During the Qing Dynasty, an elderly man named Qin Yu lived modestly in Yangzhou. Though he received imperial recognition due to the prominence of some distant relatives, Qin himself worked as a lowly clerk in the criminal department of Ganquan County. Known for his integrity and virtue, he never took bribes or extorted money from the people. At 50, he and his kind-hearted wife were still childless and lived in a cramped house near the market. Their simple home doubled as Qin’s office, with a small reception area furnished with document racks and tables for copying files.
An unexpected visitor with a dangerous offer
On New Year’s Eve one year, Mrs. Qin looked at their empty grain jar — a stark reminder of their financial struggles — and quietly took off her gold hairpin to pawn it for New Year goods. Meanwhile, in the reception area, Qin sat worried, contemplating how to “send the poor ghost away,” a Chinese tradition of banishing poverty before the start of the new year. Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
A well-dressed visitor entered, accompanied by a young servant carrying a heavy cloth bag. After a polite bow, the man asked: “Are you Mr. Qin?”
“Yes, that’s me,” Qin replied.
The man smiled. “I’ve heard that a particular document remains in your office. Is that correct?”
Retrieving a small catalog from his sleeve, Qin scanned its contents and nodded. “It’s listed as being stored here.”
The visitor leaned forward. “I’ve always admired your moral character, Mr. Qin. I know you don’t accept bribes. But as the year ends, we all have expenses. Allow me to purchase this document for 1,000 taels of silver as a token of respect for your longevity.” He had the young servant pour out silver ingots on the table, saying: “This is five hundred taels. The other half will be given to you after you find the document.” Qin nodded in agreement, and the visitor bowed deeply before leaving.
Qin looked at the pile of silver and wondered: “What kind of case is worth that much money?” He went to retrieve the document from a locked cabinet and examined it in the light by the door. It was a decades-old case from the early Qing Dynasty. The file detailed accusations against the descendants of a man who had been coerced into rebelling alongside Wu Sangui. Though the magistrate had declared the family extinct, the document contained damning evidence that could endanger those descendants if it resurfaced.
Qin’s chest tightened. “This man wants to annihilate an entire family out of vengeance. If I accept this money, I’ll secure my comfort at the expense of my virtue. But if I return it, I’ll preserve my conscience.”
Burning away temptation
When Mrs. Qin returned and saw the silver piled on the table, she asked what had happened. Qin silently handed her the document. After reading it, she gasped.
“Is this a joke? How could we take money to destroy a family? If you can’t decide what should be done, I will.”
Without hesitation, she tore the document into pieces and threw it into the smoldering incense burner. The ashes swirled, glowing briefly before vanishing entirely.
Later, the visitor returned with the remaining silver. Qin feigned distress. “My fate must be cursed. I can’t find the file anywhere!” Seeing the ashes on the table, the visitor reclaimed his initial payment and left, deeply disappointed.
Afterward, Mrs. Qin turned to her husband. “We’re old enough to have lived a full century together. Why taint our last years with unjust wealth? It’s not worth angering the heavens.”
Relieved, Qin agreed. Together, they enjoyed a simple but peaceful New Year’s celebration.
A divine reward for virtue
That night, Qin dreamed of a celestial woman descending on a qilin, surrounded by fragrant winds and shimmering silken ribbons. She carried a radiant child with jade-white skin and delicate features. Before she could speak, Qin exclaimed: “If only this child could be ours, life would be perfect!”
The woman smiled. “Would you foster him temporarily?”
Overjoyed, Qin scooped up the child, cradling him tightly. Just as the qilin ascended back into the clouds, the child began to cry, jolting Qin awake.
As dawn broke, Qin recounted the dream to his wife, who laughed. “Seeing that child in your arms almost made me fall in love with him, too!”
To their amazement, they had shared the same dream.
A son and a prosperous future
As winter gave way to spring, Mrs. Qin unexpectedly resumed her monthly cycle. By the end of the year, she gave birth to a son who looked exactly like the child from their dream. They named him Mengyu, meaning “dream jade.”
Mengyu grew into a bright and virtuous young man. At 11, he topped the child scholar exams, and by 19, he entered the prestigious Hanlin Academy. A magistrate, impressed by Mengyu’s talent, arranged for him to marry his daughter.
In their twilight years, Qin and his wife remained spirited. When the county magistrate urged Qin to retire, he bowed and replied: “I stay not for wealth or position, but to leave behind more virtue for my descendants.”
The magistrate smiled. “Your intentions have already reached the heavens.” He personally arranged for Qin’s return home in a blue sedan chair, accompanied by music and celebration.
Translated by Joseph Wu
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