Ma Ji , a merchant's son, was a handsome man who loved to sing and dance. He is handsome, elegant, like to sing and dance, often follow the artists on the same stage, with a brocade handkerchief wrapped around the head, beautiful like a beautiful girl, so there is a "handsome people" nickname. At the age of fourteen, he passed the examination, quite a bit of fame. His father was old and senile, stopped trading back home, said to Gee: "a few books, hungry can not be cooked to eat, cold can not be worn as clothes. My son should inherit his father's business and start his own business." From then on, Gee gradually started to do business.
Once, Gee followed others across the sea to do business, the ship was blown off course by a hurricane, drifted for several days and nights, and came to a big city. The people there were all extremely ugly; when they saw Gee arrive, they took him for a monster and fled, shouting. When he first saw the looks of the people, he was very frightened; but when he realized that the people were afraid of him, he went to frighten them instead. When he met some people who were eating or drinking, he ran over to them; and when those people were frightened away, he ate all the leftovers.
After a long time, he entered a mountain village. The people here also have a decent appearance like some people like, but dressed in rags, like beggars. Gee rested under the tree, the village people do not dare to lean forward, just far away to look. A long time, they feel that the steed is not like a man-eating monster, only gradually close to. They smiled and talked to them. Although their language is different, they can understand half of it. Gee then told them where he came from. The villagers were happy to tell their neighbors that the visitor was not a man-eating monster. But particularly ugly villagers, look at a look away, never dare to approach. Those who came closer had features like those of a Chinese man. These people made a banquet for Gee and asked him why they were afraid of him. When Ji asked them why they were afraid of him, they replied, "I once heard from my grandparents that there is a China 26,000 miles west of here, and most of the people there are strange-looking. That was only from rumors, and I believe it today after seeing you." Gee asked them why they were so poor. They said, "What our country focuses on is not articles, but looks. Those who are the most beautiful in appearance become great officials of the imperial court; those who are second best become local officials; those who are inferior to them can win the favor of noblemen, and thus get the reward of noblemen to support their wives and children. Like us, when we were born, our parents thought it was unlucky and often threw them away; some of us who couldn't bear to abandon them were just for the sake of passing on the family name." Gee asked, "What is this country called?" The people said, "It is called the country of the Great Rakshasa. The capital city is thirty miles to the north." Gee asked them to lead him on a tour.
So the next day the rooster crowed and got up, and the villagers took the steed with them. It was not until dawn that they reached the capital city. The walls of the city were made of stones the color of ink. The towers were nearly a hundred feet high, but few tiles were used, and the roofs were covered with red stones; Gee picked up the broken pieces and rubbed them on his nails, and they were no different from vermilion sand. At this time when the hundred officials retired from the court, the king's palace, a car with a Luo umbrella out, the villagers pointed and said, "This is the Sangguo." Gee look, that phase of the two ears are long back, the nose has three nostrils, eyelashes like a curtain to cover the eyes, and there are several riding out, the villagers said: "These are the doctor." One by one they were introduced in their official positions, and all looked hideous and grotesque; but the lower the official position, the less ugly the appearance. Gee wandered in the street, the people on the street saw him, so scared that they ran and screamed, rolling and crawling, like they had met a demon. The villagers explained, the street people dare to stand far away from.
When Gee returned to the village, all the people in the country, young and old, knew that there was a strange-looking man in the village, and the gentlemen and officials, clamoring for a better understanding, asked the villagers to invite Gee to their place. But every time Gee went to a house, the gatekeeper always closed the door, men and women secretly looked through the door, discussing; the whole day, no one dared to invite him into the door. The villagers said, "There is a halberd-bearer here who has traveled to foreign countries for the old king, and who has seen so many characters that he will probably not be afraid of you." Gee would then pay him a visit. The halberd-bearer was indeed pleased and honored him as his guest. Looking at the halberd-bearer's appearance, he looked like an old man of eighty or ninety. His eyes protruded and his beard was curled like hedgehog hair. He said, "When I was young, I traveled to foreign countries many times by order of the king, but I have never been to China. Now I am over one hundred and twenty years old, and I can still see you, a personage of the upper country, and I can't help but explain to the Son of Heaven. It is only that I have retired from my post, and have not been in the court for more than ten years, so I shall make a journey for you in the morning." So a banquet was arranged, and the guests and hosts were seated according to etiquette. After a few rounds of wine, the host called out a dozen singers and dancers, who sang and danced in turn. Singing girls look like the night fork, are wrapped in white silk head, red dress dragged to the ground. They sang I do not know what the lyrics, the cadence of the beat is very strange and harsh. The master watched the song and dance, but very interested, asked Ji: "China also have this music?" The master asked him to sing a piece of music, and Gee said, "Yes." The master asked him to sing a piece of music, and Gee sang a piece of music on the table, tapping the beat. The master said happily, "What a novelty! This song is like the sound of the wind and the dragon's roar, I have never heard it before." The next day, the halberd-bearer went to the court and recommended Gee to the king. The king gladly summoned him. Two or three ministers said that Gee looked strange and was afraid of scaring the king, so the king refused to see him. The king refused to receive him. The halberd-bearer came out to tell Ji that he felt deeply sorry for him and was unfair to him.
