The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 14: Kiều Sold Herself to Save Her Dad
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 14: Kiều Sold Herself to Save Her Dad

Matchmakers were told of her situation.
Rumors of it stirred noisy gossips near and far.
In a nearby neighborhood, there was a woman,
who brought a suitor from some distant town.
When his name asked, he answered, “Scholar Mã.”
Of his hometown,  “Lin-ching district, near here.”
He looked to be over fourty.
His face smooth-shaven, his clothes well groomed.
Master and servants behind came bustling in.
Led by the matchmaker into the house.
With no manners, he grabbed the best seat
while the matchmaker bade Kieu to come out.
Feeling sullen from her family’s woe and her own grief,

with each step on the floor, her tears flowed in streams.

Like a delicate creature afraid of the humidity and chilly wind,
she felt ashamed to look at flowers,
or see her face in the mirror, so brazen without shame.
The matchmaker smoothed her hair and held her hands.
Kiều has the sadness of a daisy flower,
and the slenderness of an apricot blossom.
The suitor pondered over her beauty and talents.
He asked her to play the moon lute,
and write some verses on a fan.
Many charms she had, and he relished them all.
Well pleased, he started to bargain for a deal.

He said, “To buy jade, I have come to Blue Bridge.
Please tell me how much is the bridal gift’s price.”
The broker answered: “Worth a thousand liangs of gold.
But with sudden family misfortune,
they will look to your generosity.”

They haggled the price many times over small amounts.
After a long while, a deal was struck.
The price for her:  four hundred and some liangs.
All was smooth sailing after that.
As pledges, they exchanged cards
that contain the names and ages of the betrothed.
And set the dates for the delivery of bridal gifts and the wedding.
With cash ready on hand, what cannot be resolved!
Words was sent to old Chung asking for help.
At his request, old Vuong can go home on probation.

Pity for the old father and his young child.

Looking at her with a distressed heart, he uttered:

“Raising a daughter, you wishes she might find
a fitting match, a worthy husband at her side.
O Heaven! Why inflict on us such calamity?
Who slandered us to tear apart our family?
These old bones of mine do not mind the ax,
but my child’s ordeal agonizes my heart.
Death occurs just once, either now or later.
I would rather die than to suffer so!”
After those words, he shed more tears.

Then tried to knock his head against the wall.

They rushed to hold him back and watched over him.
She tried to soothe him with consoling words:
“What is she worth, this daughter of yours,
who had not paid one bit her debts of birth and care.
Petitioning for the king’s pardon, Miss Ying made me feel ashamed.
How can I fall short of Miss Li who sold herself?
As a tree gets much older,
it still has to support so many branches.
If you cannot bear to let me go,
I fear a storm will destroy our family.
Rather sacrifice only me.
One flower torn, but the tree’s leaves stay green.
Whatever my fate is, I will accept.
Think of me as a blossom fallen in its early budding days.
Do not worry uselessly or entertain any wild notions in your head.
It will only wreck our family and destroy yourself.”
Her sensible words went soothingly into his ears.
Looking at each other, their eyes filled with tears.

Meanwhile, Scholar Mã had just appeared again.
After the contract got signed, the gold then changed hand.

How cruel the old moon matrimony god is!
Without selecting, he randomly ties many two persons together
as couples with his matrimony threads.

With money in one’s hand, it’s no difficult task

to sway people’s heart and turn black into white.

Old Chung exerted a lot of efforts to help out.

Gifts were presented, and the case quickly finished.