且說蔣平進了柴扉一看，卻是三間茅屋，兩明間有磨與屜板羅格等物，果然是個豆腐房。蔣平將濕衣脫下，擰了一擰，然後抖晾。這老丈先燒了一碗熱水，遞與蔣平。蔣平喝了幾口，方問道：「老丈貴姓？」老丈道：「小老兒姓尹，以賣豆腐為生。膝下並無兒女，有個老伴兒。就在這裡居住。請問客官貴姓，要往何處去呢？」蔣平道：「小可姓蔣，要上柳家莊找個相知，不知此處離那裡還有多遠？」老丈道：「算來不足四十里之遙。」說話間，將壁燈點上。見蔣平抖晾衣服，即回身取了一捆柴草來，道：「客官就在那邊空地上將柴草引著，又向火，又烘衣，只是小心些就是了。」蔣平深深謝了，道：「老丈放心。小可是曉得的。」尹老兒道：「老漢動轉一天也覺乏了。客官烘乾衣服也就歇息吧，恕老漢不陪了。」蔣平道：「老丈但請尊便。」尹老兒便向裡屋去了。
且说蒋平进了柴扉一看，却是三间茅屋，两明间有磨与屉板罗格等物，果然是个豆腐房。蒋平将湿衣脱下，拧了一拧，然后抖晾。这老丈先烧了一碗热水，递与蒋平。蒋平喝了几口，方问道：「老丈贵姓？」老丈道：「小老儿姓尹，以卖豆腐为生。膝下并无儿女，有个老伴儿。就在这里居住。请问客官贵姓，要往何处去呢？」蒋平道：「小可姓蒋，要上柳家庄找个相知，不知此处离那里还有多远？」老丈道：「算来不足四十里之遥。」说话间，将壁灯点上。见蒋平抖晾衣服，即回身取了一捆柴草来，道：「客官就在那边空地上将柴草引着，又向火，又烘衣，只是小心些就是了。」蒋平深深谢了，道：「老丈放心。小可是晓得的。」尹老儿道：「老汉动转一天也觉乏了。客官烘干衣服也就歇息吧，恕老汉不陪了。」蒋平道：「老丈但请尊便。」尹老儿便向里屋去了。
Now, when Jiang Ping went in through the wicker gate, he found three thatched rooms. The two open rooms held a millstone, draining boards, sieves and the like: it really was a tofu shop. Jiang Ping took off his wet clothes, wrung them out, then shook them out to dry. The old man first boiled a bowl of hot water and handed it to him. Only when Jiang Ping had drunk a few mouthfuls did he ask, “What is your name, uncle?” “My name is Yin,” said the old man. “I make my living selling tofu. I’ve no sons or daughters, only my old woman, and we live right here. And may I ask your name, sir, and where you’re bound?” “My name is Jiang,” said Jiang Ping. “I’m going to Liu Family Village to look up a friend. How far is it from here, I wonder?” “By my reckoning, not quite forty li,” said the old man. As they talked he lit the lamp on the wall. Seeing Jiang Ping shaking out his clothes, he turned and fetched a bundle of firewood and straw. “Light this on the bare ground over there, sir. You can warm yourself and dry your clothes at the same time — only be a little careful, that’s all.” Jiang Ping thanked him warmly. “Don’t worry, uncle. I know what I’m about.” “This old fellow’s been on his feet all day and feels worn out,” said Old Yin. “When your clothes are dry, sir, you’d best get some rest too. Forgive me if I don’t keep you company.” “Please, uncle, don’t mind me,” said Jiang Ping. And Old Yin went off into the inner room.
