馬子才，順天人。世好菊，至才尤甚，聞有佳種，必購之，千里不憚。一日，有金陵客寓其家，自言其中表親有一二種，為北方所無。馬欣動，即刻治裝，從客至金陵。客多方為之營求，得兩芽，裹藏如寶。歸至中途，遇一少年，跨蹇從油碧車，丰姿灑落。漸近與語。少年自言：「陶姓。」談言騷雅。因問馬所自來，實告之。少年曰：「種無不佳，培溉在人。」因與論藝菊之法。馬大悅，問：「將何往？」答云：「姊厭金陵，欲卜居於河朔耳。」馬欣然曰：「僕雖固貧，茅廬可以寄榻。不嫌荒陋，無煩他適。」陶趨車前，向姊咨稟。車中人推簾語，乃二十許絕世美人也。顧弟言：「屋不厭卑，而院宜得廣。」馬代諾之，遂與俱歸。第南有荒圃，僅小室三四椽，陶喜，居之。日過北院，為馬治菊。菊已枯，拔根再植之，無不活。然家清貧，陶日與馬共食飲，而察其家似不舉火。馬妻呂，亦愛陶姊，不時以升斗餽卹之。陶姊小字黃英，雅善談，輒過呂所，與共紉績。陶一日謂馬曰：「君家固不豐，僕日以口腹累知交，胡可為常。為今計，賣菊亦足謀生。」馬素介，聞陶言，甚鄙之，曰：「僕以君風流高士，當能安貧；今作是論，則以東籬為市井，有辱黃花矣。」陶笑曰：「自食其力不為貪，販花為業不為俗。人固不可苟求富，然亦不必務求貧也。」馬不語，陶起而出。自是，馬所棄殘枝劣種，陶悉掇拾而去。由此不復就馬寢食，招之始一至。未幾，菊將開，聞其門囂喧如市。怪之，過而窺焉，見市人買花者，車載肩負，道相屬也。其花皆異種，目所未睹。心厭其貪，欲與絕；而又恨其私祕佳本，遂款其扉，將就誚讓。陶出，握手曳入。見荒庭半畝皆菊畦，數椽之外無曠土。斸去者，則折別枝插補之；其蓓蕾在畦者，罔不佳妙：而細認之，皆向所拔棄也。陶入屋，出酒饌，設席畦側，曰：「僕貧不能守清戒，連朝幸得微貲，頗足供醉。」少間，房中呼「三郎」，陶諾而去。俄獻佳肴，烹飪良精。因問：「貴姊胡以不字？」答云：「時未至。」問：「何時？」曰：「四十三月。」又詰：「何說？」但笑不言，盡歡始散。過宿，又詣之，新插者已盈尺矣。大奇之，苦求其術。陶曰：「此固非可言傳；且君不以謀生，焉用此？」又數日，門庭略寂，陶乃以蒲席包菊，捆載數車而去。踰歲，春將半，始載南中異卉而歸，於都中設花肆，十日盡售，復歸藝菊。問之去年買花者，留其根，次年盡變而劣，乃復購於陶。陶由此日富：一年增舍，二年起夏屋。興作從心，更不謀諸主人。漸而舊日花畦，盡為廊舍。更於牆外買田一區，築墉四周，悉種菊。至秋，載花去，春盡不歸。而馬妻病卒。意屬黃英，微使人風示之。黃英微笑，意似允許，惟專候陶歸而已。年餘，陶竟不至。黃英課僕種菊，一如陶。得金益合商賈，村外治膏田二十頃，甲第益壯。忽有客自東粵來，寄陶生函信，發之，則囑姊歸馬。考其寄書之日，即妻死之日；回憶園中之飲，適四十三月也，大奇之。以書示英，請問「致聘何所」。英辭不受采。又以故居陋，欲使就南第居，若贅焉。馬不可，擇日行親迎禮。黃英既適馬，於間壁開扉通南第，日過課其僕。馬恥以妻富，恆囑黃英作南北籍，以防淆亂。而家所須，黃英輒取諸南第。不半歲，家中觸類皆陶家物。馬立遣人一一齎還之，戒勿復取。未浹旬，又雜之。凡數更，馬不勝煩。黃英笑曰：「陳仲子毋乃勞乎？」馬慙，不復稽，一切聽諸黃英。鳩工庀料，土木大作，馬不能禁。經數月，樓舍連亙，兩第竟合為一，不分疆界矣。然遵馬教，閉門不復業菊，而享用過於世家。馬不自安，曰：「僕三十年清德，為卿所累。今視息人間，徒依裙帶而食，真無一毫丈夫氣矣。人皆祝富，我但祝窮耳！」黃英曰：「妾非貪鄙；但不少致豐盈，遂令千載下人，謂淵明貧賤骨，百世不能發跡，故聊為我家彭澤解嘲耳。然貧者願富，為難；富者求貧，固亦甚易。床頭金任君揮去之，妾不靳也。」馬曰：「捐他人之金，抑亦良醜。」英曰：「君不願富，妾亦不能貧也。無已，析君居：清者自清，濁者自濁，何害？」乃於園中築茅茨，擇美婢往侍馬。馬安之。然過數日，苦念黃英。招之，不肯至；不得已，反就之。隔宿輒至，以為常。黃英笑曰：「東食西宿，廉者當不如是。」馬亦自笑，無以對，遂復合居如初。會馬以事客金陵，適逢菊秋。早過花肆，見肆中盆列甚煩，款朵佳勝，心動，疑類陶製。少間，主人出，果陶也。喜極，具道契闊，遂止宿焉。要之歸，陶曰：「金陵，吾故土，將婚於是。積有薄貲，煩寄吾姊。我歲杪當暫去。」馬不聽，請之益苦。且曰：「家幸充盈，但可坐享，無須復賈。」坐肆中，使僕代論價，廉其直，數日盡售。逼促囊裝，賃舟遂北。入門，則姊已除舍，床榻裀褥皆設，若預知弟也歸者。陶自歸，解裝課役，大修亭園，惟日與馬共棋酒，更不復結一客。為之擇婚，辭不願。姊遣兩婢侍其寢處，居三四年，生一女。陶飲素豪，從不見其沉醉。有友人曾生，量亦無對。適過馬，馬使與陶相較飲。二人縱飲甚歡，相得恨晚。自辰以迄四漏，計各盡百壺。曾爛醉如泥，沉睡座間。陶起歸寢，出門踐菊畦，玉山傾倒，委衣於側，即地化為菊，高如人；花十餘朵，皆大於拳。馬駭絕，告黃英。英急往，拔置地上，曰：「胡醉至此！」覆以衣，要馬俱去，戒勿視。既明而往，則陶臥畦邊。馬乃悟姊弟菊精也，益愛敬之。而陶自露跡，飲益放，恆自折柬招曾，因與莫逆。值花朝，曾來造訪，以兩僕舁藥浸白酒一罈，約與共盡。罈將竭，二人猶未甚醉。馬潛以一瓻續入之，二人又盡之。曾醉已憊，諸僕負之以去。陶臥地，又化為菊。馬見慣不驚，如法拔之，守其旁以觀其變。久之，葉益憔悴。大懼，始告黃英。英聞駭曰：「殺吾弟矣！」奔視之，根株已枯。痛絕，掐其梗，埋盆中，攜入閨中，日灌溉之。馬悔恨欲絕，甚怨曾。越數日，聞曾已醉死矣。盆中花漸萌，九月既開，短幹粉朵，嗅之有酒香，名之「醉陶」，澆以酒則茂。後女長成，嫁於世家。黃英終老、亦無他異。
馬子才是順天人。他家世代喜愛菊花，到了子才這一代，尤其痴迷。只要聽說哪裡有好品種，他一定要買來，即使遠在千里之外也不嫌麻煩。有一天，一位金陵來的客人住在他家，說自己的表親有一兩種菊花，是北方沒有的。馬子才聽了十分心動，立即收拾行裝，跟著客人去了金陵。客人替他四處設法尋找，終於弄到兩株嫩苗。他把花苗包好，像寶貝一樣珍藏著。回程走到半路，他遇見一個少年，騎著驢跟在一輛掛著油碧帷幕的車後，風姿瀟灑。馬子才漸漸靠近，和他攀談起來。少年說自己姓陶，談吐風雅。他問馬子才從哪裡來，馬子才如實告訴了他。少年說：「菊花沒有不好的品種，全看種花的人怎樣培育澆灌。」隨後便和他談起種菊的方法。馬子才十分高興，問：「你要到哪裡去？」少年回答：「姐姐住膩了金陵，想在河朔找個地方安家。」馬子才欣然說：「我雖然貧窮，家裡的茅屋還可以讓你們住下。要是不嫌簡陋，就不必另找地方了。」陶生快步走到車前，向姐姐請示。車裡的人掀開簾子說話，原來是個二十歲左右的絕色美人。她看著弟弟說：「房子低矮些不要緊，院子卻要寬敞。」馬子才替陶生答應下來，便和他們一起回了家。他家南邊有一片荒園，只有三四間小屋，陶生很喜歡，就住在那裡。他每天到北院來，替馬子才照料菊花。已經枯萎的菊花，他拔出根來重新栽下，沒有一株不活的。不過，陶家十分貧寒，陶生每天都和馬子才一起吃喝，馬子才看他們家似乎從不開火做飯。馬子才的妻子呂氏也很喜歡陶生的姐姐，時常送些糧食接濟她。陶生的姐姐小名黃英，很會說話，常到呂氏那裡，和她一起縫紉紡線。有一天，陶生對馬子才說：「你家本來就不寬裕，我每天為著吃喝拖累朋友，怎麼能長久這樣下去？照眼下的情形，賣菊花也足夠謀生。」馬子才一向清高耿介，聽了這話，很瞧不起他，說：「我以為你是風雅高潔的人，應該能安於貧窮。如今說出這樣的話，就是把東邊的菊籬變成市場，辱沒了菊花。」陶生笑道：「靠自己的勞動吃飯，不算貪財；以賣花為生，也不算庸俗。人固然不能不擇手段地求富，卻也不必一心求窮。」馬子才沒有說話，陶生便起身走了。從此，馬子才丟棄的殘枝和劣種，陶生都撿起來帶走。他也不再到馬子才那裡吃飯住宿，只有受到邀請才偶爾來一次。沒過多久，菊花快開了，馬子才聽見陶家門前吵吵嚷嚷，像個市場。他覺得奇怪，便過去看看，只見買花的人有的用車裝，有的用肩挑，沿路接連不斷。