鳳陽一士人，負笈遠游。謂其妻曰：「半年當歸。」十餘月，竟無耗問。妻翹盼綦切。一夜，才就枕，紗月搖影，離思縈懷。方反側間，有一麗人，珠鬟絳帔，搴帷而入，笑問：「姊姊，得無欲見郎君乎？」妻急起應之。麗人邀與共往。妻憚修阻，麗人但請勿慮。即挽女手出，並踏月色，約行一矢之遠。覺麗人行迅速，女步履艱澀，呼麗人少待，將歸著復履。麗人牽坐路側，自乃捉足，脫履相假。女喜著之，幸不鑿枘。復起從行，健步如飛。移時，見士人跨白騾來。見妻大驚，急下騎，問：「何往？」女曰：「將以探君。」又顧問麗者伊誰。女未及答，麗人掩口笑曰：「且勿問訊。娘子奔波匪易；郎君星馳夜半，人畜想當俱殆。妾家不遠，且請息駕，早旦而行，不晚。」顧數武之外，即有村落，遂同行。入一庭院，麗人促睡婢起供客，曰：「今夜月色皎然，不必命燭，小臺石榻可坐。」士人縶蹇檐梧，乃即坐。麗人曰：「履大不適于體，途中頗纍贅否？歸有代步，乞賜還也。」女稱謝付之。
鳳陽有個書生，揹著書箱出門遠遊，對妻子說：「半年後就回來。」過了十個多月，卻始終沒有音信。妻子盼他回來，心情十分急切。一天夜裡，她剛躺下，月光透過紗窗，照得影子搖曳，思念丈夫的情緒縈繞心頭。正翻來覆去睡不著時，一個美麗女子掀開床帷走了進來，髮髻上戴著珍珠，身披深紅色的披肩，笑著問：「姐姐，你是不是想見丈夫？」妻子趕緊起來答應。美麗女子邀她一同去，妻子怕路途遙遠難走，女子只叫她不要擔心。她隨即拉著妻子的手出門，兩人並肩踏著月色，走了約一箭遠。妻子覺得那女子走得很快，自己卻走得艱難，便叫她稍等，想回家換上便於走路的鞋。女子拉她在路邊坐下，自己伸手脫下鞋，借給她穿。妻子高興地穿上，幸好還合腳。再起來跟著走，便健步如飛。過了一會兒，看見書生騎著白騾迎面而來。書生見到妻子，大吃一驚，急忙下了騾子，問：「你要到哪裡去？」妻子說：「我是來找你的。」書生又看著那美麗女子，問她是誰。妻子還沒來得及回答，女子便掩著嘴笑道：「先別忙著問了。娘子這樣奔波，很不容易；郎君半夜裡趕路，想必人和牲口都累了。我家不遠，請先去歇一歇，明天一早再走，也不晚。」他們看見幾步之外就有個村子，便一同去了。走進一處院子，女子叫醒睡著的婢女，讓她招待客人，說：「今晚月色明亮，不必點蠟燭，坐在小臺上的石榻就行。」書生把騾子拴在屋簷旁的梧桐樹上，便坐了下來。女子說：「鞋子太大，不合你的腳，一路上是不是很累贅？回去時你有牲口可騎，請把鞋還給我吧。」妻子向她道謝，把鞋還了。
凤阳一士人，负笈远游。谓其妻曰：「半年当归。」十余月，竟无耗问。妻翘盼綦切。一夜，才就枕，纱月摇影，离思萦怀。方反侧间，有一丽人，珠鬟绛帔，搴帷而入，笑问：「姊姊，得无欲见郎君乎？」妻急起应之。丽人邀与共往。妻惮修阻，丽人但请勿虑。即挽女手出，并踏月色，约行一矢之远。觉丽人行迅速，女步履艰涩，呼丽人少待，将归着复履。丽人牵坐路侧，自乃捉足，脱履相假。女喜着之，幸不凿枘。复起从行，健步如飞。移时，见士人跨白骡来。见妻大惊，急下骑，问：「何往？」女曰：「将以探君。」又顾问丽者伊谁。女未及答，丽人掩口笑曰：「且勿问讯。娘子奔波匪易；郎君星驰夜半，人畜想当俱殆。妾家不远，且请息驾，早旦而行，不晚。」顾数武之外，即有村落，遂同行。入一庭院，丽人促睡婢起供客，曰：「今夜月色皎然，不必命烛，小台石榻可坐。」士人絷蹇檐梧，乃即坐。丽人曰：「履大不适于体，途中颇累赘否？归有代步，乞赐还也。」女称谢付之。
凤阳有个书生，背着书箱出门远游，对妻子说：“半年后就回来。”过了十个多月，却始终没有音信。妻子盼他回来，心情十分急切。一天夜里，她刚躺下，月光透过纱窗，照得影子摇曳，思念丈夫的情绪萦绕心头。正翻来覆去睡不着时，一个美丽女子掀开床帷走了进来，发髻上戴着珍珠，身披深红色的披肩，笑着问：“姐姐，你是不是想见丈夫？”妻子赶紧起来答应。美丽女子邀她一同去，妻子怕路途遥远难走，女子只叫她不要担心。她随即拉着妻子的手出门，两人并肩踏着月色，走了约一箭远。妻子觉得那女子走得很快，自己却走得艰难，便叫她稍等，想回家换上便于走路的鞋。女子拉她在路边坐下，自己伸手脱下鞋，借给她穿。妻子高兴地穿上，幸好还合脚。再起来跟着走，便健步如飞。过了一会儿，看见书生骑着白骡迎面而来。书生见到妻子，大吃一惊，急忙下了骡子，问：“你要到哪里去？”妻子说：“我是来找你的。”书生又看着那美丽女子，问她是谁。妻子还没来得及回答，女子便掩着嘴笑道：“先别忙着问了。娘子这样奔波，很不容易；郎君半夜里赶路，想必人和牲口都累了。我家不远，请先去歇一歇，明天一早再走，也不晚。”他们看见几步之外就有个村子，便一同去了。走进一处院子，女子叫醒睡着的婢女，让她招待客人，说：“今晚月色明亮，不必点蜡烛，坐在小台上的石榻就行。”书生把骡子拴在屋檐旁的梧桐树上，便坐了下来。女子说：“鞋子太大，不合你的脚，一路上是不是很累赘？回去时你有牲口可骑，请把鞋还给我吧。”妻子向她道谢，把鞋还了。
