話說濟公帶領四位班頭，來到鐵佛寺，見大殿里一股妖氣衝天。和尚一瞧，大殿頭裡東邊一張桌，有人管帳，專收銀子；西邊一張帳桌，專管收錢。只見有一個婦人，在那裡燒香。約有二十以外的年紀，光梳油頭，發亮如鏡，一臉的脂粉，打扮的不像好人，在那裡禱告說：「佛爺在上，小婦人姚氏。只因我一個小親家得了臌症，求佛爺慈悲慈悲，賞點藥罷。只要我親家好了，我給佛爺燒香上供。」鐵佛口吐人言說：「姚氏你可曾給佛爺帶了一吊錢來。」姚氏說：「帶來了。」鐵佛說：「既帶了錢文，交在帳桌上。佛爺給你一包好藥，拿回去保你一家都好了。」姚氏說：「謝謝佛爺。」拿著藥，竟自去了。這姚氏剛走，只見外面又來了一個少婦人。由外面一步一個頭，磕著進來。
话说济公带领四位班头，来到铁佛寺，见大殿里一股妖气冲天。和尚一瞧，大殿头里东边一张桌，有人管帐，专收银子；西边一张帐桌，专管收钱。只见有一个妇人，在那里烧香。约有二十以外的年纪，光梳油头，发亮如镜，一脸的脂粉，打扮的不像好人，在那里祷告说：「佛爷在上，小妇人姚氏。只因我一个小亲家得了臌症，求佛爷慈悲慈悲，赏点药罢。只要我亲家好了，我给佛爷烧香上供。」铁佛口吐人言说：「姚氏你可曾给佛爷带了一吊钱来。」姚氏说：「带来了。」铁佛说：「既带了钱文，交在帐桌上。佛爷给你一包好药，拿回去保你一家都好了。」姚氏说：「谢谢佛爷。」拿着药，竟自去了。这姚氏刚走，只见外面又来了一个少妇人。由外面一步一个头，磕着进来。
Now, Ji Gong led the four head constables to Tiefo Temple, where he saw a demonic aura shooting up to the sky from the main hall. The monk looked about. In front of the main hall, on the east side, stood a table where someone kept the accounts and took in nothing but silver; on the west side stood another accounts table, which handled only copper cash. A woman was there burning incense. She looked somewhere past twenty, her hair combed smooth and oiled till it shone like a mirror, her face thick with rouge and powder; got up like that, she didn’t look like a decent woman. She was praying: “Lord Buddha above, this humble woman is Madam Yao. A young in-law of mine has come down with the bloating sickness. I beg you, Lord Buddha, have mercy, have mercy, and grant me a little medicine. If only my in-law gets well, I’ll burn incense and lay out offerings for you, Lord Buddha.” The Iron Buddha opened its mouth and spoke in a human voice: “Madam Yao, have you brought the Buddha a string of cash?” “I have,” said Madam Yao. “Since you have brought the money,” said the Iron Buddha, “hand it in at the accounts table. The Buddha will give you a packet of good medicine. Take it home, and I guarantee your whole family will be well.” “Thank you, Lord Buddha,” said Madam Yao. She took the medicine and went off. No sooner had Madam Yao gone than another young woman came in from outside. All the way in she came kowtowing, one kowtow to every step.
書中交代，這個婦人姓劉，娘家姓李，在開化縣正南劉家莊住家。丈夫在外貿易，有數年不通音信。劉李氏有個婆母，家中寒苦，就靠著做針黹餬口。劉李氏賢孝無比。只因她婆母身得臌症，有二年之久。劉李氏聽說鐵佛寺佛爺顯聖，專治臌症。李氏一片虔心，由家中一步一個頭，走了一天一夜，才來到這裡。劉李氏一燒香說：「佛爺慈悲。小婦人劉門李氏。家有婆母，臌症二年之久。求佛爺賞點藥，只要我婆母好了，等我丈夫貿易回來，必給佛燒香上供。」妖精一瞧，這臌症不是他灑的，他也治不了，說：「劉李氏你可曾給佛爺帶了錢來？」劉李氏說：「我家中太寒，沒有錢，求佛爺慈悲慈悲罷。」鐵佛說：「不行。佛爺這裡是一概不賒，沒錢不給藥，你去罷。」劉李氏嘆了一聲，心說：「不怪人間勢利，連佛爺都愛財，可惜我這一片虔心。」自己無法，轉身往外走。濟公一瞧，知道這是一位賢良孝婦。和尚說：「這位小娘子不用著急，我這裡拈了一塊藥，你拿回去，給婆母吃了就好。」劉李氏把藥接過去，說：「謝謝大師父。」竟自去了。濟公邁步來到大殿。一瞧這鐵佛，是坐像，一丈二尺的金身，五尺高的蓮花座。頭前擺著香爐蠟扦，許多的仙果供素菜。和尚過去，伸手拿了一個蘋果，一個桃，拿過來就吃。旁邊打磬的一瞧說：「和尚你是哪裡來的，搶果子吃？」和尚說：「廟裡有東西就應當吃。你們這些東西，指佛吃飯，賴佛穿衣，算是和尚的兒子，算是和尚的孫子？」這個打磬的一聽這話，氣往上沖，過來就要打和尚。和尚用手一指，用定神法把這人定住。和尚跳上蓮花座說：「好東西，你敢在這裡興妖作怪，要害眾民。我和尚正要找你，結果你的性命。」說著話，和尚照定鐵佛就兩個嘴巴。眾燒香的大家一亂，說：「來了個瘋和尚，打佛爺的嘴巴呢。」四個班頭也站在外頭瞧著。就聽鐵佛肚子裡咕嚕咕嚕的一陣響，其聲似雷鳴。忽然山崩地裂一聲響。四位班頭瞧著鐵佛，一丈二的金身連蓮花座往前一倒，竟把和尚壓在底下。柴元祿、杜振英一跺腳，放聲痛哭，說：「師父你老人家沒想到死在這裡，死的好苦。」楊國棟、尹士雄也深為嘆息，說：「可惜濟公是個好人，這一碰準砸在地里去，肉泥爛醬。」楊國棟說：「柴頭，你也不用哭了，人是生有處，死有地，這也無法。咱們走罷。」四個人正要走，只見和尚彳亍彳亍由廟外頭進來了。和尚說：「柴頭，你們報喪呢。」柴元祿也不哭了，說：「師父你沒死呢。」和尚說：「沒有。好妖精，他打算要暗害我和尚。我非得要找他去，跟他誓不兩立。」柴元祿說：「我們眼瞧著把師父壓在地下，怎麼你又打外來了？」和尚說：「沒砸著我。我一害怕。一踹腿竄出去了。」正說話，和尚就嚷：「了不得了，快救人哪，妖精來了。」這句話沒說完，只見一陣狂風大作。真是：
