Strange Stories From A Chinese Studio.

Summary

In the Xuande era, a magistrate demanded crickets from villagers, causing economic hardship. Cheng, a struggling scholar-turned-village head, faced immense pressure to collect crickets. After numerous failed attempts, his wife consulted a mystical witch who provided a cryptic drawing. Following the drawing's clues, Cheng discovered an exceptional cricket. However, his son accidentally killed it. Desperate, they found another small bug that surprisingly demonstrated extraordinary fighting skills. This bug's unique abilities caught the attention of officials, ultimately transforming Cheng's fortune from poverty to prosperity, earning him land, livestock, and social status.

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