Original Text
A man named Xu from Hejian was teaching in En County. At the end of the twelfth lunar month, he took leave to return home. On the road, he encountered an old man who scrutinized him closely and said, "Master Xu, your classes are over. Where will you teach next year?" Xu replied, "Still at the same place." The old man said, "My name is Shi Jingye. I have a nephew who wishes to engage a good tutor, and I was just on my way to East Village to invite Master Lü Zilian, but he has already accepted a position from someone in Jimen. If you, sir, would condescend to take the post, the remuneration will be double what you receive in En County." Xu declined, citing his prior commitment to En County. The old man said, "You are truly a man of your word. However, since the New Year is still some time away, I sincerely offer one tael of gold as an advance. Please stay and teach him temporarily, and we can discuss the matter again next year. What do you think?" Xu agreed. The old man dismounted, presented a gift box, and said, "Our village is not far from here. But the courtyard is modest, and it would be difficult to stable your horse. Please send your servant and horse back home, and we can walk slowly together." Xu followed his advice, placing his luggage on the old man's horse.
After walking about three or four li, as night had already fallen, Scholar Xu finally arrived at the house. The door was studded with nails and fitted with beast-head rings, presenting the imposing appearance of a great and ancient family. The old man called for his nephew to come out and pay respects—a boy of thirteen or fourteen. The old man said, "My brother-in-law, Jiang Nanchuan, once served as a military commander. He left behind only this son, who is not unintelligent, but has been spoiled and indulged. If he could receive a month of your meticulous instruction, it would surely surpass ten years of ordinary study." Soon, a feast was laid out, with dishes abundant and exquisite, and all the serving of wine and food was done by maids and servant women. One maid, holding a flagon, stood nearby; she was about fifteen or sixteen, graceful and strikingly beautiful, and Scholar Xu felt his heart stir with secret admiration. When the feast ended, the old man ordered that a bed be prepared for Xu, then took his leave. The next day, before dawn, the boy came out to study with his teacher. As Xu had just risen, a maid arrived with a towel to attend to his washing and grooming—it was the same maid who had held the flagon. All three meals were brought by this maid. In the evening, she came again to tidy the bedding. Xu asked, "Why are there no male servants?" The maid smiled without answering, finished making the bed, and left.
The maid came again the following night. Xu teased her, and she smiled without refusing, so he grew intimate with her. The maid told him, "Our household has no men; all external matters are entrusted to Uncle Shi. My name is Ainu. The lady respects you, sir, and feared other maids might be unclean, so she sent me to attend you. What happened today must be kept secret, lest we both lose face if discovered." One night, they overslept and were seen by the young master, causing Xu great shame and unease. That evening, Ainu came and said, "Fortunately, the lady holds you in high regard, or it would have been disastrous! The young master went in to report, but the lady quickly covered his mouth, as if afraid you might hear, only warning me not to linger long in the study." With that, she left. Xu felt deeply grateful to the lady. However, the young master was not diligent in his studies, and when Xu scolded him, the lady interceded on his behalf. At first, she sent the maid to relay messages, but gradually she came herself, speaking to the teacher through the door, often weeping as she spoke. Every night, she would inquire about the young master's day's lessons. Xu found it hard to bear and, losing his temper, said, "Since you indulge the child in laziness yet demand his excellence in learning, I cannot serve as such a teacher! Allow me to leave." The lady sent the maid to apologize, and Xu stayed. Since coming to teach, Xu had often wished to go out and climb to a high vantage point, but the gate was always locked, preventing him. One day, drunk and restless, he called Ainu to ask about it. She said, "It's nothing—just fear that the young master might neglect his studies. If you must go out, you'll have to do so at night." Xu angrily replied, "Am I to be suffocated here for a few coins? Telling me to sneak out at night—where would I go? I have long been ashamed of eating without earning; the fee is still in my bundle." He then took out the gold and placed it on the table, packing his belongings to leave. The lady came out from the inner room, silent, only covering her face with her sleeve and weeping, then had the maid return the gold, opened the gate, and saw him off. Xu found the door very narrow; after a few steps, sunlight streamed in, and he realized he was standing in a tomb. Looking around, all was desolate—it was an ancient burial mound. Xu was greatly startled. Yet, moved by the lady's kindness, he sold the gold she had given, mounded earth over the grave, planted trees, and then departed.
