Last year today this door, the face of the peach blossoms reflecting the red;
The face of the people do not know where to go? The peach blossoms are still smiling in the spring breeze.
This is a poem written by Cui Gu, titled Title of the South Village of the Capital City, which has been widely circulated, and many people can still recite it aloud today. However, those who know the poem do not always know that there is a touching love story hidden in the poem. The story is full of the innocent love of a talented man and a beautiful woman, and the plot is so twisted and magical that people call it "Peach Blossom Fate", also known as Peach Blossom Luck.
Cui Gu is a scholar in Boling County during the reign of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, born in a scholarly family, gifted, talented and handsome, noble and arrogant, usually buried in the window, rarely interact with others, even if the occasional leisure trip, but also like to go alone. This year's Qingming Festival, coinciding with a rare sunny weather, outside the house, red and green, butterflies and bees, breeze, spring. Afternoon spring warm light, read hard all morning Cui Gu y infected by the breath of spring, determined to go to the outskirts of the countryside to savor the fullness of spring. So put down the books, excited to walk out of the city alone. Along the way, willows and flowers fly, warblers and swallows chirping, warm sun and wind, pleasant weather. Read hard without knowing that spring has been thick he felt refreshed. All the way roaming, see endless red flowers and green grass, spring mountains and spring water, he enjoyed the gift of nature to mankind, oblivious to the distance of the road. Unconsciously away from the city has been far, he suddenly felt some sore legs thirsty, looking for a countryside farmhouse to rest, ask for some water to drink, so that before sunset to rush back to the city. Here is already a remote field, farmers live extremely scattered, he raised his eyes and looked around, saw not far from the depression, a peach blossom cover reveals a corner of the thatched cottage, so speed up the pace toward the depression to go. Near the foot of the mountain, in the distance can see the cottage at this time but all covered by peach trees, in front of the eyes of only an azure peach forest: peach blossom burns, full of branches, the breeze blowing, the fragrance around the people, let a person suspected that it is mistakenly into the peach blossom garden. Along the peach forest between the path inward, in a small gap in a bamboo fence surrounded by a small courtyard, the courtyard is simple and elegant. In the courtyard there are three pillars of thatched huts, all made of bamboo planks and thatched grass, simple but neat and unusual. Cui Gu thought to himself: "What high person, living in such a chic place."
As he approached the door, he knocked and shouted, "I'm just passing through in the spring, and I want to ask for some water to drink!" While calling the door, he guessed, out of the door is bound to be a white-haired bearded, bamboo cane shoes, looks strange, talk elegant old man. Creak, the door opened, unexpectedly out of a wonderful young girl. Young girl cloth light thou, eyes and eyes but through a clear and elegant charm, so that Cui Gu was very surprised. He once again explained the intention, the girl's bright eyes staring, feel that the visitor is not malicious, will be attentive to him into the grass sitting, from the kitchen to open the tea. Cui Gu surveyed the surroundings, only to see the indoor windows clean, spotless, against the wall put a row of bookshelves, shelves full of poetry, the table pen and ink stone lined up, hanging in the middle of the wall a couplet, the couplet is: "a few more willow flakes wind over the snow, countless peach blossom water immersed in the Xia." Elegant phrases, the interest is not vulgar, absolutely different from the general style of the countryside farmhouse.
The desk by the window is resting on a frame of ink-stained poem paper, on which is written a "Wing Plum" five-verse stanza:
The colorful snow, the fragrance of the dawn wind;
Poor, like me, zero fall in the mountains.
The poem must have been written by the owner of this place, and it seems to be borrowing the plum blossom to lament his difficult life, which is so full of depression and helplessness. The first thing you need to do is to get a good deal on a new product or service. And what kind of moods and encounters have given rise to such helpless words? A series of questions floated up in Cui Gu's mind, making him very interested in this peach blossom cottage and its owner, and wanted to find out.
At this moment, the young girl came out of the kitchen with a tea tray, she walked towards Cui Gu with great generosity, and when she saw that the other party was gazing at the couplets on the wall and seemed to be savoring them, she smiled sweetly and called out gently, "My dear husband, please have some tea." Cui Gu turned from his thoughts, see the girl is walking towards himself, pink and white through red face autumn waves, do not apply powder dress, plain cloth, more set off the innocence of the girl and the spirit of the show, just like a peach blossom in the spring breeze, to show people the elegance of life. For a while, Cui Gu was actually some of the look stunned, the girl seemed to notice his mind, quickly lowered his eyes, a shyness to her embellished more moving, Cui Gu could not help but fluttering heart, almost difficult to self-contained.
