“Ah, he knows nothing about those things. The old man handed them over to me and I never told him about it”. The next day, Shi Men sent his son-in-law, Cen, to deliver his letter to General Yang. And a trusted official of Li Pao was sent to contact Officer Cai. Of course, besides carrying the letters, they also brought money and other gifts for the two high officials. Of course, Shi Men did not spend all the money he received from Lady Hua, but only half of it was already a considerable sum!
The court session for Hua Ce Shu’s case finally arrived. Everyone knelt when the High Judge entered the courtroom. Hua had already received the news from Shi Men that a good path had been arranged for his case, with a very brief and lenient examination. The judge merely asked about the remaining inheritance from Uncle Hua. Hua Ce Shu replied that the remnants were only two houses in the city and one in the village. All household belongings been equally divided between him and his three siblings, while the small amount of cash had been spent on the lavish funeral. The judge accepted this explanation satisfactorily, then announced his verdict.
“It is indeed difficult to estimate the wealth of a palace official. Easily earned money is easily wasted. Since now the inheritance is merely two houses and a piece of land, we decide that the Regional Head Ceng-Hong-Sian should handle this. The three properties must be auctioned, and the proceeds equally divided among the heirs.” Hua’s three siblings were obviously dissatisfied with this decision because they had hoped to gain more from it. They knelt and pleaded to the judge to continue detaining Hua Ce Shu until he could pay the inheritance money their uncle left, which they were sure was given to Hua Ce Shu. Hearing this, the High Judge rebuked them angrily.
“Why didn’t you make a claim at the time of your uncle’s death? This case is overdue. What else do you want to fuss about?” Thus, Hua Ce Shu was released without any punishment.
Of course, all this happened because of the influence of money. At that time, anything could be bought with money. Honor, even truth and victory could be bought with money! The poor could only cry and regret their fate. Upon hearing this decision, before her husband returned, Lady Hua immediately called Shi Men for a meeting. She proposed to buy the land adjacent to Shi Men's before it fell into the hands of others. Shi Men discussed this with Goat Toanio, but his first wife objected. It would draw attention and arouse suspicion from Hua Ce Shu, she said. Shi Men delayed his decision about the land. However, the Regional Head wanted that decision to be carried out as soon as possible and that the three pieces of land be sold immediately.
So, Lady Hua sent her servant to meet Shi Men and inform him that Shi Men could use the remaining money entrusted to him to buy that land. Of course, Shi Men had no objection and purchased it with five hundred and forty tael of silver. The other two lands were auctioned for seven hundred taels and seven hundred and fifty taels of silver respectively. The proceeds from the sale of these three properties were equally divided among the three plaintiffs. Hua Ce Shu didn’t get anything! Of course, Hua Ce Shu, who suddenly became bankrupt, was confused, and he asked his wife to inquire Shi Men whether there was any surplus from the sixty pieces of silver given to Shi Men to buy a small house. His wife responded to his question with a rebuke.
“You stupid devil! All you've done is wander around pleasure houses, squandering wealth and neglecting the household! Now that we’re bankrupt, who is to blame but yourself? What can I, a helpless woman, do to save you? You should be grateful that in this disaster you made yourself, Kongcu Shi Men turned out to be a friendly neighbor so that you are free from punishment. In such a dire season, he painstakingly sent an envoy to Kotaraja and arranged everything for your needs. And now, after you are free from punishment, and become a free man on your own feet, breathing open air outside the prison, you nag me about the remaining money which might not be enough to free you. Wasn't it you who wrote me a letter from prison, asking me to use all the silver for your release effort? Even if you hadn't written, I would surely have done it”.
“Indeed, I asked you to use that money for my release. However, I was hoping there might be some leftover from that huge sum.”
“Huh, it's useless talking to a stubborn person like you. If only you weren't such a fool, you wouldn't have fallen into someone else's trap. Now you complain about the high cost, as if you don't know where the three thousand taels of silver went. Do you think nobles like His Excellency High Secretary Cai and General Yang would be satisfied with just one or two pieces of silver? And do you think the judge would free you just like that without anything? Instead of complaining and lamenting like this, you should invite your savior to thank him by throwing a party for him, at least to repay his kindness to you. You are really disgraceful, a man who has no sense of gratitude!” Hua Ce Shu could only lower his head and sigh deeply. The next day, Shi Men, feeling pity for his friend, sent a few kinds of gifts.
For this, Hua Ce Shu then sent out invitations for a thanksgiving party. He intended to ask for his friend's help in the meeting, to provide an account of the money, his wife's deposit, and if it was already spent, he planned to ask for two hundred taels of silver from Shi Men to add to his money to buy a small house. However, Hua Ce Shu told his wife about this intention. This was his mistake, because hearing her husband's intention, Lady Hua secretly sent Granny Bi to meet Shi Men and advised him not to accept the invitation and instead send a note stating that all the money had been used to bribe the officials in an effort to free Hua Ce Shu.
It was in vain that Hua Ce Shu repeated his invitation three or four times. Shi Men never showed up and even deliberately left the house. When Hua Ce Shu heard that his friend was out of the house, he felt so annoyed, desperate, and sad until he fainted. Hua Ce Shu had completely fallen. His house and yard were sold and fell into the hands of Shi Men. He had to find a new place to live, but his money was all gone. With the help of his friends, he finally managed to collect two hundred and fifty taels of silver and bought a simple house on Lion Street. However, as soon as he moved to this new house, he fell ill. He had no money to call a doctor, and his wife was indifferent.
