Hsiang-Ju's Misfortunes by Pu Songling
Hung-yü funds Hsiang-ju's marriage to Miss Wei, but Sung later has his wife abducted and his father beaten; his father dies, and he learns that his wife has killed herself. After an unknown killer slays Sung and others in his household, Hsiang-ju is accused, imprisoned and eventually acquitted, believing his abandoned son lost. Hung-yü returns with the rescued child, reveals that she is a fox, and rebuilds his household while restoring his eligibility for advancement through examinations.
By Pu Songling · Genre: Short Story, Supernatural Fiction · 3,994 words
First lines
At Kuang-p‘ing there lived an old man named Fêng, who had an only son called Hsiang-ju. Both of them were graduates; and the father was very particular and strict, though the family had long been poor. Mrs. Fêng and Hsiang-ju's wife had died one shortly after the other, so that the father and son were obliged to do their household work for themselves.
Genres
- Short Story — A compact prose narrative follows Hsiang-ju through marriage, violent losses, imprisonment and the restoration of his household.
- Supernatural Fiction — Hung-yü reveals that she is a fox after rescuing Hsiang-ju's son, then lives with them and restores their fortunes.
Tags
fox spirits · abuse of power · revenge · child rescue · wrongful imprisonment · family reunion
What this Textopian page supports
Hsiang-Ju's Misfortunes is listed on Textopian as a short story by Pu Songling, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Pu Songling
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Supernatural Fiction
- Length: 3,994 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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