直隸有巨家，欲延師。忽一秀才，踵門自薦。主人延入。詞語開爽，遂相知悅。秀才自言胡氏，遂納贄館之。胡課業良勤，淹洽非下士等。然時出游，輒昏夜始歸；扃閉儼然，不聞款叩而已在室中矣。遂相驚以狐。然察胡意固不惡，優重之，不以怪異廢禮。
直隶有巨家，欲延师。忽一秀才，踵门自荐。主人延入。词语开爽，遂相知悦。秀才自言胡氏，遂纳贽馆之。胡课业良勤，淹洽非下士等。然时出游，辄昏夜始归；扃闭俨然，不闻款叩而已在室中矣。遂相惊以狐。然察胡意固不恶，优重之，不以怪异废礼。
In Zhili there was a great family looking to engage a tutor. Out of the blue a licentiate came to the gate and offered himself. The master of the house invited him in. The man spoke frankly and with spirit, and the two took to each other at once. The licentiate gave his name as Hu. The master presented the customary gift and installed him as tutor. Hu was diligent in his teaching, and his learning was broad and deep, far above the common run of scholars. But he often went out rambling and did not come back until well after dark; the gates would be locked fast, no one heard a knock, and yet there he was in his room. The household began to whisper in alarm that he was a fox. Still, it was plain that Hu meant no harm, so the master treated him generously and with respect, and did not let anything strange about him stand in the way of courtesy.
胡知主人有女，求為姻好，屢示意，主人偽不解。一日，胡假而去。次日，有客來謁，縶黑衛于門。主人逆而入。年五十餘，衣履鮮潔，意甚恬雅。既坐，自達，始知為胡氏作冰。主人默然，良久曰：「僕與胡先生，交已莫逆，何必婚姻？且息女已許字矣。煩代謝先生。」客曰：「確知令媛待聘，何拒之深？」再三言之，而主人不可。客有慚色，曰：「胡亦世族，何遽不如先生？」主人直告曰：「實無他意，但惡非其類耳。」客聞之怒；主人亦怒，相侵益亟。客起，抓主人。主人命家人杖逐之，客乃遁。遺其驢，視之，毛黑色，批耳修尾，大物也。牽之不動，驅之則隨手而蹶，喓喓然草蟲耳。
胡知主人有女，求为姻好，屡示意，主人伪不解。一日，胡假而去。次日，有客来谒，絷黑卫于门。主人逆而入。年五十余，衣履鲜洁，意甚恬雅。既坐，自达，始知为胡氏作冰。主人默然，良久曰：「仆与胡先生，交已莫逆，何必婚姻？且息女已许字矣。烦代谢先生。」客曰：「确知令媛待聘，何拒之深？」再三言之，而主人不可。客有惭色，曰：「胡亦世族，何遽不如先生？」主人直告曰：「实无他意，但恶非其类耳。」客闻之怒；主人亦怒，相侵益亟。客起，抓主人。主人命家人杖逐之，客乃遁。遗其驴，视之，毛黑色，批耳修尾，大物也。牵之不动，驱之则随手而蹶，喓喓然草虫耳。
Hu knew that the master had a daughter and wanted to marry her. He hinted at it several times, but the master pretended not to understand. One day Hu took leave and went away. The next day a visitor called, tying a black donkey at the gate. The master met him and showed him in. He was over fifty, his clothes and shoes fresh and clean, his manner calm and refined. When they had sat down he stated his business, and it turned out he had come as a go-between for Hu. The master was silent a long while. Then he said, “Mr. Hu and I are already the closest of friends. What need is there for a marriage? Besides, my daughter is already promised. Please give Mr. Hu my apologies.” “I know for certain that your daughter is still waiting for a match,” said the visitor. “Why refuse so firmly?” He pressed the matter again and again, but the master would not agree. The visitor looked put to shame. “The Hu are an old family too,” he said. “Why should they be any less than yours?” The master told him plainly: “I mean nothing else by it. I only object that he is not of our kind.” At this the visitor grew angry; the master grew angry too, and the insults flew harder and faster. The visitor sprang up and clawed at the master. The master ordered his servants to drive him out with sticks, and the visitor fled. He had left his donkey behind. They looked it over: a big beast with a black coat, sharp-cut ears and a long tail. They pulled at it and it would not budge; they gave it a push, and it toppled over under their hands. It was only a chirping grasshopper.
