Original Text
Han Fugong of Yucheng once told this story: One time, I was walking along the road with a fellow villager named Peng Erzheng, when suddenly, turning my head, I saw no trace of him, only his donkey still following behind. I heard cries for help, urgent and desperate, and upon listening closely, they seemed to come from within the luggage. Drawing near, I saw the bundle was bulging, heavy and lopsided, yet not about to fall. I wished to rescue him, but the bag's opening was stitched tightly shut, so I had to cut the threads with a knife, and then I saw Peng Erzheng curled up inside like a dog. After he emerged, I asked him how he had gotten in, but he too was utterly bewildered, knowing nothing of the matter. It was likely that his household was haunted by a fox spirit, for such strange occurrences had happened many times before.
Commentary
There are two methods for writing about fox spirits causing mischief. One is to begin by speaking of the fox itself, which easily falls into cliché; the other is to start with the incident and then reveal that it was the work of a fox spirit. This tale belongs to the latter category. Though the story is brief, it is compact and vivid, leaving a deep impression on the reader.