話說李國元祇顧讓人，回頭見畫軸不見，自己酒也不喝了，飯也不吃了，心中暗想：「丟了別的東西，我可以賠人家。這種東西有錢沒處買，這是杜宅傳家之寶，倘若走漏風聲，豈不把李兄長館散了。」自己忙叫堂倌算帳：「給我寫上。」
话说李国元祇顾让人，回头见画轴不见，自己酒也不喝了，饭也不吃了，心中暗想：「丢了别的东西，我可以赔人家。这种东西有钱没处买，这是杜宅传家之宝，倘若走漏风声，岂不把李兄长馆散了。」自己忙叫堂倌算帐：「给我写上。」
Now, Li Guoyuan had been so busy returning the others’ courtesies that when he turned round and found the scroll gone, he had no more stomach for wine or food. “If it were anything else I’d lost,” he thought, “I could pay the owner for it. But a thing like this can’t be bought for any money. It’s the Du family’s heirloom, and if word of this gets out, won’t Brother Li lose his teaching post over it?” He hurriedly called the waiter to settle up. “Put it on my account.”
堂倌說：「你怎麼不吃了？」李國元說：「我還有要緊事。」也並沒有聲張，跑至家中，派幾個心腹家人，說：「我方纔在某酒館吃飯，丟了一軸五雷八卦天師符。你們去訪查訪查，是哪路賊偷去？不怕托個人花些錢買回來。這是人家東西。」家人答應出去，工夫不大，李升出來說：「方纔我打聽明白，你在那裏喝酒，這個東西叫白錢賊偷去，已賣給博古齋古玩舖的劉掌櫃。劉掌櫃是三十兩銀子買的。他跟秦丞相府要好，現已賣給秦丞相五百兩銀，掛在閣天樓鎮宅。」
堂倌说：「你怎么不吃了？」李国元说：「我还有要紧事。」也并没有声张，跑至家中，派几个心腹家人，说：「我方才在某酒馆吃饭，丢了一轴五雷八卦天师符。你们去访查访查，是哪路贼偷去？不怕托个人花些钱买回来。这是人家东西。」家人答应出去，工夫不大，李升出来说：「方才我打听明白，你在那里喝酒，这个东西叫白钱贼偷去，已卖给博古斋古玩铺的刘掌柜。刘掌柜是三十两银子买的。他跟秦丞相府要好，现已卖给秦丞相五百两银，挂在阁天楼镇宅。」
“Why have you stopped eating?” said the waiter. “I’ve something urgent to see to,” said Li Guoyuan. Without making any fuss about it, he ran home and sent out a few trusted servants. “Just now I was eating at a certain tavern,” he said, “and lost a scroll: the Celestial Master’s talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams. Go and make inquiries. What sort of thief took it? I don’t mind getting someone to buy it back for me, whatever it costs. It belongs to somebody else.” The servants said yes and went out. Before long Li Sheng came back. “I’ve just found out all about it. While you were drinking there, the thing was stolen by a sneak thief, and it’s already been sold to Shopkeeper Liu of Boguzhai Antiques. Shopkeeper Liu bought it for thirty taels of silver. He’s on good terms with Chancellor Qin’s mansion, and he’s already sold it to Chancellor Qin for five hundred taels. It’s hanging in the Getian Tower to guard the house.”
