話說和尚出了酒館，正往前走，想起要到三清觀找劉泰真，見股怨氣沖天。
话说和尚出了酒馆，正往前走，想起要到三清观找刘泰真，见股怨气冲天。
Now, after the monk left the wine shop, he was walking along, thinking he would go to Sanqing Temple to look up Liu Taizhen, when he saw a column of aggrieved vapour soaring into the sky.
和尚按靈光三擊掌，點了點頭，說：「善哉！善哉，我焉能不管。」嘴裏唸唸道道，出了清波門外至三清觀，見門口捉妖的牌子也摘了，冷冷清清。和尚拍了二下門，老道自打周宅回到廟中，拿銀子把當贖出，叫童兒把捉妖的牌摘下：「如再有人請我捉妖，你說我入山採藥去了。」小童點首答應，老道天天看書解悶。今天童子正在院中玩耍，聽外面叫門，童子出來開門一瞧，門口站了一個窮和尚。道童道：「找誰呀？」濟公說：「找你家劉道爺，到我們那兒捉妖，請他退鬼治病。」道童說：「不行，我師父入山採藥去，不定幾天回來。」和尚說：「你到裏面告訴在屋內看書的那個老道，就提我老人家，他就得見我。」小童一聽一愕，心想：「喲，他怎麼知道我師父在家看書？」趕緊說：「和尚，你等等。」忙奔到裏面說：「師父，外面有個窮和尚，說請你捉妖淨宅，我道你採藥去了，他說你到裏面告訴那看書的老道，就提他來了准得見。」老道一聽一愣說：「許是他老人家來了。」小童說：「對了，和尚也說『我老人家來了』。」老道忙跑到外面一瞧，果是濟公，忙說：「聖僧，你老人家從哪裏來的？弟子這裏稽首了。」濟公說：「好，你頭前領路，我到你廟裏坐坐。我問你一件事，你這不捉妖淨宅，師徒幾個靠著甚麼吃飯？」老道說：「師父，我這裏素常就指著給人治病，蒙碗飯吃。自從周宅回來，嚇的我哪敢捉妖，我這廟並無分文進項，你老人家給我想個甚麼主意吃飯。」說著來到裏面落坐。和尚說：「我教你個搬運法。你如學會，要金銀，一唸咒就有﹔要好衣裳好食物，一動唸就來。」老道說：「我就學這個好，別的全不學。師父，你老人家教我練練。」和尚說：「你練不了。要練先得一天磕一千個頭，磕四十九天。你須認我為師，你跪在地上唸聲無量佛，磕一個頭站起，唸聲阿彌陀佛，纔算一個。」老道說：「我練。一天磕一千頭，祇要我四十九天練成了，想要甚麼就有，我願意練。」
和尚按灵光三击掌，点了点头，说：「善哉！善哉，我焉能不管。」嘴里念念道道，出了清波门外至三清观，见门口捉妖的牌子也摘了，冷冷清清。和尚拍了二下门，老道自打周宅回到庙中，拿银子把当赎出，叫童儿把捉妖的牌摘下：「如再有人请我捉妖，你说我入山采药去了。」小童点首答应，老道天天看书解闷。今天童子正在院中玩耍，听外面叫门，童子出来开门一瞧，门口站了一个穷和尚。道童道：「找谁呀？」济公说：「找你家刘道爷，到我们那儿捉妖，请他退鬼治病。」道童说：「不行，我师父入山采药去，不定几天回来。」和尚说：「你到里面告诉在屋内看书的那个老道，就提我老人家，他就得见我。」小童一听一愕，心想：「哟，他怎么知道我师父在家看书？」赶紧说：「和尚，你等等。」忙奔到里面说：「师父，外面有个穷和尚，说请你捉妖净宅，我道你采药去了，他说你到里面告诉那看书的老道，就提他来了准得见。」老道一听一愣说：「许是他老人家来了。」小童说：「对了，和尚也说『我老人家来了』。」老道忙跑到外面一瞧，果是济公，忙说：「圣僧，你老人家从哪里来的？弟子这里稽首了。」济公说：「好，你头前领路，我到你庙里坐坐。我问你一件事，你这不捉妖净宅，师徒几个靠着甚么吃饭？」老道说：「师父，我这里素常就指着给人治病，蒙碗饭吃。自从周宅回来，吓的我哪敢捉妖，我这庙并无分文进项，你老人家给我想个甚么主意吃饭。」说着来到里面落坐。和尚说：「我教你个搬运法。你如学会，要金银，一念咒就有﹔要好衣裳好食物，一动念就来。」老道说：「我就学这个好，别的全不学。师父，你老人家教我练练。」和尚说：「你练不了。要练先得一天磕一千个头，磕四十九天。你须认我为师，你跪在地上念声无量佛，磕一个头站起，念声阿弥陀佛，才算一个。」老道说：「我练。一天磕一千头，祇要我四十九天练成了，想要甚么就有，我愿意练。」
The monk clapped his hands three times by his inner light and nodded. “Good! Good! How could I not take a hand in this?” Muttering away under his breath, he went out through the Qingbo Gate to Sanqing Temple. The sign offering to catch demons had been taken down from the gate, and the place was cold and deserted. The monk knocked twice at the gate. Ever since the Daoist had come back to his temple from the Zhou residence, he had used the silver to redeem his pawned things and had told his acolyte to take down the demon-catching sign. “If anyone else comes asking me to catch demons, say I’ve gone into the mountains to gather herbs.” The little acolyte nodded and agreed, and the Daoist spent his days reading to while away the time. Today the acolyte was playing in the courtyard when he heard someone calling at the gate. He came out, opened it and looked: a poor monk was standing there. “Who are you looking for?” said the acolyte. “I’m looking for your Daoist Master Liu,” said Ji Gong. “He’s to come to our place and catch a demon. I want him to drive off a ghost and cure a sickness.” “Can’t be done,” said the acolyte. “My master has gone into the mountains to gather herbs. No telling how many days till he’s back.” “Go inside,” said the monk, “and tell the Daoist who’s reading in his room. Just mention me, the old gentleman, and he’ll have to see me.” The little acolyte started. “Oh! How does he know my master is at home reading?” “Monk, you wait a moment,” he said quickly, and he ran inside. “Master, there’s a poor monk outside who says he wants you to catch a demon and cleanse a house. I told him you’d gone to gather herbs, and he said to come in and tell the Daoist who’s reading — just mention he’s come and you’ll be sure to see him.” The Daoist was startled. “Perhaps it’s the old gentleman himself.” “That’s right,” said the little acolyte. “The monk said ‘the old gentleman’s here’ too.” The Daoist hurried out to look, and it was Ji Gong indeed. “Holy monk,” he said quickly, “where have you come from, venerable sir? Your disciple makes you a Daoist bow.” “Good,” said Ji Gong. “You lead the way, and I’ll sit a while in your temple. Let me ask you something. If you don’t catch demons and cleanse houses, what do you and your disciples live on?” “Master,” said the Daoist, “I’ve always counted on curing people’s sicknesses here to scrape together a bowl of rice. Since I came back from the Zhou residence, I’m too scared to catch demons, and not a single copper comes into this temple. Venerable sir, think of some way for me to eat.” Talking, they came inside and sat down. “I’ll teach you the art of magical transport,” said the monk. “Once you’ve learned it, if you want gold and silver, you chant a spell and there it is. If you want fine clothes and good food, you only have to think of them and they come.” “That’s the one for me,” said the Daoist. “I won’t learn anything else. Master, teach me how to practise it, venerable sir.” “You couldn’t manage the practice,” said the monk. “To practise it, first you have to kowtow a thousand times a day, for forty-nine days. You must take me as your master. You kneel on the ground and say ‘Limitless Buddha’, kowtow once and stand up, and say ‘Amitabha’ — and that counts as one.” “I’ll practise,” said the Daoist. “A thousand kowtows a day — so long as in forty-nine days I’ve mastered it and can have whatever I want, I’m willing to practise.”
