教官某，甚聾，而與一狐善；狐耳語之，亦能聞。每見上官，亦與狐俱，人不知其重聽也。積五六年，狐別而去。囑曰：「君如傀儡，非挑弄之，則五官俱廢。與其以聾取罪，不如早自高也。」某戀祿，不能從其言，應對屢乖。學使欲逐之，某又求當道者為之緩頰。一日，執事文場，唱名畢，學使退與諸教官燕坐。教官各捫籍靴中，呈進關說。已而學使笑問：「貴學何獨無所呈進？」某茫然不解。近坐者肘之，以手入靴，示之勢。某為親戚寄賣房中偽器，輒藏靴中，隨在求售。因學使笑語，疑索此物。鞠躬起對曰：「有八錢者最佳，下官不敢呈進。」一座匿笑。學使叱出之，遂免官。
教官某，甚聋，而与一狐善；狐耳语之，亦能闻。每见上官，亦与狐俱，人不知其重听也。积五六年，狐别而去。嘱曰：「君如傀儡，非挑弄之，则五官俱废。与其以聋取罪，不如早自高也。」某恋禄，不能从其言，应对屡乖。学使欲逐之，某又求当道者为之缓颊。一日，执事文场，唱名毕，学使退与诸教官燕坐。教官各扪籍靴中，呈进关说。已而学使笑问：「贵学何独无所呈进？」某茫然不解。近坐者肘之，以手入靴，示之势。某为亲戚寄卖房中伪器，辄藏靴中，随在求售。因学使笑语，疑索此物。鞠躬起对曰：「有八钱者最佳，下官不敢呈进。」一座匿笑。学使叱出之，遂免官。
There was a certain school instructor who was very deaf, but he was on good terms with a fox. When the fox whispered in his ear, he could hear. Whenever he called on his superiors, the fox went with him, and no one knew he was hard of hearing. After five or six years the fox took its leave. At parting it told him: “You are like a puppet: unless someone works the strings, all five of your senses are useless. Rather than get into trouble for your deafness, you had better retire early, of your own accord.” But the instructor was fond of his salary and could not follow its advice, and his answers were often wide of the mark. The education commissioner wanted to dismiss him, so he begged someone in power to put in a good word for him. One day he was on duty at the examination hall. When the roll had been called, the commissioner withdrew to sit at ease with the instructors. Each instructor felt in his boot for a list and handed it up, putting in a word for his candidates. Presently the commissioner smiled and asked him, “Why is it that your school alone has nothing to present?” The instructor stared blankly, not understanding. The man sitting next to him nudged him with an elbow, put a hand into his own boot and showed him what to do. Now, the instructor had been selling dildos on commission for a relative, and he always kept them in his boot and offered them for sale wherever he went. Since the commissioner was smiling as he spoke, he supposed it was one of these he wanted. He bowed, rose and answered: “The eight-qian ones are the best, but this humble official would not dare present one.” The whole company smothered their laughter. The commissioner shouted him out of the room, and he was dismissed from office.