After a long time, Ji once got drunk with his master and painted his face with coal to pretend to be Zhang Fei and danced with a sword. The master thought this was very beautiful and said, "Please dress up as Zhang Fei and go to see the prime minister, who will surely be willing to employ you, and it will not be difficult for you to get a high official position and a good salary." Ji said, "Haha! How can I change my face to gain glory and honor?" The master tried again and again to force him to do so, but only then did he agree. The master set up a banquet and invited the big officials to drink, and asked Ji to wait with a painted face. When the guests arrived, the master greeted him and asked him to come out to meet them. The guests were surprised and said, "How strange! How is it that he was so ugly last time, but so beautiful today?" So they drank together and were very happy. Gee danced and sang a song called "Yiyang Qu", which made all the guests fall in love with him.
The next day, officials went up to the king to recommend Gee. The king was so pleased that he summoned him with great honor. After the meeting, the king asked him about the Chinese way of ruling the country, and Ji gave him a well-organized introduction, which was greatly praised and admired by the king. The king gave him a banquet in his palace. When he was half-drunk, the king said, "I heard that you are skillful in elegant music, can you let me listen to it?" Ji immediately got up and danced, and also sang a gentle, light and popular song like the local people who wrapped their heads in white silk. The king was so pleased with him that he made him the title of "lower doctor" on the same day. The king had private feasts with him from time to time and favored him.
After a long time, the civil and military officials found that the face of Gee was false; wherever he went, he always saw people talking to each other, and his colleagues did not get along well with him. Feeling very isolated and uneasy, he wrote a letter requesting his resignation, which the king refused to grant; he also applied for a leave of absence, which the king granted him for three months. He then took the public car, carrying gold and silver treasures, and returned to the mountain village. The villagers came up on their knees to meet him. He divided the treasure among his old friends, and there was much rejoicing.
The villagers said, "We, the little people, who have been rewarded by the Great Physician, will go to the sea market in a few days and find some treasures and playthings to repay the Great Physician." Ji asked, "Where is the sea market?" The villagers said, "It is the marketplace in the sea, where the sharks of the four seas gather to sell their jewelry; the twelve countries around them all go there to do business, and there are many gods and goddesses in the middle of it. There, the clouds cover the sky, and the waves are often violent. The noble men, who value their lives and dare not venture there, give us their gold, silver, and silk, and ask us to buy strange and exotic treasures on their behalf. It is not far now from the date of the fair." Gee asked how he knew the date. The villager said, "I see red birds flying around in the sea, and in seven days' time it will be the date of the sea fair." Gee asked him the date of his departure and wanted to go on a tour together. The villagers advised him to take good care of himself. He said, "I am a buyer and seller who has traveled across the sea, what wind and waves am I afraid of?"
Before long, someone did come to the door to consign their belongings, so Gee joined the villagers in loading the belongings onto the boat. This boat can accommodate dozens of people, the bottom is flat, the boat rail is very high. Ten people sculling, waves fly exciting boat traveling like an arrow. A total of three days, far from seeing the water and clouds, there are buildings and pavilions stacked on top of each other; do business with the boat, like ants have gathered. A while, the boat has come to the city wall. Look at the bricks on the city wall, are as long as a person, the towers tower, up to the clouds. And when they had fastened their ships, they entered into the city, and saw in the marketplace all the wondrous treasures, and the light was dazzling, and most of them were not found on earth.
When a young man arrived on a steed, all the people in the marketplace drew back on both sides of the road, saying that he was the "Third Prince of the Eastern Sea." When the prince passed by, he looked at him and said, "Isn't this a foreigner?" Immediately, some guards came to ask him about his place of origin. Gee saluted at the roadside and told his nationality and clan name one by one. The prince said happily, "Since I am honored by your presence, I can see that our fate is not bad!" So he gave Gee a horse and asked him to ride along with him, and together they went out of the western city gate. Just arrived at the shore of the island, Ji's horse rode into the water with a neigh. The horse he was riding neighs and jumps into the water. But he saw that the sea water parted in the middle and stood up on both sides, like a wall. When he had not gone far, he saw a palace, with tortoiseshell for beams and dory scales for tiles; and the four walls were crystal clear, so that they could illuminate and dazzle the eyes of men.
