話說濟公帶著蘇祿、馮順，來至餘杭縣南門外。路東有一座飯店，和尚抬頭一看說：「蘇祿、馮順。你我進去吃盃酒，可休息休息再走。」二人點頭，進了飯店，要了幾樣菜。蘇祿說：「聖僧，你我已至餘杭縣地面，高國泰現在哪裏？可以把高先生找來，一同喝酒好不好？」和尚說：「咱們先喝點酒，回頭再找他去，離這樣的路甚遠。」三個人說著話，把酒吃完了，給了飯錢出來，離了酒飯店，進了南門，來至十字街，往東一拐，路之北頭就是縣衙門，和尚放步就往衙門裏跑。蘇祿說：「師父往哪裏去？」和尚說：「你兩個人在這裏等著，我到裏面找個人。」和尚纔一到大門，就聽見裏面叫喊：「抄手問事，萬不肯應，左右看夾棍伺候！」「把高國泰夾起來再問！」和尚聞之，就打了一個寒戰。
话说济公带着苏禄、冯顺，来至余杭县南门外。路东有一座饭店，和尚抬头一看说：「苏禄、冯顺。你我进去吃杯酒，可休息休息再走。」二人点头，进了饭店，要了几样菜。苏禄说：「圣僧，你我已至余杭县地面，高国泰现在哪里？可以把高先生找来，一同喝酒好不好？」和尚说：「咱们先喝点酒，回头再找他去，离这样的路甚远。」三个人说着话，把酒吃完了，给了饭钱出来，离了酒饭店，进了南门，来至十字街，往东一拐，路之北头就是县衙门，和尚放步就往衙门里跑。苏禄说：「师父往哪里去？」和尚说：「你两个人在这里等着，我到里面找个人。」和尚才一到大门，就听见里面叫喊：「抄手问事，万不肯应，左右看夹棍伺候！」「把高国泰夹起来再问！」和尚闻之，就打了一个寒战。
Now, Ji Gong, with Su Lu and Feng Shun, came to the South Gate of Yuhang County. On the east side of the road outside it stood an eating house. The monk looked up at it. “Su Lu, Feng Shun. Let’s go in and have a cup of wine, rest a bit, and then go on.” The two nodded, and they went into the eating house and ordered a few dishes. “Holy monk,” said Su Lu, “we’ve reached Yuhang County now. Where is Gao Guotai? Couldn’t we fetch Mr. Gao here and all have a drink together?” “Let’s have a little wine first,” said the monk, “and go and find him afterwards. It’s a long way from here.” The three of them talked as they drank. When they had finished the wine, they paid for the meal and left the eating house. They went in through the South Gate, came to Shizi Street and turned east, and there on the north side of the street stood the county yamen. The monk set off at a run, straight into the yamen. “Master, where are you going?” said Su Lu. “You two wait here,” said the monk. “I’m going inside to find someone.” The monk had only just reached the main gate when he heard shouting inside: “He has been questioned with hands folded and will not confess. Attendants, have the leg press ready!” “Put Gao Guotai in the press, and we’ll question him again!” When the monk heard this, he gave a shiver.