蔣平這裡向火烘衣，及至衣服快乾，身體暖和，心裡卻透出餓來了，暗道：「自我打尖後只顧走路，途中再加上雨淋，竟把餓忘了。說不得只好忍一夜罷了。」便將破牀撢了撢，倒下頭，心裡想著要睡。那知肚子不作勁兒，一陣陣咕嚕嚕的亂響，鬧的心裡不得主意，突突突的亂跳起來，自己暗道：「不好。索性不睡的好。」將壁燈剔了一剔，悄悄開了屋門，來到院內。仰面一看，見滿天星斗，原來雨住天晴。正在仰望之間，耳內只聽乒乒乓乓猶如打鐵一般，再細聽時，卻是兵刃交架的聲音，心內不由的一動，思忖道：「這樣荒僻去處，如何夤夜比武呢？倒要看看。」登時把餓也忘了，縱身跳出土牆，順著聲音一聽，恰好就在那邊廟內，急急緊行幾步，從廟後越牆而過。見那邊屋內燈光明亮，有個婦人啼哭，連忙挨身而入。
蒋平这里向火烘衣，及至衣服快干，身体暖和，心里却透出饿来了，暗道：「自我打尖后只顾走路，途中再加上雨淋，竟把饿忘了。说不得只好忍一夜罢了。」便将破床撢了撢，倒下头，心里想着要睡。那知肚子不作劲儿，一阵阵咕噜噜的乱响，闹的心里不得主意，突突突的乱跳起来，自己暗道：「不好。索性不睡的好。」将壁灯剔了一剔，悄悄开了屋门，来到院内。仰面一看，见满天星斗，原来雨住天晴。正在仰望之间，耳内只听乒乒乓乓犹如打铁一般，再细听时，却是兵刃交架的声音，心内不由的一动，思忖道：「这样荒僻去处，如何夤夜比武呢？倒要看看。」登时把饿也忘了，纵身跳出土墙，顺着声音一听，恰好就在那边庙内，急急紧行几步，从庙后越墙而过。见那边屋内灯光明亮，有个妇人啼哭，连忙挨身而入。
Jiang Ping warmed himself at the fire and dried his clothes. By the time they were nearly dry and he was warm through, hunger came seeping out of him instead. He thought to himself, “Since I stopped to eat on the road I’ve done nothing but walk, and with the rain on top of that I clean forgot I was hungry. Well, no help for it — I’ll just have to put up with it for one night.” He brushed off the broken-down bed and lay down, meaning to sleep. But his stomach would not play along: wave after wave it rumbled and gurgled, until he could not settle his mind and his heart began to thump away. “This is no good,” he said to himself. “Better not to sleep at all.” He trimmed the wick of the wall lamp, quietly opened the door and went out into the yard. Looking up, he saw the whole sky full of stars: the rain had stopped and the sky had cleared. While he was gazing up, he heard a clanging and clashing, like a blacksmith at his anvil. Listening more closely, he made out the sound of blades crossing, and his heart gave a jump. “In a lonely, out-of-the-way place like this,” he thought, “who would be fighting in the dead of night? I’d better take a look.” At once he forgot his hunger too. He leapt over the earthen wall and followed the sound: it was coming from inside the temple over there. He hurried a few steps, crossed the wall at the back of the temple, and saw a room over there brightly lit, with a woman weeping inside. He slipped straight in.
婦人一見，嚇的驚慌失色。蔣爺道：「那婦人休要害怕，快些說明，為何事來，俺好救你。」那婦人道：「小婦人姚王氏，只因為與兄弟回娘家探望，途中遇雨，在這廟外山門下避雨，被僧人開門看見，將我等讓到前面禪堂。剛然坐下，又有人擊戶，也是前來避雨的，僧人道：『前面禪堂男女不便。』就將我等讓在這裡。誰知這僧人不懷好意，到了一更之後，提了利刃進來時，先將我兄弟踢倒，捆縛起來，就要逼勒於我。是小婦人著急喊叫，僧人道：『你別嚷！俺先結果了前面那人，回來再合你算帳。』因此提了利刃，他就與前面那人殺起來了。望乞爺爺搭救搭救。」蔣爺道：「你不必害怕。待俺幫那人去。」說罷，回身見那邊立著一根門閂，拿在手中，趕到跟前。見一大漢左右躲閃，已不抵敵；再看和尚，上下翻騰，堪稱對手。蔣爺不慌不忙將門閂端了個四平，彷彿使槍一般，對準那僧人的脅下，一言不發盡力的一戳，那僧人只顧趕殺那人，那知他身後有人戳他呢。冷不防覺得左脅痛徹心髓，翻筋斗栽倒塵埃。前面那人見僧人栽倒，趕上一步，抬腳往下一跺。只聽的拍的一聲，僧人的臉上已然著重，這僧人好苦，臨死之前，先挨一戳，後挨一跺。「曖喲」一聲，手一紮煞，刀已落地。蔣爺撤了門閂，趕上前來，搶刀在手，往下一落。這和尚頓時了帳。歎他身入空門，只因一念之差，枉自送了性命。
