Explore Chapter 12 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.
The three militiamen returned to Liujiajiao. They reported that the district office had taken Xing Wang and Jin Wang into custody and sent an assistant to investigate their crimes. Everyone was overjoyed and applauded. After lunch, a mass meeting was held in the temple. The village head stated the meeting's purpose and urged everyone to expose the misdeeds of the two men. At first, people were afraid. They worried that if they couldn't bring them down, the two might return for revenge. For a long while, no one spoke. Some timid souls quietly advised the others, "Those who endure trouble live in peace." A young man who had been ruined by their actions said, "Haven't I endured enough? The more I endured, the less peace I had! If you won't speak, I will!" He began by recounting how Jin Wang had led bandits to kidnap his family for ransom. He listed four or five offenses before saying, "Let me rest a bit. Let others speak too!" Once he started, many victims rushed to speak. Some had spent money on them, some had been driven to suicide, others had their property seized or their wives violated. The two men also used militiamen to cut firewood for them and conscripted laborers to hoe their fields. They overcollected grain, levied private taxes, and forced militiamen to tie people up. One after another, from noon until sunset, they listed over fifty or sixty offenses.
After this meeting, the villagers dared to stand up. Soon, the village cadres underwent a major reelection. People no longer dared to vote for bad characters. During this time, Jin Wang's wife naturally lost her position. However, she changed her tone, saying, "From now on, I will strive to improve too."
The two 'immortals' also changed. That day at the district office, San Xiangu was surrounded and stared at by a group of women for a long time. She felt deeply embarrassed. Returning home, she studied herself in the mirror. Her attire was indeed inappropriate. She also thought that her daughter was soon to marry. Why should she still try to act coquettish? So she made up her mind. She changed her appearance from head to toe, making herself look like a respectable elder. She quietly dismantled the incense altar she had used for thirty years to deceive people with her spiritual acts.
That day, after returning from the district office, Er Zhuge again mentioned to his wife the incompatible horoscopes of Xiao Erhei and Xiao Qin. His wife said, "Put away your damned Eight Trigrams! Didn't you say that Xiao Erhei would be in trouble this time? You divinate for every little thing in your life, but what good has it ever done? I think Xiao Qin is quite nice. If she can live with our Xiao Erhei, that's great! What does horoscope compatibility matter? Don't you remember 'Unpropitious for Planting'?" Seeing that even his wife didn't believe in his yin-yang arts, Er Zhuge felt too ashamed to show off his tricks to others anymore.
Xiao Qin and Xiao Erhei returned to their respective homes. Seeing that the elders' attitudes had changed, they asked neighbors to mediate. The two 'immortals' readily agreed to their marriage. Later, both families made preparations, and the bride crossed the threshold. After the wedding, the young couple was very happy. Neighbors said they were the best pair in the village. In their bedroom, the couple sometimes joked. Xiao Erhei would mimic San Xiangu's spirit possession chant, "predestined marriage is decreed by heaven." Xiao Qin would mimic Er Zhuge saying, "the district head's favor, incompatible horoscopes." Mischievous children eavesdropped and learned these phrases. They gave the two 'immortals' new nicknames: San Xiangu was called "predestined marriage," and Er Zhuge was called "incompatible horoscopes."