Original Text
Zhang Xuyi, a native of Laiwu, was the second elder brother of Zhang Daoyi, the Education Commissioner of Shanxi, and was by nature bold and unrestrained. Hearing that a certain residence in his county was inhabited by a fox, he respectfully prepared a visiting card and went to call, hoping to meet the creature face to face. He slipped the card through the crack of the door, and after a while, the door opened of its own accord. His servant was greatly startled and retreated in fear, but Zhang adjusted his robes and entered with reverence. Inside the hall, he saw tables and couches clearly arranged, yet all was silent with no human figure in sight. He bowed and prayed, saying, "I, a humble scholar, have come fasting; since the immortal has not barred me from entering, why not grant me the honor of beholding your countenance?" Suddenly, from the empty room, a voice replied, "You have troubled yourself to come, a rare step indeed in this desolate valley. Pray be seated and speak." Immediately, two seats moved of their own accord to face each other. As he sat down, a carved red lacquer tray bearing two cups of tea appeared suspended before him. They each took a cup and drank facing each other, the sounds of sipping audible, yet no person was visible. After tea, wine was served. Zhang inquired in detail about the host's lineage, and the voice answered, "Your younger brother's surname is Hu, and I am called the Fourth Master, as is the common custom." They then toasted each other and conversed, finding their interests and temperaments remarkably congenial. The dishes served were delicacies of turtle and venison, seasoned with spices and pungent herbs. It seemed many small servants passed the wine and dishes. When Zhang grew thirsty after drinking, the moment the thought arose, fragrant tea was placed on the table. Whatever he desired appeared instantly at the mere thought. Zhang was overjoyed and drank to his heart's content before returning home. From then on, Zhang visited Hu the Fourth Master every three to five days, and Hu often came to Zhang's house as well, always observing the proper rites of host and guest.
One day, Zhang Xuyi asked Hu Si Gongzi, "In the southern city there is a witch who daily pretends to cure illnesses by invoking the fox spirit, cheating patients out of their money. Do you happen to know the fox in her house?" Hu Si Gongzi replied, "She is speaking falsely; in truth, there is no fox in her home." After a short pause, Zhang Xuyi rose to relieve himself and heard someone whisper, "The fox witch of the southern city just mentioned—I wonder who she is. I, your humble servant, wish to accompany you, sir, to investigate, and I beg you to speak to my master about it." Zhang Xuyi, knowing it was the little fox speaking, agreed, saying, "Very well." Then, at the feast, he petitioned Hu Si Gongzi, "I wish to take one or two of your attendants to go and probe the truth of the fox witch; I humbly ask you to give the order." Hu Si Gongzi firmly insisted it was unnecessary. Zhang Xuyi pleaded repeatedly, and at last Hu Si Gongzi consented. Shortly after, Zhang Xuyi stepped out the door, and a horse came of its own accord to his side, as if someone were leading it. As he rode on the road, the little fox conversed with him all the way, saying, "Hereafter, sir, if you feel fine sand falling on your lapel while traveling, know that it is we who are following you."
As they spoke, they entered the city and arrived at the sorceress's home. Seeing Zhang Xuyi approach, the sorceress greeted him with a smiling face, saying, "Why has the noble one come so suddenly?" Zhang Xuyi replied, "I heard that your fox spirit is quite efficacious—is that true?" The sorceress's expression turned stern as she said, "Such frivolous words should not be spoken by a noble one! How can you call it a fox spirit? I fear my Hua Jie will be displeased to hear it!" Before she finished speaking, half a brick flew through the air, striking the sorceress on the arm, causing her to stagger and nearly fall. Startled, she said to Zhang Xuyi, "Sir, why did you strike me with a brick?" Zhang Xuyi laughed and said, "Old woman, you are blind! When did you see your own forehead broken, yet you blame an innocent bystander?" The sorceress was stunned, not knowing where the brick had come from. While she was still bewildered, another stone fell, hitting her and knocking her to the ground. Then mud and filth rained down, smearing her face like a demon's, and she could only wail and beg for mercy. Zhang Xuyi pleaded for her to be spared, and the assault ceased. The sorceress hastily fled into the house, bolting the door, not daring to come out. Zhang Xuyi called out loudly to her, "Is your fox a match for mine?" The sorceress could only apologize and admit her fault. Zhang Xuyi looked up at the sky and admonished his own fox not to harm her further, whereupon the sorceress tremblingly emerged from the house. Zhang Xuyi laughed and gently admonished her, then rose and departed.