書中交代：高國泰因何來至此處吃官司呢？這內中有一段隱情。祇因那日高國泰下了城隍山。自己因回思細想：若要投往地方，又沒有親故，也沒處安身。自己一想：「莫如回歸餘杭縣。」自己搭了一隻船，也是鄉親給了一百文船錢，吃了東西，來至餘杭縣，二百文也是用完了，心想：「此時回往故土，也是沒處投奔。一無親戚，二無賓朋，想借幾吊錢的地方都沒有。在外思想回家，即至回家，又該如何？有幾家至親，也可以代我分憂解悶﹔有幾個知己的朋友，也可以談談肺腑之言。真是應了古人那兩句話：
貧居鬧市有鋼鉤，鉤不住至親骨肉﹔富在深山有木棒，打不斷無義親朋。」
自己想了半天。高國泰本是一位有志氣的人，又不屑求親乞友，越想越難過，倒不如一死方休！來至南門外城河，打算跳河一死。站在河沿一看，來往船隻不少，心想：「死了死了，一死便了，萬事皆休。生有時，死有地，這就是我絕命之所。」想罷，將要往下跳，就聽背後有人說話：「朋友，千萬勿跳河，我來了。」
书中交代：高国泰因何来至此处吃官司呢？这内中有一段隐情。祇因那日高国泰下了城隍山。自己因回思细想：若要投往地方，又没有亲故，也没处安身。自己一想：「莫如回归余杭县。」自己搭了一只船，也是乡亲给了一百文船钱，吃了东西，来至余杭县，二百文也是用完了，心想：「此时回往故土，也是没处投奔。一无亲戚，二无宾朋，想借几吊钱的地方都没有。在外思想回家，即至回家，又该如何？有几家至亲，也可以代我分忧解闷﹔有几个知己的朋友，也可以谈谈肺腑之言。真是应了古人那两句话：
贫居闹市有钢钩，钩不住至亲骨肉﹔富在深山有木棒，打不断无义亲朋。」
自己想了半天。高国泰本是一位有志气的人，又不屑求亲乞友，越想越难过，倒不如一死方休！来至南门外城河，打算跳河一死。站在河沿一看，来往船只不少，心想：「死了死了，一死便了，万事皆休。生有时，死有地，这就是我绝命之所。」想罢，将要往下跳，就听背后有人说话：「朋友，千万勿跳河，我来了。」
A word of explanation: how had Gao Guotai come to be here, on trial? There is a hidden story behind it. On the day he went down Chenghuang Hill, Gao Guotai turned things over in his mind. He might make for some other place, but there he had no relatives or friends and nowhere to settle. Then he thought, “I may as well go back to Yuhang County.” He found passage on a boat and was given a hundred coppers for the fare by a fellow townsman, and what with buying food, by the time he reached Yuhang County the two hundred coppers were all spent. “Coming back to my old home now,” he thought, “I’ve still no one to turn to. For one thing I’ve no relatives, for another no friends. There isn’t even anywhere I could borrow a few strings of cash. Away from home I longed to come back, but now that I’m back, what then? If I had a few close relatives, they could share my worries and ease my gloom; if I had a few true friends, I could pour out my heart to them. It’s just as those two sayings of the ancients have it:
Live poor in a busy market with a steel hook,and you can’t hook and hold your own flesh and blood;live rich deep in the mountains with a wooden club,and you can’t beat off false friends and kin.”
He thought it over for a long time. Gao Guotai was a man of spirit who would not stoop to begging from kin or friends, and the more he thought, the worse he felt. Better to die and have done with it! He came to the moat outside the South Gate, meaning to jump in and drown. Standing on the bank, he saw plenty of boats coming and going. “Die and be done,” he thought. “One death and it’s all done, every care at an end. There’s a time to be born and a place to die, and this is where my life ends.” With that he was just about to jump when he heard someone speak behind him: “Friend, whatever you do, don’t jump in the river! I’m coming!”
高國泰回頭一看，見那個人身高七尺，細腰扎背，頭戴青壯帽，身穿青布褲襖，青抄包，外罩青綢子英雄氅，面皮微紫，紫中透紅，紅中透紫，環眉闊目，准頭端正，三山得配，五岳停勻，年有二十以外，說：「先生乃讀書明理之人，何故尋此短見？」高國泰說：「兄臺，你不必問我，是陽世三間沒有我立足之地，我非死不可。」那人說：「先生，你有甚麼為難之事？何不與我談談。」高國泰見那人誠實，說：「兄臺，尊姓大名？」那人說：「姓王名成璧，就在此地居住。我在河沿這裏當一個攏班，所有來了客貨，都是我找人來卸。先生是因何事尋此短見？」高國泰說：「我也是此地人，王兄。我在南門內居住，姓高名國泰，祇因家世式微，我帶著家眷，到臨安城投親，把家眷住在尼庵之內。我想男子立身於天地之間，上不能致君澤民，下不能保養妻子，空生於世上，因此我想生不如死。」王成璧說：「兄臺，你聰明還被聰明誤，何必如此輕生？你先來同我到酒飯館中吃點酒，我給你再出個主意。你不必呆想，人死則不能再生。」高國泰方纔同王成璧來到酒館裏。兩個人要酒要菜，吃了個酒醉餚飽。王成璧說：「我現在手底下沒有一文，也沒有一項進款，還要等上半天纔能到手，今天你先去拉船縴。」高國泰說：「我手無縛雞之力，哪裏能個拉縴？」王成璧說道：「先生，你不要這樣子說，人得到哪裏是哪裏。你可記得古人有兩句話：
