Original Text
When Mr. Han Yuanshao was a scholar, a petty official suddenly arrived at his home, stating that his master wished to engage him as a tutor, but without presenting a name card. When Han inquired about the master's family background, the official gave vague answers. However, the official brought with him many bolts of silk and silver, offering generous gifts as a tutor's fee. Han agreed, set a date, and the man took his leave. On the appointed day, a carriage indeed came to fetch him. The carriage wound its way along paths Han had never traveled before. Suddenly, a grand hall appeared before him. Han alighted and entered, feeling that its splendor resembled that of a princely mansion. After arriving at the study, a lavish feast was laid out, but he was only urged to drink alone, with no host to accompany him. When the feast was cleared, a young master came out to pay respects to the teacher. The youth, about fifteen or sixteen years old, was graceful in bearing and extraordinary in appearance. After performing the formalities, he withdrew to another room, only coming to the teacher's quarters during lessons. The young master was exceedingly bright; as soon as Han explained something, he grasped the profound meanings completely. Han, puzzled by the family's unknown background, grew suspicious. Two servant boys attended him in the study, and he privately questioned them, but they refused to answer. When Han asked, "Where is the master?" they replied that he was very busy. Han then asked the servant boys to secretly lead him for a glimpse, but they would not agree. After repeated requests, the servant boys took him to a place where he heard the sound of flogging. Peering through a crack in the door, Han saw a king seated in the hall, with a mountain of swords and a forest of blades below the steps—all implements of the underworld. Terrified, Han was about to retreat when the king inside became aware of him. The king ceased his business, dismissed the ghosts, and harshly summoned the servant boys. Pale with fear, one boy said, "I have brought disaster upon myself for your sake!" Trembling, he entered. The king angrily demanded, "How dare you bring someone to spy!" He then severely beat the boy with a great whip. Afterward, the king summoned Han inside and said, "The reason I did not see you is that the human world and the underworld are not the same realm. Now that you know the truth, it is difficult for us to remain together." He then presented Han with silver as tuition and sent him back, saying, "Sir, you are the foremost man under heaven, but your trials are not yet over." The king ordered his attendants to lead a horse to see Han off. Han suspected he had died, but the escort said, "How could death be so easy? All your food and clothing have been procured from the human world, not from the underworld." When Han returned home, he endured several more years of hardship, and indeed, he later passed the metropolitan and palace examinations as the top candidate—everything the king had said came true.
Commentary
Calling him "Master" in the title is unique in all of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, which shows the high regard Pu Songling held for Han Yuanshao's literary and moral character; the author writes of Han Yuanshao serving as a tutor to the King of Hell's family in the underworld, further suggesting the extraordinary nature of his writings and virtue. Although the author's intent is to praise Han Yuanshao, the rituals of hiring a teacher as described also sketch for us the folk customs and details of a teacher's life during the Ming and Qing dynasties.