李國元一聽：「可了不得！要在古玩舖，我可以多花錢買回來﹔落在丞相府，論人情勢利，均比不了人家。」正在躊躇，外面打門，叫家人出去一瞧，原來是李春山之子少棠說：「方纔你走了，聽說杜大人宅裏明日有祭祀，我父親叫我先把五雷八卦天師符拿回去，等過了明天，再給拿來使。」李國元說：「你先回去，我這軸畫方纔一掛，撕了一點，送在裱畫舖去，少時立刻送過來，你不必來了。」李少棠走後，李國元更急了，正為難之際，家人報趙員外來了。李國元走出去一看是趙文會，二人知己之交，趕緊上前行禮說：「兄長久違。」趙文會說：「我今天約賢弟先逛城隍山，回頭上天竺街望江樓吃酒，逛逛天下第一江。」李國元說：「大哥，今天小弟不能奉陪，我有心難的事，兄長請裏面坐。」來至書房，國元把丟天師符情節一說，趙員外說：「不要緊，這事我給你辦。西湖靈隱寺濟公長老，他是在世活佛，你我去走一趟，求他老人家，天師符也可以找回來，弟妹病也可治好，真是神通廣大，佛法無邊。」國元一想：「我聞其名，未見其人。倘若回來，約他來吃飯，我得帶著銀子。」趕緊拿了十兩銀子四百錢，同趙文會出來，買了四十錢茶葉，一直往前。真是：
十里長堤跨六橋，一株柳樹一株桃。
這是怎名？曰：蘇堤春曉。
李国元一听：「可了不得！要在古玩铺，我可以多花钱买回来﹔落在丞相府，论人情势利，均比不了人家。」正在踌躇，外面打门，叫家人出去一瞧，原来是李春山之子少棠说：「方才你走了，听说杜大人宅里明日有祭祀，我父亲叫我先把五雷八卦天师符拿回去，等过了明天，再给拿来使。」李国元说：「你先回去，我这轴画方才一挂，撕了一点，送在裱画铺去，少时立刻送过来，你不必来了。」李少棠走后，李国元更急了，正为难之际，家人报赵员外来了。李国元走出去一看是赵文会，二人知己之交，赶紧上前行礼说：「兄长久违。」赵文会说：「我今天约贤弟先逛城隍山，回头上天竺街望江楼吃酒，逛逛天下第一江。」李国元说：「大哥，今天小弟不能奉陪，我有心难的事，兄长请里面坐。」来至书房，国元把丢天师符情节一说，赵员外说：「不要紧，这事我给你办。西湖灵隐寺济公长老，他是在世活佛，你我去走一趟，求他老人家，天师符也可以找回来，弟妹病也可治好，真是神通广大，佛法无边。」国元一想：「我闻其名，未见其人。倘若回来，约他来吃饭，我得带着银子。」赶紧拿了十两银子四百钱，同赵文会出来，买了四十钱茶叶，一直往前。真是：
十里长堤跨六桥，一株柳树一株桃。
这是怎名？曰：苏堤春晓。
“This is a disaster!” said Li Guoyuan when he heard. “If it were at the antique shop, I could pay over the odds and buy it back. But now it’s landed in the chancellor’s mansion, and whether it comes to connections or to power, I’m no match for them.” As he stood there at a loss, someone knocked at the gate. He sent a servant out to look, and it was Li Chunshan’s son, Shaotang. “After you left just now,” Shaotang said, “we heard there’s to be a sacrifice at Lord Du’s house tomorrow. My father told me to take the Celestial Master’s talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams back first. Once tomorrow’s over, he’ll bring it to you again to use.” “You go on back,” said Li Guoyuan. “When I hung this scroll just now, it got torn a little, so I’ve sent it to the mounter’s shop. I’ll send it over the moment it’s back. You needn’t come again.” Once Li Shaotang had gone, Li Guoyuan was more frantic than ever. Just when he was at his wits’ end, a servant announced that Squire Zhao had come. Li Guoyuan went out and saw it was Zhao Wenhui. The two of them were bosom friends. He hurried forward and saluted him. “Brother, it’s been too long.” “Today,” said Zhao Wenhui, “I’ve come to ask you, my worthy brother, to stroll on Chenghuang Hill first, and afterwards to go and drink at the Wangjiang Tower on Tianzhu Street and take in the First River Under Heaven.” “Brother,” said Li Guoyuan, “I can’t keep you company today. I have something weighing on my mind. Please come inside and sit down.” They went to the study, and Guoyuan told him all about losing the talisman. “Never mind,” said Squire Zhao. “I’ll take care of this for you. Ji Gong of Lingyin Temple by West Lake is a living Buddha in this world. Let’s go together and beg the old gentleman’s help. He can get the talisman back, and cure your good lady’s illness too. Truly, his divine powers are vast and his Buddha-law boundless.” “I’ve heard of him but never met him,” Guoyuan thought. “If he comes back with us, I’ll want to invite him to a meal, so I’d better take some silver.” He quickly took ten taels of silver and four hundred coppers and went out with Zhao Wenhui. They bought forty coppers’ worth of tea leaves and went straight on. Truly:
Ten li of long causeway spans six bridges;a willow, then a peach, a willow, then a peach.
What is this place called? It is called: Spring dawn on the Su Causeway.
