Original Text
Xu Jichang was a native of Linzi in Shandong, living at Mofang Village east of the city. Having failed in his studies, he became a minor clerk. One day, while visiting his father-in-law, he passed through the Yu family cemetery. Returning drunk at dusk, he saw magnificent towers and pavilions, with an old man sitting at the gate. Thirsty, Xu Jichang bowed and asked for water. The old man rose, invited him inside, led him to a hall, and gave him drink. After he drank, the old man said, "It is dark and the road is hard; stay the night and leave at dawn, what say you?" Xu, already weary, agreed. The old man then ordered refreshments prepared, and said, "I have a word, do not think me rash: your family is pure and noble, fit for marriage. I have a young daughter, still unwed, and wish to give her to you; I hope you will not refuse." Xu, startled and uneasy, knew not how to answer. The old man then sent word to all relatives and bade his daughter adorn herself. Soon, four or five men in scholar's robes arrived, and then the girl emerged, radiant and peerless in beauty. They took their seats, drank, and conversed. Xu, bewitched by her, longed only for bed. After several rounds, he pleaded exhaustion and refused more wine. The old man then had a maid lead the couple into the bedchamber, where they rested together. Xu asked the girl's family name; she said, "My surname is Xiao, and I am the seventh child." When he pressed further about her lineage, she said, "Though my birth is humble, I am no disgrace to a clerk; why must you pry so endlessly?" Xu, lost in her beauty, grew intimate and ceased to doubt. The girl said, "This place is not for long. I know your sister at home is gentle and kind, and will not hinder us. Go back and prepare a room; soon I will come to you." Xu promised, and, embracing her, soon fell asleep.
When he awoke, his embrace was empty. By then it was already broad daylight; the pine branches and leaves shaded the sun, and beneath him lay a layer of millet stalks over a foot thick. Startled and frightened, he sighed and returned home, telling his wife everything that had happened. His wife joked with him, actually sweeping out a room, setting up a bed, closing the door, and coming out, saying, "Tonight, the bride will arrive." With that, the couple laughed together. When night fell, his wife teasingly dragged Xu Jichang to the door of that room, urging him to open it, and said, "See if the bride is inside?" As they entered, the beauty was already dressed in splendid attire, sitting on the bed. Seeing them come in, she quickly rose to greet them. The couple was utterly astonished. The beauty, however, covered her mouth with her hand, bent over with laughter, and performed the formal bows with great respect. The wife then prepared wine and dishes to celebrate their union. The next day, the new bride rose early to work without needing any instructions. One day, Xiao Qi said to Xu Jichang, "My sisters and aunts all wish to visit our home." Xu Jichang worried that they could not entertain guests on such short notice. Xiao Qi said, "They all know our household is not wealthy; they will bring food and drink first, only troubling our sister-in-law to prepare it." Xu Jichang told his wife, and she agreed. After breakfast the next morning, indeed someone arrived carrying wine and meat, set them down, and left. The wife then took on the role of cook. By the time of the Shen hour in the afternoon, six or seven young women arrived, the eldest about forty years old. They all sat in a circle, drinking and chatting, their laughter and talk filling the entire room. Xu Jichang's wife peered through the window crack and saw only her husband and Xiao Qi sitting face to face; the other guests were invisible. When the Big Dipper hung at the corner of the roof, the guests departed joyfully. Before Xiao Qi returned from seeing them off, Xu's wife entered the room and saw the table empty of cups and plates; she laughed and said, "Those girls must have been hungry, licking the chopping board clean like dogs." Shortly after, Xiao Qi returned, warmly thanking Xu's wife for her trouble, and quickly took the cups and utensils to wash them herself, urging her to go to bed early. Xu's wife said, "Guests coming to our house yet having to provide their own food and drink—that is too shameful. Another day, we should invite them again for a gathering."
After a few days, Xu Jichang, yielding to his wife Xiao Qi's wishes, invited the guests again. When they arrived, they ate and drank freely, but in the end left four dishes untouched. Xu Jichang asked why, and everyone laughed, saying, "The lady said we were too greedy, so she left some for the cook." Among the company was a woman of about eighteen or nineteen, dressed in white garments and shoes, who, it was said, had recently lost her husband. Xiao Qi called her Sixth Sister; she was charming in manner and skilled in jesting. As she grew familiar with Xu Jichang, she began to tease him with playful remarks. During the drinking game, Xu Jichang acted as the enforcer, forbidding laughter and jesting. Yet Sixth Sister repeatedly broke the rules and was fined over ten cups of wine, her cheeks flushing crimson. She was the first to become drunk, her body languid and weak, barely able to support herself. Soon she slipped away from the table. Xu Jichang lit a candle to search for her and found her sleeping soundly behind a dark curtain. He drew near and kissed her, but she did not stir. He then slipped his hand into her trousers and felt a swelling in her private parts. His heart stirred with desire, and he was about to become intimate when he heard the guests calling for him. Hastily he straightened her clothes and noticed a silk handkerchief in her sleeve, which he secretly took. By midnight, as the party was about to break up, Sixth Sister had not yet awakened. Xiao Qi entered the room and shook her awake. Sixth Sister rose with a yawn, fastened her skirt, tidied her hair, and followed the others out. Xu Jichang's thoughts clung to Sixth Sister with deep longing, and he could not set them aside. He wished to admire the silk handkerchief in private, but when he searched for it, it was nowhere to be found. Suspecting he might have dropped it on the road while seeing the guests off, he lit a lantern and searched the steps and courtyard, but still found nothing. Frustrated and dejected, he knew not what to do. Xiao Qi asked him what was wrong, and he answered vaguely. Xiao Qi laughed and said, "Do not lie. The handkerchief has been taken by someone, and you have wasted your eyes and heart in vain." Xu Jichang was startled and confessed the truth, telling her how he yearned for Sixth Sister. Xiao Qi said, "She has no destiny with you; your connection ends here." Xu Jichang asked the reason, and Xiao Qi replied, "In her former life, she was a courtesan in a winding lane. You were a scholar, and when you met her, you were greatly smitten, but your parents obstructed you. Your wish went unfulfilled, and you fell ill from worry. When your illness became critical, you sent word to her, saying, 'I am beyond recovery. If only you would come, that I might touch your skin, I would die without regret!' Moved by this infatuation, she agreed to your request. But just then, some business detained her, and she could not come immediately. By the time she arrived the next day, you had already died. Thus, in this life, she has only the destiny of that one touch. Anything beyond that is not what she desires." Later, when another feast was held for the female friends, only Sixth Sister did not come. Xu Jichang suspected Xiao Qi was jealous and harbored much resentment.
