Original Text
Jin Dayong was a scion of a Henan scholarly family. He married the daughter of Prefect You, whose childhood name was Gengniang. She was beautiful and virtuous, and the couple shared a deep and harmonious affection. Due to a rebellion of roving bandits, the family was forced to flee their homeland. Jin Dayong led his household southward to escape. On the road, they encountered a young man who was also fleeing disaster with his wife. The young man claimed to be from Yangzhou, named Wang Shiba, and offered to guide Jin Dayong. Jin Dayong was delighted and thus traveled together with Wang Shiba's family. When they reached the river, Gengniang secretly warned Jin Dayong, "Do not take the same boat as this Wang Shiba. He has glanced at me several times, his eyes darting and his expression uneasy; he must harbor evil intentions." Jin Dayong agreed not to share a boat with Wang Shiba. But at the riverside, Wang Shiba was exceedingly attentive, procuring a large boat and, without waiting for Jin Dayong to speak, helped load the luggage onto the vessel, sparing no effort. Jin Dayong could not bear to refuse. He also thought that since Wang Shiba had a young wife with him, there should be no great trouble. Once both families boarded, Wang Shiba's wife shared a cabin with Gengniang and treated her with great warmth and friendliness. Wang Shiba sat at the prow, chatting idly with the boatmen as if they were old friends or relatives. Soon, the sun set, and the waterway stretched long; looking around from the boat, all was vast and indistinct, with no way to tell east from west or south from north. Jin Dayong surveyed his surroundings, feeling a mysterious and perilous atmosphere, and began to grow suspicious. After a while, a bright moon gradually rose, revealing that the boat was surrounded by reeds. The boat stopped, and Wang Shiba invited Jin Dayong and his father to the deck to enjoy the view. Taking advantage of Jin Dayong's inattention, he gave a hard shove, knocking him into the water. When Jin Dayong's father saw this, he was about to cry out for help, but a boatman struck him with a pole, and he too fell into the water and drowned. Jin Dayong's mother, hearing the noise, came out of the cabin to see what was happening, and a boat pole hit her, sending her into the water to her death as well. Only then did Wang Shiba call out for help. In truth, when Jin Dayong's mother came out, Gengniang was right behind her and had clearly witnessed everything in the darkness. So when she heard that the whole family had fallen into the water and perished, she did not panic but only wept, saying, "My parents-in-law are both dead; where can I find refuge?" Wang Shiba entered the cabin to console her, saying, "Madam, do not worry. Please come with me to Jinling. My family has houses and land there, and we are very wealthy; I will ensure you lack for nothing in food and clothing." Gengniang stopped crying and said, "If that is so, I will be content." Wang Shiba was overjoyed at this and did his utmost to provide for her in clothing, food, and utensils, showing great attentiveness. That night, Wang Shiba tried to embrace Gengniang for intimacy, but she excused herself, saying she was on her menstrual cycle and it was inconvenient, so he went to sleep with his own wife. Shortly after the first watch of the night, Wang Shiba and his wife began quarreling, though the cause was unknown. Only his wife's voice was heard shouting, "Doing such a thing, aren't you afraid that thunder from heaven will split your head?" Wang Shiba, upon hearing this, reached out and struck his wife. She cried out, "Death is fine! I would rather not be the wife of a murderer!" With a furious roar, Wang Shiba dragged his wife out of the cabin door, and then came a loud splash as everyone cried out that Wang Shiba's wife had fallen into the water.
