蒙陰王慕貞，世家子也。偶游江浙，見媼哭於途，詰之。言：「先夫止遺一子，今犯死刑，誰有能出之者？」王素慷慨，誌其姓名，出橐中金為之斡旋，竟釋其罪。其人出，聞王之救己也，茫然不解其故，訪詣旅邸，感泣謝問。王曰：「無他，憐汝母老耳。」其人大駭曰：「母故已久。」王亦異之。抵暮，媼來申謝，王咎其謬誣。媼曰：「實相告：我東山老狐也。二十年前曾與兒父有一夕之好，故不忍其鬼之餒也。」王悚然起敬，再欲詰之，已杳。先是，王妻賢而好佛，不茹葷酒；治潔室，懸觀音像，以無子，日日焚禱其中。而神又最靈，輒示夢，教人趨避，以故家中事皆取決焉。後有疾，綦篤，移榻其中；又別設錦裀於內室而扃其戶，若有所伺。王以為惑，而以其疾勢昏瞀，不忍傷之。臥病二年，惡囂，常屏人獨寢。潛聽之，似與人語；啟門視之，又寂然。病中他無所慮，有女十四歲，惟日催治裝遣嫁。既醮，呼王至榻前，執手曰：「今訣矣！初病時，菩薩告我，命當速死，念不了者，幼女未嫁，因賜少藥，俾延息以待。去歲，菩薩將回南海，留案前侍女小梅，為妾服役。今將死，薄命人又無所出。保兒，妾所憐愛，恐娶悍怒之婦，令其子母失所。小梅姿容秀美，又溫淑，即以為繼室可也。」蓋王有妾，生一子，名保兒。王以其言荒唐，曰：「卿素敬者神，今出此言，不已褻乎？」答云：「小梅事我年餘，相忘形骸，我已婉求之矣。」問：「小梅何處？」曰：「室中非耶？」方欲再詰，閉目已逝。王夜守靈幃，聞室中隱隱啜泣，大駭，疑為鬼。喚諸婢妾啟鑰視之，則二八麗者，縗服在室。眾以為神，共羅拜之。女斂涕扶掖。王凝注之，俛首而已。王曰：「如果亡室之言非妄，請即上堂，受兒女朝謁；如其不可，僕亦不敢妄想，以取罪過。」女腆然出，竟登北堂。王使婢為設坐南嚮，王先拜，女亦答拜；下而長幼卑賤，以次伏叩，女莊容坐受；惟妾至，則挽之。自夫人臥病，婢惰奴偷，家久替。眾參已，肅肅列侍。女曰：「我感夫人盛意，羈留人間，又以大事相委，汝輩宜各洗心，為主效力，從前愆尤，悉不計校；不然，莫謂室無人也！」共視座上，真如懸觀音圖像，時被微風吹動。聞言悚惕，鬨然並諾。女乃排撥喪務，一切井井，由是大小無敢懈者。女終日經紀內外，王將有作，亦稟白而行；然雖一夕數見，並不交一私語。既殯，王欲申前約，不敢徑告，囑妾微示意。女曰：「妾受夫人諄囑，義不容辭；但匹配大禮，不得草草。年伯黃先生，位尊德重，求使主秦晉之盟，則惟命是聽。」時沂水黃太僕，致仕閒居，於王為父執，往來最善。王即親詣，以實告。黃奇之，即與同來。女聞，即出展拜。黃一見，驚為天人，遜謝不敢當禮；既而助妝優厚，成禮乃去。女餽遺枕履，若奉舅姑，由此交益親。合巹後，王終以神故，褻中帶肅，時研詰菩薩起居。女笑曰：「君亦太愚，焉有正直之神，而下婚塵世者？」王力審所自。女曰：「不必研窮，既以為神，朝夕供養，自無殃咎。」女御下常寬，非笑不語；然婢賤戲狎時，遙見之，則默默無聲。女笑諭曰：「豈爾輩尚以我為神耶？我何神哉！實為夫人姨妹，少相交好；姊病見思，陰使南村王姥招我來。第以日近姊夫，有男女之嫌，故託為神道，閉內室中，其實何神。」眾猶不信；而日侍邊傍，見其舉動，不少異於常人，浮言漸息。然即頑奴鈍婢，王素撻楚所不能化者，女一言無不樂於奉命。皆云：「並不自知。實非畏之，但睹其貌，則心自柔，故不忍拂其意耳。」以此百廢具舉。數年中，田地連阡，倉廩萬石矣。又數年，妾產一女。女生一子；子生，左臂有朱點，因字小紅。彌月，女使王盛筵招黃。黃賀儀豐渥，但辭以耄，不能遠涉；女遣兩媼，強邀之，黃始至。抱兒出，袒其左臂，以示命名之意。又再三問其吉凶。黃笑曰：「此喜紅也，可增一字，名喜紅。」女大悅，更出展叩。是日，鼓樂充庭，貴戚如市。黃留三日始去。忽門外有輿馬來，逆女歸寧。向十餘年，並無瓜葛，共議之，而女若不聞。理妝竟，抱子於懷，要王相送，王從之。至二三十里許，寂無行人，女停輿，呼王下騎，屏人與語，曰：「王郎王郎，會短離長，謂可悲否？」王驚問故。女曰：「君謂妾何人也？」答曰：「不知。」女曰：「江南拯一死罪，有之乎？」曰：「有。」曰：「哭於路者吾母也，感義而思所報，乃因夫人好佛，附為神道，實將以妾報君也。今幸生此襁褓物，此願已慰。妾視君晦運將來，此兒在家，恐不能育，故借歸寧，解兒厄難。君記取家有死口時，當於晨雞初唱，詣西河柳堤上，見有挑葵花燈來者，遮道苦求，可免災難。」王曰：「諾。」因訊歸期。女云：「不可預定。要當牢記吾言，後會亦不遠也。」臨別，執手愴然交涕。俄登輿，疾若風。王望之不見，始返。經六七年，絕無音問。忽四鄉瘟疫流行，死者甚眾，一婢病三日死。王念曩囑，頗以關心。是日與客飲，大醉而睡。既醒，聞雞鳴，急起至堤頭，見燈光閃爍，適已過去。急追之，止隔百步許，愈追愈遠，漸不可見，懊恨而返。數日暴病，尋卒。王族多無賴，共憑陵其孤寡，田禾樹木，公然伐取，家日陵替。踰歲，保兒又殤，一家更無所主。族人益橫，割裂田產，廄中牛馬俱空；又欲瓜分第宅。以妾居故，遂將數人來，強奪鬻之。妾戀幼女，母子環泣，慘動鄰里。方危難間，俄聞門外有肩輿入，共覘，則女引小郎自車中出。四顧人紛如市，問：「此何人？」妾哭訴其由。女顏色慘變，便喚從來僕役，關門下鑰。眾欲抗拒，而手足若痿。女令一一收縛，繫諸廊柱，日與薄粥三甌。即遣老僕奔告黃公，然後入室哀泣。泣已，謂妾曰：「此天數也。已期前月來，適以母病耽延，遂至於今。不謂轉盼間已成邱墟！」問舊時婢媼，則皆被族人掠去，又益欷歔。越日，婢僕聞女至，皆自遁歸，相見無不流涕。所縶族人，共譟兒非慕貞體胤，女亦不置辨。既而黃公至，女引兒出迎。黃握兒臂，便捋左袂，見朱記宛然，因袒示眾人，以證其確。乃細審失物，登簿記名，親詣邑令。令拘無賴輩，各笞四十，械禁嚴追；不數日，田地馬牛，悉歸故主。黃將歸，女引兒泣拜曰：「妾非世間人，叔父所知也。今以此子委叔父矣。」黃曰：「老夫一息尚在，無不為區處。」黃去，女盤查就緒，託兒於妾，乃具饌為夫祭掃，半日不返。視之，則杯饌猶陳，而人杳矣。
蒙陰的王慕貞，是世家子弟。一次遊歷江浙，見一個老婦人在路邊哭泣，便上前詢問。老婦人說：「我死去的丈夫只留下一個兒子，如今犯了死罪，誰能救他出來呢？」王慕貞一向慷慨，記下她兒子的姓名，拿出錢袋裡的銀子替他奔走疏通，終於使他免了罪。那人獲釋後，聽說是王慕貞救了自己，完全不明白是什麼緣故，便打聽著來到他的客店，感激得流著淚道謝，又問他為什麼相救。王慕貞說：「沒有別的緣故，只是可憐你母親年紀大了。」那人大吃一驚，說：「我母親已經去世很久了。」王慕貞也覺得奇怪。到了傍晚，老婦人又來道謝，王慕貞責怪她編造假話。老婦人說：「實話告訴你，我是東山的一隻老狐。二十年前，曾與你救下的那人父親有過一夜情緣，所以不忍讓他父親的鬼魂斷了祭祀，忍飢挨餓。」王慕貞驚得站起身，肅然起敬，還想再問，她卻已經不見了。在這以前，王慕貞的妻子為人賢惠，信奉佛教，不吃葷，也不喝酒。她收拾出一間潔淨的屋子，掛上觀音像，因為沒有兒子，每天都在裡面燒香祈禱。觀音又十分靈驗，常在夢裡指點他們該做什麼、該避開什麼，因此家裡的事都向觀音求取決斷。後來妻子生了病，病得很重，便把床移到那間屋子裡，又另外在內室鋪設錦褥，鎖上房門，好像在等待什麼人。王慕貞覺得她受了迷惑，但見她病重，神志昏沉，不忍傷她的心。她臥病兩年，厭煩喧鬧，常常遣開眾人，獨自睡著。有人偷偷聽，彷彿聽見她在和人說話；打開門去看，卻又沒有聲音。病中她沒有別的牽掛，只因有個十四歲的女兒，天天催著準備嫁妝，把女兒嫁出去。女兒出嫁後，她叫王慕貞來到床前，握著他的手說：「如今要與你永別了！我剛生病時，菩薩告訴我，命裡註定很快就要死。因為我放不下還沒有出嫁的小女兒，便賜給我一點藥，讓我多活些時日，等她出嫁。去年，菩薩要回南海，留下案前侍女小梅來服侍我。如今我就要死了，我這薄命的人又沒有生下兒子。保兒是我疼愛的孩子，我怕你娶個兇悍暴躁的妻子，使他們母子無處安身。小梅容貌秀美，又溫柔賢淑，可以娶她做續絃。」原來王慕貞有個妾，生了一個兒子，名叫保兒。王慕貞覺得她的話荒唐，說：「你一向敬奉的是神明，如今說出這樣的話，豈不是褻瀆神明嗎？」妻子回答：「小梅服侍我一年多，我們相處得毫無拘束，我已經委婉地求過她了。」王慕貞問：「小梅在哪裡？」妻子說：「不就在內室裡嗎？」他正想再問，妻子已經閉上眼睛，去世了。