文康

The grandson of a grand secretary, he held posts as a local official, but his sons' failings ruined the family. Writing in poverty, he gave his novel the happy ending his own life lacked: the swordswoman 十三妹 rescues a young scholar, marries him and sees him rise high. Phrases such as 品学兼优 and 争强好胜 are traced to the book.

文康 is his personal name. Manchu bannermen were usually known by their given name alone, as with 和珅, so 文 here is not a surname.