Chinese Literature

Iam! By happening to accompany this young lady, ’'ve got myself mixed up with murder!” :

In the midst of all this confusion, Mr. Wang and his daughter limped in. They wailed over the corpse, then turned to the concubine and demanded: “Why did you kill your husband, steal the cash and fly? Heaven is just, and you have been caught. But what have you to say for yourself?”

“Tis true that there were fifteen strings of cash,” said the concubine. “But when he came back last night he told me that he was so pressed for money he had pawned me for fifteen strings of cash and that today I should have to-go to that other man’s house. Because I didn’t know what sort of family he had pawned me to, I decided to tell my parents first; and late last night I put the fifteen strings of cash in one pile by his feet, then closed the door and went to stay in old Mr. Chu’s house, so that I could go home first thing this morning. When I left, I asked Mr. Chu to tell my husband that since he had found me a new master, they should go together to my family to settle the business. I’ve no idea kow he got murdered.”

‘Welll”? cried the wife. ‘Yesterday my father gave him fifteen strings of cash to bring home as capital to support us all. Why should he deceive you by saying it was money raised by pawning you? In the two days when you were alone at home you must have had an affair with aman. Seeing how poor we were, you didn’t want to stick it out; and when you saw the fifteen strings of cash, that put an idea into your head, so you killed my husband and stole the money. Then you deliberately stayed one night with the neighbours, after planning to run off with your lover. You were walking with a man today. What have you to say to that? Can you deny it?”

All agreed: ‘Mrs. Liu is right.”

Then they asked the young man: “Didn’t you plot Mr. Liu’s death with his concubine, and secretly arrange to meet at some deserted place and escape together? What have you to say?” :

“My name is Tsui Ning,” replied the young man. “I have never set eyes on this young lady before. Last night I came into town to sell silk—I have the money from the sale on me—and today on my way back I happened to meet this lady. When I asked her where she was going and why she was alone, she mentioned that she was going my way; so I accompanied her. I know nothing of what has happened here.”

Do you think they would listen to him? They searched his bag’; and when they found there exactly fifteen strings of cash, not a coin more, not a coin less, they cried: “The guilty can never escape Heaven’s justice! You murdered him, stole his money and his concubine and tried to make off, leaving us neighbours to take the blame.”

Then the wife seized the concubine and Mr. Wang seized Tsui Ning. With all the neighbours as witnesses, they marched straight to the

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