寄生字王孫，郡中名士。父母以其襁褓認父，謂有夙惠，鍾愛之。長益秀美，八九歲能文，十四入郡庠。每自擇偶。父桂菴有妹二娘，適鄭秀才子僑，生女閨秀，慧豔絕倫。王孫見之，心切愛慕。積久，寢食俱廢。父母大憂，苦研詰之，遂以實告。父遣冰於鄭；鄭性方謹，以中表為嫌，卻之。王孫愈病。母計無所出，陰婉致二娘，但求閨秀一臨存之。鄭聞，益怒，出惡聲焉。父母既絕望，聽之而已。郡有大姓張氏，五女皆美；幼者名五可，尤冠諸姊，擇婿未字。一日，上墓，途遇王孫，自輿中窺見，歸以白母。母沈知其意，見媒媼于氏，微示之。媼遂詣王所。時王孫方病，訊知，笑曰：「此病老身能醫之。」芸娘問故。媼述張氏意，極道五可之美。芸娘喜，使媼往候王孫。媼入，撫王孫而告之。王孫搖首曰：「醫不對症，奈何！」媼笑曰：「但問醫良否耳：其良也，召和而緩至，可矣；執其人以求之，守死而待之，不亦癡乎？」王孫欷歔曰：「但天下之醫，無愈和者。」媼曰：「何見之不廣也？」遂以五可之容顏髮膚，神情態度，口寫而手狀之。王孫又搖首曰：「媼休矣！此余願所不及也。」反身向壁，不復聽矣。媼見其志不移，遂去。一日，王孫沉痼中，忽一婢入曰：「所思之人至矣！」喜極，躍然而起。急出舍，則麗人已在庭中。細認之，卻非閨秀，著松花色細褶繡裙，雙鉤微露，神仙不啻也。拜問姓名，答曰：「妾，五可也。君深於情者，而獨鍾閨秀，使人不平。」王孫謝曰：「生平未見顏色，故目中止一閨秀。今知罪矣！」遂與要誓。方握手殷殷，適母來撫摩，蘧然而覺，則一夢也。回思聲容笑貌，宛在目中。陰念：五可果如所夢，何必求所難遘。因而以夢告母。母喜其念少奪，急欲媒之。王孫恐夢見不的，託鄰嫗素識張氏者，偽以他故詣之，囑其潛相五可。嫗至其家，五可方病，靠枕支頤，婀娜之態，傾絕一世。近問：「何恙？」女默然弄帶，不作一語。母代答曰：「非病也。連日與爹娘負氣耳！」嫗問故。曰：「諸家問名，皆不願，必如王家寄生者方嫁。是為母者勸之急，遂作意不食數日矣。」嫗笑曰：「娘子若配王郎，真是玉人成雙也。渠若見五娘，恐又憔悴死矣！我歸，即令倩冰，如何？」五可止之曰：「姥勿爾！恐其不諧，益增笑耳！」嫗銳然以必成自任，五可方微笑。嫗歸，復命，一如媒媼言。王孫詳問衣履，亦與夢合，大悅。意雖稍舒，然終不以人言為信。過數日，漸瘳，祕招于媼來，謀以親見五可。媼難之，姑應而去。久之，不至。方欲覓問，媼忽忻然來曰：「機幸可圖。五娘向有小恙，日令婢輩將扶，移過對院。公子往伏伺之，五娘行緩澀，委曲可以盡睹矣。」王孫喜，明日，命駕早往，媼先在焉。即令縶馬村樹，引入臨路舍，設座掩扉而去。少間，五可果扶婢出。王孫自門隟目注之。女從門外過，媼故指揮雲樹以遲纖步，王孫窺覘盡悉，意顫不能自持。未幾，媼至，曰：「可以代閨秀否？」王孫申謝而返，始告父母，遣媒要盟。及妁往，則五可已別字矣。王孫失意，悔悶欲死，即刻復病。父母憂甚，責其自誤。王孫無詞，惟日飲米汁一合。積數日，雞骨支床，較前尤甚。媼忽至，驚曰：「何憊之甚？」王孫涕下，以情告。媼笑曰：「癡公子！前日人趁汝來，而故卻之；今日汝求人，而能必遂耶？雖然，尚可為力。早與老身謀，即許京都皇子，能奪還也。」王孫大悅，求策。媼命函啟遣伻，約次日候於張所。桂菴恐以唐突見拒。媼曰：「前與張公業有成言，延數日而遽悔之；且彼字他家，尚無函信。諺云：『先炊者先餐。』何疑也！」桂菴從之。次日，二僕往，並無異詞，厚犒而歸。王孫病頓起。由此閨秀之想遂絕。初，鄭子僑卻聘，閨秀頗不懌；及聞張氏婚成，心愈抑鬱，遂病，日就支離。父母詰之，不肯言。婢窺其意，隱以告母。鄭聞之，怒不醫，以聽其死。二娘懟曰：「吾姪亦殊不惡，何守頭巾戒，殺吾嬌女！」鄭恚曰：「若所生女，不如早亡，免貽笑柄！」以此夫妻反目。二娘故與女言，將使仍歸王孫，若為媵。女俛首不言，意若甚願。二娘商鄭，鄭更怒，一付二娘，置女度外，不復預聞。二娘愛女切，欲實其言。女乃喜，病漸瘥。竊探王孫，親迎有日矣。及期，以姪完婚，偽欲歸寧，昧旦，使人求僕輿於兄。兄最友愛，又以居村鄰近，遂以所備親迎車馬，先迎二娘。既至，則妝女入車，使兩僕兩媼護送之。到門，以氈貼地而入。時鼓樂已集，從僕叱令吹擂，一時人聲沸聒。王孫奔視，則女子以紅帕蒙首，駭極，欲奔；鄭僕夾扶，便令交拜。王孫不知何由，即便拜訖。二媼扶女，逕坐青廬，始知其閨秀也。舉家皇亂，莫知所為。時漸瀕暮，王孫不復敢行親迎之禮。桂菴遣僕以情告張；張怒，遂欲斷絕。五可不肯，曰：「彼雖先至，未受雁采；不如仍使親迎。」父納其言，以對來使。使歸，桂菴終不敢從。相對籌思，喜怒俱無所施。張待之既久，知其不行，遂亦以輿馬送五可至，因另設青帳於別室。而王孫周旋兩間，蹀踱無以自處。母乃調停於中，使序行以齒，二女皆諾。及五可聞閨秀差長，稱「姊」有難色。母甚慮之。比三朝公會，五可見閨秀風致宜人，不覺右之，自是始定。然父母恐其積久不相能，而二女卻無間言，衣履易著，相愛如姊妹焉。王孫始問五可卻媒之故。笑曰：「無他，聊報君之卻于媼耳。尚未見妾，意中止有閨秀；即見妾，亦略靳之，以覘君之視妾，較閨秀何如也。使君為伊病，而不為妾病，則亦不必強求容矣。」王孫笑曰：「報亦慘矣！然非于媼，何得一覲芳容。」五可曰：「是妾自欲見君，媼何能為。過舍門時，豈不知眈眈者在內耶。夢中業相要，何尚未知信耶？」王孫驚問：「何知？」曰：「妾病中夢至君家，以為妄；後聞君亦夢，妾乃知魂魄真到此也。」王孫異之，遂述所夢，時日悉符。父子之良緣，皆以夢成，亦奇情也。故並誌之。
寄生字王孙，郡中名士。父母以其襁褓认父，谓有夙惠，钟爱之。长益秀美，八九岁能文，十四入郡庠。每自择偶。父桂庵有妹二娘，适郑秀才子侨，生女闺秀，慧艳绝伦。王孙见之，心切爱慕。积久，寝食俱废。父母大忧，苦研诘之，遂以实告。父遣冰于郑；郑性方谨，以中表为嫌，却之。王孙愈病。母计无所出，阴婉致二娘，但求闺秀一临存之。郑闻，益怒，出恶声焉。父母既绝望，听之而已。郡有大姓张氏，五女皆美；幼者名五可，尤冠诸姊，择婿未字。一日，上墓，途遇王孙，自舆中窥见，归以白母。母沈知其意，见媒媪于氏，微示之。媪遂诣王所。时王孙方病，讯知，笑曰：「此病老身能医之。」芸娘问故。媪述张氏意，极道五可之美。芸娘喜，使媪往候王孙。媪入，抚王孙而告之。王孙摇首曰：「医不对症，奈何！」媪笑曰：「但问医良否耳：其良也，召和而缓至，可矣；执其人以求之，守死而待之，不亦痴乎？」王孙欷歔曰：「但天下之医，无愈和者。」媪曰：「何见之不广也？」遂以五可之容颜发肤，神情态度，口写而手状之。王孙又摇首曰：「媪休矣！此余愿所不及也。」反身向壁，不复听矣。媪见其志不移，遂去。一日，王孙沉痼中，忽一婢入曰：「所思之人至矣！」喜极，跃然而起。急出舍，则丽人已在庭中。细认之，却非闺秀，着松花色细褶绣裙，双钩微露，神仙不啻也。拜问姓名，答曰：「妾，五可也。君深于情者，而独钟闺秀，使人不平。」王孙谢曰：「生平未见颜色，故目中止一闺秀。今知罪矣！」遂与要誓。方握手殷殷，适母来抚摩，蘧然而觉，则一梦也。