for michelle #2

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Madam White Is Kept Forever under Thunder Peak Tower

Hill beyond green hill, tower beyond tower, When will songs and dances by West Lake ever cease ? Enchanted by the warm breezes, The sightseers take Hangzhou for Bianzhou.1

Our story takes place by beautiful West Lake amid green hills and clear waters.In the Xianhe reign period [326–34] during the Jin dynasty, when a raging mountain flood swept past West Gate, an ox was suddenly seen in the water, glit- tering all over with the color of gold. The ox then followed the receding flood all the way to North Hill, where it became lost to view, destination unknown. The event caused quite a stir throughout the city of Hangzhou, for the residents believed that the ox was an apparition of some deity. Thus, a temple was built and named Jinniu [Golden Ox] Temple. At West Gate, now called Yongjin [Golden Flood] Gate, a temple dedicated to General Jinhua [Golden Splendor] still stands.

At the time, a foreign monk with the Buddhist name Hunshouluo commented when viewing the hills of Wulin County on one of his wandering journeys: “A little peak in front of Spirit Vulture Hill [Grdhrakuta] has suddenly disappeared. So, here’s where it has flown to.” Reacting to the disbelief these words generated among his audience, he continued, “As far as I remember, that little peak is called Spirit Vulture Peak. It has a cave in which lives a white ape. Let me try to call the ape out by way of proof.” And indeed, a white ape emerged in response to his calls.

At the foot of the hill was a pavilion, now called Cold Fountain Pavilion. In the middle of West Lake stands a solitary hill. When the poet Lin Hejing2 was liv- ing as a hermit on that hill, he had stones and earth carried over and a walkway built between Broken Bridge to the east and Sunset Peak to the west. The walk- way thus came to be called Solitary Hill Road. During the Tang dynasty, Prefect Bai Juyi3 also had a causeway built, reaching from Green Screen Hills to the south and Sunset Peak to the north, and it came to be called the Bai Causeway. The two roads were often damaged by mountain floods, and money had to be withdrawn

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from government coªers each time to pay for repairs. Then, during the Song dynasty, Su Dongpo,4 who was prefect of Hangzhou, bought timber and stones, hired labor- ers, and had the two water-damaged roads repaired and reinforced. Railings on the six bridges were painted vermilion and peach, and willow trees were planted all along the causeway. In the balmy days of spring, the scenery is most picturesque. Later, it came to be known as the Su Causeway. Two stone bridges were built by Solitary Hill Road to part the flow of the water. The one to the east is called Broken Bridge and the one to the west Xiling Bridge. Truly,

Three hundred temples half hidden in the hills; Two tall peaks locked in faint, fluªy clouds.

But, storyteller, you may well object, why talk only about the scenery of West Lake, men of immortal fame, and sites of historic interest? Well, let me now launch into the story proper and tell of a dashing young man who, because of his encounter with two women while touring West Lake, caused quite a sensation throughout the romance-filled streets of the region’s cities and towns, providing material for a love story from the writer’s pen. Now what was the young man’s name? What man- ner of women did he encounter? What did he do to cause a sensation? There is a poem in testimony:

In the dismal rain of the Qingming season,5

The wayfarer on the road is stricken with grief. “Where, pray, might I find a wineshop?” The herdboy points to Apricot Village afar.

The story goes that in the Shaoxing reign period [1 132–62], after Emperor Gaozong of Song moved to the south, there lived, in Black Pearl Lane by the Reward the Troops Bridge in Lin’an Prefecture, Hangzhou, a certain Li Ren. He served as a petty o‹cial in the treasury of the Southern Song court while doubling as bur- sar for a Marshal Shao. His wife had a younger brother, Xu Xuan, who was the old- est son of the family. Xu’s father used to own an herbal medicine store, but both parents had died when Xu Xuan was still a boy. Now twenty-two years old, Xu Xuan worked as an assistant in an herb store owned by a distant uncle, Squire Li. The store was situated at the corner of O‹cials Street.

One day, Xu Xuan was attending to his business in the store when a monk appeared at the door and said after a greeting, “This poor monk is from Baoshu Pagoda Monastery. I sent some steamed buns and twisted rolls to your house the other day. Now that the Clear and Bright Festival is drawing near, I hope that you, Master Xiaoyi [Oldest Son], will come to our monastery to oªer incense in mem- ory of your ancestors. Please do remember to come.”

“I’ll surely be there,” promised Xu Xuan. The monk took his leave. In the evening, Xu Xuan returned to his brother-in-law’s house. Being a bach-

elor, he lived with his older sister’s family. That evening, he told his sister, “A monk

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from Baoshu Monastery came today and asked me to go and burn sacrificial straw baskets.6 So I’ll make the trip tomorrow to honor our ancestors.”

He rose bright and early the next morning and bought some paper horses, can- dles, sutra streamers, and strings of paper coins. Afterwards he ate breakfast, changed into new clothes, socks, and shoes, wrapped the baskets and oªerings in a piece of cloth, and went to Squire Li’s house on O‹cials Street. When Squire Li asked where he was oª to, Xu Xuan replied, “I’m going to Baoshu Pagoda to oªer incense in memory of my ancestors. Please give me a day’s leave, Uncle.”

“All right, but come back as soon as possible.” Xu Xuan left the store. He took Peaceful Longevity Lane and Flower Market

Street, crossed Well Pavilion Bridge, went through Qiantang Gate behind Clear River Street, crossed Stone Box Bridge, and passed the Monument to the Release of Captured Living Creatures.

Once he arrived at the monastery, he sought out the monk who had brought him steamed buns and made his confession. He then burned the baskets contain- ing the paper oªerings and went up to the main hall to watch the monks recite the scriptures. After a vegetarian meal, he bade the monk good-bye and left to take a leisurely walk around.

He crossed West Peace Bridge and Solitary Hill Road and went to the Temple of the Four Sages, meaning to continue on to Lin Hejing’s grave and Six Ones Spring. But all of a sudden, clouds gathered in the northwestern sky, and a fog closed in from the southeast. The drizzle that followed soon grew into a steady rain. As it happened to be around the Clear and Bright Festival, the Lord of Heaven, in obser- vance of the laws of nature, lent a determined insistence to the rain so as to speed the growth of flowers. Seeing that the ground outside was wet, Xu Xuan took oª his new socks and shoes and stepped out of the temple to look for a boat. There being none in sight, he wasn’t sure what to do, when suddenly, he was overjoyed to see an old man rowing a boat in his direction. A closer look revealed the boatman to be Grandpa Zhang. “Grandpa Zhang,” cried Xu Xuan, “please take me on board!”

At the cry, the old man looked around and saw that it was Master Xiaoyi. Rowing his boat toward the shore, he said, “Master Xiaoyi, so you’re caught in the rain! How far do you want me to take you?”

“I’ll get oª at Golden Flood Gate.” The old man helped him into the boat and rowed away from the bank toward

Harvest Joy Tower. Before they had gone more than a hundred feet, they heard a cry from the shore, “Grandpa, would you give us a ride, please?”

Xu Xuan turned to look and saw a woman wearing a white silk blouse, a fine flaxen skirt, and white hairpins in her jet-black hair, which was arranged in a chignon covered in mourning white. By her side stood her maid, dressed all in green. Her hair was fastened in two knots, each tied with a bright red string and adorned with a piece of jewelry. She was carrying a package in her hand. Both appeared eager to get on the boat.

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Old Man Zhang remarked to Xu Xuan, “As the saying goes, ‘When there’s a wind blowing, you need do nothing to keep the fire going.’ Since we don’t have to do anything extra, why don’t we take them on board?”

“Have them come down, then,” said Xu Xuan. (The beginning of all the trou- bles to come.)

So the old man drew the boat up to the shore, and the woman and her maid stepped on board. At the sight of Xu Xuan, the woman flashed a smile, revealing dainty white teeth between red lips, and dropped a curtsy. Xu Xuan rose with alacrity and returned the greeting. After the woman and the maid were seated in the cabin, the woman kept casting significant glances at Xu Xuan, who found his desires stir- ring, despite his prudishness, at the sight of such an enchanting beauty accompa- nied by the flower of a maid. (It so happens that prudish ones tend to be the easiest to catch.)

“May I ask your name, sir?” said the woman. “I am Xu Xuan, the oldest son in the family.” “Where do you live?” “I live in Black Pearl Lane by Reward the Troops Bridge and work in an herbal

medicine store.” Now that the woman had asked her questions, Xu Xuan thought it was his turn.

Rising from his seat, he inquired, “May I ask your name, madam? And where do you live?”

“I am the younger sister of O‹cer White [Bai] of the imperial guards. My hus- band, Zhang, has unfortunately passed away and is buried here on Thunder Peak. The Clear and Bright Festival being near, I took my maid to sweep his grave and make some oªerings today. We were on our way back when we got caught in the rain. If you hadn’t taken us in, we would have been in quite a sorry state.”

After they had chatted for a while, the boat approached the shore. The woman said, “I left home in such haste that I didn’t bring enough travel money. Could you please lend me some money so that I may pay the boatman? I’ll surely pay you back.” ( An excuse for continuing the association.)

“As you wish, madam, but don’t worry about such a trivial amount,” Xu Xuan assured her.

After the boatman was paid, the rain came down even harder. As Xu Xuan helped her go ashore, the woman said, “My house is at the entrance to Double Tea Lane by Arrow Bridge. If it’s not beneath you, please follow me to my humble home for tea, so that I can repay the money.”

“Oh, don’t worry about such a trifle. It’s getting late now. I’ll come for a visit another time,” said Xu Xuan. And so, the woman and her maid took leave of him.

Xu Xuan then went through Golden Flood Gate and wended his way under the eaves of the houses to Three Bridges Street, where Squire Li’s brother’s herb store was located. Xu Xuan walked up and saw the younger Squire Li at the door.

