Why did Wu Song ask four neighbors to testify when he killed his sister-in-law in "Water Margin"?

When Wu Song killed his sister-in-law, he invited four neighbors, representing the four words "wine, sex, wealth, and energy". The literary standard of Water Margin is at the top level of ancient Chinese novels, with symmetry and metaphor everywhere. These four neighborhoods are four metaphors.

People say that "Jin Ping Mei" is a picture of social life in the Ming Dynasty, and "Jin Ping" was originally a companion of "Water Margin". The artistic style of the former is basically the inheritance and development of the latter. Therefore, we can see many such metaphors in "Water Margin".

Wu Dalang was killed by a conspiracy between Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian. Wu Song wanted to find the right path and sued the government, but Ximen Qing was powerful and the government did not care about the lives of the people. Wu Song was unwilling to give in and still wanted to avenge his brother.

Wu Song wanted to kill his sister-in-law, but he couldn't kill her in a daze. This may mean that others will say something disgusting about him. His brother died inexplicably. Wu Song must find witnesses, and then arrest Wang Po, Brother Yun, and Pan to confront him. He must discuss morality, have an explanation, and make the truth known to the world. Let the adulterers and adulterers have a bad reputation even after they die!

But why did he call four witnesses?

Looking for witnesses is naturally to let the truth of the case surface. This shows that he is a reasonable person after opening Wudutou. It's not that Wu Song doesn't abide by the law, it's that there is no royal law in the world.

According to the criminal laws of the Song Dynasty, if his sister-in-law committed adultery, his brother had the right to kill her on the spot without being punished. The sister-in-law killed her brother. As a brother-in-law, he should not be punished with a serious crime for killing an adulteress.

So Wu Song called four witnesses. However, in addition to testifying, these four witnesses have a metaphorical identity in terms of the art of fiction. One opens a hotel, one opens a paper shop, one opens a bank store, and the other sells wontons. The four professions correspond to the four words wine, sex, wealth, and energy respectively.

Drinking, sex, and wealth are the easiest things in the world to make people dizzy. Pan murdered Da Lang for sex, Wang Po was a pimp for wealth, but Wu Song vented his anger and killed Pan with the help of wine and courage.

In life, as long as there is still desire in the heart, there is no one who is not at the mercy of these four words.

"Water Margin" is a good book, but modern people cannot bear to read it slowly.