The third prince dismounted and respectfully invited his guest in. Gee looked up and saw the Dragon King sitting on the temple, and the Prince initiated, "My child visited the marketplace and was able to meet a Chinese sage and introduce him to the Great King." Gee went up to the hall and made a great bow. The Dragon King said, "Mr. Ji is a scholar of literature, and his writings must be so sublime as to surpass those of Qu Yuan and Song Yu. I would like to labor on Mr. Ji's great writing and assign a piece of 'The Sea Market', and I hope that you will not begrudge me your pearl-like words!" Ji arched his hand and accepted the order. The ministers brought the crystal ink stone, the dragon brushes, the paper as bright as snow, the ink as fragrant as orchids. Ji wrote a poem of more than a thousand words on the spot and presented it to the temple. The Dragon King slapped the table and exclaimed, "Mr. Gai Shi's talent has added a lot of luster to the country of our Water Tribe."
The Dragon King then summoned the dragons to the Caixia Palace for a banquet. After several rounds of drinking, the Dragon King raised his wine cup and said to his guest, "I have a beloved daughter who has not yet had a husband of my choice, and I would like to entrust her to you. I wonder what you think?" Ma Sheng stood up humbly, ashamed and grateful, and could only say yes. The Dragon King turned back to his left and right and commanded a few words. Not long after, a few palace maids helped a lady out, ringing their pei ding dongs and playing drums and music. Ji cross worship finished, peeped at, that dragon lady is really a beautiful immortal. After the dragon lady worship, went back to the palace first. In a short time, the banquet was over, and the courtesan with two maids on her arm picked the colorful palace lamps and guided Ji into the palace on one side. The dragon lady sat there in her fancy clothes and makeup, waiting. The coral bed was decorated with gold, silver, jade, amber and onyx; the tassel outside the bed net was encrusted with large jewels; the bedding was fragrant and soft.
At the dawn of the day, there are gaudy little maids fast walking in, standing full on both sides. Gee got up, hurried out and went to the court to thank the Dragon King. The Dragon King made him the captain of the team of horse harnessed by the side of a team, and transmitted that piece of "Sea Market Fugue" to all the seas. All the dragon kings sent their envoys to congratulate him and invited him to a banquet. Wearing brocade garments, Ji traveled in a car driven by a green dragon, amidst the sound of cheers. Dozens of warriors rode on horses, carrying carved bows and silver clubs, and flaunted their arms, calling out to him from the front and the rear. Some played the zither on the horse, others played music in the car. In three days, the steed traveled all over the sea. From then on, the reputation of "Dragon Medium" resounded through the four seas.
There is a jade tree in the dragon palace, about two arms embrace so thick; trunk crystal transparent, like white glaze; the center of the heart is yellowish, slightly thinner than the arm; leaves like turquoise jade, almost as thick as a copper coin, thin and broken, with a very thick shade. Gee often sang and chanted under the tree with the Dragon Lady. The jade tree was full of flowers, similar in shape to a gardenia. From time to time, a piece of petal falls down, making a clanking sound. Pick it up and look at it, as if carved from red agate, shiny and lovely. From time to time there are strange birds fly to chirp, this bird feathers gold and green, tail longer than the body, called the sound as if the jade flute blowing a mournful tune, sad. Whenever he heard it, he always missed his hometown. So he said to the dragon lady: "I've been away from home for three years, separated from my parents, every time I think of this, tears stained the chest, can you go back with me to see?" The dragoness said, "The immortal world is separated from the earthly roads, so I can't go with you. Nor can I bear to deprive my parents of their filial piety because of the love of a couple. Let me take my time to think of a way." Ji heard this and could not stop shedding tears. The Dragon Lady also sighed and said, "This is how you can't have the best of both worlds."
The next day, when Gee came back from the outside, the Dragon King said, "I heard that the attached horse misses his homeland, so you will depart early tomorrow morning, okay?" Ji said apologetically, "I am a lone traveler on a journey, and I am mindful of your favor. Please allow me to go back to save my parents for the time being, and seek to rejoin them later." At night, the Dragon Lady set up a banquet to say goodbye to Ji. Ji wanted to set a date for a future meeting. The Dragon Lady said, "Our love affair is over." Gee was very sad. The dragon lady said, "You have to go back to support your parents, which shows your filial piety. One hundred years of life is like a blink of an eye between morning and evening, so why should you cry? In the future, I will keep my chastity for you, and you will keep your love for me. As long as you and I are of one mind, we are a good couple. Why do we have to be together every day to grow old together? It would be unlucky to break this covenant and marry again. If you are concerned about the lack of someone to run the household, you can take a servant girl as a concubine. There is one more thing to command thee: since our marriage, I am as it were pregnant; please name the child." Ji said, "If it is a daughter, you may call it 'Dragon Palace'; if it is a boy, you may call it 'Fuhai'." The Dragon Lady asked him to leave one thing as a voucher. Gee took out a pair of carnelian lotus flowers he had obtained in the Rakshasa Kingdom and gave them to the Dragon Lady. The Dragon Lady said, "On April 8, three years from now, you shall sail your boat to the South Island, and I will return your children to you." She made a pocket out of fish skin, filled it with jewels, and gave it to Gee, saying, "Treasure it, and you will not be able to eat or drink enough of it for several generations."
