--- title: A Story of Old China, part 1 — Gleanings from Chinese folklore · full text with trees · page 2 description: A Story of Old China, part 1, «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: In the reign of Chia Ching, Emperor of China from 1522 to 1537 A.D., there lived in Peking a powerful official by the name of --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/17/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/) / A Story of Old China, part 1 # A Story of Old China, part 1 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/17/) **2** To this Mr. Kao replied, “The lady, your sister, is in the inner court with her women, another day you may meet her.”[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") Nien Chi urged Mr. Kao to introduce him that day, but the latter changed the subject of conversation, and then Nien Chi proposed that they should see who could take the most wine.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") Alas\![55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") Mr. Kao did not dream of his plan, and very soon was fast asleep; seeing this, Nien Chi went to the family court in the rear and seeing her with her women, he said:[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") “Most beautiful of great sisters, I salute you.”[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") Yü Yüch Ying immediately arose, and seeing the man who had troubled her so, there in her own court, she said:[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who are you, and how do you dare to come into this inner court?” and then turning to a servant, she said, “Call your master.”[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") Nien Chi smiled and said, “Don’t be anxious, lady, your husband is my good brother by rite of blood.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") We have drank the wine and made the compact and that, you know, as he is older than I, gives me a right to meet you and call you ‘sister.’[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") My great brother is now asleep.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") He is a poor, stupid man who cannot let wine alone.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, most beautiful and virtuous of all women, leave him to his books and marry me.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") You shall have, by promise of my master, the great Yen Sung, the finest of the land, in robes of silk and satin, servants by tens, jewels fit for an empress, and a most royal home.”[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") In great fear and rage the lady spurned him, and called to her women to bring her husband, asleep or awake.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") The loud voices had awakened him, and when the women met him, telling of the fright of their lady, he picked up a stick and, entering the court, demanded how he had dared enter there.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") Yü Yüch Ying said to him, “How did you dare enter friendship’s bonds with such as he?[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") Take him from my court and presence at once.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") He is more hateful to me than a serpent.”[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Nien Chi saw his plan had failed and, with rage and vowing vengeance, he took his departure and once again sought his master.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") That night a slave in the home was bound and killed and taken in the early morning and placed against the gate of Mr. Kao’s house.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") Mr. Kao always went early to the “Hall of the Classics,” and that morning when he opened the gate the dead body fell into Kao’s court; Nien Chi and soldiers were waiting just around the corner for this moment, and immediately, before Mr. Kao had taken in the situation, they had seized him and thrown him into prison, on charge of killing one of the great Sung’s servants.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") He was tried and condemned to death.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") The beautiful Yü Yüch Ying saw through the plan and disposed of the place at once for a small sum of money and, taking one loyal, good serving-woman, she sought her father.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Everything was done that could be done to save her husband; her father had lost much of his property and standing, and could help but little.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") It seemed as though nothing could be done to save him when, at the last moment, a “great day of forgiveness” was announced on the birth of an heir to the throne.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") This did not mean freedom, but instead of death came banishment for life to some other and distant province.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") The news was made known to the wife by a Mr. Wang, an old-time friend of the family, and he arranged with her a plan by which she might have a parting visit with her husband; this was to be in a cemetery just out of Peking and off a little from the great road over which his cart was to go.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") She had not been allowed to see him in prison, though she had used every means possible.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") When the day set to take him away came, she went with her woman to the place arranged, and then waited, with sad and heavy heart, for the cart which was to bring her husband for a short talk and then take him away from her forever.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") When Mr. Wang told Mr. Kao of the plan, he said, “She won’t come; a woman is like a garment that one can take off at pleasure and it is all the same to them.”[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") Little he knew the true-hearted woman, or how she would prove her fidelity, that would hand her name down to all coming wives as the pattern of all that is most truly virtuous.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") When the cart reached the place, by the use of a little money Mr. Wang arranged with the carter and escort soldiers to allow Mr. Kao to get out of the cart and have this quiet last talk with his wife.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Much to his surprise, Mr. Kao found his wife waiting for him.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") She came forward and, kneeling before him, she said, “We are about to separate, possibly forever; what commands have you for me?[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") I will follow them to the letter.”[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") “I have no commands,” replied her husband.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") “Our affairs have reached this state: we can do nothing and be nothing to each other.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") I am banished for life; you cannot go with me, and I cannot help you.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") There is no use in our talking.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") You will forget me.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Our fate is unlucky, the gods and man are against us.”[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") With tears streaming from her eyes, and her beautiful face full of trouble, she said, “Alas! alas\![94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") You do not believe in and trust me, that I will be true to you.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") What can I do to prove to you that I mean what I say?[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") You say I am beautiful; the gods have made me so.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Because I am so you think that fair promises of wealth and luxury will buy me.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") If I were homely no one would want me; see, this I do to show how true is my heart to you,” and before he saw what she was about she took some scissors from her sleeve and dug out one of her beautiful eyes, and then, raising her poor disfigured face to his, she said, as she tried to smile, “Do you believe me, is it not proof enough?[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Would anybody want me now?”[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Her husband was greatly moved and, as he tried to stop the flow of blood, said, “You are a daughter of the gods, the most true of all women.”[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") They then talked over their sorrows, and she said, “If in a few months’ time the gods give us a son, what is your wish to name him?[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") If a little daughter comes, name her also and your wishes.”[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") “I have no wishes or commands, you are able to instruct and have wisdom for all.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") If the gods give us a son, call him Ting Lang.”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") The wife said, “Alas\![106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") I may not follow you into exile, I shall go to my old home, but if the child is a son, when he is old enough I shall send him to you.”[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she took from her sleeve a small mirror, a comb, and a handkerchief.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") These she divided into two parts, gave one part to her husband, and placed the other in her inner pocket.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") “When a boy finds you, producing these, you will know who he is, and wherever you are you must own him.”[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/17/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/17/) - next →: [A Story of Old China, part 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/18/) - ↑ back to [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/)