王成，平原故家子，性最懶。生涯日落，惟剩破屋數間，與妻臥牛衣中，交謫不堪。時盛夏燠熱，村外故有周氏園，牆宇盡傾，惟存一亭；村人多寄宿其中，王亦在焉。既曉，睡者盡去；紅日三竿，王始起，逡巡欲歸。見草際金釵一股，拾視之，鐫有細字云：「儀賓府造」。王祖為衡府儀賓，家中故物，多此款式，因把釵躊躇。 欻一嫗來尋釵。王雖故貧，然性介，遽出授之。嫗喜，極贊盛德，曰：「釵值幾何，先夫之遺澤也。」問：「夫君伊誰？」答云：「故儀賓王柬之也。」王驚曰：「吾祖也。何以相遇？」嫗亦驚曰：「汝即王柬之之孫耶？我乃狐仙。百年前，與君祖繾綣。君祖歿，老身遂隱。過此遺釵，適入子手，非天數耶！」王亦曾聞祖有狐妻，信其言，便邀臨顧。嫗從之。王呼妻出見，負敗絮，菜色黯焉。嫗嘆曰：「嘻！王柬之孫子，非乃一貧至此哉！」又顧敗灶無煙，曰：「家計若此，何以聊生？」妻因細述貧狀，嗚咽飲泣。嫗以釵授婦，使姑質錢市米，三日外請復相見。王挽留之。嫗曰：「汝一妻不能自存活；我在，仰屋而居，復何裨益？」遂徑去。王為妻言其故，妻大怖。王誦其義，使姑事之，妻諾。逾三日，果至。出數金，糴粟麥各石。夜與婦共短榻。婦初懼之；然察其意殊拳拳，遂不之疑。
王成是平原一箇舊日世家的子弟，性情極其懶惰。家境一天天衰敗，最後只剩下幾間破屋。他與妻子躺在蓋牛用的草衣裡，互相埋怨，日子過得難以忍受。當時正是盛夏，天氣悶熱。村外原有一座周家的園子，圍牆和房屋都已倒塌，只剩下一座亭子。村民常去那裡過夜，王成也在其中。天亮後，睡在那裡的人全都走了，直到太陽昇得很高，王成才起身，磨磨蹭蹭地準備回家。他看見草叢邊有一支金釵，拾起來看，上面刻著幾個小字：「儀賓府造」。王成的祖父曾是衡府儀賓，家裡的舊物多有這種款式，他便拿著金釵，心裡猶疑。忽然，一個老婦人過來找金釵。王成雖然貧窮，品行卻正直，立刻拿出金釵還給她。老婦人十分高興，極力稱讚他的品德，說：「這支釵能值多少錢？只是我亡夫留給我的東西。」王成問：「您的丈夫是誰？」老婦人答道：「已經去世的儀賓王柬之。」王成驚道：「那是我的祖父！我怎麼會在這裡遇上您？」老婦人也驚訝地說：「你就是王柬之的孫子嗎？我是狐仙。一百年前，我與你祖父十分恩愛。你祖父去世後，我便隱居起來。這次經過這裡，丟了金釵，恰好落到你手裡，難道不是天意嗎！」王成也曾聽說祖父有個狐妻，便相信她的話，請她到家裡去。老婦人跟著他去了。王成叫妻子出來拜見，妻子披著破棉絮，臉色因飢餓而黯淡發黃。老婦人嘆道：「唉！王柬之的子孫，竟窮到了這樣的地步！」她又看了看那不冒煙的破灶，說：「家裡成了這樣，你們靠什麼活下去？」妻子便細說家裡的貧苦情形，一邊說，一邊哽咽流淚。老婦人把金釵交給她，讓她暫且典當了，換錢買米，說三天後再來看他們。王成挽留她。老婦人說：「你連一個妻子都養不活，我留在這裡，也只能望著屋頂發愁，能有什麼用呢？」說完便走了。王成把老婦人的來歷告訴妻子，妻子十分害怕。王成說起她的恩義，讓妻子像侍奉婆婆一樣侍奉她，妻子答應了。過了三天，老婦人果然來了。她拿出幾兩銀子，買了一石粟和一石麥。晚上，她與王成的妻子同睡在一張小床上。妻子起初害怕她，後來察覺她待自己十分真誠關切，便不再疑懼。
王成，平原故家子，性最懒。生涯日落，惟剩破屋数间，与妻卧牛衣中，交谪不堪。时盛夏燠热，村外故有周氏园，墙宇尽倾，惟存一亭；村人多寄宿其中，王亦在焉。既晓，睡者尽去；红日三竿，王始起，逡巡欲归。见草际金钗一股，拾视之，镌有细字云：「仪宾府造」。王祖为衡府仪宾，家中故物，多此款式，因把钗踌躇。 欻一妪来寻钗。王虽故贫，然性介，遽出授之。妪喜，极赞盛德，曰：「钗值几何，先夫之遗泽也。」问：「夫君伊谁？」答云：「故仪宾王柬之也。」王惊曰：「吾祖也。何以相遇？」妪亦惊曰：「汝即王柬之之孙耶？我乃狐仙。百年前，与君祖缱绻。君祖殁，老身遂隐。过此遗钗，适入子手，非天数耶！」王亦曾闻祖有狐妻，信其言，便邀临顾。妪从之。王呼妻出见，负败絮，菜色黯焉。妪叹曰：「嘻！王柬之孙子，非乃一贫至此哉！」又顾败灶无烟，曰：「家计若此，何以聊生？」妻因细述贫状，呜咽饮泣。妪以钗授妇，使姑质钱市米，三日外请复相见。王挽留之。妪曰：「汝一妻不能自存活；我在，仰屋而居，复何裨益？」遂径去。王为妻言其故，妻大怖。王诵其义，使姑事之，妻诺。逾三日，果至。出数金，籴粟麦各石。夜与妇共短榻。妇初惧之；然察其意殊拳拳，遂不之疑。
王成是平原一个旧日世家的子弟，性情极其懒惰。家境一天天衰败，最后只剩下几间破屋。他与妻子躺在盖牛用的草衣里，互相埋怨，日子过得难以忍受。当时正是盛夏，天气闷热。村外原有一座周家的园子，围墙和房屋都已倒塌，只剩下一座亭子。村民常去那里过夜，王成也在其中。天亮后，睡在那里的人全都走了，直到太阳升得很高，王成才起身，磨磨蹭蹭地准备回家。他看见草丛边有一支金钗，拾起来看，上面刻着几个小字：“仪宾府造”。王成的祖父曾是衡府仪宾，家里的旧物多有这种款式，他便拿着金钗，心里犹疑。忽然，一个老妇人过来找金钗。王成虽然贫穷，品行却正直，立刻拿出金钗还给她。老妇人十分高兴，极力称赞他的品德，说：“这支钗能值多少钱？只是我亡夫留给我的东西。”王成问：“您的丈夫是谁？”老妇人答道：“已经去世的仪宾王柬之。”王成惊道：“那是我的祖父！我怎么会在这里遇上您？”老妇人也惊讶地说：“你就是王柬之的孙子吗？我是狐仙。一百年前，我与你祖父十分恩爱。你祖父去世后，我便隐居起来。这次经过这里，丢了金钗，恰好落到你手里，难道不是天意吗！”王成也曾听说祖父有个狐妻，便相信她的话，请她到家里去。老妇人跟着他去了。王成叫妻子出来拜见，妻子披着破棉絮，脸色因饥饿而黯淡发黄。老妇人叹道：“唉！王柬之的子孙，竟穷到了这样的地步！”她又看了看那不冒烟的破灶，说：“家里成了这样，你们靠什么活下去？”妻子便细说家里的贫苦情形，一边说，一边哽咽流泪。老妇人把金钗交给她，让她暂且典当了，换钱买米，说三天后再来看他们。王成挽留她。老妇人说：“你连一个妻子都养不活，我留在这里，也只能望着屋顶发愁，能有什么用呢？”说完便走了。王成把老妇人的来历告诉妻子，妻子十分害怕。王成说起她的恩义，让妻子像侍奉婆婆一样侍奉她，妻子答应了。过了三天，老妇人果然来了。她拿出几两银子，买了一石粟和一石麦。晚上，她与王成的妻子同睡在一张小床上。妻子起初害怕她，后来察觉她待自己十分真诚关切，便不再疑惧。
Wang Cheng came of an old family of Pingyuan, and he was the laziest of men. His fortunes sank day by day until all that was left was a few rooms of a broken-down house, where he and his wife lay under an ox-blanket and nagged at each other past bearing. It was the height of summer and sweltering hot. Outside the village there had long been a garden belonging to the Zhou family. Its walls and buildings had all fallen in, and only a pavilion was left standing. Many of the villagers went there to sleep, and Wang was among them. At daybreak the sleepers all left. When the red sun was three poles high, Wang at last got up and dawdled about, meaning to go home. In the grass he saw a gold hairpin. He picked it up and looked at it: it was engraved in small characters, “Made for the Consort’s Household.” Wang’s grandfather had been Consort in the house of the Prince of Heng, and many of the old things in the family were of this pattern. So he stood holding the hairpin, uncertain what to do. Suddenly an old woman came looking for it. Poor as he was, Wang was a scrupulous man, and he handed it to her at once. The old woman was delighted and praised his virtue to the skies. “The hairpin is worth little,” she said, “but it was left to me by my late husband.” “Who was your husband?” asked Wang. “The late Consort, Wang Jianzhi.” Wang was startled. “He was my grandfather! How did you come to meet him?” The old woman was startled too. “You are Wang Jianzhi’s grandson? I am a fox immortal. A hundred years ago your grandfather and I were lovers. When he died, I went into hiding. I passed this way and dropped my hairpin, and it fell into your hands. Is that not fate?” Wang had heard that his grandfather had a fox wife, so he believed her and invited her to his house. She went with him. Wang called his wife out to meet her. She came wrapped in tattered cotton wadding, her face grey and sallow with hunger. The old woman sighed. “Ah! That a grandson of Wang Jianzhi should be as poor as this!” Then, looking at the broken stove with no smoke rising from it, she said, “With your household in this state, how do you live at all?” The wife told her every detail of their poverty, sobbing and choking back tears. The old woman gave her the hairpin and told her to pawn it for now and buy rice; in three days she would come to see them again. Wang begged her to stay. “You can’t even keep one wife alive,” she said. “If I stayed, I would only sit here staring at your rafters. What good would that do?” And she left straight away. Wang told his wife what the old woman was, and his wife was terrified. Wang spoke of the old woman’s goodness and told his wife to wait on her for the time being. His wife agreed. Three days later the old woman came, as she had said. She took out several taels of silver and bought a picul each of millet and wheat. At night she shared the narrow couch with the wife. At first the wife was afraid of her, but she saw that the old woman meant them nothing but kindness, and stopped suspecting her.
翌日，謂王曰：「孫勿惰，宜操小生業，坐食烏可長也？」王告以無資。曰：「汝祖在時，金帛憑所取；我以世外人，無需是物，故未嘗多取。積花粉之金四十兩，至今猶存。久貯亦無所用，可將去悉以市葛，刻日赴都，可得微息。」王從之，購五十餘端以歸。嫗命趣裝，計六七日可達燕都。囑曰：「宜勤勿懶，宜急勿緩；遲之一日，悔之已晚。」王敬諾，囊貨就路。中途遇雨，衣履浸濡。王生平未歷風霜，委頓不堪，因暫休旅舍。不意淙淙徹暮，檐雨如繩。過宿，濘益甚。見往來行人，踐淖沒脛，心畏苦之。待至停午，始漸燥，而陰雲複合，雨又大作。信宿乃行。將近京，傳聞葛價翔貴，心竊喜。入都，解裝客店，主人深惜其晚。先是，南道初通，葛至絕少。貝勒府購致甚急，價頓昂，較常可三倍。前一日方購足，後來者並皆失望。主人以故告王。王鬱鬱不得志。越日，葛至愈多，價益下。王以無利不肯售。遲十餘日，計食耗煩多，倍益懮悶。主人勸令賤鬻，改而他圖。從之。虧資十餘兩，悉脫去。早起，將作歸計，啟視囊中，則金亡矣。驚告主人。主人無所為計。或勸鳴官，責主人償。王嘆曰：「此我數也，于主人何尤？」主人聞而德之，贈金五兩，慰之使歸。自念無以見祖母，蹀躞內外，進退維谷。
第二天，老婦人對王成說：「孫兒不要懶惰，該做點小生意。只吃不做，怎麼能長久呢？」王成說自己沒有本錢。老婦人說：「你祖父在世時，金銀布帛，我想取多少都可以。不過我是世外之人，用不著這些東西，所以從沒多拿。我攢下了四十兩脂粉錢，到現在還留著。放了這麼久，也沒什麼用處，你可以拿去，全都買成葛布，趕緊運到京城，能賺一點錢。」王成聽了她的話，買了五十多匹葛布回來。老婦人催他收拾行裝，估計六七天就能到燕都。她囑咐道：「要勤快，別懶惰；要趕緊，別拖延。晚一天，到時後悔就來不及了。」王成恭敬地答應，把貨物裝好上路。途中遇到下雨，衣服和鞋子全都溼透了。王成一輩子沒有受過這樣的風吹雨打，疲憊得受不了，便暫時在旅店歇腳。不料雨一直下到天黑，屋簷流下的雨水像一根根繩子。過了一夜，道路更加泥濘。他看見來往行人踩進泥裡，泥水沒過小腿，心裡害怕受苦，便不肯走。等到中午，路面才漸漸幹些，陰雲卻又聚攏起來，再次下起大雨。他住了兩夜才動身。快到京城時，聽說葛布價格大漲，心裡暗自高興。進城後，他在客店卸下貨物，店主人卻很替他惋惜，說他來晚了。原來，南邊的道路剛剛暢通，運來的葛布極少。貝勒府急著購置，價格一下漲起來，大約是平時的三倍。就在前一天，貝勒府剛把所需的葛布買齊，後來的人全都沒能如願。店主人把緣由告訴王成，王成十分沮喪。第二天，運來的葛布更多，價格也更低。王成不肯不賺錢就賣，拖了十多天，算算吃住已經花了不少錢，更加憂愁。店主人勸他低價賣掉，另想辦法。他聽從了，虧掉十多兩本錢，把葛布全賣了。一天清早，他起床準備回家，打開錢袋一看，銀子竟全沒了。他驚慌地告訴店主人，店主人也想不出辦法。有人勸他報官，要店主人賠償。王成嘆道：「這是我的命，能怪店主人什麼呢？」店主人聽說後，很感激他，送給他五兩銀子，安慰他，讓他回家。王成卻覺得無顏面對祖母，在屋裡屋外來回徘徊，進退兩難。
翌日，谓王曰：「孙勿惰，宜操小生业，坐食乌可长也？」王告以无资。曰：「汝祖在时，金帛凭所取；我以世外人，无需是物，故未尝多取。积花粉之金四十两，至今犹存。久贮亦无所用，可将去悉以市葛，刻日赴都，可得微息。」王从之，购五十余端以归。妪命趣装，计六七日可达燕都。嘱曰：「宜勤勿懒，宜急勿缓；迟之一日，悔之已晚。」王敬诺，囊货就路。中途遇雨，衣履浸濡。王生平未历风霜，委顿不堪，因暂休旅舍。不意淙淙彻暮，檐雨如绳。过宿，泞益甚。见往来行人，践淖没胫，心畏苦之。待至停午，始渐燥，而阴云复合，雨又大作。信宿乃行。将近京，传闻葛价翔贵，心窃喜。入都，解装客店，主人深惜其晚。先是，南道初通，葛至绝少。贝勒府购致甚急，价顿昂，较常可三倍。前一日方购足，后来者并皆失望。主人以故告王。王郁郁不得志。越日，葛至愈多，价益下。王以无利不肯售。迟十余日，计食耗烦多，倍益懮闷。主人劝令贱鬻，改而他图。从之。亏资十余两，悉脱去。早起，将作归计，启视囊中，则金亡矣。惊告主人。主人无所为计。或劝鸣官，责主人偿。王叹曰：「此我数也，于主人何尤？」主人闻而德之，赠金五两，慰之使归。自念无以见祖母，蹀躞内外，进退维谷。
第二天，老妇人对王成说：“孙儿不要懒惰，该做点小生意。只吃不做，怎么能长久呢？”王成说自己没有本钱。老妇人说：“你祖父在世时，金银布帛，我想取多少都可以。不过我是世外之人，用不着这些东西，所以从没多拿。我攒下了四十两脂粉钱，到现在还留着。放了这么久，也没什么用处，你可以拿去，全都买成葛布，赶紧运到京城，能赚一点钱。”王成听了她的话，买了五十多匹葛布回来。老妇人催他收拾行装，估计六七天就能到燕都。她嘱咐道：“要勤快，别懒惰；要赶紧，别拖延。晚一天，到时后悔就来不及了。”王成恭敬地答应，把货物装好上路。途中遇到下雨，衣服和鞋子全都湿透了。王成一辈子没有受过这样的风吹雨打，疲惫得受不了，便暂时在旅店歇脚。不料雨一直下到天黑，屋檐流下的雨水像一根根绳子。过了一夜，道路更加泥泞。他看见来往行人踩进泥里，泥水没过小腿，心里害怕受苦，便不肯走。等到中午，路面才渐渐干些，阴云却又聚拢起来，再次下起大雨。他住了两夜才动身。快到京城时，听说葛布价格大涨，心里暗自高兴。进城后，他在客店卸下货物，店主人却很替他惋惜，说他来晚了。原来，南边的道路刚刚畅通，运来的葛布极少。贝勒府急着购置，价格一下涨起来，大约是平时的三倍。就在前一天，贝勒府刚把所需的葛布买齐，后来的人全都没能如愿。店主人把缘由告诉王成，王成十分沮丧。第二天，运来的葛布更多，价格也更低。王成不肯不赚钱就卖，拖了十多天，算算吃住已经花了不少钱，更加忧愁。店主人劝他低价卖掉，另想办法。他听从了，亏掉十多两本钱，把葛布全卖了。一天清早，他起床准备回家，打开钱袋一看，银子竟全没了。他惊慌地告诉店主人，店主人也想不出办法。有人劝他报官，要店主人赔偿。王成叹道：“这是我的命，能怪店主人什么呢？”店主人听说后，很感激他，送给他五两银子，安慰他，让他回家。王成却觉得无颜面对祖母，在屋里屋外来回徘徊，进退两难。
The next day the old woman said to Wang, “Grandson, don’t be idle. You ought to take up some small trade. How can you sit and eat for ever?” Wang told her he had no capital. “When your grandfather was alive,” she said, “I could take as much gold and silk as I liked. But I am outside the world and had no need of such things, so I never took much. I saved forty taels as pin money, and I still have it. Kept by me it is no use to anyone. Take it all and buy grass-cloth, then go straight to the capital, and you will make a small profit.” Wang did as she said and came home with more than fifty bolts. The old woman told him to pack at once; she reckoned he could reach Yanjing, the capital, in six or seven days. “Be diligent, not lazy,” she warned him. “Be quick, not slow. Be one day late, and it will be too late to be sorry.” Wang respectfully promised, packed his goods and set out. On the way he was caught in the rain and soaked, clothes and shoes. Never in his life had he known wind and frost, and he was worn out past bearing, so he stopped to rest at an inn. He did not expect the rain to pour on till nightfall, running off the eaves in ropes. By the next morning the mud was worse. He watched the travellers on the road sink to the shins in the mire, and he shrank from the hardship. At noon the road began to dry, but the clouds closed in again and the rain came down harder than ever. He waited two nights before he set off. As he neared the capital, he heard that the price of grass-cloth had soared, and he was secretly pleased. When he reached the city and unpacked at an inn, the innkeeper was very sorry he had come so late. The southern roads had only just reopened, and very little grass-cloth had come up. The household of a beile wanted it urgently, and the price had shot up to about three times the usual. Only the day before, they had bought all they needed, and those who came after were disappointed. The innkeeper told Wang this. Wang was downcast. The next day still more grass-cloth arrived, and the price fell further. Wang would not sell without a profit. He held on for more than ten days, until he reckoned his board had eaten up a great deal, and he grew more worried and gloomy than ever. The innkeeper urged him to sell cheap and try something else. He did so, lost more than ten taels on his outlay, and sold off everything. He rose early, meaning to go home, opened his bag, and found the money gone. He was horrified and told the innkeeper, but the innkeeper could think of nothing to do. Someone urged him to go to the authorities and make the innkeeper pay. Wang sighed. “It is my fate. What has the innkeeper to do with it?” The innkeeper heard this and was grateful. He gave Wang five taels, comforted him and sent him home. But Wang felt he could not face his grandmother, and he paced in and out, stuck whichever way he turned.
適見斗鶉者，一賭輒數千；每市一鶉，恆百錢不止。意忽動，計囊中資，僅足販鶉，以商主人。主人亟慫恿之，且約假寓飲食，不取其直。王喜，遂行。購鶉盈儋，復入都。主人喜，賀其速售。至夜，大雨徹曙。天明，衢水如河，淋零猶未休也。居以待晴，連綿數日，更無休止。起視籠中，鶉漸死。王大懼，不知計之所出。越日，死愈多；僅余數頭，並一籠飼之；經宿往窺，則一鶉僅存。因告主人，不覺涕墮。主人亦為扼腕。王自度金盡罔歸，但欲覓死，主人勸慰之。共往視鶉，審諦之曰：「此似英物。諸鶉之死，未必非此之斗殺之也。君暇亦無所事，請把之；如其良也，賭亦可以謀生。」王如其教。既馴，主人令持向街頭，賭酒食。鶉健甚，輒贏。主人喜，以金授王，使復與子弟決賭；三戰三勝。半年許，積二十金。心益慰，視鶉如命。先是，大親王好鶉，每值上元，輒放民間把鶉者入邸相角。主人謂王曰：「今大富宜可立致；所不可知者，在子之命矣。」因告以故，導與俱往。囑曰：「脫敗，則喪氣出耳。倘有萬分一，鶉斗勝，王必欲市之，君勿應；如固強之，惟予首是瞻，待首肯而後應之。」王曰：「諾。」至邸，則鶉人肩摩于墀下。頃之，王出御殿。左右宣言：「有願斗者上。」即有一人把鶉，趨而進。王命放鶉，客亦放；略一騰踔，客鶉已敗。王大笑。俄頃，登而敗者數人。主人曰：「可矣。」相將俱登。王相之，曰：「睛有怒脈，此健羽也，不可輕敵。」命取鐵喙者當之。一再騰躍，而王鶉鎩羽。更選其良，再易再敗。王急命取宮中玉鶉。片時把出，素羽如鷺，神駿不凡。王成意餒，跪而求罷，曰：「大王之鶉，神物也，恐傷吾禽，喪吾業矣。」王笑曰：「縱之。脫斗而死，當厚爾償。」成乃縱之。玉鶉直奔之。而玉鶉方來，則伏如怒雞以待之；玉鶉健啄，則起如翔鶴以擊之；進退頡頏，相持約一伏時。玉鶉漸懈，而其怒益烈，其斗益急。未幾，雪毛摧落，垂翅而逃。觀者千人，罔不嘆羨。王乃索取而親把之，自喙至爪，審週一過，問成曰：「鶉可貨否？」答云：「小人無恆產，與相依為命，不願售也。」王曰：「賜爾重值，中人之產可致。頗願之乎？」成俯思良久，曰：「本不樂置；顧大王既愛好之，苟使小人得衣食業，又何求？」王問直，答以千金。王笑曰：「痴男子！此何珍寶，而千金直也？」成曰：「大王不以為寶，臣以為連城之璧不過也。」王曰：「如何？」曰：「小人把向市廛，日得數金，易升斗粟，一家十餘口食指，無凍餒懮，是何寶如之？」王言：「予不相虧，便與二百金。」成搖首。又增百數。成目視主人，主人色不動。乃曰：「承大王命，請減百價。」王曰：「休矣！誰肯以九百易一鶉者！」成囊鶉欲行。王呼曰：「鶉人來，鶉人來！實給六百，肯則售，否則已耳。」成又目主人，主人仍自若。成心願盈溢，惟恐失時，曰：「以此數售，心實怏怏；但交而不成，則獲戾滋大。無已，即如王命。」王喜，即秤付之。成囊金，拜賜而出。主人懟曰：「我言如何，子乃急自鬻也？再少靳之，八百金在掌中矣。」成歸，擲金案上，請主人自取之，主人不受。又固讓之，乃盤計飯直而受之。
這時，王成看見有人鬥鵪鶉，一場賭注就有幾千文錢，買一隻鵪鶉，往往也要一百多文。他忽然動了念頭，算算袋裡的錢，剛夠販賣鵪鶉，便與店主人商量。店主人極力鼓勵他，又答應供他住宿吃飯，不收錢。王成很高興，便動身去了。他買了滿滿一擔鵪鶉，又回到京城。店主人很高興，祝他早點賣完。到了夜裡，大雨一直下到天亮。清早，街上的積水像河流一樣，雨還沒有停。王成住下來等天晴，可雨接連下了好幾天，始終不停。他起身檢視籠子，發現鵪鶉漸漸死了。他十分害怕，不知道該怎麼辦。第二天，死的更多了，只剩下幾隻，他便放在一個籠子裡餵養。又過了一夜，去看時，只剩下一隻還活著。他告訴店主人，不知不覺流下淚來。店主人也替他嘆息惋惜。王成想到銀子已花光，沒法回家，只想尋死，店主人便勸慰他。兩人一起去看鵪鶉，店主人仔細端詳後說：「這隻像是出色的鬥鵪鶉。別的鵪鶉死了，未必不是被它鬥死的。你閒著也沒事，不如訓練它。如果它真厲害，靠它賭鬥也能謀生。」王成照他的話做了。鵪鶉馴熟後，店主人讓他拿到街頭，以酒食為賭注與人賭鬥。這隻鵪鶉十分強健，每次都贏。店主人很高興，拿錢給王成，讓他再與城裡的年輕子弟賭錢，三場全勝。大約半年，他攢下了二十兩銀子，心裡越來越寬慰，把這隻鵪鶉看得和自己的命一樣重要。此前，有位大親王喜愛鵪鶉，每逢元宵節，都會讓民間養鬥鵪鶉的人進府比試。店主人對王成說：「這回也許立刻就能發大財，只是你的運氣如何，誰也說不準。」他把事情告訴王成，領他一同前去，又囑咐道：「要是輸了，就垂頭喪氣地出來罷了。倘若碰上萬分之一的機會，你的鵪鶉贏了，親王一定想買，你不要答應。如果他一定要買，你只管看著我，等我點頭再答應。」王成說：「好。」到了王府，只見帶鵪鶉來的人擠在臺階下，肩膀挨著肩膀。過了一會兒，親王出來，坐在殿上。侍從高聲說道：「願意比試的上來！」立刻有一個人拿著鵪鶉快步上前。親王命人放出自己的鵪鶉，那人也放出鵪鶉。雙方才跳躍撲打了幾下，那人的鵪鶉就敗了，親王大笑。不久，又有幾個人上去，也都輸了。店主人說：「可以了。」便與王成一起上前。親王端詳王成的鵪鶉，說：「眼裡有帶著怒氣的血絲，是隻強健的鳥，不能輕敵。」他命人拿出鐵嘴的鵪鶉迎戰。雙方跳躍撲打了一兩次，親王的鵪鶉便落敗了。他又挑選好的，接連換了兩隻，也都輸了。親王急忙命人去取宮裡的玉鵪鶉。片刻後，玉鵪鶉被拿了出來，羽毛像白鷺一樣潔白，神采矯健，很不尋常。王成心裡膽怯，跪下請求停止比試，說：「大王的鵪鶉是神物，我怕它傷了我的鳥，斷了我的生計。」親王笑道：「放出來吧。要是鬥死了，我會多賠你些錢。」王成這才放出鵪鶉。玉鵪鶉徑直向它衝來。玉鵪鶉剛靠近，它便像發怒的公雞一樣伏下身子，等著迎戰；玉鵪鶉奮力啄來，它便像飛翔的鶴一樣躍起反擊。雙方進退撲打，不分上下，相持了約一個晝夜。玉鵪鶉漸漸疲倦，王成的鵪鶉卻越來越兇，攻勢越來越急。不久，玉鵪鶉雪白的羽毛紛紛掉落，垂著翅膀逃走了。上千名觀看的人，無不讚歎羨慕。親王要過鵪鶉，親自拿在手裡，從嘴到爪，仔細看了一遍，問王成：「這隻鵪鶉肯賣嗎？」王成回答：「小人沒有固定的產業，與它相依為命，不願意賣。」親王說：「我給你一個高價，足夠置辦一箇中等人家的產業。你願意嗎？」王成低頭想了很久，說：「本來不願割愛。不過大王既然喜歡，只要能讓小人有衣穿、有飯吃，有份生計，還有什麼可求的呢？」親王問價，王成說一千兩銀子。親王笑道：「你這傻漢！這是什麼珍寶，竟值一千兩？」王成說：「大王不把它當寶貝，小人卻覺得，就算價值連城的玉璧，也不過如此。」親王問：「為什麼？」王成說：「小人拿它到市場上，每天能贏幾兩銀子，換些糧食，一家十幾口人就不愁挨餓受凍。什麼寶貝能比得上它呢？」親王說：「我不會虧待你，給你二百兩吧。」王成搖頭。親王又加了一百兩。王成看著店主人，店主人神色不動。王成便說：「遵照大王的吩咐，請容我減去一百兩。」親王說：「算了！誰肯拿九百兩買一隻鵪鶉！」王成把鵪鶉裝進袋裡，準備離開。親王叫道：「賣鵪鶉的回來，賣鵪鶉的回來！實給六百兩，肯就賣，不肯就算了。」王成又看店主人，店主人仍然神色如常。王成心裡已經十分滿意，只怕錯過機會，便說：「這個價錢賣掉，小人心裡實在不痛快。可是已經商談，卻做不成買賣，得罪大王就更深了。沒有辦法，就照大王的吩咐吧。」親王很高興，立刻命人稱出銀子付給他。王成裝好銀子，拜謝賞賜，走了出來。店主人埋怨道：「我先前怎麼對你說的，你卻急著把鵪鶉賣了？再堅持一會兒，八百兩銀子就到手了。」回到客店，王成把銀子放在桌上，請店主人自己拿，店主人不肯收。王成又再三堅持，店主人才算了算飯錢，收下相應的銀子。
适见斗鹑者，一赌辄数千；每市一鹑，恒百钱不止。意忽动，计囊中资，仅足贩鹑，以商主人。主人亟怂恿之，且约假寓饮食，不取其直。王喜，遂行。购鹑盈儋，复入都。主人喜，贺其速售。至夜，大雨彻曙。天明，衢水如河，淋零犹未休也。居以待晴，连绵数日，更无休止。起视笼中，鹑渐死。王大惧，不知计之所出。越日，死愈多；仅余数头，并一笼饲之；经宿往窥，则一鹑仅存。因告主人，不觉涕堕。主人亦为扼腕。王自度金尽罔归，但欲觅死，主人劝慰之。共往视鹑，审谛之曰：「此似英物。诸鹑之死，未必非此之斗杀之也。君暇亦无所事，请把之；如其良也，赌亦可以谋生。」王如其教。既驯，主人令持向街头，赌酒食。鹑健甚，辄赢。主人喜，以金授王，使复与子弟决赌；三战三胜。半年许，积二十金。心益慰，视鹑如命。先是，大亲王好鹑，每值上元，辄放民间把鹑者入邸相角。主人谓王曰：「今大富宜可立致；所不可知者，在子之命矣。」因告以故，导与俱往。嘱曰：「脱败，则丧气出耳。倘有万分一，鹑斗胜，王必欲市之，君勿应；如固强之，惟予首是瞻，待首肯而后应之。」王曰：「诺。」至邸，则鹑人肩摩于墀下。顷之，王出御殿。左右宣言：「有愿斗者上。」即有一人把鹑，趋而进。王命放鹑，客亦放；略一腾踔，客鹑已败。王大笑。俄顷，登而败者数人。主人曰：「可矣。」相将俱登。王相之，曰：「睛有怒脉，此健羽也，不可轻敌。」命取铁喙者当之。一再腾跃，而王鹑铩羽。更选其良，再易再败。王急命取宫中玉鹑。片时把出，素羽如鹭，神骏不凡。王成意馁，跪而求罢，曰：「大王之鹑，神物也，恐伤吾禽，丧吾业矣。」王笑曰：「纵之。脱斗而死，当厚尔偿。」成乃纵之。玉鹑直奔之。而玉鹑方来，则伏如怒鸡以待之；玉鹑健啄，则起如翔鹤以击之；进退颉颃，相持约一伏时。玉鹑渐懈，而其怒益烈，其斗益急。未几，雪毛摧落，垂翅而逃。观者千人，罔不叹羡。王乃索取而亲把之，自喙至爪，审周一过，问成曰：「鹑可货否？」答云：「小人无恒产，与相依为命，不愿售也。」王曰：「赐尔重值，中人之产可致。颇愿之乎？」成俯思良久，曰：「本不乐置；顾大王既爱好之，苟使小人得衣食业，又何求？」王问直，答以千金。王笑曰：「痴男子！此何珍宝，而千金直也？」成曰：「大王不以为宝，臣以为连城之璧不过也。」王曰：「如何？」曰：「小人把向市廛，日得数金，易升斗粟，一家十余口食指，无冻馁懮，是何宝如之？」王言：「予不相亏，便与二百金。」成摇首。又增百数。成目视主人，主人色不动。乃曰：「承大王命，请减百价。」王曰：「休矣！谁肯以九百易一鹑者！」成囊鹑欲行。王呼曰：「鹑人来，鹑人来！实给六百，肯则售，否则已耳。」成又目主人，主人仍自若。成心愿盈溢，惟恐失时，曰：「以此数售，心实怏怏；但交而不成，则获戾滋大。无已，即如王命。」王喜，即秤付之。成囊金，拜赐而出。主人怼曰：「我言如何，子乃急自鬻也？再少靳之，八百金在掌中矣。」成归，掷金案上，请主人自取之，主人不受。又固让之，乃盘计饭直而受之。
这时，王成看见有人斗鹌鹑，一场赌注就有几千文钱，买一只鹌鹑，往往也要一百多文。他忽然动了念头，算算袋里的钱，刚够贩卖鹌鹑，便与店主人商量。店主人极力鼓励他，又答应供他住宿吃饭，不收钱。王成很高兴，便动身去了。他买了满满一担鹌鹑，又回到京城。店主人很高兴，祝他早点卖完。到了夜里，大雨一直下到天亮。清早，街上的积水像河流一样，雨还没有停。王成住下来等天晴，可雨接连下了好几天，始终不停。他起身查看笼子，发现鹌鹑渐渐死了。他十分害怕，不知道该怎么办。第二天，死的更多了，只剩下几只，他便放在一个笼子里喂养。又过了一夜，去看时，只剩下一只还活着。他告诉店主人，不知不觉流下泪来。店主人也替他叹息惋惜。王成想到银子已花光，没法回家，只想寻死，店主人便劝慰他。两人一起去看鹌鹑，店主人仔细端详后说：“这只像是出色的斗鹌鹑。别的鹌鹑死了，未必不是被它斗死的。你闲着也没事，不如训练它。如果它真厉害，靠它赌斗也能谋生。”王成照他的话做了。鹌鹑驯熟后，店主人让他拿到街头，以酒食为赌注与人赌斗。这只鹌鹑十分强健，每次都赢。店主人很高兴，拿钱给王成，让他再与城里的年轻子弟赌钱，三场全胜。大约半年，他攒下了二十两银子，心里越来越宽慰，把这只鹌鹑看得和自己的命一样重要。此前，有位大亲王喜爱鹌鹑，每逢元宵节，都会让民间养斗鹌鹑的人进府比试。店主人对王成说：“这回也许立刻就能发大财，只是你的运气如何，谁也说不准。”他把事情告诉王成，领他一同前去，又嘱咐道：“要是输了，就垂头丧气地出来罢了。倘若碰上万分之一的机会，你的鹌鹑赢了，亲王一定想买，你不要答应。如果他一定要买，你只管看着我，等我点头再答应。”王成说：“好。”到了王府，只见带鹌鹑来的人挤在台阶下，肩膀挨着肩膀。过了一会儿，亲王出来，坐在殿上。侍从高声说道：“愿意比试的上来！”立刻有一个人拿着鹌鹑快步上前。亲王命人放出自己的鹌鹑，那人也放出鹌鹑。双方才跳跃扑打了几下，那人的鹌鹑就败了，亲王大笑。不久，又有几个人上去，也都输了。店主人说：“可以了。”便与王成一起上前。亲王端详王成的鹌鹑，说：“眼里有带着怒气的血丝，是只强健的鸟，不能轻敌。”他命人拿出铁嘴的鹌鹑迎战。双方跳跃扑打了一两次，亲王的鹌鹑便落败了。他又挑选好的，接连换了两只，也都输了。亲王急忙命人去取宫里的玉鹌鹑。片刻后，玉鹌鹑被拿了出来，羽毛像白鹭一样洁白，神采矫健，很不寻常。王成心里胆怯，跪下请求停止比试，说：“大王的鹌鹑是神物，我怕它伤了我的鸟，断了我的生计。”亲王笑道：“放出来吧。要是斗死了，我会多赔你些钱。”王成这才放出鹌鹑。玉鹌鹑径直向它冲来。玉鹌鹑刚靠近，它便像发怒的公鸡一样伏下身子，等着迎战；玉鹌鹑奋力啄来，它便像飞翔的鹤一样跃起反击。双方进退扑打，不分上下，相持了约一个昼夜。玉鹌鹑渐渐疲倦，王成的鹌鹑却越来越凶，攻势越来越急。不久，玉鹌鹑雪白的羽毛纷纷掉落，垂着翅膀逃走了。上千名观看的人，无不赞叹羡慕。亲王要过鹌鹑，亲自拿在手里，从嘴到爪，仔细看了一遍，问王成：“这只鹌鹑肯卖吗？”王成回答：“小人没有固定的产业，与它相依为命，不愿意卖。”亲王说：“我给你一个高价，足够置办一个中等人家的产业。你愿意吗？”王成低头想了很久，说：“本来不愿割爱。不过大王既然喜欢，只要能让小人有衣穿、有饭吃，有份生计，还有什么可求的呢？”亲王问价，王成说一千两银子。亲王笑道：“你这傻汉！这是什么珍宝，竟值一千两？”王成说：“大王不把它当宝贝，小人却觉得，就算价值连城的玉璧，也不过如此。”亲王问：“为什么？”王成说：“小人拿它到市场上，每天能赢几两银子，换些粮食，一家十几口人就不愁挨饿受冻。什么宝贝能比得上它呢？”亲王说：“我不会亏待你，给你二百两吧。”王成摇头。亲王又加了一百两。王成看着店主人，店主人神色不动。王成便说：“遵照大王的吩咐，请容我减去一百两。”亲王说：“算了！谁肯拿九百两买一只鹌鹑！”王成把鹌鹑装进袋里，准备离开。亲王叫道：“卖鹌鹑的回来，卖鹌鹑的回来！实给六百两，肯就卖，不肯就算了。”王成又看店主人，店主人仍然神色如常。王成心里已经十分满意，只怕错过机会，便说：“这个价钱卖掉，小人心里实在不痛快。可是已经商谈，却做不成买卖，得罪大王就更深了。没有办法，就照大王的吩咐吧。”亲王很高兴，立刻命人称出银子付给他。王成装好银子，拜谢赏赐，走了出来。店主人埋怨道：“我先前怎么对你说的，你却急着把鹌鹑卖了？再坚持一会儿，八百两银子就到手了。”回到客店，王成把银子放在桌上，请店主人自己拿，店主人不肯收。王成又再三坚持，店主人才算了算饭钱，收下相应的银子。
Just then he saw men fighting quails. A single wager often ran to several thousand cash, and a quail always sold for more than a hundred. A thought struck him. He counted the money in his bag: it was just enough to deal in quails. He talked it over with the innkeeper. The innkeeper eagerly urged him on, and offered him lodging and meals on credit, without charge. Wang was glad and set off. He bought a full carrying-pole load of quails and came back to the capital. The innkeeper was pleased and wished him a quick sale. That night it rained hard until dawn. When it was light, the streets ran like rivers, and the rain was still falling. He stayed in to wait for it to clear, but it went on for days without stopping. He got up to look in the cages: the quails were beginning to die. Wang was terrified and did not know what to do. The next day more died. Only a few were left; he put them all in one cage to feed them, and when he went to look the next morning, only one quail was still alive. He told the innkeeper, and the tears fell before he knew it. The innkeeper too wrung his hands for him. Wang reckoned that his money was gone and he could not go home, and he wanted only to die. The innkeeper comforted him. Together they went to look at the quail. The innkeeper studied it closely and said, “This looks like a champion. It may be that the others died because this one fought them to death. You have nothing to do with your time. Train it. If it is good, you can make a living by betting on it too.” Wang did as he was told. When the bird was trained, the innkeeper told him to take it into the streets and bet it for food and wine. The quail was very strong and always won. The innkeeper was pleased and gave Wang money to take on the young gentlemen of the city for stakes; he fought three times and won three times. In half a year or so he had saved twenty taels. He felt much easier, and he loved the quail as his own life. Now a certain great prince of the blood was fond of quails, and every year at the Lantern Festival he let the common folk who kept quails into his palace to match their birds. The innkeeper said to Wang, “Now a great fortune may be yours in a day. The one thing nobody can know is your luck.” He told him why, and took him along. On the way he warned him, “If you lose, just walk out crestfallen. But if, by one chance in ten thousand, your quail wins, the Prince will be sure to want to buy it. Don’t agree. If he presses you, watch my head, and don’t agree until I nod.” “Very well,” said Wang. At the palace the quail men were crowded shoulder to shoulder below the steps. Presently the Prince came out and took his seat in the hall. His attendants called, “Whoever wishes to fight, come up!” At once a man came hurrying forward with a quail in his hand. The Prince ordered his own quail released, and the man released his. After a leap or two the man’s quail was beaten. The Prince laughed aloud. Before long several more had gone up and been beaten. “Now,” said the innkeeper, and they went up together. The Prince looked the bird over. “There are angry veins in its eyes. This is a strong one; we must not take it lightly.” He ordered Iron Beak brought out to face it. After a leap or two the Prince’s quail was beaten, its feathers broken. He chose a better one; he changed it again, and again it lost. The Prince hastily ordered the Jade Quail brought from the inner palace. In a moment it was carried out: its feathers were white as an egret’s, and it had an uncommon, splendid spirit. Wang Cheng lost heart. He knelt and begged to withdraw. “Your Highness’s quail is a divine creature,” he said. “I am afraid it will maim my bird and ruin my livelihood.” The Prince laughed. “Let it go. If it dies in the fight, I will pay you well.” So Wang Cheng let it go. The Jade Quail charged straight at it. As the Jade Quail came on, Wang’s quail crouched like an angry gamecock to meet it; when the Jade Quail pecked hard, it rose like a soaring crane to strike. They darted in and out, evenly matched, and held each other off for a long while. The Jade Quail began to tire, while the other grew fiercer in its anger and faster in its fighting. Before long the snowy feathers were flying, and the Jade Quail fled with drooping wings. Of the thousand who watched, there was not one who did not sigh in admiration. The Prince asked for the bird and held it in his own hand, looking it over from beak to claw. Then he asked Wang Cheng, “Will you sell this quail?” “I have no fixed property,” he answered. “The bird and I live by each other. I would rather not sell.” “I will give you a handsome price,” said the Prince, “enough to make you a man of middling means. Would that please you?” Wang Cheng bowed his head and thought for a long time. “I did not want to part with it,” he said. “But since Your Highness loves it so, if it only brings me a living in food and clothes, what more could I ask?” The Prince asked his price, and he said a thousand taels. The Prince laughed. “You fool! What sort of treasure is this, to be worth a thousand taels?” “Your Highness may not think it a treasure,” said Wang Cheng, “but to me a jade disc worth fifteen cities is worth no more.” “How so?” said the Prince. “I take it into the market and every day I win several taels. With them I buy a few pecks of grain, and my household of more than ten mouths need never fear cold or hunger. What treasure is worth as much as that?” “I shall not do you wrong,” said the Prince. “I will give you two hundred taels.” Wang Cheng shook his head. The Prince added another hundred. Wang Cheng looked at the innkeeper, but the innkeeper’s face did not move. So Wang Cheng said, “In deference to Your Highness’s command, I will take a hundred off the price.” “Enough!” said the Prince. “Who would give nine hundred for one quail?” Wang Cheng put the quail in his bag and made to leave. The Prince called after him, “Quail man, come back! Come back! Six hundred, and that is my real price. Sell if you will; if not, we are done.” Wang Cheng looked at the innkeeper again, and the innkeeper was still unmoved. But this was more than Wang Cheng had ever hoped for, and he was afraid of missing his chance. “To sell at this price leaves me truly unhappy,” he said. “But if a bargain is struck and then falls through, I shall have given far greater offence. There is nothing else for it: as Your Highness commands.” The Prince was pleased and had the silver weighed out at once. Wang Cheng bagged the money, bowed his thanks and went out. The innkeeper was annoyed. “What did I tell you? Why were you in such a hurry to sell yourself short? If you had held out a little longer, you would have had eight hundred taels in your hand.” When they got back, Wang Cheng threw the money on the table and asked the innkeeper to take what he liked. The innkeeper would not. Wang Cheng pressed him again, and at last he reckoned up the cost of Wang’s meals and took that.
王治裝歸，至家，歷述所為，出金相慶。嫗命置良田三百畝，起屋作器，居然世家。嫗早起，使成督耕，婦督織；稍惰，輒訶之。夫婦相安，不敢有怨詞。過三年，家益富。嫗辭欲去。夫妻共挽之，至泣下。嫗亦遂止。旭旦候之，已杳矣。
王成收拾行裝回家，到了家裡，把自己的經歷一一講了，拿出銀子，大家一起慶賀。老婦人讓他買下三百畝好田，建房屋，置辦器具，儼然恢復了世家的氣象。老婦人每天早起，讓王成督促耕種，讓他的妻子督促織布；兩人稍有懶惰，她就責罵。夫妻倆安穩地過日子，不敢有一句怨言。過了三年，家裡更加富有。老婦人告辭，打算離開。夫妻倆一同挽留，急得流下淚來，老婦人便答應留下。第二天太陽昇起時，他們去問候她，她卻已經不見了蹤影。
王治装归，至家，历述所为，出金相庆。妪命置良田三百亩，起屋作器，居然世家。妪早起，使成督耕，妇督织；稍惰，辄诃之。夫妇相安，不敢有怨词。过三年，家益富。妪辞欲去。夫妻共挽之，至泣下。妪亦遂止。旭旦候之，已杳矣。
王成收拾行装回家，到了家里，把自己的经历一一讲了，拿出银子，大家一起庆贺。老妇人让他买下三百亩好田，建房屋，置办器具，俨然恢复了世家的气象。老妇人每天早起，让王成督促耕种，让他的妻子督促织布；两人稍有懒惰，她就责骂。夫妻俩安稳地过日子，不敢有一句怨言。过了三年，家里更加富有。老妇人告辞，打算离开。夫妻俩一同挽留，急得流下泪来，老妇人便答应留下。第二天太阳升起时，他们去问候她，她却已经不见了踪影。
Wang packed and went home. When he arrived, he told them all he had done and brought out the money to celebrate. The old woman had him buy three hundred mu of good farmland, build a house and furnish it, and they were now, to all appearances, an old established family. The old woman rose early and set Wang Cheng to oversee the ploughing and his wife the weaving; at the least slackness she scolded them. Husband and wife settled into it and dared not grumble. After three years the family was richer still. The old woman said she wished to leave. Husband and wife both begged her to stay, until they were in tears, and so she stayed. At sunrise the next day they went to wait on her, and she was gone without a trace.
異史氏曰：「富皆得于勤，此獨得于惰，亦創聞也。不知一貧徹骨，而至性不移，此天所以始棄之而終憐之也。懶中豈果有富貴乎哉！」
異史氏說：「人們的富有都是靠勤勞得來的，唯獨這個人靠懶惰得到了財富，倒也是頭一次聽說。人們卻不知道，他雖然窮困到了極點，純良的本性始終沒有改變，這才是上天起初拋棄他，最後又憐憫他的緣故。難道懶惰當中，當真能生出富貴來嗎！」
异史氏曰：「富皆得于勤，此独得于惰，亦创闻也。不知一贫彻骨，而至性不移，此天所以始弃之而终怜之也。懒中岂果有富贵乎哉！」
异史氏说：“人们的富有都是靠勤劳得来的，唯独这个人靠懒惰得到了财富，倒也是头一次听说。人们却不知道，他虽然穷困到了极点，纯良的本性始终没有改变，这才是上天起初抛弃他，最后又怜悯他的缘故。难道懒惰当中，当真能生出富贵来吗！”
The Historian of the Strange says: Wealth always comes from hard work; this man alone got it from idleness, a thing never heard of before. What people do not see is that though he was poor to the bone, his true nature never changed. That is why Heaven cast him off at first and took pity on him in the end. Is there really wealth and honour to be found in laziness?