In two years he had thoroughly mastered his subjects and was admired by all the scholars of the realm.  He said to Miss Li, “Now, surely, I am ready for the examiners!” but she would not let him compete and made him revise all he had learnt, to prepare for the “hundredth battle.”  At the end of the third year she said, “Now you may go.”  He went in for the examination and passed at the first attempt.  His reputation spread rapidly through the examination rooms and even older men, when they saw his compositions, were filled with admiration and respect, and sought his friendship.

But Miss Li would not let him make friends with them, saying, “Wait a little longer!  Nowadays when a bachelor of arts has passed his examination, he thinks himself fit to hold the most advantageous posts at Court and to win a universal reputation.  But your unfortunate conduct and disreputable past put you at a disadvantage beside your fellow-scholars.  You must ‘grind, temper and sharpen’ your attainments, that you may secure a second victory.  Then you will be able to match yourself against famous scholars and contend with the illustrious.”

The young man accordingly increased his efforts and enhanced his value.  That year it happened that the Emperor had decreed a special examination for the selection of candidates of unusual merit from all parts of the Empire.  The young man competed, and came out top in the “censorial essay.”  He was offered the post of Army Inspector at Ch`eng1-tu Fu.  The officers who were to escort him were all previous friends.

When he was about to take up his post, Miss Li said to him, “Now that you are restored to your proper station in life, I will not be a burden to you.  Let me go back and look after the old lady till she dies.  You must ally yourself with some lady of noble lineage, who will be worthy to carry the sacrificial dishes in your Ancestral Hall.  Do not injure your prospects by an unequal union.  Good-bye, for now I must leave you.”

The young man burst into tears and threatened to kill himself if she left him, but she obstinately refused to go with him.  He begged her passionately not to desert him, and she at last consented to go with him across the river as far as Chien-men1.[4] “There,” she said, “you must part with me.”  The young man consented and in a few weeks they reached Chien-men1.  Before he had started out again, a proclamation arrived announcing that the young man’s father, who had been Governor of Ch`ang-chou, had been appointed Governor of Ch`eng1-tu and Intendant of the Chien-nan Circuit.  Next morning the father arrived, and the young man sent in his card and waited upon him at the posting-station.  His father did not recognize him, but the card bore the names of the young man’s father and grandfather, with their ranks and titles.  When he read these, he was astounded, and bidding his son mount the steps he caressed him and wept.  After a while he said:  “Now we two are father and son once more,” and bade him tell his story.  When he heard of the young man’s adventures, he was amazed.  Presently he asked:  “And where is Miss Li?” He replied:  “She came with me as far as here, but now she is going back again.”