Ying Ning's English Version of Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio
Wang Zifu is from Luodian, Juxian County. My father died when I was a child. He was so clever that he was admitted to a scholar at the age of fourteen. Mother loves him so much that he is not allowed to play in the wild at ordinary times. He was engaged to Xiao's daughter, but she died before she got married, so he was not married.
On the Lantern Festival, my uncle's son Wu Sheng invited him to travel. Just outside the village, a servant came to my uncle's house and called Wu Sheng away. Seeing many women playing, Wang Zifu strolled around alone. There was a girl with a maid and a plum blossom in her hand. She has an incomparable smile.
Wang Sheng was so absorbed that he forgot the taboo between men and women. The girl took a few steps and turned to the maid and said, "This young man's eyes are shining like a thief!" " "Throw the flowers on the ground and walk away with a smile. Wang Sheng picked up the flowers and felt very disappointed, as if she had lost her soul, and walked back in frustration.
When I got home, I hid the plum blossoms under my pillow, hung my head and lay down to sleep without talking or eating. Mother was very worried, invited people to sacrifice and prayed to God to drive away evil spirits. However, his illness became more and more serious, and his body soon became thinner. Ask the doctor to treat him and let him take medicine to dispel it, but he becomes trance, as if fascinated by something. Mother asked him with concern how he got sick, but he just kept silent and didn't answer. Wu Sheng just came and asked him to ask privately.
Wu Sheng came to the bedside, and Wang Zifu shed tears as soon as he saw him. Wu Sheng sat on the bed to comfort him. He slowly asked the reason why he was ill. Wang Sheng told him the truth and begged him to do something. Wu Sheng smiled and said, "You are so stupid. How difficult is it to realize this wish? " ? I will definitely check it for you. Walking in the wild must not be the daughter of a big family.
If she has not been betrothed to others, the marriage will be successful; Otherwise, if you want to spend more bride price, I guess you will definitely agree. As long as you get well, it's my treat. "Prince fu listened to, unknowingly smiled. Wu Sheng came out to tell her aunt and looked for a woman's residence. But I've been asking around, and there's no trace or clue Mother is so worried that she can't think of anything. But since Wu Sheng left, Wang Zifu became cheerful and began to eat.
A few days later, Wu Sheng visited again. Wang Sheng asked him how things were going.
Wu Sheng lied to him and said, "I have found out. Whose family did I think it was? It turned out that it was my aunt's daughter, that is, your aunt's cousin, who was not engaged. Although it is a bit inappropriate to intermarry between cousins, telling them the truth will not be unsuccessful. " Wang Sheng smiled and asked, "Where does she live?" Wu Sheng lied to him and said, "It's in the southwest mountainous area, about 30 miles from here." Wang Sheng repeatedly asked him, and Wu Sheng insisted that he be responsible for this matter, so he left.
The prince followed this diet and gradually increased it, but it also improved and recovered day by day. Look under the pillow. Although the flowers have withered, the petals have not fallen. I miss you intently and play with you, just like seeing that girl. Blame Wu Sheng for not coming, write and invite him. Wu Sheng prevaricated and refused to come. Wang Sheng was very angry and moped all day.
Mother was afraid that he would get sick again, so she quickly found someone to act as a matchmaker for him. As soon as I discussed it with him, I shook my head to show my disagreement. I just look forward to Wu Sheng every day. Wu sheng has been missing, and he is more resentful. On second thought, 30 miles is not far, why rely on others? So I put plum blossoms in my sleeve and searched in a rage, and my family didn't know.
Walking alone, there is nowhere to ask for directions, just walking towards Nanshan. After walking about 30 miles, I saw mountains and green everywhere, which was refreshing. There are no pedestrians quietly, only birds can cross the steep path. Far below the valley, there is a small village hidden among flowers and trees. He went down to the village and saw that there were not many houses. Although they are all straw houses, they feel very neat and elegant.
There is a family whose door faces north, weeping willows in front of it, peach blossoms and apricot blossoms in the wall are particularly prosperous, and there are slender bamboos in the middle, and wild birds are singing inside. This must be someone else's garden. I dare not rush in. Looking back, I saw a smooth and clean big stone at the opposite gate, so I sat down and rested on it. After a while, I heard a woman in the wall, dragging a long voice and calling "Xiao Rong". Her voice was very delicate.