回思声容笑貌，宛在目中。阴念：五可果如所梦，何必求所难遘。因而以梦告母。母喜其念少夺，急欲媒之。王孙恐梦见不的，托邻妪素识张氏者，伪以他故诣之，嘱其潜相五可。妪至其家，五可方病，靠枕支颐，婀娜之态，倾绝一世。近问：「何恙？」女默然弄带，不作一语。母代答曰：「非病也。连日与爹娘负气耳！」妪问故。曰：「诸家问名，皆不愿，必如王家寄生者方嫁。是为母者劝之急，遂作意不食数日矣。」妪笑曰：「娘子若配王郎，真是玉人成双也。渠若见五娘，恐又憔悴死矣！我归，即令倩冰，如何？」五可止之曰：「姥勿尔！恐其不谐，益增笑耳！」妪锐然以必成自任，五可方微笑。妪归，复命，一如媒媪言。王孙详问衣履，亦与梦合，大悦。意虽稍舒，然终不以人言为信。过数日，渐瘳，秘招于媪来，谋以亲见五可。媪难之，姑应而去。久之，不至。方欲觅问，媪忽忻然来曰：「机幸可图。五娘向有小恙，日令婢辈将扶，移过对院。公子往伏伺之，五娘行缓涩，委曲可以尽睹矣。」王孙喜，明日，命驾早往，媪先在焉。即令絷马村树，引入临路舍，设座掩扉而去。少间，五可果扶婢出。王孙自门隟目注之。女从门外过，媪故指挥云树以迟纤步，王孙窥觇尽悉，意颤不能自持。未几，媪至，曰：「可以代闺秀否？」王孙申谢而返，始告父母，遣媒要盟。及妁往，则五可已别字矣。王孙失意，悔闷欲死，即刻复病。父母忧甚，责其自误。王孙无词，惟日饮米汁一合。积数日，鸡骨支床，较前尤甚。媪忽至，惊曰：「何惫之甚？」王孙涕下，以情告。媪笑曰：「痴公子！前日人趁汝来，而故却之；今日汝求人，而能必遂耶？虽然，尚可为力。早与老身谋，即许京都皇子，能夺还也。」王孙大悦，求策。媪命函启遣伻，约次日候于张所。桂庵恐以唐突见拒。媪曰：「前与张公业有成言，延数日而遽悔之；且彼字他家，尚无函信。谚云：『先炊者先餐。』何疑也！」桂庵从之。次日，二仆往，并无异词，厚犒而归。王孙病顿起。由此闺秀之想遂绝。初，郑子侨却聘，闺秀颇不怿；及闻张氏婚成，心愈抑郁，遂病，日就支离。父母诘之，不肯言。婢窥其意，隐以告母。郑闻之，怒不医，以听其死。二娘怼曰：「吾姪亦殊不恶，何守头巾戒，杀吾娇女！」郑恚曰：「若所生女，不如早亡，免贻笑柄！」以此夫妻反目。二娘故与女言，将使仍归王孙，若为媵。女俛首不言，意若甚愿。二娘商郑，郑更怒，一付二娘，置女度外，不复预闻。二娘爱女切，欲实其言。女乃喜，病渐瘥。窃探王孙，亲迎有日矣。及期，以姪完婚，伪欲归宁，昧旦，使人求仆舆于兄。兄最友爱，又以居村邻近，遂以所备亲迎车马，先迎二娘。既至，则妆女入车，使两仆两媪护送之。到门，以毡贴地而入。时鼓乐已集，从仆叱令吹擂，一时人声沸聒。王孙奔视，则女子以红帕蒙首，骇极，欲奔；郑仆夹扶，便令交拜。王孙不知何由，即便拜讫。二媪扶女，径坐青庐，始知其闺秀也。举家皇乱，莫知所为。时渐濒暮，王孙不复敢行亲迎之礼。桂庵遣仆以情告张；张怒，遂欲断绝。五可不肯，曰：「彼虽先至，未受雁采；不如仍使亲迎。」父纳其言，以对来使。使归，桂庵终不敢从。相对筹思，喜怒俱无所施。张待之既久，知其不行，遂亦以舆马送五可至，因另设青帐于别室。而王孙周旋两间，蹀踱无以自处。母乃调停于中，使序行以齿，二女皆诺。及五可闻闺秀差长，称「姊」有难色。母甚虑之。比三朝公会，五可见闺秀风致宜人，不觉右之，自是始定。然父母恐其积久不相能，而二女却无间言，衣履易着，相爱如姊妹焉。王孙始问五可却媒之故。笑曰：「无他，聊报君之却于媪耳。尚未见妾，意中止有闺秀；即见妾，亦略靳之，以觇君之视妾，较闺秀何如也。使君为伊病，而不为妾病，则亦不必强求容矣。」王孙笑曰：「报亦惨矣！然非于媪，何得一觐芳容。」五可曰：「是妾自欲见君，媪何能为。过舍门时，岂不知眈眈者在内耶。梦中业相要，何尚未知信耶？」王孙惊问：「何知？」曰：「妾病中梦至君家，以为妄；后闻君亦梦，妾乃知魂魄真到此也。」王孙异之，遂述所梦，时日悉符。父子之良缘，皆以梦成，亦奇情也。故并志之。
Jisheng, courtesy name Wangsun, was a noted scholar of the prefecture. Because he had recognized his father while still in swaddling clothes, his parents believed he was gifted with wisdom from birth, and they doted on him. As he grew he became more and more handsome. At eight or nine he could write; at fourteen he entered the prefectural school. He always meant to choose his own wife. His father, Gui’an, had a younger sister, Erniang, married to a licentiate named Zheng Ziqiao. They had a daughter, Guixiu, clever and lovely beyond compare. When Wangsun saw her, his heart went out to her. In time he could neither sleep nor eat. His parents were deeply worried and pressed him hard, and at last he told them the truth. His father sent a go-between to Zheng. Zheng was a stiff, scrupulous man; he objected that the two were cousins and refused. Wangsun grew worse. His mother, at her wits’ end, secretly and tactfully sent word to Erniang, asking only that Guixiu come to see him once. When Zheng heard, he was angrier still and said ugly things. Wangsun’s parents gave up hope and let things take their course. In the prefecture there was a great family named Zhang with five daughters, all beautiful. The youngest, Wuke, outshone all her sisters; she