話說濟公出來，見陳亮早已躥至外面，和尚隨後追至村外，祇見陳亮跑的甚快，圍著村莊祇繞，至天明之際，濟公見祥雲觀已然燒了一個冰消瓦解，一概皆無，尺木未剩，片瓦不存。外邊有無數人救火，西邊圍著有十數人。濟公臨近一看，祇見劉妙通在那裏燒的渾身是泡，並無一處無傷，堪堪要死。濟公動了惻隱之心，過來說：「道爺，你這是怎麼了？」劉妙通一看是濟公，說：「聖僧，我沒得罪你老人家，我師兄他行為不端，已然遭報。求師父慈悲，救救我罷！」和尚哈哈大笑，說道：「你既知循環報應，你可知道他自作孽不可活？來罷，我給你一粒藥吃。」那邊地方官人說：「不行，和尚你別惹事，你給他藥吃，倘有錯誤，那還了得。」劉妙通說：「無妨，我吃死與和尚無干，是我命該如此。」旁邊眾人說：「他既是願意吃，何必攔他呢？」濟公叫人給他找了一碗熱水來，把藥化開，給劉妙通端過去。劉妙通喝下去，工夫不大，覺著肚腹咕咯咯一響，渾身燒的泡立刻全化開，流出毒水，也不疼了。旁邊眾人齊說：「好藥！」在濟公身背後站立一人，說：「罷了，真乃神也仙也！靈丹妙藥。」濟公回頭一看，見那人身高八尺，細腰扎背，頭上戴寶藍緞六瓣壯士帽，上按六顆明珠，身穿一件月白綢箭袖袍，鵝黃絲鸞帶，足上薄底靴子，閃披寶藍色緞英雄大氅。面如白玉，眉分八彩，目如朗星，五官清秀。濟公回頭一看，照這人臉上「呸！」啐了一口，這人撥頭就跑，和尚就追。頭前跑的這人，非是別人，正是聖手白猿陳亮。祇因他被和尚追了半夜，好容易聽不見草鞋響了，自己止住腳步，把白晝衣服換上，打算瞧瞧劉妙通是生死存亡。剛到這裏來，見和尚給劉妙通藥吃。陳亮一說「好藥」，和尚回頭一啐，陳亮撥頭就跑，和尚隨後就追。陳亮跑著，自己一想：「我可就是個賊，他也沒拿住我，我何必跑？我問問和尚為甚麼追我？」想罷，止住腳步，見和尚也趕到了，陳亮說：「和尚，你為甚追我？」和尚說：「你為甚麼跑呀？」陳亮一聽也樂了說：「和尚，我知道你老人家是一位高僧，你老人家收我做徒弟，我跟你出家罷！」濟公連連搖頭說：「你是個賊，焉能跟我出家？我們出家人，講究三規五戒，三規是規佛、規法、規僧，五戒是戒殺、盜、淫、妄、酒。你要出家，你如何能改得了這幾樣？」陳亮說：「我上無父母牽纏，下無妻子掛礙，了一身之孽冤。師父所說的話，我都能行得了。」濟公說：「你既是行得了，你到臨安城去等我。我把這裏事情辦完，咱們在臨安再見。」陳亮一聽，說：「師父，你叫我臨安等你。臨安城的地方大，叫我在甚麼地方等你老人家？」濟公想了半天說。「咱們在臨安城床底下見罷。」陳亮一想：「必是臨安城有這個地名。」這纔給濟公行完禮，說：「師父我這就起身，直奔臨安去等你去。」濟公說：「你頭裏走罷。」
话说济公出来，见陈亮早已蹿至外面，和尚随后追至村外，祇见陈亮跑的甚快，围着村庄祇绕，至天明之际，济公见祥云观已然烧了一个冰消瓦解，一概皆无，尺木未剩，片瓦不存。外边有无数人救火，西边围着有十数人。济公临近一看，祇见刘妙通在那里烧的浑身是泡，并无一处无伤，堪堪要死。济公动了恻隐之心，过来说：「道爷，你这是怎么了？」刘妙通一看是济公，说：「圣僧，我没得罪你老人家，我师兄他行为不端，已然遭报。求师父慈悲，救救我罢！」和尚哈哈大笑，说道：「你既知循环报应，你可知道他自作孽不可活？来罢，我给你一粒药吃。」那边地方官人说：「不行，和尚你别惹事，你给他药吃，倘有错误，那还了得。」刘妙通说：「无妨，我吃死与和尚无干，是我命该如此。」旁边众人说：「他既是愿意吃，何必拦他呢？」济公叫人给他找了一碗热水来，把药化开，给刘妙通端过去。刘妙通喝下去，工夫不大，觉着肚腹咕咯咯一响，浑身烧的泡立刻全化开，流出毒水，也不疼了。旁边众人齐说：「好药！」在济公身背后站立一人，说：「罢了，真乃神也仙也！灵丹妙药。」济公回头一看，见那人身高八尺，细腰扎背，头上戴宝蓝缎六瓣壮士帽，上按六颗明珠，身穿一件月白绸箭袖袍，鹅黄丝鸾带，足上薄底靴子，闪披宝蓝色缎英雄大氅。面如白玉，眉分八彩，目如朗星，五官清秀。济公回头一看，照这人脸上「呸！」啐了一口，这人拨头就跑，和尚就追。头前跑的这人，非是别人，正是圣手白猿陈亮。祇因他被和尚追了半夜，好容易听不见草鞋响了，自己止住脚步，把白昼衣服换上，打算瞧瞧刘妙通是生死存亡。刚到这里来，见和尚给刘妙通药吃。陈亮一说「好药」，和尚回头一啐，陈亮拨头就跑，和尚随后就追。陈亮跑着，自己一想：「我可就是个贼，他也没拿住我，我何必跑？我问问和尚为甚么追我？」想罢，止住脚步，见和尚也赶到了，陈亮说：「和尚，你为甚追我？」和尚说：「你为甚么跑呀？」陈亮一听也乐了说：「和尚，我知道你老人家是一位高僧，你老人家收我做徒弟，我跟你出家罢！」济公连连摇头说：「你是个贼，焉能跟我出家？我们出家人，讲究三规五戒，三规是规佛、规法、规僧，五戒是戒杀、盗、淫、妄、酒。你要出家，你如何能改得了这几样？」陈亮说：「我上无父母牵缠，下无妻子挂碍，了一身之孽冤。师父所说的话，我都能行得了。」济公说：「你既是行得了，你到临安城去等我。我把这里事情办完，咱们在临安再见。」陈亮一听，说：「师父，你叫我临安等你。临安城的地方大，叫我在甚么地方等你老人家？」济公想了半天说。「咱们在临安城床底下见罢。」陈亮一想：「必是临安城有这个地名。」这才给济公行完礼，说：「师父我这就起身，直奔临安去等你去。」济公说：「你头里走罢。」
Now, when Ji Gong came out, he saw that Chen Liang had already darted outside. The monk chased after him to the edge of the village. Chen Liang ran very fast, round and round the village, and by the time day was breaking Ji Gong saw that the Xiangyun Temple had burned clean away, melted like ice and shattered like tiles. Nothing at all was left: not a foot of timber remained, not a single tile. Outside, crowds of people were