妇人一见，吓的惊慌失色。蒋爷道：「那妇人休要害怕，快些说明，为何事来，俺好救你。」那妇人道：「小妇人姚王氏，只因为与兄弟回娘家探望，途中遇雨，在这庙外山门下避雨，被僧人开门看见，将我等让到前面禅堂。刚然坐下，又有人击户，也是前来避雨的，僧人道：『前面禅堂男女不便。』就将我等让在这里。谁知这僧人不怀好意，到了一更之后，提了利刃进来时，先将我兄弟踢倒，捆缚起来，就要逼勒于我。是小妇人着急喊叫，僧人道：『你别嚷！俺先结果了前面那人，回来再合你算帐。』因此提了利刃，他就与前面那人杀起来了。望乞爷爷搭救搭救。」蒋爷道：「你不必害怕。待俺帮那人去。」说罢，回身见那边立着一根门闩，拿在手中，赶到跟前。见一大汉左右躲闪，已不抵敌；再看和尚，上下翻腾，堪称对手。蒋爷不慌不忙将门闩端了个四平，仿佛使枪一般，对准那僧人的胁下，一言不发尽力的一戳，那僧人只顾赶杀那人，那知他身后有人戳他呢。冷不防觉得左胁痛彻心髓，翻筋斗栽倒尘埃。前面那人见僧人栽倒，赶上一步，抬脚往下一跺。只听的拍的一声，僧人的脸上已然着重，这僧人好苦，临死之前，先挨一戳，后挨一跺。「暧哟」一声，手一扎煞，刀已落地。蒋爷撤了门闩，赶上前来，抢刀在手，往下一落。这和尚顿时了帐。叹他身入空门，只因一念之差，枉自送了性命。
At the sight of him the woman turned pale with fright. “You there, don’t be afraid,” said Jiang Ping. “Tell me quickly what happened, so I can save you.” “I am Madam Yao, née Wang,” said the woman. “My brother and I were on our way back to my own family for a visit when we were caught in the rain, and we took shelter under the temple gate. The monk opened the gate, saw us, and showed us into the meditation hall at the front. We had only just sat down when someone else knocked — another traveller come to get out of the rain. The monk said, ‘It isn’t proper for men and women to be together in the front hall,’ and so he brought us back here. Who would have guessed the monk meant mischief? After the first watch he came in with a sharp blade. First he kicked my brother to the ground and tied him up, then he was going to force himself on me. In my fright I screamed, and the monk said, ‘Stop your yelling! I’ll finish off that fellow out front first, then come back and settle with you.’ So he took his blade, and now he’s fighting the man out front. I beg you, good sir, save us, save us!” “Don’t be afraid,” said Jiang Ping. “Let me go and help that man.” With that he turned, saw a door bar standing over there, took it in hand and hurried to the spot. He saw a big fellow dodging left and right, no longer able to hold his own; and the monk, leaping and twisting high and low, was clearly a fighter to be reckoned with. Cool and unhurried, Jiang Ping levelled the door bar in the four-level stance as if it were a spear, aimed it at the monk’s ribs, and without a word drove it home with all his strength. The monk was intent on cutting down the other man — how was he to know someone behind him was about to jab him? All of a sudden he felt a pain in his left side that pierced to the marrow, and he went head over heels into the dust. The man in front, seeing the monk fall, stepped up and stamped down with his foot. There was a loud smack, and the monk’s face took the full weight of it. Poor monk: before he died, he got a jab first and a stamp after. “Aiyo!” he cried, his hands flew open, and the blade dropped to the ground. Jiang Ping drew back the door bar, rushed up, snatched the blade and brought it down. That was the end of the monk on the spot. Alas: he had entered the gate of emptiness, and for one wrong thought he threw his life away for nothing.