話說進福跟管船的姜成一商量，姜成聽他這些話，就問：「你這主人在哪裡呢？」進福說：「在萬盛店住著，你願意我就帶你去見見。」姜成本是久慣害人的人，他外號叫混海龍，有三個兒子，叫姜龍、姜虎、姜豹，有一個侄子叫姜彪。船上沒外人，親爺們五個人，稱姜家五虎。素常他不攬鋪戶生意的買賣，專攬孤行客，或兩三個人，行囊多，褫套大，走在半路，把人殺了往江里一推，東西就是他的了。今天進福一說，他焉有不願意之理？姜成說：「辦就照這樣罷，我同你到店裡見見去。」進福同姜成來到萬盛店，一見王全、李福，進福說：「公子爺我把船雇妥了。偏巧人家這隻船，是上台州府去的，順便稍帶腳，不等人，明天開船，我把管船的帶來了。」王全一看，是個老者。王全就問：「上台州府搭船要多少錢？」姜成說：「大爺不用說價，我們這船是去裝貨，沒人雇，也是明天開船，帶坐是白得錢了，到了，大爺願意多給就多給，少給也不爭競，你瞧著辦罷。」王全想，這倒痛快，說：「既然如是，明天上船罷，進福你就不用走罷。」姜成說：「大爺今天上船罷，明天天一亮就開船走了。」
话说进福跟管船的姜成一商量，姜成听他这些话，就问：「你这主人在哪里呢？」进福说：「在万盛店住着，你愿意我就带你去见见。」姜成本是久惯害人的人，他外号叫混海龙，有三个儿子，叫姜龙、姜虎、姜豹，有一个侄子叫姜彪。船上没外人，亲爷们五个人，称姜家五虎。素常他不揽铺户生意的买卖，专揽孤行客，或两三个人，行囊多，褫套大，走在半路，把人杀了往江里一推，东西就是他的了。今天进福一说，他焉有不愿意之理？姜成说：「办就照这样罢，我同你到店里见见去。」进福同姜成来到万盛店，一见王全、李福，进福说：「公子爷我把船雇妥了。偏巧人家这只船，是上台州府去的，顺便稍带脚，不等人，明天开船，我把管船的带来了。」王全一看，是个老者。王全就问：「上台州府搭船要多少钱？」姜成说：「大爷不用说价，我们这船是去装货，没人雇，也是明天开船，带坐是白得钱了，到了，大爷愿意多给就多给，少给也不争竞，你瞧着办罢。」王全想，这倒痛快，说：「既然如是，明天上船罢，进福你就不用走罢。」姜成说：「大爷今天上船罢，明天天一亮就开船走了。」
Now, Jinfu talked it over with Jiang Cheng, the master of the boat. When Jiang Cheng had heard him out, he asked, “And where is this master of yours?” “Staying at the Wansheng Inn,” said Jinfu. “If you’re willing, I’ll take you to meet him.” Jiang Cheng was an old hand at murdering people. He was nicknamed the Sea-Churning Dragon (Hunhailong), and he had three sons, called Jiang Long, Jiang Hu and Jiang Bao, and a nephew called Jiang Biao. There were no outsiders on the boat: the five of them, all one family, were known as the Five Tigers of the Jiang Family. As a rule they took no business from shops and firms. They went after lone travellers, or parties of two or three, with plenty of luggage and big travelling bags; halfway along they would kill the people and push them into the river, and the goods were theirs. Now that Jinfu had put this to him, how could he not be willing? “We’ll do it just the way you say,” said Jiang Cheng. “I’ll go with you to the inn and have a look at them.” Jinfu and Jiang Cheng came to the Wansheng Inn, and when they saw Wang Quan and Li Fu, Jinfu said, “Young master, I’ve got a boat hired. As luck would have it, this man’s boat is going to Taizhou Prefecture, so he can take us along on the way. He won’t wait for anyone, he sails tomorrow, and I’ve brought the boatmaster with me.” Wang Quan looked, and saw an old man. “How much to take us to Taizhou Prefecture?” he asked. “No need to talk price, sir,” said Jiang Cheng. “We’re going there to load cargo. Nobody’s hired us, and we sail tomorrow regardless, so passengers are money for nothing. When we get there, if you want to give more, give more; if you give less, I won’t haggle. Whatever you think fit.” That’s straightforward enough, thought Wang Quan. “In that case we’ll come aboard tomorrow,” he said. “Jinfu, you needn’t go off anywhere.” “Better come aboard today, sir,” said Jiang Cheng. “We cast off at first light tomorrow.”