“Brother Xiaoyi,” said Li, “where are you going at this late hour?”

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“I went to Baoshu Pagoda on an incense-oªering trip and got caught in the rain. Could you lend me an umbrella?

“Old Chen!” cried out Li. “Get Master Xiaoyi an umbrella !” Soon, Old Chen emerged with an umbrella. Opening it, he said, “Master Xiaoyi,

this umbrella is the work of Honest Shu by Character Eight Bridge on Clear Lake, and a fine umbrella it is, with its eighty-four ribs and purple bamboo handle. It’s not torn anywhere, either. So don’t ruin it! Be sure to take good care of it!” (Remarks quite unexpected. A comic touch.)

“Of course, don’t worry,” said Xu Xuan as he took the umbrella. After some words of thanks to Squire Li, he left, heading in the direction of Sheep Dike. As he approached Rear Market Street, he heard someone call, “Master Xiaoyi!” Turning to look, he saw a woman standing under the eaves of the small teahouse at the entrance to Shen’s Well Street, the very Madam White who had been his companion on the boat.

“Why are you here, madam?” “With the rain pouring like that, my shoes became wet, so I had Little Green

go home to fetch an umbrella and my galoshes. Now that it’s getting dark, may I share your umbrella for part of the way?”

So they walked as far as the dike, sharing one umbrella. “Now where do you want to go, madam?”

“To Arrow Bridge after crossing that bridge.” “Well, I’m heading for Reward the Troops Bridge, which is quite close by. You

might just as well take the umbrella. I’ll come to get it tomorrow.” (Volunteering to continue the relationship and inviting trouble. There’s no one more tender, aªection- ate, and [illegible] than Madam White.)

“You’re too kind. Thank you so much,” said Madam White. Keeping under the eaves, Xu Xuan walked on in the rain. Upon arriving, he

ran into Wang An, his brother-in-law’s servant, who had just returned after look- ing vainly for him to deliver his galoshes and umbrella.

Xu Xuan ate supper at home and spent a wakeful night, tossing and turning, thinking about the woman. When he finally fell asleep, the events of the day reap- peared in a dream, stirring up amorous passion. At the rooster’s crow, he woke up and realized that it had all been but a dream. Truly,

His heart as wild as a fast-running ape or horse, His amorous desires kept him awake till dawn.

When it grew light at last, he rose, washed, did his hair, ate breakfast, and went to the store. With his mind in a fluster, he could hardly concentrate on his job. In the early afternoon, he thought to himself, “How am I going to get the umbrella back and return it without having to tell a lie?” Addressing the older Squire Li, who was sitting by the counter, he said, “My brother-in-law wants me to go home earlier than usual today to deliver a present for him. May I take the rest of the after- noon oª ?”

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“All right, go ahead. Come in earlier tomorrow!” After chanting his good-bye, Xu Xuan headed straight for Double Tea Lane by

Arrow Bridge and asked for directions to Madam White’s house, but no one knew where it was. He was wondering what to do when Little Green, Madam White’s maid, appeared, coming from an easterly direction.

“Sister !” exclaimed Xu Xuan. “Where exactly do you live? I’ve come to get my umbrella.”

“Follow me, sir.” And so he did. A few moments later, she announced, “Here we are !” He saw that the house was two-storied with a double door flanked by four long,

latticed windows, two to a side. A finely woven vermilion curtain hung in the mid- dle of the door. The main hall was lined with twelve black lacquer armchairs and decorated with four landscape paintings by famous artists of olden times. Opposite the house stood the mansion of Prince Xiu, father of Emperor Xiaozong of Song.

Disappearing behind the curtain, the maid said, “Please come in and take a seat, sir !”

Xu Xuan followed her to the inner section of the house. Little Green then whis- pered, “Ma’am, Master Xiaoyi is here !”

“Invite him in for tea,” said Madam White from inside. Xu Xuan had not made up his mind what to do, but Little Green kept urging

him to go in, and so he did. There came into view four veiled latticed windows. When the blue cotton portiere was raised, he saw a small parlor with a table on which stood a pot of bearded calamus. Two paintings of beautiful women hung on either side, and on the central wall was a picture of a deity. On another table was a bronze vase in the shape of an incense burner.

Madam White stepped forward and said with a deep bow, “I’m much indebted to you, Master Xiaoyi, for having taken such good care of us upon our first encounter yesterday. How can I ever thank you enough?”

“Oh, it’s hardly worth mentioning.” “Please sit and have some tea,” said Madam White. After they finished the tea,

she continued, “Let me serve you some wine as a token of my gratitude.” Before Xu Xuan could decline the oªer, Little Green had laid out a fine spread

of vegetables and fruits. “I thank you, madam, for your hospitality, but I really shouldn’t be imposing

on you like this.” After drinking a few cups of wine, he rose and said, “It’s getting late. As I have quite a long way to go, I beg to take leave of you now.”

“A relative of mine borrowed your umbrella from me last night,” said Madam White. “Please have a few more cups while I try to have it sent back.”

“It’s getting late. I really must be going.” “Just one more cup!” “But I’ve had enough. I’m much obliged!” “If you insist on leaving now, please be good enough to come back tomorrow

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for the umbrella.” (Trying again to continue the relationship. Another twist in the plot.) There was nothing Xu Xuan could do but take leave of her and return home.

The next day, after working in the store for a little while, he got away again on some excuse and went to Madam White’s house to reclaim his umbrella. Again, she kept him for wine.

“Please give me back my umbrella,” said Xu Xuan. “I don’t want to impose on you like this.”

“But since the wine is ready, please take just one little cup,” the woman insisted. Xu Xuan felt he had no choice but to sit down. Madam White filled a cup, handed it to Xu Xuan, and said, her cherry-red lips moving, her pearly teeth glistening, her voice sweet and coquettish, her face radiant with joy, “My respects to you, sir. As they say, ‘To an honest person, be honest.’ The fact is, my husband has died. Judging from your kindness to me the first time we met, I believe that I must have a predestined marriage bond with you and that the feeling is mutual. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could find a matchmaker and we two who are made for each other can join in blissful marriage?”

These words set Xu Xuan to thinking. “That would indeed be a good match. To have such a wife wouldn’t be a bad deal at all. I am more than willing, but there’s one matter to consider. Working during the day for Squire Li and lodging at night at my brother-in-law’s house, I have saved a little money, but it’s just enough for my own clothes. How can I aªord to have a family?”

As he sat there, pensively silent, Madam White asked, “Why don’t you answer me?”

“I’m very honored, but the fact of the matter is, I don’t have the means to com- ply with your wish.”

“That problem is easily solved,” replied Madam White. “I have money to spare. You needn’t worry on that score.” To Little Green, she said, “Go up and get an ingot of silver for me.”

Holding on to the railing, Little Green went up and down the stairs and handed a package to Madam White. “Master Xiaoyi,” said the woman, “Take this. When in need, come here again for more.” So saying, she gave the package to Xu Xuan with her own hands. Xu Xuan opened the package and saw inside fifty taels of snow- white silver. He put it in his sleeve and rose to go. Little Green returned his umbrella to him. Umbrella in hand, Xu Xuan took his leave, went straight home, and hid the silver. The night passed without further ado.

In the morning, he rose and went to O‹cials Street to return the umbrella to Squire Li. With some loose pieces of silver, he bought a fat and juicy roast goose, fresh fish, lean meat, a young chicken, fruit, and a jar of wine and carried them home. He gave everything to the housekeeper and the maids for them to take care of.

His brother-in-law, O‹cer Li, happened to be at home that day, and Xu Xuan invited him and his sister to sit down around the dinner table with the fine spread

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on it. Much taken aback at the invitation, O‹cer Li said to himself, “Why is he going to so much expense today? I’ve never seen him with a wine cup. Something’s wrong here !”

The three sat down in order of seniority. After a few rounds of wine, O‹cer Li said, “My honored brother-in-law, why are you going to so much expense when there’s nothing special happening?”

“I’m much obliged to you, Brother-in-law, but please don’t make fun of me. This is really not worth mentioning. I am very grateful to you and Sister for tak- ing care of me all these years. But, as they say, one guest should not impose him- self on two hosts. I’m a grown man now and should make sure I’ll have support in my old age. I’ve had a marriage oªer. Could you, my brother-in-law and sister, please make the necessary arrangements on my behalf so that I can settle down once and for all?”

At these words, his brother-in-law and sister thought to themselves, “This is a man who hardly ever parts with a penny. And now, with what little he has spent, he expects us to get a wife for him?” Exchanging glances, the husband and wife refrained from answering. After the meal was over, Xu Xuan went back to work.

A couple of days later, Xu Xuan wondered, “Why does Sister still keep silent about the matter?” He asked his sister, “Have you consulted Brother-in-law-about what I said the other day?”

“No.” “Why not?” “Well, unlike other things, this isn’t something that should be done in a rush.

Also, your brother-in-law’s been looking worried the last couple of days, so I haven’t dared ask him, so as to avoid adding another burden to his mind.”

“Sister, why are you dragging your feet? What’s so di‹cult about it? You’re ignor- ing me only because you’re afraid I’ll be making a demand on my brother-in-law’s pocket!” With that, he rose, went to his bedroom, opened his trunk, and took out Madam White’s silver. Handing the ingot to his sister, he said, “Now, no more excuses. I need Brother-in-law to make the arrangements for me.”

“So, you’ve saved up quite a tidy sum all these years while working for Uncle ! No wonder you are talking about getting married! You go along now and leave the money here with me.”

When O‹cer Li returned, Xu Xuan’s sister told him, “Husband, you know why my brother is talking about marrying? The fact is, he has saved up quite a tidy sum for himself and has oªered some to me. It looks like we’ll have to take care of this matchmaking business.”