fighting the fire, and on the west side a dozen or more stood in a ring. Ji Gong went close to look, and there was Liu Miaotong, burned so badly he was blistered all over, without an unhurt spot on him, on the very point of death. Ji Gong was moved to pity. He went over. “Daoist Master, what’s happened to you?” Liu Miaotong saw that it was Ji Gong. “Holy monk, I never offended you, venerable sir. My senior brother in the Way behaved wickedly, and he has already met his retribution. I beg you, Master, have mercy and save me!” The monk roared with laughter. “Since you know how retribution comes round, do you know that he brought his ruin on himself, and there was no living through it? Come, I’ll give you a pill to take.” “No you don’t,” said the warden over there. “Monk, don’t go stirring up trouble. If you give him medicine and something goes wrong, there’ll be the devil to pay.” “It doesn’t matter,” said Liu Miaotong. “If it kills me, that’s nothing to do with the monk. It means my fate was meant to be so.” “Since he’s willing to take it,” said the people standing by, “why stop him?” Ji Gong had someone fetch a bowl of hot water, dissolved the pill in it and carried it over to Liu Miaotong. Liu Miaotong drank it down. Before long he felt his belly give a gurgling rumble, and at once every burn blister on his body broke open and ran with poisonous fluid, and the pain was gone. “What medicine!” the people standing by all cried together. Behind Ji Gong a man was standing, and he said, “Well, I never! Truly divine, truly miraculous! An elixir of the immortals!” Ji Gong turned to look. The man stood eight feet tall, slim at the waist and strong in the back. On his head was a six-panelled warrior’s cap of sapphire-blue satin set with six bright pearls. He wore a moon-white silk robe with arrow sleeves, a pale yellow silk sash and thin-soled boots, and over his shoulders hung a hero’s cloak of sapphire-blue satin. His face was like white jade, his brows finely drawn, his eyes like bright stars, his features fine and handsome. Ji Gong turned to look, and spat full in the man’s face: “Pah!” The man turned tail and ran, and the monk went after him. The man running ahead was none other than Chen Liang, the Masterful White Ape (Shengshou Baiyuan). He had been chased by the monk half the night, and when at long last he could no longer hear the slap of straw sandals behind him, he stopped, changed into his daytime clothes and meant to go and see whether Liu Miaotong was alive or dead. He had only just got there when he saw the monk give Liu Miaotong medicine. Chen Liang said, “What medicine,” the monk turned and spat, Chen Liang turned and ran, and the monk chased after him. As he ran, Chen Liang thought: “All right, so I’m a thief, but he hasn’t caught me. Why should I run? I’ll ask the monk why he’s chasing me.” With that he stopped. The monk caught up, and Chen Liang said, “Monk, why are you chasing me?” “Why are you running?” said the monk. That made Chen Liang laugh too. “Monk, I know you’re an eminent monk, venerable sir. Take me as your disciple, and I’ll follow you and leave the world!” Ji Gong shook his head again and again. “You’re a thief. How could you follow me and leave the world? We who have left the world keep the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts. The Three Refuges are refuge in the Buddha, refuge in the Dharma and refuge in the Sangha; the Five Precepts forbid killing, stealing, lust, lying and wine. If you want to leave the world, how could you give all that up?” “Above me I have no parents to tie me down,” said Chen Liang, “and below me no wife or children to hold me back. I can settle all the karmic debts of my life. Everything you’ve said, Master, I can do.” “Since you can do it,” said Ji Gong, “go to Lin’an and wait for me. When I’ve finished my business here, we’ll meet again in Lin’an.” “Master,” said Chen Liang, “you tell me to wait for you in Lin’an, but Lin’an is a big place. Where am I to wait for you, venerable sir?” Ji Gong thought for a long while. “Let’s meet in Lin’an, at Under-the-Bed.” “There must be a place in Lin’an by that name,” Chen Liang thought. Then he made his bows to Ji Gong. “Master, I’ll set off right now and go straight to Lin’an to wait for you.” “You go on ahead,” said Ji Gong.
陳亮告辭，也不到祥雲觀瞧劉妙通，自己順大路直奔臨安。在道路之上，飢餐渴飲，曉行夜宿，這天來到臨安。陳亮本是初次到京，見人煙稠密，甚是熱鬧，就在錢塘門外天竺街，找了店住下。次日由店中出來，打算要逛西湖，散步而行，見西湖上有冷泉亭。站在蘇堤上，四下觀看。一眼望不到邊。信步來到靈隱寺門首，見有兩個門頭僧在那裏坐定。陳亮過去說：「二位師父，這廟裏的濟公長老，可曾回來？」門頭僧說：「他沒在廟裏。時常不在廟的時候多，也許十天八日不回來，也許三五個月不回來，沒有准。」陳亮聽罷，轉身回來，見人就打聽，逢人便問：「借問床底下在哪處？」一逢人問這個地方，問了好幾位人，俱皆不知。自己無法，心中一煩，打算找座酒樓喝點酒，回頭問問跑堂的。
陈亮告辞，也不到祥云观瞧刘妙通，自己顺大路直奔临安。在道路之上，饥餐渴饮，晓行夜宿，这天来到临安。陈亮本是初次到京，见人烟稠密，甚是热闹，就在钱塘门外天竺街，找了店住下。次日由店中出来，打算要逛西湖，散步而行，见西湖上有冷泉亭。站在苏堤上，四下观看。一眼望不到边。信步来到灵隐寺门首，见有两个门头僧在那里坐定。陈亮过去说：「二位师父，这庙里的济公长老，可曾回来？」门头僧说：「他没在庙里。时常不在庙的时候多，也许十天八日不回来，也许三五个月不回来，没有准。」陈亮听罢，转身回来，见人就打听，逢人便问：「借问床底下在哪处？」一逢人问这个地方，问了好几位人，俱皆不知。自己无法，心中一烦，打算找座酒楼喝点酒，回头问问跑堂的。
Chen Liang took his leave. He did not even go to the Xiangyun Temple to look in on Liu Miaotong, but followed the highway straight for Lin’an. On the road he ate when he was hungry and drank when he was thirsty, travelled by day and rested by night, and one day he reached Lin’an. It was Chen Liang’s first time in the capital. He saw the dense crowds and all the bustle, and found an inn on Tianzhu Street, outside the Qiantang Gate, and took a room. The next day he came out of the inn meaning to go sightseeing at West Lake. Strolling along, he saw Lengquan Pavilion by the lake. He stood on the Su Causeway and gazed all around; the water stretched farther than the eye could see. Wandering at random, he came to the gate of Lingyin Temple, where two gate monks sat. Chen Liang went over. “Masters, has Ji Gong of this temple come back yet?” “He isn’t in the temple,” said the gate monks. “He’s away more often than he’s here. Maybe he won’t be back for eight or ten days, maybe not for three or five months. There’s no telling.” At this Chen Liang turned and went back, asking everyone he saw and putting the question to every person he met: “Excuse me, where is Under-the-Bed?” He asked a good many people about this place, and none of them knew. At a loss and out of sorts, he decided to find a tavern, have a drink and then ask the waiter.
想罷，轉身往回走，來到上天竺街，見路北有一座酒樓，字號是天和，掛著酒幌子，裏面刀勺亂響，過賣傳菜。陳亮進了酒樓，登樓梯上去，靠樓窗臨街有一張空桌。陳亮坐下，夥計趕緊過來擦抹桌案。陳亮要了幾樣菜，兩壺酒，自己自斟自飲喝著酒。陳亮把夥計叫過來。夥計說：「大爺還添甚麼菜？」陳亮說：「不是添菜，我跟你打聽一個地名，你可知道？」夥計說：「你說罷，大小地名，我都知道。」陳亮說：「這臨安城有個床底下，你可知道？」夥計連連搖頭說：「沒有這個地名。」陳亮也不往下再問，心中暗想道：「濟公老人家不能跟我撒謊，沒有這個地名，我哪裏問去？」
想罢，转身往回走，来到上天竺街，见路北有一座酒楼，字号是天和，挂着酒幌子，里面刀勺乱响，过卖传菜。陈亮进了酒楼，登楼梯上去，靠楼窗临街有一张空桌。陈亮坐下，伙计赶紧过来擦抹桌案。陈亮要了几样菜，两壶酒，自己自斟自饮喝着酒。陈亮把伙计叫过来。伙计说：「大爷还添甚么菜？」陈亮说：「不是添菜，我跟你打听一个地名，你可知道？」伙计说：「你说罢，大小地名，我都知道。」陈亮说：「这临安城有个床底下，你可知道？」伙计连连摇头说：「没有这个地名。」陈亮也不往下再问，心中暗想道：「济公老人家不能跟我撒谎，没有这个地名，我哪里问去？」
With that he turned and headed back. When he came to Shangtianzhu Street, he saw a tavern on the north side of the road, the Tianhe Tavern, with its wine flag hanging out. Inside, knives and ladles were clattering and the waiters were calling out and carrying dishes. Chen Liang went into the tavern and climbed the stairs. By the window overlooking the street was an empty table. Chen Liang sat down, and a waiter hurried over to wipe it. Chen Liang ordered a few dishes and two pots of wine and sat pouring for himself and drinking alone. Then he called the waiter over. “Anything more to eat, sir?” said the waiter. “Not more food,” said Chen Liang. “I want to ask you about a place. Do you know it?” “Go on, sir,” said the waiter. “Big places or little, I know them all.” “Is there a place in this city of Lin’an called Under-the-Bed?” said Chen Liang. “Do you know it?” The waiter shook his head again and again. “There’s no such place.” Chen Liang asked nothing further, but thought to himself: “The old master Ji Gong wouldn’t lie to me. But if there’s no such place, where am I to go asking?”
