王子服，莒之羅店人，早孤。絕惠，十四入泮，母最愛之，尋常不令游郊野。聘蕭氏，未嫁而夭，故求凰未就也。會上元，有舅氏子吳生，邀同眺矚。方至村外，舅家有僕來，招吳去。生見游女如雲，乘興獨遨。有女郎攜婢，拈梅花一枝，容華絕代，笑容可掬。生注目不移，竟忘顧忌。女過去數武，顧婢曰：「個兒郎目灼灼似賊！」遺花地上，笑語自去。
王子服，莒之罗店人，早孤。绝惠，十四入泮，母最爱之，寻常不令游郊野。聘萧氏，未嫁而夭，故求凰未就也。会上元，有舅氏子吴生，邀同眺瞩。方至村外，舅家有仆来，招吴去。生见游女如云，乘兴独遨。有女郎携婢，拈梅花一枝，容华绝代，笑容可掬。生注目不移，竟忘顾忌。女过去数武，顾婢曰：「个儿郎目灼灼似贼！」遗花地上，笑语自去。
Wang Zifu was a man of Luodian, in Ju County. He lost his father early. He was exceptionally clever, and at fourteen he entered the county school. His mother loved him above everything and seldom let him go roaming in the countryside. He had been betrothed to a girl of the Xiao family, but she died before the wedding, so his search for a phoenix mate had come to nothing. At the Lantern Festival his cousin Wu, the son of his mother’s brother, invited him out to see the sights. They had only just reached the edge of the village when a servant came from his uncle’s house and called Wu away. Seeing girls out walking as thick as clouds, Wang wandered on alone as the mood took him. There was a young lady with a maid, twirling a sprig of plum blossom: a beauty without equal in her age, with a smile so sweet you could almost scoop it up in your hands. Wang fixed his eyes on her and could not take them away, quite forgetting himself. A few paces past him, she turned to her maid. “That young man’s eyes glitter like a thief’s!” She let the blossom fall to the ground and went on her way, laughing and chatting.
生拾花悵然，神魂喪失，怏怏遂返。至家，藏花枕底，垂頭而睡。不語亦不食。母懮之。醮禳益劇，肌革銳減。醫師診視，投劑發表，忽忽若迷。母撫問所由，默然不答。適吳生來，囑密詰之。吳至榻前，生見之淚下。吳就榻慰解，漸致研詰。生具吐其實，且求謀畫。吳笑曰：「君意亦復痴！此願有何難遂？當代訪之。徒步于野，必非世家。如其未字，事固諧矣；不然，拚以重賂，計必允遂。但得痊瘳，成事在我。」生聞之，不覺解頤。吳出告母，物色女子居里，而探訪既窮，並無蹤緒。母大懮，無所為計。然自吳去後，顏頓開，食亦略進。數日，吳復來。生問所謀，吳紿之曰：「已得之矣。我以為誰何人，乃我姑氏子，即君姨妹行，今尚待聘。雖內戚有婚姻之嫌，實告之，無不諧者。」生喜溢眉宇，問：「居何里？」吳詭曰：「西南山中，去此可三十餘里。」生又付囑再四，吳銳身自任而去。
生拾花怅然，神魂丧失，怏怏遂返。至家，藏花枕底，垂头而睡。不语亦不食。母懮之。醮禳益剧，肌革锐减。医师诊视，投剂发表，忽忽若迷。母抚问所由，默然不答。适吴生来，嘱密诘之。吴至榻前，生见之泪下。吴就榻慰解，渐致研诘。生具吐其实，且求谋画。吴笑曰：「君意亦复痴！此愿有何难遂？当代访之。徒步于野，必非世家。如其未字，事固谐矣；不然，拼以重赂，计必允遂。但得痊瘳，成事在我。」生闻之，不觉解颐。吴出告母，物色女子居里，而探访既穷，并无踪绪。母大懮，无所为计。然自吴去后，颜顿开，食亦略进。数日，吴复来。生问所谋，吴绐之曰：「已得之矣。我以为谁何人，乃我姑氏子，即君姨妹行，今尚待聘。虽内戚有婚姻之嫌，实告之，无不谐者。」生喜溢眉宇，问：「居何里？」吴诡曰：「西南山中，去此可三十余里。」生又付嘱再四，吴锐身自任而去。
Wang picked up the blossom, crestfallen, as if his soul had left him, and went home in low spirits. At home he hid the blossom under his pillow and lay down with his head hanging. He neither spoke nor ate. His mother was worried. Daoist rites and exorcisms only made him worse, and he wasted away. A doctor examined him and gave him medicine to sweat out the illness, but he lay dazed, as if lost. His mother stroked him and asked what was wrong, but he said nothing. Just then Wu came, and she asked him to question Wang privately. When Wu came to the bedside, Wang burst into tears at the sight of him. Wu sat by the bed comforting him, and little by little pressed him with questions. Wang poured out the whole truth and begged him to think of a plan. Wu laughed. “You are being silly, cousin! What is so hard about this wish? I’ll find her for you. A girl walking out in the fields can’t be from a great family. If she isn’t promised to anyone, it’s as good as settled. If she is, we’ll pay a handsome price, and it will surely go through. Just get well, and leave the rest to me.” Hearing this, Wang could not help smiling. Wu went out and told Wang’s mother, and searched for the place where the girl lived; but though he looked everywhere, he found no trace of her. Wang’s mother was very worried and did not know what to do. But since Wu’s visit Wang’s face had brightened, and he was eating a little. A few days later Wu came again. Wang asked how his plans were going. Wu lied to him: “I’ve found her. And who do you think she turned out to be? She is the daughter of my father’s sister, which makes her your cousin on your mother’s side, and she isn’t promised yet. There is some scruple about marrying so close a relation, but if we tell them the truth, it’s bound to go well.” Joy flooded Wang’s face. “Where does she live?” he asked. “In the hills to the southwest,” Wu lied, “some thirty li from here.” Wang charged him with it again and again, and Wu eagerly took it all on himself and went away.
