話說老道三道符燒完，一陣狂風大作，祇聽有腳步的聲音。老道祇打算這妖精必是青臉紅發一身毛，仔細睜眼一看，卻原來是一位千嬌百媚的女子，果然芙蓉白面，楊柳細腰。怎見得？有詞為證：
祇聞異香陣陣，行動百媚千嬌，巧筆丹青難畫描，周身上下堆俏。身穿藍衫稱體，金釵輕攏髮梢，垂金小扇手中搖，粉面香腮帶笑。
话说老道三道符烧完，一阵狂风大作，祇听有脚步的声音。老道祇打算这妖精必是青脸红发一身毛，仔细睁眼一看，却原来是一位千娇百媚的女子，果然芙蓉白面，杨柳细腰。怎见得？有词为证：
祇闻异香阵阵，行动百媚千娇，巧笔丹青难画描，周身上下堆俏。身穿蓝衫称体，金钗轻拢发梢，垂金小扇手中摇，粉面香腮带笑。
Now, the old Daoist burned the last of his three talismans, a wild wind came howling up, and then there was the sound of footsteps. The old Daoist was expecting the demon to be green-faced and red-haired, with fur all over its body. But when he opened his eyes and looked carefully, it was a young woman of every charm and grace, with a face as white as a lotus blossom and a waist as slender as a willow. What did she look like? There is a lyric to prove it:
A strange perfume drifts, wave upon wave; she moves with a hundred charms, a thousand graces; no skilful painter’s brush could ever capture her; she is lovely from head to toe.A blue gown that fits her just so, a gold hairpin lightly gathering her tresses, a little gold-tasselled fan swaying in her hand, her powdered face and fragrant cheeks all smiles.
真是梨花面，杏蕊腮，瑤池仙子、月裏嫦娥不如也。這女子扑奔老道說：「好賊，泰真你敢拘起你家姑姑來了。」周福同眾人家說：「敢情不是外人，跟老道都是親戚。」老道嚇得魂飛魄散，說：「仙姑不要生氣，你聽小道，我天膽也不敢拘你老人家。祇因周宅請我來給公子治病，把仙姑請來。我給你說，哈哈哈。仙姑，必是在深山幽谷之中修煉，道德深遠，何必貪戀凡塵？勸仙姑你老人家可以修煉個萬世不化金身好不好？」妖精一聽此言，說：「你放屁！我多日不曾吃人，今天我要飽餐一頓。」說著話往前奔向老道，就見把肚子一癟，由嘴內噴出一口黑氣。老道哎呀一聲，就地栽倒，寶劍也扔了。
真是梨花面，杏蕊腮，瑶池仙子、月里嫦娥不如也。这女子扑奔老道说：「好贼，泰真你敢拘起你家姑姑来了。」周福同众人家说：「敢情不是外人，跟老道都是亲戚。」老道吓得魂飞魄散，说：「仙姑不要生气，你听小道，我天胆也不敢拘你老人家。祇因周宅请我来给公子治病，把仙姑请来。我给你说，哈哈哈。仙姑，必是在深山幽谷之中修炼，道德深远，何必贪恋凡尘？劝仙姑你老人家可以修炼个万世不化金身好不好？」妖精一听此言，说：「你放屁！我多日不曾吃人，今天我要饱餐一顿。」说着话往前奔向老道，就见把肚子一瘪，由嘴内喷出一口黑气。老道哎呀一声，就地栽倒，宝剑也扔了。
Truly she had a face like pear blossom and cheeks like apricot buds; the fairies of the Jade Pool and Chang’e in the moon could not compare with her. The woman rushed straight at the old Daoist. “You villain! Taizhen, how dare you summon your auntie here!” Zhou Fu said to the others, “So she’s no stranger after all. She and the old Daoist are relatives.” The old Daoist was frightened out of his wits. “Immortal Lady, don’t be angry. Hear this humble Daoist out. Even with a gall as big as heaven I wouldn’t dare summon you, revered lady. It’s only that the Zhou household asked me here to cure the young master, so I invited you, Immortal Lady, to come. Let me tell you — ha ha ha! Immortal Lady, you must be cultivating yourself deep in the mountains and in secluded valleys, and your virtue must run deep and far. Why cling to the mortal world? Let me urge you, revered lady, to cultivate yourself a golden body that will not decay in ten thousand ages. How about that?” When the demon heard this, she said, “You’re talking out of your arse! I haven’t eaten a man in days, and today I mean to eat my fill.” As she spoke she rushed at the old Daoist. Her belly sucked in flat, and out of her mouth she spat a puff of black vapour. The old Daoist cried out, “Aiya!” and toppled to the ground where he stood, his precious sword flung aside.