君子之身可大可小，丈夫之志能屈能伸，
纔能夠行呢。今天你先去拉縴，等我的錢到手，我再給你些銀兩去接家眷，然後，我再托朋友，給你找一學館，你看好不好？」高國泰想：「我今與你萍水相逢，如此勸我，我也不可過於固執。」想罷說：「兄臺，既是這樣厚愛小弟，我就去拉船縴。」王成璧說：「好。」站起身來，領著高國泰來至河沿，見有一隻雜貨船，早已裝好，少時就開船。王成璧說：「管船的，我這有一位朋友，叫他同你們拉拉船縴，管船的多照看點，到了卸了貨，千萬仍把他帶回來，可不必管他。」管船的道：「是了，有王大爺在裏頭，我們決不能錯待了。」高國泰就在這裏等候，工夫不大，管船的開船，眾人都拿起縴板。大家皆是行家，高國泰也不懂。有人把縴板遞給他。當時開船，別人拉縴都喊號子，高國泰想起唸書來了，唸的《中庸》右第十三章﹔「君子素其位而行，不願乎其外，素富貴行乎富貴，素貧賤行乎貧賤，素夷狄行乎夷狄，素患難行乎患難，君子無入而不自得焉。」他祇唸他的書，眾拉縴人一陣大笑。
高国泰回头一看，见那个人身高七尺，细腰扎背，头戴青壮帽，身穿青布裤袄，青抄包，外罩青绸子英雄氅，面皮微紫，紫中透红，红中透紫，环眉阔目，准头端正，三山得配，五岳停匀，年有二十以外，说：「先生乃读书明理之人，何故寻此短见？」高国泰说：「兄台，你不必问我，是阳世三间没有我立足之地，我非死不可。」那人说：「先生，你有甚么为难之事？何不与我谈谈。」高国泰见那人诚实，说：「兄台，尊姓大名？」那人说：「姓王名成璧，就在此地居住。我在河沿这里当一个拢班，所有来了客货，都是我找人来卸。先生是因何事寻此短见？」高国泰说：「我也是此地人，王兄。我在南门内居住，姓高名国泰，祇因家世式微，我带着家眷，到临安城投亲，把家眷住在尼庵之内。我想男子立身于天地之间，上不能致君泽民，下不能保养妻子，空生于世上，因此我想生不如死。」王成璧说：「兄台，你聪明还被聪明误，何必如此轻生？你先来同我到酒饭馆中吃点酒，我给你再出个主意。你不必呆想，人死则不能再生。」高国泰方才同王成璧来到酒馆里。两个人要酒要菜，吃了个酒醉肴饱。王成璧说：「我现在手底下没有一文，也没有一项进款，还要等上半天才能到手，今天你先去拉船纤。」高国泰说：「我手无缚鸡之力，哪里能个拉纤？」王成璧说道：「先生，你不要这样子说，人得到哪里是哪里。你可记得古人有两句话：
君子之身可大可小，丈夫之志能屈能伸，
才能够行呢。今天你先去拉纤，等我的钱到手，我再给你些银两去接家眷，然后，我再托朋友，给你找一学馆，你看好不好？」高国泰想：「我今与你萍水相逢，如此劝我，我也不可过于固执。」想罢说：「兄台，既是这样厚爱小弟，我就去拉船纤。」王成璧说：「好。」站起身来，领着高国泰来至河沿，见有一只杂货船，早已装好，少时就开船。王成璧说：「管船的，我这有一位朋友，叫他同你们拉拉船纤，管船的多照看点，到了卸了货，千万仍把他带回来，可不必管他。」管船的道：「是了，有王大爷在里头，我们决不能错待了。」高国泰就在这里等候，工夫不大，管船的开船，众人都拿起纤板。大家皆是行家，高国泰也不懂。有人把纤板递给他。当时开船，别人拉纤都喊号子，高国泰想起念书来了，念的《中庸》右第十三章﹔「君子素其位而行，不愿乎其外，素富贵行乎富贵，素贫贱行乎贫贱，素夷狄行乎夷狄，素患难行乎患难，君子无入而不自得焉。」他祇念他的书，众拉纤人一阵大笑。
Gao Guotai turned his head and saw a man seven feet tall, slim at the waist and broad in the back. On his head was a black soldier’s cap, and he wore a black cotton jacket and trousers and a black sash, with a black silk hero’s cloak over all. His face had a faint purple cast, purple shot with red and red shot with purple, with curving brows, wide eyes and a well-set nose; the Three Mountains of his face were well matched and the Five Sacred Peaks evenly placed. He was a little over twenty. “Sir,” he said, “you are a man of learning who understands what is right. Why are you looking for so desperate a way out?” “Brother,” said Gao Guotai, “don’t ask me. In all the world of the living there’s no place for me to stand. I have no choice but to die.” “Sir,” said the man, “what trouble are you in? Why not talk it over with me?” Gao Guotai saw that the man was honest. “Brother, may I ask your honourable name?” “My name is Wang Chengbi,” the man said, “and I live right here. I work here on the riverbank as a labour boss on the wharf: whenever goods come in for the merchants, I’m the one who finds men to unload them. Sir, why are you looking for so desperate a way out?” “I’m from here too, Brother Wang,” said Gao Guotai. “I lived inside the South Gate. My name is Gao Guotai. Because my family fell on hard times, I took my wife to Lin’an to seek help from relatives, and I left her lodged in a nunnery. A man stands