順天陳孝廉，十六七歲時，嘗從塾師讀於僧寺，徒侶甚繁。內有褚生，自言山東人，攻苦講求，略不暇息；且寄宿齋中，未嘗一見其歸。陳與最善，因詰之。答曰：「僕家貧，辦束金不易，即不能惜寸陰，而加以夜半，則我之二日，可當人三日。」陳感其言，欲攜榻來與共寢。褚止之曰：「且勿，且勿！我視先生，學非吾師也。阜城門有呂先生，年雖耄，可師，請與俱遷之。」──蓋都中設帳者多以月計，月終束金完，任其留止。於是兩生同詣呂。呂，越之宿儒，落魄不能歸，因授童蒙，實非其志也。得兩生甚喜；而褚又甚慧，過目輒了，故尤器重之。兩人情好款密，晝同几，夜亦同榻。月既終，褚忽假歸，十餘日不復至。共疑之。一日，陳以故至天寧寺，遇褚廊下，劈檾淬硫，作火具焉。見陳，忸怩不安。陳問：「何遽廢讀？」褚握手請間，戚然曰：「貧無以遺先生，必半月販，始能一月讀。」陳感慨良久，曰：「但往讀，自合極力。」命從人收其業，同歸塾。戒陳勿洩，但託故以告先生。陳父固肆賈，居物致富，陳輒竊父金，代褚遺師。父以亡金責陳，陳實告之。父以為癡，遂使廢學。褚大慚，別師欲去。呂知其故，讓之曰：「子既貧，胡不早告？」乃悉以金返陳父，止褚讀如故，與共饔飧，若子焉。陳雖不入館，每邀褚過酒家飲。褚固以避嫌不往；而陳要之彌堅，往往泣下，褚不忍絕，遂與往來無間。逾二年，陳父死，復求受業。呂感其誠，納之；而廢學既久，較褚懸絕矣。居半年，呂長子自越來，丐食尋父。門人輩斂金助裝，褚惟灑涕依戀而已。呂臨別，囑陳師事褚。陳從之，館褚於家。未幾，入邑庠，以「遺才」應試。陳慮不能終幅，褚請代之。至期，褚偕一人來，云是表兄劉天若，囑陳暫從去。陳方出，褚忽自後曳之，身欲踣，劉急挽之而去。覽眺一過，相攜宿於其家。家無婦女，即館客於內舍。居數日，忽已中秋。劉曰：「今日李皇親園中，游人甚夥，當往一豁積悶，相便送君歸。」使人荷茶鼎、酒具而往。但見水肆梅亭，喧啾不得入。過水關，則老柳之下，橫一畫橈，相將登舟。酒數行，苦寂。劉顧僮曰：「梅花館近有新姬，不知在家否？」僮去少時，與姬俱至，蓋勾欄李遏雲也。李，都中名妓，工詩善歌，陳曾與友人飲其家，故識之。相見，略道溫涼。姬戚戚有憂容。劉命之歌，為歌「蒿里」。陳不悅，曰：「主客即不當卿意，何至對生人歌死曲？」姬起謝，強顏歡笑，乃歌豔曲。陳喜，捉腕曰：「卿向日『浣溪紗』讀之數過，今並忘之。」姬吟曰：
「淚眼盈盈對鏡臺，開簾忽見小姑來，低頭轉側看弓鞋。強解綠蛾開笑面，頻將紅袖拭香腮，小心猶恐被人猜。」
陳反覆數四。已而泊舟，過長廊，見壁上題詠甚多，即命筆記詞其上。日已薄暮，劉曰：「闈中人將出矣。」遂送陳歸。入門，即別去。陳見室暗無人，俄延間，褚已入門；細審之，卻非褚生。方疑，客遽近身而仆。家人曰：「公子憊矣！」共扶拽之。轉覺仆者非他，即己也。既起，見褚生在旁，惚惚若夢。屏人而研究之。褚曰：「告之勿驚：我實鬼也。久當投生，所以因循於此者，高誼所不能忘，故附君體，以代捉刀；三場畢，此願了矣。」陳復求赴春闈。曰：「君先世福薄，慳吝之骨，誥贈所不堪也。」問：「將何適？」曰：「呂先生與僕有父子之分，繫念常不能置。表兄為冥司典簿，求白地府主者，或當有說。」遂別而去。陳異之。天明，訪李姬，將問以泛舟之事；則姬死數日矣。又至皇親園，見題句猶存，而淡墨依稀，若將磨滅。始悟題者為魂，作者為鬼。至夕，褚喜而至，曰：「所謀幸成，敬與君別。」遂伸兩掌，命陳書褚字於上以誌之。陳將置酒為餞，搖首曰：「勿須。君如不忘舊好，放榜後，勿憚修阻。」陳揮涕送之。見一人伺候於門；褚方依依，其人以手按其頂，隨手而匾，掬入囊，負之而去。過數日，陳果捷。于是治裝如越。呂妻斷育幾十年，五旬餘，忽生一子，兩手握固不可開。陳至，請相見，便謂掌中當有文曰「褚」。呂不深信。兒見陳，十指自開，視之果然。驚問其故，具告之。共相歡異。陳厚貽之，乃返。後呂以歲貢，廷試入都，舍於陳；則兒十三歲，入泮矣。
順天有位陳孝廉，十六七歲時，曾在一座寺院裡跟著塾師讀書，同學很多。其中有個褚生，自稱是山東人，刻苦讀書，認真鑽研，幾乎沒有片刻休息。他還住在書齋裡，從來沒有人見他回過家。陳生與他最要好，便問他緣故。褚生回答：「我家貧窮，湊齊學費很不容易。即使不能把每一刻都用上，再加上半夜的工夫，我讀兩天，就能抵別人讀三天。」陳生聽了很感動，想把自己的床搬來，和他一起住。褚生攔住他說：「先別搬，先別搬！依我看，這位先生的學問還不足以做我的老師。阜城門有位呂先生，年紀雖然很大，卻值得拜師，請你和我一起轉到他那裡去。」原來，京城開館授徒的人，大多按月收學費，到了月底，付清學費，學生便可以自行決定留下還是離開。於是，兩人一同去拜見呂先生。呂先生是越地一位學問深厚的老儒生，窮困潦倒，無法回鄉，只好教年幼的孩子讀書，其實這並不是他的志願。收下這兩個學生，他很高興；褚生又十分聰明，看過的東西馬上就能領會，因此他尤其器重褚生。兩人的交情親密深厚，白天共用一張書桌，夜裡也睡在同一張床上。月底到了，褚生忽然請假回家，十多天沒有再來，大家都覺得奇怪。一天，陳生因事到天寧寺去，在廊下遇見褚生，正在劈開苘麻稈，蘸上硫黃，製作引火用具。見了陳生，褚生扭捏不安。陳生問：「怎麼突然不讀書了？」褚生握住他的手，請他到一旁說話，憂傷地說：「我窮，拿不出學費給先生，必須做半個月買賣，才能讀一個月書。」陳生感慨了很久，說：「只管去讀書，我自然會盡力幫你。」他叫隨從收起褚生做買賣的東西，一同回了學堂。褚生叮囑陳生不要洩露實情，只找個別的理由告訴先生。