Original Text
Gan Yu, styled Biren, was a native of Luling. His parents died early, leaving a younger brother named Gan Jue, styled Shuangbi, who was only five years old at the time and was raised by his elder brother. Gan Yu was exceptionally affectionate toward his brother, treating him like his own child. As Gan Jue grew up, he became exceptionally handsome and intelligent, skilled in writing essays. Gan Yu loved his brother even more and often said, "My brother's talents are outstanding; I must find him a good wife." However, his standards were too strict, and he had not yet succeeded in arranging a marriage. One day, while Gan Yu was studying at a Buddhist temple on Kuangshan Mountain, he had just lain down for the night when he heard women's voices outside the window. Peeking out, he saw three or four women sitting on the ground, with several maidservants serving wine and dishes, all of whom were exceedingly beautiful. One woman said, "Lady Qin, why hasn't Aying come?" The woman seated at the lower end replied, "She came from Hangu Pass yesterday but was injured on her right arm by a villain, so she cannot join us in our revelry. She is quite regretful about it." Another woman said, "Last night I had a terrible nightmare; even now, thinking of it makes me break out in a cold sweat." The woman at the lower end waved her hand and said, "Do not speak of it, do not speak of it! Tonight we sisters are joyfully gathered together; speaking of such frightful things would spoil the mood." The first woman retorted, "How timid this girl is! Could it be that a tiger or wolf will carry you off? If you wish us to stop talking, you must sing a song to help our sisters enjoy their wine." The woman then sang softly.
On the idle steps, peach blossoms bloom in succession; yesterday's small invitation for a spring outing should not have been neglected.
She instructed her neighbor to wait a while and not to hurry her, for once she had put on her phoenix-head shoes, she would come forthwith.
After the singing concluded, all those present in the gathering burst into fervent praise and admiration.
Amidst their laughter and conversation, a tall man suddenly strode in from outside, imposing and arrogant, his eagle-like eyes gleaming fiercely, his appearance both ugly and terrifying. The women cried out in alarm, "A demon has come!" and scattered in panic like birds and beasts. Only the singing girl, unsteady on her feet, failed to flee and was seized by the monstrous man. She wept and struggled desperately, but the creature roared in fury, bit off her finger, and devoured it, leaving her to collapse unconscious. Gan Yu, moved by pity for the girl and unable to contain his rage, swiftly drew his sword, opened the door, and charged out. With a single stroke, he struck the monster's thigh, severing it, and the creature fled in agony. Gan Yu helped the girl inside, where her face was ashen and her sleeve stained with blood. Examining her hand, he found her right thumb had been bitten off. Tearing a strip of cloth, he bandaged the wound. The girl groaned and said, "How can I ever repay such a life-saving grace?" Gan Yu, having taken a liking to her from the moment he saw her, had already thought to arrange a match for his younger brother, and so he shared his intention with her. The girl replied, "I am but a maimed creature, no longer fit to manage a household. I shall find another suitable bride for your brother instead." When Gan Yu asked her surname, she answered, "My family name is Qin." He prepared a bed for her, bidding her rest there for now, while he took his own bedding elsewhere. Come dawn, when he looked in, the bed was empty, and he assumed the girl had returned home. Yet inquiries in the neighboring villages revealed few with the surname Qin; and even after entreating friends and relatives far and wide, no certain news emerged. Returning home, he spoke of the matter to his brother, filled with regret as if he had lost something precious.
One day, Gan Jue happened to wander into the countryside for amusement and encountered a young woman of about fifteen or sixteen, exceedingly beautiful, who smiled at him as if she wished to speak. Then, casting her limpid eyes around, she asked, "Are you the second son of the Gan family?" Gan Jue replied, "I am." The woman said, "Your father once made a pact with me, engaging me as your wife. Why do you now wish to break the former agreement and betroth yourself to the Qin family instead?" Gan Jue answered, "I lost my parents in childhood, and none of my old relatives or friends have ever mentioned this. Pray tell me your family name, and I shall return to inquire of my elder brother." The woman said, "There is no need for detailed explanation; if you are willing, I shall come to your home." Gan Jue excused himself, saying he had not yet informed his elder brother. The woman laughed and said, "Foolish young sir! Are you so afraid of your brother? My surname is Lu, and I dwell in East Mountain at Wang Village. Within three days, I await your favorable reply." With these words, she bade farewell and departed.
