Original Text
Li Tansi of Changshan was a student of the Imperial Academy. In his village lived an old woman who served as a messenger of the underworld, tasked with summoning souls. One day, she told others, "Tonight, I and another will carry Master Tansi to be reborn into a new family in Baijiazhuang, Zichuan County. His body was exceedingly heavy; I was nearly crushed to death." At that time, Li Tansi was feasting joyously with guests, and everyone dismissed the old woman's words as nonsense. That night, however, Li Tansi indeed passed away without any illness. At dawn, people went to inquire at the address the old woman had given, and indeed, a daughter had been born there the previous evening.
Commentary
This passage merely serves to verify the truthfulness of the folk legend of "walking as a spirit messenger," yet in its composition it offers considerable insight. Strictly speaking, the line "Tonight, I will carry the old sandalwood with another person to be reborn in a new household in Baijiazhuang, Zichuan" already conveys the full meaning, but it is dry and plain. By adding "the body was heavy and cumbersome, nearly crushed to death," it gains detail, leaving a deeper impression on the reader.