Explore Chapter 13 of '水浒新传' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Now, the heroes of Liangshan Marsh each found their destinies after the amnesty and recruitment. Among them, Lu Zhishen and Wu Song, originally from monastic or Daoist backgrounds, had always harbored a longing for the religious life, despite the turmoil of battle.
Lu Zhishen took monastic vows at Liuhe Temple in Hangzhou. One day, he heard the tide signal. Recalling the gatha of his master, Abbot Zhizhen, he was instantly enlightened. Thus, he passed away in meditation. Wu Song stayed with him at Liuhe Temple and later also became a monk, withdrawing from worldly affairs.
Meanwhile, among the Liangshan heroes, there were those bound by romantic ties. For example, Yan Qing and Li Shishi, though of vastly different statuses, were deeply affectionate and loyal. Yan Qing wandered the martial world, while Li Shishi lived secluded in the palace. Their love was profound, and in the end, they retreated together to the mountains.
Then there were the butchers and wine-sellers, such as Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang. Originally a couple who ran a shady inn, they later submitted to Liangshan Marsh and fought valiantly against the Jin. After the war, unwilling to become officials, they returned to their old trade but made it legitimate, selling wine and butchering pigs, and lived in seclusion in the marketplace.
This chapter indeed embodies the phrase: "Officials and monks find common end; lovers and butchers retreat together." The Liangshan heroes, each in their own place, thus achieved a perfect conclusion.