夜裡，王慕貞守在靈前，聽見內室隱隱傳來抽泣聲，大為驚恐，懷疑是鬼。他叫來婢女和妾，打開鎖進去檢視，只見一個十六歲左右的美麗女子，穿著喪服坐在屋裡。大家都以為她是神仙，一起圍著她跪拜。她收住眼淚，扶起眾人。王慕貞凝神望著她，她只是低著頭。王慕貞說：「如果亡妻的話確實不假，請你到堂上，接受兒女的拜見；如果不能這樣，我也不敢妄想，免得招來罪過。」女子羞澀地走出來，徑直上了北堂。王慕貞叫婢女給她設了朝南的座位，自己先行拜禮，她也還了禮。隨後家中老幼和僕人依次伏地叩拜，她神色莊重地坐著受禮；只有妾上前時，她伸手拉住了她。自從夫人臥病，婢女懶惰，僕人偷懶，家業早已衰敗。眾人拜見完畢，恭恭敬敬地列隊侍立。女子說：「我感念夫人的厚意，留在人間，她又把大事託付給我。你們都應當改過自新，為主人盡力，以前的過失，一概不再計較；否則，不要以為這家裡沒有管事的人！」大家看著座上的她，真像懸掛的觀音畫像，被微風吹得輕輕搖動。眾人聽了，驚懼警醒，齊聲答應。女子便安排料理喪事，一切井然有序，從此家中上下沒有人敢懈怠。她整天管理內外事務，王慕貞要做什麼，也先告訴她再去做。然而兩人即使一夜見上幾次，也從不說一句私密的話。停柩之後，王慕貞想提起先前的婚約，卻不敢直接開口，便囑咐妾稍稍透露自己的意思。女子說：「我接受了夫人的殷切託付，情義上不容推辭；但婚姻是大禮，不能草率。年伯黃先生地位尊貴，德望很高，如果請他來主持婚事，我就聽從安排。」當時，沂水的黃太僕已經退休，在家閒居。他是王慕貞父親的朋友，與王家來往十分親密。王慕貞便親自登門，照實告訴了他。黃太僕覺得奇異，立即與他一同前來。女子聽說，便出來拜見。黃太僕一見她，驚歎她如同天上的仙人，謙讓著不敢受禮。隨後，他又贈送了豐厚的嫁妝，直到婚禮辦完才離去。女子贈給他枕頭和鞋子，像奉養公婆一樣敬重他，兩家從此更加親近。成婚以後，王慕貞始終把她當作神仙，親暱之中仍帶著敬畏，時常追問菩薩的日常起居。女子笑著說：「你也太傻了，哪裡會有正直的神明來到人間成婚呢？」王慕貞極力追問她的來歷。女子說：「不必追根究底。既然把我當作神明，早晚供養，自然不會有災禍。」女子待僕人一向寬厚，說話總帶著笑容；然而婢女僕人嬉笑玩鬧時，遠遠看見她，就都安靜下來。她笑著告訴他們：「難道你們還把我當作神仙嗎？我哪裡是什麼神仙！其實我是夫人的姨表妹，從小就和她要好。姐姐病中想念我，暗地裡讓南村的王姥來請我。只是我每天接近姐夫，男女之間容易招來嫌疑，所以才假託神仙的身份，關在內室裡，其實哪裡是什麼神仙。」眾人仍不相信，但每天在她身旁服侍，見她的言行舉止與常人毫無不同，流言便漸漸平息。然而，即使是那些頑劣的男僕和愚鈍的婢女，王慕貞平日責打也不能使他們改變，女子只要說一句話，他們沒有不樂意服從的。大家都說：「我們自己也不知道為什麼。實在不是怕她，只是看見她的容貌，心裡自然就溫柔起來，不忍違揹她的意思。」因此，家中所有荒廢的事務都重新辦了起來。幾年之間，田地連成大片，糧倉裡積存了上萬石糧食。又過了幾年，妾生了一個女兒，女子生了一個兒子。兒子出生時，左臂上有一個紅點，便取名小紅。滿月時，女子讓王慕貞設下盛宴，請黃太僕來。黃太僕送來豐厚的賀禮，卻推說年老，不能遠行。女子派去兩個老婦人，堅決邀請，黃太僕才來了。她抱出孩子，露出他的左臂，說明取名的緣故，又再三詢問這個紅點是吉是兇。黃太僕笑著說：「這是喜慶的紅，可以添一個『喜』字，叫喜紅。」女子十分高興，又出來叩拜。那天，庭院裡鼓樂齊鳴，尊貴的親戚來往如同趕集。黃太僕住了三天才走。忽然，門外來了車馬，要接女子回孃家探親。過去十多年，她從沒有親屬來往，大家都議論這件事，她卻像沒聽見一樣。梳妝完畢，她把兒子抱在懷裡，請王慕貞送她一程，王慕貞便跟著去了。走了二三十里，路上已經沒有行人，女子停下轎子，叫王慕貞下馬，遣開隨從，對他說：「王郎，王郎，我們相聚的日子短，分別的日子長，你說可不可悲？」王慕貞吃驚地問是什麼緣故。女子說：「你以為我是什麼人？」王慕貞回答：「不知道。」女子問：「你在江南救過一個犯了死罪的人，有這件事嗎？」王慕貞說：「有。」女子說：「在路邊哭的，就是我母親。她感激你的仁義，想報答你，便趁夫人信佛，假託神仙的名義，實際上是要把我嫁給你，報答你的恩情。如今幸好生下這個還在襁褓裡的孩子，這個心願已經得到滿足。我看出你的厄運就要來了，這孩子如果留在家裡，恐怕養不大，所以借回孃家探親，把他帶走，避開災難。你要記住，家裡有人死去時，要在清晨雞剛打鳴的時候，去西河的柳堤上，看見有人挑著葵花燈過來，就攔住去路，苦苦哀求，可以免去災難。」王慕貞答應了，又問她什麼時候回來。女子說：「不能預先定下。你一定要牢牢記住我的話，我們再見面的日子也不會太遠。」臨別時，兩人握著手，悲傷地一同流淚。不久，女子上了轎，快得像風一樣離去。王慕貞望著，直到看不見了，才返回。過了六七年，始終沒有她的訊息。忽然四周鄉村流行瘟疫，死了很多人，一個婢女生病三天便死了。王慕貞想起女子從前的囑咐，很把這件事放在心上。當天，他與客人喝酒，大醉後睡下。醒來時，聽見雞叫，趕緊起身來到柳堤，只見燈光閃爍，恰好已經過去了。他急忙追趕，起初只相隔一百步左右，卻越追越遠，漸漸看不見了，只好懊悔地回家。幾天後，他突然生了急病，很快就死了。王氏族人中有許多無賴，一起欺凌他的孤兒寡婦，公然砍取田裡的莊稼和樹木，家業一天天衰敗。過了一年，保兒又夭折了，一家更沒有了主事的人。族人越發橫行，分割侵佔田產，牲口棚裡的牛馬也被搶得一空，又想瓜分住宅。因為妾還住在那裡，他們便帶了幾個人來，強行抓她去賣。妾捨不得小女兒，母女抱在一起哭泣，慘狀使鄰居們都為之動容。正在危難之中，忽然聽見一頂轎子從門外進來。眾人一看，是女子領著小兒子從車中出來。她看看四周擠得像集市一樣的人群，問：「這些是什麼人？」妾哭著訴說了緣由。女子臉色驟變，立刻叫隨行的僕人關門上鎖。那些人想反抗，手腳卻像癱軟了一樣。女子命人把他們逐一捆起來，綁在廊柱上，每天只給三碗稀粥。她隨即派老僕趕去告訴黃公，然後進屋痛哭。哭完，對妾說：「這是天命啊。我本來打算上個月回來，恰好母親生病，耽擱到現在。沒想到轉眼間，家裡已經成了這副破敗的樣子！」她問起從前的婢女和老婦人，得知都被族人搶走了，不禁更加悲傷。第二天，婢女僕人聽說女子回來了，都自行逃回，見面時無不流淚。被捆的族人一起叫嚷，說這孩子不是王慕貞的親生骨肉，女子也不與他們爭辯。不久黃公到了，女子領著孩子出來迎接。黃公握住孩子的胳膊，捲起左邊的袖子，看見紅色的胎記清清楚楚，便露出來給眾人看，證明孩子的身份無誤。隨後，他仔細查問被搶走的財物，登記成冊，記下有關人的姓名，親自去見縣令。縣令拘捕了這些無賴，每人打四十板，把他們戴上刑具關起來，嚴令追還財物。沒幾天，田地和牛馬便全都歸還了原主。黃公要回去時，女子領著孩子，哭著拜謝，說：「我不是人間的人，叔父是知道的。如今把這個孩子託付給叔父了。」黃公說：「只要老夫還有一口氣，就一定替他料理安排。」黃公走後，女子把家產盤查整理妥當，將兒子託付給妾，便準備飯食，去給丈夫掃墓祭奠。過了半天，她還沒有回來。大家去看，只見酒杯和飯菜仍擺在那裡，人卻已經不見了。
蒙阴王慕贞，世家子也。偶游江浙，见媪哭于途，诘之。言：「先夫止遗一子，今犯死刑，谁有能出之者？」王素慷慨，志其姓名，出橐中金为之斡旋，竟释其罪。其人出，闻王之救己也，茫然不解其故，访诣旅邸，感泣谢问。王曰：「无他，怜汝母老耳。」其人大骇曰：「母故已久。」王亦异之。抵暮，媪来申谢，王咎其谬诬。媪曰：「实相告：我东山老狐也。二十年前曾与儿父有一夕之好，故不忍其鬼之馁也。」王悚然起敬，再欲诘之，已杳。先是，王妻贤而好佛，不茹荤酒；治洁室，悬观音像，以无子，日日焚祷其中。而神又最灵，辄示梦，教人趋避，以故家中事皆取决焉。后有疾，綦笃，移榻其中；又别设锦裀于内室而扃其户，若有所伺。王以为惑，而以其疾势昏瞀，不忍伤之。卧病二年，恶嚣，常屏人独寝。潜听之，似与人语；启门视之，又寂然。病中他无所虑，有女十四岁，惟日催治装遣嫁。既醮，呼王至榻前，执手曰：「今诀矣！初病时，菩萨告我，命当速死，念不了者，幼女未嫁，因赐少药，俾延息以待。去岁，菩萨将回南海，留案前侍女小梅，为妾服役。今将死，薄命人又无所出。保儿，妾所怜爱，恐娶悍怒之妇，令其子母失所。小梅姿容秀美，又温淑，即以为继室可也。」盖王有妾，生一子，名保儿。王以其言荒唐，曰：「卿素敬者神，今出此言，不已亵乎？」答云：「小梅事我年余，相忘形骸，我已婉求之矣。」问：「小梅何处？」曰：「室中非耶？」方欲再诘，闭目已逝。王夜守灵帏，闻室中隐隐啜泣，大骇，疑为鬼。唤诸婢妾启钥视之，则二八丽者，缞服在室。众以为神，共罗拜之。女敛涕扶掖。王凝注之，俛首而已。王曰：「如果亡室之言非妄，请即上堂，受儿女朝谒；如其不可，仆亦不敢妄想，以取罪过。」女腆然出，竟登北堂。王使婢为设坐南向，王先拜，女亦答拜；下而长幼卑贱，以次伏叩，女庄容坐受；惟妾至，则挽之。自夫人卧病，婢惰奴偷，家久替。众参已，肃肃列侍。女曰：「我感夫人盛意，羁留人间，又以大事相委，汝辈宜各洗心，为主效力，从前愆尤，悉不计校；不然，莫谓室无人也！」共视座上，真如悬观音图像，时被微风吹动。闻言悚惕，哄然并诺。女乃排拨丧务，一切井井，由是大小无敢懈者。女终日经纪内外，王将有作，亦禀白而行；然虽一夕数见，并不交一私语。既殡，王欲申前约，不敢径告，嘱妾微示意。女曰：「妾受夫人谆嘱，义不容辞；但匹配大礼，不得草草。年伯黄先生，位尊德重，求使主秦晋之盟，则惟命是听。」时沂水黄太仆，致仕闲居，于王为父执，往来最善。王即亲诣，以实告。黄奇之，即与同来。女闻，即出展拜。黄一见，惊为天人，逊谢不敢当礼；既而助妆优厚，成礼乃去。女餽遗枕履，若奉舅姑，由此交益亲。合卺后，王终以神故，亵中带肃，时研诘菩萨起居。女笑曰：「君亦太愚，焉有正直之神，而下婚尘世者？」王力审所自。女曰：「不必研穷，既以为神，朝夕供养，自无殃咎。」女御下常宽，非笑不语；然婢贱戏狎时，遥见之，则默默无声。女笑谕曰：「岂尔辈尚以我为神耶？我何神哉！实为夫人姨妹，少相交好；姊病见思，阴使南村王姥招我来。第以日近姊夫，有男女之嫌，故托为神道，闭内室中，其实何神。」众犹不信；而日侍边傍，见其举动，不少异于常人，浮言渐息。然即顽奴钝婢，王素挞楚所不能化者，女一言无不乐于奉命。皆云：「并不自知。实非畏之，但睹其貌，则心自柔，故不忍拂其意耳。」以此百废具举。数年中，田地连阡，仓廪万石矣。又数年，妾产一女。女生一子；子生，左臂有朱点，因字小红。弥月，女使王盛筵招黄。黄贺仪丰渥，但辞以耄，不能远涉；女遣两媪，强邀之，黄始至。抱儿出，袒其左臂，以示命名之意。又再三问其吉凶。黄笑曰：「此喜红也，可增一字，名喜红。」女大悦，更出展叩。是日，鼓乐充庭，贵戚如市。黄留三日始去。忽门外有舆马来，逆女归宁。向十余年，并无瓜葛，共议之，而女若不闻。理妆竟，抱子于怀，要王相送，王从之。至二三十里许，寂无行人，女停舆，呼王下骑，屏人与语，曰：「王郎王郎，会短离长，谓可悲否？」王惊问故。女曰：「君谓妾何人也？」答曰：「不知。」女曰：「江南拯一死罪，有之乎？」曰：「有。」曰：「哭于路者吾母也，感义而思所报，乃因夫人好佛，附为神道，实将以妾报君也。今幸生此襁褓物，此愿已慰。妾视君晦运将来，此儿在家，恐不能育，故借归宁，解儿厄难。君记取家有死口时，当于晨鸡初唱，诣西河柳堤上，见有挑葵花灯来者，遮道苦求，可免灾难。」王曰：「诺。」因讯归期。女云：「不可预定。要当牢记吾言，后会亦不远也。」临别，执手怆然交涕。俄登舆，疾若风。王望之不见，始返。经六七年，绝无音问。忽四乡瘟疫流行，死者甚众，一婢病三日死。王念曩嘱，颇以关心。是日与客饮，大醉而睡。既醒，闻鸡鸣，急起至堤头，见灯光闪烁，适已过去。急追之，止隔百步许，愈追愈远，渐不可见，懊恨而返。数日暴病，寻卒。王族多无赖，共凭陵其孤寡，田禾树木，公然伐取，家日陵替。逾岁，保儿又殇，一家更无所主。族人益横，割裂田产，厩中牛马俱空；又欲瓜分第宅。以妾居故，遂将数人来，强夺鬻之。妾恋幼女，母子环泣，惨动邻里。方危难间，俄闻门外有肩舆入，共觇，则女引小郎自车中出。四顾人纷如市，问：「此何人？」妾哭诉其由。女颜色惨变，便唤从来仆役，关门下钥。众欲抗拒，而手足若痿。女令一一收缚，系诸廊柱，日与薄粥三瓯。即遣老仆奔告黄公，然后入室哀泣。泣已，谓妾曰：「此天数也。已期前月来，适以母病耽延，遂至于今。不谓转盼间已成邱墟！」问旧时婢媪，则皆被族人掠去，又益欷歔。越日，婢仆闻女至，皆自遁归，相见无不流涕。所絷族人，共噪儿非慕贞体胤，女亦不置辨。既而黄公至，女引儿出迎。黄握儿臂，便捋左袂，见朱记宛然，因袒示众人，以证其确。乃细审失物，登簿记名，亲诣邑令。令拘无赖辈，各笞四十，械禁严追；不数日，田地马牛，悉归故主。黄将归，女引儿泣拜曰：「妾非世间人，叔父所知也。今以此子委叔父矣。」黄曰：「老夫一息尚在，无不为区处。」黄去，女盘查就绪，托儿于妾，乃具馔为夫祭扫，半日不返。视之，则杯馔犹陈，而人杳矣。
蒙阴的王慕贞，是世家子弟。一次游历江浙，见一个老妇人在路边哭泣，便上前询问。老妇人说：“我死去的丈夫只留下一个儿子，如今犯了死罪，谁能救他出来呢？”王慕贞一向慷慨，记下她儿子的姓名，拿出钱袋里的银子替他奔走疏通，终于使他免了罪。那人获释后，听说是王慕贞救了自己，完全不明白是什么缘故，便打听着来到他的客店，感激得流着泪道谢，又问他为什么相救。王慕贞说：“没有别的缘故，只是可怜你母亲年纪大了。”那人大吃一惊，说：“我母亲已经去世很久了。”王慕贞也觉得奇怪。到了傍晚，老妇人又来道谢，王慕贞责怪她编造假话。老妇人说：“实话告诉你，我是东山的一只老狐。二十年前，曾与你救下的那人父亲有过一夜情缘，所以不忍让他父亲的鬼魂断了祭祀，忍饥挨饿。”王慕贞惊得站起身，肃然起敬，还想再问，她却已经不见了。在这以前，王慕贞的妻子为人贤惠，信奉佛教，不吃荤，也不喝酒。她收拾出一间洁净的屋子，挂上观音像，因为没有儿子，每天都在里面烧香祈祷。观音又十分灵验，常在梦里指点他们该做什么、该避开什么，因此家里的事都向观音求取决断。后来妻子生了病，病得很重，便把床移到那间屋子里，又另外在内室铺设锦褥，锁上房门，好像在等待什么人。王慕贞觉得她受了迷惑，但见她病重，神志昏沉，不忍伤她的心。她卧病两年，厌烦喧闹，常常遣开众人，独自睡着。有人偷偷听，仿佛听见她在和人说话；打开门去看，却又没有声音。病中她没有别的牵挂，只因有个十四岁的女儿，天天催着准备嫁妆，把女儿嫁出去。女儿出嫁后，她叫王慕贞来到床前，握着他的手说：“如今要与你永别了！我刚生病时，菩萨告诉我，命里注定很快就要死。因为我放不下还没有出嫁的小女儿，便赐给我一点药，让我多活些时日，等她出嫁。去年，菩萨要回南海，留下案前侍女小梅来服侍我。如今我就要死了，我这薄命的人又没有生下儿子。保儿是我疼爱的孩子，我怕你娶个凶悍暴躁的妻子，使他们母子无处安身。小梅容貌秀美，又温柔贤淑，可以娶她做续弦。”原来王慕贞有个妾，生了一个儿子，名叫保儿。王慕贞觉得她的话荒唐，说：“你一向敬奉的是神明，如今说出这样的话，岂不是亵渎神明吗？”妻子回答：“小梅服侍我一年多，我们相处得毫无拘束，我已经委婉地求过她了。”王慕贞问：“小梅在哪里？”妻子说：“不就在内室里吗？”他正想再问，妻子已经闭上眼睛，去世了。夜里，王慕贞守在灵前，听见内室隐隐传来抽泣声，大为惊恐，怀疑是鬼。他叫来婢女和妾，打开锁进去查看，只见一个十六岁左右的美丽女子，穿着丧服坐在屋里。大家都以为她是神仙，一起围着她跪拜。她收住眼泪，扶起众人。王慕贞凝神望着她，她只是低着头。王慕贞说：“如果亡妻的话确实不假，请你到堂上，接受儿女的拜见；如果不能这样，我也不敢妄想，免得招来罪过。”女子羞涩地走出来，径直上了北堂。王慕贞叫婢女给她设了朝南的座位，自己先行拜礼，她也还了礼。随后家中老幼和仆人依次伏地叩拜，她神色庄重地坐着受礼；只有妾上前时，她伸手拉住了她。自从夫人卧病，婢女懒惰，仆人偷懒，家业早已衰败。众人拜见完毕，恭恭敬敬地列队侍立。女子说：“我感念夫人的厚意，留在人间，她又把大事托付给我。你们都应当改过自新，为主人尽力，以前的过失，一概不再计较；否则，不要以为这家里没有管事的人！”大家看着座上的她，真像悬挂的观音画像，被微风吹得轻轻摇动。众人听了，惊惧警醒，齐声答应。女子便安排料理丧事，一切井然有序，从此家中上下没有人敢懈怠。她整天管理内外事务，王慕贞要做什么，也先告诉她再去做。