PC Translations

This is a continued translation of the Chinese short story “The God of the Gate”

---

After spending the day roaming through the imperial garden, Tang Tai Zong invited Wei Zheng to stay and have dinner with him. When the meal was finished, Wei Zheng prepared to take his leave. Feeling the dreaded time drawing upon him, Tang Tai Zong laughed and excitedly exclaimed, “I’d really like to have a game of chess today! Why don’t you stay and join me for a game?”

The story continues…

The next day when Tang Tai Zong got up, he remembered the request the River God had brought to him, and so he quietly sought out Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng was in the habit of speaking forthrightly, so that if the emperor was wrong, he would even confront him. The people all praised Wei Zheng, calling him the most upright officer on earth.

“I don’t think His Majesty has ever sought me so early. What is going on?” he asked as soon as he’d saluted Tang Tai Zong.

One thousand two hundred years ago, near the bustling booming city of Chang’an flowed the Jing River. The people living on the Jing River all made their living catching fish.

A day came when they could not catch any fish. What were they to do? Everyone thought and thought, looking for a solution to that problem. Finally, they decided sent a delegation each day to the Western Gate in Chang’an, where they sought the stall of a fortune-teller, Yuan Tian Gang. Presenting their problem to him, they asked him to tell them which day and which place would have the most fish. After consulting Yuan, they all went together to catch fish. As a result, the people staying on the Jing River caught many fish and prawns every day, and they lived a happy life.

---

This is the beginning of a translation of the first story in 中国童话 (Zhong Guo Tong Hua), or “Chinese Fairy Tales.” It will be continued in subsequent posts.