After a year had passed, Scholar Xu again passed by that place, paid his respects at the grave, and then departed. From afar, he saw Old Man Shi, who smiled and greeted him warmly, inviting him eagerly. Xu knew in his heart that he was a ghost, but he was very eager to inquire about the lady's recent circumstances, so he accompanied him into the village, bought wine, and drank together, unaware that the sky had already grown dark. The old man rose to settle the wine bill and said, "My home is not far from here, and my sister has coincidentally returned to her natal family. I hope you will honor us with your presence, to dispel the inauspicious aura for us." They left the village and walked a few steps, arriving at another hamlet. Knocking on the door, they entered, and the old man lit a candle for the guest. Before long, Lady Jiang emerged from within. Xu then drew near to look at her; she was a beautiful woman of about forty. The lady bowed in thanks and said, "Our family is in decline, our household desolate. Sir, you have shown kindness to those beneath the springs, and we are truly unable to repay you." Having spoken, she wept. Then she summoned Ainu and said to Xu, "This maidservant is one I hold dear. Today, I give her to you, to serve as a companion in your travels, to relieve your solitude. Whatever you need, she will roughly know." Xu repeatedly agreed. After a while, the brother and sister departed together, leaving Ainu to attend to Xu's rest. The next day, at the first crow of the rooster, the old man came to urge them to pack and set out. The lady also emerged, instructing Ainu to serve the gentleman well, and said to Xu, "From now on, you must be even more cautious. Our association appears strange to others, and I fear that meddlesome people might spread rumors." Xu agreed, bid them farewell, and rode off with Ainu on the same horse. When they reached the place of teaching, they occupied a single room and lived together. Sometimes guests came, and Ainu did not avoid them, yet others could not see her. Occasionally, Xu had a wish, and as soon as the thought arose, Ainu would fulfill it for him. She also knew the art of healing; with a single massage, illness could be cured. At the Qingming Festival, Xu returned home, and upon reaching the grave, Ainu dismounted to take her leave. Xu instructed her to convey his thanks to the lady, and Ainu said, "Very well," then vanished into the ground. A few days later, Xu returned and was about to pay respects at the grave when he saw Ainu, beautifully dressed, sitting under a tree. They then set off together. Thus, throughout the year, they came and went, and it became a common practice. Xu wished to take Ainu home with him, but she steadfastly refused. At year's end, Xu resigned from his teaching post and returned home, agreeing to meet again later. Ainu escorted him to the place where they had once sat, pointed to a pile of stones, and said, "This is my grave. Before the lady was married, I served her, and after death, I was buried here. If you pass by again, burn a stick of incense in my memory, and we shall meet."
After bidding farewell to Ainu and returning home, Xu Sheng missed her deeply, so he sincerely went to her grave to pray, but there was no response. Thus, Xu Sheng bought a coffin, dug open the grave, intending to bring Ainu's remains back home for burial as a token of his lingering affection. When the grave was opened, Xu Sheng entered and saw that Ainu's face was as if alive; though her flesh had not decayed, her clothes had turned to ashes, while the jade ornaments and gold bracelets on her head were as new as ever. He also noticed several ingots of gold wrapped around her waist, so he gathered them up and tucked them into his bosom. Then he took off his own clothes to cover her body, lifted her into the coffin, hired a cart, and brought her home. Xu Sheng placed the coffin in a separate room, draped it with embroidered garments, and slept beside it, hoping for a miracle. One day, Ainu suddenly entered from outside, smiling, and said, "The grave robber is here!" Xu Sheng, overjoyed and startled, greeted her with concern. Ainu said, "Recently I accompanied the lady to Dongchang, and when I returned three days later, the house was empty. In the past, I was grateful for your repeated invitations, but I could not follow you because I had been deeply favored by the lady since childhood and could not bear to leave her. Now that you have taken me away, you should quickly bury me—that would be your kindness." Xu Sheng asked, "In ancient times, there were those who revived after a hundred years. Your body is still as it was in life—why not emulate others and come back to life?" Ainu sighed, "This is all determined by fate. The miraculous events passed down in the world are mostly figments of human imagination. What difficulty is there in rising and moving about? But it would not be the same as being truly alive, so there is no need for it." Then she opened the coffin and entered, and the corpse immediately rose on its own, standing gracefully, most lovely. When Xu Sheng reached into her bosom, it was as cold as ice and frost. Ainu wanted to re-enter the coffin and lie down again, but Xu Sheng strenuously stopped her. Ainu said, "In the past, I was favored by the lady. When the master returned from the Western Regions, he brought tens of thousands in gold, and I secretly took some, but she did not question it much. Later, when I was dying, having no close relatives, I hid it on my person as burial goods. The lady, grieving my early death, also added some treasures to my coffin. The reason my body has not decayed is merely that it has absorbed the residual essence of gold and jewels. If I were to remain in the mortal world, how could I last long? If you insist on this, then be sure not to force me to eat or drink, for once the spiritual essence dissipates, my wandering soul will vanish." Xu Sheng then built a fine chamber and lived with Ainu. Ainu's speech and laughter were like those of an ordinary person, but she neither ate nor drank, nor rested, nor saw strangers. After more than a year, Xu Sheng, slightly drunk from wine, took some leftover drink and forced it upon her. Ainu immediately fell to the ground, blood and water flowing from her mouth, and within a day, her body had decayed. Xu Sheng, overcome with grief and regret, gave her a lavish burial.
