Chapter 38 Meng Yulou is also an important character

(The matter is in the seventh chapter) Among Ximenqing's wives and concubines, Meng Yulou, who ranks in the "third room", is also a character with great personality. She is not as aggressive as Pan Jinlian, but she has her own ideas in everything. It was quite kind.She can not only please Wu Yueniang, but also maintain a "good" friendship with Pan Jinlian.The way of dealing with people is much better than that of Pan Jinlian. The author introduces her background in Chapter 7 "Sister-in-Law Xue Talks About Marrying Meng Yulou": Mrs. Xue said: "I have a marriage. I came to tell the senior officials that you are in favor of the old man in the situation. It's the third wife who died. I was in the aunt's room just now, and (the aunt) bought my flowers. Cui, let me have tea. After sitting for a day, I never dared to mention it. I came to find you, old man, and told you. This lady, you know that this is the Bu Yang family outside the south gate. The lady in the right place has a penny in her hand, and she also has two Nanjing Babu beds. Four seasons clothes, colorful gowns, which can't be put in her hands; there are also four or five boxes. Bead hoops, bead rings, gold and gemstone heads, Needless to say, gold bracelets and silver bracelets; she has thousands of taels of silver in her hand; Children, there is only one uncle, who is still young, only ten years old; young, why should he guard him? There is a girl who is a direct relative of her family, and I want to advocate her marriage. This lady is not in her twenties this year! Long and tall, with a good-looking figure, when dressed up, she is a lamp man (Note: the lamp man is a beauty painted on ancient lanterns), romantic and handsome, with a hundred talents, a master of the family and discipline, a needle-pointing female worker, a Shuanglu chess piece , Needless to say... I can play the Yueqin again. If a high-ranking official sees it, he will be on the stack with a single arrow."

Note: Meng Yulou later married Ximenqing, and the wealth she brought was only inferior to that of Li Ping'er, who joined her later.As soon as Ximen Qing heard that he "had a good amount of money" and could play the yueqin again, he immediately fell in love with him. (The matter is in the seventh chapter) (Ximen Qing) asked Mrs. Xue, "When will we meet and see?" Mrs. Xue said, "I have such a plan with the old man. I don't think it matters. Now her family is only the girl's head. Although he (referring to it) Meng Yulou’s ex-husband)’s uncle Zhang Si, the hickory nuts are one mile away.… This woman has been a widow for thirty or forty years, and has no flowers. She only supports her nephews and nieces. Today is over, and I will meet tomorrow High officials, let’s just beg her, Zhang Liang, and Han Xin, this woman loves money, knowing that her nephew and daughter-in-law have something, she can ask (meaning "casual") anything She doesn't care about others, she only expects a few taels of silver. The high officials will give her a few taels of silver."

The "grandmother" (called Miss Yang in the book) that Mrs. Xue referred to was the widowed aunt of Meng Yulou's ex-husband.According to Mrs. Xue's plan, Ximen Qing prepared presents and went to visit "Miss Yang" the next day. She asked for a "coffin book", Ximen Qing said: "Don't talk about one coffin book, even ten coffin books, even a villain can afford it." Then, he took out six ingots of thirty taels of snowflake official silver from the boot tube, put it in front of him, and said, "This is not worth anything. First buy a cup of tea with your old man, and when you get married tomorrow, I will also find seventy taels of silver and two bolts of satin as a gift for your old man. During the four seasons and eight festivals, I will just go to the door as usual."

Under the lure of huge profits, she got the unanimous promise of "that old woman" to help him as much as she could. After persuading the "old woman", Ximenqing came to propose marriage the next day.The following paragraph describes the situation when Meng Yulou and Ximen Qing "looked at each other" at home: (Meng Yulou) said a thousand blessings, and sat down on the chair opposite.Ximen Qing looked up and down, and the woman lowered her head.Ximen Qing said: "The little man's wife has been dead for a long time, and he wants to marry a lady to start a new life and manage the family affairs. I don't know what to do?" The woman asked: "Officer Gui Geng, how long has it been since you lost your wife?"

Note: What Ximenqing said, "My wife has been dead for a long time, and it is right to marry a lady to start a new life", is of course a lie.He had already married Wu Yueniang as his second wife. (The matter is in the seventh chapter) Ximenqing is a "big celebrity" in Qinghe County, and Meng Yulou is a shrewd person. Since we are talking about marriage with him, why didn't we inquire clearly about his family situation, especially the marriage situation that is closely related to him beforehand?What's more, Wu Yueniang, Ximenqing's successor, is the daughter of Wu Qianhu, the left guard of Qinghe.Ximen Qing lied to her on purpose, and she also deliberately pretended not to know. The conversation between the two was just like "acting".She had already made up her mind, even if she married Ximen Qing as a concubine, she would not take it seriously.This point will be shown later.Her rhetorical questions were also very "proportionate", and she only asked Ximen Qing's "Gui Geng" and "How long has it been since I lost my wife?" She did not comment on the "status" given to her by Ximen Qing (entry is positive).On the surface, what she and Ximen Qing talked about were "irrelevant gossip", but in fact, the author used this to describe her sophistication and intelligence, which seems clumsy but really coincidental.

Ximen Qing said: "The villain wasted his twenty-eight years, and he was born on the twenty-eighth day of the seventh month. Unfortunately, his first wife is gone, and there is more than a year left. I dare not ask my wife how young she is?" The woman said: "My youth is thirty years old. "Ximen Qing said: "So I am two years older." Mrs. Xue interjected and said: "If a wife is two years old, the gold will grow day by day; if a wife is three years old, the gold will accumulate like a mountain." Preparing tea with candied golden oranges, a silver inlaid and carved lacquered tea clock, and a teaspoon of ginkgo leaves. The woman got up, took the first cup, wiped off the water stains around the cup with her delicate hands, and handed it to Ximen Qing.He hurriedly took it with his hands and said "Wanfu".Hastily returned the courtesy.Mrs. Xue lifted up the woman's skirt with her hands, revealing a pair of three-inch long, half-forked, pointed golden lotus shoes. Her feet were wearing bright red golden cloud-topped white satin high-soled shoes. voila.Ximen Qing was full of joy.The woman took the second cup of tea and handed it to Mrs. Xue.She took a cup to sit with and ate tea.

Note: Ximenqing likes small feet, so Mrs. Xue first lifted up Meng Yulou's skirt to let Ximenqing admire her three-inch golden lotus.The situation of writing "looking at each other" in this paragraph shows the sad status of ancient women, who are willing to be treated as commodities. (The matter is in the seventh chapter) Ximen Qing asked Mao'an (little servant) to present two brocade handkerchiefs, a pair of Baochai, and six gold rings in a square box, and put them in a tray to take them down.Mrs. Xue asked the woman to thank her. (Meng Yulou) Because he asked: "The date of the salute by the officials? The slaves are here to prepare." Ximen Qing said: "That is to say, when the lady sees her, a little ceremony will come to the door on the 24th of this month. Marriage is allowed on the second day of June. "The woman said: "In this case, I will send someone to tell the girl in the north tomorrow." Mrs. Xue said: "The high official has already spoken at the aunt's house yesterday." The woman said: "What did you say?" "Sister-in-law Xue said: "Auntie was very happy when she heard the high-ranking officials talk about this marriage, so I brought the high-ranking officials here to meet each other. She said, 'Don't marry this kind of family, and then marry that kind of family?'"

Meng Yulou agreed to the marriage, Mrs. Xue sent Ximen Qing out of the alley, and came back again. Meng Yulou asked her: "Is there anyone in Ximen Qing's room? What's the matter now?" According to common sense, it is absolutely not. He would only ask the matchmaker about the other party's life experience after the marriage was agreed. It can be seen that Meng Yulou is just "playing" with Mrs. Xue.She actually asked knowingly. Mrs. Xue said: "Good grandma, there is someone in the house. That one is a brain? I said it was a lie, but you can see it when you go there. Who doesn't know his old name? One of the richest men in Qinghe County, he is famous for selling raw medicines. , Release the debts of officials, Ximen senior official! The county magistrate and the magistrate are all in contact with him; recently, he married the admiral Yang of Tokyo, and they are all relatives of the four families. Who would dare to provoke him?"

Note: Mrs. Xue's passage emphasizes that Ximenqing is "one of the richest men in Qinghe County", which is why Meng Yulou is willing to be a concubine. "Simen" here refers to a house with gates on all sides, that is, a wealthy family.Meng Yulou's "question after the fact" and the matchmaker Xue's answer are "recounting" techniques in terms of writing skills, which shows that Meng Yulou actually knows what Ximen Qing said just now (marrying her as his wife) is a lie.In principle, she would not have asked Ximen Qing if there was anyone in the room.Of course, this "inquiry" is actually just "it is reasonable to have this question".

(The matter is in the seventh chapter) After Meng Yulou agreed to Ximenqing's marriage, Zhang Si, the ex-husband's uncle, came to stop him after learning about it. Let's say his uncle Zhang Si, leaning on his little nephew Yang Zongbao, wanted to keep the things in the woman's hands, and wholeheartedly reported to Dafang Shang, the official's son, Shangju, as his successor; It must be Ximen Qingding who opened a raw medicine shop in front of the county. He is the person who controls the government, so he can't move the scale.I've been thinking about it for a long time, and I've tried everything possible, but breaking him is the best plan.He came to the woman (Meng Yulou) and said: "My lady should not accept Ximen Qing's appointment (Tong Xia's order), but also marry Shang Tuiguan's son Shang Juren according to me. He is a gentleman, poetic and courteous family, and has a farmland. It's a good life. It's better than marrying Ximen Qing. That guy has been in the government for many years. He is a trickster and a rogue. His family has a good lady, who is the daughter of Wu Qianhu. In the past, was it big or small? But it is not difficult for you No! Besides, there are three or four wives in his room, and there is no girl above him, so if you come to his family, you will be angry!"

Note: What Zhang Si said "to be big in the past is to be small" is to expose Ximen Qing's lie to Meng Yulou, "he said to you that you are a concubine (big wife) but actually a concubine (to be small)". "The girl who is not on the top", that is, the girl who has a relationship with Ximen Qing but has never "received the house".He didn't know the facts he said, Meng Yulou already knew, Meng Yulou not only didn't care, but refuted him. The woman said: "Since ancient times, there are many boats that don't hinder the road. If there is a big lady in his family, I would rather let her be a sister and a slave as a sister. Although there are many people in the room, the man likes it. Did you stop him then? If the man doesn't like it, Are you going to tease him then? Don’t be afraid of a hundred people, he is alone. Don’t say that he is a wealthy family, but there are not four or five in that family? Beggars on the street, carrying men and women, and three or four wives and children, You old man is worrying too much. There is a reason for the slave to go there. It’s okay.” Meng Yulou thinks that it is normal for a wealthy family to have three wives and four concubines, as long as the man likes it.It shows that she doesn't care about "big and small". (The matter is in the seventh chapter) Zhang Si couldn't dissuade Meng Yulou on the issue of "name", so he had to "directly" speak "bad words" about Ximen Qing.Unexpectedly, Meng Yulou still didn't care. Zhang Sidao: "Lady, I heard that this person single-handedly picks and traffics people. He is used to beating and boiling his wife. If he doesn't like it, he will be sold by a matchmaker. Would you like to be angry with him?" The woman said, "Fourth uncle, You old man is bad! Although a man is powerful, if he doesn’t beat his diligent and trouble-free wife, I’m in his house. With a long tongue, she is provocative, if you don't beat her, you can't beat a dog?" Meng Yulou believes that when a man beats his wife, it must be the wife's fault first. As long as he "makes sure of his family", he is not afraid of a man beating him.Even "increasing a man's ambition and destroying a woman's prestige", saying that to deal with those lazy gossip women, a man "doesn't beat her, can't he beat a dog?" As Meng Yulou's passage is arranged here, it contains two levels. It shows that ancient women were influenced by the concept of "three obediences and four virtues", and one shows Meng Yulou's determination to marry Ximen Qing, which is a deeper level.Meng Yulou may not approve of men beating their