THE SCHOLARS (Ju-lin Wai-shih, The Unofficial History of the
Literati), Wu Ching Tzu (1701-1754), transl. Yang Hsien-yi and
Gladys Yang, Foreign Languages Press, Peking, 1973 (1957)

The following detailed plot outline of this very evocative portrayal
of life in Ming scholarly society can barely begin to hint at the
exquisite beauty of the complete novel. A host of realistic people
move through the pages of this book, too simplistically described as
a satire of the official life that forms a background to the poetic,
scholarly culture it unrolls scene by scene, like a scroll painting.

Chapter One (pp. 1-14): Ideal, unworldly Wang Mien, reads and paints
in his village, unimpressed by the attention of the influential. He
leaves home and goes to the city, rather than meet with the local
magistrate. Despite the popularity of his paintings, he takes the
flooding of the Yellow River as an omen and returns home. There he
spends six years dutifully taking care of his dying mother who has
him swear he'll marry and have children, but not become an official.
In the upheaval at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Chu Yuan-chang seeks
out Wang Mien who advises Chu to triumph by justice and honesty, not
force. Later when Chu is the first Ming emperor, he appoints Wang
Mien to a high position. Wang Mien has already become a hermit,
anticipating such an imperial move.

Chapter Two (pp. 15-25): In 1487 in a Kuan-yin temple lantern dances
for the festival on the fifteenth day of the first month are planned
and the hiring of a teacher, Chou Chin, old without passing the
prefectural examination. He dines with a young local scholar, Mei
Chiu, and recounts a dream. The boys are unruly at school. After a
few months, the teacher meets Wang Hui, a provincial scholar coming
back from visiting the graves of his ancestors. He is startled on
seeing the name of a young pupil, Hsun Mei, as he's dreamed of that
name being with his on a list of graduates. The teacher is dismissed
after a year, because he doesn't flatter those who seek flattering.
He goes to the provincial capital with his brother-in-law and some
other merchants. While there they look at the examination hall and
Chu Chin falls unconscious.

Chapter Three (pp. 26-39): The merchants calm sobbing Chou Chin and
offer him money to pay to take the examination. He is very grateful.
He passes and his star rises. In three years he is commissioner of
education in Kwangtung province. There he supervises examinations
and is surprised with one paper he reads thrice before realizing how
remarkably good it is. The paper's author, Fan Chin, passes the
provincial examination, and briefly becomes crazy in the excitement
of the good news. On regaining his senses, he is visited by a local
notable who presents him with money and offers him a more spacious
residence. Other presents come from various admirers. Fan Chin's old
mother is told all this is really their's and falls unconscious.

Chapter Four (pp. 40-51): There's the death and funeral ceremonies
of Fan's mother. Fan accompanies Chang to borrow money from Fan's
patron. Fan and Chang meet Senior Licentiate Yen. The issue of the
ownership of a pig calls Yen home. The magistrate arrives, invites
Fan and Chang to eat, is impressed by Fan's strict mourning, and is
called aside to be offered a bribe from Moslems who wish to keep
selling beef against the law. The magistrate, also a Moslem, takes
Chang's advice to refuse the bribe and punish the one offering it.
The man dies and several hundred Moslems go in protest to the yamen.

Chapter Five (pp. 52-63): Chang and Fan are lowered down the wall.
The mob is calmed. The magistrate reports to his superior. The five
ringleaders of the protest are arrested. Two cases concerning Yen
are heard by Magistrate Tang. Yen, in the wrong, flees. His brother
and his brother's brothers-in-law make arrangements to satisfy both
plaintiffs and yamen officials. The brother's wife becomes ill. The
doctors fail. She childless agrees to the concubine's pleas and
tells her husband to marry the concubine, so the concubine's son can
be heir and not fall victim to another wife. The wedding occurs. The
first wife dies. A cat reveals some money she'd saved. This is given
to her two brothers as they leave to write the provincial exam. Her
husband falls ill. As he lies dying, he holds up two fingers. Only
the new wife understands.

Chapter Six (pp. 64-74): The new wife says her dying husband's wish
is to remove one of two wicks to save oil. He dies content. The
widow's son catches smallpox. After his death, she offers to adopt
Yen's fifth son. A letter is sent to Yen. This arrives as Yen's
second son is marrying the second daughter of Commissioner Chou. Yen
hasn't offerred enough money for musicians. Only one flutist and one
drummer who can't play in harmony turn up. He does better several
days later for a procession to a boat. On the voyage's last day, Yen
complains of illness, eats some walnut wafers, leaves the rest of
the wafers out where they are seen and eaten by the helmsman. Yen
then claims this is expensive medicine, and refuses to pay for the
trip. Yen then tries to place his son and son's bride in the room of
Yen's brother's widow. The magistrate and prefect support the rights
of the widow.

