Old Man Zhang, a native of Henan, traced his ancestry back to Shandong. During the great chaos in Shandong at the end of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang’s wife was abducted by Qing soldiers, her fate unknown. Old Man Zhang stayed in Henan, remarried, and had a son named Zhang Ne. Not long after, his wife died, and he married a woman named Niu, with whom he had a son named Zhang Cheng.

Niu was fiercely temperamental and deeply disliked Zhang Ne, treating him like livestock, feeding him only leftovers, forcing him to wear rags and broken shoes, and giving him nothing more than a straw mat to sleep on at night.

Every day, Niu ordered Zhang Ne to climb the mountain to chop firewood, setting a quota of one full load. If he brought back one piece less, she would beat him with her fists and feet, whip him with rattan canes, and subject him to all manner of abuse. In secret, however, she fed her own son, Zhang Cheng, with fine clothes and rich food, and even arranged for him to attend a local school.

Several years passed, and Zhang Cheng grew older. He was kind-hearted and filial, often persuading his mother not to trouble his elder brother, but Niu would not listen.

One day, as Zhang Ne went up the mountain to chop wood, a sudden storm broke out, forcing him to shelter beneath a massive boulder to escape the rain. When the rain stopped and the sun emerged, Zhang Ne was ravenously hungry and lacked the strength to chop any wood. Dejected, he returned home. Niu, seeing him come back empty-handed, flew into a rage and refused him food. Zhang Ne, burning with hunger, lay down on a wooden plank and closed his eyes to rest.

Zhang Cheng returned from school and, seeing his brother looking pale and weak, asked, "Are you ill?" Zhang Ne sighed, "Not ill, just terribly hungry." Zhang Cheng inquired about the reason, and Zhang Ne told him the truth.

Hearing this, Zhang Cheng grew sullen. After a while, he brought a few shaobing (baked flatbreads) back to the room. Zhang Ne asked, "Where did these come from?" Zhang Cheng replied, "I secretly took some flour from home and asked the neighbor auntie to help me bake them. Eat quickly."

Zhang Ne nodded, finished the shaobing in two or three bites, and instructed him, "You cannot do this again in the future. If Mother finds out, she will punish you. Besides, eating only one meal a day won't starve a person to death." Zhang Cheng countered, "Elder brother’s body is frail; how can he have the strength to chop wood? Mother is truly going too far."

The next day, after their meal, Zhang Cheng secretly headed up the mountain. Zhang Ne was startled and asked, "Why are you here?" Zhang Cheng said, "I came to help you chop wood." Zhang Ne asked, "Who told you to come?" Zhang Cheng replied, "It was my own idea." Zhang Ne shook his head, "Never mind that you don’t even know how to chop wood; even if you did, I wouldn't let you do such hard labor. Go back now."

Zhang Cheng refused to listen. He used both hands and feet to break off branches one by one, muttering, "These branches are so hard; I must remember to bring an axe tomorrow." Zhang Ne walked closer and saw his younger brother’s palms were raw and the soles of his shoes worn through. A pang of heartache and pity struck him. He roared, "Go home quickly! If you don't leave now, I will kill myself with the axe!"

Zhang Cheng had no choice but to turn back. Zhang Ne escorted him halfway, then returned home in the evening to tell the teacher, "My younger brother is still young; please look after him for me, Sir, and prevent him from running around carelessly. There are many tigers and wolves in the mountains."

The teacher said, "Zhang Cheng left without permission at noon today, and I have already disciplined him."

Zhang Ne nodded, took his leave, and returned home, admonishing his brother, "You didn't listen to your elder brother, so you got beaten, didn't you?" Zhang Cheng smiled and shook his head, "That’s not true."

The next day, Zhang Cheng brought an axe up the mountain again. Zhang Ne was furious, "Didn't I tell you not to come? Why are you being disobedient?" Zhang Cheng smiled but said nothing, merely raising the axe and splitting branches one after another. He worked until sweat poured down him without resting. Once he had split a bundle of firewood, he quietly returned.

The old teacher questioned him sternly, "Why did you sneak out and cause trouble again?"

Zhang Cheng told the truth plainly, "This student was not causing trouble; I was only helping my elder brother chop wood in the mountains."

The old teacher’s expression instantly softened upon hearing this, and he smiled, "Good child, you are truly sensible." From then on, he no longer forbade Zhang Cheng from going up the mountain.

One day, the Zhang brothers were chopping wood with several other woodcutters in the mountains when suddenly a fierce tiger dashed out and snatched Zhang Cheng in its jaws, vanishing swiftly. Zhang Ne, disregarding the danger, gave chase immediately. With one swing of his axe, he struck the tiger's hind leg; the beast roared in pain and fled wildly, disappearing without a trace in an instant.

With his younger brother's fate unknown, Zhang Ne was overcome with grief and wept hysterically. The other woodcutters tried in vain to comfort him. Zhang Ne cried out, "Although my brother was born of my stepmother, he died for me; how can I live on alone?" Saying this, he brought the iron axe down upon his own neck, slicing deep enough to draw blood that streamed down his chest, and he collapsed unconscious.

