This story is from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. An elderly man named Feng had a son, Xiangru, who studied diligently but repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. One night, while reading in the courtyard, Xiangru was astonished to see a beautiful girl named Hong Yu watching him affectionately from atop the wall. He invited her down, and from then on, she visited him nightly. They soon fell in love.
One evening, Old Feng happened upon Hong Yu at his son's door and severely scolded Xiangru. Hong Yu slipped away and never returned. Later, Xiangru married a woman named Wei, and they had a son named Lucky. Unfortunately, a local bully named Song, captivated by Wei's beauty, kidnapped her. Old Feng died of indignation.
One day, a brave man burst into Xiangru's room and said, "Have you forgotten your father's death and your wife's kidnapping?" Xiangru confessed his desire for revenge but his helplessness. That very night, Song was beheaded. The county magistrate suspected Xiangru and had him arrested. The night of the arrest, as soon as the official lay down, he saw a dagger stabbed into his headboard.
Later, at home, Xiangru heard his son talking outside. He opened the door and was overjoyed to find Hong Yu standing there with Lucky. Hong Yu smiled and said, "I am no ordinary girl, but a fox spirit. Knowing you were in trouble, I have been secretly protecting you." From then on, Hong Yu stayed to manage the household and teach the child.