周福等眾家人，嚇得亡魂皆冒，往床底就擠。眾人擠不下，周祿就拉周福的腿，說：「你出來，我藏進去。」周福嚇昏了，說：「姑姑別拉腿。」眾人正在亂藏，祇聽外面山崩地裂一聲響，有膽子大的往外面一看，見外頭紅光一片，有一位金甲天神在門口站著，正是韋馱顯聖。眾人也不敢出去，直至天色大亮。
周福等众家人，吓得亡魂皆冒，往床底就挤。众人挤不下，周禄就拉周福的腿，说：「你出来，我藏进去。」周福吓昏了，说：「姑姑别拉腿。」众人正在乱藏，祇听外面山崩地裂一声响，有胆子大的往外面一看，见外头红光一片，有一位金甲天神在门口站着，正是韦驮显圣。众人也不敢出去，直至天色大亮。
Zhou Fu and the other servants were so terrified their souls nearly left them, and they squeezed in under the bed. There was not room for them all. Zhou Lu grabbed Zhou Fu by the leg. “You come out and let me get in there.” Zhou Fu, half out of his mind with fright, said, “Auntie, don’t pull my leg!” While they were all scrambling to hide, there came a crash from outside as if the mountains were falling and the earth splitting open. One of the bolder ones peeped out and saw a blaze of red light out there, and a celestial warrior in golden armour standing at the door: it was Weituo, showing his divine power. Still nobody dared go out, and there they stayed until broad daylight.
老員外在前面，一夜沒睡。天亮，員外帶著一個膽大家人，來至花園瞧老道捉妖怎麼樣。來到這院一看，見老道在地下躺著，臉都青了，寶劍在旁邊扔著。過去一摸，身上都涼。來至書房一看，見眾人也有在床底下的，也有在桌底下的，過去一拉腿，眾人說：「姑姑別拉腿，饒命！」老員外說：「哪裏來的姑姑？你等還不出來！」周福眾人一瞧，說：「員外呀，可嚇死我們了！」周員外一問是怎麼一回事，周福就把夜間老道捉妖之事，如是情形一說。
老员外在前面，一夜没睡。天亮，员外带着一个胆大家人，来至花园瞧老道捉妖怎么样。来到这院一看，见老道在地下躺着，脸都青了，宝剑在旁边扔着。过去一摸，身上都凉。来至书房一看，见众人也有在床底下的，也有在桌底下的，过去一拉腿，众人说：「姑姑别拉腿，饶命！」老员外说：「哪里来的姑姑？你等还不出来！」周福众人一瞧，说：「员外呀，可吓死我们了！」周员外一问是怎么一回事，周福就把夜间老道捉妖之事，如是情形一说。
The Old Squire had been in the front of the house and had not slept all night. At daybreak he took one of the bolder servants and went to the garden to see how the old Daoist had got on with catching the demon. When he came into that courtyard, he saw the old Daoist lying on the ground, his face gone blue, his sword lying beside him. He went over and felt him: his body was cold all over. He went into the study and found the servants, some under the bed, some under the table. When he went over and pulled at a leg, they cried, “Auntie, don’t pull my leg! Spare me!” “What auntie?” said the Old Squire. “Come out of there, the lot of you!” Zhou Fu and the others looked. “Oh, Squire, we were frightened to death!” Squire Zhou asked what had happened, and Zhou Fu told him exactly how the old Daoist had tried to catch the demon in the night.