Soon, the boat arrived at Jinling. Wang Shiba led Gengniang to his home, where she was presented to his mother. Upon seeing Gengniang, the mother was startled and asked why she was not the original wife. Wang Shiba replied, "My former wife drowned, and this is my new bride." Once inside, Wang Shiba again sought to share the bed with Gengniang. Gengniang smiled and said, "A man of thirty, surely you have not been without a woman? Even common folk on their wedding night share a cup of thin wine to celebrate. With your wealth, this should be easy enough. What pleasure is there in two sober souls facing each other?" Wang Shiba was delighted and quickly prepared wine and dishes to drink with Gengniang. Gengniang raised her cup, urging him earnestly to drink. Wang Shiba grew gradually drunk and declined, saying he could drink no more, but Gengniang lifted a large bowl, coaxing and cajoling him until he could not refuse and drank it down. Thus, Wang Shiba fell into a deep stupor, stripped himself naked, and urged Gengniang to join him in bed. Gengniang cleared the cups and dishes, blew out the candle, and pretended to go to the privy; she took a knife from outside and returned to the room, groping in the dark for Wang Shiba's neck. Unaware, Wang Shiba pulled her arm and whispered endearments. Gengniang found his neck and struck with all her might, but Wang Shiba did not die; he cried out and sat up. Gengniang struck again, and this time he breathed his last. Wang Shiba's mother, hearing the commotion, came to inquire, and Gengniang killed her as well. Then Wang Shiba's younger brother, Wang Shijiu, sensed something amiss. Knowing she could not escape death, Gengniang quickly raised the knife to cut her own throat, but the blade was too dull and notched to pierce. She opened the door and fled. Wang Shijiu pursued her closely, and in desperation, Gengniang leaped into the courtyard pond. Wang Shijiu shouted for the servants, and by the time they pulled Gengniang from the water, she was dead, yet her face remained as radiant as in life. When they examined Wang Shiba's body, they found a letter on the windowsill. Opening it, they saw it was written by Gengniang, detailing the tragic murder of her family and her own wrongful death. All who saw it deemed Gengniang a woman of extraordinary fortitude, and they discussed raising funds for her proper burial. By dawn, thousands had come to view her, and upon seeing her serene countenance, they knelt in reverence. In a single day, over a hundred taels of silver were collected, and Gengniang was interred in the southern suburbs. Some kind souls adorned her with a pearl-studded phoenix crown and the robes of a noble lady, and her burial goods were abundant.
At the beginning, when Jin Dayong fell into the water, he was fortunate enough to grasp a wooden plank and, relying on it to float, managed to survive. As dawn approached, Jin Dayong drifted onto the surface of the Huai River and was rescued by a passing small boat. This boat had been stationed on the river by an old wealthy man named Yin specifically to rescue drowning victims. After regaining consciousness, Jin Dayong went specially to Yin's mansion to express his gratitude. Yin treated Jin Dayong with exceptional kindness, urging him to stay and teach his son to read. Jin Dayong, uncertain about the whereabouts of his parents and Gengniang, wished to search for them, so he hesitated. After a while, someone reported to Yin: "Another drowned old man and old woman have been pulled from the water." Jin Dayong suspected they were his parents, rushed over to see, and indeed they were. Yin arranged coffins for Jin Dayong's parents. While Jin Dayong was still grieving, another person reported: "A woman who fell into the water has been rescued; she claims that a man named Jin is her husband." Jin Dayong was greatly startled, wiped away his tears, and ran out, but the rescued woman had already entered—it was not Gengniang, but Wang Shiba's wife. She wept bitterly before Jin Dayong, begging him not to abandon her. Jin Dayong said, "My heart is already in chaos; how can I have the mind to care for others?" Upon hearing this, the woman became even more sorrowful. Yin inquired from the woman about the details of the matter, then declared joyfully that this was Heaven's retribution, and strongly urged Jin Dayong to marry her. Jin Dayong declined, citing his parents' recent death as an excuse, and said he would go to seek revenge, fearing that a family would be a burden. The woman said, "According to your reasoning, if Gengniang were still alive, could you use revenge and mourning as pretexts to drive her away?" Yin deemed the woman's words very reasonable, and offered to temporarily take her in on Jin Dayong's behalf, with the marriage to be completed after revenge; only then did Jin Dayong agree. When Jin Dayong's parents were buried, the woman wore mourning garments as if for her own in-laws, weeping uncontrollably. After the funeral, Jin Dayong, carrying a sharp blade and a beggar's bowl, set out for Yangzhou to find his enemy. The woman stopped him, saying, "My maiden surname is Tang, and my family has lived in Jinling for generations, fellow townsmen with that wolf-hearted Wang Shiba. Previously, Wang Shiba claimed to be from Yangzhou, but that was a deception. Moreover, the river bandits in this area are mostly his accomplices; I fear that before you avenge your wrongs, disaster may first befall you." Upon hearing this, Jin Dayong did not know where to begin.
