During the Qing Dynasty, there was a scholar named Yongrui in Jizhou. His father passed away early, and it was his mother who raised him with great hardship. Yongrui was handsome and kind-hearted, but unfortunately, his family was poor. By the time he was in his twenties, he still hadn’t married or taken the imperial exams.
One spring, as the imperial exams approached, Yongrui’s mother called him into the room and said: “Son, I have some money for you to take the exams. If you succeed, we will have better days ahead. If not, we will have no regrets. You’ve been studying for over a decade, and it’s time to try it.” She then took a pair of silver bracelets from her waist and placed them in Yongrui’s hands.
Seeing the bracelets, Yongrui’s eyes reddened with tears. These bracelets were a family heirloom. He stared at them, unmoving. Understanding his thoughts, his mother sighed and said: “Rui’er, these bracelets are our family heirloom. Before you sell them, go to the ancestors’ graves to pay your respects. They won’t blame us because it’s for their grandson’s success!”
She then handed him some paper money for offerings. Yongrui took the paper money without saying a word and went to the graves. He cleared the weeds at the ancestors’ graves and paid his respects.
Yongrui finds a long-lost family grave
After paying his respects, Yongrui didn’t leave immediately. He thought of building a shelter over the graves with some sticks to make his ancestors more comfortable. Looking around, he noticed a pile of firewood not far away. As he picked it up, he discovered a broken tombstone beneath it, with faintly visible inscriptions. After examining it, he realized it was the tombstone of a forgotten family ancestor. He noticed a small mound in the distance, the family’s ancestral grave, worn down by years of weather.
“Ah, meeting you is fate. Your descendants haven’t come to honor you, but I have some paper money left. I’ll burn it for you, hoping you’ll bless me with success in the exams!” Yongrui murmured to himself. He offered the remaining paper money and tidied up both graves before returning home.
After dinner, knowing he had to leave for the exams the next day, Yongrui went to bed early. In his dream, an elderly man in a blue robe, resembling a doctor, appeared before him. The man bowed and said: “Thank you for honoring a lonely grave like mine. Years ago, I died while practicing medicine away from home. Your actions today moved me. If you wish to pass the exams, go to Yongzhou and find my great-grandson, the magistrate. He can help you, and I will offer you his daughter in marriage. What do you think?”
Yongrui quickly thanked the old man but hesitated, saying: “Sir, your great-grandson is a magistrate. How could he possibly consider me a poor scholar?” The old man smiled and said: “His daughter is ill with madness, and no one can cure her.” “Ah?” Yongrui exclaimed in surprise. “Sir, it’s not that I’m unwilling, but my family is so poor. You want me to marry a ‘crazy’ wife? That’s not right!”
The old man laughed heartily, saying: “I can cure what others cannot. At dawn, a blue herb will appear on my grave. Take it home and nurture it. When the leaves turn yellow, a large insect will appear. The leaves will wrap around it. After five days, boil the leaves in water, which will cure her!” With that, the old man vanished before Yongrui could respond.
Yongrui awoke with a start, realizing it was morning. Remembering the old man’s words, he dressed and went to the grave, finding a blue herb contrasting sharply with the surrounding plants. Carefully, he transplanted it at home, bid farewell to his mother, and set off for Yongzhou.
Upon reaching Yongzhou, Yongrui learned that the magistrate’s daughter was indeed mad, just as the old man had said. After much thought, he decided to visit the magistrate. The magistrate was astonished to learn Yongrui knew the location of his ancestral grave. He accompanied Yongrui to the grave, examined the tombstone, and compared it with the family genealogy. He then knelt before the grave, crying: “I finally found it, I finally found it!”
After rising, the magistrate told Yongrui: “This was my great-grandfather, a renowned doctor. He died while treating patients away from home, and we’ve been searching for his grave for generations. I’m deeply grateful. If you have any requests, I’ll do my best to fulfill them!”
Yongrui explained his encounter with the old man. The magistrate sighed: “Since it’s my great-grandfather’s wish, I agree. But my daughter — it’s a long story.” Yongrui then told him about the herb, and they saw it. The magistrate was delighted and agreed. On a chosen auspicious day, the magistrate married his daughter to Yongrui, along with a generous dowry. Villagers mocked him for marrying a “crazy” wife, but he didn’t argue, tending to the herb diligently.
By autumn, the herb’s leaves turned yellow overnight, revealing a mosquito-sized insect glowing golden. The insect grew larger, and the leaves wrapped around it. After five days, he boiled the leaves and persuaded his wife to drink the concoction.
Two years later, Yongrui succeeded in the exams. His wife, holding their child, awaited him in the courtyard. From then on, they lived happily ever after.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
