Chapter 107: Meeting a female gangster again? Sensible? Or a woman with insight...
Song Jin made plans for her next business, and began to talk about her book peacefully. One night in September, she once again talked about the "Romeo and Juliet" she had copied.
"It is said that Romeo and Juliet fell in love with each other at the banquet. After returning home, Romeo lost his appetite and only thought about his beloved."
"That day he asked Juliet's nurse to help him meet his beloved on the balcony."
"As the saying goes, when lovers meet their sweetheart, it's like a bookboy throwing his textbooks down and leaving school. His body is still, but his heart is already flying. When lovers are separated from their sweetheart, it's like a bookboy picking up his textbooks and going to school, wishing the sun would never rise..."
When Song Jin said this, she caught a glimpse of a person walking into the shop. She didn't need to look at the face, just by seeing the tall figure and the upright posture sitting there, she knew who it was.
For the first time, Song Jin felt extremely happy. All the worries that she was misunderstood as having a complicated relationship with him, that Miss Pei's family misunderstood her and took the opportunity to get close to him and sow discord between them, and that she had earned money and lost her self-esteem by relying on him were forgotten at once. She wanted to drop her business right there and then and run towards him.
She was done, she thought.
After Song Jin finished reading a passage, he stopped to drink tea and rest. Then he saw the figure stand up and walk out the door. He put down his tea bowl and chased after him.
Ji Shubai walked quickly. When Song Jin came out, he had already walked some distance, but not far. He was waiting under the ancient locust tree at the corner of the street, fanning himself.
Song Jin trotted over.
"Master Ji - Master Ji -"
She didn't want to think too much about why she was so happy to see Ji Shubai, nor did she want to think about how much progress they could make in the future. She just thought that he might be her only support in this world. She had to put aside all her fantasies and try her best to get closer to him.
Seeing someone running towards him, Ji Shubai chuckled, "Long time no see."
Song Jin ran up to him, and he didn't expect that he could smile so brightly.
"You're back?"
"Yeah, I just arrived a while ago."
Song Jin was even happier, but the next moment Ji Shubai suddenly bent down and said:
"I haven't seen you for more than a month, and you've gone from shouting about fighting to climbing over a girl's balcony. Is this progress or regression?"
Song Jin chuckled and said, "Then I'll change it for you next time."
After saying this, he glanced at him and saw that he was wearing a parrot green silk pleated shirt. He then stepped back, clasped his hands together and bowed, then said in a hoarse voice, "I am the owner of the Lu Family Food Store. My surname is Lu, and I avoid using the character Jin. May I ask, brother, what is your surname?" [1]
Ji Shubai put away his fan with a snap and tapped Song Jin's forearm lightly: "Don't be like that flowery monk."
Song Jin smiled and jumped away: "Aren't you also imitating the flower monk wearing a parrot green silk robe? Next time I will tell you about pulling out a weeping willow tree. I wonder if you have the strength to do it and learn it?"
"You're talking nonsense. When did I learn from him? I will never wear green again next time."
Song Jin said, "No, you look better in green."
"I just got back and you're already teasing me."
Song Jin stood on the street with his hands behind his back, giggling.
Ji Shubai couldn't help but say, "You, Miss Lu, will become Miss Lu sooner or later."
"Hello, Miss Chenglu. Miss Lu is so loyal."
"You don't mind being blunt, irritable, and rude?"
Song Jin said: "That depends on who you are comparing with."
"If you compare him to Wu Song who killed the tiger, you will despise Hua Heshang again."
Unexpectedly, Song Jin pouted and snorted heavily: "I just don't like him."
"Why is that?"
Song Jin turned and walked towards the side of the bridge, saying, "What basis does he have to say that a strong fence can keep out dogs?" [2]
Ji Shubai was stunned when he heard this, and followed him: "Does it make sense for Pan Jinlian to seduce people?"
Song Jin said: "Seduction is unreasonable, but why did she marry Wu Dalang? No one has ever spoken up for her, so who can blame her? Wu Dalang took advantage of her and made Jinlian serve two husbands. He himself was old, ugly, poor and cowardly. When he relied on women, he didn't say a word. But when he had his brothers to support him, he even learned to demand that his wife remain chaste and locked her up at home. I think Pan Jinlian spent her money to buy a house, but in the end she bought herself a cage. Anyone would complain, right?" [3]
"What do you mean by a woman serving two husbands? What kind of book did you read? Although Pan Jinlian was framed, she..."
"But what?"
"But... but seducing your uncle is certainly against women's ethics." When Ji Shubai mentioned seduction on the street, his voice became much lower.
"What's the point of Wu Dalang marrying a beautiful woman without spending a penny? Anyone who uses his brains should know that such a good thing will not happen to him. He can't keep the woman even if he marries her, so how can he blame the woman entirely?"
"But this matter has nothing to do with Wu Song. Why do you involve him?"
Song Jin leaned against the railing and muttered, "I just don't like him, and I don't think adults should like him either."
"What's the logic behind this?"
"You are an official, he is a bandit, if you like him, wouldn't it be......"
Song Jin had a wicked smile on his face, which made Ji Shubai hurriedly explain: "You are talking nonsense. This is one thing, how can we compare the chaotic world with the peaceful and prosperous times now."
Song Jin said, "I don't like that either. As the saying goes, every wrong has its perpetrator. Hua Heshang knew who the troublemaker was and he went after him. Although Wu Song is known as a hero, he harmed women and children. He is extremely vicious and his crime is unforgivable."
When Ji Shubai heard this, he suddenly relaxed a little. He stood on the railing and leaned on it, saying, "So you are speaking up for the women and children in Yuanyang Tower." [4]
"Isn't it? What's the difference between Wu Song's actions and the execution of the whole family? Even according to the Ming Dynasty law, it is indeed too much. You are an official, you should know that there are laws to follow and you must follow them. How can you execute people privately? How can such a person be called a hero? He should be called a criminal."
