且說那邊展爺，自從那武生一上樓時，看去便覺熟識。後又聽他與茶博士說了許多話，恰與自己問答的一一相對。細聽聲音，再看面龐，恰就是救周老的漁郎。心中躊躇道：「他既是武生，為何又是漁郎呢？」一壁思想，一壁擎杯，不覺出神，獨自呆呆的看著那武生。忽見那武生立起，向著展爺，一拱手道：「尊兄請。」展爺連忙放下茶杯，答禮道：「兄台請了。若不棄嫌，何不屈駕這邊一敘。」那武生道：「既承雅愛，敢不領教。」於是過來，彼此一揖。展爺將前首座兒讓與武生坐了，自己在對面相陪。
且说那边展爷，自从那武生一上楼时，看去便觉熟识。后又听他与茶博士说了许多话，恰与自己问答的一一相对。细听声音，再看面庞，恰就是救周老的渔郎。心中踌躇道：「他既是武生，为何又是渔郎呢？」一壁思想，一壁擎杯，不觉出神，独自呆呆的看着那武生。忽见那武生立起，向着展爷，一拱手道：「尊兄请。」展爷连忙放下茶杯，答礼道：「兄台请了。若不弃嫌，何不屈驾这边一叙。」那武生道：「既承雅爱，敢不领教。」于是过来，彼此一揖。展爷将前首座儿让与武生坐了，自己在对面相陪。
Now, over on his side of the room, Zhan Zhao had felt there was something familiar about the young man in martial dress from the moment he came up the stairs. Then he had heard him say a great deal to the waiter, and it had matched his own questions and answers point for point. Listening closely to the voice and studying the face once more, he saw that this was none other than the fisherman who had saved Old Zhou. He puzzled over it. “If he’s a young gentleman in martial dress, how is it he was a fisherman too?” Turning it over in his mind, his cup held up in his hand, he fell into a reverie without knowing it and sat there on his own, staring blankly at the young man. Suddenly the young man stood up, turned toward Zhan Zhao and cupped his hands. “My respects, sir.” Zhan Zhao hastily put down his teacup and returned the salute. “And mine to you, sir. If you don’t think it beneath you, won’t you do me the honour of joining me over here for a talk?” “Since you are so kind,” said the young man, “how could I decline?” So he came over, and they bowed to each other. Zhan Zhao gave the young man the seat of honour at the head of the table and sat across from him to keep him company.
此時茶博士將茶取過來，見二人坐在一處，方才明白他兩個敢是一路同來的，怨不得問的話語相同呢。笑嘻嘻將一壺雨前茶，一個茶杯，也放在那邊。那邊八碟兒外敬，算他白安放了。剛然放下茶壺，只聽武生道：「六槐，你將茶且放過一邊。我們要上好的酒，拿兩角來。菜蔬不必吩咐，只要應時配口的，拿來就是了。」六槐連忙答應，下樓去了。
此时茶博士将茶取过来，见二人坐在一处，方才明白他两个敢是一路同来的，怨不得问的话语相同呢。笑嘻嘻将一壶雨前茶，一个茶杯，也放在那边。那边八碟儿外敬，算他白安放了。刚然放下茶壶，只听武生道：「六槐，你将茶且放过一边。我们要上好的酒，拿两角来。菜蔬不必吩咐，只要应时配口的，拿来就是了。」六槐连忙答应，下楼去了。
Just then the waiter came back with the tea. Seeing the two of them sitting together, he understood at last: the pair of them must have come here together — no wonder they had asked the very same questions! With a broad grin he set the pot of Before-the-Rains and a cup down at Zhan Zhao’s table as well. As for the eight little dishes he had set out on the other table as a mark of respect, he had laid them out for nothing. He had only just put down the teapot when the young man said, “Six Huai, put the tea to one side for now. We want wine, the best you have — bring us two jugs. No need for us to order the dishes; just bring whatever’s in season and goes well with it.” Six Huai answered at once and went downstairs.
