楊萬石，大名諸生也。生平有「季常之懼」。妻尹氏，奇悍。少迕之，輒以鞭撻從事。楊父年六十餘而鰥，尹以齒奴隸數。楊與弟萬鐘常竊餌翁，不敢令婦知。然衣敗絮，恐貽訕笑，不令見客。萬石四十無子，納妾王，旦夕不敢通一語。兄弟候試郡中，見一少年，容服都雅。與語，悅之。詢其姓字，自云：「介甫，姓馬。」由此交日密，焚香為昆季之盟。既別，約半載，馬忽攜僮僕過楊。值楊翁在門外，曝陽捫蝨。疑為傭僕，通姓氏使達主人。翁披絮去。或告馬：「此即其翁也。」馬方驚訝，楊兄弟岸幘出迎。登堂一揖，便請朝父。萬石辭以偶恙。促坐笑語，不覺向夕。萬石屢言具食，而終不見至。兄弟迭互出入，始有瘦奴持壺酒來。俄頃引盡。坐伺良久，萬石頻起催呼，額頰間熱汗蒸騰。俄瘦奴以饌具出，脫粟失飪，殊不甘旨。食已，萬石草草便去。萬鐘襆被來伴客寢。馬責之曰：「曩以伯仲高義，遂同盟好。今老父實不溫飽，行道者羞之！」萬鐘泫然曰：「在心之情，卒難申致。家門不吉，蹇遭悍嫂，尊長細弱，橫被摧殘。非瀝血之好，此醜不敢揚也。」馬駭嘆移時，曰：「我初欲早旦而行，今得此異聞，不可不一目見之。請假閒舍，就便自炊。」萬鐘從其教，即除室為馬安頓。夜深竊餽蔬稻，惟恐婦知。馬會其意，力卻之。且請楊翁與同食寢。自詣城肆，市布帛，為易袍袴。父子兄弟皆感泣。
杨万石，大名诸生也。生平有「季常之惧」。妻尹氏，奇悍。少迕之，辄以鞭挞从事。杨父年六十余而鳏，尹以齿奴隶数。杨与弟万钟常窃饵翁，不敢令妇知。然衣败絮，恐贻讪笑，不令见客。万石四十无子，纳妾王，旦夕不敢通一语。兄弟候试郡中，见一少年，容服都雅。与语，悦之。询其姓字，自云：「介甫，姓马。」由此交日密，焚香为昆季之盟。既别，约半载，马忽携僮仆过杨。值杨翁在门外，曝阳扪虱。疑为佣仆，通姓氏使达主人。翁披絮去。或告马：「此即其翁也。」马方惊讶，杨兄弟岸帻出迎。登堂一揖，便请朝父。万石辞以偶恙。促坐笑语，不觉向夕。万石屡言具食，而终不见至。兄弟迭互出入，始有瘦奴持壶酒来。俄顷引尽。坐伺良久，万石频起催呼，额颊间热汗蒸腾。俄瘦奴以馔具出，脱粟失饪，殊不甘旨。食已，万石草草便去。万钟襆被来伴客寝。马责之曰：「曩以伯仲高义，遂同盟好。今老父实不温饱，行道者羞之！」万钟泫然曰：「在心之情，卒难申致。家门不吉，蹇遭悍嫂，尊长细弱，横被摧残。非沥血之好，此丑不敢扬也。」马骇叹移时，曰：「我初欲早旦而行，今得此异闻，不可不一目见之。请假闲舍，就便自炊。」万钟从其教，即除室为马安顿。夜深窃餽蔬稻，惟恐妇知。马会其意，力却之。且请杨翁与同食寝。自诣城肆，市布帛，为易袍袴。父子兄弟皆感泣。
Yang Wanshi was a licentiate of Daming. All his life he suffered from ‘Jichang’s fear’. His wife, whose maiden name was Yin, was extraordinarily fierce. If he crossed her in the least, she took the whip to him. Yang’s father was over sixty and a widower, and Mrs. Yin counted him among the servants. Yang and his younger brother, Wanzhong, often slipped the old man food on the sly, not daring to let the woman know. But he went about in tattered padded clothes, and for fear of ridicule they never let him see visitors. At forty Wanshi had no son, and took a concubine, Wang; but morning or evening, he dared not exchange a single word with her. While the brothers were in the prefectural city waiting for the examinations, they met a young man of fine looks and elegant dress. They talked with him and liked him. When they asked his name, he said, “Jiefu. My surname is Ma.” From then on their friendship grew closer by the day, and they burned incense and swore to be brothers. After they parted, about half a year went by, and then Ma suddenly came to call on Yang with his servants. Old Yang happened to be outside the gate, sunning himself and picking lice. Taking him for a hired servant, Ma gave his name and asked him to take it to his master. The old man wrapped his tattered padding round him and went. Someone told Ma, “That was his father.” Ma was still taken aback when the Yang brothers came out to greet him, their caps pushed back. Once in the hall, after a bow, Ma asked to pay his respects to their father. Wanshi excused him, saying he happened to be unwell. They sat close together, talking and laughing, and before they knew it evening was coming on. Wanshi kept calling for the meal to be served, but it never came. The brothers took turns going in and out, and at last a scrawny servant brought a pot of wine. It was drunk in no time. They sat waiting a long while. Wanshi kept getting up to call for the food, hot sweat steaming on his brow and cheeks. At last the scrawny servant brought out the dishes: coarse grain, badly cooked, not at all tasty. When they had eaten, Wanshi hurried off. Wanzhong brought his bedding to keep the guest company for the night. Ma reproached him. “I swore brotherhood with you two because I thought you were men of high principle. But your old father