主人以其言忿，知必相仇，戒備之。次日，果有狐兵大至：或騎或步，或戈或弩，馬嘶人沸，聲勢洶洶。主人不敢出。狐聲言火屋，主人益懼。有健者，率家人噪出，飛石施箭，兩相衝擊，互有夷傷。狐漸靡，紛紛引去。遺刀地上，亮如霜雪；近拾之，則高粱葉也。眾笑曰：「技止此耳。」然恐其復至，益備之。明日，眾方聚語，忽一巨人自天而降：高丈余，身橫數尺；揮大刀如門，逐人而殺。群操矢石亂擊之，顛踣而斃，則芻靈耳。眾益易之。狐三日不復來，眾亦少懈。主人適登廁，俄見狐兵，張弓挾矢而至，亂射之；集矢于臀。大懼，急喊眾奔鬥，狐方去。拔矢視之，皆蒿梗。如此月余，去來不常，雖不甚害，而日日戒嚴，主人患苦之。
主人以其言忿，知必相仇，戒备之。次日，果有狐兵大至：或骑或步，或戈或弩，马嘶人沸，声势汹汹。主人不敢出。狐声言火屋，主人益惧。有健者，率家人噪出，飞石施箭，两相冲击，互有夷伤。狐渐靡，纷纷引去。遗刀地上，亮如霜雪；近拾之，则高粱叶也。众笑曰：「技止此耳。」然恐其复至，益备之。明日，众方聚语，忽一巨人自天而降：高丈余，身横数尺；挥大刀如门，逐人而杀。群操矢石乱击之，颠踣而毙，则刍灵耳。众益易之。狐三日不复来，众亦少懈。主人适登厕，俄见狐兵，张弓挟矢而至，乱射之；集矢于臀。大惧，急喊众奔斗，狐方去。拔矢视之，皆蒿梗。如此月余，去来不常，虽不甚害，而日日戒严，主人患苦之。
After the angry words that had passed, the master knew there would be a feud, and he put the house on guard. Sure enough, the next day a great army of foxes arrived, some mounted, some on foot, some with halberds, some with crossbows; horses neighed, men roared, and the din was fearsome. The master did not dare go out. The foxes shouted that they would burn the house down, and the master grew even more frightened. One bold fellow led the servants out with a yell; they hurled stones and loosed arrows, the two sides clashed, and both had wounded. Little by little the foxes gave way and drew off in a scatter. They had left a sword on the ground, bright as frost and snow; but when someone went up and picked it up, it was a sorghum leaf. Everyone laughed. “So that’s all they can do.” Still, fearing the foxes would come again, they kept a closer guard. The next day, as everyone was gathered talking, a giant suddenly came down from the sky, more than ten feet tall and several feet across, swinging a broadsword as big as a door and chasing people to cut them down. They all seized arrows and stones and pelted him wildly; he tottered, fell, and lay dead. He was only a straw man. After this they thought even less of the foxes. For three days the foxes did not come back, and everyone relaxed a little. The master happened to be in the privy when all at once fox soldiers appeared, bows drawn and arrows at the ready, and shot at him wildly; the arrows bristled in his buttocks. In great fright he shouted for the household to come running and fight, and only then did the foxes go. He pulled out the arrows and looked at them: they were all stalks of wormwood. It went on like this for more than a month, the foxes coming and going with no pattern. They did no great harm, but every day the house had to stand on guard, and the master was worn out with it.