“So that’s what it is !” exclaimed O‹cer Li. “Well, it’s a good thing he has some private savings. Show me the money.” Promptly, his wife handed the silver to him. He turned the ingot over and over in his hand, examining the characters engraved on it. “We’re in trouble !” he burst out in alarm. “This means death for the whole family !”

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Seized with fear, his wife asked, “What can be so terrible?” “A few days ago, fifty large ingots of silver disappeared from Marshal Shao’s trea-

sury. The seal and lock on the door are intact, and there is no underground tunnel that leads to it. And now, Lin’an Prefecture has been given the urgent task of hunt- ing down the thief, but there’s no clue whatsoever. Goodness knows how many people have been implicated! Bulletins have been posted, complete with the serial num- bers of the missing ingots. The bulletin says, ‘Whoever captures the thief and finds the silver shall receive a reward of fifty taels. Anyone who withholds information or gives shelter to the thief shall be duly punished, and all members of his family shall be banished to remote regions.’ Now, the serial number on this ingot is exactly the same as the one in the bulletin, which means that the silver comes from Marshal Shao’s treasury, and there’s a big hue and cry after it! Indeed, ‘In a spreading fire, you can’t aªord to take care of all your relatives.’ If this theft is discovered, I won’t be able to talk my way out of trouble. I don’t care whether he stole it or borrowed it, but it’s far better to have him punished than to be implicated myself. I’ll have to take the silver to the authorities, so as to protect my family.” His wife was so stunned at these words that her jaw dropped and she stared at him, her eyes unblinking.

And so, oª he went to the prefectural yamen to surrender the ingot of silver. His report deprived the prefect of a whole night’s sleep.

The next day, He Li, the arrest o‹cer, was summoned posthaste. Taking a few assistants and a team of lictors keen of eye and swift of movement, O‹cer He Li went straight to Squire Li’s store on O‹cials Street to apprehend the thief Xu Xuan. At the store counter, the men gave a shout and bound Xu Xuan with rope. Beating a drum and a gong along the way, they took him to the yamen of Lin’an Prefecture, where Prefect Han happened to be holding court. Xu Xuan was taken to the mid- dle of the hall and made to kneel down.

“Beat him !” roared the prefect. “Hold the torture for now, Your Honor,” protested Xu Xuan. “First, let me know

the charge against me.” Furiously the magistrate thundered, “What does a thief have to say for himself

when the evidence is there? How dare you try to claim innocence! Fifty of the largest ingots of silver have disappeared from Marshal Shao’s treasury, with the seal and lock intact. O‹cer Li has brought in one of the ingots, and the other forty-nine ingots must be in your possession. If you are able to steal without touching the seal, you must be a sorcerer as well as a thief ! All right, hold the beating for now, but bring me some animal blood!”7

Now realizing what this was all about, Xu Xuan shouted at the top of his voice, “I’m not a sorcerer ! Let me explain!”

“All right, go ahead and tell me where you got the silver.” Thereupon, Xu Xuan gave a detailed account of how he had lent his umbrella

and had gotten it back.

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“What manner of woman is Madam White?” the prefect demanded. “And where does she live?”

“She says she’s the younger sister of O‹cer White of the imperial guards. She lives in the black house on the slope opposite Prince Xiu’s mansion at the entrance to Double Tea Lane by Arrow Bridge.”

Right away, the prefect ordered Arrest O‹cer He Li to escort Xu Xuan to Double Tea Lane to apprehend the woman and bring her to court.

Thus ordered, He Li and his men hurried to the black house opposite Prince Xiu’s mansion on Double Tea Lane. When they got there, all they saw were four windows looking out onto the street, a big double door, a heap of garbage on the steps leading up to the door, and a bamboo pole across the door. The men stood astounded. Then they set out to a search for some neighbors and came back from one end of the street with a Mr. Qiu Da, a maker of artificial flowers, and from the other end of the street a Mr. Sun, a cobbler. The latter was so overwhelmed by the shock that he had a rupture and collapsed to the ground. Other neighbors came over and told the o‹cers, “There isn’t any Madam White around here. About five or six years ago, an Inspector Mao who used to lived there died in an epidemic, as did all other members of his family. Since then, because ghosts have often been seen coming out of the house in broad daylight to buy things, no one has dared to live in it. A few days ago, a madman was seen standing in front of the door chanting greetings.”

By He Li’s order, the bamboo pole barring the door was removed. As the door opened, a gust of foul-smelling wind sprang up from the deserted interior of the house. Astounded, the men staggered back, while Xu Xuan stood speechless.

Among the constables was a stout-hearted Mr. Wang, the second son in his fam- ily, better known as Wino Wang the Second because of his weakness for wine. “Follow me !” shouted Wino Wang the Second as he led the men in.

The walls, the parlor, and the table and chairs were all there as Xu Xuan had described them. When they came to the staircase, Wino Wang was made to go up first, and the rest of the men followed. They found the upper floor covered with a layer of dust three inches thick. Continuing on to a bedchamber, they pushed open the door and saw that, on a canopied bed surrounded by trunks and cases, sat a woman in white, as pretty as a flower and as fair as jade. Lacking the courage to step forward, the men said, “Are you, madam, a goddess or a ghost? We are ordered by the prefect of Lin’an to summon you to court to bear out Xu Xuan’s testimony.” The woman did not move.

“It won’t do if none of us dares to go forward!” exclaimed Wino Wang. “Bring me a jar of wine. She can’t hurt me after I drink, and I’ll be able to take her to the prefect.”

Two or three men promptly hurried downstairs and came back with a jar of wine. Wang the Second broke the seal over the mouth of the jar and drank up the

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wine. “She can’t hurt me now!” With that, he hurled the empty jar at the bed cur- tains. It would have been a diªerent story had he not done so, but as he did, they heard an earsplitting crack, like a bolt out of the blue. Everyone collapsed to the floor in shock. By the time they scrambled to their feet to look around, the woman had vanished. All they saw was a heap of glittering silver. Moving closer for a bet- ter view, they exclaimed, “Good!” They counted forty-nine ingots in all.

“Oh well, at least we can take the silver to the prefect,” they said, and they returned to the Lin’an prefectural yamen carrying the silver.

At He Li’s report, the prefect concluded, “This must have been the work of a demon spirit. Very well, then, the neighbors are innocent and can go home.” He then dispatched a messenger to take the fifty ingots of silver to Marshal Shao along with a report containing detailed explanations. Xu Xuan was charged with “hav- ing committed an improper act” and was given a few thrashings of the rod. Though spared the disgrace of a facial tattoo, he was sentenced to hard labor in a Suzhou Prefecture prison camp until his term expired.

Feeling guilty for having informed on Xu Xuan, O‹cer Li gave Marshal Shao’s fifty-taels reward to Xu Xuan for use on his journey. The squire wrote two letters on behalf of Xu Xuan, one addressed to Warden Fan and the other to Mr. Wang, the owner of an inn by Lucky Bridge. After a violent fit of sobbing, Xu Xuan bade farewell to his brother-in-law and his sister and was put into a cangue. Escorted by two guards, he left Hangzhou and embarked on a boat at East New Bridge.

In a matter of days, the party arrived in Suzhou. The first thing Xu Xuan did upon arrival was to present the letters to Warden Fan and Mr. Wang. On his behalf, Mr. Wang bribed high and low throughout the yamen. The two guards were then sent on to the Suzhou prefectural yamen to deliver the o‹cial documents as well as the convicted man. Once they got a return message, they went back. Warden Fan and Mr. Wang managed to get Xu Xuan released on bail. After settling down in a room on the upper floor of Mr. Wang’s inn, Xu Xuan gloomily wrote a poem on the wall:

Alone in a tower, I look toward home; Sadly, I watch the setting sun by the window. A man of honesty throughout my life, I was doomed when I met the bewitching one. Where could the one in white have gone ? And where could the one in green be now? Here, in Suzhou, away from kith and kin, I’m overwhelmed with nostalgia for home.

Only when there is a lot to say will the story be a long one, but at this point in our narration, there being little to tell, let us skip over the more than six months that flitted by like an arrow amid the busy risings and settings of the sun and the moon. During all this time, Xu Xuan continued to stay with Mr. Wang. Now, toward

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the end of the ninth month, Mr. Wang was standing idly at the door of his inn, watching the goings-on in the street, when he saw, coming from afar, a sedan-chair with a maidservant walking by its side.

“Might this be Mr. Wang’s inn?” asked the maid upon drawing near. Mr. Wang hastened to reply with a bow. “Yes. Are you looking for someone?” “We’re looking for Master Xiaoyi from Lin’an.” “Just a moment. Let me have him come out.” The sedan-chair parked in front of the door, while Mr. Wang went inside and

inside and cried out, “Brother Xiaoyi ! You have visitors !” Xu Xuan hurried out to the door with the innkeeper. Who should be there but

Madam White in the sedan-chair, attended by Little Green! “Oh, you’ll be the death of me yet!” burst out Xu Xuan. “You stole silver from

an o‹cial’s treasury and got me into goodness knows how much trouble, and there’s no one who can right the wrong done to me. Now that I’ve come to such a pass, why do you have to run after me like this? I’m ashamed to death!”

“Don’t blame me, Master Xiaoyi,” pleaded Madam White. “I’m here today to explain. Let me go in first.” So saying, she had Little Green take the luggage and got down from the sedan-chair.

“Since you’re an evil spirit, you cannot come in,” announced Xu Xuan. With that, he blocked the door and refused to let her enter.

With a deep curtsy to the innkeeper, Madam White said, “I’m not trying to hide anything. You, sir, can see that I am not an evil spirit. Look at the seams in my clothes and the shadow I cast in the sun. Unfortunately for me, my husband died and left me a victim of such abuses ! Whatever was done was my husband’s doing. I had nothing to do with it. I came all this way just to explain to you because I was afraid you might bear a grudge against me. After I’ve said what I came to say, I’ll happily take my leave.”