From then on, whenever Zhang Xuyi walked alone on the road and heard the fine sand rustling down, he would call out to the fox to converse, and the fox would always answer, never failing. He felt no fear of tigers, wolves, or bandits, relying on this protection. Thus passed more than a year, and Zhang Xuyi's friendship with Fourth Master Hu grew even deeper. Once he asked Fourth Master Hu's age, but the fox himself could not recall, only saying, "I saw Huang Chao's rebellion as if it happened yesterday." One evening, as Zhang Xuyi and Fourth Master Hu were talking, a sudden rustling sound came from the wall, very loud, and Zhang Xuyi was startled. Fourth Master Hu said, "This must be my elder brother." Zhang Xuyi asked, "Why not invite him to sit with us?" Fourth Master Hu replied, "His cultivation is shallow; catching a chicken to eat is enough to satisfy him." Zhang Xuyi then said to Fourth Master Hu, "A friendship as close as ours can be said to have no regrets. Yet never being able to see your face is truly a pity." Fourth Master Hu answered, "As long as our bond is strong, why must we meet face to face?" One day, Fourth Master Hu prepared a feast to invite Zhang Xuyi and also to bid him farewell. Zhang Xuyi asked, "Where are you going?" Fourth Master Hu said, "I was born in Shaanxi and am now returning home. You have often regretted not being able to see me; now let me show myself so that you may recognize the friend you have known for years." Zhang Xuyi looked around but saw nothing. Fourth Master Hu said, "Open the door to the inner chamber, and I will be there." Zhang Xuyi did as told, pushed open the door, and saw a handsome young man inside, smiling at him, dressed neatly with clear brows and bright eyes, who vanished in an instant. Zhang Xuyi turned back, and footsteps followed him, saying, "Today I have finally relieved your regret." Zhang Xuyi was reluctant to part, but Fourth Master Hu said, "Meetings and partings are fated; why dwell on them?" He then urged Zhang Xuyi to drink from large cups, and they drank until midnight, when he saw Zhang Xuyi home with a gauze lantern. At dawn, Zhang Xuyi went to visit, but found only a cold, empty house.
Later, when Mr. Zhang Daoyi served as the Education Commissioner of Sichuan, Zhang Xuyi remained as impoverished as ever, so he went to visit his younger brother, harboring hopes of receiving generous gifts. After more than a month, when he returned home, his initial expectations fell far short. Riding on his horse, he sighed deeply, utterly disheartened and as motionless as a wooden puppet. Suddenly, a young man riding a green horse followed behind him. Zhang Xuyi turned his head to look and saw that the youth was dressed in light furs and rode a plump horse, appearing quite luxurious and refined in demeanor, so he began to chat with him. The young man noticed Zhang Xuyi's great displeasure and asked the reason for it. Zhang Xuyi then, with long sighs, told the young man the cause, and the youth offered him some words of comfort. They traveled together for over a mile until they reached a fork in the road, where the young man bowed and said, "Ahead on the road, there is someone who will give you a gift from an old friend. Please accept it with a smile." Zhang Xuyi wanted to ask further, but the young man simply spurred his horse and galloped away. Zhang Xuyi was baffled. After traveling another two or three li, Zhang Xuyi saw an old servant holding a small bamboo box, who presented it before his horse, saying, "Master Hu the Fourth respectfully sends this to you, sir." Zhang Xuyi suddenly understood completely. He took the box and opened it, finding it filled with silver. When he looked again for the old servant, he had already vanished without a trace.
Commentary
This chapter and "The Fox Concubine" in Volume Three can be considered companion pieces, both connected to Zhang Daoyi. The difference lies in that "The Fox Concubine" depicts a female, while "Fourth Master Hu" is a relatively rare lengthy portrayal of a male fox, describing Fourth Master Hu as gentle and refined, generous and kind, elegant in demeanor, and deeply valuing friendship. The story concentrates on four incidents.
The first incident describes Zhang Xuyi seeking an audience with Fourth Master Hu, where the two exchange pleasantries and Fourth Master Hu entertains him with lavish hospitality, reflecting the etiquette of the Ming and Qing dynasty scholar-official class. The second incident recounts Fourth Master Hu allowing a young fox to accompany Zhang Xuyi in "exposing fraud," satirizing the ugly behavior of a female shaman who profited by falsely claiming the fox's name. The third incident depicts Fourth Master Hu bidding a reluctant farewell to Zhang Xuyi and, at Zhang's request, revealing his true form as a handsome youth. The fourth incident tells of Fourth Master Hu meeting Zhang Xuyi, who remained as poor as ever, after years of separation; not forgetting their old friendship, he bestows money to aid him, mocking Zhang Xuyi's younger brother Zhang Daoyi, a provincial examiner, for his stinginess and heartlessness. Beyond the main narrative, interspersed and supplementary accounts detail Fourth Master Hu's age, birthplace, spiritual cultivation, and appearance, rendering his image with a robust trunk and flourishing branches, flesh and blood, exceedingly vivid and complete.
Unlike other fox-spirit tales in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Master Hu the Fourth rarely appears in physical form or seductive guise; instead, he remains invisible and intangible, his actions rendered in a virtual and magical manner, showcasing Pu Songling's extraordinary imagination and stylistic versatility.