was choosy about a husband and still unbetrothed. One day, on her way to the family graves, she saw Wangsun on the road, peeping out from her sedan chair. Home again, she told her mother. Her mother, Mrs. Shen, understood what she meant and dropped a hint to a matchmaker, old Mrs. Yu. Mrs. Yu went to the Wangs’ house. Wangsun was ill just then. When she learned this, she laughed. “This illness I can cure.” Yunniang asked what she meant. Mrs. Yu told her what the Zhangs had in mind and praised Wuke’s beauty to the skies. Yunniang was pleased and sent her in to see Wangsun. Mrs. Yu went in, stroked him, and told him. Wangsun shook his head. “The medicine doesn’t suit the illness. What use is it?” Mrs. Yu laughed. “All you need ask is whether the doctor is good. If he’s good, then send for He and let Huan come — that will do. To insist on one man and wait for him till you die — isn’t that foolish?” Wangsun sighed. “But of all the doctors in the world, none is better than He.” “How narrow your view is!” said Mrs. Yu, and she described Wuke’s face and hair and skin, her look and her bearing, painting her with words and hands. Wangsun shook his head again. “Stop, granny! That is not what I long for.” He turned to the wall and would not listen any more. Seeing that his mind would not change, Mrs. Yu left. One day, as Wangsun lay deep in his illness, a maid suddenly came in and said, “The one you long for is here!” Overjoyed, he leapt up. He hurried out of the room, and the beauty was already in the courtyard. Looking closely, he saw it was not Guixiu. She wore a finely pleated embroidered skirt the yellow of pine pollen, the tips of her two little hooks just showing — as lovely as any immortal. He bowed and asked her name. “I am Wuke,” she said. “You are a man of deep feeling, yet you give it all to Guixiu. It isn’t fair.” Wangsun apologized. “I had never in my life seen your face, so there was no one in my eyes but Guixiu. Now I know my fault!” And he exchanged vows with her. They were clasping hands, full of tender feeling, when his mother came in to stroke him, and he woke with a start: it was a dream. Going over her voice, her face, her smile, he could still see her before his eyes. He thought to himself: if Wuke really is as she was in my dream, why go after one so hard to get? So he told his mother the dream. His mother, glad his longing had been somewhat turned aside, was eager to send a go-between. Wangsun, afraid the dream could not be trusted, asked a neighbour woman who had long known the Zhangs to call on them on some other pretext and get a secret look at Wuke. When the neighbour arrived, Wuke was ill, leaning on a pillow with her chin in her hand, so graceful that she outshone the whole world. The neighbour came close. “What’s the matter?” The girl played with her sash and did not say a word. Her mother answered for