Gan Jue returned home and told his elder brother and sister-in-law about this matter. His brother said, "Everything she said is false! When our father passed away, I was already over twenty years old. If such an engagement existed, how could I not have heard of it?" Moreover, because the woman was walking alone in the wilderness and conversing freely with a man, he held her in even greater contempt. He then asked about the woman's appearance. Gan Jue's face reddened to his neck, and he spoke not a single word. His sister-in-law smiled and said, "She must be a beautiful woman." Gan Yu said, "How can a child distinguish beauty from ugliness? Even if she is beautiful, she cannot compare to Miss Qin. Let us wait until the matter with Miss Qin fails before considering this one." Gan Jue said nothing and returned to his own room. A few days later, Gan Yu saw a woman on the road, weeping as she walked forward. He reined in his horse and glanced at her, seeing that she was extraordinarily beautiful, peerless in the mortal world. Gan Yu sent a servant to inquire. The woman replied, "I was once betrothed to the second son of the Gan family, but later my family moved far away due to poverty, and all communication ceased. Recently I returned and heard that the Gan family was wavering in their intentions, about to break the marriage contract. I am going to see the elder brother, Gan Biren, and ask him what he intends to do with me." Hearing this, Gan Yu was both surprised and delighted, and said, "I am Gan Biren myself. As for the engagement made by our elders in the past, I truly knew nothing of it. This place is not far from home; please come back with me to discuss the matter." So saying, he dismounted, helped the woman onto his horse, and led the horse as they returned home together. The woman introduced herself, saying, "My childhood name is Aying. I have no other siblings; only my cousin, Miss Qin, lives with me." Only then did Gan Yu realize that the beautiful woman his younger brother had encountered earlier was none other than her. Gan Yu wished to inform Aying's family of the marriage, but Aying strongly objected. In his heart, Gan Yu rejoiced that his brother had gained such a fine wife, yet he also worried that Aying's demeanor might be frivolous and invite gossip. As time passed, however, he found that Aying's conduct was exceedingly dignified, combining youthful charm with eloquence in speech. She treated her sister-in-law with the same respect as a mother, and her sister-in-law grew especially fond of her.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, Gan Jue and his wife feasted intimately together, and the sister-in-law sent someone to invite Aying over. Gan Jue was reluctant to let his wife leave. Aying told the messenger to go ahead, saying she would come shortly, but she remained seated, chatting and laughing, showing no intention of leaving for a long time. Fearing that his sister-in-law would wait too long, Gan Jue repeatedly urged Aying to hurry. Aying merely smiled and ultimately did not go. The next morning, just as Aying had finished washing and dressing, the sister-in-law came over and asked with concern, "Last night when we were together, why did you seem so downcast?" Aying said nothing, only smiled faintly. Gan Jue found this unusual and pressed for an explanation, only to discover that the accounts from both sides did not match. The sister-in-law was greatly alarmed and said, "If she is not a demon, how could she have the power of bilocation?" Gan Yu was also terrified and said to Aying from behind the curtain, "Our family has practiced good deeds for generations and has never incurred enmity with anyone. If you are a demon, please leave quickly and do not harm my younger brother!" Aying said with embarrassment, "I am not human by nature, but because my father-in-law arranged a betrothal, Sister Qin also urged me to come and marry. I knew I could not bear children and once thought of leaving, but I lingered out of affection because my brother and sister-in-law treated me well. Now that I am under suspicion, let us part from this day forward." In an instant, she turned into a parrot and flew away gracefully. In the past, when Gan Jue's father was alive, he kept a very clever parrot and often fed it himself. At that time, Gan Jue was only four or five years old and asked, "Why keep a bird?" His father teased him, saying, "To be your wife." Sometimes when the parrot had no food, he would call Gan Jue to feed it, saying, "If you don't feed it, your wife will starve!" The family also used these words to joke with Gan Jue. Later, the chain broke and the parrot flew away. Only then did they realize that the betrothal Aying spoke of referred to this matter. Although Gan Jue knew Aying was not human, he missed her constantly. The sister-in-law missed Aying even more and wept day and night. Gan Yu was full of regret but could do nothing.
After two years, Gan Yu arranged a marriage for his younger brother with a maiden surnamed Jiang, yet Gan Jue remained deeply melancholy. Gan Yu had a cousin serving as a magistrate in Guangdong, and he went to visit him, staying away for a long time without returning. At that time, bandits were causing havoc, and most of the neighboring villages lay in ruins. Gan Jue, greatly alarmed, led his entire family to flee into the mountain valleys. In the valley, many men and women had taken refuge, all strangers to one another. Suddenly, he heard a woman speaking in a soft voice, which sounded remarkably like Aying. His sister-in-law urged Gan Jue to go and look, and indeed it was Aying. Overjoyed, Gan Jue seized Aying by the arm and would not let go. Aying said to her companion, "Sister, go on ahead; I will come see my sister-in-law and then follow." When she came before her sister-in-law, the latter wept bitterly at the sight. Aying comforted her repeatedly, saying, "This place is not safe either," and urged them to return home. The others feared the bandits might come again, but Aying insisted, "There will be no trouble." So they all went back together. Aying scooped up some earth and blocked the gate, instructing everyone to stay inside and not venture out. She sat down and repeated her warnings several times, then turned to leave. Her sister-in-law hastily seized her wrist, and two maids grabbed her feet, so Aying, with no choice, stayed. Yet she seldom entered the bedchamber; though Gan Jue invited her three or four times, she came only once.
The sister-in-law often spoke with her about Gan Jue's dissatisfaction with his newlywed wife, Jiang Shi. So Aying rose early each morning to dress Jiang Shi's hair and carefully apply her makeup and powder. When people saw her, Jiang Shi appeared several times more beautiful than before. After three days of Aying's grooming, she had transformed into a beauty. The sister-in-law, astonished, said, "I have no son. I was thinking of buying a concubine for your elder brother, but have not yet had the time. I wonder if among the maidservants there is one who could be made beautiful through such arts?" Aying replied, "There is no one who cannot be changed, but those originally fair of face are easier to transform." She then surveyed all the maidservants, and found only one who was dark and ugly, yet possessed a countenance fit for bearing sons. She called her over, had her wash, and then applied a thick powder mixed with various medicinal dusts to her face. After three days of this treatment, the maid's complexion gradually shifted from black to yellow; from the fourth to the seventh day, the powder seeped into her skin, and she became quite comely. The whole family, day after day, simply shut the doors and laughed and talked, no longer thinking of the chaos of war. One night, they suddenly heard a commotion outside, and the household knew not what to do. Soon, they heard shouts of men and neighing of horses beyond the gate, and then the sounds faded away into the distance. At dawn, they learned that the village had been nearly burned and looted, and the bandits had split into small bands to search everywhere; all who had hidden in the mountain valleys were either killed or captured. The family then felt even more grateful to Aying, regarding her as a divine being. Aying suddenly said to her sister-in-law, "I came this time only because I cannot forget your kindness, and wished to share some of the sorrows of this troubled time with you. My elder brother is about to return, and if I remain here, it would be like the proverb says—neither plum nor peach—a laughable thing. I will take my leave for now, and when I have leisure, I will come to visit you." The sister-in-law asked, "Will your elder brother encounter no trouble on the road?" Aying replied, "He will face great danger on the journey. But it has nothing to do with others; Sister Qin, having received a great favor from my brother, will surely repay it, so nothing untoward will happen." The sister-in-law tried to persuade Aying to stay another night, but she departed before dawn.
