周生，順天宦裔也。與柳生善。柳得異人之傳，精袁許之術。嘗謂周曰：「子功名無分；萬鍾之貲，尚可以人謀。然尊閫薄相，恐不能佐君成業。」未幾，婦果亡。家室蕭條，不可聊賴。因詣柳，將以卜姻。入客舍，坐良久，柳歸內不出。呼之再三，始出，曰：「我日為君物色佳偶，今始得之。適在內作小術，求月老繫赤繩耳。」周喜問之。答曰：「甫有一人攜囊出，遇之否？」曰：「遇之。襤褸若丐。」曰：「此君岳翁，宜敬禮之。」周曰：「緣相交好，遂謀隱密，何相戲之甚也！僕即式微，猶是世裔，何至下昏於市儈？」柳曰：「不然。犁牛尚有子，何害？」周問：「曾見其女耶？」答曰：「未也。我素與無舊，姓名亦問訊知之。」周笑曰：「尚未知犁牛，何知其子？」柳曰：「我以數信之。其人兇而賤，然當生厚福之女。但強合之必有大厄，容復禳之。」周既歸，未肯以其言為信，諸方覓之，迄無一成。一日，柳生忽至，曰：「有一客，我已代折簡矣。」問：「為誰？」曰：「且勿問，宜速作黍。」周不喻其故，如命治具。俄客至，蓋傅姓營卒也。心內不合，陽浮道譽之；而柳生承應甚恭。少間，酒肴既陳，雜惡草具進。柳起告客：「公子嚮慕已久，每託某代訪，曩夕始得晤。又聞不日遠征，立刻相邀，可謂倉卒主人矣。」飲間，傅憂馬病，不可騎。柳亦俛首為之籌思。既而客去，柳讓周曰：「千金不能買此友，何乃視之漠漠？」借馬騎歸，因假周命，登門持贈傅。周既知，稍稍不快，已無如何。過歲，將如江西，投臬司幕。詣柳問卜。柳言：「大吉！」周笑曰：「我意無他，但薄有所獵，當購佳婦，幾幸前言之不驗也，能否？」柳云：「並如君願。」及至江西，值大寇叛亂，三年不得歸。後稍平，選日遵路，中途為土寇所掠，同難七八人，皆劫其金貲，釋令去；惟周被擄至巢。盜首詰其家世，因曰：「我有息女，欲奉箕帚，當即無辭。」周不答，盜怒，立命梟斬。周懼，思不如暫從其請，因從容而棄之。遂告曰：「小生所以踟躕者，以文弱不能從戎，恐益為丈人累耳。如使夫婦得相將俱去，恩莫厚焉。」盜曰：「我方憂女子累人，此何不可從也。」引入內，妝女出見，年可十八九，蓋天人也。當夕合巹，深過所望。細審姓氏，乃知其父，即當年荷囊人也。因述柳言，為之感歎。過三四日，將送之行，忽大軍掩至，全家皆就執縛。有將官三員監視，已將婦翁斬訖，尋次及周。周自分已無生理，一員審視曰：「此非周某耶？」蓋傅卒已以軍功授副將軍矣。謂僚曰：「此吾鄉世家名士，安得為賊。」解其縛，問所從來。周詭曰：「適從江臬娶婦而歸，不意途陷盜窟，幸蒙拯救，德戴二天！但室人離散，求借洪威，更賜瓦全。」傅命列諸俘，令其自認，得之。餉以酒食，助以資斧，曰：「曩受解驂之惠，旦夕不忘。但搶攘間不遑修禮，請以馬二匹、金五十兩，助君北旋。」又遣二騎持信矢護送之。途中，女告周曰：「癡父不聽忠告，母氏死之。知有今日久矣；所以偷生旦暮者，以少時曾為相者所許，冀他日能收親骨耳。某所窖藏巨金，可以發贖父骨；餘者攜歸，尚足謀生產。」囑騎者候於路，兩人至舊處，廬舍已燼，於灰火中，取佩刀掘尺許，果得金；盡裝入橐，乃返。以百金賂騎者，使瘞翁尸；又引拜母冢，始行。至直隸界，厚賜騎者而去。周久不歸，家人謂其已死，恣意侵冒，粟帛器具，蕩無存者。及聞主人歸，大懼，鬨然盡逃；祇有一嫗，一婢，一老奴在焉。周以出死得生，不復追問。及訪柳，則不知所適矣。女持家逾於男子，擇醇篤者授以貲本，而均其息。每諸商會計於簷下，女垂簾聽之；盤中誤下一珠，輒指其訛。內外無敢欺。數年，夥商盈百，家數十巨萬矣。乃遣人移親骨，厚葬之。
周生是順天人，出身於官宦之家，與柳生交好。柳生得到過異人的傳授，精通袁、許的相術。他曾對周生說：「你與功名無緣；至於豐厚的家財，還可以靠人的努力謀取。不過，你夫人的面相福薄，恐怕不能幫助你成就家業。」不久，周生的妻子果然去世了。家裡冷冷清清，他覺得日子沒有什麼可依靠，便去找柳生，想請他占卜婚事。進了客廳，坐了很久，柳生卻待在內室不出來。周生再三叫他，他才出來，說：「我每天都在替你物色好妻子，今天才找到。剛才在裡面施了個小法術，求月老給你們繫上紅繩。」周生高興地追問是誰。柳生回答：「剛才有個人揹著袋子出去，你遇見了嗎？」周生說：「遇見了，衣衫破爛，像個乞丐。」柳生說：「這就是你的岳父，應該恭敬地對待他。」周生說：「因為咱們交情好，我才來商量私事，你怎麼這樣戲弄我！我雖然家道衰落，畢竟還是官宦人家的後代，何至於委屈自己，與市儈結親？」柳生說：「不是這樣。雜毛牛也能生出好牛犢，有什麼妨礙？」周生問：「你見過他的女兒嗎？」柳生回答：「沒有。我向來不認識他，連姓名也是詢問後才知道的。」周生笑道：「你連那頭雜毛牛都不瞭解，怎麼就知道它的牛犢好？」柳生說：「我是相信自己的推算。那人兇惡低賤，卻應當生出一個福分深厚的女兒。不過，硬要促成這門婚事，必定會有大災難，容我再施法消除。」周生回家後，不肯相信他的話，四處尋找婚事，卻始終沒有一門能成。有一天，柳生忽然來了，說：「有個客人，我已經替你寫信邀請了。」周生問：「是誰？」柳生說：「先不要問，趕快準備飯食。」周生不明白緣故，還是照他說的備辦酒菜。不久，客人到了，原來是個姓傅的營兵。周生心裡不樂意，表面上只說了幾句空泛的讚美話，柳生卻招待得十分恭敬。過了一會兒，酒菜擺上來，裡面夾雜著一些粗劣的飯食。柳生起身對客人說：「公子仰慕您很久了，常托我替他尋訪，前幾天晚上才有機會與您見面。又聽說您不久就要遠征，立即請您過來，可說是個倉促待客的主人。」喝酒時，傅某擔心自己的馬病了，不能騎，柳生也低著頭，替他思量辦法。