金大用，中州舊家子也。聘尤太守女，字庚娘，麗而賢。逑好甚敦。以流寇之亂，家人離逷。金攜家南竄。途遇少年，亦偕妻以逃者，自言廣陵王十八，願為前驅。金喜，行止與俱。至河上，女隱告金曰：「勿與少年同舟。彼屢顧我，目動而色變，中叵測也。」金諾之。王殷勤，覓巨舟，代金運裝，劬勞臻至。金不忍卻。又念其攜有少婦，應亦無他。婦與庚娘同居，意度亦頗溫婉。王坐舡頭上，與櫓人傾語，似甚熟識戚好。未幾，日落，水程迢遞，漫漫不辨南北。金四顧幽險，頗涉疑怪。頃之，皎月初升，見彌望皆蘆葦。既泊，王邀金父子出戶一豁。乃乘間擠金入水。金父見之，欲號。舟人以篙築之，亦溺。生母聞聲出窺，又築溺之。王始喊救。母出時，庚娘在後，已微窺之。既聞一家盡溺，即亦不驚。但哭曰：「翁姑俱沒，我安適歸！」王入勸：「娘子勿憂，請從我至金陵。家中田廬，頗足贍給，保無虞也。」女收涕曰：「得如此，願亦足矣。」王大悅，給奉良殷。既暮，曳女求懽。女託體姅，王乃就婦宿。初更既盡，夫婦喧競，不知何由。但聞婦曰：「若所為，雷霆恐碎汝顱矣！」王乃撾婦。婦呼云：「便死休！誠不願為殺人賊婦！」王吼怒，捽婦出。便聞骨董一聲，遂譁言婦溺矣。
金大用是中州世家子弟，娶了尤太守的女兒庚娘。庚娘美麗賢惠，夫妻倆感情深厚。流寇作亂，家人離散，金大用帶著家眷向南逃難。路上遇到一個年輕人，也帶著妻子逃難，自稱是廣陵的王十八，願意在前面帶路。金大用很高興，便和他一路同行，同住同歇。到了河邊，庚娘私下告訴金大用：「不要跟那年輕人坐同一條船。他屢次看我，眼神閃動，臉色也跟著變，心裡存著什麼念頭，很難說。」金大用答應了。王十八卻十分殷勤，找來一條大船，替金大用搬執行李，忙前忙後，無微不至。金大用不忍拒絕，又想到他帶著個年輕妻子，應該也沒有別的心思。王十八的妻子與庚娘住在一處，神態舉止也很溫和。王十八坐在船頭，跟划船的人低聲交談，彷彿是十分熟悉的親友。不久，太陽落山，水路遙遠，四下茫茫，分不清南北。金大用見周圍幽暗險僻，漸漸覺得可疑。過了一會兒，明月初升，只見滿眼都是蘆葦。船停下來後，王十八邀金大用父子出艙透氣，趁機把金大用推入水中。金大用的父親見了，正要喊叫，船伕便用竹篙把他撞進水裡。金大用的母親聽見聲音，出來檢視，也被撞入水中。王十八這才喊人救命。婆婆出來時，庚娘跟在後面，已經隱約看見了經過。等聽說一家人全都落水淹死，她也沒有露出驚慌，只哭著說：「公婆都沒了，我還能到哪裡去！」王十八進來勸她：「娘子不要憂愁，請跟我到金陵去。我家裡的田地房屋，很夠養活你，保證你衣食無憂。」庚娘擦去眼淚說：「能這樣，我也就滿足了。」王十八大喜，對她照料得格外殷勤。到了晚上，他拉著庚娘求歡。庚娘藉口來了月事，王十八便去和自己的妻子睡。初更剛過，夫妻倆吵鬧起來，不知為了什麼，只聽見妻子說：「你做這種事，恐怕雷都要劈碎你的腦袋！」王十八便打她。妻子喊道：「死了也罷！我實在不願做殺人賊的妻子！」王十八怒吼著，揪住她拖了出去。隨即聽見撲通一聲，他便大聲嚷著，說妻子落水了。
金大用，中州旧家子也。聘尤太守女，字庚娘，丽而贤。逑好甚敦。以流寇之乱，家人离逷。金携家南窜。途遇少年，亦偕妻以逃者，自言广陵王十八，愿为前驱。金喜，行止与俱。至河上，女隐告金曰：「勿与少年同舟。彼屡顾我，目动而色变，中叵测也。」金诺之。王殷勤，觅巨舟，代金运装，劬劳臻至。金不忍却。又念其携有少妇，应亦无他。妇与庚娘同居，意度亦颇温婉。王坐舡头上，与橹人倾语，似甚熟识戚好。未几，日落，水程迢递，漫漫不辨南北。金四顾幽险，颇涉疑怪。顷之，皎月初升，见弥望皆芦苇。既泊，王邀金父子出户一豁。乃乘间挤金入水。金父见之，欲号。舟人以篙筑之，亦溺。生母闻声出窥，又筑溺之。王始喊救。母出时，庚娘在后，已微窥之。既闻一家尽溺，即亦不惊。但哭曰：「翁姑俱没，我安适归！」王入劝：「娘子勿忧，请从我至金陵。家中田庐，颇足赡给，保无虞也。」女收涕曰：「得如此，愿亦足矣。」王大悦，给奉良殷。既暮，曳女求懽。女托体姅，王乃就妇宿。初更既尽，夫妇喧竞，不知何由。但闻妇曰：「若所为，雷霆恐碎汝颅矣！」王乃挝妇。妇呼云：「便死休！诚不愿为杀人贼妇！」王吼怒，捽妇出。便闻骨董一声，遂哗言妇溺矣。
金大用是中州世家子弟，娶了尤太守的女儿庚娘。庚娘美丽贤惠，夫妻俩感情深厚。流寇作乱，家人离散，金大用带着家眷向南逃难。路上遇到一个年轻人，也带着妻子逃难，自称是广陵的王十八，愿意在前面带路。金大用很高兴，便和他一路同行，同住同歇。到了河边，庚娘私下告诉金大用：“不要跟那年轻人坐同一条船。他屡次看我，眼神闪动，脸色也跟着变，心里存着什么念头，很难说。”金大用答应了。王十八却十分殷勤，找来一条大船，替金大用搬运行李，忙前忙后，无微不至。金大用不忍拒绝，又想到他带着个年轻妻子，应该也没有别的心思。王十八的妻子与庚娘住在一处，神态举止也很温和。王十八坐在船头，跟划船的人低声交谈，仿佛是十分熟悉的亲友。不久，太阳落山，水路遥远，四下茫茫，分不清南北。金大用见周围幽暗险僻，渐渐觉得可疑。过了一会儿，明月初升，只见满眼都是芦苇。