A scholar of Fengyang shouldered his book-box and went far from home to study. He told his wife, “I will be back in half a year.” Ten months and more went by without a word from him. His wife watched for him with aching longing. One night she had just lain down. The moon through the gauze curtain set shadows swaying, and thoughts of him filled her heart. As she tossed and turned, a beautiful woman with pearls in her hair and a crimson cape lifted the bed curtain and came in. “Sister,” she said with a smile, “wouldn’t you like to see your husband?” The wife rose quickly to answer her, and the beauty invited her to come along. The wife was daunted by the long, hard road, but the beauty only told her not to worry. She took the wife by the hand and led her out, and they walked side by side in the moonlight for about a bowshot. The beauty walked fast, and the wife found the going hard. She called to the beauty to wait a little while she went home to put on her walking shoes. The beauty sat her down by the roadside, took hold of her own feet, pulled off her shoes and lent them to her. The wife was glad to put them on, and luckily they fit. She got up and followed again, striding along as if she flew. After a while they saw the scholar coming on a white mule. He was astonished to see his wife, quickly dismounted and asked, “Where are you going?” “I was coming to see you,” she said. He glanced at the beauty and asked who she was. Before the wife could answer, the beauty covered her mouth and laughed. “Don’t stop to ask questions now. Your lady has had a hard journey, and you, sir, have been riding hard in the middle of the night; man and beast must both be worn out. My house is not far. Please break your journey there and set off early in the morning. It won’t be too late.” A few steps away there was a village, so they went on together. They entered a courtyard, and the beauty roused a sleeping maid to wait on the guests. “The moon is so bright tonight,” she said, “we need no candles. We can sit on the stone couch on the little terrace.” The scholar tethered his mule to the wutong tree by the eaves and sat down. The beauty said, “The shoes were too big for you. Weren’t they a nuisance on the road? You will have something to ride on the way home; please give them back.” The wife thanked her and handed them over.