陳生的父親原本是個開店的商人，靠囤積貨物發了財。陳生便常常偷父親的錢，替褚生交學費。父親發現錢少了，責問陳生，陳生如實說了。父親覺得他傻，便不讓他再讀書。褚生十分慚愧，向老師告別，準備離開。呂先生知道了緣故，責備他說：「你既然窮，為什麼不早告訴我？」於是把錢全部退給陳生的父親，讓褚生照舊留下讀書，與他一起吃飯，待他像自己的兒子。陳生雖然不再進學堂，卻常常約褚生去酒店喝酒。褚生為了避嫌，堅決不去；可陳生邀請得更加懇切，常常流下眼淚。褚生不忍心拒絕，便又與他親密往來。過了兩年多，陳生的父親去世，陳生再次請求拜師讀書。呂先生被他的誠意感動，收下了他；但他荒廢學業已久，比起褚生，已經相差很遠。過了半年，呂先生的大兒子從越地一路乞討，來尋找父親。同學們湊錢，資助老師回鄉，褚生只能流淚，依依不捨。臨別時，呂先生囑咐陳生拜褚生為師。陳生照辦，請褚生住到自己家裡。不久，陳生考進縣學，以「遺才」的身份參加鄉試。陳生擔心自己寫不完試卷，褚生提出替他作答。到了考試的時候，褚生帶著一個人來，說是自己的表兄劉天若，讓陳生暫時跟他走。陳生剛往外走，褚生忽然從後面拉了他一下，他幾乎跌倒，劉天若趕緊扶住他，帶他離開。他們略略遊覽了一番，便一起到劉天若家裡住宿。家中沒有婦女，因此把客人安排在內室。住了幾天，忽然已經到了中秋。劉天若說：「今天李皇親的園子裡遊人很多，我們該去散散這些天的煩悶，順便送你回家。」他讓人帶著茶鼎和酒具，一同前往。只見水邊的店鋪和梅亭裡，人聲嘈雜，擠得進不去。走過水關，老柳樹下橫著一條彩繪的船，兩人便一同上了船。喝過幾輪酒，覺得太冷清。劉天若轉頭對僕童說：「梅花館近來新來了一位姑娘，不知在不在家？」僕童去了不久，便帶著姑娘回來，原來是勾欄裡的李遏雲。李遏雲是京城有名的妓女，擅長作詩和唱歌。陳生曾與朋友到她家喝過酒，因此認識她。兩人見面，略略寒暄了幾句。李遏雲神情憂傷，滿面愁容。劉天若讓她唱歌，她便唱了《蒿里》。陳生不高興，說：「主人和客人就算不合你的心意，也何至於當著活人唱送葬的歌？」李遏雲站起來賠罪，勉強露出笑容，改唱情歌。陳生高興了，握著她的手腕說：「你以前那首《浣溪紗》，我讀過好幾遍，現在全忘了。」李遏雲吟道：「含著滿眼淚水，面對梳妝檯， 掀開簾子，忽然看見小姑走來， 低下頭，側過身，看著腳上的弓鞋。 勉強舒展眉頭，露出笑臉， 一次次用紅袖擦去臉頰上的淚， 處處小心，還是怕別人猜出心事。」陳生反覆吟誦了三四遍。隨後，他們停好船，走過一條長廊，見牆上題著許多詩詞，便要來筆，把這首詞寫在牆上。天色已經近晚，劉天若說：「考場裡的人快出來了。」便送陳生回家。一進門，劉天若就告辭離去。陳生見房間裡昏暗無人，正在逗留，褚生已經進門；仔細看去，卻不是褚生。正疑惑間，來人突然走近他，倒在地上。家人說：「公子累壞了！」一起上前扶他。陳生這才發覺，倒下的不是別人，正是自己。起來後，看見褚生在旁邊，恍恍惚惚，像做了一場夢。他讓旁人退下，仔細追問。褚生說：「我告訴你，你別害怕：我其實是鬼。早就該投胎了，之所以一直拖延，留在這裡，是因為忘不了你的深厚情義，所以附在你的身體裡，替你寫文章。如今三場考試都完了，這個心願也了結了。」陳生又請求他替自己參加春天的會試。褚生說：「你祖上福分薄，他們那副吝嗇的骨頭，承受不起朝廷的誥贈。」陳生問：「你要到哪裡去？」褚生說：「呂先生與我情同父子，我總是惦念他，放不下。表兄是冥司的典簿，想請他向地府的主事者稟明我的心願，也許能有個結果。」說完便告辭離去。陳生覺得十分奇異。天亮後，他去拜訪李遏雲，想問問泛舟的事，卻得知她已經死了好幾天。他又到皇親園去，看見題寫的詞句還在，但墨跡淡淡的，模模糊糊，彷彿就要消失。這才明白，題寫詞句的是自己的魂，作詞的李遏雲則是鬼。到了晚上，褚生高高興興地來了，說：「所謀的事幸好成了，特來向你告別。」隨後伸出兩隻手掌，請陳生在上面各寫一個「褚」字，作為記號。陳生準備擺酒為他送行，他搖頭說：「不必了。你若沒有忘記從前的交情，放榜以後，別怕路途遙遠難走。」陳生流著淚送他出門。只見一個人在門口等候，褚生還依依不捨，那人便用手按住他的頭頂。褚生隨著那人的手壓下去，變得扁扁的，那人把他捧進袋子，揹著走了。過了幾天，陳生果然考中了，於是收拾行裝，前往越地。呂先生的妻子已經幾十年沒有生育，年過五十，卻忽然生了一個兒子，兩隻手緊緊攥著，怎麼也掰不開。陳生到了，請求看看孩子，隨即說孩子掌心裡應該有「褚」字。呂先生不大相信。孩子見到陳生，十根手指自行張開，檢視手掌，果然如此。呂先生驚訝地問緣故，陳生把事情全部告訴了他。大家既高興，又驚奇。陳生送了豐厚的禮物，才回去。後來，呂先生以歲貢的身份到京城參加廷試，住在陳生家中；那時孩子十三歲，已經考進縣學了。
