話說老爺開放了王全、李福，聽王雄一回稟，和尚來了，知縣吩咐有請。
话说老爷开放了王全、李福，听王雄一回禀，和尚来了，知县吩咐有请。
Now, His Honour had just released Wang Quan and Li Fu when Wang Xiong came to report that the monk had arrived, and the magistrate gave orders to invite him in.
和尚剛一上堂，老爺一看，跟夢中見的窮和尚一般無二，知縣趕緊站起身來，抱拳拱手說：「聖僧可是靈隱濟顛？」和尚說：「老爺忘了，咱們見過，就是王全、李福不白之冤么？」知縣說：「是是。」趕緊吩咐人看座。和尚在旁邊落座，知縣說：「聖僧從哪裡來？」和尚說：「我是上白水湖去捉妖，由此路過。」知縣說：「原來如此，聖僧到白水湖去，紹興府知府顧國章倒跟我相好，我二人雖是屬員上司，倒是不分彼此。聖僧要去，我給知府寫一封信。」和尚說：「好，請問你老爺一句話。」知縣說：「聖僧有話請講。」和尚說：「老爺在這地面，為官聲名如何？」知縣說：「本縣自己也不知道，聖僧可有耳聞怎么樣？」和尚說：「老爺聲氣可倒不錯，倒是兩袖清風，愛民如子。就有一件事，老爺不應當不辦。」知縣說：「什麼事？望聖僧說明。」和尚說：「本縣內有一位生員李文龍無故休妻，老爺就不應當不辦。」知縣張甲三一愣，說：「並沒見有這案。」和尚說：「有。」老爺立刻傳值帖二爺上堂，知縣問：「可有人在你手裡狀告李文龍么？」值帖的說：「沒有。」知縣又叫官代書來問：「可有人在你手裡寫呈狀，告李文龍么？」代書說：「沒有。」老爺又傳值日班問：「有人喊冤告李文龍么？」值日說：「並沒有。」知縣說：「聖僧可曾聽見？這件事叫我難辦了。吏不舉，官不究，沒人來告狀，我怎么辦呢？」和尚說：「有人告他。」知縣說：「誰告他？」和尚說：「我告李文龍。」知縣說：「聖僧為何告他？」和尚說：「老爺把李文龍傳來，他要不是無故休妻，老爺拿我和尚治罪。李文龍不是外人，跟我是親戚。」知縣說：「是是。」立刻派王雄、李豹去傳李文龍。且說李文龍回到家中，正自納悶，哪來的這么一個瘋和尚爺爺呢？自己正在思想，聽外面打門，李文龍出來一看，王雄、李豹說：「李先生，有人把你告下來了。」李文龍說：「誰把我告下來？」王雄、李豹說：「是一個窮和尚。」李文龍一聽，立刻到裡面把鐲子、小扇墜環、字柬一併帶著，抱著孩子一同王雄、李豹來到衙門。李文龍一上堂，見窮和尚旁邊跟知縣平起平坐，心裡說：「我這官司要輸。」立刻口稱：「老父台在上，生員李文龍有禮。」知縣一看，說：「李文龍你無故休妻，既是念書的人知法犯法，該當何罪？」李文龍說：「回稟老爺台，我休妻有因，何言無故？她犯了七出之條。」老爺說：「有何為憑據？」李文龍：「回稟老爺，自那一日找出去給人家寫信回來，在後院內出恭，聽後門有人叫娘子開門，我開門一把沒揪住，那人跑了，由袖口掉下手卷包，我撿起一看，是一對金墜環，情詩三首。我一找找出金鐲、小扇，因此我將妻子鄭氏休回。老父台請看這東西、詩句。」立刻把墜鐲、小扇、詩句呈上去。老爺一看，勃然大怒，說：「你這東西就該打，先給我打他二百戒尺。」李文龍說：「請示老父台明言，生員身犯何律，老父台要打我。」知縣說：「打完了我再告訴你。」和尚說：「老爺瞧著我，饒恕他，暫記他二百戒尺，老爺告訴他。」知縣說：「李文龍，素常你夫妻和美不和？」李文龍說：「和美。」老爺說：「素常你妻子是賢惠人不是？」李文龍說：「素常倒賢惠。」知縣說：「卻原來你妻子素常安分，夫妻和美，你豈不知這件事有陰人陷害，捏造離間你夫婦么？凡事要三思。你妻子與人私通，可是親眼得見么？」和尚說：「老爺派差人把鄭氏、馬氏並賴子一併傳來。」老爺立刻教王雄、李豹下去傳人。
和尚刚一上堂，老爷一看，跟梦中见的穷和尚一般无二，知县赶紧站起身来，抱拳拱手说：「圣僧可是灵隐济颠？」和尚说：「老爷忘了，咱们见过，就是王全、李福不白之冤幺？」知县说：「是是。」赶紧吩咐人看座。和尚在旁边落座，知县说：「圣僧从哪里来？」和尚说：「我是上白水湖去捉妖，由此路过。」知县说：「原来如此，圣僧到白水湖去，绍兴府知府顾国章倒跟我相好，我二人虽是属员上司，倒是不分彼此。圣僧要去，我给知府写一封信。」和尚说：「好，请问你老爷一句话。」知县说：「圣僧有话请讲。」和尚说：「老爷在这地面，为官声名如何？」知县说：「本县自己也不知道，圣僧可有耳闻怎么样？」和尚说：「老爷声气可倒不错，倒是两袖清风，爱民如子。就有一件事，老爷不应当不办。」知县说：「什么事？望圣僧说明。」和尚说：「本县内有一位生员李文龙无故休妻，老爷就不应当不办。」知县张甲三一愣，说：「并没见有这案。」和尚说：「有。」老爷立刻传值帖二爷上堂，知县问：「可有人在你手里状告李文龙幺？」值帖的说：「没有。」知县又叫官代书来问：「可有人在你手里写呈状，告李文龙幺？」代书说：「没有。」老爷又传值日班问：「有人喊冤告李文龙幺？」值日说：「并没有。」知县说：「圣僧可曾听见？这件事叫我难办了。吏不举，官不究，没人来告状，我怎么办呢？」和尚说：「有人告他。」知县说：「谁告他？」和尚说：「我告李文龙。」知县说：「圣僧为何告他？」和尚说：「老爷把李文龙传来，他要不是无故休妻，老爷拿我和尚治罪。李文龙不是外人，跟我是亲戚。」知县说：「是是。」立刻派王雄、李豹去传李文龙。且说李文龙回到家中，正自纳闷，哪来的这么一个疯和尚爷爷呢？自己正在思想，听外面打门，李文龙出来一看，王雄、李豹说：「李先生，有人把你告下来了。」李文龙说：「谁把我告下来？」王雄、李豹说：「是一个穷和尚。」李文龙一听，立刻到里面把镯子、小扇坠环、字柬一并带着，抱着孩子一同王雄、李豹来到衙门。李文龙一上堂，见穷和尚旁边跟知县平起平坐，心里说：「我这官司要输。」立刻口称：「老父台在上，生员李文龙有礼。」知县一看，说：「李文龙你无故休妻，既是念书的人知法犯法，该当何罪？」李文龙说：「回禀老爷台，我休妻有因，何言无故？她犯了七出之条。」老爷说：「有何为凭据？」李文龙：「回禀老爷，自那一日找出去给人家写信回来，在后院内出恭，听后门有人叫娘子开门，我开门一把没揪住，那人跑了，由袖口掉下手卷包，我捡起一看，是一对金坠环，情诗三首。我一找找出金镯、小扇，因此我将妻子郑氏休回。老父台请看这东西、诗句。」立刻把坠镯、小扇、诗句呈上去。老爷一看，勃然大怒，说：「你这东西就该打，先给我打他二百戒尺。」李文龙说：「请示老父台明言，生员身犯何律，老父台要打我。」知县说：「打完了我再告诉你。」和尚说：「老爷瞧着我，饶恕他，暂记他二百戒尺，老爷告诉他。」知县说：「李文龙，素常你夫妻和美不和？」李文龙说：「和美。」老爷说：「素常你妻子是贤惠人不是？」李文龙说：「素常倒贤惠。」知县说：「却原来你妻子素常安分，夫妻和美，你岂不知这件事有阴人陷害，捏造离间你夫妇幺？凡事要三思。你妻子与人私通，可是亲眼得见幺？」和尚说：「老爷派差人把郑氏、马氏并赖子一并传来。」老爷立刻教王雄、李豹下去传人。
