In the Dragon Gate region resided Xie Zhongtiao, a man whose character leaned toward the frivolous. He was widowed at thirty, left with two sons and a daughter. Crying morning and night, the burden became unbearable. He desired a second wife but was overly selective, unable to secure someone of higher standing or settle for someone lesser. Out of necessity, he hired an old crone merely to tend to the children temporarily.

One day, Xie Zhongtiao was strolling through the mountains when a woman approached from behind, appearing to be in her early twenties with a striking, beautiful face. Xie Zhongtiao’s heart leaped with excitement. He moved to flirt, saying, "My lady walks alone; are you not afraid?" The woman kept walking, paying him no mind. Xie Zhongtiao tried again, "Your delicate feet on this rough mountain path require great care, my lady." Still, she ignored him.

Xie Zhongtiao glanced around quickly; seeing no one else nearby, lust surged within him. In a sudden movement, he grabbed the woman’s wrist and dragged her into a secluded valley, forcing himself upon her. The woman cried out, "What villain dares assault a weak woman like this?" Xie Zhongtiao paid no heed, pulling and struggling, only growing more aggressive. The woman stumbled, having no means of resistance, and finally conceded, saying, "If you insist on taking me, why be so brutal? Release me, and I will yield to you."

Xie Zhongtiao was overjoyed. They quickly disrobed, and after a fervent coupling, their passion knew no bounds. Afterward, the woman inquired about his name and address. Xie Zhongtiao told her everything, then laughed, "And what is your name, young lady?" The woman replied, "My surname is Li. My husband died long ago, and I am now a widow. My mother-in-law is also gone; I am entirely alone with no one to rely on, so I must often return to my family home just to beg for meals." Xie Zhongtiao exclaimed, "Excellent! I too am single. We are perfectly suited to make a pair."

The woman asked, "Do you have children?" Xie Zhongtiao admitted, "Truthfully, if we speak of **Gongfu, the women I have lain with are not few. But the children are young, constantly crying, which becomes tiresome for a man." The woman hesitated, "That is a difficult matter. I see you wear simple clothes, suggesting your means are modest. I would not mind for myself, but being a stepmother is hard; I fear gossip from others."

Xie Zhongtiao scoffed, "Worry not about that. As long as I desire you, why concern ourselves with the idle chatter of others?" The woman was slightly swayed, then voiced her reservation, "Since our skin has touched, by right I should comply. However, I have an elder uncle whose temperament is savage; he often regards me as a valuable commodity. Getting past his judgment will be difficult—what is to be done about that?"

Xie Zhongtiao grew concerned as well, suggesting, "Why don’t you elope with me?" The woman countered, "I have considered that, but I fear my family might betray our secret, which would bring trouble to us both." Xie Zhongtiao reassured her, "That is no issue. I only have an old crone in the house; I shall dismiss her immediately, and no one will ever know." The woman was thrilled. They held hands and returned home. The woman hid outside while Xie Zhongtiao sent the old woman away. He cleaned the bed and ushered the woman in, where they became deeply intimate once more.

From that day on, the woman settled into the Xie household, managing the domestic chores, caring for the children, sewing and mending—working diligently. Xie found in this wife a deep affection and closeness. Every day he closed his doors to visitors, severing contact with outsiders. After a month, Xie Zhongtiao had to travel for business, locking the room securely before leaving. Upon his return, he found the sleeping quarters bolted shut. He knocked several times, but no response came. Greatly alarmed, Xie Zhongtiao kicked the door open. The main hall was empty. As suspicion began to mount, a colossal wolf suddenly burst from the interior room and fled into the distance. Xie Zhongtiao was utterly terrified and rushed inside. In the master bedroom, blood covered the floor; his wife and children were gone, leaving behind only three severed heads.

He turned to pursue the wild wolf, but it had already vanished without a trace.