Xiao Qi said to Xu Jichang one day, "Because of Sixth Sister, you have wrongfully blamed me. She truly refused to come—what has that to do with me? Now we have been together for eight years, and it is time to part. Allow me to do my utmost to plan for you, to resolve your former confusion. Though she will not come, can she forbid us from going to her? If we approach her doorstep, perhaps human effort can overcome fate—it might not be a bad plan." Xu Jichang was delighted and accepted this advice. Xiao Qi took Xu Jichang's hand, and they floated lightly through the air, arriving home in an instant. There they saw yellow tiles and a high gate tower, with winding courtyards, just as they had first seen. The father-in-law and mother-in-law both came out to greet them, saying, "Our foolish daughter has long been favored by your care. This old woman, due to age and infirmity, has neglected to visit you—will you not hold it against us?" Then they arranged a feast and gathering. Xiao Qi took the opportunity to ask about the other sisters, and the mother said, "Each has returned to her own home; only Sixth Sister is here." Having said this, she sent a maid to invite Sixth Sister out. Sixth Sister did not emerge for a long time. Xiao Qi then went in and dragged her out, and they saw Sixth Sister with her head bowed, speaking very little, not as witty as before.
Soon after, the old man and woman took their leave and departed. Xiao Qi said to Sixth Sister, "Sister, you are so dignified and self-respecting, yet you make me the one to be blamed!" Sixth Sister smiled faintly and replied, "A frivolous young man is not fit to be approached too closely!" Xiao Qi swapped the cups from which the two had nearly finished their wine, insisting they drain them, and said, "You have already kissed, so why still put on such coy airs?" After a while, Xiao Qi also slipped away, leaving only the two of them in the room. Xu Jichang suddenly rose and tried to approach Sixth Sister, who gently resisted and pushed him away. Xu Jichang tugged at her skirt, knelt on both knees, and pleaded with her, until her attitude gradually softened, and she led him into the inner chamber. Just as they were about to undress, they suddenly heard shouts of men and the neighing of horses, a sound that shook heaven and earth, and torchlight shone into the room. Sixth Sister was greatly alarmed and hastily pushed Xu Jichang away, saying, "A great calamity is upon us! What shall we do?" In his panic, Xu Jichang knew not what to do, but Sixth Sister had already vanished without a trace. Xu Jichang sat in dismay for a while, when suddenly the buildings and towers all disappeared. He saw a dozen or so hunters, with falcons on their arms and swords in their hands, approaching, and they asked in surprise, "What man is hiding here in the night?" Xu Jichang pretended to be a traveler who had lost his way and gave his name. One of them said, "We were just chasing a fox; did you see it?" Xu Jichang replied, "I did not." On closer inspection, he realized this was exactly the graveyard of the Yu family. Xu Jichang returned home in low spirits. He still hoped that Xiao Qi would come back, divining omens by the magpie's call in the morning and watching for signs in the lamp's wick at night, but there was not a single trace of news. This story was told by Dong Yuxuan.
Commentary
According to the note at the end of the piece, this story was narrated by Dong Yuxuan. It is estimated that Dong Yuxuan conceived the idea and established the framework of the tale, which was later polished and embellished by Pu Songling. Although Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio contains many stories heard, seen, or told by others, most are short pieces; a tale as lengthy as this one is relatively rare. This story recounts the marriage alliance between the minor official Xu Jichang and the fox spirit Xiao Qi's family, along with his feasting, flirtation, and eventual separation from Xiao Qi's aunts and sisters. The plot is rather mediocre, bearing clear traces of imitation from Tang dynasty chuanqi tales such as The Dwelling of Playful Immortals. Lacking genuine emotion, the work, despite its lively vernacular dialogue, ultimately fails to move the reader. However, the folk customs and consciousness interspersed within offer valuable insights into the daily life of Ming and Qing society.