her. “It isn’t illness. She’s been sulking with her father and me for days!” The neighbour asked why. “Family after family has come asking her name, and she won’t have any of them. She’ll marry only somebody like Jisheng of the Wang family. I pressed her too hard, so she’s made up her mind not to eat, and hasn’t for days.” The neighbour laughed. “Miss, if you were matched with Master Wang, you’d be a pair of jade figures. And if he saw you, Fifth Miss, I’m afraid he’d pine to death all over again! When I get back I’ll have him send a go-between. How’s that?” Wuke stopped her. “Don’t, granny! If it doesn’t come off, they’ll only laugh at me more!” The neighbour eagerly took it on herself to see it through, and only then did Wuke give a faint smile. The neighbour came back and reported: everything was just as the matchmaker had said. Wangsun asked about Wuke’s clothes and shoes in detail; they too matched the dream. He was delighted. His mind was somewhat eased, but still he would not quite trust what others told him. After some days, when he was mending, he secretly sent for Mrs. Yu and asked her for a way to see Wuke himself. Mrs. Yu found it difficult, but agreed for the time being and left. A long time passed and she did not come. He was about to send and ask, when Mrs. Yu came in all smiles. “Luckily, there’s a chance. Fifth Miss has been a little unwell lately, and every day she has her maids help her across to the courtyard opposite. Go and lie in wait for her, young master. She walks slowly and stiffly, so you’ll be able to see every bit of her.” Wangsun was delighted. Next day he had his horse made ready and went early. Mrs. Yu was there before him. At once she had him tether his horse to a tree in the village, led him into a cottage beside the road, set out a seat, closed the door, and left. Before long Wuke came out, as promised, leaning on a maid. Wangsun fixed his eyes on her through a crack in the door. The girl passed by outside; Mrs. Yu, on purpose, kept pointing out clouds and trees to slow her dainty steps, and Wangsun took in every detail, his heart trembling past control. Soon Mrs. Yu came in. “Can she take Guixiu’s place?” Wangsun thanked her again and again and went home. Only then did he tell his parents, and they sent a go-between to settle the match. But when the go-between got there, Wuke had already been promised to someone else. Wangsun’s hopes collapsed. Sick with regret, he wished he were dead, and fell ill again on the spot. His parents, frantic, blamed him for ruining his own chances. Wangsun had nothing to say. He took only a small cup of rice water a day. After several days he lay propped in bed, nothing but skin and bone, worse than before. Mrs. Yu suddenly came. “Why are you so worn out?” she cried. Wangsun wept and told her. Mrs. Yu laughed. “Foolish young master! The other day she came