wives in his heart, but in order to show his determination, he had to speak for Ximen Qing in order to stop Zhang Si's mouth.Zhang Si still refused to give up, and continued to talk about Ximen Qing's bad character. Zhang Sidao: "I saw this man, some of his actions are not right, he sleeps outside with flowers and willows, and he is false inside and outside, and he has few debts. I'm afraid he will harm you." As long as they walk around outside, slave women only control the inside of the third-floor door, and can't control the many things outside the third-floor door. Could it be impossible to follow him all the time? As the saying goes: In the world, money and wealth come from things, and those who are always poor and rich? Get up now, the court master (emperor) has no money for a while, so he asks the Taipu Temple to borrow money for the price of horses. Don’t talk about businessmen, who is willing to put the money at home? Everyone wears clothes and food, and the elderly don’t need to Such a hassle!" (The matter is in the seventh chapter) This woman couldn't say anything about this woman, but she snatched a few good words, so colorless, she drank two cups of green tea and got up to go. ...Going home ashamed, he discussed with his mother-in-law, only waited for the woman to get up, pointed at his nephew Yang Zongbao, and wanted to stop the woman's cage. Press: "Have no color", which means that the face is dull; "get up", refers to the time when a woman is about to get on the sedan chair and leave the house on the day of marriage.Zhang Si's real purpose of persuading Meng Yulou to marry Ximenqing is of course not for Meng Yulou's sake, but to seek the property left to her by her ex-husband.The book describes a farce in which he came to Meng Yulou's house to "teach numbers" on the day he "got up" in Meng Yulou. On the fourth piece, on the day when the woman got up, I invited several neighbors and neighbors to talk to the woman.That day, Mrs. Xue was leading Ximen Qing's family's young servants as companions, hired a few idlers, and recruited ten or twenty soldiers from the garrison. He stopped him and said, "Baoshan, don't carry it, you have something to say!" While inviting the neighbors to come in and sit down, Zhang Sixian said: "Listen, my neighbors, the eldest lady is here, I shouldn't have Zhang Long say, you Yang Zongxi, the man of the family, and your uncle Yang Zongbao, are both my nephews and raised by my sister. Unfortunately, he died today and made a lot of money in vain. Some people advocate you (remarry), these are relatives, it is difficult Take care of your housework, that's all. Zhengnai's second nephew Yang Zongbao is young, and all the karma is on me. He was born of your man and the same mother. Could it be that he has no part in the family? Today, I will talk to you Gao Neighbor is here, if you have something in your hand, if you don’t have anything to marry, it’s hard to control you. Just open the cage and let everyone have a look. If you still carry it, I won’t keep yours. I understand. My lady, what do you think?" Note: Zhang Si asked her to open the cage to share with everyone. After reading this, there is an article below, so what he said, "You still carry it, I won't keep you, I just see it." Yunyun, it's just beautiful words .Of course Meng Yulou knew what he was planning. (The matter is in the seventh chapter) Meng Yulou was ruthless where she was ruthless, and where she was splattered, Zhang Si played hooliganism, so she simply broke her face and cried with Zhang Si. The woman burst into tears when she heard the words, and said: "Listen, you old man is so bad! I didn't mean to kill a man maliciously, and today I am ashamed and married again. He has money in his hand and no money. You know, even if you have accumulated hundreds of taels of silver, all of them are used in this house. I didn’t take the house with me, but left it with my uncle. I didn’t move a single bit of housework and other things. Even if there are three hundred and four hundred taels of silver owed outside, All the paperwork and contracts have been handed over to your old man. I have been begging for money from the family one after another, what more money will I have?" Note: Zhang Si has already received some benefits. Meng Yulou asked Meng Yulou to take back the money (three or four hundred taels of silver) owed to Meng Yulou's late husband by outsiders, and made it a household item (trouble at home).Meng Yulou had the upper hand in judging the matter when he brought it up.However, she avoided Zhang Si's request to "open the box and let everyone see together", which shows that she also has some fears.Zhang Si's tactics are the same as hers, avoiding the benefits he gets and not mentioning them, only attacking the opponent's weaknesses (not daring to open the cage). Zhang Sidao: "It doesn't matter if you don't have any silver. Now I just open the box to see if you have a look. You still took it, and I don't want yours." ?” In the confusion, I saw the girl coming out from behind on crutches. Note: Meng Yulou was noncommittal about his request, but she pulled the topic aside and asked if he wanted to see her shoes.And the author's writing about the noise of the people in the market is also extremely vivid.When the quarrel was in full swing, the widowed aunt of the Yang family came out, and Ximenqing and Meng Yulou's pre-arranged "staying