Original Text
Gao Yucheng was a scion of a distinguished family, residing in Guangli of Jincheng. He excelled in acupuncture and moxibustion, treating both rich and poor alike. One day, a beggar came to the village with an incurable sore on his shin, lying in the road with pus and blood oozing from the wound, so foul and filthy that none dared approach him. The locals, fearing he might die there, gave him a meal each day. When Gao Yucheng saw him, he took pity on the man and had him carried into his own home, settling him in a side chamber. His household all loathed the stench, covering their noses and watching from afar. Gao Yucheng took out moxa and personally applied acupuncture to him, also sending him meals daily. After a few days, the beggar demanded noodles; the servant angrily scolded him. When Gao Yucheng heard of this, he ordered the servant to give the beggar noodles. Soon after, the beggar again asked for wine and meat. The servant ran to report to Gao Yucheng, saying, "This beggar is utterly ridiculous! When he lay on the road, he could not even get one meal a day. Now that he is given three meals daily, he still finds them coarse; after receiving noodles, he demands wine and meat. Such a gluttonous wretch should be thrown back onto the street!" Gao Yucheng asked how the beggar's leg sore was, and the servant replied, "The scab has gradually fallen off, and he seems able to walk, yet he still feigns moans and groans, putting on a pained expression." Gao Yucheng said, "What does it cost? Send him wine and meat at once; once he recovers, perhaps he will not hold a grudge against us." The servant pretended to comply but did not actually do so, and whispered about it with the other servants, all of whom laughed at their master for being somewhat foolish.
The next day, Gao Yucheng personally went to visit the beggar, who stood up with a limp and said, "I am deeply grateful for your noble kindness, which has revived a man on the verge of death, allowing new flesh to grow over my white bones; your grace is as vast and profound as heaven and earth. Yet my body has not fully recovered, so I dare to crave some fine food to satisfy my greedy appetite." Gao Yucheng realized that the servant had not carried out his orders the previous day, so he summoned the servant and gave him a severe beating, then ordered that wine and dishes be brought immediately for the beggar to eat. The servant harbored resentment in his heart, and at midnight, set fire to the side room, then deliberately shouted loudly for help to put out the fire. Gao Yucheng rose and saw that the side room had been reduced to ashes; he sighed and said, "The beggar's life is surely lost!" He urged everyone to quickly extinguish the fire, only to find the beggar sleeping soundly within the flames, snoring like thunder. When they woke him, he pretended to be startled and asked, "Where has the house gone?" Only then did everyone realize in astonishment that he was no ordinary man. Gao Yucheng respected him even more, had him sleep in the guest quarters, provided him with new clothes, and spent time with him every day. When asked his name, the beggar claimed to be called Chen Jiu. After a few days, the beggar's countenance grew even more radiant, and his speech became refined and elegant. He was also skilled at chess; Gao Yucheng played against him and lost every game, and thereafter studied chess with him daily, learning many subtle and mysterious strategies. Thus half a year passed, and the beggar showed no intention of leaving, while Gao Yucheng could hardly bear to be without him even for a moment, lest he lose all joy. Even when distinguished guests arrived, he would always bring the beggar along to drink together. Sometimes when throwing dice to determine drinking penalties, Chen Jiu would often call out the winning combinations on Gao Yucheng's behalf, and whatever he called would invariably come to pass. Gao Yucheng was greatly amazed. Whenever he begged Chen Jiu to perform some trick, Chen Jiu would decline, claiming he could not.