船停下来后，王十八邀金大用父子出舱透气，趁机把金大用推入水中。金大用的父亲见了，正要喊叫，船夫便用竹篙把他撞进水里。金大用的母亲听见声音，出来查看，也被撞入水中。王十八这才喊人救命。婆婆出来时，庚娘跟在后面，已经隐约看见了经过。等听说一家人全都落水淹死，她也没有露出惊慌，只哭着说：“公婆都没了，我还能到哪里去！”王十八进来劝她：“娘子不要忧愁，请跟我到金陵去。我家里的田地房屋，很够养活你，保证你衣食无忧。”庚娘擦去眼泪说：“能这样，我也就满足了。”王十八大喜，对她照料得格外殷勤。到了晚上，他拉着庚娘求欢。庚娘借口来了月事，王十八便去和自己的妻子睡。初更刚过，夫妻俩吵闹起来，不知为了什么，只听见妻子说：“你做这种事，恐怕雷都要劈碎你的脑袋！”王十八便打她。妻子喊道：“死了也罢！我实在不愿做杀人贼的妻子！”王十八怒吼着，揪住她拖了出去。随即听见扑通一声，他便大声嚷着，说妻子落水了。
Jin Dayong came of an old family of the Central Plains. He was married to the daughter of Prefect You, a girl named Gengniang, who was both beautiful and good, and the two were deeply devoted to each other. When the roving bandits brought chaos to the land, households were scattered, and Jin fled south with his family. On the road they fell in with a young man who was also fleeing with his wife. He said he was Wang Shiba of Guangling, and offered to go ahead and lead the way. Jin was glad of it, and they travelled and stopped together. When they reached the river, Gengniang said to Jin privately, “Don’t take the same boat as that young man. He keeps looking at me; his eyes shift and his colour changes. There’s no telling what is in his heart.” Jin agreed. But Wang was all attention: he found a big boat, carried Jin’s baggage aboard for him, and spared himself no trouble. Jin hadn’t the heart to turn him away. Besides, he thought, the man had a young wife with him, so he could hardly mean any harm. The wife shared a cabin with Gengniang and seemed gentle and agreeable. Wang sat up at the bow talking closely with the oarsmen, as if they were old friends. Soon the sun went down. The waterway stretched on and on, a vast blur in which north could not be told from south. Jin looked around at the dark, forbidding place and began to feel uneasy. Presently a bright moon rose, and as far as the eye could see there was nothing but reeds. When they had moored, Wang invited Jin and his father out on deck for some air. Then, seizing his chance, he shoved Jin into the water. Jin’s father saw it and was about to cry out, but a boatman struck him with a pole, and he too went in