The girl named Xi Liu was a native of the Central Plains. Her waist was slender, she was graceful and lovely, intelligent since childhood, possessing a rudimentary grasp of literature and an uncanny talent for physiognomy.

Xi Liu’s nature was serene; she disliked gossiping or speaking ill of others. Yet, her fame for beauty spread far and wide, resulting in a ceaseless stream of suitors seeking her hand. Xi Liu met them all, scrutinizing many, but found none who pleased her heart. By the time she neared nineteen, she remained unwed.

Her parents grew furious at her selectivity, scolding her, “Is there truly no suitable match in all the world? If you keep picking and choosing, do you intend to become an old maid?”

Xi Liu replied, “I once believed that human will could conquer fate, yet marriage proves inscrutable, not to be forced. From this day forward, matters of marriage shall rest entirely in your hands, Father and Mother.”

A high scholar from the county town, a renowned gentleman from a prestigious family, having long heard of Xi Liu’s reputation, came to propose marriage. The two families quickly reached an accord; an auspicious day was set, and the bride was sent to her new home.

After marriage, the couple lived in harmony, treating each other with the respect due to honored guests. The scholar had a son from his previous marriage, named Chang Fu, who was five years old. Xi Liu cared for him with meticulous diligence, showering him with affection; the bond between mother and son deepened.

A year later, Xi Liu gave birth to a son, whom they named Chang Hu. When the scholar asked the meaning, Xi Liu explained, “Hu means ‘reliance.’ I mean nothing else, only that I hope Chang Hu may always remain close by my side.”

Xi Liu was not skilled in needlework but excelled in management and was adept at finance. She knew the extent of the family’s landholdings and the precise weight of their taxes by heart. One day, during a casual chat with her husband, Xi Liu suggested, “As for household affairs, allow me to manage them entirely. Would that be acceptable?”

The scholar replied, “If you are willing to proactively ease my burdens, I could ask for nothing more.” From then on, he ceased concerning himself with household matters, handing over all affairs, large and small, to Xi Liu’s complete discretion. For half a year, she managed without a single misstep.

Six months later, the scholar went drinking in a neighboring village. Coincidentally, a government official arrived, demanding the immediate payment of land taxes. The household had few surplus grains, and Xi Liu found it momentarily impossible to raise the required funds. She pleaded courteously, begging the official for a few days' grace. The official refused to yield, lingering inside the house, unwilling to depart.

With no other recourse, Xi Liu urgently summoned her husband home, asking what course of action he proposed. The scholar smiled, “This matter is simple. Seeking an extension always comes at a price, does it not? Watch closely and learn.” He reached into his robe, produced silver coins, bribed the official, and sent him away with ease.

After the official left, the scholar chuckled, “Xi Liu, there is an old saying: ‘A clever woman is no match for a foolish man.’ No matter how capable a woman is, her talent for improvisation and her wisdom in crisis ultimately fall short of a man’s. Let’s strike a bargain: running the household is tedious and thankless work. Perhaps it would be best if I managed things from now on.”

Xi Liu refused, weeping, “Who says a woman is inferior to a man? I shall certainly prove it to you.”

From that moment on, she became even more diligent, rising early and sleeping late. She invariably managed to secure the grain reserves a full year in advance, and when the time came for rent payment, no error ever occurred again. By the same method, she accumulated cloth and silver; the family’s savings grew substantial, and expenses were comfortably covered with plenty to spare.

Her husband rejoiced at having such a virtuous wife and often teased her, “Why is Xi Liu so slender? Slender eyebrows, a slender waist, graceful as moving water—and she delights in having the most delicate mind!” Xi Liu would respond playfully, “My dear Gao is truly lofty: lofty in character, lofty in ambition, lofty in letters, yet I pray his years may be even more lofty.” Though she spoke with jest, her heart was heavy with concern: “My husband’s fortune and status are limited. Observing his features, he is not destined for a long life. We must plan accordingly.”

There was a coffin seller in the village. Xi Liu spared no expense in purchasing a fine one, and when her silver ran short, she borrowed from her neighbors. The scholar laughed, “This is not an immediate necessity; you need not buy it.” He tried repeatedly to dissuade her, but Xi Liu would not listen.

