Ninety-two      The lame fox repays his kindness

During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a Tongsheng named Cao Ju in Cao Village, Xin'an County, Henan Province. Because of his poor family, he had not yet got married. Later, he was matched by someone and married Wei Lian in the neighboring village. Although Wei Lian had a good facial features, his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and he was an ugly woman. If you don’t choose a wife, Cao Ju would marry him and have a life and have children.

In the autumn of the seventh year of Wanli, Luoyang held a provincial examination. In order to change the fate of life, Cao Ju tried his career and tried it. His father had died and his mother was alive. He said goodbye to his mother and wife. He only had more than ten taels of broken silver at home, carrying his luggage, and embarked on the way to Luoyang. Cao Ju had more than 100 miles from Luoyang to Luoyang. Cao Ju had no mount or a book boy as his companion, so he walked alone.

Before leaving, my mother told me not to reveal my wealth. However, when I walked outside the village, I met the neighboring village A San blocking the road. He ridiculed Cao Ju for having a poor scholar. What kind of face was that he had to face for the provincial examination. In anger, Cao Ju untied his wallet and took out the silver to show it. Unexpectedly, he caught a thief. He walked halfway through the way and entered the store for lunch. After paying, his wallet disappeared. He thought it was strange. How could the wallet be stolen in my underwear pocket? He suspected that the store did what he did, but there was no evidence, so he dared not blame him rashly. Seeing that the store owner was big and round, he was afraid of being beaten. He had to swallow his anger and claim that he was unlucky.

Cao Ju wanted to return home and get silver. Think about it carefully. There was no need to be given at home, so why should he return? It was less than a hundred miles away from Luoyang. Fortunately, he had not lost the close-fitting body lock. This thing was made of pure gold. When he arrived in Luoyang City, he pawned it to solve the urgent problem and the examination period should not be missed.

Cao Ju walked quickly on the mountain road with his bags. Suddenly, the strong wind suddenly rose and the heavy rain suddenly came. He entered a cave to avoid it. After the rain was clear, it was already afternoon. Cao Ju walked carefully on the muddy and rugged mountain road. Suddenly, he heard a cry of mourning and was stunned. Why did this sad sound come from the wilderness? He listened to it with his ears, and heard the sound of an old woman. He followed the sound and looked for it. He saw an old woman lying in the rocks, unable to move, and he was sad. He obviously made a mistake and rolled down from the mountain.

Cao Ju suddenly felt compassionate and went forward to rescue him. He carried the old woman up the mountain road, followed the old woman's direction, walked to the mountain with difficulty, and entered the dense forest of the valley, and walked for a few miles. He saw several thatched cottages at the foot of the mountain, and finally arrived at the old woman's house. Although the grass house was, the house was clean. Cao Ju settled the old woman and saw that the old woman's legs were not seriously damaged. Cao Ju was covered in mud, and saw a mountain spring on the side of the grass house. The spring water was dinged out, clear and transparent, and flowed into the stream. Cao Ju took off his clothes and went to the water to bathe, and suddenly felt refreshed, his skin was smooth, and his fatigue was dissipated. After taking a bath, he changed his clothes and went to the grass house to rest.

The old woman thanked her for helping her. During the conversation, Cao Ju learned that the old woman's surname was Li, who was nearly 60 years old, but her appearance was as good as middle-aged. She was originally lame and had only one son under her knees. She was now in the mountains to collect herbs. She had not returned from heavy rain. Old Mrs. Li was afraid that something would happen, so she went up the mountain to find her. Her lame foot was not good for walking, and she accidentally rolled down the mountain. If it weren't for Cao Ju's rescue, she might not be able to return home. Old Mrs. Li learned that Cao Ju had entered Luoyang to take the exam. Old Mrs. Li said, "When Li'er returns, I will treat Mrs. Cao to repay her kindness for helping her. The exam period is still far. Please stay for a few more days, and it will not be too late to leave."

At dusk, Li Li, the son of Mrs. Li, was over 20 years old, strong and strong, handsome and healthy. When Cao Ju heard that he saved his mother from danger, he thanked him and said, "Thank you for your kindness to save your mother. If Brother Cao has any difficulties, I will give you all my words to repay him." Cao Ju hurriedly helped him up and said, "What do you think of repaying him for this small matter?"

Li Li held a dinner party to entertain Cao Ju. After drinking for three rounds of dishes and five flavors, Cao Ju was a little drunk and said ashamed: "I still have something to ask my brother to help him, but I don't know if it is possible?" Li Li smiled and said, "I have said that Brother Cao has something to do. I will help him even if he says it." Cao Ju then told the story of the stolen money when he entered the restaurant for lunch, and took out the protective lock, asking him, "I want to exchange this item for ten taels of silver for money, please ask my brother for a while.

I will redeem it again in the future, can I? "Li Li laughed and said, "I think what happened? It was such a small matter, haha! I have known it for a long time. Please lock it up and don't worry about the matter of money." Cao Ju asked in surprise, "Why have you known it for a long time?" Li Li said, "When Brother Cao was lunch in the store, I also drank in the store. Seeing that I was embarrassed and helpless, why didn't I know it? Please ask me to stay in the humble house for a few days, and I have good plans to help him."

The next morning, Cao Ju had not yet got up, Li Li shook it in front of Cao Ju with his wallet in front of Cao Ju, and asked, "Can this wallet be something that Brother Cao lost?" Cao Ju rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at it carefully. It was the wallet he lost and found again. Cao Ju asked in surprise, "How is it, why did you get it?" Li Li said, "Brother's neighbor village A San conspired to steal it with the shop owner, why can't I get it?" Cao Ju asked again, "What method did you use to retrieve it?" Li Li smiled but didn't.

No answer.

After spending a few days together, Cao Ju found that Li Li was knowledgeable and talented, and was proficient in poetry, calligraphy, rituals and music, which helped him to have great academic examinations. He often talked about poetry and essays with him, and talked about the skills of writing articles and the pros and cons of poetry creation. Cao Ju asked: "By the talent of his brother, he can be a Jinshi, so why did he abandon his career and live in the deep mountains?" Li Lijian said: "I am used to being idle and should not enter the officialdom, so I abandoned him."

As the examination period approaches, Cao Ju bid farewell to his mother and son and want to make a journey. When he is about to leave, Li Li presented a book of articles to Cao Ju, and said, "The articles in this book are given by my close friend. Please read them carefully. Remember not to pass them on to anyone. Remember them in mind and please burn them." Old Mrs. Li gave them forty taels of silver and also said, "You must do it carefully along the way and do not repeat the same mistakes. After the provincial examination list, please ask Mr. Cao to return to my humble house and wait for the good news."

When he arrived in Luoyang, he stayed in a hotel. Cao Ju showed him the article given by Li Li, and saw several eight-part articles. Each article went from breaking the topic and following the title to tying the stocks, and the discussion was wonderful. Then he read it carefully, kept it in mind, and followed Li Li's words and burned it.

When he entered the examination room and saw the test paper, Cao Ju was surprised to see that the questions he had given were the same as those given by Li Li. He wrote a quick letter and answered them with great ease. How could he have the reason to not be the ranking? When he was on the list, Cao Ju was very happy and reflected on it. How could Li Li know the exam questions? Could it be that he had an affair with the examiner? Or his relatives had a high-ranking official? Cao Ju couldn't understand it for a long time, but he could determine it. Li Li was an extraordinary person.

Cao Jurong returned to Mrs. Li's house, and Li Li welcomed him and said, "I have been waiting for you for a long time." Cao Ju asked, "How do you know that Brother Yu is on the list?" Li Li smiled but said without saying a word. When he entered the house, Cao Ju thanked him with great gifts and said, "Brother Yu is on the list, which is the help of my brother. I don't know why I knew the test questions earlier?" Mrs. Li explained, "Mr. Cao should not thank him. It has come to this point. I tell you that Li and Li are a fox for hundreds of years, a different kind. They live in a deep cave for practice. In the cave for several days, a year in the world, when I was young, I have not completed my cultivation and play with him. Unfortunately, I stepped on the ground that the hunter gave me, and it was difficult to escape. Thanks to my benefactor passing by, I opened the ground and let me escape. What I do now is to repay my kindness."

