Finally, he controlled the horse, but then his attention was caught by another sight.  Not far away, by the roadside, stood a girl surrounded by a flock of sheep.  Although she was extraordinarily pretty, she had finely knitted, arched eyebrows and sadly soiled clothes.  It seemed she was anticipating someone’s arrival.

Liu approached the girl and asked, “Why are you in such a sad condition?”  The girl forced a smile of gratitude and, unable to control her tears, sorrowfully replied: “I am a miserable creature.  It is very kind of you to ask me, and I have no reason to keep my deep sorrow to myself.  I am the youngest daughter of my family.  My father is the dragon king in Dong Ting Lake.  Following my parent’s arrangements, I was married to the second son of the dragon chief of the Jing River.  But my husband is only devoted to his own pleasure and behaves worse and worse with each day.  I asked his parents for help, but instead, they sent me here to work as a shepherdess. …”  Her grief choked off her words, and she started sobbing uncontrollably.

"Dong Ting Lake lies far beyond the horizon," she resumed. “It is so far away that I have no means to send a message to my parents.  My heart is broken and I have worn out my eyes by watching the way home day and night.  Yet, no one knows my misery or gives me any comfort.  Sir, you are heading to the south: I hope that where you are going is not far from Dong Ting Lake.  Would you please kindly carry a message to my parents for me?”

“I am a righteous man,” replied Liu Yi, “and my blood is boiling at your story.  It would be no trouble at all for me to bring a message to your parents.  But the lake seems deep and bottomless, and I am a land walker.  How can I deliver the message?  Could you please give me some advice?”

“I can never thank you enough,” the girl said, her tears rolling down her face.  “If ever I receive one word of reply, I shall do all I can to repay you, even at the cost of my life.  To enter the lake is as easy as to enter your capital city.  But I don’t think it would be proper to tell you the secret of reaching my parents before you give me your most solemn promise.”

“I promise under oath to heaven,” declared Liu Yi. 

Satisfied, the girl explained.  “To the south of the lake, there is a village.  There you will find a sacred orange tree at the lakeside.  Take off your belt and put on this one that I give you.  Then knock three times on the tree trunk.  Somebody will come at your signal.  Follow him and there will be no problem.