Suddenly, a tale spread throughout the region of a woman who had slain her enemy, and all the folk along the Huai River, both young and old, men and women, spoke of it, even naming the woman as Geng Niang. When Jin Dayong heard this, he was overjoyed at first, but then grief overwhelmed him anew. He again declared to Tang Shi that he could not marry her, saying, "Geng Niang was fortunate enough to have escaped dishonor and not brought shame upon our family. With such a chaste and valiant wife, how could I bear to take another and betray her steadfast loyalty?" Tang Shi, however, insisted that their betrothal was already settled and refused to abandon him, even offering to become a concubine rather than leave his side. At that time, there was a Vice General named Yuan, an old friend of Elder Yin, who was about to journey westward; before his departure, he visited Yin's home to call upon the elder. When General Yuan saw Jin Dayong, he took a great liking to him and invited him to serve in his camp as a secretary. Soon after, bandits rose in rebellion, and General Yuan was ordered to suppress them, achieving great merit. Jin Dayong, having been involved in military affairs, was rewarded for his contributions and granted the rank of Youji, after which he returned to Elder Yin's home. Only then did Jin Dayong and Tang Shi formally become husband and wife.
After a few days, Jin Dayong took Tang Shi to Jinling, making a special trip to sweep Gengniang's grave. Passing through Zhenjiang, they planned to ascend Gold Mountain for sightseeing. While they were boating on the river, a small boat suddenly approached, carrying an old woman and a young woman. Jin Dayong noticed that the young woman bore a striking resemblance to Gengniang. The small boat sped past, and the young woman also gazed intently at Jin Dayong from the cabin window, her expression even more like Gengniang's. Jin Dayong was startled, puzzled, and dared not rashly inquire, but in his agitation he shouted out, "Look at a flock of ducks flying up to the sky!" Upon hearing this, the young woman also called out loudly, "Look at a greedy dog wanting to eat the cat's fishy meal!" These two phrases were originally playful words that Jin Dayong and Gengniang had exchanged in their private chambers. Hearing this, Jin Dayong was even more astonished, and hastily turned his boat to approach the other vessel. The young woman was indeed Gengniang. The maidservant helped Gengniang across to the boat, and Jin Dayong and Gengniang embraced, weeping bitterly. All the passersby were deeply moved by their reunion. Tang Shi came forward to pay respects to Gengniang with the ceremony of a concubine meeting the principal wife. Gengniang asked in surprise what this meant, and Jin Dayong recounted the whole story in detail. After hearing it, Gengniang took Tang Shi's hand and said, "That conversation we once shared in the same cabin still lingers in my heart, unforgettable. I never imagined that today an enemy would become family. Since you have taken it upon yourself to bury my parents-in-law, I should first thank you. How can you treat me with such heavy ceremony?" Then they addressed each other as sisters based on age, with Tang Shi being one year younger than Gengniang, thus becoming the younger sister.