is not even warm or fed. A stranger passing on the road would be ashamed of it!” Wanzhong’s tears fell. “What is in my heart is hard to put into words. Our family is cursed. By ill luck we have a shrew for a sister-in-law, and old and young alike are cruelly abused. If you were not a brother sworn in blood, I would not dare let this shame out.” Ma sighed in dismay for a long time. “I meant to leave early tomorrow morning,” he said. “But now that I have heard so strange a thing, I must see it with my own eyes. Let me borrow a spare room, and I will do my own cooking.” Wanzhong did as he asked and had a room cleared for Ma to stay in. Late at night he secretly brought him vegetables and rice, fearful that the woman would find out. Ma understood, and firmly refused them. He also asked old Yang to eat and sleep with him. He went himself to the shops in town, bought cloth and silk, and had a new gown and trousers made for the old man. Father and sons were all moved to tears.
萬鐘有子喜兒，方七歲，夜從翁眠。馬撫之曰：「此兒福壽，過於其父，但少年孤苦耳。」婦聞老翁安飽，大怒，輒罵，謂馬強預人家事。初惡聲尚在閨闥，漸近馬居，以示瑟歌之意。楊兄弟汗體徘徊，不能制止；而馬若弗聞也者。妾王，體妊五月，婦始知之，褫衣慘掠。已，乃喚萬石跪受巾幗，操鞭逐出。值馬在外，慚懅不前。又追逼之，始出。婦亦隨出，叉手頓足，觀者填溢。馬指婦叱曰：「去，去！」婦即反奔，若被鬼逐。袴履俱脫，足纏縈繞於道上，徒跣而歸，面色灰死。少定，婢進襪履。著已，噭啕大哭。家人無敢問者。馬曳萬石為解巾幗。萬石聳身定息，如恐脫落；馬強脫之。而坐立不寧，猶懼以私脫加罪。探婦哭已，乃敢入，趦趄而前。婦殊不發一語，遽起，入房自寢。萬石意始舒，與弟竊奇焉。家人皆以為異，相聚偶語。婦微有聞，益羞怒，遍撻奴婢。呼妾，妾創劇不能起。婦以為偽，就榻搒之，崩注墮胎。萬石於無人處，對馬哀啼。馬慰解之。呼僮具牢饌，更籌再唱，不放萬石歸。婦在閨房，恨夫不歸，方大恚忿。聞撬扉聲，急呼婢，則室門已闢。有巨人入，影蔽一室，猙獰如鬼。俄又有數人入，各執利刃。婦駭絕欲號。巨人以刀刺頸，曰：「號便殺卻！」婦急以金帛贖命。巨人曰：「我冥曹使者，不要錢，但取悍婦心耳！」婦益懼，自投敗顙。巨人乃以利刃畫婦心而數之曰：「如某事，謂可殺否？」即一畫。凡一切凶悍之事，責數殆盡，刀畫膚革，不啻數十。末乃曰：「妾生子，亦爾宗緒，何忍打墮？此事必不可宥！」乃令數人反接其手，剖視悍婦心腸。婦叩頭乞命，但言知悔。俄聞中門啟閉，曰：「楊萬石來矣。既已悔過，姑留餘生。」紛然盡散。無何，萬石入，見婦赤身繃繫，心頭刀痕，縱橫不可數。解而問之，得其故，大駭，竊疑馬。
万钟有子喜儿，方七岁，夜从翁眠。马抚之曰：「此儿福寿，过于其父，但少年孤苦耳。」妇闻老翁安饱，大怒，辄骂，谓马强预人家事。初恶声尚在闺闼，渐近马居，以示瑟歌之意。杨兄弟汗体徘徊，不能制止；而马若弗闻也者。妾王，体妊五月，妇始知之，褫衣惨掠。已，乃唤万石跪受巾帼，操鞭逐出。值马在外，惭懅不前。又追逼之，始出。妇亦随出，叉手顿足，观者填溢。马指妇叱曰：「去，去！」妇即反奔，若被鬼逐。袴履俱脱，足缠萦绕于道上，徒跣而归，面色灰死。少定，婢进袜履。着已，噭啕大哭。家人无敢问者。马曳万石为解巾帼。万石耸身定息，如恐脱落；马强脱之。而坐立不宁，犹惧以私脱加罪。探妇哭已，乃敢入，趦趄而前。妇殊不发一语，遽起，入房自寝。万石意始舒，与弟窃奇焉。家人皆以为异，相聚偶语。妇微有闻，益羞怒，遍挞奴婢。呼妾，妾创剧不能起。妇以为伪，就榻搒之，崩注堕胎。万石于无人处，对马哀啼。马慰解之。呼僮具牢馔，更筹再唱，不放万石归。妇在闺房，恨夫不归，方大恚忿。闻撬扉声，急呼婢，则室门已辟。有巨人入，影蔽一室，狰狞如鬼。俄又有数人入，各执利刃。妇骇绝欲号。巨人以刀刺颈，曰：「号便杀却！」妇急以金帛赎命。巨人曰：「我冥曹使者，不要钱，但取悍妇心耳！」妇益惧，自投败颡。巨人乃以利刃画妇心而数之曰：「如某事，谓可杀否？」即一画。凡一切凶悍之事，责数殆尽，刀画肤革，不啻数十。末乃曰：「妾生子，亦尔宗绪，何忍打堕？此事必不可宥！」乃令数人反接其手，剖视悍妇心肠。妇叩头乞命，但言知悔。俄闻中门启闭，曰：「杨万石来矣。既已悔过，姑留余生。」纷然尽散。无何，万石入，见妇赤身绷系，心头刀痕，纵横不可数。解而问之，得其故，大骇，窃疑马。
Wanzhong had a son, Xi’er, just seven years old, who slept with his grandfather at night. Ma stroked the boy’s head. “This child will have more fortune and a longer life than his father,” he said, “but his boyhood will be lonely and hard.” When the woman heard that the old man was fed and comfortable, she was furious and kept cursing, saying Ma was forcing his way into other people’s family business. At first her abuse stayed within the women’s quarters, but little by little it came closer to Ma’s rooms, so that he could not fail to hear it. The Yang brothers paced about in a sweat but could not stop her, while Ma behaved as if he had heard nothing. The concubine Wang was five months pregnant before the woman found out. She stripped her and beat her cruelly. When she had finished, she called Wanshi, made him kneel to receive a woman’s headcloth, and drove him out with the whip. Ma happened to be outside, and Wanshi was too ashamed to go out. She chased and drove him again, and only