作者	译者：张光前主编：胡开敏
出版社
出版时间	1998-01-01

特色：

片断：OldZhangwasagardenerinLiuheCounty,YangzhouPrefecture.AmonghisneighborswasaMr.Wei,aretiredofficialfromtheprefecturalgovernment,whosettledthereinTianjianreignoftheLiangDynasty.Wei'seldestdaughterwascomingofage,soonedayhecalledinamatchmaker,anoldlady,tofindhimagoodson-in-law.ThenewsexcitedOldZhang.HewaitedatWei'sgateforthematchmakertocomeoutandusheredherintohishouseassoonassheemerged.Atablewaslaidoutwithwineandfood.Intheheatofthemealhesaid,"1heardMr.Wei'sdaughterislookingforahusband.Isthattrue?""Yes.""Though1mightlookabittooold,mygardenprovidesenoughtofeedandclotheafamily.Wouldyoukindlymakeaproposalforme?I'llgiveyouaheftycommissionifyoucanhavemeengaged."Thematchmakerthrewdownherchopsticksandlefttheroomwithastreamofangrywords.Yet,inafewdays,heinvitedhertodinneragain."Whycan'tyoumeasureyourselfproperly?"saidthefrus-tratedwoman."Whatmakesyouimagineagirlfromthehighclasswouldmarryagardener?Tobesure,theWeisarenotrich,buttheywon'thaveaproblemfindingamatchamongthegentry.You'refarfromhermatch.Doyouthink,simplybecauseI'vehadacupofwineatyourtable,1wouldbringshameuponmyselfbysuggestingthiscrazythingtoMr.Wei?""Justputinawordforme,please.Ifit'sturneddown,that'sfate.1won'tblameyou."Pesteredbyhisentreaties,thematchmakerwentovertotalktoWei."Howcanyouinsultmeso!"Weiexploded."1amnotsopoorastomarrymydaughtertoagardener!GoandaskaroundifanyWeihassunksolow.Whoishethathedaresmakesuchaproposal?Arusticlaborerlikehimisbeneathmyreproach,butyou,experiencedandrespected,howcanyouloseyoursenseofvalue?""1doknowitwasnotproperformetosuggestthis,but1wasobligedandhadtopassonhisword.""Tellhimthen,"Weiaccentedhiswords,"ifhecangivemeabride-priceof500,000stringsofcashbeforethesungoesdown,1willgivehimmydaughter."ThematchmakerwentouttotellOldZhang."Fine,"wasallZhangsaid,andingoodtimehehadacartloadofcoinssenttotheWeis.TheWeisweredumbfounded."Howcanagardenerhavesomuchmoney,andinreadycash?"exclaimedMr.Wei."1wasjustkiddinghim.1neverthoughthecouldhavethatmuch.Nowthemoneyishereandthesunisstillhigh,whatshallwedo?"Hehadsomeoneseekouthisdaughter'sopinion."Thatmustbefate,"shesaidcalmly.Sothemarriagewasagreedupon.OldZhangdidn'tgiveupgardeningandsellingvegetablesafterthemarriage.Hewentoncollectingmanureandhoeingthefieldasheusedtodo,andhiswifedidallthedailycopkingandwashingwithoutawordofcomplaint.TheWeisandtheirrelativeswereashamedofthem,butthecoupledidn'tgivethatathought.