和尚說：「還不行。我和尚喝酒誰打去？」老道說：「我叫童子打去。」和尚說：「我每頓飯要吃肉，誰去買？」老道說：「我去買。早晚兩遍點心，三頓飯，全是我的。」
和尚说：「还不行。我和尚喝酒谁打去？」老道说：「我叫童子打去。」和尚说：「我每顿饭要吃肉，谁去买？」老道说：「我去买。早晚两遍点心，三顿饭，全是我的。」
“That’s not all,” said the monk. “Who’s going to fetch wine for this monk to drink?” “I’ll send the acolyte to fetch it,” said the Daoist. “I have to have meat at every meal,” said the monk. “Who’ll go and buy it?” “I’ll buy it,” said the Daoist. “Snacks morning and evening and three meals a day — all on me.”
和尚說：「就是，由明天早晨起來就練。你先叫道童給我沽酒買菜，我先喝酒。」
和尚说：「就是，由明天早晨起来就练。你先叫道童给我沽酒买菜，我先喝酒。」
“That settles it,” said the monk. “You start practising when you get up tomorrow morning. First have your acolyte buy me wine and dishes. I’ll have a drink first.”
老道忙叫小童去買了酒菜吃了。次早，和尚出了個主意，用二個笸籮，買一千黃豆，和尚坐在蒲墊，老道唸一聲無量佛，磕一頭唸一聲阿彌陀佛，由黃笸籮拿粒黃豆，擱在紅笸籮內，省記著。老道磕了幾十頭，就覺腰酸腿痛，磕至二百，見和尚閉著眼打盹。老道一想：「我捧過一把去，少磕些。」見和尚睡熟了，忙捧了一把，往紅笸籮內擱下。和尚一睜眼，說：「好東西，練法術偷私，重磕！」把豆兒又抓回去，又拐了三百多去。老道磕了五六天，把剩的銀子也花完了。和尚叫打酒買菜，老道叫童子：「把我的道袍、別頂、金管當了，等我練好搬運法，再換好的。」
老道忙叫小童去买了酒菜吃了。次早，和尚出了个主意，用二个笸箩，买一千黄豆，和尚坐在蒲垫，老道念一声无量佛，磕一头念一声阿弥陀佛，由黄笸箩拿粒黄豆，搁在红笸箩内，省记着。老道磕了几十头，就觉腰酸腿痛，磕至二百，见和尚闭着眼打盹。老道一想：「我捧过一把去，少磕些。」见和尚睡熟了，忙捧了一把，往红笸箩内搁下。和尚一睁眼，说：「好东西，练法术偷私，重磕！」把豆儿又抓回去，又拐了三百多去。老道磕了五六天，把剩的银子也花完了。和尚叫打酒买菜，老道叫童子：「把我的道袍、别顶、金管当了，等我练好搬运法，再换好的。」
The Daoist hurriedly sent the little acolyte to buy wine and dishes, and they ate. Next morning the monk came up with a scheme. They took two shallow baskets and bought a thousand soybeans. The monk sat on a rush cushion. The Daoist would say “Limitless Buddha” once, kowtow once and say “Amitabha” once, then take a bean from the yellow basket and put it in the red basket, to keep count. After a few dozen kowtows the Daoist’s back ached and his legs hurt. When he had got to two hundred, he saw that the monk had his eyes shut and was dozing. “I’ll scoop a handful across,” the Daoist thought, “and save myself a few kowtows.” Seeing that the monk was sound asleep, he quickly scooped up a handful and dropped it into the red basket. The monk opened his eyes. “You wretch! Cheating while you practise magic! Do them again!” He grabbed the beans back, and docked three hundred-odd more besides. After five or six days of kowtowing, the Daoist had spent the last of his silver too. When the monk called for wine and dishes, the Daoist told his acolyte, “Pawn my Daoist robe, my cap and my gold headpiece. When I’ve mastered the art of magical transport, I’ll get better ones.”