員外嘆了一聲，說：「真是福無雙至，禍不單行。妖沒捉成，老道在這裏死了，祇得報官相驗。」有錢的人最怕打人命官司，趕緊吩咐先把院子打掃打掃。員外回至前面，自己一想：「和尚這個韋馱倒不錯，在前廳擱著，怎麼跑到後面顯聖？等和尚來取，別說給他，問要多少錢，我買下可以鎮宅。」正在這般景況，就聽外面打門，說話是和尚聲音，叫：「開門！取韋馱來了。我那韋馱有主人，給六百萬銀子也不賣。」員外一聽，趕緊往前面奔來，向門口一看，見外面不是和尚，站立一人，身高八尺，頭戴寶藍緞逍遙員外巾，身穿寶藍緞逍遙氅，粉底宮靴，面似三秋古月，慈眉善目，三綹黑鬍鬚，飄灑在胸前，後面跟著小童十四五歲。周員外一看認識，是拜弟蘇北山。周員外問：「是蘇賢弟叫門？」蘇北山說：「不是，我給兄長引見一位朋友。我常跟兄長提西湖靈隱寺濟顛活佛，昨天晚上到我家去，提起扛韋馱化緣，說兄長家中鬧妖精，到這來捉妖，被兄長轟出，將韋馱像留在這裏。昨天住在我家中，我想，兄長必然是不認識，要知是濟公，兄長絕不能怠慢。我今天陪著來，一來捉妖，二來取韋馱。」周員外說：「賢弟，可了不得了，現在三清觀的劉老道來捉妖沒捉成，反給妖精噴了妖氣，至今昏迷不醒。我正要給老道廟中送信，報官相驗，聽外面和尚叫門，賢弟你把大師父請過來。」蘇北山一瞧，和尚在影壁牆根蹲著。蘇北山說：「師父請過來，給員外相見。」周員外往裏讓，來至廳房，家人獻上茶來。周員外說：「聖僧，我等不知，望希恕罪。」趕緊吩咐擺酒給和尚賠話。濟公說：「我今天不喝酒，我先捉妖淨宅，退鬼治病，然後纔喝酒。你帶我到後面去瞧瞧。」周員外說：「是。」立刻頭前領路。
员外叹了一声，说：「真是福无双至，祸不单行。妖没捉成，老道在这里死了，祇得报官相验。」有钱的人最怕打人命官司，赶紧吩咐先把院子打扫打扫。员外回至前面，自己一想：「和尚这个韦驮倒不错，在前厅搁着，怎么跑到后面显圣？等和尚来取，别说给他，问要多少钱，我买下可以镇宅。」正在这般景况，就听外面打门，说话是和尚声音，叫：「开门！取韦驮来了。我那韦驮有主人，给六百万银子也不卖。」员外一听，赶紧往前面奔来，向门口一看，见外面不是和尚，站立一人，身高八尺，头戴宝蓝缎逍遥员外巾，身穿宝蓝缎逍遥氅，粉底宫靴，面似三秋古月，慈眉善目，三绺黑胡须，飘洒在胸前，后面跟着小童十四五岁。周员外一看认识，是拜弟苏北山。周员外问：「是苏贤弟叫门？」苏北山说：「不是，我给兄长引见一位朋友。我常跟兄长提西湖灵隐寺济颠活佛，昨天晚上到我家去，提起扛韦驮化缘，说兄长家中闹妖精，到这来捉妖，被兄长轰出，将韦驮像留在这里。昨天住在我家中，我想，兄长必然是不认识，要知是济公，兄长绝不能怠慢。我今天陪着来，一来捉妖，二来取韦驮。」周员外说：「贤弟，可了不得了，现在三清观的刘老道来捉妖没捉成，反给妖精喷了妖气，至今昏迷不醒。我正要给老道庙中送信，报官相验，听外面和尚叫门，贤弟你把大师父请过来。」苏北山一瞧，和尚在影壁墙根蹲着。苏北山说：「师父请过来，给员外相见。」周员外往里让，来至厅房，家人献上茶来。周员外说：「圣僧，我等不知，望希恕罪。」赶紧吩咐摆酒给和尚赔话。济公说：「我今天不喝酒，我先捉妖净宅，退鬼治病，然后才喝酒。你带我到后面去瞧瞧。」周员外说：「是。」立刻头前领路。
The squire sighed. “Truly, good fortune never comes in pairs, and misfortune never comes alone. The demon isn’t caught, and the old Daoist has died here. There’s nothing for it but to report it to the authorities for an inquest.” Rich people dread nothing so much as a lawsuit over a death, and he hurriedly ordered the courtyard swept and tidied first. Back in the front of the house, the squire thought to himself, “That monk’s Weituo is quite something. It was standing in the front hall. How did it get to the back to show its divine power? When the monk comes for it, never mind giving it back, I’ll ask him how much he wants and buy it to guard the house.” Just as he was thinking this, he heard knocking at the gate and a voice that sounded like the monk’s, calling, “Open up! I’ve come for my Weituo. That Weituo of mine has an owner. I wouldn’t sell it for six million in silver.” The