Feng Yunting, a native of Tàiháng, was widowed young. One day, having business in the county town, he lodged at an inn towards evening. The long night brought loneliness, stirring thoughts of women, and his imagination ran wild. Suddenly, the image of a woman appeared on the wall—frowning, sticking out her tongue, a rope looped around her neck—slowly descending to the floor. Feng Yunting was startled, thinking, "This must be a hanged ghost." However, in broad daylight, he felt no fear and said, "Madam, has your grievance gone unredressed? If there is any service I can render, please speak freely."

The woman replied, "We are strangers meeting by chance, I dare not trouble you, sir. But there is one small matter I wish to ask your assistance with. I hanged myself from a ceiling beam; my tongue cannot retract, and the rope cannot be removed. If you would kindly chop down the beam and burn it, this poor woman can escape this sea of suffering. I shall never forget your immense kindness."

Feng Yunting agreed. The next day, he mentioned the matter to the innkeeper. The innkeeper said, "More than ten years ago, this place was the residence of the Mei family. One night, a thief broke in and was caught by Master Mei and sent to the magistrate. The magistrate, bribed by the thief, falsely accused Miss Mei of being involved with him and sent men to arrest her. Filled with unbearable anger and wishing to prove her innocence, Miss Mei hanged herself. Master and Madam Mei could not bear the shock and soon passed away. This old fellow spent five hundred taels of silver to buy the house and opened this inn. Since opening, the place has frequently been haunted, and though many Taoist priests were invited to suppress the spirits, all efforts were in vain. If burning the beam can set Miss Mei free, this old man is willing to help. However, to destroy a perfectly good house like this is too great a loss; my small business yields little profit, and I truly cannot afford it."

Feng Yunting replied, "Whatever the loss, count it as mine." Hearing this, the innkeeper smiled, "With your words, sir, I am relieved." Together they set to work, chopped down the beam, and burned it to ashes.

That night, Miss Mei appeared again, performed a full curtsy, and thanked him sincerely. Feng Yunting, seeing her graceful figure, was greatly pleased and desired intimacy with her. Miss Mei said, "Intimacy between human and ghost brings spectral energy into your body, which will shorten your lifespan. I cannot harm you. Furthermore, the reason I committed suicide was to preserve my honor. If I now engage in an indiscreet union with you, would that not render my sacrifice meaningless? Even jumping into the Yellow River could not wash away the shame. We are bound by fate, and I will eventually be yours. There is plenty of time; there is no need to be so impatient."

Feng Yunting asked, "In the future? How long must I wait for that?" Miss Mei smiled but did not answer. Feng Yunting then asked, "Can you drink wine?" Miss Mei replied, "No." Feng Yunting said, "With such beauty beside me, yet unable to partake, how shall I pass the long night?" Miss Mei suggested, "Shall we play Mǎ Dìaò (a card game)?" Feng Yunting countered, "What fun is it with only two people?" Miss Mei offered, "How about playing Cat's Cradle?" Feng Yunting replied, "That’s a child’s game; it doesn't interest me." Miss Mei laughed, "What harm is there in playing for a bit?" As she spoke, she produced a length of red thread and, with dexterous manipulation of her ten fingers, transformed it into a dazzling array of intricate patterns, leaving Feng Yunting awestruck. Feng Yunting praised, "What superb skill! Such mastery is unrivaled." Miss Mei responded modestly, "These patterns were all slowly conceived by me during moments of solitude. Your praise is too generous; I am truly undeserving."

After they played for a while, the night grew deep, and Miss Mei said, "It is getting late; please go to bed, sir." Feng Yunting laughed, "Sleep with me." Miss Mei shook her head, "I am a female ghost; I do not need sleep. Stop having such strange thoughts and hurry to rest." Feng Yunting sulked, "I can't sleep." Miss Mei smiled, "Can't sleep? That’s fine. I have studied massage; I will relax your muscles and bones, and you will sleep soundly." She extended her hands and began gently kneading Feng Yunting’s back, from head to toe, massaging back and forth. Wherever her hands passed, Feng Yunting felt his flesh and bones refreshed, his entire body comfortable, and within moments, he was snoring loudly.

