Chinese Ghost Fables 1 Read Free Page B

universe. Don't you know that?
Where is your education and self-confidence? Don't act like a couple of faint-hearted dolts.”
    The aged stranger was lecturing them vigorously, quoting many renowned examples
from history to prove there were neither ghosts nor otherworldly creatures. Respecting him
for his wise perspective and watertight logic, those two tutors timidly asked a few questions,
attempting to expunge any residue of doubt from their mind. He meticulously explained to
them. Continuously nodding their heads in agreement, they zealously discussed this topic
for hours and even forgot to ask one another's name. It was almost daybreak. From
distance, a number of ox carts were plodding by. They could vaguely hear the ox-bells,
rhythmically jingling.
    The stranger apologetically revealed, "I am afraid that my time is up. Staying in the cold
and damp underground for such a long time, I am bored, need to stretch my limbs and
polish my wits. If I didn't argue against the existence of ghost, I wouldn't have an
opportunity to make conversation with you. I have to leave now. Please, don't be frightened
or get upset with me. Nice chatting with you. Farewell!" In a split of second, the aged
stranger merged himself into darkness without a trace. With eyes widely opened, the two
convinced tutors were flabbergasted.
07
DOUBLE-STANDARD
    In traditional Chinese society, many people had double-standard toward male and
female. For example, a male person could make many friends from both genders. That
behavior would be praised as well-connected and sociable. On the other hand, if a female,
especially, an unmarried one, communicated with a number of the opposite sex, she would
be looked down upon and considered as ill-mannered or even, as promiscuous. Under the
unwritten code of conducts, as a lady, she couldn't leave home unaccompanied. This is a
fable mocking such prejudice.
    A group of young men traveled in a field and noticed a well-dressed female who was
riding a donkey alone a short distance away from them, which was very unusual in that
time period. Considering her as a female of easy virtue, they attempted to play a plank on
her. Those young men shouted at her and made some derogatory gestures of invitation.
However, being exceptionally calm and unemotional, the lady didn't even turn her head.
Ignoring this hostile commotion, she sped the animal up and tried to ride away from them.
    Irritated by this uncommon reaction, those young men vigorous ran after her. The
three men reached her first and initiated a conversation. With reluctance, she was halted
and courteously responded to them. A few minutes later, all of them arrived. Out of great
embarrassment, one of the young people immediately recognized that the well-dressed
female was his wife. However, his wife didn't know how to ride a donkey and had never
traveled in this wild part of the neighborhood before.
How could she travel to this strange land alone? He wondered, feeling annoyed and
humiliated. He severely reprimanded her for her misbehavior. It got weird.
    Instead of talking back, the female was totally silent, which aggravated him even more.
He was infuriated, raised his right palm, and attempted to slap her. She cringed, jumped
down the donkey, and suddenly, she transformed herself into a fox spirit.
    Holding a whip and pointing at that irate man, she sneered, with contempt and distaste,
"What a bunch of hypocrites! You vigorously chase after and randomly pick up an unknown
young female. But you couldn't tolerate your own wife having a casual conversation with
any males. Is that what you had learned from books? You don't even know fairness and
equality. What kind of phonies are you?" After this invective, she vanished. Amazed and
ashamed, they were in a voiceless slumber.
08
RESCUE A DEVIL
    On the way returning to his barracks, a courageous major detected a man. Holding a
dagger on one hand, he used the other hand to press an attractive woman against a huge
flat rock,