"Alright, So-So. Since So-So and Toako need me, I will move my belongings and relocate here." Kim Lian was, of course, delighted, but she concealed her joy and respectfully bowed, "Your presence here will bring honor to us, my younger brother." After Bu Siong moved to his brother's house, he gave his brother a few pieces of silver to buy cakes and other items to distribute to the neighbors as a mark of friendship. The neighbors were delighted, especially upon hearing that the formidable martial artist Bu Siong, renowned as the tiger slayer, was now residing at Bu Toa's house. Even more surprising was that this martial artist was Bu Toa's biological brother. They all treated Bu Toa with newfound respect and admiration. Bu Siong's presence, just as Kim Lian had said, had elevated the family's prestige in the eyes of the neighbors.
Bu Siong was a straightforward and respectful martial artist. He didn't forget to buy beautiful fabric for his sister-in-law, and of course, Kim Lian accepted this gift with great delight. Kim Lian treated Bu Siong with the same affection she would her own beloved younger brother. She served the martial artist delicious meals and made every effort to please him. Bu Siong, being honest, never suspected any ulterior motives, and was very grateful for his sister-in-law's kindness. He was completely oblivious to the fact that all of Kim Lian's kindness concealed deeper, more selfish motives. Their relationship became as close as that of a brother and sister.
Several months later, winter arrived. The air turned bitterly cold, making people reluctant to leave their warm homes. However, Bu Toa never stopped going out every morning to sell his goods. One day, early in the morning, Bu Toa braved the snow while carrying his merchandise. His body was wrapped in a thick, warm cloak given to him by his brother. Last night, Bu Siong had been on duty at the fortress and was only due to return home this afternoon. After her husband left, Kim Lian busied herself.
"Today, I must succeed!" she clenched her fist. "He cannot possibly continue to ignore me!" Kim Lian quickly visited Mrs. Wang, a widow who lived nearby, to buy fine wine and meat. She herself lit the charcoal in the fireplace in Bu Siong's room. Then she prepared a delicious meal and waited for her brother-in-law's arrival. Finally, past noon, Bu Siong appeared at the doorstep, shivering from the cold and brushing off the snow from his cloak. Kim Lian immediately greeted him, her beautiful face full of sweet smiles. As Bu Siong removed his snow-drenched cloak and hat, Kim Lian stepped forward to assist him.
"Ah, don't trouble yourself, So-So," Bu Siong objected. He brushed off his cloak and hat and hung them on the wall. Then, as usual, Bu Siong strode towards his room. Kim Lian followed him, her eyes sparkling with cunning.
"Brother Bu Siong, I've been waiting for your return since morning. Why did you take so long to come back?"
"A friend invited me over for a meal, but I managed to decline and just had a chat."
"Ah, I see. Well, sit by the fireplace to warm up, my brother." Bu Siong slumped onto the chair by the warm fireplace and let out a long sigh, "Aahh, it's really comfortable here!" He happily said, taking off his shoes and socks, and slipped his feet into a warm pair of slippers. It was indeed comfortable and cozy to sit by a fireplace after being caught in a snowfall outside. Little A Ying appeared carrying wine and food, and Kim Lian with a captivating charm arranged everything on the table. A Ying then left the room. Kim Lian took a stool and also sat by the fireplace.
"Brother Bu Siong, drink this wine," she said, pouring wine into a wine cup. In honor of his sister-in-law, Bu Siong accepted the cup and drank the wine poured by Kim Lian twice. He then reciprocated by pouring wine into Kim Lian's cup. The woman then encouraged her brother-in-law to eat and drink, continually refilling Bu Siong's wine cup to keep it from emptying. Suddenly, Kim Lian's attire was in disarray. The top of her chest was exposed due to two unbuttoned buttons, revealing the curves of her chest. Her hair tie suddenly came undone, letting her long, fragrant black hair cascade down her shoulders. Her moist red lips parted, and her half-closed eyes were filled with passion.
"Brother Bu Siong, there are rumors that you keep a female singer in a house not far from the fortress. Is it true?"
"Don't listen to those rumors. I'm not that kind of man."