乃是蘇東坡做此地太守時，修的這道堤。到了三春之時，柳樹爭春，湖中有湖心亭，南望南屏山雷峰塔，北山坡有林和靖的梅園，西眺有岳王墓，蘇小小墳。
乃是苏东坡做此地太守时，修的这道堤。到了三春之时，柳树争春，湖中有湖心亭，南望南屏山雷峰塔，北山坡有林和靖的梅园，西眺有岳王墓，苏小小坟。
It was Su Dongpo who built this causeway when he was prefect here. When the three months of spring come round, the willows vie with one another in spring green. In the lake stands the Huxin Pavilion. Look south and there are Nanping Hill and the Leifeng Pagoda; on the northern hillside is Lin Hejing’s plum garden; gaze west and there are Prince Yue’s tomb and Su Xiaoxiao’s grave.
二人將走至冷泉亭，就聽人群中有人喊說：
「李國元，李國元，不必上西湖靈隱找濟顛，十兩紋銀交於我，腰內還帶著三百六十錢。」
趙文會一聽說：「賢弟，聖僧有先見之明，在這裏等候你我。」乃至分開眾人一瞧，是濟公衣裳，不是濟公。
二人将走至冷泉亭，就听人群中有人喊说：
「李国元，李国元，不必上西湖灵隐找济颠，十两纹银交于我，腰内还带着三百六十钱。」
赵文会一听说：「贤弟，圣僧有先见之明，在这里等候你我。」乃至分开众人一瞧，是济公衣裳，不是济公。
The two of them had almost reached the Lengquan Pavilion when they heard someone in a crowd shouting:
“Li Guoyuan,Li Guoyuan,no need to go to Lingyin by West Lake to look for Crazy Ji;hand those ten taels of fine silver over to me,and at your waist you’ve three hundred and sixty coppers besides.”
“My worthy brother,” said Zhao Wenhui when he heard it, “the holy monk knew in advance. He’s waiting for us here.” But when they pushed through the crowd to look, it was Ji Gong’s clothes, not Ji Gong.
趙文會過去一揪，說：「好老道，你把濟公長老害了，你是蒙事來。」老道說：「我倒沒害濟公，濟公把我們師徒吃的一件衣服都沒有，教給我這幾句話，叫我到這裏來說。」趙文會說：「濟公在哪裏？你帶我二人去見見。」老道這纔帶著二位來至三清觀。趙文會一看這廟，窮的甚麼都沒有，四個道童赤身露體，濟公赤著背在椅子上坐著。文會說：「師父在上，弟子趙文會有禮。」忙叫李國元參見聖僧。國元一瞧和尚，真像乞丐，衝著趙員外的面子，不能不過去行禮，作了個揖。
赵文会过去一揪，说：「好老道，你把济公长老害了，你是蒙事来。」老道说：「我倒没害济公，济公把我们师徒吃的一件衣服都没有，教给我这几句话，叫我到这里来说。」赵文会说：「济公在哪里？你带我二人去见见。」老道这才带着二位来至三清观。赵文会一看这庙，穷的甚么都没有，四个道童赤身露体，济公赤着背在椅子上坐着。文会说：「师父在上，弟子赵文会有礼。」忙叫李国元参见圣僧。国元一瞧和尚，真像乞丐，冲着赵员外的面子，不能不过去行礼，作了个揖。
Zhao Wenhui went over and grabbed hold of him. “A fine Daoist you are! You’ve done away with Ji Gong. You’re here to swindle people.” “I haven’t done anything to Ji Gong,” said the Daoist. “Ji Gong has eaten me and my disciples out of every stitch of clothing we had. He taught me these few lines and told me to come here and say them.” “Where is Ji Gong?” said Zhao Wenhui. “Take the two of us to see him.” Only then did the Daoist lead the pair of them to the Sanqing Temple. Zhao Wenhui looked the place over: it was so poor there was nothing in it at all. Four Daoist boys were stark naked, and Ji Gong sat bare-backed on a chair. “Master,” said Wenhui, “your disciple Zhao Wenhui pays his respects.” He quickly told Li Guoyuan to greet the holy monk. Guoyuan took one look at the monk: he looked just like a beggar. But for Squire Zhao’s sake he could not refuse to go over and salute him, so he made him a bow with clasped hands.
和尚說：「二人來此何幹？」趙文會就把丟五雷八卦天師符情節一說。和尚說：「不要緊。」叫老道把衣服脫下，和尚穿上。把國元銀子要過來，給老道贖當。和尚同二人出三清觀，來到國元家中。和尚說：「我先給你妻子治病，然後再找天師符。可有一件事，我給你妻子治病，回頭我跟她揪在一處，滾到一處，你可別管。」國元一聽，半晌無語。趙文會說：「賢弟，不必生疑。濟公乃是在世活佛，絕無差錯。要是不敦品的人，我亦不能請來。」李國元說：「就是吧。」帶了濟公直奔上房，門也鎖了，藺氏也用鐵鏈鎖著，丫鬟婆子早躲開，怕瘋子打。剛一開鎖，藺氏見外面是窮和尚，忙往外追。和尚跑至院中，有口大魚缸，和尚就轉魚缸，口中直嚷：「可了不得了！要一追上，我就沒了命。」說著跑著。藺氏摔了一個筋斗，口內吐出一堆痰來，心中也明白了，自己說：「我怎會到這裏來？」這纔有膽大婆子過來，攙扶起來。和尚掏了一塊藥，叫人拿水化開給他吃。書中交代：藺氏這病本是痰迷心竅，被事所擠。皆因他家有個兄弟叫藺庭玉，在家把一份家業皆花完了，所交些匪人，這天找姐姐借錢，說去做買賣。至親骨肉，焉有不疼之理，瞞著丈夫借給他幾百兩銀子，藺庭玉拿去，跟狐朋狗友一花花完了，這天又找他姐姐，說他「拿銀子去做買賣，走在半路被強盜劫去，你再借給我幾百兩銀子做買賣，賺了錢連先前銀子一並交還」。藺氏又給了他。這天藺氏在花園坐著，見庭玉又來了，身上襤褸不堪，心中一著急，一口痰上來迷住，因此瘋了。今天和尚一溜，把痰溜開，吐出來。國元很佩服和尚，請他書房擺酒款待。正在喝酒之際，外面家人進來回稟：「李少棠又來催五雷八卦天師符。」李國元叫家人出去告訴他隨後就送去。李國元說：「師父，怎麼辦？」和尚說：「回頭我僱我廟裏的韋馱給你把五雷八卦天師符盜來。」李國元說：「師父，你廟中韋馱是泥胎，怎麼能偷東西？」濟公說：「能行。我們那韋馱專管些閒事。」李國元說：「師父，怎樣去請？」和尚說：「我得就去跟他商量，得拿錢僱他去，白叫他去不成。你們喝著酒等我，我先去，回頭再喝。」和尚站起身，往外就走。二人送出回來。李國元說：「趙兄長，你聽和尚這話是真的嗎？」趙文會說：「我也不知真假。前次在周半城家扛韋馱捉過妖，這事在兩可之際，也許是真的。」再說二人擺著酒，直等到掌燈以後。二人甚為焦急，恐怕關城，將濟公關在城外。正在說著話，就見濟公過來。二人說：「師父回來了。」濟公說：「可氣死我了。」趙文會說：「師父同誰生氣？」濟公說：「跟我們廟裏韋馱。真可恨！平常我一出來，他就說濟師公要有事，給我張羅著。我今天回去，他瞧我奔了他去，他把臉一揚不理我。我就搭訕著，跟他說，老韋，我給你找了個事。他問甚麼事？我就提叫他到秦相府花園閣天樓去，偷五雷八卦天師符。問他要多錢？他一嘴就要大價。」李國元、趙文會齊說：「他要多少錢？」和尚說：「他要五吊錢。我給他五百錢。」李國元說：「五吊錢也不多。」和尚說：「頭裏他倒讓了個價，說要三吊錢，少了不去。我說你落了價，我給你添了湊滿五百錢，多了不要。他說少了不去。故我們倆散了。我由廟裏出來走大佛寺，碰見大佛寺的韋馱，遠遠的就問我上哪去。我說給你找個事，你去不去？他問甚麼事？我就叫他去找符。說你沒跟你廟裏老韋馱說嗎？我說說了，因為他要錢太多。他要三吊，我給五百錢，沒僱停當。他說我也不能少要，少要對不起我們廟的韋馱。我說我要多花了也不對。因此又散了。」李國元一聽說都沒停當：「這怎麼辦？」和尚說：「我又往前走，走至紫竹林，那廟韋馱餓的都打了晃，遠遠就喊我，我一提這個事，他就願意。他說回頭就來，價錢隨我開。」李國元說：「他甚麼時候來？」和尚說：「我們吃完了飯，院子預備桌案，我一叫，他就來。」李國元忙擺飯吃完了，叫家人預備應用東西，擱在院中。和尚說：「你們大家不消慌，一眨眼等星斗出全了。那時我請韋馱來。」和尚說：
