Little Sister Kneels: Bai Xingjian's Translation of Biography of Li Wa

Guo Yan's wife Li Wa was a prostitute in Chang 'an. Moral integrity and noble and peculiar personality are very valuable, so I suggest that Bai Xingwei, the supervisor, make a festival for her and introduce her deeds. During the Tianbao period, there was a Changzhou secretariat named Rongyanggong, which is omitted here. At that time, it had a high reputation and a large family. At the age of fifty, he had a son who had just turned twenty. He is smart, handsome and talented, and is admired by his peers. Rong cherished him even more and said, "This is my swift horse. 」

My son was recommended by the county to go to Beijing to take an examination of scholar. Before leaving, Rong made full preparations for him in terms of clothes, treasures, cars and horses, calculated the daily living expenses after entering Beijing, and said to him, "I think you are very talented, and you should win the championship as soon as you pass the exam." Now I have prepared two years' expenses for you, and I will give you more. It's to help you realize your wish. "Childe is also very conceited, looking at earning fame is as easy as writing it on your hand.

He started from piling, arrived in Chang 'an more than a month later, and lived in Buzheng. Once, when he came back from visiting the East Market, he went in from the East Gate of Pingkangli to visit friends in the southwest. When he arrived at Wook Lane, he saw a house. The door is not wide, but the house is neat and deep. The door was half open, and there stood a young girl, leaning against a maid with double hair, beautiful and charming, which was unprecedented in the world. Childe suddenly saw her, involuntarily stopped to look for a long time, reluctant to leave. So he pretended to drop the whip and waited for the servant to come and ask him to pick it up. In the meantime, my son has been peeking at the wolf, and the girl rolled her eyes and stared at him obliquely, showing admiration. But he didn't dare to say the last word and left.

From then on, my son felt as if he had lost something, so he secretly visited someone who was familiar with Chang 'an among his friends and asked him about the girl. The friend said, "This is the home of the prostitute Li." Ask again: "Can she get it?" The answer is: "The Li family is very rich. In the past, most of her contacts were noble people, and she was well paid. You can't touch her heart without spending a million dollars. " The son said, "What's the pity of not being successful, even if you spend millions?" One day, the son dressed up and took many followers. The son knocked on her door, and a maid opened it later.

He said, "Whose house is this? Without answering, the servant girl ran in and shouted, "Here comes the son who lost his whip some time ago! Li Wa was overjoyed and said, "Tell him to wait for a while, and I'll dress up and see him again." "Childe listened to exulting in my heart. The maid led her son to the screen and saw a gray-haired hunchback old woman, who was Li Wa's mother. The son went forward to bow down and said respectfully, "I heard there is an empty house here and I am willing to rent it out." Is this true? " The old woman said, "I'm afraid it's simple and narrow and can't satisfy you." "How dare you mention renting a house?" Then he invited childe to the living room, which was gorgeous. She sat down face to face with her son and said, "I have a little daughter who can sing and dance a little and likes to meet guests." I'm going to let her meet you. " "So she called Li Wa out. I saw Li Wa walking beautifully, with bright eyes and white wrists. Childe got up quickly in surprise, afraid to look up at her. After meeting Li Wa, he exchanged a few pleasantries. Li Wa's every move and smile are beautiful, which the childe has never seen before. After re-seating, Liwa made tea and wine for her son, and all the utensils used were very clean. They have been together for a long time. The sun has set and the drums are beating.

The old woman asked him if he lived far away. The son lied to her and said, "It's a few miles outside Yanping Gate. He hopes to be left behind because it is too far away. The old lady said, "The drum has already rung, so hurry back and don't violate the ban. The son said, "I am lucky to be warmly received by you and have a close conversation with you." I didn't realize it was night, it was a long way home, and there were no relatives in the city. What should I do? " "Li Wa said," if you don't think it's remote and crude, what does it matter if you plan to rent it? "Childe used his eyes to see the old lady many times. The old woman said, "All right! All right! The son asked the page to take out two good silks and told him to prepare dinner. "。

