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Foreword

The heart of man is like flowing water, its desires ever-changing; emotions are like drifting clouds, gathering and dispersing without constancy, with joy and sorrow hard to predict. Since ancient times, the interplay between man and woman has been the most enchanting yet the most turbulent. In olden days, Pan Jinlian’s seductive charm bewitched Ximen Qing, leading to death and ruin; today, in village lanes, betrothals are made with dowries as the medium, seduction as sport, and coercion as calamity, turning true love into lawsuits. The world has changed—red-brick houses rise in rural fields, and village lads and lasses have learned sweet words—but human hearts remain unchanged, driven by greed for wealth and lust, chasing fame and gain. How many good matches turn to bitter feuds? How many innocents are stained with infamy?

In Qinghe Village, Nanyang County, Yuzhou, where mountains are verdant and waters clear, the folk were once simple. Yet, as morals decline, dowries soar to tens of thousands, and adding a bride’s name to a house deed seals a betrothal. Men and women come together, half for love, half for scheming. A village couple, newly engaged, stirred a storm of seduction and rape due to lust and suspicion, sparking village gossip and court trials. In the end, right and wrong blurred, and love turned to enmity. This tale, when told in full, is like a vivid painting of human affairs, revealing the sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy flavors of relations between the sexes, while lamenting the sorrow of insatiable hearts. Enough preamble—let the story unfold.

Chapter One: A Towering Dowry Seals a Betrothal, Village Gossip Stirs a Storm

In Qinghe Village, Nanyang County, Yuzhou, most villagers lived by farming, their days modest but stable. There was a young man named Li Zhuang, aged twenty-five, broad-shouldered and sturdy, with clear, handsome features. His family owned a few acres of land, and his parents had saved some money, making them a middling household in the village. Li Zhuang was honest from youth, hardworking, and when he reached marriageable age, matchmakers flocked to his door.

That spring, Wang the Matchmaker from the village’s east end brought a young woman named Pan Cuilian, twenty-two, strikingly beautiful with willow-leaf brows and peach-blossom eyes. Her walk was graceful, her waist swaying lightly, and no village lad could resist stealing glances. Cuilian hailed from a neighboring village, her father long dead, her widowed mother struggling in poverty. Yet Cuilian was clever, sweet-tongued, and known as a “sharp-witted lass.” Wang the Matchmaker, grinning, told Li Zhuang’s parents, “This Cuilian is a fine girl from a good family, beautiful and quick-minded. Paired with your Zhuang, they’ll surely prosper!”

Li Zhuang’s parents were thrilled and asked the matchmaker to arrange a meeting. That day, Cuilian wore a goose-yellow blouse, a silk flower in her hair, and entered the Li household with a charming smile. Li Zhuang stole glances, noting her demure gaze and gentle words, and felt a spark of affection. Cuilian, too, sized him up, seeing his honest, sturdy nature and decent family, thinking life with him would be better than at home. After pleasantries, the families agreed on a dowry of 188,800 yuan, an auspicious sum for “prosperity upon prosperity,” and stipulated that Cuilian’s name be added to the house deed before she’d consent. They exchanged birth charts, set an engagement date, and villagers, hearing Li Zhuang was to wed a beauty, called him lucky.

But on the eve of the engagement, trouble brewed. Cuilian met Li Zhuang privately, her words growing intimate. Holding his hand, she said softly, “Zhuang-ge, since we’re betrothed, we’re family. You must cherish me and spare me any grievance.” Her words stirred Li Zhuang’s heart, his palms sweating as he nodded eagerly. Cuilian smiled, adding, “The house deed matter—your family must hurry, lest my kin mock me.” Li Zhuang assured her, “Of course, Cuilian, don’t worry. My parents have agreed.” Her smile sweetened, and she leaned closer, her fragrance intoxicating, making Li Zhuang’s heart race, longing to embrace her.

Village idlers, witnessing this, whispered that Cuilian was a “seductress,” likely after Li Zhuang’s wealth, not his heart. When these words reached Li Zhuang, he dismissed them, believing Cuilian’s tenderness was genuine. Little did he know, this intimacy was the seed of a storm.

Chapter Two: A Joyful Banquet Warms Affection, A Midnight Tryst Sparks Dispute

On the engagement day, the Li family hosted ten tables of feasting, with kin and friends gathered in high spirits. Cuilian wore a vibrant red dress, her face rouged, smiling like a blooming flower. Standing beside Li Zhuang to toast, they drew envious gazes. After a few cups of yellow wine, Li Zhuang’s face flushed, his heart pounding. Stealing glances at Cuilian’s expressive eyes, he felt an itch in his heart. As the banquet ended and guests dispersed, Li Zhuang’s parents busied themselves cleaning, but Cuilian pulled him to the backyard, whispering, “Zhuang-ge, it’s a happy day. Let’s stroll by the fields and share some private words.”