The moment the monk stepped into the hall, His Honour took one look: he was the very image of the poor monk he had seen in his dream. The magistrate hurriedly rose to his feet, clasped his hands and saluted. “Holy monk, might you be Crazy Ji of Lingyin?” “Your Honour has forgotten,” said the monk. “We’ve met. Wasn’t it over the wrong done to Wang Quan and Li Fu?” “Yes, yes,” said the magistrate, and quickly ordered a seat brought. The monk sat down at one side. “Where have you come from, holy monk?” said the magistrate. “I’m on my way to Baishui Lake to catch a demon,” said the monk, “and I’m passing through.” “So that’s it,” said the magistrate. “If you’re going to Baishui Lake, holy monk, Gu Guozhang, the prefect of Shaoxing Prefecture, happens to be a good friend of mine. He’s my superior and I’m his subordinate, but between the two of us there’s no standing on rank. If you’re going, I’ll write you a letter to the prefect.” “Good,” said the monk. “May I ask Your Honour one thing?” “Please speak, holy monk,” said the magistrate. “How does Your Honour stand hereabouts, as an official?” said the monk. “I can’t tell that myself,” said the magistrate. “Has the holy monk heard anything?” “Your Honour’s name stands well enough,” said the monk. “Nothing in your sleeves but the breeze, and you love the people like your own children. There’s just one matter Your Honour has no business leaving alone.” “What matter? I beg the holy monk to tell me plainly.” “In this county there’s a licentiate, Li Wenlong, who has put away his wife for no reason,” said the monk. “Your Honour has no business leaving that alone.” Magistrate Zhang Jiasan was taken aback. “I’ve seen no such case,” he said. “There is one,” said the monk. His Honour at once called the attendant in charge of petitions up into the hall. “Has anyone handed you a complaint against Li Wenlong?” the magistrate asked. “No,” said the attendant. Next the magistrate called the official scribe and asked him, “Has anyone had you write out a plaint against Li Wenlong?” “No,” said the scribe. Then His Honour called the runners on duty that day and asked, “Has anyone come crying injustice against Li Wenlong?” “No one at all,” said the runner on duty. “Did you hear that, holy monk?” said the magistrate. “This puts me in a difficult spot. When the clerks bring no charge, the official makes no inquiry. Nobody has come with a complaint, so what am I to do?” “Somebody is accusing him,” said the monk. “Who is accusing him?” said the magistrate. “I am,” said the monk. “I accuse Li Wenlong.” “And why do you accuse him, holy monk?” said the magistrate. “Have Li Wenlong brought here, Your Honour,” said the monk. “If he didn’t put away his wife for no reason, Your Honour can punish this monk for it. Li Wenlong’s no stranger; he’s a relation of mine.” “Yes, yes,” said the magistrate, and at once sent Wang Xiong and Li Bao to summon Li Wenlong. Meanwhile Li Wenlong had gone home and was puzzling over it: where had this mad monk of a grandfather sprung