At the age of eighteen, a young scholar in the Sung period called Wei Peng-Chu, styled Chung-hsio, took as his bride a girl as pretty as a flower in full bloom. Scarcely had he been married for a month when the examination was due to begin. So he bade his wife farewell and started out for the capital, but not before his wife told him,” Regardless of whether you get an official appointment or not, come home quickly. Don’t dessert your loving wife.”
“ I have equal regard for honour and fame, so there’s no need to worry,” Wei answered.
At the capital, the young scholar passed with flying colours and came out second on the graduates’ list. He became famous and was accorded much pomp and ceremony.
At this point he sent a servant to fetch his family to the capital. The letter he wrote bore the usual greetings as well as the news of his appointment as an official and ended with:
“ Since I had no one to care for me here in the capital, I have recently taken a young concubine. When you arrive, we can share in the glory.”
On meeting his wife, the servant congratulated her and then gave her the letter, which she immediately opened and read. Presently, she remarked,” That ingrate! No sooner has he become an official than he takes a concubine.”
“There’s no such thing,”the servant said. “The master must be joking with you. Don’t worry about it. You’ll see for yourself once you’re there.”
“In that case,”she said,” I’ll forget the matter.”
As no passenger boat was available at that time, she slowly packed her things while looking for someone to deliver a letter to the capital. Upon receiving the letter from the letter bearer, Wei treated him to food and wine before opening the letter. It was a short note :
“Since you have taken a young concubine in the capital, I myself have taken a young second husband at home. You’ll soon see us at the capital.”
Thinking that the letter was written in jest, Wei put the matter aside.However, before he could put the letter away, a fellow graduate of his arrived and came straight in. After the usual greetings, Wei excused himself and went to thhe toilet.
The friend came across the note written by Wei’s wife. Greatly amused, he read it aloud. On his return, Wei was taken completely by surprise; he blushed and exclaimed,”It’s just a joke. I teased her, and she wrote that in reply.”
The other graduate burst into laughter, saying,” That’s not something you should joke about.” The young fellow happened to be a great gossip, and before long, the news of the letter had spread all over the capital. Some officials who were envious of Wei’s success in the examination grabbed the chance to send a note to the throne. The note said that Wei was too youthful and ill-disciplined, that he was not fit for high office, and that he should be kicked down and exiled to a province.
As a result, things turned out badly for Wei and he missed the opportunity for a bright career. And all this came about because of a joke.
“ I have equal regard for honour and fame, so there’s no need to worry,” Wei answered.
At the capital, the young scholar passed with flying colours and came out second on the graduates’ list. He became famous and was accorded much pomp and ceremony.
At this point he sent a servant to fetch his family to the capital. The letter he wrote bore the usual greetings as well as the news of his appointment as an official and ended with:
“ Since I had no one to care for me here in the capital, I have recently taken a young concubine. When you arrive, we can share in the glory.”
On meeting his wife, the servant congratulated her and then gave her the letter, which she immediately opened and read. Presently, she remarked,” That ingrate! No sooner has he become an official than he takes a concubine.”
“There’s no such thing,”the servant said. “The master must be joking with you. Don’t worry about it. You’ll see for yourself once you’re there.”
“In that case,”she said,” I’ll forget the matter.”
As no passenger boat was available at that time, she slowly packed her things while looking for someone to deliver a letter to the capital. Upon receiving the letter from the letter bearer, Wei treated him to food and wine before opening the letter. It was a short note :
“Since you have taken a young concubine in the capital, I myself have taken a young second husband at home. You’ll soon see us at the capital.”
Thinking that the letter was written in jest, Wei put the matter aside.However, before he could put the letter away, a fellow graduate of his arrived and came straight in. After the usual greetings, Wei excused himself and went to thhe toilet.
The friend came across the note written by Wei’s wife. Greatly amused, he read it aloud. On his return, Wei was taken completely by surprise; he blushed and exclaimed,”It’s just a joke. I teased her, and she wrote that in reply.”
The other graduate burst into laughter, saying,” That’s not something you should joke about.” The young fellow happened to be a great gossip, and before long, the news of the letter had spread all over the capital. Some officials who were envious of Wei’s success in the examination grabbed the chance to send a note to the throne. The note said that Wei was too youthful and ill-disciplined, that he was not fit for high office, and that he should be kicked down and exiled to a province.
As a result, things turned out badly for Wei and he missed the opportunity for a bright career. And all this came about because of a joke.
No comments:
Post a Comment