正在心中發悶，祇聽下街上一陣大亂。陳亮往下一看，見有一乘小轎，跟著有許多人，各拿刀槍棍棒。聽轎子內有人哭。彷彿這個樣子，大概是搶人，由西來往東去。陳亮站起來，瞧夠多時，又見由西來了一人，渾身的血跡，跟著許多看熱鬧的，奔到這酒館，在這樓下爭爭吵吵亂嚷。陳亮也聽不明白，把夥計叫過來說：「夥計，這樓下方纔進來那受傷的人，是被何人打的？因為甚麼事？」堂官說：「老爺，你老人家不是我們這本地人，要問這件事，實實可惱，令人可恨。你可見那位受傷的人，他姓王，跟我們掌櫃的是磕頭的弟兄，因為管閑事，路見不平，被人家打了。他們門外有一家鄰居，姓韓名文成，開錢舖生理，祇因把舖子荒閉了，欠下蘇北山員外二百兩銀。今日蘇宅管家，去要銀子去。韓文成說，等賣了房再還。蘇管家不依，帶著人把韓文成的妹子金娘搶去作押，把韓文成也打了。那位王三爺多管閑事，要和人打架，被人家打了，來找我們掌櫃的給他出氣。這位蘇北山，是我們臨安城內紳士，又是頭等財主，結交官長，誰惹的了？」陳亮一聽，說：「這天子腳下，要是這樣沒王法，要到了外省，應該如何呢？這是惡棍，他在哪裏住家？」跑堂的說：「在城內青竹巷四條衚衕路北頭一大房，門也高大，門外有四棵龍爪槐樹。」
正在心中发闷，祇听下街上一阵大乱。陈亮往下一看，见有一乘小轿，跟着有许多人，各拿刀枪棍棒。听轿子内有人哭。仿佛这个样子，大概是抢人，由西来往东去。陈亮站起来，瞧够多时，又见由西来了一人，浑身的血迹，跟着许多看热闹的，奔到这酒馆，在这楼下争争吵吵乱嚷。陈亮也听不明白，把伙计叫过来说：「伙计，这楼下方才进来那受伤的人，是被何人打的？因为甚么事？」堂官说：「老爷，你老人家不是我们这本地人，要问这件事，实实可恼，令人可恨。你可见那位受伤的人，他姓王，跟我们掌柜的是磕头的弟兄，因为管闲事，路见不平，被人家打了。他们门外有一家邻居，姓韩名文成，开钱铺生理，祇因把铺子荒闭了，欠下苏北山员外二百两银。今日苏宅管家，去要银子去。韩文成说，等卖了房再还。苏管家不依，带着人把韩文成的妹子金娘抢去作押，把韩文成也打了。那位王三爷多管闲事，要和人打架，被人家打了，来找我们掌柜的给他出气。这位苏北山，是我们临安城内绅士，又是头等财主，结交官长，谁惹的了？」陈亮一听，说：「这天子脚下，要是这样没王法，要到了外省，应该如何呢？这是恶棍，他在哪里住家？」跑堂的说：「在城内青竹巷四条胡同路北头一大房，门也高大，门外有四棵龙爪槐树。」
He was still brooding when there was a great commotion down in the street. Chen Liang looked down and saw a small sedan chair, followed by a crowd of men all carrying swords, spears, clubs and staves. He could hear someone crying inside the sedan. From the look of it, someone was most likely being carried off by force. They were going from west to east. Chen Liang stood up and watched for a good while. Then a man came from the west, covered in blood, with a crowd of onlookers at his heels. He made straight for this tavern, and down below there was arguing and shouting and uproar. Chen Liang could not make it out, so he called the waiter over. “Waiter, that injured man who just came in downstairs, who beat him? What was it about?” “Sir,” said the waiter, “you’re not from these parts. If you want to know about this business, it’s downright infuriating, it makes your blood boil. You saw that injured man? His name’s Wang. He and our proprietor are sworn brothers. He meddled in what was none of his business, couldn’t stand to see a wrong done in the street, and they beat him. Just outside his door there’s a neighbour named Han Wencheng, who ran a money shop. The shop went under, and he owed Su Beishan two hundred taels of silver. Today the steward of the Su residence went to collect. Han Wencheng said he’d pay once he’d sold his house. Steward Su wouldn’t have it. He brought his men and carried off Han Wencheng’s younger sister, Jinniang, as security, and beat Han Wencheng too. Third Master Wang poked his nose in and wanted to fight them, and they beat him, so now he’s come to get our proprietor to take revenge for him. This Su Beishan is one of the gentry of our city of Lin’an, and one of the richest men in it besides, thick with the officials. Who could take him on?” “Here at the very feet of the Son of Heaven,” said Chen Liang, “if there’s lawlessness like this, what must it be like out in the provinces? The man’s a villain. Where does he live?” “In the city,” said the waiter, “in Fourth Lane, Qingzhu, the first big house on the north side of the lane. It has a tall gate, and four dragon-claw pagoda trees outside it.”