down" (they had already used money to subdue this woman), had an effect at this time.The following writes that Miss Yang stands up for Meng Yulou and scolds Zhang Si, which is even more exciting.As soon as she came out, she pretended that she was the only elder of the Yang family, and Zhang Siwai had no right to control her. (The matter is in the seventh chapter) All the people said, "Girl, come out!" They all sang promises in unison, and the girl returned the blessing and sat down with everyone.The girl said: "My dear neighbors, I'm his own girl, and I'm not separated from him. Could it be that I have something to say? The dead are also nephews, and the living are also nephews. Ten fingers hurt when bitten. Now don't say that he has no money in his hands, he just has one hundred thousand taels of silver, you just have to take a look at it, and there is nothing around her, a young woman, you stop her from teaching her to marry, what to do with her The street neighbors shouted: "The girl is right!" The mother-in-law said: "Could it be possible to keep her natal family's things? She never said anything to me behind her back. Fair. To tell you the truth, my nephew and daughter-in-law are always benevolent and righteous, and I can't bear her, I'm so gentle, otherwise, I don't care about her." Zhang Si looked at the old woman, Said, "You are so disappointed, the phoenix will never fall without treasure!" Note: As the aunt of the deceased (Meng Yulou's deceased husband), this woman came out to uphold justice, agreed with Meng Yulou's remarriage, and forbade Zhang Si to keep her "parent's company". It's hard work, so all the neighbors said she was right, which overwhelmed Zhang Si in terms of momentum.However, she said something that was "selfless and selfish", that is, she said that Meng Yulou had never given her anything privately behind her back, which showed that she only protected her for the sake of upholding justice.In fact, she had already received a generous gift, but it was given to her by Ximen Qing himself, without Meng Yulou's hands.Zhang Si probably also had rumors, but he didn't have any real evidence, so he mocked her by saying "the phoenix has no treasure and never falls", which is tantamount to saying that she is still partial to wealth.The mother-in-law "hit the nail on the head" for him, and then quarreled with Zhang Si. Just this one sentence, telling that this woman is really sick, she became angry for a moment, Zi swelled up, pulled Zhang Si and scolded: "Zhang Si, stop talking nonsense, although I have to be talented, I am the head of the Yang family. , You old glib, you belong to the Yang family who is born in the moonlight." In a rage, the mother-in-law even scolded vulgar words. (The matter is in the seventh chapter) Zhang Siben was a hooligan, and his mouth was unforgiving, so he acted out a farce of typical street figures quarreling: Zhang Sidao: "Although I have a different surname, my two nephews are raised by my sister. You are always biting bugs, girls are extroverted, and you set fire and water at the same time." Note: "Setting fire and putting water at one end" means "it's you who do well, and you who do badly".Zhang Si had no choice but to move out his nephew as a cover because his wife regarded herself as "the head of the Yang family"!He intends to show his neighbors that he is the one who safeguards the interests of the descendants of the Yang family.But whether it is an aunt or a mother is still uncertain in the old society.In the end, all the neighbors should help my aunt more. The girl said: "You have no sense of shame, old dog bones. She's a young woman. She's a tender woman. What's the plan for keeping her in the house? It's not for sex, but for schemes to enrich myself." Zhang Sidao: "I'm not For money, Zhengnai Yang Zongbao was raised by my sister, and if there is a delay, it may be me! It’s not you who is having a hard time! This old man, carrying the big and leading the small, is a yellow cat with a black tail!" Note: "Yellow cat with black tail" means that the mouth does not match the heart.Their quarreling, what they said earlier was a little "reasonable", but the more they said later, the more outrageous it was, it was a digression, and it became a "personal attack". The girl said: "Zhang Si, you old flower root, old servant, and old fan mouth! You are so deceitful, so nonsense! When you die tomorrow, don't you use a rope to carry it?" Zhang Si said: "You The tongue-chewing old whore, earning money to burn her tail, no wonder she has no children." The girl was anxious, and scolded: "Zhang Sithief, old whore root, old pig dog, I have no children, I am better than your family Mom, you are a monk in a monastery, and a Taoist priest, you are still dreaming!" The two almost didn't fight at the moment, thanks to the persuasion of all the neighbors. Note: "Earn money to Jiaoweima", "Jiaoweima" is equivalent to "disregarding the second half" in Cantonese, which is a mockery of Ms. Yang's lack of future. (Things are on the seventh and fourth) (Neighbors) said: "Uncle, let the girl say something." Seeing the two of them yelling and fighting together, Mrs. Xue led Ximen Qing's young servants as companions, and sent all the military prisons (that is, sergeants) to rush in. , In the chaos, the women's bed curtains, dowry, and cages were moved and lifted, and a gust of wind moved them all.Zhang Si was so angry that