一日，胡生率眾至。主人身出，胡望見，避于眾中。主人呼之，不得已，乃出。主人曰：「僕自謂無失禮于先生，何故興戎？」群狐欲射，胡止之。主人近握手，邀入故齋，置酒相款。從容曰：「先生達人，當相見諒。以我情好，寧不樂附婚姻？但先生車馬﹑宮室，多不與人同，弱女相從，即先生當知其不可。且諺雲：『瓜果之生摘者，不適于口。』先生何取焉？」胡大慚。主人曰：「無傷，舊好故在。如不以塵濁見棄，在門牆之幼子，年十五矣，願得坦腹床下。不知有相若者否？」胡喜曰：「僕有弱妹，少公子一歲，頗不陋劣。以奉箕帚，如何？」主人起拜，胡答拜。於是酬酢甚歡，前郤俱忘。命羅酒漿，遍犒從者，上下歡慰。乃詳問居里，將以奠雁。胡辭之。日暮繼燭，醺醉乃去。由是遂安。
一日，胡生率众至。主人身出，胡望见，避于众中。主人呼之，不得已，乃出。主人曰：「仆自谓无失礼于先生，何故兴戎？」群狐欲射，胡止之。主人近握手，邀入故斋，置酒相款。从容曰：「先生达人，当相见谅。以我情好，宁不乐附婚姻？但先生车马﹑宫室，多不与人同，弱女相从，即先生当知其不可。且谚云：『瓜果之生摘者，不适于口。』先生何取焉？」胡大惭。主人曰：「无伤，旧好故在。如不以尘浊见弃，在门墙之幼子，年十五矣，愿得坦腹床下。不知有相若者否？」胡喜曰：「仆有弱妹，少公子一岁，颇不陋劣。以奉箕帚，如何？」主人起拜，胡答拜。于是酬酢甚欢，前郤俱忘。命罗酒浆，遍犒从者，上下欢慰。乃详问居里，将以奠雁。胡辞之。日暮继烛，醺醉乃去。由是遂安。
One day Hu himself came at the head of the troop. The master went out in person. Hu saw him from afar and hid among his followers. The master called to him, and Hu had no choice but to come out. “I believe I have never failed you in courtesy,” said the master. “Why have you made war on me?” The foxes made ready to shoot, but Hu stopped them. The master came up and took his hand, invited him into his old study, and set out wine for him. Then he said, unhurried, “You are a man of the world, sir; you will surely forgive me. Close as we are, how could I not be glad to join our families by marriage? But your carriages and horses, your houses and halls, are for the most part not like other people’s. If my frail daughter went to you, you yourself must see it could not work. Besides, as the proverb says, ‘Melons picked green are not good to eat.’ What would you gain by it?” Hu was deeply ashamed. “No harm done,” said the master. “Our old friendship stands. If you will not spurn us as creatures of the dusty world, my youngest son, your pupil, is fifteen this year. I should be glad to have him chosen as a son-in-law in your family. I wonder if you have anyone of a suitable age?” Hu was delighted. “I have a young sister, a year younger than your son, and not ill-favoured. Would she do to wait on him with broom and dustpan?” The master rose and bowed, and Hu bowed in return. Then they toasted each other with great good cheer, and the old quarrel was forgotten. The master had wine laid out and rewarded all of Hu’s followers, and high and low were happy and content. He then asked in detail where Hu lived, so that he could send the wild goose for the wedding. Hu declined to say. When night fell they lit candles and drank on, and Hu did not leave until he was quite drunk. From then on there was peace.
年余，胡不至。或疑其約妄，而主人堅待之。又半年，胡忽至。既道溫涼已，乃曰：「妹子長成矣。請卜良辰，遣事翁姑。」主人喜，即同定期而去。至夜，果有輿馬送新婦至。奩妝豐盛，設室中幾滿。新婦見姑嫜，溫麗異常。主人大喜。胡生與一弟來送女，談吐俱風雅，又善飲。天明乃去。新婦且能預知年歲豐凶，故謀生之計，皆取則焉。胡生兄弟以及胡媼，時來望女，人人皆見之。
年余，胡不至。或疑其约妄，而主人坚待之。又半年，胡忽至。既道温凉已，乃曰：「妹子长成矣。请卜良辰，遣事翁姑。」主人喜，即同定期而去。至夜，果有舆马送新妇至。奁妆丰盛，设室中几满。新妇见姑嫜，温丽异常。主人大喜。胡生与一弟来送女，谈吐俱风雅，又善饮。天明乃去。新妇且能预知年岁丰凶，故谋生之计，皆取则焉。胡生兄弟以及胡媪，时来望女，人人皆见之。
More than a year went by and Hu did not come. Some suspected the promise had been empty, but the master went on waiting for him. Half a year later Hu suddenly appeared. When they had exchanged greetings, he said, “My sister is grown up now. Please choose a lucky day, and I will send her to serve her husband’s parents.” The master was delighted; they fixed the date together, and Hu left. On the night, sure enough, a carriage and horses brought the bride. Her dowry was rich; set out in her room, it nearly filled it. When the bride came before her parents-in-law, she was gentle and lovely beyond the ordinary. The master was overjoyed. Hu and a younger brother had come to see her off; both talked with grace and wit, and both were good drinkers. They left at daybreak. The bride could also tell ahead of time whether the year’s harvest would be good or bad, so in all their plans for making a living the family followed her lead. Hu, his brother and old Mrs. Hu came often to visit her, and everyone saw them.