It was once again New Year. Lu Tung-pin took a coffin, changed into a dirty old beggar, and went round, calling out: ‘Coffins for sale, good cheap coffins. Won’t you buy my coffin, old man? Won’t you take it, mother? Do you want one, cousin? Or you, brother?’
It is an old belief that New Year’s Day is decisive for the whole year, and men and women, young and old, must be careful of their words and deeds, for there are easily quarrels and fights. This is very important for beggars, and everyone received Lu with the words: ‘How dare you sell coffins on New Year’s Day, you wretch!’ ‘Do you want to be thrashed?’ ‘You obviously want to die, selling coffins on New Year’s Day.’ ‘You ought to have your feet cut off.’ ‘What, you haven’t gone yet?’ ‘Wait a moment, and I will burn you.’ ‘Be off with you now. We old things can’t keep up with you, but the youngsters will overtake you.’
The poor beggar received nothing but curses and blows, but he did not worry. He wondered if all people, without any exception, were so hateful. After passing several more houses he came to the home of an old peasant with numerous sons and grandsons. This man bought the beggar’s coffin and gave him something to eat as well, and afterwards Lu went on his way. The peasant polished up the coffin and said contentedly: ‘Isn’t it pleasant to receive an official post and money on New Year’s Day?’ [a pun on the word ‘coffin’].
Shortly afterwards all the children in the neighbourhood fell sick, and many died, since no one could find a cure. The eldest grandson of the peasant also caught the illness and died, and the peasant loved him so much that he laid him out for burial in the coffin he had bought at New Year. But, strange to relate, the moment the child touched the side of the coffin he came to life at once. The peasant was overjoyed, but he thought it was a chance occurrence. Soon after, his other grandsons fell ill and died of the same disease, but all came to life again when they touched the coffin, and the peasant realized what power it possessed.
The news of the miracle spread abroad and everyone marvelled at it. Now, if a man’s child died, he did not weep but went and tried the old peasant’s coffin, which never failed to reanimate the corpse. The parents gave the old peasant many valuable presents out of gratitude, and eventually everyone whose child had died willingly gave him money for the privilege of using the coffin. People from far and near came; the peasant was always travelling round, and for a long time he had no peace. But when the plague was over the old man had become quite rich.