Yu's Reincarnation Stories: Scholar Li Honors His Promise and Repays a Kindness
One of our members asked us how she and Yu first formed their predestined connection through reincarnation. With her permission, we are sharing this reincarnation story with everyone:
During the late Tang Dynasty, you were a poor scholar surnamed Li. You were traveling to the capital to sit for the imperial examination, but halfway through your journey, you ran out of money and had no choice but to work in exchange for food and lodging.
At the time, widespread uprisings had sparked conflict between the people and the imperial court. Upon hearing the news, many wealthy families packed up and fled overnight.
Having lost his work, Scholar Li was left homeless and wandered from place to place in search of employment. Yet he steadfastly refused to beg, unwilling to compromise the dignity and integrity of a scholar.
One day, a man named Xie Zhen was returning home after conducting business when he noticed the dejected Scholar Li among the crowd.
Sensing that there was something extraordinary about him, Xie Zhen invited him to stay at his home and offered him food and lodging. Scholar Li, however, declined the offer.
He explained that he was unwilling to live off others without contributing anything in return and offered instead to work in exchange for meals and a place to stay. Xie Zhen and his wife agreed and entrusted him with tending the small bamboo grove in their backyard.
Beyond the bamboo grove was a path leading to the courtyard of their daughter, Wan'er. This was also a test of Scholar Li's character. If he harbored improper intentions toward Wan'er and entered her private quarters without permission, the Xie family would no longer allow him to remain in their household.
Scholar Li conducted himself with restraint and propriety and carried out his duties diligently, never disappointing Xie Zhen and his wife.
As time passed, Scholar Li fell deeply in love with Wan'er. Although their feelings were mutual, the two always observed the proper boundaries of etiquette.
Several months later, as the date of the imperial examination approached, Scholar Li bid farewell to Xie Zhen. He asked the couple for Wan'er's hand in marriage, promising that if he placed first in the imperial examination, he would return to marry her. If he failed, he would write to let them know.
Xie Zhen and his wife agreed. They had grown very fond of Scholar Li and provided him with generous funds for his journey. They told him that even if he failed the examination, he should still return, and that the Xie family would do everything they could to help him prepare to try again.
Half a year later, Scholar Li distinguished himself in the nationwide imperial examinations and achieved the highest honor, placing first in the palace examination.
He hurried back to the Xie residence, eager to share the wonderful news with Xie Zhen and take Wan'er as his wife.
To his shock, when he arrived, the Xie residence had been reduced to ruins. Scholar Li searched everywhere and asked around for information, but learned nothing. With a heavy heart, he was forced to leave.
One day, while attending a banquet, Scholar Li suddenly heard the familiar sound of a konghou being played. He turned toward the female entertainer performing the music and was stunned to recognize the woman he had been longing for all this time.
It was Wan'er!
Not long after Scholar Li had left, a group of displaced people had stormed the Xie residence. They killed Xie Zhen, his wife, and their servants before looting the family's wealth.
Wan'er survived only because a maid had hidden her inside a large water jar. But with her parents gone and her family ruined, she had no means of supporting herself and was eventually forced to make a living as an entertainer in a brothel.
Scholar Li remained true to his promise.
News that the newly crowned top scholar had married a woman from a brothel quickly spread throughout the region. Many believed that by doing so, he had compromised the dignity expected of a scholar.
But only Scholar Li knew that without the help Xie Zhen and his wife had given him when he was destitute, he might long ago have starved to death by the roadside.
After receiving his official appointment, Scholar Li immediately set about rebuilding the Xie residence. He carefully enshrined memorial tablets for Xie Zhen and his wife and burned incense before them every day.
He and Wan'er shared a loving and deeply respectful marriage. All of their children were given the surname Xie so that the Xie family line could continue—a lasting expression of gratitude to Xie Zhen and his wife for the kindness they had once shown him.
And Xie Zhen, the generous man who recognized and cherished talent, was one of Yu's secondary souls.