那些花全是他從未見過的珍奇品種。他心裡厭惡陶生貪財，想和他斷絕來往，又惱恨他私藏好花種，便敲開門，準備責備他。陶生出來，握住他的手，把他拉進院子。馬子才見半畝荒地全成了菊花畦，除了那幾間屋子，沒有一塊空地。凡是菊花被挖走的地方，就折下別的枝條插進去補上。花畦裡含苞待放的菊花，無一不美；仔細辨認，卻全是自己從前拔掉丟棄的。陶生進屋拿出酒菜，在花畦旁擺下酒席，說：「我窮，守不住清貧的規矩。這幾天幸好賺了點錢，倒足夠讓我們喝個痛快。」過了一會兒，屋裡有人喊「三郎」，陶生應了一聲，便走了進去。不久，他端出幾道好菜，做得十分精細。馬子才問：「你姐姐為什麼還沒有許配人家？」陶生回答：「時候還沒到。」馬子才問：「什麼時候才到？」陶生說：「四十三個月以後。」馬子才又追問：「這話怎麼講？」陶生只是笑，不肯再說。兩人盡興後才散去。第二天，馬子才又去看他，新插的枝條已經長到一尺多高。他驚奇極了，苦苦求陶生傳授種花的本領。陶生說：「這本來就不是言語能夠傳授的。再說，你又不靠它謀生，要這本領有什麼用？」又過了幾天，門前稍稍清靜了，陶生便用蒲席包好菊花，捆紮著裝了幾車，出門去了。過了年，春天快過一半時，他才帶著南方的奇花回來，在京城開了一家花店，十天就賣完了，又回家種菊。向去年買過花的人打聽，才知道他們留下花根，到第二年，花全都變差了，只好再來向陶生購買。陶生因此一天比一天富有，第一年擴建房屋，第二年蓋起大宅。他想怎麼建就怎麼建，不再和馬子才商量。漸漸地，原來的花畦全變成了長廊和屋舍。他又在牆外買了一塊田，四周築起圍牆，全部種上菊花。到了秋天，他載著花出門，直到第二年春天過完也沒回來。這時，馬子才的妻子病死了。他有意娶黃英，便悄悄託人向她透露心意。黃英微微一笑，似乎願意，只等陶生回來。又過了一年多，陶生始終沒有回來。黃英督促僕人種菊，和陶生一樣。賺來的錢又拿去與商人合夥經營，在村外接辦了二十頃肥沃的田地，宅院也越發宏偉。忽然有位客人從東粵來，帶來了陶生的信。馬子才拆開一看，信裡囑咐姐姐嫁給他。檢視寫信的日期，正是妻子去世的那一天；再回想那次在園裡飲酒，從那時到妻子去世，恰好四十三個月。他驚奇極了，把信給黃英看，問她：「聘禮該送到哪裡？」黃英推辭，不肯收聘禮。她又嫌馬子才原來的住處簡陋，想讓他搬到南邊的宅院住，像入贅一樣。馬子才不肯，選定日子，親自迎娶了她。黃英嫁給馬子才後，在兩家之間的牆上開了一道門，通往南宅，每天過去督促僕人做事。馬子才覺得靠妻子富起來很可恥，常囑咐黃英把南北兩家的財物分別登記，免得混在一起。可家裡需要什麼，黃英總從南宅取來。不到半年，家裡各樣東西幾乎都成了陶家的。馬子才立即派人把東西一件件送回去，告誡他們不許再拿。還沒過十天，兩家的東西又混在一起了。這樣反覆了幾次，馬子才煩得受不了。黃英笑道：「陳仲子，你這樣未免太辛苦了吧？」馬子才很慚愧，不再查問，一切都由黃英安排。她召集工匠，備齊材料，大興土木，馬子才也阻止不了。幾個月後，樓房屋舍連成一片，兩處宅院竟合成了一處，再也分不出界限。不過，她依照馬子才的意思，關起門來，不再以種菊賣花為業，生活享受卻超過了世家大族。馬子才心裡不安，說：「我守了三十年的清白品德，被你拖累了。如今活在人世間，只靠妻子養活，實在沒有一點男子漢的氣概！人人都盼著富，我卻只盼著窮！」黃英說：「我並不是貪財卑鄙，只是，如果不讓家裡稍稍富裕些，就會讓千年以後的人說，淵明天生是個窮命，過了一百代也發達不了。所以，我不過是替我家的彭澤消除這些譏笑罷了。何況，窮人想變富很難，富人想變窮卻很容易。床頭的錢任你拿去散掉，我絕不吝惜。」馬子才說：「拿別人的錢去送人，也實在可恥。」黃英說：「你不願富，我也不能窮。實在沒有辦法，就給你另分一處住處。清的自管清，濁的自管濁，有什麼妨礙？」於是，她在園中蓋了一間茅屋，選了個美貌婢女去侍候馬子才。馬子才住得很安心。可過了幾天，他又十分想念黃英，叫她過來，她卻不肯。他沒有辦法，只好自己去找她。此後每隔一夜就過去一次，成了慣例。黃英笑道：「在東邊吃飯，到西邊睡覺，清廉的人不該這樣吧。」馬子才也笑自己，無話可答，於是兩人又像從前一樣住在一起。後來，馬子才因事到金陵作客，恰逢菊花盛開的秋天。一早經過一家花店，看見店裡擺著許多盆花，花形花色都十分出眾。他心裡一動，懷疑是陶生種的。過了一會兒，店主人出來，果然是陶生。馬子才高興極了，把分別後的事情詳細告訴他，便在那裡住下。他邀陶生一起回去，陶生說：「金陵是我的故鄉，我打算在這裡成婚。我積攢了一點錢，煩你帶給姐姐。到年底，我會暫時回去一趟。」馬子才不肯聽，越發苦苦勸他，還說：「家裡幸好已經富裕，你只管享用就是，不必再做買賣。」他坐在店裡，讓僕人代陶生和買花的人議價，把價錢放低，幾天就把花全賣完了。隨後又催陶生收拾行李，租了船，一起北上。進家門時，黃英已經收拾好房間，床榻被褥都已擺好，像是早知道弟弟要回來。陶生回來後，卸下行李，安排僕人做事，大規模修整亭臺園林。此後，他每天只和馬子才下棋飲酒，再也不結交別的客人。馬子才替他找妻子，他推辭說不願意。姐姐派了兩個婢女照料他的起居，過了三四年，他有了一個女兒。陶生一向酒量很大，從來沒人見他大醉過。馬子才有個朋友曾生，酒量也無人能比。曾生恰好來拜訪，馬子才便讓他和陶生比試酒量。兩人放開喝，十分歡暢，彼此都覺得相見恨晚。從辰時一直喝到四更，算下來，每人都喝完了一百壺。曾生醉得爛泥一般，坐在那裡沉沉睡去。陶生起身回去睡覺，出門踏進菊花畦，身子一歪倒了下去，衣服掉落在一旁，就地變成了一株菊花，有一人高，開著十幾朵花，每朵都比拳頭大。馬子才驚駭極了，趕緊告訴黃英。黃英急忙過去，把菊花拔起來放在地上，說：「怎麼醉成這樣！」她拿衣服蓋住菊花，叫馬子才和自己一起離開，叮囑他不要再看。天亮後再去，陶生已經躺在花畦旁。馬子才這才明白，姐弟倆都是菊花精，對他們更加喜愛敬重。陶生自從顯露真身以後，喝酒越發放縱，常常親自寫請帖邀曾生來，兩人成了知心好友。到了花朝，曾生前來拜訪，讓兩個僕人抬來一罈用藥材浸泡的白酒，約陶生一起喝完。壇裡的酒快喝光時，兩人還沒有醉得很厲害。馬子才暗中又添進了一瓻酒，兩人又把它喝光了。曾生醉得疲憊不堪，僕人們把他揹走了。陶生躺在地上，又變成了一株菊花。馬子才已經見慣，不覺得驚訝，照著黃英上次的做法把菊花拔起來，守在旁邊看它怎樣變回人。過了很久，葉子越來越枯萎。他這才害怕起來，趕緊告訴黃英。黃英聽了大驚，說：「你害死我弟弟了！」她奔過去一看，根莖已經枯死。她悲痛極了，掐下花莖，埋進花盆，帶回自己的臥房，每天澆水。馬子才悔恨得幾乎活不下去，十分埋怨曾生。過了幾天，聽說曾生已經醉死了。盆裡的花漸漸發芽，到九月開了花，花莖短小，花朵粉紅，聞起來有酒香，便給它取名「醉陶」，用酒澆灌就長得茂盛。後來，陶生的女兒長大，嫁進了世家。黃英一直活到老，也沒有再發生別的怪事。
