The Virtuous Daughter-In-Law

The Virtuous Daughter-In-Law by Pu Songling

Expelled by her husband Ta-ch‘êng after his mother's abuse, Shan-hu supports herself by spinning and secretly sends comforts to her sick mother-in-law, leading to their reconciliation. Ta-ch‘êng's dead father reveals buried silver that becomes worthless in his brother's hands, yet Ta-ch‘êng and Shan-hu repeatedly help the brother recover his mortgaged property. After her two sons die, the brother's hostile wife Tsang-ku returns the deeds and changes her conduct toward her mother- and sister-in-law.

By Pu Songling · Genre: Short Story, Supernatural Fiction, Moral Tale · 4,101 words

First lines

An Ta-ch‘êng was a Chung-ch‘ing man. His father, who had gained the master's degree, died early; and his brother Erh-ch‘êng was a mere boy. He himself had married a wife from the Ch‘ên family, whose name was Shan-hu; and this young lady had much to put up with from the violent and malicious disposition of her husband's mother.[1] However, she never complained; and every morning dressed herself up smart, and went in to pay her respects to the old lady. Once when Ta-ch‘êng was ill, his mother abused Shan-hu for dressing so nicely; whereupon Shan-hu went back and changed her clothes; but even then Mrs. An was not satisfied, and began to tear her own hair with rage. Ta-ch‘êng, who was a very filial son, at once gave his wife a beating, and this put an end to the scene. From that moment his mother hated her more than ever, and although she was everything that a daughter-in-law could be, would never exchange a word with her. Ta-ch‘êng then treated her in much the same way, that his mother might see he would have nothing to do with her; still the old lady wasn't pleased, and was always blaming Shan-hu for every trifle that occurred. "A wife," cried Ta-ch‘êng "is taken to wait upon her mother-in-law. This state of things hardly looks like the wife doing her duty. " So he bade Shan-hu begone,[2] and sent an old maid-servant to see her home: but when Shan-hu got outside the village-gate, she burst into tears, and said, "How can a girl who has failed in her duties as a wife ever dare to look her parents in the face? I had better die. " Thereupon she drew a pair of scissors and stabbed herself in the throat, covering herself immediately with blood. The servant prevented any further mischief, and supported her to the house of her husband's aunt, who was a widow living by herself, and who made Shan-hu stay with her. The servant went back and told Ta-ch‘êng, and he bade her say nothing to any one, for fear his mother should hear of it. In a few days Shan-hu's wound was healed, and Ta-ch‘êng went off to ask his aunt to send her away. His aunt invited him in, but he declined, demanding loudly that Shan-hu should be turned out; and in a few moments Shan-hu herself came forth, and inquired what she had done. Ta-ch‘êng said she had failed in her duty towards his mother; whereupon Shan-hu hung her head and made no answer, while tears of blood[3] trickled from her eyes and stained her dress all over. Ta-ch‘êng was much touched by this spectacle, and went away without saying any more; but before long his mother heard all about it, and, hurrying off to the aunt's, began abusing her roundly. This the aunt would not stand, and said it was all the fault of her own bad temper, adding, "The girl has already left you, and has nothing more to do with the family. Miss Ch‘ên is staying with me, not your daughter-in-law; so you had better mind your own business. " This made Mrs. An furious; but she was at a loss for an answer, and, seeing that the aunt was firm, she went off home abashed and in tears.

Genres

Tags

filial piety · domestic abuse · daughters-in-law · sibling generosity · ancestral spirits · supernatural treasure · property disputes

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The Virtuous Daughter-In-Law is listed on Textopian as a short story by Pu Songling, dated Date unknown.

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