During the Qing Dynasty, leprosy was prevalent in the Lingnan region. Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, even close relatives dared not live together. This is the story of how loyalty was rewarded.
In Nanhai County, Guangdong (now Foshan City), a young master from a prominent family, only 15 or 16 years old, was graceful and handsome. His family and friends adored him. Unexpectedly, one day, the young master contracted leprosy. His family had no choice but to build a tiny house for him in the mountains, where he could live alone. They would visit him every few days to bring him supplies.
The young woman’s loyalty to her vow
Before he fell ill, the young master was engaged to the daughter of a prestigious family in the county. When the girl’s parents heard about his condition, they planned to break off the engagement and find another suitable match for their daughter. She cried to them, saying: “My husband has contracted a disease before we are even married; my fate is clear. A woman should adhere to the principle of lifelong loyalty, which has been the way of women since ancient times. Morally, I cannot marry another man just because my fiancé is sick. Rather than becoming an old maid at home, causing my parents to worry, I would prefer to share the hardships with my husband and fulfill my duties as a wife for the rest of my life. This is my heartfelt wish.”
Her parents, feeling pity for their daughter, did not immediately agree to her request; however, since the girl kept pleading and vowing never to remarry, they ultimately accepted her will.
After marrying the young master, she soon contracted leprosy as well. The couple lived in desolation, clinging to each other in the vast wilderness. Those who heard of their situation felt sorrow for them.
One night, with the bright moon hanging high in the sky and the surrounding mountains silent, the two lovers sat chatting on a stone between the pine trees. The husband said: “It is entirely my fault that my beautiful spouse has fallen to this state.” The wife replied thoughtfully: “I knew this day would come; how could I blame you?”
As they sadly gazed at each other, they suddenly saw something rolling in the stream. It looked like a rabbit, but was smaller. They hurried over to check, but the creature quickly darted into the pine forest and disappeared. The wife then removed her hairpin and stuck it as a marker in the spot where the being had vanished.
The next day, they returned to the same place and found something unusual on the ground. They dug and discovered a thousand-year-old Poria mushroom. Poria is a traditional Chinese medicine that grows on decayed pine roots in the mountains and is considered a celestial treasure. It has effects such as heat-clearing and calming the mind, so the two young spouses decided to split it and share it. Poria was fragrant and sweet and it penetrated their hearts. Unknowingly, their leprosy disappeared, and the scars on their bodies vanished.
When their parents heard of this, they came to visit and were met with the sight of a beautiful couple, harmonizing with the beauty of nature. They were overjoyed and welcomed their children back home, holding a grand wedding. At that time, no one said anything other than that this was a reward for their loyalty. The thousand-year-old Poria was a gift from heaven!
This account is recorded in the Admonition Record by Liang Gongchen, who heard it from his father, who, in turn, heard it from Xie Lansheng, a Master Jinshi from Nanhai, who witnessed the event firsthand.
Translated by Joseph Wu and edited by Laura Cozzolino
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