“Ah, incredible! It’s like the work of the goddesses!” he exclaimed in admiration. “Aih, don't flatter me too much, Kongcu!” responded Kim Lian, blushing and lowering her head. Despite her modest words, her heart pounded with joy and pride at his compliments.
“May I know which family the young lady is from?” asked Shi Men, turning to Lady Wang and pretending to be ignorant.
“If Kongcu can guess, feel free to do so,” responded Lady Wang, while Kim Lian lowered her gaze further.
“I am unable to make a guess.”
“In that case, let me inform Kongcu. But first, please have a seat, Shi Kongcu.” Lady Wang pulled out a chair directly across from Kim Lian.
“Do you remember, Kongcu, the other day when you passed by a house and received a hit from a bamboo pole used for a tent?”
“Oh, that incident? Yes, I remember and I have been curious to know whose house it was.” Kim Lian blushed deeply and responded in a soft voice.
“I hope Kongcu is no longer angry about my carelessness.” “What? What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
“Ah, Kongcu, this is the person who hit Kongcu’s head with that bamboo, she is my neighbor’s wife, Mrs. Bu Toa,” explained Lady Wang.
“Ah, it was you? Forgive me, I have been disrespectful,” said Shi Men, bowing once again. Lady Wang turned to Kim Lian.
“Do you not recognise this young master?” “No.”
“He is the highly respected Young Master Shi Men, one of the wealthiest people in this area. He has the honor of being a close friend of our esteemed local leader, and his wealth is immeasurable. The large medicine shop near the fortress belongs to him, and in his granary, rice piles up and rots because of its sheer abundance. Everything yellow in his house is gold, everything white is silver, everything round is a pearl, and everything that glistens is a diamond, and there are also priceless ivory and rhinoceros horns. His first wife is the daughter of the retired commander Wu from the city, she is very clever and wise, I know this well because I arranged their marriage. However, Shi Kongcu, why have you not visited me for so long?” “My daughter’s engagement has kept me busy these past few days,” replied Shi Men, and then proceeded to tell Lady Wang about his family situation. In their conversation, Lady Wang tried hard to highlight all the wealth and virtues of Shi Men.
Meanwhile, Kim Lian continued her work, sewing silently with her head bowed, but she was all ears, listening to the entire conversation with interest. With a satisfied heart, the experienced Shi Men could see that his plan had already succeeded one-tenth of the way, and he regretted that he had to be patient and couldn't immediately embrace the beautiful young woman who had captivated his heart. He was patient, knowing that he had to implement his plan step by step if he wanted to succeed perfectly. The time came for Lady Wang to implement her strategy, persuading the young wealthy man that he should buy a good jar of wine to honor Kim Lian. Shi Men pretended to be taken aback.
“Ah, since I did not expect to meet this honorable young lady, I was not prepared. Luckily, I brought money. Here, take this and buy some good wine, Auntie Wang.” Kim Lian signaled with her eyes and hand gestures to Lady Wang not to accept Shi Men’s money, but the old woman understood that the young lady's refusal was only for show, since she did not get up from her seat. So Lady Wang ignored her signals and went off to buy the wine.
“May I ask you, Miss Kim Lian, to keep Young Master Shi Men company for a while? I will be back soon.”
“Ah, it would be better not to, Auntie Wang,” said Kim Lian shyly, but her refusal was very weak since she did not move from her seat at all. Lady Wang hurriedly left them alone. They both remained silent. Shi Men’s eyes seemed as if they wanted to devour the beautiful woman who sat before him, while Kim Lian looked down at her sewing, but couldn't help sneaking glances at the man who had caught her interest. Before long, Lady Wang returned, bringing good wine, roasted duck, stewed meat, soup fish, vegetables, and selected dishes, as well as the best fruits. She arranged everything on the table and with a beaming face, she said to Kim Lian.
“Good young lady, take a break from your work, and have a glass or two of wine with us.”
“Aih, no, Auntie Wang. This is even more inappropriate for me, it would be better for you to accompany the young master in having a meal!”