squire hurried to the front and looked out of the gate. It was not the monk outside. There stood a man eight feet tall, in a sapphire-blue satin squire’s cap of the leisure style and a sapphire-blue satin leisure cloak, with white-soled court boots. His face was like the ancient moon of late autumn; he had kindly brows and gentle eyes, and three locks of black beard floated down over his chest. Behind him came a page of fourteen or fifteen. Squire Zhou knew him at once: it was his sworn younger brother, Su Beishan. “Was that you knocking, Brother Su?” Squire Zhou asked. “No,” said Su Beishan. “I’ve brought a friend to introduce to you, elder brother. I’ve often told you about the living Buddha Crazy Ji of Lingyin Temple by West Lake. Last night he came to my house and talked about carrying a Weituo around to beg for alms. He said there was a demon haunting your house, elder brother, and he came here to catch it, but you threw him out, and he left his statue of Weituo here. He spent the night at my house. I thought you surely hadn’t known who he was, elder brother; if you had known he was Ji Gong, you would never have slighted him. So today I’ve come along with him, first to catch the demon and second to fetch the Weituo.” “Worthy brother,” said Squire Zhou, “this is terrible. Old Daoist Liu of Sanqing Temple came to catch the demon and failed. Instead the demon blew its foul vapour on him, and he’s lain senseless ever since. I was just about to send word to his temple and report to the authorities for an inquest when I heard the monk calling at the gate. Worthy brother, ask the Reverend Master over.” Su Beishan looked round: the monk was squatting at the foot of the spirit screen. “Master, come over and meet the squire,” said Su Beishan. Squire Zhou showed them in to the hall, and the servants brought tea. “Holy monk,” said Squire Zhou, “we did not know who you were. I hope you will forgive me.” He promptly ordered wine set out to make amends to the monk. “I’m not drinking today,” said Ji Gong. “First I’ll catch the demon and cleanse the house, drive off the ghost and cure the sick, and only then will I drink. Take me to the back and let me have a look.” “Yes,” said Squire Zhou, and at once he led the way.