生由是飲食漸加，日就平復。探視枕底，花雖枯，未便雕落。凝思把玩，如見其人。怪吳不至，折柬招之。吳支托不肯赴招。生恚怒，悒悒不歡。母慮其復病，急為議姻。略與商榷，輒搖首不願，惟日盼吳。吳迄無耗，益怨恨之。轉思三十里非遙，何必仰息他人？懷梅袖中，負氣自往，而家人不知也。伶仃獨步，無可問程，但望南山行去。約三十餘里，亂山合沓，空翠爽肌，寂無人行，止有鳥道。遙望谷底，叢花亂樹中，隱隱有小里落。下山入村，見舍宇無多，皆茅屋，而意甚修雅。北向一家，門前皆絲柳，牆內桃杏尤繁，間以修竹；野鳥格磔其中。意其園亭，不敢遽入。回顧對戶，有巨石滑潔，因據坐少憩。俄聞牆內有女子，長呼「小榮」，其聲嬌細。方佇聽間，一女郎由東而西，執杏花一朵，俯首自簪。舉頭見生，遂不復簪，含笑拈花而入。審視之，即上元途中所遇也。心驟喜。但念無以階進；欲呼姨氏，顧從無還往，懼有訛誤。門內無人可問。坐臥徘徊，自朝至於日昃，盈盈望斷，並忘飢渴。時見女子露半面來窺，似訝其不去者。忽一老媼扶杖出，顧生曰：「何處郎君，聞自辰刻便來，以至於今。意將何為？得勿飢耶？」生急起揖之，答云：「將以探親。」媼聾聵不聞。又大言之。乃問：「貴戚何姓？」生不能答。媼笑曰：「奇哉！姓名尚自不知，何親可探？我視郎君，亦書痴耳。不如從我來，啖以粗糲，家有短榻可臥。待明朝歸，詢知姓氏，再來探訪，不晚也。」生方腹餒思啖，又從此漸近麗人，大喜。從媼入，見門內白石砌路，夾道紅花，片片墮階上；曲折而西，又啟一關，豆棚花架滿庭中。肅客入舍，粉壁光明如鏡；窗外海棠枝朵，探入室中；裀藉幾榻，罔不潔澤。甫坐，即有人自窗外隱約相窺。媼喚：「小榮！可速作黍。」外有婢子噭聲而應。坐次，具展宗閥。媼曰：「郎君外祖，莫姓吳否？」曰：「然。」媼驚曰：「是吾甥也！尊堂，我妹子。年來以家窶貧，又無三尺男，遂至音問梗塞。甥長成如許，尚不相識。」生曰：「此來即為姨也，匆遽遂忘姓氏。」媼曰：「老身秦姓，並無誕育；弱息僅存，亦為庶產。渠母改醮，遺我鞠養。頗亦不鈍，但少教訓，嬉不知愁。少頃，使來拜識。」
生由是饮食渐加，日就平复。探视枕底，花虽枯，未便雕落。凝思把玩，如见其人。怪吴不至，折柬招之。吴支托不肯赴招。生恚怒，悒悒不欢。母虑其复病，急为议姻。略与商榷，辄摇首不愿，惟日盼吴。吴迄无耗，益怨恨之。转思三十里非遥，何必仰息他人？怀梅袖中，负气自往，而家人不知也。伶仃独步，无可问程，但望南山行去。约三十余里，乱山合沓，空翠爽肌，寂无人行，止有鸟道。遥望谷底，丛花乱树中，隐隐有小里落。下山入村，见舍宇无多，皆茅屋，而意甚修雅。北向一家，门前皆丝柳，墙内桃杏尤繁，间以修竹；野鸟格磔其中。意其园亭，不敢遽入。回顾对户，有巨石滑洁，因据坐少憩。俄闻墙内有女子，长呼「小荣」，其声娇细。方伫听间，一女郎由东而西，执杏花一朵，俯首自簪。举头见生，遂不复簪，含笑拈花而入。审视之，即上元途中所遇也。心骤喜。但念无以阶进；欲呼姨氏，顾从无还往，惧有讹误。门内无人可问。坐卧徘徊，自朝至于日昃，盈盈望断，并忘饥渴。时见女子露半面来窥，似讶其不去者。忽一老媪扶杖出，顾生曰：「何处郎君，闻自辰刻便来，以至于今。意将何为？得勿饥耶？」生急起揖之，答云：「将以探亲。」媪聋聩不闻。又大言之。乃问：「贵戚何姓？」生不能答。媪笑曰：「奇哉！姓名尚自不知，何亲可探？我视郎君，亦书痴耳。不如从我来，啖以粗粝，家有短榻可卧。待明朝归，询知姓氏，再来探访，不晚也。」生方腹馁思啖，又从此渐近丽人，大喜。从媪入，见门内白石砌路，夹道红花，片片堕阶上；曲折而西，又启一关，豆棚花架满庭中。肃客入舍，粉壁光明如镜；窗外海棠枝朵，探入室中；裀藉几榻，罔不洁泽。甫坐，即有人自窗外隐约相窥。媪唤：「小荣！可速作黍。」外有婢子噭声而应。坐次，具展宗阀。媪曰：「郎君外祖，莫姓吴否？」曰：「然。」媪惊曰：「是吾甥也！尊堂，我妹子。年来以家窭贫，又无三尺男，遂至音问梗塞。甥长成如许，尚不相识。」生曰：「此来即为姨也，匆遽遂忘姓氏。」媪曰：「老身秦姓，并无诞育；弱息仅存，亦为庶产。渠母改醮，遗我鞠养。颇亦不钝，但少教训，嬉不知愁。少顷，使来拜识。」
From then on Wang ate and drank a little more each day and steadily recovered. He looked under his pillow: the blossom had withered, but its petals had not yet fallen. He turned it in his fingers, lost in thought, as though he were seeing her. He wondered why Wu did not come, and sent him a note inviting him. Wu made excuses and would not come. Wang was angry and sulked. His mother, afraid he would fall ill again, hurried to arrange a marriage for him, but whenever she raised a match he shook his head; all he did was wait for Wu day after day. When no word came from Wu at all, he resented him more and more. Then he thought: thirty li is not far, so why depend on anyone else? He tucked the plum blossom into his sleeve and set off by himself in a temper, without his family knowing. Walking all alone, with no one to ask the way, he simply headed for the southern hills. After some thirty li, the hills crowded in on every side, their empty green cool and fresh against his skin. All was silent. There was no one on the road, only a trail fit for birds. Far below, at the bottom of a valley, among masses of flowers and tangled trees, he could just make out a little hamlet. He went down the hill into the village. There were only a few houses, all thatched cottages, but very elegant in feeling. One house faced north, with willows all along the front of its gate; inside the wall were peach and apricot trees in thick blossom, set among tall bamboos, where wild birds chattered. Taking it for someone’s garden, he did not dare go straight in. Looking round, he saw a huge rock, smooth and clean, across from the gate, and sat on it to rest awhile. Presently he heard a girl inside the wall calling out a long “Xiaorong!” in a sweet, soft voice. As he stood listening, a young lady came along from east to west, holding a sprig of apricot blossom and bending her head to put it in her hair. She raised her head and saw Wang, put no more into her hair, but went in smiling, twirling the flower. He looked carefully: it was the girl he had met on the road at the Lantern Festival. His heart leapt with joy. But he could think of no way to approach her. He wanted to call out for his aunt, but the two families had never had any dealings, and he feared he might be mistaken. There was no one at the gate to ask. He sat, he lay down, he paced back and forth, from morning until the sun was slanting west, gazing until his eyes ached and forgetting hunger and thirst. Now and then he saw the girl peep out with half her face, as if surprised that he had not gone. Suddenly an old woman came out leaning on a stick. She looked at Wang. “Where are you from, young sir? I hear you’ve been here since early morning, and here you are still. What do you want? Aren’t you hungry?” Wang quickly rose and bowed. “I have come to visit relatives,” he answered. The old woman was deaf and did not hear him. He said it again, loudly. Then she asked, “What is your relatives’ name?” Wang could not answer. The old woman laughed. “How odd! You don’t even know their name — what relatives can you be visiting? I can see you’re one of those bookworms. You had better come with me. I’ll give you a bite of plain food, and there’s a little bed you can sleep on. Go home tomorrow, find out their name, and come back to look for them then. It won’t be too late.” Wang was just feeling hungry, and this would bring him a step nearer the beauty besides, so he was delighted. He followed the old woman in. Inside the gate a path paved with white stones ran between red flowers, whose petals were dropping one by one on the steps. It wound round to the west, through another gate, into a courtyard full of bean trellises and flower frames. She showed her guest into the house. The whitewashed walls shone like mirrors. Outside the window, sprays of crabapple blossom reached into the room. The cushions and mats, tables and couches were all spotless and gleaming. He had hardly sat down when someone could be dimly seen peeping in from outside the window. “Xiaorong!” the old woman called. “Quick, make us some food.” Outside, a maid shouted an answer. As they sat, Wang told her all about his family. “Your mother’s father — was his name Wu, by any chance?” said the old woman. “Yes,” he said. The old woman was astonished. “Then you are my nephew! Your mother is my younger sister. All these years, what with our poverty and not a son in the house, not even one three feet tall, we have quite lost touch. My nephew has grown so tall, and I didn’t even know him.” “It was you I came to see, aunt,” said Wang. “I was in such a hurry that I forgot the name.” “My married name is Qin,” said the old woman. “I never bore a child. The one weak little girl I have is a concubine’s daughter. Her mother married again and left her to me to bring up. She is not at all slow, but she has had little teaching; she plays all day and knows no care. In a little while I’ll have her come and meet you.”
未幾，婢子具飯，雛尾盈握。媼勸餐已，婢來斂具。媼曰：「喚寧姑來。」婢應去。良久，聞戶外隱有笑聲。媼又喚曰：「嬰寧，汝姨兄在此。」戶外嗤嗤笑不已。婢推之以入，猶掩其口，笑不可遏。媼嗔目曰：「有客在，吒吒叱叱，是何景象？」女忍笑而立，生揖之。媼曰：「此王郎，汝姨子。一家尚不相識，可笑人也。」生問：「妹子年幾何矣？」媼未能解。生又言之。女復笑，不可仰視。媼謂生曰：「我言少教誨，此可見矣。年已十六，呆痴裁如嬰兒。」生曰：「小於甥一歲。」曰：「阿甥已十七矣，得非庚午屬馬者耶？」生首應之。又問：「甥婦阿誰？」答云：「無之。」曰：「如甥才貌，何十七歲猶未聘？嬰寧亦無姑家，極相匹敵；惜有內親之嫌。」生無語，目注嬰寧，不遑他瞬。婢向女小語云：「目灼灼，賊腔未改！」女又大笑，顧婢曰：「視碧桃開未？」遽起，以袖掩口，細碎連步而出。至門外，笑聲始縱。媼亦起，喚婢襆被，為生安置。曰：「阿甥來不易，宜留三五日，遲遲送汝歸。如嫌幽悶，舍後有小園，可供消遣；有書可讀。」次日，至舍後，果有園半畝，細草鋪氈，楊花糝徑；有草舍三楹，花木四合其所。穿花小步，聞樹頭囌囌有聲，仰視，則嬰寧在上。見生來，狂笑欲墮。生曰：「勿爾，墮矣！」女且下且笑，不能自止。方將及地，失手而墮，笑乃止。生扶之，陰捘其腕。女笑又作，倚樹不能行，良久乃罷。生俟其笑歇，乃出袖中花示之。女接之，曰：「枯矣。何留之？」曰：「此上元妹子所遺，故存之。」問：「存之何意？」曰：「以示相愛不忘也。自上元相遇，凝思成病，自分化為異物；不圖得見顏色，幸垂憐憫。」女曰：「此大細事。至戚何所靳惜？待郎行時，園中花，當喚老奴來，折一巨捆負送之。」生曰：「妹子痴耶？」女曰：「何便是痴？」生曰：「我非愛花，愛拈花之人耳。」女曰：「葭莩之情，愛何待言。」生曰：「我所謂愛，非瓜葛之愛，乃夫妻之愛。」女曰：「有以異乎？」曰：「夜共枕蓆耳。」女俯思良久，曰：「我不慣與生人睡。」語未已，婢潛至，生惶恐遁去。少時，會母所。母問：「何往？」女答以園中共話。媼曰：「飯熟已久，有何長言，周遮乃爾。」女曰：「大哥欲我共寢。」言未已，生大窘，急目瞪之。女微笑而止。幸媼不聞，猶絮絮究詰。生急以他詞掩之，因小語責女。女曰：「適此語不應說耶？」生曰：「此背人語。」女曰：「背他人，豈得背老母。且寢處亦常事，何諱之？」生恨其痴，無術可以悟之。食方竟，家中人捉雙衛來尋生。
未几，婢子具饭，雏尾盈握。媪劝餐已，婢来敛具。媪曰：「唤宁姑来。」婢应去。良久，闻户外隐有笑声。媪又唤曰：「婴宁，汝姨兄在此。」户外嗤嗤笑不已。婢推之以入，犹掩其口，笑不可遏。媪嗔目曰：「有客在，咤咤叱叱，是何景象？」女忍笑而立，生揖之。媪曰：「此王郎，汝姨子。一家尚不相识，可笑人也。」生问：「妹子年几何矣？」媪未能解。生又言之。女复笑，不可仰视。媪谓生曰：「我言少教诲，此可见矣。年已十六，呆痴裁如婴儿。」生曰：「小于甥一岁。」曰：「阿甥已十七矣，得非庚午属马者耶？」生首应之。又问：「甥妇阿谁？」答云：「无之。」曰：「如甥才貌，何十七岁犹未聘？婴宁亦无姑家，极相匹敌；惜有内亲之嫌。」生无语，目注婴宁，不遑他瞬。婢向女小语云：「目灼灼，贼腔未改！」女又大笑，顾婢曰：「视碧桃开未？」遽起，以袖掩口，细碎连步而出。至门外，笑声始纵。媪亦起，唤婢襆被，为生安置。曰：「阿甥来不易，宜留三五日，迟迟送汝归。如嫌幽闷，舍后有小园，可供消遣；有书可读。」次日，至舍后，果有园半亩，细草铺毡，杨花糁径；有草舍三楹，花木四合其所。穿花小步，闻树头苏苏有声，仰视，则婴宁在上。见生来，狂笑欲堕。生曰：「勿尔，堕矣！」女且下且笑，不能自止。方将及地，失手而堕，笑乃止。生扶之，阴捘其腕。女笑又作，倚树不能行，良久乃罢。生俟其笑歇，乃出袖中花示之。女接之，曰：「枯矣。何留之？」曰：「此上元妹子所遗，故存之。」问：「存之何意？」曰：「以示相爱不忘也。自上元相遇，凝思成病，自分化为异物；不图得见颜色，幸垂怜悯。」女曰：「此大细事。至戚何所靳惜？待郎行时，园中花，当唤老奴来，折一巨捆负送之。」生曰：「妹子痴耶？」女曰：「何便是痴？」生曰：「我非爱花，爱拈花之人耳。」女曰：「葭莩之情，爱何待言。」生曰：「我所谓爱，非瓜葛之爱，乃夫妻之爱。」女曰：「有以异乎？」曰：「夜共枕席耳。」女俯思良久，曰：「我不惯与生人睡。」语未已，婢潜至，生惶恐遁去。少时，会母所。母问：「何往？」女答以园中共话。媪曰：「饭熟已久，有何长言，周遮乃尔。」女曰：「大哥欲我共寝。」言未已，生大窘，急目瞪之。女微笑而止。幸媪不闻，犹絮絮究诘。生急以他词掩之，因小语责女。女曰：「适此语不应说耶？」生曰：「此背人语。」女曰：「背他人，岂得背老母。且寝处亦常事，何讳之？」生恨其痴，无术可以悟之。食方竟，家中人捉双卫来寻生。
Before long the maid brought the meal: young chickens, plump enough to fill the hand. The old woman pressed him to eat, and when he had finished, the maid came to clear away. “Go and call Miss Ning,” said the old woman. The maid said she would and went. After a long while there came the faint sound of laughter outside the door. The old woman called again, “Ying Ning, your cousin is here.” Outside the door the giggling went on and on. The maid pushed her in, still covering her mouth, unable to stop laughing. The old woman glared. “With a guest here, all this tittering and snickering — what kind of behaviour is that?” The girl stood holding back her laughter, and Wang bowed to her. “This is young Master Wang, your aunt’s son,” said the old woman. “One family, and you don’t even know each other. It’s laughable.” “How old is my little cousin?” Wang asked. The old woman did not understand. Wang said it again. The girl laughed again, so hard she could not look up. “I told you she’d had little teaching,” the old woman said to Wang. “Now you can see it. She is sixteen already, and as silly as a baby.” “A year younger than your nephew,” said Wang. “So you are seventeen already. Then you must have been born in the gengwu year, the year of the horse?” Wang nodded. “And who is your wife?” “I have none,” he answered. “With your talent and looks, how is it you’re seventeen and not yet betrothed? Ying Ning has no husband’s family yet either. You would be a perfect match. A pity there is the scruple about close kin.” Wang said nothing. His eyes were fixed on Ying Ning, and he had no time to look anywhere else. The maid whispered to the girl, “Eyes glittering — still the same thief’s look!” The girl burst out laughing again. “Let’s go and see if the flowering peach is out,” she said to the maid, and jumped up, covering her mouth with her sleeve, and went out with quick little steps. Once outside the door, she let her laughter go. The old woman got up too, called the maid to bring bedding and settled Wang for the night. “It isn’t easy for you to come here, nephew,” she said. “You should stay three or five days. We’ll take our time sending you home. If you find it dull, there is a little garden behind the house where you can amuse yourself, and there are books to read.” The next day he went behind the house. There was indeed a garden of half a mu, the fine grass spread like felt, willow catkins scattered over the paths. There was a thatched cottage of three bays, ringed round with flowers and trees. As he strolled through the flowers, he heard a rustling at the top of a tree. He looked up: Ying Ning was up there. When she saw Wang coming, she laughed so wildly she nearly fell. “Don’t!” said Wang. “You’ll fall!” She came down laughing all the way and could not stop. Just as she was about to reach the ground, she lost her grip and fell, and that stopped her laughing. Wang helped her up and secretly squeezed her wrist. Her laughter broke out again. She leaned against the tree, unable to walk, and only after a long while did it stop. Wang waited until her laughter had died down, then took the flower from his sleeve and showed it to her. She took it. “It’s withered. Why keep it?” “You dropped it at the Lantern Festival, cousin, so I kept it.” “What’s the point of keeping it?” “To show that I love you and can’t forget you. Ever since we met at the Lantern Festival I have brooded over you until I fell ill. I was sure I would die. I never thought I would see your face again. Have pity on me.” “That’s such a little thing,” said the girl. “Between close relatives, why grudge it? When you leave, I’ll call the old servant to pick a great bundle of flowers from the garden and carry it for you.” “Are you silly, cousin?” said Wang. “What’s silly about that?” said the girl. “It isn’t the flowers I love,” said Wang. “It’s the person who held the flower.” “We’re family,” said the girl. “It goes without saying that we love each other.” “The love I mean isn’t the love of kin,” said Wang. “It’s the love of husband and wife.” “Is there any difference?” “Sharing a pillow at night, that’s all.” The girl bent her head and thought for a long while. “I’m not used to sleeping with strangers.” Before she had finished, the maid crept up, and Wang fled in alarm. A little later they met again in the old woman’s room. “Where have you been?” her mother asked. The girl answered that they had been talking in the garden. “The food has been ready for ages,” said the old woman. “What could you have so much to say about, going on and on like that?” “Big Brother wants me to sleep with him,” said the girl. Before she had finished, Wang, mortified, glared at her. The girl smiled and stopped. Luckily the old woman had not heard, and kept on asking, on and on. Wang hurriedly covered it up with something else, and then scolded the girl in a whisper. “Shouldn’t I have said that just now?” said the girl. “That was for no one else’s ears,” said Wang. “No one else’s, of course,” said the girl, “but how can I keep it from my old mother? Besides, sleeping is an everyday thing. Why hide it?” Wang was exasperated by her silliness, but there was no way to make her understand. They had just finished eating when servants from his home arrived, leading two donkeys, to look for him.
先是，母待生久不歸，始疑；村中搜覓幾遍，竟無蹤兆。因往詢吳。吳憶曩言，因教于西南山村行覓。凡歷數村，始至於此。生出門，適相值，便入告媼，且請偕女同歸。媼喜曰：「我有志，匪伊朝夕。但殘軀不能遠涉，得甥攜妹子去，識認阿姨，大好！」呼嬰寧。寧笑至。媼曰：「有何喜，笑輒不輟？若不笑，當為全人。」因怒之以目。乃曰：「大哥欲同汝去，可便裝束。」又餉家人酒食，始送之出曰：「姨家田產豐裕，能養冗人。到彼且勿歸，小學詩禮，亦好事翁姑。即煩阿姨，為汝擇一良匹。」二人遂發。至山坳，回顧，猶依稀見媼倚門北望也。
先是，母待生久不归，始疑；村中搜觅几遍，竟无踪兆。因往询吴。吴忆曩言，因教于西南山村行觅。凡历数村，始至于此。生出门，适相值，便入告媪，且请偕女同归。媪喜曰：「我有志，匪伊朝夕。但残躯不能远涉，得甥携妹子去，识认阿姨，大好！」呼婴宁。宁笑至。媪曰：「有何喜，笑辄不辍？若不笑，当为全人。」因怒之以目。乃曰：「大哥欲同汝去，可便装束。」又饷家人酒食，始送之出曰：「姨家田产丰裕，能养冗人。到彼且勿归，小学诗礼，亦好事翁姑。即烦阿姨，为汝择一良匹。」二人遂发。至山坳，回顾，犹依稀见媪倚门北望也。
Earlier, when Wang had been gone a long time without coming home, his mother had begun to worry. They searched the village several times but found no sign of him. So she went to ask Wu. Wu remembered what he had said before, and told them to search the hill villages to the southwest. They had been through several villages before they came to this one. Wang was coming out of the gate just as they arrived. He went in and told the old woman, and asked to take the girl home with him. The old woman was delighted. “I have wished for this a long time, not just for a morning or an evening. But this worn-out old body can’t travel far. If my nephew will take his cousin and let her get to know her aunt, that is very good!” She called Ying Ning, and Ying Ning came, laughing. “What is there to be so pleased about, that you can never stop laughing?” said the old woman. “If you didn’t laugh, you would be perfect.” And she glared at her. Then she said, “Big Brother wants to take you with him. Go and get ready.” She gave the servants wine and food, and then saw them off. “Your aunt’s family has plenty of land; they can feed an extra mouth,” she said to the girl. “When you get there, don’t come back. Learn a little poetry and proper manners, so that you can serve your husband’s parents well. And trouble your aunt to choose a good husband for you.” And so the two of them set off. When they reached a fold in the hills, they looked back, and could still faintly see the old woman leaning on the gate, looking north.
抵家，母睹姝麗，驚問為誰。生以姨女對。母曰：「前吳郎與兒言者，詐也。我未有姊，何以得甥？」問女，女曰：「我非母出。父為秦氏，沒時，兒在褓中，不能記憶。」母曰：「我一姊適秦氏，良確，然殂謝已久，那得復存？」因審詰面龐﹑志贅，一一符合。又疑曰：「是矣。然亡已多年，何得復存？」疑慮間，吳生至，女避入室。吳詢得故，惘然久之。忽曰：「此女名嬰寧耶？」生然之。吳亟稱怪事。問所自知，吳曰：「秦家姑去世後，姑丈鰥居，祟于狐，病瘠死。狐生女名嬰寧，繃臥床上，家人皆見之。姑丈沒，狐猶時來；後求天師符粘壁上，狐遂攜女去。將勿此耶？」彼此疑參。但聞室中吃吃皆嬰寧笑聲。母曰：「此女亦太憨生。」吳請面之。母入室，女猶濃笑不顧。母促令出，始極力忍笑，又面壁移時，方出。才一展拜，翻然遽入，放聲大笑。滿室婦女，為之粲然。吳請往覘其異，就便執柯。尋至村所，廬舍全無，山花零落而已。吳憶姑葬處，仿彿不遠；然墳壠湮沒，莫可辨識，詫嘆而返。母疑其為鬼。入告吳言，女略無駭意；又吊其無家，亦殊無悲意，孜孜憨笑而已。眾莫之測。母令與少女同寢止。昧爽即來省問，操女紅精巧絕倫。但善笑，禁之亦不可止；然笑處嫣然，狂而不損其媚，人皆樂之。鄰女少婦，爭承迎之。母擇吉將為合巹，而終恐為鬼物。竊于日中窺之，形影殊無少異。至日，使華裝行新婦禮；女笑極不能俯仰，遂罷。生以其憨痴，恐泄漏房中隱事；而女殊密秘，不肯道一語。每值母懮怒，女至，一笑即解。奴婢小過，恐遭鞭楚，輒求詣母共話；罪婢投見，恆得免。而愛花成癖，物色遍戚黨；竊典金釵，購佳種，數月，階砌藩溷，無非花者。
抵家，母睹姝丽，惊问为谁。生以姨女对。母曰：「前吴郎与儿言者，诈也。我未有姊，何以得甥？」问女，女曰：「我非母出。父为秦氏，没时，儿在褓中，不能记忆。」母曰：「我一姊适秦氏，良确，然殂谢已久，那得复存？」因审诘面庞﹑志赘，一一符合。又疑曰：「是矣。然亡已多年，何得复存？」疑虑间，吴生至，女避入室。吴询得故，惘然久之。忽曰：「此女名婴宁耶？」生然之。吴亟称怪事。问所自知，吴曰：「秦家姑去世后，姑丈鳏居，祟于狐，病瘠死。狐生女名婴宁，绷卧床上，家人皆见之。姑丈没，狐犹时来；后求天师符粘壁上，狐遂携女去。将勿此耶？」彼此疑参。但闻室中吃吃皆婴宁笑声。母曰：「此女亦太憨生。」吴请面之。母入室，女犹浓笑不顾。母促令出，始极力忍笑，又面壁移时，方出。才一展拜，翻然遽入，放声大笑。满室妇女，为之粲然。吴请往觇其异，就便执柯。寻至村所，庐舍全无，山花零落而已。吴忆姑葬处，仿佛不远；然坟垅湮没，莫可辨识，诧叹而返。母疑其为鬼。入告吴言，女略无骇意；又吊其无家，亦殊无悲意，孜孜憨笑而已。众莫之测。母令与少女同寝止。昧爽即来省问，操女红精巧绝伦。但善笑，禁之亦不可止；然笑处嫣然，狂而不损其媚，人皆乐之。邻女少妇，争承迎之。母择吉将为合卺，而终恐为鬼物。窃于日中窥之，形影殊无少异。至日，使华装行新妇礼；女笑极不能俯仰，遂罢。生以其憨痴，恐泄漏房中隐事；而女殊密秘，不肯道一语。每值母懮怒，女至，一笑即解。奴婢小过，恐遭鞭楚，辄求诣母共话；罪婢投见，恒得免。而爱花成癖，物色遍戚党；窃典金钗，购佳种，数月，阶砌藩溷，无非花者。
When they got home, Wang’s mother saw the beautiful girl and asked in surprise who she was. Wang said she was his aunt’s daughter. “What Wu told you before was a lie,” said his mother. “I have no elder sister. How could I have a niece?” She asked the girl. “I am not my mother’s child,” said the girl. “My father was a Qin. When he died I was a baby in swaddling clothes, so I can’t remember.” “I did have an elder sister who married into the Qin family, that is true,” said his mother. “But she died long ago. How could she still be living?” Then she asked closely about the old woman’s face, her moles and warts, and every detail matched. Doubtful again, she said, “That is her. But she has been dead for years. How can she still be living?” As she puzzled over it, Wu arrived, and the girl withdrew into the inner room. Wu asked what had happened, and was bewildered for a long while. Then suddenly he said, “Is this girl called Ying Ning?” Wang said she was. Wu kept exclaiming what a strange thing it was. When they asked how he knew, he said, “After our aunt Qin died, her husband lived on alone as a widower. A fox haunted him, and he wasted away and died. The fox bore a daughter called Ying Ning, who lay swaddled on the bed; everyone in the house saw her. After our uncle died, the fox still came now and then. Later the family got a charm from the Celestial Master and stuck it on the wall, and the fox took the girl and went away. Could this be her?” They puzzled over it together. All they could hear from the room was giggle after giggle: Ying Ning laughing. “This girl is far too silly,” said Wang’s mother. Wu asked to meet her. Wang’s mother went into the room, but the girl went on laughing heartily and paid no attention. Wang’s mother urged her to come out. Only then did she try hard to hold back her laughter, and she stood facing the wall a while before she came out. She had barely made one bow when she whirled round and darted back in, and burst out laughing. The women filling the room all broke into smiles. Wu asked to go and see the strange place for himself, and to act as go-between while he was there. He found the village, but there were no houses at all, only mountain flowers scattered here and there. Wu remembered that their aunt’s grave was somewhere near, but the mounds had sunk and could not be made out. He came back, marvelling and sighing. Wang’s mother suspected the girl was a ghost. She went in and told her what Wu had said, but the girl showed no fear at all. When she pitied her for having no home, the girl showed no sorrow either, but only went on giggling foolishly. No one could make her out. Wang’s mother had her share a room with a young girl of the household. At first light the girl came to ask after her health. Her needlework was exquisite beyond compare. But she was always laughing, and even when told not to, she could not stop. Yet her laughter was so lovely that, wild as it was, it took nothing from her charm, and everyone delighted in her. The girls and young wives of the neighbourhood vied to make friends with her. Wang’s mother picked a lucky day for the wedding, but she still feared the girl might be a ghost. She secretly watched her in the noon sun: her body and her shadow were not the least bit out of the ordinary. On the day, the girl was dressed in finery to perform the rites of a bride, but she laughed so hard she could not bow and rise, and the rites had to be given up. Wang feared that in her silliness she would let out the secrets of their bedroom, but she was in fact most discreet and would not say a word about them. Whenever his mother was upset or angry, the girl had only to come in and laugh, and it passed. When a maid had committed some small fault and feared a whipping, she would beg the girl to go and talk with Wang’s mother; if the guilty maid then presented herself, she was always let off. The girl loved flowers to the point of obsession and hunted for them among all their relations. She secretly pawned her gold hairpins to buy fine varieties, and within a few months the steps, the hedges, even the privy, were nothing but flowers.
庭後有木香一架，故鄰西家。女每攀登其上，摘供簪玩。母時遇見，輒訶之。女卒不改。一日，西人子見之，凝注傾倒。女不避而笑。西人子謂女意已屬，心益蕩。女指牆底笑而下，西人子謂示約處，大悅。及昏而往，女果在焉。就而淫之，則陰如錐刺，痛徹于心，大號而踣。細視非女，則一枯木臥牆邊，所接乃水淋竅也。鄰父聞聲，急奔研問，呻而不言。妻來，始以實告。爇火燭竅，見中有巨蠍，如小蟹然。翁碎木捉殺之。負子至家，半夜尋卒。鄰人訟生，訐發嬰寧妖異。邑宰素仰生才，稔知其篤行士，謂鄰翁訟誣，將杖責之。生為乞免，遂釋而出。母謂女曰：「憨狂爾爾，早知過喜而伏懮也。邑令神明，幸不牽累；設鶻突官宰，必逮婦女質公堂，我兒何顏見戚里？」女正色，矢不復笑。母曰：「人罔不笑，但須有時。」而女由是竟不復笑，雖故逗，亦終不笑；然竟日未嘗有戚容。
庭后有木香一架，故邻西家。女每攀登其上，摘供簪玩。母时遇见，辄诃之。女卒不改。一日，西人子见之，凝注倾倒。女不避而笑。西人子谓女意已属，心益荡。女指墙底笑而下，西人子谓示约处，大悦。及昏而往，女果在焉。就而淫之，则阴如锥刺，痛彻于心，大号而踣。细视非女，则一枯木卧墙边，所接乃水淋窍也。邻父闻声，急奔研问，呻而不言。妻来，始以实告。爇火烛窍，见中有巨蝎，如小蟹然。翁碎木捉杀之。负子至家，半夜寻卒。邻人讼生，讦发婴宁妖异。邑宰素仰生才，稔知其笃行士，谓邻翁讼诬，将杖责之。生为乞免，遂释而出。母谓女曰：「憨狂尔尔，早知过喜而伏懮也。邑令神明，幸不牵累；设鹘突官宰，必逮妇女质公堂，我儿何颜见戚里？」女正色，矢不复笑。母曰：「人罔不笑，但须有时。」而女由是竟不复笑，虽故逗，亦终不笑；然竟日未尝有戚容。
Behind the courtyard there was a trellis of banksia roses that ran along the wall of the neighbours to the west. The girl often climbed up it to pick flowers to wear in her hair and play with. Whenever Wang’s mother caught her at it she scolded her, but the girl never changed her ways. One day the son of the west neighbours saw her, stared at her and was smitten. The girl did not hide from him, but laughed. The neighbour’s son thought she had taken a fancy to him, and his heart was stirred all the more. The girl pointed to the foot of the wall, laughed and climbed down. The neighbour’s son thought she was showing him where to meet, and was overjoyed. At dusk he went there, and sure enough, there she was. He went up to her and had his way with her, and at once his member felt as if an awl had pierced it. The pain went right to his heart; he gave a great howl and fell down. Looking closely, he saw that it was not the girl but a dead log lying by the wall, and what he had entered was a hole worn by dripping rain. His father heard the noise, came running and asked what had happened, but the son only groaned and would not say. Only when his wife came did he tell the truth. They lit a fire and shone it into the hole, and inside they saw a huge scorpion, like a small crab. The old man smashed the log, caught the scorpion and killed it. He carried his son home on his back, and in the middle of the night the son died. The neighbour brought a suit against Wang, charging that Ying Ning was an evil spirit. The county magistrate had long admired Wang’s talent and knew him well as a man of upright conduct. He declared the old man’s charge false and was about to have him beaten, but Wang begged him off, and the old man was let go. “Silly and wild like this!” Wang’s mother said to the girl. “I always knew too much gaiety hides sorrow. The magistrate is wise as a god, and luckily we weren’t dragged into it. If it had been some muddle-headed official, he would surely have had the women hauled into court for questioning, and how could my son ever face our relatives and neighbours?” The girl’s face turned grave, and she swore she would never laugh again. “Everyone laughs,” said Wang’s mother. “It just has to be at the right time.” But from then on the girl never laughed again. Even when people tried to make her laugh, she never would. Yet all day long she never looked sad.
一夕，對生零涕。異之，女哽咽曰：「曩以相從日淺，言之恐致駭怪。今日察姑及郎，皆過愛無有異心，直告或無妨乎？妾本狐產。母臨去，以妾托鬼母，相依十餘年，始有今日。妾又無兄弟，所恃者惟君。老母岑寂山阿，無人憐而合厝之，九泉輒為悼恨。君倘不惜煩費，使地下人消此怨恫，庶養女者不忍溺棄。」生諾之，然慮墳塚迷于荒草。女但言無慮。刻日，夫妻輿櫬而往。女于荒煙錯楚中，指示墓處，果得媼尸，膚革猶存。女撫哭哀痛。舁歸，尋秦氏墓合葬焉。是夜，生夢媼來稱謝，寤而述之。女曰：「妾夜見之，囑勿驚郎君耳。」生恨不邀留。女曰：「彼鬼也。生人多，陽氣勝，何能久居？」生問小榮，曰：「是亦狐，最黠。狐母留以視妾，每攝餌相哺，故德之常不去心。昨問母，云已嫁之。」由是歲值寒食，夫妻登秦墓，拜掃無缺。女逾年，生一子。在懷抱中，不畏生人，見人輒笑，亦大有母風云。
一夕，对生零涕。异之，女哽咽曰：「曩以相从日浅，言之恐致骇怪。今日察姑及郎，皆过爱无有异心，直告或无妨乎？妾本狐产。母临去，以妾托鬼母，相依十余年，始有今日。妾又无兄弟，所恃者惟君。老母岑寂山阿，无人怜而合厝之，九泉辄为悼恨。君倘不惜烦费，使地下人消此怨恫，庶养女者不忍溺弃。」生诺之，然虑坟冢迷于荒草。女但言无虑。刻日，夫妻舆榇而往。女于荒烟错楚中，指示墓处，果得媪尸，肤革犹存。女抚哭哀痛。舁归，寻秦氏墓合葬焉。是夜，生梦媪来称谢，寤而述之。女曰：「妾夜见之，嘱勿惊郎君耳。」生恨不邀留。女曰：「彼鬼也。生人多，阳气胜，何能久居？」生问小荣，曰：「是亦狐，最黠。狐母留以视妾，每摄饵相哺，故德之常不去心。昨问母，云已嫁之。」由是岁值寒食，夫妻登秦墓，拜扫无缺。女逾年，生一子。在怀抱中，不畏生人，见人辄笑，亦大有母风云。
One evening she wept in front of Wang. He was surprised. Choking back her sobs, the girl said, “Before, we had not been together long, and I was afraid that telling you would shock and frighten you. Now I can see that your mother and you both love me dearly and have no other thought toward me, so perhaps there is no harm in telling you plainly. I was born of a fox. When my mother left, she gave me into the care of my ghost mother, and we lived together more than ten years, until I came to this day. I have no brothers either; you are the only one I can rely on. My old mother lies lonely in a mountain hollow, with no one to pity her and bury her beside her husband, and down in the Nine Springs she grieves over it. If you will not grudge the trouble and expense, and will let her under the earth be rid of this sorrow, then perhaps people who raise daughters will not bear to drown them.” Wang promised, but he was worried that the grave would be lost in the wild grass. The girl only told him not to worry. On the appointed day, husband and wife set out with a coffin carried on a cart. Among the wild mist and tangled thorns the girl pointed out the grave, and there, sure enough, they found the old woman’s body, the skin still whole. The girl stroked it and wept bitterly. They carried it home, found the grave of Mr. Qin and buried her there with him. That night Wang dreamed that the old woman came to thank him. When he woke he told the girl about it. “I saw her in the night,” she said. “I told her not to frighten you.” Wang was sorry he had not asked her to stay. “She is a ghost,” said the girl. “Where there are many living people, the breath of life is strong. How could she stay long?” Wang asked about Xiaorong. “She is a fox too, and the cleverest of them all. My fox mother left her to look after me. She was always fetching food to feed me, so I am grateful to her and never forget her. I asked my mother last night, and she said she had married her off.” From then on, every year at the Cold Food Festival, husband and wife climbed to the Qin grave to pay their respects and sweep it, and they never missed a year. A year later the girl bore a son. While he was still in arms, he was not afraid of strangers and laughed at everyone he saw. He took a great deal after his mother, they say.
異史氏曰：「觀其孜孜憨笑，似全無心肝者；而牆下惡作劇，其黠孰甚焉。至淒戀鬼母，反笑為哭，我嬰寧殆隱于笑者矣。竊聞山中有草，名「笑矣乎」。嗅之，則笑不可止。房中植此一種，則合歡﹑忘懮，並無顏色矣。若解語花，正嫌其作態耳。」
异史氏曰：「观其孜孜憨笑，似全无心肝者；而墙下恶作剧，其黠孰甚焉。至凄恋鬼母，反笑为哭，我婴宁殆隐于笑者矣。窃闻山中有草，名「笑矣乎」。嗅之，则笑不可止。房中植此一种，则合欢﹑忘懮，并无颜色矣。若解语花，正嫌其作态耳。」
The Historian of the Strange says: To see her giggling away so foolishly, you would think she had no heart or mind at all. Yet that nasty trick at the foot of the wall — who could be craftier? And when she longed so sadly for her ghost mother and turned her laughter to tears, then I think our Ying Ning was one who hid herself in laughter. I have heard that in the mountains there grows a herb called Laugh-Away: one sniff of it, and you cannot stop laughing. Plant one of these in your rooms, and the Joining-Joy and the Forget-Sorrow would lose all their colour. As for the ‘flower that understands speech’, one would only find her affected.