While standing there listening, a girl came from east to west, holding an apricot flower in her hand and putting her head down on her bun. When I looked up and saw Wang Sheng, I stopped arranging flowers and went in with a smile. Look carefully, it's the girl I met on the way to the Lantern Festival last time. My heart suddenly cheered up, but I thought that there was no reason to go in and call menstruation, and I was worried that I had never touched it and was afraid of making a mistake. Nobody asked at the gate.
Sitting and lying for a while, walking around uneasily for a while, watching eagerly from morning until after noon, forgetting hunger and thirst. From time to time, I see that woman peeping with half her face exposed, and she seems surprised that he hasn't left here.
Suddenly an old woman came out on crutches and said to Wang Zifu, "Where are you from?" I heard that I have been here since this morning. what are you going to do？ Aren't you hungry? "Wang Sheng quickly got up and saluted her and replied," I'm here to visit my relatives. "The old lady is deaf and can't hear clearly. Wang Sheng said it again loudly. I asked him, "What's your relative's last name?" Wang Sheng couldn't answer.
The old woman smiled and said, "That's strange. If you don't even know your last name, what relatives will you visit? I think you, young man, are also a nerd. Why don't you go and eat some coarse rice with me? There is a small bed to sleep in. It's not too late to ask your name tomorrow morning. "
Wang is hungry and wants to eat. He is very happy at the thought of getting close to that beautiful woman. Follow the old woman in, only to see the white stone paving the way, red flowers on both sides, petals scattered on the stone steps; Winding to the west, another door opened, and the yard was full of bean sheds and flower stands.
Politely invite him into the house, the painted wall is as smooth as a mirror, and the Haitang outside the window is covered with branches and flowers. When he entered the room, the mattress, table, chair and bed were not dirty or smooth at all. Hardly had I sat down when someone peeped out of the window. The old woman shouted, "Xiao Rong! Hurry and cook. " There is a maid screaming. After sitting down, he elaborated on his family background and family background. The old woman asked, "Is your grandfather's family name Wu?" Wang Sheng said, "Yes."
The old woman was surprised and said, "You are my nephew! Your mother is my sister. I haven't heard from you in recent years because my family is poor and there are no boys. My nephew has grown so big that I don't know him yet. " Wang Sheng said: "This time I came to see my menstruation. When I was in a hurry, I forgot my last name."
The old woman said, "My husband's surname is Qin and he has no children." There is only one daughter, who was also born to my little wife. Her mother remarried and left it to me to raise. People are not stupid, but lack of education, and laugh without knowing sadness. Stay for a while and let her come and recognize you. "
Soon, the maid prepared food and fat chicken. The old woman politely advised him to eat, and the maid came to clean up the dishes and chopsticks. The old woman said, "Go and call Gu Ning." The handmaid promised to leave. For a long time, I heard the faint laughter outside the door. The old woman shouted again, "Ying Ning, your aunt and cousin are here." Laugh at the door. The maid pushed her into the room, covering her mouth and laughing uncontrollably.
The old woman glared and said, "We have guests here, just kidding. What is it like? " The girl stood there trying to smile, and Wang Sheng bowed to her. The old lady said, "This is your aunt's son, Cousin Wang. It's a joke that the family doesn't know each other yet. " Wang Sheng asked, "How old is my cousin?" The old woman didn't hear you clearly, so Wang Sheng said it again. The girl smiled again.
The old woman said to Wang Sheng, "What I said is the lack of training, so you can see this. I am sixteen years old and still as stupid as a child. " Wang Sheng said, "I am one year younger than my nephew." "My nephew is seventeen years old. Isn't he born in the year of Gengwu and Ma? " Wang Sheng nodded. The old woman asked again, "Who is the nephew's daughter-in-law?" Answer: "Not yet." "Like a learned nephew, how seventeen years old haven't engaged? Ying Ning has no husband's family. You are both excellent, but unfortunately you have cousins. "
Wang Sheng didn't speak. He just stared at Ying Ning and didn't see anything else. The handmaid whispered to the girl, "His eyes are burning and he hasn't changed as a thief." Ying Ning smiled again and said to the maid, "Go and see if the peach blossoms are in bloom?" I quickly stood up, covered my mouth with my sleeve and walked out with small steps. When I walked to the door, I burst out laughing. The old woman also stood up and told her maid to make the bedding and give Wang Sheng a rest place.