The woodcutters were terrified. They frantically tore pieces of cloth from their garments to bind the wound and carried Zhang Ne home to seek help. Niu cursed him, "Zhang Ne, you caused the death of my son, and now you think a single slash on your neck will absolve you of responsibility?"

Zhang Ne groaned awake and said, "Mother, do not trouble yourself. If my brother is dead, I will pay for his life with my own; I will not cling to life." The woodcutters interceded with words of comfort, and Niu’s anger slightly subsided. Several strong men helped support Zhang Ne so he could rest and recuperate in bed. The wound on Zhang Ne’s neck ached terribly, preventing sleep, and his anxiety over his brother’s safety led him to weep day and night.

Old Man Zhang, worried about his son's injury, secretly brought him some thin gruel, but Niu discovered it and scolded him loudly. Unwilling to cause his father further trouble, Zhang Ne refused all food and drink, and three days later, he died.

There was a wandering shaman in the village who traveled everywhere. Zhang Ne’s spirit drifted about and chanced upon the shaman. He asked, "Master, have you seen my younger brother?" The shaman shook his head and said, "Come with me."

The two arrived at a large city. A man dressed in dark blue emerged from within the city. The shaman approached and inquired, "Ghost immortal, have you seen Zhang Cheng?"

The man in blue produced a register and examined it, saying, "There are over a hundred male and female ghosts listed, but Zhang Cheng is not among them."

The shaman asked, "Could he be on a different roster?"

The man in blue replied, "This route is under my jurisdiction; there can be no mistake."

Zhang Ne refused to believe it and forcibly pulled the shaman into the city to search. He saw new ghosts and old ghosts gathered everywhere, coming and going. He recognized some and stepped forward to question them about his brother's whereabouts, but they all replied they knew nothing.

Suddenly, a chorus of shouts rose from the assembled ghosts: "The Bodhisattva is here."

A multicolored lotus platform floated down from the sky, radiating brilliant light. Seated upon it was Guanyin Bodhisattva, her demeanor solemn and dignified.

The shaman whispered to Zhang Ne, "Young master, your fortune is deep. The Bodhisattva visits the Underworld only once every few decades to bestow blessings, remove calamities, and alleviate suffering. You were just in time to witness it." As he spoke, he pulled Zhang Ne to kneel on the ground. All the other ghosts also immediately knelt, paying homage, their palms joined as they chanted in unison the sounds of compassion and salvation, a booming roar that echoed across the wilderness.

The Bodhisattva sprinkled the sweet dew from her willow branch, threads as fine as dust. In an instant, the light receded, and the Bodhisattva had vanished.

Zhang Ne felt a cool, comforting sensation on his neck. He touched it with his hand; the sword wound was healed and no longer pained him. The shaman escorted him back to his old home, where the living and the ghost bid farewell.

Zhang Ne had been dead for two days when he suddenly awakened, opened his eyes, recounted his experience, and adamantly insisted, "My brother is still alive." Niu refused to believe him, cursing, "Even now, you try to fabricate rumors?"

Zhang Ne dared not argue with his mother. He knelt before his father to bid farewell, saying, "Your son is determined to travel the length and breadth of the Divine Land; even if I must cross clouds and enter the seas, I will find my brother’s trace. Until I see my brother again, I will not return home. Please take good care of yourselves, and consider me as if I were never born." Having spoken, he strode out the door and departed.

Zhang Ne traveled in search of his brother, passing through provinces and traversing prefectures. His travel funds were quickly exhausted, forcing him to beg along the way. After a year, he finally arrived in Jinling, his appearance haggard, his clothing utterly tattered.

That day, while seeking news of Zhang Cheng on the street, he suddenly heard the sound of hooves. Over a dozen riders clad in iron armor galloped toward him. Among them, one white horse carried an official, about forty years old, with a stern and imposing appearance; another, a small yellow horse, carried a youth whose eyes darted around, frequently fixing upon Zhang Ne.

Zhang Ne thought, "This must be a wealthy young master; I had best not provoke them." He lowered his head and remained motionless.

The youth on the horse rode up before him, dismounted, and cried out in surprise and delight, "Elder brother, you don’t recognize me?"

Zhang Ne looked up and gazed intently. The young man before him was none other than Zhang Cheng. Overjoyed beyond measure, he tightly grasped his brother’s hand and wept uncontrollably. Zhang Cheng also shed tears of emotion and asked, "Elder brother, how did you become so destitute?" Zhang Ne laughed, "For over a year, I have traversed the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, searching everywhere for you. Heaven has opened its eyes; it is wonderful that we brothers are reunited today."

Zhang Cheng walked over to the official and spoke a few words to him in a low voice. The official nodded, ordered his subordinates to prepare an empty horse for Zhang Ne, and the group galloped rapidly toward an official residence.

