Several of the attendants looked at the young man, and the young man said, "I won't drink any more wine."
But he called an attendant on foot and whispered something. Then the attendant took out an inkstone and polished the ink. The young man took a pen and paper and wrote a few lines, signed his name, and handed it to the attendant to fold it into a post and put it on a convex box. Inside the bumpy red cloth bag, the young man winked, and he asked the man to lead the way towards the donkey meat restaurant. After squeezing through the crowd of onlookers, he saw Mei Bin in wedding clothes and Hong Tu holding a red hijab. ceremony.
The attendant refused to wait and approached Hong Tu directly, saying that a guest had entrusted me to give you a wedding gift, and then stuffed the red cloth bag into Hong Tu's hand. Hong Tu asked, could you tell me the name of that guest?
The attendant said, you can find out by opening the red cloth bag. Hong Tu said thank you, and the attendant turned and left.
Hong Tu waited until Mei Bin took off her red hijab and bowed to heaven and earth, parents and husband before she opened the red cloth bag. Inside was a bunch of white silver. She was confused, where was it? Who gives such a heavy gift? Without thinking, she paid attention to the note, opened it, and read: Hong Tu, I wish you a happy wedding! It is not respectful to prepare a small gift, but I hope you will accept it. Linxiang County Magistrate: Ma Wencai Shoulu. Mengqiu, the Xinchou year of the lunar calendar.
Ma Wencai - Hong Tu repeatedly thought about the person she loved that she could not see. She counted the money. The total amount of money was 500 taels, which made her confused. Is Ma Wencai still interested in her? Otherwise, how could he give such a heavy gift?
At this time, the bride Hong Tu was no longer focused on sifting sugar tea and spreading candies to the guests, but on Ma Wencai, whom she had not seen for a long time. Ma Wencai has become the county magistrate. Is he married now? Questions distracted her, so much so that when Mei Bin and she were carrying the tea tray, she stared blankly at the guests. Mei Bin pushed her and she almost fell. Mei Bin said what are you thinking about?
oh! I didn't think anything of it. Hong Tu showed surprise, which made the guests who were watching her laugh and joke about it.
She kept that note on her body and did not let Mei Bin know about it. She only told Mei Bin that someone sent 500 taels of silver as a gift for their wedding. Mei Bin knew that someone sent a red cloth bag, but he did not take a closer look. , asked carefully, thinking it was sent by Bao Laizi's relatives and friends, and never paid attention to it. But after Hong Tu got this special gift, especially the note, her thoughts turned to Ma Wencai, so she naturally became indifferent to Mei Bin. Even on their wedding night, she rejected Mei Bin because she was too tired. Bin.
Mei Bin thought about it and still didn't know what the problem was. For a few days, he took care of Hong Tu, but Hong Tu was always absent-minded, looking out the window in a daze, and occasionally crossing his delicate hands to touch the bulging purse on his chest. What's inside? Mei Bin asked silently in his heart. He wanted to open the purse and take a look, but if he tried to force it open, Hong Tu would definitely cover it tightly with both hands, so he wanted to find a chance.
That night Hong Tu fell asleep, and Mei Bin also pretended to fall asleep. When Hong Tu started snoring lightly, and he was sure that she had slept deeply enough, he quietly got up and took out something from the purse of Hong Tu's jacket that was placed beside the bed. , nothing else, just a note.
He lit a candle outside the house and saw that it was a note written by Ma Wencai to Hong Tu. There was no malicious intention in the words above, but Mei Bin considered that this was the reason why Hong Tu was cold to him. When Hong Tu saw the note, she thought Ma Wencai was still thinking of her, so her old love for him naturally arose in her heart.
Mei Bin wanted to tear the note into pieces, but felt it was inappropriate. Then he extinguished the candle, entered the room from the outside, and put the note back to its original place. But he felt uncomfortable in his heart. Considering what gift Ma Wencai gave to Hongtu, wasn't it written on the note? He went to bed again and lay sleepless. Suddenly he heard Hong Tu calling Ma Wencai's name in his dream. He got angry and pinched Hong Tu's nose to wake her up.
Hong Tu was still sleepy, so Mei Bin asked angrily: Ma Wencai, what gift did you give me?