客人走後，柳生責備周生說：「一千兩銀子也買不到這樣的朋友，你為什麼待他這麼冷淡？」他借了周生的馬騎回去，隨後便借周生的名義，把馬送到傅某家中，贈給了他。周生知道後，心裡有些不痛快，卻也無可奈何。過了一年，周生準備去江西，投到臬司的幕府裡，便去找柳生問吉凶。柳生說：「大吉！」周生笑道：「我沒有別的心願，只想掙些錢，買個好妻子，倒盼著你先前的話不應驗。能如願嗎？」柳生說：「都會如你所願。」周生到了江西，恰逢大股盜寇作亂，三年都沒能回家。後來局勢稍稍平定，他選了個日子上路，卻在途中被當地盜寇劫持。與他一同遇難的有七八個人，盜寇把他們的錢財都搶走，隨後放了，唯獨把周生帶回巢穴。盜首詢問他的家世，隨後說：「我有個女兒，想讓她嫁給你，你可不要推辭。」周生沒有回答，盜首大怒，立即命人把他斬首示眾。周生害怕，心想不如暫且答應，等有了機會再拋下她，於是說：「我遲疑不決，是因為自己是個文弱書生，不能從軍，恐怕反而給岳父添累。如果能讓我們夫妻一起離開，那就沒有比這更大的恩情了。」盜首說：「我正擔心女兒留在這裡拖累人，這有什麼不能答應的。」他領周生進了內室，讓女兒梳妝出來相見。女子大約十八九歲，美得如同天仙。當天晚上，兩人就成了婚，遠遠超過周生原來的期望。仔細問過她的姓氏和家世，周生才知道，她父親正是當年那個揹著袋子的人。他便說起柳生的話，兩人為此感嘆不已。過了三四天，正要送他們出發，忽然大軍襲來，全家人都被抓住捆綁起來。有三位將官監看，已經把周生的岳父斬了，接下來很快就輪到周生。周生自知沒有活路，其中一位將官仔細看了看，說：「這不是周某嗎？」原來，傅某已經憑軍功升為副將軍。他對同僚說：「這是我家鄉世家出身的名士，怎麼會是盜賊？」隨即給周生鬆綁，問他怎麼來到這裡。周生編造說：「我剛在江臬那裡娶了妻子，正在回鄉的路上，不料途中陷進盜窟。幸虧蒙您救命，您的恩德如同再給我一片天！只是妻子與我失散了，求您憑著威望，再救她一命。」傅某命人把俘虜排在一起，讓周生自行辨認，終於找到了她。他給兩人酒食，又資助路費，說：「從前蒙您贈馬，早晚都不曾忘記。只是眼下兵荒馬亂，顧不上週全禮數，就送您兩匹馬、五十兩銀子，幫助您回北方吧。」又派兩個騎兵，拿著信箭護送他們。途中，女子對周生說：「我那糊塗父親不聽忠告，母親也因此喪命。我早知道會有今天。之所以一天一天勉強活著，是因為小時候有個看相的人說我將來有福，我盼著日後能收殮父母的遺骨。有個地方埋藏著一大筆錢，可以挖出來贖回父親的遺骨，剩下的帶回去，還夠置辦產業。」兩人囑咐騎兵在路上等候，回到原來的住處，房屋已經燒成灰燼。他們在灰燼和餘火之間，用佩刀挖了一尺多深，果然找到錢財，全部裝進袋子，才回去。他們給騎兵一百兩銀子，請他們埋葬岳父的屍體；女子又領著周生拜過母親的墳墓，這才上路。到了直隸境內，兩人厚厚酬謝騎兵，與他們分別。周生長久沒有回來，家人都以為他已經死了，便肆意侵佔財物，糧食、綢緞和器具被拿得一乾二淨。等聽說主人回來了，他們十分害怕，一鬨而散，全都逃走，只剩下一個老婦人、一個婢女和一個老僕。周生想到自己死裡逃生，便不再追究。等他去找柳生，卻不知道柳生去了哪裡。妻子管理家業，比男子還能幹。她挑選忠厚可靠的人，給他們本錢做生意，再與他們分配利潤。每當商人們在屋簷下核算賬目，她便垂下簾子聽著；算盤裡只要撥錯一顆珠子，她立刻就能指出錯誤。無論家裡家外，誰也不敢欺騙她。幾年後，與她合夥的商人超過一百個，家財已有數十萬之多。於是，她派人遷來父母的遺骨，厚葬了他們。
周生，顺天宦裔也。与柳生善。柳得异人之传，精袁许之术。尝谓周曰：「子功名无分；万锺之赀，尚可以人谋。然尊阃薄相，恐不能佐君成业。」未几，妇果亡。家室萧条，不可聊赖。因诣柳，将以卜姻。入客舍，坐良久，柳归内不出。呼之再三，始出，曰：「我日为君物色佳偶，今始得之。适在内作小术，求月老系赤绳耳。」周喜问之。答曰：「甫有一人携囊出，遇之否？」曰：「遇之。褴褛若丐。」曰：「此君岳翁，宜敬礼之。」周曰：「缘相交好，遂谋隐密，何相戏之甚也！仆即式微，犹是世裔，何至下昏于市侩？」柳曰：「不然。犁牛尚有子，何害？」周问：「曾见其女耶？」答曰：「未也。我素与无旧，姓名亦问讯知之。」周笑曰：「尚未知犁牛，何知其子？」柳曰：「我以数信之。其人凶而贱，然当生厚福之女。但强合之必有大厄，容复禳之。」周既归，未肯以其言为信，诸方觅之，迄无一成。一日，柳生忽至，曰：「有一客，我已代折简矣。」问：「为谁？」曰：「且勿问，宜速作黍。」周不喻其故，如命治具。俄客至，盖傅姓营卒也。心内不合，阳浮道誉之；而柳生承应甚恭。少间，酒肴既陈，杂恶草具进。柳起告客：「公子向慕已久，每托某代访，曩夕始得晤。又闻不日远征，立刻相邀，可谓仓卒主人矣。」饮间，傅忧马病，不可骑。柳亦俛首为之筹思。既而客去，柳让周曰：「千金不能买此友，何乃视之漠漠？」借马骑归，因假周命，登门持赠傅。周既知，稍稍不快，已无如何。过岁，将如江西，投臬司幕。诣柳问卜。柳言：「大吉！」周笑曰：「我意无他，但薄有所猎，当购佳妇，几幸前言之不验也，能否？」柳云：「并如君愿。」及至江西，值大寇叛乱，三年不得归。后稍平，选日遵路，中途为土寇所掠，同难七八人，皆劫其金赀，释令去；惟周被掳至巢。盗首诘其家世，因曰：「我有息女，欲奉箕帚，当即无辞。」周不答，盗怒，立命枭斩。周惧，思不如暂从其请，因从容而弃之。遂告曰：「小生所以踟蹰者，以文弱不能从戎，恐益为丈人累耳。如使夫妇得相将俱去，恩莫厚焉。」盗曰：「我方忧女子累人，此何不可从也。」引入内，妆女出见，年可十八九，盖天人也。当夕合卺，深过所望。细审姓氏，乃知其父，即当年荷囊人也。因述柳言，为之感叹。过三四日，将送之行，忽大军掩至，全家皆就执缚。有将官三员监视，已将妇翁斩讫，寻次及周。周自分已无生理，一员审视曰：「此非周某耶？」盖傅卒已以军功授副将军矣。谓僚曰：「此吾乡世家名士，安得为贼。」解其缚，问所从来。周诡曰：「适从江臬娶妇而归，不意途陷盗窟，幸蒙拯救，德戴二天！但室人离散，求借洪威，更赐瓦全。」傅命列诸俘，令其自认，得之。饷以酒食，助以资斧，曰：「曩受解骖之惠，旦夕不忘。但抢攘间不遑修礼，请以马二匹、金五十两，助君北旋。」又遣二骑持信矢护送之。途中，女告周曰：「痴父不听忠告，母氏死之。知有今日久矣；所以偷生旦暮者，以少时曾为相者所许，冀他日能收亲骨耳。某所窖藏巨金，可以发赎父骨；余者携归，尚足谋生产。」嘱骑者候于路，两人至旧处，庐舍已烬，于灰火中，取佩刀掘尺许，果得金；尽装入橐，乃返。以百金赂骑者，使瘗翁尸；又引拜母冢，始行。至直隶界，厚赐骑者而去。周久不归，家人谓其已死，恣意侵冒，粟帛器具，荡无存者。及闻主人归，大惧，哄然尽逃；祇有一妪，一婢，一老奴在焉。周以出死得生，不复追问。及访柳，则不知所适矣。女持家逾于男子，择醇笃者授以赀本，而均其息。每诸商会计于檐下，女垂帘听之；盘中误下一珠，辄指其讹。内外无敢欺。数年，伙商盈百，家数十巨万矣。乃遣人移亲骨，厚葬之。
周生是顺天人，出身于官宦之家，与柳生交好。柳生得到过异人的传授，精通袁、许的相术。他曾对周生说：“你与功名无缘；至于丰厚的家财，还可以靠人的努力谋取。不过，你夫人的面相福薄，恐怕不能帮助你成就家业。”不久，周生的妻子果然去世了。家里冷冷清清，他觉得日子没有什么可依靠，便去找柳生，想请他占卜婚事。进了客厅，坐了很久，柳生却待在内室不出来。周生再三叫他，他才出来，说：“我每天都在替你物色好妻子，今天才找到。刚才在里面施了个小法术，求月老给你们系上红绳。”周生高兴地追问是谁。柳生回答：“刚才有个人背着袋子出去，你遇见了吗？”周生说：“遇见了，衣衫破烂，像个乞丐。”柳生说：“这就是你的岳父，应该恭敬地对待他。”周生说：“因为咱们交情好，我才来商量私事，你怎么这样戏弄我！我虽然家道衰落，毕竟还是官宦人家的后代，何至于委屈自己，与市侩结亲？”柳生说：“不是这样。杂毛牛也能生出好牛犊，有什么妨碍？”周生问：“你见过他的女儿吗？”柳生回答：“没有。我向来不认识他，连姓名也是询问后才知道的。”周生笑道：“你连那头杂毛牛都不了解，怎么就知道它的牛犊好？”柳生说：“我是相信自己的推算。那人凶恶低贱，却应当生出一个福分深厚的女儿。不过，硬要促成这门婚事，必定会有大灾难，容我再施法消除。”周生回家后，不肯相信他的话，四处寻找婚事，却始终没有一门能成。有一天，柳生忽然来了，说：“有个客人，我已经替你写信邀请了。”周生问：“是谁？”柳生说：“先不要问，赶快准备饭食。”周生不明白缘故，还是照他说的备办酒菜。不久，客人到了，原来是个姓傅的营兵。周生心里不乐意，表面上只说了几句空泛的赞美话，柳生却招待得十分恭敬。过了一会儿，酒菜摆上来，里面夹杂着一些粗劣的饭食。柳生起身对客人说：“公子仰慕您很久了，常托我替他寻访，前几天晚上才有机会与您见面。又听说您不久就要远征，立即请您过来，可说是个仓促待客的主人。”喝酒时，傅某担心自己的马病了，不能骑，柳生也低着头，替他思量办法。客人走后，柳生责备周生说：“一千两银子也买不到这样的朋友，你为什么待他这么冷淡？”他借了周生的马骑回去，随后便借周生的名义，把马送到傅某家中，赠给了他。周生知道后，心里有些不痛快，却也无可奈何。过了一年，周生准备去江西，投到臬司的幕府里，便去找柳生问吉凶。柳生说：“大吉！”周生笑道：“我没有别的心愿，只想挣些钱，买个好妻子，倒盼着你先前的话不应验。能如愿吗？”柳生说：“都会如你所愿。”周生到了江西，恰逢大股盗寇作乱，三年都没能回家。后来局势稍稍平定，他选了个日子上路，却在途中被当地盗寇劫持。与他一同遇难的有七八个人，盗寇把他们的钱财都抢走，随后放了，唯独把周生带回巢穴。盗首询问他的家世，随后说：“我有个女儿，想让她嫁给你，你可不要推辞。”周生没有回答，盗首大怒，立即命人把他斩首示众。周生害怕，心想不如暂且答应，等有了机会再抛下她，于是说：“我迟疑不决，是因为自己是个文弱书生，不能从军，恐怕反而给岳父添累。如果能让我们夫妻一起离开，那就没有比这更大的恩情了。”盗首说：“我正担心女儿留在这里拖累人，这有什么不能答应的。”他领周生进了内室，让女儿梳妆出来相见。女子大约十八九岁，美得如同天仙。当天晚上，两人就成了婚，远远超过周生原来的期望。仔细问过她的姓氏和家世，周生才知道，她父亲正是当年那个背着袋子的人。他便说起柳生的话，两人为此感叹不已。过了三四天，正要送他们出发，忽然大军袭来，全家人都被抓住捆绑起来。有三位将官监看，已经把周生的岳父斩了，接下来很快就轮到周生。周生自知没有活路，其中一位将官仔细看了看，说：“这不是周某吗？”原来，傅某已经凭军功升为副将军。他对同僚说：“这是我家乡世家出身的名士，怎么会是盗贼？”随即给周生松绑，问他怎么来到这里。周生编造说：“我刚在江臬那里娶了妻子，正在回乡的路上，不料途中陷进盗窟。幸亏蒙您救命，您的恩德如同再给我一片天！只是妻子与我失散了，求您凭着威望，再救她一命。”傅某命人把俘虏排在一起，让周生自行辨认，终于找到了她。他给两人酒食，又资助路费，说：“从前蒙您赠马，早晚都不曾忘记。只是眼下兵荒马乱，顾不上周全礼数，就送您两匹马、五十两银子，帮助您回北方吧。”又派两个骑兵，拿着信箭护送他们。途中，女子对周生说：“我那糊涂父亲不听忠告，母亲也因此丧命。我早知道会有今天。之所以一天一天勉强活着，是因为小时候有个看相的人说我将来有福，我盼着日后能收殓父母的遗骨。有个地方埋藏着一大笔钱，可以挖出来赎回父亲的遗骨，剩下的带回去，还够置办产业。”两人嘱咐骑兵在路上等候，回到原来的住处，房屋已经烧成灰烬。他们在灰烬和余火之间，用佩刀挖了一尺多深，果然找到钱财，全部装进袋子，才回去。他们给骑兵一百两银子，请他们埋葬岳父的尸体；女子又领着周生拜过母亲的坟墓，这才上路。到了直隶境内，两人厚厚酬谢骑兵，与他们分别。周生长久没有回来，家人都以为他已经死了，便肆意侵占财物，粮食、绸缎和器具被拿得一干二净。等听说主人回来了，他们十分害怕，一哄而散，全都逃走，只剩下一个老妇人、一个婢女和一个老仆。周生想到自己死里逃生，便不再追究。等他去找柳生，却不知道柳生去了哪里。妻子管理家业，比男子还能干。她挑选忠厚可靠的人，给他们本钱做生意，再与他们分配利润。每当商人们在屋檐下核算账目，她便垂下帘子听着；算盘里只要拨错一颗珠子，她立刻就能指出错误。无论家里家外，谁也不敢欺骗她。几年后，与她合伙的商人超过一百个，家财已有数十万之多。于是，她派人迁来父母的遗骨，厚葬了他们。
A scholar named Zhou, of Shuntian, came of a family of officials. He was close friends with a scholar named Liu. Liu had been taught by an extraordinary man and was a master of the art of Yuan and Xu. He once said to Zhou, “Office and fame are not in your lot. Great wealth you can still win by your own efforts. But your good lady has a meagre face; I fear she cannot help you make your fortune.” Before long, the wife did die. Zhou’s house was desolate, and he had nothing to live for. So he went to Liu to have his marriage prospects divined. He was shown into the guest room and sat there a long time; Liu had gone into the inner rooms and did not come out. Only after Zhou had called him several times did he appear. “Every day I have been looking out a good match for you,” he said, “and today at last I found one. Just now I was inside working a small spell, asking the Old Man under the Moon to tie the red cord.” Zhou, delighted, asked who it was. “A man carrying a sack just went out. Did you pass him?” “I did. He was in rags, like a beggar.” “That is your father-in-law. You should treat him with respect.” “Because we are friends I came to you about a private matter,” said Zhou. “Why make such a joke of me? Fallen as I am, I still come of an old official family. How could I stoop to marry into a huckster’s house?” “Not so,” said Liu. “Even a brindled ox may have a fine calf. Where is the harm?” “Have you seen his daughter?” Zhou asked. “No. I have never had any acquaintance with him; I had to ask about to learn even his name.” Zhou laughed. “You don’t even know the ox, and you know its calf?” “I trust my reckoning of fate,” said Liu. “The man is violent and base, yet he is bound to father a daughter of great good fortune. But if the match is forced, there will surely be a great calamity. Leave it to me to ward it off.” Zhou went home. Unwilling to believe him, he looked for a match on every side, but nothing ever came of it. One day Liu suddenly arrived. “There is a guest coming,” he said. “I have already sent him an invitation in your name.” “Who is it?” “Never mind for now. Get a meal ready, quickly.” Zhou did not understand why, but he did as he was told and laid out a meal. Soon the guest arrived: a common soldier of the garrison named Fu. Zhou was put out at heart and outwardly paid him a few hollow compliments; but Liu waited on him with great deference. Presently the wine and dishes were set out, with coarse, meagre fare mixed in among them. Liu rose and said to the guest, “The young master has long admired you, and has often asked me to seek you out for him. Only the other evening did I manage to meet you. Then he heard that you would soon be marching far away, and invited you at once. You might call him a host in a hurry.” As they drank, Fu fretted that his horse was sick and could not be ridden. Liu, too, bowed his head and pondered the problem for him. When the guest had gone, Liu reproached Zhou: “A thousand pieces of gold could not buy a friend like that. Why were you so cold to him?” He borrowed Zhou’s horse to ride home, and then, in Zhou’s name, took it to Fu’s door and presented it to him. When Zhou found out, he was somewhat displeased, but there was nothing to be done. A year later, he was about to go to Jiangxi to join the staff of the provincial judicial commissioner, and he went to Liu to have his fortune told. “Most auspicious!” said Liu. Zhou laughed. “All I want is to pick up a little money and buy myself a good wife — and I rather hope your earlier words will not come true. Can it be done?” “All will be as you wish,” said Liu. When Zhou reached Jiangxi, a great rebellion broke out, and for three years he could not get home. When things had calmed a little, he chose a day and set out. On the way he was seized by local bandits. Seven or eight others were taken with him; the bandits robbed them all of their money and let them go. Only Zhou was carried off to their