來至後面，見老道還在地下躺著。和尚說：「老道，昨天許是遇著親戚了。」周福說：「不錯，昨天我們聽見是老道的姑姑。」濟公說：「我先把老道治好了罷，你們去拿半碗開水，半碗涼水，我灌他點藥，拿陰陽水一送，老道就好了。」家人把水取來，和尚把藥化開，給老道灌下去。少待片刻，老道嘔吐了半天，睜眼一看，是那窮和尚同著周員外、蘇員外都站在跟前。老道都認得，自己站起來說：「慚愧慚愧。」和尚說：「員外，你給老道五十兩銀子，讓他回廟，好拿五供蠟扦贖出來。」員外吩咐家人把銀子拿來遞給老道。老道謝了謝員外。老道說：「這位大和尚的寶剎在哪裏？」周員外說：「是西湖靈隱寺的濟公活佛。」老道一聽，趕緊趴地下磕頭，說：「我可實不知是聖僧，昨天多有衝撞你老人家。」濟公說：「道爺不可行禮，你回廟還想替人家捉妖不想了？」老道說：「這一回幾乎要了我的命，我可怕了。從今以後，再不敢捉妖。」說完，老道這纔告辭回廟，來至三清觀，叫童子去換銀子贖當，把外頭的捉妖淨宅的匾摘下，囑咐童子：「勿論是誰來請我捉妖，就說我入山採藥去了。」
来至后面，见老道还在地下躺着。和尚说：「老道，昨天许是遇着亲戚了。」周福说：「不错，昨天我们听见是老道的姑姑。」济公说：「我先把老道治好了罢，你们去拿半碗开水，半碗凉水，我灌他点药，拿阴阳水一送，老道就好了。」家人把水取来，和尚把药化开，给老道灌下去。少待片刻，老道呕吐了半天，睁眼一看，是那穷和尚同着周员外、苏员外都站在跟前。老道都认得，自己站起来说：「惭愧惭愧。」和尚说：「员外，你给老道五十两银子，让他回庙，好拿五供蜡扦赎出来。」员外吩咐家人把银子拿来递给老道。老道谢了谢员外。老道说：「这位大和尚的宝刹在哪里？」周员外说：「是西湖灵隐寺的济公活佛。」老道一听，赶紧趴地下磕头，说：「我可实不知是圣僧，昨天多有冲撞你老人家。」济公说：「道爷不可行礼，你回庙还想替人家捉妖不想了？」老道说：「这一回几乎要了我的命，我可怕了。从今以后，再不敢捉妖。」说完，老道这才告辞回庙，来至三清观，叫童子去换银子赎当，把外头的捉妖净宅的匾摘下，嘱咐童子：「勿论是谁来请我捉妖，就说我入山采药去了。」
When they reached the back, they saw the old Daoist still lying on the ground. “Old Daoist,” said the monk, “I expect you ran into a relative last night.” “That’s right,” said Zhou Fu. “Last night we heard it was the old Daoist’s auntie.” “Let me cure the old Daoist first,” said Ji Gong. “Go and fetch half a bowl of boiled water and half a bowl of cold water. I’ll pour some medicine down him and wash it down with yin-yang water, and the old Daoist will be fine.” The servants fetched the water, and the monk dissolved his medicine in it and poured it down the old Daoist’s throat. After a little while the old Daoist threw up for a good long time, then opened his eyes and looked: there stood that pauper monk, together with Squire Zhou and Squire Su, right beside him. The old Daoist knew them all. He got to his feet. “How shameful, how shameful.” “Squire,” said the monk, “give the old Daoist fifty taels of silver and let him go back to his temple, so he can redeem his altar set and candlesticks.” The squire ordered a servant to bring the silver and hand it to the old Daoist, and the old Daoist thanked the squire. Then the old Daoist said, “And where is this great monk’s holy temple?” “This is the living Buddha Ji Gong of Lingyin Temple by West Lake,” said Squire Zhou. At this the old Daoist promptly threw himself on the ground and kowtowed. “I truly didn’t know you were the holy monk. I gave you a great deal of offence yesterday, venerable sir.” “No need to bow, Daoist Master,” said Ji Gong. “When you get back to your temple, do you still want to catch demons for people or don’t you?” “This time it very nearly cost me my life,” said the old Daoist. “I’ve had my fright. From now on I’ll never dare catch another demon.” With that, the old Daoist at last took his leave and went back to his temple. At Sanqing Temple he sent his acolyte to change the silver and redeem the pawned things, took down the signboard outside that advertised the catching of demons and the cleansing of houses, and told the acolyte, “No matter who comes asking me to catch a demon, just say I’ve gone into the mountains to gather herbs.”