his eyes widened, he dared to be angry but did not dare to speak out, all the neighbors saw that something was wrong, so they comforted him once, and everyone dispersed. Note: Aunt Yang and Zhang Si scolded each other, both of them cursed nonsense, and said all kinds of vicious things.Comparatively speaking, Aunt Yang scolded her more "vulgarly", but all the neighbors asked Zhang Si to let her go. Of course, because they and Aunt Yang were close neighbors, Aunt Yang probably had done "drilling" beforehand. Second, Aunt Yang has more money because of her nephew's favor, while Zhang Si is a poor bachelor; the neighbors are more inclined to help her, which is somewhat "snobbish".This section of writing about the quarrels of people in the market is not only very distinctive in terms of language, but also very vivid in portraying the personalities of the characters in the quarrel.Not only the personalities of both parties in the quarrel were revealed suddenly, but even Mrs. Xue, who was silent by the side, also portrayed her winning character of being good at fishing in troubled waters.And this farce ended under Mrs. Xue's "well-directed" (taking advantage of their noise, she took away Meng Yulou's dowry).The following paragraph describes the situation of Meng Yulou entering Ximen's house. On the second day of June, Ximen celebrates a bridge and four red gauze lanterns. Her elder sister, Aunt Meng, sends her off to her relatives. The sister-in-law got married.Ximen Qing congratulated him with a piece of brocade and a jade sash. ... On the third day, Miss Yang's family and her wife's (Meng Yulou) two sister-in-laws, Mrs. Meng and Sister-in-law, all came to work for three days.Ximen Qing and her Miss Yang seventy taels of silver and two horseshoes.Since then, relatives have been in constant communication.Ximenqing arranged three rooms in the west wing to make a room with her, ranking third, named Yulou.Make everyone in the family call Sanniang.At night, he rested in her room for three nights. Everyone in Meng Yulou's ex-husband's family has benefited, and it can be said that everyone is happy. (The thing is in the twentieth chapter) Meng Yulou is quite friendly in Ximen's family. She once persuaded Wu Yueniang because of Wu Yueniang's dissatisfaction with Li Ping'er, and she also played the role of Lu Zhonglian in the confrontation between Wu Yueniang and Pan Jinlian. When Li Ping'er married into Ximen's family, because she had money and was sparse, the servants scrambled to please her, and Ximenqing especially doted on her, which aroused Wu Yueniang's anger.Not only was Li Ping'er annoyed, but he didn't even talk to Ximen Qing. Pan Jinlian was the most jealous of Li Ping'er, so she took the opportunity to fan the flames.One day, Ximenqing and Li Ping'er were drinking and having fun, and found four singing girls to sing for fun. Pan Jinlian, Wu Yueniang and others listened behind the soft wall of the hall. Husband and wife together", "Eternal reunion, husband and wife forever" and so on, Pan Jinlian said to Yueniang: Big sister, you listened to the song, my little wife shouldn’t be singing this song today, she made a reunion couple, husband and wife for generations, where do you put my sister? Even though Yueniang was good-natured, after hearing these two sentences, she was moved and annoyed in her heart.Seeing Earl Ying and Xie Xida's group, seeing Li Ping'er coming out to pay respects, he wished he could speak a few words to compliment and flatter him, and said: "My sister-in-law is rare in the world, she is unparalleled in the world, don't say that she is gentle and gentle." , with heavy demeanor, only this kind of person can't be found anywhere in the world..." Wu Yueniang and everyone heard this, and there were endless scolding and light-mouthed people.After a long time, when Li Ping'er came down, the four singers saw that she had money, and all rushed to support her.Yueniang was very unhappy when she returned to her room. In addition, Pan Jinlian also played double-faced tactics, "instigating Wu Yueniang and Li Ping'er to vomit, and telling Li Ping'er that Yueniang is very wrong, saying that Yueniang is not tolerant." Wu Yueniang was dissatisfied with Li Ping'er, and Meng Yulou knew about it, but her attitude in this incident was exactly the opposite of Pan Jinlian's. (The thing is in the twentieth chapter) The twentieth chapter "Meng Yulou righteously persuades Wu Yueniang" writes that Meng Yulou wants to reconcile for them, and persuades Wu Yueniang in this way. Yulou quickly said: "Sister, I shouldn't have said that you are the head of the family. If you don't argue with his father (Ximen Qing), you and his father (Ximen Qing) should not talk to each other. It's because we don't want to advocate, and the children below didn't defect. He It's very boring for dad to be two or three every other day for the past two days. Look at my sister, let's laugh with his dad according to our words." Note: "Separate two to three", a folk saying in Shandong in the Ming Dynasty, the original meaning is "two ends (or more than two ends) deceive", here it also has the meaning of flattery, referring to Ximen Qing's wife (Wu Yueniang) and concubine (Li Ping'er) If they disagree, they have to coax one end and the other.Meng Yulou's words of persuasion to Wu Yueniang were very skillful, she didn't mention Li Ping'er a word, but she took ink from Ximen