仇仲，晉人，忘其郡邑。值大亂，為寇俘去。二子福、祿俱幼；繼室邵氏，撫雙孤，遺業能溫飽。而歲屢祲，豪強者復凌藉之，遂至食息不保。仲叔尚廉利其嫁，屢勸駕，而邵氏矢志不搖。廉陰券於大姓，欲強奪之；關說已成，而他人不之知也。里人魏名夙狡獪，與仲家積不相能，事事思中傷之。因邵寡，偽造浮言以相敗辱。大姓聞之，惡其不德而止。久之，廉之陰謀與外之飛語，邵漸聞之，冤結胸懷，朝夕隕涕，四體漸以不仁，委身床榻。福甫十六歲，因縫紉無人，遂急為畢姻。婦，姜秀才屺瞻之女，頗稱賢能，百事賴以經紀。由此用漸裕，乃使祿從師讀。魏忌嫉之，而陽與善，頻招福飲，福倚為腹心交。魏乘間告曰：「尊堂病廢，不能理家人生產；弟坐食，一無所操作：賢夫婦何為作牛馬哉！且弟買婦，將大耗金錢。為君計，不如早析，則貧在弟而富在君也。」福歸，謀諸婦；婦咄之。奈魏日以微言相漸漬，福惑焉，直以己意告母。母怒，詬罵之。福益恚，輒視金粟為他人之物也者而委棄之。魏乘機誘與博賭，倉粟漸空，婦知而未敢言。既至糧絕，被母駭問，始以實告。母憤怒而無如何，遂析之。幸姜女賢，旦夕為母執炊，奉事一如平日。福既析，益無顧忌，大肆淫賭。數月間，田產悉償戲債，而母與妻皆不及知。福貲既罄，無所為計，因券妻代貲，而苦無受者。邑人趙閻羅，原漏網之巨盜，武斷一鄉，固不畏福言之食也，慨然假貲。福持去，數日復空。意踟躕，將背券盟。趙橫目相加。福大懼，賺妻付之。魏聞竊喜，急奔告姜，實將傾敗仇也。姜怒，訟興。福懼甚，亡去。姜女至趙家，始知為婿所賣，大哭，但欲覓死。趙初慰諭之，不聽；既而威逼之，益罵；大怒，鞭撻之，終不肯服。因拔笄自刺其喉，急救，已透食管，血溢出。趙急以帛束其項，猶冀從容而挫折焉。明日，拘牒已至，趙行行殊不置意。官驗女傷重，命笞之，隸相顧無敢用刑。官久聞其橫暴，至此益信，大怒，喚家人出，立斃之。姜遂舁女歸。自姜之訟也，邵氏始知福不肖狀，一號幾絕，冥然大漸。祿時年十五，煢煢無以自主。先是，仲有前室女大娘，嫁於遠郡，性剛猛，每歸寧，餽贈不滿其志，輒迕父母，往往以憤去，仲以是怒惡之；又因道遠，遂數載不一存問。邵氏垂危，魏欲使招之來而啟其爭。適有貿販者，與大娘同里，便託寄語大娘，且歆以家之可圖。數日，大娘果與少子至。入門，見幼弟侍病母，景象慘澹，不覺愴惻。因問弟福，祿備告之。大娘聞之，忿氣塞吭，曰：「家無成人，遂任人蹂躪至此！吾家田產，諸賊何得賺去！」因入廚下，爇火炊糜，先供母，而後呼弟及子共啖之。啖已，忿出，詣邑投狀，訟諸博徒。眾懼，斂金賂大娘。大娘受其金而仍訟之。邑令拘甲、乙等，各加杖責，田產殊置不問。大娘憤不已，率子赴郡。郡守最惡博者。大娘力陳孤苦，及諸惡局騙之狀，情詞慷慨。守為之動，判令邑宰追田給主；仍懲仇福，以儆不肖。既歸，邑宰奉令敲比，於是故產盡反。大娘時已久寡，乃遣少子歸，且囑從兄務業，勿得復來。大娘由此止母家，養母教弟，內外有條。母大慰，病漸瘥，家務悉委大娘。里中豪強，少見陵暴，輒握刃登門，侃侃爭論，罔不屈服。居年餘，田產日增。時市藥餌珍肴，餽遺姜女。又見祿漸長成，頻囑媒為之覓姻。魏告人曰：「仇家產業，悉屬大娘，恐將來不可復返矣。」人咸信之，故無肯與論婚者。有范公子子文，家中名園，為晉第一。園中名花夾路，直通內室。或不知而悞入之，值公子私宴，怒執為盜，杖幾死。會清明，祿自塾中歸，魏引與遊遨，遂至園所。魏故與園丁有舊，放令入，周歷亭榭。俄至一處，溪水洶湧，有畫橋朱檻，通一漆門；遙望門內，繁花如錦，蓋即公子內齋也。魏紿之曰：「君請先入，我適欲私焉。」祿信之，尋橋入戶，至一院落，聞女子笑聲。方停步間，一婢出，窺見之，旋踵即返。祿始駭奔。無何，公子出，叱家人綰索逐之。祿大窘，自投溪中。公子反怒為笑，命諸僕引出。見其容裳都雅，便令易其衣履，曳入一亭，詰其姓氏。藹容溫語，意甚親暱。俄趨入內；旋出，笑握祿手，過橋，漸達曩所。祿不解其意，逡巡不敢入。公子強曳入之，見花籬內隱隱有美人窺伺。既坐，則群婢行酒。祿辭曰：「童子無知，悞踐閨闥，得蒙赦宥，已出非望。但願釋令早歸，受恩非淺。」公子不聽。俄頃，肴炙紛紜。祿又起，辭以醉飽，公子捺坐，笑曰：「僕有一樂拍名，若能對之，即放君行。」祿唯唯請教。公子云：「拍名『渾不似』。」祿默思良久，對曰：「銀成『沒奈何』。」公子大笑曰：「真石崇也！」祿殊不解。蓋公子有女名蕙娘，美而知書，日擇良耦。夜夢一人告之曰：「石崇，汝婿也。」問：「何在？」曰：「明日落水矣。」早告父母，共以為異。祿適符夢兆，故邀入內舍，使夫人女輩共覘之也。公子聞對而喜，乃曰：「拍名乃小女所擬，屢思而無其偶，今得屬對，亦有天緣。僕欲以息女奉箕帚；寒舍不乏第宅，更無煩親迎耳。」祿惶然遜謝，且以母病不能入贅為辭。公子姑令歸謀，遂遣圉人負溼衣，送之以馬。既歸告母，母驚為不詳。於是始知魏氏險；然因凶得吉，亦置不仇，但戒子遠絕而已。踰數日，公子又使人致意母，母終不敢應。大娘應之，即倩雙媒納采焉。未幾，祿贅入公子家。年餘游泮，才名籍甚。妻弟長成，敬少弛；祿怒，攜婦而歸。母已杖而能行。頻歲賴大娘經紀，第宅亦頗完好。新婦既歸，婢僕如雲，宛然大家有風焉。魏又見絕，嫉妒益深，恨無瑕之可蹈，乃引旗下逃人誣祿寄貲。國初立法最嚴，祿依令徙口外。范公子上下賄託，僅以蕙娘免行；田產盡沒入官。幸大娘執析產書，銳身告理，新增良沃若如干頃，悉罣福名，母女始得安居。祿自分不返，遂書離婚字付岳家，伶仃自去。行數日，至都北，飯於旅肆。有丐子怔營戶外，貌絕類兄；近致訊詰，果兄。祿因自述，兄弟悲慘。祿解複衣，分數金，囑令歸。福泣受而別。祿至關外，寄將軍帳下為奴。因祿文弱，俾主支籍，與諸僕同棲止。僕輩研問家世，祿悉告之。內一人驚曰：「是吾兒也！」蓋仇仲初為寇家牧馬，後寇投誠，賣仲旗下，時從主屯關外。向祿緬述，始知真為父子，抱首悲哀，一室為之酸辛。已而憤曰：「何物逃東，遂詐吾兒！」因泣告將軍。將軍即命祿攝書記；函致親王，付仲詣都。仲伺車駕出，先投冤狀。親王為之婉轉，遂得昭雪，命地方官贖業歸仇。仲返，父子各喜。祿細問家口，為贖身計。乃知仲入旗下，兩易配而無所出，時方鰥也。祿遂治任返。初，福別弟歸，蒲伏自投。大娘奉母坐堂上，操杖問之：「汝願受扑責，便可姑留；不然，汝田產既盡，亦無汝噉飯之所，請仍去。」福涕泣伏地，願受笞。大娘投杖曰：「賣婦之人，亦不足懲。但宿案未消，再犯首官可耳。」即使人往告姜，姜女罵曰：「我是仇氏何人，而相告耶！」大娘頻述告福而揶揄之，福慚愧不敢出氣。居半年，大娘雖給奉周備，而役同廝養。福操作無怨詞，託以金錢輒不苟。大娘察其無他，乃白母，求姜女復歸。母意其不可復挽。大娘曰：「不然。渠如肯事二主，楚毒豈肯自罹？要不能不有此忿耳。」遂率弟躬往負荊。岳父母誚讓良切。大娘叱使長跪，然後請見姜女。請之再四，堅避不出；大娘搜捉以出。女乃指福唾罵，福慚汗無地自容。姜母始曳令起。大娘請問歸期。女曰：「向受姊惠綦多，今承尊命，豈復有異言？但恐不能保其不再賣也！且恩義已絕，更何顏與黑心無賴子共生活哉？請別營一室，妾往奉事老母，較勝披削足矣。」大娘代白其悔，為翼日之約而別。次朝，以乘輿取歸，母逆於門而跪拜之。女伏地大哭。大娘勸止，置酒為歡，命福坐案側，乃執爵而言曰：「我苦爭者，非自利也。今弟悔過，貞婦復還，請以簿籍交納；我以一身來，仍以一身去耳。」夫婦皆興席改容，羅拜哀泣，大娘乃止。居無何，昭雪之命下，不數日，田宅悉還故主。魏大駭，不知其故，自恨無術可以復施。適西鄰有回祿之變，魏託救焚而往，暗以編菅爇祿第，風又暴作，延燒幾盡；止餘福居兩三屋，舉家依聚其中。未幾祿至，相見悲喜。初，范公子得離書，持商蕙娘。蕙娘痛哭，碎而投諸地。父從其志，不復強。祿歸，聞其未嫁，喜如岳所。公子知其災，欲留之；祿不可，遂辭而退。大娘幸有藏金，出葺敗堵。福負鍤營築，掘見窖鏹，夜與弟共發之，石池盈丈，滿中皆不動尊也。由是鳩工大作，樓舍群起，壯麗擬於世冑。祿感將軍義，備千金往贖父。福請行，因遣健僕輔之以去。祿乃迎蕙娘歸。未幾，父兄同歸，一門歡騰。大娘自居母家，禁子省視，恐人議其私也。父既歸，堅辭欲去。兄弟不忍。父乃析產而三之：子得二，女得一也。大娘固辭。兄弟皆泣曰：「吾等非姊，烏有今日！」大娘乃安之。遣人招子，移家共居焉。或問大娘：「異母兄弟，何遂關切如此？」大娘曰：「知有母而不知有父者，惟禽獸如此耳，豈以人而效之？」福、祿聞之皆流涕。使工人治其第，皆與己等。魏自計十餘年，禍之而益福之，深自愧悔。又仰其富，思交歡之，因以賀仲階進，備物而往。福欲卻之；仲不忍拂，受雞酒焉。雞以布縷縛足，逸入灶；灶火燃布，往棲積薪，僮婢見之而未顧也。俄而薪焚災舍，一家惶駭。幸手指眾多，一時撲滅，而廚中百物俱空矣。兄弟皆謂其物不祥。後值父壽，魏復餽牽羊。卻之不得，繫羊庭樹。夜有僮被僕毆，忿趨樹下，解羊索自經死。兄弟嘆曰：「其福之不如其禍之也！」自是魏雖殷勤，竟不敢受其寸縷，寧厚酬之而已。後魏老，貧而作丐，每周以布粟而德報之。
仇仲是晉地人，他住在哪個郡縣，我已經忘了。他遇上大亂，被強盜擄走。兩個兒子仇福、仇祿都還年幼，繼妻邵氏撫養著這兩個失去父親的孩子，靠丈夫留下的產業，還能維持溫飽。可是接連幾年收成不好，地方上的豪強又欺壓他們，漸漸連吃飯過日子都沒有保障了。仇仲的叔父尚廉想從邵氏改嫁中撈些好處，屢次勸她另嫁，邵氏卻立定心志，毫不動搖。尚廉暗中和一個大戶訂了契約，想強行把她搶去，事情已經商量妥當，別人卻還不知道。村裡有個叫魏名的人，向來狡猾，和仇仲一家積怨很深，事事都想中傷他們。他趁邵氏守寡，編造謠言，敗壞她的名聲。那大戶聽說後，嫌她品行不好，便放棄了這樁婚事。過了些日子，尚廉的陰謀和外面的流言，邵氏漸漸都聽說了。她滿心冤屈，早晚流淚，四肢逐漸失去知覺，臥床不起。仇福剛滿十六歲，家裡因為沒人做針線活，就趕緊給他辦了婚事。他的妻子是姜秀才屺瞻的女兒，出了名的賢惠能幹，家裡大小事情都靠她料理。從此，家境漸漸寬裕起來，便讓仇祿跟著老師讀書。魏名心裡嫉妒，表面上卻和仇福交好，常常請他喝酒，仇福把他當成了知心朋友。魏名找了個機會對他說：「你母親病得不能動，沒法料理家裡的生計；你弟弟只吃現成的，一點活也不幹。你們夫妻為什麼要給他們當牛做馬呢！再說，給你弟弟娶媳婦，還要花不少錢。我替你打算，不如早些分家，那樣窮的是你弟弟，富的是你。」仇福回去和妻子商量，妻子狠狠責備了他。可是魏名天天用這些話一點點誘導他，仇福終於受了迷惑，直接把自己的意思告訴母親。母親大怒，痛罵了他一頓。仇福更加怨恨，便把家裡的錢糧當成別人的東西，隨意糟蹋。魏名趁機引誘他賭博，倉裡的糧食漸漸耗盡。妻子雖然知道，卻不敢說。直到家裡斷了糧，母親吃驚地追問，她才說出實情。母親憤怒，卻又無可奈何，只好分了家。幸好姜氏賢惠，仍舊早晚給婆婆做飯，照料她和從前一樣。仇福分家後，更加沒有顧忌，放縱自己嫖娼賭博。幾個月裡，田產全都拿去抵了賭債，母親和妻子卻都還不知道。他的財產耗盡，再也想不出辦法，便立下契約，把妻子抵押出去借錢，卻苦於沒人肯接手。縣裡有個趙閻羅，原是逃脫法網的大盜，在鄉里橫行霸道，自然不怕仇福反悔，爽快地借了錢給他。仇福拿了錢，幾天就又花光了。他猶豫起來，打算違背契約。趙閻羅瞪眼威脅他，仇福十分害怕，只好騙來妻子，把她交給趙閻羅。魏名聽說，暗暗高興，急忙跑去告訴姜秀才，實際是想借此毀掉仇家。姜秀才大怒，向官府告狀。仇福十分害怕，逃走了。姜氏到了趙家，才知道自己被丈夫賣了，放聲大哭，一心求死。趙閻羅起初安慰勸說，她不肯聽；後來威脅逼迫，她罵得更加厲害。趙閻羅大怒，用鞭子抽打她，她始終不肯屈服。她拔下發簪，刺進自己的喉嚨。眾人急忙搶救，髮簪已經刺穿食管，鮮血湧了出來。趙閻羅趕緊用綢帛裹住她的脖子，還想著日後慢慢折磨她，讓她屈服。第二天，拘捕文書已經送到，趙閻羅仍舊趾高氣揚，毫不在意。縣官驗看姜氏傷勢嚴重，命人打趙閻羅，衙役們卻面面相覷，沒人敢動手。縣官早就聽說他橫暴，如今更加確信，勃然大怒，叫出自己的家僕，當場把他打死。姜秀才這才把女兒抬回家。直到姜秀才告狀，邵氏才知道仇福幹下的這些壞事。她大哭一聲，幾乎斷氣，隨後昏迷不醒，病勢垂危。仇祿當時十五歲，孤孤單單，完全不知道該怎麼辦。原來，仇仲和前妻生過一個女兒，叫大娘，嫁到了遠處的郡裡。她性情剛烈，每次回孃家，父母給的東西不合她心意，她就頂撞父母，常常負氣而去，仇仲因此生氣，厭惡她。又因為路途遙遠，好幾年也沒問候過她。邵氏病危時，魏名想把大娘招來，挑起家裡的爭端。恰好有個商販和大娘住在同一個村，魏名便托他帶話給大娘，又拿孃家有產業可以謀取來誘惑她。幾天後，大娘果然帶著小兒子來了。進門看見年幼的弟弟守著病母，家裡一片淒涼，她不由得傷心。她問起仇福，仇祿把事情全告訴了她。大娘聽完，氣得喉嚨都堵住了，說：「家裡沒有能做主的人，就讓別人欺負到了這個地步！我們家的田產，這些賊怎麼能騙了去！」她便進廚房，生火煮粥，先送給母親，再叫弟弟和兒子一起吃。吃完後，她怒氣衝衝地出門，到縣裡遞狀子，控告那些賭徒。眾人害怕，湊了錢來賄賂她。大娘收下錢，卻仍舊告他們。縣令拘來那些人，各自打了一頓，對田產卻完全不管。大娘憤憤不平，帶著兒子到郡裡告狀。郡守最痛恨賭徒，大娘極力陳述家中孤苦無依的情形，以及那些惡人設局欺騙的經過，說得慷慨激昂。郡守被她打動，判令縣令追回田產，交還原主，同時懲罰仇福，警告那些不肖子弟。大娘回來後，縣令奉命用刑追討，舊有的產業於是全部收回。大娘這時已經守寡多年，便讓小兒子回家，囑咐他跟著哥哥經營家業，不許再來。從此，大娘住在孃家，照顧母親，教導弟弟，家裡家外都料理得井井有條。母親十分寬慰，病也漸漸好了，把家務全交給大娘。村裡的豪強稍有欺壓，大娘就拿著刀找上門，理直氣壯地爭論，沒有一個不服軟的。住了一年多，家裡的田產日漸增多。她時常買藥物和好吃的東西，送給姜氏。又見仇祿漸漸長大，便一再托媒人給他尋找親事。魏名對人說：「仇家的產業，如今全歸了大娘，只怕將來再也拿不回來了。」大家都信了，因此沒有人肯和仇家談婚事。有位范公子，名叫子文，家裡的名園號稱晉地第一。園中名花夾著道路，一直通到內宅。曾有人不知道，誤闖進去，恰逢范公子在裡面設私宴。范公子大怒，把他當作賊抓住，打得幾乎死去。清明時，仇祿從學堂回來，魏名帶他出去遊玩，來到范家的園子。魏名和園丁原本相熟，園丁放他們進去，兩人遊遍了亭臺樓榭。不久來到一處，只見溪水奔湧，一座帶著硃紅欄杆的彩繪橋通向一道漆門。遠遠望見門內繁花似錦，那裡正是范公子的內宅。魏名騙他說：「你先進去，我正想方便一下。」仇祿信了，沿橋進門，走到一座院子裡，聽見女子的笑聲。他剛停下腳步，一個婢女走出來，看見了他，立刻轉身回去。仇祿這才害怕，趕緊逃跑。不一會兒，范公子出來，喝令家僕拿繩子追趕。仇祿走投無路，跳進溪裡。范公子反而轉怒為笑，命僕人把他拉出來。見他容貌、衣著都很文雅，就讓他換了衣服鞋子，拉進一座亭子，問他的姓名。范公子神情和藹，說話溫和，對他十分親熱。不久，范公子快步進了內宅，隨即又出來，笑著握住仇祿的手，過了橋，漸漸來到他先前闖入的地方。仇祿不明白他的意思，猶豫著不敢進去。范公子硬把他拉進去，仇祿隱約看見花籬後有美人在窺看。坐下後，一群婢女上前斟酒。仇祿推辭說：「我年幼無知，誤闖了內宅，能得到您的寬恕，已經是意想不到的了。只求您讓我早些回家，我就感激不盡了。」范公子不聽。不一會兒，各種菜餚烤肉接連端來。仇祿又站起身，說自己已經酒足飯飽。范公子把他按回座位，笑著說：「我這裡有一句關於曲牌名字的上聯，你要是能對出來，我就放你走。」仇祿恭敬地答應，請他說來。范公子說：「曲牌名『渾不似』。」仇祿默默想了很久，對道：「銀子鑄成『沒奈何』。」范公子大笑說：「果然是石崇！」仇祿完全不懂他的意思。原來范公子有個女兒，叫蕙娘，長得美，又有學問，家裡一直在替她挑選好丈夫。一天夜裡，她夢見有人對她說：「石崇是你的丈夫。」她問：「他在哪裡？」那人說：「明天就落水了。」早晨，她把夢告訴父母，大家都覺得奇怪。仇祿恰好應了夢兆，所以范公子把他請進內宅，讓夫人和女兒等人一同窺看。范公子聽見他對出的下聯，十分高興，便說：「這句關於曲牌的上聯，是小女擬的，她想了很多次，都找不到合適的下聯。如今你對出來了，也算是天賜的緣分。我想把女兒嫁給你。家裡不缺住處，也不必勞煩你來迎親。」仇祿惶恐地謙辭，又說母親有病，不能入贅。范公子暫且讓他回家商量，派馬伕揹著溼衣服，讓他騎馬回去。仇祿回家告訴母親，母親吃了一驚，覺得事情不吉利。他們這才知道魏名居心險惡，但既然因禍得福，也就不再與他結仇，只告誡仇祿遠遠避開他。過了幾天，范公子又派人向母親提親，母親始終不敢答應。大娘答應了這門婚事，馬上請了兩位媒人送去訂親禮。不久，仇祿入贅范家。一年多後，他考取秀才，才名遠揚。妻子的弟弟長大後，對他的敬重漸漸少了。仇祿生氣，帶著妻子回了自己家。母親這時已經能拄杖行走。幾年來全靠大娘經營，家裡的房屋也修整得相當完好。新媳婦回來，帶來許多婢女僕人，儼然有了大戶人家的氣派。魏名又被仇家疏遠，嫉妒更深，恨找不到可利用的把柄，便找來一個旗下逃人，誣告仇祿替他藏著錢財。國初的法律極嚴，仇祿依照法令被遷往口外。范公子上下行賄託人，才勉強讓蕙娘免於同行，田產卻全部被官府沒收。幸好大娘拿著分家文書，挺身申訴，新添的那些肥沃田地，全都登記在仇福名下，母女二人這才得以安居。仇祿料想自己再也回不來，便寫了休書送到岳家，孤零零地離去。走了幾天，來到京城以北，在一家旅店吃飯。門外有個乞丐徘徊不安，模樣十分像哥哥。他走近詢問，果然是仇福。仇祿講了自己的遭遇，兄弟二人十分悲傷。仇祿解開夾衣，取出幾兩銀子分給哥哥，囑咐他回家。仇福哭著接過，和弟弟分別。仇祿到了關外，在一位將軍手下做奴僕。因為他文弱，將軍讓他管理收支賬冊，和其他僕人住在一起。僕人們細問他的家世，仇祿全都告訴了他們。其中一人驚叫道：「這是我的兒子！」原來仇仲起初替強盜牧馬，後來強盜歸順朝廷，把仇仲賣到旗下，此時他正跟隨主人駐紮關外。仇仲向仇祿詳細講述往事，兩人才確認果然是父子，抱在一起痛哭，滿屋的人都為他們心酸。不久，仇仲憤怒地說：「那逃亡的傢伙算什麼東西，竟敢誣陷我的兒子！」他便哭著向將軍申訴。將軍立即命仇祿代理書記，寫信給一位親王，讓仇仲帶到京城。仇仲等候皇帝的車駕出來，上前遞交申冤的狀子。親王替他周旋，仇祿終於洗清冤屈，朝廷命地方官贖回產業，還給仇家。仇仲回來，父子二人都十分高興。仇祿為了替父親贖身，細問他的家口，這才知道仇仲入旗後，先後兩次婚配，都沒有生育，此時已經喪妻。仇祿便收拾行裝回家。先前，仇福和弟弟分別後回到家，伏地爬進門，任憑家裡處置。大娘請母親坐在堂上，拿著棍子問他：「你要是願意捱打，就可以暫且留下；不然，你的田產已經用光了，這裡也沒有你吃飯的地方，請你還是走吧。」仇福趴在地上流淚，願意捱打。大娘扔下棍子說：「賣老婆的人，連打也不值得打了。不過舊案還沒了結，你再犯，直接報官就是。」她隨即派人去告訴姜家。姜氏罵道：「我是仇家的什麼人，要來告訴我！」大娘屢次把這話說給仇福聽，譏諷他，仇福羞愧得不敢吭聲。過了半年，大娘雖然給他吃穿用度，樣樣周全，卻讓他像奴僕一樣幹活。仇福做事毫無怨言，交給他錢財，他也從不馬虎。大娘看出他沒有別的心思，便告訴母親，想請姜氏回來。母親覺得已經無法挽回了。大娘說：「不見得。她要是肯再跟另一個男人，怎麼會寧願遭受那些苦楚？只是她心裡免不了有這口怨氣。」於是帶著弟弟，親自上門賠罪。岳父母狠狠責備仇福，大娘喝令他直起身子跪著，然後請求見姜氏。請了好幾次，姜氏堅持躲著不出來，大娘便去找她，把她拉了出來。姜氏指著仇福，吐唾沫，破口大罵，仇福羞愧得滿頭是汗，無地自容。薑母這才拉他起來。大娘問姜氏什麼時候回家。姜氏說：「從前受了姐姐那麼多恩惠，如今又聽您吩咐，我哪還能說別的話？只怕不能保證他不會再賣我！再說，我們之間的恩義已經斷了，我還有什麼臉和這個黑心無賴一起過日子？請另外安排一間屋子，我去侍奉老母親，比起出家做尼姑，總要好一些，也就夠了。」大娘替仇福說明他的悔過之意，約好第二天接她，便告辭了。次日早晨，家裡用轎子把姜氏接回來，母親在門口迎接，向她跪拜。姜氏伏地大哭，大娘勸住她們，擺酒慶賀，讓仇福坐在桌邊，然後端起酒杯說：「我費盡力氣爭取這些，並不是為了自己得好處。如今弟弟悔過，貞潔的媳婦也回來了，請讓我把賬簿交給你們。我來的時候只有自己一個人，走的時候也只帶自己一個人。」仇福夫妻都站起身，神情變得鄭重，圍著大娘跪拜，哭著挽留，她才留下。不久，昭雪的命令下來了，沒過幾天，田地房屋全都還給原主。魏名大驚，不知道這是怎麼回事，又恨自己再也想不出什麼手段。恰好西邊鄰居家失火，魏名藉口救火過去，暗中拿編成束的茅草點燃仇祿的房屋。風又突然猛烈起來，火勢蔓延，幾乎燒了個乾淨，只剩仇福住的兩三間屋，全家都擠在裡面。不久仇祿回來，大家相見，悲喜交加。先前范公子收到休書，拿去和蕙娘商量。蕙娘痛哭，把休書撕碎，扔在地上。父親順從她的心意，不再勉強。仇祿回來，聽說她沒有改嫁，高興地去了岳父家。范公子知道仇家遭了火災，想把他留下，仇祿不肯，便告辭回去。幸好大娘還有藏起來的銀子，拿出來修補燒壞的牆屋。仇福扛著鐵鍬幹活，挖到了埋藏的銀子。夜裡，他和弟弟一起挖開，只見一座一丈多大的石池，裡面裝滿了叫作「不動尊」的大銀錠。於是他們召集工匠，大興土木，樓房屋舍接連建起，壯麗得可以和世代顯貴的人家相比。仇祿感激將軍的恩義，備下一千兩銀子，準備去贖父親。仇福請求前往，便派了健壯的僕人陪他去幫忙。仇祿則把蕙娘迎回家。不久，父親和哥哥一起歸來，滿門歡騰。大娘自從住進孃家，就不許兒子們來看她，怕別人說她謀私。父親回來後，她堅決辭別，要回自己家。兄弟二人捨不得，父親便把產業分成三份，兩個兒子各得一份，女兒得一份。大娘堅決推辭，兄弟二人都哭著說：「我們要不是有姐姐，哪裡會有今天！」大娘這才安心接受，派人接來兒子，把自己一家搬來同住。有人問大娘：「他們是你異母的兄弟，你為什麼這麼關心他們？」大娘說：「只知道有母親，不知道有父親，只有禽獸才這樣，難道人也要學它們嗎？」仇福、仇祿聽了，都流下淚來，叫工匠給大娘修建住宅，樣樣和他們自己的相同。魏名想起十多年來，自己不斷害他們，卻反而讓他們越來越有福，深感慚愧後悔。他又羨慕仇家的富裕，想和他們交好，便借祝賀仇仲歸來作由頭，備了禮物登門。仇福想拒絕，仇仲不忍心駁他的面子，收下雞和酒。雞腳用布條綁著，雞跑進灶裡，灶火點燃了布條，它又跑到堆著的柴草上棲著。僮僕婢女看見，卻沒有理會。不一會兒，柴草燒起來，火勢蔓延到房屋，全家驚慌失措。幸好人手多，很快把火撲滅，廚房裡的東西卻全都燒光了。兄弟二人都說魏名送來的東西不吉利。後來趕上父親生日，魏名又牽來一隻羊。推辭不掉，只好把羊拴在院裡的樹上。夜裡，一個僮僕被另一個僕人毆打，憤怒地跑到樹下，解下拴羊的繩子，上吊死了。兄弟二人嘆道：「他給我們送福，還不如給我們惹禍！」從此，魏名無論多麼殷勤，他們連他的一根線也不敢收，只寧願優厚地回贈他。後來魏名年老，窮得當了乞丐，仇家常常拿布和糧食接濟他，用恩德回報他的怨恨。
仇仲，晋人，忘其郡邑。值大乱，为寇俘去。二子福、禄俱幼；继室邵氏，抚双孤，遗业能温饱。而岁屡祲，豪强者复凌借之，遂至食息不保。仲叔尚廉利其嫁，屡劝驾，而邵氏矢志不摇。廉阴券于大姓，欲强夺之；关说已成，而他人不之知也。里人魏名夙狡狯，与仲家积不相能，事事思中伤之。因邵寡，伪造浮言以相败辱。大姓闻之，恶其不德而止。久之，廉之阴谋与外之飞语，邵渐闻之，冤结胸怀，朝夕陨涕，四体渐以不仁，委身床榻。福甫十六岁，因缝纫无人，遂急为毕姻。妇，姜秀才屺瞻之女，颇称贤能，百事赖以经纪。由此用渐裕，乃使禄从师读。魏忌嫉之，而阳与善，频招福饮，福倚为腹心交。魏乘间告曰：「尊堂病废，不能理家人生产；弟坐食，一无所操作：贤夫妇何为作牛马哉！且弟买妇，将大耗金钱。为君计，不如早析，则贫在弟而富在君也。」福归，谋诸妇；妇咄之。奈魏日以微言相渐渍，福惑焉，直以己意告母。母怒，诟骂之。福益恚，辄视金粟为他人之物也者而委弃之。魏乘机诱与博赌，仓粟渐空，妇知而未敢言。既至粮绝，被母骇问，始以实告。母愤怒而无如何，遂析之。幸姜女贤，旦夕为母执炊，奉事一如平日。福既析，益无顾忌，大肆淫赌。数月间，田产悉偿戏债，而母与妻皆不及知。福赀既罄，无所为计，因券妻代赀，而苦无受者。邑人赵阎罗，原漏网之巨盗，武断一乡，固不畏福言之食也，慨然假赀。福持去，数日复空。意踟蹰，将背券盟。赵横目相加。福大惧，赚妻付之。魏闻窃喜，急奔告姜，实将倾败仇也。姜怒，讼兴。福惧甚，亡去。姜女至赵家，始知为婿所卖，大哭，但欲觅死。赵初慰谕之，不听；既而威逼之，益骂；大怒，鞭挞之，终不肯服。因拔笄自刺其喉，急救，已透食管，血溢出。赵急以帛束其项，犹冀从容而挫折焉。明日，拘牒已至，赵行行殊不置意。官验女伤重，命笞之，隶相顾无敢用刑。官久闻其横暴，至此益信，大怒，唤家人出，立毙之。姜遂舁女归。自姜之讼也，邵氏始知福不肖状，一号几绝，冥然大渐。禄时年十五，茕茕无以自主。先是，仲有前室女大娘，嫁于远郡，性刚猛，每归宁，餽赠不满其志，辄迕父母，往往以愤去，仲以是怒恶之；又因道远，遂数载不一存问。邵氏垂危，魏欲使招之来而启其争。适有贸贩者，与大娘同里，便托寄语大娘，且歆以家之可图。数日，大娘果与少子至。入门，见幼弟侍病母，景象惨澹，不觉怆恻。因问弟福，禄备告之。大娘闻之，忿气塞吭，曰：「家无成人，遂任人蹂躏至此！吾家田产，诸贼何得赚去！」因入厨下，爇火炊糜，先供母，而后呼弟及子共啖之。啖已，忿出，诣邑投状，讼诸博徒。众惧，敛金赂大娘。大娘受其金而仍讼之。邑令拘甲、乙等，各加杖责，田产殊置不问。大娘愤不已，率子赴郡。郡守最恶博者。大娘力陈孤苦，及诸恶局骗之状，情词慷慨。守为之动，判令邑宰追田给主；仍惩仇福，以儆不肖。既归，邑宰奉令敲比，于是故产尽反。大娘时已久寡，乃遣少子归，且嘱从兄务业，勿得复来。大娘由此止母家，养母教弟，内外有条。母大慰，病渐瘥，家务悉委大娘。里中豪强，少见陵暴，辄握刃登门，侃侃争论，罔不屈服。居年余，田产日增。时市药饵珍肴，餽遗姜女。又见禄渐长成，频嘱媒为之觅姻。魏告人曰：「仇家产业，悉属大娘，恐将来不可复返矣。」人咸信之，故无肯与论婚者。有范公子子文，家中名园，为晋第一。园中名花夹路，直通内室。或不知而悮入之，值公子私宴，怒执为盗，杖几死。会清明，禄自塾中归，魏引与游遨，遂至园所。魏故与园丁有旧，放令入，周历亭榭。俄至一处，溪水汹涌，有画桥朱槛，通一漆门；遥望门内，繁花如锦，盖即公子内斋也。魏绐之曰：「君请先入，我适欲私焉。」禄信之，寻桥入户，至一院落，闻女子笑声。方停步间，一婢出，窥见之，旋踵即返。禄始骇奔。无何，公子出，叱家人绾索逐之。禄大窘，自投溪中。公子反怒为笑，命诸仆引出。见其容裳都雅，便令易其衣履，曳入一亭，诘其姓氏。蔼容温语，意甚亲暱。俄趋入内；旋出，笑握禄手，过桥，渐达曩所。禄不解其意，逡巡不敢入。公子强曳入之，见花篱内隐隐有美人窥伺。既坐，则群婢行酒。禄辞曰：「童子无知，悮践闺闼，得蒙赦宥，已出非望。但愿释令早归，受恩非浅。」公子不听。俄顷，肴炙纷纭。禄又起，辞以醉饱，公子捺坐，笑曰：「仆有一乐拍名，若能对之，即放君行。」禄唯唯请教。公子云：「拍名『浑不似』。」禄默思良久，对曰：「银成『没奈何』。」公子大笑曰：「真石崇也！」禄殊不解。盖公子有女名蕙娘，美而知书，日择良耦。夜梦一人告之曰：「石崇，汝婿也。」问：「何在？」曰：「明日落水矣。」早告父母，共以为异。禄适符梦兆，故邀入内舍，使夫人女辈共觇之也。公子闻对而喜，乃曰：「拍名乃小女所拟，屡思而无其偶，今得属对，亦有天缘。仆欲以息女奉箕帚；寒舍不乏第宅，更无烦亲迎耳。」禄惶然逊谢，且以母病不能入赘为辞。公子姑令归谋，遂遣圉人负湿衣，送之以马。既归告母，母惊为不详。于是始知魏氏险；然因凶得吉，亦置不仇，但戒子远绝而已。逾数日，公子又使人致意母，母终不敢应。大娘应之，即倩双媒纳采焉。未几，禄赘入公子家。年余游泮，才名籍甚。妻弟长成，敬少弛；禄怒，携妇而归。母已杖而能行。频岁赖大娘经纪，第宅亦颇完好。新妇既归，婢仆如云，宛然大家有风焉。魏又见绝，嫉妒益深，恨无瑕之可蹈，乃引旗下逃人诬禄寄赀。国初立法最严，禄依令徙口外。范公子上下贿托，仅以蕙娘免行；田产尽没入官。幸大娘执析产书，锐身告理，新增良沃若如干顷，悉罣福名，母女始得安居。禄自分不返，遂书离婚字付岳家，伶仃自去。行数日，至都北，饭于旅肆。有丐子怔营户外，貌绝类兄；近致讯诘，果兄。禄因自述，兄弟悲惨。禄解复衣，分数金，嘱令归。福泣受而别。禄至关外，寄将军帐下为奴。因禄文弱，俾主支籍，与诸仆同栖止。仆辈研问家世，禄悉告之。内一人惊曰：「是吾儿也！」盖仇仲初为寇家牧马，后寇投诚，卖仲旗下，时从主屯关外。向禄缅述，始知真为父子，抱首悲哀，一室为之酸辛。已而愤曰：「何物逃东，遂诈吾儿！」因泣告将军。将军即命禄摄书记；函致亲王，付仲诣都。仲伺车驾出，先投冤状。亲王为之婉转，遂得昭雪，命地方官赎业归仇。仲返，父子各喜。禄细问家口，为赎身计。乃知仲入旗下，两易配而无所出，时方鳏也。禄遂治任返。初，福别弟归，蒲伏自投。大娘奉母坐堂上，操杖问之：「汝愿受扑责，便可姑留；不然，汝田产既尽，亦无汝噉饭之所，请仍去。」福涕泣伏地，愿受笞。大娘投杖曰：「卖妇之人，亦不足惩。但宿案未消，再犯首官可耳。」即使人往告姜，姜女骂曰：「我是仇氏何人，而相告耶！」大娘频述告福而揶揄之，福惭愧不敢出气。居半年，大娘虽给奉周备，而役同厮养。福操作无怨词，托以金钱辄不苟。大娘察其无他，乃白母，求姜女复归。母意其不可复挽。大娘曰：「不然。渠如肯事二主，楚毒岂肯自罹？要不能不有此忿耳。」遂率弟躬往负荆。岳父母诮让良切。大娘叱使长跪，然后请见姜女。请之再四，坚避不出；大娘搜捉以出。女乃指福唾骂，福惭汗无地自容。姜母始曳令起。大娘请问归期。女曰：「向受姊惠綦多，今承尊命，岂复有异言？但恐不能保其不再卖也！且恩义已绝，更何颜与黑心无赖子共生活哉？请别营一室，妾往奉事老母，较胜披削足矣。」大娘代白其悔，为翼日之约而别。次朝，以乘舆取归，母逆于门而跪拜之。女伏地大哭。大娘劝止，置酒为欢，命福坐案侧，乃执爵而言曰：「我苦争者，非自利也。今弟悔过，贞妇复还，请以簿籍交纳；我以一身来，仍以一身去耳。」夫妇皆兴席改容，罗拜哀泣，大娘乃止。居无何，昭雪之命下，不数日，田宅悉还故主。魏大骇，不知其故，自恨无术可以复施。适西邻有回禄之变，魏托救焚而往，暗以编菅爇禄第，风又暴作，延烧几尽；止余福居两三屋，举家依聚其中。未几禄至，相见悲喜。初，范公子得离书，持商蕙娘。蕙娘痛哭，碎而投诸地。父从其志，不复强。禄归，闻其未嫁，喜如岳所。公子知其灾，欲留之；禄不可，遂辞而退。大娘幸有藏金，出葺败堵。福负锸营筑，掘见窖镪，夜与弟共发之，石池盈丈，满中皆不动尊也。由是鸠工大作，楼舍群起，壮丽拟于世胄。禄感将军义，备千金往赎父。福请行，因遣健仆辅之以去。禄乃迎蕙娘归。未几，父兄同归，一门欢腾。大娘自居母家，禁子省视，恐人议其私也。父既归，坚辞欲去。兄弟不忍。父乃析产而三之：子得二，女得一也。大娘固辞。兄弟皆泣曰：「吾等非姊，乌有今日！」大娘乃安之。遣人招子，移家共居焉。或问大娘：「异母兄弟，何遂关切如此？」大娘曰：「知有母而不知有父者，惟禽兽如此耳，岂以人而效之？」福、禄闻之皆流涕。使工人治其第，皆与己等。魏自计十余年，祸之而益福之，深自愧悔。又仰其富，思交欢之，因以贺仲阶进，备物而往。福欲却之；仲不忍拂，受鸡酒焉。鸡以布缕缚足，逸入灶；灶火燃布，往栖积薪，僮婢见之而未顾也。俄而薪焚灾舍，一家惶骇。幸手指众多，一时扑灭，而厨中百物俱空矣。兄弟皆谓其物不祥。后值父寿，魏复餽牵羊。却之不得，系羊庭树。夜有僮被仆殴，忿趋树下，解羊索自经死。兄弟叹曰：「其福之不如其祸之也！」自是魏虽殷勤，竟不敢受其寸缕，宁厚酬之而已。后魏老，贫而作丐，每周以布粟而德报之。
仇仲是晋地人，他住在哪个郡县，我已经忘了。他遇上大乱，被强盗掳走。两个儿子仇福、仇禄都还年幼，继妻邵氏抚养着这两个失去父亲的孩子，靠丈夫留下的产业，还能维持温饱。可是接连几年收成不好，地方上的豪强又欺压他们，渐渐连吃饭过日子都没有保障了。仇仲的叔父尚廉想从邵氏改嫁中捞些好处，屡次劝她另嫁，邵氏却立定心志，毫不动摇。尚廉暗中和一个大户订了契约，想强行把她抢去，事情已经商量妥当，别人却还不知道。村里有个叫魏名的人，向来狡猾，和仇仲一家积怨很深，事事都想中伤他们。他趁邵氏守寡，编造谣言，败坏她的名声。那大户听说后，嫌她品行不好，便放弃了这桩婚事。过了些日子，尚廉的阴谋和外面的流言，邵氏渐渐都听说了。她满心冤屈，早晚流泪，四肢逐渐失去知觉，卧床不起。仇福刚满十六岁，家里因为没人做针线活，就赶紧给他办了婚事。他的妻子是姜秀才屺瞻的女儿，出了名的贤惠能干，家里大小事情都靠她料理。从此，家境渐渐宽裕起来，便让仇禄跟着老师读书。魏名心里嫉妒，表面上却和仇福交好，常常请他喝酒，仇福把他当成了知心朋友。魏名找了个机会对他说：“你母亲病得不能动，没法料理家里的生计；你弟弟只吃现成的，一点活也不干。你们夫妻为什么要给他们当牛做马呢！再说，给你弟弟娶媳妇，还要花不少钱。我替你打算，不如早些分家，那样穷的是你弟弟，富的是你。”仇福回去和妻子商量，妻子狠狠责备了他。可是魏名天天用这些话一点点诱导他，仇福终于受了迷惑，直接把自己的意思告诉母亲。母亲大怒，痛骂了他一顿。仇福更加怨恨，便把家里的钱粮当成别人的东西，随意糟蹋。魏名趁机引诱他赌博，仓里的粮食渐渐耗尽。妻子虽然知道，却不敢说。直到家里断了粮，母亲吃惊地追问，她才说出实情。母亲愤怒，却又无可奈何，只好分了家。幸好姜氏贤惠，仍旧早晚给婆婆做饭，照料她和从前一样。仇福分家后，更加没有顾忌，放纵自己嫖娼赌博。几个月里，田产全都拿去抵了赌债，母亲和妻子却都还不知道。他的财产耗尽，再也想不出办法，便立下契约，把妻子抵押出去借钱，却苦于没人肯接手。县里有个赵阎罗，原是逃脱法网的大盗，在乡里横行霸道，自然不怕仇福反悔，爽快地借了钱给他。仇福拿了钱，几天就又花光了。他犹豫起来，打算违背契约。赵阎罗瞪眼威胁他，仇福十分害怕，只好骗来妻子，把她交给赵阎罗。魏名听说，暗暗高兴，急忙跑去告诉姜秀才，实际是想借此毁掉仇家。姜秀才大怒，向官府告状。仇福十分害怕，逃走了。姜氏到了赵家，才知道自己被丈夫卖了，放声大哭，一心求死。赵阎罗起初安慰劝说，她不肯听；后来威胁逼迫，她骂得更加厉害。赵阎罗大怒，用鞭子抽打她，她始终不肯屈服。她拔下发簪，刺进自己的喉咙。众人急忙抢救，发簪已经刺穿食管，鲜血涌了出来。赵阎罗赶紧用绸帛裹住她的脖子，还想着日后慢慢折磨她，让她屈服。第二天，拘捕文书已经送到，赵阎罗仍旧趾高气扬，毫不在意。县官验看姜氏伤势严重，命人打赵阎罗，衙役们却面面相觑，没人敢动手。县官早就听说他横暴，如今更加确信，勃然大怒，叫出自己的家仆，当场把他打死。姜秀才这才把女儿抬回家。直到姜秀才告状，邵氏才知道仇福干下的这些坏事。她大哭一声，几乎断气，随后昏迷不醒，病势垂危。仇禄当时十五岁，孤孤单单，完全不知道该怎么办。原来，仇仲和前妻生过一个女儿，叫大娘，嫁到了远处的郡里。她性情刚烈，每次回娘家，父母给的东西不合她心意，她就顶撞父母，常常负气而去，仇仲因此生气，厌恶她。又因为路途遥远，好几年也没问候过她。邵氏病危时，魏名想把大娘招来，挑起家里的争端。恰好有个商贩和大娘住在同一个村，魏名便托他带话给大娘，又拿娘家有产业可以谋取来诱惑她。几天后，大娘果然带着小儿子来了。进门看见年幼的弟弟守着病母，家里一片凄凉，她不由得伤心。她问起仇福，仇禄把事情全告诉了她。大娘听完，气得喉咙都堵住了，说：“家里没有能做主的人，就让别人欺负到了这个地步！我们家的田产，这些贼怎么能骗了去！”她便进厨房，生火煮粥，先送给母亲，再叫弟弟和儿子一起吃。吃完后，她怒气冲冲地出门，到县里递状子，控告那些赌徒。众人害怕，凑了钱来贿赂她。大娘收下钱，却仍旧告他们。县令拘来那些人，各自打了一顿，对田产却完全不管。大娘愤愤不平，带着儿子到郡里告状。郡守最痛恨赌徒，大娘极力陈述家中孤苦无依的情形，以及那些恶人设局欺骗的经过，说得慷慨激昂。郡守被她打动，判令县令追回田产，交还原主，同时惩罚仇福，警告那些不肖子弟。大娘回来后，县令奉命用刑追讨，旧有的产业于是全部收回。大娘这时已经守寡多年，便让小儿子回家，嘱咐他跟着哥哥经营家业，不许再来。从此，大娘住在娘家，照顾母亲，教导弟弟，家里家外都料理得井井有条。母亲十分宽慰，病也渐渐好了，把家务全交给大娘。村里的豪强稍有欺压，大娘就拿着刀找上门，理直气壮地争论，没有一个不服软的。住了一年多，家里的田产日渐增多。她时常买药物和好吃的东西，送给姜氏。又见仇禄渐渐长大，便一再托媒人给他寻找亲事。魏名对人说：“仇家的产业，如今全归了大娘，只怕将来再也拿不回来了。”大家都信了，因此没有人肯和仇家谈婚事。有位范公子，名叫子文，家里的名园号称晋地第一。园中名花夹着道路，一直通到内宅。曾有人不知道，误闯进去，恰逢范公子在里面设私宴。范公子大怒，把他当作贼抓住，打得几乎死去。清明时，仇禄从学堂回来，魏名带他出去游玩，来到范家的园子。魏名和园丁原本相熟，园丁放他们进去，两人游遍了亭台楼榭。不久来到一处，只见溪水奔涌，一座带着朱红栏杆的彩绘桥通向一道漆门。远远望见门内繁花似锦，那里正是范公子的内宅。魏名骗他说：“你先进去，我正想方便一下。”仇禄信了，沿桥进门，走到一座院子里，听见女子的笑声。他刚停下脚步，一个婢女走出来，看见了他，立刻转身回去。仇禄这才害怕，赶紧逃跑。不一会儿，范公子出来，喝令家仆拿绳子追赶。仇禄走投无路，跳进溪里。范公子反而转怒为笑，命仆人把他拉出来。见他容貌、衣着都很文雅，就让他换了衣服鞋子，拉进一座亭子，问他的姓名。范公子神情和蔼，说话温和，对他十分亲热。不久，范公子快步进了内宅，随即又出来，笑着握住仇禄的手，过了桥，渐渐来到他先前闯入的地方。仇禄不明白他的意思，犹豫着不敢进去。范公子硬把他拉进去，仇禄隐约看见花篱后有美人在窥看。坐下后，一群婢女上前斟酒。仇禄推辞说：“我年幼无知，误闯了内宅，能得到您的宽恕，已经是意想不到的了。只求您让我早些回家，我就感激不尽了。”范公子不听。不一会儿，各种菜肴烤肉接连端来。仇禄又站起身，说自己已经酒足饭饱。范公子把他按回座位，笑着说：“我这里有一句关于曲牌名字的上联，你要是能对出来，我就放你走。”仇禄恭敬地答应，请他说来。范公子说：“曲牌名‘浑不似’。”仇禄默默想了很久，对道：“银子铸成‘没奈何’。”范公子大笑说：“果然是石崇！”仇禄完全不懂他的意思。原来范公子有个女儿，叫蕙娘，长得美，又有学问，家里一直在替她挑选好丈夫。一天夜里，她梦见有人对她说：“石崇是你的丈夫。”她问：“他在哪里？”那人说：“明天就落水了。”早晨，她把梦告诉父母，大家都觉得奇怪。仇禄恰好应了梦兆，所以范公子把他请进内宅，让夫人和女儿等人一同窥看。范公子听见他对出的下联，十分高兴，便说：“这句关于曲牌的上联，是小女拟的，她想了很多次，都找不到合适的下联。如今你对出来了，也算是天赐的缘分。我想把女儿嫁给你。家里不缺住处，也不必劳烦你来迎亲。”仇禄惶恐地谦辞，又说母亲有病，不能入赘。范公子暂且让他回家商量，派马夫背着湿衣服，让他骑马回去。仇禄回家告诉母亲，母亲吃了一惊，觉得事情不吉利。他们这才知道魏名居心险恶，但既然因祸得福，也就不再与他结仇，只告诫仇禄远远避开他。过了几天，范公子又派人向母亲提亲，母亲始终不敢答应。大娘答应了这门婚事，马上请了两位媒人送去订亲礼。不久，仇禄入赘范家。一年多后，他考取秀才，才名远扬。妻子的弟弟长大后，对他的敬重渐渐少了。仇禄生气，带着妻子回了自己家。母亲这时已经能拄杖行走。几年来全靠大娘经营，家里的房屋也修整得相当完好。新媳妇回来，带来许多婢女仆人，俨然有了大户人家的气派。魏名又被仇家疏远，嫉妒更深，恨找不到可利用的把柄，便找来一个旗下逃人，诬告仇禄替他藏着钱财。国初的法律极严，仇禄依照法令被迁往口外。范公子上下行贿托人，才勉强让蕙娘免于同行，田产却全部被官府没收。幸好大娘拿着分家文书，挺身申诉，新添的那些肥沃田地，全都登记在仇福名下，母女二人这才得以安居。仇禄料想自己再也回不来，便写了休书送到岳家，孤零零地离去。走了几天，来到京城以北，在一家旅店吃饭。门外有个乞丐徘徊不安，模样十分像哥哥。他走近询问，果然是仇福。仇禄讲了自己的遭遇，兄弟二人十分悲伤。仇禄解开夹衣，取出几两银子分给哥哥，嘱咐他回家。仇福哭着接过，和弟弟分别。仇禄到了关外，在一位将军手下做奴仆。因为他文弱，将军让他管理收支账册，和其他仆人住在一起。仆人们细问他的家世，仇禄全都告诉了他们。其中一人惊叫道：“这是我的儿子！”原来仇仲起初替强盗牧马，后来强盗归顺朝廷，把仇仲卖到旗下，此时他正跟随主人驻扎关外。仇仲向仇禄详细讲述往事，两人才确认果然是父子，抱在一起痛哭，满屋的人都为他们心酸。不久，仇仲愤怒地说：“那逃亡的家伙算什么东西，竟敢诬陷我的儿子！”他便哭着向将军申诉。将军立即命仇禄代理书记，写信给一位亲王，让仇仲带到京城。仇仲等候皇帝的车驾出来，上前递交申冤的状子。亲王替他周旋，仇禄终于洗清冤屈，朝廷命地方官赎回产业，还给仇家。仇仲回来，父子二人都十分高兴。仇禄为了替父亲赎身，细问他的家口，这才知道仇仲入旗后，先后两次婚配，都没有生育，此时已经丧妻。仇禄便收拾行装回家。先前，仇福和弟弟分别后回到家，伏地爬进门，任凭家里处置。大娘请母亲坐在堂上，拿着棍子问他：“你要是愿意挨打，就可以暂且留下；不然，你的田产已经用光了，这里也没有你吃饭的地方，请你还是走吧。”仇福趴在地上流泪，愿意挨打。大娘扔下棍子说：“卖老婆的人，连打也不值得打了。不过旧案还没了结，你再犯，直接报官就是。”她随即派人去告诉姜家。姜氏骂道：“我是仇家的什么人，要来告诉我！”大娘屡次把这话说给仇福听，讥讽他，仇福羞愧得不敢吭声。过了半年，大娘虽然给他吃穿用度，样样周全，却让他像奴仆一样干活。仇福做事毫无怨言，交给他钱财，他也从不马虎。大娘看出他没有别的心思，便告诉母亲，想请姜氏回来。母亲觉得已经无法挽回了。大娘说：“不见得。她要是肯再跟另一个男人，怎么会宁愿遭受那些苦楚？只是她心里免不了有这口怨气。”于是带着弟弟，亲自上门赔罪。岳父母狠狠责备仇福，大娘喝令他直起身子跪着，然后请求见姜氏。请了好几次，姜氏坚持躲着不出来，大娘便去找她，把她拉了出来。姜氏指着仇福，吐唾沫，破口大骂，仇福羞愧得满头是汗，无地自容。姜母这才拉他起来。大娘问姜氏什么时候回家。姜氏说：“从前受了姐姐那么多恩惠，如今又听您吩咐，我哪还能说别的话？只怕不能保证他不会再卖我！再说，我们之间的恩义已经断了，我还有什么脸和这个黑心无赖一起过日子？请另外安排一间屋子，我去侍奉老母亲，比起出家做尼姑，总要好一些，也就够了。”大娘替仇福说明他的悔过之意，约好第二天接她，便告辞了。次日早晨，家里用轿子把姜氏接回来，母亲在门口迎接，向她跪拜。姜氏伏地大哭，大娘劝住她们，摆酒庆贺，让仇福坐在桌边，然后端起酒杯说：“我费尽力气争取这些，并不是为了自己得好处。如今弟弟悔过，贞洁的媳妇也回来了，请让我把账簿交给你们。我来的时候只有自己一个人，走的时候也只带自己一个人。”仇福夫妻都站起身，神情变得郑重，围着大娘跪拜，哭着挽留，她才留下。不久，昭雪的命令下来了，没过几天，田地房屋全都还给原主。魏名大惊，不知道这是怎么回事，又恨自己再也想不出什么手段。恰好西边邻居家失火，魏名借口救火过去，暗中拿编成束的茅草点燃仇禄的房屋。风又突然猛烈起来，火势蔓延，几乎烧了个干净，只剩仇福住的两三间屋，全家都挤在里面。不久仇禄回来，大家相见，悲喜交加。先前范公子收到休书，拿去和蕙娘商量。蕙娘痛哭，把休书撕碎，扔在地上。父亲顺从她的心意，不再勉强。仇禄回来，听说她没有改嫁，高兴地去了岳父家。范公子知道仇家遭了火灾，想把他留下，仇禄不肯，便告辞回去。幸好大娘还有藏起来的银子，拿出来修补烧坏的墙屋。仇福扛着铁锹干活，挖到了埋藏的银子。夜里，他和弟弟一起挖开，只见一座一丈多大的石池，里面装满了叫作“不动尊”的大银锭。于是他们召集工匠，大兴土木，楼房屋舍接连建起，壮丽得可以和世代显贵的人家相比。仇禄感激将军的恩义，备下一千两银子，准备去赎父亲。仇福请求前往，便派了健壮的仆人陪他去帮忙。仇禄则把蕙娘迎回家。不久，父亲和哥哥一起归来，满门欢腾。大娘自从住进娘家，就不许儿子们来看她，怕别人说她谋私。父亲回来后，她坚决辞别，要回自己家。兄弟二人舍不得，父亲便把产业分成三份，两个儿子各得一份，女儿得一份。大娘坚决推辞，兄弟二人都哭着说：“我们要不是有姐姐，哪里会有今天！”大娘这才安心接受，派人接来儿子，把自己一家搬来同住。有人问大娘：“他们是你异母的兄弟，你为什么这么关心他们？”大娘说：“只知道有母亲，不知道有父亲，只有禽兽才这样，难道人也要学它们吗？”仇福、仇禄听了，都流下泪来，叫工匠给大娘修建住宅，样样和他们自己的相同。魏名想起十多年来，自己不断害他们，却反而让他们越来越有福，深感惭愧后悔。他又羡慕仇家的富裕，想和他们交好，便借祝贺仇仲归来作由头，备了礼物登门。仇福想拒绝，仇仲不忍心驳他的面子，收下鸡和酒。鸡脚用布条绑着，鸡跑进灶里，灶火点燃了布条，它又跑到堆着的柴草上栖着。僮仆婢女看见，却没有理会。不一会儿，柴草烧起来，火势蔓延到房屋，全家惊慌失措。幸好人手多，很快把火扑灭，厨房里的东西却全都烧光了。兄弟二人都说魏名送来的东西不吉利。后来赶上父亲生日，魏名又牵来一只羊。推辞不掉，只好把羊拴在院里的树上。夜里，一个僮仆被另一个仆人殴打，愤怒地跑到树下，解下拴羊的绳子，上吊死了。兄弟二人叹道：“他给我们送福，还不如给我们惹祸！”从此，魏名无论多么殷勤，他们连他的一根线也不敢收，只宁愿优厚地回赠他。后来魏名年老，穷得当了乞丐，仇家常常拿布和粮食接济他，用恩德回报他的怨恨。
Qiu Zhong was a man of Jin; I have forgotten his county. In a time of great disorder he was carried off by bandits. His two sons, Fu and Lu, were both small. His second wife, Mrs. Shao, brought up the two orphans, and what he had left was enough to keep them fed and clothed. But year after year the harvests failed, and the local bullies preyed on them besides, until they could hardly be sure of food from one day to the next. Zhong’s uncle, Shanglian, hoped to profit by marrying her off and kept urging her to remarry, but Mrs. Shao had sworn not to and would not be moved. Shanglian secretly signed a contract with a powerful family, meaning to have her carried off by force. The deal was made, and no one else knew of it. A man of the village named Wei Ming, crafty from the first, had long been on bad terms with Zhong’s family and was always looking for a way to do them harm. Since Mrs. Shao was a widow, he made up idle talk to disgrace her. The powerful family heard it, disliked her for her lack of virtue, and let the matter drop. In time Mrs. Shao came to hear of both Shanglian’s plot and the slanders outside. The wrong lay knotted in her breast. She wept morning and night, her limbs slowly lost their feeling, and she took to her bed. Fu was just sixteen. Since there was no one to do the sewing, they hurried to marry him off. His wife, the daughter of a licentiate named Jiang Qizhan, was known as good and capable, and everything came to depend on her management. From then on they grew a little better off, and Lu was sent to study with a teacher. Wei envied them, but outwardly made friends, often inviting Fu to drink, and Fu came to think of him as his closest friend. Seeing his chance, Wei said, “Your mother is crippled with illness and cannot manage the household’s living. Your brother eats and does no work at all. Why should a worthy couple like you toil like oxen and horses? Besides, when your brother takes a wife, it will cost a great deal of money. If I were you, I’d split the household now. Then the poverty will be his and the wealth yours.” Fu went home and talked it over with his wife; she scolded him. But Wei kept wearing at him day after day with hints, and Fu was led astray. He went straight to his mother and told her what he wanted. She flew into a rage and cursed him. Fu grew more resentful still, and began treating the family’s money and grain as if they belonged to someone else, and throwing them away. Wei seized the moment and lured him into gambling. The granary slowly emptied. His wife knew, but did not dare say anything. When the grain ran out at last and his mother demanded in alarm to know why, she told her the truth. His mother was furious, but there was nothing to be done, so she divided the household. Luckily Jiang’s daughter was good: morning and evening she cooked for her mother-in-law and served her just as before. Once the household was divided, Fu had nothing to hold him back and gave himself up to whoring and gambling. Within a few months all his land had gone to pay his gambling debts, and neither his mother nor his wife knew of it. When his money was gone and he had no other way out, he wrote a contract pledging his wife in place of money, but no one would take her. A man of the county known as Zhao Yama, a great bandit who had slipped through the net, lorded it over the district. He had no fear that Fu would go back on his word, and readily lent him the money. Fu took it away, and in a few days it was gone. He wavered, and thought of breaking the contract. Zhao glared at him. Terrified, Fu tricked his wife into going and handed her over. Wei heard of it and was secretly delighted. He hurried to tell Jiang — in truth, to bring the Qiu family to ruin. Jiang was furious and went to law. Fu, terrified, ran away. Jiang’s daughter arrived at Zhao’s house and only then learned that her husband had sold her. She wept and wailed and wanted only to die. At first Zhao tried to soothe her and reason with her; she would not listen. Then he tried threats; she cursed him all the more. In a rage he whipped her, but she would not give in. She pulled the pin from her hair and stabbed herself in the throat. They rushed to save her, but it had already pierced her gullet, and blood was spilling out. Zhao quickly bound her neck with silk, still hoping to break her in time. The next day the warrant for his arrest arrived, and Zhao swaggered in without a care. The magistrate saw how badly the woman was wounded and ordered Zhao flogged, but the runners looked at one another and none dared lay a hand on him. The magistrate had long heard of his violence, and now he believed it. In a great rage he called out his own household men and had Zhao beaten to death on the spot. Jiang then carried his daughter home. When Jiang brought his suit, Mrs. Shao learned for the first time what a wastrel Fu was. She gave one cry and nearly died, and sank into a stupor, close to the end. Lu was fifteen then, alone, with no one to turn to. Now, Zhong had a daughter by his first wife, Daniang, who had married into a distant prefecture. She was hard and fierce by nature. Whenever she came home to visit, if the gifts she was given were not to her liking, she would quarrel with her parents and often left in anger, and Zhong had come to hate her for it. She lived far away besides, so for several years no one had once sent to ask after her. As Mrs. Shao lay near death, Wei wanted to have Daniang called home to set the family quarrelling. It happened that a peddler came from the same village as Daniang, so Wei asked him to take her a message, tempting her with word that the family property was there for the taking. A few days later, sure enough, Daniang arrived with her younger son. As she came through the door she saw her little brother tending their sick mother. Everything looked bleak, and despite herself she was moved to grief. She asked after her brother Fu, and Lu told her everything. When Daniang heard it, rage stopped her throat. “There is no grown man in the house, so people trample it like this! Our family’s land — how did these thieves come to cheat us of it?” She went into the kitchen, lit a fire and cooked gruel. First she served their mother, then called her brother and her son to eat with her. When they had eaten she went out in a fury to the county seat and filed a complaint against the gamblers. They were frightened and pooled money to bribe her. Daniang took their money and went on with the suit all the same. The county magistrate arrested so-and-so and so-and-so and had each one beaten, but did nothing at all about the land. Still enraged, Daniang took her son to the prefecture. The prefect hated gamblers above all. Daniang laid out in full how helpless and alone they were and how the villains had cheated them, speaking with passion. The prefect was moved, and ordered the county magistrate to recover the land and return it to its owners, and also to punish Qiu Fu as a warning to wastrels. When she came home, the magistrate carried out the order, pressing with the rod, and all the old property came back. Daniang had long been a widow by then. She sent her younger son home and told him to follow his elder brother and tend to the family’s work, and not to come again. From then on Daniang lived in her mother’s house. She looked after her mother and taught her brother, and kept everything in order inside and out. Their mother was greatly comforted, and as she slowly recovered she left all the household business to Daniang. If any bully in the village tried the least bit of violence, Daniang would take a knife in her hand, go to his door and argue it out boldly, and none failed to back down. After a year or so their land was growing every day. She often bought medicines and delicacies and sent them to Jiang’s daughter. Seeing that Lu was growing up, she kept asking matchmakers to find him a wife. Wei told people, “All the Qiu property belongs to Daniang now. I’m afraid it will never come back to them.” Everyone believed him, so no one was willing to talk of a match. There was a Master Fan Ziwen whose family garden was famous, the finest in all Jin. Rare flowers lined its paths right up to the inner rooms. Once a man who did not know wandered in by mistake while Fan was holding a private party; Fan, angry, had him seized as a thief and beaten nearly to death. At the spring festival of Qingming, Lu came home from school, and Wei took him out on a pleasure trip until they came to the garden. Wei was an old acquaintance of the gardener, who let them in, and they went all round the pavilions and terraces. Soon they reached a place where a stream ran fast, with a painted bridge and red railings leading to a lacquered gate. Looking through the gate from a distance, they saw flowers massed like brocade: it was Fan’s inner quarters. Wei tricked him: “You go in first, sir. I need to relieve myself.” Lu believed him, crossed the bridge and went through the gate into a courtyard, where he heard women laughing. As he stopped short, a maid came out, caught sight of him, and turned straight back. Only then did Lu take fright and run. Before long Fan came out and shouted to his men to bring ropes and go after him. Lu, at his wits’ end, threw himself into the stream. Fan’s anger turned to laughter, and he had the servants pull him out. Seeing that the boy’s looks and clothes were elegant, he had him change his clothes and shoes, drew him into a pavilion, and asked his name. His face was kind and his words gentle, and he seemed very friendly. Soon he hurried inside; he came back at once, took Lu’s hand with a smile, crossed the bridge, and brought him by degrees to the place he had been before. Lu did not understand what he meant and hung back, not daring to go in. Fan pulled him in by force. Lu could dimly make out beautiful women peeping at him from behind a hedge of flowers. When they were seated, a crowd of maids served wine. Lu excused himself: “I am an ignorant boy, and I trespassed on the women’s quarters. To be pardoned is already more than I could hope for. If only you would let me go home now, I would be deeply grateful.” Fan would not hear of it. In a moment dish after dish of meat was brought. Lu rose again, saying he had had enough to eat and drink, but Fan pressed him back into his seat. “I have a name from music,” he said with a smile. “If you can match it, I’ll let you go.” Lu respectfully asked to hear it. “The music is named Not-at-All-Alike,” said Fan. Lu thought in silence for a long while, then answered, “The silver is cast as No-Help-for-It.” Fan roared with laughter. “A true Shi Chong!” Lu had no idea what he meant. Fan had a daughter named Huiniang, beautiful and well read, and he was looking every day for a good match for her. One night she dreamed that someone told her, “Shi Chong is your husband.” “Where is he?” she asked. “Tomorrow he will fall into the water.” In the morning she told her parents, and they all thought it strange. Lu happened to fit the dream, so Fan had invited him into the inner rooms for his wife and daughter to have a look at him. Hearing the answer, Fan was delighted. “The line was made up by my daughter,” he said. “She thought about it many times and could find no match for it. Now that you have matched it, that too is a bond made in heaven. I would like to give you my daughter to hold the dustpan and broom for you. My poor home has no lack of rooms, so there is no need even to come and fetch the bride.” Lu, flustered, declined modestly, and said that since his mother was ill he could not marry into the family. Fan told him to go home for now and talk it over, and had a groom carry his wet clothes and see him home on horseback. When he got home and told his mother, she was alarmed and thought it a bad omen. Only then did they understand how treacherous Wei was; but since ill had turned to good fortune, she let it go and did not treat him as an enemy, only warning her son to keep well away from him. A few days later Fan sent someone to put the proposal to the mother, but she still did not dare accept. Daniang accepted it, and at once engaged two matchmakers to send the betrothal gifts. Not long after, Lu married into Fan’s family. After a year or so he entered the county school as a licentiate, and his talent became widely known. When his wife’s younger brother grew up, he showed Lu less respect. Lu was angry and took his wife home. Their mother could walk now with a cane. Thanks to Daniang’s management over the years, the house too was in good repair. Once the new bride arrived, there were maids and servants in crowds, quite the style of a great family. Wei, cut off once more, grew more jealous still, and fretted that there was no flaw to exploit. So he got a runaway from the Banners to accuse Lu falsely of keeping money for him. At the start of the dynasty the law was very harsh, and Lu was banished beyond the Great Wall as the law required. Master Fan bribed high and low, but could only get Huiniang excused from going. All the land was confiscated. Luckily Daniang held the deed dividing the property and boldly went to argue the case: all the good rich land newly added had been registered in Fu’s name, and so mother and daughter could stay at home in peace. Lu reckoned he would never come back, so he wrote a letter of divorce and sent it to his wife’s family, and went off alone. After several days on the road he came north of the capital and stopped to eat at an inn. A beggar was hovering anxiously outside who looked just like his brother. He went closer and questioned him; it was his brother. Lu told his own story, and the two brothers grieved. Lu opened his lined coat, shared out a few taels of silver, and told him to go home. Fu took it weeping, and they parted. Beyond the passes, Lu was taken as a slave into a general’s household. Because Lu was a scholar and not strong, he was put in charge of the accounts and lodged with the other servants. The servants asked about his family, and Lu told them everything. One of them cried out in astonishment, “This is my son!” For Qiu Zhong had first herded horses for the bandits; later the bandits surrendered to the government and sold Zhong into the Banners, and he was now stationed beyond the passes with his master. As he told Lu his story in full, they found they truly were father and son. They held each other and wept, and the whole room was moved. Then Zhong said angrily, “What runaway wretch would dare cheat my son like this!” Weeping, he told the general. The general at once made Lu his acting secretary, and wrote a letter to a prince of the blood, which he sent with Zhong to the capital. Zhong waited for the carriage to come out and was the first to hand in his complaint. The prince spoke for him, and the wrong was set right: the local officials were ordered to buy back the property and return it to the Qiu family. Zhong came back, and father and son rejoiced. Lu asked closely about his father’s household, planning to buy his freedom. He learned that since entering the Banners Zhong had twice been given a wife, had no children, and was now a widower. Lu then packed up and went home. Earlier, when Fu had parted from his brother and come home, he crawled in and gave himself up. Daniang seated their mother in the hall, took up a stick, and asked him, “If you are willing to take a beating, you may stay for now. If not — your land is all gone, and there is nowhere here for you to eat. Please go away again.” Fu lay on the ground weeping and said he would take the beating. Daniang threw down the stick. “A man who sells his wife isn’t even worth punishing. But the old case is still open. Offend again, and I’ll simply report you to the authorities.” At once she sent word to Jiang. Jiang’s daughter cursed: “What am I to the Qius, that you tell me this?” Daniang told Fu what she had said again and again, to mock him, and Fu was too ashamed to breathe a word. Half a year passed. Daniang gave him all he needed, but worked him like a menial. Fu did his work without complaint, and when entrusted with money he was always scrupulous. When Daniang saw that he meant no harm, she spoke to their mother and asked to have Jiang’s daughter brought back. The mother thought there was no winning her back. “Not so,” said Daniang. “If she were willing to serve two masters, would she have brought such torment on herself? It’s only that she can’t help being angry.” So she took her brother in person to beg forgiveness. Fu’s parents-in-law rebuked them bitterly. Daniang ordered Fu to kneel up straight, and then asked to see Jiang’s daughter. She asked again and again, but the girl kept out of sight; Daniang searched for her and dragged her out. Then the girl pointed at Fu, spat and cursed him, and Fu, ashamed and sweating, did not know where to hide himself. Only then did her mother pull him to his feet. Daniang asked when she would come back. “I have received so much kindness from you, sister,” said the girl. “Now that you ask it, how could I say otherwise? But I’m afraid no one can promise he won’t sell me again! Besides, all bond between us is broken. How could I bear to live with that black-hearted scoundrel? Please set up a separate room. I’ll come and serve the old lady. That’s better than shaving my head as a nun, and it’s enough for me.” Daniang told her of Fu’s repentance on his behalf, and they parted, agreeing on the next day. The next morning they fetched her home in a sedan chair. The mother met her at the gate and knelt to her. The girl threw herself on the ground and wept aloud. Daniang calmed them and set out wine to celebrate. She had Fu sit at the side of the table, and raising her cup she said, “I fought so hard, but not for my own gain. Now my brother has mended his ways and his faithful wife has come back, let me hand over the account books. I came alone, and alone I’ll go.” Husband and wife both rose from their seats, their faces changed; they knelt around her, weeping and pleading, and Daniang stayed. Before long the order setting right the wrong came down, and within a few days all the land and houses went back to their old owners. Wei was greatly alarmed and could not make out why, and cursed himself that he had no more tricks to try. Just then a fire broke out at the neighbour’s to the west. Wei went over pretending to help put it out, and secretly set Lu’s house alight with a bundle of plaited grass. Then the wind rose violently, and the fire spread until nearly everything burned. Only Fu’s two or three rooms were left, and the whole family crowded together in them. Soon Lu arrived, and they met with grief and joy. Earlier, when Master Fan received the letter of divorce, he took it to talk it over with Huiniang. Huiniang wept bitterly, tore it to pieces and threw it on the ground. Her father went along with her wishes and did not press her. When Lu came back and heard she had not married again, he went happily to his father-in-law’s. Fan knew of their misfortune and wanted to keep him there; Lu would not stay, and took his leave. Luckily Daniang had money hidden away, and she brought it out to repair the ruined walls. Fu, with a spade on his shoulder, was working on the building when he dug up a buried store of silver. That night he and his brother dug it out together: a stone vault more than ten feet across, filled with “immovables.” With this they hired workmen and built on a grand scale; buildings rose one after another, as splendid as those of old noble houses. Lu, grateful for the general’s kindness, got together a thousand taels to go and buy his father’s freedom. Fu asked to go, so they sent sturdy servants along to help him. Lu then brought Huiniang home. Not long after, father and elder brother came home together, and the whole family was overjoyed. Since coming to live in her mother’s house, Daniang had forbidden her sons to visit her, for fear people would say she was favouring her own. Now that her father was home, she firmly insisted on leaving. Her brothers could not bear it. So their father divided the property into three: the sons got two shares, the daughter one. Daniang firmly refused. Both brothers wept: “If not for you, sister, where would we be today?” So Daniang accepted. She sent for her sons and moved her family to live with them. Someone asked Daniang, “They are your brothers by another mother. Why do you care for them so?” “Only birds and beasts know their mother and not their father,” said Daniang. “Should a human being behave like them?” Fu and Lu wept when they heard it. They had workmen build her a house equal to their own. Wei reckoned that for more than ten years every harm he had done them had only added to their good fortune, and he was deeply ashamed and sorry. He also looked up to their wealth and wanted to be friends, so he used the excuse of congratulating Zhong on his return as a way in, and came with gifts. Fu wanted to refuse them; Zhong could not bear to rebuff him, and accepted a chicken and wine. The chicken’s feet were tied with strips of cloth. It got loose and ran into the stove; the fire caught the cloth, and it went to roost on the woodpile. The servants saw it but paid no attention. Soon the woodpile was burning and the house caught fire, and the whole family was in a panic. Luckily there were many hands, and they put it out at once, but everything in the kitchen was lost. The brothers both said the gift was unlucky. Later, on their father’s birthday, Wei sent a goat on a lead. They could not refuse it, and tied it to a tree in the courtyard. That night a servant boy who had been beaten by another servant went in anger to the tree, untied the goat’s rope, and hanged himself with it. The brothers sighed: “Better he harm us than bless us!” From then on, however attentive Wei was, they never dared accept so much as a thread from him; they would rather pay him back generously. Later, when Wei was old and poor and had become a beggar, they often helped him with cloth and grain, repaying him with kindness.