Explore Chapter 11 of 'Little Erhei Gets Married' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
San Xiangu went to find Er Zhuge. For one thing, she wanted to flaunt her quarrelsome nature; for another, she aimed to keep up appearances. Truth be told, she was rather pleased to let Xiao Qin suffer a bit. After raising a ruckus with Er Zhuge's wife, she went back home and straight to bed.
The next morning, she got up late. Though Yu Fu was more anxious than she was, he had no ideas of his own and didn't dare wake her, so he went ahead to cook. When the meal was nearly ready, San Xiangu slowly rose to dress and make up. Yu Fu asked her, 'Aren't you going to check on Xiao Qin?' She retorted, 'What for? Think she's got some mighty skills?' Yu Fu didn't dare say another word. He finished cooking and kept the food warming by the stove, waiting until she was done primping before they ate.
Before they'd even finished eating, a messenger from the district office came to summon her. She seemed quite pleased with herself, drawing out her voice as she said, 'Our girl's all grown up and we can't handle her anymore, so we're off to ask the district chief to give her a good talking-to!' After finishing her meal, she changed into new clothes-a fresh handkerchief, embroidered shoes, and trimmed trousers. She powdered her face again and added a few more pieces of jewelry. Then she told Yu Fu to saddle the donkey for her. She mounted it, and Yu Fu led the way as they headed for the district office.
Arriving at the district office, the messenger led her to the district chief's room. She prostrated herself and kowtowed, crying out repeatedly, 'Your Honor, you must uphold justice for me!' The district chief was bent over his desk writing. Seeing her kneeling on the ground with her head bowed, adorned with silver jewelry all over, he thought she was the young wife who'd quarreled with her mother-in-law a couple of days earlier. He said, 'Doesn't your mother-in-law have a guarantor? Why not seek out the guarantor?' San Xiangu was bewildered and looked up at the district chief's face. The district chief saw she was an old woman with powder on her face and realized his mistake. The messenger said, 'Wrong person! This is Yu Xiao Qin's mother!' The district chief scrutinized her again and said, 'So you're Xiao Qin's mother? Get up! Stop putting on airs and acting mysterious! I know everything! Get up!' San Xiangu stood up. The district chief asked, 'How old are you this year?' San Xiangu said, 'Forty-five.' The district chief said, 'Just look at yourself-dressed up like that, do you even look human?' A little girl of about ten standing by the door giggled. The messenger said, 'Go play outside!' The little girl ran off. The district chief asked, 'You can perform spirit possession, right?' San Xiangu dared not answer. The district chief asked, 'Did you find a husband for your daughter?' San Xiangu answered, 'Yes, I did!' 'How much money did you take?' 'Three thousand five hundred!' 'What else?' 'Some jewelry and cloth!' 'Did you discuss it with your daughter?' 'No!' 'Is your daughter willing or not?' 'I don't know!' The district chief said, 'I'll have her brought here so you can ask her yourself!' Then he turned to the messenger and said, 'Go fetch Yu Xiao Qin!'
The little girl who had run out earlier went around spreading the word outside, saying there was a woman involved in a lawsuit, forty-five years old, with powder on her face and wearing embroidered shoes. Neighboring women all came to see, crowding half the courtyard. They murmured, 'Look! She's forty-five!' 'Check out those trousers!' 'And those shoes!' San Xiangu, who had never blushed in all her years, couldn't keep her cool this time. Sweat poured down her face in her embarrassment. The messenger led Xiao Qin over and deliberately said, 'What are you all gawking at? She's a person too, haven't you seen one before? Make way!' The group of women burst into laughter.
Suddenly, the people in the courtyard changed the topic. They all said, 'That's someone else's daughter,' 'The daughter doesn't dress up as well as her mother,' and some added, 'I heard she can also perform spirit possession.' What's more, someone in the know began recounting the tale of 'The Spoiled Rice' in fits and starts. At this point, San Xiangu wished she could bang her head against the wall and die.
The district chief said, 'If you won't ask, I'll ask for you! Yu Xiao Qin, are you willing to marry the man your mother found for you?' Xiao Qin said, 'No! Who do I know he is?' The district chief said to San Xiangu, 'Did you hear that?' He then explained to her for a while the laws on marital autonomy, saying that Xiao Qin's engagement to Xiao Erhei was completely legal. He ordered her to return the money and goods sent by the Wu family intact and to let Xiao Qin marry Xiao Erhei. In her shame, she agreed to everything one by one.