利津王蘭暴病死。閻王覆勘，乃鬼卒之誤勾也。責送還生，則尸已敗。鬼懼罪，謂王曰：「人而鬼也則苦，鬼而仙也則樂。苟樂矣，何必生？」王以為然。鬼曰：「此處一狐，金丹成矣。竊其丹吞之，則魂不散，可以長存。但憑所之，罔不如意。子願之否？」王從之。鬼導去，入一高第，
見樓閣渠然，而悄無一人。有狐在月下，仰首望空際。
氣一呼，有丸自口中出，直上入于月中；一吸，輒復落，以口承之，則又呼之：如是不已。鬼潛伺其側，俟其吐，急掇于手，付王吞之。狐驚，盛氣相嚮。見二人在，恐不敵，憤恨而去。王與鬼別，至其家，妻子見之，咸懼卻走。王告以故，乃漸集。由此在家寢處如平時。
利津人王蘭突然得病死了。閻王複查，才發現是鬼卒勾錯了人，便責令鬼卒送他回去還陽，可他的屍體已經腐爛了。鬼卒怕受處罰，對王蘭說：「人變成鬼是痛苦的，鬼變成仙卻很快活。既然能過得快活，又何必一定要活過來呢？」王蘭覺得有道理。鬼卒說：「這裡有只狐狸，已經煉成了金丹。偷來它的金丹吞下，魂魄便不會消散，可以永遠存在。想去哪裡就去哪裡，沒有什麼不如意的。你願意嗎？」王蘭答應了。鬼卒領著他離開，進了一座大宅院，只見樓閣高大，卻靜悄悄的，沒有一個人。一隻狐狸在月光下仰著頭，望向天空。它一呼氣，嘴裡便飛出一顆丸子，直升到月亮裡；一吸氣，丸子便落下來，它用嘴接住，又呼氣將丸子送出去，這樣反覆不停。鬼卒悄悄守在旁邊，等狐狸吐出丸子，急忙伸手抓住，交給王蘭吞下。狐狸大驚，怒氣衝衝地朝向他們，見有兩個人，怕自己打不過，便憤恨地走了。王蘭和鬼卒分別後回到家裡，妻子兒女看見他，都嚇得退避逃走。王蘭告訴他們事情的經過，他們才漸漸聚攏過來。從此，他就在家裡照常吃住睡覺。
利津王兰暴病死。阎王覆勘，乃鬼卒之误勾也。责送还生，则尸已败。鬼惧罪，谓王曰：「人而鬼也则苦，鬼而仙也则乐。苟乐矣，何必生？」王以为然。鬼曰：「此处一狐，金丹成矣。窃其丹吞之，则魂不散，可以长存。但凭所之，罔不如意。子愿之否？」王从之。鬼导去，入一高第，
见楼阁渠然，而悄无一人。有狐在月下，仰首望空际。
气一呼，有丸自口中出，直上入于月中；一吸，辄复落，以口承之，则又呼之：如是不已。鬼潜伺其侧，俟其吐，急掇于手，付王吞之。狐惊，盛气相向。见二人在，恐不敌，愤恨而去。王与鬼别，至其家，妻子见之，咸惧却走。王告以故，乃渐集。由此在家寝处如平时。
利津人王兰突然得病死了。阎王复查，才发现是鬼卒勾错了人，便责令鬼卒送他回去还阳，可他的尸体已经腐烂了。鬼卒怕受处罚，对王兰说：“人变成鬼是痛苦的，鬼变成仙却很快活。既然能过得快活，又何必一定要活过来呢？”王兰觉得有道理。鬼卒说：“这里有只狐狸，已经炼成了金丹。偷来它的金丹吞下，魂魄便不会消散，可以永远存在。想去哪里就去哪里，没有什么不如意的。你愿意吗？”王兰答应了。鬼卒领着他离开，进了一座大宅院，只见楼阁高大，却静悄悄的，没有一个人。一只狐狸在月光下仰着头，望向天空。它一呼气，嘴里便飞出一颗丸子，直升到月亮里；一吸气，丸子便落下来，它用嘴接住，又呼气将丸子送出去，这样反复不停。鬼卒悄悄守在旁边，等狐狸吐出丸子，急忙伸手抓住，交给王兰吞下。狐狸大惊，怒气冲冲地朝向他们，见有两个人，怕自己打不过，便愤恨地走了。王兰和鬼卒分别后回到家里，妻子儿女看见他，都吓得退避逃走。王兰告诉他们事情的经过，他们才渐渐聚拢过来。从此，他就在家里照常吃住睡觉。
Wang Lan of Lijin died of a sudden illness. When Yama went over the case again, it turned out that a ghost runner had fetched him by mistake. Yama ordered the runner to take him back to life, but his body had already rotted. The ghost, afraid of punishment, said to Wang, “A man who becomes a ghost suffers; a ghost who becomes an immortal is happy. If you can be happy, why must you be alive?” Wang agreed. “There is a fox near here,” said the ghost, “that has completed its golden elixir. Steal the elixir and swallow it, and your soul will never scatter; you can last forever. You may go wherever you please, and everything will go your way. Will you do it?” Wang went along with him. The ghost led him off, and they entered a lofty mansion.
Its towers and pavilions rose deep and high,but all was hushed; there was no one there.A fox sat in the moonlight,head tipped back, gazing into the sky.
It breathed out, and a ball came from its mouth and flew straight up into the moon; it breathed in, and the ball dropped back, and it caught it in its mouth and breathed it out again, over and over without end. The ghost crept up beside it and waited. The moment the fox spat the ball out, he snatched it in his hand and gave it to Wang to swallow. The fox started and turned on them in a fury, but seeing there were two of them, it feared it could not win, and went off seething. Wang parted from the ghost and went home. When his wife and children saw him, they all fled in terror. Wang told them what had happened, and little by little they gathered round again. From then on he lived and slept at home as he always had.
其友張姓者，聞而省之，相見話溫涼。因謂張曰：「我與若家夙貧，今有術，可以致富。子能從我游乎？」張唯唯。曰：「我能不藥而醫，不卜而斷。我欲現身，恐識我者相驚以怪。附子而行，可乎？」張又唯唯。於是即日趣裝，至山西界。富室有女，得暴疾，眩然瞀瞑。前後藥禳既窮，張造其廬，以術自炫。富翁止此女，常珍惜之，能醫者，願以千金為報。張請視之。從翁入室，見女瞑臥；啟其衾，撫其體，女昏不覺。王私告張曰：「此魂亡也，當為覓之。」張乃告翁：「病雖危，可救。」問：「需何藥？」俱言不須，「女公子魂離他所，業遣神覓之矣。」約一時許，王忽來，具言已得。張乃請翁再入，又撫之。少頃，女欠伸，目遽張。翁大喜，撫問。女言：「向戲園中，見一少年郎，挾彈彈雀；數人牽駿馬，從諸其後。急欲奔避，橫被阻止。少年以弓授兒，教兒彈。方羞訶之，便攜兒馬上，累騎而行。笑曰：『我樂與子戲，勿羞也。』數里入山中，我馬上號且罵；少年怒，推墮路旁，欲歸無路。適有一人至，捉兒臂，疾若馳，瞬息至家，忽若夢醒。」翁神之，果貽千金。王夜與張謀，留二百金作路用，余盡攝去，款門而付其子；又命以三百饋張氏，乃復還。次日，與翁別，不見金藏何所，益異之，厚禮而送之。
王蘭有個姓張的朋友，聽說這件事後，來探望他。兩人見面，互相問候近況。王蘭對他說：「我家和你家向來貧窮，現在我有一種本領，可以讓我們發財。你能跟我一起出門嗎？」張某連聲答應。王蘭說：「我不用藥就能治病，不用占卜就能預知事情。我想現身，又怕認識我的人覺得怪異，受到驚嚇。我依附著你出去行事，可以嗎？」張某又連聲答應。兩人當天就收拾行裝，到了山西境內。有個富人家的女兒突然得病，昏昏沉沉，不省人事，藥物和祈禱驅邪的辦法都試遍了。張某來到那家，誇說自己的本領。富翁只有這一個女兒，一向十分疼愛，願意拿千金酬謝能治好她的人。張某請求看看病人，跟著富翁進屋，見女子閉著眼躺在那裡，便掀開被子，撫摸她的身體，女子昏迷著，毫無知覺。王蘭悄悄告訴張某：「這是魂魄丟失了，我得去找。」張某便對富翁說：「病雖然危急，卻還有救。」富翁問：「需要什麼藥？」張某說不用藥，又說：「令愛的魂魄到了別處，我已經派神靈去找了。」大約過了一個時辰，王蘭忽然回來，告訴他已經找到了。張某便請富翁一起再進屋，又撫摸女子的身體。過了一會兒，女子打著哈欠，伸了伸懶腰，忽然睜開眼睛。富翁大喜，撫慰著詢問她。女子說：「先前我在園裡玩，看見一個年輕男子拿著彈弓打麻雀，後面跟著幾個牽著駿馬的人。我急著躲開，卻被他攔住了。他把彈弓交給我，教我射彈丸。我正羞惱地責罵他，他便把我帶到馬上，和我同騎一匹馬走了，還笑著說：『我喜歡和你玩，你別害羞。』走了幾里，進了山裡，我在馬上又哭又罵。他生氣了，把我推到路邊。我想回家，卻找不到路。恰好有個人過來，抓住我的胳膊，跑得像飛馳一樣，轉眼就到了家，我忽然像從夢裡醒來。」富翁覺得張某的本領神奇，果然給了千金。夜裡，王蘭和張某商量，留下二百金作路費，其餘的錢都由王蘭帶走，送回自己家，敲門交給兒子，又叫兒子拿三百金送給張家，然後返回。第二天，張某向富翁告別。富翁看不出那些錢藏在什麼地方，更加驚奇，送了厚禮，讓他離去。