It turned out that after Geng Niang was buried by the citizens of Jinling, she herself did not know how much time had passed. One day, she suddenly heard someone shout loudly: "Geng Niang, your husband is not dead, and you may yet be reunited." Thus, Geng Niang seemed to awaken from a deep dream. Reaching out her hand to feel, she found walls on all sides, and only then did she realize that she had died and been interred. She felt only some suffocation, with no other pain. One day, several young ruffians in the village, having seen that Geng Niang's burial goods were both numerous and exquisite, were seized by greed. They dug open the grave and pried open the coffin, and were just about to steal the burial items when they discovered that Geng Niang was still alive, and were instantly terrified and at a loss. Fearing they might harm her, Geng Niang pleaded with them, saying: "Thanks to your arrival, I can see the light of day again. Take the gold hairpins and earrings from my head, and please sell me to a temple to become a nun; you may still gain some money. I will never reveal this matter." The grave robbers kowtowed and said: "Madam, your chastity and virtue are so steadfast that gods and mortals alike admire you. We petty men, driven by lack of livelihood, have committed this unrighteous act. If you do not expose this affair, it will be our utmost fortune; how dare we sell you to a temple to become a nun!" Geng Niang said: "This is my own wish." Another grave robber said: "In Zhenjiang, there is a Lady Geng, a widow without children; if she sees you, madam, she will surely be delighted." Geng Niang expressed her gratitude to them. She personally removed the pearl ornaments from her hair and gave them all to the robbers, who dared not accept them. Geng Niang insisted they take them, and only then did they bow together in thanks and accept them. So they escorted Geng Niang to Lady Geng's home, falsely claiming that Geng Niang's boat had lost its way due to a great wind. Lady Geng was a widow from a prominent local family, old and living alone without company. Seeing Geng Niang arrive, she was overjoyed and treated her as her own daughter—just then, the mother and daughter had returned from a pleasure trip to Gold Mountain. Geng Niang then recounted the entire affair in detail to Lady Geng. Thus, Jin Dayong boarded Lady Geng's boat to pay respects to his mother-in-law, and Lady Geng entertained him warmly as her own son-in-law. Lady Geng invited Jin Dayong and the others to return to her home, where they stayed for several days before departing, and from then on, the exchanges between the Geng and Jin families never ceased.
The Chronicler of the Strange remarks: In the face of great upheaval, those who willingly endure humiliation may preserve their lives, while those who remain chaste and unyielding will meet death. Those who cling to life incur such hatred that men’s eyes nearly split with rage, yet those who embrace death move others to tears of sorrow. As for one like Gengniang, who could jest calmly before her enemies and personally slay them—even among the heroic men whose names echo through the ages, few could rival her! Who dares say that a woman cannot match the valor of a hero like Wang Yanyun?
Commentary
The tale recounts how Geng Niang, amidst the chaos of war, preserved her own life with cunning, slew her enemies with her own hand, and was ultimately reunited with her husband.
As a woman, perceiving the slightest signs and discerning the larger trends, it was already no small feat for her to keenly sense that her entire family was in peril and to warn her husband; yet even more difficult was that, when danger had already struck and her whole family had been murdered one after another, she alone faced the situation with composure, showing no fear in the face of crisis, lulling the enemy into complacency, taking control of the situation, and finally seizing an opportunity; moreover, she was bold yet meticulous, methodically taking revenge with her own hands, thus performing a breathtaking and rare deed in the human world. Therefore, Pu Songling praised her, saying: "When a great upheaval looms, the licentious survive, while the chaste perish. The survivor tears at men's eyes, while the dead wash away their tears. As for one who can remain calm in conversation, unflustered, and slay her foe with her own hand, among the heroic men of a thousand ages, how many can match her?" The tale highlights Geng Niang's courage and her ability to adapt. Through her astonishing resourcefulness, Geng Niang escaped the harm of grave robbers; in the fleeting moment of a boat drifting midstream, she caught and responded to the signal of her separated husband; and in the reunion of a broken mirror, she dealt with the new and complex issues that arose in her family. Geng Niang's adaptability is the shining point of the story, running through and persisting in the entire narrative, and it also becomes the hallmark of her character.
Although Tang-shi serves as a foil to Gengniang and embodies the author's didactic theme of rewarding virtue and punishing vice, she is nonetheless another admirable female figure in the tale. Possessing a strong sense of justice, she is shrewd, decisive, and skillfully arranges her own destiny with propriety.