Li Wa stopped with a smile: "The etiquette between the host and the guest should not be like this. Tonight's expenses will be paid by our poor family. Please have a simple meal together and talk about the rest later. " She resolutely refused to accept fine silk. In a short time, they moved to the west hall, where the bed was dazzling; Dressing pillows and quilts are also very luxurious and beautiful, so candles are lit and dishes are placed. Delicious food is very rich. After dinner, the old lady got up and left. Childe and Li Wa this just warm and affectionate casually talk, ridicule, was overjoyed. The son said, "I happened to pass by your door some time ago and met you at the door." After that, I often miss you in my heart, even if I sleep and eat. Li Wa replied, "I feel the same way.

The son said, "I came here today not only to rent a house, but to realize my lifelong wish, but I don't know what my luck is." "Words not to say that finish, the old lady came over and asked what they were talking about, childe told her all. The old lady smiled and said, "The desire for love originally exists between men and women. If the feelings are compatible, although it is the parents' life, it can't be stopped. My little girl is poor. How can I serve you? The son immediately walked down the steps, thanked her and said, "I am willing to devote myself to being a slave to repay you." Grandmother Jia recognized that she was a son-in-law, and after another drink, she dispersed. "。 Wait until the morning, childe moved all his luggage and lived in the Li family. From then on, he went into hiding, stopped interacting with relatives and friends, and got together with first-class performers to eat, drink and have fun every day. When the money in the bag ran out, he sold his horse and car and later his furniture. After more than a year, all the money servants and horses were gone. Slowly, the old lady became more and more indifferent to him, while Li Wa became more and more attached to him.

One day, Li Wa said to her son, "I've been in love with you for a year and I'm not pregnant. I often hear that Chikurinji is very effective. I will sacrifice and pray to the gods. Is that all right? " Childe didn't know this was their plan, and he was very happy. He put his clothes in the pawnshop, prepared three sacrifices of cattle, sheep and pigs and a drink offering, and went to the bamboo temple with Liwa to tell them. They stayed there for two nights before going back. The son rode a donkey behind Liwa's car and arrived at the north gate of Xuanyangli. Li Wa said to him, "Turn east from here, and that's my menstrual home. Let's take a break and go and see her, shall we? " "Childe did as she said. They walked less than a hundred steps forward, and sure enough, they saw a gate open to horses. Looking in, I see that the house is very spacious. Liwa's handmaid stopped her son from behind the car and said, "Here we are. When the son got off the donkey, a man came out and asked, "Who is it?" "The answer is:" It's Li Wa. " The man went in and told. After a while, an old woman came out of the room, about forty years old. When she saw her son, she asked, "Is my niece here? Li Wa got off the bus and the old woman greeted him and said, "Why hasn't Du come for a long time?" ? "Say that finish they smile at one another. Liwa introduced her son to her.

After seeing them, they walked into the courtyard of Xijimen together. There are mountain pavilions, green bamboo forests and waterside pavilions in the courtyard, which are elegant and rare. The son said to Li Wa, "Is this a private house during menstruation?" Li Wa smiled and didn't answer, and supported me with other words. Tea and fruit will be served in the back, which is very precious and rare. Just after dinner, a man riding a fast horse, covered in sweat, said to Li Wa: Your mother is very ill and hardly knows anyone. You'd better go back at once. "Li Wa said to menstruation," my heart is at sixes and sevens. I'll ride back first, and then let the carriage come back. You come with Mr. Lang. "Childe going to go with her. After quarreling with the maid, Menstruation beckoned her son to wait outside the door and said, "The old lady is dying. You should discuss with me to deal with the funeral to solve Li Wa's urgent need. How can you follow her back? " "Childe had to stay and calculate the cost of funeral and fast sacrifice together. It's getting late and the carriage hasn't arrived yet. Menstruation said, "I haven't replied yet. What happened? Go and see them, and I'll come later. " The son is gone. When I arrived at Li's old house, I found that the doors and windows were tightly locked and sealed with mud.