Ji Shubai smiled, crossed his arms, and looked relaxed: "If I heard correctly, the story you just told seemed to involve a private duel, right?"
"So this is destined to be a love tragedy."
Ji Shubai said "oh" and the smile on his face widened, looking like he was in a good mood.
"What are you laughing at?" Song Jin asked him with puffed cheeks.
"I thought..." Ji Shubai stopped talking halfway, causing Song Jin to push him anxiously.
"Tell me, what do you think?"
"I thought you would say Pan Jinlian was justified in killing her husband."
When Ji Shubai said this, he suddenly laughed out loud. He still hasn't forgotten Song Jin's obsession with the "widow" issue.
"I don't think she was justified in cheating, I just feel sorry for her. If no one sympathizes with her when she is pitiful, then why should everyone blame her when she makes a mistake?"
Song Jin tilted his head back and frowned, speaking very seriously.
Pan Jinlian has become a synonym for a prostitute in later generations, but Song Jiang also killed his wife, Ximen Qing also killed his brother, even Li Ping'er also killed her husband, Wu Song also killed innocent people, why is Pan Jinlian so controversial? Wu Song became a hero, and Song Jiang became Song Gongming?
She was not convinced.
"You think this is unfair?"
“It’s just not fair.”
After hearing this, Ji Shubai leaned back against the railing, and after a little thought, he asked a strange question:
"You are right, but where did this woman serving two husbands come from?"
"ah?"
Ji Shubai bent down, put his face close to Song Jin, and asked clearly, "You said that Wu Dalang let his wife serve two husbands. Where did you make this up?"
Song Jin blinked and turned his head away stiffly.
"this......"
"Which one?"
"that......"
"Which one?"
Song Jin bit his lip and tried to preemptively ask, "Your Excellency, have you not read it?"
"What have you read?"
"The book about Pan Jinlian. I thought you were a Jinshi, so you were great. But there are books you haven't read yet. Today, I will reluctantly let you come and ask me for advice."
After saying that, he walked half a circle in front of Ji Shubai, from the bottom of the stairs to the top, and stood at a higher level than Ji Shubai. He put his hands on his hips, raised his chin, and looked down at people with a haughty look on his face.
Her "status" is higher than his.
Ji Shubai saw through her little thoughts at a glance. Instead of being annoyed, he smiled and leaned on the railing: "Okay, today I will come to ask our shopkeeper Lu for advice."
"Yes, Mr. Lu. It would be a waste of my talent to be a doorman."
Song Jin's arrogant words made Ji Shubai laugh so hard that he bent over. Song Jin said seriously, "Master Ji, you should show me some respect."
When Ji Shubai finally stopped laughing and stood up, his face was already red, he was so amused.
Ji Shubai cooperated, bowed and said, "Mr. Lu, I have something to ask you."
"Mr. Ji, please go ahead and speak." Song Jin was extremely proud.
"I wonder which book about Pan Jinlian you just mentioned, sir?"
Song Jin slapped the stone steps with her feet, her mind spinning rapidly. How should she answer this? Has this been written? If not, she can still make up a story that she saw it in that world. If she had written it, and it started with "a beautiful woman in her twenties with a body as soft as butter", would Ji Shubai lecture her again? [5]
What if he suspected that she was not doing her job properly? Would he stop associating with her in the future? Would he still be able to hold on to her?
"that......"
"Which one?"
"this......"
"Which one?"
Song Jin scratched his head.
"Forget it. I think you should just stay as a shopkeeper. If you become a doorman, you will be misleading the students."
"Who said that?" Song Jin couldn't bear the provocation and confessed immediately: "Go read Jin Ping Mei."
"Jin Ping Mei?" Ji Shubai frowned, "Have you read this book?"
Song Jin hesitated and refused to tell the truth, and his arrogance just now was gone.
"I heard people mention it when I was in Beijing. They said it was a rare book, but I had never seen it. I didn't expect you to..."
Ji Shubai thought about it and felt something was wrong: "Where did you see this?"
"There."
"Where is that?"
"Where else could it be!"
After hearing this, Ji Shubai smiled silently, and his expression gradually became serious: "Okay, I'll ask someone to help me find it when I get back. When I find it, I will read it carefully."
It's strange to say, people always easily remember those who offend them. Song Jin kept offending Ji Shubai. While offending him, he lectured him. While he vowed to correct himself, he was planning his next offense.
The two of them have been entangled until today, to the point that Ji Shubai regards her offense as normal and even almost forgets to preach.
Song Jin answered the question, but her mind was not at peace. How would this book, which was banned in the 20th century and later published with deleted content, be viewed by the people of the Ming Dynasty? She also didn't know what Ji Shubai would think of her after reading it.
A female hooligan? With insight? Or a female hooligan with insight?
While Song Jin was daydreaming, Ji Shubai had already walked slowly past her.
"Walk with me again."
The voice became much softer, Song Jin hummed softly, and quickly followed.
She noticed that Qingshan was not with them.
"Didn't you say you would give me a letter when you got back? Why did you come here in person?"
"When I arrived at the government office, I heard from the servants that you had asked me twice, so I guessed that you had something to ask me, so I came here in person."
Song Jin suppressed the pounding sound in the left side of his chest.
"So, what do you want to see me about?"
Song Jin lowered his head, blushed, thought for a while and said, "Li Meng is cooked. I thought you like to eat Li Meng cake. When you come back, I will make it and send it to you."
"Okay, I'm hungry too. Please make two more for me and I'll send someone to pick them up."
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