He added: "It is not easy for my nephew to come. You should stay for three to five days and then send you back later. If you feel lonely and bored, there is a small garden behind the house, you can go and play; There are also books to read. "
The next day, I came to the back of the house, and sure enough, there was a small garden half an acre big. The tender green grass is covered with a layer of felt, and the tidbits of willows are scattered all the way. There are three straw houses, surrounded by flowers and trees. He was walking through the flowers when he heard a rustling sound in the trees. He looked up and found that it was Ying Ning. When she saw the prince's clothes, she almost fell down with laughter. Wang Sheng said, "Hurry up, you're going to fall."
Ying Ning smiled when she came down. She couldn't help herself. Just as I was about to land, I accidentally fell down and my laughter stopped. Wang Sheng held her and secretly pinched her wrist. Ying Ning smiled again and couldn't walk in the tree. It took a long time to finish. When her laughter stopped, Wang Sheng showed her the plum blossoms in his sleeve. Ying Ning took the flower and said, "It has withered. Why do you still have it? " Wang Sheng said, "My sister threw it away during the Lantern Festival, so I kept it." Ying Ning asked, "What's the point of saving it?" Wang Sheng said, "When it was used to express my love, I couldn't forget it.
Ever since I met you on the Lantern Festival, I have missed you very much, and I have been seriously ill, and I feel that I can't live any longer. I didn't expect to see you again I hope you have pity on me. "Ying Ning said," this is a small matter. What do relatives loathe to give up? Cousin, when you go back, the flowers in the garden must have been sent to you by the old servant, and you have to fold a big bundle on your back. " Wang Sheng said, "Is my sister stupid?" Ying Ning said, "How can you be stupid? "
Wang Sheng said: "I don't like flowers, but I like people who hold flowers." Ying Ning said: "There are natural feelings between relatives. Is it necessary to say this kind of love? " Wang Sheng said: "The love I am talking about is not the love between relatives, but the love between husband and wife." Ying Ning asked, "What's the difference?" Wang Sheng said, "At night, we will sleep in the same bed." Ying Ning looked down for a long time and said, "I'm not used to sleeping with strangers." Before the words were finished, the maid came quietly, and Wang Sheng slipped away in frustration.
After a while, we met in the old woman's room. The old woman asked, "Where have you been?" Ying Ning replied that she was talking in the garden. The old woman said, "The rice has been cooked for a long time. What is there to say? " Ying Ning said, "Cousin wants to sleep with me."
Wang Zifu was very embarrassed and stared at her quickly, but Ying Ning smiled and didn't say any more. Fortunately, the old woman didn't hear me and kept asking questions. Wang Sheng quickly covered up the past with other words. Then he blamed Ying Ning in a low voice. Ying Ning asked, "Shouldn't you have said it just now?" Wang Sheng said: "This is what others said behind my back." Ying Ning said, "How can you carry your old mother behind someone else's back? Besides, sleeping places are common. What should I avoid? " Wang Sheng lamented her stupidity and couldn't make her understand.
Just after dinner, the family took two donkeys to find the prince's suit. It turned out to be like this: Mom waited for Wang Sheng for a long time, didn't see him go home, and began to doubt; Almost all the villages have been searched, but there is still no trace. So I went to inquire about Wu Sheng. Wu Sheng remembered what he had said before and taught them to look for the southwest mountain.
A * * * found several villages and came here. Wang Sheng came to the door and happened to meet them. He went in to tell the old woman and asked to go back with Ying Ning. The old woman said happily, "I have this wish, and it won't happen overnight." It's just that old bones can't go far; Fortunately, it's great to have a nephew with his sister and let her know her aunt. "Just call Ying Ning. Ying Ning came over with a smile.
