武孝廉石某，囊貲赴都，將求銓敘。至德州，暴病，唾血不起，長臥舟中。僕篡金亡去。石大恚，病益加，資糧斷絕。榜人謀委棄之。會有女子乘船，夜來臨泊，聞之，自願以舟載石。榜人悅，扶石登女舟。石視之，婦四十餘，被服粲麗，神采猶都。呻以感謝。婦臨審曰：「君夙有瘵根，今魂魄已遊墟墓。」石聞之，噭然哀哭。婦曰：「我有丸藥，能起死。苟病瘳，勿相忘。」石灑泣矢盟。婦乃以藥餌石；半日，覺少痊。婦即榻供甘旨，殷勤過於夫婦。石益德之。月餘，病良已。石膝行而前，敬之如母。婦曰：「妾煢獨無依，如不以色衰見憎，願侍巾櫛。」時石三十餘，喪偶經年，聞之，喜愜過望，遂相燕好。婦乃出藏金，使入都營幹，相約返與同歸。石赴都夤緣，選得本省司閫；餘金市鞍馬，冠蓋赫奕。因念婦臘已高，終非良偶，因以百金聘王氏女為繼室。心中悚怯，恐婦聞知，遂避德州道，迂途履任。年餘，不通音耗。有石中表，偶至德州，與婦為鄰。婦知之，詣問石況。某以實對。婦大罵，因告以情。某亦代為不平，慰解曰：「或署中務冗，尚未暇遑。乞修尺一書，為嫂寄之。」婦如其言。某敬以達石，石殊不置意。又年餘，婦自往歸石，止於旅舍，託官署司賓者通姓氏。石令絕之。一日，方燕飲，聞喧詈聲，釋杯凝聽，則婦已搴簾入矣。石大駭，面色如土。婦指罵曰：「薄情郎！安樂耶？試思富若貴何所自來？我與汝情分不薄，即欲置婢妾，相謀何害？」石累足屏氣，不能復作聲。久之，長跽自投，詭辭乞宥。婦氣稍平。石與王氏謀，使以妹禮見婦。王氏雅不欲；石固哀之，乃往。王拜，婦亦答拜。曰：「妹勿懼，我非悍妒者。曩事，實人情所不堪，即妹亦當不願有是郎。」遂為王緬述本末。王亦憤恨，因與交詈石。石不能自為地，惟求自贖，遂相安帖。初，婦之未入也，石戒閽人勿通。至此，怒閽人，陰詰讓之。閽人固言管鑰未發，無入者，不服。石疑之而不敢問婦，兩雖言笑，而終非所好也。幸婦嫺婉，不爭夕。三餐後，掩闥早眠，並不問良人夜宿何所。王初猶自危；見其如此，益敬之。厭旦往朝，如事姑嫜。婦御下寬和有體，而明察若神。一日，石失印綬，合署沸騰，屑屑還往，無所為計。婦笑言：「勿憂，竭井可得。」石從之，果得之。叩其故，輒笑不言。隱約間，似知盜者姓名，然終不肯洩。居之終歲，察其行多異。石疑其非人，常於寢後使人瞷聽之，但聞床上終夜作振衣聲，亦不知其何為。婦與王極相愛憐。一夕，石以赴臬司未歸，婦與王飲，不覺過醉，就臥席間，化而為狐。王憐之，覆以錦褥。未幾，石入，王告以異。石欲殺之。王曰：「即狐，何負於君？」石不聽，急覓佩刀。而婦已醒，罵曰：「虺蝮之行，而豺狼之心，必不可以久居！曩所啖藥，乞賜還也！」即唾石面。石覺森寒如澆冰水，喉中習習作癢；嘔出，則丸藥如故。婦拾之，忿然逕出，追之已杳。石中夜舊症復作，血嗽不止，半歲而卒。
有個姓石的武舉人，帶著錢財前往京城，準備謀求官職。到了德州，突然生了重病，吐血不起，長久躺在船裡。僕人偷走他的錢財，逃跑了。石某大怒，病情更加嚴重，錢和糧食也斷絕了。船伕們商量著要把他丟下。恰好有個女子乘船出行，夜裡來到附近停泊，聽說這件事，自願用自己的船載石某。船伕們很高興，扶他上了女子的船。石某看她，是個四十多歲的婦人，衣著鮮豔華美，神態風采依然很美。他呻吟著向她道謝。婦人走近，仔細看了看，說：「你早就有癆病的病根，如今魂魄已經在墳墓間遊蕩了。」石某聽了，放聲痛哭。婦人說：「我有丸藥，能起死回生。倘若你的病好了，不要忘記我。」石某流著淚發誓。婦人便把藥給他服下，半天后，他覺得稍微好了一些。婦人在床邊供給他美味的飲食，照料得比夫妻之間還殷勤。石某越發感激她。一個多月後，病完全好了。石某跪著向前挪動，像敬重母親一樣敬重她。婦人說：「我孤單一人，無依無靠。你要是不嫌我容顏衰老，我願意做你的妻子。」當時石某三十多歲，妻子去世已經一年多，聽了這話，喜悅滿意，遠遠超出原先的盼望，兩人便結為夫妻，親熱相好。婦人拿出積存的錢，讓他進京辦事，約定回來接她，一同回去。石某到了京城，託人攀關係，選得本省司閫的官職，又拿剩下的錢買了鞍馬，衣冠車馬十分氣派。他於是想到婦人年紀已經大了，終究不是理想的配偶，便花一百兩銀子，聘娶王氏的女兒為繼室。他心裡不安，怕婦人知道，便避開經過德州的道路，繞路赴任。一年多來，沒有給婦人半點音信。石某有個表親，偶然到了德州，和婦人做了鄰居。婦人知道後，去問石某的近況。那人如實回答。婦人大罵起來，把前後的事告訴他。表親也替她抱不平，安慰說：「也許衙門裡事務繁忙，他還沒有空閒。請嫂子寫封信，我替你寄去。」婦人照他的話寫了信。表親鄭重地把信送給石某，石某卻絲毫不放在心上。又過了一年多，婦人自己前去找石某，住在客店裡，托官署接待賓客的人通報姓名。石某命人把她拒之門外。一天，他正在宴飲，聽見喧鬧的罵聲，放下酒杯細聽，婦人已經掀開簾子進來了。石某大驚，臉色像土一樣。婦人指著他罵道：「薄情郎！你過得安樂嗎？想想你的富貴是從哪裡來的！我和你的情分並不淺，你就是想添個婢女、納個妾，和我商量一下，又有什麼不好？」石某雙腳併攏，屏住呼吸，一聲也不敢出。過了很久，他才直身長跪，撲倒在她面前，編造藉口求她饒恕。婦人的怒氣稍稍平息了些。石某和王氏商量，讓她以妹妹的禮節拜見婦人。王氏很不情願；石某苦苦哀求，她才前去。