Original Text
A man named Cheng from Nanjing was by nature open-hearted and unrestrained by conventional customs. One day, returning home, he loosened his belt and felt one end of it heavy, as if something had fallen. Looking down, he saw nothing; but as he turned, a woman emerged from behind him, smoothing her hair and smiling faintly, exceedingly beautiful. Cheng suspected she was a ghost, but she said, "I am not a ghost, but a fox." Cheng replied, "If I can obtain a beauty, I fear not even a ghost, much less a fox!" So he became intimate with her. After two years, the fox-woman gave birth to a daughter, whom they nicknamed Qingmei. She often said to Cheng, "Do not take a wife; I will bear you a son." Cheng believed her and did not marry. But his relatives and friends mocked and ridiculed him. Forced to change his mind, he married a woman named Wang from east of the lake. When the fox-woman heard of this, she was furious. After nursing the child, she thrust the daughter into Cheng's arms, saying, "This is your family's burden; raise her or kill her as you please. Why should I act as a wet nurse for others?" Then she left the house and went straight away.
Qingmei grew up to be exceptionally clever and beautiful, her features closely resembling those of her mother. Later, Cheng fell ill and passed away, and Wang remarried, leaving the Cheng household. Qingmei depended on her uncle for survival, but he was dissolute and vile in conduct, intending to sell her off for profit. It happened that a certain Presented Scholar Wang, who was at home awaiting appointment from the Ministry of Personnel, heard of Qingmei's intelligence and purchased her at a high price, making her serve his daughter, Axi. Axi, then fourteen, was unmatched in beauty among her contemporaries. She took an immediate liking to Qingmei, and they lived and moved together as one. Qingmei was also adept at reading people's moods; a mere glance or a slight frown would suffice for her to grasp their meaning, and thus the entire household grew fond of her.
In the city there lived a scholar named Zhang, styled Jieshou, whose family was so poor they owned neither house nor land, renting instead the dwelling of a jinshi named Wang. Zhang was exceedingly filial, scrupulous in his conduct, and devoted to his studies. One day, Qingmei happened to visit Zhang's home and saw him sitting on a stone eating husk porridge. She entered to chat with his mother and noticed a stewed pig's trotter on the table. At that time, Zhang's father lay ill in bed; Zhang lifted him to relieve himself, and the urine soiled his garments. The father, realizing this, was deeply distressed, but Zhang concealed the stain and hurried out to wash it, fearing his father would know. Qingmei was greatly impressed by this. Upon returning, she recounted what she had seen to Axi, saying, "Our tenant is no ordinary man. If you do not wish to seek a husband, so be it, but if you do, Zhang is the one." Axi worried her father would find Zhang too poor, but Qingmei replied, "Not so; it depends on your resolve. If you agree, I will secretly tell him to send a matchmaker. Your mother will surely consult you, and you need only consent, and the matter will be settled." Axi feared lifelong poverty and ridicule, but Qingmei said, "I trust my judgment in discerning men; I will not be mistaken."
The next day, Qingmei went to inform Zhang's mother, who was greatly startled, thinking that what she said might not bode well. Qingmei said, "My mistress has heard that your son is a virtuous man, and I have tested her intentions before coming to speak of this. If a matchmaker goes, the two of us can assist from within, and I believe it will succeed. Even if it is not agreed to, what harm does it do to your son?" Zhang's mother said, "I will follow your advice." She then entrusted the flower-selling woman Hou to go and propose the match. When Lady Wang heard that the Zhang family had come to seek a marriage alliance, she found it amusing and told Wang Jinshi, who also laughed heartily. They summoned Axi and recounted Hou's purpose. Before Axi could reply, Qingmei hastily praised Zhang Sheng's virtues, asserting that he would surely become wealthy and noble in the future. Lady Wang then asked Axi, "This is a matter of lifelong importance for you. If you can endure coarse food and plain living, I will agree to this match on your behalf." Axi lowered her head for a long time, then, gazing at the wall, replied, "Poverty and wealth are all determined by fate. If one's fate is good, poverty will not last long, and the days of plenty will be many. If one's fate is meager, are there not many sons of noble families who end up with not even a foot of land to stand on? Let my parents decide this matter." Initially, Wang Jinshi had summoned Axi to consult her only for amusement, but upon hearing her words, he grew displeased and said, "Do you wish to marry Zhang Sheng?" Axi did not answer; when asked again, she still remained silent. Wang Jinshi said angrily, "You base creature! You have no ambition at all! To think of becoming the wife of a beggar carrying a basket—it is truly shameful!" Axi's face flushed red, her heart heavy with gloom, and she withdrew with tears in her eyes, while the matchmaker had no choice but to flee in haste.