Cao Ju suddenly remembered that more than ten years ago, he was a young man. One day, he went into the mountain to chop firewood. On his way back in the evening, he saw a young fox on the side of the mountain crying. He was nearsighted and realized that the young fox was trapped by the ground of the hunter and could not escape. Cao Ju pityed the young fox and helped him open the ground. When he was saved, he looked at Cao Ju for a long time with tears in his eyes, and then turned around and ran away. Later, the hunter learned that he had come to Cao's family to claim compensation, and Cao's family paid twenty copper coins, and then he was finished.

So that's it! No wonder Mrs. Li was lame. Cao Ju said that when she met Mrs. Li at the foot of the mountain, Mrs. Li was not going up the mountain to find her, but she pretended to be a fall to test my good and evil. I lost money and learned about the test questions before I knew it because Li Li used his supernatural powers.

Cao Juqian said, "What is the point of raising hands? I have to pay the small kindness with great rewards. You and your mother are kind and righteous." Old Mrs. Li said, "Your life-saving kindness will never be forgotten. How can you not repay it? Now, Mr. Cao is happy and congratulated. If you don't dislike it, please rest for a few days. It's not too late to leave." Cao Ju said, "Thank you for your care. I have been away from home for many days. I am deeply worried about my family. I don't know how good my mother can be. Although I don't have a beautiful wife at home, my heart is still like an arrow. I will return tomorrow." Li Li asked, "

I heard my brother's words, is my sister-in-law ugly?" Cao Ju smiled bitterly and said, "My wife Wei Lian is ugly. Take a finger in the whole village. Her face is as dark as the bottom of a pot, so it cannot be seen." Li Li clapped his hands and said, "It is not difficult to eliminate darkness. When I have free time, I can take my sister-in-law and stay here for a few days. The mountain spring water on the side of the house can be cured. If you take a bath for a few days, it can change the appearance of snow and skin. Please ask my sister-in-law to try it." Cao Ju once used this mountain spring water to bathe it. After bathing, he felt refreshed and smooth and his skin was greasy and smooth. He believed in this magical effect and undoubtedly did it.

The next morning, Cao Ju said goodbye and returned to Cao Village. His family and the villagers all celebrated him when they were on the list. He told him about everything he met when he went to Luoyang for the provincial examination. His mother and wife were surprised when they heard about it.

A few days later, Cao Ju took Wei Lian to the old lady Li's house to worship him. Unexpectedly, the house was empty. He saw a letter left on the table in the house, and wrote: Brother Cao, I have important things to do with my mother, so I will live elsewhere temporarily. Please use all the items in the house. I wish my brother and sister-in-law everything to do and the whole family will be healthy! My foolish brother Li Lijing.

Cao Ju knew that Li Li and his son had left home, so he and his wife temporarily lived in the grass house. Every day, Wei Lian was bathed in the mountain spring water. He saw that his skin turned from black to yellow, and turned white from yellow to white. A few days later, his skin was as bright as snow, with a radiant face, and was greasy, becoming a handsome beauty!

A few days later, Li Li and his son did not return. Cao Ju discussed with his wife and wanted to return home tomorrow and come to the door to thank him when he is free in the future.

I thought the couple went to bed and went to bed. At dawn, the cold air was so cold that Cao Ju woke him up suddenly. Seeing that the grass house was gone, he and his wife were sleeping in the open air, in the grass nest, he was shocked and woke Wei Lian up. The couple looked around and saw weeds and rocks abruptly. Where did the spring water ding?

The couple has been described as a joke. The fox fairy has gone far away and never returned. The two of them kowtowed to the sky and thanked the fox fairy for repaying the feelings. When the couple returned, their old mother heard it and said, "The fox fairy knows how to repay the favor and repay the small kindness with great reward. It can be said that the benevolence and righteousness are exhausted. If my son did not save him when he saw death, how could he repay him more?"
Chapter completed!