Chapter Seven (pp. 75-86): Yen appeals. He goes to Vice President
Chou's. Fan Chin also arrives and is made education commissioner in
Shantung. His patron asks him to keep an eye open for Hsun Mei. As
he does so, the name Su Shih (Su Tung-p'o) is mentioned, but he does
not know it. He finds Hsun Mei and congratulates him for doing well.
He chastizes Mei Chiu for Mei's unconventional essays. Hsun Mei and
Mei Chiu feast in their village. The next year Hsun Mei does well in
the provincial examination. He meets Wang Hui. They visit a fortune
teller. Hsun's given the fortune, "Stop!" His mother dies. He seeks,
in vain, to evade the three year mourning period.

Chapter Eight (pp. 87-98): Wang Hui is appointed prefect of Nanchang
in Kiangsi. There he meets the son of the retiring prefect, learns
from him the beneficial ideals of that preceeding prefect, and says
he intends to be more intrusive. He impresses his superiors. He is
caught up in Prince Ning's rebellion, joining it, when captured by
Ning. It is defeated. Wang flees, meets his predecessor's grandson
(who gives him some money). Wang shaves his head and becomes a monk.
He gives the grandson some books, including one rare poetry volume.
The grandson publishes it with his name as editor. Lou Feng and Lou
Chan, two nephews of the grandfather, visit and return home by boat.

Chapter Nine (pp. 99-110): The two Lous meet the son of the former
caretaker of the ancestral graveyard. The caretaker's daughter, now
a widow, has asked her parents and brother to stay with her. The two
Lou brothers visit this family. The caretaker presents a scholarly
thought. They ask him where he heard it. He says from Yang, manager
of a salt shop, now in jail for debt. They promise to try to help
him. When they arrive home, they instruct a steward to pay the debt.
The steward pockets the money and secures Yang's release on the
strength of the Lou name. The Lous, unaware Yang doesn't know that
they helped him, are surprised he doesn't come to thank them. After
a month, they go to see him. They twice fail to find him home. They
do see a sample of his poetry which impresses them.

Chapter Ten (pp. 111-121): The two Lou brothers meet compiler Lu of
the Han Lin Academy. He entertains them aboard his boat. On reaching
home, they find their nephew, Chu Hsien-fu, awaiting them. He gives
each a copy of the rare poetry book he has published with his name
as editor. The next day, Niu Pu-yi calls. There's a great chat about
literature. The following day, compiler Lu is entertained by the Lou
brothers and Chu. Lu, impressed by Chu, notes his birthday. Chen
Ho-fu, a fortune teller travelling with compiler Yu, calls on the
brothers. He tells them compiler Lu wishes to marry his daughter to
Chu. The fortune teller's already cast their auspicious horoscopes.
Chu's grandfather approves the match. The traditional ceremonies
occur. There is a truly splendid wedding procession, as Chu and all
proceed to the bride's, an only child's, house where he is to live.
During the marriage feast, very inauspiciously a rat falls into the
groom's soup, and later a cook's shoe smashes into two plates of
food at the groom's table and more soup is spilled.

Chapter Eleven (pp. 122-132) begins with the accomplishments of Chu

Hsien-fu's new wife. She is surprised to learn her husband is more
interested in poetry than serious essays. Her mother tries to
console her. While Chu is visiting the two Lous, Chou Chi-fu, the
grave keeper, arrives. When he hears the Lous had trouble seeing
Yang, Chou assures them Yang is friendly. Chou arranges to go with
them to see Yang soon after the Lantern Festival. Chou goes first
and finds Yang hungry. Chou has already come with chicken, meat,
wine and vegetables. Learning Yang lacks even rice, Chou provides
money for that. Chou informs Yang how Yang was released from jail
and that the Lou brothers are coming to see him. There's a wonderful
visit. Yang agrees to go in a few days and call on the Lou brothers
in town. Chu Hsien-fu had come along. When he returns home, he finds
his father-in-law, compiler Lu, has had a stroke. For more than ten
days, Chu looks after Lu, who is recovering, due to the treatment of
Chen Ho-fu. Chu visits the Lou brothers and finds Yang is there.