俄頃，設酒果，麗人酌曰：「鸞鳳久乖，圓在今夕；濁醪一觴，敬以為賀。」士人亦執盞酬報。主客笑言，履舄交錯。士人注視麗者，屢以游詞相挑。夫妻乍聚，並不寒暄一語。麗人亦美目流情，妖言隱謎。女惟默坐，偽為愚者。久之漸醺，二人語益狎。又以巨觥勸客，士人以醉辭，勸之益苦。士人笑曰：「卿為我度一曲，即當飲。」麗人不拒，即以牙撥撫提琴而歌曰：「黃昏卸得殘妝罷，窗外西風冷透紗。聽蕉聲，一陣一陣細雨下。何處與人閑磕牙？望穿秋水，不見還家，潸潸淚似麻。又是想他，又是恨他，手拿著紅繡鞋兒佔鬼卦。」歌竟，笑曰：「此市井裡巷之謠，不足污君聽。然因流俗所尚，姑效顰耳。」音聲靡靡，風度狎褻。士人搖惑，若不自禁。
不一會兒，酒和果品擺了上來。美麗女子斟酒，說：「你們夫妻分別了許久，今晚終於團聚了。我敬一杯薄酒，向你們道賀。」書生也端起酒杯回敬。主人和客人說說笑笑，鞋子雜亂地擺在一起。書生一直盯著那女子，多次用輕浮的話挑逗她。夫妻剛剛重逢，卻連一句問候的話也沒說。那女子也用美麗的眼睛傳遞情意，說些引人遐想、含著暗示的話。妻子只是默默坐著，裝作什麼也不懂。時間久了，酒意漸濃，那兩人的話也越來越放肆。女子又拿一隻大酒杯勸酒，書生說自己醉了，不肯喝，她卻勸得更急。書生笑道：「你給我唱一曲，我就喝。」女子沒有推辭，隨即拿起象牙撥子，彈著提琴唱道：「黃昏時分，卸去了殘留的妝容，窗外西風吹來，寒意透過窗紗。 聽那芭蕉葉上的聲音，一陣又一陣細雨落下。 你在哪裡和人閒聊呢？ 我望眼欲穿，仍不見你回家，淚水紛紛落下，像亂麻一樣。 一會兒想你，一會兒恨你，手裡拿著紅繡鞋，占卜你的訊息。」唱完，她笑著說：「這是街頭巷尾的歌謠，不配讓您聽。不過如今大家喜歡，我也姑且學著唱一唱罷了。」她的歌聲柔軟纏綿，舉止輕佻放蕩。書生被迷得心神搖盪，彷彿已經把持不住自己。
俄顷，设酒果，丽人酌曰：「鸾凤久乖，圆在今夕；浊醪一觞，敬以为贺。」士人亦执盏酬报。主客笑言，履舄交错。士人注视丽者，屡以游词相挑。夫妻乍聚，并不寒暄一语。丽人亦美目流情，妖言隐谜。女惟默坐，伪为愚者。久之渐醺，二人语益狎。又以巨觥劝客，士人以醉辞，劝之益苦。士人笑曰：「卿为我度一曲，即当饮。」丽人不拒，即以牙拨抚提琴而歌曰：「黄昏卸得残妆罢，窗外西风冷透纱。听蕉声，一阵一阵细雨下。何处与人闲磕牙？望穿秋水，不见还家，潸潸泪似麻。又是想他，又是恨他，手拿着红绣鞋儿占鬼卦。」歌竟，笑曰：「此市井里巷之谣，不足污君听。然因流俗所尚，姑效颦耳。」音声靡靡，风度狎亵。士人摇惑，若不自禁。
不一会儿，酒和果品摆了上来。美丽女子斟酒，说：“你们夫妻分别了许久，今晚终于团聚了。我敬一杯薄酒，向你们道贺。”书生也端起酒杯回敬。主人和客人说说笑笑，鞋子杂乱地摆在一起。书生一直盯着那女子，多次用轻浮的话挑逗她。夫妻刚刚重逢，却连一句问候的话也没说。那女子也用美丽的眼睛传递情意，说些引人遐想、含着暗示的话。妻子只是默默坐着，装作什么也不懂。时间久了，酒意渐浓，那两人的话也越来越放肆。女子又拿一只大酒杯劝酒，书生说自己醉了，不肯喝，她却劝得更急。书生笑道：“你给我唱一曲，我就喝。”女子没有推辞，随即拿起象牙拨子，弹着提琴唱道：“黄昏时分，卸去了残留的妆容，窗外西风吹来，寒意透过窗纱。 听那芭蕉叶上的声音，一阵又一阵细雨落下。 你在哪里和人闲聊呢？ 我望眼欲穿，仍不见你回家，泪水纷纷落下，像乱麻一样。 一会儿想你，一会儿恨你，手里拿着红绣鞋，占卜你的消息。”唱完，她笑着说：“这是街头巷尾的歌谣，不配让您听。不过如今大家喜欢，我也姑且学着唱一唱罢了。”她的歌声柔软缠绵，举止轻佻放荡。书生被迷得心神摇荡，仿佛已经把持不住自己。
In a moment wine and fruit were set out. The beauty poured and said, “The phoenix and his mate have long been parted, and tonight they are together again. Let me offer a cup of my poor wine in congratulation.” The scholar raised his cup to her in return. Hostess and guests laughed and talked, and their shoes lay in a jumble. The scholar kept his eyes on the beauty and flirted with her again and again in loose talk. Husband and wife, just reunited, did not exchange a single word of greeting. The beauty’s lovely eyes, too, spoke of love, and her talk was full of coy hints and riddles. The wife only sat in silence, pretending to be dull. After a long while they grew tipsy, and the two of them talked more and more freely. The beauty urged a great goblet on her guest; the scholar refused, saying he was drunk, and she pressed him all the harder. “Sing me a song,” he said with a laugh, “and I’ll drink.” She did not refuse. She took an ivory plectrum to her fiddle and sang: “At dusk I take off what’s left of my paint; outside the window the west wind blows cold through the gauze. Hear the plantain leaves: gust on gust, the fine rain falls. Where is he off idly chattering with somebody? I watch till my eyes wear through, and he does not come home; my tears stream down as thick as hemp. Now I miss him, now I hate him, and I take my red embroidered shoe to cast a ghost’s lot.” When the song was done she laughed. “That is only a ditty of the streets and back lanes, not fit to soil your ears. But since it is what people like these days, I am only aping it.” Her voice was languid and her manner wanton. The scholar was shaken and bewitched, as if he could not help himself.
少間，麗人偽醉離席；士人亦起，從之而去。久之不至。婢子乏疲，伏睡廊下。女獨坐，塊然無侶，中心憤恚，頗難自堪。思欲遁歸，而夜色微茫，不憶道路。輾轉無以自主，因起而覘之。裁近其窗，則斷雲零雨之聲，隱約可聞。又聽之，聞良人與己素常猥褻之狀，盡情傾吐。女至此，手顫心搖，殆不可遏，念不如出門竄溝壑以死。憤然方行，忽見弟三郎乘馬而至，遽便下問。女具以告。三郎大怒，立與姊回，直入其家，則室門扃閉，枕上之語猶喁喁也。三郎舉巨石如斗，拋擊窗櫺，三五碎斷。內大呼曰：「郎君腦破矣！奈何！」女聞之，愕然，大哭，謂弟曰：「我不謀與汝殺郎君，今且若何？」三郎撐目曰：「汝嗚嗚促我來，甫能消此胸中惡，又護男兒﹑怨弟兄，我不貫與婢子供指使！」返身欲去，女牽衣曰：「汝不攜我去，將何之？」三郎揮姊扑地，脫體而去。女頓驚寤，始知其夢。
過了一會兒，美麗女子裝醉離席，書生也起身，跟著她去了。很久都沒有回來。婢女疲倦了，趴在廊下睡著。妻子獨自坐著，孤零零的，沒有人陪伴，心裡又憤怒又怨恨，實在難以忍受。她想悄悄回家，可夜色昏暗，又記不起路。她反覆思量，拿不定主意，便起身去偷看。剛到窗邊，就隱約聽見兩人交歡的聲音。再聽下去，又聽見丈夫把平日和自己親熱時的種種私事，一五一十，全說了出來。到了這時，妻子手發抖，心亂跳，幾乎壓不住自己的怒氣，覺得還不如出門跳進溝裡死了算了。她正滿懷憤怒地往外走，忽然看見弟弟三郎騎馬來了。三郎連忙下馬問她，她把事情全都告訴了他。三郎大怒，立即和姐姐返回，徑直進了那家院子。房門緊閉，裡面枕邊低語的聲音還在繼續。三郎舉起一塊斗大的石頭，朝窗格砸去，砸斷了好幾根窗條。裡面大聲叫道：「郎君的腦袋砸破了！怎麼辦！」妻子聽見，驚呆了，放聲大哭，對弟弟說：「我沒有和你商量要殺丈夫，如今怎麼辦？」三郎瞪著眼說：「你哭哭啼啼地催我來，我剛出了胸中的惡氣，你又護著丈夫，埋怨弟弟。我可不慣於聽女人指使！」他轉身要走，妻子拉住他的衣服，說：「你不帶我走，我還能到哪裡去？」三郎一揮手，把姐姐推倒在地，掙脫開走了。妻子猛然驚醒，這才知道是一場夢。
少间，丽人伪醉离席；士人亦起，从之而去。久之不至。婢子乏疲，伏睡廊下。女独坐，块然无侣，中心愤恚，颇难自堪。思欲遁归，而夜色微茫，不忆道路。辗转无以自主，因起而觇之。裁近其窗，则断云零雨之声，隐约可闻。又听之，闻良人与己素常猥亵之状，尽情倾吐。女至此，手颤心摇，殆不可遏，念不如出门窜沟壑以死。愤然方行，忽见弟三郎乘马而至，遽便下问。女具以告。三郎大怒，立与姊回，直入其家，则室门扃闭，枕上之语犹喁喁也。三郎举巨石如斗，抛击窗櫺，三五碎断。内大呼曰：「郎君脑破矣！奈何！」女闻之，愕然，大哭，谓弟曰：「我不谋与汝杀郎君，今且若何？」三郎撑目曰：「汝呜呜促我来，甫能消此胸中恶，又护男儿﹑怨弟兄，我不贯与婢子供指使！」返身欲去，女牵衣曰：「汝不携我去，将何之？」三郎挥姊扑地，脱体而去。女顿惊寤，始知其梦。