after you, and you turned her away on purpose. Now you go after her — are you sure to get her? Still, something can be done. You should have come to me first: even if she were promised to a prince in the capital, I could get her back.” Wangsun was overjoyed and begged her for a plan. Mrs. Yu had them write a formal letter and send servants, arranging to call at the Zhangs’ the next day. Gui’an feared they would be refused for their presumption. Mrs. Yu said, “I had already reached an understanding with Mr. Zhang. It was put off only a few days, and he goes back on it so soon? Besides, no letters have passed yet with the other family. The saying goes, ‘Who lights the stove first eats first.’ Why hesitate?” Gui’an did as she said. Next day the two servants went; there were no objections at all, and they came back richly rewarded. Wangsun’s illness lifted at once. From then on he gave up all thought of Guixiu. Earlier, when Zheng Ziqiao refused the offer, Guixiu had been rather unhappy. When she heard the Zhang match was made, she grew still more depressed, fell ill, and wasted away day by day. Her parents questioned her; she would not say. A maid guessed what was on her mind and quietly told her mother. When Zheng heard, he was so angry that he would not send for a doctor, and left her to die. Erniang said bitterly, “My nephew is not so bad at all. Why cling to a pedant’s rules and kill my darling girl?” Zheng said in a rage, “A daughter of yours — better she die young and spare us the laughingstock!” Over this husband and wife fell out. Erniang deliberately told her daughter that she would have her go to Wangsun after all, even as a secondary wife. The girl bowed her head and said nothing, but seemed very willing. Erniang raised it with Zheng; Zheng grew angrier still, left it all to Erniang, put his daughter out of his mind, and would have nothing more to do with it. Erniang loved her daughter dearly and meant to make good her word. The girl was happy then, and slowly got better. In secret Erniang found out that the day had been fixed for Wangsun to fetch his bride. When the day came, she pretended she wanted to go home for her nephew’s wedding, and before dawn sent to her brother for servants and a carriage. Her brother loved her dearly, and their villages were near each other, so he sent the very carriage and horses prepared for fetching the bride to fetch Erniang first. When they arrived, she dressed her daughter, put her in the carriage, and sent two menservants and two old women to escort her. At the Wangs’ gate they laid felt on the ground and went in. The musicians had already gathered; the servants who came with her shouted to them to play and drum, and at once the place was a din of voices. Wangsun ran to look: a girl, her head covered with a red veil. He was horrified and wanted to run, but the Zheng servants closed