顺天陈孝廉，十六七岁时，尝从塾师读于僧寺，徒侣甚繁。内有褚生，自言山东人，攻苦讲求，略不暇息；且寄宿斋中，未尝一见其归。陈与最善，因诘之。答曰：「仆家贫，办束金不易，即不能惜寸阴，而加以夜半，则我之二日，可当人三日。」陈感其言，欲携榻来与共寝。褚止之曰：「且勿，且勿！我视先生，学非吾师也。阜城门有吕先生，年虽耄，可师，请与俱迁之。」──盖都中设帐者多以月计，月终束金完，任其留止。于是两生同诣吕。吕，越之宿儒，落魄不能归，因授童蒙，实非其志也。得两生甚喜；而褚又甚慧，过目辄了，故尤器重之。两人情好款密，昼同几，夜亦同榻。月既终，褚忽假归，十余日不复至。共疑之。一日，陈以故至天宁寺，遇褚廊下，劈檾淬硫，作火具焉。见陈，忸怩不安。陈问：「何遽废读？」褚握手请间，戚然曰：「贫无以遗先生，必半月贩，始能一月读。」陈感慨良久，曰：「但往读，自合极力。」命从人收其业，同归塾。戒陈勿泄，但托故以告先生。陈父固肆贾，居物致富，陈辄窃父金，代褚遗师。父以亡金责陈，陈实告之。父以为痴，遂使废学。褚大惭，别师欲去。吕知其故，让之曰：「子既贫，胡不早告？」乃悉以金返陈父，止褚读如故，与共饔飧，若子焉。陈虽不入馆，每邀褚过酒家饮。褚固以避嫌不往；而陈要之弥坚，往往泣下，褚不忍绝，遂与往来无间。逾二年，陈父死，复求受业。吕感其诚，纳之；而废学既久，较褚悬绝矣。居半年，吕长子自越来，丐食寻父。门人辈敛金助装，褚惟洒涕依恋而已。吕临别，嘱陈师事褚。陈从之，馆褚于家。未几，入邑庠，以「遗才」应试。陈虑不能终幅，褚请代之。至期，褚偕一人来，云是表兄刘天若，嘱陈暂从去。陈方出，褚忽自后曳之，身欲踣，刘急挽之而去。览眺一过，相携宿于其家。家无妇女，即馆客于内舍。居数日，忽已中秋。刘曰：「今日李皇亲园中，游人甚伙，当往一豁积闷，相便送君归。」使人荷茶鼎、酒具而往。但见水肆梅亭，喧啾不得入。过水关，则老柳之下，横一画桡，相将登舟。酒数行，苦寂。刘顾僮曰：「梅花馆近有新姬，不知在家否？」僮去少时，与姬俱至，盖勾栏李遏云也。李，都中名妓，工诗善歌，陈曾与友人饮其家，故识之。相见，略道温凉。姬戚戚有忧容。刘命之歌，为歌「蒿里」。陈不悦，曰：「主客即不当卿意，何至对生人歌死曲？」姬起谢，强颜欢笑，乃歌艳曲。陈喜，捉腕曰：「卿向日『浣溪纱』读之数过，今并忘之。」姬吟曰：
「泪眼盈盈对镜台，开帘忽见小姑来，低头转侧看弓鞋。强解绿蛾开笑面，频将红袖拭香腮，小心犹恐被人猜。」
陈反复数四。已而泊舟，过长廊，见壁上题咏甚多，即命笔记词其上。日已薄暮，刘曰：「闱中人将出矣。」遂送陈归。入门，即别去。陈见室暗无人，俄延间，褚已入门；细审之，却非褚生。方疑，客遽近身而仆。家人曰：「公子惫矣！」共扶拽之。转觉仆者非他，即己也。既起，见褚生在旁，惚惚若梦。屏人而研究之。褚曰：「告之勿惊：我实鬼也。久当投生，所以因循于此者，高谊所不能忘，故附君体，以代捉刀；三场毕，此愿了矣。」陈复求赴春闱。曰：「君先世福薄，悭吝之骨，诰赠所不堪也。」问：「将何适？」曰：「吕先生与仆有父子之分，系念常不能置。表兄为冥司典簿，求白地府主者，或当有说。」遂别而去。陈异之。天明，访李姬，将问以泛舟之事；则姬死数日矣。又至皇亲园，见题句犹存，而淡墨依稀，若将磨灭。始悟题者为魂，作者为鬼。至夕，褚喜而至，曰：「所谋幸成，敬与君别。」遂伸两掌，命陈书褚字于上以志之。陈将置酒为饯，摇首曰：「勿须。君如不忘旧好，放榜后，勿惮修阻。」陈挥涕送之。见一人伺候于门；褚方依依，其人以手按其顶，随手而匾，掬入囊，负之而去。过数日，陈果捷。于是治装如越。吕妻断育几十年，五旬余，忽生一子，两手握固不可开。陈至，请相见，便谓掌中当有文曰「褚」。吕不深信。儿见陈，十指自开，视之果然。惊问其故，具告之。共相欢异。陈厚贻之，乃返。后吕以岁贡，廷试入都，舍于陈；则儿十三岁，入泮矣。
顺天有位陈孝廉，十六七岁时，曾在一座寺院里跟着塾师读书，同学很多。其中有个褚生，自称是山东人，刻苦读书，认真钻研，几乎没有片刻休息。他还住在书斋里，从来没有人见他回过家。陈生与他最要好，便问他缘故。褚生回答：“我家贫穷，凑齐学费很不容易。即使不能把每一刻都用上，再加上半夜的工夫，我读两天，就能抵别人读三天。”陈生听了很感动，想把自己的床搬来，和他一起住。褚生拦住他说：“先别搬，先别搬！依我看，这位先生的学问还不足以做我的老师。阜城门有位吕先生，年纪虽然很大，却值得拜师，请你和我一起转到他那里去。”原来，京城开馆授徒的人，大多按月收学费，到了月底，付清学费，学生便可以自行决定留下还是离开。于是，两人一同去拜见吕先生。吕先生是越地一位学问深厚的老儒生，穷困潦倒，无法回乡，只好教年幼的孩子读书，其实这并不是他的志愿。收下这两个学生，他很高兴；褚生又十分聪明，看过的东西马上就能领会，因此他尤其器重褚生。两人的交情亲密深厚，白天共用一张书桌，夜里也睡在同一张床上。月底到了，褚生忽然请假回家，十多天没有再来，大家都觉得奇怪。一天，陈生因事到天宁寺去，在廊下遇见褚生，正在劈开苘麻秆，蘸上硫黄，制作引火用具。见了陈生，褚生扭捏不安。陈生问：“怎么突然不读书了？”褚生握住他的手，请他到一旁说话，忧伤地说：“我穷，拿不出学费给先生，必须做半个月买卖，才能读一个月书。”陈生感慨了很久，说：“只管去读书，我自然会尽力帮你。”他叫随从收起褚生做买卖的东西，一同回了学堂。褚生叮嘱陈生不要泄露实情，只找个别的理由告诉先生。陈生的父亲原本是个开店的商人，靠囤积货物发了财。陈生便常常偷父亲的钱，替褚生交学费。父亲发现钱少了，责问陈生，陈生如实说了。父亲觉得他傻，便不让他再读书。褚生十分惭愧，向老师告别，准备离开。吕先生知道了缘故，责备他说：“你既然穷，为什么不早告诉我？”于是把钱全部退给陈生的父亲，让褚生照旧留下读书，与他一起吃饭，待他像自己的儿子。陈生虽然不再进学堂，却常常约褚生去酒店喝酒。褚生为了避嫌，坚决不去；可陈生邀请得更加恳切，常常流下眼泪。褚生不忍心拒绝，便又与他亲密往来。过了两年多，陈生的父亲去世，陈生再次请求拜师读书。