from? He was still turning it over when there was a knock at the gate. Li Wenlong came out to look. “Mr. Li,” said Wang Xiong and Li Bao, “somebody’s brought a charge against you.” “Who’s brought a charge against me?” said Li Wenlong. “A poor monk,” said Wang Xiong and Li Bao. At this Li Wenlong went straight inside and gathered up the bracelet, the little fan, the earrings and the notes, and with the child in his arms he went with Wang Xiong and Li Bao to the yamen. The moment he came up into the hall, Li Wenlong saw the poor monk sitting at one side, on an equal footing with the magistrate, and said to himself, “I’m going to lose this case.” At once he said, “Honoured father of the county, the licentiate Li Wenlong pays his respects.” The magistrate looked at him. “Li Wenlong, you have put away your wife without cause. You are a man of learning, you know the law and you break it. What punishment do you deserve?” “May it please Your Honour,” said Li Wenlong, “I had cause for putting her away. How can you say without cause? She broke one of the seven grounds for repudiating a wife.” “What proof have you?” said His Honour. “May it please Your Honour,” said Li Wenlong, “one day I came home from writing a letter for someone, and I was in the back courtyard relieving myself when I heard someone at the back gate calling to my wife to open up. I opened the gate and grabbed at him, but I missed, and the man ran off. A rolled-up packet fell out of his sleeve. I picked it up and looked: it was a pair of gold earrings and three love poems. I searched and found a gold bracelet and a little fan, and so I sent my wife, Madam Zheng, back to her family. Honoured father, please look at these things and the poems.” At once he handed up the earrings, the bracelet, the little fan and the poems. His Honour looked, and flew into a rage. “You wretch, you deserve a beating! Give him two hundred strokes of the ferule first!” “I beg Your Honour to tell me plainly,” said Li Wenlong, “what law has this licentiate broken, that Your Honour should beat me?” “When the beating’s done I’ll tell you,” said the magistrate. “For my sake, Your Honour,” said the monk, “let him off. Put the two hundred strokes on account for now, and tell him.” “Li Wenlong,” said the magistrate, “did you and your wife usually get on well?” “We did,” said Li Wenlong. “Was your wife usually a good, virtuous woman?” said His Honour. “Usually she was virtuous enough,” said Li Wenlong. “So your wife has always kept to her place,” said the magistrate, “and the two of you got on well. Don’t you see that someone has schemed in the dark against you, and made this up to drive a wedge between you and your wife? In everything, think three times. Your wife carrying on with another man: did you see it with your own eyes?” “Your Honour,” said the monk, “send your men to bring Madam Zheng, Madam Ma and Laizi here together.” His Honour at once had Wang Xiong and Li Bao go down and fetch them.