As the day dawned, the Dragon King hosted a banquet to see him off and gave him many treasures. Gee said goodbye to the Dragon King and left the Dragon Palace. The dragon lady got into a white goat cart and drove him to the sea. The dragon lady said "goodbye" to him and turned the cart around and headed back to the beach, and in a while she was far away. The sea closed in again, and the dragon lady's carriage could no longer be seen. Gee then went home.
Since Gee went to sea, people said he was dead; when he returned home, his family was amazed. Luckily, his parents were still alive, only his wife had remarried. He realized that the dragon lady's words of "keeping love and justice" were due to the fact that she knew his family's situation in advance. His father wanted to take another wife for him; he refused and took only a servant girl as his concubine. Keeping in mind the date of the Dragon Lady's three-year promise, he sailed his boat to the southern island. He saw two children sitting on the surface of the water, laughing and playing, not moving or sinking. Gee sailed his boat closer and reached out to pull them. One of the children laughed and grabbed his arm and jumped into his arms. The other cried out, as if blaming Gee for not pulling him up. The other cried out, as if blaming him for not pulling him up. Taking a closer look, it was a man and a woman, both handsome in appearance. The crown of flowers on their foreheads was adorned with beautiful jade, and the pair of terracotta lotus flowers were also on it. The child also had a brocade pouch on his back, and Ji opened it, and there was a letter inside, which said:
"My parents-in-law want to be healthy and well. Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and the red dust and the mortal world have forever separated us; the great water is vast, and it is difficult for the bluebirds to communicate with each other. Thoughts and dreams, looking up and hoping, neck sore labor. In the boundless sea, how much hate is left behind! However, I think that Chang'e, who is running to the moon, is still guarding the moon palace; the weaving maiden, who is casting the shuttle, still hates to be separated from the Milky Way. What kind of person am I to ask for the eternal reunion of husband and wife? Thinking of this, and every time to break down in tears into a smile. Two months after the separation, actually gave birth to twins. They are now able to babble in their arms and can talk and laugh; they know how to grab dates and pears and can live without their mother. I now return them to you. The terracotta lotus flower you left behind adorns your hat as a voucher. When you hold the children in your lap, it is the same as if I were at your right and left. I am relieved to learn that you are able to fulfill your former covenant. I shall never marry another in my life, nor shall I think of anything else till I die. I have long since ceased to keep balm and grease in my dressing-case, and I never put powder on my eyebrows when I comb my face in the mirror. You are like a wanderer who has left home, and I will be a wanderer's wife. Even if we don't live together, who can say we are not husband and wife? I just think that my in-laws have grandchildren, but I have never seen my daughter-in-law, so I think it's a flaw. A year from now, my mother-in-law will be buried, I will go to the grave to do my duty as a daughter-in-law. After that, the Dragon Palace is peaceful, there is no lack of days to meet hand in hand; Fuhai long life forever, there may be the road between the immortal and the mortal. I hope you will take care of yourself; there is no end to the words I want to say."
Gee looked at the letter repeatedly and wiped his tears. The two sons and daughters hugged their father's neck and said, "Go home!" Gee became even sadder, stroking them and saying, "Children, do you know where home is?" The children cried desperately, whimpering and saying they wanted to go home. Ji looked at the vast sea water, far away from the sky, boundless, and the dragon lady, no trace, smoke above the waves, no road. Ji had to hold the children, turn the boat, mood melancholy home.
Knowing that his mother did not have long to live, he prepared all the burial clothes and other things in advance, and planted more than a hundred pine and cypress trees in the cemetery. A year later, Ma's mother died. When the hearse arrived at the cemetery, a woman came to the grave in heavy mourning. The people were looking at her with amazement, when suddenly there was a strong wind, lightning and thunder, followed by a sharp rain, and in a flash the woman had disappeared. The newly-planted pines and cypresses, which had withered away, came back to life.
Fukumi grew up and often missed her mother, sometimes jumping into the sea by herself, only to return a few days later. The Dragon Palace could not go because she was a woman, and often closed the door and wept. One day she was crying again, and as darkness fell, the Dragon Lady suddenly came in and dissuaded the Dragon Palace, saying, "My child, you are going to have a family of your own, why are you crying?" So she gave her a coral tree more than eight feet high, a patch of ice, a hundred pearls, and a pair of eight jewels in a gold-encrusted box, as her dowry. When Gee heard that the princess had come, he hastened in and held the dragoness's hand as she wept. A moment later, a swift thunder struck through the roof of the house, and the dragoness had disappeared.