其友张姓者，闻而省之，相见话温凉。因谓张曰：「我与若家夙贫，今有术，可以致富。子能从我游乎？」张唯唯。曰：「我能不药而医，不卜而断。我欲现身，恐识我者相惊以怪。附子而行，可乎？」张又唯唯。于是即日趣装，至山西界。富室有女，得暴疾，眩然瞀瞑。前后药禳既穷，张造其庐，以术自炫。富翁止此女，常珍惜之，能医者，愿以千金为报。张请视之。从翁入室，见女瞑卧；启其衾，抚其体，女昏不觉。王私告张曰：「此魂亡也，当为觅之。」张乃告翁：「病虽危，可救。」问：「需何药？」俱言不须，「女公子魂离他所，业遣神觅之矣。」约一时许，王忽来，具言已得。张乃请翁再入，又抚之。少顷，女欠伸，目遽张。翁大喜，抚问。女言：「向戏园中，见一少年郎，挟弹弹雀；数人牵骏马，从诸其后。急欲奔避，横被阻止。少年以弓授儿，教儿弹。方羞诃之，便携儿马上，累骑而行。笑曰：『我乐与子戏，勿羞也。』数里入山中，我马上号且骂；少年怒，推堕路旁，欲归无路。适有一人至，捉儿臂，疾若驰，瞬息至家，忽若梦醒。」翁神之，果贻千金。王夜与张谋，留二百金作路用，余尽摄去，款门而付其子；又命以三百馈张氏，乃复还。次日，与翁别，不见金藏何所，益异之，厚礼而送之。
王兰有个姓张的朋友，听说这件事后，来探望他。两人见面，互相问候近况。王兰对他说：“我家和你家向来贫穷，现在我有一种本领，可以让我们发财。你能跟我一起出门吗？”张某连声答应。王兰说：“我不用药就能治病，不用占卜就能预知事情。我想现身，又怕认识我的人觉得怪异，受到惊吓。我依附着你出去行事，可以吗？”张某又连声答应。两人当天就收拾行装，到了山西境内。有个富人家的女儿突然得病，昏昏沉沉，不省人事，药物和祈祷驱邪的办法都试遍了。张某来到那家，夸说自己的本领。富翁只有这一个女儿，一向十分疼爱，愿意拿千金酬谢能治好她的人。张某请求看看病人，跟着富翁进屋，见女子闭着眼躺在那里，便掀开被子，抚摸她的身体，女子昏迷着，毫无知觉。王兰悄悄告诉张某：“这是魂魄丢失了，我得去找。”张某便对富翁说：“病虽然危急，却还有救。”富翁问：“需要什么药？”张某说不用药，又说：“令爱的魂魄到了别处，我已经派神灵去找了。”大约过了一个时辰，王兰忽然回来，告诉他已经找到了。张某便请富翁一起再进屋，又抚摸女子的身体。过了一会儿，女子打着哈欠，伸了伸懒腰，忽然睁开眼睛。富翁大喜，抚慰着询问她。女子说：“先前我在园里玩，看见一个年轻男子拿着弹弓打麻雀，后面跟着几个牵着骏马的人。我急着躲开，却被他拦住了。他把弹弓交给我，教我射弹丸。我正羞恼地责骂他，他便把我带到马上，和我同骑一匹马走了，还笑着说：‘我喜欢和你玩，你别害羞。’走了几里，进了山里，我在马上又哭又骂。他生气了，把我推到路边。我想回家，却找不到路。恰好有个人过来，抓住我的胳膊，跑得像飞驰一样，转眼就到了家，我忽然像从梦里醒来。”富翁觉得张某的本领神奇，果然给了千金。夜里，王兰和张某商量，留下二百金作路费，其余的钱都由王兰带走，送回自己家，敲门交给儿子，又叫儿子拿三百金送给张家，然后返回。第二天，张某向富翁告别。富翁看不出那些钱藏在什么地方，更加惊奇，送了厚礼，让他离去。
A friend of his, a man surnamed Zhang, heard about it and came to see him. They talked over how things had gone with each of them. Then Wang said to Zhang, “Your family and mine have always been poor. Now I have an art that can make us rich. Will you travel with me?” Zhang said yes. “I can heal without medicine and foretell without divining,” said Wang. “I would show myself, but I fear that people who knew me would be frightened by something so uncanny. Would it be all right if I went about attached to you?” Zhang said yes again. So that same day they packed and set off, and came to the borders of Shanxi. There a rich family’s daughter had fallen suddenly ill and lay dazed and senseless. Every medicine and every exorcism had been tried when Zhang came to the house and boasted of his art. The rich old man had only this one daughter and had always doted on her; he promised a thousand in gold to whoever could cure her. Zhang asked to see her. He followed the old man into her room and found the girl lying with her eyes shut. He drew back the quilt and felt her body; she lay unconscious and knew nothing of it. Wang whispered to Zhang, “Her soul is lost. I must go and find it.” So Zhang told the old man, “Her illness is grave, but she can be saved.” “What medicine will you need?” Zhang said none was needed: “The young lady’s soul has wandered off elsewhere. I have already sent a spirit to find it.” About two hours later Wang suddenly came back and said he had it. Zhang asked the old man to go in with him again, and once more felt the girl’s body. In a moment she yawned and stretched, and her eyes flew open. The old man was overjoyed; he stroked her and asked what had happened. The girl said, “I was playing in the garden just now when I saw a young gentleman with a pellet bow, shooting at sparrows. Several men leading fine horses followed behind him. I wanted to run and hide, but he blocked my way. He handed me the bow and showed me how to shoot. I was just scolding him for it, all embarrassed, when he swept me up onto his horse and rode off with me in front of him. He laughed and said, ‘I like playing with you. Don’t be shy.’ We rode several li into the mountains. On the horse I wailed and cursed him, and he got angry and pushed me off by the roadside. I wanted to go home but could not find the way. Then someone came and took me by the arm and ran with me as fast as a galloping horse, and in an instant I was home. It was like waking from a dream.” The old man thought it miraculous, and paid the thousand in gold as he had promised. That night Wang and Zhang made their plans. They kept two hundred for the road, and Wang spirited all the rest away, knocked at his own door and handed it to his son; he also had his son send three hundred to Zhang’s family, and then came back. The next day, when Zhang took his leave, the old man could see no sign of where the gold had been put. He was all the more amazed, and sent Zhang off with rich gifts.