When Qingmei saw that the marriage proposal had failed, she began to consider her own plans. After a few days, she went to see Scholar Zhang in the night. Zhang was reading and asked in surprise where Qingmei had come from. Qingmei stammered in her reply, and Zhang sternly told her to leave. Weeping, Qingmei said, "I am a daughter of a respectable family, not a woman eloping in secret. It is only because I consider you a man of virtue that I am willing to entrust myself to you." Zhang replied, "You love me, saying I am virtuous. But to meet in the dark of night, even a self-respecting person would not do such a thing; do you think a virtuous man would? To begin with impropriety and end in marriage, even a gentleman would deem it unacceptable, let alone if the marriage does not come to pass—how would we face the world?" Qingmei asked, "If by chance the marriage could be arranged, would you be willing to take me in?" Zhang said, "To have a wife like you, what more could I ask? Yet there are three insurmountable difficulties, so I dare not lightly agree." Qingmei inquired, "What are they?" Zhang explained, "You cannot decide for yourself—that is one difficulty; even if you could decide, my parents might not be pleased—that is another; and even if they were pleased, your bride-price would surely be high, and I am too poor to gather the sum—that is the greatest difficulty. Leave quickly; beneath the melon field and the plum tree, suspicion abounds, and gossip is to be feared!" As Qingmei departed, she urged, "If you are willing, let us work together to find a way." Zhang agreed.
When Qingmei returned, Axi asked her where she had been, and she knelt down and confessed to having gone to see Zhang Sheng. Axi was very angry at her elopement and was about to beat her. Qingmei wept and declared that she had done nothing improper, and then told her the truth. Axi sighed in admiration and said, "To refuse a secret union is propriety; to insist on telling your parents is filial piety; not to make promises lightly is faithfulness. Possessing these three virtues, you will surely receive Heaven's blessing, and he need not worry about his poverty." Then she added, "What do you intend to do?" Qingmei replied, "Marry him." Axi laughed and said, "Can a foolish girl decide such matters herself?" Qingmei said, "If not, I would rather die!" Axi said, "I will surely see that your wish is fulfilled." Qingmei knelt and kowtowed in deep gratitude. A few days later, Qingmei said to Axi, "Were your words the other day spoken in jest, or were you truly showing great kindness? If it was true kindness, I have some unspeakable troubles that I beg you to pity as well." Axi asked what the troubles were, and Qingmei replied, "Zhang Sheng cannot come with betrothal gifts, and I have no means to redeem myself; if the full ransom must be paid, then saying I am to marry him is as good as not marrying him." Axi pondered and said, "This is beyond my power. To say I will marry you off might not be proper; but to say the ransom must be waived, my parents will surely not agree, nor dare I speak of it." Upon hearing this, Qingmei's tears flowed like a stream, and she only begged Axi to pity and save her. Axi thought for a long time and said, "There is no other way; I have saved some private money, and I will give all I have to help." Qingmei bowed in thanks and secretly informed Zhang Sheng. Zhang's mother was overjoyed, and through much borrowing and lending, they managed to gather a sum of money, which they stored away, waiting for good news.