书中交代，这个妇人姓刘，娘家姓李，在开化县正南刘家庄住家。丈夫在外贸易，有数年不通音信。刘李氏有个婆母，家中寒苦，就靠着做针黹糊口。刘李氏贤孝无比。只因她婆母身得臌症，有二年之久。刘李氏听说铁佛寺佛爷显圣，专治臌症。李氏一片虔心，由家中一步一个头，走了一天一夜，才来到这里。刘李氏一烧香说：「佛爷慈悲。小妇人刘门李氏。家有婆母，臌症二年之久。求佛爷赏点药，只要我婆母好了，等我丈夫贸易回来，必给佛烧香上供。」妖精一瞧，这臌症不是他洒的，他也治不了，说：「刘李氏你可曾给佛爷带了钱来？」刘李氏说：「我家中太寒，没有钱，求佛爷慈悲慈悲罢。」铁佛说：「不行。佛爷这里是一概不赊，没钱不给药，你去罢。」刘李氏叹了一声，心说：「不怪人间势利，连佛爷都爱财，可惜我这一片虔心。」自己无法，转身往外走。济公一瞧，知道这是一位贤良孝妇。和尚说：「这位小娘子不用着急，我这里拈了一块药，你拿回去，给婆母吃了就好。」刘李氏把药接过去，说：「谢谢大师父。」竟自去了。济公迈步来到大殿。一瞧这铁佛，是坐像，一丈二尺的金身，五尺高的莲花座。头前摆着香炉蜡扦，许多的仙果供素菜。和尚过去，伸手拿了一个苹果，一个桃，拿过来就吃。旁边打磬的一瞧说：「和尚你是哪里来的，抢果子吃？」和尚说：「庙里有东西就应当吃。你们这些东西，指佛吃饭，赖佛穿衣，算是和尚的儿子，算是和尚的孙子？」这个打磬的一听这话，气往上冲，过来就要打和尚。和尚用手一指，用定神法把这人定住。和尚跳上莲花座说：「好东西，你敢在这里兴妖作怪，要害众民。我和尚正要找你，结果你的性命。」说着话，和尚照定铁佛就两个嘴巴。众烧香的大家一乱，说：「来了个疯和尚，打佛爷的嘴巴呢。」四个班头也站在外头瞧着。就听铁佛肚子里咕噜咕噜的一阵响，其声似雷鸣。忽然山崩地裂一声响。四位班头瞧着铁佛，一丈二的金身连莲花座往前一倒，竟把和尚压在底下。柴元禄、杜振英一跺脚，放声痛哭，说：「师父你老人家没想到死在这里，死的好苦。」杨国栋、尹士雄也深为叹息，说：「可惜济公是个好人，这一碰准砸在地里去，肉泥烂酱。」杨国栋说：「柴头，你也不用哭了，人是生有处，死有地，这也无法。咱们走罢。」四个人正要走，只见和尚彳亍彳亍由庙外头进来了。和尚说：「柴头，你们报丧呢。」柴元禄也不哭了，说：「师父你没死呢。」和尚说：「没有。好妖精，他打算要暗害我和尚。我非得要找他去，跟他誓不两立。」柴元禄说：「我们眼瞧着把师父压在地下，怎么你又打外来了？」和尚说：「没砸着我。我一害怕。一踹腿窜出去了。」正说话，和尚就嚷：「了不得了，快救人哪，妖精来了。」这句话没说完，只见一阵狂风大作。真是：
A word of explanation: this woman’s married name was Liu and her maiden name Li, and she lived at Liu Family Village, due south of Kaihua County. Her husband was away trading and had sent no word for several years. Madam Liu had a mother-in-law; the family was poor and got by on her needlework. Madam Liu was devoted and dutiful beyond compare. Her mother-in-law had been ill with the bloating sickness for two years. Madam Liu had heard that the Buddha at Tiefo Temple was working miracles and cured the bloating sickness above all, and in her deep sincerity she had come all the way from home, one kowtow to every step, walking a day and a night to get here. As she burned her incense, Madam Liu said, “Lord Buddha, have mercy. This humble woman is of the Liu household, born a Li. I have a mother-in-law at home who has had the bloating sickness for two years. I beg you, Lord Buddha, grant me a little medicine. If only my mother-in-law gets well, then when my husband comes home from trading, we will surely burn incense and lay out offerings for the Buddha.” The demon looked her over. This bloating sickness was not one he had spread, and he couldn’t cure it either. “Madam Liu,” he said, “have you brought the Buddha some money?” “My family is too poor,” said Madam Liu. “I have no money. I beg you, Lord Buddha, have mercy, have mercy.” “That won’t do,” said the Iron Buddha. “Here at the Buddha’s there’s no credit for anybody. No money, no medicine. Off you go.” Madam Liu sighed and thought, “No wonder the world fawns on money, when even the Buddha loves wealth. What a waste of all my sincerity.” There was nothing she could do, and she turned to go out. Ji Gong saw at a glance that this was a good and dutiful daughter-in-law. “Young lady, don’t you worry,” the monk said. “I’ve rolled a pellet of medicine here. Take it home and give it to your mother-in-law, and she’ll be well.” Madam Liu took the medicine. “Thank you, Reverend Master,” she said, and off she went. Ji Gong strode up into the main hall. He looked at the Iron Buddha: a seated