The Story

The book follows a scholar named Di Xichen. In his first life, he's a pretty awful husband to his wife, Xue Susu, who dies heartbroken. Fast forward to his next life, and Di is reborn as a man named Chao Yuan. Guess who comes back as his new, terrifyingly fierce wife? Yep, it's Susu's spirit, now in the body of a woman named Shi, and she's not here for a happy reunion. She's here to make his life a living hell, tormenting him with constant abuse and chaos to repay every bit of suffering he caused her. The story unfolds as Chao Yuan desperately tries to survive this karmic payback, seeking help from monks, facing ghostly interventions, and realizing just how deep the wounds from a past life can run.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't just a spooky tale. Pu Songling uses the supernatural framework to talk about real, gritty stuff. It's about the consequences of cruelty, especially within marriage, and how society often let men get away with it. The wife's revenge is brutal and over-the-top, which makes it both shocking and weirdly satisfying. You're not just reading about ghosts; you're seeing a bold critique of power dynamics in 17th-century China, wrapped up in a story that's impossible to put down. The characters feel intensely human—flawed, vengeful, and trapped by their own actions.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves classic literature but wishes it had more ghosts and moral complexity. If you enjoyed the strange tales in Pu Songling's 'Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio' or like stories about karma and justice with a darkly humorous edge, this is your next read. It's also great for readers curious about pre-modern Chinese society, as it holds up a cracked mirror to the domestic conflicts of its time. Just be ready for a protagonist who really, really had it coming.