“If you cannot find three hundred ounces to free me, what are we to do?”

He wept without answering.  Shih-niang waited until the fifth watch; then she drew from under her mattress a bag containing a hundred and fifty ounces in small silver, and said: 

“This is my secret reserve.  Since you cannot find the whole sum, I will give you half of it.  That should help you; but we have only four days more.  Above all, do not come too late!”

Astonished and overjoyed, he carried away the bag and went back to Liu, telling him what had happened and showing him the money.  Liu exclaimed: 

“Surely this woman has a loyal heart!  Since she acts so, she must not be allowed to suffer.  I am going to act as mediator in your marriage.”

Leaving Li in his house, he went himself to ask for loans on all sides.  In two days he had amassed a hundred and fifty ounces.  He gave them to the young man, saying: 

“I have stood guarantor for you, for I am deeply touched by Shih-niang’s sentiment.”

Li took the silver, as delighted as if the money had fallen from the sky, and ran to see his mistress.  It was the ninth day.  She asked him:  “Has it been very difficult?  Have you found the hundred and fifty ounces?”

He then told her what Liu had done; and both, rejoicing, spent a night of pleasure.  Next day she said to him: 

“When this money is paid, I must follow my Lord.  But we have made no preparation for the boats and conveyances of our journey.  I have borrowed twenty ounces from my friends.  My Lord may take them for travelling expenses.”

In his uneasiness concerning these expenses, he had not dared to speak of them.  He took the money, and was full of joy.

At that moment there was a knock on the door, and the old woman entered, saying: 

“This is the tenth day.”

“I thank the ma-ma for recalling the fact to us,” he answered.  “I was on the point of paying her a visit.”

And, taking up the bag, he poured the three hundred ounces on to the table.  The old woman had not supposed he could succeed.

She changed color, and seemed on the point of gainsaying her word.  So Shih-niang said; “I have stayed in your house for a long time, and have brought in several thousands of ounces.  To-day I am marrying.  If you do not keep your word, I shall commit suicide before you, and you will lose the money and the girl.”

The old woman could find no words to express her feeling.  She took the money in silence, and finally muttered: 

“If you mean to go away, you go now.  But you shall take none of your clothes or jewels with you.”

Hustling the two young people along, she led them through the door and shot the bolt.

It was then the ninth moon, and the weather was cold.  Shih-niang had but just risen from bed, and was not dressed; nor was her hair done.  Yet she saluted the ma-ma with two genuflexions.  La Chia shook his two hands joined together.  Thus the married pair left that not too pleasant old woman: