by Pu Songling
He looked up and carefully examined the animal’s head, noticing that there was a chunk of meat in its mouth, and that the meat hook had impaled the wolf through the roof of its mouth, like a fish that had swallowed some bait.
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Li: A distance equal to 1/3 mile.
At that time, wolf pelts were quite valuable, worth more than ten taels apiece, so the hunter made a modest little fortune. What a joke that the wolf came to such an end—climbing up into a tree, only to be caught like a fish!
A butcher was getting ready to return home late one night, having sold his meat, and had only the bones left over in his basket. In the distance, two wolves appeared on his path, their tails behind them. The butcher was frightened, so he threw them the bones.
One of the wolves stopped to attend to the bones, while the other wolf kept coming nearer; the butcher threw more scraps, which stopped the second wolf, but then the first wolf started coming towards him; the butcher was already out of scraps, but the two wolves then joined up and came after him together, as they’d been doing before.
The butcher was greatly disconcerted, fearing that his enemies might try to surround him. He turned and looked into the fields around him, noticing that on a farmer’s wheat threshing ground, there was a pile of firewood, covered over by grass turfs, like a small hill. The butcher hurried over and stood at the foot of it, then set his basket down and grasped his sword. The wolves didn’t dare come over at first, and waited, standing together off to the side.
Moments later, one of the wolves took off down the path; the other sat down in front of the mound for a long time, till finally it shut its eyes, meaning that it was very relaxed. The butcher violently sprang up with his sword and split open the wolf’s head, then killed it with several more blows. Just as he was hoping to get away, he turned to the other side of the mound and saw the other wolf digging a tunnel in the firewood mound, meaning that it was intending to go through it to attack him.
The animal’s body was already half inside, with only its hind quarters and tail exposed. The butcher thus chopped off its legs, and it died. Then he realized that the first wolf had previously been dozing, waiting to lure its enemy out from his protective cover. That wolf was a crafty one! But in moments the two were dead, so whatever tricks the beasts had been intending to play, they simply became the subjects of one man’s laughter!
A butcher was out walking at dusk, when he found himself being shadowed by a wolf. The path was near an area being cultivated, and there was a small shed out of the way there, so he rushed in to hide himself. The wolf began poking a paw through the thatch on the shed’s wall to reach inside it. The butcher urgently grabbed it, preventing the wolf from being able to escape. He looked around, but couldn’t find anything he could use to kill it.
He only had a small knife that wasn’t more than a cun in length, so he used it to cut into the skin on the paw, and began blowing air into it the same way he would if it was a pig. Sparing no effort, he kept blowing, and in moments he could feel that the wolf was no longer moving, so then he trussed it up with his belt.
When he went outside to examine it, he found the wolf was swollen like an ox, unable to bend its legs, its mouth stretched open wide, unable to close. Then he lifted it up over his back, and carried it home.
If they hadn’t been butchers, how could they have come up with such solutions! Three cases, all concluded by butchers; and the brutality of the butchers undoubtedly proved useful when it came to disposing of the wolves.
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Cun: A length equal to 1/3 decimeter.
Blowing air into it: Possibly an allusion to butchers’ preparation of pig intestines to be used as sausage casings.
231. The Beauty’s Head
Various tradesmen were living in a dormitory in the capital. The dormitory was linked to a neighboring house, with a wooden partition dividing the two; the partition was made from sections of finished pine wood, with holes in it the size of small cups. Suddenly a woman stuck her head through one of the holes, and as she poked her coiffed hair through, they could see that she was extremely beautiful; she twisted and stretched an arm through, as flawless as white jade. By the time the shocked tradesmen thought about grabbing the demon, it had already withdrawn and vanished.
In a short while, it appeared again, but because of the wooden partition, the men next door couldn’t see its body. They rushed towards the head, but again it withdrew. One tradesman grabbed a knife and hid near the base of the partition. Presently, when the beauty’s head emerged again, he struck at it violently, and with a single stroke the head fell, its blood splashing the dust below. The horrified tradesmen then told their host about it.
The news frightened the host, and he took the beauty’s head to a government office. The tradesmen were all taken into custody while the case was investigated, since their story seemed so fantastic. They remained in custody for six months, during which time no one spoke against them, and since there was no suit filed against them, the tradesmen were finally cleared of any wrongdoing, and the woman’s head was buried.
232. Liu Liangcai
I heard Huai Liren, from Jinan, say that Liu Liangcai was a fox in a previous life. Originally, when his father was living in the mountains to the south, an old man paid a call at his house, and said his name was Hu. Liu’s father asked him where he lived, and he replied, “Just here in the mountains. Since there are so few people—like the two of us—in such an unfrequented place all day long, we should spend our daylight hours together.” Hence, having met, they started conversing and found it easy to express themselves to each other, which delighted them. They happily polished off some wine together, and then Liu’s intoxicated guest left.
He returned a few days later, and their enjoyment of each other’s company became all the greater. Liu remarked, “Though we’ve just become friends, our mutual affection seems to have grown quite deep. Yet I still don’t know where your family’s hometown is, so can’t I find out more about your daily life?”
“Since I wouldn’t dare mislead you,” Hu replied, “the truth is that I’m an old fox who’s been living in these mountains. It’s because it feels like we’ve had a longstanding acquaintance that I dare presume upon our personal friendship to tell you my secret. Though I can’t bring about good fortune for you, neither would I dare to cause you any misfortune—and I’ll consider myself lucky if you believe my words without being startled.”
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Liu Liangcai: Liu, whose courtesy name was Gongyan, was from Lidi, part of modern Jinan, the capital of Shandong province. He became a jinshi, or successful candidate in the highest level of the civil service examination, in 1592, during the Ming dynasty (see Zhu 2:798n1, 799n11).
Liu said he wasn’t worried about Hu doing anything to him, and thus they agreed to become even more serious about their bond. They discussed their ages, with Hu being deferred to as the elder, and henceforward they treated each other as brothers. They agreed to share the good and the bad, and always to tell each other what was on their minds.
There was one time when Liu was worrying about the fact that he didn’t have an heir, and the old man suddenly told him, “Don’t worry, I’d like to be your offspring.” Liu wondered at Hu’s strange comment.
Hu explained, “I’ve already made some calculations regarding my fate, and when I’ll be reincarnated. Rather than being reborn into some other family, why wouldn’t I choose to be reborn into yours?”
“You’re an immortal, who lives for more than tens of thousands of years,” Liu exclaimed, “so how could this happen?”
The old man shook his head and replied, “It’s not your place to know that.” Then he left. That night, Liu had a dream in which the old man came to him and said, “I’m arriving now.” As Liu woke up, his wife gave birth to a son, and this was Liu Liangcai.
As Master Liu grew up, though his body was short, his speech wa
s nimble and harmonious, just like Hu’s. He gained the reputation of being extraordinarily talented at a very young age, and in 1592, succeeded in becoming a jinshi. He conducted himself generously and chivalrously, eager to help those in need, and so visitors came from Qin, Chu, Yan, and Zhao to see him, passing through his gate one after another; they set up a successful market in front of the family gate that sold goods, wine, and pancakes.
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Qin, Chu, Yan, and Zhao: These ancient states are located in Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, and Hebei provinces, respectively.
233. Huifang
Ma Erhun, who lived just inside the eastern gate to Qingzhou, sold noodles for a living. His family was poor, he had no wife, and his mother had to work hard to help out. One day, into the old lady’s solitary existence there suddenly came a beautiful girl, who might have been sixteen or seventeen years old, wrapped in very simple clothing, but possessed of a brilliantly shining personality.
The old lady was taken by surprise, and when she turned exhaustedly to ask her what she wanted, the girl laughed and replied, “I believe your son is an earnest man, so I’d like to marry him and join your family.”
This surprised the old lady even more, and she exclaimed, “You’re an exceptionally beautiful young woman, but even with this one remark, you could cost us several years of life!” The girl remained firm in her request. Ma’s mother figured that she was probably trying to escape from some nobleman’s home, and so she refused her even more strongly. The girl then left.
Three days later, she returned, and was extremely reluctant to leave. The old lady then asked her surname. “Mother, if you’re willing to accept me,” the girl said, “then I’ll tell you; otherwise, there’s no point in asking me.”
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Huifang: An appropriate name for this appealing character, since it means “Fragrant Orchid.”
Qingzhou: A city located in north central Shandong province.
Ma’s mother told her, “We’re poor and humble workers, and to get a wife this way seems both inappropriate and inauspicious.” The girl laughed and sat down beside her on her bed, feeling strongly attached to her and especially enthusiastic. The old lady tried to send her away, saying, “You should leave quickly, so we don’t cause a disaster for each other.” The girl then took her leave, and the old lady observed her as she exited the city gates, traveling westward.
Several more days passed, till an old woman named Lu, from one of the lanes to the west of Ma’s family, came and told his mother, “Your neighbor girl, Dong Huifang, lives alone with no one to depend upon, and hopes to become your son’s wife, so why won’t you accept her?”
Ma’s mother had some misgivings about whether this meant the girl would really be free of charge. “Is anything really free?” asked Lu. “If she doesn’t prove to be a perfect match, you can blame me.” This greatly pleased Ma’s mother, so she consented.
Once Lu had left, the old lady began sweeping the house and spread out a feast, and then just waited with her son for the arrival of the girl he was to marry. When the day had nearly turned to night, Huifang gracefully arrived. She entered the house and paid her respects to Ma’s mother, then stood up once she’d finished making her ceremonial obeisance. She told the old lady, “I have two maidservants, but won’t dare bring them unless you say so.”
“My son and I have taken care of our poor cottage,” the old lady replied, “so we don’t need any female servants. The little that we make each day has been barely sufficient for our needs. Now we’re adding a bride as another household member, someone too tender and lovely to work for a living, so I’m just afraid that we won’t have enough to satisfy her; then to add two maidservants, how could we possibly have enough to keep ourselves alive?”
Huifang laughed and said, “When the maidservants arrive, it won’t cost a thing to maintain them, since they can feed themselves.”
“Where are your maidservants?” the old lady asked.
