In the realm of Chinese folklore, life and destiny are often seen as predetermined, with each person departing this world when their time is due. Yet, these beliefs are sometimes challenged by remarkable stories of individuals who surpass the standard of conventional morality. One such tale is that of Wang Yu, a scholar whose acts of kindness and unwavering devotion to his ailing mother moved even the King of Hell. This Chinese folktale illustrates that while the natural order dictates your fate, exceptional virtue and compassion can sometimes alter the course of destiny, allowing for an unexpected extension of life.
A scholar and the King of Hell
In the city of Qingzhou, there lived a scholar named Wang Yu. His father passed away early in his life, leaving him and his mother to rely on each other for survival. From a young age, Wang Yu had a deep love for literature and poetry. He was a gentle and kind-hearted soul. However, he was often plagued by illness. To make matters worse, his mother suffered from a debilitating brain condition, leaving the pair in a dire situation.
A fateful encounter
One day, Wang Yu went to a neighboring town to buy medicine for his mother. On his way, he was stopped by a man dressed in black.
Wang Yu pleaded: “I have no money, only two bundles of herbs. If you’re here to rob me, please show mercy. My mother is gravely ill and waiting for me to return with her medicine.”
The man in black smiled faintly and replied: “I am no thief. I am a messenger from the underworld, sent by the King of Hell himself. Your time on earth has come to an end, and I am here to collect your soul.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Yu begged: “Please, sir, have mercy. Though my life may be insignificant, my mother depends on this medicine. I implore you to grant me two more days to settle things for her.”
Moved by his plea, the man in black said: “Return home. I will report your request to the King of Hell and see what he decides.” With that, he vanished.
An unexpected fortune
Wang Yu hurried back home. After brewing the medicine for his mother, he tearfully told her: “Mother, please take care of yourself. My time has come. The messenger from the underworld showed mercy and granted me two more days. Tomorrow, I will go to the town and ask Uncle to look after you.”
His mother, overwhelmed with grief, held him tightly and wept.
The next morning, Wang Yu set out for his uncle’s house. On the way, he stopped at an inn and, feeling thirsty, sat down to rest. He noticed a blue cloth bundle on a nearby bench as he glanced around. Seeing no one around, he picked it up and opened it. Inside, he found 200 silver taels — a fortune that could save him and his mother from poverty.
However, he quickly reconsidered, thinking: “This is no small sum. It could very well be someone’s life-savings. I cannot just take it.” With that, he decided to wait at the inn for the owner to return.
A test of integrity
As evening approached, Wang Yu heard angry shouts in the distance. Turning around, he saw a group of men with sticks dragging an elderly man toward the inn.
The group’s leader shouted: “This is the last place you mentioned. If we don’t find the money here, you must have stolen it! The master will never forgive you!” He pushed the old man harshly.
The old man trembled as he searched, eventually shaking his head in despair. The leader raised his stick to strike him, knocking him to the ground.
Seeing this, Wang Yu thought: “This must be the man who lost the bundle. I’ll test him to be sure.”
Just as the leader raised his stick to strike again, Wang Yu stepped forward to stop him.
“What are you looking for, sir?” Wang Yu asked the old man.
“I lost a blue cloth bundle here this morning,” the old man replied.
Wang Yu asked him what was inside, and the old man tearfully explained: “There were clothes and 200 silver taels, which belonged to my master. I was sent to retrieve them. Now that I’ve lost them, my master suspects I stole the money and will break my legs before reporting me to the authorities. I swear I am innocent!”
Wang Yu quickly produced the cloth bundle and handed it to the old man. The old man was overjoyed, opening the bundle to find all the money intact. He fell to his knees, ready to kowtow to Wang Yu in gratitude, but Wang Yu helped him up before he could.
The group’s leader, realizing his mistake, ordered his men to help the old man back to their home.
A reward from the underworld
As Wang Yu continued his journey to his uncle’s house, the man in black appeared before him again.
Wang Yu bowed and said: “Thank you for granting me extra time. I am ready to go with you to the underworld.”
But the man in black interrupted him: “Wait! After I reported your situation to the King of Hell, he was moved by your filial piety. Today, he witnessed your selfless act of returning the silver, and he was deeply touched. The King of Hell has granted you an extension of 10 years of life. Go home and take good care of your mother!”
Wang Yu, overwhelmed with gratitude, knelt and bowed to the man in black, who gave him a gentle smile before disappearing into the night.
A few days later, the old man came to Wang Yu’s house, bringing 30 silver taels as a gift from his master in appreciation for his honesty. Although Wang Yu declined the offer many times, the old man insisted, saying: “If you don’t accept this, I won’t be able to explain it to my master.” Left with no choice, Wang Yu accepted the silver.
From then on, Wang Yu devoted himself to caring for his mother and performing many good deeds. The King of Hell extended his life several more times, and Wang Yu grew stronger and healthier, never suffering from serious illness again.
Translated by cecilia
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