But after all, it is a well-read, understanding of etiquette of the scholar, Cui Gu tried to stabilize his emotions, not to lose their temper in front of the girl. He politely took the cup of tea, gently sip of tea, calmly show his family name and township, and then very politely knocked the girl's family name and family. The young girl seems to be reluctant to mention more of these, just faintly said: "small word Jiangniang, hibernating here with my father." She didn't mention her family name and family history, and seemed to have something to hide, so Cui Gu naturally didn't want to ask more questions.
However, the couplets on the wall, the poems on the table, and the characters in front of him, all of these reveal a strong hint that the owner of this cottage must have some extraordinary history. A fog formed in Cui Gu's mind, but since the person did not want to talk more, he had no choice but to put it aside. Two people in the house silence for a while, Cui Gu will turn the topic to the scenery . He praised the scenery of this place, as if the fairyland, is a good place to visit the spring can not be missed. The girl just listen to him talk about, smiling and nodding seems to agree, but did not say anything. Speaking of spring, Cui Gu poetic mood, and the famous poems of the spring of the past and present commented on some, and finally said: "flowers blossoms can be picked straight to pick, do not wait for no flowers empty broken branches". After saying this, he looked at Jiangniang meaningfully, waiting for her reaction. The wise Jiangniang of course understood his meaning, in the spring season, facing such a young man who is in full bloom, imposing and talented, how can she not call her heart in love with the beginning of spring? But how can a young girl who knows books and manners dare to open her heart in front of a strange man, she sat there shyly silent, two pieces of red color on the cheeks, and occasionally glanced at Cui Gu with affectionate eyes, and then quickly retracted as soon as she met Cui Gu's gaze. More shyly look at their own toes, more show a Chu Chu touching appearance. In the face of the girl's helplessness, Cui Gu also do not know what to do, well read the book of the saint, he could not make a more passionate, more frivolous behavior to.
Usually rarely contact with the girl Cui Gu nature does not quite understand the mind of the girl, see the girl long silent, thought he offended her. So, he was secretly vigilant about himself, unknowingly, there is some restraint in speech.
At that time, "men and women are not close to each other", a pair of unmarried men and women can serve tea and water, alone in a room, has been a breakthrough. In the countryside is still reasonable, if in the city is a big mistake. Two young and sincere hot heart, in the warm spring afternoon sun stirred, each other are y attracted to each other, but "from the love, stop to the rituals", the two young people educated in etiquette and did not further transgressive behavior. Seeing the sun has deviated into the western depression, Cui Gu had to get up, earnestly thanked, reluctantly to the girl to say goodbye. The girl sent him out of the courtyard door, leaned on the wood door and silently watched Cui Gu gradually walk away. Cui Gu also looked back from time to time, only to see the peach blossom girl, reflected in front of the door colorful peach blossoms, together in the spring breeze swaying, the heart secretly sighed: really a wonderful spring picture ah! But the infinite fondness in the eyes of the young girl he can no longer see clearly.
A chance encounter in the spring, in the hearts of Cui Gu and Jiang Niang have stirred up the ripples of love. However, the love of men and women is some embellishments in life for men, but in women it is the whole of life. Since Cui Gu's departure, Jiangniang could not forget him, and the shadow of the young man hovered in her mind day and night, making her think about him and haunt her, but she could not mention this to anyone. Cui Gu returned home, then buried in the heavy homework, day and night hard reading, the mind is no longer other care; searching for spring encounter Jiangniang can only temporarily put aside the back of the mind do not dare to stir up, so as not to be distracted and wasted studies.
Time flows like a stream, turn to the second year of spring, another spring blossom sunny day, Cui Gu looking at the city blooming peach blossom can not help but touch the scene, recalling the last spring of the old things in the south of the city, feelings of the flames in his heart, in the impulse can not be suppressed, Cui Gu holding the excitement of the mood of the eager, all the way to the outside of the city to look for the old dream of the past. Along the way, the flowers bloomed like the old days, and the weather was still pleasant, but some of the scenery could not arouse Cui Gu's interest, and he only had that brilliant peach blossom in his heart. Searching, finally let him find the last year that cottage, but see everything as before, as if that spring encounter is happened yesterday. When he approached the courtyard, it was silent. He shouted through the bamboo fence, "I'm just passing through in spring, and I'd like to ask for some water to drink!" He repeated last year's language, expecting last year's scene to play out again. After a long time, he did not see the maiden come out to open the door, so he called out several times, "Jiangniang! Jiangniang!" In addition to some weak echo, there is no answer. Then he took a look at the door of the cottage and saw a copper lock hanging quietly on the door, announcing that the owner was no longer here. All of a sudden, Cui Gu felt like a dipper of cold water on the head, hot heart cooled most of the way. Push open the door, sitting in the courtyard under the peach tree.