Huifang suddenly cried out, “Qiu Yue, Qiu Song!”
No sooner had her voice finished echoing, than like birds suddenly landing, two maidservants appeared before them. They approached and Huifang directed them to prostrate themselves and kowtow to Ma’s mother. Afterwards, Ma returned home and was welcomed by his mother, who told him about all that had happened. Ma was overjoyed.
When he entered their bedroom, he saw a pillar of carved jadeite, like one might expect to find in a palace; there was a small table and screen in front of a heavy curtain, all glowing so brilliantly that he couldn’t take his eyes off them. He was afraid to approach them, and didn’t dare go in any further. Huifang got up from their bed and welcomed him with a smile, and as he looked at her, he thought she resembled an fairy. This startled him even more, and he stumblingly drew back. Huifang drew him to her, and they sat together, exchanging warm conversation.
Ma was happy beyond anything he imagined he could deserve, like his spirit had been freed from his body. Then he started to get up, feeling that he needed to get back outside to buy them some dinner. Huifang told him, “That won’t be necessary.” She ordered her two maidservants to put everything in order.
Qiu Yue took out a leather bag, and held it facing the doorway, where with a flapping sound it began shaking and waving. Shortly afterwards, she stuck her hand inside and fished out a jug of fine wine, followed by a wooden platter of excellent roasted meats, with an aroma like that of a smokehouse wafting from them. When they finished drinking, they went to bed, where there were flowered blankets on a brocade-covered mattress, of an unusual warmth and coziness.
At daybreak they went outside, and their thatched cottage looked the same as before. Ma and his mother both found this quite inexplicable.
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Qiu Yue, Qiu Song: The maidservants’ names mean Autumn Moon, and Autumn Pine, respectively.
The old lady went to pay a visit to Lu, to check into Huifang’s background. When she entered Lu’s gate, she first thanked her for serving as the go-between who brought her son such a virtuous match. Lu was surprised by this comment and told her, “I haven’t paid you a visit for a long time, so how could I have helped some neighbor girl?”
This made Ma’s mother even more suspicious, so she told Lu the whole story from beginning to end. Lu was quite astonished, so she went with Ma’s mother to go see this new wife. Huifang smiled at their reaction, and declared her sense that Lu had done her a most righteous turn. Observing that Huifang was gentle and beautiful, Lu stood there stunned for a good long time, unable to recognize her at all.
Huifang offered her a white wood back-scratcher as a present for her help, saying, “I haven’t had a chance to repay your kindness, so I’d respectfully like to offer you this back-scratcher.” Accepting the gift, Lu took it home, and when she scrutinized it there, she discovered that it had changed into silver.
Following Ma’s marriage to his new wife, he discontinued his noodle business, and it was as though the family was entirely transformed into something new. Inside a bamboo case he found countless sable robes and pieces of brocade clothing, all for him to wear; but if he took them outside the gates of his house, they became simple cotton clothing, although they remained light and warm. Huifang was also the source of this clothing.
Four or five years later, Huifang suddenly told him, “I descended to earth as a human being more than ten years ago, because we were fated to be together, and realized that after a short time together, I would no longer be able to stay. Now it’s time for me to leave.” Ma entreated her to stay. “Please change your mind and choose another spouse,” Huifang told him, “to tend the house after that, and then to be buried together with you after death. My time here has reached its end.” Suddenly she vanished.
Ma then married a woman from the Qin family. Three years later, on the seventh evening of the seventh lunar month, Ma and his wife were chatting together, when Huifang appeared all of a sudden, and said
with a laugh, “Your new wife is a good, happy person, so do you no longer think about your former wife?”
Startled, Ma jumped up, sorrowfully pulling at her to take a seat, expressing his heartfelt emotions. “I was accompanying the Weaving Maid as she crossed the river,” Huifang told him, “so I seized the fleeting chance for us to see each other.” Reluctant to part again, the two began speaking to each other breathlessly, without pausing.
Suddenly, from the sky a voice cried “Huifang,” and she hurriedly rose to take her leave. Ma asked her whose voice it was, and she explained, “It must have been sister Shuangcheng telling me to come, since she can’t stand waiting very long for me.” Ma prepared to accompany her on her way. “You’ll live to the age of eighty,” Huifang told him, “and when your time arrives, I’ll come and collect your bones.” The moment she finished speaking, she died.
Today, Ma is over sixty years old. He’s honest and simple, a man of few words with nothing special to say.
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Seventh evening of the seventh lunar month: The traditional date of convergence of two stars in the Milky Way, in folklore representing the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid. The Sun married his daughter to the Cowherd, but she was so enamored with her husband that she neglected her weaving, so in punishment the Sun separated the lovers, allowing them just one day a year to be rejoined (Palmer et al. 208).
As she crossed the river: That is, during the cosmic convergence when the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid are reunited.
Shuangcheng: That is, Dong Shuangcheng, one of the four fairy handmaids serving the Queen Mother of the West—a female immortal who occasionally enjoyed relationships with certain emperors—on her visits to the emperor Han Wudi (reigned 187-140 B.C.E.). See Mayers (225).