吕先生被他的诚意感动，收下了他；但他荒废学业已久，比起褚生，已经相差很远。过了半年，吕先生的大儿子从越地一路乞讨，来寻找父亲。同学们凑钱，资助老师回乡，褚生只能流泪，依依不舍。临别时，吕先生嘱咐陈生拜褚生为师。陈生照办，请褚生住到自己家里。不久，陈生考进县学，以“遗才”的身份参加乡试。陈生担心自己写不完试卷，褚生提出替他作答。到了考试的时候，褚生带着一个人来，说是自己的表兄刘天若，让陈生暂时跟他走。陈生刚往外走，褚生忽然从后面拉了他一下，他几乎跌倒，刘天若赶紧扶住他，带他离开。他们略略游览了一番，便一起到刘天若家里住宿。家中没有妇女，因此把客人安排在内室。住了几天，忽然已经到了中秋。刘天若说：“今天李皇亲的园子里游人很多，我们该去散散这些天的烦闷，顺便送你回家。”他让人带着茶鼎和酒具，一同前往。只见水边的店铺和梅亭里，人声嘈杂，挤得进不去。走过水关，老柳树下横着一条彩绘的船，两人便一同上了船。喝过几轮酒，觉得太冷清。刘天若转头对仆童说：“梅花馆近来新来了一位姑娘，不知在不在家？”仆童去了不久，便带着姑娘回来，原来是勾栏里的李遏云。李遏云是京城有名的妓女，擅长作诗和唱歌。陈生曾与朋友到她家喝过酒，因此认识她。两人见面，略略寒暄了几句。李遏云神情忧伤，满面愁容。刘天若让她唱歌，她便唱了《蒿里》。陈生不高兴，说：“主人和客人就算不合你的心意，也何至于当着活人唱送葬的歌？”李遏云站起来赔罪，勉强露出笑容，改唱情歌。陈生高兴了，握着她的手腕说：“你以前那首《浣溪纱》，我读过好几遍，现在全忘了。”李遏云吟道：“含着满眼泪水，面对梳妆台， 掀开帘子，忽然看见小姑走来， 低下头，侧过身，看着脚上的弓鞋。 勉强舒展眉头，露出笑脸， 一次次用红袖擦去脸颊上的泪， 处处小心，还是怕别人猜出心事。”陈生反复吟诵了三四遍。随后，他们停好船，走过一条长廊，见墙上题着许多诗词，便要来笔，把这首词写在墙上。天色已经近晚，刘天若说：“考场里的人快出来了。”便送陈生回家。一进门，刘天若就告辞离去。陈生见房间里昏暗无人，正在逗留，褚生已经进门；仔细看去，却不是褚生。正疑惑间，来人突然走近他，倒在地上。家人说：“公子累坏了！”一起上前扶他。陈生这才发觉，倒下的不是别人，正是自己。起来后，看见褚生在旁边，恍恍惚惚，像做了一场梦。他让旁人退下，仔细追问。褚生说：“我告诉你，你别害怕：我其实是鬼。早就该投胎了，之所以一直拖延，留在这里，是因为忘不了你的深厚情义，所以附在你的身体里，替你写文章。如今三场考试都完了，这个心愿也了结了。”陈生又请求他替自己参加春天的会试。褚生说：“你祖上福分薄，他们那副吝啬的骨头，承受不起朝廷的诰赠。”陈生问：“你要到哪里去？”褚生说：“吕先生与我情同父子，我总是惦念他，放不下。表兄是冥司的典簿，想请他向地府的主事者禀明我的心愿，也许能有个结果。”说完便告辞离去。陈生觉得十分奇异。天亮后，他去拜访李遏云，想问问泛舟的事，却得知她已经死了好几天。他又到皇亲园去，看见题写的词句还在，但墨迹淡淡的，模模糊糊，仿佛就要消失。这才明白，题写词句的是自己的魂，作词的李遏云则是鬼。到了晚上，褚生高高兴兴地来了，说：“所谋的事幸好成了，特来向你告别。”随后伸出两只手掌，请陈生在上面各写一个“褚”字，作为记号。陈生准备摆酒为他送行，他摇头说：“不必了。你若没有忘记从前的交情，放榜以后，别怕路途遥远难走。”陈生流着泪送他出门。只见一个人在门口等候，褚生还依依不舍，那人便用手按住他的头顶。褚生随着那人的手压下去，变得扁扁的，那人把他捧进袋子，背着走了。过了几天，陈生果然考中了，于是收拾行装，前往越地。吕先生的妻子已经几十年没有生育，年过五十，却忽然生了一个儿子，两只手紧紧攥着，怎么也掰不开。陈生到了，请求看看孩子，随即说孩子掌心里应该有“褚”字。吕先生不大相信。孩子见到陈生，十根手指自行张开，查看手掌，果然如此。吕先生惊讶地问缘故，陈生把事情全部告诉了他。大家既高兴，又惊奇。陈生送了丰厚的礼物，才回去。后来，吕先生以岁贡的身份到京城参加廷试，住在陈生家中；那时孩子十三岁，已经考进县学了。
When a provincial graduate named Chen, of Shuntian, was sixteen or seventeen, he studied with a tutor at a Buddhist monastery, one of a great many pupils. Among them was a scholar named Chu, who said he came from Shandong. He toiled at his books and worked through their meaning with hardly a moment’s rest; he lodged in the study, and no one ever once saw him go home. Chen was his closest friend, and asked him about it. “My family is poor,” Chu answered, “and the fee is hard to find. I may not be able to make every moment count, but if I add half the night as well, two of my days are worth three of anyone else’s.” Chen was moved by this and wanted to bring his bed over and sleep there with him. Chu stopped him. “Not yet, not yet! As I see it, our tutor’s learning is not enough to make him my master. There is a Mr. Lü at Fucheng Gate. He is very old, but he is fit to teach. Let us both move to him.” — For in the capital most of those who kept schools charged by the month, and once the month was up and the fee paid, a pupil was free to stay or go. So the two went to Lü together. Lü was an old scholar from Yue who had come down in the world and could not get home, so he taught young children, though it was far from what he had set his heart on. He was delighted to have the two of them; and Chu was very quick, grasping anything he had seen once, so Lü thought especially highly of him. The two young men grew very close: by day they shared a desk, and by night a bed. When the month was over, Chu suddenly asked for leave to go home, and for more than ten days he did not come back. Everyone wondered at it. One day Chen had business at Tianning Temple and came upon Chu in a side gallery, splitting hemp stalks and dipping them in sulphur to make fire-sticks. Seeing Chen, Chu was embarrassed and ill at ease. “Why have you suddenly given up your studies?” Chen asked. Chu took his hand, drew him aside, and said sadly, “I am too poor to pay the teacher. I have to peddle for half a month before I can study for one.” Chen was moved for a long while. “Just come and study,” he said. “I will do all I can.” He had his servant gather up Chu’s wares, and they went back to the school together. Chu made Chen promise not to let it out, but to give the teacher some other reason. Chen’s father was a shopkeeper who had grown rich by buying up goods and holding them, and Chen would steal his father’s money and pay the teacher for Chu. When his father missed the money and took him to task, Chen told him the truth. His father thought him a fool and made him give up school. Chu was deeply ashamed and took leave of the teacher, meaning to go. Lü found out why and scolded him. “If you were poor, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” He gave all the money back to Chen’s father, kept Chu at his studies as before, and shared his meals with him as if he were his son. Though Chen no longer came to the school, he would often ask Chu to a wineshop for a drink. Chu firmly refused, to avoid any suspicion; but Chen pressed him all the harder, often in tears, until Chu could not bear to turn him away, and they saw each other as freely as ever. Two years later Chen’s father died, and Chen asked to be taken back as a pupil. Lü, moved by his sincerity, accepted him; but he had been away from his books so long that he was now far behind Chu. Half a year later Lü’s eldest son came from Yue, begging his way, to look for his father. The pupils took up a collection for the journey; Chu could only weep and cling to his teacher. At parting Lü told Chen to take Chu as his teacher. Chen did so, and gave Chu lodging in his own house. Before long Chen entered the county school, and went in for the provincial examination as one of the “left-out talents”. He was afraid he could not finish his papers, and Chu offered to sit them in his place. When the day came, Chu arrived with a man he said was his cousin, Liu Tianruo, and told Chen to go off with him for a while. Chen was just going out when Chu suddenly pulled at him from behind. Chen nearly fell, but Liu quickly caught hold of him and led him away. After a look round the sights, Liu took him home to stay. There were no women in the house, so he put his guest up in the inner rooms. A few days passed, and suddenly it was already the Mid-Autumn Festival. “There will be crowds out in Imperial Kinsman Li’s garden today,” said Liu. “We should go and air out our gloom, and I can see you home on the way.” He had servants carry a tea kettle and wine things, and they set off. The waterside stalls and the plum pavilions were so noisy and packed that they could not get in. Past the water gate, under an old willow, a painted boat lay across the stream, and they went aboard together. After a few rounds of wine they found it dull. Liu turned to his boy. “There’s a new girl at the Plum Blossom House lately. I wonder if she’s in?” The boy went off and before long came back with her: it was Li Eyun of the pleasure quarter. Li was a famous courtesan of the capital, skilled at poetry and singing. Chen had once drunk at her house with friends, so he knew her. They greeted each other and exchanged a few pleasantries. She looked downcast and sad. Liu told her to sing, and she sang “Haoli”. Chen was displeased. “Even if your host and his guest are not to your liking, why go so far as to sing a song of the dead to the living?” She rose and apologized, forced a smile, and sang a love song. Chen was pleased and took her by the wrist. “That ‘Silk-Washing Stream’ of yours the other day — I read it over several times, and now I’ve forgotten every word.” She chanted:
“Eyes brimming with tears, she sits before her mirror stand;she raises the blind and suddenly sees her husband’s young sister coming;head bowed, she turns aside to look down at her bow-shaped shoes. Forcing her green moth brows to unknit, she puts on a smiling face,again and again wipes her fragrant cheeks with her red sleeve,and careful as she is, still fears that someone will guess.”
Chen went over it again and again. Presently they moored the boat and walked along a long covered gallery, where many poems were written on the wall; Chen called for a brush and wrote the lyric up among them. The sun was going down. “The men in the examination hall will be coming out,” said Liu, and he took Chen home. As soon as they were inside the gate, he took his leave. Chen found the room dark and empty. While he lingered there, Chu came in at the gate — but looking closely, Chen saw it was not Chu. As he was wondering, the visitor came straight up to him and fell to the ground. “The young master is worn out!” cried the household, and they all helped to haul him up. Then Chen realized that the one who had fallen was none other than himself. When he got up he saw Chu at his side, and he felt dazed, as if in a dream. He sent everyone out and questioned Chu closely. “Don’t be alarmed at what I tell you,” said Chu. “I am really a ghost. I should have been reborn long ago. I have lingered here because I could not forget your great kindness; so I entered your body to write in your place. Now the three sessions are over, and this wish is fulfilled.” Chen asked him to sit the spring examination in the capital for him as well. “Your forebears had little good fortune,” said Chu. “Stingy bones like theirs could not bear the honours the court bestows.” “Where will you go now?” Chen asked. “Mr. Lü and I are as father and son,” said Chu. “He is always on my mind; I cannot put him out of it. My cousin is a registrar in the underworld. I mean to ask him to put my case to the lord of the underworld courts; perhaps something can be done.” With that he took his leave. Chen marvelled at it. At daybreak he went to see Li, meaning to ask her about the boating; but she had been dead several days. He went on to the Imperial Kinsman’s garden. The lines he had written were still there, but the ink was pale and blurred, as if about to fade away. Only then did he understand that the one who had written them up was a soul, and the one who had composed them a ghost. That evening Chu came, happy. “My plan has succeeded, by good fortune,” he said. “I have come to say goodbye.” He held out both palms and had Chen write the character Chu on them, as a mark. Chen was going to set out wine to see him off, but Chu shook his head. “No need. If you have not forgotten our old friendship, then after the results are posted, don’t shrink from a long, hard road.” Chen wept as he saw him off. A man was waiting at the gate. As Chu lingered, loath to part, the man pressed a hand on the top of his head; Chu went flat under the hand, and the man scooped him into a bag, slung it on his back, and went away. A few days later Chen did indeed pass. So he packed for a journey and went to Yue. Lü’s wife had borne no children for nearly ten years; now, past fifty, she had suddenly given birth to a son, whose two hands were clenched tight and could not be opened. When Chen arrived he asked to see the child, and said there would be the character Chu in his palms. Lü did not quite believe it. But when the boy saw Chen, his ten fingers opened of themselves, and when they looked, it was so. Astonished, Lü asked how this could be, and Chen told him everything. They rejoiced together and marvelled at it. Chen gave Lü rich gifts and went home. Later Lü was sent up as a tribute student by seniority and came to the capital for the examination at court, and he stayed with Chen. By then the boy was thirteen and had entered the county school.