and drowned. Jin’s mother heard the noise and came out to look; they struck her into the water as well. Only then did Wang shout for help. When the mother went out, Gengniang had been behind her and caught a glimpse of it all. So when she heard that the whole family had drowned, she showed no alarm. She only wept and said, “My husband’s father and mother are both gone. Where am I to go now?” Wang came in to comfort her. “Don’t worry, madam. Come with me to Jinling. I have land and a house there, more than enough to keep you. You’ll want for nothing.” She dried her tears. “If it can be so, I ask no more.” Wang was delighted and waited on her most attentively. When night came he pulled at her, wanting her. She pleaded that she had her monthly flow, so Wang went to sleep with his wife. At the end of the first watch, husband and wife began quarrelling; about what, she could not tell. All that could be heard was the wife saying, “For what you have done, thunder will split your skull!” Wang beat her. She cried out, “Kill me, then, and be done with it! I will not be a murderer’s wife!” Wang roared with rage and dragged her out by the hair. Then came a great splash, and he raised a clamour that his wife had drowned.
未幾，抵金陵，導庚娘至家，登堂見媼。媼訝非故婦。王言：「婦墮水死，新娶此耳。」歸房，又欲犯之。庚娘笑曰：「三十許男子，尚未經人道耶？市兒初合巹，亦須一杯薄漿酒；汝家沃饒，當即不難。清醒相對，是何體段？」王喜，具酒對酌。庚娘執爵，勸酬殷懇。王漸醉，辭不飲。庚娘引巨椀，強媚勸之。王不忍拒，又飲之。於是酣醉，裸脫促寢。庚娘撤器滅燭，託言溲溺。出房，以刀入，暗中以手索王項，王猶捉臂作昵聲。庚娘力切之，不死，號而起；又揮之，始殪。媼彷彿有聞，趨問之。女亦殺之。王弟十九覺焉。庚娘知不免，急自刎。刀鈍鈌不可入，啟戶而奔。十九逐之，已投池中矣。呼告居人，救之已死，色麗如生。共驗王尸，見窗上一函，開視，則女備述其冤狀。羣以為烈，謀斂貲作殯。天明，集視者數千人；見其容，皆朝拜之。終日間，得金百，於是葬諸南郊。好事者，為之珠冠袍服，瘞藏豐滿焉。
不久，他們到了金陵。王十八帶庚娘回家，進廳堂拜見母親。老婦見她不是原來的兒媳，很是驚訝。王十八說：「我的妻子落水死了，這是新娶的。」回到房裡，他又想強佔庚娘。庚娘笑著說：「三十來歲的男人，難道還不懂夫妻間的事嗎？即便街市上的小夥子成婚，也得喝杯淡酒。你家這麼富裕，這點事總不難吧。兩個人清醒地面對面，這像什麼樣子？」王十八很高興，備好酒，兩人對飲。庚娘端著酒杯，十分殷勤地勸酒敬酒。王十八漸漸醉了，推辭不肯再喝。庚娘拿來一個大碗，竭力作出嬌媚的樣子勸他，王十八不忍拒絕，又喝了下去。他於是酩酊大醉，脫光衣服，催庚娘上床。庚娘收去酒器，熄了蠟燭，藉口要去小便。她出了房間，拿著刀回來，在黑暗中伸手摸王十八的脖子，王十八還抓著她的胳膊，說著親暱的話。庚娘用力割下去，他沒有死，號叫著起身；庚娘又揮刀砍去，才把他殺死。老婦似乎聽見了動靜，趕來詢問，庚娘也殺了她。王十八的弟弟十九被驚醒了。庚娘知道難以脫身，急忙割自己的脖子，可刀已經鈍了，刀刃也有缺口，割不進去。她打開門跑了出去。十九追趕過來時，她已經跳進池塘。十九喊來鄰居，把她救上來時，她已經死了，容貌卻依然美麗，如同活著一般。眾人一起檢視王十八的屍體，發現窗臺上有一封信，打開一看，庚娘詳細寫下了自己遭受的冤屈。大家都認為她英勇貞烈，商量著捐錢替她辦喪事。天亮後，聚來觀看的有幾千人，見到她的容貌，都向她跪拜。一天下來，募得一百兩銀子，便把她葬在南郊。熱心的人還替她備下珠冠和袍服，隨葬物品十分豐厚。
未几，抵金陵，导庚娘至家，登堂见媪。媪讶非故妇。王言：「妇堕水死，新娶此耳。」归房，又欲犯之。庚娘笑曰：「三十许男子，尚未经人道耶？市儿初合卺，亦须一杯薄浆酒；汝家沃饶，当即不难。清醒相对，是何体段？」王喜，具酒对酌。庚娘执爵，劝酬殷恳。王渐醉，辞不饮。庚娘引巨椀，强媚劝之。王不忍拒，又饮之。于是酣醉，裸脱促寝。庚娘撤器灭烛，托言溲溺。出房，以刀入，暗中以手索王项，王犹捉臂作昵声。庚娘力切之，不死，号而起；又挥之，始殪。媪仿佛有闻，趋问之。女亦杀之。王弟十九觉焉。庚娘知不免，急自刎。刀钝鈌不可入，启户而奔。十九逐之，已投池中矣。呼告居人，救之已死，色丽如生。共验王尸，见窗上一函，开视，则女备述其冤状。群以为烈，谋敛赀作殡。天明，集视者数千人；见其容，皆朝拜之。终日间，得金百，于是葬诸南郊。好事者，为之珠冠袍服，瘗藏丰满焉。
不久，他们到了金陵。王十八带庚娘回家，进厅堂拜见母亲。老妇见她不是原来的儿媳，很是惊讶。王十八说：“我的妻子落水死了，这是新娶的。”回到房里，他又想强占庚娘。庚娘笑着说：“三十来岁的男人，难道还不懂夫妻间的事吗？即便街市上的小伙子成婚，也得喝杯淡酒。你家这么富裕，这点事总不难吧。两个人清醒地面对面，这像什么样子？”王十八很高兴，备好酒，两人对饮。庚娘端着酒杯，十分殷勤地劝酒敬酒。王十八渐渐醉了，推辞不肯再喝。庚娘拿来一个大碗，竭力作出娇媚的样子劝他，王十八不忍拒绝，又喝了下去。他于是酩酊大醉，脱光衣服，催庚娘上床。庚娘收去酒器，熄了蜡烛，借口要去小便。她出了房间，拿着刀回来，在黑暗中伸手摸王十八的脖子，王十八还抓着她的胳膊，说着亲昵的话。庚娘用力割下去，他没有死，号叫着起身；庚娘又挥刀砍去，才把他杀死。老妇似乎听见了动静，赶来询问，庚娘也杀了她。王十八的弟弟十九被惊醒了。庚娘知道难以脱身，急忙割自己的脖子，可刀已经钝了，刀刃也有缺口，割不进去。她打开门跑了出去。十九追赶过来时，她已经跳进池塘。十九喊来邻居，把她救上来时，她已经死了，容貌却依然美丽，如同活着一般。众人一起查看王十八的尸体，发现窗台上有一封信，打开一看，庚娘详细写下了自己遭受的冤屈。大家都认为她英勇贞烈，商量着捐钱替她办丧事。天亮后，聚来观看的有几千人，见到她的容貌，都向她跪拜。一天下来，募得一百两银子，便把她葬在南郊。热心的人还替她备下珠冠和袍服，随葬物品十分丰厚。
Before long they reached Jinling. Wang took Gengniang home and up into the hall to meet his mother. The old woman was surprised that she was not his former wife. “My wife fell in the water and drowned,” said Wang. “This is my new one.” In their room he again tried to force himself on her. Gengniang laughed. “A man of thirty or so, and you’ve never been with a woman? Even a market lad has a cup of thin wine when he shares the wedding cup with his bride. Your family is well off; that should be no trouble. To face each other stone sober — what sort of way is that?” Wang was pleased. He set out wine, and they drank together. Gengniang held the cup and pressed him to drink, toast after toast, with every show of warmth. As Wang grew drunk he refused any more. Gengniang took up a big bowl and coaxed him with all her charm; he could not bring himself to refuse, and drank again. Now thoroughly drunk, he stripped naked and urged her to bed. Gengniang cleared away the dishes, put out the candle, and said she had to relieve herself. She left the room and came back with a knife. In the dark she felt for Wang’s neck with her hand; Wang caught her arm and murmured endearments. Gengniang cut hard. He did not die, but rose howling. She struck again, and he was dead. The old woman seemed to have heard something and hurried in to ask. Gengniang killed her too. Wang’s younger brother, Shijiu, was roused. Gengniang knew she could not escape and quickly tried to cut her own throat, but the knife was blunt and notched and would not go in. She threw open the door and ran. Shijiu chased her, but she had already thrown herself into the pond. He called out the neighbours. When they pulled her out she was dead, but her face was as lovely as in life. Together they examined Wang’s body and found a letter on the windowsill. They opened it: she had set down in full the wrong that had been done to her. All of them held her a true heroine, and they planned to take up a collection for her burial. At daybreak several thousand people gathered to look at her, and when they saw her face they all bowed down to her. In a single day a hundred taels were raised, and she was buried in the southern outskirts. Some well-wishers gave a pearl headdress and robes for her, and the things buried with her were rich indeed.
初，金生之溺也，浮片板上，得不死。將曉，至淮上，為小舟所救。舟蓋富民尹翁專設以拯溺者。金既蘇，詣翁申謝。翁優厚之。留教其子。金以不知親耗，將往探訪，故不決。俄曰：「撈得死叟及媼。」金疑是父母，奔驗果然。翁代營棺木。生方哀慟，又白：「拯一溺婦，自言金生其夫。」生揮涕驚出，女子已至，殊非庚娘，乃王十八婦也。向金大哭，請勿相棄。金曰：「我方寸已亂，何暇謀人？」婦益悲。尹得其故，喜為天報，勸金納婦。金以居喪為辭，且將復仇，懼細弱作累。婦曰：「如君言，脫庚娘猶在，將以報仇居喪去之耶？」翁以其言善，請暫代收養，金乃許之。卜葬翁媼，婦縗絰哭泣，如喪翁姑。既葬，金懷刃托缽，將赴廣陵。婦止之曰：「妾唐氏，祖居金陵，與豺子同鄉。前言廣陵者，詐也。且江湖水寇，半伊同黨，仇不能復，祇取禍耳。」金徘徊不知所謀。忽傳女子誅仇事，洋溢河渠，姓名甚悉。金聞之一快，然益悲。辭婦曰：「幸不污辱。家有烈婦如此，何忍負心再娶？」婦以業有成說，不肯中離，願自居於媵妾。
先前金大用落水後，浮在一塊木板上，沒有死。天快亮時，他漂到淮河上，被一條小船救起。這條船是富戶尹老翁專門設定，用來救助落水者的。金大用甦醒後，去拜謝尹老翁。尹老翁待他十分優厚，請他留下來教自己的兒子。金大用因為不知道父母的訊息，打算去探尋，所以拿不定主意。不一會兒，有人來報：「撈到了一對老夫婦的屍體。」金大用疑心是父母，奔去檢視，果然就是。尹老翁替他準備了棺木。金大用正悲痛哭泣，又有人來報：「救起一個落水婦人，她自稱金生是她的丈夫。」金大用擦去眼淚，驚訝地迎出去。那女子已經到了，卻根本不是庚娘，而是王十八的妻子。她對著金大用大哭，請求他不要拋棄自己。金大用說：「我現在心亂如麻，哪裡有餘力替別人打算？」婦人越發悲傷。