Original Text
Xie Zhongtiao of Longmen was a frivolous and licentious man of bad conduct. When he was over thirty, his wife died, leaving him with two sons and a daughter, whose constant crying and wailing from morning to night caused him endless trouble and suffering. He wished to remarry but could find no suitable match, so he temporarily hired an old maid to look after the children. One day, as Xie was walking slowly along a mountain path, a woman suddenly appeared behind him. He slowed his pace and stole a glance, seeing that she was a beautiful woman of about twenty. Filled with desire, he teased her, saying, "Madam, are you not afraid to travel alone?" The woman continued walking without replying. He added, "With such delicate steps, this mountain road must be hard for you." Still, she did not look at him. Seeing no one else around, Xie approached her, suddenly seized her wrist, and dragged her into a deep valley, intending to force himself on her. The woman angrily shouted, "What bandit is this, daring to bully me so savagely!" Xie pulled and tugged, continuing onward without stopping. The woman stumbled awkwardly, utterly embarrassed and at a loss, so she said, "If you seek intimacy, is this the way? Release me, and I will yield to you." Xie did as she asked. They entered a secluded valley together, and after their union, they grew fond of each other. The woman asked Xie his residence and name, and he told her truthfully. Then he asked her the same, and she said, "My surname is Li. Unhappily, my husband died young, and my mother-in-law also passed away, leaving me alone with no one to rely on, so I often return to my maiden home." Xie said, "I too have lost my wife. Could you live with me?" The woman asked, "Do you have children?" Xie replied, "To be honest, I have had many lovers in the bedchamber, but the crying of my children is unbearable." The woman hesitated and said, "This is most difficult! Judging by the style of your clothes and shoes, you are but ordinary, and I believe I could manage the sewing. But a stepmother's lot is hard, and I fear I could not bear people's reproach." Xie said, "Please do not worry so much. I myself will say nothing; how can others interfere?" Li seemed somewhat agreeable, but then worriedly said, "Since you have already touched my skin, why would I not consent? But I have a domineering elder brother who always regards me as a rare commodity to be hoarded; I fear he will not let us have our way. What then?" Xie also grew anxious and planned for Li to secretly flee to his home. Li said, "I have thought this over thoroughly. But I fear that if my family once leaks the secret, it will harm us both." Xie said, "This is a small matter. There is only an old maid in my house, and I will dismiss her at once." Li appeared pleased and went home with Xie. Li first hid in an outer room, while Xie went inside, dismissed the old maid, then cleaned the bed and welcomed Li, and they were doubly affectionate. Li immediately took charge of the household, mending and sewing for the children with great diligence. Xie, having obtained Li, doted on her excessively, closing the gate each day to stay with her, and no longer associating with outsiders.
After a month or so, Xie Zhongtiao happened to go out on official business, locking the door behind him as he left. When he returned home, he found the inner door tightly shut, and though he knocked, no one answered. Forcing the door open, he saw no one inside. As he was about to enter the bedchamber, a large wolf burst out, nearly frightening him to death. Entering the room, he discovered that his son and daughter were both gone, the floor stained with blood, and only three human heads remained. Turning back to pursue the wolf, it had already vanished without a trace.
The Chronicler of the Strange remarks: When a scholar behaves improperly, the retribution he suffers is indeed severe. All those who remarry are inviting wolves into their homes, let alone those who seek a virtuous wife through illicit unions and elopements!
Commentary
Although the stories depict sexual relations between men and female ghosts or fox spirits, there is a clear distinction in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio between forming a sexual partnership and entering into marriage. Marriage implies bearing children and establishing connections with the family and clan, while a sexual partnership is merely a physical bond between a man and a woman. Such partnerships in the collection are divided into two types: those of scholar-officials and those of rustic swineherds in the mountains. The former occur in the study, regarded as romantic dalliances, while the latter take place in the wild fields and dewy grass, considered vulgar and base, unworthy of a scholar-official. Most of the sexual encounters in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio reflect the tastes of the scholar-official class. These can evolve into marriage, allowing for offspring and familial ties, but the wild-field encounters often remain fruitless blossoms, with the women frequently being evil apparitions, ending in tragedy. Thus, Pu Songling remarks in the Historian's Commentary that one cannot seek a virtuous wife amidst illicit unions in the wilderness. This story and the following one, The Lotus Maiden, serve as annotations to this point.
Regarding the statement "Those who remarry are all inviting wolves into their homes," this tale carries an allegorical nature. Yet this judgment not only fails to align with social reality but also does not represent Pu Songling's rational and comprehensive thoughts on this matter. For instance, in the chapter "Slender Willow" from Volume Seven, Pu Songling crafted the image of a virtuous and wise stepmother.