It is said that in Cangqian Town, due to the scorching "dog days" of the sixth month, a severe plague broke out. Countless townspeople died from the epidemic, and every household was trembling with fear, believing they had offended the gods and incurred the wrath of Heaven, thus bringing down this disaster. Several sorcerers, along with Daoist temples and Buddhist monasteries that specialized in collecting money, seized this opportunity to preach about fortune and disaster. They claimed that the "Five Plague Gods" had descended to the lower realm because the common people usually did not respect Heaven and Earth and did not cherish the five grains, so Heaven sent down this punishment. To dispel the disaster and avoid further misfortune, a sacrificial procession had to be held.
Those ignorant people did not reflect on their lack of respect for Heaven or their waste of grain as the cause of the disaster, nor did they rush to correct their evil ways and do good. Instead, they echoed the sorcerers and monks, preparing for the procession. In the sixth month, several processions had already been held, such as the General Plague God Association and the Jiang Taigong Association. Furthermore, because it was said that the Five Plague Gods had released the "Five Evil Spirits," shaking the Underworld, nothing but a grand "Yulan Festival" (Hungry Ghost Festival) could exorcise them. The townspeople busily prepared to please the Five Evil Spirits, planning an exceptionally grand event. Fortunately, in the Qing Dynasty, such processions were not prohibited; in fact, the government strictly protected them. There were many festival dates in a year, and the Yulan Festival was held annually, but never with such a massive mobilization as this time.
The town gentry took the lead, donating money and effort. People prepared the necessary items for the procession and recruited performers for the high platforms and stilts. It was a bustle of activity. News had long since spread that Cangqian Town was holding such a grand Yulan Festival this year, and people with an interest came from all directions to watch. The festival date was set for the end of the seventh month. By the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth day, countless people had already arrived. In Cangqian Town, high viewing platforms were erected at the entrance of every home, ready for people to sit and watch the procession pass. Fearing that spectators from the street might crowd into their homes and collapse the platforms, residents set up barriers at their doors. Visitors stayed with relatives or rented rooms temporarily. The few small inns in town were packed to the bursting point. Some opportunists set up temporary inns specifically to house the spectators. Restaurants and wine shops were full all day long. The scenes were too numerous to describe, and it was incredibly lively. The preparations for this Yulan Festival continued until the twenty-sixth day, when everything was finally ready. The spectators had already turned the small town of Cangqian into a sea of people. The festival organizers came out to maintain order and measured the ground beforehand to check the terrain, fearing that the many high platforms and stilts would not have enough room to pass. Everything was in order, and as the festival date approached, the spectators stretched their necks, waiting for the day at the end of the seventh month to witness this unprecedentedly grand Yulan Assembly.
Speaking of the people who came to Cangqian Town to watch the festival, there was a man named Liu Zihe, twenty-five years of age. He was the son of the Yuhang Magistrate, Liu Xitong. Liu Xitong was over fifty years old and had only this one son, Zihe, whom he cherished like a luminous pearl in the night. Liu Xitong was a native of Weiyang (Yangzhou). In his youth, he was a frivolous young man, and his family was not wealthy, merely of middle-class means. After getting married, he obtained a massive fortune from his wife and suddenly rose to prominence.
This was because Mrs. Liu's maiden name was Lin. She was also from Weiyang, and her father was a wealthy man. He had no sons, only this one daughter who married Liu Xitong. Mrs. Liu understood nothing else, but she was extraordinarily familiar with the concept of "bringing luck to one's husband." After arriving at the Liu family, she moved all the valuable things from her maiden home to her husband's home to help Liu Xitong get rich. Luckily, Mrs. Liu had no brothers, so naturally, no one fought with her. Mrs. Liu's parents loved their daughter dearly and extended that love to their son-in-law. Furthermore, since they had no sons, they would eventually have to adopt a nephew from the clan to continue the family line after they passed away. Since their vast fortune would eventually go to someone else, they thought it better to give it to their daughter, who was their own flesh and blood. Moreover, a son-in-law is considered half a son, which was still closer than an adopted heir. So, they allowed their daughter to move whatever she wanted; whenever she opened her mouth, there was nothing they would not agree to.
When she married Liu Xitong, the old couple, fearing their daughter would dislike her husband's poverty and be unhappy, allowed her to take half of the deposits held in money shops and trading houses to her husband's home. This amounted to a full seven or eight hundred thousand taels. The rest of the dowry and jewelry were naturally extremely abundant. Just the gold bars used to press the bottom of the trunks amounted to five hundred taels. There were also over five hundred taels of gold leaf and gold vessels. As for the jewelry, the pearls in the necklaces and hairpins were as big as soybeans. This is not the author making things up; it is a fact. Later, because of the Yang Naiwu case, Mrs. Liu spent hundreds of thousands on bribes. This all came from Mrs. Liu's maiden family's property, as anyone who discusses the strange case of Yang Naiwu knows.
Enough idle talk; let us return to the main story. When Mrs. Liu married, the property she took with her amounted to nearly a million taels. This should have been enough to satisfy anyone's desires. However, when it was time to get into the bridal sedan chair, Mrs. Liu was one hundred and twenty percent unwilling. She simply cried in her boudoir and refused to get in the sedan chair. This made her father so anxious that he didn't know what to do, fearing they would miss the auspicious hour and that the couple would not be harmonious in the future. He had only this one daughter; how could he bear to see her unhappy? Only if the couple respected each other like guests and the daughter was satisfied could he put his mind at ease.
The reason he matched her with Liu Xitong, a man of average means, was to ensure his daughter's happiness and comfort. The Liu family had no elders above, so she would be the mistress of the house the moment she entered. Plus, with the seven or eight hundred thousand taels of family wealth she brought, having money meant having power. Who would dare not submit? Her arrival would be just like being in her own home. Moreover, the daughter had been spoiled since childhood and could not stand being controlled by others. A family with parents-in-law would absolutely not do, so she was married to the Liu family. Now, if they missed the auspicious time and clashed with the "Joyous Spirits," causing constant arguments in the bedroom, wouldn't that harm the daughter instead? Therefore, he frowned deeply.
It was the old mother who understood better. She knew that her daughter's refusal to board the sedan chair was not because she didn't want to marry Liu Xitong, but because there must be a reason. She hurriedly went into the boudoir and quietly asked her daughter, "Precious daughter, why are you still unsatisfied? Your father is marrying you off and has given you half the family fortune! We only let you take so much because the Liu family has no money. We arranged this marriage with the Liu family for your sake. The Liu family has no elders above and no brothers below. Once you enter the door, you are the mistress of the house. Plus, you are bringing so much wealth; with great wealth comes great power. Who would dare disobey your orders? Even your son-in-law, who suddenly gains seven or eight hundred thousand in assets, knows it comes from marrying such a good wife as you. Naturally, he wouldn't dare disobey a single word you say; he will treat you like the Jade Emperor. There is no household more comfortable to marry into than this. That is why I chose the Liu family for you. Although his family is a bit poor, luckily we have plenty of money, so what is there to fear? Why do you just cry and refuse to get in the sedan chair? Missing the auspicious time is no joke. What exactly are you unhappy about? Tell your mother quickly. As long as your mother can do it, there is nothing I won't grant you. What is missing? As long as it is in the house, I am willing to let you take it."
The precious daughter listened to her mother's long speech of comfort and inquiry. Only then did she wipe her tears with a silk handkerchief and slowly say, "It is not that your daughter is unwilling to marry into the Liu family; this is a matter decided by Mother, how could a daughter disobey? But although the money I am taking is not a small amount, there is absolutely no power/influence. Won't I be bullied by others?"
Hearing this, the old lady thought her daughter refused to board the sedan chair because the Liu family had no money or power. Although she was bringing money, the power was still missing. She couldn't help but laugh, "Daughter, you have been smart all your life, how can you be confused for a moment? With money, can't you buy an official title? Then you will have power. Although your son-in-law has no power now, once you cross the threshold, you can take thirty or fifty thousand taels of silver and buy him an official post. Then won't he have both money and power?"
The old lady thought that by enlightening her daughter this way, she would stop crying and happily get in the sedan chair. Who knew that this young lady, upon hearing the old lady's words, would nod and say, "Exactly. Your daughter is worrying precisely because I will have to buy an official post after I go there."
Hearing that her daughter was worrying because she had to buy an official post, the old lady was stunned and said, "Didn't you just say you wanted your son-in-law to have wealth and power? Buying an official post brings wealth and power; that is the best thing. Why do you say you are worried because of buying the post?"
Seeing her mother react strangely to her words, Mrs. Liu couldn't help but smile slightly and nodded again, saying, "Isn't that right? Mother, why don't you understand? If you want to be an official with power, naturally you must buy a high-ranking post. Buying a high-ranking post means spending more money. Although what your daughter is taking with her is not a small amount, ultimately it cannot be called infinite. If we spend a lot of money buying the post, and the ready cash I bring isn't enough, won't we have to exchange the jewelry and gold? Those pawnshops that exchange jewelry and gold—which one doesn't want to make a profit? At that time, if your daughter doesn't own a profitable shop like that herself, won't I suffer a huge loss? Isn't that reason enough to worry about buying an official post?"
After hearing her daughter's long explanation of her worries, the old lady drew a sharp breath. She finally understood that her daughter's unwillingness to board the sedan chair was only because she wanted a pawnshop as well. The seven or eight hundred thousand in dowry had not yet satisfied her daughter's desires. She couldn't help but secretly admire her daughter's foresight; before even marrying into the Liu family, she was already planning how to prevent the son-in-law from suffering a loss. It seemed that if the daughter didn't have a pawnshop to take with her, she would certainly not get in the sedan chair easily. Other people's daughters refuse to get in the sedan chair because they dislike the poor betrothal gifts from their husband's family, but her own daughter was focused entirely on helping her son-in-law build a fortune. Luckily, the old couple had no son, only this daughter. If they didn't give it to her, it would eventually go to an outsider. After all, the daughter was their own flesh and blood and was closer. It was better to agree to the daughter and make her happy.
