
Set against the rolling hills of Ming‑era Jiangxi, the tale follows a magnate named Zhang who earns a reputation for boundless charity. After the loss of his parents, he builds a thriving estate, marries the noble He family, and, after a prophetic dream, welcomes a son and a daughter whose births are marked by an auspicious fragrance. His household becomes a hub of benevolence, drawing admiration from villagers and officials alike.
When Zhang’s wandering brother Hong arrives, the two brothers rekindle their bond and set out for Suzhou, hoping to expand their fortunes. Trust deepens over shared meals, yet dark intentions surface as Hong conceals poison in a celebratory drink. The sudden, tragic death of Zhang Shakes the family and the community, leaving questions of loyalty and greed to echo through the hills.
Language
zh
Duration
~1 hours (63K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2008-10-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
Known only through a brief historical record, this 19th-century Chinese writer is remembered for Bai Gui Zhi, a vernacular novel tied to the tradition of gifted-scholar and beauty romances. The surviving catalog trail is sparse, which gives the work an added sense of rarity and literary curiosity.
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