晏仲，陝西延安人。與兄伯同居，友愛敦篤。伯三十而卒，無嗣；妻亦繼亡。仲痛悼之，每思生二子，則以一子為兄後。甫舉一男，而仲妻又死。仲恐繼室不卹其子，將購一妾。鄰村有貨婢者，仲往相之，略不稱意，情緒無聊，被友人留酌，醺醉而歸。途中遇故窗友梁生，握手殷殷，邀過其家。醉中忘其已死，從之而去。入其門，並非舊第，疑而問之。曰：「新移此耳。」入而謀酒，則家釀已竭，囑仲坐待，挈瓶往沽。仲出立門外以俟之。見一婦人控驢而過，有童子隨之，年可八九歲，面目神色，絕類其兄。心惻然動，急委綴之。便問童子何姓。答言：「姓晏。」仲益驚，又問：「汝父何名。」答言：「不知。」言次，已至其門，婦人下驢入。仲執童子曰：「汝父在家否？」童諾而入。頃之，一媼出窺，真其嫂也。訝叔何來。仲大悲，隨之而入。見廬落亦復整頓。因問：「兄何在？」曰：「責負未歸。」問：「跨驢者何人？」曰：「此汝兄妾甘氏，生兩男矣。長阿大，赴市未返；汝所見者阿小。」坐久，酒漸解，始悟所見皆鬼。以兄弟情切，即亦不懼。嫂溫酒治具。仲急欲見兄，促阿小覓之。良久，哭而歸曰：「李家負欠不還，反與父鬧。」仲聞之，與阿小奔去。見有兩人方捽兄地上。仲怒，奮拳直入，當者盡踣。急救兄起，敵已俱奔。追捉一人，捶楚無算，始起。執兄手，頓足哀泣；兄亦泣。既歸，舉家慰問，乃具酒食，兄弟相慶。居無何，一少年入，年約十六七。伯呼阿大，令拜叔。仲挽之，哭向兄曰：「大哥地下有兩男子，而墳墓不掃；弟又子少而鰥，奈何？」伯亦悽惻。嫂謂伯曰：「遣阿小從叔去，亦得。」阿小聞言，依叔肘下，眷戀不去。仲撫之，倍益酸辛。問：「汝樂從否？」答云：「樂從。」仲念鬼雖非人，慰情亦勝無也，因為解顏。伯曰：「從去，但勿嬌慣，宜啖以血肉，驅向日中曝之，午過乃已。六七歲兒，歷春及夏，骨肉更生，可以娶妻育子；但恐不壽耳。」
晏仲，陕西延安人。与兄伯同居，友爱敦笃。伯三十而卒，无嗣；妻亦继亡。仲痛悼之，每思生二子，则以一子为兄后。甫举一男，而仲妻又死。仲恐继室不恤其子，将购一妾。邻村有货婢者，仲往相之，略不称意，情绪无聊，被友人留酌，醺醉而归。途中遇故窗友梁生，握手殷殷，邀过其家。醉中忘其已死，从之而去。入其门，并非旧第，疑而问之。曰：「新移此耳。」入而谋酒，则家酿已竭，嘱仲坐待，挈瓶往沽。仲出立门外以俟之。见一妇人控驴而过，有童子随之，年可八九岁，面目神色，绝类其兄。心恻然动，急委缀之。便问童子何姓。答言：「姓晏。」仲益惊，又问：「汝父何名。」答言：「不知。」言次，已至其门，妇人下驴入。仲执童子曰：「汝父在家否？」童诺而入。顷之，一媪出窥，真其嫂也。讶叔何来。仲大悲，随之而入。见庐落亦复整顿。因问：「兄何在？」曰：「责负未归。」问：「跨驴者何人？」曰：「此汝兄妾甘氏，生两男矣。长阿大，赴市未返；汝所见者阿小。」坐久，酒渐解，始悟所见皆鬼。以兄弟情切，即亦不惧。嫂温酒治具。仲急欲见兄，促阿小觅之。良久，哭而归曰：「李家负欠不还，反与父闹。」仲闻之，与阿小奔去。见有两人方捽兄地上。仲怒，奋拳直入，当者尽踣。急救兄起，敌已俱奔。追捉一人，捶楚无算，始起。执兄手，顿足哀泣；兄亦泣。既归，举家慰问，乃具酒食，兄弟相庆。居无何，一少年入，年约十六七。伯呼阿大，令拜叔。仲挽之，哭向兄曰：「大哥地下有两男子，而坟墓不扫；弟又子少而鳏，奈何？」伯亦凄恻。嫂谓伯曰：「遣阿小从叔去，亦得。」阿小闻言，依叔肘下，眷恋不去。仲抚之，倍益酸辛。问：「汝乐从否？」答云：「乐从。」仲念鬼虽非人，慰情亦胜无也，因为解颜。伯曰：「从去，但勿娇惯，宜啖以血肉，驱向日中曝之，午过乃已。六七岁儿，历春及夏，骨肉更生，可以娶妻育子；但恐不寿耳。」
Yan Zhong was a man of Yan’an in Shaanxi. He lived under one roof with his elder brother, Yan Bo, and the two were devoted to each other. Bo died at thirty with no heir, and his wife soon followed him. Zhong grieved for them deeply. He always thought that if he had two sons, he would give one to his brother as heir. But he had only just had one boy when his own wife died. Afraid that a second wife would not care for the child, he meant to buy a concubine. Someone in the next village had a maid for sale. Zhong went to look her over, but she was not much to his liking. Out of sorts, he let a friend keep him for a drink, and he was tipsy when he started home. On the road he met Liang, an old schoolmate, who clasped his hand warmly and invited him to his house. In his drunkenness Zhong forgot that Liang was dead, and went along with him. When they went in at the gate, it was not the house he remembered. He wondered at this and asked. “I’ve only just moved here,” said Liang. Inside, Liang went to fetch wine, but the household brew was all gone. He told Zhong to sit and wait, and went off with a jug to buy some. Zhong went out and stood at the gate to wait for him. A woman came past riding a donkey, with a boy of about eight or nine following her. The boy’s face and bearing were the very image of Zhong’s brother. Zhong’s heart was moved, and he hurried after them. He asked the boy his family name. “Yan,” said the boy. Zhong was even more startled. “What is your father’s name?” “I don’t know.” As they talked they reached the woman’s gate. She got off the donkey and went in. Zhong took hold of the boy. “Is your father at home?” The boy said yes and went in. Soon an old woman came out to look: it really was his sister-in-law. She was surprised to see him and asked what had brought him. Zhong was overcome with grief and followed her in. He saw that the house and yard were kept in good order. “Where is my brother?” he asked. “Out collecting debts, and not back yet.” “Who was the woman on the donkey?” “That is your brother’s concubine, Gan. She has borne him two sons. The elder, A-da, has gone to market and isn’t back. The one you saw is A-xiao.” They sat a long time, and as the wine wore off Zhong understood that everyone he had seen was a ghost. But his love for his brother was so strong that he felt no fear. His sister-in-law warmed wine and set out food. Zhong was eager to see his brother and urged A-xiao to go and find him. After a long while the boy came back crying. “The Lis won’t pay what they owe, and they’re fighting with Father!” Zhong ran off with A-xiao. They found two men holding his brother down on the ground. Zhong was furious. He went straight in with his fists flying, and everyone in his way went down. He pulled his brother up, and the attackers all fled. Zhong chased one, caught him, and beat him past counting before he let him up. Then he took his brother’s hands, stamping his feet and weeping; his brother wept too. When they got home the whole family gathered round to comfort them. Wine and food were laid out, and the brothers celebrated together. Before long a youth of sixteen or seventeen came in. Bo called him A-da and told him to bow to his uncle. Zhong raised him up and turned to his brother in tears. “Big Brother, you have two sons here under the earth, yet no one sweeps your grave. And I have one young son and no wife. What is to be done?” Bo was saddened too. His wife said to him, “Send A-xiao back with his uncle. That would do.” Hearing this, A-xiao pressed close to his uncle’s side and would not leave him. Zhong stroked his head, more heartsick than ever. “Would you like to come with me?” “I would,” said the boy. Zhong thought that a ghost was not a living person, but for comfort he was better than nothing, and his face brightened. Bo said, “Take him, but don’t spoil him. Feed him on blood and meat, and drive him out into the sun to bake, and don’t let him stop till past noon. A child of six or seven, after a spring and a summer, will grow new flesh and bone, and can marry and have sons. Only I fear he will not live long.”