between heaven and earth, and if he can neither serve his sovereign and benefit the people above, nor keep his wife and children below, he has lived in this world for nothing. That is why I think I’m better dead than alive.” “Brother,” said Wang Chengbi, “you’re a clever man undone by your own cleverness. Why throw your life away like this? Come with me to a tavern first and have a drink, and then I’ll think of something for you. Don’t brood. Once a man is dead, he can’t come back to life.” Only then did Gao Guotai go with Wang Chengbi to a tavern. The two of them ordered wine and dishes and ate and drank their fill. “Right now I haven’t a copper to my name,” said Wang Chengbi, “and no money coming in either. I’ll have to wait a good while yet before any reaches my hands. For today, go and haul a towrope on the boats.” “I haven’t the strength to truss a chicken,” said Gao Guotai. “How could I haul a towrope?” “Sir,” said Wang Chengbi, “don’t talk like that. A man has to make do wherever he finds himself. Surely you remember the two lines the ancients had:
A gentleman’s person can be great or small;a true man’s will can bend and stretch —
that’s the only way to get by. Today you go and haul the rope, and when my money comes in I’ll give you some silver to fetch your wife. After that I’ll ask my friends to find you a school to teach in. How does that sound?” “He and I have met by chance, like duckweed drifting together on the water,” Gao Guotai thought, “and here he is talking me round like this. I mustn’t be too stubborn.” With that he said, “Brother, since you’re so kind to me, I’ll go and haul the towrope.” “Good,” said Wang Chengbi. He stood up and took Gao Guotai to the riverbank. There they found a boat carrying mixed goods, already loaded and about to set off. “Boatmaster,” said Wang Chengbi, “I’ve a friend here. Let him help you haul the towrope, and keep an eye on him for me. When you get there and the goods are unloaded, be sure to bring him back with you. You needn’t boss him about.” “Right you are,” said the boatmaster. “With you behind him, Master Wang, we’d never treat him badly.” Gao Guotai waited there, and before long the boatmaster cast off. Everyone picked up a tow board. They were all old hands; Gao Guotai knew nothing about it. Someone passed him a tow board. As the boat got under way, the others all sang out hauling chants as they pulled, but Gao Guotai took it into his head to recite his books. What he recited was the Doctrine of the Mean, from “The above is the thirteenth chapter” on: “The gentleman acts according to his station and does not wish for what lies beyond it. In wealth and honour, he acts as befits wealth and honour; in poverty and low estate, he acts as befits poverty and low estate; among the barbarians, he acts as befits the barbarians; in adversity, he acts as befits adversity. There is no situation in which the gentleman is not at ease with himself.” He just went on reciting his book, and all the haulers burst out laughing.