Dizzy with wine, Li Zhuang couldn’t refuse and followed her out of the village to a quiet field path. Under moonlight, the fields were serene. Cuilian sat close to him, sighing, “Zhuang-ge, I lost my father young, and my mother’s frail. If not for your family’s regard, how could I have such a day?” Her eyes reddened, tears glimmering. Moved by her pitiful air, Li Zhuang took her hand, saying, “Don’t be sad, Cuilian. I’ll treat you well.” Cuilian nestled into his arms, murmuring, “Since you care for me, show me your true heart tonight.”

Her words ignited Li Zhuang’s passion. Though honest, he was a young man in his prime, and her teasing overwhelmed him. He pulled her close, intent on intimacy. But Cuilian pushed him away, scolding playfully, “Zhuang-ge, this is open land! How improper! If someone saw, I’d lose all face!” Sobered slightly, Li Zhuang apologized, “I was rash, Cuilian, forgive me.” She laughed, whispering in his ear, “If you’re sincere, find a quiet place another day, and we’ll grow closer.”

Her half-yielding words left Li Zhuang burning with desire yet cautious. He escorted her home. The next day, village gossip flared, claiming Li Zhuang and Cuilian’s midnight tryst hinted at illicit deeds. Li Zhuang’s mother, furious, cursed, “This Pan Cuilian’s too forward, barely engaged and so shameless!” Li Zhuang defended her, insisting her lively nature was no stain on her virtue. Yet this tryst planted the seeds of greater woe.

Chapter Three: A House Deed Dispute Sows Discord, A Night in the New Home Stirs Trouble

Post-engagement, the Li family prepared for the wedding, but Cuilian pressed the house deed issue. Privately, she told Li Zhuang, “Zhuang-ge, if your family truly values me, my name must be on the deed. Otherwise, villagers will call me an outsider.” Li Zhuang, seeing no harm since they were betrothed, discussed it with his parents. They bristled, saying, “This Cuilian’s too eager, eyeing our property so soon. Her intentions seem dubious!” Li Zhuang argued, “It’s just for her peace of mind. Adding her name costs us nothing.” Reluctantly, they agreed, but suspicion took root, muttering, “She’s cunning, like another Pan Jinlian.”

Overjoyed, Cuilian visited the Li household often, her words increasingly affectionate. She’d hold Li Zhuang’s hand or gift him a handwoven kerchief, saying, “Zhuang-ge, I stitched this myself. Keep it safe.” Her charms left Li Zhuang smitten, eager for the wedding. Villagers, seeing her behavior, gossiped that she “flirted shamelessly, bewitching Li Zhuang.” Cuilian ignored them, growing closer to him.

One day, Cuilian invited Li Zhuang to the new house to inspect furniture, claiming to check its suitability. The house, newly built with red bricks and bright windows, was a village rarity. Inside, Cuilian closed the door, smiling, “Zhuang-ge, this will be our nest. Isn’t it grand?” Sitting close, her hand on his shoulder, her scent enveloped him. Li Zhuang, overcome, embraced her, kissing her cheek. Cuilian half-resisted, saying, “Zhuang-ge, not before the wedding!” He apologized, but she whispered, “If you truly care, hurry with the deed, lest my kin mock me.”

Her words, though soft, pricked Li Zhuang, recalling his parents’ doubts. He hesitated, “Cuilian, the deed’s settled, but the process is slow.” Her face darkened, and she pushed him away, saying, “If you lack sincerity, I won’t stay.” As she moved to leave, Li Zhuang, panicked, promised, “Don’t be angry, I’ll urge my parents!” Mollified, Cuilian nestled into his arms, whispering, “If you settle it soon, I’ll find ways to please you.” Her words inflamed him, but he dared not cross boundaries and sent her home.

That night, Cuilian invited him to the new house again, claiming urgent matters. Thinking it was about furniture, Li Zhuang went. Cuilian, in a sheer blouse, glowed under candlelight, saying, “Zhuang-ge, let’s sleep here tonight to test the bed.” His desire surged, wine clouding his judgment. Ignoring propriety, he pulled her onto the bed, intent on intimacy. Cuilian resisted, crying, “Zhuang-ge, I won’t allow this! Without my name on the deed, it’s forbidden!” Enraged, Li Zhuang retorted, “We’re betrothed—you’re mine! The deed will come. Why resist?” He forced himself on her, tearing her clothes.

Cuilian screamed, struggling, “Zhuang-ge, stop! This is rape!” In the scuffle, she struck her forehead, bruising it. Li Zhuang, unheeding, thought her resistance coy. Afterward, realizing his error, he begged, “Cuilian, I was reckless, forgive me!” Coldly, she laughed, dressing and declaring, “Li Zhuang, you’ve wronged me. I’ll sue you for rape!” She fled, leaving him stunned.

Chapter Four: A Lawsuit Entangles, Ruining Family and Fame, Village Gossip Abounds

The next day, Cuilian filed a rape charge at the county court, weeping that Li Zhuang violated her against her will, her bruised forehead as proof. Officers arrested Li Zhuang, and the village erupted. Idlers at teahouses debated: some called Li Zhuang reckless, deserving punishment; others deemed Cuilian cunning, seducing him for his wealth. Li Zhuang’s parents, cursing her as “Pan Jinlian,” feared his imprisonment and sought mediators.

