話說馬靜練了一趟雙鐧，外面有人叫好。馬靜一看，是一位年高的和尚，面如滿月，身穿古銅色的僧衣，拿著一百零八顆念珠。馬靜一看，嚇的驚慌失色，趕緊把雙鐧扔下，往外就跑，說：「眾位我要失陪！」大眾說：「馬靜爺哪去？」李平一看，說：「了不得了，馬靜的叔父來了。」
话说马静练了一趟双锏，外面有人叫好。马静一看，是一位年高的和尚，面如满月，身穿古铜色的僧衣，拿着一百零八颗念珠。马静一看，吓的惊慌失色，赶紧把双锏扔下，往外就跑，说：「众位我要失陪！」大众说：「马静爷哪去？」李平一看，说：「了不得了，马静的叔父来了。」
Now, Ma Jing had just finished a round with his twin maces when someone outside called out, “Well done!” Ma Jing looked. It was an elderly monk with a face like the full moon, dressed in a bronze-coloured monk’s robe and holding a string of a hundred and eight prayer beads. At the sight of him Ma Jing turned pale with fright. He threw down his maces at once and made straight for the gate. “Gentlemen, you must excuse me!” he said. “Where are you going, Master Ma?” everyone asked. Li Ping took a look. “This is bad,” he said. “Ma Jing’s uncle has come.”
書中交代，這位和尚乃是千里獨行馬元章，由外面遊方回到家中，問嫂嫂侄兒馬靜上哪裡去，馬靜之妻何氏說：「被人約出去練把式去了。」馬元章一聽，勃然大怒，說：「好孩子！我馬氏門中在這方住居多年，沒人知道我家是做賊的，他恐怕人家不知道，在外面招搖是非，我去找他！」故此來到三皇廟外，有心進去叫他，當著眾人多有不便，故此失聲一陣冷笑。馬靜一看，連忙出去，到他叔父跟前叩頭行禮，馬元章立刻轉身回家，到了家中說：「馬靜你自己好不知自愛！咱們馬氏在這小月屯居住多年，並無人知道是綠林，你還要在眾目所觀之處去練把式？」馬靜一聽，說：「叔父你老人家有不知，皆因是有我拜弟李平所約，是給他圓臉。」把上項之事，從頭至尾說述一番。那馬元章聽罷，如夢方醒，說：「我知道了，從今以後不準再和他們去練把式。」
书中交代，这位和尚乃是千里独行马元章，由外面游方回到家中，问嫂嫂侄儿马静上哪里去，马静之妻何氏说：「被人约出去练把式去了。」马元章一听，勃然大怒，说：「好孩子！我马氏门中在这方住居多年，没人知道我家是做贼的，他恐怕人家不知道，在外面招摇是非，我去找他！」故此来到三皇庙外，有心进去叫他，当着众人多有不便，故此失声一阵冷笑。马静一看，连忙出去，到他叔父跟前叩头行礼，马元章立刻转身回家，到了家中说：「马静你自己好不知自爱！咱们马氏在这小月屯居住多年，并无人知道是绿林，你还要在众目所观之处去练把式？」马静一听，说：「叔父你老人家有不知，皆因是有我拜弟李平所约，是给他圆脸。」把上项之事，从头至尾说述一番。那马元章听罢，如梦方醒，说：「我知道了，从今以后不准再和他们去练把式。」
A word of explanation: this monk was Ma Yuanzhang, the Lone Traveller of a Thousand Li. He had come home from his wanderings and asked his sister-in-law where his nephew Ma Jing had gone. Ma Jing’s wife, Madam He, said, “Somebody asked him out to show his moves.” At this Ma Yuanzhang flew into a rage. “That fine boy!” he said. “The Ma family has lived in these parts for years, and nobody knows we live by thieving. He must be afraid people won’t find out, the way he goes about showing off and stirring up trouble. I’m going to find him!” So he came to the outside of the Sanhuang Shrine. He meant to go in and call him, but with so many people there it would be awkward, and so he let out a burst of cold laughter. When Ma Jing saw him, he hurried out, kowtowed to his uncle and paid his respects. Ma Yuanzhang turned at once and went home. When they got there he said, “Ma Jing, have you no sense of what’s good for you? We Mas have lived here in Xiaoyue Village for years and nobody knows we belong to the greenwood, and you have to go showing your moves where everyone’s eyes are on you?” “Uncle,” said Ma Jing, “there’s something you don’t know. My sworn brother Li Ping asked me along, to help him save face.” And he told him the whole business from beginning to end. When Ma Yuanzhang had heard it, he was like a man waking from a dream. “I see,” he said. “From now on you are not to go showing your moves with them again.”
馬靜答應。叔侄二人吃酒，馬元章說：「明日我要訪道遊方，毗盧寺廟內你兩個師弟高慶、周蘭，如要是沒有日用之費，你給他們些銀錢使用。」馬靜答應。次日他叔父馬元章遊方去了，馬靜在家中侍奉老娘，見太太病體越發沉重，自己一想，今年手下並沒有什麼余錢，倘若老太太有一個山長水遠怎得辦事？又要給毗盧寺廟裡送錢，有心出去做一趟買賣，家中又沒有照應，左思右想，還是得出去弄點錢要緊，家中可以託付李平給他照應。想罷，這天自己夠奔李平酒館，來到門首，李平一見，趕緊把馬靜讓到後面櫃房。馬靜一看，見李安躺在炕上，咳聲不止，馬靜說：「二弟還沒好哪？」李平說：「只見他的病勢沉重，請了許多先生也治不好。」馬靜說：「須得請高明醫家，趕緊給他調治。我今天來找你，非為別故，我來求賢弟一件事，我打算要出外，家中老太太也病著，你嫂嫂也無人照應，我出外走後，早晚你沒事去照看照看家裡。要是沒零用錢的時節，你可以給墊辦墊辦，我回來必如數奉還。」李平說：「你我知己弟兄，何必說還不還。兄長不必囑咐，小弟必當從命，兄長打算哪天走？」馬靜說：「我明天就起身。」李平說：「兄長如若是明天走，我後天必到你家去。每天我給你家中老太太送兩吊錢零用，要有別的用項，只管叫嫂嫂跟我提，我多了不敢說，三五個月，我可以墊辦。」
马静答应。叔侄二人吃酒，马元章说：「明日我要访道游方，毗卢寺庙内你两个师弟高庆、周兰，如要是没有日用之费，你给他们些银钱使用。」马静答应。次日他叔父马元章游方去了，马静在家中侍奉老娘，见太太病体越发沉重，自己一想，今年手下并没有什么余钱，倘若老太太有一个山长水远怎得办事？又要给毗卢寺庙里送钱，有心出去做一趟买卖，家中又没有照应，左思右想，还是得出去弄点钱要紧，家中可以托付李平给他照应。想罢，这天自己够奔李平酒馆，来到门首，李平一见，赶紧把马静让到后面柜房。马静一看，见李安躺在炕上，咳声不止，马静说：「二弟还没好哪？」李平说：「只见他的病势沉重，请了许多先生也治不好。」马静说：「须得请高明医家，赶紧给他调治。我今天来找你，非为别故，我来求贤弟一件事，我打算要出外，家中老太太也病着，你嫂嫂也无人照应，我出外走后，早晚你没事去照看照看家里。要是没零用钱的时节，你可以给垫办垫办，我回来必如数奉还。」李平说：「你我知己弟兄，何必说还不还。兄长不必嘱咐，小弟必当从命，兄长打算哪天走？」马静说：「我明天就起身。」李平说：「兄长如若是明天走，我后天必到你家去。每天我给你家中老太太送两吊钱零用，要有别的用项，只管叫嫂嫂跟我提，我多了不敢说，三五个月，我可以垫办。」
Ma Jing promised. Uncle and nephew sat drinking, and Ma Yuanzhang said, “Tomorrow I’m off on my travels again, seeking the Way. Your two junior fellow disciples at Pilu Temple, Gao Qing and Zhou Lan, if they’re short of money for daily needs, give them some silver to spend.” Ma Jing promised. The next day his uncle Ma Yuanzhang went off on his travels, and Ma Jing stayed home looking after his old mother. Seeing that the old lady’s illness was growing worse and worse, he thought to himself: this year he had no money to spare. If the old lady should set off on the long road over hills and rivers, how would he pay for the funeral? And he had to send money to Pilu Temple besides. He had half a mind to go out and do a job, but then there would be no one to look after the house. He turned it over this way and that, and in the end getting some money came first. He could leave the house in Li Ping’s care. His mind made up, he set off that day for Li Ping’s tavern. When he reached the door, Li Ping saw him and quickly showed him into the counting room at the back. Ma Jing saw Li An lying on the kang, coughing without end. “Second Brother still isn’t better?” said Ma Jing. “His illness only gets worse,” said Li Ping. “We’ve called in any number of doctors, and none of them can cure him.” “You must find a really skilled physician and have him treated quickly,” said Ma Jing. “I’ve come today for no other reason than to ask you a favour, my good brother. I’m planning to go away. The old lady at home is ill too, and there’s nobody to look after your sister-in-law. After I’ve gone, when you have nothing to do, morning or evening, go and look in on the house. If they run short of money for their daily needs, you might advance them some, and when I come back I’ll pay you every copper.” “You and I are brothers who know each other’s hearts,” said Li Ping. “Why talk about paying back? You needn’t say any more, brother. I’ll do as you ask. What day are you thinking of leaving?” “I’ll set out tomorrow,” said Ma Jing. “If you leave tomorrow,” said Li Ping, “I’ll be at your house the day after without fail. Every day I’ll bring the old lady two strings of cash to spend, and if there are other expenses, just have my sister-in-law tell me. I won’t promise any more than that, but for three to five months I can cover it.”