那一日到了殷家渡，貨船卸了，高國泰累的疲困不堪，就在船中睡了。次日，船上又裝上別的貨往回走，高國泰又拉起來。這一日回至餘杭縣，正到了碼頭口，見王成璧在那裏站著，國泰即趕過來。王成璧說：「先生，這一次多有辛苦了。我在此盼望你，合是你我弟兄有一場前緣，今天我進了一筆款三十五吊，你先同我來吃碗茶，用點心，回頭再進城換銀子，明天你去接家眷。今天沽酒買肉，你我痛飲，以盡通宵之樂。」高國泰說：「很好，很好，我與王兄初會，兄長這般厚待，我實深感謝。」王成璧說：「你我好弟兄知己，不必客氣。」國泰想：「這個朋友倒很誠實。」跟王成璧吃了些點心，天已不早了。
那一日到了殷家渡，货船卸了，高国泰累的疲困不堪，就在船中睡了。次日，船上又装上别的货往回走，高国泰又拉起来。这一日回至余杭县，正到了码头口，见王成璧在那里站着，国泰即赶过来。王成璧说：「先生，这一次多有辛苦了。我在此盼望你，合是你我弟兄有一场前缘，今天我进了一笔款三十五吊，你先同我来吃碗茶，用点心，回头再进城换银子，明天你去接家眷。今天沽酒买肉，你我痛饮，以尽通宵之乐。」高国泰说：「很好，很好，我与王兄初会，兄长这般厚待，我实深感谢。」王成璧说：「你我好弟兄知己，不必客气。」国泰想：「这个朋友倒很诚实。」跟王成璧吃了些点心，天已不早了。
One day they reached Yinjia Ferry and the boat was unloaded. Gao Guotai was worn out and slept on board. The next day the boat was loaded with other goods for the trip back, and Gao Guotai hauled again. On the day they came back to Yuhang County and reached the wharf, there stood Wang Chengbi, and Guotai hurried over to him. “Sir,” said Wang Chengbi, “you’ve had a hard time of it this trip. I’ve been here watching for you. You and I must be brothers bound by some tie from a former life: today I took in thirty-five strings of cash. First come with me and have a bowl of tea and something to eat. Afterwards you can go into town and change the money for silver, and tomorrow you can go and fetch your wife. Today we’ll buy wine and meat, drink our fill and make merry all night long.” “Very good, very good,” said Gao Guotai. “I’ve only just met you, Brother Wang, and you treat me so generously. I’m deeply grateful.” “We’re good brothers who understand each other,” said Wang Chengbi. “No need for ceremony.” “This friend is a really honest man,” Guotai thought. He went with Wang Chengbi and had something to eat, and by then it was getting late.
王成璧把錢交付高國泰，進城換銀子，拿了酒瓶，打酒買肉。高國泰拿了錢入城，換了五十兩銀，打酒買肉。買完了東西往回走，正要關城。國泰剛趕出了城，祇見由對面來了一人，飛也是直奔，彷彿有急事的一般，正與高國泰迎面相撞。那人連忙說：「先生不要見怪，我一時太急，因有要事，我給先生陪罪。」拱手作揖，說著話，竟自出城去了。高國泰本是文雅之人，雖被他碰了一下，自己一想：他也不是有心。這有何妨。國泰出城往前走，忽然一想：「方纔不要把銀子碰丟了！」用手一摸，銀子形影全無，把國泰嚇得目瞪口呆！原來方纔那個是個白日賊，早看見高國泰換銀子。真是賊有賊智，故意撞高國泰，把銀子搭了去了。高國泰越想這件事越不對：「回頭我見了王成璧，無言可答，莫如我一死。昨日要死沒死了，是還有兩天罪未受完呢！這真是閻王注定三更死，哪敢留人到五更？」到了護城河岸，打算要投河。自己叫道：「高國泰，高國泰，你好命運不通！不想我今天死於此地。」
王成璧把钱交付高国泰，进城换银子，拿了酒瓶，打酒买肉。高国泰拿了钱入城，换了五十两银，打酒买肉。买完了东西往回走，正要关城。国泰刚赶出了城，祇见由对面来了一人，飞也是直奔，仿佛有急事的一般，正与高国泰迎面相撞。那人连忙说：「先生不要见怪，我一时太急，因有要事，我给先生陪罪。」拱手作揖，说着话，竟自出城去了。高国泰本是文雅之人，虽被他碰了一下，自己一想：他也不是有心。这有何妨。国泰出城往前走，忽然一想：「方才不要把银子碰丢了！」用手一摸，银子形影全无，把国泰吓得目瞪口呆！原来方才那个是个白日贼，早看见高国泰换银子。真是贼有贼智，故意撞高国泰，把银子搭了去了。高国泰越想这件事越不对：「回头我见了王成璧，无言可答，莫如我一死。昨日要死没死了，是还有两天罪未受完呢！这真是阎王注定三更死，哪敢留人到五更？」到了护城河岸，打算要投河。自己叫道：「高国泰，高国泰，你好命运不通！不想我今天死于此地。」
Wang Chengbi handed the cash to Gao Guotai to take into the city and change for silver, and to take the wine jar and buy wine and meat. Gao Guotai took the money into the city, changed it for fifty taels of silver, and bought the wine and meat. With his shopping done he headed back, just as the gates were about to close. Guotai had only just hurried out of the city when a man came from the opposite direction, rushing along as if he were flying, like someone on urgent business, and