One day, Chen Jiu said to Gao Yucheng, "I must bid you farewell. During this time, I have received far too much kindness from you, and today I wish to host a modest feast in your honor; please do not bring any attendants." Gao Yucheng replied, "We have enjoyed such delightful companionship—why must you speak of parting so suddenly? Besides, you have no money on you, and I dare not trouble you to play the host." Chen Jiu insisted, "It is merely a cup of humble wine, costing little." Gao Yucheng asked, "Where shall it be held?" Chen Jiu answered, "In the garden." It was the depth of winter, and Gao Yucheng feared the garden would be too cold, but Chen Jiu insisted, "It matters not." Gao Yucheng followed him into the garden, and as soon as he entered, he felt the climate suddenly turn warm, as if it were early March. When they reached the pavilion, it grew even warmer. Strange and wondrous birds gathered in flocks, vying to sing with clear, crisp voices, as if it were late spring. The tables and stands in the pavilion were inlaid with agate and jade. There was a crystal screen, so translucent that one could see reflections within, and inside it stood a tree full of blossoms, swaying in the breeze, with flowers blooming and falling in varied succession; one could also see snow-white birds hopping among the branches, chirping loudly. Gao Yucheng reached out to touch it, but found nothing there, and he stood in astonishment for a long while. After they took their seats, a myna bird perched on a stand called out, "Bring tea!" Soon, a crimson phoenix appeared, carrying a red jade plate with two glass cups filled with fragrant tea, and it stretched its neck, standing by. After Gao Yucheng finished his tea and placed the glass cup on the plate, the phoenix took it up, flapped its wings, and flew away. The myna bird then called, "Bring wine!" Several blue luan birds and yellow cranes fluttered gracefully from the sun, carrying wine flasks and cups in their beaks, setting them down on the table one by one. Soon, many other birds came offering dishes, coming and going without resting their wings. The table was laden with delicacies from mountains and seas, all laid out in an instant; the dishes were fragrant, the wine clear and pure, nothing like ordinary fare. Seeing Gao Yucheng drink heartily, Chen Jiu said, "You have a vast capacity for wine; we should use larger cups." The myna bird then called, "Bring the large cup!" Suddenly, a flash of light appeared near the sun, and a giant butterfly carried a parrot-beak cup that could hold a dou of wine, alighting on the table. Gao Yucheng saw that the butterfly was larger than a wild goose, with graceful wings and brilliant, colorful patterns, and he could not help but praise it greatly. Chen Jiu called out, "Butterfly, urge the wine!" The butterfly spread its wings and flew, transforming into a beautiful woman, clad in brocade robes, who danced lightly and stepped forward to toast Gao Yucheng. Chen Jiu added, "We must not lack entertainment." The beauty then danced with ethereal grace. As she danced to the point of rapture, her feet left the ground by more than a foot, and she would occasionally tilt her head back until it nearly touched her feet, then turn upside down and rise again, her body not touching a speck of dust. As she danced, she sang:
Amidst continuous laughter and cheerful talk, they trod through the fragrant thicket, where low-hanging flower branches brushed against their blushing faces.
Not knowing the golden hairpin had fallen in the winding path, she followed the butterfly eastward over the hedge.
The lingering notes wavered softly, no less than the song that circles the rafters for three days without ceasing. Gao Yucheng was overjoyed and drew her over to drink with him; Chen Jiu bade her sit and also drink. After Gao Yucheng finished his wine, his heart stirred and his mind swayed, and he suddenly rose to embrace her, seeking intimacy. But when he looked closely, she had transformed into a yaksha, with eyes bulging beyond their sockets, teeth protruding from her mouth, and black, lumpy flesh on her face, grotesque and hideous beyond description. Gao Yucheng, startled, released his hold and crouched trembling over the table. Chen Jiu struck his mouth with a chopstick and scolded, "Begone quickly!" At this blow, the yaksha changed back into a butterfly and fluttered away into the distance.
After Gao Yucheng's startled soul had settled, he took his leave of Chen Jiu and went out. The moonlight was exceptionally clear and bright, and Gao Yucheng said casually to Chen Jiu, "All your fine wines and delicacies come from the void; your home must surely be in the heavens. Why not take an old friend along for a visit?" Chen Jiu replied, "Of course." With that, he grasped Gao Yucheng's hand and they leaped upward together. Gao Yucheng immediately felt his body rise, gradually drawing closer to the sky. He saw a lofty gate, its entrance round like a well; stepping inside, he found it as bright as day. The steps and paths were all paved with bluestone, smooth and clean, without a speck of dust. There stood a tree several zhang tall, bearing crimson blossoms as large as lotuses, clustering thickly over all its branches. Beneath the tree was a woman, pounding a vermilion garment with a wooden mallet on a stone slab; she was surpassingly beautiful, peerless in the world. Gao Yucheng stood rooted like a log, staring fixedly at her, forgetting even to walk. As soon as the woman saw him, she said angrily, "Where does this insolent fellow come from, daring to barge in here?" With that, she hurled her wooden mallet at him, striking him squarely on the back. Chen Jiu hastily pulled him away to a secluded spot and sternly rebuked him. Struck by the mallet, Gao Yucheng's intoxication instantly cleared, and he felt deeply ashamed. Following Chen Jiu out, two white clouds immediately drifted down to receive their feet. Chen Jiu said, "We must part here. I have a word of advice for you—remember it well and do not forget: your lifespan is already short; tomorrow, hasten to hide in the western mountains, and you may escape death." Gao Yucheng wished to detain him further, but Chen Jiu had already turned and departed straight away.