尹老翁知道了事情的經過，認為這是上天給金大用的補償，很是高興，勸他娶下這婦人。金大用以正在守喪為由推辭，而且他還打算報仇，怕帶著妻子成為拖累。婦人說：「照你這樣說，假如庚娘還活著，你也要為了報仇和守喪拋下她嗎？」尹老翁覺得她說得對，請求暫且替金大用留養她，金大用這才答應。選定日子安葬父母時，婦人穿戴麻制的喪服和喪帶，哭得如同失去自己的公婆。安葬完畢，金大用懷裡藏著刀，拿上討飯的缽，準備去廣陵。婦人攔住他說：「我姓唐，祖輩住在金陵，與那豺狼是同鄉。他先前說自己是廣陵人，是騙你的。況且江湖上的水賊，一半都是他的同夥，你不但報不了仇，只會招來災禍。」金大用遲疑不決，不知該怎麼辦。忽然，女子殺仇人的事傳遍了各處河道，連姓名都傳得十分清楚。金大用聽到後，心裡一陣痛快，卻更加悲傷。他推辭唐氏說：「幸好她沒有受到玷汙侮辱。我的妻子這樣貞烈，我怎麼忍心辜負她，再娶別人？」唐氏卻認為兩人的事已經說定，不肯半途分開，願意自己做妾。
初，金生之溺也，浮片板上，得不死。将晓，至淮上，为小舟所救。舟盖富民尹翁专设以拯溺者。金既苏，诣翁申谢。翁优厚之。留教其子。金以不知亲耗，将往探访，故不决。俄曰：「捞得死叟及媪。」金疑是父母，奔验果然。翁代营棺木。生方哀恸，又白：「拯一溺妇，自言金生其夫。」生挥涕惊出，女子已至，殊非庚娘，乃王十八妇也。向金大哭，请勿相弃。金曰：「我方寸已乱，何暇谋人？」妇益悲。尹得其故，喜为天报，劝金纳妇。金以居丧为辞，且将复仇，惧细弱作累。妇曰：「如君言，脱庚娘犹在，将以报仇居丧去之耶？」翁以其言善，请暂代收养，金乃许之。卜葬翁媪，妇缞绖哭泣，如丧翁姑。既葬，金怀刃托钵，将赴广陵。妇止之曰：「妾唐氏，祖居金陵，与豺子同乡。前言广陵者，诈也。且江湖水寇，半伊同党，仇不能复，祇取祸耳。」金徘徊不知所谋。忽传女子诛仇事，洋溢河渠，姓名甚悉。金闻之一快，然益悲。辞妇曰：「幸不污辱。家有烈妇如此，何忍负心再娶？」妇以业有成说，不肯中离，愿自居于媵妾。
先前金大用落水后，浮在一块木板上，没有死。天快亮时，他漂到淮河上，被一条小船救起。这条船是富户尹老翁专门设置，用来救助落水者的。金大用苏醒后，去拜谢尹老翁。尹老翁待他十分优厚，请他留下来教自己的儿子。金大用因为不知道父母的消息，打算去探寻，所以拿不定主意。不一会儿，有人来报：“捞到了一对老夫妇的尸体。”金大用疑心是父母，奔去查看，果然就是。尹老翁替他准备了棺木。金大用正悲痛哭泣，又有人来报：“救起一个落水妇人，她自称金生是她的丈夫。”金大用擦去眼泪，惊讶地迎出去。那女子已经到了，却根本不是庚娘，而是王十八的妻子。她对着金大用大哭，请求他不要抛弃自己。金大用说：“我现在心乱如麻，哪里有余力替别人打算？”妇人越发悲伤。尹老翁知道了事情的经过，认为这是上天给金大用的补偿，很是高兴，劝他娶下这妇人。金大用以正在守丧为由推辞，而且他还打算报仇，怕带着妻子成为拖累。妇人说：“照你这样说，假如庚娘还活着，你也要为了报仇和守丧抛下她吗？”尹老翁觉得她说得对，请求暂且替金大用留养她，金大用这才答应。选定日子安葬父母时，妇人穿戴麻制的丧服和丧带，哭得如同失去自己的公婆。安葬完毕，金大用怀里藏着刀，拿上讨饭的钵，准备去广陵。妇人拦住他说：“我姓唐，祖辈住在金陵，与那豺狼是同乡。他先前说自己是广陵人，是骗你的。况且江湖上的水贼，一半都是他的同伙，你不但报不了仇，只会招来灾祸。”金大用迟疑不决，不知该怎么办。忽然，女子杀仇人的事传遍了各处河道，连姓名都传得十分清楚。金大用听到后，心里一阵痛快，却更加悲伤。他推辞唐氏说：“幸好她没有受到玷污侮辱。我的妻子这样贞烈，我怎么忍心辜负她，再娶别人？”唐氏却认为两人的事已经说定，不肯半途分开，愿意自己做妾。
Now, when Jin went into the water, he floated on a plank and did not die. Toward dawn he drifted to the Huai and was picked up by a small boat. It belonged to a rich man, old Mr. Yin, who kept it for no other purpose than rescuing the drowning. When Jin came round he went to the old man to thank him. Yin treated him generously and asked him to stay and tutor his son. But Jin had no news of his parents and meant to go and look for them, so he could not decide. Then word came: “We have pulled out the bodies of an old man and an old woman.” Jin