马子才，顺天人。世好菊，至才尤甚，闻有佳种，必购之，千里不惮。一日，有金陵客寓其家，自言其中表亲有一二种，为北方所无。马欣动，即刻治装，从客至金陵。客多方为之营求，得两芽，裹藏如宝。归至中途，遇一少年，跨蹇从油碧车，丰姿洒落。渐近与语。少年自言：「陶姓。」谈言骚雅。因问马所自来，实告之。少年曰：「种无不佳，培溉在人。」因与论艺菊之法。马大悦，问：「将何往？」答云：「姊厌金陵，欲卜居于河朔耳。」马欣然曰：「仆虽固贫，茅庐可以寄榻。不嫌荒陋，无烦他适。」陶趋车前，向姊咨禀。车中人推帘语，乃二十许绝世美人也。顾弟言：「屋不厌卑，而院宜得广。」马代诺之，遂与俱归。第南有荒圃，仅小室三四椽，陶喜，居之。日过北院，为马治菊。菊已枯，拔根再植之，无不活。然家清贫，陶日与马共食饮，而察其家似不举火。马妻吕，亦爱陶姊，不时以升斗餽恤之。陶姊小字黄英，雅善谈，辄过吕所，与共纫绩。陶一日谓马曰：「君家固不丰，仆日以口腹累知交，胡可为常。为今计，卖菊亦足谋生。」马素介，闻陶言，甚鄙之，曰：「仆以君风流高士，当能安贫；今作是论，则以东篱为市井，有辱黄花矣。」陶笑曰：「自食其力不为贪，贩花为业不为俗。人固不可苟求富，然亦不必务求贫也。」马不语，陶起而出。自是，马所弃残枝劣种，陶悉掇拾而去。由此不复就马寝食，招之始一至。未几，菊将开，闻其门嚣喧如市。怪之，过而窥焉，见市人买花者，车载肩负，道相属也。其花皆异种，目所未睹。心厌其贪，欲与绝；而又恨其私秘佳本，遂款其扉，将就诮让。陶出，握手曳入。见荒庭半亩皆菊畦，数椽之外无旷土。斸去者，则折别枝插补之；其蓓蕾在畦者，罔不佳妙：而细认之，皆向所拔弃也。陶入屋，出酒馔，设席畦侧，曰：「仆贫不能守清戒，连朝幸得微赀，颇足供醉。」少间，房中呼「三郎」，陶诺而去。俄献佳肴，烹饪良精。因问：「贵姊胡以不字？」答云：「时未至。」问：「何时？」曰：「四十三月。」又诘：「何说？」但笑不言，尽欢始散。过宿，又诣之，新插者已盈尺矣。大奇之，苦求其术。陶曰：「此固非可言传；且君不以谋生，焉用此？」又数日，门庭略寂，陶乃以蒲席包菊，捆载数车而去。逾岁，春将半，始载南中异卉而归，于都中设花肆，十日尽售，复归艺菊。问之去年买花者，留其根，次年尽变而劣，乃复购于陶。陶由此日富：一年增舍，二年起夏屋。兴作从心，更不谋诸主人。渐而旧日花畦，尽为廊舍。更于墙外买田一区，筑墉四周，悉种菊。至秋，载花去，春尽不归。而马妻病卒。意属黄英，微使人风示之。黄英微笑，意似允许，惟专候陶归而已。年余，陶竟不至。黄英课仆种菊，一如陶。得金益合商贾，村外治膏田二十顷，甲第益壮。忽有客自东粤来，寄陶生函信，发之，则嘱姊归马。考其寄书之日，即妻死之日；回忆园中之饮，适四十三月也，大奇之。以书示英，请问「致聘何所」。英辞不受采。又以故居陋，欲使就南第居，若赘焉。马不可，择日行亲迎礼。黄英既适马，于间壁开扉通南第，日过课其仆。马耻以妻富，恒嘱黄英作南北籍，以防淆乱。而家所须，黄英辄取诸南第。不半岁，家中触类皆陶家物。马立遣人一一赍还之，戒勿复取。未浃旬，又杂之。凡数更，马不胜烦。黄英笑曰：「陈仲子毋乃劳乎？」马慙，不复稽，一切听诸黄英。鸠工庀料，土木大作，马不能禁。经数月，楼舍连亘，两第竟合为一，不分疆界矣。然遵马教，闭门不复业菊，而享用过于世家。马不自安，曰：「仆三十年清德，为卿所累。今视息人间，徒依裙带而食，真无一毫丈夫气矣。人皆祝富，我但祝穷耳！」黄英曰：「妾非贪鄙；但不少致丰盈，遂令千载下人，谓渊明贫贱骨，百世不能发迹，故聊为我家彭泽解嘲耳。然贫者愿富，为难；富者求贫，固亦甚易。床头金任君挥去之，妾不靳也。」马曰：「捐他人之金，抑亦良丑。」英曰：「君不愿富，妾亦不能贫也。无已，析君居：清者自清，浊者自浊，何害？」乃于园中筑茅茨，择美婢往侍马。马安之。然过数日，苦念黄英。招之，不肯至；不得已，反就之。隔宿辄至，以为常。黄英笑曰：「东食西宿，廉者当不如是。」马亦自笑，无以对，遂复合居如初。会马以事客金陵，适逢菊秋。早过花肆，见肆中盆列甚烦，款朵佳胜，心动，疑类陶制。少间，主人出，果陶也。喜极，具道契阔，遂止宿焉。要之归，陶曰：「金陵，吾故土，将婚于是。积有薄赀，烦寄吾姊。我岁杪当暂去。」马不听，请之益苦。且曰：「家幸充盈，但可坐享，无须复贾。」坐肆中，使仆代论价，廉其直，数日尽售。逼促囊装，赁舟遂北。入门，则姊已除舍，床榻裀褥皆设，若预知弟也归者。陶自归，解装课役，大修亭园，惟日与马共棋酒，更不复结一客。为之择婚，辞不愿。姊遣两婢侍其寝处，居三四年，生一女。陶饮素豪，从不见其沉醉。有友人曾生，量亦无对。适过马，马使与陶相较饮。二人纵饮甚欢，相得恨晚。自辰以迄四漏，计各尽百壶。曾烂醉如泥，沉睡座间。陶起归寝，出门践菊畦，玉山倾倒，委衣于侧，即地化为菊，高如人；花十余朵，皆大于拳。马骇绝，告黄英。英急往，拔置地上，曰：「胡醉至此！」覆以衣，要马俱去，戒勿视。既明而往，则陶卧畦边。马乃悟姊弟菊精也，益爱敬之。而陶自露迹，饮益放，恒自折柬招曾，因与莫逆。值花朝，曾来造访，以两仆舁药浸白酒一坛，约与共尽。坛将竭，二人犹未甚醉。马潜以一瓻续入之，二人又尽之。曾醉已惫，诸仆负之以去。陶卧地，又化为菊。马见惯不惊，如法拔之，守其旁以观其变。久之，叶益憔悴。大惧，始告黄英。英闻骇曰：「杀吾弟矣！」奔视之，根株已枯。痛绝，掐其梗，埋盆中，携入闺中，日灌溉之。马悔恨欲绝，甚怨曾。越数日，闻曾已醉死矣。盆中花渐萌，九月既开，短干粉朵，嗅之有酒香，名之「醉陶」，浇以酒则茂。后女长成，嫁于世家。黄英终老、亦无他异。
马子才是顺天人。他家世代喜爱菊花，到了子才这一代，尤其痴迷。只要听说哪里有好品种，他一定要买来，即使远在千里之外也不嫌麻烦。有一天，一位金陵来的客人住在他家，说自己的表亲有一两种菊花，是北方没有的。马子才听了十分心动，立即收拾行装，跟着客人去了金陵。客人替他四处设法寻找，终于弄到两株嫩苗。他把花苗包好，像宝贝一样珍藏着。回程走到半路，他遇见一个少年，骑着驴跟在一辆挂着油碧帷幕的车后，风姿潇洒。马子才渐渐靠近，和他攀谈起来。少年说自己姓陶，谈吐风雅。他问马子才从哪里来，马子才如实告诉了他。少年说：“菊花没有不好的品种，全看种花的人怎样培育浇灌。”随后便和他谈起种菊的方法。马子才十分高兴，问：“你要到哪里去？”少年回答：“姐姐住腻了金陵，想在河朔找个地方安家。”马子才欣然说：“我虽然贫穷，家里的茅屋还可以让你们住下。要是不嫌简陋，就不必另找地方了。”陶生快步走到车前，向姐姐请示。车里的人掀开帘子说话，原来是个二十岁左右的绝色美人。她看着弟弟说：“房子低矮些不要紧，院子却要宽敞。”马子才替陶生答应下来，便和他们一起回了家。他家南边有一片荒园，只有三四间小屋，陶生很喜欢，就住在那里。他每天到北院来，替马子才照料菊花。已经枯萎的菊花，他拔出根来重新栽下，没有一株不活的。不过，陶家十分贫寒，陶生每天都和马子才一起吃喝，马子才看他们家似乎从不开火做饭。马子才的妻子吕氏也很喜欢陶生的姐姐，时常送些粮食接济她。陶生的姐姐小名黄英，很会说话，常到吕氏那里，和她一起缝纫纺线。有一天，陶生对马子才说：“你家本来就不宽裕，我每天为着吃喝拖累朋友，怎么能长久这样下去？照眼下的情形，卖菊花也足够谋生。”马子才一向清高耿介，听了这话，很瞧不起他，说：“我以为你是风雅高洁的人，应该能安于贫穷。如今说出这样的话，就是把东边的菊篱变成市场，辱没了菊花。”陶生笑道：“靠自己的劳动吃饭，不算贪财；以卖花为生，也不算庸俗。人固然不能不择手段地求富，却也不必一心求穷。”马子才没有说话，陶生便起身走了。从此，马子才丢弃的残枝和劣种，陶生都捡起来带走。他也不再到马子才那里吃饭住宿，只有受到邀请才偶尔来一次。没过多久，菊花快开了，马子才听见陶家门前吵吵嚷嚷，像个市场。他觉得奇怪，便过去看看，只见买花的人有的用车装，有的用肩挑，沿路接连不断。那些花全是他从未见过的珍奇品种。他心里厌恶陶生贪财，想和他断绝来往，又恼恨他私藏好花种，便敲开门，准备责备他。陶生出来，握住他的手，把他拉进院子。马子才见半亩荒地全成了菊花畦，除了那几间屋子，没有一块空地。凡是菊花被挖走的地方，就折下别的枝条插进去补上。花畦里含苞待放的菊花，无一不美；仔细辨认，却全是自己从前拔掉丢弃的。陶生进屋拿出酒菜，在花畦旁摆下酒席，说：“我穷，守不住清贫的规矩。这几天幸好赚了点钱，倒足够让我们喝个痛快。”过了一会儿，屋里有人喊“三郎”，陶生应了一声，便走了进去。不久，他端出几道好菜，做得十分精细。马子才问：“你姐姐为什么还没有许配人家？”陶生回答：“时候还没到。”马子才问：“什么时候才到？”陶生说：“四十三个月以后。”马子才又追问：“这话怎么讲？”陶生只是笑，不肯再说。两人尽兴后才散去。第二天，马子才又去看他，新插的枝条已经长到一尺多高。他惊奇极了，苦苦求陶生传授种花的本领。陶生说：“这本来就不是言语能够传授的。再说，你又不靠它谋生，要这本领有什么用？”