过了一会儿，美丽女子装醉离席，书生也起身，跟着她去了。很久都没有回来。婢女疲倦了，趴在廊下睡着。妻子独自坐着，孤零零的，没有人陪伴，心里又愤怒又怨恨，实在难以忍受。她想悄悄回家，可夜色昏暗，又记不起路。她反复思量，拿不定主意，便起身去偷看。刚到窗边，就隐约听见两人交欢的声音。再听下去，又听见丈夫把平日和自己亲热时的种种私事，一五一十，全说了出来。到了这时，妻子手发抖，心乱跳，几乎压不住自己的怒气，觉得还不如出门跳进沟里死了算了。她正满怀愤怒地往外走，忽然看见弟弟三郎骑马来了。三郎连忙下马问她，她把事情全都告诉了他。三郎大怒，立即和姐姐返回，径直进了那家院子。房门紧闭，里面枕边低语的声音还在继续。三郎举起一块斗大的石头，朝窗格砸去，砸断了好几根窗条。里面大声叫道：“郎君的脑袋砸破了！怎么办！”妻子听见，惊呆了，放声大哭，对弟弟说：“我没有和你商量要杀丈夫，如今怎么办？”三郎瞪着眼说：“你哭哭啼啼地催我来，我刚出了胸中的恶气，你又护着丈夫，埋怨弟弟。我可不惯于听女人指使！”他转身要走，妻子拉住他的衣服，说：“你不带我走，我还能到哪里去？”三郎一挥手，把姐姐推倒在地，挣脱开走了。妻子猛然惊醒，这才知道是一场梦。
Before long the beauty pretended to be drunk and left the table; the scholar got up too and went after her. A long time passed and they did not come back. The maid, worn out, fell asleep on the veranda. The wife sat on alone, utterly forlorn, her heart full of anger and resentment, hardly able to bear it. She thought of slipping away home, but the night was dim and she could not remember the way. Unable to make up her mind, she got up to go and look. As soon as she came near their window she could faintly hear the sounds of clouds and rain. She listened further and heard her husband pouring out, holding nothing back, all the intimate things he and his wife were used to doing together. At this her hands shook and her heart reeled until she could hardly contain herself; she thought it better to go out and throw herself into a ditch and die. She was striding off in her rage when suddenly she saw her younger brother Sanlang riding up. He got down at once and asked what was wrong, and she told him everything. Sanlang was furious. He went straight back with his sister and into the house. The door of the room was bolted, and the pillow talk was still murmuring on. Sanlang lifted a rock as big as a peck measure and hurled it at the window lattice, smashing several bars. Inside, a voice cried out, “His head is broken! What shall we do?” When the wife heard it she was aghast and burst into sobs. “I never plotted with you to kill my husband,” she said to her brother. “What now?” Sanlang glared at her. “You came whimpering and got me here, and just when I’ve got the bile out of my chest, you take your man’s side and blame your brother. I’m not used to being ordered about by a woman!” He turned to go. She caught his clothes. “If you don’t take me with you, where can I go?” Sanlang knocked his sister to the ground with a sweep of his arm, wrenched himself free and left. The wife woke with a start, and only then knew it was a dream.