The Chronicler of Strange Tales remarks: In educating her son, this woman was no different from those in the mortal world, yet how thorough and considerate she was in her treatment of the tutor! Truly a virtuous person! I find that a beautiful corpse is not as worthy as a refined ghost, yet because of a vulgar and rash impoverished scholar, the divine being was unable to enjoy her full allotted years—how regrettable!
A scholar named Zhu from Zhangqiu, known for his unyielding and upright nature, was teaching at the home of a certain provincial graduate. Whenever he reprimanded a student, the master's wife would send a maidservant to plead for the child, but Zhu would not listen. One day, the graduate's wife herself came to the window to intercede with Zhu. Enraged, he grabbed his teaching ruler and stormed out, cursing loudly. The frightened woman fled, and Zhu pursued her, striking her from behind across the buttocks, the blows landing with a resounding slap on her flesh. How utterly absurd!
In Changshan County there was a man who, whenever he hired a tutor, would insist on calculating the annual salary based on the actual number of lessons given throughout the year, determining the daily rate, and meticulously recording every instance when the tutor left the study or returned to it; at year's end, he would settle the payment strictly according to these recorded days. A scholar named Ma was teaching in his household, and at first, when he saw the man approaching with an abacus, he was astonished upon learning the reason. But soon he conceived a secret scheme, turning his anger into delight, and allowed the man to calculate repeatedly without dispute. The master of the house was greatly pleased and insisted that Ma renew the contract for another year. Ma, however, declined under a pretext and deliberately recommended a man of eccentric temper to replace him. When this new tutor arrived, he would break into furious curses at the slightest provocation, and the master, unable to bear it, had to endure in silence. At year's end, the master came with his abacus. The tutor flew into a rage but let him calculate for the moment. The master then included all the time spent on the road in the tutor's account, which the tutor refused to accept, and he pushed the abacus beads back to recalculate for the master. The two argued fiercely, came to blows, and ended up with battered faces and bloody heads, so they had to take the matter to court.
Commentary
This chapter is the most comprehensive reflection of Pu Songling's life and psychology as a teacher in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, and in a certain sense it provides excellent historical material on rural private tutors during the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as the tutor's annual salary, holidays, and teaching life, all of which are described in considerable detail in the story.
Xu Sheng of Hejian was an honest and dedicated tutor. He did not break his agreement for more money from Old Man Shi, nor did he compromise his dignity as a teacher for generous treatment from his employer, strictly managing his students. He repeatedly requested resignation, saying, "If you indulge your child's laziness yet demand his diligence, I cannot serve as such a tutor! I beg to leave." "Having received a few pieces of gold, must I be imprisoned here until death? Where am I to flee in the night? I have long been ashamed of living idly on your bounty; the tuition fee remains in my pouch." Thus he possessed both professional ethics and the free-spirited nature of a scholar, commanding respect and admiration. He valued friendship and loyalty; upon learning that Lady Jiang was a female ghost, he was moved by her righteousness and sold the gold he had been given, built a grave mound, planted trees, and departed. His love for Ainu, though not as fervent as that of youth, was sincere and deep, revealing the longing of a tutor long separated from his family for normal sexual relations. Ainu, due to Xu's negligence and pride, transformed from a female ghost into a beautiful corpse, adding romance and poignant sorrow to the tale. Xu's hope for generous tuition, lenient treatment, non-interference in teaching, and his desire to resolve the sexual solitude of tutoring reflected the common psychology of rural tutors during the Ming and Qing dynasties, offering a glimpse into Pu Songling's own mindset during his long teaching career.