That's how a wife can become cruel when she cheats. She can be so cruel to the man she once loved, but now hated. And all this is actually Hua Ce Shu’s fault. When he was still prosperous and healthy, he only wandered around pleasure houses, neglecting his young and beautiful wife, causing her to fall into adultery with another man to amuse her lonely self, always left by her husband. Eventually, Hua Ce Shu died at the age of twenty-four! The five-week mourning period for a wife hadn't even passed yet when Lady Hua decided to visit the Shi Men family. During these days of mourning, her thoughts were more on Shi Men than on her late husband's altar.
It was a sheer coincidence that the Shi Men family was celebrating Kim Lian's birthday and this gave her a reason to visit. Lady Hua came followed by her two remaining servants, Tian Hok and Granny Bi. When she got off the joli that took her to her former neighbor's house, it was clear that beneath her mourning robe, she was wearing a beautiful dress and sparkling jewelry. She paid respect by kneeling four times to Goat Toanio, then she greeted the other wives introduced to her. Granny Bi then handed over a bag full of birthday presents for Kim Lian. With her charm, Lady Hua quickly became friendly with Shi Men's wives, especially Goat Taoanio whom she called Toa-Ci (eldest sister).
The beautiful women spent the day partying and chatting. Shi Men's wives took a liking to Lady Hua who had a good demeanor. Shi Men himself only came home late at night because he was partying with his friends at the Palace of the Jewel Temple. Lady Hua was overjoyed when she got into her joli that night and went home. She felt that she had succeeded in winning the hearts of Shi Men's wives. She was not worried about finding a rival if she was ever brought into the family as Shi Men's youngest wife. This was her goal since she had a clandestine relationship with the man. In the meeting, she heard from Kim Lian that now the partition wall between her former house and Shi Men's house had been demolished, and Shi Men was going to build a new structure there.
“It’s all built for me.” Kim Lian added. "For you," thought Lady Hua.
A few days later, Shi Men, on behalf of his first wife, sent gifts to Lady Hua including a jar of good wine, a few bowls of delicious dishes, and silk embroidery. In return, Lady Hua sent five invitation cards to Shi Men's wives, and a secret invitation to Shi Men himself, hoping he would come to visit a bit late after his wives returned home. The invitations were accepted, and four of Shi Men's wives came for a visit in joli. Only Sun Siu Oh, the fourth wife, didn't come because she had to look after the house. Lady Hua received and welcomed them with joy. After the five beautiful women had eaten, drunk and chatted, the hostess invited her guests to go up to the attic and watch the busy market in front of the house from the front attic window.
It was a sheer coincidence that Lady Hua's house was opposite the Lantern Market where a variety of beautiful lanterns were sold. The market was visited by many people because they needed lanterns and cakes to celebrate the upcoming New Year. All kinds of flowers were there, i.e. lanterns shaped like beautiful, multi-colored flowers, from lotus flowers to snow flowers, there were also lanterns in the form of humans and animals. There were beautiful women, handsome young men, fat monks, even scary demons and devils. There were also animals like camels, monkeys, elephants, and frightening fish. The market visitors also consisted of various people. Almost all groups could be found in the market.
The five beautiful women were very happy to see the situation they could see and hear under their feet, especially Kim Lian and Yu Lok. When the other three women had already gone downstairs, the two of them, accompanied by two singing girls called by Lady Hua to liven up their party, were still behind the attic window, watching the bustling crowd below. The atmosphere below already imagined the New Year's hustle and bustle, loud and joyful. In their merriment, Kim Lian and Yu Lok's playful side emerged. They ate kwa-ci and spat out the kwa-ci skins below, hitting the heads of passers-by. When people below looked up, they were stunned and captivated by the sight of so many beautiful women behind the attic window. Not only were their faces beautiful, but their clothes were also incredibly beautiful.
“Hmm..., they must be the prince's concubines,” said a young man, staring in awe.
“Certainly, they are the prince's concubines from the palace that owns the plantation in the east,” said the other.
“Or the courtesan house goddesses brought by a rich man to enliven the Lantern Festival,” said the third person.
“Aih, you're all nonsense!” the fourth person scoffed. “They must be the concubines of the Prince of Hell himself or the concubines of the wealthy Shi Men who owns the drugstore near the fort and is a good friend of all our officials, from the lowest to the highest.”
Hearing this, Kim Lian felt uncomfortable and at that moment, Goat Toanio called for her. Thus, she couldn't hear the rest of the conversation below because she, along with Yu Lok and two of the singing girls, had to quickly descend. Towards dusk, Goat Toanio invited Siu Oh to go home. Kim Lian and Yu Lok stayed because they wanted to see the lanterns lit up. Meanwhile, Shi Men was having fun with his two best friends, Ying Po Kui and Cia Si Ta, but secretly he was waiting for the night to come, and he had promised Lady Hua to come visit at night. When night came, Shi Men was already impatient. He left his two friends at the courtesan house and hurried off to Lady Hua's place on Lion Street. His arrival was greeted with a sweet smile by the beautiful woman,
“You nearly crossed paths with your third and fifth wives,” she said softly. “They just left.” Lady Hua invited Shi Men to sit in the beautifully decorated guest room, lit by lamps with beautiful lanterns, warmed by a fireplace, and scented with fragrant incense. The lady then knelt to offer a welcome toast and spoke in a melodious and emotional voice.
Glossary
- Kongcu: An honorific used to address a respected person, often translated as "master" or "prince".
- Goat Toanio: Refers to Shi Men's first wife.