細柳娘，中都之士人女也。或以其腰嫖嬝可愛，戲呼之「細柳」云。柳少慧，解文字，喜讀相人書。而生平簡默，未嘗言人臧否；但有問名者，必求一親窺其人。閱人甚多，俱未可，而年十九矣。父母怒之曰：「天下迄無良匹，汝將以丫角老耶？」女曰：「我實欲以人勝天；顧久而不就，亦吾命也。今而後，請惟父母之命是聽。」時有高生者，世家名士，聞細柳之名，委禽焉。既醮，夫婦甚得。生前室遺孤，小字長福，時五歲，女撫養周至。女或歸寧，福輒號啼從之，呵遣所不能止。年餘，女產一子，名之長怙。生問名字之義，答言：「無他，但望其長依膝下耳。」女於女紅疏略，常不留意；而於畝之東南，稅之多寡，按籍而問，惟恐不詳。久之，謂生曰：「家中事請置勿顧，待妾自為之，不知可當家否？」生如言，半載而家無廢事，生亦賢之。一日，生赴鄰村飲酒，適有追逋賦者，打門而誶；遣奴慰之，弗去。乃趣僮召生歸。隸既去，生笑曰：「細柳，今始知慧女不若癡男耶？」女聞之，俯首而哭。生驚挽而勸之，女終不樂。生不忍以家政累之，仍欲自任，女又不肯。晨興夜寐，經紀彌勤。每先一年，即儲來歲之賦，以故終歲未嘗見催租者一至其門；又以此法計衣食，由此用度益紓。於是生乃大喜，嘗戲之曰：「細柳何細哉：眉細、腰細、凌波細，且喜心思更細。」女對曰：「高郎誠高矣：品高、志高、文字高，但願壽數尤高。」村中有貨美材者，女不惜重直致之；價不能足，又多方乞貸於戚里。生以其不急之物，固止之，卒弗聽。蓄之年餘，富室有喪者，以倍貲贖諸其門。生因利而謀諸女，女不可。問其故，不語；再問之，熒熒欲涕。心異之，然不忍重拂焉，乃罷。又踰歲，生年二十有五，女禁不令遠遊；歸稍晚，僮僕招請者，相屬於道。於是同人咸戲謗之。一日，生如友人飲，覺體不快而歸，至中途墮馬，遂卒。時方溽暑，幸衣衾皆所夙備。里中始共服細娘智。福年十歲，始學為文。父既歿，嬌惰不肯讀，輒亡去從牧兒遨。譙訶不改，繼以夏楚，而頑冥如故。母無奈之，因呼而諭之曰：「既不願讀，亦復何能相強？但貧家無冗人，可更若衣，便與僮僕共操作。不然，鞭撻勿悔！」於是衣以敗絮，使牧豕；歸則自掇陶器，與諸僕啗飯粥。數日，苦之，泣跪庭下，願仍讀。母返身向壁，置不聞。不得已，執鞭啜泣而出。殘秋向盡，桁無衣，足無履，冷雨沾濡，縮頭如丐。里人見而憐之，納繼室者，皆引細娘為戒，嘖有煩言。女亦稍稍聞之，而漠不為意。福不堪其苦，棄豕逃去，女亦任之，殊不追問。積數月，乞食無所，憔悴自歸；不敢遽入，哀求鄰媼往白母。女曰：「若能受百杖，可來見；不然，早復去。」福聞之，驟入，痛哭願受杖。母問：「今知改悔乎？」曰：「悔矣。」曰：「既知悔，無須撻楚，可安分牧豕，再犯不宥！」福大哭曰：「願受百杖，請復讀。」女不聽，鄰嫗慫恿之，始納焉。濯髮授衣，令與弟怙同師。勤身銳慮，大異往昔，三年遊泮。中丞楊公，見其文而器之，月給常廩，以助燈火。怙最鈍，讀數年不能記姓名。母令棄卷而農。怙遊閒憚於作苦。母怒曰：「四民各有本業，既不能讀，又不能耕，寧不溝瘠死耶？」立杖之。由是率奴輩耕作，一朝晏起，則詬罵從之；而衣服飲食，母輒以美者歸兄。怙雖不敢言，而心竊不能平。農工既畢，母出貲使學負販。怙淫賭，入手喪敗，詭托盜賊運數，以欺其母。母覺之，杖責瀕死。福長跪哀乞，願以身代，怒始解。自是一出門，母輒探察之。怙行稍斂，而非其心之所得已也。一日，請母，將從諸賈入洛；實借遠遊，以快所欲，而中心惕惕，惟恐不遂所請。母聞之，殊無疑慮，即出碎金三十兩，為之具裝；末又以鋌金一枚付之，曰：「此乃祖宦囊之遺，不可用去，聊以壓裝，備急可耳。且汝初學跋涉，亦不敢望重息，只此三十金得無虧負足矣。」臨行又囑之。怙諾而出，欣欣意自得。至洛，謝絕客侶，宿名娼李姬之家。凡十餘夕，散金漸盡。自以巨金在囊，初不意空匱在慮；及取而斫之，則偽金耳。大駭，失色。李媼見其狀，冷語侵客。怙心不自安，然囊空無所向往，猶翼姬念夙好，不即絕之。俄有二人握索入，驟縶項領。驚懼不知所為。哀問其故，則姬已竊偽金去首公庭矣。至官，不能置辭，梏掠幾死。收獄中，又無資斧，大為獄吏所虐，乞食於囚，苟延餘息。初，怙之行也，母謂福曰：「記取廿日後，當遣汝之洛。我事煩，恐忽忘之。」福不知所謂，黯然欲悲，不敢復請而退。過二十日而問之。歎曰：「汝弟今日之浮蕩，猶汝昔日之廢學也。我不冒惡名，汝何以有今日？人皆謂我忍，但淚浮枕簟，而人不知耳！」因泣下。福侍立敬聽，不敢研詰。泣已，乃曰：「汝弟蕩心不死，故授之偽金以挫折之，今度已在縲絏中矣。中丞待汝厚，汝往求焉，可以脫其死難，而生其愧悔也。」福立刻而發；比入洛，則弟被逮三日矣。即獄中而望之，怙奄然面目如鬼，見兄涕不可仰。福亦哭。時福為中丞所寵異，故遐邇皆知其名。邑宰知為怙兄，急釋之。怙至家，猶恐母怒，膝行而前。母顧曰：「汝願遂耶？」怙零涕不敢復作聲，福亦同跪，母始叱之起。由是痛自悔，家中諸務，經理維勤；即偶惰，母亦不呵問之。凡數月，並不與言商賈，意欲自請而不敢，以意告兄。母聞而喜，並力質貸而付之，半載而息倍焉。是年，福秋捷，又三年登第；弟貨殖累巨萬矣。邑有客洛者，窺見太夫人，年四旬，猶若三十許人，而衣妝樸素，類常家云。
細柳娘是中都一個讀書人的女兒。有人因為她腰身纖細柔美，便開玩笑叫她「細柳」。細柳從小聰慧，識字通文，喜歡讀相人的書。不過她一向話少沉靜，從不議論別人的好壞。只是每逢有人來求親，她一定要求親自看一看對方。她看過許多人，都覺得不合適，年紀已經到了十九歲。父母生氣地說：「難道天下竟沒有一個好配偶，你要一輩子不嫁人嗎？」女子說：「我實在想靠自己的努力勝過天命，可這麼久都沒能如願，也是我的命。從今以後，就請父母作主，我全聽你們的。」當時有個高生，是世家出身的名士，聽說了細柳的名聲，便送來聘禮。成婚以後，夫妻十分和睦。高生的前妻留下一個兒子，小名長福，當時五歲，細柳把他照顧得十分周到。她有時回孃家，長福總是哭喊著要跟她去，怎麼呵斥勸退也止不住。過了一年多，細柳生了一個兒子，給他取名長怙。高生問這名字的意思，她回答：「沒有別的，只盼他能長久留在父母身邊，有所依靠。」細柳對針線活比較疏忽，常常不放在心上；可對田地的方位、賦稅的多少，卻對著賬冊逐一詢問，唯恐瞭解得不夠詳細。過了一陣，她對高生說：「家裡的事，請你放下，不必操心，讓我自己來辦，不知道我能不能當好這個家？」高生照她說的做了，半年下來，家中沒有一件事被耽誤，高生也覺得她能幹。有一天，高生到鄰村喝酒，恰好有人來追討拖欠的賦稅，拍著門責罵。細柳派僕人去好言勸說，那人卻不肯走，她只好趕忙派僮僕去叫高生回來。差役走後，高生笑著說：「細柳，現在才知道聰明女子還不如糊塗男子吧？」細柳聽了，低下頭哭起來。高生吃了一驚，拉住她勸慰，可她始終不高興。高生不忍再讓家務拖累她，想重新自己料理，她卻又不肯。她早起晚睡，把家務經營得更加勤勉。每次都提前一年，存好來年的賦稅，因此一年到頭，再也沒有催稅的人到過她家門口。衣食開支也照這個辦法安排，從此用度越來越寬裕。高生十分高興，曾開玩笑說：「細柳真是樣樣都細：眉毛細，腰身細，腳也細，更可喜的是心思細。」細柳回答：「高郎也確實樣樣都高：品格高，志向高，文章水平高，只盼壽數更高。」村裡有人出售上好的棺木，細柳不惜花大價錢買來。錢不夠，她又想盡辦法向親戚鄰里借貸。高生覺得這不是急需的東西，堅決阻止，可她始終不聽。棺木存了一年多，有個富貴人家死了人，上門願意出雙倍價錢買去。高生覺得有利可圖，便和細柳商量，細柳不答應。問她緣故，她不說話；再問，她眼裡便閃著淚光，幾乎要哭出來。高生心裡奇怪，可不忍再違揹她的心意，只好作罷。又過了一年，高生二十五歲，細柳不許他出遠門；他回來稍晚，派去請他回來的僮僕便一個接一個，路上不斷。因此，高生的朋友們都拿這事取笑他。有一天，高生到朋友家喝酒，覺得身體不舒服，便回家，走到半路從馬上摔下來，就死了。當時正是悶熱潮溼的盛夏，幸好壽衣、衾被都早已備好。鄉里的人這才一起佩服細柳的智慧。長福那時十歲，剛開始學寫文章。父親死後，他變得嬌縱懶惰，不肯讀書，總是偷偷跑出去，跟放牧的孩子玩耍。責罵不能讓他改正，接著用戒尺打，他仍舊頑固不開竅。母親拿他沒辦法，便叫來告誡他說：「既然你不願讀書，又怎麼能強迫你？不過窮人家不能養閒人，你換了衣服，就跟僕人一起幹活。不然捱了鞭子，可別後悔！」於是給他穿上破舊的棉衣，讓他去放豬。回來後，他自己拿陶碗，和僕人們一起吃飯喝粥。過了幾天，他受不了這種苦，哭著跪在院子裡，請求重新讀書。母親轉身對著牆，裝作沒聽見。他沒有辦法，只好拿著鞭子，抽泣著出門。深秋快過去了，衣架上沒有可換的衣服，腳上沒有鞋，冷雨淋溼全身，他縮著脖子，像個乞丐。鄉里的人見了，都可憐他，娶繼室的人都拿細柳作警戒，責難議論的聲音很多。細柳也漸漸聽到一些，卻冷淡地不放在心上。長福受不了這種苦，丟下豬逃走了，細柳也由他去，完全不追問。過了幾個月，他無處乞食，憔悴地自己回來了。他不敢貿然進家，苦苦求鄰家的老太太去告訴母親。細柳說：「他若能受一百杖，就來見我；不然，趕快再走。」長福聽了，立刻跑進來，痛哭著表示願意受杖。母親問：「現在知道悔改了嗎？」他說：「知道後悔了。」母親說：「既然知道後悔，就不用打了，安分去放豬，再犯就不饒恕！」長福大哭著說：「我願意受一百杖，只求讓我重新讀書。」細柳不肯聽，鄰家的老太太從旁勸說，她才答應。她讓長福洗頭，給他衣服，讓他和弟弟長怙跟同一個老師讀書。長福勤奮用功，專心思考，和從前大不一樣，三年後考取了秀才。中丞楊公看了他的文章，很器重他，每月給他固定的錢糧，資助他讀書。長怙卻十分遲鈍，讀了幾年書，連姓名也記不住。母親讓他放下書本，去種田。長怙喜歡遊玩閒逛，害怕幹辛苦活。母親生氣地說：「士農工商，各有自己的本業，你既不能讀書，又不能耕田，難道不是要餓死在溝裡嗎？」當即拿杖打他。從此，他帶著僕人們耕作，只要哪天早上起晚了，母親就會責罵；衣服和食物，母親又總把好的給哥哥。長怙雖然不敢說，心裡卻暗暗不服。農活做完後，母親拿出錢，讓他學著販貨做生意。長怙嫖娼賭博，錢一到手就花光賠盡，又謊稱遇上盜賊或運氣不好，欺騙母親。母親發覺後，用杖打得他幾乎死去。長福一直跪著苦苦哀求，願意替弟弟受罰，母親的怒氣才消了。從此，長怙一齣門，母親就派人探查他的行蹤。他的行為稍稍收斂，卻不是自己心甘情願的。一天，他請求母親允許自己跟商人們到洛陽去，實際上是想借著遠行，盡情滿足自己的慾望。他心裡忐忑，只怕母親不答應。母親聽了，竟毫不疑慮，立刻拿出三十兩碎銀，替他準備行裝，最後又交給他一枚銀錠，說：「這是你祖父做官時留下的，不能花掉，暫且放在行李裡，備著急用就行。而且你頭一次出遠門，我也不敢指望你賺很多錢，只要這三十兩銀子不虧本，就足夠了。」臨走時，她又叮囑了一遍。長怙答應著出門，歡歡喜喜，十分得意。到了洛陽，他辭別同行的人，住進名妓李姬家裡。十多個晚上過去，碎銀漸漸花光了。他自以為袋裡還有一大錠銀子，起初根本不擔心錢會用盡；等拿出來切開，卻發現是假的。他大吃一驚，臉色都變了。李媼看見他的樣子，便冷言冷語地挖苦他。長怙心裡不安，可口袋空空，無處可去，還盼著李姬顧念從前的情分，不會立刻斷絕來往。不一會兒，兩個拿著繩索的人進來，突然套住他的脖子。他驚恐萬分，不知如何是好，哀求著問緣故，才知道李姬已經偷走假銀，到官府告發他了。到了官府，他無法為自己辯解，遭到拘束拷打，幾乎死去。收進監獄後，他又沒有錢，受盡獄吏虐待，只能向其他囚犯討吃的，勉強維持一口氣。當初長怙出發時，母親曾對長福說：「記住，二十天以後，該派你去洛陽。我事情多，怕一時忘了。」長福不知道她是什麼意思，見母親神色黯然，像要落淚，便不敢再問，退了出去。過了二十天，他來問母親。母親嘆息著說：「你弟弟如今的放蕩，就像你從前荒廢學業一樣。我若不擔著惡名，你怎麼能有今天？人人都說我狠心，可我的眼淚浸透了枕頭和席子，他們卻不知道！」說著便流下淚來。長福恭敬地站在旁邊聽，不敢細問。母親哭完了，才說：「你弟弟放蕩的心還沒有死，所以我給他假銀，讓他受些挫折。我估計他如今已經在監獄裡了。中丞待你很好，你去求他幫忙，可以救你弟弟脫離死難，也讓他生出羞愧悔改之心。」長福立刻出發。到了洛陽，弟弟已經被捕三天。他到監獄裡去看，長怙氣息奄奄，臉色像鬼一樣，見了哥哥，哭得抬不起頭。長福也哭了。當時長福特別受中丞器重，遠近的人都知道他的名字。縣令知道他是長怙的哥哥，立刻放了長怙。長怙回到家，仍怕母親生氣，跪著向前挪去。母親看著他說：「你的心願滿足了嗎？」長怙流著淚，不敢再出聲。長福也跪在旁邊，母親這才喝令他們起來。從此，長怙深深悔改，家裡各項事務，都勤勤懇懇地料理；即使偶爾懶散，母親也不再責罵。過了幾個月，母親始終不跟他說做生意的事。他想自己請求，又不敢，便把想法告訴哥哥。母親聽了很高興，盡力抵押東西、借錢，交給他經營。半年下來，賺的錢已有本錢的一倍。那年，長福在秋天考中了舉人，又過三年，考中了進士；弟弟經商，也積累了鉅萬家財。同縣有個旅居洛陽的人，見過這位太夫人。她四十歲了，看著仍像三十歲左右的人，衣著打扮樸素，和普通人家的婦人一樣。
细柳娘，中都之士人女也。或以其腰嫖嬝可爱，戏呼之「细柳」云。柳少慧，解文字，喜读相人书。而生平简默，未尝言人臧否；但有问名者，必求一亲窥其人。阅人甚多，俱未可，而年十九矣。父母怒之曰：「天下迄无良匹，汝将以丫角老耶？」女曰：「我实欲以人胜天；顾久而不就，亦吾命也。今而后，请惟父母之命是听。」时有高生者，世家名士，闻细柳之名，委禽焉。既醮，夫妇甚得。生前室遗孤，小字长福，时五岁，女抚养周至。女或归宁，福辄号啼从之，呵遣所不能止。年余，女产一子，名之长怙。生问名字之义，答言：「无他，但望其长依膝下耳。」女于女红疏略，常不留意；而于亩之东南，税之多寡，按籍而问，惟恐不详。久之，谓生曰：「家中事请置勿顾，待妾自为之，不知可当家否？」生如言，半载而家无废事，生亦贤之。一日，生赴邻村饮酒，适有追逋赋者，打门而谇；遣奴慰之，弗去。乃趣僮召生归。隶既去，生笑曰：「细柳，今始知慧女不若痴男耶？」女闻之，俯首而哭。生惊挽而劝之，女终不乐。生不忍以家政累之，仍欲自任，女又不肯。晨兴夜寐，经纪弥勤。每先一年，即储来岁之赋，以故终岁未尝见催租者一至其门；又以此法计衣食，由此用度益纾。于是生乃大喜，尝戏之曰：「细柳何细哉：眉细、腰细、凌波细，且喜心思更细。」女对曰：「高郎诚高矣：品高、志高、文字高，但愿寿数尤高。」村中有货美材者，女不惜重直致之；价不能足，又多方乞贷于戚里。生以其不急之物，固止之，卒弗听。蓄之年余，富室有丧者，以倍赀赎诸其门。生因利而谋诸女，女不可。问其故，不语；再问之，荧荧欲涕。心异之，然不忍重拂焉，乃罢。又逾岁，生年二十有五，女禁不令远游；归稍晚，僮仆招请者，相属于道。于是同人咸戏谤之。一日，生如友人饮，觉体不快而归，至中途堕马，遂卒。时方溽暑，幸衣衾皆所夙备。里中始共服细娘智。福年十岁，始学为文。父既殁，娇惰不肯读，辄亡去从牧儿遨。谯诃不改，继以夏楚，而顽冥如故。母无奈之，因呼而谕之曰：「既不愿读，亦复何能相强？但贫家无冗人，可更若衣，便与僮仆共操作。不然，鞭挞勿悔！」于是衣以败絮，使牧豕；归则自掇陶器，与诸仆啗饭粥。数日，苦之，泣跪庭下，愿仍读。母返身向壁，置不闻。不得已，执鞭啜泣而出。残秋向尽，桁无衣，足无履，冷雨沾濡，缩头如丐。里人见而怜之，纳继室者，皆引细娘为戒，啧有烦言。女亦稍稍闻之，而漠不为意。福不堪其苦，弃豕逃去，女亦任之，殊不追问。积数月，乞食无所，憔悴自归；不敢遽入，哀求邻媪往白母。女曰：「若能受百杖，可来见；不然，早复去。」福闻之，骤入，痛哭愿受杖。母问：「今知改悔乎？」曰：「悔矣。」曰：「既知悔，无须挞楚，可安分牧豕，再犯不宥！」福大哭曰：「愿受百杖，请复读。」女不听，邻妪怂恿之，始纳焉。濯发授衣，令与弟怙同师。勤身锐虑，大异往昔，三年游泮。中丞杨公，见其文而器之，月给常廪，以助灯火。怙最钝，读数年不能记姓名。母令弃卷而农。怙游闲惮于作苦。母怒曰：「四民各有本业，既不能读，又不能耕，宁不沟瘠死耶？」立杖之。由是率奴辈耕作，一朝晏起，则诟骂从之；而衣服饮食，母辄以美者归兄。怙虽不敢言，而心窃不能平。农工既毕，母出赀使学负贩。怙淫赌，入手丧败，诡托盗贼运数，以欺其母。母觉之，杖责濒死。福长跪哀乞，愿以身代，怒始解。自是一出门，母辄探察之。怙行稍敛，而非其心之所得已也。一日，请母，将从诸贾入洛；实借远游，以快所欲，而中心惕惕，惟恐不遂所请。母闻之，殊无疑虑，即出碎金三十两，为之具装；末又以铤金一枚付之，曰：「此乃祖宦囊之遗，不可用去，聊以压装，备急可耳。且汝初学跋涉，亦不敢望重息，只此三十金得无亏负足矣。」临行又嘱之。怙诺而出，欣欣意自得。至洛，谢绝客侣，宿名娼李姬之家。凡十余夕，散金渐尽。自以巨金在囊，初不意空匮在虑；及取而斫之，则伪金耳。大骇，失色。李媪见其状，冷语侵客。怙心不自安，然囊空无所向往，犹翼姬念夙好，不即绝之。俄有二人握索入，骤絷项领。惊惧不知所为。哀问其故，则姬已窃伪金去首公庭矣。至官，不能置辞，梏掠几死。收狱中，又无资斧，大为狱吏所虐，乞食于囚，苟延余息。初，怙之行也，母谓福曰：「记取廿日后，当遣汝之洛。我事烦，恐忽忘之。」福不知所谓，黯然欲悲，不敢复请而退。过二十日而问之。叹曰：「汝弟今日之浮荡，犹汝昔日之废学也。我不冒恶名，汝何以有今日？人皆谓我忍，但泪浮枕簟，而人不知耳！」因泣下。福侍立敬听，不敢研诘。泣已，乃曰：「汝弟荡心不死，故授之伪金以挫折之，今度已在缧絏中矣。中丞待汝厚，汝往求焉，可以脱其死难，而生其愧悔也。」福立刻而发；比入洛，则弟被逮三日矣。即狱中而望之，怙奄然面目如鬼，见兄涕不可仰。福亦哭。时福为中丞所宠异，故遐迩皆知其名。邑宰知为怙兄，急释之。怙至家，犹恐母怒，膝行而前。母顾曰：「汝愿遂耶？」怙零涕不敢复作声，福亦同跪，母始叱之起。由是痛自悔，家中诸务，经理维勤；即偶惰，母亦不呵问之。凡数月，并不与言商贾，意欲自请而不敢，以意告兄。母闻而喜，并力质贷而付之，半载而息倍焉。是年，福秋捷，又三年登第；弟货殖累巨万矣。邑有客洛者，窥见太夫人，年四旬，犹若三十许人，而衣妆朴素，类常家云。
细柳娘是中都一个读书人的女儿。有人因为她腰身纤细柔美，便开玩笑叫她“细柳”。细柳从小聪慧，识字通文，喜欢读相人的书。不过她一向话少沉静，从不议论别人的好坏。只是每逢有人来求亲，她一定要求亲自看一看对方。她看过许多人，都觉得不合适，年纪已经到了十九岁。父母生气地说：“难道天下竟没有一个好配偶，你要一辈子不嫁人吗？”女子说：“我实在想靠自己的努力胜过天命，可这么久都没能如愿，也是我的命。从今以后，就请父母作主，我全听你们的。”当时有个高生，是世家出身的名士，听说了细柳的名声，便送来聘礼。成婚以后，夫妻十分和睦。高生的前妻留下一个儿子，小名长福，当时五岁，细柳把他照顾得十分周到。她有时回娘家，长福总是哭喊着要跟她去，怎么呵斥劝退也止不住。过了一年多，细柳生了一个儿子，给他取名长怙。高生问这名字的意思，她回答：“没有别的，只盼他能长久留在父母身边，有所依靠。”细柳对针线活比较疏忽，常常不放在心上；可对田地的方位、赋税的多少，却对着账册逐一询问，唯恐了解得不够详细。过了一阵，她对高生说：“家里的事，请你放下，不必操心，让我自己来办，不知道我能不能当好这个家？”高生照她说的做了，半年下来，家中没有一件事被耽误，高生也觉得她能干。有一天，高生到邻村喝酒，恰好有人来追讨拖欠的赋税，拍着门责骂。细柳派仆人去好言劝说，那人却不肯走，她只好赶忙派僮仆去叫高生回来。差役走后，高生笑着说：“细柳，现在才知道聪明女子还不如糊涂男子吧？”细柳听了，低下头哭起来。高生吃了一惊，拉住她劝慰，可她始终不高兴。高生不忍再让家务拖累她，想重新自己料理，她却又不肯。她早起晚睡，把家务经营得更加勤勉。每次都提前一年，存好来年的赋税，因此一年到头，再也没有催税的人到过她家门口。衣食开支也照这个办法安排，从此用度越来越宽裕。高生十分高兴，曾开玩笑说：“细柳真是样样都细：眉毛细，腰身细，脚也细，更可喜的是心思细。”细柳回答：“高郎也确实样样都高：品格高，志向高，文章水平高，只盼寿数更高。”村里有人出售上好的棺木，细柳不惜花大价钱买来。钱不够，她又想尽办法向亲戚邻里借贷。高生觉得这不是急需的东西，坚决阻止，可她始终不听。棺木存了一年多，有个富贵人家死了人，上门愿意出双倍价钱买去。高生觉得有利可图，便和细柳商量，细柳不答应。问她缘故，她不说话；再问，她眼里便闪着泪光，几乎要哭出来。高生心里奇怪，可不忍再违背她的心意，只好作罢。又过了一年，高生二十五岁，细柳不许他出远门；他回来稍晚，派去请他回来的僮仆便一个接一个，路上不断。因此，高生的朋友们都拿这事取笑他。有一天，高生到朋友家喝酒，觉得身体不舒服，便回家，走到半路从马上摔下来，就死了。当时正是闷热潮湿的盛夏，幸好寿衣、衾被都早已备好。乡里的人这才一起佩服细柳的智慧。长福那时十岁，刚开始学写文章。父亲死后，他变得娇纵懒惰，不肯读书，总是偷偷跑出去，跟放牧的孩子玩耍。责骂不能让他改正，接着用戒尺打，他仍旧顽固不开窍。母亲拿他没办法，便叫来告诫他说：“既然你不愿读书，又怎么能强迫你？不过穷人家不能养闲人，你换了衣服，就跟仆人一起干活。不然挨了鞭子，可别后悔！”于是给他穿上破旧的棉衣，让他去放猪。回来后，他自己拿陶碗，和仆人们一起吃饭喝粥。过了几天，他受不了这种苦，哭着跪在院子里，请求重新读书。母亲转身对着墙，装作没听见。他没有办法，只好拿着鞭子，抽泣着出门。深秋快过去了，衣架上没有可换的衣服，脚上没有鞋，冷雨淋湿全身，他缩着脖子，像个乞丐。乡里的人见了，都可怜他，娶继室的人都拿细柳作警戒，责难议论的声音很多。细柳也渐渐听到一些，却冷淡地不放在心上。长福受不了这种苦，丢下猪逃走了，细柳也由他去，完全不追问。过了几个月，他无处乞食，憔悴地自己回来了。他不敢贸然进家，苦苦求邻家的老太太去告诉母亲。细柳说：“他若能受一百杖，就来见我；不然，赶快再走。”长福听了，立刻跑进来，痛哭着表示愿意受杖。母亲问：“现在知道悔改了吗？”他说：“知道后悔了。”母亲说：“既然知道后悔，就不用打了，安分去放猪，再犯就不饶恕！”长福大哭着说：“我愿意受一百杖，只求让我重新读书。”细柳不肯听，邻家的老太太从旁劝说，她才答应。她让长福洗头，给他衣服，让他和弟弟长怙跟同一个老师读书。长福勤奋用功，专心思考，和从前大不一样，三年后考取了秀才。中丞杨公看了他的文章，很器重他，每月给他固定的钱粮，资助他读书。长怙却十分迟钝，读了几年书，连姓名也记不住。母亲让他放下书本，去种田。长怙喜欢游玩闲逛，害怕干辛苦活。母亲生气地说：“士农工商，各有自己的本业，你既不能读书，又不能耕田，难道不是要饿死在沟里吗？”当即拿杖打他。从此，他带着仆人们耕作，只要哪天早上起晚了，母亲就会责骂；衣服和食物，母亲又总把好的给哥哥。长怙虽然不敢说，心里却暗暗不服。农活做完后，母亲拿出钱，让他学着贩货做生意。长怙嫖娼赌博，钱一到手就花光赔尽，又谎称遇上盗贼或运气不好，欺骗母亲。母亲发觉后，用杖打得他几乎死去。长福一直跪着苦苦哀求，愿意替弟弟受罚，母亲的怒气才消了。从此，长怙一出门，母亲就派人探查他的行踪。他的行为稍稍收敛，却不是自己心甘情愿的。一天，他请求母亲允许自己跟商人们到洛阳去，实际上是想借着远行，尽情满足自己的欲望。他心里忐忑，只怕母亲不答应。母亲听了，竟毫不疑虑，立刻拿出三十两碎银，替他准备行装，最后又交给他一枚银锭，说：“这是你祖父做官时留下的，不能花掉，暂且放在行李里，备着急用就行。而且你头一次出远门，我也不敢指望你赚很多钱，只要这三十两银子不亏本，就足够了。”临走时，她又叮嘱了一遍。长怙答应着出门，欢欢喜喜，十分得意。到了洛阳，他辞别同行的人，住进名妓李姬家里。十多个晚上过去，碎银渐渐花光了。他自以为袋里还有一大锭银子，起初根本不担心钱会用尽；等拿出来切开，却发现是假的。他大吃一惊，脸色都变了。李媪看见他的样子，便冷言冷语地挖苦他。长怙心里不安，可口袋空空，无处可去，还盼着李姬顾念从前的情分，不会立刻断绝来往。不一会儿，两个拿着绳索的人进来，突然套住他的脖子。他惊恐万分，不知如何是好，哀求着问缘故，才知道李姬已经偷走假银，到官府告发他了。到了官府，他无法为自己辩解，遭到拘束拷打，几乎死去。收进监狱后，他又没有钱，受尽狱吏虐待，只能向其他囚犯讨吃的，勉强维持一口气。当初长怙出发时，母亲曾对长福说：“记住，二十天以后，该派你去洛阳。我事情多，怕一时忘了。”长福不知道她是什么意思，见母亲神色黯然，像要落泪，便不敢再问，退了出去。过了二十天，他来问母亲。母亲叹息着说：“你弟弟如今的放荡，就像你从前荒废学业一样。我若不担着恶名，你怎么能有今天？人人都说我狠心，可我的眼泪浸透了枕头和席子，他们却不知道！”说着便流下泪来。长福恭敬地站在旁边听，不敢细问。母亲哭完了，才说：“你弟弟放荡的心还没有死，所以我给他假银，让他受些挫折。我估计他如今已经在监狱里了。中丞待你很好，你去求他帮忙，可以救你弟弟脱离死难，也让他生出羞愧悔改之心。”长福立刻出发。到了洛阳，弟弟已经被捕三天。他到监狱里去看，长怙气息奄奄，脸色像鬼一样，见了哥哥，哭得抬不起头。长福也哭了。当时长福特别受中丞器重，远近的人都知道他的名字。县令知道他是长怙的哥哥，立刻放了长怙。长怙回到家，仍怕母亲生气，跪着向前挪去。母亲看着他说：“你的心愿满足了吗？”长怙流着泪，不敢再出声。长福也跪在旁边，母亲这才喝令他们起来。从此，长怙深深悔改，家里各项事务，都勤勤恳恳地料理；即使偶尔懒散，母亲也不再责骂。过了几个月，母亲始终不跟他说做生意的事。他想自己请求，又不敢，便把想法告诉哥哥。母亲听了很高兴，尽力抵押东西、借钱，交给他经营。半年下来，赚的钱已有本钱的一倍。那年，长福在秋天考中了举人，又过三年，考中了进士；弟弟经商，也积累了巨万家财。同县有个旅居洛阳的人，见过这位太夫人。她四十岁了，看着仍像三十岁左右的人，衣着打扮朴素，和普通人家的妇人一样。
Slender Willow was the daughter of a gentleman-scholar of Zhongdu. Because her waist was so lithe and lovely, people called her Slender Willow (Xiliu) in fun. As a girl she was clever. She could read and write, and she loved books on physiognomy. Yet all her life she was quiet and sparing of words, and never passed judgment on anyone. Only, whenever a family came asking for her hand, she insisted on seeing the man for herself. She looked over a great many and found none acceptable, and she reached nineteen. Her parents were angry. “Is there no good match anywhere in the world? Do you mean to grow old with your hair still in girl’s tufts?” “I truly wanted my own effort to win out over Heaven,” she said. “But I have tried a long while and found no one, and that too must be my fate. From now on I will do as you, my parents, decide.” At that time there was a scholar named Gao, a well-known man of an old family. He heard of Slender Willow and sent the betrothal goose. After the wedding, husband and wife got on very well. Gao’s late first wife had left a son, whose childhood name was Changfu. He was five, and Slender Willow brought him up with every care. Whenever she went home to visit her parents, Fu would howl and cry to go with her, and no scolding could stop him. A year or so later she bore a son and named him Changhu. Gao asked what the name meant. “Nothing in particular,” she said. “I only hope he will long stay at our knees.” She was careless about needlework and paid it little mind; but which way each field lay and how much tax it owed, she went through the registers asking about, afraid only of missing something. After a while she said to Gao, “Please put the household affairs aside and leave them to me. I wonder whether I can run the house?” Gao did as she said. Within half a year nothing in the house was neglected, and Gao too thought her capable. One day, when Gao had gone to a neighbouring village to drink, a man came chasing unpaid taxes, pounding on the gate and cursing. She sent a servant to calm him, but he would not leave, so she hurried a page off to call Gao home. When the runner had gone, Gao laughed. “Slender Willow, now do you see that a clever woman is no match for a foolish man?” Hearing this, she bowed her head and wept. Startled, Gao drew her to him and tried to comfort her, but she stayed unhappy. He could not bear to burden her with the household and wanted to take it back himself, but she would not hear of it. Up early and to bed late, she managed things more diligently than ever. A year ahead each time, she put by the next year’s taxes, so that from one year’s end to the next no tax collector ever came to their gate. She reckoned food and clothing the same way, and from then on their means grew easier and easier. Gao was delighted, and once teased her: “How slender Slender Willow is! Slender brows, slender waist, slender little feet — and, to my joy, a mind finer still.” “My husband Gao is high indeed,” she replied: “high in character, high in purpose, high in letters — I only hope he will be higher still in years.” Someone in the village had a fine coffin for sale. She paid a heavy price for it without a second thought, and when she could not raise the whole sum, she borrowed every way she could from relatives and neighbours. Gao thought it a thing they had no need of yet and tried hard to stop her, but she would not listen. They had kept it a year or so when a rich family suffered a death and came to the door offering twice the price. Gao, seeing the profit, talked it over with her, but she would not agree. He asked why; she said nothing. He asked again, and her eyes brimmed with tears. He thought it strange, but could not bear to cross her again, and let it drop. Another year passed, and Gao turned twenty-five. She forbade him to travel far; if he came home a little late, the servants she sent to fetch him followed one another down the road. His friends all made fun of him for it behind his back. One day Gao went to drink at a friend’s house, felt unwell, and started home. Halfway there he fell from his horse and died. It was the height of the muggy summer; fortunately the grave clothes and shroud had all been made ready long before. Only then did the whole village come to admire Slender Willow’s foresight. Fu was ten and had just begun to learn to write essays. After his father died he grew spoiled and lazy and would not study, and kept running off to roam with the herd boys. Scolding did not change him, nor did the rod that followed; he was as stubborn and dull as before. His mother could do nothing with him, so she called him and told him: “If you will not study, how can I force you? But a poor family has no room for idle hands. Change your clothes and work with the servants. Otherwise, when the whip comes, don’t be sorry!” So she dressed him in tattered padding and set him to herding pigs. When he came back he fetched his own earthenware bowl and ate rice gruel with the servants. After a few days he could not stand it. He knelt weeping in the courtyard and begged to go back to his books. His mother turned her face to the wall as if she had not heard. He had no choice but to take up the whip and go out, sobbing. Autumn was drawing to its end. There were no clothes on his rack and no shoes on his feet; the cold rain soaked him, and he went about hunched like a beggar. The villagers pitied him when they saw him. Men taking second wives all held up Slender Willow as a warning, and there was much angry talk. Some of it reached her, but she paid it no attention. Fu could not bear the hardship. He abandoned the pigs and ran away, and she let him go without asking after him at all. After several months, with nowhere left to beg, he came home haggard. He did not dare go straight in, but begged an old woman next door to go and speak to his mother. “If he can take a hundred strokes, he may come and see me,” she said. “If not, let him go away again, and soon.” Hearing this, Fu rushed in, weeping bitterly, and offered to take the beating. “Do you know now to mend your ways?” his mother asked. “I am sorry,” he said. “Since you are sorry, there is no need for the rod. Go and herd the pigs and keep to your place. Do it again and there will be no pardon!” Fu