in on either side and had the two of them bow to each other at once. Not knowing what was happening, Wangsun went through with the bows. The two old women led the girl straight to the green tent and seated her there, and only then did they find out it was Guixiu. The whole household was thrown into confusion, and no one knew what to do. It was getting toward dusk, and Wangsun no longer dared go and fetch his bride. Gui’an sent a servant to explain to Zhang. Zhang was furious and wanted to break off the match. Wuke would not have it. “She may have got there first,” she said, “but she has received no goose and no gifts. Better to have him come and fetch me all the same.” Her father accepted this and gave it as his answer to the messenger. The messenger came back, but Gui’an still did not dare do it. They sat facing each other, racking their brains, with nowhere to turn either joy or anger. Zhang waited a long time, saw that no one was coming, and sent Wuke over himself, by carriage and horse. So another green tent was set up in a separate room. Wangsun went to and fro between the two, pacing about, not knowing what to do with himself. His mother then made peace between them, ranking the two by age, and both girls agreed. But when Wuke learned that Guixiu was a little older, she balked at calling her “elder sister.” Wangsun’s mother was very worried. On the third day, when the whole family gathered, Wuke saw how charming Guixiu was and found herself giving her the place of honour, and from then on it was settled. Still, the parents feared that in time the two would not get on. But the girls never had a cross word; they wore each other’s clothes and shoes and loved each other like sisters. Only then did Wangsun ask Wuke why she had turned his go-between away. She laughed. “No reason. I was just paying you back for turning away Mrs. Yu. Before you had seen me, you had only Guixiu in mind. So even after you’d seen me, I held back a little, to see how you would rate me against Guixiu. If you fell ill for her and not for me, there was no need for me to force myself on you.” Wangsun laughed. “A cruel revenge! But without Mrs. Yu, how would I ever have had a glimpse of your lovely face?” “I wanted to see you myself,” said Wuke. “What could Mrs. Yu have done? When I passed that door, do you think I didn’t know someone was staring from inside? We had already pledged ourselves in the dream. Why don’t you believe it yet?” Wangsun asked in surprise, “How do you know?” “When I was ill I dreamed I came to your house, and I thought it was nonsense. Later I heard you had dreamed it too, and then I knew my soul had truly been here.” Wangsun marvelled, and told her his dream: the day and the hour matched exactly. Father and son both found their happy marriages through dreams. That too is a strange kind of love, and so I have recorded it as well.