A year turned, and a wealthy family in the village suffered a death and urgently needed a superior longevity coffin. Unable to procure one swiftly, they appealed to Xi Liu, offering an exorbitant price, several times the actual cost. Seeing an opportunity for profit, the scholar urged Xi Liu to sell the coffin. Xi Liu refused. When pressed for a reason, she remained silent. After repeated questioning, tears welled in her eyes.

Another year passed. The scholar reached the age of twenty-five, and Xi Liu knew his time was near. She forbade him from traveling far and insisted he return home promptly in the evenings, dispatching servants to hurry him if he lingered. One day, the scholar was feasting with friends, suddenly felt unwell, and left early. On the way home, he fell from his horse and died on the spot. It was the height of summer, the heat intense, making the body prone to rapid decay. Fortunately, Xi Liu had prepared the coffin and burial clothes in advance. She handled the funeral arrangements calmly, managed the encoffining and burial, and everything proceeded smoothly.

At that time, Chang Fu was ten, just beginning his studies. With his father dead, there was no one to enforce discipline. He refused to read, preferring to spend his days playing with the cowherds, repeatedly admonished to no avail. Chang Fu remained obstinate and stubbornly resistant to instruction.

Xi Liu, at her wit’s end, finally conceded, “Since you refuse to study, I will not force you. However, in a poor household, there is no room for idlers; no one can live off savings indefinitely. Starting today, you will work alongside the servants and support yourself. If you fail to comply, you will surely feel my wrath.”

Chang Fu agreed with a nod and spent his days tending pigs and herding sheep, dressed in rags. His food was meager, his sleep without a proper mat; simple fare was his lot, the hardship almost unbearable. After several days, Chang Fu could not endure the toil and felt deep regret. He knelt in the courtyard, begging to resume his studies, weeping uncontrollably as he confessed his errors.

Xi Liu remained unmoved, turning her face to the wall in silence, ignoring him entirely. Chang Fu resorted to shameless tactics, crawling and crying, clinging to the spot and refusing to leave. Xi Liu, torn between laughter and tears, picked up a rattan cane and lashed him soundly. Unable to bear the pain, Chang Fu fled in disarray.

In the days that followed, Chang Fu associated with the servants, living alongside the livestock. As autumn waned and winter approached, he had no clothes and no shoes. Finally unable to bear it any longer, he ran away from home.

Xi Liu made no effort to stop him, letting him go as he wished. Several months passed. Chang Fu wandered everywhere, surviving by begging, becoming gaunt and thin. Finally, he came to a true realization, returned home, and offered himself for punishment, willingly accepting a hundred strokes, only begging his mother for forgiveness.

Xi Liu asked, “Do you know your error?”

Chang Fu replied, “Your child knows his mistake.”

Xi Liu said, “Since you know your error, I will not strike you. Remain dutifully feeding the pigs from now on; if you transgress again, I will show no mercy.”

Chang Fu cried out, “Your child would rather be beaten, but I cannot bear feeding pigs any longer. Please, Mother, let me return to my studies.”

Xi Liu stated, “If you promise me to study diligently, allowing you to study is not out of the question.” As she spoke, she pulled Chang Fu into her embrace, washed the dirt from his hair, gave him new clothes, and commanded him to study alongside his younger brother.

From that day forward, Chang Fu turned over a new leaf, dedicating himself to rigorous study. Three years later, he passed the examination to become a xiucai (licensed scholar), his writing renowned and highly valued by the Provincial Governor, who provided him with monthly silver to support his ongoing education.

His younger brother, Chang Hu, was slow-witted. After several years of study, he still could not memorize his own name. Xi Liu realized his path to officialdom was blocked and instead urged him toward farming. Chang Hu was idle by nature and detested hardship. Every time he was set to work the fields, he invariably shirked his duties. Xi Liu became furious, shouting, “Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants are the foundation of the state. If you refuse to study and refuse to farm, do you intend to starve to death?” She seized a stick and beat him soundly.

Henceforth, Chang Hu joined the field hands, toiling and laboring alongside them. Xi Liu supervised him rigorously; the slightest sign of slackness earned him immediate rebuke. His daily clothing and food were of the cheapest and plainest sort, utterly incomparable to what his elder brother enjoyed. Chang Hu spoke no complaints aloud, but discontent brewed in his heart.