童子給當了，吃了五六天又沒了錢。老道叫當舖蓋，賣大殿的桌椅板凳。話不可重敘，直到了一個月另六天，老道就剩了一條褲子，四個道童光著屁股。老道說：「師父，我可真沒了錢，你教給搬運法。搬了來再吃吧。」和尚說：「我要會搬運法，為甚麼叫你給我打酒？」老道一聽說：「對呀，師父冤了我，怎麼樣呢？」和尚說：「你沒錢我走了。」老道說：「聖僧一走，我同徒弟一同吊死完了。」和尚說：「我教你唸咒，你學的會。」老道說：「甚麼咒？」和尚說：唵嘛呢叭咪吽。」老道沒聽明白說：「叭了，你就轟。」和尚說：「對了。」一連教了三遍，老道會了，和尚叫他在院中跪著唸。老道剛一唸：「唵嘛呢叭咪吽。」濟公在後面用手一指地下，由地下飛起來一塊小磚，照著老道腦袋「吧噠」一下，打了一個小疙瘩。老道說：「師父，這怎麼的？」濟公說：「你一唸咒，磚頭見你就打，這就是你練的能為。」老道說：「我不練了。」和尚說：「不要緊，我教你幾句話，你見磚頭就磕頭說：
「磚頭在上，老道有禮，我不唸咒，你也別起。」
老道說：「師父，我怎麼好？」濟公說：「把我僧袍給你穿上，僧帽戴上，教你幾句話，到錢塘門西湖蘇堤上，有個冷泉亭，往上一站，你說：
李國元，李國元，不必上西湖靈隱找濟顛，十兩紋銀交於我，腰裏還帶著三百六十錢。」
老道要不去吧，廟裏一文沒有﹔去吧，真難看。每常出去衣貌整齊，今天老道沒法，穿了一身和尚的破衣裳，說：「師父，我到那裏去說三遍，就有著落嗎？」和尚說：「你祇管去，高嚷三遍，就有人問你。我和尚說法，化個小緣，就夠你一輩子用。」老道沒法，出了三清觀，低頭恐怕碰了熟人。這溜老街舊鄰，認識老道的不少，有人瞧見這個說：「這不是三清觀的劉道爺嗎？怎麼這個樣？平常很有錢。」那個又道：「這必是輸掉了，道爺沒別的，就愛賭。」老道聽了，也不好答言，自己往前走，來到西湖蘇堤冷泉亭。這裏是一條大道，來往人不少。老道就站在亭子上一嚷：
「李國元，李國元，不必上西湖靈隱找濟顛，十兩紋銀交於我，腰裏還帶著三百六十錢。」
道爺嚷了三遍，圍了好些人，大家紛紛議論。有說這老道是瘋子的，有說這也許找李國元的。正在紛紛議論，由那旁來了兩個人。這個說：「賢弟，你看濟公真有先見之明。」二人來到近前，老道一瞧，頭裏走的這位是富翁員外打扮，後面一位文生公子打扮。二人一瞧老道，這位員外道：「你這老道把濟公害了，這身衣裳你穿著。」老道說：「我倒沒害濟公，他把我害了，吃的我剩一條褲子。二位貴姓？」書中交代：這位文生公子叫李國元，家住臨安青竹林四條衚衕，本是財主，乃是文生秀才，取妻藺氏，甚為賢德，無故這天得了瘋病，請多少先生也瞧不好。李國元甚為煩悶。他有個朋友叫李春山，在杜大夫家中教讀。一天李國元去找春山，二人本是知己，李國元就提妻子得了瘋病，請多少先生瞧不好。李春山說：「我們杜大人祠堂裏，有一張五雷八卦天師符，是鎮宅之寶：我說給你借，他准不借。我偷著給你拿來，你掛在家中。有甚麼妖邪皆去得了。」李國元說：「好，倘能把你弟妹病治好了，我再送回來。」李春山到了祠堂，開開箱子，把天師符拿出，是個楠木匣裝著。李春山說：「這是杜大人傳家之寶，我私自借給你，可千萬小心留神，你掛兩個時辰邪去了，可速送來。」李國元說：「我明天送來。」拿著告辭，自己出來一想：喲，還沒吃早飯，本打算約李春山吃飯，一提這軸畫，把飯忘了。我也不便回家吃去，跟前路北就是酒館。自己進來一看，真是高朋滿座。眾人皆站來，讓說：「李先生一同喝吧。」李國元說：「眾位別讓，我還同著人說話。」自己到後面找張桌，要了酒喝了兩杯。自己一想：「人讓我，我不讓人家，這可不對。」忙站起，過去回讓，讓完，轉身回來，睜眼一瞧，嚇得目瞪口獃，五雷八卦天師符，蹤跡不見。
童子给当了，吃了五六天又没了钱。老道叫当铺盖，卖大殿的桌椅板凳。话不可重叙，直到了一个月另六天，老道就剩了一条裤子，四个道童光着屁股。老道说：「师父，我可真没了钱，你教给搬运法。搬了来再吃吧。」和尚说：「我要会搬运法，为甚么叫你给我打酒？」老道一听说：「对呀，师父冤了我，怎么样呢？」和尚说：「你没钱我走了。」老道说：「圣僧一走，我同徒弟一同吊死完了。」和尚说：「我教你念咒，你学的会。」老道说：「甚么咒？」和尚说：唵嘛呢叭咪吽。」老道没听明白说：「叭了，你就轰。」和尚说：「对了。」一连教了三遍，老道会了，和尚叫他在院中跪着念。老道刚一念：「唵嘛呢叭咪吽。」济公在后面用手一指地下，由地下飞起来一块小砖，照着老道脑袋「吧哒」一下，打了一个小疙瘩。老道说：「师父，这怎么的？」济公说：「你一念咒，砖头见你就打，这就是你练的能为。」老道说：「我不练了。」和尚说：「不要紧，我教你几句话，你见砖头就磕头说：