The son was frightened and asked his neighbor. The neighbor said: "The Li family originally rented the house here, and the lease period has passed. The landlord repossessed the house. It's been two days since the old lady moved away. " The son asked, "Where have you moved?" Answer: "I don't know where it is." The son is going to go back to Xuanyangli and ask her about her menstruation, but it's too late, I'm afraid I can't catch it. He had to take off his clothes, change his meal and rent a bed for the night. Childe was so angry that he didn't sleep a wink from night till dawn. It was dawn, and he was riding a donkey. When I arrived at the door of Li Wa's menstrual period, I knocked on the door repeatedly, but no one agreed. Childe shouted a few times, and a man who looked like an official slowly came out. Childe hurriedly asked him: "Is menstruation coming?" "Answer:" There is no menstruation here. The son said, "I was here last night. Why did you hide her?" Asked whose house this is, the man replied, "This is Cui Shangshu's residence. A man rented this yard yesterday, saying that he was waiting for her cousin who came from afar. I left before the evening. " Childe panicked and confused, and I was so angry that I was going crazy, but I didn't know what to do, so I had to go back to my old house in Buzheng.

The owner of the house sympathized with him and brought him food. My son was disgusted and didn't eat for three days. As a result, he was seriously ill, and his condition became worse after more than ten days. The owner of the house was afraid that he could not afford to get sick, so he moved to the funeral parlour. He died day by day, and the whole store felt sorry for him. They took turns feeding him. Later, my son's condition improved slightly and he could stand up with crutches. Since then, the funeral shop has asked him to do something every day, manage mental accounts and get paid to make a living. After a few months, he gradually recovered. Whenever I hear an elegy, I sigh that I am not as good as a dead person, sobbing and crying, unable to control my sadness. Go back and learn to sing elegies. The son is a clever man and soon sings elegy very well. Even the whole Chang 'an can't compare with him. At first, the two funeral shops here competed with each other. The sedan chairs in Dongdian are all gorgeous, nothing can compare with them, except the singing. The owner of the store in the east knew that his son sang elegy well, so he pooled 20 thousand yuan to hire him. The old-timers among the associates taught him their best skills, secretly taught the sons new singing methods, and returned his help.

For dozens of days, no one knew about it. The owners of the two stores met and said, "We each displayed funeral equipment in Tianmen Street in Chengcheng to see whether it was high or low. If you lose, you will be fined 50 thousand to prepare drinks and treat you, okay? " Both sides agreed. So the contractor made a deed, signed it as a guarantee, and then exhibited the equipment. Men, women and children came to visit and gathered tens of thousands of people. So the local security guard reported the thief, and the thief official reported Jing. People from all directions came here, and the streets and alleys of the whole city were empty. The two funeral shops have been on display from morning till noon, and cars, sedan chairs, ceremonial objects and so on are put out in turn. None of the shops in the west can win. The host felt embarrassed and set up a high platform in the south corner of the venue. A bearded man came with a big bell and there were several people around him. So he shook his beard, raised his eyebrows, shook his wrist, nodded and climbed onto the platform. Then he sang an elegy (White Horse). He has always won by this. Looking around, no one is watching. He won unanimous praise from everyone and thought he was unique. No opponent can beat him.

After a while, the owner of the funeral shop in the east also set up a table in the north corner of the venue. A boy wearing a black turban, accompanied by five or six people, came to the stage with a feather fan with a long handle. This is the son. He got dressed and walked slowly. After clearing his throat, he began to make a sound, which looked as if he was heartbroken. He sang the elegy of (Autumn Dew), with a clear voice that shook the tree. Before the elegy was finished, the listeners had lamented their sadness and hid their faces and wept. The owner of the western shop was laughed at by everyone and was even more ashamed. He secretly left the lost money in front and ran away. The audience around stared at his son in surprise. He was completely unexpected. Before that, the Emperor of Heaven had just issued an imperial edict ordering foreign officials to come to Beijing once a year, which was called "counting".