It happened that the Presented Scholar Wang was appointed magistrate of Quwo County, and Axi took the opportunity to say to her mother, "Meiqing is already of age, and now that Father is about to assume his post, it would be best to send her away." Lady Wang had long considered Meiqing too clever, fearing she might lead Axi astray, and had often wished to marry her off, only worrying that Axi would not consent; now hearing Axi's words, she was greatly pleased. Two days later, a servant's wife came to convey the intentions of the Zhang family. Presented Scholar Wang laughed and said, "He is only fit to marry a maidservant; his earlier presumption was excessive! But if we sell her to a wealthy household as a concubine, the price should be double the original." Axi quickly stepped forward and said, "Meiqing has served me for a long time; to sell her as a concubine would weigh heavily on my conscience." So Wang sent word to the Zhang family, still accepting the original price and signing the deed of redemption, marrying Meiqing to Zhang Sheng. Upon entering the Zhang household, Meiqing was filial to her parents-in-law, yielding and compliant beyond Zhang Sheng himself, and she managed household affairs with even greater diligence, eating chaff and vegetables without complaint, so that the whole family came to love and respect her. Meiqing also took up embroidery as a trade, selling her work swiftly, with merchants waiting at the door to purchase, fearing they might miss the chance. The money thus earned barely sufficed to meet the family's poverty. She also urged Zhang Sheng not to neglect his studies for the sake of the household, taking upon herself all the care and management of the family. As the master was about to assume his post, Meiqing went to bid farewell to Axi. When Axi saw Meiqing, she wept and said, "You have found a good home; I am truly inferior to you." Meiqing replied, "Who granted this to me? How could I dare forget? But if you consider yourself beneath me, it will shorten my life." And so they parted in sorrowful tears.
Scholar Wang arrived in Shanxi, and half a year later his wife passed away, her coffin placed in a temple. After another two years, Wang was dismissed from office for bribery and fined tens of thousands in restitution, gradually becoming so impoverished he could not support himself, with his servants scattering in all directions. At that time, a great plague broke out, and Scholar Wang also fell ill and died, leaving only an old maidservant to accompany Axi. Not long after, the maidservant also died, leaving Axi even more utterly alone. A neighboring old woman urged Axi to marry, but Axi said, "Whoever can bury my parents for me, I will marry him." The old woman took pity on Axi and brought her a peck of rice before leaving. Half a month later, the old woman returned and said, "I have exhausted my efforts for you, young lady, but the matter remains difficult. The poor cannot afford to bury your parents, and the rich disdain you as the descendant of a fallen family. There is truly no way out! I have another idea, but I fear you may not agree." Axi asked, "What idea?" The old woman said, "There is a certain Li here who seeks a concubine. If he sees your beauty, even if it means a lavish burial, he will surely not begrudge the expense." Axi burst into loud weeping and said, "I am the daughter of an official family—how can I become a concubine!" The old woman said nothing and left. Axi ate only one meal a day, barely clinging to life, waiting for someone to pay for her parents' burial. After half a year, Axi could hardly endure any longer. One day, the old woman came, and Axi wept, saying, "Life is so hard that I often think of suicide, yet I still steal a breath of life only because of these two coffins. If I die, who will gather my parents' bones? So I think it better to follow your suggestion." Thereupon, the old woman led Li to secretly observe Axi, and he was greatly pleased. He immediately paid for the burial, and both thin coffins were interred. Afterward, Li took Axi away in a carriage and had her pay respects to his principal wife. This wife had always been fierce and jealous; Li initially dared not say Axi was a concubine, only claiming she was a purchased maid. But when the wife saw Axi, she flew into a rage, storming and fuming, driving Axi away with a wooden club, refusing to let her enter the door. Axi, with disheveled hair and tears streaming down her face, found herself with no way forward or back.
At this time, an old nun happened to pass by and invited Axi to stay with her. Axi was overjoyed and followed the nun to her nunnery. Upon arriving, Axi begged to have her head shaved and become a nun, but the old nun refused, saying, "I see that you, young lady, are not one destined to remain long in the dusty world. The nunnery offers only coarse tea and plain meals, but it can barely sustain us. You may lodge here for a while and await your fate. When the time comes, you will naturally leave." Not long after, some idle ruffians in the city, seeing Axi's beauty, often came knocking at the door, uttering lewd words for their amusement, and the old nun could not stop them. Axi wept bitterly and wished to take her own life. The old nun then went to plead with a certain official from the Ministry of Personnel to post a notice strictly forbidding such behavior, and the young scoundrels only then somewhat restrained themselves. Later, one night someone drilled a hole in the nunnery wall; the old nun discovered it and shouted loudly, causing the intruder to flee. Thereupon, the old nun again reported the matter to the Ministry, and the chief culprit was captured and sent to the prefectural yamen for a flogging, after which peace gradually returned.