「砖头在上，老道有礼，我不念咒，你也别起。」
老道说：「师父，我怎么好？」济公说：「把我僧袍给你穿上，僧帽戴上，教你几句话，到钱塘门西湖苏堤上，有个冷泉亭，往上一站，你说：
李国元，李国元，不必上西湖灵隐找济颠，十两纹银交于我，腰里还带着三百六十钱。」
老道要不去吧，庙里一文没有﹔去吧，真难看。每常出去衣貌整齐，今天老道没法，穿了一身和尚的破衣裳，说：「师父，我到那里去说三遍，就有着落吗？」和尚说：「你祇管去，高嚷三遍，就有人问你。我和尚说法，化个小缘，就够你一辈子用。」老道没法，出了三清观，低头恐怕碰了熟人。这溜老街旧邻，认识老道的不少，有人瞧见这个说：「这不是三清观的刘道爷吗？怎么这个样？平常很有钱。」那个又道：「这必是输掉了，道爷没别的，就爱赌。」老道听了，也不好答言，自己往前走，来到西湖苏堤冷泉亭。这里是一条大道，来往人不少。老道就站在亭子上一嚷：
「李国元，李国元，不必上西湖灵隐找济颠，十两纹银交于我，腰里还带着三百六十钱。」
道爷嚷了三遍，围了好些人，大家纷纷议论。有说这老道是疯子的，有说这也许找李国元的。正在纷纷议论，由那旁来了两个人。这个说：「贤弟，你看济公真有先见之明。」二人来到近前，老道一瞧，头里走的这位是富翁员外打扮，后面一位文生公子打扮。二人一瞧老道，这位员外道：「你这老道把济公害了，这身衣裳你穿着。」老道说：「我倒没害济公，他把我害了，吃的我剩一条裤子。二位贵姓？」书中交代：这位文生公子叫李国元，家住临安青竹林四条胡同，本是财主，乃是文生秀才，取妻蔺氏，甚为贤德，无故这天得了疯病，请多少先生也瞧不好。李国元甚为烦闷。他有个朋友叫李春山，在杜大夫家中教读。一天李国元去找春山，二人本是知己，李国元就提妻子得了疯病，请多少先生瞧不好。李春山说：「我们杜大人祠堂里，有一张五雷八卦天师符，是镇宅之宝：我说给你借，他准不借。我偷着给你拿来，你挂在家中。有甚么妖邪皆去得了。」李国元说：「好，倘能把你弟妹病治好了，我再送回来。」李春山到了祠堂，开开箱子，把天师符拿出，是个楠木匣装着。李春山说：「这是杜大人传家之宝，我私自借给你，可千万小心留神，你挂两个时辰邪去了，可速送来。」李国元说：「我明天送来。」拿着告辞，自己出来一想：哟，还没吃早饭，本打算约李春山吃饭，一提这轴画，把饭忘了。我也不便回家吃去，跟前路北就是酒馆。自己进来一看，真是高朋满座。众人皆站来，让说：「李先生一同喝吧。」李国元说：「众位别让，我还同着人说话。」自己到后面找张桌，要了酒喝了两杯。自己一想：「人让我，我不让人家，这可不对。」忙站起，过去回让，让完，转身回来，睁眼一瞧，吓得目瞪口呆，五雷八卦天师符，踪迹不见。
The acolyte pawned them, and five or six days’ eating later the money was gone again. The Daoist had the bedding pawned and sold the tables, chairs and benches from the main hall. No need to go over it all again: by the time a month and six days had passed, the Daoist had nothing left but one pair of trousers, and his four acolytes went about bare-bottomed. “Master,” said the Daoist, “I really have no money now. Teach me the art of magical transport. We’ll eat once I’ve fetched some here.” “If I knew the