"Xiao Xin, do you know what the term 'fox spirit' implies?" My mom sighed as she asked, and I must say, her opening line really stunned me.
Of course, I knew—the term carried a derogatory sense, but it also symbolized beauty, charm, bewitchment, something men coveted and women despised and scorned.
"According to Liao Zhai, it should be the type of creature that is grateful and deeply devoted." I tried to put a positive spin on it. Although I didn't believe my mom's story, there was always a 'what if.' What if my ancestors really were fox spirits? I couldn't afford to be disrespectful, could I?
And besides, a fox spirit is an animal, right? After all, it hasn't gotten rid of its tail and comes from a lowly background, not human.
My mom sighed again, "There are good and bad people in this world, and there are two types of fox spirits too—one is the kind you mentioned, righteous and loyal; the other type seduces men and ruins families, a homewrecker."