王氏行禮，婦人也還了禮，說：「妹妹不要怕，我不是蠻橫嫉妒的人。先前那件事，實在是人情上不能忍受的，就是妹妹，也不會願意有這樣的丈夫。」於是詳細向王氏講了事情的來龍去脈。王氏也憤怒怨恨，便和她一起責罵石某。石某無話可為自己辯解，只能請求將功補過，三人才安穩相處下來。原先婦人沒進來時，石某曾吩咐看門人，不許放她進門。到了這時，他便惱怒看門人，暗中責問。看門人堅持說門鎖沒有打開，也沒有人進來，不肯認錯。石某心裡疑惑，卻不敢問婦人。兩人雖然也說笑相處，他終究並不喜歡她。幸好婦人溫柔嫻靜，不爭著陪他過夜。每天吃過晚飯，就關門早睡，也不問丈夫夜裡睡在哪裡。王氏起初還擔心自己的處境，見她這樣，越發敬重她。每天清早就去請安，像侍奉公婆一樣。婦人對待下人寬厚溫和，舉止得體，卻又明察如神。有一天，石某丟了印綬，整個官署都亂了，眾人忙碌地來來回回，全都沒有辦法。婦人笑著說：「不要擔心，把井水抽乾，就能找到了。」石某照辦，果然找到了。問她為什麼知道，她總是笑而不答。隱約看來，她似乎知道偷印人的姓名，卻始終不肯說。婦人住滿一年後，石某發現她的行為有許多異樣，懷疑她不是人，常在她睡下後，派人偷偷察看、傾聽，卻只聽見床上整夜發出抖動衣服的聲音，也不知道她在做什麼。婦人和王氏彼此十分親愛。一天晚上，石某去了臬司，還沒有回來，婦人和王氏飲酒，不知不覺喝得太醉，就躺在席間，變成了一隻狐狸。王氏憐愛她，拿錦褥蓋在她身上。不久，石某進來，王氏把這件怪事告訴他。石某要殺她。王氏說：「就是狐狸，她又有什麼對不起你的地方？」石某不聽，急忙去找佩刀。婦人已經醒了，罵道：「你做的事像毒蛇，心腸像豺狼，實在不能和你長久住在一起！先前給你吃的藥，請還給我！」說完，就朝石某臉上吐了一口。石某覺得一陣寒冷，像被冰水澆過，喉嚨裡不斷髮癢；張口吐出來，竟是原來的那顆丸藥。婦人拾起藥，憤怒地徑直走了出去，追出去時，她已經不見了。當夜半夜裡，石某的舊病復發，咳血不止，半年後便死了。
武孝廉石某，囊赀赴都，将求铨叙。至德州，暴病，唾血不起，长卧舟中。仆篡金亡去。石大恚，病益加，资粮断绝。榜人谋委弃之。会有女子乘船，夜来临泊，闻之，自愿以舟载石。榜人悦，扶石登女舟。石视之，妇四十余，被服粲丽，神采犹都。呻以感谢。妇临审曰：「君夙有瘵根，今魂魄已游墟墓。」石闻之，噭然哀哭。妇曰：「我有丸药，能起死。苟病瘳，勿相忘。」石洒泣矢盟。妇乃以药饵石；半日，觉少痊。妇即榻供甘旨，殷勤过于夫妇。石益德之。月余，病良已。石膝行而前，敬之如母。妇曰：「妾茕独无依，如不以色衰见憎，愿侍巾栉。」时石三十余，丧偶经年，闻之，喜惬过望，遂相燕好。妇乃出藏金，使入都营干，相约返与同归。石赴都夤缘，选得本省司阃；余金市鞍马，冠盖赫奕。因念妇腊已高，终非良偶，因以百金聘王氏女为继室。心中悚怯，恐妇闻知，遂避德州道，迂途履任。年余，不通音耗。有石中表，偶至德州，与妇为邻。妇知之，诣问石况。某以实对。妇大骂，因告以情。某亦代为不平，慰解曰：「或署中务冗，尚未暇遑。乞修尺一书，为嫂寄之。」妇如其言。某敬以达石，石殊不置意。又年余，妇自往归石，止于旅舍，托官署司宾者通姓氏。石令绝之。一日，方燕饮，闻喧詈声，释杯凝听，则妇已搴帘入矣。石大骇，面色如土。妇指骂曰：「薄情郎！安乐耶？试思富若贵何所自来？我与汝情分不薄，即欲置婢妾，相谋何害？」石累足屏气，不能复作声。久之，长跽自投，诡辞乞宥。妇气稍平。石与王氏谋，使以妹礼见妇。王氏雅不欲；石固哀之，乃往。王拜，妇亦答拜。曰：「妹勿惧，我非悍妒者。曩事，实人情所不堪，即妹亦当不愿有是郎。」遂为王缅述本末。王亦愤恨，因与交詈石。石不能自为地，惟求自赎，遂相安帖。初，妇之未入也，石戒阍人勿通。至此，怒阍人，阴诘让之。阍人固言管钥未发，无入者，不服。石疑之而不敢问妇，两虽言笑，而终非所好也。幸妇娴婉，不争夕。三餐后，掩闼早眠，并不问良人夜宿何所。王初犹自危；见其如此，益敬之。厌旦往朝，如事姑嫜。妇御下宽和有体，而明察若神。一日，石失印绶，合署沸腾，屑屑还往，无所为计。妇笑言：「勿忧，竭井可得。」石从之，果得之。叩其故，辄笑不言。隐约间，似知盗者姓名，然终不肯泄。居之终岁，察其行多异。石疑其非人，常于寝后使人瞷听之，但闻床上终夜作振衣声，亦不知其何为。妇与王极相爱怜。一夕，石以赴臬司未归，妇与王饮，不觉过醉，就卧席间，化而为狐。王怜之，覆以锦褥。未几，石入，王告以异。石欲杀之。王曰：「即狐，何负于君？」石不听，急觅佩刀。而妇已醒，骂曰：「虺蝮之行，而豺狼之心，必不可以久居！曩所啖药，乞赐还也！」即唾石面。石觉森寒如浇冰水，喉中习习作痒；呕出，则丸药如故。妇拾之，忿然径出，追之已杳。石中夜旧症复作，血嗽不止，半岁而卒。