At that time, it happened that Gongzi's father was in Beijing, so he and his colleagues changed their casual clothes and went to watch it. An old servant, the husband of the son's wet nurse, saw the son's manners, but he dared not recognize him, and he was sad and wept. The son's father was surprised and asked him. The old servant told him, "The singer looks like his master's dead son. Rong said, "Why did my son come here because he brought more money to kill robbers?" After that, I cried, too. When they came back, the servant found an opportunity to go back there and asked his partner, "who was singing just now?" "Singing really well! They all said, "Someone's son. "Ask his name, childe's name has changed.

The servant was extremely shocked; Go slowly and look at him carefully. The son saw the servant's face changed and turned to hide in the crowd. The servant grabbed his sleeve and said, "Aren't you a son?" "Say that finish two people cry a headache. The old servant drove him back. When he arrived at his residence, his father scolded him: "It's an insult to my family that my character has fallen to such a level! How dare you come to see me? So the father and son went out to the east of Qujiang Xixing Garden. His father stripped him naked and whipped him hundreds of times. My son was in unbearable pain and fainted. Father left him alone.

When the son was taken away, the owner of the son asked someone who had a good relationship with him to follow him secretly. At this time, he came back and told his associates about his son, and everyone was sad about it. The master asked two people to take a reed mat to bury his body. When they got there, at first, they felt that the childe's heart was still a little hot. A man was busy helping him up, and it took a long time for his son to regain his breath a little. They carried him back together. Feed him soup with a reed tube, and it took him a night to wake up. More than a month has passed, but he still can't lift his hands and feet. The place where he was whipped festered and dirty, and his companions began to hate him. One night, they left him by the road. Passers-by pity him and often throw him some leftover food to satisfy his hunger. A hundred days later, my son can stand up with a cane. He was wearing a cotton-padded jacket with hundreds of patches, tattered like a hanging quail. Holding a broken jar, he came and went in the alley, begging for a living.

From autumn to winter, I get into toilets and cellars at night and visit markets and shops during the day. One day it snowed heavily, and my son was hungry and cold, so he had to go out in the snow. The voice of begging is very sad, and everyone who hears it is very sad. It was snowing heavily, and most people's doors were not opened. The son arrived at the east gate of Anyili and walked north along the inner wall. After seven or eight households, a door just opened on the left. This is Liwa's residence. The son didn't know, and repeatedly shouted: "Hungry! It's so cold! " The voice is sad, and it's hard to listen to.

Li Wa heard this in the room and said to her handmaid, "It must be this son. I recognized his voice. Say that finish quickly ran out. See childe skinny, covered in scabies, no longer like human beings. Li Wa was very excited and said to him, "Aren't you Zheng Lang?" Childe fainted with anger, his mouth couldn't say a word, just nodded. Liwa came forward and hugged his neck, wrapped it in an embroidered coat and helped him back to the west wing. She cried bitterly. "I caused you to get into this situation today!" " She shouted for a long time before she woke up. The old woman was frightened and ran over and said, "What's the matter?" Li Wa said, "This is my son. 」

The old woman quickly said, "We should drive him away. How to get him here! " Li Wa looked back at her seriously and said, "It shouldn't be like this. He is the son of a good family. I want to be in a hurry. He came to my house in a gorgeous carriage, his luggage was full of treasures, and he spent all his money in less than a year. We set a trap together, abandoned him and drove him away. It was almost inhuman. Let him lose his ambition and be looked down upon by relatives and friends. Father and son, naturally, cut off his father's kindness, killed him and abandoned him. Childe now reduced to this point, everyone knows that it is for me. Childe's relatives are all over the imperial court, and one day the relatives in power will find out the reason and the disaster will fall on us. Besides, if you lie to others, ghosts and gods will not bless you. Don't ask for trouble. I was your daughter for ten years. You spent more than 1000 dollars for me. Now that you are over 60 years old, I am willing to pay for your food and clothing for the next ten years. I want to find another place with him. I don't live too far away. I will come to meet you sooner or later. If you promise, my wish will be satisfied. 」

