The Old Gentleman Of Zhu, A Considerate Husband--Zhu Weng

This Chinese of The Old Gentleman Of Zhu, A Considerate Husband--Zhu Wen is 祝翁, and Pin Yin zhù wēng. 读“祝翁”的中文故事.

Once upon a time, there was a man named Zhu, who loved his wife very much and always tried his best to make her happy.

One year, when Zhu was fifty years old, he seized with a severe illness and died. His wife was frantic with grief at the loss of her husband, crying at his bed, and his children at once proceeded to put on their mourning robes.

Suddenly, they heard the dead body on the bed cry out, and uncovering the quilt, they found that Zhu had come to life again. They were full of joy and began to ask him all about it.

But Zhu only replied to his wife, saying, “When I died I did not expect to come back. However, by the time I had got a few miles on my way, I thought of the poor old body I was leaving behind me, dependent for everything on others, and with no more enjoyment of life. So I made up my mind to return, and take you away with me.”

Hearing this, both his wife and children thought this was only the raving of a man who had just regained consciousness, and attached no importance to it; but the old man repeated it, and then his wife said, “It’s all very well, but, you have only just come to life; how can you go and die again directly?”

Zhu said “It is extremely simple, you go and pack up everything ready.” The old lady laughed and did nothing; upon which Zhu urged her again to prepare.

His wife had to leave the room and pretended that she had done what he wanted. After she returned, Zhu said:“ Then you had better dress,”; but his wife did not move until he pressed her again and again, after which she did not like to cross him, and by-and-by came out all fully equipped.

The other ladies of the family were laughing on the sly, when Zhu laid his head upon the pillow, and told his wife to do likewise.

“It’s so inappropriate for us to lie together in front of our children.” she said.

But Zhu banged the bed with his hand, and cried out, “ There is nothing inappropriate for an old couple to die together. ” upon which the various members of the family, seeing the old gentleman was in a rage, begged her to gratify his whim.

Zhu's wife then lay down alongside of her husband, to the infinite amusement of the spectators; but it was soon noticed that the old lady had ceased to smile, and by-and-by her two eyes closed.

For a long time not a sound was heard, as if she was fast asleep; and when some of those present approached to touch her, they found she was as cold as ice, and no longer breathing; then, turning to her husband, they perceived that he also had passed away.