The colorful petals fell on his lapel, still do not see the girl returned. It is time for the sun to set in the west, he snapped from the window pane to take out the pen and ink, frustrated at the door of the room to write down a seven, which is the beginning of the song mentioned "title of the city of South Village". After writing the poem, he still felt that it was not enough, and pondered twice, wanting to change the third line to "Where does the human face go now?" On second thought, he thought that it was inappropriate to use two words "now" in a seven-line stanza, and so he stuck to the original line. The word "peach blossom" is mentioned twice in the poem, but it is not too repetitive, instead, it highlights the theme and renders the atmosphere.
Cui Gu chengnan visit old, did not see Jiangniang, after returning home, the heart has not been put down, the brain constantly ask: I really where to go? --- Sweeping the tomb? The first time I saw her was when she was a little girl, and she was a little girl. Or even got married? Or even married? When he thought about it, Jiangniang's silhouette haunted his mind from time to time. As a result, he couldn't study at all, and he couldn't even swallow his tea and rice. So, a few days later, he once again went to the south of the city to look for.
This time, he skillfully found the cottage, has not yet approached, far away from the cottage heard a burst of old cries, Cui Gu's heart is tight, and quickly accelerate the pace to the cottage before the high voice to ask exactly. A few moments later, a white-haired old man, trembling came out, tearful eyes blurred, up and down to look at Cui Gu asked: "You are Cui Gu right?"
To the old man knows his name, Cui Gu is a little surprised, he nodded his head and said, "Late life is Cui Gu." Upon hearing this, the old man was overcome with grief and cried, "You killed my daughter!" Cui Gu was astonished and hurriedly inquired, "Dare I ask the old man to explain the original reason!"
The old man was in tears, hard to say: "My daughter Jiangniang, eighteen years old, know how to be polite, to be in a girl's room, since last year's Ching Ming saw you, day and night, only to say that if you have love, will certainly come back to visit. She waited day after day, spring and fall, always missing you, she thought about it, it was like a loss. After a year, I was already in despair, a few days ago, I went to a relative's home to stay, and when I came back, I saw the poem you inscribed on the door, and I hated that I had missed the opportunity, and I thought that I could not see you again in this life, so I did not eat, did not speak, and I was full of sorrows, and I fell ill. I am already old and only have this daughter to depend on for life. The reason why I didn't get married was that I wanted to find a good son-in-law so that we could rely on him. Now, Jiangniang has gone before me, did you not kill her?"
Listening to this cry, Cui Gu seemed to be struck by lightning, and was shocked for a moment. The woman was so deep in love, how not to let Cui Gu's heart ache to break it! He whimpered: "Last year when I passed by your house, I was thirsty and asked for a drink, I was grateful for the tea given by the lady, a few days ago I came back to look for a visit but did not find it, I returned with a poem in frustration, I didn't expect such a change of heart, if Jiangniang died, I wouldn't want to live a life of stealing either!" As he said, he ran into the inner room and hugged Jiangniang, who was not long out of breath, and cried out at the top of his voice: "Jiangniang, take a step slowly, Cui Gu came with you!"
Cui Gu shook Jiangniang while crying loudly, and tears flowed all over Jiangniang's face. Perhaps his sincerity touched the heavens, perhaps his true feelings awakened Jiangniang's heart, in short, at this time Jiangniang even leisurely awakened. At first, she exhaled a trace of breath, then her eyes opened slightly, and then the corner of her lips moved slightly, and she seemed to recognize Cui Gu, and buried her face y into Cui Gu's embrace. The old man was so surprised that he hurriedly prepared ginger soup and rice syrup and slowly poured it into Jiangniang. In this way, the sentimental Jiangniang actually walked back from the Yellow Springs Road.
Afterwards, Cui Gu went home and reported the situation to his parents, who were very sympathetic to their true love, so they followed the rituals of recruitment and chose an auspicious day to marry Jiangniang. Jiangniang's father was also properly settled by the Cui family and was able to enjoy his life. However, the father and daughter never wanted to reveal their family name and background, leaving behind an unsolved mystery. Perhaps the old man was once an official in the imperial court, and was convicted for some reason, so he hid his name and hibernated in the south of the city of Boling, and since he had some scruples, Cui Gu's family will be interested not to explore.
Cui Gu married Jiangniang such a deep love, virtuous and beautiful wife, the heart is beautiful. Jiangniang's diligence, filial piety to her parents-in-law, and harmony with her neighbors, and the red sleeves of her husband at night to accompany her husband in his reading, made Cui Gu's mind free of distraction, focusing on homework, and his studies became more and more refined. In the twelfth year of Emperor Zheng Yuan of Tang De Zong, Cui Zhuo rushed to be a scholar, won the grade of jinshi and was sent out to be an official, and his career was smooth and smooth, and he became a minister of the Lingnan Festival. With the help of Jiangniang, he was a clean and honest official, with outstanding political achievements, and was loved by the people.