After the farming season ended, Xi Liu provided the funds and ordered Chang Hu to try his hand at commerce to establish himself. Chang Hu, however, was addicted to gambling and dalliance. Any money that came into his hands vanished instantly. Fearing his mother’s punishment, he lied that he had been robbed by bandits to cover his tracks. But Xi Liu was exceptionally sharp; a brief inquiry quickly revealed the truth. Without another word, another severe beating ensued. It was only thanks to Chang Fu’s pleading on his behalf that he narrowly escaped a worse fate.

Having endured repeated beatings and scoldings, Chang Hu felt fear and slightly curbed his wicked habits. In truth, his fundamental nature remained unchanged; rebellion was deep in his bones.

One day, Chang Hu announced to his mother that he intended to travel to Luoyang to engage in trade. While this sounded like ambition, it was truly a pretext for a journey of indulgence, allowing him to seek opportunities for debauchery.

Xi Liu saw clearly through his pretense but did not expose it. She gave him thirty liang of broken silver for travel expenses and also presented him with an ingot of pure gold, saying, “This is an ancestral heirloom; do not use it lightly. Take it for now to secure your inventory, in case of unforeseen needs. As this is your first venture into trade, I do not expect you to profit; merely preserving the initial thirty liang will suffice.” Her instructions and admonitions lasted a long while.

Carrying immense wealth, Chang Hu arrived in Luoyang. He declined all association with merchants and lodged in a brothel instead. For over ten days, he indulged with the famed courtesan Li Ji until his broken silver was exhausted. Confident that the great ingot was still secure, he felt no worry. After a few more days, he took out the gold ingot to exchange for cash. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a fake—an iron lump coated with gold wash.

Li Ji flew into a rage, her demeanor instantly turning icy. With venomous and mocking words, she scorned him. That night, Chang Hu sat alone in his room, utterly despondent. He considered leaving immediately but was too captivated by Li Ji’s beauty, thinking, “Li Ji has been intimate with me for half a month; she must recall our connection and certainly won’t drive me out.”

Before the thought was complete, he heard footsteps. Two bailiffs entered the room carrying iron chains, shouting, “Youngster, drinking fine wine and eating for free—you’ve broken the law! Come with us!” Without argument, they clamped iron shackles on Chang Hu and threw him into the great prison.

It turned out that the ruthless Li Ji had secretly stolen the fake gold ingot and gone to the magistrate’s office to file a complaint, demanding payment for her services.

Imprisoned, Chang Hu tasted every form of misery, struggling to survive day by day, filled with endless regret.

Earlier, when Chang Hu departed for Luoyang, Xi Liu told Chang Fu, “In twenty days, you must travel to Luoyang on my behalf. Do not forget this.” Chang Fu asked, “Why?” Xi Liu explained, “Your brother’s conduct is frivolous, much like yours used to be. If I had not been stern in my teaching, where would you be today? People call me cold-hearted, but who knows of the silent weeping that soaks my pillow and sheets? Your brother is entangled in vices; without hardship, he will never turn good. I deliberately gave him fake silver that day, merely intending to temper his arrogance. If my suspicions are correct, Chang Hu is likely imprisoned right now. The Provincial Governor holds you in high regard; you can go and intercede, saving your brother from this calamity. I believe after this ordeal, he will truly repent and mend his ways.”

Chang Fu listened carefully to his mother’s instruction and went to Luoyang as directed. By this time, Chang Fu was highly esteemed by the Governor and famous throughout the region; the county magistrate already knew of him. Upon hearing he was Chang Hu’s elder brother, the magistrate released Chang Hu without question.

The two brothers returned home. Chang Hu, fearing his mother’s reprimand, knelt on his knees, sincerely begging forgiveness. Xi Liu sternly chastised him, “This trip to Luoyang, causing such an uproar—has your heart’s desire been met?” Chang Hu could only weep, daring not to speak. Chang Fu interceded on his behalf, and Xi Liu’s remaining anger finally subsided.

From that day forward, Chang Hu reformed his bad habits, living honestly and managing his business with integrity. Over several years of accumulation, he amassed ten thousand liang of gold and became one of the wealthiest men in the region. As for Chang Fu, he too strove diligently; in three years he became a juren (provincial graduate), and three years after that, he achieved the highest jinshi degree, attaining unparalleled glory.

(This is a mother’s story of educating her sons, quite instructive.)