Chapter Twelve (pp. 133-143): Yang extolls the rare quality of Chuan
Wu-yung. Mr. Wei, newly appointed roadway officer, arrives to survey
and hence to visit the Lou cemetery in the mountains. It's decided
to invite Chuan to visit. On the way, the messenger is told Chuan is
a hermit and has not passed the lowest examination. Chuan agrees to
come later. He's mourning and comes so garbed. He is unfamiliar with
norms of walking in the city. He's rescued by a friend, Iron-armed
Chang. Chang takes him to the Lous' place. The Lous are impressed
Chuan has come with a swordsman. The Iron-armed tells how he came by
his name. A cart rode over his arm. He performs a sword dance. A
party is held on the lake. Lu dies of shock on news of a promotion.
Chang comes to the Lous claiming a bag contains his enemy's head. He
asks for money to pay his benefactor.

Chapter Thirteen (pp. 144-155): The bag holds a pig's head. Runners
come to arrest Chuan. He goes with them. Chu Hsien-fu goes to his
dying grandfather. Chu mourns three years. His wife is an exemplary
household manager. Chu visits Ma Chun-shang, editor of essays. Ma
visits Chu. Ma outlines varying attitudes through ages and dynasties
toward examinations. Chu's maid elopes. Runners hear of Chu's casket
from traitor Wang. They ask Ma for a bribe to shield Chu.

Chapter Fourteen (pp. 156-166): A runner gets cash and a certificate
stating the maid's boyfriend paid for her. Chu is grateful. Ma goes
back to West Lake. The natural scenery, splendid tea houses, boats,
pavilions, and attractive women are described. Ma strolls past many
coffins to a monastery. He goes to a mountain. There's a sceance. Ma
proceeds and meets an old man holding a dragon headed staff.

Chapter Fifteen (pp. 167-177): Ma greets and visits the abode of the
immortal Hung Kan-shen. Hung gives Ma charcoal which on heating
becomes silver. Hung, about to retire to the mountains, asks Ma's
aid in a transaction concerning the philosopher's stone. Hung dies
and his son-in-law tells Ma that Hung was a swindler and explains
some tricks. Ma meets Kuang Chao-jen, a fortune teller, reading some
essays Ma edited. Ma chats with him and gives him money to visit his
sick father and study at home. Kuang meets a Mr. Cheng investigating
unfilial sons.

Chapter Sixteen (pp. 178-187): Kuang sees his mother and father. His
father fell ill due to efforts to force him to sell his house. Kuang
deftly delays this while seeing to his father's recovery. Kuang has
lots of energy, works and studies hard and helps his father. After a
fire he and his parents take shelter in a monastery. He continues to
study there. Magistrate Li encourages Kuang to take the examination.
He does and passes.

Chapter Seventeen (pp. 188-198): Kuang writes the prefectural exam.
His brother brawls. Kuang comes first. He visits Magistrate Li and
accepts him as his patron. He prepares to visit his tutor, but his
father dies. The subprefect comes to take the magistrate's seal.
Kuang goes to help Li, but the tumult prevents him. He returns home.
The headman advises him he's suspected of helping instigate the riot
and gives him a letter of introduction to Pan Three in Hangchow. On
the way, Kuang meets poet Ching Lan-chiang. He offers to introduce
Kuang to a circle which includes the two Lou brothers. He does. At a
chat in a tea house, there's the tale of two people born at the same
time and having completely different fortunes. Kuang opines one with
a family is better off than a family-less official.

Chapter Eighteen (pp. 199-209): Kuang takes a job editing essays.
His busy work is interrupted by Ching. He attends a birthday party.
There two old men converse on the poor quality of current essays.
Kuang delights his publisher by working quickly and well. Kuang goes
to a poetic session in a monastery. He writes poetry. A poet is very
drunk. Nothing really comes of his riotous behaviour.

Chapter Nineteen (pp. 210-220): Pan Three arrives disparaging poets.
He and Kuang chat at Kuang's place, at a restaurant and at Pan's as
a gambling session takes place. Pan arranges shady deals. He employs
Kuang who also continues editing. Kuang, at Pan's urging, associates
less with poets. Kuang takes an exam as a substitute. Pan arranges a
marriage between Kuang and a Miss Cheng, the daughter of the man he
met years previously. Kuang is impressed by his bride's beauty. 
Magistrate Li, cleared of all charges, invites Kuang to return.
Kuang, passing an examination, is appointed to the Imperial College.
He returns to Hangchow and learns Pan has been arrested.

