Original Text
Sun Zichu of western Guangdong was a notable figure in the local area. He had six fingers on his hand. Sun Zichu was of a simple and honest disposition, not skilled in speech, and if someone deceived him, he would often take it as truth. If there was a singing girl present at a gathering, he would invariably flee at the mere sight of her from afar. Those who knew of this peculiarity would deliberately lure him into such situations, then intentionally have the girl approach him and tease him, causing him to blush crimson from his face to the nape of his neck, with beads of sweat dripping down. The company would then burst into loud laughter, taking great amusement from it. Thus, everyone would describe his foolish demeanor, spread tales of his absurdities, and give him the nickname "Sun the Simpleton."
In that region there was a wealthy merchant, exceedingly rich, able to rival the houses of princes and nobles in opulence, and those who formed marriage alliances with his family were also sons of wealthy and noble households. The merchant had a daughter named Abao, who was exceptionally beautiful. Lately, he had been seeking to select a worthy son-in-law, and when the young men of noble families heard of this, they vied to send betrothal gifts, yet none met the merchant's expectations. At that time, Sun Zichu's wife had died, and someone, seizing the opportunity to mock him, urged him to go and seek her hand. Sun Zichu, without any consideration, truly heeded this advice and entrusted a matchmaker with the task. The merchant had long known of his reputation but found his poverty distasteful. As the matchmaker was about to leave, she happened to encounter Abao, who asked what business she had. The matchmaker then told her of the marriage proposal. Abao jestingly said, "If he can remove his extra finger, then I will marry him." When the matchmaker returned, she relayed Abao's words to Sun Zichu. Sun Zichu said, "That is not difficult." After the matchmaker left, he took an axe and cut off his extra finger, suffering excruciating pain that pierced his very bones, with blood gushing forth, nearly causing his death. After several days, Sun Zichu was able to rise from his bed, and he went to see the matchmaker, showing her his hand with the severed finger. The matchmaker was greatly startled and hurried to Abao's house to tell of this matter. Abao was also greatly astonished, and again jestingly said, asking him to also rid himself of his foolishness. When Sun Zichu heard the matchmaker's report, he loudly argued with her, insisting that he was not foolish or stupid, yet he had no opportunity to clarify himself face to face with Abao. Upon reflection, he thought that Abao might not be as divinely beautiful as people claimed, and what right did she have to elevate herself to such a degree? Thus, his former desire for marriage suddenly cooled.
It happened to be the Qingming Festival, and according to local custom, women would go out to enjoy the spring scenery on this day, followed by crowds of frivolous young men who would freely comment and gossip. Several of Sun Zichu's schoolmates dragged him along for the outing. Someone teased him, saying, "Don't you want to see your beloved?" Sun Zichu knew it was a jest, but after being mocked by Abao, he also wished to see what she truly looked like, so he readily agreed and followed his friends, scanning left and right in search. From afar, they spotted a woman resting under a large tree, surrounded by a gang of rogues who had formed a human wall. The crowd said, "That must be Abao." They hurried over and indeed it was her. Gazing at her closely, they saw she was graceful and beautiful, unmatched in the world. Soon, more people gathered, and Abao rose and quickly departed. Everyone was greatly excited, chattering and commenting wildly as if possessed, but only Sun Zichu remained silent. When the crowd dispersed, they turned back and saw Sun Zichu still standing motionless in the same spot; calling him yielded no response. His friends tugged at him and said, "Has your soul followed Abao?" He did not answer. Since he was usually quiet, they found nothing particularly strange, and some pushed him while others pulled him, and they all returned home together. Upon reaching home, Sun Zichu threw himself onto his bed and lay there all day without rising, drowsy as if drunk, and no amount of calling could rouse him. His family suspected he had lost his soul, so they went to the wilderness to call his spirit back, but to no avail. When they shook him vigorously and questioned him, he only mumbled vaguely, "I am at Abao's house." When pressed further, he fell silent again. The whole family was bewildered.
At first, Sun Zichu saw Abao depart and felt reluctant to part, as if his very being had followed her, gradually clinging to the sash of her garment without anyone scolding him. Thus he followed Abao all the way to her home, sitting and lying down always close to her side, and at night he slept with her, sharing an intimate and harmonious union. However, he felt a gnawing hunger and wished to return home for a while, but lost his way. Abao often dreamed of making love with a man, and when she asked his name, he replied, "I am Sun Zichu." Abao was greatly astonished but dared not tell anyone. Sun Zichu lay in bed for three days, his breath so faint that he seemed on the verge of death, and his family, in great terror, sent someone to gently inform the wealthy merchant, hoping to go to his house to call back Sun Zichu's soul. The merchant laughed and said, "We have never had dealings before—how could his soul be lost in my home?" After repeated entreaties from Sun Zichu's family, the merchant finally consented. A witch took an old garment and a straw mat to the merchant's house. When Abao learned that they had come to summon the soul, she was startled and, not allowing the witch to go elsewhere, led her directly to her own bedchamber, letting the witch perform the summoning as she pleased. As the witch returned and reached the doorstep, Sun Zichu began to groan in his bed. Upon waking, he described the dressing table and toiletries in Abao's room, their colors and shapes, without missing a single detail. When Abao heard this, she was even more amazed and secretly felt the depth of Sun Zichu's unwavering affection.