逾數日，張于郊外遇同鄉人賀才。才飲博不事生產，奇貧如丐。聞張得異術，獲金無算，因奔尋之。王勸薄贈令歸。才不改故行，旬日蕩盡，將復覓張。王已知之，曰：「才狂悖，不可與處，只宜賂之使去，縱禍猶淺。」逾日，才果至，強從與俱。張曰：「我固知汝復來。日事酗賭，千金何能滿無底竇？誠改若所為，我百金相贈。」才諾之。張瀉囊授之。才去，以百金在橐，賭益豪；益之狹邪游，揮灑如土。邑中捕役疑而執之，質于官，拷掠酷慘。才實告金所自來。乃遣隸押才捉張。數日，創劇，斃于途。魂不忘張，復往依之，因與王會。一日聚飲于煙墩，才大醉狂呼，王止之不聽。適巡方御史過，聞呼搜之，獲張。張懼，以實告，御史怒，笞而牒于神。夜夢金甲人告曰：「查王蘭無辜而死，今為鬼仙。醫亦仁術，不可律以妖魅。今奉帝命，授為清道使。賀才邪蕩，已罰竄鐵圍山。張某無罪，當宥之。」御史醒而異之，乃釋張。張治裝旋里。囊中存數百金，敬以半送家。王氏子孫，以此致富焉。
過了幾天，張某在郊外遇見同鄉賀才。賀才只顧喝酒賭博，不做營生，窮得像個乞丐。他聽說張某得了神奇的本領，掙了許多錢，便趕來找他。王蘭勸張某給他一點錢，打發他回去。賀才仍不改變從前的行為，十天就把錢花光了，又打算來找張某。王蘭已經知道了，說：「賀才狂妄無理，不能和他相處，只能給些錢讓他離開，這樣即使惹出禍事，危害也還小些。」過了一天，賀才果然來了，硬要跟著他們同行。張某說：「我早知道你還會來。你天天酗酒賭博，就算給你千金，又怎麼填得滿這個無底洞？你真能改掉這些行為，我就給你一百金。」賀才答應了，張某便倒出袋裡的錢給他。賀才拿著錢離開，仗著口袋裡有一百金，賭得更加放肆，又去嫖妓，揮霍錢財如同撒土。縣裡的捕役起了疑心，把他抓起來，押到官府，遭受了十分殘酷的拷打。賀才如實交代錢的來歷，官府便派差役押著他去抓張某。過了幾天，他的傷勢加重，死在路上。死後，他的魂魄還惦記著張某，又去依附他，因此和王蘭聚到了一起。一天，他們在烽火墩上聚飲，賀才喝得大醉，放聲狂喊，王蘭制止他，他也不聽。恰好巡方御史經過，聽見喊聲，派人搜查，抓到了張某。張某害怕，把實情說了出來。御史大怒，命人鞭打他，又向神靈發出公文。夜裡，御史夢見一個穿金甲的人告訴他說：「查明王蘭無辜而死，如今已經成了鬼仙。治病也是救人的仁術，不能把他當作妖邪懲處。現在奉天帝之命，授他清道使之職。賀才邪惡放蕩，已經罰他流放鐵圍山。張某無罪，應當寬免。」御史醒來，覺得十分驚異，便釋放了張某。張某收拾行裝回鄉，袋裡還剩幾百金，恭敬地拿出一半送給王家。王氏的子孫因此富裕起來。
逾数日，张于郊外遇同乡人贺才。才饮博不事生产，奇贫如丐。闻张得异术，获金无算，因奔寻之。王劝薄赠令归。才不改故行，旬日荡尽，将复觅张。王已知之，曰：「才狂悖，不可与处，只宜赂之使去，纵祸犹浅。」逾日，才果至，强从与俱。张曰：「我固知汝复来。日事酗赌，千金何能满无底窦？诚改若所为，我百金相赠。」才诺之。张泻囊授之。才去，以百金在橐，赌益豪；益之狭邪游，挥洒如土。邑中捕役疑而执之，质于官，拷掠酷惨。才实告金所自来。乃遣隶押才捉张。数日，创剧，毙于途。魂不忘张，复往依之，因与王会。一日聚饮于烟墩，才大醉狂呼，王止之不听。适巡方御史过，闻呼搜之，获张。张惧，以实告，御史怒，笞而牒于神。夜梦金甲人告曰：「查王兰无辜而死，今为鬼仙。医亦仁术，不可律以妖魅。今奉帝命，授为清道使。贺才邪荡，已罚窜铁围山。张某无罪，当宥之。」御史醒而异之，乃释张。张治装旋里。囊中存数百金，敬以半送家。王氏子孙，以此致富焉。
过了几天，张某在郊外遇见同乡贺才。贺才只顾喝酒赌博，不做营生，穷得像个乞丐。他听说张某得了神奇的本领，挣了许多钱，便赶来找他。王兰劝张某给他一点钱，打发他回去。贺才仍不改变从前的行为，十天就把钱花光了，又打算来找张某。王兰已经知道了，说：“贺才狂妄无理，不能和他相处，只能给些钱让他离开，这样即使惹出祸事，危害也还小些。”过了一天，贺才果然来了，硬要跟着他们同行。张某说：“我早知道你还会来。你天天酗酒赌博，就算给你千金，又怎么填得满这个无底洞？你真能改掉这些行为，我就给你一百金。”贺才答应了，张某便倒出袋里的钱给他。贺才拿着钱离开，仗着口袋里有一百金，赌得更加放肆，又去嫖妓，挥霍钱财如同撒土。县里的捕役起了疑心，把他抓起来，押到官府，遭受了十分残酷的拷打。贺才如实交代钱的来历，官府便派差役押着他去抓张某。过了几天，他的伤势加重，死在路上。死后，他的魂魄还惦记着张某，又去依附他，因此和王兰聚到了一起。一天，他们在烽火墩上聚饮，贺才喝得大醉，放声狂喊，王兰制止他，他也不听。恰好巡方御史经过，听见喊声，派人搜查，抓到了张某。张某害怕，把实情说了出来。御史大怒，命人鞭打他，又向神灵发出公文。夜里，御史梦见一个穿金甲的人告诉他说：“查明王兰无辜而死，如今已经成了鬼仙。治病也是救人的仁术，不能把他当作妖邪惩处。现在奉天帝之命，授他清道使之职。贺才邪恶放荡，已经罚他流放铁围山。张某无罪，应当宽免。”御史醒来，觉得十分惊异，便释放了张某。张某收拾行装回乡，袋里还剩几百金，恭敬地拿出一半送给王家。王氏的子孙因此富裕起来。