When Gan Yu was returning from Guangdong, he heard that his hometown was in the throes of war and chaos, so he hastened home day and night. On the road, they encountered bandits; the master and his servant abandoned their horses, wrapped their silver around their waists, and hid among the thorny thickets. A mynah bird alighted on the brambles, spreading its wings to shield the two of them. Gan Yu noticed that the bird's foot was missing a toe, which struck him as strange. Soon, the bandits surrounded them from all sides, searching through the thickets as if looking for them. The two dared not even breathe. After the bandits dispersed, the mynah bird finally flew away. When Gan Yu returned home and recounted their respective experiences with his family, he learned that the mynah bird was none other than the beautiful young woman he had once rescued.
From then on, whenever Gan Yu was away from home and did not return, Aying would always come at night, and when she estimated that Gan Yu was about to return, she would leave early. Gan Jue once encountered Aying in his sister-in-law's room and took the opportunity to invite her to his own chamber, but Aying agreed yet never came. One night, when Gan Yu had gone elsewhere, Gan Jue, guessing that Aying would surely come, hid himself and waited. Before long, Aying indeed arrived, and Gan Jue suddenly emerged, blocked her way, and pulled her into his bedroom. Aying said, "The bond between you and me is already exhausted; if we force ourselves together again, I fear Heaven will punish us. If you leave a little leeway, we might still see each other from time to time—what do you think?" Gan Jue would not listen and ultimately stayed with her through the night. At dawn, she went to see her sister-in-law, who wondered why she had not come the night before. Aying smiled and said, "I was waylaid by a robber on the way, causing you worry, sister-in-law." After a few words, she hurriedly left. Not long after, a large cat passed by the sister-in-law's door carrying a parrot in its mouth. The sister-in-law was terrified and suspected it must be Aying. At the time, she was washing her hair; she stopped at once and cried out loudly, and the whole household joined in shouting and striking until they rescued the parrot. They saw that the parrot's left wing was stained with blood, and it had barely a breath of life left. The sister-in-law placed it on her lap and stroked it for a long time until the parrot revived and began preening its feathers with its beak. After a while, it flew once around the room and called out, "Farewell, sister-in-law! I resent Gan Jue!" With these words, it flapped its wings and flew away, never to return.
Commentary
This passage recounts a tale of emotional bonds between humans and birds. Although it includes romantic depictions of marriage between a human and a bird, it primarily highlights the birds' gratitude and faithfulness, as well as the fraternal and familial affection between an elder brother, his wife, and their younger brother and sister-in-law. The narrative focuses on the connections between Gan Yu, his wife, and the birds Jijiliao and Aying. The first half of the story describes Gan Yu rescuing Jijiliao and seeking a spouse for his younger brother Gan Jue, while the latter half portrays the deep friendship between the elder brother's wife and Gan Jue's wife, Aying, who is actually a parrot transformed. Although the marriage of Gan Jue and Aying is fraught with twists and romance, it is not of paramount importance, serving more as a thread running through the tale—a distinctive feature among the romantic stories in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
The romance between Gan Jue and Aying ultimately ended in tragedy, for Aying was unwilling to endure suspicion as a creature of another kind. What draws attention is that the tale begins with the jialiao bird suffering violence and concludes with Aying likewise meeting brutal abuse. Interwoven in between is the account of Gan Yu's hometown, Luling, where "local bandits rose in rebellion, and nearly half the nearby villages were reduced to ruins." "One night, clamorous shouts arose on all sides, and the entire household knew not what to do. Soon, they heard the neighing of horses and the clamor of men outside the gate, as all departed in haste. By dawn, they learned that the village had been nearly completely burned and looted; the brigands, in roving bands, searched thoroughly, and all who had hidden in caves and crevices were either killed or captured." When Gan Yu returned from eastern Yue, "he encountered bandits on the road, and both master and servant abandoned their horses, each with gold tied around their waists, hiding themselves among the thorny thickets." Thus, the narrative remains perpetually immersed in a turbulent and unsettled atmosphere, filled with sentiments of grief over the chaos and separation of the times.