不言講老道，單說濟公見老道走後，和尚說：「員外，我先給公子退鬼治病，然後再捉妖。」員外說：「好，聖僧大發慈悲罷。」帶領濟公來到公子周志魁屋中。見這屋子順前檐炕，公子頭向東，腳向西橫躺著，面上焦黃，一點血色沒有，周員外一看，心中甚為難過，連叫數聲：「志魁兒呀！」公子並不言語，睜開眼看了看員外，又把眼閉上。周員外一看，說：「我這兒子素常是風流人物，這些日不見，大改了樣子，臉上也沒了血色，抬頭紋也開了，大眼犄角也散了，鼻子翅發訕，耳朵梢也乾了，這便如何是好？」濟公說：「不要緊，我給他點藥吃就好了。」周志魁是一向的羸弱，白天昏昏沉沉，晚上徹夜無眠，精神恍惚，心中卻也明白，見老員外、蘇員外同和尚進來，睜眼瞧瞧，見和尚伸手掏出一塊藥來。周員外說：「聖僧，這甚麼藥？」和尚說：「這叫要命丹。你兒子的命是沒有了，拿我這藥把命要回來。」和尚把藥擱在口內嚼了，拿手一撥周志魁的嘴，和尚一噴，把藥噴在公子嘴裏。周志魁一見和尚真髒，要吐沒吐出來，把藥咽下去，覺著肚子裏咕嚕一響，藥引血走，血引氣行，五臟六腑，覺著氣爽，身上如去了一座泰山。和尚說：「周志魁，你父母跟前有幾個兒？」周志魁公子說：「就是我一個。」和尚說：「你既知道就是你一個，不孝有三，無後為大，你在花園以邪招邪，做出這樁事來，我和尚越說越有氣。」說著話，照周志魁的天靈蓋就是一掌。本來公子是病虛了的人，當時一伸腿，嘔吐一聲沒了氣。周員外大驚。和尚一回頭說：「員外，你倒不用著急。是兒不死，是冤不散，這是該死。合該我廟中有了買賣，接三堂焰口。」員外心疼兒子，點頭答應。書中交代：周志魁這病怎麼得的？
不言讲老道，单说济公见老道走后，和尚说：「员外，我先给公子退鬼治病，然后再捉妖。」员外说：「好，圣僧大发慈悲罢。」带领济公来到公子周志魁屋中。见这屋子顺前檐炕，公子头向东，脚向西横躺着，面上焦黄，一点血色没有，周员外一看，心中甚为难过，连叫数声：「志魁儿呀！」公子并不言语，睁开眼看了看员外，又把眼闭上。周员外一看，说：「我这儿子素常是风流人物，这些日不见，大改了样子，脸上也没了血色，抬头纹也开了，大眼犄角也散了，鼻子翅发讪，耳朵梢也干了，这便如何是好？」济公说：「不要紧，我给他点药吃就好了。」周志魁是一向的羸弱，白天昏昏沉沉，晚上彻夜无眠，精神恍惚，心中却也明白，见老员外、苏员外同和尚进来，睁眼瞧瞧，见和尚伸手掏出一块药来。周员外说：「圣僧，这甚么药？」和尚说：「这叫要命丹。你儿子的命是没有了，拿我这药把命要回来。」和尚把药搁在口内嚼了，拿手一拨周志魁的嘴，和尚一喷，把药喷在公子嘴里。周志魁一见和尚真脏，要吐没吐出来，把药咽下去，觉着肚子里咕噜一响，药引血走，血引气行，五脏六腑，觉着气爽，身上如去了一座泰山。和尚说：「周志魁，你父母跟前有几个儿？」周志魁公子说：「就是我一个。」和尚说：「你既知道就是你一个，不孝有三，无后为大，你在花园以邪招邪，做出这桩事来，我和尚越说越有气。」说着话，照周志魁的天灵盖就是一掌。本来公子是病虚了的人，当时一伸腿，呕吐一声没了气。周员外大惊。和尚一回头说：「员外，你倒不用着急。是儿不死，是冤不散，这是该死。合该我庙中有了买卖，接三堂焰口。」员外心疼儿子，点头答应。书中交代：周志魁这病怎么得的？
But enough of the old Daoist. Our story turns to Ji Gong. Once the old Daoist had gone, the monk said, “Squire, first I’ll drive off the ghost and cure the young master, and then I’ll catch the demon.” “Good,” said the squire. “Holy monk, please show your great compassion.” He led Ji Gong to the room of the young master, Zhou Zhikui. In this room a heated brick bed ran along under the front eaves, and the young master was lying across it, head to the east and feet to the west, his face a sallow yellow without a drop of colour in it. Squire Zhou looked, and his heart ached. He called out several times, “Zhikui, my son!” The young master said nothing. He opened his eyes, looked at the squire, and closed them again. Squire Zhou looked at him. “This son of mine was always such a dashing young man. I haven’t seen him for a few days, and he’s changed completely. There’s no colour left in his face, the lines on his forehead have gone slack, the corners of his eyes have sagged, the wings of his nose are flaring and the rims of his ears have dried up. What on earth is to be done?” “Never mind,” said Ji Gong. “I’ll give him some medicine and he’ll be fine.” Zhou Zhikui had been frail for some time. By day he was dazed and drowsy, at night he lay awake till dawn, and his wits wandered, yet he still knew what was going on. When he saw the Old Squire and Squire Su come