Top Ten Mythological Novels

Author: Lü Zhimin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-02-01
Features: One of the stories in this book is "Du Zichun." The story tells of the protagonist Du Zichun, who was still a wayward young man. Due to his "carefree and indulgent nature, fond of wine and debauchery" and his "neglect of family property," he "lost all his wealth" and became a beggar, clothed in rags and starving. Just as he was starving and exhausted, sighing to the sky, a mysterious old man appeared before him. Not only did he agree to help him but also criticized the amount Du Zichun asked for as too small, generously giving him a hundredfold sum of money, instantly making him a millionaire. Yet, Du Zichun's innate desire for pleasure remained unchanged, and within a year or two, he squandered all his wealth again, becoming a penniless beggar once more. The mysterious old man appeared at the right time once more, saving him from danger for the second and third times with even larger sums, each time increasing by hundreds of times. Unrepentant and stubborn, Du Zichun finally, overwhelmed by "too great a sense of shame," came to his senses. The old man's sincere intentions led Du Zichun to reform, turning him from a wayward youth into a man who could provide warmth and sustenance for the widows and orphans who had no one to rely on in the world. Thus, he bought land, built houses, and gave the orphans and widows a warm home.