Free Chinese Ghost Fables 1 by Yun Ji

perplexed by this, Mr. Don revealed this oddity to his roommate. He was
so pleased that he thought himself blessed, like other high-ranking government officials.
Due to his lofty status, the low-life otherworldly creatures, which of course included that
humble fox spirit, dare not to appear themselves in front of him. With arrogance and
exaggerations, he always boasted this to his friends and acquaintances during all social
occasions.
    One day, Mr. Don and his roommate invited their mutual friend, Mr. Lee, to a dinner.
Hours later, they were intoxicated and fell into deep sleep. At midnight, Mr. Lee woke up
and took a walk in the backyard garden. He vaguely noticed two people, an old man and a
teenager, standing under an aged pagoda tree. In such a cold weather, nobody would
linger outdoor. Believing that they were fox spirits, he cautiously concealed himself behind
a nearby tree and cautiously listened.
"Oh! It's freezing out here," The youngster moaned and complained, rubbing his palms in
zeal, "Could we go back to the room, now?"
    "I am afraid not. Be patient for a litter longer," The old man consoled, "Mr. Don’s energy is
all right. But his roommate’s energy is so noxious that I can't allow you to stay anywhere
near him. His mediocrity will have a negative impact to you. It's intolerable. What walking
human garbage he is! I would rather sit here with chilly wind and frosty snowflakes than
share a space with that good-for-nothing."
    Mr. Lee divulged this amusing dialogue to his friends. They rapidly spread it to their social
groups. Eventually learning this, Mr. Don's roommate was utterly embarrassed and
humiliated. He promptly relocated himself elsewhere.
    Nothing is free. Fortune will not drop into one's lap without a reason. Merits and
reputation are earned, not given, in the same way, shame and disgrace can occur. Without
laborious study for years, how could this roommate naively expected to receive such a
blessing from the Almighty?
34
A HAUNTED HOUSE
    In
traditional Chinese society, education was highly valued and people believed that
a well-educated person would be respected even by otherworldly creatures. In Zon County,
there was a haunted house. An educated old man and his friends voluntarily lived there.
Due to their presentation, they hoped that those dark creatures would humbly and timidly
relocate themselves elsewhere. One night, the old man overheard some unusual noises.
    How could those lowlives dare to appear in front of the highly educated? What a rude
breach of protocol. He thought.
With indignation and aggravation, he promptly reprimanded and proclaimed, in a loud bass
tone, "It’s the rudimentary truth that the wicked could never overpower the upright. I have
taught theology for over thirty years. How dare of you to disturb me, such an ethical and
well-polished gentleman?"
    From outside of the paper windows, a female voice retorted, in mockery and derision, "Big
deal! I know your academic background. Being a non-human, I have read extensively in
various subjects and do understand some philosophy, too. In my opinion, one of the most
fundamental qualities for a genuine scholar is to be faithful to himself. A person in faith is a
person in peace. Your behavior is totally opposite. Not really comprehending the true
meaning of those books, you have dogmatically mimicked the classical volumes. Is this for
your gentility or merely for a vague fame? You did write a few books but they did not show
any trace of originality. Worse than that, in most cases, you don’t even have your opinion at
all. Confronted with unconventional views or controversial issues, you often provide
conclusions without reasoning. Nobody knows your step-by-step logical mental process.
You are both short-sighted and narrow-minded. Your over-enthusiasm on persuading fame
and popularity indirectly hinder your ability of discovering the eternal truth of wisdom. How
knowledgeable could you really be if you can't even control your mundane