lair. The bandit chief questioned him about his family, then said, “I have a daughter. I want her to keep house for you as your wife. Don’t say no.” Zhou did not answer. The bandit flew into a rage and ordered him beheaded on the spot, his head to be hung up. Zhou was frightened. He thought it best to agree for the time being and quietly abandon her later. So he said, “I hesitated only because I am a weak scholar who cannot follow a soldier’s life, and I was afraid I would only be a burden to you, my father-in-law. If husband and wife may leave together, there could be no greater kindness.” “I was just worrying that a girl is a burden here myself,” said the bandit. “Why not?” He took Zhou inside and had the girl dressed and brought out to meet him. She was perhaps eighteen or nineteen, a goddess come down to earth. That evening they drank the wedding cup together, and she far exceeded his hopes. Questioning her closely about her family, he learned that her father was the very man with the sack from years before. He told her what Liu had said and sighed over it. Three or four days later, just as the two of them were to be sent on their way, a great army fell on the place by surprise, and the whole family was seized and bound. Three officers oversaw the executions. The father-in-law had already been beheaded, and Zhou’s turn came next. Zhou was sure he was as good as dead, when one of the officers looked him over and said, “Isn’t this Zhou?” It was Fu the soldier, who had by now been made a lieutenant general for his merit in the field. He said to his fellow officers, “This is a well-known scholar from an old family of my home district. How could he be a bandit?” He untied him and asked how he came to be there. Zhou made up a story. “I had just taken a wife at the judicial commissioner’s in Jiangxi and was on my way home when, without warning, I fell into the bandits’ den. By good fortune you have rescued me; I shall revere your kindness as a second Heaven! But my wife has been parted from me. I beg you, by your great authority, to spare her too.” Fu had the captives lined up and told Zhou to pick her out himself, and he found her. Fu gave them food and wine and money for the road. “Once you did me the kindness of unhitching a horse for me,” he