The official invited Zhang Ne to sit in the main hall. A servant brought tea. After taking a sip, Zhang Ne eagerly inquired about his brother's escape.

Zhang Cheng recounted everything in detail.

It turned out that when the tiger carried him away, he was inexplicably dropped by the roadside. He slept in the thicket for a night and happened upon Zhang, the Bie Jia (Assistant Prefect), who passed by and saved his life. During their conversation, Zhang Cheng learned that his location was far from his home, and he stomped his feet in anxiety. The Bie Jia said, "My humble home is not far. If young brother does not disdain it, come back with me, and we can tend to your injuries first." Zhang Cheng agreed and reluctantly followed the Bie Jia to Jinling. After several days of rest, his injuries healed. Since the Bie Jia had no children of his own, he kindly adopted Zhang Cheng as his godson. It was a surprise joy that the father and son ran into the elder brother while passing through the street just now.

Zhang Ne listened patiently to the story, then suddenly knelt on the ground, repeatedly thanking the Bie Jia. After a few polite exchanges, the Bie Jia instructed the servants to prepare a banquet. Zhang Cheng went inside to fetch many new clothes for his elder brother to change into, and the three sat down to drink wine together.

The Bie Jia asked, "How many people does your family have in Henan?" Zhang Ne replied, "None. My father is from Shandong and ended up drifting in Henan." The Bie Jia exclaimed, "I am also from Shandong. Where is the young master’s hometown?"

Zhang Ne said, "Father mentioned it seemed to be Dongchang Prefecture."

The Bie Jia cried out in astonishment, "That is my fellow townsman! Why did you drift to Henan?"

Zhang Ne explained, "When the Qing soldiers entered at the end of the Ming Dynasty, they seized my birth mother. Father suffered from the ravages of war, lost everything, and fled to Henan to make a meager living. He later married my current mother and settled in Henan."

The Bie Jia inquired, "What was your ancestor's name?"

Zhang Ne replied, "My grandfather was named Zhang Bingzhi."

Upon hearing this, the Bie Jia stared speechlessly, lowered his head in silent contemplation, and then suddenly rushed out and went into the inner chamber.

Not long after, the Old Madam emerged to meet the guests and asked Zhang Ne, "Child, are you truly the grandson of Zhang Bingzhi?" Zhang Ne nodded, "Indeed."

The Old Madam burst into loud sobs, pointed at Zhang Ne, and said to the Bie Jia, "He is your younger brother!" Zhang Ne scratched his head and asked, "The Old Madam’s words are profound; I do not quite understand."

The Old Lady said, "Child, I am that birth mother who was carried away. I lived with your father for three years before being captured by the Qing soldiers. At that time, I was already pregnant and married to Heigushan. I gave birth to your elder brother six months later. Another six months passed, Heigushan died, and your brother inherited his title, rising to the rank of Bie Jia before his recent resignation. Your brother often missed his biological father and sent people to Shandong to search several times, all without success. Who would have thought he had already moved to Henan?"

She then said to the Bie Jia, "It was reckless of you to adopt a brother as your son. Be careful, lest you lose favor."

The Bie Jia responded, "I asked Zhang Cheng about his background, but he did not mention being from Shandong; perhaps he was too young to remember."

With the family reunited, the three brothers sorted out their ages: The Bie Jia was forty-one, thus the eldest brother; Zhang Ne was twenty-one, the second brother; and Zhang Cheng was sixteen, the youngest brother.

The Bie Jia was overjoyed to suddenly gain two younger brothers, sharing meals and remaining inseparable day and night. Privately, he discussed returning to their hometown with his mother. The Old Madam worried that her former husband might not accept them. The Bie Jia argued, "If we can coexist, we will live together; if not, we will live apart. But acknowledging father and son is righteous; who in this world lacks a father, who does not long for the bonds of fatherhood?"

Thus, they sold their residence, packed their belongings, and the mother and son set off for home. After several days, they reached Henan. The Zhang brothers went first to deliver the news to their father.

The old father, since Zhang Ne’s departure, had lived alone, with only his shadow for company after Niu died shortly thereafter. When he suddenly saw Zhang Ne, he was ecstatic to the point of bewilderment, and seeing Zhang Cheng as well, he wept tears of overwhelming joy that streamed down his face.

Zhang Ne reported to his father: "Elder brother and his mother have also returned."

Old Man Zhang heard this and stood stunned. Having received such joyous news several times in one day, he felt completely overwhelmed. A short while later, the Old Madam and the Bie Jia arrived, followed by a large retinue of maids and servants that filled the courtyard inside and out.

Zhang Cheng noticed his birth mother was missing and anxiously inquired. Upon learning that Niu had died, he was overcome with grief and fainted, only waking after a long time.

In the days that followed, the Bie Jia funded the construction of grand pavilions, hired teachers to instruct his two younger brothers in their studies, and managed the family estate. Several years passed, and their household prospered, accumulating vast wealth in livestock and property, transforming them into a magnate family.