聊斋志异故事:珊瑚孝婆

　　This is a story from Strange Tales from Make-Do Studio. The Ans had two sons. The elder son An Dacheng married Chen Shanhu. Shanhu was a kind woman with a sweet temper. Dacheng's mother， Shen Shi， was irritable and fierce.She often beat and cursed Shanhu.Shanhu never uttered a word of complaint. Later， Shen Shi went so far as to force Dacheng to divorce his wife. After Shanhu had left， Shen Shi tried to make Dacheng remarry. However no one dared to marry Dacheng because of his notorious mother. Later Shen Shi's younger son， Ercheng， married Zanggu， who was more fierce than Shen Shi. Every day ，Shen Shi adjusted her behavior to Zanggu's expression. Even so， Shen Shi was often scolded and cursed by Zanggu. Ercheng， a weak man， dared not to stop his wife. Finally Shen Shi was sick due to overworking. Shen Shi had to adk her elder sister to wait on her.Every day， a person from her sister's home sent delicious food to Shen Shi. Shen Shi sighed："I would be happy if I had a good daughter-in-law like my sister's."After she recovered， Shen Shi went to stay at her sister's home. She often admired her sister for her daughter-in-law. Her sister said："Shanhu is a good woman， but you often beat and cursed her. To tell you the truth， the delicious food you ate when you were sick was made by Shanhu. Shanhu made money by spinning yarn and prepared food for you. Where else can you find such a good daughter-in-law？"Upon hearing it， Shen Shi felt ashamed.She said while crying："It's my fault！" At this moment， Shanhu ran out from the rear room and knelt down in front of her mother-in-law. Shen Shi regretted her actions， beating her * and stamping her feet. Tthen Dacheng and Shanhu got remarried. Later asfter many hardships， Shanhu educated Zanggu， who was determined to thoroughly rectify her errors. Then all five members in the Ans lived a happy life.

　　　　《聊斋志异》中的故事。安家有兄弟中安大成娶陈珊瑚为妻。珊瑚人品出众，人民生活水平情娴淑。大成母沈氏性格暴燥，为人凶狠，对珊瑚非打即骂。珊瑚忍气吞声，从无怨言。后来，婆婆竟逼大成休掉珊瑚。珊瑚走后，沈氏想给大成另娶，因大成母恶名远扬，无人敢嫁。后来，沈氏给二成娶妻臧姑。她比沈氏更加凶悍。沈氏每每看臧姑的脸色办事，稍不小心，沈氏便会遭到臧姑的责骂。二成天生懦弱，也不敢管，致使沈氏操劳过度成疾，只好请来姐姐服侍自己。沈氏见每天都有姐姐家人送好饭菜来给自己吃，叹道："我要有姐姐这样的好儿媳就好了！"沈氏病好之后，住在姐姐家，总夸姐姐的儿媳妇好。后来姐姐说："珊瑚对你多好，你总打骂她。告诉你中以，你病中吃的好东西，都是珊瑚纺线赚钱买来做给你吃的。这样的好媳妇，你到哪去找呀！"沈氏听了后，倍觉羞愧，边哭边说："是我对不起珊瑚呀！"这时，珊瑚从后边屋里跑出来，跪在婆婆面前。沈氏非常后悔，捶胸顿足。后来，历经磨难，二成的媳妇也痛改前非，全家五口，又和和美美地生活在一起了。