General Above I am Below

General Above I am Below Chapter Thirteen “Confrontation On Pleasure Boat”

Edited by Xia

E/N: h.e.l.lo, I’m the new editor for the series. I’m new to editing translations, but I hope to improve as we go along. Thanks to orencat for the opportunity and enjoy the chapter!

Glossary

Xia Yu Jin is a bit fidgety recently and with great difficulty he was able to coax his mother. When a fair weather friend came to find him for a drink and to listen folks’ storytelling, he agreed immediately.

Unexpectedly, people’s enthusiasm for Man Jin’s destruction has not faded. From the ten wine shops along the Qin River, nine houses are telling the heroic legend of General Ye Zhao. The narrative style was completely exaggerated, the storyteller’s saliva splashed across, and winning everyone’s applause, the reward money also comes non-stop. The remaining story is 《Ying Affairs Story》. The theme is about a pair of ideal lovers, Yu Yan"s biographic story, under the moon they meet together. The customers can count on fingers, the remaining people all have gooseb.u.mps. Xia Yu Jin hesitated for a moment, then decided to hear the gooseb.u.mp-inducing story.

“Under the candle flame, young lady Jin Ying is in grief reading the folding fan love letter sent by her lover. He sent a letter telling her to wait him for three years for his roll of honor in Imperial Examination. Afterwards, he will send a marriage sedan. However, although her lover has pa.s.sed brilliantly as Zhuangyuan, her parents were unexpectedly greedy and secretly betrothed her to a county magistrate"s pervert son. How can this be good? The deep sorrows withered away the young lady.”

"What is this bulls.h.i.t?” Xia YuJin eyelids went up and down, so drowsy.

One guy sitting next to the window looking at the beautiful woman suddenly exclaimed, asking: “Yi! Isn"t that the Chief General Ye?"

The rest of the dandies, one by one, stick out the head to see. Astonishingly, they said: “That’s right! Junw.a.n.g, is that not your wife? She came to the Qin riverside for what? Next…… Next to her is a man? Looks very intimate.”

“What?!" Xia Yu Jin jumped up from his chair, completely awakened, he rushed to the window and stared at the Qin riverside. He saw Ye Zhao wearing a simple casual outfit. Her valiant and formidable posture was evident as she stood under the willow tree, causing the majority of young ladies to turn their head to look back. Standing next to her is a muscularly built young man, dressed in martial attire, talking and laughing at her. When the muscular young man stepped onto the decorated pleasure boat[1] anch.o.r.ed on the sh.o.r.e, another muscular man came up. He excitedly pat Ye Zhao’s shoulders, impudently said a few words and then stepped onto the boat. Not long after, several rough men jumped down from their horses. Everyone was excitedly looking at her, so familiar the arms almost around each other"s shoulders, reminiscing over the memories……

A man leaves, another man comes again, several men leave, several more come back, and some more … there are all types; short and tall, fat and thin, old and young, handsome and ugly. The only common thing is that they all seemed extremely intimate with his wife.

Following on, more than a hundred brothel singers and musicians arrived. One by one, they step into the various decorated pleasure boats; Hua Xiu siblings from Bai Hua house, the phoenix Sai Ruyi from Mo Chun house, the peony Fu Rong from Ding Xiang Pavilion, the elegant Chu Xuan’er from Hong Xiu lane, the lovable Mo Xijun from Ming Ge pavilion. The five most famous courtesan houses" ten great beauties all are present, wearing their gorgeous clothing and tinkling girdle bells. The Qin River is filled with a romantic scene.

Finally, Ye Zhao also went into the largest decorated pleasure boat……

What is going on?

The wine shop"s storyteller is still very dedicated, rhythmically telling the story of young lady Jin Ying"s rendezvous with her lover under the moonlight and mutually expressing their inner feelings.

Xia Yu Jin rubbed his eyes and pinched his face, feeling like in he was in a dream.

His fair weather friend saw the not-so-good events and hurriedly wracked his brains trying to speak words of comfort:

"After all, the general can not be considered a normal woman. She also likes the social interaction.”

"In the past, she used to eat with a few hundred thousand soldiers, it"s a habit and not a big deal.”

“A woman and a man inside a room will have love affair, but a woman with a bunch of men in a room- that certainly will not happen.”

“Right! Junw.a.n.g should feel rea.s.sured. You will not be wearing a green hat[2] and certainly not a few hundred green hats! “

“That’s right! Those famous courtesans will not fancy your wife!”

Xia Yu Jin knuckles made cracking sounds as his face turned from green to pale. While waiting for the pleasure boat to leave the sh.o.r.e, he tried to choke out a few words: “Where comes this master"s wife? Simply the biggest mistake committed under Heaven. Go find a pleasure boat and bring it here. Tonight this master will tour on Qin river with the beauties.”

"Junw.a.n.g, the general has spent so much. What place would still have an available pleasure boat?

“Lao Li house"s pleasure boat must have been repaired already. Tell him to bring it here.”

“Junw.a.n.g, general has taken all the beauties. The leftovers are only the few old wretched people.”

“Last time Liu Erlang said that Hanshan monastery young taoist nuns were beautiful, soft, gentle and good at understanding people? Use a carriage and invite some, even if you need to change clothes. “

“Junw.a.n.g, what if the general gets angry?”

“F*ck your mom! Laozi saw her drinking and partying and did not get angry! What the f*ck if she"s angry ah?! “

“Jun … Junw.a.n.g … my stomach feels a bit uncomfortable. Can I come another time?”

“Whoever gets cold feet, see how this master deals with you later!”

Ten li of the Qin river was brilliantly illuminated, making the night as bright as daytime. The floating decorated pleasure boats gives off a sweet scent and soft music sounds, making countless pedestrians stop and listen. Among the fragrant cosmetics, wine goblets toasting were intertwined creating such a beautiful scene.

Ye Zhao sits in the pleasure boat, accompanied by a nameless courtesan and a few skilled musicians aged about thirty or forty, each holding a Guzheng and playing heroic war songs. Attending the party are the people who received promotions after returning from Mobei: Commandant of Cavalry, Hubei (Tiger Rapid) Gentlemen Of The Household, Lieutenant-General, General Of Guerrilla Warfare, General of Agile Cavalry, General of Chariots and Cavalry including twenty bodyguards, also have General of the Right Guard’s and six people of trusted aids and advisor officials, completely packed with the lifelong friends. A few pots of liquor poured down and gradually they become intoxicated. They recalled the bitter situations in those years, some of them having disputes, sobbing, proud, excited, running nose, and also the shirtless dancing.

“Today, this Laozi will drink this cup of wine for all the brothers! I don’t even care about my own son"s marriage!”

“Come on, what does your son"s marriage have to do with you?! “

“Motherf*cker! My own son getting married is not related to me?! “

“Sure, this matter is your G.o.dd.a.m.n thing. Let"s have another drink!”

Qiu Lao Hu quickly put down the wine cup, rushed over to clutch the military officer who just gained a daughter in law, and shouted: “F*ck! You old fellow unexpectedly had your son gain a wife! Why not marry my daughter first?! “

He and the military officier wrestled, yelling: “Get lost! My son is a refined person. I do not want to see him being chased every day by his wife with a machete throughout the ten streets! Can not fight back! “

Qiu Lao Hu angrily said: “Spineless Coward!”

Lieutenant-General Wu added: “Lao Hu ah, in Mobei female pigs are more precious than Diaochan[3]. The officers and soldiers who wants to marry your daughter is not less. Just close your eyes and pick up two guys is okay.”

“That group of illiterate roughnecks can not do,” Qiu Lao Hu shook his head and said, “This old gentleman spent most of my life foolishly, pressured by the wealthy landlord to be the mountain bandit. Now I have finally turned over, so I want my daughters to marry scholarly husbands! Afterwards, I can also hold a few zhuangyuan grandsons!” Then he turned to Hu Qing, “Adviser Hu ah, how about I simply marry both of my daughters to you? Anyway, the sisters" feelings are so good, you can imitate what that excellent emperor did, marry one and get another! You surely will not suffer a loss! “

Hu Qing almost spit his drink, then jokingly said: “One of your daughters can cost me half of my life, won"t two of your daughter are directly take my life? Everyone is familiar with each other, can you give us a way to live?”

Everyone followed after and laughed: “Simply wait for the next imperial examination to finish. Then we can seize two handsome guys from the streets, tie them up, and put into the bridal chamber. Then the two sisters can push down their husbands, how is it?!”

