話說孫道全正在大殿往外看，只見外面進來兩個人，都是家人的打扮，頭上青扎巾，身穿青銅氅，口中喊嚷：「濟公長老在哪裡？」和尚由裡面出來說：「哪位？」這兩個人一見，連忙趕過來行禮。說：「聖僧，你老人家一向可好。」和尚說：「二位貴姓呀？」這兩個人說：「聖僧，你老人家貴人多忘事。我家員外在太平街住家，姓周名景，字望廉，人稱周半城，你老人家不是在我們那裡扛韋馱捉過妖怪么？我二人叫周福、周祿。」和尚說：「這就是了。你二人來此找我和尚什麼事情？」周福說：「我家員外有一個朋友，姓胡叫胡秀章。他是紹興府白水湖的人。在京都賃我們員外的房子，開綢緞店，把買賣作賠了，要關門，我們員外跟他相好，借給他三千兩銀子，叫他從新另找夥友。這二年又把買賣作好了，把先前賠的銀子都找回來，反個賺了錢。現在胡秀章來了家信：他們住的白水湖地面鬧妖精，每天妖精要吃一個童男、一個童女。胡秀章家裡有孩子，被妖精吃了。今天來找我們員外，提說要回家，托我們員外照應綢緞店，急得直哭。我們員外想起你老人家，知聖僧的道理佛法無邊，叫我們請你老人家到我們員外家去，要求聖僧大發慈悲，到白水湖去降妖捉怪，普救眾生。」和尚一聽說：「降妖捉怪，倒可以行得來，就是我不能去。」周福、周祿說：「聖僧為何不能去？」和尚說：「我現在收了一個徒弟，太淘氣。我要一出去，他不是撕窗戶，就是往人家身上抹香灰，再不然，就在人家鍋里去撒尿。」周福說：「這個徒弟多大年歲？」和尚說：「九歲。」周福說：「本來太小，在哪裡，我瞧瞧。」和尚說：「在大雄寶殿里哪。」周福、周祿二人來到大殿一瞧，有一個老道光著背，三絡鬍子漆黑。周福說：「道爺，你是濟公徒弟么？」老道說：「不錯。」問：「你幾歲？」老道說：「我五十九歲。你們二位不必聽我師父的話，他老人家淨說瞎話，我也不撕窗戶，不撒尿，叫我師父去罷。」周福二人出來說；「師父老人家盡說謊言，快走罷。」和尚說：「不行，我不放心。你們叫我徒弟跟我去，我才去呢。」周福說：「恐怕道爺不肯去。」和尚說：「他不去，你們兩個人跟著他走。」周福點頭答應。兩位管家進了大殿，說：「道爺一同走罷。」老道說：「我光著背我可不去。」周福二人就拉。和尚一指，口念：「唵。敕令赫。」老道身不由己，周福、周祿拉著出了廟門。
话说孙道全正在大殿往外看，只见外面进来两个人，都是家人的打扮，头上青扎巾，身穿青铜氅，口中喊嚷：「济公长老在哪里？」和尚由里面出来说：「哪位？」这两个人一见，连忙赶过来行礼。说：「圣僧，你老人家一向可好。」和尚说：「二位贵姓呀？」这两个人说：「圣僧，你老人家贵人多忘事。我家员外在太平街住家，姓周名景，字望廉，人称周半城，你老人家不是在我们那里扛韦驮捉过妖怪幺？我二人叫周福、周禄。」和尚说：「这就是了。你二人来此找我和尚什么事情？」周福说：「我家员外有一个朋友，姓胡叫胡秀章。他是绍兴府白水湖的人。在京都赁我们员外的房子，开绸缎店，把买卖作赔了，要关门，我们员外跟他相好，借给他三千两银子，叫他从新另找伙友。这二年又把买卖作好了，把先前赔的银子都找回来，反个赚了钱。现在胡秀章来了家信：他们住的白水湖地面闹妖精，每天妖精要吃一个童男、一个童女。胡秀章家里有孩子，被妖精吃了。今天来找我们员外，提说要回家，托我们员外照应绸缎店，急得直哭。我们员外想起你老人家，知圣僧的道理佛法无边，叫我们请你老人家到我们员外家去，要求圣僧大发慈悲，到白水湖去降妖捉怪，普救众生。」和尚一听说：「降妖捉怪，倒可以行得来，就是我不能去。」周福、周禄说：「圣僧为何不能去？」和尚说：「我现在收了一个徒弟，太淘气。我要一出去，他不是撕窗户，就是往人家身上抹香灰，再不然，就在人家锅里去撒尿。」周福说：「这个徒弟多大年岁？」和尚说：「九岁。」周福说：「本来太小，在哪里，我瞧瞧。」和尚说：「在大雄宝殿里哪。」周福、周禄二人来到大殿一瞧，有一个老道光着背，三络胡子漆黑。周福说：「道爷，你是济公徒弟幺？」老道说：「不错。」问：「你几岁？」老道说：「我五十九岁。你们二位不必听我师父的话，他老人家净说瞎话，我也不撕窗户，不撒尿，叫我师父去罢。」周福二人出来说；「师父老人家尽说谎言，快走罢。」和尚说：「不行，我不放心。你们叫我徒弟跟我去，我才去呢。」周福说：「恐怕道爷不肯去。」和尚说：「他不去，你们两个人跟着他走。」周福点头答应。两位管家进了大殿，说：「道爷一同走罢。」老道说：「我光着背我可不去。」周福二人就拉。和尚一指，口念：「唵。敕令赫。」老道身不由己，周福、周禄拉着出了庙门。
Now, Sun Daoquan was in the Main Hall, looking out, when two men came in from outside, both dressed as household servants, in black head-cloths and black cloaks. “Where is the venerable Ji Gong?” they were shouting. The monk came out from inside. “Who wants him?” he said. The moment the two men saw him they hurried over and bowed. “Holy monk,” they said, “we hope you’ve been well, sir, all this while.” “And what might your names be, you two?” said the monk. “Holy monk,” said the two men, “great men forget a great deal. Our squire lives on Taiping Street. His surname is Zhou, his given name Jing, he’s styled Wanglian, and people call him Half-the-City Zhou. Didn’t you carry Weituo over to our place, sir, and catch a demon there? We two are Zhou Fu and Zhou Lu.” “So that’s who you are,” said the monk. “And what brings you two here looking for this monk?” “Our squire has a friend named Hu Xiuzhang,” said Zhou Fu. “He comes from Baishui Lake in Shaoxing Prefecture. Here in the capital he rented