王全本是趕路的心急，恨不能一時到家，一想很好，立刻算還店帳，叫進福去買點路菜，打點酒，叫李福打著褫套，隨同姜成，來到碼頭上了船。少時，進福把酒菜都買來，次日天光一亮，提篙撤挑，拽風篷開了船。王全、李福起來，喝了一碗茶，往前行著，見水勢甚狂，波浪滔天。王全叫李福把菜打開，喝點酒可以解悶。船往前走，剛來到曹娥江地面，天有正午，此地遍野荒郊，無人行路，江里又沒有同伴的船隻。進福由後梢里拿出一把刀，來到前艙，一把就把王全的胸前文生氅揪住，說：「王全；你打算大太爺真跟你回去，還當奴才去？你那算在睡里夢裡，我把你一殺，把金珠跟管船的一分，就算完了。你也該死了，好吃也吃過，好穿也穿過，死了也不冤。」
王全本是赶路的心急，恨不能一时到家，一想很好，立刻算还店帐，叫进福去买点路菜，打点酒，叫李福打着褫套，随同姜成，来到码头上了船。少时，进福把酒菜都买来，次日天光一亮，提篙撤挑，拽风篷开了船。王全、李福起来，喝了一碗茶，往前行着，见水势甚狂，波浪滔天。王全叫李福把菜打开，喝点酒可以解闷。船往前走，刚来到曹娥江地面，天有正午，此地遍野荒郊，无人行路，江里又没有同伴的船只。进福由后梢里拿出一把刀，来到前舱，一把就把王全的胸前文生氅揪住，说：「王全；你打算大太爷真跟你回去，还当奴才去？你那算在睡里梦里，我把你一杀，把金珠跟管船的一分，就算完了。你也该死了，好吃也吃过，好穿也穿过，死了也不冤。」
Wang Quan was already anxious to be on his way and wished he could be home that very moment, so he thought this was fine. At once he settled the bill at the inn, sent Jinfu to buy some food for the journey and a little wine, had Li Fu shoulder the travelling bags, and went with Jiang Cheng down to the landing and aboard the boat. Before long Jinfu came back with the wine and food. Next day, at first light, they took up the poles, drew in the gangplank, hoisted the sail and got under way. Wang Quan and Li Fu got up and drank a bowl of tea. As they went on, they saw the current running wild and the waves rolling sky-high. Wang Quan had Li Fu unpack the food: a little wine would help pass the time. The boat sailed on, and at about noon it had just come into the Cao’e River country. All around was empty wilderness with nobody on the roads, and on the river there was not a single boat to keep them company. Jinfu took a knife from the stern, came into the front cabin and in one grab seized Wang Quan’s scholar’s cloak by the chest. “Wang Quan!” he said. “Did you think your great grandsire here was really going home with you to be a slave again? You’re dreaming in your sleep. I’ll kill you, split the gold and pearls with the boatmaster, and that’s the end of it. Your time’s up anyway. You’ve eaten well and you’ve dressed well; dying’s no injustice to you.”
李福此時「哎呀」一聲，翻身栽倒，嚇死過去。王全嚇的戰戰兢兢，說：「你、你、你這奴才真要造反么？」進福哈哈一笑說：「是要反。」立刻一舉鋼刀，只聽「噗冬」一聲響，紅光皆冒、鮮血崩流，人頭滾在船板之上。王全可沒死，進福的腦袋掉下來了，怎么進福拿刀殺人，他腦袋會掉下來呢？這內中有一段緣故，凡事好人必有好報，常言說，害人先害己，這話誠然不錯，小子也是該死的。王全以恩禮相待，不但不記恨他的前情，反要把他帶回家去，給他飯吃。他不講以恩報德，反生禍心，這也是報應循環是不爽了。原來他一舉刀沒往下落，姜龍一刀，把他殺了。這是怎么一段故事呢？原本是混海龍姜成自己一想：「為甚做了買賣害了人，分給他一半呢？莫若把他也殺了，一則可以把銀子獨吞，二來也省得犯案。」故此叫姜龍把進福殺了。他只顧跟王全說話，沒留神身後，姜龍把進福一殺，王全一嚇也躺了下來了。姜龍提著人頭出來，這個時節，雷鳴、陳亮趕到。雷鳴遠遠瞧見，有人由後梢拿刀奔前艙，原是進福。見把人頭拿出來，可是進福的人頭。雷鳴往船上躥沒躥到，掉下江去。陳亮剛躥到船上，尚未站穩，姜龍照陳亮攔頭就是一刀。陳亮一閃身，也就掉下江去。
李福此时「哎呀」一声，翻身栽倒，吓死过去。王全吓的战战兢兢，说：「你、你、你这奴才真要造反幺？」进福哈哈一笑说：「是要反。」立刻一举钢刀，只听「噗冬」一声响，红光皆冒、鲜血崩流，人头滚在船板之上。王全可没死，进福的脑袋掉下来了，怎么进福拿刀杀人，他脑袋会掉下来呢？这内中有一段缘故，凡事好人必有好报，常言说，害人先害己，这话诚然不错，小子也是该死的。王全以恩礼相待，不但不记恨他的前情，反要把他带回家去，给他饭吃。他不讲以恩报德，反生祸心，这也是报应循环是不爽了。原来他一举刀没往下落，姜龙一刀，把他杀了。这是怎么一段故事呢？原本是混海龙姜成自己一想：「为甚做了买卖害了人，分给他一半呢？莫若把他也杀了，一则可以把银子独吞，二来也省得犯案。」故此叫姜龙把进福杀了。他只顾跟王全说话，没留神身后，姜龙把进福一杀，王全一吓也躺了下来了。姜龙提着人头出来，这个时节，雷鸣、陈亮赶到。雷鸣远远瞧见，有人由后梢拿刀奔前舱，原是进福。见把人头拿出来，可是进福的人头。雷鸣往船上蹿没蹿到，掉下江去。陈亮刚蹿到船上，尚未站稳，姜龙照陈亮拦头就是一刀。陈亮一闪身，也就掉下江去。
At this, Li Fu cried out “Aiya!”, toppled over and fainted dead away from fright. Wang Quan was shaking all over. “Y-you, y-you, you slave, you really mean to rebel?” Jinfu laughed aloud. “Rebel is right.” At once he raised his steel knife. There was a thud, a red light burst out, blood gushed, and a head rolled across the deck. But Wang Quan was not dead: it was Jinfu’s head that had come off. How could Jinfu raise a knife to kill a man and have his own head fall? There is a reason in all this. A good man always gets a good return, and as the saying goes, harm others and you harm yourself first. That is perfectly true; the fellow had it coming. Wang Quan had treated him with kindness and courtesy: far from holding his past against him, he meant to take him home and give him a living. Instead of repaying kindness with gratitude, Jinfu turned to murder, and so retribution came round without fail. As it turned out, his knife had gone up but never came down: Jiang Long had killed him with one stroke. How did that come about? The Sea-Churning Dragon, Jiang Cheng, had thought it over: “Why should we do the job and do the killing, and then give him half? Better kill him too. For one thing, we can keep all the silver ourselves; for another, it saves us getting caught.” So he had told Jiang Long to kill Jinfu. Jinfu was so busy talking to Wang Quan that he never minded what was behind him. Jiang Long killed Jinfu, and Wang Quan, from sheer fright, keeled over too. Jiang Long came out carrying the head, and at that very moment Lei Ming and Chen Liang came racing up. From a distance Lei Ming had seen someone come from the stern with a knife and make for the front cabin: it was Jinfu. Then he saw the head being carried out, and it was Jinfu’s head. Lei Ming leapt for the boat, fell short and dropped into the river. Chen Liang had just landed on the boat and had not yet found his footing when Jiang Long slashed straight at his head. Chen Liang dodged, and with that he too was going over into the river.