且說歐陽爺丁大爺在廟中彼此閒談。北俠說：「逢場作戲，其中還有好處。」丁大爺問道：「其中有何好處？請教。」北俠道：「那馬剛既稱孤道寡，不是沒有權勢之人。你若明明把他殺了，他若報官說他家員外被盜寇持械戕命。這地方官怎樣辦法？何況又有他叔叔馬朝賢在朝，再連催幾套文書，這不是要地方官紗帽麼？如今改了面目，將他除卻。這些姬妾婦人之見，他豈不又有枝添葉兒，必說這妖怪青臉紅髮來去無蹤，將馬剛之頭取去。況還有個胖妾嚇倒。他的痰向上來，十胖九虛，也必喪命。人家不說他是痰，必說是被妖怪吸了魂魄去了。他縱然報官，你家出了妖怪，叫地方官也是沒法的事。賢弟想想，這不是好處麼？」丁大爺聽了，越想越是，不由的贊不絕口。
且说欧阳爷丁大爷在庙中彼此闲谈。北侠说：「逢场作戏，其中还有好处。」丁大爷问道：「其中有何好处？请教。」北侠道：「那马刚既称孤道寡，不是没有权势之人。你若明明把他杀了，他若报官说他家员外被盗寇持械戕命。这地方官怎样办法？何况又有他叔叔马朝贤在朝，再连催几套文书，这不是要地方官纱帽么？如今改了面目，将他除却。这些姬妾妇人之见，他岂不又有枝添叶儿，必说这妖怪青脸红发来去无踪，将马刚之头取去。况还有个胖妾吓倒。他的痰向上来，十胖九虚，也必丧命。人家不说他是痰，必说是被妖怪吸了魂魄去了。他纵然报官，你家出了妖怪，叫地方官也是没法的事。贤弟想想，这不是好处么？」丁大爷听了，越想越是，不由的赞不绝口。
Now, Ouyang Chun and Elder Master Ding sat chatting in the temple. “I only put on a show when I happen on a stage,” said the Northern Hero, “but there’s some good in it too.” “What good is there in it?” asked Elder Master Ding. “Please tell me.” “Since that Ma Gang went about talking like a king,” said the Northern Hero, “he was no man without power and influence. If you had killed him openly, his household would report to the authorities that their squire had been murdered by armed robbers. What could the local official do then? What’s more, his uncle Ma Chaoxian is at court. Let him send a few urgent dispatches one after another, and wouldn’t that cost the local official his gauze cap? But this way, with a changed face, I got rid of him. And with those concubines and their women’s notions, won’t they add branches and leaves to the tale? They’re sure to say a demon with a blue face and red hair came and went without a trace and carried off Ma Gang’s head. Besides, there’s that fat concubine who fainted from fright. Once the phlegm rises in her — nine fat people out of ten are hollow inside — she’s bound to die as well. And people won’t say it was phlegm; they’ll say a demon sucked out her soul. Even if they do report it, when a demon turns up in your house there’s nothing the local official can do about it. Think it over, brother: isn’t that the good in it?” The more Elder Master Ding thought about it, the more right it seemed, and he could not stop praising it.
二人閒談多時，略為歇息，天已大亮，與了瘸道香資，二人出廟。丁大爺務必請北俠同上茉花村暫住幾日，俟臨期再同上灶君祠會齊，訪拿花衝。北俠原是無牽無掛之人，不能推辭，同上茉花村去了。這且不言
二人闲谈多时，略为歇息，天已大亮，与了瘸道香资，二人出庙。丁大爷务必请北侠同上茉花村暂住几日，俟临期再同上灶君祠会齐，访拿花冲。北侠原是无牵无挂之人，不能推辞，同上茉花村去了。这且不言
The two of them chatted a long while and rested a little. When it was broad daylight they gave the lame Taoist an offering for the incense and left the temple. Elder Master Ding insisted that the Northern Hero come home with him to Mohua Village and stay a few days; when the time came, they would go together to the shrine of the Kitchen God to meet the others and hunt down Hua Chong. The Northern Hero was a man with nothing to tie him down and no one to worry about, so he could not refuse, and the two of them went off together to Mohua Village. Of this no more for now.
單說二員外韓彰，自離了湯圓鋪，竟奔杭州而來。沿路行去，聞的往來行人盡皆笑說，以「花蝶設誓」當做罵話。韓二爺聽不明白，又不知花蝶為誰，一時腹中饑餓，見前面松林內酒幌兒，高懸一個小小紅葫蘆。因此步入林中，見周圍蘆葦的花障，滿架的扁豆秧兒勤娘子。正當秋令，豆花盛開。地下又種著些兒草花，頗頗有趣。來到門前上懸一匾，寫著「大夫居」三字。韓爺進了門前，院中有兩張高桌。卻又鋪著幾領蘆席，設著矮座。那邊草房三間，有個老者在那裡打盹。
单说二员外韩彰，自离了汤圆铺，竟奔杭州而来。沿路行去，闻的往来行人尽皆笑说，以「花蝶设誓」当做骂话。韩二爷听不明白，又不知花蝶为谁，一时腹中饥饿，见前面松林内酒幌儿，高悬一个小小红葫芦。因此步入林中，见周围芦苇的花障，满架的扁豆秧儿勤娘子。正当秋令，豆花盛开。地下又种着些儿草花，颇颇有趣。来到门前上悬一匾，写着「大夫居」三字。韩爷进了门前，院中有两张高桌。却又铺着几领芦席，设着矮座。那边草房三间，有个老者在那里打盹。
Our story turns to the Second Squire, Han Zhang. After leaving the tangyuan shop he made straight for Hangzhou. As he went along the road he heard the travellers coming and going all laughing, and using the Butterfly in their oaths as a curse. Second Master Han could not make sense of it, nor did he know who the Butterfly was. Feeling hungry just then, he saw a tavern sign in a pine wood ahead: a little red gourd hanging high. So he walked into the wood. All round was a fence of reeds hung with flowers, and the trellises were covered with hyacinth-bean vines and morning glories. It was autumn, and the bean flowers were in full bloom; on the ground, too, a few flowers had been planted, which made it all rather charming. Over the gate hung a board inscribed with three characters: Dafuju. Han Zhang went in at the gate. In the yard stood two tall tables, and a few reed mats had also been spread out, with low seats set on them. Over to one side was a thatched house of three bays, where an old man sat dozing.