a house from our squire and opened a silk shop, but the business lost money and he was going to shut up shop. Our squire, being close to him, lent him three thousand taels of silver and told him to find new partners and start over. These last two years he’s got the business going well again; he’s made back everything he lost before, and come out ahead besides. Now Hu Xiuzhang has had a letter from home: the place where they live, Baishui Lake, is plagued by a demon, and every day the demon must eat one boy and one girl. Hu Xiuzhang’s family has children, and one of them has been eaten by the demon. Today he came to see our squire, said he has to go home, and asked our squire to keep an eye on the silk shop. He was so upset he couldn’t stop crying. Our squire thought of you, sir, knowing that the holy monk’s Way and the Buddha’s power know no bounds, and told us to invite you to our squire’s house, to beg you, holy monk, to show your great mercy, go to Baishui Lake, put down the demon and catch the fiend, and save all living beings.” When the monk heard this he said, “Putting down demons and catching fiends, that I can manage. The trouble is, I can’t go.” “Why can’t you go, holy monk?” said Zhou Fu and Zhou Lu. “I’ve just taken on a disciple,” said the monk, “and he’s a little terror. The moment I go out, if he isn’t tearing up the window paper, he’s smearing incense ash on people, and if it isn’t that, he’s pissing in somebody’s cooking pot.” “How old is this disciple?” said Zhou Fu. “Nine,” said the monk. “Well, that is awfully young,” said Zhou Fu. “Where is he? Let me have a look at him.” “He’s in the Main Hall,” said the monk. Zhou Fu and Zhou Lu went to the hall and looked, and there was a Daoist, stripped to the waist, with a jet-black beard in three long locks. “Reverend,” said Zhou Fu, “are you Ji Gong’s disciple?” “That’s right,” said the Daoist. “How old are you?” they asked. “I’m fifty-nine,” said the Daoist. “You two needn’t listen to my master. The old fellow talks nothing but nonsense. I don’t tear up windows and I don’t piss in anything. Take my master with you.” The two of them came out again. “Master, sir,” said Zhou Fu, “you’re nothing but fibs. Come along, quick.” “Not a chance,” said the monk. “I won’t have a moment’s peace. Get my disciple to come with me, and then I’ll go.” “I’m afraid the Reverend won’t want to come,” said Zhou Fu. “If he won’t,” said the monk, “the two of you take him along.” Zhou Fu nodded and agreed. The two stewards went into the hall. “Reverend,” they said, “come along with us.” “I’ve got no shirt on,” said the Daoist. “I’m not going anywhere.” Zhou Fu and Zhou Lu simply took hold of him and pulled. The monk pointed a finger and chanted, “Om! By command — he!” The Daoist was no longer master of his own body, and Zhou Fu and Zhou Lu hauled him out of the temple gate.