Chapter Twenty (pp. 221-230): Kuang sends his wife to his brother's
place and marries again. Hsin, his new bride, is very beautiful and
he enjoys several months with her and passes the exam for tutors. He
visits his first father-in-law and learns his first wife has died.
Ching Lan-chiang takes Kuang to a restaurant. Kuang declines to
visit Pan in jail. On a trip to Yangchow, Kuang meets Niu Pu-yi and
unchecked by modesty, describes his literary accomplishments to Niu.
Niu gives an old monk his poems which mention his friends. Niu dies.

Chapter Twenty One (pp. 231-240): The old monk meets Niu Pu-lang, a
youth, reading poetry. Niu finds the poems of Niu Pu-yi and assumes
his identity. Niu's grandfather and Pu Tsung-li, the grandfather's
neighbour arrange a marriage between Niu and Pu's granddaughter. It
is very simple. The old monk goes to the capital. Niu's grandfather
dies. Niu and his wife move in with Pu. Pu falls ill.

Chapter Twenty Two (pp. 241-251): Pu dies. Niu finds a letter from
Tung wishing to meet Niu Pu-yi. Niu Pu-lang leaves a note pointing
to the house of Pu's sons. Tung visits Niu and travels on to Soochow
and Nanching. During Tung's visit, Niu insults one of Pu's sons. He
is tossed out. They take back their neice. Going to meet Tung, Niu
meets Niu Yu-fu, a distant relative. They go to the elegant abode of
Wan Hsueh-chai. Niu, crossing a bridge, slips. He's pulled out wet.

Chapter Twenty Three (pp. 252-262): Niu learns Wan's humble origins.
Niu is sent to Soochow to find a hibernating toad for Wan's sick
seventh concubine. Niu Yu-fu mentions to Wan Wan's former master. He
is invited to Yicheng for a seventieth birthday celebration. He is
told Wan's furious about the mention of the former master. Since Niu
Pu-lang caused this, Niu Yu-fu pursues him to Soochow, lures him to
a deserted place where he has him beaten. Niu Pu-lang is rescued by
Huang who deals in theatrical costumes. He brings Niu to Antung and
provides clothes, etc. Niu visits the magistrate. Niu gains respect
and influence. Niu marries Huang's daughter. The magistrate is
promoted. Word passes from him to Mrs. Niu Pu-yi concerning Niu's
present location. She sets out with her nephew.

Chapter Twenty Four (pp. 263-273): Rat, a swindler from Niu's home
town, visits Niu. Rat tries blackmail. This leads to the yamen. The
runners raise money to get rid of him. On returning home, Niu finds
his wife fighting with Mrs. Niu Pu-yi. The widow claims Niu killed
her husband. This goes to trial. The first case concerns a monk who
claims a butchered cow was his reincarnated father. The second case
concerns a doctor blamed because a patient drowned a few days after
taking his medicine. Mrs. Niu's plaint is also dismissed. Review of
that dismissal's upheld as an actor, Pao Wen-ching, intercedes for
Magistrate Hsiang. Pao, sent to tell Hsiang the favourable ruling
behaves humbly. Pao returns home to Nanking. The Southern Capital is
brilliantly described. Pao has tea with two old actors.

Chapter Twenty Five (pp. 274-283): Pao meets Ni, a mender of musical
instruments. Ni mends some instruments for Pao. Ni is impoverished.
He sells his son to Pao. This boy, now Pao Ting-hsi, studies for two
years. Pao leads operas during seventieth birthday clebratuions for
Minister Tu's mother. Pao and his son visit Hsiang, now a prefect.
Pao declines a bribe. The prefect suggests a marriage between Pao's
adopted son and the daughter of Wang, the chief steward.

Chapter Twenty Six (pp. 284-294): The prefect goes to Ningkuo and
returns for the wedding. Pao and his son ensure honesty at exams
conducted by the prefect. Second Captain Chi visits Prefect Hsiang
and there is conversation concerning the decline of moral standards.
Pao Hsi-ting's wife dies in childbirth. Prefect Hsiang is appointed
to Fukien. Pao returns to Nanking unwell. He dies. Hsiang, now an
intendant, comes to his coffin and writes a funeral inscription.
More than six months later, comes a marriage proposal from a widow.
Inquiries are made. She turns out to be at least twenty five, a
former concubine with a vile temper. A match maker visits the lady,
spins quite a yarn about Pao Ting-hsi. "Spitfire Hu" is interested.

