Strange Stories from the Liao Studio - Planting a Pear-tree (continued)

The priest took it and soaked the place which he had dug. Every eye (lit. ten thousand eyes) watched attentively.

A hooked sprout appeared; quickly became a tree, branches and leaves spread out.

Suddenly it flowered, suddenly fruited.

The fruit grew large and had a fragrant smell. It hung in profusion on the entire tree.

The priest then picked the fruit from the tree and handed it round to the onlookers.

In a moment all the pears were gone.

Then he took his pick and hacked for a longtime at the tree.

When it was cut down, he shouldered it together with its leaves and quietly walked away.

From the beginning, while the priest was performing this trick. the peasant was in the crowd straining his neck and staring in wonder. His business was entirely forgotten.

As soon as the priest had gone, he then looked at his cart--all his pears were gone.

He the knew that the things that had just been distributed were all his things.

Further, looking more closely at the cart, (he discovered) that one of the handles was missing having been newly broken off.

He was greatly enraged. Quickly he set out in pursuit of the priest.

Just as he turned a corner of the wall, (he came upon) the handle which had been cast away under the wall.

Then he knew that the cut pear-tree was this thing.

The priest was no where to be seen. All in the market-place laughed.