Gao Yucheng felt the clouds beneath his feet gradually descending, and his body landed in the garden, where the scene before him had become vastly different from before. He returned home and told his wife of this matter, and both of them were greatly astonished. Looking at the place on his clothes where the wooden pestle had struck, there was a strange red mark, like brocade, emitting a wondrous fragrance. The next morning, Gao Yucheng rose early and, following Chen Jiu's instructions, took dried provisions and entered the mountains. He saw thick fog covering the sky, making it impossible to discern the path. Gao Yucheng trod through the wild grass and ran swiftly, when suddenly he lost his footing and fell into a cloud pit, feeling it to be immeasurably deep, but fortunately his body suffered no injury. After he calmed his mind and settled his spirit, he looked up and saw the cloud vapor like steam from a steamer, and could not help sighing: "The immortal bade me escape disaster, but fate is ultimately unavoidable; when will I ever get out of this cloud pit?" He sat for a while longer, then saw a faint light deep within, so he stood up and slowly walked in, discovering that there was indeed another world. Three old men were playing chess, and when they saw Gao Yucheng approach, they neither acknowledged nor questioned him, continuing their game without pause. Gao Yucheng then crouched beside them to watch the match. When the game ended, they gathered the pieces into the box, and only then did the three old men ask the guest how he had come to be there. Gao Yucheng said, "Because I lost my way and fell into this cloud pit." The old man said, "This is not the human world; it is not suitable for a long stay. I will send you back." So he led him to the bottom of the pit, and Gao Yucheng felt the cloud vapor supporting him as he rose gently, until he reached level ground. At that moment, he saw that the leaves in the mountains were already deep yellow, falling thickly, as if it were already late autumn. He was greatly startled and said, "I came in winter; how could it have turned into late autumn?" He hurried home, and his wife and children were all astonished, embracing him and weeping. Gao Yucheng asked in surprise what had happened, and his wife said, "You have been gone for three years without returning; we all thought you had long since passed away." Gao Yucheng said, "How strange! It was only a moment!" As he spoke, he took out the dried provisions from his waist, only to find they had all turned to ashes. They looked at each other in mutual astonishment. His wife said, "After you left, I dreamed of two men, dressed in black robes with gleaming belts, who seemed to be demanding rent taxes, bursting into the room with a fierce air, looking around, and then asking, 'Where has he gone?' I rebuked them, saying, 'He has gone out. Since you are official messengers, how dare you break into a woman's private chamber!' The two then left, muttering as they went, 'Strange, strange,' and then departed." Gao Yucheng then realized that what he had encountered were immortals, and what his wife had dreamed were ghosts and demons. Whenever Gao Yucheng received guests, he wore the garment struck by the wooden pestle underneath, and the whole room could smell its fragrance, which was neither musk nor orchid, and after sweating, the scent grew even stronger.
Commentary
To judge whether a person is virtuous, the key lies not in how he treats his equals, nor in how he behaves toward the powerful and wealthy, but rather in how he treats those who are inferior to him, even the poor and lowly.
Throughout history, both in China and abroad, many literary works depict kind-hearted individuals who treat the poor and lowly with compassion and are rewarded for their virtue, likely with the aim of encouraging people to cultivate benevolence and show kindness to the destitute. In this tale, Gao Yucheng not only treats a beggar with kindness but sees his good deeds through to the end, thus receiving repayment from the Beggar Immortal. The repayment does not unfold on a single plane but escalates step by step. After revealing his extraordinary identity, the Beggar Immortal becomes a guest in Gao's household, accompanying him in games of chess and gambling. Only upon parting does the Beggar Immortal display his full prowess. First, he hosts a banquet in gratitude, with rare delicacies and jade-like dishes, fully manifesting the aura of the immortals. Next, at Gao Yucheng's request, he takes him on a journey through the heavens, where they encounter a celestial maiden. Finally, the Beggar Immortal instructs Gao Yucheng on how to evade the pursuit of the underworld. Following the Beggar Immortal's guidance, Gao Yucheng escapes the calamity of death. The Beggar Immortal's repayment of kindness is tightly interwoven, each link following the next. Although elements such as the illusory banquet, the celestial tour, and the cave-observing chess game are not original inventions of Pu Songling, their graceful narration, full of twists and turns, remains engaging and captivating to read.