有个姓石的武举人，带着钱财前往京城，准备谋求官职。到了德州，突然生了重病，吐血不起，长久躺在船里。仆人偷走他的钱财，逃跑了。石某大怒，病情更加严重，钱和粮食也断绝了。船夫们商量着要把他丢下。恰好有个女子乘船出行，夜里来到附近停泊，听说这件事，自愿用自己的船载石某。船夫们很高兴，扶他上了女子的船。石某看她，是个四十多岁的妇人，衣着鲜艳华美，神态风采依然很美。他呻吟着向她道谢。妇人走近，仔细看了看，说：“你早就有痨病的病根，如今魂魄已经在坟墓间游荡了。”石某听了，放声痛哭。妇人说：“我有丸药，能起死回生。倘若你的病好了，不要忘记我。”石某流着泪发誓。妇人便把药给他服下，半天后，他觉得稍微好了一些。妇人在床边供给他美味的饮食，照料得比夫妻之间还殷勤。石某越发感激她。一个多月后，病完全好了。石某跪着向前挪动，像敬重母亲一样敬重她。妇人说：“我孤单一人，无依无靠。你要是不嫌我容颜衰老，我愿意做你的妻子。”当时石某三十多岁，妻子去世已经一年多，听了这话，喜悦满意，远远超出原先的盼望，两人便结为夫妻，亲热相好。妇人拿出积存的钱，让他进京办事，约定回来接她，一同回去。石某到了京城，托人攀关系，选得本省司阃的官职，又拿剩下的钱买了鞍马，衣冠车马十分气派。他于是想到妇人年纪已经大了，终究不是理想的配偶，便花一百两银子，聘娶王氏的女儿为继室。他心里不安，怕妇人知道，便避开经过德州的道路，绕路赴任。一年多来，没有给妇人半点音信。石某有个表亲，偶然到了德州，和妇人做了邻居。妇人知道后，去问石某的近况。那人如实回答。妇人大骂起来，把前后的事告诉他。表亲也替她抱不平，安慰说：“也许衙门里事务繁忙，他还没有空闲。请嫂子写封信，我替你寄去。”妇人照他的话写了信。表亲郑重地把信送给石某，石某却丝毫不放在心上。又过了一年多，妇人自己前去找石某，住在客店里，托官署接待宾客的人通报姓名。石某命人把她拒之门外。一天，他正在宴饮，听见喧闹的骂声，放下酒杯细听，妇人已经掀开帘子进来了。石某大惊，脸色像土一样。妇人指着他骂道：“薄情郎！你过得安乐吗？想想你的富贵是从哪里来的！我和你的情分并不浅，你就是想添个婢女、纳个妾，和我商量一下，又有什么不好？”石某双脚并拢，屏住呼吸，一声也不敢出。过了很久，他才直身长跪，扑倒在她面前，编造借口求她饶恕。妇人的怒气稍稍平息了些。石某和王氏商量，让她以妹妹的礼节拜见妇人。王氏很不情愿；石某苦苦哀求，她才前去。王氏行礼，妇人也还了礼，说：“妹妹不要怕，我不是蛮横嫉妒的人。先前那件事，实在是人情上不能忍受的，就是妹妹，也不会愿意有这样的丈夫。”于是详细向王氏讲了事情的来龙去脉。王氏也愤怒怨恨，便和她一起责骂石某。石某无话可为自己辩解，只能请求将功补过，三人才安稳相处下来。原先妇人没进来时，石某曾吩咐看门人，不许放她进门。到了这时，他便恼怒看门人，暗中责问。看门人坚持说门锁没有打开，也没有人进来，不肯认错。石某心里疑惑，却不敢问妇人。两人虽然也说笑相处，他终究并不喜欢她。幸好妇人温柔娴静，不争着陪他过夜。每天吃过晚饭，就关门早睡，也不问丈夫夜里睡在哪里。王氏起初还担心自己的处境，见她这样，越发敬重她。每天清早就去请安，像侍奉公婆一样。妇人对待下人宽厚温和，举止得体，却又明察如神。有一天，石某丢了印绶，整个官署都乱了，众人忙碌地来来回回，全都没有办法。妇人笑着说：“不要担心，把井水抽干，就能找到了。”石某照办，果然找到了。问她为什么知道，她总是笑而不答。隐约看来，她似乎知道偷印人的姓名，却始终不肯说。妇人住满一年后，石某发现她的行为有许多异样，怀疑她不是人，常在她睡下后，派人偷偷察看、倾听，却只听见床上整夜发出抖动衣服的声音，也不知道她在做什么。妇人和王氏彼此十分亲爱。一天晚上，石某去了臬司，还没有回来，妇人和王氏饮酒，不知不觉喝得太醉，就躺在席间，变成了一只狐狸。王氏怜爱她，拿锦褥盖在她身上。不久，石某进来，王氏把这件怪事告诉他。石某要杀她。王氏说：“就是狐狸，她又有什么对不起你的地方？”石某不听，急忙去找佩刀。妇人已经醒了，骂道：“你做的事像毒蛇，心肠像豺狼，实在不能和你长久住在一起！先前给你吃的药，请还给我！”说完，就朝石某脸上吐了一口。石某觉得一阵寒冷，像被冰水浇过，喉咙里不断发痒；张口吐出来，竟是原来的那颗丸药。妇人拾起药，愤怒地径直走了出去，追出去时，她已经不见了。当夜半夜里，石某的旧病复发，咳血不止，半年后便死了。
A military provincial graduate named Shi packed up his money and set off for the capital, hoping to be given a post. At Dezhou he fell suddenly ill, spitting blood, and could not get up; he lay in the boat day after day. His servant stole his money and ran off. Shi was furious, and his illness grew worse. Now he had neither money nor food, and the boatmen plotted to abandon him. It happened that a woman travelling by boat came and moored alongside that night. Hearing of his plight, she offered to take Shi on her own boat. The boatmen were pleased and helped him across. Shi looked at her: she was over forty, splendidly dressed, and still handsome and full of life. He groaned out his thanks. She came close and looked him over. “You have long had the root of consumption in you,” she said. “Your soul is already wandering among the graves.” At this Shi wailed and wept. “I have a pill that can raise the dead,” she said. “If you recover, don’t forget me.” Shi, in tears, swore an oath. So she gave him the pill, and within half a day he felt a little better. She brought delicacies to his bedside and was more attentive than a wife to her husband. Shi was all the more grateful. After a month or so he was quite well. He went to her on his knees and honoured her like a mother. “I am all alone, with no one to depend on,” she said. “If you do not despise me because my looks are fading, I would gladly be your wife.” Shi was then in his thirties and had lost his wife a year or more before. Hearing this, he was delighted beyond his hopes, and they became lovers. Then she brought out money she had hidden away and sent him to the capital to arrange his affairs, on the understanding that he would come back for her and they would go home together. In the capital Shi pulled strings and was appointed a garrison commander in his own province. With the money left over he bought saddles and horses, and cut a splendid figure in official hat and carriage. Then he reflected that the woman was well on in years and would never make a good match. So he paid a hundred taels in betrothal gifts for a girl of the Wang family as his second wife. He was uneasy, afraid the woman would hear of it, so he kept off the Dezhou road and went to his post by a roundabout way. For more than a year he sent her no word. A cousin of Shi’s happened to go to Dezhou and became the woman’s neighbour. When she learned who he was, she called on him to ask about Shi. He told her the truth. She cursed loudly and told him the whole story. The cousin too felt she had been wronged. To console her he said, “Perhaps he is busy at his office and has