A reclusive and shabby-looking monk skulks the streets of Jinan, reciting aloud sutras and begging for alms; however, he rejects everything people offer to him, be it food or water.

Enquiries on the reason for such, as well as suggestions to relocate to a less-populated area, are ignored, until one day the monk angrily stresses that: "This is the transformation I'm seeking.

[3] Sidney L. Sondergard, who included the story in the second volume of his translation of the 494 entries in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, suggests that it is criticizing people who are not receptive towards the feelings of others, in this case the titular "begging monk"; in real life, Pu Songling was reportedly misunderstood by many.

[4] Zhang Zhongliang concurs with this view, writing that "This Transformation" highlights the social othering suffered by beggars.

[5] A writer for Wenshi Zhishi (文史知识), a Chinese literature-based circular, compares the begging monk to a Buddhist character in Dream of the Red Chamber.