The full poem is:
Title to the South Village of the Capital City
Tang Cui Gu
Last year today, in this door, the peach blossoms of the human face reflected the red.
I don't know where the faces of the people have gone, but the peach blossoms are still smiling in the spring breeze.
This poem, titled "The Southern Village of the Capital City", written by Cui Gu, 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". Cui Gu is a scholar in Boling County during the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang Dynasty, born in a scholarly family, with a pure talent, a handsome talent, a noble and arrogant temperament, buried in a cold window on weekdays, seldom interacting with others, even if the occasional free time to go on a 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, the breeze, spring. Afternoon spring warm light, read a morning of Cui Gu deep for the breath of spring infected, determined to go to the countryside to savor the spring of the feast. So put down the books, excited to walk out of the city alone. Along the way, willow flowers fly, warblers and swallows chirping, warm sun and wind, pleasant weather. Read hard without knowing the 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 path between the peach forest to go in, in a small gap in a bamboo fence surrounded by a small courtyard, the courtyard 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 kind of high person, living in such a chic place."
When he approached the wooden door, he knocked and shouted, "I'm just passing by in the spring, and I'd like to ask for some water to drink!" While calling the door, he guessed that the one who came out to open the door was bound to be an old man with white hair and beautiful beard, bamboo staff and shoes, and elegant conversation. 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 gazed at the bright eyes, felt 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, different from the general style of the countryside farmhouse. On the desk by the window is a frame of ink-stained poem paper, on which is written a five-character stanza of "Winged Plum": plain and colorful, cold and snowy, fresh and fragrant, letting the wind blow at dawn; pitifully, it is just like me, falling down in this mountain. The poem must have been written by the owner of this place, and it seems that he is using the plum blossom to lament his own difficult life, depression and helpless state of mind. What kind of person lived here in seclusion? And what kind of moods and situations gave rise to such helpless words? A series of questions floated up in Cui Gu's mind, making him very interested in the cottage surrounded by peach blossoms as well as the owner of the cottage, and he wanted to find out more. At this moment, the young girl came out from the kitchen with a tea tray, she walked towards Cui Gu with a generous manner, seeing that the other party was gazing at the couplets on the wall and seemed to be savoring them, she smiled sweetly and gently called out, "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 time, Cui Gu actually looked a little stunned, the girl seemed to notice his mind, quickly lowered his eyes, a shyness embellished her more moving, Cui Gu could not help but fluttering heart, almost difficult to hold. But after all, is a well-read poetry and books, understand the feelings and etiquette of the scholar, Cui Gu tried to stabilize his own emotions, not in front of the young girl to lose their temper. He politely took the cup of tea, gently sip of tea, calmly show his family name and township, and then very politely asked 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 young girl's helplessness, Cui Gu also do not know what to do, read a lot of saintly books, he could not make a more enthusiastic, more frivolous behavior. Usually rarely contact with the girl Cui Gu naturally do not quite understand the young girl's mind, see the girl for a long time without words, thought he offended her. So secretly alert to their own, do not realize that there is some convergence in the words. At that time, pay attention to "men and women are not close", a pair of unmarried men and women can serve tea and water, alone in a room, has been a breakthrough. In the countryside in the wilderness is still reasonable, if in the city is treasonous. 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 transgressions. 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 could no longer see clearly. A chance encounter in the spring, in Cui Gu and Jiangniang heart has stirred the circle of love ripples. 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 has not been able to forget him, and the shadow of the young man has been in her mind day and night, making her think about him and haunt her, but she can't mention this to anyone. Cui Gu returned home, then buried in the heavy homework, day and night hard reading, the mind no longer other care; looking 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, in the blink of an eye 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 feelings, recalling the last spring of the old things in the south of the city, feelings of the flames in his heart, in the impulse that 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 that a copper lock was 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 wood door, sitting in the courtyard under the peach tree. 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 out of the window lattice pen and ink, frustrated in the door of the room to write down a seven, which is the beginning of the first mentioned that "the title of the city of Nanzhuang".
After writing the poem, he still felt that he had not finished, and pondered twice, wanting to change the third sentence to "Where is the face of the people now? But then he thought, "It's not appropriate to use two words "today" in a seven-line stanza," so he stuck with 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, who visited the south of the city and failed to see Jiangniang, could not let go of his heart when he returned home, and kept asking in his head: Where has Iren gone? To visit her relatives? Outing? 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 went to the south of the city again. This time, he skillfully found the cottage, has not yet approached, far 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 gray-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, "The late student 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 tears, hard to say: "love daughter Jiangniang, eighteen years old, know the books and manners, to be word in the girl's room, since last year's Ching Ming saw you, day and night, only that you have love, will certainly visit again. 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 this made me sick. I am old and only have this daughter to depend on for life. The reason why I have not married is that I want to find a good son-in-law so that we can have something to depend on. Now Jiangniang has gone before me, is it not you who killed her?"
Listening to this cry, Cui Gu seemed to be struck by lightning, and was shocked for a moment. The woman's love is so deep, how can we not let Cui Gu's heart ache and want 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 failed to 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 shouted at the top of his voice: "Jiangniang, take a step slowly, Cui Gu came with you!" Cui Gu shook Jiangniang while crying loudly, tears flowed all over Jiangniang's face. Perhaps his sincerity moved the heavens, perhaps his true feelings awakened Jiangniang's heart, in any case, 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 came back from the Yellow Springs. After that, 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 to their house. Jiangniang's father was also properly settled by the Cui family and was able to enjoy his old age. 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 has 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 was a diligent housekeeper, filial to her in-laws, harmonious with her neighbors, and accompanied her husband in his reading at night, which made Cui Gu's mind free of distraction and focused on his studies, which were getting better and better. 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.