night, disturbing you. I am truly sorry.' Hearing this, Mr. He thought her speech was elegant, unlike an evil spirit. He asked about her grievance. The female ghost said she was originally a decent family's daughter, forced into marriage by a local tyrant. She refused and committed suicide. After death, the tyrant did not even provide a coffin, burying her hastily in the backyard. Decades had passed with no one to tend her grave, so she wept in sorrow. Mr. He felt great sympathy and promised to rebury her and perform a ceremony pray for the dead. The female ghost was immensely grateful, bowed in thanks, and left. After that, she never appeared again. Mr. He later indeed reburied her and held a ceremony. This matter, Mr. He told me personally. I found it extremely interesting, so I asked you to come and discuss it."
Yang Xingyuan listened and also found it strange. He asked He Dashan for more details. He Dashan added some specifics. The three chatted for a while, then He Dashan excused himself due to other matters. Wu Bibo asked Yang Xingyuan, "Do you find this believable?" Yang Xingyuan said, "Mr. He is an honest man and would not lie. But matters of ghosts and spirits are ultimately elusive. Perhaps it was a psychological effect or there is another hidden reason." Bibo said, "I think the same. However, Mr. He spoke with such conviction that one cannot help but believe." The two talked about other things before parting ways.
Yang Xingyuan returned to the Guild Hall in the evening. Recalling what He Dashan had said, he was half-convinced and half-doubting. Suddenly, he received an invitation from his colleague Lu Xiye, asking him to dine at a restaurant in Xianyukou. Yang Xingyuan was not closely acquainted with Lu Xiye and did not know why he was invited, but he could not refuse, so he went. At the restaurant, Lu Xiye was already waiting. At the same table was a stranger, introduced as Lu Xiye's townsman, surnamed Hu, named Weixian, a wealthy merchant. During the meal, Lu Xiye was very attentive to Yang Xingyuan, and Hu Weixian also frequently toasted him. Yang Xingyuan was puzzled, unsure of their intentions.
After three rounds of drinks, Lu Xiye finally said, "Brother Yang, I invited you today to ask a favor." Yang Xingyuan asked, "What is it?" Lu Xiye said, "Mr. Hu has a daughter, eighteen years old, who wants to find a good match. Having long heard of your talent, we wish to ask you to act as a matchmaker and propose her to Mr. He Dashan." Yang Xingyuan was stunned and said, "Mr. He? He is not young and already has a family. I fear it is inappropriate." Hu Weixian laughed and said, "Mr. Yang, you may not know. Although Mr. He is older, his learning and character are excellent. My daughter admires him greatly and is willing to be a concubine." Yang Xingyuan was even more surprised, thinking how such a thing could happen. He declined, "This matter may be difficult. Mr. He is a conservative man and may not be willing to take a concubine." Lu Xiye said, "As long as you are willing to ask, we will not blame you whether it succeeds or not." Yang Xingyuan had no choice but to agree to try.
After the dinner, Yang Xingyuan found it increasingly strange and went to ask Wu Bipo about it. Bibo smiled and said, "I have also heard about this. That Hu Weixian is a parvenu who wants to climb into a scholarly family. He Dashan may be poor, but he is a professor with a good reputation. As for his daughter, I heard she is a modern girl. How could she admire He Dashan? There must be another hidden reason." Yang Xingyuan said, "Then how should I proceed as a matchmaker?" Bibo said, "Just go and ask, and see how Mr. He reacts."
The next day, Yang Xingyuan went to see He Dashan and tactfully brought up the matter. Upon hearing it, He Dashan became furious and said, "This is outrageous! I may be poor, but I am not someone who sells my reputation for glory. Please tell Mr. Hu not to mention this again." Yang Xingyuan had expected this and relayed the message to Lu Xiye. Both Lu Xiye and Hu Weixian were disappointed. Hu Weixian said, "Since Mr. He refuses, let it be. However, my daughter is quite stubborn and insists on meeting Mr. He in person to ask him directly. Could you arrange that, Mr. Yang?" Yang Xingyuan said, "That might be inconvenient." Hu Weixian said, "Just one meeting, so my daughter can give up, and I can persuade her." Unable to refuse, Yang Xingyuan went to ask He Dashan again. He Dashan initially refused, but after Yang Xingyuan's persuasion, he agreed to meet at Central Park, but for only ten minutes.
On the appointed day, He Dashan and Yang Xingyuan waited at Central Park. Shortly, Hu Weixian arrived with his daughter. The young woman was fashionably dressed and strikingly beautiful. Seeing He Dashan, she stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Mr. He, I have long admired you." He Dashan felt somewhat awkward at her forthrightness. The woman said directly, "Mr. He, although I am a woman, I have studied for several years and know the value of learning. I am willing to marry you, serve you, and help you in your scholarly pursuits. Please do not disdain me." He Dashan blushed and said, "Miss, I am deeply grateful for your affection. But I already have a family and am old. I dare not delay your youth." The woman said, "I do not care about that." He Dashan only shook his head. The woman suddenly teared up and said, "Does Mr. He despise me?" He Dashan hurriedly said, "No, no, it is truly impossible." The woman said, "Since it is impossible, then forget it." With that, she turned and left. Hu Weixian apologized to He Dashan and chased after her.
Yang Xingyuan and He Dashan looked at each other in silence. He Dashan sighed and said, "Girls these days are truly bold." Yang Xingyuan said, "I think this woman was sincere, unfortunately." He Dashan said, "Do not say such things. I would never do such a thing." The two strolled in the park for a while before returning separately.
Yang Xingyuan returned to the Guild Hall and received a phone call from Li Yun, saying she was ill and wanted to see him. Yang Xingyuan hurried to Pine and Bamboo House. Li Yun was indeed lying in bed, looking haggard. Li Yun said, "Master Yang, I fear I am not long for this world." Yang Xingyuan said, "Do not talk nonsense. Have you seen a doctor?" Li Yun said, "Yes, they said it is tuberculosis, difficult to cure." Yang Xingyuan felt a pang of sorrow and comforted her. Li Yun asked, "If I die, will you remember me?" Yang Xingyuan said, "You will recover. Do not think too much." After sitting for a while, Li Yun fell asleep, and Yang Xingyuan left.
Back at the newspaper office, He Jianchen noticed his troubled expression and asked what was wrong. Yang Xingyuan told him about Li Yun's illness. He Jianchen said, "This kind of illness is most difficult to treat. You must be prepared." Yang Xingyuan was gloomy and unhappy. That evening, while submitting drafts, he had no heart for work. It was not until late at night that he went home to rest.