JENNIFER ARMSTRONG - CHINYU MIN AND THE GINGERCAT - Pride and vanity

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen

A prosperous Chinese official, Secretary Chin, dies after falling from his pleasure boat, leaving his haughty widow, Chin Yu Min, to confront sudden ruin. Rejecting neighbors who offer help, she grows increasingly suspicious, harsh, and alone while her wealth drains away. With no one to rely on, she must tend her home herself and learn humility, ultimately transforming pride into self-reliance through unexpected companionship.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages40

Reading Time1 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Major events and character change

Themes of pride, vanity, and humility

# JENNIFER ARMSTRONG CHINYU MIN ANDTHE GINGERCATillustrated by any years ago,in avillage near Kunming,there lived an officialof the governmentnamed SecretaryChin.In his houseby the lake were the finest lacquer bowls,lettered scrolls of thesheerest paper,and many,many strings of cash.Secretary Chin was very prosperous. The wife of this man,Chin Yu Min,felt that thisprosperity uonly what she deserved.She wasproud and haughty,and she made her servantsperform impossible and meaningless tasks-suchas collecting incense smoke in a bamboo cage orteaching carp to strut like roosters-just for thefun of displzyingher power.She laughed atbegga:sd turned them avay from her door. Oile day Secrctary Chin fell out of his smallyellow pleasure boat and sank like a piece ofcarved jade to the bottoa of the lake.That wasthe end of Secretary Chin,and it was also the JENNIFER ARMSTRONG CHINYUMINANDTHECINGERCATillustrated by MARY GRANDPRÉCROWN PUBLISHERS,INC.New York B4厂 0 939100 Text copyright c 1993 by Jennfer ArmstrongIlustrarions copyright e 1993 by Mary GrandPre All rights reserved.No pan of this book may be reproduced or ransmirted in any form or by any means.electronic or mechanical,including photocopying.recording.or by any informarion storage and retrievalsystem,without permission in writing from the publisher. Published by Crown Publishers,Inc.,a Random House company,225 Park Avenue South,New York.New York 10003 CROWN is a trademark of Crown Publishers,Inc.Manufactured in Hong Kong Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataArmstrong,Jennifer. Chin Yu Min and the ginger cat/byJennifer Armstrong;ilustrated by Mary GrandPre.p.cm. Summary:Through her friendship with a ginger cat,a haughty Chinese widow learns to be humble andto provide for herself. [1.Pride and vanity—Fiction.2.China—Fiction.3.Cats—-Fiction.] 1.GrandPré,Mary,il.IⅡ.Title.PZ7.A73367Ch 1993[E]—dc2092-8658ISBN 0-517-58656-8(trade)0-517-58657-6(lib.bdg)10987654321 First Edition To Hanna for all her strength and gentleness—M.G. One day Secretary Chin fell out of his small yellow pleasure boat andsank like a piece of carved jade to the bottom of the lake.That was the endof Secretary Chin,and it was also the end of his wife's idleness and luxury. “Good Chin Yu Min,"said her neighbors."Please allow us to help youin this time of loss." “Aiyi!"Chin Yu Min scoffed."I don't need help from such as you.Be off!” She slammed the door in their faces and stomped away.For manymonths Chin Yu Min scolded her servants and haggled suspiciously withthe merchants.She was sure that everyone was out to cheat her,andshe answered their pleasant words with bitter ones. Coin by square-holed coin,her strings of cash flowed away likestreams from a fishpond.Chin Yu Min knew she would soon be poor,but she would rather have eaten ashes than let anyone know of this fact. "Aiyi!"Chin Yu Min screamed at her servants."You are all less thanuseless!Leave my house!”When they had gone,she lived alone andtended house with her own hands to save money. “Esteemed Chin Yu Min,"said her neighbors."Allow us to help you.” “Who asked for your help?”Chin Yu Min retorted. She slammed the door in their faces and stomped away. Chin Yu Min lived alone for several more months,becoming poorerand poorer.At last she was as poor as a mouse in a monastery. Not one chicken scratched in her yard.Her rice jar stood cracked andempty.The fine lacquer bowls were dulled by hard use,and the letteredscrolls of sheerest paper flapped like ragged ghosts from the walls.

FAQs

Who is Chin Yu Min, and what changes after Secretary Chin dies?

Chin Yu Min is Secretary Chin’s wife. After his death, her wealth collapses and her lifestyle of luxury ends, forcing her to face poverty and her own attitude.

How does Chin Yu Min respond to help from her neighbors?

She repeatedly refuses their offers, scoffs, and drives people away. Her pride and suspicion make her reject support when she needs it most.

What is the central theme of the story?

The story centers on pride and vanity transforming into humility and practical self-provision, guided by her friendship with a ginger cat.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen