莒人商姓者，兄富而弟貧，鄰垣而居。康熙間，歲大凶，弟朝夕不自給。一日，日向午，尚未舉火，枵腹蹀踱，無以為計。妻令往告兄，商曰：「無益。脫兄憐我貧也，當早有以處此矣。」妻固強之，商便使其子往。少頃，空手而返。商曰：「何如哉！」妻詳問阿伯云何。子曰：「伯躊躕目視伯母，伯母告我曰：『兄弟析居，有飯各食，誰復能相顧也。』」夫妻無言，暫以殘盎敗榻，少易糠粃而生。里中三四惡少，窺大商饒足，夜踰垣入。夫妻驚寤，鳴盥器而號。鄰人共嫉之，無援者。不得已，疾呼二商。商聞嫂鳴，欲趨救，妻止之，大聲對嫂曰：「兄弟析居，有禍各受，誰復能相顧也！」俄，盜破扉，執大商及婦，炮烙之，呼聲綦慘。二商曰：「彼固無情，焉有坐視兄死而不救者！」率子越垣，大聲疾呼。二商父子故武勇，人所畏懼，又恐驚致他援，盜乃去。視兄嫂，兩股焦灼，扶榻上，招集婢僕，乃歸。大商雖被創，而金帛無所亡失。謂妻曰：「今所遺留，悉出弟賜，宜分給之。」妻曰：「汝有好兄弟，不受此苦矣！」商乃不言。二商家絕食，謂兄必有一報；久之，寂不聞。婦不能待，使子捉囊往從貸，得斗粟而返。婦怒其少，欲反之；二商止之。踰兩月，貧餒愈不可支。二商曰：「今無術可以謀生，不如鬻宅於兄。兄恐我他去，或不受券而恤焉，未可知；縱或不然，得十餘金，亦可存活。」妻以為然，遣子操券詣大商。大商告之婦，且曰：「弟即不仁，我手足也。彼去則我孤立，不如反其券而周之。」妻曰：「不然。彼言去，挾我也；果爾，則適墮其謀。世間無兄弟者，便都死卻耶？我高葺牆垣，亦足自固。不如受其券，從所適，亦可以廣吾宅。」計定，令二商押署券尾，付直而去。二商於是徙居鄰村。鄉中不逞之徒，聞二商去，又攻之。復執大商，搒楚並兼，梏毒慘至，所有金貲，悉以贖命。盜臨去，開廩呼村中貧者，恣所取，頃刻都盡。次日，二商始聞，及奔視，則兄已昏憒不能語；開目見弟，但以手抓床席而已。少頃遂死。二商忿訴邑宰。盜首逃竄，莫可緝獲。盜粟者百餘人，皆里中貧民，州守亦莫如何。大商遺幼子，纔五歲，家既貧，往往自投叔所，數日不歸；送之歸，則啼不止。二商婦頗不加青眼。二商曰：「渠父不義，其子何罪？」因市蒸餅數枚，自送之。過數日，又避妻子，陰負斗粟於嫂，使養兒。如此以為常。又數年，大商賣其田宅，母得直，足自給，二商乃不復至。後歲大饑，道殣相望，二商食指益繁，不能他顧。姪年十五，荏弱不能操業，使攜籃從兄貨胡餅。一夜，夢兄至，顏色慘戚曰：「余惑于婦言，遂失手足之義。弟不念前嫌，增我汗羞。所賣故宅，今尚空閒，宜僦居之。屋後篷顆下，藏有窖金，發之，可以小阜。使醜兒相從；長舌婦余甚恨之，勿顧也。」既醒，異之。以重直啗第主，始得就，果發得五百金。從此棄賤業，使兄弟設肆廛間。姪頗慧，記算無訛；又誠愨，凡出入，一錙銖必告。二商益愛之。一日，泣為母請粟。商妻欲勿與；二商念其孝，按月廩給之。數年家益富。大商婦病死，二商亦老，乃析姪，家貲割半與之。
莒地有一對姓商的兄弟，哥哥大商富有，弟弟二商貧窮，兩家隔著一道牆住著。康熙年間，有一年鬧了大饑荒，二商連每天的飯食都無法保證。一天，快到中午了，家裡還沒生火做飯，他餓著肚子來回走動，想不出辦法。妻子讓他去向哥哥求助，二商說：「沒有用。他要是可憐我窮，早就該想辦法幫我了。」妻子堅持催他去，二商便派兒子過去。不一會兒，兒子空著手回來了。二商說：「怎麼樣！」妻子仔細問兒子，伯父到底說了什麼。兒子說：「伯父猶豫著，看了看伯母，伯母對我說：『兄弟分了家，有飯各自吃，誰還能照顧誰呢。』」夫妻倆無話可說，暫且拿破罐子、舊床換了些糠和癟谷，勉強活著。村裡有三四個惡少，見大商家富足，一天夜裡翻牆進去。大商夫妻驚醒，敲著洗臉盆呼喊。鄰居都討厭他們，沒有人來救。無奈之下，他們大聲呼叫二商。二商聽見嫂子的喊聲，想趕去救援，妻子攔住他，大聲對嫂子喊道：「兄弟分了家，有災各自受，誰還能照顧誰呢！」不久，強盜砸開房門，抓住大商和他的妻子，用火燒烙他們，叫聲十分悽慘。二商說：「他固然無情，可哪有眼看著哥哥被害死，卻不去救的道理！」他帶著兒子翻過牆去，大聲呼喊。二商父子一向勇猛，眾人都怕他們，強盜又怕喊聲引來別的救援，便逃走了。二商檢視哥哥嫂子，見兩人的大腿都燒焦了，就扶他們到床上，召集了婢女僕人，這才回家。大商雖然受了傷，錢財和綢帛卻沒有損失。他對妻子說：「如今保住的這些東西，全是弟弟救下來的，應該分一些給他。」妻子說：「你要是有個好兄弟，還會受這種苦嗎！」大商便不再說話。二商家已經斷了糧，他以為哥哥一定會有所報答，可等了很久，也沒有動靜。妻子等不下去，讓兒子拿著口袋去借糧，兒子帶回了一斗粟米。妻子嫌少，生氣地想退回去，二商攔住了她。又過了兩個月，家裡窮困飢餓，越來越難以支撐。二商說：「如今沒有辦法謀生，不如把房子賣給哥哥。哥哥怕我搬到別處，也許會退回房契，接濟我們，這也說不定。即使不這樣，能拿到十幾兩銀子，也可以活下去。」妻子覺得有道理，便讓兒子拿著房契去見大商。大商把這事告訴妻子，又說：「弟弟即使不仁厚，也是我的親兄弟。他走了，我就孤立無援了，不如退回他的房契，接濟他。」妻子說：「不行。他說要走，是在要挾我們。你真這樣做，就正好中了他的計。世上沒有兄弟的人，難道都死了嗎？我們把圍牆修高，也足夠保護自己。不如收下房契，隨他到哪裡去，還能擴大我們的宅院。」兩人商定後，便讓二商在房契末尾簽字畫押，付了價錢，讓他離去。二商於是搬到鄰村住了。鄉里的不法之徒聽說二商搬走，又來襲擊大商。他們再次抓住大商，又打又抽，施加極其殘酷的折磨，大商拿出所有錢財來換取活命。強盜臨走時，打開糧倉，招呼村裡的窮人隨意拿糧，轉眼間就全搬空了。第二天，二商才聽說這件事，趕去探望時，哥哥已經神志昏迷，不能說話。他睜眼看見弟弟，只能用手抓著床上的席子。不一會兒，就死了。二商憤怒地向縣官告狀。強盜頭目已經逃走，無法捉拿。拿糧的人有一百多個，都是村裡的窮人，州守也沒有辦法處置。大商留下一個小兒子，才五歲。家裡已經窮了，孩子常常自己跑到叔叔家，一住幾天也不回去；送他回家，他就哭個不停。二商的妻子很不喜歡他。二商說：「他父親不講情義，孩子有什麼罪？」於是買了幾個蒸餅，親自送他回家。過了幾天，他又瞞著妻子和兒子，偷偷背了一斗粟米給嫂子，讓她養活孩子。以後便常常這樣做。又過了幾年，大商家的田地房屋賣掉了，孩子的母親拿到錢，足夠維持生活，二商就不再上門了。後來又遇上大饑荒，道路上餓死的人接連不斷。二商家要養活的人越來越多，顧不上別人。侄子已經十五歲，身體柔弱，幹不了活，二商就讓他提著籃子，跟著堂兄一起賣胡餅。一天夜裡，二商夢見哥哥來了，神情悽慘憂傷，說：「我受妻子的話迷惑，丟掉了兄弟之間的情義。你不計較過去的嫌隙，讓我更加羞愧。賣掉的舊宅如今還空著，你應該租下來住。屋後那叢蓬草下面，埋著銀子，挖出來，可以讓日子稍微富足些。讓我那醜小子跟著你；那個多嘴的女人，我十分恨她，不要管她。」二商醒來，覺得奇怪。他用很高的租金打動房主，才租到舊宅，果然挖出了五百兩銀子。從此，他不再做原來那份低微的生意，讓兒子和侄子在集市上開了店鋪。侄子很聰明，記賬算賬沒有差錯，又誠實謹慎，錢財的進出，哪怕極少的一點，也一定告訴叔叔。二商越來越疼愛他。一天，侄子哭著替母親求糧。二商的妻子不想給，二商念他孝順，便每月給他母親糧食。幾年以後，家裡越來越富裕。大商的妻子病死，二商也老了，便讓侄子分出去另立門戶，把家產的一半分給了他。
莒人商姓者，兄富而弟贫，邻垣而居。康熙间，岁大凶，弟朝夕不自给。一日，日向午，尚未举火，枵腹蹀踱，无以为计。妻令往告兄，商曰：「无益。脱兄怜我贫也，当早有以处此矣。」妻固强之，商便使其子往。少顷，空手而返。商曰：「何如哉！」妻详问阿伯云何。子曰：「伯踌蹰目视伯母，伯母告我曰：『兄弟析居，有饭各食，谁复能相顾也。』」夫妻无言，暂以残盎败榻，少易糠粃而生。里中三四恶少，窥大商饶足，夜逾垣入。夫妻惊寤，鸣盥器而号。邻人共嫉之，无援者。不得已，疾呼二商。商闻嫂鸣，欲趋救，妻止之，大声对嫂曰：「兄弟析居，有祸各受，谁复能相顾也！」俄，盗破扉，执大商及妇，炮烙之，呼声綦惨。二商曰：「彼固无情，焉有坐视兄死而不救者！」率子越垣，大声疾呼。二商父子故武勇，人所畏惧，又恐惊致他援，盗乃去。视兄嫂，两股焦灼，扶榻上，招集婢仆，乃归。大商虽被创，而金帛无所亡失。谓妻曰：「今所遗留，悉出弟赐，宜分给之。」妻曰：「汝有好兄弟，不受此苦矣！」商乃不言。二商家绝食，谓兄必有一报；久之，寂不闻。妇不能待，使子捉囊往从贷，得斗粟而返。妇怒其少，欲反之；二商止之。逾两月，贫馁愈不可支。二商曰：「今无术可以谋生，不如鬻宅于兄。兄恐我他去，或不受券而恤焉，未可知；纵或不然，得十余金，亦可存活。」妻以为然，遣子操券诣大商。大商告之妇，且曰：「弟即不仁，我手足也。彼去则我孤立，不如反其券而周之。」妻曰：「不然。彼言去，挟我也；果尔，则适堕其谋。世间无兄弟者，便都死却耶？我高葺墙垣，亦足自固。不如受其券，从所适，亦可以广吾宅。」计定，令二商押署券尾，付直而去。二商于是徙居邻村。乡中不逞之徒，闻二商去，又攻之。复执大商，搒楚并兼，梏毒惨至，所有金赀，悉以赎命。盗临去，开廪呼村中贫者，恣所取，顷刻都尽。次日，二商始闻，及奔视，则兄已昏愦不能语；开目见弟，但以手抓床席而已。少顷遂死。二商忿诉邑宰。盗首逃窜，莫可缉获。盗粟者百余人，皆里中贫民，州守亦莫如何。大商遗幼子，才五岁，家既贫，往往自投叔所，数日不归；送之归，则啼不止。二商妇颇不加青眼。二商曰：「渠父不义，其子何罪？」因市蒸饼数枚，自送之。过数日，又避妻子，阴负斗粟于嫂，使养儿。如此以为常。又数年，大商卖其田宅，母得直，足自给，二商乃不复至。后岁大饥，道殣相望，二商食指益繁，不能他顾。姪年十五，荏弱不能操业，使携篮从兄货胡饼。一夜，梦兄至，颜色惨戚曰：「余惑于妇言，遂失手足之义。弟不念前嫌，增我汗羞。所卖故宅，今尚空闲，宜僦居之。屋后篷颗下，藏有窖金，发之，可以小阜。使丑儿相从；长舌妇余甚恨之，勿顾也。」既醒，异之。以重直啗第主，始得就，果发得五百金。从此弃贱业，使兄弟设肆廛间。姪颇慧，记算无讹；又诚悫，凡出入，一锱铢必告。二商益爱之。一日，泣为母请粟。商妻欲勿与；二商念其孝，按月廪给之。数年家益富。大商妇病死，二商亦老，乃析姪，家赀割半与之。
莒地有一对姓商的兄弟，哥哥大商富有，弟弟二商贫穷，两家隔着一道墙住着。康熙年间，有一年闹了大饥荒，二商连每天的饭食都无法保证。一天，快到中午了，家里还没生火做饭，他饿着肚子来回走动，想不出办法。妻子让他去向哥哥求助，二商说：“没有用。他要是可怜我穷，早就该想办法帮我了。”妻子坚持催他去，二商便派儿子过去。不一会儿，儿子空着手回来了。二商说：“怎么样！”妻子仔细问儿子，伯父到底说了什么。儿子说：“伯父犹豫着，看了看伯母，伯母对我说：‘兄弟分了家，有饭各自吃，谁还能照顾谁呢。’”夫妻俩无话可说，暂且拿破罐子、旧床换了些糠和瘪谷，勉强活着。村里有三四个恶少，见大商家富足，一天夜里翻墙进去。大商夫妻惊醒，敲着洗脸盆呼喊。邻居都讨厌他们，没有人来救。无奈之下，他们大声呼叫二商。二商听见嫂子的喊声，想赶去救援，妻子拦住他，大声对嫂子喊道：“兄弟分了家，有灾各自受，谁还能照顾谁呢！”不久，强盗砸开房门，抓住大商和他的妻子，用火烧烙他们，叫声十分凄惨。二商说：“他固然无情，可哪有眼看着哥哥被害死，却不去救的道理！”他带着儿子翻过墙去，大声呼喊。二商父子一向勇猛，众人都怕他们，强盗又怕喊声引来别的救援，便逃走了。二商查看哥哥嫂子，见两人的大腿都烧焦了，就扶他们到床上，召集了婢女仆人，这才回家。大商虽然受了伤，钱财和绸帛却没有损失。他对妻子说：“如今保住的这些东西，全是弟弟救下来的，应该分一些给他。”妻子说：“你要是有个好兄弟，还会受这种苦吗！”大商便不再说话。二商家已经断了粮，他以为哥哥一定会有所报答，可等了很久，也没有动静。妻子等不下去，让儿子拿着口袋去借粮，儿子带回了一斗粟米。妻子嫌少，生气地想退回去，二商拦住了她。又过了两个月，家里穷困饥饿，越来越难以支撑。二商说：“如今没有办法谋生，不如把房子卖给哥哥。哥哥怕我搬到别处，也许会退回房契，接济我们，这也说不定。即使不这样，能拿到十几两银子，也可以活下去。”妻子觉得有道理，便让儿子拿着房契去见大商。大商把这事告诉妻子，又说：“弟弟即使不仁厚，也是我的亲兄弟。他走了，我就孤立无援了，不如退回他的房契，接济他。”妻子说：“不行。他说要走，是在要挟我们。你真这样做，就正好中了他的计。世上没有兄弟的人，难道都死了吗？我们把围墙修高，也足够保护自己。不如收下房契，随他到哪里去，还能扩大我们的宅院。”两人商定后，便让二商在房契末尾签字画押，付了价钱，让他离去。二商于是搬到邻村住了。乡里的不法之徒听说二商搬走，又来袭击大商。他们再次抓住大商，又打又抽，施加极其残酷的折磨，大商拿出所有钱财来换取活命。强盗临走时，打开粮仓，招呼村里的穷人随意拿粮，转眼间就全搬空了。第二天，二商才听说这件事，赶去探望时，哥哥已经神志昏迷，不能说话。他睁眼看见弟弟，只能用手抓着床上的席子。不一会儿，就死了。二商愤怒地向县官告状。强盗头目已经逃走，无法捉拿。拿粮的人有一百多个，都是村里的穷人，州守也没有办法处置。大商留下一个小儿子，才五岁。家里已经穷了，孩子常常自己跑到叔叔家，一住几天也不回去；送他回家，他就哭个不停。二商的妻子很不喜欢他。二商说：“他父亲不讲情义，孩子有什么罪？”于是买了几个蒸饼，亲自送他回家。过了几天，他又瞒着妻子和儿子，偷偷背了一斗粟米给嫂子，让她养活孩子。以后便常常这样做。又过了几年，大商家的田地房屋卖掉了，孩子的母亲拿到钱，足够维持生活，二商就不再上门了。后来又遇上大饥荒，道路上饿死的人接连不断。二商家要养活的人越来越多，顾不上别人。侄子已经十五岁，身体柔弱，干不了活，二商就让他提着篮子，跟着堂兄一起卖胡饼。一天夜里，二商梦见哥哥来了，神情凄惨忧伤，说：“我受妻子的话迷惑，丢掉了兄弟之间的情义。你不计较过去的嫌隙，让我更加羞愧。卖掉的旧宅如今还空着，你应该租下来住。屋后那丛蓬草下面，埋着银子，挖出来，可以让日子稍微富足些。让我那丑小子跟着你；那个多嘴的女人，我十分恨她，不要管她。”二商醒来，觉得奇怪。他用很高的租金打动房主，才租到旧宅，果然挖出了五百两银子。从此，他不再做原来那份低微的生意，让儿子和侄子在集市上开了店铺。侄子很聪明，记账算账没有差错，又诚实谨慎，钱财的进出，哪怕极少的一点，也一定告诉叔叔。二商越来越疼爱他。一天，侄子哭着替母亲求粮。二商的妻子不想给，二商念他孝顺，便每月给他母亲粮食。几年以后，家里越来越富裕。大商的妻子病死，二商也老了，便让侄子分出去另立门户，把家产的一半分给了他。
In Ju County there were two brothers named Shang. The elder was rich and the younger poor, and they lived on either side of one wall. In the Kangxi reign there came a year of terrible harvest, and the younger brother could not keep himself fed from morning to night. One day, with noon coming on, his household still had not lit the stove. He paced about on an empty stomach, with no idea what to do. His wife told him to go to his brother. “No use,” said Shang. “If my brother pitied me for being poor, he would have done something about it long ago.” His wife insisted, so Shang sent their son. Before long the boy came back empty-handed. “What did I tell you!” said Shang. His wife asked the boy exactly what his uncle had said. “Uncle hesitated and looked at Aunt,” said the boy, “and Aunt told me, ‘When brothers have split the household, each eats his own rice. Who can look after anyone else?’” Husband and wife said nothing. For the time being they traded broken pots and a battered bed for a little chaff and husks, and lived on that. Three or four young thugs of the village, who had their eye on the elder Shang’s wealth, climbed over his wall one night. The elder Shang and his wife woke in fright, banged on the washbasin and screamed. The neighbours all disliked them, and no one came to help. With nothing else for it, they shouted for the younger Shang. Hearing his sister-in-law’s cries, he wanted to rush to the rescue, but his wife held him back and called out loudly to her sister-in-law, “When brothers have split the household, each suffers his own misfortunes. Who can look after anyone else?” Soon the robbers broke down the door, seized the elder Shang and his wife, and tortured them with fire. Their screams were dreadful. “He may have no feeling for me,” said the younger Shang, “but who could sit and watch his brother die and not save him!” He went over the wall with his son, shouting at the top of his voice. The younger Shang and his son had always been strong fighters, and people feared them; the robbers were also afraid the noise would bring others, so they left. He looked at his brother and sister-in-law: their thighs were burned and blistered. He helped them onto the bed, called the maids and servants together, and only then went home. Though the elder Shang was hurt, he had lost none of his money or silks. He said to his wife, “Everything we still have we owe to my brother. We ought to give him a share.” “If you had a good brother,” said his wife, “you wouldn’t have suffered this!” The elder Shang said no more. The younger Shang’s household had nothing left to eat. He thought his brother would surely make some return; but a long time passed and nothing was heard. His wife could not wait, and sent their son with a sack to ask for a loan. He came back with a dou of grain. She was angry it was so little and wanted to send it back; the younger Shang stopped her. Two months went by, and their hunger and poverty grew past bearing. “There is no way left to make a living,” said the younger Shang. “Better sell our house to my brother. He may be afraid I’ll go away, and refuse the deed and help us instead — who knows? Even if not, we’ll get ten taels or so, enough to stay alive.” His wife agreed, and sent their son with the deed to the elder Shang. The elder Shang told his wife, and added, “My brother may have no heart, but he is my own flesh and blood. If he goes, I’ll stand alone. Better give him back his deed and help him out.” “No,” said his wife. “This talk of leaving is his way of forcing our hand. If you do that, you’ll fall right into his scheme. Do people with no brothers all just die? If we build the walls up high, that’s protection enough. Better take the deed and let him go where he likes. It will make our place bigger, too.” So it was settled. They had the younger Shang sign at the foot of the deed and paid him the price, and he left. The younger Shang moved to a neighbouring village. When the lawless types of the district heard that he was gone, they attacked again. Once more they seized the elder Shang, beat and flogged him and tortured him most cruelly, and he gave up all his money to buy his life. As they left, the robbers opened his granary and called the village poor to take what they liked; in moments it was all gone. Not until the next day did the younger Shang hear of it. He ran to see, but his brother was already senseless and could not speak; he opened his eyes, saw his brother, and could only claw at the bed mat with his hand. Shortly afterwards he died. In his anger the younger Shang brought a charge before the county magistrate. The ringleader fled and could not be caught. Those who had taken the grain numbered over a hundred, all poor folk of the village, and the magistrate could do nothing about them. The elder Shang left a little son only five years old. The household was now poor, and the boy would often take himself off to his uncle’s and not come home for days; when they sent him home, he cried and cried. The younger Shang’s wife gave him no kind looks. “His father did wrong,” said the younger Shang, “but what crime has the boy committed?” He bought a few steamed buns and took the child home himself. Some days later, keeping it from his wife and son, he secretly carried a dou of grain to his sister-in-law so that she could feed the boy. This became his habit. Some years later the elder Shang’s fields and house were sold; the boy’s mother got the money, enough to live on, and the younger Shang stopped coming. Later there was a great famine, and the starved lay dead along the roads in sight of one another. The younger Shang had more and more mouths to feed and could not look after anyone else. His nephew, now fifteen, was too frail for heavy work, so he sent him with a basket to sell sesame flatbreads alongside his cousin. One night the younger Shang dreamed that his brother came to him, looking wretched and sorrowful. “I was led astray by my wife’s words, and forgot what a brother owes a brother. You have not held the past against me, and that only deepens my shame. The old house that was sold is standing empty; you should rent it and live there. Under the clump of weeds behind the house there is silver buried in a pit. Dig it up and it will make you comfortably off. Let my poor boy stay with you. That long-tongued woman — I hate her bitterly. Pay her no mind.” When he woke he thought it strange. He tempted the owner with a high rent, and only then got the house; and there, sure enough, he dug up five hundred taels. From then on they gave up their lowly trade, and he set the two cousins up with a shop in the market. The nephew was very clever and kept the accounts without a mistake; he was honest, too, and reported every last copper that came in or went out. The younger Shang grew fonder and fonder of him. One day the boy wept and begged grain for his mother. The younger Shang’s wife wanted to refuse, but he was moved by the boy’s devotion and sent her an allowance of grain every month. In a few years the household grew richer still. The elder Shang’s widow fell ill and died, and the younger Shang was getting old, so he divided the household with his nephew and gave him half of everything.