not yet had time. Please write him a letter, sister-in-law, and I’ll send it for you.” She did so. The cousin dutifully delivered it, but Shi paid it no attention at all. After another year or so, she went to join Shi herself. She stopped at an inn and asked the officer who received visitors at headquarters to send in her name. Shi ordered him to turn her away. One day, in the middle of a banquet, Shi heard shouting and cursing. He put down his cup to listen, and the woman had already lifted the curtain and come in. Shi was terrified; his face went the colour of earth. She pointed at him and cursed: “Heartless man! Are you comfortable? Just think where your wealth and rank came from! What was between us was no small thing. Even if you wanted to take a maid or a concubine, what harm would it have done to talk it over with me?” Shi stood rooted, feet together, holding his breath, and could not make a sound. After a long while he knelt, threw himself down before her, and begged her pardon with lying excuses. Her anger cooled a little. Shi talked it over with his new wife, Mrs. Wang, and had her greet the woman as a younger sister would. Mrs. Wang did not like the idea at all, but Shi begged and begged, and she went. Wang bowed, and the woman bowed in return. “Don’t be afraid, little sister,” she said. “I am no jealous shrew. But what happened before is more than anyone could bear. Even you would not want a man like that.” And she told Wang the whole story from start to finish. Wang was indignant too, and the two of them took turns cursing Shi. Shi did not know where to put himself; he could only beg to make amends, and so peace was made. Before the woman burst in, Shi had told his gatekeeper not to let her through. Now he was angry with the gatekeeper and took him aside to reproach him. The gatekeeper insisted the locks had never been opened and no one had come in, and would not admit he was at fault. Shi was suspicious, but he did not dare ask the woman. Though the two of them talked and laughed together, he never really cared for her. Luckily she was gentle and gracious and never vied for his nights. After supper