At trial, Cuilian tearfully claimed she, a virtuous woman, trusted Li Zhuang’s sweet words, only to be violated after drinking. Li Zhuang countered, “After our engagement, she was affectionate, initiating embraces and gifts. That night, she invited me, teasing me. I thought she consented and lost control. How is that rape?” Cuilian, showing her bruise and torn clothes, retorted, “Would I injure myself if not forced? Does engagement justify your actions?” Both sides clashed, and the magistrate, frowning, ordered evidence collection.

Officers searched the new house, finding Cuilian’s handkerchief and Li Zhuang’s kerchief, and neighbors confirmed their frequent, intimate meetings. Doubting Cuilian’s virtue and Li Zhuang’s guilt without stronger proof, the magistrate detained Li Zhuang pending further inquiry. Cuilian demanded the engagement be voided, the 188,800-yuan dowry returned, and her name on the deed. Li Zhuang’s parents, outraged, accused her of entrapment, refusing to comply. Cuilian’s mother insisted, “My daughter’s honor is ruined. The dowry and deed are rightful compensation!”

Villagers split: elders called Cuilian scheming, seducing then accusing; youths argued Li Zhuang’s force justified punishment. Hearing this, Li Zhuang, heartbroken, regretted his drunken act and cursed Cuilian’s betrayal. Cuilian secluded herself at home, awaiting the verdict and her gains.

Chapter Five: Truth Eludes, Schemes Run Deep, Village Turmoil Lingers

The case dragged on for over a month, with evidence inconclusive. Cuilian’s bruise was real, but no seminal evidence confirmed rape; Li Zhuang’s account was plausible, yet his intimate trysts raised suspicion. The magistrate consulted village elders, saying, “Convicting Li Zhuang risks wronging an innocent; acquitting Cuilian risks freeing a schemer. Any advice?” Some elders suggested Cuilian’s teasing led Li Zhuang astray; others insisted his force was criminal.

At a second trial, Cuilian, tearful, claimed she trusted Li Zhuang, only to be ruined by his lust. Li Zhuang retorted, “You teased and met me secretly, yet now accuse me?” Cuilian snapped, “Knowing my virtue, why didn’t you respect it? Does engagement permit force?” Their clash left the magistrate exasperated.

A villager then testified, having seen Cuilian struggling outside the new house, crying as she fled. With this, the magistrate convicted Li Zhuang of rape, sentencing him to three years and ordering the dowry returned and Cuilian’s name added to the deed. Li Zhuang collapsed, his parents wailed, “Our son’s冤枉ed by Pan Cuilian!” Cuilian, taking her spoils, returned home, silent on marriage.

Villagers debated: some said Li Zhuang deserved prison; others called Cuilian a schemer, her accusations planned. Her reputation soured, dubbed “Pan Jinlian reborn.” Li Zhuang’s family, bankrupted by the lawsuit, sold their land, and his parents fell ill, their home ruined.

Chapter Six: The Storm Subsides, Hearts Remain in Chaos, Relations Between Sexes Lamented

Though the case ended, Qinghe Village’s hearts were unsettled. In prison, Li Zhuang rued his drunken folly and cursed Cuilian’s betrayal, which destroyed his family. Cuilian, with dowry and deed, seemed triumphant but felt empty—her plan to escape poverty ruined her name, leaving her unmarriageable and blamed by her kin.

Villagers, discussing the affair, sighed over the fickle nature of love. Cuilian’s half-true seduction ignited Li Zhuang’s desire, yet her resistance seemed calculated; his force, driven by wine and lust, ruined both. A couple meant for love fell to dowries, deeds, desires, and mistrust. Elders lamented, “Today, money trumps trust in love, breeding chaos.”

Wang the Matchmaker opined, “Dowries and deeds are the roots of strife. Without them, such storms might lessen.” Youths laughed, “Without money or houses, who’d marry? Cuilians would multiply!” The village sighed.

Epilogue

The Qinghe Village saga spread through Nanyang County, becoming teatime gossip. Some pitied Li Zhuang’s honesty, ensnared by Cuilian; others cursed her scheming, profiting by feigned virtue; many lamented the world’s hardness, where true love is scarce, and desire abounds. The magistrate, hearing village talk, confided, “Though judged, the truth remains murky. Was it Li Zhuang’s force, Cuilian’s trap, or both at fault? Evidence failed to clarify.”

This tale echoes The Plum in the Golden Vase—men and women, driven by desire, weave seduction and force from insatiable hearts. Cuilian’s allure, like Pan Jinlian’s, half-yielded to ensnare; Li Zhuang’s force, like Ximen Qing’s, wrecked both in lustful folly. Who among us isn’t greedy or foolish? May this story warn against desire’s blindfold, urging truer hearts to cherish the beauty of love.