figure, its gilded body twelve feet high, on a lotus throne five feet tall. In front of it were an incense burner and candlesticks, and plenty of offerings of fine fruit and vegetarian dishes. The monk went over, reached out, took an apple and a peach, and started eating. The man who struck the chime at one side saw him. “Monk, where did you spring from, grabbing the fruit to eat?” “Whatever’s in a temple is there to be eaten,” said the monk. “You lot live off the Buddha for your food and lean on the Buddha for your clothes. What do you count as — this monk’s sons, or this monk’s grandsons?” At these words the chime-striker flew into a rage and came over to hit the monk. The monk pointed a finger and fixed the man to the spot with an immobilizing spell. Then he jumped up onto the lotus throne. “You fine thing!” he said. “So you dare work your devilry here and do harm to the people! This monk has been looking for you, to finish you off.” As he spoke, the monk slapped the Iron Buddha twice across the face. All the incense-burners were thrown into confusion. “A mad monk’s turned up,” they said, “and he’s slapping the Buddha’s face!” The four head constables were standing outside watching too. Then they heard a gurgling, rumbling noise in the Iron Buddha’s belly, a sound like thunder. Suddenly there was a crash like mountains collapsing and the earth splitting open. Before the eyes of the four head constables, the twelve-foot gilded body, lotus throne and all, toppled forward and pinned the monk underneath. Chai Yuanlu and Du Zhenying stamped their feet and burst out wailing. “Master, who’d have thought you’d die here, venerable sir! What a terrible death!” Yang Guodong and Yin Shixiong sighed deeply too. “What a pity. Ji Gong was a good man. A blow like that must have smashed him into the ground, to pulp and paste.” “Head Constable Chai,” said Yang Guodong, “there’s no use crying. Where a man is born and where he dies are fixed beforehand. There’s nothing to be done. Let’s go.” Just as the four of them were about to leave, they saw the monk come shambling in from outside the temple. “Head Constable Chai,” said the monk, “are you lot announcing a death?” Chai Yuanlu stopped crying. “Master, you’re not dead?” “No,” said the monk. “That wretched demon meant to do this monk in on the sly. I’m going after him, and it’s him or me.” “We watched it crush you into the ground with our own eyes, Master,” said Chai Yuanlu. “How come you’re coming in from outside?” “It never touched me,” said the monk. “I got scared, kicked off with my legs and shot out of there.” While they were still talking, the monk started shouting, “Disaster! Quick, save us! The demon’s coming!” Before the words were out of his mouth, a wild wind rose up. Truly:
嗖嗖雲霧卷，唿唿過樹林。海翻波浪起，山滾石頭沉，塵沙迷宇宙，昏暗驚鬼神。這風真浩大，刮遍錦乾坤。
嗖嗖云雾卷，唿唿过树林。海翻波浪起，山滚石头沉，尘沙迷宇宙，昏暗惊鬼神。这风真浩大，刮遍锦乾坤。
Whoosh, whoosh, it rolls up cloud and mist;howling, it rushes through the woods.The sea heaves and the waves rear up;down the hills the boulders crash,Dust and sand blot out the world,a gloom to frighten gods and ghosts.A mighty wind indeed:it sweeps across the whole bright world.