Story of Glossy Privet Berry ( nv zhen zi)

There was once a sweet girl named Zhenzi who married an honest and kindly farmer. They lived together in loving bliss.

One day the farmer was pressganged into the army to fight in a war. "Take good care of yourself, I'll be waiting for you to come home safe and sound. "  "I'll be back  for sure. Wait for me and don't worry!"

No news came from Zhenii 's husband, and she spent her days in loneliness.  One day a young man from their village who had also been pressganged returned and told Zhenzi that her husband was dead.   Zhenzi was so stricken with grief that she lost the will to live. Her neighbor looked in on her many times each day. "I won't live much longer, and I have no parents, or children, so I must ask you to hear my last wish. "    "Don't say such things! But what is it you want to say?".   "When I'm dead, please plant a Chinese holly tree infront of my grave. If my husband comes back, tell him it's me waiting for him. "  "I'll do what you ask, I swear. . . . "

A few days later Zhenzi left this world. Just as she had promised, her neighbor planted a Chinese holly tree infront of her grave.  In a few years the holly tree had grown tall and thick with dense, lush foliage.  Then Zhenzi 's husband suddenly returned to the village. The neighbor told him all that had happened. When she took him to Zhenzi's grave, it was as if he could see Zhenzi standing there waiting to meet him.  Zhenzi's husband wept for three days and nights, his great tears wetting the roots of the holly tree.

Strangely, the holly tree flowered and then fruited, bearing many pea-sized berries.  "I've never heard of a holly tree flowering and bearing fruit. This really is something strange.    "There's a spirit living in this tree perhaps she's changed it into a different kind of tree.  "Zhenzi must have turned into a fairy after she died, and now she's living in this tree.  "I'm sure Zhenzi's soul is in this tree. Perhaps if I eat some of the berries, I'll be able to see her again.   Zhenzi 's husband ate the berries for several days. He didn 't see Zhenzi, but he felt his health steadily improving.  "The holly tree in front of Zhenzi's grave has medical properties. It's a tonic for the liver and kidneys. "  Later, herbalists took the berries from the tree and planted them. They called them "Nv Zhenzi berries" after Zhenzi.("Nv" means female in Chinese)