Anticipating that her ambition was unchangeable, the old woman had to agree. After Li Wa paid the ransom to the old woman, there was still one hundred gold left. She rented an empty yard with four or five houses in the north corner. So she bathed her son and made clothes. Made soup porridge to moisten intestines; Moisten his internal organs with crispy milk. After more than ten days, I began to send some delicacies to my son. Give him headscarves, shoes and socks. Within a few months, the boy's skin was fuller, and a year later, he recovered as well as that year. After a while, Li Wa said to her son, "Your body has recovered and your ambition is strong. You should think hard and reflect on your previous studies. Can you review it again? The son thought for a moment and said, (I only remember one tenth.) Li Wa asked people to drive out, and the son rode behind. She went to the shop selling books at the south gate of the pavilion and asked her son to choose some books to buy, so she enjoyed 100 yuan, and then they loaded all the books into the car and shipped them back. Liwa told her son to abandon his distractions and concentrate on his studies, day and night. Liwa often sits with her son until late at night.

Every time I see him tired, I persuade him to practice poetry to adjust. Two years have passed, and I have made great achievements in my study, and I have not read any classic works in the world. The son said to Li Wa: (You can sign up for the exam. "Li Wa said," No .. I should also make myself more proficient and familiar with my studies to cope with all kinds of exams. After another year, Li Wa said, "You can take the exam." The son was admitted to the first division. Fame spread throughout the Ministry of Rites. Even the old-timers stood in awe when they saw his article. They all wanted to marry their daughter to him, but they couldn't. Li Wa said, "You can't do it now. Now, if a scholar gets a surname, he thinks that he can gain an important position in the imperial court and become famous all over the world. You used to have a bad conduct and be humble, which is different from other literati. If you want to temper your own sharp weapon, you can win again, make friends with many literati, and dominate among celebrities. " Since then, the son has become more and more diligent and his reputation has become higher and higher. That year, just in time for the imperial examination year, the world's talents were ordered to take the exam, and the son entered the exam, ranking first, and was awarded the post of Chengbu Prefecture to join the army. Officials under the three public offices have become his friends. The son is about to take office, and Li Wa said to him, "You are back to your original appearance now, and I will never fail you again. I am willing to support my old mother for the rest of my life. You should marry a lady of noble birth and put her in charge of the housework.

Don't ruin yourself if you get married. Try to cherish and love yourself. I left after that. "My son cried and said," If you leave me, I will kill myself. " Li Wa resolutely refused, and the son begged and begged, and more and more earnestly. Li Wa said, "I'll take you across the river, and let me come back when you get to the sword gate." Xiongyi had to agree. After more than a month's journey, I arrived at Jianmen. Before they could continue, they received the imperial edict of paid office. It was the son's father who entered the DPRK from Changzhou, was appointed as Chengdu Yin, and also served as an interviewer for Jiannan.

Twelve days later, Rong arrived. Julia child handed in a famous card and went to the post office where the documents were delivered to visit his father. Father didn't dare to recognize him, but he was surprised to see that his grandfather's official position in the famous post was taboo for three generations. He let him climb the steps, stroked his back and cried for a long time, then said, "Let's make up." So I asked him what happened and my son described the whole story in detail. Rong Yanggong was very surprised and asked where Li Wa was. The son replied, "She sent me here and I want her to go back. 」

Father said, "You can't do this." On the first day, he let the horses and chariots and childe go to Chengdu first, let Liwa stay at Jianmen and rent a house for her. The next day, the matchmaker introduced her, all six gifts were ready, and then greeted her, and they became a formal husband and wife. After Li Wa's marriage, it is very legitimate to preside over sacrifices all the year round. She abides by women's morality and manages the family strictly and methodically, which is very popular with her in-laws. A few years later, her son's parents died, and she was devoted to filial piety. In fact, Ganoderma lucidum grows on the edge of her filial piety cottage, with three flowers in one ear. The local governor told the story to the emperor. Dozens of white swallows are nesting on her roof. The emperor was surprised and raised the reward level even more. After the expiration of filial piety, my son was promoted to important positions again and again.

In ten years, I served as the chief executive of several counties. Li Wa is also known as Mrs. Guo Xing. They gave birth to four sons, all of whom became big officials, and the lowest one even achieved Taiyuan Yin. The marriage of brothers is the highest family, and no one can compare with the famous families inside and outside Beijing.