Xiao Qian
Nie Caichen was a righteous man. He was Noah of his time. Once he went to Jinling to attend some business affairs. All the hotel rooms were book solid then for there was going to be an examination for choosing officials trhere. Caichen found in the outskirts a monastery. It had fallen into disuse and no trace of human being could be seen.
that evening, a husky man came. He introduced himself as Yan. That night, Caichen could not go to sleep when he heard some people whispering. Leaning on the window, he saw two ladies there. One of them was was old and ugly. Caichen took them for some neighbors.
When he was about to fall asleep, he felt someone in the room. Then he found a young, beautiful girl in his room. She said to Caichen,”This is such a beautiful night! Let’s not waste time.” Caichen was a angry. He would not do anything that was not suitable. So, he asked the girl to go away. The girl was reluctant. Caichen said, “Go. Otherwise, I will call Yan.” The girl was frightened and left. Very soon, he came back and left a bar of gold in the room. Caichen threw it out. The girl left the room.
The next morning, a young scholar came. But that night, he died. Caichen and Yan examined his body and found there was a small hole in his sole. Some drips of blood came out of the hole. Yan’s face became gloom. He said, “There is ghost here.”
That night, the girl came again. She looked unhappy. She told Caichen her life’s story frankly. She said, “My name is Xiaoqian. I am not a human being, but a girl ghost. I died when I was 18 and was buried here. I became a ghost and an old ghost forced me to get human blood for herr. If anyone sleeps with me, I will pierce a needle in his sold to draw blood from him. If he likes money, I will leave a bar of gold. If he keeps it, he will die. But all this I hate to do. Will you help me to get rid of this situation? ” She went on to tell Caichen that Yan was a man with special ability. If he could live in the same room with Yan, he would survive. Otherwise, the old ghost would come to kill him.
The next day, Caichen invited Yan to his room for a whole day. In the evening, Caichen asked yan to stay. At first, Yan refused, saying he would snore. But Caichen knew what to do. At last, he agreed. But he warned,”Don’t touch my case. Otherwise it will do harm.”
Deep at night, Caichen was wide awake. Suddenly something flew to his window. Something rushed out of the case and shoot at the window. With a big noise, it returned. Yan was awakened. He opened the case and took out a little sword. It was a small one, and very thin. Yan said, “That ghost came, but was wounded by my flying sword. “
Some days later, Caichen was going to go back home. Yan saw him off. By this time, they had become close friends. Yet, “Best friends have to part”, as they say. Yan gave his case to Caichen, tell him to hang the case in his bedroom to keep any ghost away, for the case had special power.
Caichen dug out Xiaoqian’s bones and carried them with him. When he was near home, he buried the bones. And toasted, “Although this place is a bit lonely, but I am happy to find you a quiet place. We are now near each other. You can enjoy a new way of life here.” Then he left.
As he was walking, someone called from his back. “Wait for me!” He turned back and saw it was Xiaoqian. Her skin was like rosy clouds; her toes were like banboo shoots. Xiaoqian now looked even more beautiful.
Xiaoqian thanked Caichen and implored to follow him home to be a maidservant in the house. So, they came home. Caichen’s mother was a bit frightened at first when Caichen told her everything, but when she saw Xiaoqian, she relaxed.
From then on, Xiaoqian became a maidservant in the house. She was very clever and everything she did made Caichen’s mother happy. Half a year passed, Xiaoqian began to eat food, and began to gaining new life.
Later Caichen’s mother found they match each other very well. She intended to make them man and wife. But she was hesitate for Xiaoqian was a girl ghost, and if they got married, would there be any harm for his only son? Xiaoqian found out this and said to Caichen’s mother, “I don’t mean any harm. Caichen is like my own brother. You are like my own mother. I admire Caichen, so how happy I will be if I could marry him. “
Then they began to prepare for marriage, and Xiaoqian began to receive guests. Everyone who visited them all said about Xiaoqian, “She is really an oil painting. She must be a goddess.” Then they got married.
One day, Xiaoqian felt uneasy. She asked Caichen where was the case and asked him to hang it near the window. That night, something flew near the window. It had a bloody eyes, and it was very ugly. But when it came near the window. Something rushed out of the case and snatched it and returned to the case. It was the old ugly ghost. The next morning they found only some water in the case. Xiaoqian relieved. Her mightmare ended.
Xiaoqian gave birth to a boy a year later. And they lived a happy life. Their son later enjoyed very high rank in the court of the king.
