Then the servants sent in the two letters. She read the one from her husband, asking her pardon for his neglect, saying he had no means of expressing his deep regret, telling of his present circumstances and comforts, and thanking her for sending the son. He said he had no words to praise her virtue, it was as high as Heaven; told of the son’s finding him and how he was studying under a great teacher who pronounced him a remarkable scholar. Then he urged her “ten thousand times to come and live with them. The servants had come to bring her, and he and her sister would only be happy when she came. They hoped [[156]]for her day and night, and their hearts were hungry for her friendship, even as her two sons needed her instruction.”
As she closed the letter she said, “Thanks to the gods who took my child in safety. My husband has then a wife and son. My own son is provided for; my heart is at rest.” She then wrote the following letter:
“My little sister and virtuous husband: your letters of invitation are at hand. I cannot thank you enough for your goodness to my boy. I do not desire comforts and luxuries for myself. I only desire his best good. That has come. I have suffered only that the boy and his father might be united. You need not be anxious about me. I am entirely satisfied. The Superior Man may be poor in bodily comforts, but he is not poor in wisdom or virtue. The tiger may be very thin, but the strength of his heart is not diminished.” Then she called the servants, who came and gave her a greeting. They said they had everything ready to take her back with them. Also two women-servants were waiting in the cart for her. Yü Yüch Ying said:
“I am poor, I have nothing to give you for all your long, weary journey. Please return and take this letter; I will not go with you now.” The servants all urged her and plead [[157]]with her; showed her the boxes of garments, the silver sent for the journey; praised the beautiful home waiting for her, told of the kind old people, and most charming younger sister. To all she turned a deaf ear.
“My son has found his father; the latter has comforts and riches; I will abide here; here where I have suffered will I live my life; I care not for riches; although I am poor I am not covetous. Our great sage said, The Superior Man may be poor, but he will never be covetous. Although I am poor you must not try to make me ashamed, and you need not praise their riches; I may not always be poor and they may not always be rich. The gods deal out to men their lives, I am content. In the spring the grass sends up its shoots; autumn comes and the leaves fall. In the autumn of life we will compare our fates.”
As she said this the tears came; all the years of loneliness and sadness swept over her; she could not accept comforts from him who had been untrue to her, or from the one who had her place. The servants said:
“Lady Yü, you are indeed a Superior Woman. If we go back without you, you must at least keep the garments and the money.”
These she at first refused, but at last, to satisfy [[158]]them, as she knew that the servants would suffer if she did not, she said:
“I do not want the silks and velvets; take those back with you. How would I, a beggar, look in such garments. Give me a few changes of cotton garments; they will fit my station better and I will not appear to be other than I am.”
This was done after much protesting; then she accepted a few ounces of silver, and told them they might use the rest on the journey back. They said: