Original Text
Peng Haogu, a scholar of Laizhou, was studying in a villa far from home. By the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival, he had not yet returned, and having no companion, he felt deeply lonely. He thought that there was no one in the village with whom he could converse, except for a certain Qiu Sheng, a local celebrity, who, however, harbored secret vices unknown to others, and whom Peng always held in contempt. After the moon had risen high in the sky, his boredom grew unbearable, and compelled by necessity, he wrote a note inviting Qiu Sheng to join him. As the two were drinking, someone knocked at the door. The servant boy went to open it and saw a scholar who wished to see the master. Peng left the feast, respectfully invited the guest inside, and they exchanged bows before sitting around the wine table. Peng then asked the scholar his surname and place of origin. The scholar said, "I am from Guangling, of the same surname as you, with the style name Haiqiu. On this fine night, staying in an inn, I felt utterly forlorn. Hearing of your refined character, I came unbidden to pay my respects." Peng observed the scholar closely; he wore clean linen garments, and his speech and laughter were elegant and cultured. Overjoyed, Peng said, "We are of the same clan! What auspicious day is this, to meet such a distinguished guest!" He then ordered wine for Peng Haiqiu and treated him like an old friend. Noticing that Peng Haiqiu seemed to hold Qiu Sheng in great disdain, and that Qiu Sheng tried to ingratiate himself with Haiqiu but was met with cold arrogance, Peng felt embarrassed for Qiu Sheng. He interrupted their exchange and proposed to sing a folk song to enliven the drinking. Gazing at the vast sky, he cleared his throat and sang "The Song of the Gallant Scholar of Fufeng," whereupon the company laughed and rejoiced together.
Peng Haiqiu said, "I cannot sing, so I cannot harmonize with your refined tune. Let me ask someone to sing on my behalf, if that is acceptable." Peng Haogu replied, "As you wish." Peng Haiqiu then asked, "Are there any celebrated courtesans in Laizhou City?" Peng Haogu answered, "There are none." Peng Haiqiu was silent for a long while, then said to his page boy, "I have just summoned a person who is waiting outside the door. You may bring her in." The page boy went out through the gate and indeed saw a young woman pacing to and fro outside. He led her inside. She was about sixteen years of age, somewhat older, and as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Peng Haogu gasped in admiration and quickly helped her to a seat. The woman wore a willow-yellow shawl, and her fragrance wafted through the entire gathering. Peng Haiqiu immediately greeted her with concern, saying, "I have troubled you to travel a thousand li!" The woman smiled and acknowledged his words. Peng Haogu was greatly astonished and wished to inquire further. Peng Haiqiu said, "It is a pity that your esteemed region lacks a beauty, so I have just summoned her from a boat on West Lake." Turning to the woman, he said, "The song 'The Unfaithful Lover' that you sang in the boat earlier was excellent. Please sing it once more." The woman sang: "The unfaithful lover, leading his horse to wash in the spring marsh. The sound of people fades, the horse's steps grow faint; the river and sky are vast, the mountain moon is small. He turns his head and goes, never to return; white dawn rises in the courtyard. I do not resent the many partings, but only grieve that joyful meetings are few. Where do you sleep? Do not be like the willow fluff drifting in the wind. Even if you are not enfeoffed as a marquis, do not go to Linqiong!" Peng Haiqiu took a jade flute from his knee-high socks and played along with her song. When the song ended, the flute ceased. Peng Haogu marveled and said, "From West Lake to this place, it is no less than a thousand li, yet you could summon her so swiftly. Could you be an immortal?" Peng Haiqiu replied, "I dare not claim to be an immortal, but I regard ten thousand li as no farther than my own courtyard. Tonight, the clear breeze and bright moon over West Lake are more beautiful than usual, and I cannot miss the chance to view them. Would you accompany me?" Peng Haogu, eager to witness Peng Haiqiu's extraordinary abilities, agreed, saying, "It would be my great honor." Peng Haiqiu asked, "Shall we go by boat or on horseback?" Peng Haogu thought that traveling by boat would be more comfortable, so he replied, "I would prefer to go by boat." Peng Haiqiu said, "Summoning a boat from here is rather far, but there should be a ferryboat on the Milky Way." He then waved his hand toward the sky and called out, "Boat, come quickly! Boat, come quickly! We wish to go to West Lake and will pay generously." Shortly thereafter, a colorful boat descended from the sky, drifting down amid swirling clouds and mist. Everyone boarded the vessel. On board was a man holding a short oar, the tip of which was bound with dense, long feathers, resembling a feather fan. As he rowed, a gentle breeze arose. The colorful boat gradually rose into the clouds, sailing southward with the speed of an arrow.