Qiu Lao Hu punched a few at the noisy people to teach them, then directly turned to Ye Zhao and exclaimed: “General! You have to take care of my daughters. Their whole lives are counting on you! “

Ye Zhao repeatedly agreed, “Yes! Yes!”

Imperial Bodyguard Xu rushed up to Qiu Lao Hu and pitifully begged: “Big brother Hu, allow me to marry younger sister Qiu Hua. I"ve loved her for many years, do not let those rotten scholars take advantage. If not for those years that they followed the general on daily basis and make the brothers think that they are general woman, who dares to touched them? If not you would have been a grandfather long ago. “

Qiu Lao Hu sneered: “To also not pursue the woman, on what virtue are you demanding to marry my daughter?”

"Exactly,” Ye Zhao drunkenly knocked his forehead, “When you know some of the words and train your courage, then once again can you find father-in-law to propose a marriage.”

The whole room burst in laughter.

Gulping the wine, Ye Zhao once again poured seven to eight bowls down the belly and drunkenly expressed: “Where are the beauties? How come there is none on this boat? Called two of them to dance! I want all the brothers to enjoy it to fullest! “

Hu Qing laughed said: “Gathering of brothers, drink and chat happily! Why demand for a beauty? ! Now in here we are all big officials. Are you afraid of having outstanding credit at the brothel like before? “

"That"s right!" Everyone shakes their head, recalling the past events, emotionally saying, “Now we are not lacking money for going to the brothel. Moreover, if you drink with general, all the popular young lady eyes are shining looking at her, we cannot help to rise! Fortunately the general is a female, causing those woman to lose hope, otherwise f*ck you also will not find a way out. “

“There is this story?” Ye Zhao wondered.

“There is!” The grievous roar resoundingly.

Ye Zhao explained: “The beauties warm the hearts and delights the eye, I just love watching, nothing else……”

“Get lost!” Everyone slap the table, their emotions are very intense.

Ye Zhao no longer insists and continues to drink alcohol.

The fellows who did not have beautiful woman to look at rise up. In groups of twos or threes, they go to the deck, competing to see the beauties on the other pleasure boats.

General Mo said: “Look! The lotus figure of Mo Hua house is still the best! Big b.r.e.a.s.t.s! Really big! What a f*cking huge! “

a.s.sistant Qian shook his head: “You are gravely mistaken, the lady from Hua Xiu is more beautiful, eyes gleaming with hidden pa.s.sion like a limpid autumn waters, figure such a soft willow blowing in wind, truly a peerless elegance.”

General of Chariots and Cavalry stepped forward, looked at the two people and contemptuously said: “Without good vision, how would one know which luscious young lady has good skills in bed?”

"True ah, hold on!" Qiu Lao Hu suddenly exclaimed, “That pleasure boat on the left side has some ladies who look very pretty too! You come and look quickly! Which house is that?! “

“Standing in the middle is the most beautiful, just a bit tall.”

“Fool! Women with long legs and slender figure are really good!

“That woman"s temperament……the wealthy families are also not equal to her!”

“Looks like I’ve never met her in the brothel at Qin river. Let the boatman come near so we can take a closer look.”

They quickly called everyone to come over and see the beautiful women, also blowing a whistle towards them.

Ye Zhao also curiously went to look. Not far from there is a new decorated pleasure boat heading towards them and on the deck are some beauties standing around a beauty in white fur garment. She is so outstanding, like a crane in the flock of chickens[4]. The black hair brushed arbitrarily by the blowing river breeze. When the boat approached nearby, the dim lights  revealed skin like fine jade and eyes glistening like a star. Even though one could not see clearly the face, her gestures alone showed how honorable she was, able to make the famous courtesans looks like an ordinary vulgar cosmetics.

The drunkards continuously whistle vulgarly, attempting to flirt.

Ye Zhao looked for a moment and then heavily coughed: “Stop whistling, that is my husband.”

Notes

[1] Decorated pleasure boats 画舫

[2] Wearing a green hat  带绿帽的 in Chinese meaning to be cuckold.

[3] Diaochan 貂蝉 – One of the four beauties of ancient China. Source

[4] Like a crane standing among chickens[Idiom] 鹤立鸡群 – Stand head and shoulders above others, superior.