Chapter Twenty Seven (pp. 295-303): The bride, surprised at having a
mother-in-law, grumpily complies with Nanking tradition and prepares
fish on the third day. She throws a fit on learning her husband's an
actor. Medicine is required. After two years her mother-in-law tells
the couple to leave. They do. Pao meets Ni Ting-chu, his brother, 
now in the entourage of Governor Chi. Ni provides for his brother to
rent a decent house. On his way to visit his brother Chi meets Chi
Wei-hsiao, son of Second Captain Chi, who died three years earlier.
Chi Wei-hsiao invites Pao to visit after Pao's visit to his brother.

Chapter Twenty Eight (pp. 304-313): Pao is shocked at his brother's
death. He weeps. He mourns. He visits Chi. Chi is taking a second
wife. Pao arrives during the wedding. There are jokes about rich
salt merchants. Chi pays Pao's travelling expenses and gives him a
letter to Chi Tien-yi advising him Chi Wei-hsiao won't soon be
returning to Nanking. At home, Pao is in financial difficulty. He
delivers the message to Chi Tien-yi, who is in a bad way himself. A
man, Chuko, comes seeking an editor of essays. Hsiao Chin-hsuan is
found to do this. Chuko, Chi and Hsiao seek a quiet abode for this.
A prior offers them a reasonable price and shows them the memorial
garden to Tripitaka.

Chapter Twenty Nine (pp. 314-324): A man arrives claiming to be the
prior's wife. Chin arrives, recognizes the swindler, speaks sharply
to him and gets rid of him. There is a celebration for the prior. A
message arrives for Chi Tien-yi from Chi Wei-hsiao. Months and money
slip away. There's fine conversation with Tu on poetry. Next day, a
splendid time is had at Tu's. Pao plays the flute and a song of Li
Pai is sung. On another occasion Tu strolls with them to the shrine
of two, Fang Hsiao-ju and Ching Ching, opponents of Yung Lo. Back at
their lodgings, they see Pao and Chi Wei-shiao.

Chapter Thirty (pp. 325-335): Chi returns to his room in town. Pao
tells Chu about Chi. Later, Tu speaks disparagingly of women and
mentions his yearning for male love. As a lark, Chi mentions such a
perfect lover, who turns out to be not a youth, but an old Taoist
master. A great acting competition is planned and held.

Chapter Thirty One (pp. 336-348): Pao seeks a loan from Tu to start
an opera company. Tu advises Pao how to get a loan from Tu's cousin.
On the way, Pao meets Wei going to visit the same Tu Shao-ching. Pao
first visit's Tu's steward. Wei calls on the master. The steward
announces Pao. Pao is received. Tu, Wei, Pao and Dr. Chang dine. Wei
recalls a jar of wine buried by Tu's father nine years ago for Wei's
return. This is found and produced. They leave it for the next day,
when they have a great drinking session based on it.

Chapter Thirty Two (pp. 349-359): Wei departs. There are various
examples of the generosity of Tu Shao-ching. This includes taking in
the magistrate on the magistrate's dismissal, although Tu had not
visited the magistrate earlier so as not to be mistaken as seeking
favour. At last, with the steward's assisstance, Pao obtains money
from Tu.

Chapter Thirty Three (pp. 360-371): Tu Shao-ching continues his
generosity running through his money and moving to Nanking. There he
visits his mother's family. His nephew, Lu Hua-shih, dines with him.
Lu's tutor, Chih Heng-shan joins them. Tu rents a house. He is still
at the Lous' place when Chi Wei-hsiao calls. After Tu's household
arrives in Nanking. Tu has a great house warming party. A few days
later, Tu shows his wife the sights. Tu leaves the next day for a
funeral. When he arrives home, he is invited to imperial service. He
goes to Anching, speaks with the governor, who won't accept a
refusal. Tu meets Lai Hsia-shih, a Taoist priest. Tu visits Lai and
Wei Ssu-hsuan. Back in Nanking, Tu dines with Chih Heng-shan. Chih
shows Tu a proposal to build a temple to Nanking's very worthy Tai
Po of the Twelfth Century B.C.E. 