When he awoke the next day, it was already noon. Feng Yunting felt exceptionally vigorous and secretly marveled at this, his affection for Miss Mei growing deeper. He circled the room, calling her name, but received no response. When night fell, Miss Mei finally reappeared. Feng Yunting asked, "Where exactly do you reside? I called all afternoon, yet you never answered me." Miss Mei replied, "Ghosts have no fixed dwelling; most of the time, we reside underground." Feng Yunting asked, "The earth is incredibly hard, with no fissures; how can you fit inside?" Miss Mei explained, "The connection between a ghost and the earth is like that between a fish and water. Just as fish can survive in water, ghosts can naturally dwell beneath the ground."

Feng Yunting remained silent for a long while, then said, "The underground must be dark and damp, never seeing sunlight; life there must be very bitter." Miss Mei sighed, "But what choice is there?" Feng Yunting took her hand and said, "If there were a way to bring you back to life, I would spend my entire fortune without hesitation." Miss Mei laughed, "You do not need to bankrupt yourself."

They played and teased until midnight, when Feng Yunting’s desire for intimacy surged again. Miss Mei waved her hand, "Don't pester me. If your loneliness is truly unbearable, I have a neighbor named Aiqing; she is a courtesan, possessed of graceful charm. If you do not fear the haunting of a female ghost, I can invite her to keep you company tomorrow night, how about that?" Feng Yunting replied, "I usually keep my distance from female ghosts, but a beautiful one is another matter entirely. Very well, it is settled then."

The following night, Miss Mei indeed brought a mature woman, nearly thirty, whose eyes shimmered with latent passion. The three sat together playing Mǎ Dìaò, and time flew by unnoticed. Miss Mei rose and said, "I have other matters to attend to; I shall take my leave now." With those words, she drifted away.

After Miss Mei departed, the other two retired to the bedchamber for an inexplicable, joyful union. Feng Yunting inquired about Aiqing’s background, but the young woman was vague and evasive, refusing to divulge anything. She said, "If you wish to see me again in the future, merely tap the north wall with your hand three times and call out 'Húlúzi.' I will come immediately. If you call three times and receive no reply, it certainly means I am occupied, so there is no need to call again." The next morning, the young woman slipped back into the wall and vanished.

That night, Miss Mei arrived gracefully. Feng Yunting asked about Aiqing's whereabouts. Miss Mei replied, "She was summoned by Young Master Gao to accompany him for drinks, so she couldn't come." The two chatted by candlelight. Miss Mei seemed to have something to say but hesitated, as if seeking a favor. Feng Yunting repeatedly pressed her, but Miss Mei only sighed deeply, refusing to speak plainly. Feng Yunting was utterly confused, thinking, "Perhaps she wants me to avenge her, but why won't she just say it? Right, we haven't known each other long; she feels shy about asking. Alas, her enemy is the county magistrate; even if I wanted to help, I am powerless." At this thought, his heart felt heavy.

From then on, the two met every night, and Aiqing occasionally joined their gatherings. Laughter constantly filled the inn, and soon everyone knew of it. The news gradually spread until it finally reached the ears of the magistrate. The magistrate, originally from Zhejiang, had divorced his wife for an affair with a servant and subsequently married a concubine named Gu.

Madam Gu was fated to die young, passing away barely a month after the marriage.

The magistrate deeply missed his concubine. Hearing that Feng Yunting could communicate with female ghosts, he specifically came to call upon him, asking him to use his means to inquire about his concubine's whereabouts. Feng Yunting replied, "I do not possess that ability myself; I must ask a friend for help." As he spoke, he tapped the north wall and called out, "Húlúzi, Húlúzi." No sooner had the words left his lips than Aiqing appeared.

