A rich family in Zhili, Hebei, was trying to find a teacher for their children.
One day a scholar came and recommended himself. The host found the scholar open-minded and eloquent and the two liked each other. The scholar told the host that his family name was Hu and the host hired him.
In the ensuing days, the teacher worked hard. His learning could hardly be matched by ordinary teachers. However, he often went out and came back very late in the night. Though the door was bolted and no knocks on the door were heard, Mr. Hu always found his way into his room easily. People were curious and suspected that he was a fox spirit. They observed him closely and found he meant no harm at all. As a result, they overlooked his strange behavior and respected him as usual.
Mr. Hu knew that his host had a daughter and subtly hinted that he wanted to marry her. Each time that happened, the host pretended that he had not noticed the suggestion. One day, Hu asked permission to leave.
The next day a guest arrived, leaving his black donkey outside the house. The host greeted the visitor at the door and found him to be in his fifties, well-dressed and with a kind and serene bearing. After sitting down, the guest told the host that he had come on behalf of Mr. Hu to propose marriage to the daughter of the host. When the host finally responded, he said: “Mr. Hu and I have already become trusted friends, what’s the need to be come related through marriage? Besides, my daughter is already engaged to someone else. Please convey my apologies to Mr. Hu.” The visitor replied: “We know very well that your daughter is not engaged. Why do you refuse to consider my proposal so resolutely?” The guest tried to convince the host but could not make any progress. So he asked: “Mr. Hu is also from a very prosperous family. Do you think he is no match for your daughter?” The host said: “You know, my fear is that Mr. Hu and my daughter do not belong to the same category!” The guest was enraged by the reply and the two began to quarrel. The guest stood up and tried to grab the host while the latter told his servants to drive the visitor out.
Outside the house, the donkey was still there. A servant tried to pull the animal but could not move it. When he used a whip, the huge animal fell and turned into a grasshopper. When the visitor left in a great rage, the host began to make preparations for more trouble ahead.
The next day saw the arrival of a large contingent of fox soldiers, some on horseback, others on foot. They carried swords or arrows in a great show of force. The host himself did not dare to come out to lead the defense, so the fox soldiers were more emboldened and threatened to set the house on fire, which terrified the host even more. A brave servant got his fellow workers together and launched a tenacious fight against the invaders. Arrows were shot, stones were thrown, inflicting casualties on both sides. Eventually, the fox soldiers were defeated and fled. They left swords sparkling on the ground, but when the weapons were picked up, they were merely sorghum leaves. The servants laughed: “So this is what they were.” Nevertheless, they became more cautious, in case of another on-slaught by the invaders.
The next day, a giant figure several meters high suddenly descended from the sky. Robust, the man had a huge knife the size of a door and ran around chasing and killing people. The servants shot arrows and threw stones at him till the huge figure fell on the ground. People surrounded him and found him to be a scarecrow. People were now more confident in their fight against the fox soldiers.
For three days, they did not show up again and people’s vigilance relaxed.
However, when the host went to visit an outdoor toilet, fox soldiers suddenly appeared, shooting their arrows and wounding the host in the back. Terrified, he cried for help. When the servants defeated the fox soldiers, they pulled the arrow from his back and found it to be a straw.
For over a month, the fox army came and went, harassing the place in any way it could. Though the casualties inflicted on the people were not heavy, the invasions were a constant bother.
One day, the foxes came again with Mr. Hu as the commander. The host went out to greet him. When Mr. Hu saw the host outside the house, he hid himself behind the other foxes. Then the host called out his name and insisted he come forward, asking him: “I’ve done nothing to deserve this. Why do you do this to me?” The fox soldiers drew their bows, ready to shoot at the host, but they were stopped by Mr. Hu. The host walked up to him, took his hand and pulled him to talk in his private study. There the host had a feast ready and invited Mr. Hu to join him. During the dinner, the host said sincerely: “You’re learned, and I trust you understand me. Given our past friendship, I would have loved to have you as a member of the family. However, I found out that the carts and houses you have are entirely different from those of us human beings. I’m sure you are well-aware that it is not possible to marry my daughter to you. You know there is no love in a forced marriage. Why do you insist on it?” These words brought a look of regret to Mr. Hu’s face. The host went on: “Never mind. Friendship is friendship. If you do not reject us human beings, I would like to have my fifteen-year-old son, who is your student, be your son-in-law. I wonder if you have a pretty girl?” Mr. Hu was happy to hear this, saying: “I do have a little sister who is one year younger than your son. She is very pretty. How about having her as your son’s wife?” The host stood up to bow, and Mr. Hu did the same in return. They toasted each other, talked and laughed, forgetting all their past grievances.
The host gave the order that a banquet be prepared to entertain all those who had come with Mr. Hu. He also asked for the detailed address of Mr. Hu’s home, with the intention of sending meat and wine as engagement gifts, which Mr. Hu declined: The feast lasted well into the night, and everybody left, drunk but happy. Peace returned.
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