said, “and I have never forgotten it, morning or night. But in all this turmoil I have no time to show you proper courtesy. Please take two horses and fifty taels to help you home to the north.” He also sent two horsemen carrying a token arrow to escort them. On the road the girl said to Zhou, “My foolish father would not listen to good advice, and my mother died of it. I have long known this day would come. I lived on from one day to the next only because, when I was young, a face-reader promised me a good future, and I hoped that one day I might gather up my parents’ bones. In a certain place there is a great sum buried. We can dig it up and use it to ransom my father’s bones; what is left we can take home, and it will be enough to make a living.” They told the horsemen to wait on the road, and the two of them went to the old place. The houses had burned to ashes. Among the ashes and embers they dug with a belt knife, and a foot down, there indeed was the money. They loaded all of it into sacks and went back. They gave the horsemen a hundred taels to bury her father’s body, and she took Zhou to bow at her mother’s grave; only then did they set out. At the border of Zhili they rewarded the horsemen generously and parted from them. Zhou had been gone so long that his servants thought him dead and helped themselves as they pleased: grain, silk, furnishings — nothing was left. When they heard their master was coming home, they were terrified and ran off in a body. Only an old woman, a maid and an old manservant remained. Zhou had escaped death and come home alive, and did not pursue the matter. When he went to look for Liu, no one knew where he had gone. His wife ran the household better than any man. She chose honest, steady men, gave them capital and shared the profits with them equally. Whenever the merchants went over the accounts beneath the eaves, she listened behind a lowered curtain; if a single bead was slipped wrong on the abacus, she would point out the mistake at once. No one, in the house or out of it, dared cheat her. Within a few years more than a hundred merchants were trading in partnership with her, and the family was worth hundreds of thousands. Then she sent men to move her parents’ bones and gave them a lavish burial.