The old woman said, "What are you happy about, laughing all the time? If you can't laugh, you are a perfect person. " So he glared at her angrily. Then he said, "Big Brother wants to take you with him, so you go and tidy up." After entertaining the Wangs for dinner, they were sent out, saying, "My aunt's family is rich in land, and she can afford to eat idle food. When you get there, don't come back for a while, learn some poetry etiquette and serve your in-laws in the future.
Just ask your aunt to find you a good husband. "Two people set off. Back in the ravine, I vaguely saw the old woman leaning against the door and looking north.
When I got home, my mother saw that the girl was so beautiful and was surprised to ask who it was. Wang Zifu replied that it was my aunt's daughter. Mother said, "What Wu Sheng told you earlier is a lie. I don't have a sister, how can I have a niece? " When the girl asked again, Ying Ning replied, "I was not born to this mother. My father's surname is Qin. When he died, I was still in infancy and I can't remember clearly. "
Mother said: "I have a sister who married a family named Qin, but it is true;" But she has been dead for a long time. How can she still be alive? "So I asked in detail how my face looked and if there were any moles. The situation is exactly the same. The mother said in surprise, "It's like this. But he has been dead for many years, how can he still be alive? " While wondering, Wu Sheng came and Ying Ning hid in the back room. Wu Sheng asked why, puzzled for a long time, and suddenly asked, "Is this girl called Ying Ning?" Wang Sheng agreed.
Wu called it strange. Asked how he knew, Wu Sheng said, "After Qin's aunt died, my uncle lived alone, fell in love with foxes, got tuberculosis and died. The fox gave birth to a daughter named Ying Ning. She was wrapped in a baby and slept in a bed. Everyone in the family has seen her. After my uncle died, foxes often came.
Later, he asked Shi Tian to draw a symbol and stick it on the wall, and the fox took his daughter away. Is this it? "Everyone is guessing suspicious places, only hear the sound of eating from the back room, all of which are Ying Ning's laughter. Mother said, "This girl is so stupid." Wu Sheng asked to meet her face to face.
Mother walked into the back room, and the girl was still laughing. Mother urged her to come out, then tried to hold back her laughter and looked at the wall for a while before she went out of the back room. Just after the ceremony, he turned and hurried into the room and laughed again. All the women in the room were made to laugh by her.
Wu Sheng's proposal to explore in the mountains is nothing strange. By the way, it's good to be a matchmaker. Find the location of the village, all the houses are gone, only sporadic mountain flowers. Wu Sheng recalled the place where her aunt was buried, as if it were not far away; But the grave was gone beyond recognition, so I had to go back with a sigh in surprise.
Mother suspected that the girl was a ghost, so she went in and told her what Wu Sheng said, but the girl was not afraid at all. She pitied her and comforted her that she was homeless. She didn't look sad, but just laughed. No one can guess this matter. Mother told her to live with her little daughter. Come and say hello at dawn. No one can match her in needlework. I just love to laugh, I can't help it; But the smile is beautiful, and laughter will not damage her charm. People like her very much.
The girl and daughter-in-law in the neighbor's house are vying to be close to her. Mother chose an auspicious day for their wedding, but she was always afraid that she was a ghost and peeped at her in the sun. Her figure is no different from her shadow. On that day, let her dress up as a newlywed daughter-in-law. Ying Ning laughed and couldn't stand the salute, so she had to give up.
Wang Zifu thinks she is too stupid to reveal the secrets between husband and wife; However, Ying Ning kept his mouth shut and said nothing. Whenever her mother is depressed and angry, Ying Ning will come to her with a smile. Servants and handmaids make small mistakes and are afraid of being beaten. They often beg her to talk to their mother. When they go in again and admit their mistakes, they can often get away with it. It's just that Ying Ning's love for flowers has become a hobby. She looks for relatives and friends everywhere, secretly pawns jewelry and buys good varieties.
A few months later, there was no place in front of the steps, next to the fence and next to the toilet that was not full of flowers. There is a woody plant behind the yard, and the west is close to the neighbor's house. Ying Ning often climbed up and picked flowers to wear and enjoy. Mother always scolds her when she meets her sometimes. Ying Ning has never changed.