After another year had passed, a noble young gentleman passed by the nunnery and, catching sight of Axi, was utterly captivated by her beauty. He pressed the old nun to convey his intentions and bribed her generously. The old nun tactfully told him, "She is the descendant of an official family and is unwilling to be a concubine. Please return for now, and I will give you an answer shortly." After the noble gentleman left, Axi resolved to take poison and end her life. That very night, she dreamed of her father, who came to her with deep remorse, saying, "I failed to fulfill your wishes, and it has brought you to this state—regret is too late. But wait only a short while; do not die, for your long-cherished desire may yet be realized." Axi was greatly astonished. At dawn, after washing and dressing, the old nun looked at Axi and exclaimed in surprise, "I see that the turbid aura has completely left your face; the young gentleman's insolence need no longer trouble you. Fortune is about to arrive—do not forget me." Hardly had she finished speaking when a knock came at the door. Axi's face turned pale, thinking it must be a servant from the nobleman's household. The old nun opened the door, and indeed it was so. The servant bluntly asked how the matter was progressing. The old nun replied with kind words and polite apologies, only requesting a three-day delay. The servant relayed the nobleman's words: if the matter was not settled, the old nun herself must come to report. The old nun respectfully agreed, expressed her apologies, and sent the servant away. Axi was overcome with grief and again thought of suicide, but the old nun dissuaded her. Axi worried that when the servant returned in three days, she would have no answer, but the old nun said, "As long as I am here, whether it be beheading or killing, I will bear it all."
The next day, just as the hour of Shen arrived, a torrential downpour began, and suddenly they heard several people knocking at the gate, with a clamor of voices. Axi, thinking some mishap had occurred, was both startled and frightened, at a loss for what to do. The old nun opened the temple gate in the rain and saw a sedan chair parked before the entrance, with several maidservants helping a beautiful woman alight; the attendants were imposing, and the carriage and horses were all quite luxurious. The old nun asked in surprise who the visitors were, and they replied, "This is the family of the Judicial Officer, come here to take shelter from the wind and rain." The old nun led the lady and her party into the main hall, brought out chairs, and invited the lady to be seated. The rest of the household women and maids rushed straight into the meditation room, each seeking a place to rest. Upon entering the room, they saw Axi and, finding her exceedingly beautiful, ran back to inform the lady. Soon, the rain ceased, and the lady rose to request a look at the meditation room. The old nun led the lady into the room, and when the lady saw Axi, she was greatly astonished, staring at her without blinking, while Axi also scrutinized the lady for a long time. It turned out that the lady was none other than Qingmei. Both women burst into tears, and Qingmei then recounted her own story. It happened that Zhang's father had died of illness, and after Zhang Sheng completed his mourning period, he passed the provincial and metropolitan examinations in succession and was appointed Judicial Officer. Zhang Sheng first escorted his mother to take up the post, then came to fetch his family. Axi sighed and said, "Looking at you and me today, the difference is greater than between heaven and earth!" Qingmei smiled and said, "It is fortunate that Miss has suffered repeated setbacks and not married; this is Heaven's will that we two should be reunited. If not for this rainstorm blocking our way, how could we have met by chance today? In all this, there is the aid of ghosts and spirits, not something human effort could achieve." Qingmei then brought out a pearl-studded crown and brocade garments, urging Axi to change her attire. Axi lowered her head in hesitation, and the old nun joined in urging her on Qingmei's behalf. Axi worried that living with Qingmei would be improper in terms of status, but Qingmei said, "In the past, there was a fixed order of precedence; how could I dare forget your great virtue? Think again of Zhang Sheng—how could he be an unrighteous man?" So she compelled Axi to change clothes, bid farewell to the old nun, and they departed together.