然而两人即使一夜见上几次，也从不说一句私密的话。停柩之后，王慕贞想提起先前的婚约，却不敢直接开口，便嘱咐妾稍稍透露自己的意思。女子说：“我接受了夫人的殷切托付，情义上不容推辞；但婚姻是大礼，不能草率。年伯黄先生地位尊贵，德望很高，如果请他来主持婚事，我就听从安排。”当时，沂水的黄太仆已经退休，在家闲居。他是王慕贞父亲的朋友，与王家来往十分亲密。王慕贞便亲自登门，照实告诉了他。黄太仆觉得奇异，立即与他一同前来。女子听说，便出来拜见。黄太仆一见她，惊叹她如同天上的仙人，谦让着不敢受礼。随后，他又赠送了丰厚的嫁妆，直到婚礼办完才离去。女子赠给他枕头和鞋子，像奉养公婆一样敬重他，两家从此更加亲近。成婚以后，王慕贞始终把她当作神仙，亲昵之中仍带着敬畏，时常追问菩萨的日常起居。女子笑着说：“你也太傻了，哪里会有正直的神明来到人间成婚呢？”王慕贞极力追问她的来历。女子说：“不必追根究底。既然把我当作神明，早晚供养，自然不会有灾祸。”女子待仆人一向宽厚，说话总带着笑容；然而婢女仆人嬉笑玩闹时，远远看见她，就都安静下来。她笑着告诉他们：“难道你们还把我当作神仙吗？我哪里是什么神仙！其实我是夫人的姨表妹，从小就和她要好。姐姐病中想念我，暗地里让南村的王姥来请我。只是我每天接近姐夫，男女之间容易招来嫌疑，所以才假托神仙的身份，关在内室里，其实哪里是什么神仙。”众人仍不相信，但每天在她身旁服侍，见她的言行举止与常人毫无不同，流言便渐渐平息。然而，即使是那些顽劣的男仆和愚钝的婢女，王慕贞平日责打也不能使他们改变，女子只要说一句话，他们没有不乐意服从的。大家都说：“我们自己也不知道为什么。实在不是怕她，只是看见她的容貌，心里自然就温柔起来，不忍违背她的意思。”因此，家中所有荒废的事务都重新办了起来。几年之间，田地连成大片，粮仓里积存了上万石粮食。又过了几年，妾生了一个女儿，女子生了一个儿子。儿子出生时，左臂上有一个红点，便取名小红。满月时，女子让王慕贞设下盛宴，请黄太仆来。黄太仆送来丰厚的贺礼，却推说年老，不能远行。女子派去两个老妇人，坚决邀请，黄太仆才来了。她抱出孩子，露出他的左臂，说明取名的缘故，又再三询问这个红点是吉是凶。黄太仆笑着说：“这是喜庆的红，可以添一个‘喜’字，叫喜红。”女子十分高兴，又出来叩拜。那天，庭院里鼓乐齐鸣，尊贵的亲戚来往如同赶集。黄太仆住了三天才走。忽然，门外来了车马，要接女子回娘家探亲。过去十多年，她从没有亲属来往，大家都议论这件事，她却像没听见一样。梳妆完毕，她把儿子抱在怀里，请王慕贞送她一程，王慕贞便跟着去了。走了二三十里，路上已经没有行人，女子停下轿子，叫王慕贞下马，遣开随从，对他说：“王郎，王郎，我们相聚的日子短，分别的日子长，你说可不可悲？”王慕贞吃惊地问是什么缘故。女子说：“你以为我是什么人？”王慕贞回答：“不知道。”女子问：“你在江南救过一个犯了死罪的人，有这件事吗？”王慕贞说：“有。”女子说：“在路边哭的，就是我母亲。她感激你的仁义，想报答你，便趁夫人信佛，假托神仙的名义，实际上是要把我嫁给你，报答你的恩情。如今幸好生下这个还在襁褓里的孩子，这个心愿已经得到满足。我看出你的厄运就要来了，这孩子如果留在家里，恐怕养不大，所以借回娘家探亲，把他带走，避开灾难。你要记住，家里有人死去时，要在清晨鸡刚打鸣的时候，去西河的柳堤上，看见有人挑着葵花灯过来，就拦住去路，苦苦哀求，可以免去灾难。”王慕贞答应了，又问她什么时候回来。女子说：“不能预先定下。你一定要牢牢记住我的话，我们再见面的日子也不会太远。”临别时，两人握着手，悲伤地一同流泪。不久，女子上了轿，快得像风一样离去。王慕贞望着，直到看不见了，才返回。过了六七年，始终没有她的消息。忽然四周乡村流行瘟疫，死了很多人，一个婢女生病三天便死了。王慕贞想起女子从前的嘱咐，很把这件事放在心上。当天，他与客人喝酒，大醉后睡下。醒来时，听见鸡叫，赶紧起身来到柳堤，只见灯光闪烁，恰好已经过去了。他急忙追赶，起初只相隔一百步左右，却越追越远，渐渐看不见了，只好懊悔地回家。几天后，他突然生了急病，很快就死了。王氏族人中有许多无赖，一起欺凌他的孤儿寡妇，公然砍取田里的庄稼和树木，家业一天天衰败。过了一年，保儿又夭折了，一家更没有了主事的人。族人越发横行，分割侵占田产，牲口棚里的牛马也被抢得一空，又想瓜分住宅。因为妾还住在那里，他们便带了几个人来，强行抓她去卖。妾舍不得小女儿，母女抱在一起哭泣，惨状使邻居们都为之动容。正在危难之中，忽然听见一顶轿子从门外进来。众人一看，是女子领着小儿子从车中出来。她看看四周挤得像集市一样的人群，问：“这些是什么人？”妾哭着诉说了缘由。女子脸色骤变，立刻叫随行的仆人关门上锁。那些人想反抗，手脚却像瘫软了一样。女子命人把他们逐一捆起来，绑在廊柱上，每天只给三碗稀粥。她随即派老仆赶去告诉黄公，然后进屋痛哭。哭完，对妾说：“这是天命啊。我本来打算上个月回来，恰好母亲生病，耽搁到现在。没想到转眼间，家里已经成了这副破败的样子！”她问起从前的婢女和老妇人，得知都被族人抢走了，不禁更加悲伤。第二天，婢女仆人听说女子回来了，都自行逃回，见面时无不流泪。被捆的族人一起叫嚷，说这孩子不是王慕贞的亲生骨肉，女子也不与他们争辩。不久黄公到了，女子领着孩子出来迎接。黄公握住孩子的胳膊，卷起左边的袖子，看见红色的胎记清清楚楚，便露出来给众人看，证明孩子的身份无误。随后，他仔细查问被抢走的财物，登记成册，记下有关人的姓名，亲自去见县令。县令拘捕了这些无赖，每人打四十板，把他们戴上刑具关起来，严令追还财物。没几天，田地和牛马便全都归还了原主。黄公要回去时，女子领着孩子，哭着拜谢，说：“我不是人间的人，叔父是知道的。如今把这个孩子托付给叔父了。”黄公说：“只要老夫还有一口气，就一定替他料理安排。”黄公走后，女子把家产盘查整理妥当，将儿子托付给妾，便准备饭食，去给丈夫扫墓祭奠。过了半天，她还没有回来。大家去看，只见酒杯和饭菜仍摆在那里，人却已经不见了。
Wang Muzhen of Mengyin came of an old and distinguished family. Once, travelling in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, he saw an old woman weeping by the road and asked what was wrong. “My late husband left only one son,” she said, “and now he is condemned to death. Is there anyone who can get him out?” Wang had always been generous. He took down the son’s name, spent money from his purse to work on the case, and in the end got him acquitted. When the man came out and heard that Wang had saved him, he could not think why. He sought Wang out at his inn and, weeping with gratitude, thanked him and asked the reason. “No reason,” said Wang. “I only pitied your old mother.” The man was astounded. “My mother died long ago.” Wang, too, thought it strange. Toward evening the old woman came to thank him again, and Wang reproached her for lying to him. “I will tell you the truth,” she said. “I am an old fox of the Eastern Hills. Twenty years ago I spent one night with the boy’s father, so I could not bear to let his ghost go hungry.” Wang rose to his feet in awe. He wanted to ask more, but she was gone. Before this, Wang’s wife, a good woman devoted to the Buddha, ate no meat and drank no wine. She had set aside a clean room and hung a picture of Guanyin in it, and because she had no son, she burned incense and prayed there every day. The goddess was most responsive: she often came in dreams to tell them what to seek and what to shun, so that every matter in the house was settled by her. Later the wife fell ill, very gravely, and had her bed moved into that room. She also had a brocade cushion laid in an inner room and the door locked, as if she were waiting for someone. Wang thought her deluded, but her illness had left her confused, and he could not bear to cross her. She lay ill for two years. She hated noise, and often sent everyone away and slept alone. Listening in secret, they heard her seem to talk with someone; but when they opened the door to look, all was silent. In her illness she cared for nothing else. She had a daughter of fourteen, and every day she urged them only to get the trousseau ready and marry the girl off. When the girl had been married, she called Wang to her bedside and took his hand. “Now we part. When I first fell ill, the Bodhisattva told me I was fated to die soon. What I could not let go of was that my young daughter was not yet married, so she gave me a little medicine to keep me breathing till then. Last year, when the Bodhisattva was about to go back to the Southern Sea, she left me Xiaomei, the maid who attends before her altar, to wait on me. Now I am dying, and, ill-fated as I am, I have borne you no son. Bao’er is dear to me, and I am afraid you will marry some shrew who will leave him and his mother with nowhere to turn. Xiaomei is lovely, and gentle too. You may take her as your second wife.” For Wang had a concubine who had borne him a son named Bao’er. Wang thought this absurd. “It is the gods you have always revered. Isn’t it irreverent to say such a thing now?” “Xiaomei has served me for more than a year,” she answered. “We have put aside all ceremony, and I have already asked her, gently.” “Where is Xiaomei?” “Isn’t she in the room?” He was about to ask more, but her eyes had closed; she was gone. That night, as Wang kept watch by the mourning curtains, he heard faint sobbing in the room. Greatly alarmed, he thought it was a ghost. He called the maids and the concubine to unlock the door and look. Inside was a beauty of about sixteen, dressed in mourning hemp. They all took her for a goddess and knelt around her. She held back her tears and helped them up. Wang stared at her; she only bowed her head. “If what my late wife said was not nonsense,” said Wang, “please come up to the hall and receive the children’s greetings. If that cannot be, I would not dare to presume and bring sin on myself.” Shyly she came out, and went right up into the north hall. Wang had a maid set her a seat facing south. Wang bowed first, and she returned his bow. Then the whole household, old and young, high and low, prostrated themselves in turn, and she received them seated, with a grave face; only when the concubine came did she raise her up. Ever since the lady had taken to her bed, the maids had grown lazy and