After some time, the boat settled upon the water. Only then did he hear the strains of pipes and strings rising from all sides, mingled with the clamor of human voices. Peng Haogu stepped out of the cabin to look, and saw a bright moon reflected upon the misty waves, while pleasure boats crowded together like a bustling market. The boatman ceased his oars and let the painted vessel drift with the current. Gazing more closely, he realized this was truly West Lake. Peng Haiqiu brought out fine wine and exquisite dishes from the rear cabin, and cheerfully bade all to drink together. Before long, a storied barge gradually drew near their painted boat, sailing alongside it. Peering through the window into the barge, he saw two or three people seated around a chessboard, playing noisily with loud laughter. Peng Haiqiu handed a cup of wine to the woman, saying, "Use this cup to see you off." As the woman drank, Peng Haogu grew reluctant to part, pacing back and forth, fearing she might leave; he secretly nudged her with his foot, and she cast sidelong glances at him in return. Peng Haogu's passion deepened, and he begged to arrange a future meeting. The woman said, "If you truly cherish me, merely inquire after the name Juan Niang, and none will fail to know it." Peng Haiqiu then took a silk handkerchief belonging to Peng Haogu and gave it to the woman, saying, "I shall pledge a covenant for you to meet again in three years." He then rose, lifted the woman in his palm, and said, "Immortal! Immortal!" He pried open the window of the neighboring boat and thrust her inside. The window opening was the size of a plate, yet the woman crouched and slithered through like a serpent, finding no narrowness at all. Soon, a voice from the neighboring boat was heard saying, "Juan Niang has awakened." The barge immediately sailed away. Peng Haogu watched from afar as the barge moored at the shore, and the people within dispersed one by one; his pleasure in the outing instantly vanished. He then told Peng Haiqiu that he wished to go ashore and take a brief stroll with him.
No sooner had the suggestion been made than the painted boat had already drawn to shore. Peng Haogu then left the painted boat and strolled along, feeling that he had walked over a li. Peng Haiqin caught up from behind, leading a horse, which he handed to Peng Haogu to hold, then departed once more, saying, "Wait while I borrow two more horses." But he went for a long time and did not return. By then, the passersby had become very few; Peng Haogu looked up and saw that the moon had already tilted westward, and the sky was about to show the first light of dawn. Qiu Sheng had also vanished without a trace. Peng Haogu held the horse and paced back and forth, caught between advancing and retreating. He urged the horse to the place where the boat had been moored, but both the man and the boat were nowhere to be seen. Thinking that he had no money in his purse, he grew even more anxious and distressed. When it was fully light, Peng Haogu noticed a small embroidered pouch of gold thread on the horse's back; reaching in, he felt three or four taels of silver. He then bought some food and waited attentively, and before he knew it, it was nearly noon. He thought it better to go and inquire after Juan Niang for a while, so he could slowly learn of Qiu Sheng's whereabouts. But when he asked for Juan Niang's name, no one knew it, and he felt utterly disheartened. The next day, he mounted the horse and set off. Fortunately, the horse was very gentle and its strength was not weak; after half a month of travel, he finally returned home.
When Peng Haogu and the other two ascended to heaven by boat, the servant boy returned home and reported, "The master has become an immortal and departed." The entire family wept with grief, believing he would never return. After Peng Haogu came home, he tethered his horse, entered the gate, and his family, both startled and overjoyed, gathered around to inquire about the circumstances. Only then did he recount his extraordinary experiences one by one. Thinking that he had returned alone, he feared that the Qiu family would learn of it and inquire about Qiusheng's whereabouts, so he warned his family not to spread the news. As they spoke, they came to the origin of the horse, and everyone assumed it was a steed left by an immortal, so they all went to the stable to see. When they arrived at the stable, the horse had vanished without a trace; only Qiusheng was tied by the reins to the manger. Greatly alarmed, they called Peng Haogu to look. There was Qiusheng in the stable, head bowed, face ashen, unresponsive to questions, merely opening and closing his eyes. Peng Haogu, unable to bear it, untied the reins and helped Qiusheng to a bed, where he seemed as if his soul had fled. Feeding him some thin gruel, he managed to swallow a little. By midnight, he had somewhat revived and urgently needed to go to the privy. Peng Haogu supported him there, and he passed several horse-dung pellets. After drinking a bit more gruel, he could finally speak. Peng Haogu, by the bedside, pressed for details. Qiusheng said, "After disembarking, Peng Haiqiu sought me out for idle talk. When we reached a secluded spot, he playfully patted my neck, and I felt dazed, collapsing to the ground. Lying there for a moment, I looked at myself and saw I had become a horse. My mind was still clear, but I could not speak. This is a great shame, truly not something my wife and children should know; I beg you not to reveal it!" Peng Haogu readily agreed, sending servants and a carriage to escort him home. From then on, Peng Haogu could not forget Juan Niang.