One day, the son of the west neighbor saw her and stared at her, fascinated. Ying Ning smiled instead of avoiding it. The son of the west neighbor thinks that Ying Ning is interested in himself, and his heart becomes more and more vacillating. Ying Ning pointed to the bottom of the wall and climbed down the tree with a smile. The son of the west neighbor thought it was the place to indicate the date, and he was very happy. As soon as it got dark, I went to the wall and Ying Ning was there.
Rushed over to rape her, and the lower body was stabbed like an awl, until it hurt her heart, and she fell to the ground screaming. A closer look is not Ying Ning, but a dead wood lying on the wall, and the hole that was handed over was originally wet by the rain. The father next door heard the sound of the bugle and rushed out to ask questions. He just snorted and didn't speak. I didn't tell my wife the truth until she came.
As soon as the light came on, I saw a big scorpion inside, the size of a small crab. The father next door cut wood, caught the scorpion and killed it. He took his son home and died in the middle of the night. The neighbor sued Wang Sheng and exposed the evil in Ying Ning. The county magistrate has always appreciated Wang Sheng's talent, knowing that he is a loyal and honest scholar, and thinks that the old man in the west is a false accusation and should be punished. Wang Sheng begged to forgive himself and let his neighbor go home.
Mother said to Ying Ning, "You are stupid and frivolous. You have long known that excessive happiness hides sadness. Thanks to the county magistrate's blessing, he was not tied down; When you meet a confused official, you must arrest your daughter-in-law and question her in court. How does my son face his relatives and neighbors? " Ying Ning looked serious and vowed not to laugh again.
Mom said, "Nobody laughs, but it depends on the time." However, Ying Ning never laughed again, even though she made fun of her on purpose. But I've never been sad for a day.
One night, Ying Ning wept over the prince's clothes. Wang Sheng felt very strange. Ying Ning choked up and said, "In the past, because our time together was very short, I was afraid it would surprise you. Now that my mother-in-law and you love me very much, I have no other thoughts. I can tell you straight away. I was born by a fox.
When my mother left, she entrusted me to Guimu, and we lived together for more than ten years before I became what I am today. I don't have a brother, all I can rely on is you. The old mother slept alone on the hillside, and no one pitied her and her father for burying their bones. Under the grave, she often grieves for it. If you are not afraid of trouble and money, let people in the underground eliminate this sadness, and perhaps people who raised their daughters will no longer have the heart to drown or abandon them. "
Wang Sheng promised to come down, but he was worried that the grave would be submerged in weeds. Ying Ning just said don't worry. According to the agreed date, the couple put the coffin in the car and left. Ying Ning pointed out the location of the grave in the messy bushes in the wilderness. Sure enough, she dug up the old woman's body, and her skin was still intact.
Ying Ning stroked and burst into tears. Carry it into the coffin and bring it back, find Qin's grave and bury it together. That night, Wang Sheng dreamed that the old woman came to thank her. When she woke up, she told Ying Ning. Ying Ning said, "I saw her at night. I told you not to bother you. "
Wang Sheng complained about not keeping the old lady. Ying Ning said, "She is a ghost. In a place where there are many living people, how can you live forever? " Wang Sheng asked Xiao Rong again, and Ying Ning said, "It is also a fox, the cleverest and the most cunning. Mother fox left her to take care of me and often fed me food, so I am grateful that I have been thinking about her. I asked my mother last night that she was married. "
From then on, every year during the Cold Food Festival, the couple will go to Qin's grave to worship, year after year. A year later, Ying Ning gave birth to a son. In her arms, the child is not afraid of strangers, smiles at people and has the demeanor of a mother.
Yi Shi said, "Look at her endless laughter, as if she were completely heartless. But under the wall, who can match her cleverness and wit? As for the sad memory of Guimu, laughter turned into crying. I almost hide my own people with laughter. Privately, I heard that there is a kind of grass called "Laughter" in the mountains. I can't stop laughing when I smell it. If you plant this in the house, the Sophora japonica and a girl without sorrow will not be beautiful; As for Yu Hua, I am even more suspicious of his posturing. "