書中交代，鄭氏自從那日跟他舅母回來，第二日求他舅母去給勸說，馬氏到李文龍家去，李文龍不但不開門，把馬氏辱罵回去。馬氏到了家一說，鄭氏哭的死去活來，馬氏說：「我也不能再去了。」吃早飯後，就來了一個老太太，有六十多歲，到馬氏屋中來一見鄭氏，這老太太就問馬氏：「這位姑娘是誰呀？」馬氏說：「這是我外甥女，給的李文龍為妻。」這老太太說：「喲，這位姑娘頭上腳下夠多好，給的就是那窮酸李文龍么？是怪可惜的。」馬氏說：「現在李文龍不要了，休回來了。」這老太太說：「那也好，早就該跟他散了，省得跟他受罪。這可逃出來了，我給你說個主罷，做過兵部尚書的公子卞虎卞員外，新近失的家，要續弦，這一進門就當家，成箱子穿衣裳，論匣子帶首飾，有多好？」鄭氏一聽說：「這位媽媽今年多大年紀？」這位太太說：「我六十八歲。」鄭氏說：「好，再活六十八歲，一百三十六，你這大年歲說點德行話才是，不該拆散我夫婦，你快去罷。」這個老太太被鄭氏搶白走了。工夫不大，又來了一個四十多歲的婦人，一見鄭氏也提說不必跟李文龍受苦，你不必想不開。嫁漢嫁漢，穿衣吃飯，我給你提提卞虎員外好不好？進門就當家，一呼百諾，出門坐轎子，鄭氏又給駁走了。一連來了四個，都是給卞虎提親。鄭氏也是聰明人，自己一想：「來了四個媒人，都給卞虎一個人提，要是提兩家還可，都提一家，這其中定有緣故。」鄭氏一想：「這必是卞虎使出人來離間我夫婦，我莫若應允他，跟他要五百銀子給我丈夫李文龍，叫他奮志讀書，扶養孩兒。等過了門，我暗帶鋼刀一把，我話里引話，套出卞虎的真情，我用鋼刀把卞虎扎死，我自己開一膛，方顯我貞節之名，叫丈夫李文龍明明白白。」想罷，就跟這個媒婆說：「我願意了，你可去罷，可有一節，我先要五百銀子，沒有銀子我不上轎。可得把我丈夫李文龍找來，我得見一面，不依著我，還是不行。」媒婆一聽，說：「那都好辦，打發人把你丈夫李文龍找來你見見，你要銀子也現成，只要你願意，我去說去。」鄭氏說：「就是罷。」媒婆去了。次日回來，就說：「停當了，今天晚上就娶，先有人送銀子來，隨後轎子就到。」
书中交代，郑氏自从那日跟他舅母回来，第二日求他舅母去给劝说，马氏到李文龙家去，李文龙不但不开门，把马氏辱骂回去。马氏到了家一说，郑氏哭的死去活来，马氏说：「我也不能再去了。」吃早饭后，就来了一个老太太，有六十多岁，到马氏屋中来一见郑氏，这老太太就问马氏：「这位姑娘是谁呀？」马氏说：「这是我外甥女，给的李文龙为妻。」这老太太说：「哟，这位姑娘头上脚下够多好，给的就是那穷酸李文龙幺？是怪可惜的。」马氏说：「现在李文龙不要了，休回来了。」这老太太说：「那也好，早就该跟他散了，省得跟他受罪。这可逃出来了，我给你说个主罢，做过兵部尚书的公子卞虎卞员外，新近失的家，要续弦，这一进门就当家，成箱子穿衣裳，论匣子带首饰，有多好？」郑氏一听说：「这位妈妈今年多大年纪？」这位太太说：「我六十八岁。」郑氏说：「好，再活六十八岁，一百三十六，你这大年岁说点德行话才是，不该拆散我夫妇，你快去罢。」这个老太太被郑氏抢白走了。工夫不大，又来了一个四十多岁的妇人，一见郑氏也提说不必跟李文龙受苦，你不必想不开。嫁汉嫁汉，穿衣吃饭，我给你提提卞虎员外好不好？进门就当家，一呼百诺，出门坐轿子，郑氏又给驳走了。一连来了四个，都是给卞虎提亲。郑氏也是聪明人，自己一想：「来了四个媒人，都给卞虎一个人提，要是提两家还可，都提一家，这其中定有缘故。」郑氏一想：「这必是卞虎使出人来离间我夫妇，我莫若应允他，跟他要五百银子给我丈夫李文龙，叫他奋志读书，扶养孩儿。等过了门，我暗带钢刀一把，我话里引话，套出卞虎的真情，我用钢刀把卞虎扎死，我自己开一膛，方显我贞节之名，叫丈夫李文龙明明白白。」想罢，就跟这个媒婆说：「我愿意了，你可去罢，可有一节，我先要五百银子，没有银子我不上轿。可得把我丈夫李文龙找来，我得见一面，不依着我，还是不行。」媒婆一听，说：「那都好办，打发人把你丈夫李文龙找来你见见，你要银子也现成，只要你愿意，我去说去。」郑氏说：「就是罢。」媒婆去了。次日回来，就说：「停当了，今天晚上就娶，先有人送银子来，随后轿子就到。」
A word of explanation: Madam Zheng, ever since the day she went home with her aunt, had begged her aunt the next day to go and talk Li Wenlong round. Madam Ma went to Li Wenlong’s house, and Li Wenlong not only wouldn’t open the gate but cursed her and sent her packing. When Madam Ma got home and told her, Madam Zheng wept as though she would die of it. “I can’t go again,” said Madam Ma. After breakfast an old woman came by, sixty-odd years old. She came into Madam Ma’s room, saw Madam Zheng, and asked Madam Ma, “Who’s this young lady?” “This is my niece,” said Madam Ma. “She was married to Li Wenlong.” “Oh my,” said the old woman, “a young lady as fine as this from top to toe, and she was given to that down-at-heel pedant Li Wenlong? What a shame.” “Li Wenlong doesn’t want her now,” said Madam Ma. “He’s sent her back.” “Well, that’s just as good,” said the old woman. “She should have parted from him long ago and spared herself the hardship. Now she’s got clear of it, let me make a match for her. Squire Bian Hu, the