After three years, because his brother-in-law had taken up the post of Tongpan in Yangzhou, Peng Haogu went to visit him. In Yangzhou there was a young master named Liang, who was a family friend of Peng Haogu's, and he hosted a banquet in Peng's honor. At the feast, several singing girls came forward to pay their respects. Master Liang asked why Juan Niang had not come, and a servant reported that she was ill. Master Liang said angrily, "That wench thinks herself too high and mighty; she can be brought here bound with ropes!" When Peng Haogu heard the name Juan Niang, he was startled and asked who she was. Master Liang replied, "She is a courtesan, the foremost beauty of Yangzhou. Because she has a bit of a reputation, she has grown insolent and rude." Peng Haogu suspected it might be a mere coincidence of names, but his heart began to pound wildly, and he yearned greatly to meet this Juan Niang. Before long, Juan Niang arrived, and Master Liang, his face full of fury, berated her harshly. Peng Haogu looked at her closely and saw that she was indeed the Juan Niang he had met on Mid-Autumn Festival, so he said to Master Liang, "This person and I have a past acquaintance; I earnestly beg you to show her leniency." Juan Niang glanced carefully at Peng Haogu and seemed equally astonished. Master Liang, without time to inquire further, ordered Juan Niang to serve wine to the guests in turn. Peng Haogu asked, "Do you still remember the 'Song of the Heartless Lover'?" Juan Niang was even more alarmed, gazing at him for a long while before she began to sing that old tune. Her voice was just as it had been on that Mid-Autumn Festival night. After the wine, Master Liang ordered Juan Niang to accompany Peng Haogu to bed. Peng Haogu took her hand and said, "Has the vow to meet again after three years finally come true today?" Juan Niang said, "Last time, I went with someone to tour West Lake, and after a few cups of wine, I suddenly felt as if drunk. While I was in a daze, a man took me away and set me down in a village. A pageboy led me into a house, where there were three men at a feast, and you were one of them. Later, I boarded a boat to West Lake, and from the window lattice, I was sent back to you, and you clasped my hand with deep affection. Whenever I ponder this scene, I think it must have been a dream, but the silk handkerchief remains, and even now I keep it wrapped layer upon layer, carefully treasured." Peng Haogu told Juan Niang the whole story, and the two of them sighed with emotion. Juan Niang threw herself into Peng Haogu's arms, sobbing, "The immortal has already acted as our good matchmaker; you must not think that a woman of the dust can be casually cast aside, and forget me, one trapped in a sea of suffering!" Peng Haogu said, "The vow made on the boat I have never forgotten for a single day. If you are willing to follow me, I would exhaust my entire purse and sell my horse, and I would not begrudge it!" The next morning, Peng Haogu told Master Liang of their history, then borrowed money from his brother-in-law, the Tongpan, and used a thousand taels of silver to remove Juan Niang's name from the register of courtesans, taking her back home. When they occasionally returned to the villa, Juan Niang could still recognize the place where they had once drunk wine.
The Historian of the Strange remarks: A horse is transformed from a man—surely this man's conduct was like that of a beast, and turning him into a horse is precisely to lament that he could not live up to being human. Lions, elephants, cranes, and rocs all submit to the whip and rein; how can it be said that this is not the divine one's benevolence toward them? The covenant to meet again after three years was also meant to ferry a man out of the sea of suffering.
Commentary
This narrative recounts the extraordinary encounter of the scholar Peng Haogu with the immortal Peng Haiqiu during a journey to West Lake. The four principal characters are: Peng Haogu, who "studied in a separate estate quite far from home"; the local notable Qiu Sheng, who "harbored hidden vices"; Peng Haiqiu, who arrived uninvited, dressed in clean plain clothes, with a refined and charming demeanor; and the courtesan Juan Niang, who wore a willow-yellow cape and appeared as ethereal as a celestial being. The scenes shift several times: first in Laizhou, then at West Lake, three years later in Yangzhou, and finally back to Laizhou. Whether it was Peng Haogu, driven by utter boredom, "sending an invitation to Qiu," or the immortal conjuring a journey to West Lake, or the tender affection shared with the courtesan Juan Niang, these scenes and moods are likely interwoven with Pu Songling's own experiences, exuding a pervasive sense of helpless loneliness.
The most splendid part of the tale is the description of the group riding a colorful boat to West Lake: "A painted vessel descended from the void, wreathed in mist and clouds. All boarded it, and saw a man holding a short oar, its end densely set with long feathers, shaped like a feather fan. With a single stroke, a refreshing breeze arose. The boat gradually rose into the clouds, heading southward as swift as an arrow. After a while, the boat descended onto the water." Romantic, magnificent, and quite akin to a spaceship, this passage showcases Pu Songling's extraordinary imagination.