邑之西崖莊，有賈某被人殺於途；隔夜，其妻亦自經死。賈弟鳴於官。時浙江費公禕祉令淄，親詣驗之。見布袱裹銀五錢餘，尚在腰中，知非為財也者。拘兩村鄰保審質一過，殊少端緒，並未搒掠，釋散歸農；但命地約細察，十日一關白而已。踰半年，事漸懈。賈弟怨公仁柔，上堂屢聒。公怒曰：「汝既不能指名，欲我以桎梏加良民耶！」呵逐而出。賈弟無所伸訴，憤葬兄嫂。一日，以逋賦故，逮數人至。內一人周成，懼責，上言錢糧措辦已足，即於腰中出銀袱，稟公驗視。公驗已，便問：「汝家何里？」答云：「某村。」又問：「去西崖幾里？」答云：「五六里。」「去年被殺賈某，係汝何人？」答云：「不識其人。」公勃然曰：「汝殺之，尚云不識耶！」周力辨，不聽；嚴梏之，果伏其罪。先是，賈妻王氏，將詣姻家，慚無釵飾，聒夫使假於鄰。夫不肯；妻自假之，頗甚珍重。歸途，卸而裹諸袱，內袖中；既至家，探之已亡。不敢告夫，又無力償鄰，懊惱欲死。是日，周適拾之，知為賈妻所遺，窺賈他出，半夜踰牆，將執以求合。時溽暑，王氏臥庭中，周潛就淫之。王氏覺，大號。周急止之，留袱納釵。事已，婦囑曰：「後勿來，吾家男子惡，犯恐俱死！」周怒曰：「我挾勾欄數宿之貲，寧一度可償耶？」婦慰之曰：「我非不願相交，渠常善病，不如從容以待其死。」周乃去，於是殺賈，夜詣婦曰：「今某已被人殺，請如所約。」婦聞大哭，周懼而逃，天明則婦死矣。公廉得情，以周抵罪。共服其神，而不知所以能察之故。公曰：「事無難辦，要在隨處留心耳。初驗尸時，見銀袱刺萬字文，周袱亦然，是出一手也。及詰之，又云無舊，詞貌詭變，是以確知其真凶也。」
縣城西邊的西崖莊，有個姓賈的人在路上被人殺死；過了一夜，他的妻子也上吊死了。賈某的弟弟向官府報案。當時，浙江人費禕祉正在淄川做縣令，親自前去驗屍。他看見死者腰間還放著一個布包，裡面裹著五錢多銀子，便知道兇手不是為了搶錢。他把兩村的鄰居和保長拘來，逐一審問，卻沒問出什麼線索，也沒有拷打任何人，就把他們放回去種田，只吩咐地約仔細查訪，每十天報告一次。過了半年多，查案的事漸漸鬆懈了。賈某的弟弟埋怨費公太仁慈軟弱，多次到公堂上吵鬧。費公發怒說：「你既然指不出兇手的名字，難道要我把無辜百姓都戴上刑具嗎！」便呵斥著把他趕了出去。賈某的弟弟無處申訴，只得懷著憤恨埋葬了哥哥和嫂嫂。一天，官府因為有人拖欠賦稅，抓來了幾個人。其中一個叫周成，怕捱打，便說應交的錢糧已經湊齊了，隨即從腰間拿出一個包著銀子的布包，請費公查驗。費公驗過以後，就問：「你家住在哪個村？」他回答：「某村。」又問：「離西崖有幾里？」回答：「五六里。」「去年被殺的賈某，跟你是什麼關係？」回答：「我不認識這個人。」費公勃然大怒，說：「明明是你殺了他，還說不認識嗎！」周成竭力辯解，費公不聽，對他嚴刑拷問，他果然承認了罪行。原來，賈某的妻子王氏先前要去姻親家，覺得沒有釵和首飾戴很難為情，便纏著丈夫，讓他向鄰居借。丈夫不肯，她就自己去借，對借來的首飾十分珍惜。回家途中，她把首飾摘下來，用布包好，放進袖子裡；到了家，伸手一摸，首飾已經丟了。她不敢告訴丈夫，又沒有錢賠償鄰居，懊惱得想死。那天，周成恰好撿到了首飾，知道是賈某的妻子丟的，便趁賈某出門不在，半夜翻牆進去，想拿首飾要挾她同自己交歡。當時天氣悶熱潮溼，王氏睡在院子裡，周成偷偷靠近，強姦了她。王氏醒來，大聲呼喊。周成急忙制止她喊叫，把釵還給她，自己留下了布包。事後，王氏囑咐他說：「以後別來了，我家男人很兇，要是被他撞見，恐怕我們兩個都得死！」周成生氣地說：「我拿來的東西，夠付在妓院住好幾夜的錢，難道你陪我一次就算還清了嗎？」王氏安慰他說：「我不是不願意跟你好。他經常生病，不如耐心等他死了。」周成這才離去，隨後便殺了賈某，當夜又來找王氏，說：「如今你丈夫已經被人殺了，請你照約定辦吧。」王氏聽了，放聲大哭。周成害怕，逃走了，到了天亮，王氏便已自盡。費公查明案情，判周成償命。大家都佩服他斷案如神，卻不知道他是怎樣察覺的。費公說：「案子沒有什麼難辦的，要緊的是處處留心。最初驗屍時，我看見包銀子的布上繡著萬字紋，周成的布包也一樣，是同一個人繡的。再追問他，他又說和死者從不相識，言語神情都很不自然，所以我認定他就是真兇。」
邑之西崖庄，有贾某被人杀于途；隔夜，其妻亦自经死。贾弟鸣于官。时浙江费公祎祉令淄，亲诣验之。见布袱裹银五钱余，尚在腰中，知非为财也者。拘两村邻保审质一过，殊少端绪，并未搒掠，释散归农；但命地约细察，十日一关白而已。逾半年，事渐懈。贾弟怨公仁柔，上堂屡聒。公怒曰：「汝既不能指名，欲我以桎梏加良民耶！」呵逐而出。贾弟无所伸诉，愤葬兄嫂。一日，以逋赋故，逮数人至。内一人周成，惧责，上言钱粮措办已足，即于腰中出银袱，禀公验视。公验已，便问：「汝家何里？」答云：「某村。」又问：「去西崖几里？」答云：「五六里。」「去年被杀贾某，系汝何人？」答云：「不识其人。」公勃然曰：「汝杀之，尚云不识耶！」周力辨，不听；严梏之，果伏其罪。先是，贾妻王氏，将诣姻家，惭无钗饰，聒夫使假于邻。夫不肯；妻自假之，颇甚珍重。归途，卸而裹诸袱，内袖中；既至家，探之已亡。不敢告夫，又无力偿邻，懊恼欲死。是日，周适拾之，知为贾妻所遗，窥贾他出，半夜逾墙，将执以求合。时溽暑，王氏卧庭中，周潜就淫之。王氏觉，大号。周急止之，留袱纳钗。事已，妇嘱曰：「后勿来，吾家男子恶，犯恐俱死！」周怒曰：「我挟勾栏数宿之赀，宁一度可偿耶？」妇慰之曰：「我非不愿相交，渠常善病，不如从容以待其死。」周乃去，于是杀贾，夜诣妇曰：「今某已被人杀，请如所约。」妇闻大哭，周惧而逃，天明则妇死矣。公廉得情，以周抵罪。共服其神，而不知所以能察之故。公曰：「事无难办，要在随处留心耳。初验尸时，见银袱刺万字文，周袱亦然，是出一手也。及诘之，又云无旧，词貌诡变，是以确知其真凶也。」
县城西边的西崖庄，有个姓贾的人在路上被人杀死；过了一夜，他的妻子也上吊死了。贾某的弟弟向官府报案。当时，浙江人费祎祉正在淄川做县令，亲自前去验尸。他看见死者腰间还放着一个布包，里面裹着五钱多银子，便知道凶手不是为了抢钱。他把两村的邻居和保长拘来，逐一审问，却没问出什么线索，也没有拷打任何人，就把他们放回去种田，只吩咐地约仔细查访，每十天报告一次。过了半年多，查案的事渐渐松懈了。贾某的弟弟埋怨费公太仁慈软弱，多次到公堂上吵闹。费公发怒说：“你既然指不出凶手的名字，难道要我把无辜百姓都戴上刑具吗！”便呵斥着把他赶了出去。贾某的弟弟无处申诉，只得怀着愤恨埋葬了哥哥和嫂嫂。一天，官府因为有人拖欠赋税，抓来了几个人。其中一个叫周成，怕挨打，便说应交的钱粮已经凑齐了，随即从腰间拿出一个包着银子的布包，请费公查验。费公验过以后，就问：“你家住在哪个村？”他回答：“某村。”又问：“离西崖有几里？”回答：“五六里。”“去年被杀的贾某，跟你是什么关系？”回答：“我不认识这个人。”费公勃然大怒，说：“明明是你杀了他，还说不认识吗！”周成竭力辩解，费公不听，对他严刑拷问，他果然承认了罪行。原来，贾某的妻子王氏先前要去姻亲家，觉得没有钗和首饰戴很难为情，便缠着丈夫，让他向邻居借。丈夫不肯，她就自己去借，对借来的首饰十分珍惜。回家途中，她把首饰摘下来，用布包好，放进袖子里；到了家，伸手一摸，首饰已经丢了。她不敢告诉丈夫，又没有钱赔偿邻居，懊恼得想死。那天，周成恰好捡到了首饰，知道是贾某的妻子丢的，便趁贾某出门不在，半夜翻墙进去，想拿首饰要挟她同自己交欢。当时天气闷热潮湿，王氏睡在院子里，周成偷偷靠近，强奸了她。王氏醒来，大声呼喊。周成急忙制止她喊叫，把钗还给她，自己留下了布包。事后，王氏嘱咐他说：“以后别来了，我家男人很凶，要是被他撞见，恐怕我们两个都得死！”周成生气地说：“我拿来的东西，够付在妓院住好几夜的钱，难道你陪我一次就算还清了吗？”王氏安慰他说：“我不是不愿意跟你好。他经常生病，不如耐心等他死了。”周成这才离去，随后便杀了贾某，当夜又来找王氏，说：“如今你丈夫已经被人杀了，请你照约定办吧。”王氏听了，放声大哭。周成害怕，逃走了，到了天亮，王氏便已自尽。费公查明案情，判周成偿命。大家都佩服他断案如神，却不知道他是怎样察觉的。费公说：“案子没有什么难办的，要紧的是处处留心。最初验尸时，我看见包银子的布上绣着万字纹，周成的布包也一样，是同一个人绣的。再追问他，他又说和死者从不相识，言语神情都很不自然，所以我认定他就是真凶。”
In Xiya Village in my county, a man named Jia was murdered on the road; the next night his wife hanged herself as well. Jia’s younger brother took the matter to the authorities. At that time Lord Fei Yizhi of Zhejiang was magistrate of Zichuan, and he went in person to examine the body. He saw that a cloth wrapper holding a little over five qian of silver was still at the dead man’s waist, and knew it had not been done for money. He had the neighbours and headmen of both villages brought in and questioned them once over, but there was little to go on. Without having anyone beaten, he let them all go home to their farming, and only ordered the village constables to look into it closely and report every ten days. After half a year the matter had grown slack. Jia’s brother resented the magistrate for being too soft and lenient, and came to court again and again to pester him. Fei said angrily, “You cannot even name anyone. Do you want me to put innocent people in fetters?” and had him shouted out of the hall. With nowhere left to take his grievance, Jia’s brother buried his brother and sister-in-law in bitterness. One day several people were arrested and brought in for arrears of tax. One of them, Zhou Cheng, afraid of a beating, stepped forward and said the money he owed had all been raised; he took a cloth wrapper of silver from his waist and asked the magistrate to inspect it. When Fei had looked it over, he asked, “What village are you from?” “Such-and-such village.” “How far is it from Xiya?” “Five or six li.” “The man Jia who was murdered last year — what was he to you?” “I didn’t know the man.” Fei flared up. “You killed him, and you say you didn’t know him?” Zhou protested hard, but Fei would not listen. Put to harsh torture, Zhou did confess to the crime. Earlier, Jia’s wife, Mrs. Wang, was about to visit her relatives by marriage and was ashamed that she had no hairpins or ornaments. She pestered her husband to borrow some from a neighbour. He refused, so she borrowed them herself and took great care of them. On the way home she took them off, wrapped them in a cloth and put them in her sleeve; when she got home she felt for them and they were gone. She dared not tell her husband and had no means to repay the neighbour; she was so wretched she wanted to die. That day Zhou happened to pick them up and knew Jia’s wife had lost them. He waited until Jia was away, then climbed over the wall at midnight, meaning to use them to make her sleep with him. It was the sticky heat of summer, and Mrs. Wang was sleeping in the courtyard. Zhou stole over and forced himself on her. She woke and screamed. Zhou hurriedly quieted her, keeping the wrapper and handing over the hairpins. When it was over, the woman urged him, “Don’t come again. My man is a hard one — if he catches us, I’m afraid we’ll both be killed.” Zhou said angrily, “What I brought you would have paid for several nights in a brothel. Is one time supposed to settle it?” She soothed him. “It isn’t that I don’t want to be with you. He’s often ill. Better to wait patiently till he dies.” So Zhou left, and then he killed Jia. That night he came to the woman and said, “Now he’s been killed by someone. Keep your promise.” When she heard this she wept bitterly. Zhou took fright and fled, and by daybreak she was dead. Having found out the truth, the magistrate made Zhou answer for the crime. Everyone marvelled at his almost divine insight, but nobody knew how he had seen it. Fei said, “There was nothing hard about it. The point is simply to keep your eyes open at every turn. When I first examined the body, I saw that the silver wrapper was embroidered with the wan pattern, 卍. Zhou’s wrapper was the same — both had come from one hand. When I questioned him, he said he had never known the man, and his words and his face were shifty. That is how I knew for certain he was the real killer.”