then did he go. The woman came out after him, hands on her hips, stamping her feet, and onlookers crowded round. Ma pointed at the woman and shouted, “Go! Go!” At once she turned and ran as if ghosts were after her. Her trousers and shoes came off, her foot bindings trailed in loops along the road, and she went home barefoot, her face ashen as death. When she had calmed down a little, a maid brought her stockings and shoes. As soon as she had put them on, she burst into loud wailing. No one in the household dared ask her anything. Ma pulled Wanshi over to take the headcloth off for him. Wanshi stood stiffly and held his breath, as if afraid it might fall off; Ma took it off by force. But Wanshi could not sit or stand still, afraid he would be punished for taking it off without leave. Only when he had found out that she had stopped crying did he dare go in, faltering as he went. The woman said not a word. She got up abruptly and went into her room to sleep alone. Only then did Wanshi breathe easier, and he and his brother marvelled at it in private. The whole household thought it strange and gathered in twos and threes to whisper about it. The woman caught wind of this and, more ashamed and furious than ever, beat every servant in the house. She called for the concubine, but the concubine’s wounds were so bad that she could not get up. The woman thought she was shamming, and beat her where she lay in bed, until she bled heavily and miscarried. Wanshi, where no one could see, wept bitterly in front of Ma. Ma comforted him. He called his servant boy to prepare a feast, and would not let Wanshi go home until the second watch had been called. In her room the woman was fuming that her husband had not come back. She heard someone prising at the door and shouted for a maid, but the door was already open. A giant came in, his shadow filling the room, hideous as a ghost. Then several more came in, each with a sharp blade. The woman was terrified and about to scream. The giant held his knife to her throat. “Scream and you’re dead!” Quickly she offered gold and silk to buy her life. “I am a messenger from the underworld,” said the giant. “I don’t want money. I have come only for a shrew’s heart!” More frightened than ever, she threw herself down and knocked her head till it bled. The giant then drew his blade across the skin over her heart and listed her crimes. “Such-and-such a thing — does that deserve death or not?” And one cut. He went through nearly all her cruelties, one by one, and the knife scored her skin no fewer than dozens of times. Finally he said, “The child the concubine was carrying would have carried on your family line too. How could you bear to beat it out of her? This can never be forgiven!” He ordered the others to tie her hands behind her back, so that they could cut her open and look at the shrew’s heart and guts. She knocked her head on the floor begging for her life, saying over and over that she repented. Then they heard the middle gate open and shut. “Yang Wanshi is coming,” said the giant. “Since she has repented, we will spare her life for now.” And they all scattered. Shortly afterwards Wanshi came in and found his wife naked and tied up, with knife cuts across her heart this way and that, too many to count. He untied her and asked what had happened. When he heard, he was horrified, and privately suspected Ma.