wailed, “I will take a hundred strokes. Please let me study again.” She would not listen; only when the old woman next door urged her did she take him back. She had his hair washed and gave him clothes, and set him to study with the same tutor as his brother Hu. He worked hard and applied his mind, utterly changed from before, and in three years he became a licentiate. Governor Yang saw his essays and thought highly of him, and gave him a regular monthly stipend to help pay for his lamp oil. Hu was the dullest of boys. After several years of study he could not so much as write his own name. His mother told him to give up books and farm. Hu liked idling and shrank from hard work. His mother said angrily, “Each of the four classes of people has its proper calling. If you can neither study nor plough, will you not die starving in a ditch?” She caned him on the spot. From then on he led the servants in the field work. If he slept late one morning, curses followed; and in clothes and food, his mother always gave the better share to his brother. Hu did not dare say anything, but in his heart he resented it. When the farm work was done, his mother gave him money to learn peddling. Hu whored and gambled and lost everything that came into his hands, then lied to his mother that he had been robbed or had bad luck. She found out and caned him almost to death. Fu knelt and pleaded, offering to take the punishment in his place, and only then did her anger ease. From then on, whenever Hu went out, his mother had him watched. His conduct improved a little, but not because he wished it. One day he asked his mother’s leave to go to Luoyang with some merchants. In truth he meant to use the long journey to indulge himself, and inwardly he was anxious, afraid she would refuse. His mother heard him out without the least suspicion. At once she brought out thirty taels of broken silver and fitted him out for the journey. Last of all she handed him an ingot, saying, “This is left over from your grandfather’s purse when he was an official. It is not to be spent. Just keep it at the bottom of your baggage, in case of need. Besides, you are new to the road, and I don’t look for great profit; if you lose none of these thirty taels, that is enough.” At parting she charged him again. Hu promised and went out, delighted and pleased with himself. In Luoyang he took leave of his travelling companions and lodged at the house of a famous courtesan, Li. In ten nights or so the broken silver was nearly gone. With the big ingot in his bag, it never crossed his mind to worry about running short; but when he took it out and cut into it, it was false. He was aghast and went pale. Seeing how things stood, old Mother Li began to make cutting remarks at him. Hu was uneasy, but with his purse empty he had nowhere to go, and he still hoped