Ye Sheng of Huaiyang, whose given name is lost to history, penned essays and verse that eclipsed all contemporaries. Alas, his fortunes soured, and though he sat for the Imperial Examinations repeatedly, success eluded him time and again.

It was during this period that Ding Chenghhe of Guandong arrived in Huaiyang County, tasked with official duties. He chanced upon one of Ye Sheng’s writings and, recognizing its extraordinary quality, was overjoyed. He summoned Ye Sheng to his residence for a discussion, and after conversing for a time, he was profoundly pleased. Ding immediately offered Ye Sheng lodging, urging him to study diligently, while secretly arranging financial support for Ye Sheng’s wife and children.

Soon after, the time for the preliminary examinations arrived. Ding Chenghhe spoke highly of Ye Sheng to the Examining Commissioner, strongly recommending him. With this patronage, coupled with Ye Sheng’s genuine talent, the county examination concluded, and he effortlessly secured the top rank.

Ding Chenghhe held high hopes for Ye Sheng. When the provincial examination results were posted, he eagerly sought out Ye Sheng’s submissions, reading them with rapt admiration, slapping his thigh and crying out in praise. Yet, fate is capricious; on the day the results were announced, Ye Sheng returned crestfallen, having failed.

Ye Sheng was deeply disheartened, feeling he had failed his benefactor. His physique wasted away until he was nothing but skin and bone, moving like an automaton. Ding Chenghhe heard of this and offered gentle consolation, which moved Ye Sheng to tears of gratitude. The two men made an agreement: once Ding Chenghhe’s three-year term was complete, he would take Ye Sheng north to the capital.

Deeply touched, Ye Sheng bid farewell and returned home. He locked himself away, dedicating every waking moment to intense study. Unforeseen, his overwork brought on a severe illness. Despite seeking out doctors and consuming remedies, hundreds of prescriptions yielded no discernible improvement.

Later, Ding Chenghhe was dismissed from office for speaking too frankly to a superior and was ordered to depart. Before leaving, he sent a letter to Ye Sheng, the gist of which was: “Your elder brother will soon be returning east. The only reason for my delay in departing is to wait for you, my friend. If you arrive by day, then I shall depart that very evening.”

When Ye Sheng received the letter, he wept with joy. He sent a reply: “Thank you, Elder Brother, for your deep consideration. It is only my debilitating illness that prevents me. Please, travel ahead.” Ding Chenghhe refused to leave him behind, waiting patiently.

Several days later, Ye Sheng suddenly appeared at Ding’s residence. Ding Chenghhe was overjoyed and welcomed him in. Ye Sheng said, “Because I was confined to bed by illness, I caused Your Excellency such a long delay, which grieves me deeply. Now that I have recovered, let us depart together.” With that, he packed his belongings and returned to his old home.

In his hometown, Ding Chenghhe appointed Ye Sheng as the tutor for his son, instructing him day and night in scholarship. Young Master Ding, named Zaichang, was sixteen, naturally bright; he needed only two or three readings to commit characters to memory. Within a year, he could compose essays. Coupled with his father’s arrangements at the county office, he soon entered the county school and became a xiucai (licentiate).

Ye Sheng, feeling his own talents unrecognized, redirected his entire focus onto Young Master Ding, pouring out the totality of his life’s learning and carefully imparting knowledge. He meticulously copied all the essays he had drafted for previous examinations and instructed the young man to commit them to heart. As a result, when the provincial examination questions were issued—seven prompts in total—they were precisely what Ye Sheng had anticipated. Young Master Ding effortlessly secured the second place.

On this day, Ding Chenghhe said to Ye Sheng, “Teacher, with only minor ** guidance, you have brought my son fame. Yet you yourself remain frustrated and unfulfilled. What are your plans now?”

Ye Sheng replied, “Repeated failure is the decree of Heaven. Though my life has been half spent in decline, to have my reputation affirmed through your son’s writings, allowing the world to know that I am not a useless scholar—this is enough for me. Moreover, I have been fortunate enough to gain a true confidant in you, Elder Brother. What more could I ask? Must I truly wear the robes of an official and attain rank to be considered successful?”

Ding Chenghhe countered, “But surely, Brother, after decades of bitter study in the cold window, you cannot allow your efforts to come to naught? The annual review examination approaches soon. You must return home swiftly and not miss the date.”

Ye Sheng shook his head. “My heart is cold toward that path now. We shall speak of it later.”

Ding Chenghhe sighed, saying no more, but secretly instructed his son, “When you travel to the capital for the Metropolitan Examination, make a point of donating funds to the Imperial College. Secure a position as a jiansheng (student of the Imperial College) for your teacher. That way, he can study alongside you within the College walls.”

Shortly thereafter, Young Master Ding passed the Metropolitan Examination, became a jinshi (successful candidate), and took up an official post in the capital, bringing Ye Sheng with him. A year slipped by.

During this year, Ye Sheng spent every day immersed in study at the Imperial College. He subsequently sat for the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination and finally achieved the rank of juren (provincial graduate). It happened that Young Master Ding was appointed to an administrative post in Nanhe. He told his teacher, “This new post’s jurisdiction is not far from Huaiyang. Teacher, this is your moment of success; it is fitting that you return home in glory.”

Ye Sheng happily agreed. He selected an auspicious day and rode his horse back to his old home. Seeing the dilapidated state of his household gates brought a wave of sorrow. As he pushed open the courtyard door, his wife happened to be stepping out, holding a winnowing basket. The moment she saw him, she dropped the basket in fright and bolted away.

Ye Sheng hurried after her. “Now that my status is esteemed, and I have been away for three or four years, have you truly forgotten me?”

His wife retorted, “You have been dead these past several years! What esteemed status are you speaking of? Because the family is poor and the children are young, I have kept your coffin in the main hall, delaying the burial. Since you are already a ghost, do not come out to frighten people. At most, I swear I will have you interred tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Ye Sheng was overcome with inexplicable melancholy. He walked into the hall and saw the coffin standing there as described. With a great cry, he collapsed to the ground, his earthly form extinguished; his spirit departed to report in the Underworld, leaving only his clothes and shoes behind.

After Ye Sheng’s death, Young Master Ding, ever loyal, took it upon himself to look after his teacher’s wife and children. He hired another tutor for the young ones. Several years later, Ye Sheng’s son grew to manhood, sat for the examinations, and became a xiucai.