“Oh, good Miss Kim Lian, why so? It is precisely to honor you that Shi Kongcu bought all this. Come, Miss, do not hesitate as Kongcu has good intentions.” Without waiting for a response, Lady Wang placed a selection of dishes and wine in front of Kim Lian. At first, Kim Lian was shy and awkward, and Shi Men was also very respectful and polite, so gradually, Kim Lian's feeling of awkwardness began to fade. After toasting with wine for the third time, when Lady Wang left the room briefly to fetch more wine, their behavior had become a lot more relaxed and free. “If I may ask, how old are you, Miss?” Shi Men asked, acting respectfully and politely.
“Twenty-five…” Kim Lian answered softly.
“Ah, then you are the same age as my wife. She was born in the year of the Dragon, on the twenty-fifth of next month.”
“Aih, that’s too much honor for me! Comparing me to Kongcu's first wife is like comparing the earth to the heavens.” Lady Wang, who had returned and listened to their conversation, secretly rejoiced at Kim Lian's more relaxed behavior and quickly added,
“Ah, Miss Pang Kim Lian has received a high education. She is not only skilled at sewing beautifully and neatly, but she also knows a hundred poems and all philosophy, let alone her skills in writing, playing chess, throwing dice and playing cards, interpreting symbols, and many more of her talents in all kinds of delicate work.”
“Amazing! Where can you find so many virtues in one person?” Shi Men exclaimed in admiration.
“Hmm, I, an old woman, am not exaggerating, but, Shi Kongcu, tell me, is there a woman in Kongcu's family who can compare with Miss Pang Kim Lian, both in beauty and skill?” Shi Men nodded.
“You're right, Auntie Wang. Indeed, my fortune is ill. I have never succeeded in bringing home a suitable and compatible woman. Ahhhh, I am unlucky...”
“What about Kongcu’s deceased wife, from the Cen family?” What Lady Wang referred to was Shi Men's first wife who had passed away, before marrying Goat Toanio as his first wife.
“Aih, talking about her adds to my sorrow, Auntie Wang. True, she was a commoner, but she was smart and wise! I could trust her with everything. What a disaster for me, when she passed away three years ago. If she were still alive, my household would not be like this. None of my wives know their duties. I need a wise concubine. My wife is always sick so my household is in chaos. This is why I am always out of the house, because at home I cannot find happiness.”
“Please don’t be mad if I speak frankly, Shi Kongcu. But neither your first wife nor your current wife can be compared with Miss Kim Lian, either in appearance or character.”
“Indeed, both in beauty and wisdom.” “However, Kongcu has a lover on East Street, right? Why not send me to mediate and propose?”
“Ah, little Chang with her melodious voice. But after I heard that she likes to be unfaithful, I was no longer interested in her.”
“And Miss Li Kiao, that little one, who came from the brothel? Hasn't Kongcu known her for a long time?”
“She is now my second wife. Unfortunately, she is completely incapable of managing a household. If she were smart, I would have promoted her to be the first wife.
“But Kongcu always praises Miss Co Tiu!”
“Aih, don’t talk about her. She became my third wife, but not long ago she fell ill and died.”
“Oh God! You are indeed unfortunate, Shi Kongcu. What if I know a woman suitable for Kongcu, would you mind if I came to discuss and propose her?”
“Since both my parents are gone, I am the head of the family. Who can stop me?”
“Sorry, I was just joking, Kongcu. But how can I find the right and suitable girl for you soon?”
Glossary:
- Kongcu: honorific commonly used to address a young master.
- Shi Men: name of a character, a wealthy young master.
- Kim Lian: name of a character, a young woman skilled in many arts.
- Janda Wang: translates to 'Widow Wang', a character who acts as a mediator.
- Bu Toa: name of a character, a neighbor’s wife.
- Young Master: term used to address the son of a noble or wealthy family.
- Goat Toanio: name of a character, Shi Men's wife.
- Cen family: a commoner family.
- Chang: name of a character, a lover with a melodious voice.
- Li Kiao: name of a character, Shi Men's second wife.
- Co Tiu: name of a character, Shi Men's third wife.