話說知縣派王雄、李豹捉拿段山峰，王雄、李豹知道段山峰能力武藝出眾，不但拿不了，還恐怕有性命之憂。李豹說：「我不是段山峰對手，王頭你也如是，自有人是段山峰的對手。」王雄說：「誰呀？」李豹說：「你忘了，當年不是單鞭賽尉遲劉文通，在藝場中賣弄，贏過段山峰一掌？咱們跟劉大哥知己相交，何不找他，叫他幫著，大概不致推辭。」王雄說：「有理。」
话说知县派王雄、李豹捉拿段山峰，王雄、李豹知道段山峰能力武艺出众，不但拿不了，还恐怕有性命之忧。李豹说：「我不是段山峰对手，王头你也如是，自有人是段山峰的对手。」王雄说：「谁呀？」李豹说：「你忘了，当年不是单鞭赛尉迟刘文通，在艺场中卖弄，赢过段山峰一掌？咱们跟刘大哥知己相交，何不找他，叫他帮着，大概不致推辞。」王雄说：「有理。」
Now, the magistrate had sent Wang Xiong and Li Bao to arrest Duan Shanfeng. Wang Xiong and Li Bao knew that Duan Shanfeng’s strength and fighting skill were out of the ordinary: not only could they not take him, they might well lose their lives trying. “I’m no match for Duan Shanfeng,” said Li Bao, “and neither are you, Head Constable Wang. But there is a man who is.” “Who?” said Wang Xiong. “Have you forgotten?” said Li Bao. “Years ago, when the Single-Whip Better-than-Yuchi, Liu Wentong, was showing off his skills at the performers’ ground, didn’t he beat Duan Shanfeng by one blow? We’re close friends with Big Brother Liu. Why not go to him and ask him to help? He probably won’t refuse.” “Right,” said Wang Xiong.
二人趕緊夠奔后街。往東一拐，路北的門樓，就是劉文通的住家。二人上前一叫門，劉文通剛起來，漱過口，出來開門。一看是王雄、李豹，劉文通說：「二位賢弟打哪來？」王雄說：「由衙門來？」劉文通指手往裡讓，來到廳房落座，王雄說：「兄長沒處去走鏢？」劉文通說：「剛從外面回來不多日子，二位賢弟因何這樣閒在？」王雄說：「我們哥倆來找你來了，只因梁官屯賣肉的劉喜之妻被殺，老爺派我們捉拿段山峰，我二人實拿不了，求兄長助一臂之力，捉拿段山峰。」劉文通一聽，說：「段山峰能為武藝超群，我也是拿不了。」王雄說：「兄長不必推辭，當年兄長在賣藝場中，贏過段山峰一掌。除非兄長，蕭山縣沒有人是段山峰的對手。」劉文通說：「二位賢弟休要提起當年那一掌，提起那件事來，我更覺心中難過。當年是西門外來了一個賣藝的，我看那賣藝人並非久慣做江湖買賣的，倒是受過名人的指教，大概是被窮所擠。我想下去幫個場，多給他湊些錢，沒想到段山峰也下來了，跟我比試。我二人一揸拳，我就知道段山峰的能力比我強，我想要一輸他，我這鏢行就不用吃了。我就說：‘姓段的朋友，我倆遠日無冤，近日無讎，我就指著保鏢吃飯。’我把話遞過去，段山峰倒是個朋友，一點就透，他故意讓了我一掌，他說：‘不枉他叫單鞭賽尉遲。’他走了，我自己明知他是讓著我，我次日去找他，給他賠不是，我二人因此倒交了朋友，常來常往。他跟我也是朋友，你兩個人也跟我是朋友，要是別人拿段山峰，我知道得給他送信才對，這是你兩人要拿他，我也不能給他送信，我也不能幫你們拿他。」
二人赶紧够奔后街。往东一拐，路北的门楼，就是刘文通的住家。二人上前一叫门，刘文通刚起来，漱过口，出来开门。一看是王雄、李豹，刘文通说：「二位贤弟打哪来？」王雄说：「由衙门来？」刘文通指手往里让，来到厅房落座，王雄说：「兄长没处去走镖？」刘文通说：「刚从外面回来不多日子，二位贤弟因何这样闲在？」王雄说：「我们哥俩来找你来了，只因梁官屯卖肉的刘喜之妻被杀，老爷派我们捉拿段山峰，我二人实拿不了，求兄长助一臂之力，捉拿段山峰。」刘文通一听，说：「段山峰能为武艺超群，我也是拿不了。」王雄说：「兄长不必推辞，当年兄长在卖艺场中，赢过段山峰一掌。除非兄长，萧山县没有人是段山峰的对手。」刘文通说：「二位贤弟休要提起当年那一掌，提起那件事来，我更觉心中难过。当年是西门外来了一个卖艺的，我看那卖艺人并非久惯做江湖买卖的，倒是受过名人的指教，大概是被穷所挤。我想下去帮个场，多给他凑些钱，没想到段山峰也下来了，跟我比试。我二人一揸拳，我就知道段山峰的能力比我强，我想要一输他，我这镖行就不用吃了。我就说：‘姓段的朋友，我俩远日无冤，近日无雠，我就指着保镖吃饭。’我把话递过去，段山峰倒是个朋友，一点就透，他故意让了我一掌，他说：‘不枉他叫单鞭赛尉迟。’他走了，我自己明知他是让着我，我次日去找他，给他赔不是，我二人因此倒交了朋友，常来常往。他跟我也是朋友，你两个人也跟我是朋友，要是别人拿段山峰，我知道得给他送信才对，这是你两人要拿他，我也不能给他送信，我也不能帮你们拿他。」
The two of them hurried to the back street. They turned east, and the gateway on the north side was Liu Wentong’s home. They stepped up and called at the gate. Liu Wentong had just got up and rinsed his mouth, and he came out to open it. Seeing Wang Xiong and Li Bao, he said, “Where have you two worthy brothers come from?” “From the yamen,” said Wang Xiong. Liu Wentong waved them inside, and they came to the front hall and sat down. “Brother, no escort job to go out on?” said Wang Xiong. “I got back from the road not many days ago,” said Liu Wentong. “What brings you two brothers here with time on your hands?” “We two have come looking for you,” said Wang Xiong. “The wife of Liu Xi, the butcher from Liangguan Village, has been murdered, and His Honour has sent us to arrest Duan Shanfeng. We really can’t take him on our own. We beg you, brother, lend us a hand and help us catch Duan Shanfeng.” When Liu Wentong heard this, he said, “Duan Shanfeng’s strength and fighting are second to none. I can’t take him either.” “Don’t make excuses, brother,” said Wang Xiong. “Years ago, at the performers’ ground, you beat Duan Shanfeng by a blow. Except for you, there’s no one in Xiaoshan County who’s a match for him.” “Worthy brothers, don’t bring up that blow from years ago,” said Liu Wentong. “Talking about it only makes me feel worse. Back then a street performer turned up outside the West Gate. I could see he wasn’t an old hand at the wandering performer’s trade. He’d been taught by somebody with a name, and most likely poverty had driven him to it. I thought I’d go down into the ring and help out his pitch, to get more money together for him. I never thought Duan Shanfeng would come down too and match himself against me. The moment we crossed fists, I knew Duan Shanfeng was stronger than I was. I thought, if I lose to him, I’m finished in the escort trade. So I said, ‘Friend Duan, you and I have no quarrel, new or old, and I earn my bread by escort work.’ I put it to him like that, and Duan Shanfeng was a real friend. He took the hint at once. He let me land a blow on purpose and said, ‘No wonder they call him the Single-Whip Better-than-Yuchi.’ Then he left. I knew perfectly well he’d let me win. The next day I went to find him and apologize, and from then on we were friends and went back and forth all the time. He’s my friend, and you two are my friends. If it were anyone else out to arrest Duan Shanfeng, I know I ought to send him word. But since it’s you two who want to arrest him, I can’t send him word, and I can’t help you arrest him either.”
王雄、李豹再三說，劉文通也不答應，王雄、李豹實在沒了法，兩個人到裡面去見劉文通的母親，二人見老太太一行禮，老太太就問：「你兩個人這般早從哪來？」王雄說：「伯母有所不知，現在衙門裡出了逆案。」老太太說：「什麼逆案？」王雄說：「段山峰能為出眾，我二人拿不了。」老太太說：「莫非蕭山縣就沒有比段山峰能為大的么？你二人不會請人幫著拿嗎？」王雄說：「別人不行，就是我大哥可以拿能。」老太太說：「你沒跟你大哥提么？」王雄說：「提了，我大哥他說跟段山峰相好，他不肯幫我們拿。」老太太說：「你把你大哥給我叫來。」
王雄、李豹再三说，刘文通也不答应，王雄、李豹实在没了法，两个人到里面去见刘文通的母亲，二人见老太太一行礼，老太太就问：「你两个人这般早从哪来？」王雄说：「伯母有所不知，现在衙门里出了逆案。」老太太说：「什么逆案？」王雄说：「段山峰能为出众，我二人拿不了。」老太太说：「莫非萧山县就没有比段山峰能为大的幺？你二人不会请人帮着拿吗？」王雄说：「别人不行，就是我大哥可以拿能。」老太太说：「你没跟你大哥提幺？」王雄说：「提了，我大哥他说跟段山峰相好，他不肯帮我们拿。」老太太说：「你把你大哥给我叫来。」
However much Wang Xiong and Li Bao pleaded, Liu Wentong would not agree. At their wits’ end, the two of them went inside to see Liu Wentong’s mother. They bowed to the old lady, and she asked, “Where have you two come from so early?” “You wouldn’t know, Aunt,” said Wang Xiong. “A grave case has come up at the yamen.” “What grave case?” said the old lady. “Duan Shanfeng is uncommonly skilled,” said Wang Xiong, “and the two of us can’t arrest him.” “Is there no one in Xiaoshan County more capable than Duan Shanfeng?” said the old lady. “Can’t you two get somebody to help you take him?” “Nobody else will do,” said Wang Xiong. “Only our big brother can take him.” “Haven’t you asked your big brother?” said the old lady. “We asked him,” said Wang Xiong. “He says he’s friends with Duan Shanfeng, and he won’t help us take him.” “Go and fetch your big brother for me,” said the old lady.