越日，士人果歸，乘白騾。女異之而未言。士人是夜亦夢，所見所遭，述之悉符，互相駭怪。既而三郎聞姊夫遠歸，亦來省問。語次，謂士人曰：「昨宵夢君歸，今果然，亦大異。」士人笑曰：「幸不為巨石所斃。」三郎愕然問故，士以夢告。三郎大異之。蓋是夜，三郎亦夢遇姊泣訴，憤激投石也。三夢相符，但不知麗人何許耳。
第二天，書生果然回來了，騎的正是白騾。妻子覺得奇怪，卻沒有說出來。原來書生那一夜也做了夢，他把所見所遇說出來，竟和妻子的夢完全相合，兩人都十分驚訝。不久，三郎聽說姐夫遠遊歸來，也來探望。談話時，他對書生說：「昨晚我夢見你回來了，今天竟真回來了，實在奇怪。」書生笑著說：「幸好沒被那塊大石頭砸死。」三郎愕然，問他這話是什麼意思，書生便把夢告訴了他。三郎更加驚奇。原來那天夜裡，三郎也夢見遇到姐姐，聽她哭著訴說，憤怒之下扔了石頭。三個人的夢互相吻合，只是不知道那美麗女子究竟是什麼人。
越日，士人果归，乘白骡。女异之而未言。士人是夜亦梦，所见所遭，述之悉符，互相骇怪。既而三郎闻姊夫远归，亦来省问。语次，谓士人曰：「昨宵梦君归，今果然，亦大异。」士人笑曰：「幸不为巨石所毙。」三郎愕然问故，士以梦告。三郎大异之。盖是夜，三郎亦梦遇姊泣诉，愤激投石也。三梦相符，但不知丽人何许耳。
第二天，书生果然回来了，骑的正是白骡。妻子觉得奇怪，却没有说出来。原来书生那一夜也做了梦，他把所见所遇说出来，竟和妻子的梦完全相合，两人都十分惊讶。不久，三郎听说姐夫远游归来，也来探望。谈话时，他对书生说：“昨晚我梦见你回来了，今天竟真回来了，实在奇怪。”书生笑着说：“幸好没被那块大石头砸死。”三郎愕然，问他这话是什么意思，书生便把梦告诉了他。三郎更加惊奇。原来那天夜里，三郎也梦见遇到姐姐，听她哭着诉说，愤怒之下扔了石头。三个人的梦互相吻合，只是不知道那美丽女子究竟是什么人。
The next day the scholar did come home, riding a white mule. The wife thought it strange but said nothing. That same night the scholar had dreamed too, and what he saw and what befell him, as he told it, matched hers in every point. They stared at each other in amazement. Then Sanlang, hearing that his brother-in-law was back from his long journey, came to call. As they talked, he said to the scholar, “Last night I dreamed you came home, and now here you are. Very strange.” The scholar laughed. “Lucky I wasn’t killed by that big rock.” Sanlang, startled, asked what he meant, and the scholar told him his dream. Sanlang was amazed. For that same night Sanlang too had dreamed that he met his sister, heard her tearful story, and in his fury threw the rock. Three dreams matched; but who the beauty was, no one knew.