“Please go in and be seated while you talk,” said Mr. Wang. “Yes, let’s go inside and speak to the mistress of the house,” said Madam White,

whereupon the onlookers who had gathered at the door went their separate ways. Once inside, Xu Xuan addressed the innkeeper and his wife. “I’ve been pun-

ished by the law because of her theft. I wonder what she has to say for herself, rush- ing all the way here like this.”

“I gave you the silver my deceased husband left behind out of the best inten- tions,” explained Madam White. “I had no idea how he had come by it.”

“But when the o‹cers went to arrest you, why was there so much garbage at the door? And why is it that we heard one loud bang behind the bed curtain and then you disappeared?”

“When I heard that you had been arrested because of the silver, I was afraid you might name me. How embarrassing it would be if I were brought to the author- ities and had to show my face in public ! So I saw nothing for it but to seek refuge in my aunt’s house by Splendid Treasure Temple. Then I arranged to have garbage

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piled up at the door and silver placed on the bed. I also asked the neighbors to lie on my behalf.”

“So you got away free and left me behind to be caught up by the law!” “I put the silver on the bed because I thought that would close the case. How

was I to know that so many things would happen? After learning your whereabouts, I brought some money and came all this way by boat to look you up. And now that everything has been explained, I’m leaving. You and I are not predestined to be husband and wife after all!”

“Madam,” put in Mr. Wang, “you can’t leave like this after such a long jour- ney. Stay here for a few days before you decide what to do next.”

Little Green urged, “Since the host is oªering to keep you, why don’t you stay here for a couple of days, madam? You did once promise to marry Master Xiaoyi.”

Without missing a beat, Madam White said, “How humiliating! I can’t be as unwanted and eager to be married oª as that! I came only to set the record straight.” (Calculatedly going the other way, to throw oª suspicions.)

“Since you promised to marry him,” said Mr. Wang, “why do you have to go? Stay !” And he dismissed the sedan-chair carrier, but of this, no more.

Several days later, Madam White having done her best to win Mrs. Wang’s heart, the old lady persuaded Mr. Wang to use his powers of persuasion on Xu Xuan and make the match. The eleventh day of the eleventh month was then chosen for the wedding ceremony, to mark the beginning of a long and blissful marriage.

In the twinkling of an eye, the auspicious day rolled around. Madam White took out some silver and asked Mr. Wang to prepare the wedding feast. After the bride and the groom made their wedding bows in the main hall and partook of the wedding feast, they retired to the curtained bed in their bedchamber. Madam White used such charms on Xu Xuan that he was thrown into as much ecstasy as if he had met a divine being. How he wished he could have known her earlier ! They were still sporting joyfully when the roosters crowed three times and the east- ern sky began to brighten. Truly,

In joy, the night goes by all too quickly; In loneliness, the hours drag on, and dawn never comes.

Henceforth, the two spent all their time in delirious pleasure at Mr. Wang’s inn, as inseparable as fish and water. The days grew to months. Soon, six months had slipped by, bringing in the balmy days and blooming flowers of spring. Noticing the hustle and bustle in the streets, Xu Xuan asked his host, “Why is everybody out on the street? What’s all this excitement about?”

“Today being the fifteenth day of the second month, men and women are going out to see the image of the Reclining Buddha,” explained Mr. Wang. “Why don’t you also go to Chengtian Monastery for some fun?”

“Right! I’ll go, but let me tell my wife about it first.” So Xu Xuan went upstairs and said to his wife, “Since today is the fifteenth day of the second month, there

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are lots of men and women out to see the Reclining Buddha. I want to go and take a look, too, but I’ll be back soon enough. If anyone asks for me, just say I’m not at home. Don’t go out to be seen in public.”

“But what’s there to see? What’s so bad about just staying at home?” protested Madam White. “Why do you have to go?”

“I’ll just go and have a little fun. I’ll be back soon. No harm can come of it.” So saying, Xu Xuan left the inn. In the company of a few acquaintances, he

went to the monastery to see the Reclining Buddha. After touring all the halls along the corridors, he was on his way out when he saw a priest wearing a Daoist robe, a casual head wrap, a yellow silk waistband, and a pair of hemp shoes sitting in front of the monastery gate, selling medicine and distributing charms and holy water. Xu Xuan stopped to watch.

“This poor priest is from the Zhongnan Mountains,” announced the priest. “I dispense charms and holy water everywhere I go in my travels, to cure diseases and dispel disasters. Those a›icted with ailments, please come forward.” Espying a col- umn of black vapor over Xu Xuan’s head, the priest immediately concluded that this man was being haunted by an evil spirit. “You there !” he called out. “An evil spirit has been haunting you for some time now, and it’s doing you no little harm ! Let me give you two charms to save your life. One is for you to burn at the third watch of the night, and the other is to put in your hair.”

Xu Xuan took the charms with a deep bow, thinking to himself, “I do have the feeling that she’s most probably an evil spirit. So it’s true.” Thankfully, he took leave of the priest and returned to the inn.

At night, while Madam White and Little Green were asleep, Xu Xuan rose and said to himself, “It should be the third watch of the night by now.”

With that, he put one of the two charms in his hair and was about to burn the other when Madam White spoke up with a sigh, “Brother Xiaoyi, we’ve been hus- band and wife for quite some time now, and yet, instead of having faith in me, you believed some stranger and try to burn a charm in the middle of the night to exorcise me ! Well, go ahead and burn it!” So saying, she grabbed the charm and burned it up. Nothing happened.

“Are you convinced now?” asked Madam White. “Imagine accusing me of being an evil spirit!”

“It wasn’t my idea,” protested Xu Xuan. “A mendicant priest in front of Reclining Buddha Monastery said that you are.”

“All right, let me go with you tomorrow and see what manner of priest he is.” The next morning, Madam White rose bright and early. After she had com-

pleted her toilette, put on her jewelry and her white outfit, and instructed Little Green to take care of things in their rooms on the second floor of the inn, hus- band and wife made their way to Reclining Buddha Monastery. There, they saw a crowd gathered around the priest, who was distributing charms and holy water. Her bewitching eyes wide open, Madam White walked up to the priest and shouted

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at the top of her voice, “How dare you, a priest, tell my husband that I am an evil spirit and write up a charm to subdue me !”

The priest shot back, “With my Five Thunders heaven-centered orthodox method, I can make any demon reveal its true shape as soon as it swallows my charm.”

“In the presence of everyone here, why don’t you make me eat one of those charms of yours?” challenged Madam White. Accordingly, the priest drew a charm and gave it to Madam White, who took it and swallowed it up. The onlookers watched intently, but nothing happened.

They commented, “How can you accuse such a nice lady of being an evil spirit?” And they went on berating the priest while he stood there stupefied, fear written all over his face.

Madam White addressed the crowd, “You all witnessed how he failed to trap me. Now, let me try something on him that I learned as a child. Watch!” As she murmured something quite incomprehensible, the priest huddled up and rose in the air as if clutched by an invisible hand. The onlookers stood aghast. Xu Xuan was dumbfounded.

“If it were not for my respect for all of you,” said Madam White, “I would keep him up there in the air for a year.” She blew a puª of air, and the priest came down to the ground. How he wished his parents had given him two wings at birth! As he raced oª, the crowd dispersed.

Needless to say, the husband and wife went back home together. With Madam White paying for the daily expenses, theirs was truly a harmonious conjugal life in which:

The husband sings, the wife follows; The mornings delightful, the nights joyous.

Time flew by like a darting arrow. Again, the eighth day of the fourth month, Sakyamuni’s birthday, rolled around. On the streets, people were seen taking dona- tions from door to door and carrying cypress shrines to the monasteries where stat- ues of Buddha would be washed. To Mr. Wang, Xu Xuan commented, “The customs here are the same as in Hangzhou.”

At this point, a young neighbor called Iron Head remarked, “Brother Xiaoyi, there’s a Buddhist gathering at Chengtian Monastery today. Why don’t you go and take a look?”

Xu Xuan went inside and told Madam White about it. “What’s there to see?” said she. “Don’t go!”

“It’ll just be a harmless little trip to kill some time,” insisted Xu Xuan. “If you’re determined to go, let me dress you up. Your clothes are too old and

ugly.” So saying, she had Little Green bring over a few fashionable pieces of cloth- ing, which turned out to fit him so well that they seemed to have been tailor-made for him. They included a black hat with a pair of white jade rings dangling at the back, a blue silk robe, and a pair of black boots. Carrying in his hand an exquis-

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ite folding silk fan bearing gold-traced portraits of women and adorned with a coral pendant, Xu Xuan looked the very picture of elegance from head to foot. In a voice as sweet as that of an oriole, the woman admonished him, “Come back early, hus- band! Don’t make me worry about you!”

Accompanied by Iron Head, Xu Xuan went to Chengtian Monastery to watch the Buddhist gathering. Everyone who saw him gave a cheer, for he was a marvel to the eye. A man was heard saying, “Last night, some jewelry and other valuables worth four to five thousand strings of cash disappeared from Squire Zhou’s pawn- shop. They reported the case to the authorities, along with a list of the missing items. The search is on, but the thief hasn’t been found yet.”

Xu Xuan heard these words, but not seeing their significance, he continued to tour the monastery with Iron Head amid the jostling crowds of men and women who had come to oªer incense. Then he told himself, “She wants me to be home early, so I’d better go.” But, when he turned around, he didn’t see Iron Head any- where. As he went out the gate alone, he ran into a group of five or six men who looked like yamen lictors, with identification badges hanging at their waists. Upon taking one look at Xu Xuan, one of the men commented to the others, “What this man wears and holds in his hand look like you know what.”

