Originally written by Guan Hanqing, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)
Once upon a time, there was a young scholar named Dou Tianzhang. He was from Chang’an originally. He had read lots of books to prepare for the imperial examinations. But he came from a very poor family. He couldn’t afford to go to Chang’an to take part in the exam so he couldn’t achieve any scholarly honours or gain official rank. He had a daughter named Duanyun who also was not blessed with luck in her life. Her mother passed away when she was three. After that, Dou Tianzhang roved to Chuzhou in today"s Jiangsu Province with his daughter.
When Duanyun was seven years old, Dou was desperate to change their circumstances. He borrowed 760 grams of silver from the moneylender Ms. Cai who was a widow living in Chuzhou City. After some time he would have to pay 1,520 grams of silver back including interest when the debt matured the following year. Ms Cai asked him for payment many times, but could never get repaid. Cai noticed that his lovely daughter was almost the same age as her eight-year-old son. Then she came up with the idea to let Duanyun be her child bride. She told Dou if he accepted this deal, she would write off the debt. Indeed, she said she would even pay him some money as traveling expenses for his imperial exams in Chang’an.
Dou loved his daughter so much that he was not willing to part with her especially as a child bride. However, he had no way out. He was not able to repay the debt; he hadn’t even enough to feed his daughter. He thought it over again and again. Finally, he made the terrible decision and sent his daughter to the Cai’s. Cai promised him she would treat Duanyun as her own daughter.
With the 380 grams of silver Cai gave him, Dou Tianzhang left his daughter and set off for Chang’an to participate in the imperial exams.
Before long, Cai moved to Shanyang County near Chuzhou with her two children. Duanyun grew up and Cai kept her promise. She was very fond of the little girl and changed her name to Dou E. When she was 17, Dou E got married to Ms Cai’s son. Two years later, however, her husband fell seriously ill and died soon after. Poor Dou E had become a widow at the tender age of 19. After that, she and Cai grew even closer.
Another three years passed, and Cai still made a living for both of them on her money lending. One day, she told Dou E, “I’m going out of town. Sai Luyi (a doctor surnamed Lu) owes me 760 grams of silver. I have asked him for it many times, but he still has not repaid it. Now, I want to try again.”
Sai Luyi used to be an imperial physician. He ran a traditional Chinese medicine shop at the south of town. His business was slow because his leech craft was rather slipshod. One day, he was twiddling his thumbs, when Cai came in. After some small talk, she brought up the subject of the debt. He craftily replied, “I can give your money back, but not here. Come with me. It’s in my house.”
Cai was thinking only of getting back her money and followed him out of the shop. She never knew his true evil intention. He held a rope behind his back. When they had reached a quiet place, he slipped the cord round her neck and began to strangle her.
She struggled desperately but Sai held the cord even tighter. There was no way the old woman could break free. Just as Cai was about to breathe her last, two people passed by and saw everything. They rushed to her aid and Sai fled in panic.
The two passers by were a father, named Zhang Lao’er, and his son, called Zhang Lu’er who was a knight’s page. Their arrival scared Sai away. Old Zhang helped Cai up and asked, “Old lady, where are you from? What’s your name? Why did that man try to kill you?”
Cai had not yet recovered from the fright. She replied, “My first name is Cai. I live in Shanyang County, with only my daughter-in-law. I’m a widow. That man is called Sai Luyi. He owed me money. I came to ask him to repay me. And then he tried to strangle me. It is only thanks to you that I am still alive.”
However, Zhang Lu’er ’s mind had immediately switched to evil intentions. He whispered to his father, “Dad, did you hear that? She has a young daughter-in-law at home. We saved her life, so she must pay us back. We are both single men. Why don’t you marry the old lady and I will take the young girl?”
Zhang Lao’er thought it was a great idea. He turned to Ms Cai and said, “I see you have no husband, and I don’t have a wife. I saved your life. Can I ask you to be my wife now.”
Cai got angry, “How can you speak like that? Yes, you saved me. I’ll thank you with a money reward which will be enough for you.”
Zhang Lu’er immediately grew angry. He threatened her, saying “How dare you refuse me? If you try to send us away with just a little money, Sai’s rope is still here, I’ll strangle you to death myself.”
Having just escaped with her life, Cai didn’t fancy another attack. She was afraid that he would harm her, so she determined to try to calm them down first. She said, “Calm down. Let me think it over. Follow me home now.”
Cai brought them home. When they arrived at the gate, she asked them to wait outside and went inside alone. At the same time, Dou E was waiting anxiously. Cai started to cry the minute she saw Dou E. Dou E was confused and asked her what had happened. She told the whole story and added Zhang Lao’er wanted to marry her. Dou E said it was a crazy idea. “That’s exactly what I thought. So I said I’d give them some money. But they refused. They say they both have no wives, and we have no husbands. If I don’t accept, Zhang Lu’er will kill me. I was so scared that I accepted. I agreed not only to let the old guy be my husband, but also to let the young one marry you.”
Dou E was irritated, “Mom, how could you agree to this kind of request? Yes, he saved you, but you don’t have to marry him to make up for it. Besides, if you want to take in a son-in-law, do it by yourself. I’ll never marry anyone.”
“Don’t be like that! I don’t want to take in anyone. It’s them who have forced me to do this! They are waiting outside. What am I supposed to do?”
While they were arguing, Zhang Lao’er and Zhang Lu’er came in. Zhang Lu’er saw that Dou E was beautiful. He saluted her brazenly. She frowned at him. However, he came closer to her and pulled at her clothes. Dou E pushed him to the ground and rushed to her room.