又过了几天，门前稍稍清静了，陶生便用蒲席包好菊花，捆扎着装了几车，出门去了。过了年，春天快过一半时，他才带着南方的奇花回来，在京城开了一家花店，十天就卖完了，又回家种菊。向去年买过花的人打听，才知道他们留下花根，到第二年，花全都变差了，只好再来向陶生购买。陶生因此一天比一天富有，第一年扩建房屋，第二年盖起大宅。他想怎么建就怎么建，不再和马子才商量。渐渐地，原来的花畦全变成了长廊和屋舍。他又在墙外买了一块田，四周筑起围墙，全部种上菊花。到了秋天，他载着花出门，直到第二年春天过完也没回来。这时，马子才的妻子病死了。他有意娶黄英，便悄悄托人向她透露心意。黄英微微一笑，似乎愿意，只等陶生回来。又过了一年多，陶生始终没有回来。黄英督促仆人种菊，和陶生一样。赚来的钱又拿去与商人合伙经营，在村外置办了二十顷肥沃的田地，宅院也越发宏伟。忽然有位客人从东粤来，带来了陶生的信。马子才拆开一看，信里嘱咐姐姐嫁给他。查看写信的日期，正是妻子去世的那一天；再回想那次在园里饮酒，从那时到妻子去世，恰好四十三个月。他惊奇极了，把信给黄英看，问她：“聘礼该送到哪里？”黄英推辞，不肯收聘礼。她又嫌马子才原来的住处简陋，想让他搬到南边的宅院住，像入赘一样。马子才不肯，选定日子，亲自迎娶了她。黄英嫁给马子才后，在两家之间的墙上开了一道门，通往南宅，每天过去督促仆人做事。马子才觉得靠妻子富起来很可耻，常嘱咐黄英把南北两家的财物分别登记，免得混在一起。可家里需要什么，黄英总从南宅取来。不到半年，家里各样东西几乎都成了陶家的。马子才立即派人把东西一件件送回去，告诫他们不许再拿。还没过十天，两家的东西又混在一起了。这样反复了几次，马子才烦得受不了。黄英笑道：“陈仲子，你这样未免太辛苦了吧？”马子才很惭愧，不再查问，一切都由黄英安排。她召集工匠，备齐材料，大兴土木，马子才也阻止不了。几个月后，楼房屋舍连成一片，两处宅院竟合成了一处，再也分不出界限。不过，她依照马子才的意思，关起门来，不再以种菊卖花为业，生活享受却超过了世家大族。马子才心里不安，说：“我守了三十年的清白品德，被你拖累了。如今活在人世间，只靠妻子养活，实在没有一点男子汉的气概！人人都盼着富，我却只盼着穷！”黄英说：“我并不是贪财卑鄙，只是，如果不让家里稍稍富裕些，就会让千年以后的人说，渊明天生是个穷命，过了一百代也发达不了。所以，我不过是替我家的彭泽消除这些讥笑罢了。何况，穷人想变富很难，富人想变穷却很容易。床头的钱任你拿去散掉，我绝不吝惜。”马子才说：“拿别人的钱去送人，也实在可耻。”黄英说：“你不愿富，我也不能穷。实在没有办法，就给你另分一处住处。清的自管清，浊的自管浊，有什么妨碍？”于是，她在园中盖了一间茅屋，选了个美貌婢女去侍候马子才。马子才住得很安心。可过了几天，他又十分想念黄英，叫她过来，她却不肯。他没有办法，只好自己去找她。此后每隔一夜就过去一次，成了惯例。黄英笑道：“在东边吃饭，到西边睡觉，清廉的人不该这样吧。”马子才也笑自己，无话可答，于是两人又像从前一样住在一起。后来，马子才因事到金陵作客，恰逢菊花盛开的秋天。一早经过一家花店，看见店里摆着许多盆花，花形花色都十分出众。他心里一动，怀疑是陶生种的。过了一会儿，店主人出来，果然是陶生。马子才高兴极了，把分别后的事情详细告诉他，便在那里住下。他邀陶生一起回去，陶生说：“金陵是我的故乡，我打算在这里成婚。我积攒了一点钱，烦你带给姐姐。到年底，我会暂时回去一趟。”马子才不肯听，越发苦苦劝他，还说：“家里幸好已经富裕，你只管享用就是，不必再做买卖。”他坐在店里，让仆人代陶生和买花的人议价，把价钱放低，几天就把花全卖完了。随后又催陶生收拾行李，租了船，一起北上。进家门时，黄英已经收拾好房间，床榻被褥都已摆好，像是早知道弟弟要回来。陶生回来后，卸下行李，安排仆人做事，大规模修整亭台园林。此后，他每天只和马子才下棋饮酒，再也不结交别的客人。马子才替他找妻子，他推辞说不愿意。姐姐派了两个婢女照料他的起居，过了三四年，他有了一个女儿。陶生一向酒量很大，从来没人见他大醉过。马子才有个朋友曾生，酒量也无人能比。曾生恰好来拜访，马子才便让他和陶生比试酒量。两人放开喝，十分欢畅，彼此都觉得相见恨晚。从辰时一直喝到四更，算下来，每人都喝完了一百壶。曾生醉得烂泥一般，坐在那里沉沉睡去。陶生起身回去睡觉，出门踏进菊花畦，身子一歪倒了下去，衣服掉落在一旁，就地变成了一株菊花，有一人高，开着十几朵花，每朵都比拳头大。马子才惊骇极了，赶紧告诉黄英。黄英急忙过去，把菊花拔起来放在地上，说：“怎么醉成这样！”她拿衣服盖住菊花，叫马子才和自己一起离开，叮嘱他不要再看。天亮后再去，陶生已经躺在花畦旁。马子才这才明白，姐弟俩都是菊花精，对他们更加喜爱敬重。陶生自从显露真身以后，喝酒越发放纵，常常亲自写请帖邀曾生来，两人成了知心好友。到了花朝，曾生前来拜访，让两个仆人抬来一坛用药材浸泡的白酒，约陶生一起喝完。坛里的酒快喝光时，两人还没有醉得很厉害。马子才暗中又添进了一瓻酒，两人又把它喝光了。曾生醉得疲惫不堪，仆人们把他背走了。陶生躺在地上，又变成了一株菊花。马子才已经见惯，不觉得惊讶，照着黄英上次的做法把菊花拔起来，守在旁边看它怎样变回人。过了很久，叶子越来越枯萎。他这才害怕起来，赶紧告诉黄英。黄英听了大惊，说：“你害死我弟弟了！”她奔过去一看，根茎已经枯死。她悲痛极了，掐下花茎，埋进花盆，带回自己的卧房，每天浇水。马子才悔恨得几乎活不下去，十分埋怨曾生。过了几天，听说曾生已经醉死了。盆里的花渐渐发芽，到九月开了花，花茎短小，花朵粉红，闻起来有酒香，便给它取名“醉陶”，用酒浇灌就长得茂盛。后来，陶生的女儿长大，嫁进了世家。黄英一直活到老，也没有再发生别的怪事。
Ma Zicai was a man of Shuntian. His family had loved chrysanthemums for generations, and Zicai loved them most of all. Whenever he heard of a fine variety he had to buy it, and he thought nothing of going a thousand li for it. One day a guest from Jinling stayed at his house and told him that a cousin of his had one or two varieties not to be found in the north. Ma was all eagerness. He packed that very moment and went with the guest to Jinling. The guest tried every means on his behalf and got him two shoots, which Ma wrapped up and kept hidden like treasure. Halfway home he met a young man riding a donkey behind a carriage with green oiled curtains, a figure of easy grace. Ma drew alongside and fell to talking with him. The young man said his surname was Tao. His talk was refined and poetic. He asked where Ma had come from, and Ma told him the truth. “There is no variety that is not