Qing, saying that not only made it difficult for Ximen Qing, but also made it difficult for the people below.It implies to advise Yueniang that she should know "generally" Ru (before she spoke, she first mentioned Wu Yueniang's identity as the head of the family), and take care of the relationship between husband and wife. Wu Yueniang could actually listen to these words (how do you know, because next time I will write about Wu Yueniang sweeping the snow and cooking tea, waiting for Ximen Qing to come back and reconcile with him), but because of the temporary anger, I still I'm talking angry words.Said that it was because Ximen Qing "mistakenly took honest words as evil words" (referring to the fact that Ximen Qing refused to listen to her dissuasion and married Li Ping'er), and she would rather "just pretend to be a manless man and stay in this house as a widow." In this incident, the author made a sharp contrast in the character and behavior of Pan Jinlian and Meng Yulou.Pan Jinlian's jealousy and treachery set off Meng Yulou's kindness and understanding.Although the latter could just as well be faking it. In this book, the author also added an episode to make Pan Jinlian's character more distinct.Although the episode has nothing to do with the "topic" I want to talk about here (on Meng Yulou's personality), it may as well be introduced. (The thing is in the twentieth chapter) Just when Meng Yulou was "persuading" Wu Yueniang, Li Ping'er came in. She brought two maids, and according to the ceremony of concubines, "come to the room and serve tea with Yueniang and everyone". Yueniang asked Xiaoyu to sit with her, and Sun Xue'e also came after her. They (Li Ping'er) handed tea and sat together.Pan Jinlian spoke quickly, and shouted: "Sister Li, come here and have a gift with the eldest sister. Let me tell you the truth, the eldest sister and his father did not speak at that time because you came. You have persuaded me for a day, and you arrange a banquet another day, Yang and Yang and eldest sister, teach him two old women to laugh." Li Ping'er: "Sister ordered, I know." So he asked Yueniang In front of her, flowers and branches are blooming, embroidered ribbons are fluttering, and candles seem to be kowtowed four times.Yue Niang said, "Sister Li, she is coaxing you." Then she said, "Fifth Sister, don't come here to tease you. I have made a bet that I will not answer him even for a hundred years." No one dared to speak again. Note: Meng Yulou and Wu Yueniang avoided mentioning Li Ping'er's name in their conversations, but Pan Jinlian told her the truth all at once.She bluntly said that the reason why Wu Yueniang and her husband fell out was because of Li Ping'er, and she was not afraid of Li Ping'er's embarrassment.This is of course because she has always been "quick-talking", but it may not be because she has the gloating mentality of "sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger fight", but the author did not clearly write it out.This "episode" also sharply contrasts the personalities of Meng and Pan.In addition, the author also portrayed Wu Yueniang's character in this episode. On the surface, although she denied to Li Ping'er that she was angry with her, saying that Pan Jinlian coaxed her; And in the end Li Ping'er couldn't stand her taunts, "His face was red and white, and he couldn't stand or sit, so he went back to his room in half a day." This description makes people see clearly. Seeing Wu Yueniang's duplicity, hypocrisy and hypocrisy. Wu Yueniang was only jealous of Li Ping'er, and she and Pan Jinlian had always been in a state of opposition, and had open conflicts. (The matter is in the seventy-fifth chapter) The seventy-sixth chapter "Meng Yulou relieves Wu Yueniang" is about how Meng Yulou made Lu Zhonglian for the two opposing sides.This time it can best demonstrate Meng Yulou's tactful way of doing things. Briefly state the cause of the matter first.Chapter 75 said that one day a blind girl who could sing, Second Sister Shen, came to Ximen Qing’s house. This Second Sister Shen was originally acquainted with Ximen Qing’s concubine, Wang Liu’er. Introduced to Ximen Qing, since then often come to Ximen's house to sing.On this day, Second Sister Shen was talking with some concubine or sister-in-law of the Ximen family. Chunmei had heard that Ximen Qing had said that there was such a Second Sister Shen who could sing, so she asked a little girl to go Ask Second Sister Shen to sing for her, but Second Sister Shen doesn't buy into her, saying that she wants to sing here for Grandma, and asks Chunmei to find someone else to sing.Chunmei lost her temper when she heard the little girl's return, and ran to scold Second Sister Shen.Wu Yueniang found out about this and blamed Pan Jinlian for indulging the girl, but Pan Jinlian was not convinced and contradicted her a few words.The next day, Wu Yueniang talked about the incident with her eldest concubine in her room, accusing Pan Jinlian of being wrong, and accusing Jinlian of "blocking the man" (meaning to occupy her husband).Unexpectedly, Pan Jinlian came and eavesdropped outside, and when she heard this, she came in and questioned her.The following is how Pan Jinlian made a fuss with her: Unexpectedly, Jin Lian secretly went under the curtain of the open room and listened to it for a long time, but she suddenly said: "But what the aunt said, I sent him to his house, so that I can stop the man?" Yueniang said: "I said it! What's going on with you now? I was expecting a man who came back from Tokyo, and I only stopped you in front of you all day long, but I couldn't get through and stood next to you. It turns out that you are his wife, and the others are not his. Wife?"