ran smack into Gao Guotai. “Don’t be offended, sir,” the man said at once. “I was in too much of a hurry. I’ve got urgent business. I beg your pardon, sir.” He cupped his hands and bowed, and still talking, went on his way out of the city. Gao Guotai was a cultivated man. The fellow had bumped into him, but, he thought, he hadn’t meant to. What harm was there in that? Guotai went on outside the city. Then it suddenly struck him: “I hope that bump didn’t knock the silver off me just now!” He felt for it. There was not a trace of the silver left, and Guotai was struck dumb with horror! That man had been a daylight thief, who had seen Gao Guotai changing the silver long before. Truly, a thief has a thief’s cunning: he had bumped into Gao Guotai on purpose and lifted the silver off him. The more Gao Guotai thought about it, the worse it looked. “When I see Wang Chengbi, I’ll have nothing to say to him. I’d better die. Yesterday I meant to die and didn’t manage it, so I still had two days of suffering left to get through! This is truly: if King Yama has set your death for the third watch, who dares keep you alive till the fifth?” He came to the bank of the moat, meaning to throw himself in. “Gao Guotai, Gao Guotai,” he cried to himself, “how your luck has run out! I never thought I’d die here today.”
正自怨恨，祇聽那旁有人說話：「莫非是恩兄高國泰嗎？」來至切近，把高國泰一拉說：「恩兄可想死小弟了！我往各處去找，並無下落，不想今日在此相見。」說著話，就過來叩首。高國泰一看，並不認得。看來似面熟，一時想不起來，因說道：「老兄不要認錯了人。」那人說：「兄長，你連我小弟李四明都不認識麼？」高國泰一聽，說：「哎呀，原來是你呀！」且說那李四明幼年家貧，寡母住在高國、泰家和左右比鄰而居。高國泰一家全好善，時常周濟他家，後來李四明就在高國泰家唸書。他母親死了，也是高家花錢給他安葬。高國泰問李四明：「是要求功名，還是去作買賣？」李四明說：「要我找個舖子去學生意纔好。我家又沒錢，哪有這樣花費去求功名？」國泰說：「也好，我給你找一個買賣罷。」便在本城天成米店去學生意。凡上工一切衣服被褥，全是高家代給。李四明也用心練習，並不荒誤，專心做那生意。三年已滿，東家到店算帳，見李四明各事勤儉，心甚愛悅，把他帶到家中，另給他開個米店，在清江做買賣，甚為得利。東家沒兒子，祇有一個女兒，把李四明招做養老的女婿，把一分家業全給他。後來他們老夫妻也死了，李四明一手成運，全是他經理。想起當年若不是恩兄，我那得有今日？就帶著家眷，收拾細軟物件，要回故土，去訪恩兄高國泰。到了餘杭探訪，並無人知道高家移往何方，皆云窮跑了。李四明嘆息不已，就在西門外買了一所房子，又在南門外開了一個糧店。今天是要回家，遇見高國泰，二人相見，悲喜交加，各訴往事。高國泰說：「老弟，我今日要不丟銀，你我也見不著。」李四明說：「你先跟我到家，咱二人有話再講。」二人站起來，往前走了不遠，高國泰腳下一拌，伸手拿起一宗物件來。
正自怨恨，祇听那旁有人说话：「莫非是恩兄高国泰吗？」来至切近，把高国泰一拉说：「恩兄可想死小弟了！我往各处去找，并无下落，不想今日在此相见。」说着话，就过来叩首。高国泰一看，并不认得。看来似面熟，一时想不起来，因说道：「老兄不要认错了人。」那人说：「兄长，你连我小弟李四明都不认识么？」高国泰一听，说：「哎呀，原来是你呀！」且说那李四明幼年家贫，寡母住在高国、泰家和左右比邻而居。高国泰一家全好善，时常周济他家，后来李四明就在高国泰家念书。他母亲死了，也是高家花钱给他安葬。高国泰问李四明：「是要求功名，还是去作买卖？」李四明说：「要我找个铺子去学生意才好。我家又没钱，哪有这样花费去求功名？」国泰说：「也好，我给你找一个买卖罢。」便在本城天成米店去学生意。凡上工一切衣服被褥，全是高家代给。李四明也用心练习，并不荒误，专心做那生意。三年已满，东家到店算帐，见李四明各事勤俭，心甚爱悦，把他带到家中，另给他开个米店，在清江做买卖，甚为得利。东家没儿子，祇有一个女儿，把李四明招做养老的女婿，把一分家业全给他。后来他们老夫妻也死了，李四明一手成运，全是他经理。想起当年若不是恩兄，我那得有今日？就带着家眷，收拾细软物件，要回故土，去访恩兄高国泰。到了余杭探访，并无人知道高家移往何方，皆云穷跑了。李四明叹息不已，就在西门外买了一所房子，又在南门外开了一个粮店。今天是要回家，遇见高国泰，二人相见，悲喜交加，各诉往事。高国泰说：「老弟，我今日要不丢银，你我也见不着。」李四明说：「你先跟我到家，咱二人有话再讲。」二人站起来，往前走了不远，高国泰脚下一拌，伸手拿起一宗物件来。