art of magical transport,” said the monk, “why would I have you buying my wine?” At this the Daoist said, “That’s right! Master, you’ve swindled me. Now what?” “If you’ve no money, I’m off,” said the monk. “Holy monk, if you go,” said the Daoist, “my disciples and I will all hang ourselves and be done with it.” “I’ll teach you a spell,” said the monk. “That you can learn.” “What spell?” said the Daoist. “Om mani padme hum,” said the monk. The Daoist didn’t catch it properly. “Bam — and then you boom?” “That’s it,” said the monk. He taught it three times running, and the Daoist had it. The monk told him to kneel in the courtyard and chant it. The moment the Daoist chanted, “Om mani padme hum,” Ji Gong, behind him, pointed at the ground, and a little brick flew up off the ground and came down on the Daoist’s head with a smack, raising a little bump. “Master,” said the Daoist, “what’s all this?” “As soon as you chant the spell, the bricks will hit you whenever they see you,” said Ji Gong. “That’s the power you’ve been practising for.” “I’m not practising any more,” said the Daoist. “Never mind,” said the monk. “I’ll teach you a few words. When you see a brick, kowtow to it and say:
‘Brick, sir, you rank above me;this Daoist bows to the floor.I won’t chant the spell,so don’t you fly up any more.’”
“Master,” said the Daoist, “but then how am I to get by?” “Put on my monk’s robe,” said Ji Gong, “and wear my monk’s cap, and I’ll teach you a few words. Go to the Su Causeway on West Lake, by the Qiantang Gate. There’s a pavilion there, Lengquan Pavilion. Stand up on it and say:
‘Li Guoyuan,Li Guoyuan,no need to go to Lingyin on West Lake to find Crazy Ji;hand ten taels of fine silver over to me,and three hundred and sixty coppers still at your waist.’”