... Jin Lian said: "If he doesn't go to my house, why don't I use a pig hair rope to tie him all day long? What if the waves get flustered?" Note: "The waves are too panicked" means "hairless and crazy" in Cantonese.As a result, the two of them tore their faces apart, and they quarreled for the man without any concealment. (The matter is in the seventy-fifth chapter) Yueniang said: "Aren't you panicking? Yesterday, how did you get him to sit in the room? You were like a world of sweat, and you lifted the curtain and forcefully came in and told him to go forward? What do you say? The man is upright , suffered a lot, what crime did you commit, and you tied him with a pig hair rope? You don't know what to do!" Note: Here, Wu Yueniang recounts how Ximen Qing was forced out of her room by Pan Jinlian yesterday, to prove that Pan Jinlian is the one who is really in a panic, and settles new and old scores together.However, it is not surprising that such vulgar "market talk" as "the waves are panicking" came from Pan Jinlian's mouth. It is a bit surprising to readers that Wu Yueniang, who has always "pretend to be serious", also said such words .However, perhaps the author deliberately arranged for Wu Yueniang to say this.Because this is enough to show that when she "gets really angry", she reveals her "nature" regardless of decency.After scolding Pan Jinlian for "stopping the guy", she went ahead again and scolded her for pampering the girl. (Pan Jinlian said): "Girl, even if I'm used to her, I'm also promiscuous! I like men like this, but who are they promiscuous (meaning each other)?" Yueniang begged her to touch her heart with these two sentences , Then purple cheeks swelled, and said: "This is my prostitution! Say what you want, I was a daughter to fill in a house to marry him, not a wife who came here, so there is no shame in taking advantage of a man. The material is solid." Meng Yulou said: "Yeah, Yeh, aunt, why are you so annoyed today? You're hurting us, hitting several people with one stick! I haven't seen this Sixth sister, it’s all right for you to ask the eldest sister to say something, just start arguing."... When Pan Jinlian saw Yueniang scolding her, she rolled over while sitting on the ground, slapping herself on the face and slapping herself on the head. The buns fell to the side and cried loudly. Note: The "daughter" here refers to "the girl with yellow flowers". There are several explanations for "仙" and one of them is "transfer".Another explanation is "chasing", and "taking advantage of the man" means chasing the man. (The matter is in the seventy-fifth chapter) Since Ximenqing's concubines were all remarried and willing to be young, Wu Yueniang boasted that she married Ximenqing as a daughter, and called Pan Jinlian "a wife who came here by chance", and Meng Yulou said she was "a Hit several people with one stick!" However, Meng Yulou also mentioned Pan Jinlian and asked Pan Jinlian to "let the elder sister";But her persuasion was not immediately effective as both sides were on fire. (Pan Jinlian) burst into tears, and said: "I'm dead, what do I want to do with my life! Your man said that he was talking about the future, and I will come to your house while he is there? It's not difficult to compare it to you. When he comes home and divorces me, I'll just go. You can't catch up with (absolutely)!" Yueniang said: "Look, he's just a sloppy guy (synonymous with a pungent guy) ）!别人一句儿还没说出来，你看她嘴头子就像淮洪一般。她还打滚儿赖人，莫不等的汉子来家，好老婆把我别变了就是了。你放恁个刁儿，那个怕你么？”那金莲道：“你是真材实料的，谁敢别变你。”月娘越发大怒，说道：“我不真材实料，我敢在这屋子里养下汉来？”金莲道：“你不养下汉来，谁养下汉来？你就拿主儿来与我！”玉楼见两个拌得越发不好起来，一面拉起金莲。 “往前边去罢！”却说道：“你恁得怪剌剌的，大家都省口些罢了，只顾乱起来。左右是两句话，教她三位师父笑话。你起来，我送你前边去罢。”那潘金莲只顾不肯起来，被玉楼和玉箫（月娘丫头）一齐扯起来，送她前边去了。 孟玉楼拉开潘金莲，另一边自有大妗子等人劝住。但吵闹虽然告一段落，风波尚未平息。结果还是由孟玉楼来做调人，先是分别去进行劝解，然后才能拉拢双方“重归于好”。虽然这个“好”也只是暂时的，但在劝解的过程中，已是充分表现了孟玉楼的圆滑手段了。 (The matter is in the seventy-sixth chapter) 她首先去劝吴月娘： 娘，你是个当家人，恶水缸儿，不恁大量些，却怎样儿的？今常言一个君子，待了十个小人，你手放高些，她敢过去了；你若与她一般见识起来，她敢过不去。 按：孟玉楼将当家人比作书“恶水缸儿”，意指当家的应有容人之量，“恶水缸”是装脏水的，比单用“水缸”二字更能显出“能容”的程度。她这番话，“要点”是在劝吴月娘“高拾贵手”，但说得非常技巧，先送两顶高帽——“当恶水缸儿”、“君子”——给吴月娘。吴月娘自是不能与“小人”一般见识了。不过，吴月娘心里有气，不吐不快，孟玉楼的话她虽然听得进去，这口气可还是得先吐出来。 月娘道“只有汉子与她做主儿，看把那大老婆且打靠后。”（按：这两句话醋味十足，盖吴月娘最恼的就是西门庆宠妾欺妻也。不过，其实西门庆也并不怎样欺她的。）玉楼道：“哄那个哩，如今像大娘心里恁不好，他爹敢往那屋里去么？” 按：孟玉楼针对她的心病，用反驳的方式替她开解。她说的那两句话译成广东话即是：“你呃边个，好像你现在心里不舒服，他爹（西门庆）不是不敢到那边（潘金莲屋子）去了么？” 月娘道：“他怎的不去，可是她说的，她屋里拿猪毛绳子套他，不去？一个汉子的心，如同没笼头的马一般。他要喜欢那一个，只喜欢那个。谁敢拦他，拦他，又说是浪了。” 按：潘金莲会对吴月娘夸耀自己的手段，只要西门庆到了她屋子，别人用绳子也拉他不走。现在吴月娘搬出潘金莲的话来反驳孟玉楼。但却并从“正面”（西门庆本身）来否定孟所说的事实。 (The matter is in the seventy-sixth chapter) 玉楼道：“罢么，大娘，你已是说过，通把气儿纳纳儿，等我教她来与娘磕头，赔个不是。趁着他大妗子在这里，你们两个笑开了罢。你不然教他爹两下里不作难？就行走也不方便。但要往她屋里去，又怕你恼。（按：这是反问句法，“又不怕”，其实即怕也）若不去，他又不敢出来。今日前边恁摆酒，俺们都在这里定果盒，忙得了不得。落得她在屋里这会全躲猾儿，悄静儿，俺们也饶不过她。大妗子我说的是不是？”大妗子道“姑娘，也罢。她三娘也说的是，不争你两个话差，只顾不见面，教他姑夫也难，两下里都不好行走的。”那月娘通一声也不言语，这孟玉楼抽身就往前走。月娘道：“孟三娘，不要叫她去，随她来不来便罢。”玉楼道：“她不敢不来，若不来，我可拿猪毛绳子套了她来！” 按：孟玉楼懂得吴月娘的心理，她身为大妇，是不能“低威”的，于是就径直提出，她可以叫潘金莲来磕头赔罪，这就对准了口径、满足了她的自尊心了。另一个理由——要吴月娘为西门庆着想，免得他左右为难——也是可以满足大妇身份的优越感的。孟玉楼担当这个鲁仲连的角色是胜任愉快的，她到了潘金莲那里，又有另外一套说辞。It is written in the book: （孟玉楼）一直走到金莲房中，见她头也不梳，把脸黄着坐在坑上。玉楼说：“六姐，你怎的装憨儿，把头梳起来！今日前边摆酒、后边恁忙乱，你也进去走走儿，怎的只顾使性儿起来？刚才如此这般，俺们对大娘说了，劝了她这一回。