in with a monk, he opened his eyes and watched, and he saw the monk reach in and pull out a lump of medicine. “Holy monk,” said Squire Zhou, “what medicine is that?” “It’s called the Life-Demanding Elixir,” said the monk. “Your son’s life is gone, and this medicine of mine will demand it back.” The monk put the medicine in his mouth and chewed it, pushed Zhou Zhikui’s mouth open with his hand, and spat — and the medicine went spraying into the young master’s mouth. Zhou Zhikui saw how truly filthy the monk was and tried to spit it out, but it would not come up, and he swallowed it down. He felt his belly give a rumble. The medicine drew the blood along and the blood drew the breath; his five organs and six bowels felt clear and fresh, and his body felt as if Mount Tai had been lifted off it. “Zhou Zhikui,” said the monk, “how many sons do your parents have?” “Only me,” said the young master Zhou Zhikui. “So you know you’re the only one,” said the monk. “Of the three unfilial things, leaving no heir is the worst, and you go and draw evil in with your own evil thoughts there in the garden and get up to this business! The more this monk talks about it, the angrier he gets.” As he spoke, he struck Zhou Zhikui on the crown of the head with the flat of his hand. The young master was already weak from his illness. At once his legs stretched out, he gave one retching heave, and he stopped breathing. Squire Zhou was horrified. The monk turned round. “Squire, there’s no need to fret. If he’s truly your son, he won’t die; if he’s a karmic foe, there’s no getting rid of him. This one was due to die. As luck would have it, my temple has some business coming: a third-day rite and a Feeding of the Flaming Mouths.” The squire, heartsick over his son, nodded his agreement. A word of explanation: how had Zhou Zhikui come by this illness?
皆因他在花園唸書，這花園有三間艷陽樓，那一日公子上樓，扶著欄杆看花，廳東隔壁有婦女說話的聲音。周公子一看，是王員外的花園，姑娘王月娥叫丫鬟摘鮮花。公子仔細一看，見王月娥果然長得天姿國色。公子暗說：「頭幾年我與月娥在一處玩耍，見他長的平平無奇。這幾年不見他，會變的這麼好看，真是女子十八變。我周志魁娶個這等媳婦，也一輩子不委屈。」心中想著，二目就瞧出神。那裏王月娥正叫丫鬟摘花，一抬頭見西院樓上站定文生公子，見周志魁右手一揪繡帶，左手拿了扇子，往身後一背，伸著脖子睜了眼，往這邊瞧。姑娘臊的臉一紅，告訴丫鬟：「荷花，快下樓吧。」公子直看著姑娘下樓，這纔嘆一口氣：「唉，我恨不能肋生二翅，飛過去跟月娥成其好事，纔合我心願。」由這天，公子就中了迷，在書房閉上眼，書房內童子一倒茶，公子就說：「月娥賢妹來了！」嚇的書童撒腿就跑。這天晚上悶坐，一閉眼就彷彿月娥在眼前，睜眼又沒了。天天跑到花園，叫道：「月娥妹妹快來吧！」鬧的小書童真害怕。有一天晚間，公子悶坐無聊，說：「我這條命給月娥耍了，要得單思病，茶飯怕吃。」正在思想，見簾板一起，進來一位如花似玉的女子，正是王月娥。公子如得了斗大明珠，趕過去用手相拉。
皆因他在花园念书，这花园有三间艳阳楼，那一日公子上楼，扶着栏杆看花，厅东隔壁有妇女说话的声音。周公子一看，是王员外的花园，姑娘王月娥叫丫鬟摘鲜花。公子仔细一看，见王月娥果然长得天姿国色。公子暗说：「头几年我与月娥在一处玩耍，见他长的平平无奇。这几年不见他，会变的这么好看，真是女子十八变。我周志魁娶个这等媳妇，也一辈子不委屈。」心中想着，二目就瞧出神。那里王月娥正叫丫鬟摘花，一抬头见西院楼上站定文生公子，见周志魁右手一揪绣带，左手拿了扇子，往身后一背，伸着脖子睁了眼，往这边瞧。姑娘臊的脸一红，告诉丫鬟：「荷花，快下楼吧。」公子直看着姑娘下楼，这才叹一口气：「唉，我恨不能肋生二翅，飞过去跟月娥成其好事，才合我心愿。」由这天，公子就中了迷，在书房闭上眼，书房内童子一倒茶，公子就说：「月娥贤妹来了！」吓的书童撒腿就跑。这天晚上闷坐，一闭眼就仿佛月娥在眼前，睁眼又没了。天天跑到花园，叫道：「月娥妹妹快来吧！」闹的小书童真害怕。有一天晚间，公子闷坐无聊，说：「我这条命给月娥耍了，要得单思病，茶饭怕吃。」正在思想，见帘板一起，进来一位如花似玉的女子，正是王月娥。公子如得了斗大明珠，赶过去用手相拉。