So she smiled and said, "I thought it was some major matter, but it turns out to be such a small thing. Why didn't you say so earlier? You are afraid of suffering a loss in the future; that is easy. You just need to take one of the pawnshops your father opened with you. Then you won't suffer a loss. I will go tell your father."
Mrs. Liu's father naturally had no objections. As long as the daughter didn't miss the auspicious time, married, and the young couple lived harmoniously, let alone one pawnshop, even if all the shops he owned changed their surname to Liu, he would be willing. In this way, Liu Xitong suddenly gained a pawnshop with a capital of over a hundred thousand taels of silver. Only then did Mrs. Liu happily marry Liu Xitong.
Liu Xitong, having gained so much wife-wealth out of thin air, was naturally incredibly smug. Because his wife held a million in family assets in her hands, how could he dare to disobey her in the slightest? Naturally, he followed her advice and plans. If Mrs. Liu said east, Liu Xitong dared not say west. Everything in the Liu family was decided by Mrs. Liu. Some of the servants in the house were brought over by Mrs. Liu as part of her dowry, so naturally, they only listened to her orders. The rest of the original Liu family servants and the newly hired ones knew that Mrs. Liu was the big financier. Since everything was paid out from Mrs. Liu's hands, who would dare not flatter and obey her? Even Liu Xitong himself knew that the happy life he led relied on his wife's fortune, so he dared not disobey his wife's commands.
Furthermore, Mrs. Liu had been accustomed to having her way since childhood at home. She was spoiled, and if things didn't go her way even slightly, she would shout and curse. Fortunately, Liu Xitong had a servile nature. As long as his life was comfortable, he was willing to do anything. He was especially willing to be a "slave of the dressing table," serving his wife all day long to make her happy. Therefore, he lifted Mrs. Liu up to the thirty-third heaven (highest pedestal). Regarding all matters in the family, let alone domestic affairs, even Liu Xitong's movements outside required his wife's permission; he could not take a step randomly.
At first, Liu Xitong asked for instructions on everything to please his wife because she was the financier, so that he could live a happy life. Gradually, Mrs. Liu's arrogance rose step by step, and his own will was suppressed item by item. In the end, he truly treated his wife like the Jade Emperor and dared not disobey her in the slightest. Whether it was external or internal affairs, if Mrs. Liu said how it should be done, it had to be done that way; how could Liu Xitong dare say half a word of "no"? Orders were issued by Mrs. Liu, and Liu Xitong went to carry them out as if holding an Imperial Edict. In the region of Yangzhou, who didn't know that Liu Xitong was a master in name only, a king of henpecked husbands? Mrs. Liu held the power, and when she called out once, a hundred answered. She was incredibly satisfied.
However, even having reached this stage, Mrs. Liu still had one thing on her mind that she couldn't let go of, which made her unhappy. Although she had brought seven or eight hundred thousand in assets and a pawnshop when she married into the Liu family, her maiden family still had a large half of the fortune left at home that she hadn't brought with her. Her parents were old. If she didn't hurry and find a way to move the remaining fortune to the Liu family before they passed away, wouldn't it simply benefit the adopted brother for nothing? Moreover, the son designated to inherit her parents' estate was from a very poor branch of the clan. She had looked down on this poor boy since childhood; how could she be willing? She had to move everything over while her parents were still alive to satisfy her heart's desire.
Having made up her mind, she used the excuse of visiting and missing her parents to go to her home every day to calculate regarding that remaining large half of the fortune. Mrs. Liu's parents had always loved this daughter deeply. On the day of her wedding, two clear tears from their daughter had cost them a pawnshop. As the old saying goes, "A beauty's smile is worth a thousand gold," but Mrs. Liu's cry was worth over a hundred thousand gold. The old couple loved this precious daughter to the absolute limit. Now seeing their daughter married to Liu Xitong, the young couple loving each other, and their daughter's status rising high, they were naturally very happy. Seeing that their daughter still thought of the old couple, did not forget filial piety, and visited morning and evening with the son-in-law to please them, they felt their love for her hadn't been in vain. Little did they know that the daughter and son-in-law's visits were to eye that remaining half of the family fortune.
The old couple, happy in their hearts, loved their daughter even more, and loved their son-in-law Liu Xitong along with her. As long as the daughter opened her mouth, there was nothing they wouldn't agree to. Luckily, the old couple also harbored the thought that they would rather pass it to their daughter and son-in-law than to an adopted son who was not their own flesh and blood. Coincidentally, this clan nephew designated to inherit was only eight or nine years old and knew nothing of worldly affairs. His father was a scholar of ancient integrity and righteousness; although his family was poor, he never went out to borrow even half a copper coin, relying only on teaching to make a meager living. He knew clearly that his son was to inherit the million-tael fortune of Mrs. Liu's father, and if he didn't look after it, it would inevitably be seized by Mrs. Liu. But at this time, scholars valued only integrity and did not prioritize money; he refused to lower his aspirations, which inadvertently benefited Liu Xitong.
To know whether Mrs. Liu obtained the family fortune or not, let us see the next chapter.