Another lictor, who happened to know Xu Xuan, accosted him, saying, “Master Xiaoyi, would you please show me your fan?”

An unsuspecting Xu Xuan handed the fan to him. “Look!” the man exclaimed, “the pendant of this fan exactly fits the descrip-

tions on the list!” All shouting “Get him !” the men threw a rope over Xu Xuan and tied him up,

much like

Black vultures chasing a baby swallow; Hungry tigers devouring a lamb.

“This is a mistake,” protested Xu Xuan. “I’m innocent!” “Whether you are or not, we shall see when we get to Squire Zhou’s house in

front of the prefect’s tribunal! They lost jewelry and other valuables worth five thou- sand strings of cash, a pair of white jade rings, and an exquisite folding fan with a coral pendant. How can you protest your innocence, with the actual stolen objects right here on you? And a reckless fellow you are, too, coming out into the open and showing them oª from head to foot! What do you take us for?”

Xu Xuan was petrified. It was quite a while before he was able to speak. “So that’s what happened,” he said. “Yes, yes, there is indeed a thief.”

“You can tell that to the Suzhou prefectural yamen,” said the men. The next day, the prefect called the court to order, and Xu Xuan was led into

his presence. “Where are the valuables that you stole from Squire Zhou’s treasury?” the prefect began. “Out with the truth, or you’ll be put under the rod!”

“Your Honor, please do right by me! These clothes and everything else I’m wear-

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ing were given to me by my wife, Madam White. I have no idea where they’re from, and that is the truth, as Your Honor will surely see in your wisdom !”

“Where is your wife?” thundered the prefect. “She’s on the upper floor of Mr. Wang’s inn by Lucky Bridge.” Right away, the prefect ordered Arrest O‹cer Yuan Ziming to escort Xu Xuan

there and bring the woman to court posthaste. Stunned by the sight of Arrest O‹cer Yuan Ziming, the innkeeper, Mr. Wang,

asked, “What is this all about?” “Is Madam White upstairs?” asked Xu Xuan. “Soon after you and Iron Head left for Chengtian Monastery, she said to me,

‘My husband is oª to the monastery for some fun. He told Little Green and me to take care of things upstairs, but he’s been gone for so long that we’re going to the monastery to look for him. Could you please keep an eye on our rooms?’ And so they left. They did not return that night, and they haven’t shown up so far. I thought you had all three gone to visit some relatives.”

By order of the o‹cers, Mr. Wang searched for Madam White throughout the house, back and front, but without success, whereupon Yuan Ziming brought Mr. Wang to see the prefect.

“Where is Madam White?” asked the prefect. Mr. Wang gave a detailed account of what he knew and added, “Madam White

must be an evil spirit.” After further questioning, the prefect announced, “Put Xu Xuan in jail for now!” Through bribery, Mr. Wang managed to have himself released on bail to wait

for a settlement of the case. Now, Squire Zhou was sitting idly in the teahouse opposite his house when a

servant came to report, “The jewelry and the valuables have all been found! They’re right there in the treasury, in a trunk that used to be empty.”

Upon hearing this, Squire Zhou rushed home and saw that the items were indeed there, with only the cap, the jade rings, the fan, and the pendant still missing. “All too clearly, they’ve wronged Xu Xuan, an innocent man,” said he to himself, “and that’s not right.” Secretly, he approached the o‹cials in charge of the case and pleaded with them to charge Xu Xuan for a minor oªense only.

Now, O‹cer Li, who had been sent on a mission by Marshal Shao, went to Suzhou and took up lodging at Mr. Wang’s inn. Upon hearing Mr. Wang’s account of how Xu Xuan had first come to him and then been charged with a crime, O‹cer Li thought to himself, “Now I can’t very well stand by and do nothing. He’s a mem- ber of the family, after all.” So he felt obliged to seek help from acquaintances and pay bribes high and low. (Good for him, O‹cer Li ! ) Finally, the prefect settled Xu Xuan’s case after a thorough interrogation, attributing the oªense squarely to Madam White and convicting Xu Xuan only on the charge of “failure to report the pres- ence of an evil spirit to the authorities.” He was given a hundred lashings and sen- tenced to a labor camp in Zhenjiang Prefecture, three hundred and sixty li away.

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“Going to Zhenjiang is not bad,” remarked O‹cer Li. “I have a sworn uncle, Li Keyong, who owns a medicinal herb store there by Needle Bridge. I’ll write a letter for you to present to him.” Left with no other choice, Xu Xuan borrowed travel money from his brother-in-law, took grateful leave of Mr. Wang and his brother-in-law, bought wine and a meal for the two yamen guards, and packed his belongings for the journey. Mr. Wang and his brother-in-law accompanied Xu Xuan for some distance before they returned home separately.

On the road, Xu Xuan and the guards ate and drank when necessary, traveling by day and resting at night. In a matter of days, they arrived in Zhenjiang. Xu Xuan’s first priority was to seek out Li Keyong, so he found his way to the herb store by Needle Bridge, where he saw an assistant at the door, tending to his busi- ness. As Squire Li emerged from inside, the two guards and Xu Xuan hastened to chant their greetings. “I am a relative of O‹cer Li of Hangzhou,” said Xu Xuan. “I have a letter from him.”

The assistant took the letter and handed it to Squire Li, who opened and read it. “So, you are Xu Xuan, I presume?” asked the old gentleman.

“Yes, I am.” Li Keyong ordered that a meal be served to the three men. He then had a clerk

take them to the prefectural yamen, where they delivered the o‹cial documents and paid to have Xu Xuan released on bail. The guards returned to Suzhou with the yamen’s letter of reply, while Xu Xuan followed the clerk back to Squire Li’s house, where Xu Xuan thanked Li Keyong and paid his respects to Mrs. Li. Li Keyong said to her, having read O‹cer Li’s letter, “Xu Xuan used to work in a medicinal herb store.” Thereupon, he hired him to work in his store. At night, Xu Xuan slept on the upper floor of Mr. Wang’s tofu store on Fifth Lane. Li Keyong came to be impressed by Xu Xuan’s meticulous work.

The store already had two managers, a Manager Zhang and a Manager Zhao. The latter was by nature an honest and law-abiding man, whereas the former was a crafty and treacherous one who took advantage of his seniority to bully younger men. Displeased by the arrival of a newcomer because he feared his services might no longer be needed, he thought up an evil plan to give vent to his jealousy.

One day, Li Keyong paid a visit to the store and asked, “How’s the newcomer doing?”

Manager Zhang thought to himself, “Here he falls into my trap!” Aloud, he said, “He’s all right, except for one thing.”

“What one thing?” “He’s interested only in the bigger transactions and turns away clients who don’t

bring much profit. That’s why he’s not popular among our clients. I’ve tried sev- eral times to talk some sense into him, but he just won’t listen.”

“I can easily take care of that,” said old Squire Li. “Let me talk to him. He’ll surely listen to me.” (The whole story is a fabrication.)

Having overheard the conversation, Manager Zhao said privately to Manager

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Zhang, “We should all be nice to one another. Since Xu Xuan is a newcomer, you and I should by rights be taking good care of him. If he does anything wrong, we should tell him face-to-face rather than criticize him behind his back. If he hears about this, he’ll say we’re jealous.” (Manager Zhang [illegible.])

“What does a young man like you know?” snapped Manager Zhang. The hour being late, they went back to their respective lodgings. Later, Manager Zhao went to Xu Xuan’s place and oªered him this advice,

“Manager Zhang spoke ill of you to the squire out of jealousy, so you should be more careful. In future, just remember to treat clients alike, regardless of the vol- ume of the sales.”

“It’s so kind of you to give me this advice,” said Xu Xuan gratefully. “Let’s go for a drink!”

The two men went to a wineshop and took their seats. After the waiter set out the dishes they had ordered, they drank a few cups of wine.

“The old squire is a straightforward man who can’t stand being contradicted, so you’d do well to humor him and be patient in your work,” admonished Zhao.

“Many thanks for your kindness! How can I ever thank you enough?” exclaimed Xu Xuan.

After another couple of drinks, Zhao said, noticing that it was quite dark, “It’s late. We’d better go before the roads are too dark for walking. We’ll meet again some other time.”

Xu Xuan paid the bill, and they went their separate ways. Feeling the influence of the wine, Xu Xuan was afraid that he might inadvertently bump into people and chose to make his way home under the eaves of the houses along the street. As he was walking, a window above him opened, and down onto his head came a stream of ashes from charcoal used to heat irons. He stopped in his tracks and cursed, “What swine did that? Don’t you have eyes? What a thing to do!”

A woman hurried downstairs and apologized, “Please don’t get angry, sir ! It was my fault for being so careless. Please don’t take it amiss !”

In his half-drunken state, Xu Xuan raised his eyes and saw that the woman was none other than Madam White. Rage seized him. With the flames of fury leaping three thousand feet high, he burst out, “You foul evil spirit! A fine mess you got me into! I’ve been punished twice by the law because of you!” As the saying goes, he who harbors no indignation is no gentleman; he who is free of venom is not destined for greatness. Truly,

Iron boots are worn out in the hunt for her; But here she is; you need not have searched.

“Why do you always appear wherever I am? If you are not an evil spirit, I don’t know what is !” So saying, Xu Xuan lunged forward and held Madam White in a firm grip. “Do you want to settle this in or out of court?”

“Husband,” Madam White said with a placating smile, “as they say, husband

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and wife for one night, tender lovers for a hundred nights. I have a long story to tell you. Listen to me. The clothes were left behind by my deceased husband. It was out of my deep love for you that I asked you to put them on. How could you repay my kindness with such hostility and turn me into an enemy?”

“But why did you disappear when I came back that day to look for you? Mr. Wang said that you and Little Green went to the monastery to look for me. And how is it you manage to be here now?”

“I did go to the monastery, where I heard that you had been captured and taken away. I had Little Green make inquiries, but she wasn’t able to find out anything more. We thought that you must have escaped. I was afraid they would be after me next, so I had Little Green hire a boat and we hurried to my uncle’s home in Jiankang Prefecture. I arrived here only yesterday. I know that I got you in trou- ble with the law twice, and I wondered how I would ever have the nerve to face you! Scolding me won’t serve any purpose now. But since we were a loving wed- ded couple, we can’t very well end the relationship just like that, can we? After all, you and I had vowed to live the rest of our lives together in a love as eternal as Mount Tai and the East Sea. For the sake of old times, could you take me to your lodging? Wouldn’t it be nice if you and I could grow old together until the end of our days?”

Upon hearing these honeyed words, Xu Xuan felt his anger turn to joy. He lapsed into silence, but lust took possession of him, and thoughts of being with her began to stir in him. Instead of returning to his lodging, he spent the night with Madam White at her place upstairs.

The next day, upon returning to Mr. Wang’s inn on Fifth Lane, he announced to Mr. Wang, “My wife and maid have come from Suzhou.” After explaining fur- ther, he added, “I’d like to have them move in here and join me.”

“How nice ! You needn’t have asked!” exclaimed Mr. Wang. That very day, Madam White and Little Green moved into Mr. Wang’s inn and

took up lodging on the upper floor. The following day, they held a tea party for the neighbors, and the day after that, the neighbors reciprocated in Xu Xuan’s honor. The feast over, the neighbors dispersed and went their separate ways, but of this, no more need be said.

On the fourth day, Xu Xuan rose early and, after combing his hair and wash- ing, said to Madam White, “I’m going to see the neighbors and thank them and then go to work. You and Little Green just stay where you are and keep an eye on the place. Don’t, on any account, go out the door !” After this admonition, he went to the store to tend to the business, and henceforth, he left early for work and came home late in the evening.

Time flashed by, and the sun and moon shot back and forth like a busy shut- tle on a loom. Another month went by.

One day, Xu Xuan asked Madam White if she could visit his employer Squire Li and the Squire’s wife and family. Madam White said, “Since you’re working for

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him, it’s only right that I go to see him, so that there will be more mutual visits in the future.”

The next day, a hired sedan-chair was brought to the house for Madam White. With Mr. Wang carrying gift boxes on a pole over his shoulder and Little Green bringing up the rear, they went to Squire Li’s house. Madam White got out of the sedan-chair, went into the house, and asked to see the squire. Li Keyong emerged with alacrity from the interior of the house to greet her. Madam White curtsied deeply and bowed twice to Mr. Li and then twice to Mrs. Li before presenting her- self to the other women of the family.

Now, this Li Keyong, albeit advanced in years, was a lustful man. At the sight of Madam White’s ravishing beauty, truly,

His three souls took leave of his body; His seven spirits gave him the slip.

The squire gazed raptly at Madam White. As dinner was served in honor of the guests, Mrs. Li commented to her husband, “What a nice young woman! She’s not only beautiful but also gentle, courteous, meek, and well behaved.”

“Hangzhou women are indeed pretty,” the squire remarked. After the meal, Madam White thanked the hosts and returned home.

Li Keyong thought to himself, “What must I do to spend a night with that woman?” As he knitted his brows, he hit on a plan. “My birthday is coming up on the thirteenth day of the sixth month. I can take my own sweet time and make her fall into my trap that day !”

Time flew by. Soon after the Dragon Boat Festival was over, the sixth month began. The squire said to his wife, “Mother, the thirteenth being my birthday, let’s set out a feast and invite relatives and friends for an entire day of fun. It will be a joyous day to remember for the rest of my life.”

That very day, invitations were sent to relatives, neighbors, friends, and assis- tants of Squire Li’s store. The next day, all the invited guests came to oªer gifts of candles, noodles, and handkerchiefs. On the thirteenth, the [male] guests attended the feast, which was an all day aªair. On the following day, the women came to oªer their congratulations. About twenty women arrived, including Madam White, who was extravagantly arrayed in a blue blouse woven with golden thread, and a scarlet gauze skirt and her hair glittered with hairpins of silver, gold, pearl, and jade. Taking Little Green with her, she went inside to oªer birthday wishes to Squire Li and pay her respects to the hostess.

A feast was laid out in the east hall. In point of fact, Li Keyong was a miser who, if he were to eat a flea, would save a hind leg for later. It was out of his lust for Madam White’s beauty and for the purpose of trapping her that he set this grand feast. (Feminine beauty can change a miser’s ways. [illegible.]) The wine cups were passed around the feast table, and in the midst of the drinking, Madam White rose to go to the lavatory. Squire Li had already instructed his most trusted maid-

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servant to lead Madam White to a secluded room behind the house should she need to relieve herself. Having thus drawn up his plans, he hid himself there in anticipation. Truly,

He need not scale walls or crawl into holes But steals the fragrant jade, risk-free.

So when Madam White rose to relieve herself, the maidservant led her to the secluded room behind the house as instructed. After the maidservant left, the squire, finding it hard to suppress his lustful longings and yet afraid to go straight in, peeked through a crack in the door. Everything would have been all right had he not taken that peek, but he did, and the sight that met his eyes gave him such a shock that he turned on his heels and ran. As soon as he gained the rear section of the house, he collapsed on his back.

Dead or alive, no one could be sure, But his limbs were not moving at all.

What the squire had seen was no pretty woman but a coiled-up white snake, its body as thick as a water bucket and its eyes as large as lanterns, emitting a myr- iad of golden rays. (The evil spirit is showing its true shape at last, but by choosing this moment to do so, it scares oª Squire Li. How remarkable that an evil spirit should also know the importance of chastity ! )

Scared half to death, he turned on his heels and ran, but stumbled and fell. When the maidservants helped him up, they saw that his face was green and his lips were white. Terrified, a store assistant fed him pills to pacify his spirits. When he came to, his wife and the guests who had joined the crowd around him asked, “What happened to frighten you like that?”

Instead of telling the truth, Squire Li replied, “I got up too early this morning, and I’ve been working too hard these last few days. All this brought on a headache so bad that I passed out.” After he was taken to his own room to lie down in bed, the guests resumed their seats at the table and drank a few more cups of wine before thankfully taking their leave when the feast came to an end.

Back at home, Madam White gave herself up to thinking, for she was afraid that Squire Li would tell Xu Xuan her true form the next day when they met in the store. An idea came to her. While she was taking oª her clothes, she heaved a sigh.

“Why are you sighing? Didn’t you have fun at the feast?” “Husband, you won’t believe this ! Squire Li was in fact using the birthday cel-

ebrations to cover up his evil designs. When I went to the lavatory, I had no idea that he was already hiding there. He tried to force himself on me, tugging at my skirt and pants. I almost screamed but was afraid to alarm all the people there. So I knocked him down. He was too ashamed to admit the truth and told them that he had fainted. Curse my luck! If only I could get back at him !”

“Since he didn’t have his way with you in the end, we’ll just have to put up with

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it because he’s my employer. We have no other choice. Just don’t accept his next invitation, and that will be it.”

“What? How are you going to face the world if you don’t take my side and do something about it?”

“Well, my brother-in-law wrote to him on my behalf asking for his help, and he was kind enough to take me on as a manager of his store. What do you want me to do now?”

“What kind of man are you? He took liberties with me, and you’ll continue working for him?”

“But where do you want me to go? How am I going to make a living?” “A store manager is a lowly position. It would be better if we could have an

herb store of our own.” “It’s all very well for you to say, but where’s the money?” “You needn’t worry. That can be easily taken care of. I’ll give you some silver

tomorrow so you can rent a house first, and we’ll go from there.” As the saying goes, “What’s true today was true in olden times, and what was

true in olden times is true today.” Everywhere, there are, and have always been, people who go out of their way to help others. Living next door to them was a man called Jiang He, who, throughout his life, was given to altruistic deeds. The next day, equipped with Madam White’s silver, Xu Xuan asked Jiang He to rent a house by the Zhenjiang ferry pier and buy a set of drawered cabinets in which he could gradually lay up a stock of medicinal herbs. By the tenth month of the year, with all the necessary preparations completed, a day was chosen for the opening of the store, and Xu Xuan quit his job. Troubled by an uneasy conscience, Squire Li knew better than to call him back.

After he opened the store, Xu Xuan found to his surprise that his business pros- pered day by day and was yielding substantial profits. He was selling medicinal herbs at the door one day when a monk approached with a register of alms, say- ing, “I’m a monk from Golden Hill Monastery. The seventh day of the seventh month is the birthday of Yinglie the Dragon King. I humbly ask you to oªer incense and make donations at the monastery for the occasion.”

“You don’t have to record my name in your book, but I have here a piece of fine fragrant wood8 that you can burn as incense.” So saying, Xu Xuan opened a cabi- net, took out the wood, and handed it to the monk. The monk accepted the piece of wood, saying, “Please be at the monastery on that day!” With a bow, he left.

Having witnessed the scene, Madam White remarked, “How foolish of you to give that lousy bald one such a good piece of wood. He’s only going to buy wine and meat with it!”

“I gave it to him in good faith. If he squanders it, that’s his problem.” (Both are right.)

All too quickly, it was again the seventh day of the seventh month. Xu Xuan opened up the shop and saw that the street was a scene of bustling tra‹c. Jiang

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He, who was helping out, suggested, “Master Xiaoyi, since you made a donation the other day, why don’t you take a trip to the monastery today just for fun?”

“Let me get my things in order and then we can go together. Wait for me a lit- tle while.”

“All right, I’ll go with you.” Xu Xuan hastily put things in order and went to the interior of the house, where

he said to Madam White, “I’m going to Golden Hill Monastery to burn some incense. You take care of the house.”