Aiqing’s face changed upon seeing the magistrate, and she turned to leave. The magistrate was instantly enraged and snatched up a large bowl, hurling it violently. Aiqing twisted her form and disappeared. Feng Yunting was stunned, unsure why the magistrate was furious. Just as he was about to inquire, an old woman emerged from the room, holding a wooden stick, pointing at the magistrate, and cursing loudly, "Corrupt official! You nearly injured my young lady! Pay restitution immediately!" She swung the stick towards the magistrate’s head and struck him fiercely.

The magistrate clutched his head in pain and said, "That courtesan just now was my wife, Madam Gu, who died young. I cherished her deeply and missed her every day. Who knew she would secretly meet a man behind my back? I am disciplining my wife; what business is it of yours?" The old woman retorted, "Corrupt official! You are merely a scoundrel from Zhejiang who bought a ninth-rank official post with money, and now you dare to twist right and wrong? I ask you, was Miss Mei killed by your doing? Hmph! Your numerous wicked deeds mean your death is imminent. It was your parents who pleaded bitterly before the King of Hell, willing to sell their daughter-in-law into a brothel to atone for your sins—did you not know this?"

While the two were arguing, Miss Mei rushed out. Seeing the magistrate, she grimaced, stuck out her tongue, and was filled with righteous fury. She pulled out a silver hairpin and fiercely stabbed at the magistrate’s ear repeatedly. Feng Yunting advised, "Although he is guilty, if he dies here in the inn, I might be implicated." Miss Mei nodded, "Very well, for the sake of the gentleman, I shall let him live a few more hours."

The magistrate narrowly escaped, clutching his head, and fled home. By midnight, the pain in both ears became unbearable, and he died.

The following night, Miss Mei returned, smiling, "How satisfying! The corrupt official is dead; the grievance from sixteen years of repressed anger is finally settled." Feng Yunting laughed, "Congratulations on avenging yourself. By the way, who was that old woman?"

Miss Mei replied, "She is the procuress from the underworld." Feng Yunting nodded and asked, "What about Aiqing? Why hasn't she come?" Miss Mei said, "She is ill, but it is nothing serious; you need not worry." Feng Yunting then asked, "What do you plan to do now?"

Miss Mei’s face flushed slightly and she said, "Sir, do you remember the vow you made that day? You once said that if I could be brought back to life..." Feng Yunting interrupted, "I would spend my entire fortune without hesitation. I keep that promise in my heart; how could I forget? Tell me, what can I do to help you?"

Miss Mei confessed, "I dare not hide anything from you, sir. The day I committed suicide, I went to the home of Scholar Zhan in Yan'an to be reincarnated. However, my great revenge remained unfulfilled, which delayed everything until now. I ask you to buy a bolt of new cloth and make a bundle. I will hide inside it, and we will travel to Yan'an together to propose marriage. Nothing will fail."

Feng Yunting agreed. Miss Mei added, "On the journey to Yan'an, you must not meet me. Only on the day you and Miss Zhan share the bridal chamber, simply hang the cloth sack over the new bride's head and call out the four words, 'Mò Wàng' (Do Not Forget). I will be revived."

Feng Yunting memorized every detail and immediately set off for Yan'an. Upon inquiry, he indeed found a Scholar Zhan there whose daughter was sixteen years old, possessing delicate beauty, but she was mentally slow, frequently sticking her tongue out beyond her lips, making her appearance quite frightening.

Feng Yunting engaged a matchmaker to propose marriage. Scholar Zhan, who was worried about his daughter remaining unwed, readily agreed upon hearing the proposal. The two families selected an auspicious day for the wedding. Soon, they entered the bridal chamber. The new bride was dazed and foolish, exposing her breasts and grinning idiotically at Mr. Feng, showing no sense of shame.

Feng Yunting took the cloth sack and placed it over his wife's head, calling out, "Mò Wàng, Mò Wàng." Hearing this, his wife frowned in concentration, gazing intently at Feng Fengunting. Feng Yunting smiled, "You don't recognize me?" The wife seemed to awaken from a dream and exclaimed, "You are Young Master Feng." They looked at each other, their eyes filled with tender affection. The lovers were finally united, both overcome with boundless joy.