Chapter Thirty Four (pp. 372-384): Tu pleads illness in reply to the
invitation to imperial service. There is a dinner at which a reader
from the Han Lin Academy belittles Tu. Tu entertains and shares some
views of the classics. "Listening to Shao-ching's conversation is
like drinking elixir." Chih and Tu visit Chuang discussing the music
for the proposed temple to Tai Po. Chuang has been summoned to the
capital. He promises to return in a couple of months for the great
sacrifice in the new temple. Chuang stops at an inn. There he meets
a convoy of mules bearing silver for taxes. The innkeeper mentions
bandits in the forest ahead. A skilled crossbowman is escorting the
convoy. He gives an impressive demonstration. When robbers do attack
in the woods, the guard's bowstring breaks. It had been cut by the
innkeeper, in league with the bandits. The guard uses his hair to
repair it and scatters the bandits.

Chapter Thirty Five (pp. 385-395): Chuang meets Lu Hsin-hou, a great
reader and collector of books. They chat. Chuang proceeds to the
capital, is asked by the emperor for advice, pens a memorial highly
regarded by the emperor, and is allowed to return to Nanking. On the
way he stops at a place where he sees a walking corpse. He arranges
the funeral for two dead people there. Chuang, beset on his return
by visiting officials, promptly moves to Lotus Lake, a gift from the
emperor. Lou Hsin-hou calls. The army comes to arrest Lou for having
a banned book. Lou spends a few days in jail. Chuang intervenes,
secures Lou's release and entertains him. Chih and Tu come to visit.
The talk is of the ceremonies for Tai Po's temple.

Chapter Thirty Six (pp. 396-406): There's an outline of the life of
Yu Yu-teh, son and grandson of teachers, student of poetry and paku
essays, teacher himself, doer of kind deeds, yamen official, doctor
of the Nanking Imperial College. There he converses with Wu Shu. Yu
then visits Tu. Tu praises Yu to Chuang. Chuang and Yu become great
friends. Yu's son marries one of Chi's granddaughters. There is talk
of enjoying the plum blossoms. Yu asks Tu to write a eulogy of a
virtuous widow for her relatives. A falsely accused student spends
two days as a guest of Yu who clears him of the charges.

Chapter Thirty Seven (pp. 407-417): The great ceremony welcoming the
spirit of Tai Po to his temple is described. The participating
scholars are named and their functions in the ceremony mentioned.
There are dancers and musicians. The three masters of sacrifice
inspect the sacrificial meat. All proceed outside the gate. A drum
sounds thrice. All bow. Ushers with scented candles walk welcoming
Tai Po's spirit. Thrice a sequence of items are sacrificed to the
spirit. Music sounds. Dances are performed. The prayer tablet is
read. A bell is rung. The masters of sacrifice drink wine and eat
sacrificial meat. Silk is burnt. The herald cries the ceremony is
ended. There is great feasting. Many people come and are impressed.
A few days later Chu spots Iron-armed Chang at Tu's place. Exposed
Chang leaves. There's mention of Yu's kindness to a student handing
in a crib with his answers. Kuo Tieh-shan, looking for his father
for twenty years, visits Tu.

Chapter Thirty Eight (pp. 418-428): Kao receives two letters of
introduction for his quest. He calls on Magistrate Yiu who had been
a great help to a widow returning to Kwangtung. Kao stays for a few
days at Ocean Moon Monastery and tells the abbot of his quest. Kao
encounters a tiger and an even fiercer beast, but is preserved. He
meets highwaymen, but prevails on them to mend their ways. He meets
another tiger. Again he survives. He finds his father, a monk, who
refuses to deal with him. He supports his father through other
monks. The abbot of Ocean Moon Monastery travels, but falls into the
clutches of a brigand chief who is ready to kill him.

Chapter Thirty Nine (pp. 429-437): A young warrior saves the abbot
from the brigand chief, declining the grateful abbot's requests for
his name. When the young man enters an inn, an older man praises his
slaying of the brigand. The warrior is Hsiao Yun-hsien. The older
man, travelling with his father's casket, has a letter for Hsiao's
father from Magistrate Yiu. Hsiao converses with Kuo who advises him
to place his sword in the service of the state. Hsiao gives the
letter to his father. Wild tribesmen create trouble. Hsiao, obedient
to his father, joins the army. Hsiao is named a lieutenant, speaks
to commanders from his reading knowledge of the area, leads the van,
brilliantly takes an enemy advance post, and moves on threatening
the tribesmen's hold on a captured city. The city falls. Hsiao is
placed in charge of it.

