話說楊明拆開書信一看，原本是黃雲叫楊明把陸通收下。教訓教訓他，將來可以當鏢局子夥計。楊明這才問他貴姓。陸通說：「我姓陸，叫陸通。」楊明喚他進來。陸通來到裡面。楊明說：「你家中有什麼人？」陸通說：「家裡有老娘。」楊明說：「你有老娘，你出來誰替你照應？」陸通說：「我老娘死了。不吃東西，也不說話了。拿棺材裝上埋了，不然，擱兩天就臭了。」楊明說：「你沒吃飯么？」陸通說：「兩天沒吃了。」楊明說：「你為什麼有銀子不換吃？」陸通說：「什麼叫銀子，我不知道。」楊明吩咐給預備飯。
话说杨明拆开书信一看，原本是黄云叫杨明把陆通收下。教训教训他，将来可以当镖局子伙计。杨明这才问他贵姓。陆通说：「我姓陆，叫陆通。」杨明唤他进来。陆通来到里面。杨明说：「你家中有什么人？」陆通说：「家里有老娘。」杨明说：「你有老娘，你出来谁替你照应？」陆通说：「我老娘死了。不吃东西，也不说话了。拿棺材装上埋了，不然，搁两天就臭了。」杨明说：「你没吃饭幺？」陆通说：「两天没吃了。」杨明说：「你为什么有银子不换吃？」陆通说：「什么叫银子，我不知道。」杨明吩咐给预备饭。
Now, Yang Ming opened the letter and read it. Huang Yun was asking him to take Lu Tong in and give him some schooling, so that one day he could work as a hand at an escort agency. Only then did Yang Ming ask the man his name. “My surname’s Lu,” said Lu Tong, “and I’m called Lu Tong.” Yang Ming called him inside, and Lu Tong came in. “Who have you got at home?” Yang Ming asked. “Got my old ma at home,” said Lu Tong. “If you’ve got your old ma, who looks after her while you’re away?” “My old ma died. Wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t talk. Put her in a coffin and buried her — else, leave her a couple of days and she’d stink.” “Haven’t you eaten?” said Yang Ming. “Not for two days.” “Why didn’t you buy food with your silver?” “What’s silver? I don’t know.” Yang Ming ordered a meal to be got ready for him.
當時叫廚子一備。陸通這頓吃了有三斤米飯，真吃飽了。楊明說：「陸通，你就在我這裡住著罷。每天我給你飯吃，我收你做兄弟。」陸通說：「我也叫你兄弟。」楊明說：「不對，你叫我兄長。」陸通說：「就是罷。」楊明把陸通留在家裡，天天教給他人情世故。住了有兩個多月，還是教不清楚。
当时叫厨子一备。陆通这顿吃了有三斤米饭，真吃饱了。杨明说：「陆通，你就在我这里住着罢。每天我给你饭吃，我收你做兄弟。」陆通说：「我也叫你兄弟。」杨明说：「不对，你叫我兄长。」陆通说：「就是罢。」杨明把陆通留在家里，天天教给他人情世故。住了有两个多月，还是教不清楚。
The cook got it ready at once. At that one meal Lu Tong put away a good three jin of rice and was truly full for once. “Lu Tong,” said Yang Ming, “you just stay here with me. I’ll feed you every day, and I’ll take you as my younger brother.” “And I’ll call you younger brother too,” said Lu Tong. “No, no,” said Yang Ming. “You call me elder brother.” “All right then,” said Lu Tong. Yang Ming kept Lu Tong at his house and every day taught him the ways of the world and how to deal with people. He stayed more than two months, and still the lessons would not sink in.
陸通是天生來的渾人。這天老太太知道了，問楊明：「外面住著什麼人？我聽說你留野人在這住著。」楊明說：「倒是一個渾濁的人。」老太太說：「你帶來我瞧瞧。」楊明來到外面說：「賢弟。」陸通也懂了，說：「兄長。」楊明說：「我帶你進去見見老娘。」陸通說：「死了，也不說話了。」楊明說：「誰死了？」陸通說：「我老娘死了。」楊明說：「你老娘死了，我老娘沒死。」陸通說：「怎么還不死？」楊明說：「胡說！見了老太太，你可規矩些。」陸通點頭。跟著楊明往裡走。剛一進上房，楊明說：「你在外間屋子站著，等我到裡面回稟老太太一聲。」楊明進裡間去。陸通抬頭一看，正面上是穿衣鏡。他沒見過，瞧裡面一條大漢。陸通一睜眼，鏡子裡自然也一睜眼。他用手一指，鏡子裡他的影也向他一指。陸通趕上前一腳，把鏡子踢了。楊明出來說：「怎么了？」陸通說：「跑了。這小子直跟我睜眼。」
陆通是天生来的浑人。这天老太太知道了，问杨明：「外面住着什么人？我听说你留野人在这住着。」杨明说：「倒是一个浑浊的人。」老太太说：「你带来我瞧瞧。」杨明来到外面说：「贤弟。」陆通也懂了，说：「兄长。」杨明说：「我带你进去见见老娘。」陆通说：「死了，也不说话了。」杨明说：「谁死了？」陆通说：「我老娘死了。」杨明说：「你老娘死了，我老娘没死。」陆通说：「怎么还不死？」杨明说：「胡说！见了老太太，你可规矩些。」陆通点头。跟着杨明往里走。刚一进上房，杨明说：「你在外间屋子站着，等我到里面回禀老太太一声。」杨明进里间去。陆通抬头一看，正面上是穿衣镜。他没见过，瞧里面一条大汉。陆通一睁眼，镜子里自然也一睁眼。他用手一指，镜子里他的影也向他一指。陆通赶上前一脚，把镜子踢了。杨明出来说：「怎么了？」陆通说：「跑了。这小子直跟我睁眼。」
Lu Tong was a born blockhead. One day the old lady heard about him and asked Yang Ming, “Who’s that living out front? I hear you’ve got a wild man staying here.” “He is a bit of a muddlehead,” said Yang Ming. “Bring him in and let me have a look at him,” said the old lady. Yang Ming went out front and said, “Little brother.” Lu Tong had learned that much. “Big brother,” he said. “I’m taking you in to meet my old mother,” said Yang Ming. “Dead,” said Lu Tong. “Doesn’t talk any more.” “Who’s dead?” “My old ma’s dead.” “Your old ma’s dead. My old mother isn’t.” “How come she isn’t dead yet?” “Nonsense!” said Yang Ming. “When you meet the old lady, mind your manners.” Lu Tong nodded and followed Yang Ming in. As soon as they entered the main house, Yang Ming said, “You stand in the outer room while I go in and tell the old lady.” Yang Ming went into the inner room. Lu Tong looked up and saw a full-length dressing mirror straight ahead of him. He had never seen one, and there inside it was a great big fellow. Lu Tong opened his eyes wide, and naturally the man in the mirror opened his eyes wide too. He pointed a finger, and his reflection in the mirror pointed back at him. Lu Tong rushed forward and kicked, and smashed the mirror. Yang Ming came out. “What happened?” “He ran off,” said Lu Tong. “The punk kept goggling at me.”