Original Text
Presented Scholar Shao, named Shimei, was a native of Jining. When he was first appointed as a professor in Dengzhou, two elderly scholars presented their visiting cards. Shao Shimei looked at their names, which seemed strangely familiar, and after a long moment of deep thought, suddenly realized they pertained to a former life. He then asked the school servant, "Does that certain scholar still reside in such-and-such village?" He also described the scholar's appearance and traits, which matched perfectly. Shortly after, the two elderly scholars entered, and they clasped hands with Shao Shimei in heartfelt conversation, as delighted as old friends. In the midst of their talk, Shao Shimei inquired about Gao Donghai. The scholars replied, "He died in prison over twenty years ago, but now has a son still living. He is but a commoner in this village; how do you come to know him?" Shao Shimei smiled and said, "He was a relative of mine in a former life." In earlier times, Gao Donghai was a rogue by nature, yet he was magnanimous, valuing righteousness over wealth. Once, when a man was forced to sell his daughter to pay off a debt of taxes, Gao Donghai used all he had to redeem her. He had an affair with a woman who, being implicated in harboring thieves, was urgently pursued by the authorities; she hid in Gao's home. The authorities learned of this, arrested Gao Donghai, and subjected him to brutal torture, but he never confessed and soon died in prison. The day of his death coincided with Shao Shimei's birthday. Later, Shao Shimei went to that village and provided for Gao Donghai's widow, and people far and near all marveled at this strange tale.
This was narrated by Vice Minister Gao, as Shao Shimei was a fellow successful candidate in the imperial examinations with Vice Minister Gao's son, Gao Jiliang.
Commentary
Regarding Shao Shimei's self-narration of his previous life, Lu Cishan's "Yu Chu Xin Zhi: Biography of Shao Shimei" recorded it earliest, followed by Pu Songling's "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: Shao Shimei" and Wang Yuyang's "Chi Bei Ou Tan: Tan Yi Wu" on "Shao Jinshi's Three Lifetimes of Marriage," and later Niu Xiu's "Gu Sheng: Shao Yi Hou," Wu Guang's "Wu Taishi Yi Gao: Shao Yihui's Two Lifetimes of Marriage," and Zeng Yandong's "Xiao Dou Peng: Za Ji: Shao Shimei" also recorded it differently. Each account varies in detail and plot; for instance, Lu Cishan's "Biography of Shao Shimei" emphasizes his former self's "diligence in public duty and adherence to law," while this piece extols his former self's "light regard for wealth and love of righteousness." Wang Yuyang's "Chi Bei Ou Tan" and Wu Guang's "Shao Yihui's Two Lifetimes of Marriage" recount Shao Shimei's two lifetimes of marriage with his wife, even "three lifetimes as husband and wife," which reveals the differing value orientations and aesthetic tastes between certain works of "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" based on social hearsay and other contemporary works, reflecting the varied accounts and cumulative refinement process of such tales.