Upon arriving at the official residence, the Zhang family mother and son were overjoyed. Axi knelt and said, "Today I have no face to see my aunt!" The Zhang mother, beaming with smiles, comforted her, and thereafter they discussed selecting an auspicious day for the wedding. Axi said, "If only there had been a single path of survival in the nunnery, I would not have followed you here. If you recall our past friendship, grant me a thatched hut where I may place my meditation cushion, and I shall be content." Qingmei merely smiled and said nothing. On the wedding day, Qingmei arrived bearing splendid attire, and Axi was torn with indecision, not knowing what to do. Soon the sound of drums and flutes filled the air, and Axi could no longer control her own fate. Qingmei led a group of maids, old and young, to forcibly dress Axi and escort her out. Axi saw Zhang Sheng, clad in court robes, bowing to her, and she could not help but gracefully bow in return. Then Qingmei pulled Axi into the bridal chamber, saying, "This seat has been left empty for you for a long time." Turning to Zhang Sheng, she said, "Tonight you can repay your debt of gratitude; treat her well." She then turned to leave, but Axi grabbed her sleeve. Qingmei laughed and said, "Do not detain me; this is something that cannot be replaced." She pried open Axi's fingers and departed. Qingmei served Axi with great respect, not daring to take the place of the principal wife in the marriage bed, yet Axi remained deeply uneasy. Thus, the Zhang mother ordered that both be addressed as "Lady," but Qingmei always observed the rites of a concubine, never slackening. Three years later, Zhang Sheng was transferred to the capital. Passing by the nunnery, he offered the old nun five hundred taels of silver, but she refused. He insisted, and she accepted two hundred taels, using them to build a temple to Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and erected a stele inscribed with the name of Lady Wang. Later, Zhang Sheng rose to the rank of Vice Minister. Lady Cheng, Qingmei, bore him two sons and one daughter; Lady Wang, Axi, bore him four sons and one daughter. Zhang Sheng submitted a memorial recounting these events, and both women were granted the title of Lady.
The Chronicler of Strange Tales remarks: Heaven bestows beautiful women to reward the virtuous and renowned, yet worldly nobles hoard them for pampered sons of privilege. This is a contest the Creator must inevitably join. The affairs are so bizarre that matchmakers exhaust their schemes, and Heaven's intentions are profoundly intricate. Only Lady Qingmei could recognize a hero in his time of distress, pledging herself to Scholar Zhang with a vow unto death; while those once robed in dignity abandoned worthy talent to pursue wealth and status—how is it that their discernment falls beneath that of a maidservant?
Commentary
This is a story about the maidservant Qingmei and the young lady Axi, who independently chose their own husbands, both marrying the impoverished scholar Zhang Sheng, and after several twists and turns, ultimately attained a blissful life.
Pu Songling believed that selecting a son-in-law required discernment, and could not be based on wealth or poverty; the standard for choosing a son-in-law was "a nature of pure filial piety, conduct without negligence, and a deep devotion to learning." This standard was, in fact, a vindication for poor scholars, including Pu Songling himself, in matters of marriage. According to Pu Songling's "Account of Liu's Conduct," in his early years, his own marriage nearly fell through due to his family's poverty, but fortunately, his father-in-law Liu Jidiao had the foresight to insist, and thus the marriage was accomplished. This had a profound impact on Pu Songling's psyche and even his literary creations. Apart from the tale "Green Plum," "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" contains many other stories that champion the cause of poor scholars in marriage. Of course, that these poor scholars later rose to prominence, not disappointing the favor of the beautiful ladies, was merely Pu Songling's romantic imagination.
The first half of the tale depicts Qingmei's unyielding determination to marry Scholar Zhang, while the second half recounts Axi's arduous journey to finally achieve her heart's desire, both guided by Qingmei's lead, "with such intricate twists and turns that the matchmaker's endless efforts and the Creator's painstaking design are fully revealed," showcasing the author's masterful storytelling skill and lending a legendary quality to the narrative. However, because the author intended to impart moral lessons, certain plot points feel forced. For instance, in the first half, Qingmei's observation of Zhang's filial piety strains credibility, as such acts of devotion could not have occurred simultaneously, nor could she have witnessed him "embracing his father in private"; in the second half, Qingmei's character lacks authenticity, and her line, "I have kept this seat vacant for you for so long," stems entirely from Pu Songling's hierarchical mindset, where a maidservant must abide by the status of a concubine. Conversely, although Qingmei's mother is described with only a few strokes, she emerges as sincere and endearing, leaving a far more lasting impression.