good,” said the young man. “It all depends on the one who tends and waters it.” And he talked with Ma about the art of growing chrysanthemums. Ma was delighted. “Where are you going?” he asked. “My sister is tired of Jinling,” he answered. “She wants to find a place to live north of the Yellow River.” “I am poor, it is true,” said Ma gladly, “but my thatched cottage has a bed for you. If you don’t mind how bare it is, there is no need to go anywhere else.” Tao hurried up to the carriage to ask his sister. The person inside pushed aside the curtain to speak: she was a beauty without equal, about twenty years old. She looked at her brother and said, “The house can be as low as it likes, but the yard should be wide.” Ma promised for him, and they all went home together. South of Ma’s house was an overgrown garden with only a small cottage of three or four bays. Tao was pleased and moved in. Every day he came over to the north courtyard and tended Ma’s chrysanthemums. Plants that had already withered he pulled up by the roots and planted again, and every one of them lived. But they were poor: Tao ate and drank with Ma every day, and Ma noticed that no cooking fire ever seemed to be lit in their house. Ma’s wife, Mrs. Lü, grew fond of Tao’s sister too, and from time to time sent them a pint or a peck of grain to help. Tao’s sister’s girlhood name was Huang Ying. She was a graceful talker, and often went over to Mrs. Lü’s rooms to sew and spin with her. One day Tao said to Ma, “Your household is far from rich, and here I am every day burdening a friend with my mouth and belly. How can it go on? As things stand, selling chrysanthemums would be enough to make a living.” Ma had always been fastidious, and when he heard this he despised it. “I took you for a man of taste and lofty spirit,” he said, “who could rest content in poverty. To talk like this is to turn the eastern hedge into a marketplace and disgrace the yellow flowers.” Tao laughed. “To live by one’s own labour is not greed. To sell flowers for a living is not vulgar. A man must not grasp after wealth by any means, but neither need he strive to be poor.” Ma said nothing, and Tao got up and went out. From then on Tao gathered up and carried off all the broken stems and poor plants Ma threw away. And from then on he no longer came to eat or sleep at Ma’s, and came only when he was asked. Before long, when the chrysanthemums were about to open, Ma heard a din at Tao’s gate like a market. Puzzled, he went over to peep, and saw people from the market buying flowers and carrying them off in carts and on their shoulders, one after another along the road. The flowers were all rare varieties he had never set eyes on. He was disgusted at Tao’s greed and wanted to break with him; he also resented him for keeping the fine stock secret. So he knocked at the door, meaning to scold him. Tao came out, took him by the hand and drew him in. Ma saw that the half mu of waste ground was all chrysanthemum beds; apart from the few rooms there was not a patch of bare earth. Where plants had been dug up and sold, cuttings from others had been stuck in to fill the gaps. The buds in the beds were every one of them lovely — and when Ma looked closely, they were all plants he had pulled up and thrown