While in Jinan, Shandong, a young Pu Songling and his friends are partaking in Chinese New Year festivities at the town hall.

[6] Initially perplexed, the magician finally takes up the official's challenge, telling the crowd that he has to visit the Queen Mother of the West's peach garden.

[8] The magician emotionally stores all of his son's body parts into a bamboo chest, and begs the officials for some money to defray funeral costs.

[10] The first English translation of "The Peach Theft" was by British diplomat Clement Allen and first published in the 1874 volume of China Review.

[15] In 2001, China Post issued commemorative Liaozhai postage stamps in Shandong, the birthplace of Pu Songling.