且說老賊龐吉正在先月樓與二妾歡語，只見小童手持著一個手本，上得樓來，遞與丫鬟，口中說道：「這是咱們本府十二位先生特與太師爺祝壽，並且求見，要親身覿面行禮，還有壽禮面呈。」丫鬟接來，呈與龐吉。龐吉看了，便道：「既是本府先生前來，不得不見。」對著二妾道：「你二人只好下樓迴避。」丫鬟便告訴小童先下樓去，叫先生們躲避躲避，讓二位姨奶奶走後再進來。這裡奼紫嫣紅立起身來，向龐吉道：「倘若你老人家不去，我們是要狠狠的咒得你老人家心神也是不定的。」老賊聽了，哈哈大笑。二妾又叮囑一回水晶樓之約，龐賊滿口應承，必要去的。看著二妾下樓去遠，方叫小童去請師爺們，自己也不出迎，在太師椅上端然而坐。
且说老贼庞吉正在先月楼与二妾欢语，只见小童手持着一个手本，上得楼来，递与丫鬟，口中说道：「这是咱们本府十二位先生特与太师爷祝寿，并且求见，要亲身觌面行礼，还有寿礼面呈。」丫鬟接来，呈与庞吉。庞吉看了，便道：「既是本府先生前来，不得不见。」对着二妾道：「你二人只好下楼回避。」丫鬟便告诉小童先下楼去，叫先生们躲避躲避，让二位姨奶奶走后再进来。这里姹紫嫣红立起身来，向庞吉道：「倘若你老人家不去，我们是要狠狠的咒得你老人家心神也是不定的。」老贼听了，哈哈大笑。二妾又叮嘱一回水晶楼之约，庞贼满口应承，必要去的。看着二妾下楼去远，方叫小童去请师爷们，自己也不出迎，在太师椅上端然而坐。
Now, the old villain Pang Ji was in the Xianyue Tower, chatting merrily with his two concubines, when a page boy came up the stairs holding a visiting card. He handed it to a maid, saying, “This is from the twelve secretaries of our household. They’ve come specially to wish His Excellency the Grand Preceptor long life, and they ask to see him: they want to pay their respects to him face to face, and they have birthday gifts to present to him in person.” The maid took the card and presented it to Pang Ji. When Pang Ji had read it he said, “Since it is the gentlemen of my own household, I can hardly refuse to see them.” And to the two concubines he said, “You two had better go downstairs out of the way.” The maid told the page boy to go down first and ask the gentlemen to keep out of sight for a little, and to come in after the two junior mistresses had gone. Chazi and Yanhong rose and said to Pang Ji, “If you don’t come, we’ll curse you so hard your heart won’t know a moment’s peace.” The old villain roared with laughter. The two concubines reminded him once more of the appointment at the Shuijing Tower, and that villain Pang promised over and over that he would certainly come. Only when he had watched the two of them go down and out of sight did he send the page boy to fetch the secretaries. He did not go out to meet them himself, but sat bolt upright in a great armchair.
不多時，只見小童引路來至樓下，打起簾櫳，眾位先生衣冠齊楚，鞠躬而入，外面隨進多少僕從虞候。龐吉慢慢立起身來，執手道：「眾位先生光降，使老夫心甚不安。千萬不可行禮，只行常禮罷。」眾先生又謙讓一番，只得彼此一揖。復又各人遞各人的壽禮，也有一畫的，也有一對的，也有一字的，也有一扇的，無非俱是秀才人情而已。老龐一一謝了。此時僕從已將座位調開，仍是太師中間坐定，眾師爺分列兩旁。左右獻茶，彼此敘話，無非高抬龐吉，說些壽言壽語吉祥話頭。
不多时，只见小童引路来至楼下，打起帘栊，众位先生衣冠齐楚，鞠躬而入，外面随进多少仆从虞候。庞吉慢慢立起身来，执手道：「众位先生光降，使老夫心甚不安。千万不可行礼，只行常礼罢。」众先生又谦让一番，只得彼此一揖。复又各人递各人的寿礼，也有一画的，也有一对的，也有一字的，也有一扇的，无非俱是秀才人情而已。老庞一一谢了。此时仆从已将座位调开，仍是太师中间坐定，众师爷分列两旁。左右献茶，彼此叙话，无非高抬庞吉，说些寿言寿语吉祥话头。
Before long the page boy led the way to the foot of the tower and lifted the door curtain, and in came the gentlemen, bowing, all in their best caps and gowns, followed by a crowd of servants and guards. Pang Ji rose slowly to his feet and saluted them with clasped hands. “Gentlemen, your gracious visit leaves this old man quite abashed. On no account must you bow to me — an ordinary greeting will do.” The gentlemen protested a while, but in the end they could only exchange bows all round. Then each of them handed over his birthday gift: one a painting, one a pair of scrolls, one a piece of calligraphy, one a fan — a scholar’s kind of present, nothing more. Old Pang thanked them one by one. By now the servants had rearranged the seats, the Grand Preceptor still sitting in the middle and the secretaries ranged on either side. Attendants served tea, and they chatted — which meant nothing more than flattering Pang Ji to the skies with birthday compliments and lucky phrases.
談不多時，僕從便放杯箸，擺上果品。眾先生又要與龐吉安席，敬壽酒。還是老龐攔阻道：「今日乃因老夫賤辰，有勞眾位台駕，理應老夫各敬一杯才是。莫若大家免了，也不用安席敬酒。彼此就座，開懷暢飲，倒覺爽快。」眾人道：「既是太師吩咐，晚生等便從命了。」說罷，各人朝上一躬，仍按次序入席。酒過三巡之後，未免脫帽露頂，舒手豁拳，呼么喝六，壺到杯乾。
谈不多时，仆从便放杯箸，摆上果品。众先生又要与庞吉安席，敬寿酒。还是老庞拦阻道：「今日乃因老夫贱辰，有劳众位台驾，理应老夫各敬一杯才是。莫若大家免了，也不用安席敬酒。彼此就座，开怀畅饮，倒觉爽快。」众人道：「既是太师吩咐，晚生等便从命了。」说罢，各人朝上一躬，仍按次序入席。酒过三巡之后，未免脱帽露顶，舒手豁拳，呼幺喝六，壶到杯干。
They had not talked long when the servants set out cups and chopsticks and laid out fruit. The gentlemen wanted to show Pang Ji to the place of honour and offer him the first cup of birthday wine, but Old Pang stopped them. “Today is only this old man’s humble birthday, and you have all put yourselves to the trouble of coming. By rights I ought to offer each of you a cup. Better we all let it go, with no showing to places and no offering of cups. Let us just sit down and drink our fill — that will be far more pleasant.” “Since the Grand Preceptor bids it,” said the gentlemen, “your juniors will obey.” With that each of them bowed toward the head of the table and took his seat in due order. After the wine had gone round three times, off came the caps, up went the sleeves for the finger game, numbers were shouted across the table, and every cup was drained as soon as the pot came round.