When the workers got off, the bachelor thought to himself that for the next few days or even weeks this is where
he would have to survive the old lady’s curse.
It was the 5th day and as usual the workers were working. By now the bachelor was as thin as a stick
and was really tired. Qi Liang on the other hand was much worse and by the time the sun set , he collapsed. The
bachelor caught him just in time but he realized that Qi Liang’s breath was now getting slower and slower. Poor
bachelor, he could do nothing to save his friend but hear Qi Liang’s last few words. ‘When my wife comes
looking for me, tell her, my friend, that I love her a lot and as a token of my love have carved her name with my
hands on a brick right under the 7TH tower.’ And with that Qi Liang died. The guards buried him under the
great wall and that was it.
Two days later Qi Liang’s wife came looking for him. She fell to the ground when she heard about her
husband. The bachelor, slowly approaching her, saw the whole scene. ‘You must be Qi Liang’s wife Jiang Nu.
I’m his friend. There is something he has left for you, come with me.’ said the bachelor and he took her to the
7
th tower and showed her the brick with her name on it. ‘ “Tell her my friend that I love her a lot and as a token
of my love have carved her name with my hands on the brick right under the 7TH tower. “ Those were his final
words and they were meant for you Jiang Nu.’ Jiang Nu cried and cried, remembering her husband and with that,
tears came into the bachelor’s eyes as well. ‘Take me back, old lady, for now I have learnt my lesson and know
the meaning of love and hardship,’ shouted the bachelor to the sky. Lightning struck the great wall and the
bachelor passed out when a number of the bricks exploded.
Slowly opening his eyes, the bachelor found out that he was back in his house. He sat there for an
hour reflecting on his magical journey and went back to work right after it. From then the bachelor became a
changed person. He became kinder and soon had a family of his own. The faces of Jiang Nu and Qi Liang
however still appear in his dream. To rest their soul in peace, the bachelor, who no longer is a bachelor, prayed
for them and gave food to all the poor in their name. Till this day, the name carved on the brick reminds him of
the tragic story of Qi Liang and Jiang Nu.
* * *