那武生便問展爺道：「尊兄貴姓？仙鄉何處？」展爺道：「小弟常州武進縣姓展名昭，字熊飛。」那武生道：「莫非新升四品帶刀護衛，欽賜「御貓」，人稱南俠展老爺麼？」展爺道：「惶恐，惶恐。豈敢，豈敢。請問兄台貴姓？」那武生道：「小弟松江府茉花村，姓丁名兆蕙。」展爺驚道：「莫非令兄名兆蘭，人稱為雙俠丁二官人麼？」丁二爺道：「慚愧，慚愧。賤名何足掛齒。」展爺道：「久仰尊昆仲名譽，屢欲拜訪。不意今日邂逅，實為萬幸。」丁二爺道：「家兄時常思念吾兄，原要上常州地面，未得其便。後來又聽得吾兄榮升，因此不敢仰攀。不料今日在此幸遇，實慰渴想。」展爺道：「兄台再休提那封職。小弟其實不願意。似乎你我弟兄疏散慣了，尋山覓水，何等的瀟灑。今一旦為官羈絆，反覺心中不能暢快，實實出於不得已也。」丁二爺道：「大丈夫生於天地之間，理宜與國家出力報效。吾兄何出此言？莫非言與心違麼？」展爺道：「小弟從不撒謊。其中若非關礙著包相爺一番情意，弟早已的掛冠遠隱了。」說至此。茶博士將酒饌俱已擺上。丁二爺提壺斟酒，展爺回敬，彼此略為謙遜，飲酒暢敘。
那武生便问展爷道：「尊兄贵姓？仙乡何处？」展爷道：「小弟常州武进县姓展名昭，字熊飞。」那武生道：「莫非新升四品带刀护卫，钦赐「御猫」，人称南侠展老爷么？」展爷道：「惶恐，惶恐。岂敢，岂敢。请问兄台贵姓？」那武生道：「小弟松江府茉花村，姓丁名兆蕙。」展爷惊道：「莫非令兄名兆兰，人称为双侠丁二官人么？」丁二爷道：「惭愧，惭愧。贱名何足挂齿。」展爷道：「久仰尊昆仲名誉，屡欲拜访。不意今日邂逅，实为万幸。」丁二爷道：「家兄时常思念吾兄，原要上常州地面，未得其便。后来又听得吾兄荣升，因此不敢仰攀。不料今日在此幸遇，实慰渴想。」展爷道：「兄台再休提那封职。小弟其实不愿意。似乎你我弟兄疏散惯了，寻山觅水，何等的潇洒。今一旦为官羁绊，反觉心中不能畅快，实实出于不得已也。」丁二爷道：「大丈夫生于天地之间，理宜与国家出力报效。吾兄何出此言？莫非言与心违么？」展爷道：「小弟从不撒谎。其中若非关碍着包相爷一番情意，弟早已的挂冠远隐了。」说至此。茶博士将酒馔俱已摆上。丁二爷提壶斟酒，展爷回敬，彼此略为谦逊，饮酒畅叙。
Then the young man asked Zhan Zhao, “May I ask your honourable name, sir, and where your home is?” “I’m from Wujin County in Changzhou,” said Zhan Zhao. “My family name is Zhan and my given name Zhao, and I’m styled Xiongfei.” “Could you be the Master Zhan who has just been made a Sword-Bearing Guard of the fourth rank,” said the young man, “the one His Majesty himself named the ‘Imperial Cat’, whom everyone calls the Southern Hero?” “You embarrass me, you embarrass me,” said Zhan Zhao. “I don’t deserve it, I don’t deserve it. And may I ask your honourable name, sir?” “I’m from Mohua Village in Songjiang Prefecture,” said the young man. “My family name is Ding, my given name Zhaohui.” Zhan Zhao was startled. “Then is your brother’s name Zhaolan? And are you and your brother the two Masters Ding whom people call the Twin Heroes (Shuangxia)?” “You put me to shame, you put me to shame,” said Second Master Ding. “My poor name is hardly worth mentioning.” “I have long looked up to the good name of you and your brother,” said Zhan Zhao, “and many a time I’ve wanted to call on you. I never dreamed I would run into you today. It is my great good fortune.” “My brother often thinks of you,” said Second Master Ding. “He meant to make his way to Changzhou, but never found the chance. Then we heard you had been honoured with promotion, and after that we didn’t dare presume to seek you out. Who’d have thought we’d have the luck to meet you here today? It quenches a long thirst indeed.” “Please don’t speak of that appointment again, brother,” said Zhan Zhao. “The truth is, I never wanted it. It seems to me that men like you and me are used to going our own way, seeking out hills and waters wherever we please — and how free and easy that is! Now, all at once, I’m tethered by office, and I find I can’t be at ease in my heart. It truly was forced upon me.” “A true man, born between heaven and earth,” said Second Master Ding, “ought by rights to put his strength at his country’s service. How can you say such a thing, brother? Could it be that your words go against your heart?” “I never tell lies,” said Zhan Zhao. “If I weren’t held back by all the kindness Minister Bao has shown me, I would long since have hung up my official cap and gone far away to live in retirement.” By this time the waiter had set out all the wine and dishes. Second Master Ding took up the pot and poured the wine, and Zhan Zhao poured for him in return. After a few polite courtesies on either side, they drank and talked to their hearts’ content.