Chapter Forty (pp. 438-449): Hsiao rebuilds the city, producing an
irrigation system for the entire area, leading the people in
befittinging religious ceremonies and asking Shen to teach the
children. When imperial accountants assess Hsiao  as liable for
money spent on building, Hsiao's ailing father offers his land in
payment. Hsiao arranges his father's funeral. He reads a poem by Wu
Shu on his way to a new post and calls on the poet. Wu Shu returns
the visit, shows Hsiao more of his poems and when Hsiao shows him an
illustrated account of his exploits, Wu urges that such scholars as
Dr. Yu see this, so Hsiao's deeds may be befittingly preserved for
posterity. Hsiao meets Shen who is taking his daughter to marry Sung
of Yangchow. Sung is a rich merchant who intends to take her as a
concubine. Shen complains. Sung bribes. The girl flees.

Chapter Forty One (pp. 450-461): Wu spends his birthday with Tu on
the Chinhui River. They see Shen Chiung-chih's placard. They board
the barge of Lu and Chuang. They chat, visit and return visit. Tu
and Wu visit Miss Shen. She visits Tu and Tu's wife. Runners come.
Tu sends them away. He and his wife dine with Shen. He gives her
some of his poems. When she returns home, runners try to arrest her.
She ignores them and goes in her own chair to the yamen. She tells
her story to the magistrate. She composes an impressive poem. He
sends her to Chiangtu with a letter asking his colleague there to
release her. She refuses to pay the runners. When they insist she
beats them up. Mr. Li brings two prostitutes to Wang.

Chapter Forty Two (pp. 462-472): The prostitutes meet and dine with
Sixth Master and a customer. Sixth Master's cousins, Tang Yu and
Tang Shih arrive. They mention spirits in the examination hall. They
proceed to Nanking, write their exams and seek to thank the gods by
operas. They meet Pao Ting-hsi. Tang-yu visits Ko Lai-kuan. Pao and
Tang Shih visit are bothered by ruffians. Tang Yu rescues Tang Shih.
They fail the examinations.

Chapter Forty Three (pp. 473-483): Tang Yu and Tang Shih are called
home by their father, a general about to attack the Miao's. Tsang
Chi, recommended by Tu, goes with them. Along the way, salt's stolen
in rough weather. The magistrate blames the salt merchants. The Tang
brothers secure their release. The brothers arrive as their father
discusses the Miaos with an expert, prefect Lei Kang-hsi, who wants
an envoy to secure the release of a captured scholar. The general
prefers leading an army. He attacks as the Miaos celebrate New Year.
He is victorious and later by strategem captures the Miao chief and
a rebel Chinese scholar. He is demoted for rashness.

Chapter Forty Four (pp. 484-493): General Tang moves home. He asks
Yu Yu-ta to tutor his sons. Yu declines. Another accepts. Yu returns
home, where the Peng and Fang families are rising in prominence. The
formerly lofty Yu and Yoo now even marry Peng and Fang. Yu Yu-ta's
brother, Yu Yu-chung passes the examinations. Yu Yu-ta helps a man
in a criminal case, receives enough to bury at last his parents and
visits Tu. Tu, Yu, Chih Heng-shan and Wu Shu dine and converse about
geomancy.

Chapter Forty Five (pp. 494-504): Yu Yu-chung is arrested. He is
accused of taking bribes in Wuwei. He clears himself by not matching
the physical description and as he was writing exams in Fengyang at
the stated time. His brother arrives home. There is discussion with
two cousins about geomancy. The Yu brothers can feast thrice in one
day, but circumstances prevent them from eating at even one. A fire
causes them to move their parents' coffins to the street. Ignoring
superstition, they carry the coffins back in and the burial takes
place respectfully at the appropriate time.

Chapter Forty Six (pp. 505-515): Yu Yu-ta calls on Tu. General Tang
calls. Three days later, there's a farewell feast for Dr. Yu Yu-teh.
Yu Yu-chung is invited to tutor Yoo Liang's son. Yoo is concerned
his son have moral teaching. There's discussion about precedence of
ancestry or of success in examinations. Chi Wei-hsiao arrives with
official concern at high interest rates in pawn shops. He's told in
confidence only the two Fang pawnshops are at fault.

