Cheng Yunyuan was a member of a prominent family in the Huainan area. His father, Cheng Xunzhu, sold salted soybeans while going to and from Huaiyang during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, but his business was declining, so he gave it up and traveled to the capital to study.
During this time, Cheng Xun met Liu Dengyong from Pinggu County, who was on his way to Beijing to be appointed as a bureau official. The two became fast friends and, during their conversations, arranged a marriage between their children, who were still very young at the time.
A father’s dying wish
Years later, Liu Dengyong became the governor of Puzhou in Hedong. Despite being in his sixties, he had no sons and lived with only his elderly wife, young daughter, and a few servants. When his wife passed away, the governor was left in deep sorrow and soon fell ill. On his deathbed, he reminded his daughter: “Your betrothed is Cheng Yunyuan from Huainan. Our families arranged this marriage; do not forget this promise.” After his death, Liu’s daughter returned home with his coffin for burial.
Several years after Liu Dengyong took up his post, Cheng Xunzhu passed away. When Cheng Yunyuan’s mourning period ended, he planned to travel to Shanxi. Upon hearing of his father-in-law’s death, he went directly to Pinggu County and sought out Liu’s neighbors in the countryside. They informed him that Liu’s daughter had left after her father’s funeral, leaving behind only a few old houses, with the doors still tightly shut. Cheng Yunyuan, now nearly penniless after traveling thousands of miles, was left wondering what to do next. In his moment of despair, a chivalrous man generously provided him with money and supplies, enabling him to return to the South.
A life of solitude and dedication out of loyalty
Liu Dengyong, known for his integrity as an upright official, left nothing behind for his daughter, as he had never used his position to amass wealth or enrich his family. As a result, she was forced to rely on her sewing and needlework to make ends meet. Despite her difficult circumstances, her gentle and virtuous nature earned her the admiration of many in the neighborhood, and she was inundated with suitors. However, they did not believe her when she explained that she was already engaged.
To avoid further proposals, Liu’s daughter fled to a nunnery in Tianjin where her aunt, a nun, resided. Her aunt suggested she too should shave her head and become a nun, but Liu’s daughter refused, saying: “My body and hair are gifts from my parents; I cannot harm them. Moreover, my father made me promise to marry Cheng, and I cannot go against his dying wish.” She chose to hide in a secluded room, where no one, not even children, could see her. Each day, she prayed silently, hoping to meet Cheng once more, content to die if only she could fulfill her father’s wish.
Meanwhile, Cheng Xiaosi’s situation worsened daily. Despite advice to remarry for the sake of assistance and companionship, he remained melancholic, insisting: “If Liu is dead, this matter is over. But if she is alive, waiting for me in purity, how could I abandon her without knowing the truth?” Cheng lived alone for nearly 30 years, struggling with poverty.
A reunion against all odds
In April of the Qianlong Dingyou year, Cheng, working as a teacher aboard a cargo ship, docked in Tianjin. While ashore, he overheard a conversation about Liu’s daughter. Overjoyed to finally have news of her, he immediately went to the nunnery and sought her out. The old nun explained everything, but when she relayed Cheng’s presence to Liu’s daughter, the latter replied: “The value of fruits like peaches and plums lies in their timely harvest. How can I, at this age, agree to a marriage and not be ridiculed? I deeply appreciate Cheng’s sincerity, but we must accept that it is our fate. We were simply not meant to be wed.” Despite Cheng’s persistent requests, she refused to marry him.
In despair, Cheng turned to the local magistrate, Jin Zhizhong, who, moved by the couple’s story, personally intervened. After much persuasion, Liu’s daughter finally agreed, and the couple was married in the magistrate’s office.
A union blessed by Heaven
One was a virtuous man who upheld his promise, and the other a woman who maintained her purity and waited without complaint. Although they were both 57 years old, they were still healthy and their hair had not yet turned gray. Those unaware of their story would have thought they were only in their forties. While history holds many tales of loyalty and integrity, few can compare to the devotion shown by Cheng and Liu, who, despite being separated by thousands of miles, remained faithful to each other for over 30 years without ever having met.
In the end, their perseverance was rewarded. Magistrate Jin Zhizhong not only hosted their wedding ceremony, but also applied for official recognition of their virtue. Aware that the couple lacked the means to support themselves, he generously donated from his modest salary and encouraged a few merchants and wealthy families to contribute as well. Many responded generously, offering both money and material goods, allowing the couple to take a boat and return to the South, buy a house, settle down, and live a simple life.
Translated by Audrey Wang
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