If the Daoist didn’t go, there wasn’t a single copper in the temple; if he did go, what a sight he would be. Whenever he went out he was always neatly dressed, but today the Daoist had no choice. He put on the monk’s ragged clothes from head to foot. “Master,” he said, “if I go there and say it three times, will something come of it?” “Just go,” said the monk. “Shout it out loud three times and someone will ask you. Do as this monk says, beg a little alms, and it’ll be enough to keep you all your life.” The Daoist had no choice. He left Sanqing Temple, keeping his head down for fear of running into people he knew. There were plenty of old neighbours along this street who knew the Daoist. Somebody saw him and said, “Isn’t that Daoist Master Liu from Sanqing Temple? What’s he doing in that state? He’s usually got plenty of money.” Someone else said, “He must have gambled it all away. The Daoist Master’s got only the one failing: he loves to gamble.” The Daoist heard them but could hardly answer back. He kept on going and came to Lengquan Pavilion on the Su Causeway at West Lake. This was a main road, with plenty of people coming and going. The Daoist stood up on the pavilion and shouted:
“Li Guoyuan,Li Guoyuan,no need to go to Lingyin on West Lake to find Crazy Ji;hand ten taels of fine silver over to me,and three hundred and sixty coppers still at your waist.”
The Daoist Master shouted it three times, and a crowd gathered round him, everyone talking at once. Some said this Daoist was a madman; some said maybe he was looking for Li Guoyuan. In the middle of all this talk, two men came along from over that way. One of them was saying, “My worthy brother, you see, Ji Gong really does know things before they happen.” The two came up close, and the Daoist looked: the one walking in front was dressed as a wealthy squire, and the one behind as a young scholar. The two looked at the Daoist, and the squire said, “You Daoist, you’ve done for Ji Gong — you’re wearing his clothes!” “I haven’t done for Ji Gong,” said the Daoist. “He’s done for me. He ate and drank me down to one pair of trousers. May I ask your honourable names, gentlemen?” A word of explanation: the young scholar was Li Guoyuan, who lived in Fourth Lane, Qingzhulin, in Lin’an. He was a man of property and a licentiate. He had married a Madam Lin, a most virtuous woman, but one day, for no reason at all, she went mad, and of all the doctors he called in, not one could cure her. Li Guoyuan was sorely troubled. He had a friend called Li Chunshan who taught in Lord Du’s household. One day Li Guoyuan went to see Chunshan. The two were close friends, and Li Guoyuan told him how his wife had gone mad and any number of doctors had failed to cure her. “In our Lord Du’s ancestral hall,” said Li Chunshan, “there’s a Celestial Master’s talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams, the treasure that guards the house. If I asked to borrow it for you, he’d never lend it. I’ll take it out on the quiet for you, and you hang it up at home. Whatever demons and evil spirits there are, it’ll drive them all off.” “Good,” said Li Guoyuan. “If it can cure your sister-in-law, I’ll bring it back.” Li Chunshan went to the ancestral hall, opened the chest and took out the Celestial Master’s talisman, which was kept in a nanmu box. “This is Lord Du’s family heirloom,” said Li Chunshan. “I’m lending it to you behind his back, so be very, very careful with it. Hang it up for four hours, and once the evil is gone, bring it back at once.” “I’ll bring it back tomorrow,” said Li Guoyuan. He took it, said goodbye and came out, and then it struck him: Oh, I haven’t had breakfast yet. He had meant to ask Li Chunshan to eat with him, but once they had got on to this scroll, he had forgotten all about the meal. It wasn’t convenient to go home to eat, and right there on the north side of the road was a wine shop. He went in and looked: it was packed with fine company. Everyone stood up and pressed him: “Mr. Li, come and drink with us!” “Please don’t trouble, gentlemen,” said Li Guoyuan. “I’m with someone. We have things to talk over.” He found a table at the back, ordered wine and drank two cups. Then he thought, “People invited me, and I didn’t return the courtesy. That’s not right.” He hurried to his feet and went over to return the invitation. When he had done so, he turned back, looked — and was struck dumb with fright. The Celestial Master’s talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams had vanished without a trace.
欲知後事如何，且看下回分解。
欲知后事如何，且看下回分解。
To learn what happened next, read the next chapter.