陳亮聽了，吃完了酒，會錢下樓，進城在青竹巷左右，探了道路。各處一看，自己找了一座茶社吃茶，心中說：「帝都之所，有這樣惡棍，我今既見，就要多管閑事，今夜晚我到他家，把他一家人全皆殺死，也叫他知道天網恢恢，自有報應。」
陈亮听了，吃完了酒，会钱下楼，进城在青竹巷左右，探了道路。各处一看，自己找了一座茶社吃茶，心中说：「帝都之所，有这样恶棍，我今既见，就要多管闲事，今夜晚我到他家，把他一家人全皆杀死，也叫他知道天网恢恢，自有报应。」
When Chen Liang had heard this, he finished his wine, paid and went downstairs. He went into the city and scouted out the streets around Qingzhu Lane. After looking the whole place over, he found a teahouse and sat drinking tea, saying to himself: “Here in the emperor’s own capital there’s a villain like this. Now that I’ve seen it, I’m going to meddle. Tonight I’ll go to his house and kill his whole family, every one of them, so he’ll know that Heaven’s net is wide, and retribution comes in its own time.”
想罷候至天晚，吃了晚飯，找到無人之處，換好了夜行衣，把白天所穿衣服包好，斜插式繫在腰間，躥房越脊，走了有幾所院落。到了蘇宅，往各處探聽。到內宅，見是四合瓦房，前出廊後出廈的上房，西裏間屋中燈影搖搖，聽有人說話。就聽見說：「秋香，把茶給我斟上。」陳亮到窗外一看，見那邊有個小小窟窿，眇一目往裏看，祇見靠北牆是花梨俏頭案上，擺上好古玩，順前檐是一張大床，上放著小几。桌西邊坐著一個半老婦人，年約四旬以外，五官清秀，有兩名丫鬟，兩個僕婦，正伺候吃茶。聽那個婦人說：「員外這時候也不回來，是往哪裏去了？內宅又無男子，好叫我不放心。」那使女說：「太太，咱們員外不回來，也應該給送個信來。這內宅男子非呼喚是不能來的，太太你老人家破個悶兒，我們猜猜謎。」太太說：「我說一個，你們猜去：
花姐最賤是油頭，送舊迎新一夜床，來往客傳情不盡，誰將玉體肯輕揉。」
兩個老媽猜了半天，也沒猜著。使女秋香、秋桂叫：「太太說了罷，別悶人了。」那太太說：「是芝麻楷。」秋香等全笑了，又說：「你老人家說個淺近的，我們猜猜。」那太太說：「喲，我可不說了，說了你們猜不著，又來攪我。」秋香說：「這回我們不問了，太太說罷。」那婦人說：
「一條白蛇烏在江，烏江岸上起紅光，白蛇吸盡烏江水，烏江水盡白蛇亡。
說完了，你們猜罷。」使女正是思想要猜，忽聽那外邊叭嚓一聲響亮。眾婦人往外一看，一片紅光，直沖斗牛之間。有一宗岔事驚人！
想罢候至天晚，吃了晚饭，找到无人之处，换好了夜行衣，把白天所穿衣服包好，斜插式系在腰间，蹿房越脊，走了有几所院落。到了苏宅，往各处探听。到内宅，见是四合瓦房，前出廊后出厦的上房，西里间屋中灯影摇摇，听有人说话。就听见说：「秋香，把茶给我斟上。」陈亮到窗外一看，见那边有个小小窟窿，眇一目往里看，祇见靠北墙是花梨俏头案上，摆上好古玩，顺前檐是一张大床，上放着小几。桌西边坐着一个半老妇人，年约四旬以外，五官清秀，有两名丫鬟，两个仆妇，正伺候吃茶。听那个妇人说：「员外这时候也不回来，是往哪里去了？内宅又无男子，好叫我不放心。」那使女说：「太太，咱们员外不回来，也应该给送个信来。这内宅男子非呼唤是不能来的，太太你老人家破个闷儿，我们猜猜谜。」太太说：「我说一个，你们猜去：
花姐最贱是油头，送旧迎新一夜床，来往客传情不尽，谁将玉体肯轻揉。」
两个老妈猜了半天，也没猜着。使女秋香、秋桂叫：「太太说了罢，别闷人了。」那太太说：「是芝麻楷。」秋香等全笑了，又说：「你老人家说个浅近的，我们猜猜。」那太太说：「哟，我可不说了，说了你们猜不着，又来搅我。」秋香说：「这回我们不问了，太太说罢。」那妇人说：
「一条白蛇乌在江，乌江岸上起红光，白蛇吸尽乌江水，乌江水尽白蛇亡。
说完了，你们猜罢。」使女正是思想要猜，忽听那外边叭嚓一声响亮。众妇人往外一看，一片红光，直冲斗牛之间。有一宗岔事惊人！
With that settled, he waited until dark and ate his supper. Then he found a deserted spot, changed into his night clothes, wrapped up the clothes he had worn by day and tied the bundle slantwise at his waist. Leaping onto roofs and running along ridges, he crossed several courtyards and reached the Su residence, where he scouted all about. In the inner quarters he found a tile-roofed courtyard, its main house with a veranda in front and a lean-to behind. Lamplight flickered in the inner room on the west, and he could hear voices. He heard someone say, “Qiuxiang, pour me some tea.” Chen Liang went to the window and saw a tiny hole on that side. Squinting with one eye, he looked in. Against the north wall stood a rosewood table with upturned ends, set out with fine antiques, and along the front eaves was a big bed with a little low table on it. On the west side of the table sat a woman past her prime, a little over forty, with fine, delicate features. Two maids and two serving women were waiting on her as she took her tea. He heard the woman say, “The squire still isn’t back at this hour. Where can he have gone? There’s no man here in the inner quarters, and it makes me so uneasy.” “Ma’am,” said a maid, “if the squire isn’t coming back, he ought at least to send word. The men can’t come into the inner quarters unless they’re called. Ma’am, give us a riddle to pass the time, and we’ll guess it.” “I’ll give you one,” said the lady, “and you guess:
‘Flower Sis is the cheapest, with her oily head;she sees out the old and greets the new, a bed for one night;the guests come and go, and their passion is never spent,but who would ever stroke that jade body gently?’”
The two serving women guessed for a long while, but could not get it. The maids Qiuxiang and Qiugui cried, “Tell us, ma’am, don’t keep us in suspense.” “It’s a sesame stalk,” said the lady. Qiuxiang and the others all laughed and said, “Give us an easier one, ma’am, and we’ll guess it.” “Oh no,” said the lady, “I’m not telling any more. If I do, you can’t guess it, and then you come pestering me.” “This time we won’t ask,” said Qiuxiang. “Go on, ma’am.” The woman said:
“A white snake lies in the Black River;on the Black River’s bank a red light rises.The white snake drinks the Black River dry,and when the Black River is dry, the white snake dies.
There, I’ve said it. Now you guess.” The maids were just puzzling it over when suddenly there came a loud crack from outside. The women all looked out: a sheet of red light shot straight up toward the Dipper and the Ox. Something startling had happened!
正見：
眼見之事猶然假，耳聽之言未必真。
正见：
眼见之事犹然假，耳听之言未必真。
Truly:
Even what the eye sees may be false;what the ear hears is not always true.
不知陳亮在蘇宅做出何等事來，且看下回分解。
不知陈亮在苏宅做出何等事来，且看下回分解。
To learn what Chen Liang went on to do in the Su residence, read the next chapter.