言間，門外有少女窺聽，意致溫婉。仲疑為兄女，便以問兄。兄曰：「此名湘裙，吾妾妹也。孤而無歸，寄養十年矣。」問：「已字否？」伯云：「尚未。近有媒議東村田家。」女在窗外小語曰：「我不嫁田家牧牛子。」仲頗有動於中，而未便明言。既而伯起，設榻於齋，止弟宿。仲雅不欲留，而意戀湘裙，將設法以窺兄意，遂別兄就榻。時方初春，氣候猶寒，齋中夙無煙火，森然起粟。對燭冷坐，思得小飲。俄而阿小推扉入，以杯羹斗酒置案上。仲喜極，問誰之為。答云：「湘姨。」酒將盡，又以灰覆盆火，擲床下。仲問：「爹娘寢乎？」曰：「睡已久矣。」「汝寢何所？」曰：「與湘姨共榻耳。」阿小俟叔眠，乃掩門去。仲念湘裙惠而解意，益愛慕之；又以其能撫阿小，欲得之心益堅。輾轉床頭，終夜不寐。
言间，门外有少女窥听，意致温婉。仲疑为兄女，便以问兄。兄曰：「此名湘裙，吾妾妹也。孤而无归，寄养十年矣。」问：「已字否？」伯云：「尚未。近有媒议东村田家。」女在窗外小语曰：「我不嫁田家牧牛子。」仲颇有动于中，而未便明言。既而伯起，设榻于斋，止弟宿。仲雅不欲留，而意恋湘裙，将设法以窥兄意，遂别兄就榻。时方初春，气候犹寒，斋中夙无烟火，森然起粟。对烛冷坐，思得小饮。俄而阿小推扉入，以杯羹斗酒置案上。仲喜极，问谁之为。答云：「湘姨。」酒将尽，又以灰覆盆火，掷床下。仲问：「爹娘寝乎？」曰：「睡已久矣。」「汝寝何所？」曰：「与湘姨共榻耳。」阿小俟叔眠，乃掩门去。仲念湘裙惠而解意，益爱慕之；又以其能抚阿小，欲得之心益坚。辗转床头，终夜不寐。
While they were talking, a young girl was peeping in and listening at the door, gentle and sweet in her manner. Zhong thought she must be his brother’s daughter and asked him. “Her name is Xiangqun,” said Bo. “She is my concubine’s younger sister. She was orphaned with nowhere to go, and has lived with us these ten years.” “Is she promised to anyone yet?” “Not yet. A matchmaker has lately been talking of the Tian family in the east village.” Outside the window the girl said softly, “I won’t marry that Tian cowherd.” Zhong was rather stirred, but it was not the moment to say so. Then Bo rose and had a bed made up in his study, to keep his brother for the night. Zhong had no real wish to stay, but his heart was on Xiangqun, and he meant to find some way of sounding out his brother. So he said good night and went to bed. It was early spring and still cold. There had never been a fire in the study, and the chill raised gooseflesh on him. He sat in the cold by the candle and thought he would like a little to drink. In a moment A-xiao pushed the door open and set a bowl of broth and a dipper of wine on the table. Zhong was delighted and asked who had sent them. “Aunt Xiang,” said the boy. When the wine was nearly gone, the boy brought a pan of embers banked with ash and pushed it under the bed. “Are your father and mother in bed?” Zhong asked. “They went to sleep long ago.” “And where do you sleep?” “In Aunt Xiang’s bed.” A-xiao waited until his uncle lay down, then closed the door and left. Zhong thought how kind Xiangqun was and how well she understood, and loved her all the more; and seeing how she looked after A-xiao, he was even more set on having her. He tossed and turned and did not sleep all night.
