話說雷鳴、陳亮、柳瑞三個人一問這人為何上吊，這人說：「我姓閻，名叫文華。我乃是丹徒縣人。我自幼學而未成，學會了丹青畫，只因年歲荒亂，我領妻子曹氏，女兒瑞陰，來到這北新莊店中居住，我出去到人家畫畫度日。那一日走到吳家堡，有一位莊主，叫追魂太歲吳坤，他把我叫進去，問我能畫什麼。我說，會畫山水人物，花木翎毛。他問我會畫避火圖不會。我說也行。他叫我給他畫了幾張。他一瞧願意，問我要多少錢一工，我要一吊錢。他說我明天到店裡找你去，次日他就騎著馬來了。我店中就是一間房，也無處躲避。他進來就瞧見我妻子女兒。我女兒今年一十七歲，長的有幾分姿色。焉想到他這一見，暗懷不良之心。他向我說，叫我開一座畫兒鋪，他借我二百銀子。我一想很好，就在這村里路北，開了一間門面的畫鋪，字號古芳閣，後面帶住家。我就給他畫了許多畫兒。開張有兩個多月，昨天他騎馬出來，到我鋪子，拿著一匣金首飾，一對金鐲子，說暫存在我鋪子，回頭拿。我想這有何妨？他昨天晚上也沒來拿，我把東西鎖在櫃內，今天早晨，他來取東西，我開櫃一瞧，東西沒了，鑰匙並未動。他立刻反了面，說我昧起來，叫手下人打了我幾下，把我妻子女兒搶了去，他說做押帳，拿東西去贖回。不然，不給我。我實不是瞞心昧己，我又惹不起他，故此我一回想，死了就罷了。」陳亮說：「你別死。你同我們到你家去。我們自有道理。」
话说雷鸣、陈亮、柳瑞三个人一问这人为何上吊，这人说：「我姓阎，名叫文华。我乃是丹徒县人。我自幼学而未成，学会了丹青画，只因年岁荒乱，我领妻子曹氏，女儿瑞阴，来到这北新庄店中居住，我出去到人家画画度日。那一日走到吴家堡，有一位庄主，叫追魂太岁吴坤，他把我叫进去，问我能画什么。我说，会画山水人物，花木翎毛。他问我会画避火图不会。我说也行。他叫我给他画了几张。他一瞧愿意，问我要多少钱一工，我要一吊钱。他说我明天到店里找你去，次日他就骑着马来了。我店中就是一间房，也无处躲避。他进来就瞧见我妻子女儿。我女儿今年一十七岁，长的有几分姿色。焉想到他这一见，暗怀不良之心。他向我说，叫我开一座画儿铺，他借我二百银子。我一想很好，就在这村里路北，开了一间门面的画铺，字号古芳阁，后面带住家。我就给他画了许多画儿。开张有两个多月，昨天他骑马出来，到我铺子，拿着一匣金首饰，一对金镯子，说暂存在我铺子，回头拿。我想这有何妨？他昨天晚上也没来拿，我把东西锁在柜内，今天早晨，他来取东西，我开柜一瞧，东西没了，钥匙并未动。他立刻反了面，说我昧起来，叫手下人打了我几下，把我妻子女儿抢了去，他说做押帐，拿东西去赎回。不然，不给我。我实不是瞒心昧己，我又惹不起他，故此我一回想，死了就罢了。」陈亮说：「你别死。你同我们到你家去。我们自有道理。」
Now, when Lei Ming, Chen Liang and Liu Rui asked the man why he was hanging himself, he said, “My surname is Yan, and my name is Wenhua. I’m from Dantu County. As a boy I studied but never made anything of it, and I learned to paint pictures instead. Because the times were hard and unsettled, I brought my wife, Madam Cao, and my daughter, Ruiyin, here to Beixin Village to live at the inn, and I went out painting for people to get by. One day I came to Wu Family Fort. The lord of the manor there, Wu Kun, the Soul-Chasing Grand Duke, called me in and asked what I could paint. I said I could do landscapes and figures, flowers and trees, birds and feathers. He asked whether I could paint erotic ‘fire-warding’ pictures. I said I could do those too. He had me paint him several. He liked them when he saw them and asked how much I wanted for a day’s work, and I asked a string of cash. He said, ‘Tomorrow I’ll come and find you at the inn,’ and the next day he rode over. At the inn we had just the one room, with nowhere to hide. He came in and saw my wife and daughter straight away. My daughter is seventeen this year and rather good-looking. Who would have thought that one look would set him plotting evil? He told me to open a picture shop and said he’d lend me two hundred taels of silver. I thought that was fine, and I opened a picture shop, one bay wide, on the north side of the street here in the village, called Gufang Pavilion, with our living quarters at the back. I painted a great many pictures for him. We’d been open a little over two months when yesterday he rode out to my shop with a box of gold jewellery and a pair of gold bracelets and said he’d leave them with me for now and fetch them later. I thought, what harm could that do? He didn’t come for them last night either, so I locked the things in the cupboard. This morning he came to fetch them. I opened the cupboard and looked: the things were gone, and nobody had touched the key. He turned on me at once and said I’d made off with them. He had his men give me a few blows and carried off my wife and daughter. He said they were security for the debt: I could bring the things and redeem them, and otherwise he wouldn’t give them back. I truly haven’t cheated anyone against my conscience, and I’m no match for him either, so when I thought it over, I decided I’d be better off dead.” “Don’t die,” said Chen Liang. “Come with us to your house. We know what to do.”
閻文華點頭，同了三個人來到古芳閣。陳亮說：「你把應帶的東西，收拾好了。今天夜裡，我去把你妻子女兒搶回來。給你點金銀，你逃走行不行？」閻文華說：「三位要能把我家口找回來，我情願離開此地。」柳瑞說：「你等著三更天見。」三個人復又出來。到吳家堡一看，這所莊院甚大，四面占四里地，牆上有雞爪釘，周圍有護莊濠岸，上栽著垂楊柳。南莊門大開，裡面有幾個惡奴。頭前有吊橋，後面有角門，三個人探明白了道路，這才回店，到店裡要酒菜，吃完了夜飯，候到天有二鼓，店中都睡了，三個人換好了夜行衣，把白晝的衣服，用包裹包好，斜插式系在腰間，由屋中出來，將門倒帶，畫了記號，擰身躥房越脊，出了北新莊三里路，來到吳家堡。到了莊牆下，由兜囊掏出百鏈套鎖扔上去，抓住牆頭，揪繩上去。摘了百鏈套鎖，帶了兜囊。
阎文华点头，同了三个人来到古芳阁。陈亮说：「你把应带的东西，收拾好了。今天夜里，我去把你妻子女儿抢回来。给你点金银，你逃走行不行？」阎文华说：「三位要能把我家口找回来，我情愿离开此地。」柳瑞说：「你等着三更天见。」三个人复又出来。到吴家堡一看，这所庄院甚大，四面占四里地，墙上有鸡爪钉，周围有护庄濠岸，上栽着垂杨柳。南庄门大开，里面有几个恶奴。头前有吊桥，后面有角门，三个人探明白了道路，这才回店，到店里要酒菜，吃完了夜饭，候到天有二鼓，店中都睡了，三个人换好了夜行衣，把白昼的衣服，用包裹包好，斜插式系在腰间，由屋中出来，将门倒带，画了记号，拧身蹿房越脊，出了北新庄三里路，来到吴家堡。到了庄墙下，由兜囊掏出百链套锁扔上去，抓住墙头，揪绳上去。摘了百链套锁，带了兜囊。
Yan Wenhua nodded and went with the three of them to Gufang Pavilion. “Pack up whatever you need to take,” Chen Liang said. “Tonight I’ll go and snatch your wife and daughter back. We’ll give you some gold and silver — will you make a run for it?” “If you three can bring my family back to me,” said Yan Wenhua, “I’m willing to leave this place.” “Wait for us at the third watch,” said Liu Rui. The three of them went out again. They went to Wu Family Fort to take a look. The manor was very large, taking up four li of ground on its four sides. The walls were set with chicken-claw spikes, and all around ran a moat to guard the manor, its banks planted with weeping willows. The south gate stood wide open, with several wicked servants inside. There was a drawbridge in front and a side gate at the back. When the three had worked out the lie of the land, they went back to the inn, ordered wine and dishes and ate their supper. They waited until the second watch, when everyone at the inn was asleep, then changed into their night clothes, wrapped their daytime clothes in bundles and tied them diagonally at their waists. They came out of the room, pulled the door shut behind them and made a mark on it. Then, with a twist of the body, they sprang onto the roofs and crossed the ridges, went three li out of Beixin Village and came to Wu Family Fort. At the foot of the manor wall they took a hundred-link grappling chain from their pouches and threw it up. When it caught on the top of the wall, they climbed up the cord, then unhooked the grappling chain and put it back in the pouch.