異史氏曰：「世之折獄者，非悠悠置之，則縲繫數十人而狼藉之耳。堂上肉鼓吹，喧闐旁午，遂嚬蹙曰：『我勞心民事也。』雲板三敲，則聲色並進，難決之詞，不復置念；耑待升堂時，禍桑樹以烹老龜耳。嗚呼！民情何由得哉！余每曰：『智者不必仁，而仁者則必智；蓋用心苦則機關出也。』『隨在留心』之言，可以教天下之宰民社者矣。」
異史氏說：「世上審案的人，不是漫不經心地把案子擱在一邊，就是把幾十個人關起來，打得遍體鱗傷。公堂上打在人身上的聲響和受刑人的哭喊交織成一片，彷彿奏著鼓吹，他們便皺著眉頭說：『我為百姓的事操碎了心啊。』雲板敲過三下，便去享受歌舞女色，那些難以判決的案子，再也不放在心上；只等下次升堂時，為了懲辦罪犯，又把無辜的人牽連受害。唉！這樣怎麼能查明百姓事情的真相呢！我常說：『聰明的人未必仁慈，仁慈的人卻一定聰明，因為肯費盡心思，便能想出辦法。』『處處留心』這句話，可以用來教導天下治理百姓的官員了。」
异史氏曰：「世之折狱者，非悠悠置之，则缧系数十人而狼藉之耳。堂上肉鼓吹，喧阗旁午，遂嚬蹙曰：『我劳心民事也。』云板三敲，则声色并进，难决之词，不复置念；耑待升堂时，祸桑树以烹老龟耳。呜呼！民情何由得哉！余每曰：『智者不必仁，而仁者则必智；盖用心苦则机关出也。』『随在留心』之言，可以教天下之宰民社者矣。」
异史氏说：“世上审案的人，不是漫不经心地把案子搁在一边，就是把几十个人关起来，打得遍体鳞伤。公堂上打在人身上的声响和受刑人的哭喊交织成一片，仿佛奏着鼓吹，他们便皱着眉头说：‘我为百姓的事操碎了心啊。’云板敲过三下，便去享受歌舞女色，那些难以判决的案子，再也不放在心上；只等下次升堂时，为了惩办罪犯，又把无辜的人牵连受害。唉！这样怎么能查明百姓事情的真相呢！我常说：‘聪明的人未必仁慈，仁慈的人却一定聪明，因为肯费尽心思，便能想出办法。’‘处处留心’这句话，可以用来教导天下治理百姓的官员了。”
The Historian of the Strange says: Those in this world who judge cases either let them drift, or else lock up dozens of people and beat them black and blue. Up in the hall the drums and pipes of flesh play on, a clamorous din of overlapping cries, and the judge knits his brows and says, ‘I wear my heart out over the people’s affairs.’ At three strokes of the cloud gong, music and women are brought in together, and the hard cases are put out of mind entirely; he simply waits until he takes his seat in the hall again, and then brings ruin on the mulberry tree to boil the old turtle. Alas! How is he ever to get at the truth of the people’s affairs? I often say: ‘The wise are not always kind, but the kind are always wise; for when the heart takes pains, the way through appears.’ The words ‘keep your eyes open at every turn’ could teach every official in the land who governs the people.