away. Tao went into the house and brought out wine and food, and set a table beside the beds. “I am poor and cannot keep the rule of purity,” he said. “These last few days I have been lucky enough to make a little money — quite enough to get us drunk.” After a while a voice in the room called, “Sanlang!” Tao answered and went in. Soon he brought out fine dishes, beautifully cooked. Ma asked, “Why is your sister not betrothed?” “Her time has not come,” Tao answered. “When will it?” “In forty-three months.” “What do you mean?” Ma pressed him, but Tao only laughed and would not say. They enjoyed themselves to the full before they parted. The next day Ma went again: the new cuttings were already a foot high. He was amazed and begged hard to learn the secret. “It is not something that can be taught in words,” said Tao. “Besides, you don’t mean to make a living from it. What use would it be to you?” A few days later, when things were a little quieter at his gate, Tao wrapped chrysanthemums in rush matting, loaded several carts and went away. A year went by. When spring was half over he came back at last, bringing rare flowers from the south. He set up a flower shop in the capital, sold out in ten days, and came home to grow chrysanthemums again. Those who had bought flowers the year before and kept the roots found that the next year they had all turned into poor plants, so they bought again from Tao. Tao grew richer by the day. In the first year he added rooms; in the second he built a great house. He built as he pleased and no longer consulted his host. Little by little the old flower beds all became halls and rooms. He also bought a plot of land outside the wall, walled it all round and planted it all with chrysanthemums. In the autumn he loaded up the flowers and went away, and when spring was over he had still not come back. Meanwhile Ma’s wife fell ill and died. Ma’s heart was set on Huang Ying, and he had someone drop a hint to her. Huang Ying smiled, as if she would agree, but she was only waiting for Tao to come back. A year and more passed, and still Tao did not come. Huang Ying directed the servants in growing chrysanthemums just as Tao had done. With the money she made she went into partnership with merchants and bought two thousand mu of rich land outside the village, and her mansion grew grander than ever. Then a traveller arrived from Eastern Yue with a letter from Tao. Ma opened it: Tao told his sister to marry Ma. Ma looked at the day the letter was written: it was the very day his wife had died. He thought back to the drinking in the garden: it was exactly forty-three months. He was astonished. He showed the letter to Huang Ying and asked where he should send the betrothal gifts. Huang Ying would not accept any gifts. And because his old house was so poor, she wanted him to come and live in the south mansion, as if he were marrying into her family. Ma would not, chose a day and went through the rite of fetching the bride. Once she was married to Ma, Huang Ying opened a door in the dividing wall through to the south mansion, and went over every day to direct her servants. Ma was ashamed to be made rich by his wife, and was always telling Huang Ying to keep separate lists for the south house and the north so that nothing got mixed up. But whatever the household needed, Huang Ying fetched from the south mansion. Within half a year everything in the house belonged to the Taos. Ma at once sent servants to carry every item back and warned them never to take anything again. Within ten days things were mixed up again. This happened several times, until Ma could not stand the bother. Huang Ying laughed. “Isn’t Chen Zhongzi working rather hard?” Ma was abashed. He stopped checking and left everything to Huang Ying. She gathered workmen and materials and began building on a grand scale, and Ma could not stop her. After some months the towers and halls ran into one another, and the two houses became one, with no boundary between them. But she did as Ma wished: she shut the gate and grew chrysanthemums for sale no more. Even so, they lived better than old families of rank. Ma was uneasy. “For thirty years I kept my honour clean,” he said, “and you have ruined it for me. Here I am, alive in the world, living off my wife’s skirts, without a hair’s breadth of manhood left. Everyone prays to be rich. I only pray to be poor!” “I am not greedy or mean,” said Huang Ying. “But if I did not make us a little wealthy, people a thousand years from now would say that Yuanming had the bones of a pauper and his family could not rise in a hundred generations. So I am only doing this to clear the name of our own Tao of Pengze. Besides, it is hard for the poor to become rich, but very easy for the rich to become poor. There is money by the bed: throw it away as you like, I won’t begrudge it.” “To throw away other people’s money would be shameful too,” said Ma. “You don’t want to be rich,” said Huang Ying, “and I cannot be poor. There is nothing for it but to give you a house of your own. Let the clean keep clean and the muddy stay muddy — what harm is there in that?” So she built a thatched hut in the garden and chose a pretty maid to go and wait on Ma. Ma was content. But after a few days he missed Huang Ying badly. He sent for her, and she would not come; he had no choice but to go to her. After that he came every other night, and this became the custom. Huang Ying laughed. “Eating in the east and sleeping in the west — an honest man ought not to behave so.” Ma laughed at himself too and had no answer, and so they lived together again as before. It happened that Ma went to Jinling on business, and was staying there in chrysanthemum season. Early one morning he passed a flower shop and saw pots set out in great numbers, their blooms of the finest kinds. His heart stirred: he suspected they were Tao’s work. In a moment the owner came out, and it was indeed Tao. Ma was overjoyed. He told Tao all that had happened while they were apart, and stayed the night there. He asked Tao to come home with him. “Jinling is my native place,” said Tao. “I mean to marry here. I have saved a little money; please take it to my sister. At the end of the year I will come for a short visit.” Ma would not listen and pleaded all the harder. “We are well off now,” he said. “You can just sit and enjoy it. There is no need to trade any more.” He sat in the shop and had his servant sell for Tao, setting the prices low, and in a few days everything was sold. He hurried Tao into packing, hired