Chapter Forty Seven (pp. 516-525): Yoo Liang's celebrated ancestry,
precocity, scholarship and his fellow citizens' esteem for Peng are
mentioned. Cheng comes to sell land. He fibs about a coming dinner
with Fang Cho. You Liang discovers the lie, has printed a fake card
matching the fib and tricks Cheng into going. Yoo prepares a feast
at his place. When Cheng returns hungry from Fang's, he has to sit
and watch Yoo's feast. Yoo visits the prefect. Tang San asks to go
and then complains on seeing Fang feasting with the prefect's son.
There is enshrinement of chaste women. While most of the Yu and Yoo
clansmembers join in the Fang celebrations, Yoo Liang and Yu Yu-ta
honour their clanswomen. Yoo Liang declines to buy the land.

Chapter Forty Eight (pp. 526-535): Yu Yu-ta is appointed tutor at
the prefectural college. He meets Wang Yun, author of books on
ceremony, etymology and country etiquette. One of Wang's daughters
fasts to death on the death of her husband. She is decreed a shrine.
Her mother's grieving annoys Wang. He goes to Nanking with intros to
famous scholars there. On the way, he calls on an old friend, but
his friend has just died. He mourns. The famous Nanking scholars are
out of town. He meets Teng Chih-fu, a fellow villager. Wang leaves
the introductions with Teng and departs. Wu Shu returns, but is out
when Teng calls.

Chapter Forty Nine (pp. 536-544): Wu Shu finds Teng out and responds
to an invitation from Kao. Others are there. They dine and stroll in
a garden. They converse on Ma Chun-shang's character and the system
of examinations. Chin hosts a feast the next day. Feng, a boxer, is
present. A theatrical performance there is interrupted by the arrest
of Wan.

Chapter Fifty (pp. 545-553): They worry about Wan's arrest. Learning
the warrant comes from Cheking, Feng asks the runners from there.
They also don't know. He decides to help Wan. A crowd gathers when
Wan emerges in official garb and chains. Feng takes him to Feng's
place, gets him to speak, learns the real problem is not the charge,
but Wang's pretending to be an official. Feng quickly arranges that
Wan really becomes an official.

Chapter Fifty One (pp. 554-561): Feng travels with Wan. A seductive
woman robs a traveller. Feng retrieves the money for him. Feng tells
Wan to accuse Feng of Wan's charge. Feng is brought into court. He
speaks honestly and forthrightly, is ordered tortured, and shatters
the implements. The governor knows Feng as a champion of justice and
orders the case closed with a lenient sentence.

Chapter Fifty Two (pp. 562-571): Feng arrives in Hangchow and meets
Chin and Hu. He's told Chen, who owes him money, is away. Chin and
Feng visit Hu. They see horses. Feng gives a boxing demonstration.
Chen's nephew takes a message from Feng. Chen is with Whiskers Mao.
He lends Mao money and Whiskers Mao disappears. Feng comes to Mao's
shop, displays his strength and Mao appears and pays the debt.

Chapter Fifty Three (pp. 572-580): Pin-niang, a lovely courtesan at
Welcome Pavilion, is introduced. About to visit her, Chen is invited
to the palace. Next day, Chen goes to Welcome Pavilion, loses some
go games to Pin-niang's go tutor, dines and spends the night with
Pin-niang. She dreams she is about to become an official's wife when
an abbess claims her.

Chapter Fifty Four (pp. 581-592): She urges Chen to hurry back. He's
invited to accompany Hsu to Fukien. He promises to come when he can.
He visits Pin-niang. She is unwell. An abbess frightens her. There's
an argument between neighbours of a fortune teller. One divorces his
wife and becomes a monk. The new monk argues poetry with a friend.
Chen arrives, reconciles the two friends, asks his fortune, but he's
told that's just trickery. Chen buys Pin-niang ginseng and gentian.
She's out. His creditors hound him. He speeds to Fukien. A poor poet
visits Pin-niang on hearing she's a poet. She mocks his poverty. She
becomes a nun.

Chapter Fifty Five (pp. 593-602): Nanking's great scholars have gone
and some outstanding men live. Chi Hsia-nien a calligrapher lives in
temples. He's good, but moody, and treats not the rich respectfully.
Wang Tai, humble seller of spills, plays go superbly, and also does
not treat the rich with respect. Kai Kuan has a tea house. a friend
calls on him and they take a stroll. They visit Tai Po's temple. It
is in disrepair. Ching Yuan, a tailor, in his spare time, plays the
lyre and writes calligraphy. He visits an old friend behind Ching
Liang Mountain. He plays his lyre and sings sadly of vanished times.

This book is very well illustrated and it has an appendix explaining
official terms. Although this plot outline is to remind me of some
specific happenings, a menu is a poor substitute for a tasty feast.
The superb novel itself is most highly recommended.

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