The Ch'i-lin Purse: List 1

Mrs. Hsüeh wanted to prepare a dowry for Hsiang-ling that no girl in town could match.

It was the Ch’i-lin Purse, a red satin bag embroidered on both sides with a ch’i-lin, a legendary animal from ancient times.

In the old Chinese tradition, the ch’i-lin is the symbol of a promising male offspring.

The wedding procession came to a halt, and the hua-chiao was carried into a pavilion that stood alongside the road.

There was another hua-chiao in the pavilion. It was shabby, with holes in the drapes. Hsiang-ling could hear a girl sobbing inside.

A long line of people with bowls in their hands were waiting to get a ration of porridge.

As she stood in line holding a bowl and waiting her turn, she felt distraught enough to cry, but she forced herself to hold back the tears.

“My wife’s health is very delicate and she seldom leaves her room. Your job is to take care of our son. You may play with him anywhere in the garden, but there is one place you must never go. That is the Pearl Hall, the house that stands by itself on the east side of the garden. It is a sacred place, and if you ever go in there, you will be dismissed immediately.”

So Hsiang-ling began her life as a governess. The little boy in her care was very spoiled.

Suddenly, the ball they were playing with disappeared through the window of the Pearl Hall. The boy began to wail. “I want my ball, I want my ball! Go and get my ball!”

She found herself standing in front of an altar, where two candles and some incense sticks were burning.

Not wanting to wait on another servant, the maid grudgingly brought a stool and put it to Mrs. Lu’s right.

Mrs. Lu dropped to her knees in front of Hsiang-ling and cried, “You are my benefactor! All these years I have been praying here for your well-being. When I got to my new home, I opened the purse and found it full of valuables, including this.”

Mrs. Lu dropped to her knees in front of Hsiang-ling and cried, “You are my benefactor! All these years I have been praying here for your well-being. When I got to my new home, I opened the purse and found it full of valuables, including this.”

Using the money, we started a business and have now become very wealthy. So I reclaimed the jade and have kept it in the purse since.

I was hoping that one day I would find you and show you my gratitude.

Although in appearance China was still ruled by the sovereigns of the Chou Dynasty, many parts of the country had become states with their own kings.

One evening, while Lord Meng Ch’ang and his guests were having dinner, a servant brought two men into the hall. One was short, skinny, and dressed in black; the other was tall, robust, and dressed in red.

“Good,” said the lord, and then he turned to the tall man dressed in red. “My friend, what about you? How do you earn a living?”
The man smiled mischievously and said, “My lord, I crow.”

They could not believe that Lord Meng Ch’ang would take two vagabonds into his house and treat them as guests.

Now, Lord Meng Ch’ang knew that the king of Ch’in was a very ambitious man who acted on impulse.

Lord Meng Ch’ang quickly gathered his guests at the tavern. “Let us leave before the king changes his mind. But our group is large, and if we leave together, it might arouse suspicion.”

The sentinels who patrolled the border wall had apparently gone to bed.

“My lord,” said the man as he sprang from his horse, “after you left, an official from the palace came looking for you. He said that you had been summoned by the king. He was angry to hear that you had left and said you should not have done so without the king’s permission. He went back to report to the king. I think we should cross the border before anything happens.”

Hoping to get some support, he traveled all the way to the capital, Pien-liang, where his betrothed and her parents lived.

What Chang Chen didn’t know was that Miss Peony’s father, Mr. Chin, a high official in the capital, was very snobbish.

“You should prepare for the imperial examinations,” he said. “Until you pass them and become a high official in the court, I will not allow you to marry my daughter.”

Now, the carp-fish was actually a spirit. She empathized with Chang Chen and wanted to console him.

Now, the carp-fish was actually a spirit. She empathized with Chang Chen and wanted to console him.

The real Miss Peony was very angry. “Who are you?” she said to the carp-fish spirit. “How dare you impersonate me!”

Mr. Chin was flabbergasted when he saw the two processions—two Pao Kungs, each escorted by their guards.

Mr. Chin was flabbergasted when he saw the two processions—two Pao Kungs, each escorted by their guards.

The real Pao Kung was outraged to see someone impersonating him.

“I am going to appeal to the jade Emperor and request that he send Chang T’ien-shih, the Sorcerer from Heaven, to expel the evil spirit.”

“The world is full of sorrow. A spirit is not allowed to mix with human beings. Come with me and nurture yourself with prayers and fasting, and you will become an immortal someday.”