After Sun Zichu was able to get out of bed, he once again began to long for Abao, thinking of her whether sitting or standing, often forgetting his own existence. He constantly inquired after news of Abao, hoping to be fortunate enough to see her once more. Hearing that on the day of the Bathing Buddha Festival, Abao would go to the Water Moon Temple to burn incense, Sun Zichu rose early and waited by the roadside. He stared with anxious eyes until they grew dizzy, and at noon, Abao finally arrived. From her carriage, Abao saw Sun Zichu and lifted the curtain with her hand, gazing at him without blinking. Sun Zichu became even more agitated and followed behind the carriage. In haste, Abao sent a maid to ask Sun Zichu his name; he quickly gave it, his excitement so great that his soul seemed to fly away. Only after the carriage had vanished from sight did Sun Zichu return home. Once home, his old illness recurred; he lay in a daze, neither eating nor drinking, and in his dreams he often called out Abao's name. He constantly lamented that his soul could not be as nimble as before. The Sun family kept a parrot, which suddenly died, and a child was playing with it on the bed. Sun Zichu thought to himself, if only he could become a parrot, flapping his wings to fly straight to Abao's chamber. As he focused his mind on this thought, his body had already transformed into a parrot, fluttering lightly, and he flew off swiftly until he reached Abao's dwelling. When Abao saw the parrot, she caught it joyfully, tied its leg, and fed it sesame seeds. The parrot cried out loudly, "Sister, do not tie me! I am Sun Zichu!" Abao was greatly startled and untied the rope, but the parrot did not fly away. Abao prayed, saying, "Your deep affection is already engraved in my heart. But now you and I are of different species, human and bird; how can our beautiful marriage be restored as before?" The parrot said, "To be by your side is enough to fulfill my wish." When others fed the parrot, it would not eat; only when Abao fed it herself would it partake. When Abao sat, the parrot would alight on her knee; when she lay down, it would nestle by her bedside. Thus passed three days. Abao grew very fond of the parrot and secretly sent someone to check on Sun Zichu, only to learn that he had been lying stiffly in bed, dead for three days, though his heart was still warm. Abao then prayed to the parrot, saying, "If you can turn back into a human, I swear I will follow you unto death." The parrot said, "Are you deceiving me?" Abao then made a solemn vow. At that moment, the parrot tilted its eyes as if pondering something. Soon after, as Abao was binding her small feet, she took off her shoe and placed it under the bed; the parrot suddenly swooped down, snatched the shoe, and flew away. Abao cried out in haste, but it was already far gone.
Abao sent an old servant woman to inquire after him, and by then Sun Zichu had already regained consciousness. His family, seeing the parrot fly in carrying an embroidered shoe only to fall dead upon reaching the room, was greatly astonished. As soon as Sun Zichu awoke, he immediately demanded the embroidered shoe, leaving everyone utterly bewildered. Just then, the old servant woman arrived, entered the room to see Sun Zichu, and asked where the shoe was. Sun Zichu said, "This is a token of Abao's solemn pledge. Please tell her: this humble scholar shall never forget the golden promise from her lips." The old servant woman returned to report. Abao was even more amazed, and so she deliberately let the maidservants leak the secret to her mother. When the mother ascertained the truth, she said, "This Sun Zichu's literary reputation is not bad, but he is as poor as Sima Xiangru. After years of seeking a son-in-law, to have chosen such a one, I fear we shall be laughed at by the wealthy and powerful." Abao, using the embroidered shoe as a pretext, swore that she would marry none other than Sun Zichu, and her parents had no choice but to comply. Someone swiftly spread the news to Sun Zichu. Overjoyed, his illness immediately healed. The wealthy merchant wished for Sun Zichu to marry into the family, but Abao said, "A son-in-law should not long reside in his father-in-law's home; besides, the gentleman is poor, and staying long would only invite further contempt. Since I have promised to marry him, I am content to live in a thatched hut and eat wild herbs." Thus, Sun Zichu personally welcomed Abao as his bride, and their reunion was as joyful as if they were a couple from a previous life meeting again after a long separation.
Since Sun Zichu's family received the dowry, their life became somewhat more comfortable, and their property increased considerably. Sun Zichu immersed himself in study, knowing nothing of managing the household; but Abao was adept at domestic economy and never troubled him with trivial matters. After three years, Sun Zichu's family grew even wealthier. Yet Sun Zichu suddenly fell ill with diabetes and died. Abao wept bitterly, her tears never ceasing, and eventually she refused all food, unable to sleep day or night. Her family tried to dissuade her, but she paid no heed, and in the dead of night, she hanged herself. The maids discovered her and hastily revived her, but even after being saved, she still refused to eat or drink. On the third day after Sun Zichu's death, relatives and friends gathered to prepare his burial, when they heard groaning from within the coffin. Opening it, they found Sun Zichu had come back to life. He himself explained: "After death, I saw the King of Hell, who, because of my lifelong honesty and simplicity, appointed me as a minor official in his court. Just as I was being settled, someone suddenly reported: 'The wife of Minister Sun is about to arrive.' The King of Hell examined the register of the dead and said: 'Her time has not yet come.' Another said: 'She has not eaten or drunk for three days.' The King then said to me: 'Your wife's great virtue and loyalty are deeply moving; I grant you rebirth.' So the King ordered someone to lead a horse for me and sent me back." From then on, Sun Zichu gradually recovered his health.
It happened that this year was the triennial provincial examination, and before the trials, a group of young men sought to make sport of Sun Zichu. They devised seven obscure topics together, led him to a secluded place, and said, "These are questions obtained through bribery of an examiner's connection; we now secretly present them to you." Sun Zichu believed their ruse, pondering day and night, and composed seven essays. All secretly laughed at him behind his back. At that time, the chief examiner, considering that familiar topics often led to the vice of plagiarism and routine, resolved to completely alter the approach to setting questions. When the examination papers were distributed, Sun Zichu saw that the seven essays he had prepared all matched the required topics. Thus, Sun Zichu placed first in the examination. The following year, he passed the metropolitan examination and was appointed to the Hanlin Academy. The emperor, having heard of Sun Zichu's strange affairs, summoned him for inquiry. Sun Zichu reported the truth, and the emperor, greatly pleased, bestowed rewards upon him. Later, the emperor also summoned Abao and granted her many gifts.
The Chronicler of the Strange remarks: When one's nature is deeply focused, then his aspirations become concentrated; thus, a man devoted to reading will naturally produce polished essays, and one devoted to a craft will achieve consummate skill. Those in the world who drift aimlessly and accomplish nothing are precisely those who consider themselves neither foolish nor dull. For instance, those who squander their fortunes on women or ruin their families through gambling—are these the deeds of fools? From this perspective, it is the overly clever and cunning who are truly foolish, and as for Sun Zichu, in what way was he foolish!
Commentary
"On the night of the wedding candles within the bridal chamber, and at the hour when one's name is inscribed upon the golden list of successful candidates"—these two lifelong ideals that ancient Chinese scholars dreamed of—to possess a beloved beauty and to attain wealth and official rank—were both granted to Sun Zichu.
Sun Zichu's capital for attaining these two life goals was not advantageous. Though he was a renowned scholar, it was but an empty reputation. He "suffered the poverty of Xiangru," meaning he was exceedingly poor; he was born with an extra finger, which, though not a deformity, set him apart from ordinary men. These two points were shortcomings in his marital capital. More importantly, he "was by nature stubborn and slow of speech, and when others deceived him, he would always believe it to be true." Whatever he undertook, he either did not do at all or pursued to the end with undivided attention. In a society rife with deceit and intrigue, this trait made him appear somewhat foolish, and thus he was dubbed "Sun the Simpleton."
But Pu Songling did not see it this way. He believed that one should be simple and sincere in character, and focused in one's endeavors. "When one is infatuated in nature, one's will becomes concentrated; thus, one infatuated with books will surely excel in writing, and one infatuated with a craft will surely master its skills." From a purely technical perspective, Sun Zichu was not only not foolish but possessed an ideal personality. Thus, Pu Songling allowed Sun Zichu, through his simplicity, sincerity, and focus, to unexpectedly attain happiness that ordinary people could hardly achieve. In particular, the process by which Sun Zichu gained official rank was almost child's play. If this is meant as propaganda and education, then Pu Songling was indeed using fiction to guide life, urging people to be simple, sincere, and focused, so that naturally good people would be rewarded. However, this kind of education has a distinctly fairy-tale quality.
There is no doubt that the protagonist of this tale is Sun Zichu, yet the title is given to the secondary female lead, Abao, a common technique in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio for naming chapters. However, the heroine Abao indeed possesses a distinct personality. Pu Songling writes her journey from having only a vague impression of Sun Zichu to a deep and lasting one, gradually developing affection until she vows, "I will never marry another," all depicted with delicacy and layered progression. The appearance of the parrot as Sun Zichu's surrogate in the middle of the story adds a touch of romance and fairy-tale enchantment to the love between Abao and Sun Zichu.