son of the former Minister of War, lost his wife not long ago and wants to marry again. The minute she’s through his door she’ll be mistress of the house, with clothes by the trunkful and jewellery by the box. How fine would that be?” When Madam Zheng heard this she said, “How old are you this year, granny?” “I’m sixty-eight,” said the old woman. “Good,” said Madam Zheng. “Live another sixty-eight and you’ll be a hundred and thirty-six. At your great age you ought to say something decent, not try to break up a husband and wife. Off with you, quick.” Madam Zheng’s sharp tongue sent the old woman away. Before long a woman of forty-odd came, and as soon as she saw Madam Zheng she too said there was no need to suffer with Li Wenlong, no need to take it so hard. A woman weds a man, weds a man, for clothes on her back and food in the pan; what did she say to a word put in for her with Squire Bian Hu? The minute she was through his door she would be mistress of the house, with a hundred servants answering when she called, and she would go out in a sedan chair. Madam Zheng sent her away too. Four came one after another, and every one of them was proposing Bian Hu. Madam Zheng was a clever woman, and she thought to herself, “Four matchmakers have come, and every one of them for Bian Hu alone. If they’d proposed two families, well and good, but all of them for the one family: there must be something behind it.” Then she thought, “This must be Bian Hu sending people out to drive a wedge between my husband and me. I’d better say yes and ask him for five hundred taels of silver to give my husband Li Wenlong, so he can set his heart on his studies and bring up our child. Once I’m through his door I’ll carry a steel knife hidden on me, lead him on from one word to the next till I’ve drawn the truth out of Bian Hu, then stab him dead with the knife and cut myself open. That will prove my name for chastity, and make everything plain to my husband Li Wenlong.” Her mind made up, she said to the matchmaker, “I’m willing. You can go now. But there’s one thing: I want five hundred taels of silver first. No silver, and I don’t get into the sedan chair. And you must find my husband Li Wenlong and bring him here, so I can see him once. If you don’t do as I say, it’s still no.” “That’s all easily done,” said the matchmaker. “We’ll send someone to find your husband Li Wenlong so you can see him, and the silver you want is ready to hand. As long as you’re willing, I’ll go and tell them.” “Then that’s settled,” said Madam Zheng. The matchmaker left. She came back the next day and said, “It’s all arranged. They’ll fetch you tonight. Someone will bring the silver first, and the sedan chair will come right after.”