Xie Xiangrong's grandfather was the teacher who first opened Xie Shi's mind to learning. He was a free and broad‑minded man of letters; though he regretted having no grandson, he was not obsessed with it. On the contrary, he tried to persuade his son and daughter‑in‑law, saying it was a matter of fate.
"The reason you have no son is that fate has not yet arrived. Children are Heaven's gift. Since you already have your eldest daughter, why not raise and educate her well? Would that not also be the joy of being parents?"
Unfortunately, his son and daughter‑in‑law refused to accept their lot, and kept tossing and turning over the idea of having a son.
So Mr. Xie kept his granddaughter by his side. The girl said, "I had a dream. In it I ought to dress as a boy and be called Xiangrong. Then perhaps a younger brother will come."
Thus Mr. Xie changed her name to Xiangrong.