"Who knows? Maybe you say one thing and think another."
"Hmm, you can ask my brother!"
"Your brother? What does he know? He's like a dreamer in life, as if he's always half-drunk. Should he be peddling food like that if he really had a brain? Drink up, brother Bu Siong." Kim Lian persuaded her brother-in-law to down three more cups of wine and continued to refill his cup. She herself had drunk three cups and was beginning to get drunk, burning with the fiery desire within her.
Her words became increasingly unrestrained and uninhibited. Although he had drunk a lot of wine, Bu Siong was still mostly sober. He was not influenced by the wine or So-So's situation, and kept his gaze lowered most of the time. When the first jug of wine was emptied, Kim Lian left the room to refill it. She departed with a languid, tempting sway, but Bu Siong paid no attention and proceeded to tend to the glowing charcoal in the fireplace. Kim Lian re-entered the room, and with the jug of wine in her right hand, she placed her left hand on Bu Siong's shoulder. The martial artist could feel the pressure her fingers exerted on his shoulder.
"Your clothes are so thin, brother Bu Siong. Aren't you cold?" Bu Siong didn't answer, but continued to poke at the charcoal with the poker. Kim Lian took the poker from his hand.
"Ehh, it seems you don't know how to get warm, good brother. Let me make you as hot as that fireplace itself!" Bu Siong was seething with anger, but he suppressed it. Apparently, the drunken Kim Lian didn't realize her brother-in-law's anger. She downed the wine from her cup, leaving half, and offered the cup with the remaining wine to Bu Siong.
"Drink this, my gallant brother, drink it if you pity me." Bu Siong could no longer hold himself back. He took the cup and angrily poured its contents onto the floor. With a hand as if to reject his sister-in-law, he said with fiery, angry eyes.
"Enough of this nonsense, So-So! I am an honest man who stands upright between heaven and earth, and who keeps his tongue in his mouth! I am not a pig that knows nothing of decency and humanity. Stop this nonsense! If you let yourself be easily intoxicated by desire, my eyes might recognize you as my sister-in-law, but my fists might forget all about it!" With a flushed face, Kim Lian lowered her gaze. She then called A Ying to clean the table. After it was done and the child left the room, she said softly,
"I was just joking. How could I have guessed that you would take it seriously? How coarse you are, brother Bu Siong." She then left the room to go to the kitchen. The incident was extremely painful for Kim Lian, but she dared not do anything, only regretted herself and her fate, which she considered extremely unfortunate. And a change occurred in her household that very day. When Bu Toa returned from peddling his wares in the afternoon, he was greeted by his cold and gloomy brother. Bu Siong then left the house, ignoring his brother's calls to him. Shortly afterwards, he returned with two soldiers and ordered them to move his belongings from his brother's house.
"Oh, my brother, why do you suddenly want to leave us?" Bu Toa asked, puzzled and worried.
"I need not explain, my brother. Let me leave in peace, that seems to be the best." And he left with his two subordinates carrying his belongings, leaving Bu Toa shaking his head, wondering what had happened to make his brother behave so strangely.
About half a month later, Bu Siong was summoned to meet the District Chief and was given the task of escorting the official's valuable goods to the Capital City. The journey was quite far and took a long time, and because what he was carrying was valuable, it was indeed dangerous and required a brave man like Bu Siong. The official promised a large reward to Bu Siong, who gladly accepted the task. Before leaving, Bu Siong visited his brother's house. He didn't want to enter the house and only waited outside until his brother returned from peddling his wares. They then went up to the attic, and Bu Siong sat facing his brother and sister-in-law.
Glossary
- So-So: An affectionate and informal term used to address a younger sister.
- Toako: A respectful term used to address an older brother.
- Bu Siong: The name of a character in the story, a martial artist known as a "tiger slayer".
- Bu Toa: Another character in the story, the elder brother of Bu Siong.
- Kim Lian: The sister-in-law of Bu Siong and wife of Bu Toa.
- A Ying: A character in the story, presumably a child or a servant.
- Kepala Daerah: The District Chief, a government official.