the menservants light-fingered, and the house had long been going downhill. When all had paid their respects, they stood in silent rows. “I was moved by the lady’s great kindness,” she said, “so I have stayed on in the world of men, and she has entrusted me with important affairs. Each of you must wash your heart clean and serve your master with all your strength, and I will not count your past faults against you. Otherwise, do not think there is no one in charge of this house!” They all looked at her on the seat: she was exactly like the hanging picture of Guanyin, stirring now and then in a light breeze. Hearing her, they trembled and promised with one voice. She then took the funeral in hand, and everything was in perfect order; from then on no one, great or small, dared to slack. All day she managed affairs inside the house and out, and when Wang meant to do anything, he consulted her first. But though they might see each other several times in an evening, they never exchanged a private word. When the coffin had been laid to rest, Wang wanted to hold her to the earlier agreement, but did not dare say so outright; he asked the concubine to hint at it. “I took the lady’s earnest charge,” she said, “and duty will not let me refuse. But marriage is a great rite and cannot be done in haste. Uncle Huang is high in rank and great in virtue. If he can be asked to preside over the match, I will do whatever he says.” At that time Huang of Yishui, formerly of the Court of the Imperial Stud, had retired and was living at home. He was an old friend of Wang’s father, and the two houses were on the closest terms. Wang went to him in person and told him the truth. Huang thought it remarkable and came back with him at once. When she heard, she came straight out and bowed to him. At the sight of her Huang was amazed, as if at a being from Heaven, and modestly declined to accept her bow. Then he gave generously toward her trousseau, and left only when the wedding was done. She sent him pillows and shoes, as a bride does her husband’s parents, and from then on the families grew closer still. After they had drunk the wedding cup, Wang still thought of her as divine, and there was reverence mixed into his intimacy. He often pressed her about how the Bodhisattva lived. She laughed. “You are too foolish. What upright god would come down to marry in the dusty world?” Wang pressed hard to know where she came from. “No need to dig to the bottom of it,” she said. “Since you take me for a goddess, make offerings morning and night, and no harm will come to you.” She was always lenient with those under her and never spoke without a smile; yet when the maids and servants were larking about and caught sight of her in the distance, they fell silent. She smiled and told them, “Do you still take me for a goddess? What goddess am I! I am really the lady’s cousin on her mother’s side; we were close as girls. When my cousin fell ill she missed me, and secretly sent old Mother Wang of South Village to fetch me. Only, I would be near my cousin’s husband every day, and people would talk about a man and a woman, so I passed myself off as a goddess and shut myself in the inner room. In truth, what goddess was there?” Still they did not believe her. But serving at her side every day, and seeing that she behaved no differently from anyone else, they let the idle talk die down. Yet even stubborn menservants and dull maids, whom Wang’s beatings had never reformed, would gladly obey at a single word from her. “We don’t know why ourselves,” they all said. “It isn’t that we fear her. It’s only that when we see her face our hearts soften, and we can’t bear to go against her.” So everything that had fallen into neglect was taken up again. Within a few years his fields ran on, one after another, and his granaries held ten thousand piculs. Some years later the concubine bore a daughter. Xiaomei bore a son. When he was born he had a red dot on his left arm, so they named him Xiaohong, Little Red. When he was a month old, Xiaomei had Wang give a great feast and invite Huang. Huang sent rich gifts but excused himself as too old to travel so far. Xiaomei sent two old women to press him, and only then did he come. She carried the baby out and bared his left arm to show why he had been so named, and asked again and again whether it boded good or ill. Huang laughed. “This is a red of joy. Add one character and call him Xihong, Happy Red.” She was delighted, and came out again to bow to him. That day drums and music filled the courtyard, and noble kinsmen thronged like a market. Huang stayed three days before he left. Suddenly a carriage and horses came to the gate to fetch Xiaomei home on a visit to her family. In more than ten years she had never had any family ties at all. Everyone talked it over, but she seemed not to hear. When she had finished dressing, she took the boy in her arms and asked Wang to see her on her way, and he did. After twenty or thirty li, where the road was empty of travellers, she stopped the carriage, called Wang down from his horse, sent the attendants off, and said, “Wang, my love, my Wang, our meetings are short and our partings long. Is that not sad?” Startled, Wang asked what she meant. “Who do you think I am?” she said. “I don’t know,” he answered. “Did you once save a man condemned to death, south of the Yangzi?” “I did.” “The woman weeping by the road was my mother. She was moved by your goodness and wanted to repay you, and because the lady was devoted to the Buddha, she passed me off as a goddess. In truth she meant to repay you with me. Now I have been lucky enough to bear this little one in swaddling clothes, and her wish is fulfilled. I see dark days coming for you. If the child stays in the house, I fear he will not live to grow up, so I am using this visit home to save him from harm. Remember this: when there is a death in the house, at the first crow of the cock, go to the willow embankment by the west river. When you see someone coming with a sunflower lantern, block the way and beg hard, and you may escape the calamity.” “I will,” said Wang, and asked when she would come back. “That cannot be fixed beforehand. Only keep my words firmly in mind; our next meeting is not far off.” At parting they held hands and wept in sorrow. Then she got into the carriage and was off like the wind. Wang watched till she was out of sight, and only then turned back. Six or seven years passed without a word from her. Then a plague swept the countryside on every side, and a great many died. One of the maids fell sick and died in three days. Wang remembered her old instructions and was much concerned. That day he drank with guests, got very drunk and went to sleep. When he woke he heard the cock crowing, got up in haste and went to the embankment. He saw the gleam of a lantern, just going past. He hurried after it. It was only about a hundred paces off, but the harder he chased the farther it went, until it vanished, and he went home sick with regret. A few days later he was struck by a sudden illness, and soon died. Many of Wang’s clan were scoundrels. They ganged up on the widow and orphans, openly cutting and carrying off their crops and trees, and the household sank lower every day. The next year Bao’er died too, and there was no one at all left to head the family. The clansmen grew still more lawless. They carved up the land, emptied the stables of oxen and horses, and meant to divide up the house itself. Because the concubine was living there, they brought several men to seize her by force and sell her. The concubine clung to her little daughter; mother and child held each other and wept, and the neighbours were moved by their misery. In the midst of this crisis a sedan chair was heard coming in at the gate. They all looked: it was Xiaomei, leading her little boy out of the carriage. Looking round at the crowd milling about like a market, she asked, “Who are all these people?” Weeping, the concubine told her. Xiaomei’s face changed terribly. She called the servants who had come with her and had them shut and lock the gate. The men tried to resist, but their hands and feet seemed paralysed. She had them bound one by one and tied to the pillars of the veranda, and gave them three bowls of thin gruel a day. She at once sent an old servant hurrying to tell Lord Huang, then went inside and wept bitterly. When she had done weeping, she said to the concubine, “This is Heaven’s reckoning. I meant to come last month, but my mother fell ill and I was kept till now. I never thought that in the blink of an eye it would all be in ruins!” She asked after the old maids and serving women, and learned that the clansmen had carried them all off, and she sighed and sobbed all the more. The next day the maids and servants heard she had come, and all ran away and came back on their own; not one of them could see her without weeping. The clansmen tied to the pillars clamoured together that the boy was not Wang Muzhen’s own flesh and blood, and she did not trouble to argue. Then Lord Huang arrived, and she led the boy out to meet him. Huang took the boy’s arm and pushed back his left sleeve: there was the red mark, plain as ever. He bared it for everyone to see, as proof. Then he went carefully through what had been taken, wrote it all in a register with the names, and went in person to the county magistrate. The magistrate arrested the scoundrels, gave each of them forty strokes, and kept them in fetters and in jail while he pressed them hard; within days the land, the horses and the oxen had all gone back to their rightful owner. When Huang was about to leave, Xiaomei led the boy to him, bowed down weeping and said, “I am not of this world, as you know, Uncle. Now I entrust this child to you.” “As long as this old man has a breath left in him,” said Huang, “I will see to everything for him.” After Huang had gone, she put the accounts in order and entrusted the boy to the concubine. Then she prepared food and went to sweep her husband’s grave and make offerings to him. Half a day passed and she had not come back. They went to look: the cups and dishes were still laid out, but she was gone.