the girl would remember their fondness and not cast him off at once. Suddenly two men came in with a rope and tied it round his neck. Terrified, he did not know what to do. He begged to know why: the girl had stolen the false ingot and gone to denounce him at the court. Before the magistrate he had nothing to say for himself, and he was shackled and beaten nearly to death. He was locked in prison, and having no money, he was cruelly treated by the jailers; he lived on scraps begged from the other prisoners, barely clinging to life. When Hu had set out, his mother had said to Fu, “Remember: twenty days from now I must send you to Luoyang. I have so much to do, I am afraid I may forget.” Fu did not know what she meant. She looked so stricken that he did not dare ask again, and withdrew. When twenty days had passed he asked her. She sighed. “Your brother’s dissipation today is just like your neglect of your studies long ago. If I had not taken on an evil name, how would you be where you are today? Everyone calls me hard-hearted, but no one knows the tears that soak my pillow and mat.” And she wept. Fu stood by and listened respectfully, not daring to question her. When she had done weeping, she said, “Your brother’s wild heart is not dead, so I gave him a false ingot to break him. By now I reckon he is in chains. The Governor treats you generously. Go and ask his help: you can save your brother from death, and bring him to shame and repentance.” Fu set off at once. When he reached Luoyang, his brother had been in custody three days. He went to see him in the prison. Hu was half dead and looked like a ghost; seeing his brother, he wept and could not lift his face. Fu wept too. Fu was then high in the Governor’s favour, so his name was known far and near. When the magistrate learned he was Hu’s brother, he released Hu at once. Hu came home still afraid of his mother’s anger, and went to her on his knees. She looked at him. “Have you had your wish?” Hu wept and dared not make a sound. Fu knelt beside him, and only then did she sharply order them up. From then on Hu repented bitterly. He managed all the household affairs with diligence; even when he was now and then slack, his mother did not scold him. For several months she said nothing about trade. He wanted to ask but did not dare, and told his brother what he had in mind. His mother was glad to hear it. She pawned and borrowed every way she could and gave him the money, and in half a year he had doubled it. That year Fu passed the provincial examination in the autumn, and three years later the metropolitan examination; and his brother had piled up tens of thousands in trade. A man of my county who had been living in Luoyang caught sight of the old lady. She was forty, yet looked about thirty, and dressed as plainly as any ordinary housewife.