Madam White replied, “As the saying goes, ‘One never goes to the temple with- out a reason.’ Now, what’s your reason for going?”

“First, I’ve never been there, so I want to see it. Second, having given a dona- tion the other day, I’d like to oªer some incense.”

“If you’re so determined to go, I can’t stop you, but you have to promise me three things.”

“What three things?” “First, don’t go into the abbot’s cell. Second, don’t talk with the monks. Third,

come back as soon as possible. If you don’t, I’ll have to come and get you.” “Fair enough. I’ll do as you say.” He changed into clean clothes, shoes, and stock-

ings and slipped his incense box into his sleeve. Then, together with Jiang He, he walked to the riverside, got on a boat, and went to Golden Hill Monastery.

They started their tour from Dragon King Hall, where they burned incense. Afterward, they took a leisurely walk around the monastery. Xu Xuan followed the crowd and was approaching the door of the abbot’s cell when he suddenly recalled his wife’s admonition. “My wife warned me not to enter the abbot’s cell,” he said. He stopped in his tracks and stayed outside.

“It’s all right,” said Jiang He. “She’s at home, so she won’t know. Just tell her you didn’t go in.” (What a liar ! ) With that, they went in, took a look around, and came out.

Sitting in the center seat in the cell was a monk of great moral integrity. With finely marked eyebrows, bright eyes, a round head, and a monk’s robe, he did indeed possess the looks of a truly great master. At the sight of Xu Xuan passing by, he called out to his attendant, “Bring me that young man, quick!”

The attendant looked around, but unable to recall the young man’s features as he stared at the masses of people before him, he said to the abbot, “I have no idea where he’s gone.”

At these words, the abbot picked up his cane and left the cell to search on his own. He didn’t see Xu Xuan anywhere and went outside, where a crowd was wait- ing for the stormy waves to subside before embarking on the boats. But the tem- pest rose higher. Amid laments of “This is no time to go,” there, for all to see, came a boat speeding toward them as if on wings.

Xu Xuan commented to Jiang He, “This big storm has stranded all of us here. How can that boat go so fast?” Even as he spoke, the boat drew near. Two women,

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one in white and one in green, were seen coming to shore. What was Xu Xuan’s astonishment when, upon a closer look, he found them to be Madam White and Little Green!

As they gained the shore, Madam White called out, “Why didn’t you come back earlier? Get on the boat, quick!”

Xu Xuan was about to board when a voice was heard shouting from behind, “What is that foul beast doing here?”

As Xu Xuan turned around, he heard voices saying, “Abbot Fahai is here !” “You foul beast!” continued the abbot. “This old monk is here to make sure

you won’t dare come again and do harm to people !” At the sight of the monk, Madam White rowed the boat away from the shore.

Then, she and Little Green tipped the boat over and disappeared into the water. Xu Xuan bowed to the abbot, saying, “Your Reverence, please save this worth-

less life of mine !” “How did you meet that woman?” asked the abbot, whereupon Xu Xuan

recounted all that had happened. After listening to his story, the abbot said, “That woman is an evil spirit. Now,

go back to Hangzhou as soon as possible. If she comes to pester you again, you can find me at Clear Mercy Monastery south of the lake. Let me give you a quatrain:

“An evil spirit in the shape of a woman, Her voice rings sweet by West Lake. Unsuspecting, you fell into her trap; When in distress, come to me south of the lake.”

Thankfully, Xu Xuan took leave of Abbot Fahai and embarked on a ferry boat with Jiang He. After crossing the river, he went ashore and returned home, but Madam White and Little Green were not there. Now convinced that they were evil spirits, he had Jiang He spend the night with him to keep him company. He felt so miserable that he did not sleep a wink throughout the night. The next morn- ing, he rose early and had Jiang He take care of the house while he went to Li Keyong’s house by Needle Bridge and told the squire everything that had happened.

Squire Li said, “On that day during my birthday celebrations, I ran into her accidentally when she went to the lavatory and saw her in her true beastly form. I was scared to death, but I didn’t dare tell you about it. Now that things have come to this, why don’t you move into my house while you decide what to do next?”

Xu Xuan thanked Squire Li and moved in. Quite unnoticeably, two months slipped by.

One day, he was standing by the door when he saw the local headman going from door to door, soliciting donations of incense, flowers, lanterns, and candles to celebrate the imperial court’s amnesty. Emperor Gaozong had designated his heir apparent, who was later to be Emperor Xiaozong, and an amnesty was granted

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to mark the occasion. Except those convicted of homicide, all prisoners through- out the land were released and allowed to return home. Jubilantly, Xu Xuan intoned a poem:

“The emperor be praised for this act of mercy ! The freed convict gains a new lease on life. I am not fated to die in an alien land But will resume my life in my hometown. My ill-starred meeting with the demon brought me woe; I never dreamed that I’d be cleared of all charges. On my return, I shall fill the house with incense To thank the cosmos for a life reborn.”

After intoning the poem, he asked Squire Li to present gifts of money to those high and low throughout the yamen. He then had an audience with the prefect and was given a pass that guaranteed safe passage to his hometown. He oªered his thanks to the neighbors, Squire Li’s wife and other members of the Li family, old and young, as well as the two managers. Carrying with him some local products that the ever helpful Jiang He had bought for him at his request, he made his way back to Hangzhou.

As he bowed four times to his brother-in-law O‹cer Li and his sister, his brother- in-law said in irritation, “How arrogant you can be ! Twice I wrote letters of rec- ommendation on your behalf, but you never even bothered to write and tell me that you were married at Squire Li’s place. What a false-hearted scoundrel you are !”

“But I’m not married.” “Two days ago, a woman who claimed to be your wife came here with her maid,

saying that you couldn’t be found anywhere after your trip to Golden Hill Monastery on the seventh day of the seventh month. After learning that you were returning to Hangzhou, they came here and have been waiting for you for two days.” So saying, the brother-in-law had a servant summon the woman and the maid. Who should appear but Madam White and Little Green! Xu Xuan was flabber- gasted. Not wishing to give a detailed explanation to his brother-in-law and sister, he listened resignedly to a harsh lecture, after which O‹cer Li told him to retire with Madam White to a room assigned to them.

Seeing that it was now getting dark, Xu Xuan grew afraid of Madam White. Nervously, he fell to his knees, facing her but not daring to go near her, and pleaded, “Please spare my life, whoever you are, goddess or evil spirit!”

“What are you doing, Brother Xiaoyi?” said Madam White. “In all our mar- ried years, I’ve never done you any wrong. Why are you saying such absurd things?”

“Since I’ve known you, you’ve twice gotten me in trouble with the law. I went to Zhenjiang Prefecture, and you came after me. The other day, I was just a little late returning from a trip to Golden Hill Monastery, and you had to run after me with Little Green. When you jumped into the river at the sight of the abbot, I

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thought you had died. What a surprise when you turned up again here, and before I arrived, too! Please have mercy !”

Her fiendish eyes wide open, Madam White said, “Brother Xiaoyi, I did every- thing out of the best of intentions, little knowing that I would turn out to be the cause of such resentment! We were a loving couple, sharing the same pillow and the same quilt, and yet you had to believe some vicious gossip meant to sow dis- sension between us. Let me tell you something frankly. If you do as I say, every- body will be happy and every grudge forgotten. But if you betray me, I’ll drench the whole town in a bloodbath and toss everyone from wave to wave in the river until all die violent deaths.”

Xu Xuan trembled with fear and was speechless for quite a while, neither did he dare take a step forward. Then Little Green spoke in a pacifying tone, “Madam loves you because of your Hangzhou native’s good looks and your deep aªection for her. Now listen to me and make up with her. Have no more suspicions.”

Thus under pressure from both of them, Xu Xuan cried out, “Woe is me !” Upon hearing the cry, his sister, who was enjoying the cool air in the courtyard,

rushed to their door. Believing it to be just another conjugal fight, she dragged Xu Xuan out of the room, whereupon Madam White closed the door and went to sleep alone.

When Xu Xuan was giving his sister a detailed account of everything that had happened, his brother-in-law returned from the courtyard. The sister told him, “They just had a fight. I wonder if she has gone to sleep or not. Could you go take a look?”

Accordingly, O‹cer Li went up to Madam White’s room, but since the lamp had gone out, there was only a faint glimmer inside. So, he wetted the window paper with his tongue and looked in through the hole. Everything would have been all right had he not looked, but since he did, he saw a python with a body as thick as a water bucket sleeping in the bed, its head resting against the skylight so it could take in fresh air. Its shining white scales made the room as light as day. ( Judging from the case of Empress Wu, how do we know that this white snake is not a beautiful woman? Who is to say that a white snake can’t change into a beautiful woman? ) In shock, he turned on his heels and fled.

Back in his own room, instead of telling anyone what he had seen, he said, “She’s gone to bed. There isn’t a sound.” But Xu Xuan still hid himself in his sister’s room, not daring to show his face, nor did his brother-in-law question him. The night passed without further ado.

The next day, O‹cer Li took Xu Xuan outside to a secluded spot and asked, “Where did you get this wife of yours? Tell me the truth! Don’t hide anything from me ! Last night, I saw with my own eyes that she is a big white snake. I didn’t say anything at the time because I didn’t want to frighten your sister.”

Upon learning the entire story, O‹cer Li said, “In that case, let’s go to Mr. Dai, the snake charmer in front of White Horse Temple. He’s good at catching snakes.”

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The two men proceeded to White Horse Temple and saw Mr. Dai standing right there by the gate. “Greetings to you, sir !” they called out.

“What can I do for you?” “There’s a big python in our house,” said Xu Xuan. “Could you please go and

catch it?” “Where is your house?” “It’s O‹cer Li’s house on Black Pearl Lane by Reward the Troops Bridge.” Taking

out a tael of silver, Xu Xuan added, “Please take this for now. We’ll have more to oªer you by way of thanks after the snake is caught.”

