常州民李化，富有田產。年五十餘，無子。一女名小惠，容質秀美，夫妻最憐愛之。十四歲，暴病夭殂，冷落庭幃，益少生趣。始納婢，經年余，生一子，視如拱璧，名之珠兒。兒漸長，魁梧可愛。然性絕痴，五六歲尚不辨菽麥；言語蹇澀。李亦好而不知其惡。會有眇僧，募緣于市，輒知人閨闥，於是相驚以神；且云，能生死禍福人。幾十百千，執名以索，無敢違者。詣李募百緡。李難之，給十金，不受；漸至三十金。僧厲色曰：「必百緡，缺一文不可！」李亦怒，收金遽去。僧忿然而起曰：「勿悔，勿悔！」無何，珠兒心暴痛，巴刮床席，色如土灰。李懼，將八十金詣僧乞救。僧笑曰：「多金大不易！然山僧何能為？」李歸而兒已死。李慟甚，以狀訴邑宰。宰拘僧訊鞫，亦辨給無情詞。笞之，似擊鞔革。令搜其身，得木人二﹑小棺一﹑小旗幟五。宰怒，以手疊訣舉示之。僧乃懼，自投無數。宰不聽，杖殺之。李叩謝而歸。
常州民李化，富有田产。年五十余，无子。一女名小惠，容质秀美，夫妻最怜爱之。十四岁，暴病夭殂，冷落庭帏，益少生趣。始纳婢，经年余，生一子，视如拱璧，名之珠儿。儿渐长，魁梧可爱。然性绝痴，五六岁尚不辨菽麦；言语蹇涩。李亦好而不知其恶。会有眇僧，募缘于市，辄知人闺闼，于是相惊以神；且云，能生死祸福人。几十百千，执名以索，无敢违者。诣李募百缗。李难之，给十金，不受；渐至三十金。僧厉色曰：「必百缗，缺一文不可！」李亦怒，收金遽去。僧忿然而起曰：「勿悔，勿悔！」无何，珠儿心暴痛，巴刮床席，色如土灰。李惧，将八十金诣僧乞救。僧笑曰：「多金大不易！然山僧何能为？」李归而儿已死。李恸甚，以状诉邑宰。宰拘僧讯鞫，亦辨给无情词。笞之，似击鞔革。令搜其身，得木人二﹑小棺一﹑小旗帜五。宰怒，以手叠诀举示之。僧乃惧，自投无数。宰不听，杖杀之。李叩谢而归。
Li Hua, a commoner of Changzhou, owned a great deal of land. He was over fifty and had no son. He had one daughter, Xiaohui, fair and lovely, whom he and his wife loved above all things. At fourteen she fell suddenly ill and died. The house was left cold and empty, and life held even less joy for them. Only then did Li take a maid as his concubine, and a year or so later she bore him a son. Li treasured him like a great jade disc and named him Zhu’er. The boy grew big and sturdy and lovable. But he was utterly simple: at five or six he still could not tell beans from wheat, and he spoke haltingly. Li loved him all the same and could not see his faults. It happened that a one-eyed monk was begging alms in the market. He always knew what went on in people’s inner rooms, so they told one another in alarm that he was divine; and he said he could give life or death, fortune or ruin, to anyone he chose. He would name a household and demand tens, hundreds or thousands of cash, and no one dared refuse. He came to Li and asked for a hundred strings of cash. Li balked at it and offered ten taels of silver. The monk would not take it, and little by little Li went up to thirty. The monk’s face hardened. “It must be a hundred strings. Not one coin less!” Li grew angry too, picked up his silver and walked off. The monk rose in fury. “Mind you don’t regret it! Mind you don’t!” Before long Zhu’er was seized with a violent pain in his chest. He clawed at the bed mat, and his face turned the colour of ashes. Li in terror took eighty taels to the monk and begged him to save the boy. The monk laughed. “So much silver — that can’t have been easy to come by! But what can a poor monk from the hills do?” When Li got home the boy was dead. Li grieved bitterly and brought a complaint before the county magistrate. The magistrate had the monk arrested and questioned, but he answered glibly and nothing true could be got out of him. When he was flogged, it was like beating a drumhead. The magistrate had him searched, and on him they found two wooden figures, a little coffin and five little flags. The magistrate was furious. He folded his fingers into a magic sign and held it up for the monk to see. Only then was the monk afraid, and he threw himself to the ground again and again. The magistrate would not listen and had him beaten to death. Li kowtowed his thanks and went home.
時已曛暮，與妻坐床上。忽一小兒，㑌儴入室，曰：「阿翁行何疾？極力不能得追。」視其體貌，當得七八歲。李驚，方將詰問，則見其若隱若現，恍惚如煙霧，宛轉間，已登榻坐。李推下之，墮地無聲。曰：「阿翁何乃爾！」瞥然復登。李懼，與妻俱奔。兒呼阿父﹑阿母，嘔啞不休。李入妾室，急闔其扉；還顧，兒已在膝下。李駭，問何為。答曰：「我蘇州人，姓詹氏。六歲失怙恃，不為兄嫂所容，逐居外祖家。偶戲門外，為妖僧迷殺桑樹下，驅使如倀鬼，冤閉窮泉，不得脫化。幸賴阿翁昭雪，願得為子。」李曰：「人鬼殊途，何能相依？」兒曰：「但除斗室，為兒設床褥，日澆一杯冷漿粥，余都無事。」李從之。兒喜，遂獨臥室中。晨來出入閨閣，如家生。聞妾哭子聲，問：「珠兒死幾日矣？」答以七日。曰：「天嚴寒，尸當不腐。試發塚啟視，如未損壞，兒當得活。」李喜，與兒去，開穴驗之，軀殼如故。方此忉怛，回視，失兒所在。異之，舁尸歸。方置榻上，目已瞥動；少頃呼湯，湯已而汗，汗已遂起。
时已曛暮，与妻坐床上。忽一小儿，㑌儴入室，曰：「阿翁行何疾？极力不能得追。」视其体貌，当得七八岁。李惊，方将诘问，则见其若隐若现，恍惚如烟雾，宛转间，已登榻坐。李推下之，堕地无声。曰：「阿翁何乃尔！」瞥然复登。李惧，与妻俱奔。儿呼阿父﹑阿母，呕哑不休。李入妾室，急阖其扉；还顾，儿已在膝下。李骇，问何为。答曰：「我苏州人，姓詹氏。六岁失怙恃，不为兄嫂所容，逐居外祖家。偶戏门外，为妖僧迷杀桑树下，驱使如伥鬼，冤闭穷泉，不得脱化。幸赖阿翁昭雪，愿得为子。」李曰：「人鬼殊途，何能相依？」儿曰：「但除斗室，为儿设床褥，日浇一杯冷浆粥，余都无事。」李从之。儿喜，遂独卧室中。晨来出入闺阁，如家生。闻妾哭子声，问：「珠儿死几日矣？」答以七日。曰：「天严寒，尸当不腐。试发冢启视，如未损坏，儿当得活。」李喜，与儿去，开穴验之，躯壳如故。方此忉怛，回视，失儿所在。异之，舁尸归。方置榻上，目已瞥动；少顷呼汤，汤已而汗，汗已遂起。
By then it was dusk, and Li was sitting on the bed with his wife. Suddenly a little boy came scurrying into the room. “Papa, why did you walk so fast? I tried as hard as I could and couldn’t catch you up.” By his size he looked seven or eight. Li was startled and was about to question him, when he saw that the boy flickered in and out of sight, hazy as smoke; with a twist he was up on the bed, sitting there. Li pushed him off. He fell to the floor without a sound. “Papa, why do that?” he said, and in a flash he was up again. Li was frightened and fled with his wife. The boy kept calling “Papa! Mama!” and babbling on and on. Li ran into his concubine’s room and quickly shut the door; when he looked round, the boy was already at his knee. Li in horror asked what he wanted. “I come from Suzhou,” said the boy. “My family name is Zhan. When I was six I lost my father and mother, and my elder brother and his wife wouldn’t keep me, so I was sent to live with my mother’s parents. One day I was playing outside the gate, and the evil monk bewitched me and killed me under a mulberry tree. He used me as his slave, like a tiger’s ghost, and I was shut away, wronged, in the depths of the underworld, and could not get free to be reborn. Now, thanks to you, Papa, my wrong has been righted. I want to be your son.” “Men and ghosts walk different roads,” said Li. “How can we live together?” “Just clear out a tiny room and make up a bed for me,” said the boy, “and pour out a cup of cold gruel for me each day. I need nothing else.” Li agreed. The boy was delighted and slept alone in that room. In the mornings he came and went in the inner rooms as if he had been born in the house. Hearing the concubine weeping for her son, he asked, “How many days has Zhu’er been dead?” “Seven,” she said. “It’s bitterly cold,” said the boy. “The body shouldn’t have rotted. Try opening the grave and looking. If it isn’t spoiled, I can come back to life.” Li was overjoyed and went with the boy to open the grave. The body was just as it had been. While Li stood there in grief, he looked round and the boy was nowhere to be seen. Wondering at it, he had the body carried home. No sooner was it laid on the bed than the eyes flickered. In a moment the boy called for something hot to drink; after drinking it he sweated, and after sweating he got up.
群喜珠兒復生，又加之慧黠便利，迥異曩昔。但夜間僵臥，毫無氣息，共轉側之，冥然若死。眾大愕，謂其復死；天將明，始若夢醒。群就問之。答云：「昔從妖僧時，有兒等二人，其一名哥子，昨追阿父不及，蓋在後與哥子作別耳。今在冥間，與姜員外作義嗣，亦甚優游。夜分，固來邀兒戲。適以白鼻騧送兒歸。」母因問：「在陰司見珠兒否？」曰：「珠兒已轉生矣。渠與阿翁無父子緣，不過金陵嚴子方，來討百十千債負耳。」初，李販于金陵，欠嚴貨價未償，而嚴翁死，此事無知者。李聞之，大駭。母問：「兒見惠姊否？」兒曰：「不知，再去當訪之。」
群喜珠儿复生，又加之慧黠便利，迥异曩昔。但夜间僵卧，毫无气息，共转侧之，冥然若死。众大愕，谓其复死；天将明，始若梦醒。群就问之。答云：「昔从妖僧时，有儿等二人，其一名哥子，昨追阿父不及，盖在后与哥子作别耳。今在冥间，与姜员外作义嗣，亦甚优游。夜分，固来邀儿戏。适以白鼻䯄送儿归。」母因问：「在阴司见珠儿否？」曰：「珠儿已转生矣。渠与阿翁无父子缘，不过金陵严子方，来讨百十千债负耳。」初，李贩于金陵，欠严货价未偿，而严翁死，此事无知者。李闻之，大骇。母问：「儿见惠姊否？」儿曰：「不知，再去当访之。」
Everyone rejoiced that Zhu’er had come back to life, and he was clever and quick besides, quite unlike what he had been before. But at night he lay stiff, without the least breath; when they turned him over he lay senseless as the dead. Everyone was aghast and thought he had died again. Only at daybreak did he come round, as if waking from a dream. They crowded round and asked him about it. “When I served the evil monk,” he said, “there were two of us boys. The other was called Gezi. The other day I couldn’t keep up with Papa because I had stayed behind to say goodbye to Gezi. Now he’s in the underworld, adopted as heir by Squire Jiang, and he lives very comfortably. In the night he came specially to fetch me to play, and just now he sent me home on a white-nosed horse.” Then his mother asked, “Did you see Zhu’er in the underworld?” “Zhu’er has been reborn already. He had no bond of father and son with Papa. He was only Yan Zifang of Jinling, come to collect a debt of a hundred-odd strings.” Some years before, Li had traded at Jinling and owed Yan for goods he never paid for; then old Yan died, and no one knew of it. Li was aghast to hear this. His mother asked, “Did you see your sister Hui?” “I don’t know,” said the boy. “Next time I go I’ll look for her.”
又二三日，謂母曰：「惠姊在冥中大好，嫁得楚江王小郎子，珠翠滿頭髻；一出門，便十百作呵殿聲。」母曰：「何不一歸寧？」曰：「人既死，都與骨肉無關切。倘有人細述前生，方豁然動念耳。昨托姜員外，夤緣見姊，姊姊呼我坐珊瑚床上，與言父母懸念，渠都如眠睡。兒云：「姊在時，喜繡並蒂花，剪刀刺手爪，血涴綾子上，姊就刺作赤水雲。今母猶掛床頭壁，顧念不去心。姊忘之乎？」姊始淒感，云：「會須白郎君，歸省阿母。」」母問其期，答言不知。
又二三日，谓母曰：「惠姊在冥中大好，嫁得楚江王小郎子，珠翠满头髻；一出门，便十百作呵殿声。」母曰：「何不一归宁？」曰：「人既死，都与骨肉无关切。倘有人细述前生，方豁然动念耳。昨托姜员外，夤缘见姊，姊姊呼我坐珊瑚床上，与言父母悬念，渠都如眠睡。儿云：「姊在时，喜绣并蒂花，剪刀刺手爪，血涴绫子上，姊就刺作赤水云。今母犹挂床头壁，顾念不去心。姊忘之乎？」姊始凄感，云：「会须白郎君，归省阿母。」」母问其期，答言不知。
Two or three days later he said to his mother, “Sister Hui is doing very well in the underworld. She has married a young son of the King of Chujiang. Her hair is thick with pearls and kingfisher feathers, and whenever she goes out, a hundred men cry out to clear the way before and behind her.” “Why doesn’t she come home for a visit?” said his mother. “Once people are dead they don’t care about their own flesh and blood. Only when someone tells them about their past life in detail are they suddenly stirred. Yesterday I asked Squire Jiang to find me a way in to see her. Sister called me to sit on a coral couch, and I told her how Papa and Mama longed for her, but she was like someone asleep. I said, ‘When you were alive, Sister, you liked to embroider twin flowers on one stem. Once the scissors pricked your finger and the blood stained the silk, so you worked it into a red cloud over water. Mama still has it hanging on the wall at the head of her bed, and she can’t stop thinking of you. Have you forgotten?’ Only then was she moved to sorrow. She said, ‘I must ask my husband, and go home to see Mama.’” His mother asked when, but he said he did not know.
一日謂母：「姊行且至，僕從大繁，當多備漿酒。」少間，奔入室曰：「姊來矣！」移榻中堂，曰：「姊姊且憩坐，少悲啼。」諸人悉無所見。兒率人焚紙酹飲于門外，反曰：「騶從暫令去矣。姊言：「昔日所覆綠錦被，曾為燭花燒一點如豆大，尚在否？」」母曰：「在。」即啟笥出之。兒曰：「姊命我陳舊閨中。乏疲，且小臥，翌日再與阿母言。」
一日谓母：「姊行且至，仆从大繁，当多备浆酒。」少间，奔入室曰：「姊来矣！」移榻中堂，曰：「姊姊且憩坐，少悲啼。」诸人悉无所见。儿率人焚纸酹饮于门外，反曰：「驺从暂令去矣。姊言：「昔日所覆绿锦被，曾为烛花烧一点如豆大，尚在否？」」母曰：「在。」即启笥出之。儿曰：「姊命我陈旧闺中。乏疲，且小卧，翌日再与阿母言。」
One day he said to his mother, “Sister will be here soon. She has a great many servants with her, so we must get plenty of drink ready.” A little later he ran into the room. “Sister’s here!” He had a couch moved into the main hall. “Sister, sit down and rest. Don’t cry so.” No one else saw anything. The boy took people outside the gate to burn paper and pour out drink, then came back and said, “I’ve sent her escort away for now. Sister says, ‘There was a green brocade quilt that used to cover me, and a spark from the candle once burnt a spot on it the size of a bean. Is it still here?’” “It is,” said his mother, and she opened a chest at once and took it out. “Sister wants me to lay it out in her old room,” said the boy. “She’s tired, so she’ll lie down for a while. Tomorrow she’ll talk with you, Mama.”
東鄰趙氏女，故與惠為繡閣交。是夜，忽夢惠幞頭紫帔來相望，言笑如平生。且言：「我今異物，父母覿面，不啻河山。將借妹子與家人共話，勿須驚恐。」質明，方與母言，忽仆地悶絕。逾刻始醒，向母曰：「小惠與阿嬸別幾年矣，頓鬖鬖白發生！」母駭曰：「兒病狂耶？」女拜別即出，母知其異，從之。直達李所，抱母哀啼。母驚不知所謂。女曰：「兒昨歸，頗委頓，未遑一言。兒不孝，中途棄高堂，勞父母哀念，罪何可贖！」母頓悟，乃哭。已而問曰：「聞兒今貴，甚慰母心。但汝棲身王家，何遂能來？」女曰：「郎君與兒極燕好，姑舅亦相撫愛，頗不謂妒丑。」惠生時，好以手支頤，女言次，輒作故態，神情宛似。未幾，珠兒奔入曰：「接姊者至矣。」女乃起，拜別泣下，曰：「兒去矣。」言訖，復踣，移時乃蘇。
东邻赵氏女，故与惠为绣阁交。是夜，忽梦惠幞头紫帔来相望，言笑如平生。且言：「我今异物，父母觌面，不啻河山。将借妹子与家人共话，勿须惊恐。」质明，方与母言，忽仆地闷绝。逾刻始醒，向母曰：「小惠与阿婶别几年矣，顿鬖鬖白发生！」母骇曰：「儿病狂耶？」女拜别即出，母知其异，从之。直达李所，抱母哀啼。母惊不知所谓。女曰：「儿昨归，颇委顿，未遑一言。儿不孝，中途弃高堂，劳父母哀念，罪何可赎！」母顿悟，乃哭。已而问曰：「闻儿今贵，甚慰母心。但汝栖身王家，何遂能来？」女曰：「郎君与儿极燕好，姑舅亦相抚爱，颇不谓妒丑。」惠生时，好以手支颐，女言次，辄作故态，神情宛似。未几，珠儿奔入曰：「接姊者至矣。」女乃起，拜别泣下，曰：「儿去矣。」言讫，复踣，移时乃苏。
The daughter of the Zhao family next door to the east had been Hui’s close friend in the embroidery room. That night she dreamed that Hui came to see her in a headcloth and a purple cape, talking and laughing as in life. “I am a different kind of being now,” Hui said. “Even face to face, my parents are as far from me as if mountains and rivers lay between us. I am going to borrow you, little sister, to talk with my family. Don’t be afraid.” At daybreak, just as the Zhao girl was talking with her mother, she suddenly fell to the floor senseless. Only after a long while did she come round, and she said to her mother, “It’s been some years since Xiaohui saw you, Auntie, and look how grey your hair has gone!” Her mother cried in alarm, “Child, have you gone mad?” The girl bowed goodbye and went straight out. Her mother saw that something strange was afoot and followed. The girl went straight to the Lis’ house, threw her arms around Hui’s mother and wept. Hui’s mother was startled and did not know what to make of it. “I came home yesterday,” said the girl, “but I was so worn out I had no chance to say a word. I was an unfilial daughter: I left my parents halfway through life and caused you both such grief. How can I ever atone for it?” Then the mother understood and burst into tears. After a while she asked, “I hear you are a great lady now, and that is a comfort to me. But you live in a king’s household — how were you able to come?” “My husband and I are very happy together,” said the girl, “and his father and mother are kind to me. They don’t find me jealous or plain.” In life Hui had liked to rest her chin on her hand. As the girl talked, she kept falling into that old pose, and her air and look were Hui’s to the life. Before long Zhu’er ran in. “They’ve come to fetch Sister!” The girl rose, bowed farewell in tears and said, “I’m going now.” With that she fell down again, and only after a while came round.
後數月，李病劇，醫藥罔效。兒曰：「旦夕恐不救也！二鬼坐床頭，一執鐵杖子，一挽苧麻繩，長四五尺許，兒晝夜哀之不去。」母哭，乃備衣衾。既暮，兒趨入曰：「雜人婦，且避去，姊夫來視阿翁。」俄頃，鼓掌而笑。母問之，曰：「我笑二鬼，聞姊夫來，俱匿床下如龜鱉。」又少時，望空道寒暄，問姊起居。既而拍手曰：「二鬼奴哀之不去，至此大快！」乃出至門外，卻回，曰：「姊夫去矣。二鬼被鎖馬鞅上。阿父當即無恙。姊夫言：歸白大王，為父母乞百年壽也。」一家俱喜。至夜，病良已，數日尋瘥。
后数月，李病剧，医药罔效。儿曰：「旦夕恐不救也！二鬼坐床头，一执铁杖子，一挽苎麻绳，长四五尺许，儿昼夜哀之不去。」母哭，乃备衣衾。既暮，儿趋入曰：「杂人妇，且避去，姊夫来视阿翁。」俄顷，鼓掌而笑。母问之，曰：「我笑二鬼，闻姊夫来，俱匿床下如龟鳖。」又少时，望空道寒暄，问姊起居。既而拍手曰：「二鬼奴哀之不去，至此大快！」乃出至门外，却回，曰：「姊夫去矣。二鬼被锁马鞅上。阿父当即无恙。姊夫言：归白大王，为父母乞百年寿也。」一家俱喜。至夜，病良已，数日寻瘥。
Some months later Li fell gravely ill, and no doctor or medicine did any good. “I’m afraid he can’t be saved — it may be any day now,” said the boy. “Two ghosts are sitting at the head of his bed. One holds an iron staff, the other a hemp rope four or five feet long. I beg them day and night, but they won’t go.” His mother wept and got the grave clothes and shroud ready. At dusk the boy hurried in. “Outsiders and women, stand aside — my sister’s husband has come to see Papa.” In a moment he clapped his hands and laughed. His mother asked why. “I’m laughing at the two ghosts. When they heard my brother-in-law was coming, they both hid under the bed like turtles.” A little later he turned to the empty air and exchanged greetings, asking how his sister was. Then he clapped his hands. “Those two ghostly wretches wouldn’t go however much I begged — and now look at them! What a joy!” He went out to the gate and came back. “My brother-in-law has gone. The two ghosts are chained to his horse’s harness. Papa will be well at once. My brother-in-law says when he gets home he will speak to the Great King and ask a hundred years of life for Papa and Mama.” The whole family rejoiced. By nightfall Li was much better, and in a few days he had recovered.
延師教兒讀。兒甚慧，十八入邑庠，猶能言冥間事。見里中病者，輒指鬼祟所在，以火爇之，往往得瘳。後暴病，體膚青紫，自言鬼神責我綻露，由是不復言。
延师教儿读。儿甚慧，十八入邑庠，犹能言冥间事。见里中病者，辄指鬼祟所在，以火爇之，往往得瘳。后暴病，体肤青紫，自言鬼神责我绽露，由是不复言。
Li engaged a tutor to teach the boy to read. He was very bright, and at eighteen he entered the county school. He could still tell of things in the underworld. When he saw anyone in the village who was ill, he would point to where the ghost causing it was; fire was put to the spot, and often the sick person recovered. Later he fell suddenly ill, and his skin turned blue and purple. He said the ghosts and gods were punishing him for giving away their secrets, and after that he spoke of such things no more.