Outside the east gate of Wuxi County in Changzhou Prefecture, Jiangnan, lived three brothers of a modest household. The eldest was Lü Yu, the second Lü Bao, and the youngest Lü Zhen. Lü Yu married Lady Wang, and Lü Bao married Lady Yang, both women of respectable families, gentle and kind in character. Only the youngest brother, Lü Zhen, was still too young to marry. The brothers and their wives lived together in harmony.
Lady Wang, the eldest sister-in-law, gave birth to a son named Xi’er, whom the entire family cherished. But when the boy was six years old, he went out with neighborhood children to watch a temple fair and somehow became separated from them. Despite frantic searching, posted notices, and days spent calling out for him, no trace of the child could be found. Grief weighed heavily upon Lü Yu and his wife. Hoping both to distract himself and perhaps uncover news of his missing son, Lü Yu borrowed money from a wealthy household and set out to trade cotton cloth in Jiading and beyond.
Lost and found
Four years passed without any news of the boy. In the fifth year, Lü Yu again set out on a trading journey, this time traveling farther from home. He journeyed into Shanxi, but famine struck the region, and payment for his goods was delayed. Trapped there for three years, he was unable to return until he had finally collected his debts. With money at last in hand, he longed only to go home.
On the way back, he traveled both day and night, stopping in Chenliu. Early one morning, while at the latrine, he noticed a cloth bag left behind. Picking it up, he found it quite heavy. As he looked inside, he discovered, to his surprise, two hundred taels of silver. He thought: “Though this is unexpected wealth, the owner must be desperate. What if it were money needed to save a life? How terrible that would be. The ancients taught us not to take what isn’t ours. I am over thirty and still without a son — what use is ill-gotten fortune?” So he waited nearby, hoping someone would come searching for the lost money. Though he waited all day, no one appeared.
The next morning, having no choice, he continued his journey. A few days later, in Nansuzhou, he lodged at an inn and dined with another traveler. During their conversation, the man lamented that five days earlier, in Chenliu, he had forgotten his cloth bag at a latrine. Inside had been 200 taels of silver. By the time he remembered, it was too late. Lü Yu asked the man’s name and hometown. The traveler replied: “My surname is Chen. I am from Weizhou, and now run a grain shop at the Yangzhou sluice.” Lü Yu introduced himself as being from Wuxi and suggested they continue on together to Yangzhou.
Kindness answered
Before long, they arrived at Chen’s shop. Lü Yu paid him a formal visit and, over tea, brought up the matter of the lost bag. He asked Chen to describe its appearance. Chen said it was a dark blue cloth bag embroidered with the character “Chen” in white stitching. Lü Yu recognized it at once, produced the bag, and returned it intact. Chen was overjoyed. He insisted on sharing the silver, or at least offering a reward, but Lü Yu firmly refused.
Chen, the wealthy shop owner, was deeply grateful and immediately ordered his household to prepare a banquet. In his heart, he thought: “It is rare to meet a man as honorable as Lü Yu, who returned my silver without seeking any reward. I have nothing worthy to repay him with. I do have a twelve-year-old daughter — perhaps I could form a family bond with this Gentleman Lü. But I wonder whether he has a son?”
During the banquet, Chen asked: “Honored brother, how old is your son?” At this, Lü Yu could not help shedding tears. He replied: “I had only one child, but seven years ago he was lost at a temple fair. Since then, there has been no trace of him. My wife has borne no other children.”
Chen said: “Several years ago, I purchased a servant boy for three taels of silver. He is handsome, clever, and lively, and was brought here by traveling traders. He is now thirteen years old and studies alongside my own son every day. If you would accept him, I would gladly give him to you as a token of gratitude.” Lü Yu replied: “If that is so, I must at least repay the cost of his purchase.” Chen said: “Please do not speak of money! I only fear that you may not care for him, in which case I would feel ashamed.” He immediately sent someone to fetch the boy from school.
When Lü Yu heard that the boy’s name was Xi’er — the same name as his lost son — his heart stirred with emotion. Soon, the boy arrived, dressed in a blue robe, neat and refined in appearance. Accustomed to the manners of the schoolroom, he stepped forward and bowed deeply to Lü Yu.
Joy surged through Lü Yu at once. Looking closely at the boy, he recognized the face of his lost son. He remembered that when Xi’er was 4 years old, he had fallen and cut his left brow, leaving a small scar. The boy’s features matched perfectly, and there was indeed a scar near the corner of his left eye.
Lü Yu asked: “When did you come to the Chen household?” The boy thought for a moment before replying: “Six or seven years ago.” Lü Yu asked again: “Where are you from? Who brought you here and sold you?” The boy answered: “I do not remember clearly. I only recall that my father’s name was Lü Da, and that I had two uncles. My mother’s surname was Wang, and we lived outside the city of Wuxi. When I was very young, I was tricked away and sold here.”
Hearing this, Lü Yu embraced the boy and cried out: “My son! I am Lü Da of Wuxi — your own father! I lost you seven years ago, and now we are reunited at last!” Truly, it was like finding a needle in the sea: father and son had found each other again. The child wept with joy.
Lü Yu rose and thanked Chen, saying: “Without your kindness and care, how could father and son have been reunited today?” Chen replied: “Brother, it was your noble deed in returning my silver that brought Heaven’s blessing upon my humble household, allowing you to meet your son again. I did not know he was your child, and I am ashamed that I failed to recognize it.”
Lü Yu then instructed Xi’er to bow and thank Chen before seating the boy beside him. Chen then said: “I admire your high virtue. I have a twelve-year-old daughter, and I wish to have her betrothed to your son. What do you think?” Lü Yu saw his sincerity and agreed at once. That night, father and son slept together, talking all night.
The next day, Lü Yu prepared to depart. Chen held another banquet to honor his new kinsman and future son-in-law, and to bid them farewell. After several rounds of wine, Chen produced 20 taels of silver and said: “This small gift is merely a token of kinship. Please do not refuse.” Lü Yu replied: “Since your honored family has accepted us, I should properly carry out the betrothal rites. Yet as I am traveling, it would not be fitting to handle such formalities carelessly. How then could I accept generosity from you instead?”
Chen answered: “This is a gift from me to my future son-in-law, not part of the betrothal gifts. If you refuse, it will mean you do not accept this marriage.” Lü Yu had no choice but to accept. He instructed his son to bow and give thanks, and Xi’er went inside to thank his new mother-in-law as well.
To be continued…
Translated by Cecilia and edited by Tatiana Denning
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