Hong Tu didn't answer.
Mei Bin asked and pushed her, but she actually woke up and said: What are you asking? It disturbed me from a good dream. I dreamed that Ma Wencai gave me a copy of "The Book of Daughters", which was very good. I woke up while I was reading it. It was really a pity.
Hey! You miss him all the time in your dreams, and there is only him in your heart and not me. Hong Tu did not fight back, and Mei Bin continued to ask: What gift did Ma Wencai give you?
How about 500 taels of silver? Hong Tu shouted with a high voice.
Wow, you still have a relationship with Ma Wencai. Mei Bin felt like he had knocked over a vinegar vat, and he cried out uncomfortably.
One morning, in the county government hall, Ma Wencai, who was dressed in official uniform and looked majestic, was discussing matters with several petty officials. After a while, the Yamen servant reported: There was a young man at the outer gate who wanted to meet Magistrate Ma.
Magistrate Ma said to the Yamen servant: Ask the man to state the matter in a letter without having to meet face to face. The yamen officer went and came back near noon and said, "The man refused to leave and said he had to meet the county magistrate."
Ma Wencai was startled, hesitated and said: "How about you ask him again if he has any grievances that he wants to sue?"
The yamen officer nodded and left. After a while, he came back and said that the man said that it was not a grievance, but that he just wanted to have a word with Magistrate Ma in person.
Ma Wencai was displeased and said to the Yamen servant: "I just say that the county magistrate is too busy with official duties and has no time."
In the afternoon, Ma Wencai went to the hall and was shaking his sandalwood fan to enjoy the coolness while discussing matters with officials in the government office. The Yamen servant came to report again, saying that the man would not leave until he saw the county magistrate. Ma Wencai stood up from the couch, walked around the table, looked at the yamen servant and said: In this case, let the man come in! But ask two samurai to monitor him.
After only half a cup of tea, a short man came to the government hall held hostage by two warriors.
When the man saw Ma Wencai, he said rudely: Are you Magistrate Ma?
Ma Wencai said: This is exactly what I am doing. Where are you from? Whose last name is it? What do you want to talk to me personally about?
The man hummed and said: I am a person with the surname Mei in this county. My name is Mei Bin. I am a stranger to you. You have done a good deed.
Ma Wencai saw that he was speaking sarcastically and was full of complaints, so he asked: What did I do wrong? You can speak directly.
Be bold! A tall warrior looked at Mei Bin and shouted.
Ma Wencai waved his hand and said let him speak!
Mei Bin said: Do you know Bao Hongtu? She became my wife, and you shouldn't mess with her and ruin our relationship as a couple.
how do I say this? Ma Wencai asked, frowning in surprise.
On the day of our wedding, you revised a book for Bao Hongtu and gave him a token. If you weren't destroying our relationship as husband and wife, what else were you doing? Mei Bin said aggressively.
After hearing this, Ma Wen burst into laughter. He walked up to Mei Bin and said that your wife was my student before and she once pursued me, but I did not accept that feeling. I happened to pass by the donkey meat restaurant that day and learned that she was holding a wedding with you. I was very happy, so I wrote a congratulatory message. I also gave 500 taels of silver as a gift and asked an entourage to give it to her. What's wrong with this?
The two warriors and the officials in the hall all looked at Mei Bin teasingly.
Mei Bin was still very annoyed and said: My wife read the note and the congratulatory gift, and got confused. She thought you still had feelings for her, so she left me alone and even dreamed of your name at night.
Is there such a thing? Ma Wencai returned to her original seat and said that I would edit another book and give her a lesson.
no! Absolutely not! Mei Bin yelled: Not only will it not work, it will also stir up her old feelings.
Ma Wencai suddenly recalled how obsessed Bao Hongtu was when he came into contact with him when he was teaching at Xiaguan Village School, and he thought that what Mei Bin said made some sense. He said, "Let's do this. You and I are on the same page as each other. After a long time, won't Bao Hongtu's impulse subside?" Why do you need to go to court over this trivial matter?
This is a small matter for you, the county magistrate, but a big deal for our family. Mei Bin was still chattering.
see a visitor out! Ma Wencai raised his hand, and the two warriors carried Mei Bin out of the court and kicked him out of the yamen.