He was still railing at his fate when he heard someone speak nearby: “Can that be my benefactor, Brother Gao Guotai?” The man came up close and took hold of Gao Guotai. “Brother, how I’ve longed to see you! I’ve searched everywhere for you and never found a trace, and I never thought I’d meet you here today.” Still talking, he came forward and knelt to kowtow. Gao Guotai looked at him and did not know him. The face seemed familiar, but for the moment he could not place it. “Sir,” he said, “you must have mistaken me for someone else.” “Brother,” said the man, “don’t you even know me, your little brother Li Siming?” At this Gao Guotai said, “Oh! So it’s you!” Now, when Li Siming was a boy, his family had been poor. He and his widowed mother lived right next door to the Gao family. The whole Gao household loved to do good and often helped them out, and later Li Siming studied in the Gaos’ house. When his mother died, it was the Gaos who paid for her burial too. Gao Guotai asked Li Siming, “Do you want to seek an official career, or go into trade?” “I’d better find a shop and learn the business,” said Li Siming. “My family has no money. How could I afford what it takes to seek office?” “Very well,” said Guotai. “I’ll find you a place in trade.” So he went to learn the business at the Tiancheng Rice Shop in the town, and all the clothes and bedding he needed to start work were provided by the Gaos. Li Siming worked hard at his training and never neglected anything, giving his whole mind to the business. When his three years were up, the owner came to the shop to settle the accounts. Seeing how hardworking and thrifty Li Siming was in everything, he took a great liking to him. He took him home and set up another rice shop for him, doing business in Qingjiang, and it made a handsome profit. The owner had no son, only a daughter, so he took Li Siming as a son-in-law who would marry into the family and care for them in their old age, and gave him the whole family estate. Later the old couple died too, and Li Siming ran everything single-handed. “If it weren’t for my benefactor back then,” he thought, “how would I have what I have today?” So he took his wife and household, packed up his valuables, and came back to his old home to look for his benefactor, Gao Guotai. When he made inquiries in Yuhang, nobody knew where the Gaos had moved to; everyone said they had been driven off by poverty. Li Siming sighed again and again. He bought a house outside the West Gate and opened a grain shop outside the South Gate. Today he was on his way home when he came upon Gao Guotai. When the two met, joy and sorrow came together, and they told each other all that had happened. “Brother,” said Gao Guotai, “if I hadn’t lost the silver today, you and I would never have met.” “Come home with me first,” said Li Siming, “and we’ll talk it over there.” The two of them stood up and had not gone far when Gao Guotai stumbled. He reached down and picked up something.
有分教，小人懷仇挾恨，誤害良民，忠良盡公，判決奇案。
有分教，小人怀仇挟恨，误害良民，忠良尽公，判决奇案。
And so it shall be told how a petty man, nursing a grudge, wrongs an innocent man, and how a loyal official, serving justice, settles a strange case.
要知後事如何，且看下回分解。
要知后事如何，且看下回分解。
To learn what happened next, read the next chapter.