和尚後頭跟著往前走，街市上的人瞧著都新稀，兩個人拉著一個老道，赤著背，後面跟著一個窮和尚。周福、周祿拉著老道，一直來到太平街周宅，到了書房，周員外正同胡秀章在書房等候。一見周福、周祿拉進一個老道來，赤著背，周員外就問：「周福，這是誰？」周福說：「這是濟公長老的徒弟。」正說著話，濟公進來。周員外連忙舉手抱拳說：「聖僧久違。」和尚說：「彼此彼此。」周半城叫過胡秀章來說：「我給你引見引見，這就是濟公活佛。這是我的摯友胡秀章。」和尚瞧了一瞧，見這位胡秀章，是文生打扮。穿藍翠褂，三十開外的年歲，倒是儒儒雅雅。胡秀章過來給和尚行禮，說：「久仰聖僧大名，今幸得會，真乃三生有幸。我聽我周大哥說，你老人家佛法無邊。現在白水湖鬧妖精，每天妖精要吃一個童男，一個童女。我原本家眷在白水湖住，家中有一兒一女，現在家中來信，叫我急速回去。求聖僧大發慈悲，到紹興去一趟，降妖捉怪，給百姓除害。」和尚說：「降妖捉怪倒可以行。但我和尚要去，一則沒有盤費，二來我這個徒弟太淘氣，我留下他甚不放心。」胡秀章說：「聖僧只管放心，盤費我有。令徒叫他可以跟了去。」和尚說：「那行了，悟真跟我走。」老道說：「我跟了去倒行。我光著膀子，可不能去。」胡秀章說：「那倒是小事。我趕緊派人給你買衣裳去。」老道說：「倒不用買，我有衣裳都當在錢塘關，給我師父打酒喝了。拿錢贖來就得了。」胡秀章說：「你有當票？」老道把當票拿出來。老道說：「員外再破費一百錢，我有一個蠅刷在錢塘關紙鋪押著，拿一百錢就取來了。」周員外立刻派家丁去贖當，少時連衣服蠅刷一併拿來。老道打扮好，仍然又是仙風道骨的樣子。人是衣，馬是鞍，這話不錯。和尚說：「咱們上白水湖去，可得走小月屯，我還有個約會，有我徒弟請我捉妖，然後再上白水湖。」胡秀章說：「就是罷。」
和尚后头跟着往前走，街市上的人瞧着都新稀，两个人拉着一个老道，赤着背，后面跟着一个穷和尚。周福、周禄拉着老道，一直来到太平街周宅，到了书房，周员外正同胡秀章在书房等候。一见周福、周禄拉进一个老道来，赤着背，周员外就问：「周福，这是谁？」周福说：「这是济公长老的徒弟。」正说着话，济公进来。周员外连忙举手抱拳说：「圣僧久违。」和尚说：「彼此彼此。」周半城叫过胡秀章来说：「我给你引见引见，这就是济公活佛。这是我的挚友胡秀章。」和尚瞧了一瞧，见这位胡秀章，是文生打扮。穿蓝翠褂，三十开外的年岁，倒是儒儒雅雅。胡秀章过来给和尚行礼，说：「久仰圣僧大名，今幸得会，真乃三生有幸。我听我周大哥说，你老人家佛法无边。现在白水湖闹妖精，每天妖精要吃一个童男，一个童女。我原本家眷在白水湖住，家中有一儿一女，现在家中来信，叫我急速回去。求圣僧大发慈悲，到绍兴去一趟，降妖捉怪，给百姓除害。」和尚说：「降妖捉怪倒可以行。但我和尚要去，一则没有盘费，二来我这个徒弟太淘气，我留下他甚不放心。」胡秀章说：「圣僧只管放心，盘费我有。令徒叫他可以跟了去。」和尚说：「那行了，悟真跟我走。」老道说：「我跟了去倒行。我光着膀子，可不能去。」胡秀章说：「那倒是小事。我赶紧派人给你买衣裳去。」老道说：「倒不用买，我有衣裳都当在钱塘关，给我师父打酒喝了。拿钱赎来就得了。」胡秀章说：「你有当票？」老道把当票拿出来。老道说：「员外再破费一百钱，我有一个蝇刷在钱塘关纸铺押着，拿一百钱就取来了。」周员外立刻派家丁去赎当，少时连衣服蝇刷一并拿来。老道打扮好，仍然又是仙风道骨的样子。人是衣，马是鞍，这话不错。和尚说：「咱们上白水湖去，可得走小月屯，我还有个约会，有我徒弟请我捉妖，然后再上白水湖。」胡秀章说：「就是罢。」
The monk followed along behind. The people in the streets all stared at the curious sight: two men hauling along a Daoist stripped to the waist, and a poor monk tagging after them. Zhou Fu and Zhou Lu pulled the Daoist all the way to the Zhou residence on Taiping Street and into the study, where Squire Zhou was waiting with Hu Xiuzhang. When the squire saw Zhou Fu and Zhou Lu drag in a Daoist with no shirt on, he asked, “Zhou Fu, who’s this?” “This is the venerable Ji Gong’s disciple,” said Zhou Fu. While they were talking, Ji Gong came in. Squire Zhou hastily raised his clasped hands. “Holy monk, it has been far too long.” “Likewise, likewise,” said the monk. Half-the-City Zhou called Hu Xiuzhang over. “Let me introduce you,” he said. “This is the living Buddha Ji Gong. And this is my dear friend Hu Xiuzhang.” The monk took a look at this Hu Xiuzhang. He was dressed as a scholar, in a blue jacket, a little over thirty, and quite refined and gentlemanly in his manner. Hu Xiuzhang came over and bowed to the monk. “I have long revered your great name, holy monk,” he said, “and to have the good luck of meeting you today is truly the good fortune of three lifetimes. My elder brother Zhou tells me your Buddha’s power knows no bounds, sir. Now there is a demon at Baishui Lake, and every day the demon must eat one boy and one girl. My family lives at Baishui Lake; I have a son and a daughter at home, and now a letter has come from home telling me to hurry back. I beg you, holy monk, show your great mercy, make a trip to Shaoxing, put down the demon and catch the fiend, and rid the people of this scourge.” “Putting down demons and catching fiends, that I can do,” said the monk. “But if this monk is to go, first, I have no money for the road, and second, this disciple of mine is such a terror that I can’t rest easy leaving him behind.” “Set your mind at rest, holy monk,” said Hu Xiuzhang. “I have money for the road. As for your esteemed disciple, by all means let him come along.” “Then that’s settled,” said the monk. “Wuzhen, you’re coming with me.” “Going along suits me fine,” said the Daoist. “But I can't go stripped to the waist.” “That’s a small matter,” said Hu Xiuzhang. “I’ll send someone straight off to buy you clothes.” “No need to buy any,” said the Daoist. “I do have clothes. They’re all pawned at the Qiantang Gate, to buy my master wine. Just pay to redeem them and that will do.” “Have you got the pawn tickets?” said Hu Xiuzhang. The Daoist took out the pawn tickets. “And if you’d spend another hundred cash, squire,” said the Daoist, “I have a fly whisk left as a pledge at a paper shop at the Qiantang Gate. A hundred cash will fetch it back.” Squire Zhou at once sent a servant to redeem the pledges, and before long he was back with the clothes and the fly whisk together. When the Daoist had dressed himself, he once again had the airy look of an immortal. Clothes make the man, as the saddle makes the horse: there is truth in that saying. “We’re going to Baishui Lake,” said the monk, “but we’ll have to go by way of Xiaoyue Village. I’ve got an appointment there: a disciple of mine has asked me to catch a demon. After that, on to Baishui Lake.” “Very well,” said Hu Xiuzhang.