早起，告兄曰：「弟孑然無偶，煩大哥留意也。」伯曰：「吾家非一瓢一擔者，物色當自有人。地下即有佳麗，恐於弟無所利益。」仲曰：「古人亦有鬼妻，何害？」伯似會意，便言：「湘裙亦佳。但以巨針刺人迎，血出不止者，便可為生人妻，何得草草。」仲曰：「得湘裙撫阿小，亦得。」伯但搖首。仲求之不已。嫂曰：「試捉湘裙強刺驗之，不可乃已。」遂握針出。門外遇湘裙，急捉其腕，則血痕猶溼，蓋聞伯言時，早自試之矣。嫂釋手而笑，反告伯曰：「渠作有意喬才久矣，尚為之代慮耶？」妾聞之怒，趨近湘裙，以指刺眶而罵曰：「淫婢不羞！欲從阿叔奔走耶？我定不如其願！」湘裙愧憤，哭欲覓死，舉家騰沸。仲乃大慚，別兄嫂，率阿小而出。兄曰：「弟姑去；阿小勿使復來，恐損其生氣也。」仲諾之。
早起，告兄曰：「弟孑然无偶，烦大哥留意也。」伯曰：「吾家非一瓢一担者，物色当自有人。地下即有佳丽，恐于弟无所利益。」仲曰：「古人亦有鬼妻，何害？」伯似会意，便言：「湘裙亦佳。但以巨针刺人迎，血出不止者，便可为生人妻，何得草草。」仲曰：「得湘裙抚阿小，亦得。」伯但摇首。仲求之不已。嫂曰：「试捉湘裙强刺验之，不可乃已。」遂握针出。门外遇湘裙，急捉其腕，则血痕犹湿，盖闻伯言时，早自试之矣。嫂释手而笑，反告伯曰：「渠作有意乔才久矣，尚为之代虑耶？」妾闻之怒，趋近湘裙，以指刺眶而骂曰：「淫婢不羞！欲从阿叔奔走耶？我定不如其愿！」湘裙愧愤，哭欲觅死，举家腾沸。仲乃大惭，别兄嫂，率阿小而出。兄曰：「弟姑去；阿小勿使复来，恐损其生气也。」仲诺之。
In the morning he got up and said to his brother, “I am all alone with no wife. I hope you will keep an eye out for me, Big Brother.” “Ours is no family that lives on a gourd of water and a load of grain,” said Bo. “Someone will surely turn up for you. Even if there were beauties down here under the earth, I fear they would do you no good.” “Men in the old stories had ghost wives,” said Zhong. “What harm is there in it?” Bo seemed to take his meaning. “Xiangqun would do well enough,” he said. “But you have to prick her renying point with a big needle. If the blood keeps flowing, she can be a living man’s wife. It is not something to rush into.” “If I had Xiangqun to look after A-xiao, that would do,” said Zhong. Bo only shook his head. Zhong begged and begged. At last Bo’s wife said, “Let’s catch Xiangqun and prick her by force and see. If it won’t work, that’s the end of it.” She took a needle and went out. Outside the door she came on Xiangqun and seized her wrist: the blood on it was still wet. When the girl heard what Bo said, she had already tried it on herself. The wife let go, laughing, and went back to tell Bo. “She’s been sweet on him all along. And you’re still worrying on her behalf?” The concubine heard this and flew into a rage. She went up to Xiangqun, jabbed a finger at her eyes, and cursed her. “Shameless slut! You want to run off with Uncle, do you? I’ll make sure you don’t get your way!” Xiangqun, ashamed and furious, wept and wanted to kill herself. The whole household was in an uproar. Zhong was deeply embarrassed. He took leave of his brother and sister-in-law and set out with A-xiao. “Go for now,” said his brother. “But don’t let A-xiao come back here, or it may harm his living breath.” Zhong promised.