三個人抬頭一看，見這所莊院，真是樓台亭閣，甚是齊整。三個人躥房越脊，各處哨探。到一所院落，是四合房，北房三間，南房三間，東西各有配房。北上房西裡間燈影閃閃，人影搖搖。三個人來到北房，珍珠倒捲簾，夜叉探海式，往屋中一看，順前檐的炕，炕有小桌，點著蠟燈。炕上擱著兩包袱衣裳，桌上有金首飾，銀首飾，珍珠翡翠首飾。炕上坐著一位婦人，有四十來往的年歲，旁有一個女子，不過十七八歲，長得十分美色。地下有四個僕婦，正然說：「你不要想不開，在你們家裡，吃些個粗茶淡飯，穿些個粗布破衣。只要跟我們莊主，豈不享榮華富貴？我們勸你為好，你叫你女兒別哭了，抹點粉，我們莊主為你們不是一天的心機，你要把我們太歲爺招惱了，一陣亂棍，把你母女打死，誰來給你們報仇？莫說你們，就是這本地人，誰家姑娘媳婦長的好，太歲爺說搶就搶。本家找來，好情好理，還許給幾十兩銀子。要不答應，就是一頓亂棍打死，往後花園子一埋。」這女子說：「我情願死。活著跟我娘為人，死了一處做鬼。」雷鳴、陳亮聽的明白。一拉柳瑞說：「跟我來。」三個人跳下去，亮出刀衝進屋中。嚇得四個僕婦戰戰兢兢。柳瑞說：「你們誰要嚷，先殺誰。」僕婦說：「大太爺饒命不嚷。」柳瑞把這些細軟金銀，打了一個包袱，把兩個僕婦的嘴堵上，叫這兩個堅壯的僕婦，背起她母女來，跟了走。「你們要一嚷就殺！」僕婦只得點頭答應。柳瑞說：「二位兄長，在此暗中少候。我先把她母女送回去，少時就來。」
三个人抬头一看，见这所庄院，真是楼台亭阁，甚是齐整。三个人蹿房越脊，各处哨探。到一所院落，是四合房，北房三间，南房三间，东西各有配房。北上房西里间灯影闪闪，人影摇摇。三个人来到北房，珍珠倒卷帘，夜叉探海式，往屋中一看，顺前檐的炕，炕有小桌，点着蜡灯。炕上搁着两包袱衣裳，桌上有金首饰，银首饰，珍珠翡翠首饰。炕上坐着一位妇人，有四十来往的年岁，旁有一个女子，不过十七八岁，长得十分美色。地下有四个仆妇，正然说：「你不要想不开，在你们家里，吃些个粗茶淡饭，穿些个粗布破衣。只要跟我们庄主，岂不享荣华富贵？我们劝你为好，你叫你女儿别哭了，抹点粉，我们庄主为你们不是一天的心机，你要把我们太岁爷招恼了，一阵乱棍，把你母女打死，谁来给你们报仇？莫说你们，就是这本地人，谁家姑娘媳妇长的好，太岁爷说抢就抢。本家找来，好情好理，还许给几十两银子。要不答应，就是一顿乱棍打死，往后花园子一埋。」这女子说：「我情愿死。活着跟我娘为人，死了一处做鬼。」雷鸣、陈亮听的明白。一拉柳瑞说：「跟我来。」三个人跳下去，亮出刀冲进屋中。吓得四个仆妇战战兢兢。柳瑞说：「你们谁要嚷，先杀谁。」仆妇说：「大太爷饶命不嚷。」柳瑞把这些细软金银，打了一个包袱，把两个仆妇的嘴堵上，叫这两个坚壮的仆妇，背起她母女来，跟了走。「你们要一嚷就杀！」仆妇只得点头答应。柳瑞说：「二位兄长，在此暗中少候。我先把她母女送回去，少时就来。」
The three of them looked up and saw that the manor was all towers and terraces, pavilions and halls, and very finely kept. Leaping onto the roofs and crossing the ridges, they scouted every part of it. They came to a courtyard closed in by buildings on four sides: three rooms on the north, three on the south, and side rooms to east and west. In the western inner room of the main north building lamplight flickered and shadows swayed. The three came to the north building and, hanging from the eaves in Pearl Curtain Rolled Upside Down and leaning down in Yaksha Probes the Sea, looked into the room. Along the front eaves was a kang with a small table on it, where a candle was burning. On the kang lay two bundles of clothes, and on the table were gold ornaments, silver ornaments, and ornaments of pearl and jade. On the kang sat a woman of about forty, and beside her a girl of no more than seventeen or eighteen, very beautiful. Four serving women stood on the floor, saying, “Don’t take it so hard. At home you had coarse tea and plain rice to eat and coarse, ragged cloth to wear. Just go with our master, and won’t you enjoy wealth and glory? We’re telling you for your own good. Tell your daughter to stop crying and put on a little powder. Our master has been scheming for you for more than a day. If you make our Grand Duke angry, he’ll have you clubbed to death, mother and daughter both, and who will avenge you then? Never mind you two — round here, whenever any family has a good-looking daughter or wife, the Grand Duke takes her if he wants her. If the family comes looking and they’re reasonable about it, he may even give them a few dozen taels. If they won’t agree, it’s a clubbing to death and a burial in the back garden.” “I would rather die,” the girl said. “Alive, I’ll stay my mother’s daughter; dead, we’ll be ghosts together.” Lei Ming and Chen Liang heard every word. They tugged at Liu Rui. “Come with me.” The three jumped down, drew their blades and burst into the room. The four serving women shook with fright. “Whichever of you cries out, I’ll kill first,” said Liu Rui. “Spare us, great lord, we won’t cry out,” said the women. Liu Rui tied the fine things, the gold and silver, up in a bundle and gagged two of the serving women. He made the other two, the strong, sturdy ones, take the mother and daughter on their backs and come along. “Cry out once and you’re dead!” The women could only nod and obey. “Brothers,” said Liu Rui, “wait here a little, out of sight. I’ll take the mother and daughter home first and be back shortly.”