Mr. Dai took the silver and said, “You can go home now, gentlemen. I’ll come right away.” So O‹cer Li and Xu Xuan returned home by themselves.

Armed with a bottle of medicated wine,9 Mr. Dai headed straight for Black Pearl Lane and asked for directions to O‹cer Li’s house. Upon being told that it was the very two-storied house up ahead, he went to the door, lifted the portiere, and coughed, but no one came to answer. He kept knocking on the door until a young woman emerged. “Which family are you looking for?” she asked.

“Is this O‹cer Li’s home?” “Yes.” “I heard that there’s a big snake in the house. Two gentlemen just came to ask

me to catch it for them.” “How can there be a snake in our house? You’re quite mistaken.” “The gentlemen gave me one tael of silver, saying that they’ll have a handsome

reward for me after the snake is caught.” “But there is no snake,” insisted Madam White. “Don’t believe the nonsense

they told you.” “Why would they play tricks on me?” Her repeated attempts to drive him away were futile, and Madam White grew

impatient. “Do you really know how to catch snakes? I’m afraid you won’t be able to get this one !”

“We’ve had seven or eight generations of snake charmers in our family. Why wouldn’t I be able to get this particular snake?”

“You may very well say so,” retorted Madam White, “but I’m afraid you’ll want to get out of here as soon as you see it!”

“I won’t! If I do, I’ll let you fine me one ingot of silver.” “Follow me, then.” When they got to the courtyard, the woman turned a corner and disappeared

into the house. Bottle of wine in hand, Mr. Dai stood in the empty courtyard. Soon, a chilly wind sprang up. As it blew past, a python with a body as thick as a water bucket thrust fiercely at him. Truly,

The human means no harm to the tiger; The tiger is bent on harming the human.

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A terrified Mr. Dai fell backward, smashing his bottle of medicated wine. The python lunged forward as if to bite him, its blood-red mouth wide open, showing its snow-white fangs. He scrambled desperately to his feet and, regretting that his parents had not endowed him with two extra legs, ran all the way across the bridge in one breath. There, he bumped into O‹cer Li and Xu Xuan.

Xu Xuan asked, “How did it go?” “Let me tell you what happened.” After recounting the event, he took out the

tael of silver and returned it to O‹cer Li, adding, “Had I not been blessed with these two legs of mine, I would have died. Now, you gentlemen save this for some- one else.” With that, he scurried oª.

“Brother-in-law, what are we going to do now?” asked Xu Xuan. “Well, we know for sure that she’s an evil spirit. Now, Zhang Cheng of Red

Hill Town owes me a thousand strings of cash. You go there, wait patiently, and rent a room. With you out of its sight, that monster will surely leave.”

Xu Xuan saw no alternative but to agree. Upon arriving at home with his brother- in-law, he found the house quiet with nothing astir. O‹cer Li wrote a letter and put it in an envelope, along with the receipt of the loan, for Xu Xuan to take with him to Red Hill Town.

At this point, Madam White called Xu Xuan to her room. “The audacity !” she said. “Hiring a snake charmer to get me ! If you are good to me, I’ll be as kind as a Buddha to you. Otherwise, I’ll have to make the entire population of the town suªer and die violent deaths !”

Shaking with fright, Xu Xuan dared not utter a word. In low spirits, he took the envelope and went to Red Hill Town, where he found Zhang Cheng. When he tried to take the loan receipt out of his sleeve, he realized it was gone. With a cry of anguish, he turned back, looking for it along the way, but without success. Dejected, he found himself in front of Clear Mercy Monastery, which suddenly reminded him that Abbot Fahai of Golden Hill Monastery had told him that if that evil spirit followed him to Hangzhou to pester him again, he could find the monk at Clear Mercy Monastery. He thought to himself, “Now is the time to do that. What am I waiting for?” Without a moment’s delay, he entered the monastery and asked the head monk, “Your Reverence, is Abbot Fahai here?”

“No, he’s not here.” These words made him feel even more miserable. He turned around and pro-

ceeded to Long Bridge. Stopping at the foot of the bridge, he said to himself, “As the proverb goes, ‘When down and out, one falls easy victim to the devil.’ Why would I want to hang on to life?” Gazing at the clear water, he prepared to jump into the lake. Truly,

If King Yama wants you at the third watch,10

He won’t let you live till the fourth watch.

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He was about to throw himself into the water when he heard a voice behind him calling out, “Why would a grown man want to kill himself ? Don’t you know that ten thousand deaths can be easily written oª as only five thousand when you count them in pairs? Don’t you see the worthlessness of death? Why don’t you ask for my help when you find yourself in trouble?”

Xu Xuan turned around and whom did he see but Abbot Fahai ! His cassock and alms bowl on his back, his cane in his hand, he had indeed just arrived. Xu Xuan was not destined to die at this hour after all, for if the abbot had tarried for as long as it takes to eat a bowl of rice, Xu Xuan would have perished. At the sight of the abbot, he bowed deeply, saying, “Please save my life !”

“Where is that cursed beast?” Xu Xuan told him what had happened, adding, “She’s after me again. Please

save me, Your Reverence.” The abbot produced an alms bowl from his sleeve and handed it to Xu Xuan,

saying, “After you get home, don’t let her know you’re back, and place the bowl firmly over her head. Press it down hard. Don’t panic. You may go home now.”

Xu Xuan thankfully took leave of the abbot and returned home. There, he saw Madam White, seated and muttering to herself, “I wonder who poisoned my hus- band’s mind against me. I’ll have it out with him when I find out!”

Now, just as a person with a plan waits for the right moment to pounce on the unsuspecting party, Xu Xuan sneaked up on Madam White from behind and put the bowl over her head. As he applied all his weight on the bowl, the woman disappeared, but he kept pushing the bowl down without ever letting up. A voice from inside the bowl pleaded, “How can you be so heartless after we have lived together as husband and wife for all these years? Release the bowl just a little bit!”

Xu Xuan was wondering what to do when he heard the announcement, “There’s a monk here who says he’s come to subdue an evil spirit.”

Xu Xuan immediately asked O‹cer Li to invite the abbot into the house. “Please save me !” pleaded Xu Xuan.

After muttering goodness knows what words to himself, the abbot gently lifted the bowl, and there for all to see was Madam White, reduced to a length of only seven or eight inches, looking like a puppet, her eyes tightly closed and her body huddled up on the floor. The abbot shouted, “What are you? How dare you pester human beings? Tell me everything!”

“Abbot, I am a python. In a raging storm of wind and rain one day, I went to West Lake to find shelter and joined Little Green there. And then, something unan- ticipated happened. I met Xu Xuan. Unable to control my desires, I violated the heavenly rules, but I never took a life. Please have mercy on me, Abbot!” (One can hardly find her equal anywhere ! )

“And what exactly is Little Green?” the abbot persisted.

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“She’s a carp from the pond under the third bridge in West Lake. She acquired immortality after a thousand years of spiritual cultivation. I met her quite by acci- dent and made her my companion. She hasn’t had any fun, not even for one day. Please have pity on her, Abbot!” (In such a desperate situation, she still remembers to put in a good word for Little Green. A truly kind evil spirit she is ! )

“I’ll spare your lives, considering the thousand years of spiritual cultivation that you have undertaken. Now show your true selves !”

Madam White refused. In a rage, the abbot intoned an incantation and shouted, “Guardian of the Buddha-truth [lokapala]! Where might you be? Get me the carp, and make it and the white snake show their true forms so that I may ren- der judgment on them !”

In a trice, a fierce wind sprang up in the yard. After the wind had swept past, a carp more than ten feet long fell from mid-air with a heavy thud. It bounced on the ground a few times before shrinking into a small carp one foot in length. By this time, Madam White had also been reduced to her true form as a three-foot- long white snake, staring at Xu Xuan, its head raised high. The abbot put the snake and the carp in the bowl, sealed it with a piece of cloth torn from his cassock, and took it to Thunder Peak Monastery. He laid the bowl on the ground in front of the monastery and ordered men to transport bricks and stones to the site to build a pagoda. Later, Xu Xuan sought donations and with the money thus raised made it into a magnificent seven-story pagoda. For tens of thousands of years, the white snake and the carp were not to be freed from that spot.

Let us retrace our steps and come back to the moment when the abbot laid the bowl on the ground. He intoned the following quatrain:

“When West Lake is drained of its water, When all the rivers and the lakes run dry, When Thunder Peak Pagoda falls down, Only then may the white snake see the light of day.”

Abbot Fahai then intoned another eight lines as a warning to posterity:

“Be advised ! Do not abandon yourselves to lust; Those who do will be held under its spell. Evil eschews the pure in heart; Bane visits not the virtuous. Consider how Xu Xuan, a victim to his lust, Found himself in trouble with the law. Had it not been for this old monk’s succor, The white snake would have swallowed him whole.”

After the abbot finished intoning this poem, the crowd dispersed, but Xu Xuan stayed behind to ask to join the Buddhist order. Honoring the abbot as his men- tor, he took the tonsure right there by Thunder Peak Pagoda and became a monk.

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After several years of spiritual cultivation, he willed his death while sitting in his seat one evening. The assembly of monks in the monastery bought a monk’s co‹n for him, had his body cremated, and built a tower for his ashes as a monument to his eternal memory. Before he died, he also wrote a poem by way of an admoni- tion to posterity:

The abbot delivered me from the mortal world; The iron tree burst into spring blossoms. The wheel of life and death goes round and round; Reincarnation occurs life after life. The phenomenal world is elusive, The formless, in fact, is not lacking in form. The Form is the Void; the Void is the Form; Yet the two should be clearly set apart.

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