It all came about because he studied in the garden. In this garden stood the Yanyang Tower, three bays wide. One day the young master went up the tower and was leaning on the railing looking at the flowers when he heard women talking next door to the east. The young master looked: it was Squire Wang’s garden, and the young lady, Wang Yue’e, was having her maid pick fresh flowers. Looking closely, the young master saw that Wang Yue’e really was a heavenly beauty, the loveliest in the land. The young master said to himself, “A few years ago Yue’e and I used to play together, and I thought her plain and nothing special. I haven’t seen her these last few years, and now she’s turned so lovely. It’s true what they say, a girl changes eighteen times as she grows. If I, Zhou Zhikui, could marry a wife like this, I’d never feel hard done by my whole life long.” With these thoughts in his head, he stared at her, lost to the world. Over there, Wang Yue’e was telling her maid to pick flowers when she looked up and saw a young gentleman in scholar’s dress standing on the tower in the west courtyard: Zhou Zhikui, twisting his embroidered sash in his right hand, his fan in his left hand tucked behind his back, craning his neck and staring wide-eyed her way. The girl blushed scarlet with shame. “Hehua,” she told her maid, “let’s go downstairs, quickly.” The young master watched until the girl had gone down, and only then did he heave a sigh. “Ah! If only I could sprout two wings from my ribs and fly over there and make Yue’e mine, then I’d have my heart’s desire.” From that day on the young master was bewitched. He would sit in the study with his eyes closed, and when the study boy poured him tea he would say, “Sister Yue’e, you’ve come!” and the study boy would take to his heels in fright. In the evenings he sat brooding, and whenever he closed his eyes Yue’e seemed to be there before him; when he opened them she was gone. Every day he ran out into the garden, calling, “Sister Yue’e, come quickly!” It gave the little study boy a real fright. One evening the young master sat brooding, with nothing to do. “Yue’e is toying with my life,” he said. “I’m going to fall sick with longing. I can hardly face food or drink.” Just as he was lost in these thoughts, the door curtain lifted, and in came a girl as lovely as a flower, as fair as jade. It was Wang Yue’e. The young master felt as if he had found a shining pearl as big as a peck measure. He rushed over and reached out to take her hand.
不知該當如何，且看下回分解。
不知该当如何，且看下回分解。
To learn what happened next, read the next chapter.