she shut her door and went to bed early, and never asked where her husband spent the night. At first Wang still feared for her own place; seeing the woman behave like this, she respected her all the more. Every morning at dawn she went to pay her respects, as one serves a mother-in-law. The woman was lenient and kind with the servants and knew what was proper, yet she saw through everything like a god. One day Shi lost his seal of office. The whole headquarters was in an uproar; people bustled back and forth, at their wits’ end. The woman laughed. “Don’t worry. Drain the well and you’ll find it.” Shi did so, and there it was. When he asked how she knew, she only laughed and said nothing. She seemed to have some notion of who the thief was, but she would never tell. When she had lived there a whole year, Shi had noticed much that was strange in her ways. He suspected she was not human, and often had someone spy and listen after she had gone to bed. But all they heard was the sound of clothes being shaken out on the bed all night long, and no one knew what she was doing. She and Wang grew very fond of each other. One evening, when Shi had gone to the Provincial Judge and had not yet come back, the woman was drinking with Wang. Without realising it she drank too much, lay down where she sat, and turned into a fox. Wang was tender toward her and covered her with a brocade quilt. Before long Shi came in, and Wang told him the strange thing. Shi wanted to kill her. “Even if she is a fox,” said Wang, “what wrong has she done you?” Shi would not listen and hurried to find his sword. But the woman was already awake. “You act like a viper and you have the heart of a wolf!” she cursed. “I can’t stay with you a day longer. The pill you swallowed — kindly give it back!” And she spat in his face. Shi felt a chill as if doused with ice water, and his throat began to tickle. He threw up, and there was the pill, just as it had been. She picked it up and stormed straight out. They went after her, but she was gone. That night Shi’s old illness came back. He coughed blood without stopping, and within half a year he was dead.