feared they were his parents. He ran to look, and so they were. Old Yin provided the coffins for him. Jin was still in the depths of his grief when word came again: “We have saved a drowning woman. She says Mr. Jin is her husband.” Jin wiped away his tears and rushed out in astonishment. The woman had already been brought in — and she was not Gengniang at all, but Wang Shiba’s wife. She wept aloud before Jin and begged him not to cast her off. “My heart is in turmoil,” said Jin. “How can I think about anyone else?” She wept all the harder. When Yin learned the story, he rejoiced at it as Heaven’s requital and urged Jin to take her as his wife. Jin declined: he was in mourning, and besides he meant to take revenge and feared a wife would be a burden. “By that reasoning,” she said, “if Gengniang were still alive, would you put her away for the sake of revenge and mourning?” The old man thought she spoke well and offered to keep her in his own house for the time being, and to this Jin agreed. When a day had been chosen to bury the old couple, the woman put on hempen mourning and wept as though they were her own husband’s parents. After the burial Jin hid a knife in his clothes, took up a begging bowl, and made ready to set out for Guangling. The woman stopped him. “My family name is Tang,” she said. “My people have always lived in Jinling, the same place as that jackal. When he said Guangling, he lied. And half the pirates on the rivers and lakes are his confederates. You won’t get your revenge; you’ll only bring disaster on yourself.” Jin hesitated, not knowing what to do. Then suddenly news spread of a woman who had killed her enemy. It was all up and down the rivers and canals, with her name given in full. When Jin heard it he felt a rush of joy, but his grief was all the greater. He said to the woman, “Thank Heaven she was not defiled. With a heroine like that for a wife, how could I betray her by marrying again?” But the woman held that it had all been settled, and refused to break it off halfway; she was willing to take the place of a concubine.