Several days later, outside town, Zhang ran into He Cai, a man from his home village. He Cai drank and gambled and did no work, and was as poor as a beggar. Hearing that Zhang had come by a marvellous art and made more money than could be counted, he hurried to find him. Wang advised giving him a little and sending him home. He Cai did not mend his ways; within ten days he had squandered it all and was about to look for Zhang again. Wang knew of it already. “He Cai is wild and perverse,” he said. “You cannot keep company with him. The only thing to do is pay him to go away; then even if trouble comes, it will not go deep.” The next day He Cai did come, and insisted on going along with them. Zhang said, “I knew you would come back. You spend your days drunk and gambling — how could even a thousand in gold fill a bottomless hole? If you truly change your ways, I will give you a hundred.” He Cai promised. Zhang emptied his bag and gave it to him. He Cai left, and with a hundred in his purse he gambled bigger than ever; on top of that he took to the brothels, throwing money about like dirt. The county constables grew suspicious and arrested him and brought him before the magistrate, who had him cruelly beaten. He Cai told the truth about where the money had come from. So runners were sent to take He Cai along and seize Zhang. A few days later his wounds grew worse and he died on the road. His ghost did not forget Zhang and went to cling to him, and so he joined Wang. One day they were drinking together at a beacon mound. He Cai got very drunk and began shouting wildly; Wang told him to stop, but he would not listen. Just then a touring censor passed by, heard the shouting and had the place searched, and they found Zhang. Zhang was frightened and told the whole truth. The censor was angry; he had Zhang flogged and sent a dispatch about him to the gods. That night he dreamed that a man in golden armour told him: “It is found that Wang Lan died through no fault of his own and is now a ghost immortal. Healing too is an art of kindness, and he is not to be judged as an evil spirit. Now by command of the Emperor on High he is appointed Clearer of the Way. He Cai was wicked and dissolute and has already been banished to the Iron Ring Mountains. Zhang has done no wrong and should be pardoned.” The censor woke amazed, and released Zhang. Zhang packed up and went home. He still had several hundred in his bag, and with all respect he sent half of it to the family. Wang’s sons and grandsons grew rich from it.