a boat and went north. When they came in at the gate, his sister had already got rooms ready, with bed, couch, cushions and quilts all laid out, as if she had known her brother was coming home. Once home, Tao unpacked, set the servants to work, and made great improvements to the pavilions and gardens. After that he only spent his days at chess and wine with Ma, and never made friends with another guest. Ma tried to find him a wife, but he declined and said he did not want one. His sister sent two maids to look after his bed and rooms, and after three or four years he had a daughter. Tao had always been a mighty drinker, and no one had ever seen him really drunk. Ma had a friend, a scholar named Zeng, whose capacity also had no equal. Zeng happened to call on Ma, and Ma had him match cups with Tao. The two of them drank freely and with great delight, sorry only that they had not met sooner. From early morning until the fourth watch of the night they drank a hundred pots each. Zeng was dead drunk and fell sound asleep where he sat. Tao got up to go to bed. As he went out of the door he stepped onto the chrysanthemum beds, toppled like a jade mountain, his clothes slipping off beside him, and there on the ground he turned into a chrysanthemum, as tall as a man, with a dozen flowers, every one bigger than a fist. Ma was horrified and told Huang Ying. Huang Ying hurried there, pulled it up and laid it on the ground. “How could you get so drunk?” she said. She covered it with the clothes, asked Ma to come away with her, and warned him not to look. When they went back at daylight, Tao was lying beside the bed. Then Ma understood that the brother and sister were chrysanthemum spirits, and he loved and respected them all the more. But now that Tao had shown what he was, he drank more freely than ever. He often wrote invitations to Zeng himself, and the two became the closest of friends. At the Flower Festival Zeng came to call, with two servants carrying a jar of white spirit steeped in herbs between them, and proposed that he and Tao finish it together. When the jar was nearly empty the two of them were still not very drunk. Ma secretly poured in another flask, and they finished that too. Zeng was drunk and worn out, and his servants carried him off on their backs. Tao lay on the ground and turned into a chrysanthemum again. Ma had seen it before and was not alarmed. He pulled it up the way she had, and kept watch beside it to see it change. After a long time the leaves grew more and more withered. Ma was terrified, and only then told Huang Ying. Huang Ying was aghast when she heard. “You have killed my brother!” She ran to look: the roots and stalk had already died. In the depths of her grief she pinched off a stem, buried it in a pot, took it into her own room and watered it every day. Ma was sick with remorse and bitterly blamed Zeng. A few days later he heard that Zeng had died of drink. The flower in the pot slowly put out shoots, and in the ninth month it bloomed: a short stem and pink flowers that smelled of wine when you sniffed them. They named it Drunken Tao. Watered with wine, it flourished. Later the daughter grew up and married into an old family of rank. Huang Ying lived to old age, and nothing else strange happened.