你去到后边，把恶气儿揣在怀里，将出好气儿来，看怎的与她下个礼，赔个不是儿罢。你我既在檐底下，怎敢不低头？” (The matter is in the seventy-sixth chapter) “你我既在檐底下，怎敢不低头？”是表明和潘金莲同一阵线，对潘金莲深表同清的。跟着孟玉楼又说： 常言：甜言美语三冬缓，恶语伤人六月寒，你两个已是见过话，只顾使性儿到几时？人受一口气，佛受一炉香，你去与她赔过不是儿，天大事都了了。不然，你不教他爹两下里为难，待要往你这边来，她又恼。 孟玉楼以知心朋友的身份劝潘金莲，潘金莲已经给她说动几分，但仍咽不下那口气： 金莲道：“耶嚛耶嚛！我拿甚么比她，可是她说的，她是真材实料正经夫妻；你我都是趁来的露水儿，能有多大汤水儿？比她的脚指头儿也比不上的！” 按：“耶嚛”，语助词，相当于“哎呀”。潘金莲复述吴月娘的言语，那是表明了她受不住月娘的贱视，所谓“比不上她的脚指头儿”云云，只是赌气的反话。 玉楼道：“你由她说（的）不是，我昨日不说的，一棒打三四个人，那就我嫁了你的汉子，也不是趁将来的？当初也有个三媒六证，只恁就跟了往你家来？斫一枝，损百株、兔死狐悲，物伤其类，就是六姐恼了你，还有没恼你的。有势休要使尽，有话休要说尽。凡事看上顾下，留些儿防后才好。不管蝗虫蚂蚱、一例都说着——对着她三位师父，郁大姐，人人有面，树树有皮，俺们脸上就没些血儿，一切来往都罢了。” 按：这一段，孟玉楼更是完全站在潘金莲，帮她数说吴月娘不是的了。“我昨日不说的”下面的话，就是将她昨日说过的话“引申”的。其实她昨说过的勉强算得上是说吴月娘“不是”的话，只一句“一棒打三四个人”而已。 (The matter is in the seventy-sixth chapter) 孟玉楼“帮腔”数说了吴月娘的不是之后，跟着再劝潘金莲。 你不去却怎样儿的，少不得逐日唇不离腮，还在一处儿！你快些把头梳了，咱两个一答儿后边去。 潘金莲终于给她说动了，跟她去见吴月娘，一见吴月娘，孟玉楼又有一套“演技”了。 那潘金莲见她这般说，寻思了半日，忍气吞声，镜台前拿过抿镜，只抿了头，戴上䯼髻，穿上衣裳、同玉楼径到后边上房内。 玉楼掀开帘儿先进去，说道：“大娘，我怎的走了去，就牵了她来（按：……这是用反何语气来表示自己的得意心情）？她不敢不来！”便道：“我儿，还不过来与你娘磕头？”（潘金莲磕头之时，孟玉楼）在旁边便道：“亲家，孩儿年幼，不识好歹，冲撞亲家。高抬贵手将就她吧。饶过这一遭儿，到明白再无礼，犯到亲家手里，随亲家打，我老身却不敢说了。” 那潘金莲插烛也似与月娘磕了四个头，跳起来赶着玉楼打道：“汗邪了你这麻淫妇（按：孟玉楼脸上有几粒微麻，故此潘金莲与她戏谑，称她为麻淫妇），你又做我娘来了。”连众人都笑了，那月娘忍不住也笑了。 按：孟玉楼把潘金莲牵来，要她向吴月娘赔礼，这对于心高气傲的潘金莲来说，本是甚伤她的自尊心的，但孟玉楼的“演技”却堪称一流，她故作“插科打诨”，把潘吴双方的怨气化解于哈哈一笑之中，吴月娘固然心满意足，潘金莲也不会怪她偏帮了。当然，潘金莲之愿赔礼，那也是恪于形势，权衡利害的。不过，孟玉楼调解手段的高明，也是起了重要作用。 （事在第九十回） 西门庆一生共有两妻六妾，第一任妻子陈氏早逝，吴月娘是续弦；“二房”是妓女出身的李娇儿；“三房”孟玉楼也是“补缺”的（原有一个三娘，死了，见第七回媒婆薛嫂介绍孟玉楼给西门庆做妾之时说的：“我来有一件亲事来对大官人说，管情中得你老人家意，就顶死了三娘窝儿”；“四房”孙雪娥是西门庆前妻的陪嫁丫头；“五房”潘金莲、“六房”李瓶儿和孟玉楼一样都是改嫁的（孟、潘是再嫁，李瓶儿是第四嫁）。另外还有一个关系颇为特别的春梅，她是曾被西门庆“收用”的，但未定名分，可说是介乎婢妾之间。 李瓶儿在西门庆生前已去世。西门庆死后，首先是李娇儿“盗财归院”，后来改嫁张二官，其后是春梅和潘金莲被吴月娘发卖，再后是孙雪娥被家人来旺骗财骗色，将她拐走；至此就剩下孟玉楼了。孟玉楼的结局也是“嫁作他人妇”的，不过，她是在西门庆众妾之中，最后离开西门庆家的人。由于她的人缘颇佳，与吴月娘的关系也打得好，她的离开，并无纠纷，倒是可以说得“好来好去”的。 孟玉楼是给本县知县的李衙内看上的。那天是清明节，吴月娘率领一众家人，给西门庆上坟祭扫，回程在郊外的杏花村酒楼设下酒席，歇息、喝酒。楼下有人卖解，观众如山，那李衙内也在其中，这就给他瞧见在楼头观看热闹的孟玉楼了。书中介绍这李衙内的为人道： 名唤李拱璧，年约三十余岁，现为国子上舍（在县学读书的学生，别称监生）。一生风流博浪，懒习诗书，专好鹰犬走马，打球蹴鞠。常在三瓦两巷中行走，人称他为“李棍子”。 （事在第九十、九十一回） It is written in the book: （李衙内）“一见那长挑身材妇人，不觉心摇目荡，观之不足，看之有余，口中不言，心内暗道：'不知谁家妇女，有男子没有？'一面叫过手下答应的小张闲架儿来，悄悄吩咐……”。这小张闲也是曾经做过西门庆傍友的，不多一会，就走来回报：“是县门前西门庆家小，一个年老的姓吴，是他妗子；一个五短身材，是他大娘子吴月娘，那个长挑身材有白麻子的，是第三个娘子，姓孟，名唤玉楼，如今都守寡在家。”“这李衙内听了，独看上孟玉楼。重赏小张闲，不在话下。” 李衙内看中孟玉楼，回衙后就“径使官媒婆陶妈妈来西门庆家访求亲事。许说成此事，免县中打卯，还赏银五两。这陶妈妈听了，喜欢的疾走如飞。”求亲的经过，甚为有趣。第九十一回：“孟玉楼爱嫁李衙内”就是写此事的。 （陶妈妈）一直到于西门庆门首，来昭（西门庆旧家人）正在门首立，只见陶妈妈向前，道了“万福”、说道：“动问管家一声，此是西门老爹家？”那来昭道：“你是那里来的？这是西门老爹家，老爹下世了，来有甚话说？”陶妈妈道“累及管家进去禀声。我是本县官媒人，名唤陶妈妈，奉衙内小老爷钧语吩咐，说这宅内有位奶奶要嫁人，敬来说头亲事。” 按：其实李衙内只是要她去“访求亲事”，“听说这宅内有位奶奶要嫁人”云云，只是她胡编出来，作为提亲的借口的。 那来昭听得此言，自然很不高兴，于是喝道： 你这婆子，好不近理，我家老爹，没了一年有余，止有两位奶好守寡，并不嫁人！ （事在第九十一回） 来昭不但否认，并责骂陶妈妈： “常言：疾风暴雨，不入寡妇之门。你这媒婆，有要没紧，走来瞎撞甚亲事，还不走快着，惹的后边奶奶知道，一顿好打！” 那陶妈妈笑说，“管家哥，常言：官差吏差，来人不差，小老爹不使我，我敢来做甚么？嫁不嫁，起动进去禀声，我好回话去。” 陶妈妈有恃无恐，端出“官差”做挡箭牌，反过来催来昭立即给她禀报，来昭登时软了下来。 这来昭道：“也罢，与人方便，自己方便，你少待片时，等我进去。两位奶奶，一位奶奶有哥儿，一位奶奶无哥儿，不知是那一位奶奶要嫁人？”陶妈妈道：“衙内小老爹说。是清明那日郊外曾看见来，是面上有白麻子儿的那位奶奶。” 来昭刚刚说过“两位奶奶，并不嫁人。”这是以知情人的口气来作“权威”回答的，但一转口就反而要向陶妈妈探听“不知是那一位奶奶要嫁人”了，作者写来昭在官威压顶之下作这一百八十度的转变，极具讽刺意味。 这来昭听了，来到后边，如此这般，告月娘说；“县中使了个官媒人在外面。”倒把月娘吃了一惊，说“我家里并没半个字儿迸出，外边人怎得晓得？”来昭道：“曾在郊外清明那日见来，说脸上有几个自麻子儿的那位奶奶。”月娘道：“莫不孟三姐也腊月里萝卜动了心，忽剌八要往前进嫁人？” 按：“前进”在这里是含有“自求出路”之意。对寡妇来说，亦即是要改换环境，择人而事了。月娘怀疑是孟玉楼自己露出要改嫁的口风，于是走去问她。 （事在第九十一回） （吴月娘）一面走到玉楼房中，坐下便间：“孟三姐，奴有件事儿来问你。外边有个保山媒人，说是县中小衙内，清明那日曾见你一面，说你要往前进，端的有此话么？” 看官听说，当时没巧不成话，自古姻缘着线牵。那日郊外，孟玉楼看见衙内生的一表人物，风流博浪，两家年甲，都相仿佛，又会走马拈弓弄箭。彼此两情四目都有意，已在不言之表。但未知有妻子无妻子？口中不言，心内暗度：“况男子汉已死，奴身边又无所出，虽故大娘有孩儿，明日长大了，各肉儿各疼，归他娘去了，闪约我树倒无阴，竹篮儿打水。”又见月娘自有了孝哥儿，心肠儿都改变，不似往时，“我不如往前进一步、寻上个叶落归根之处，还只顾傻傻地守些甚么？倒没的耽搁了奴的青春、辜负了奴的年少！”正在思慕间，不想月娘进来说此话，正是清明郊外看见的那个人，心中又是欢喜，又是羞愧，口里虽说“大娘休听人胡说，奴并没此话。”不觉把脸来飞红了。 按：这一段是以作者代为“旁白”的手祛与本人的心理结合起来写的，写孟玉楼一心想要改嫁，内心活动，刻画入微、颇似现代的意识流技法。孟玉楼是有之内形之外，吴月娘也是懂得鉴貌辨色，一看她脸上飞红，就知她的心理了。“月娘说：'既是各人心里事，奴也管不得许多。'”于是叫陶妈妈来问。 那陶妈妈便道：“小媳妇无事不登三宝殿，奉本县正宅衙内吩咐，敬来说咱宅上有一位奶奶要嫁人，讲说亲事。”月娘说：“是俺家这位娘子嫁人？又没曾传出去，你家衙内，怎得知道？” （事在第九十一回） 按：孟玉楼本来是否认要嫁人的，但吴月娘却对陶妈妈承认“是俺家这位娘子嫁人”，那是因为她知道孟玉楼口不对心，所以就索胜替她一口应承了。 （吴月娘）于是领陶妈妈到玉楼房中，明间内坐下。等够多时，玉楼梳洗打扮出来。那陶妈妈道了万福说道：“就是此位奶奶，果然语不虚传，人材出众，盖世无双，堪可与俺衙内老爹做得个正头娘子。你看：从头看到底，风流实无比；从头看到脚，风流往下跑。”玉楼笑道：“妈妈休得乱说。且说你衙内，今年多大年纪；原娶过妻小来没有；房中有人也无，姓甚名谁，乡贯何处，地理何方：有官身无官身，从实说来，休要捣谎。”陶妈妈道“天么，天么。小媳妇（媒婆自称）是本县官媒人，不比外边媒人快说谎，我有一句说一句，并无虚假。俺知县老爹，年五十多岁，止生了衙内老爹一人，今年属马的，三十一岁。正月二十三日辰时建生。现做国子监上舍，不久就是举人进士，有满腹文章，弓马熟娴，诸子百家，无不通晓。没有大娘子二年光景。房内止有一个从嫁使女答应，又不出材儿，要寻个娘子当家。”……玉楼道：“你衙内有儿女没有？原籍那里人氏？诚恐一时任满，千山万水带去，奴亲都在此处，莫不也要同他去？”陶妈妈道“俺衙内老爹身边儿花女花没有，好不单径。原籍是咱北京真定府枣强县人氏，过了黄河，不上六七百里。他家中田连阡陌，骡马成群，人丁无数。走马牌楼，都是抚按明文，圣旨在上，好不赫耀惊人。如今娶娘子到家做了正房，无正房入门为正。过后他得了官，娘子便是五花官浩，坐七香车，为命妇夫人，有何不好？”这孟玉楼被陶妈妈一席话，说得千肯万肯。 （事在第九十一回） 李衙内在旁人眼中是个“风流博浪，懒习诗书”的“棍子”（不务正业的人），这才是真实的李衙内；到了陶妈妈口中，却变成了“满腹文章，弓马熟娴，诸子百家，无不通晓”的“才子”了。这和作者在第七回写媒婆薛嫂劝孟玉楼改嫁给西门庆时，将西门庆夸赞得天上有、地下无的情形如出一辙。不但媒婆的口吻一样，甚至连孟玉楼提出的问题（查问对方底细）也是大致相同。而孟玉楼亦明知媒婆说的是假，仍然肯嫁。读者若将前后两回（第七回和第九十一回）所写的有关孟玉楼改嫁的文字对照来看，当能更加领略其中的讽刺意味。不过有“大同”也有“小异”，“小异”是李衙内确是并无续弦，娶孟玉楼入门后，对她的爱宠也较西门庆专一。前后的同、异，表现出作者圆熟的技法，“同”是为了加强文字的讽刺性，“异”是为了表现复杂的人生，自我求变，而这“变”也就打破了描写人物的“脸谱”化（西门庆和李衙内虽同是“风流博浪，懒习诗书”，但做人方面，却非同一类型）。 （孟玉楼）因说“保山（媒人的别称），你休怪我叮咛盘问，你这媒人们说谎的极多，初时说得天花乱坠，地涌金莲，及到其间，并无一物，奴也吃人哄怕了。”陶妈妈道：“好奶奶，只要一个比一个，清自清，浑自浑，歹的带累了好的，小媳妇并不捣谎，只依本分说媒，成就人家好事。奶奶肯了，讨个婚帖儿与我。好回小老爹话去。”玉楼取了一条大红缎子，使玳安教铺子里傅伙计，写了生时八字。 按：孟玉楼已是千肯万肯，盘问媒婆的话，不过是“作状”而己。不过这一段“例行的对话”也表现出了两人说话的技巧。“奴也吃人哄怕了”云云，是孟玉楼暗示听错媒人言，嫁错西门庆的。 两媒婆合谋说亲（事在第九十一回） 至于陶妈妈说的“好奶奶，只要一个比一个，清自清，浑自浑，歹的带累了好的。”言外之意，即是表示自己与以前那个媒婆不同；同时“一个比一个”，也会有李衙内比西门庆好的意思。因是在吴月娘面前，所以两人都是不便“直白”地说西门庆的坏话。 吴月娘本来就不反对孟玉楼改嫁，孟玉楼自己既然肯了，她当然是没问题。不过，按照规矩，妾侍改嫁还是要得到大妇点头才能算数，于是她便说： 你当初原是薛嫂儿说的媒，如今还使小厮叫将薛嫂儿来，两个同拿了帖儿去说此亲事。才是理。 新旧两个媒婆会合，同去说亲。于是又多了一段“插曲”，加强了喜剧的滑稽味道。陶妈妈本是在不久之前还说旧媒婆是“浑”，自己是“清”的；到了同去说亲，为了共同的利益，大家就不“同行排挤”，而变成了联手的“老友记”了。