「我乃非別，我乃非別，西湖靈隱，濟顛僧也，韋馱不到等待何時！」
祇聽半空中一聲喊嚷：「吾神來了！」
和尚说：「二人来此何干？」赵文会就把丢五雷八卦天师符情节一说。和尚说：「不要紧。」叫老道把衣服脱下，和尚穿上。把国元银子要过来，给老道赎当。和尚同二人出三清观，来到国元家中。和尚说：「我先给你妻子治病，然后再找天师符。可有一件事，我给你妻子治病，回头我跟她揪在一处，滚到一处，你可别管。」国元一听，半晌无语。赵文会说：「贤弟，不必生疑。济公乃是在世活佛，绝无差错。要是不敦品的人，我亦不能请来。」李国元说：「就是吧。」带了济公直奔上房，门也锁了，蔺氏也用铁链锁着，丫鬟婆子早躲开，怕疯子打。刚一开锁，蔺氏见外面是穷和尚，忙往外追。和尚跑至院中，有口大鱼缸，和尚就转鱼缸，口中直嚷：「可了不得了！要一追上，我就没了命。」说着跑着。蔺氏摔了一个筋斗，口内吐出一堆痰来，心中也明白了，自己说：「我怎会到这里来？」这才有胆大婆子过来，搀扶起来。和尚掏了一块药，叫人拿水化开给他吃。书中交代：蔺氏这病本是痰迷心窍，被事所挤。皆因他家有个兄弟叫蔺庭玉，在家把一份家业皆花完了，所交些匪人，这天找姐姐借钱，说去做买卖。至亲骨肉，焉有不疼之理，瞒着丈夫借给他几百两银子，蔺庭玉拿去，跟狐朋狗友一花花完了，这天又找他姐姐，说他「拿银子去做买卖，走在半路被强盗劫去，你再借给我几百两银子做买卖，赚了钱连先前银子一并交还」。蔺氏又给了他。这天蔺氏在花园坐着，见庭玉又来了，身上褴褛不堪，心中一着急，一口痰上来迷住，因此疯了。今天和尚一溜，把痰溜开，吐出来。国元很佩服和尚，请他书房摆酒款待。正在喝酒之际，外面家人进来回禀：「李少棠又来催五雷八卦天师符。」李国元叫家人出去告诉他随后就送去。李国元说：「师父，怎么办？」和尚说：「回头我雇我庙里的韦驮给你把五雷八卦天师符盗来。」李国元说：「师父，你庙中韦驮是泥胎，怎么能偷东西？」济公说：「能行。我们那韦驮专管些闲事。」李国元说：「师父，怎样去请？」和尚说：「我得就去跟他商量，得拿钱雇他去，白叫他去不成。你们喝着酒等我，我先去，回头再喝。」和尚站起身，往外就走。二人送出回来。李国元说：「赵兄长，你听和尚这话是真的吗？」赵文会说：「我也不知真假。前次在周半城家扛韦驮捉过妖，这事在两可之际，也许是真的。」再说二人摆着酒，直等到掌灯以后。二人甚为焦急，恐怕关城，将济公关在城外。正在说着话，就见济公过来。二人说：「师父回来了。」济公说：「可气死我了。」赵文会说：「师父同谁生气？」济公说：「跟我们庙里韦驮。真可恨！平常我一出来，他就说济师公要有事，给我张罗着。我今天回去，他瞧我奔了他去，他把脸一扬不理我。我就搭讪着，跟他说，老韦，我给你找了个事。他问甚么事？我就提叫他到秦相府花园阁天楼去，偷五雷八卦天师符。问他要多钱？他一嘴就要大价。」李国元、赵文会齐说：「他要多少钱？」和尚说：「他要五吊钱。我给他五百钱。」李国元说：「五吊钱也不多。」和尚说：「头里他倒让了个价，说要三吊钱，少了不去。我说你落了价，我给你添了凑满五百钱，多了不要。他说少了不去。故我们俩散了。我由庙里出来走大佛寺，碰见大佛寺的韦驮，远远的就问我上哪去。我说给你找个事，你去不去？他问甚么事？我就叫他去找符。说你没跟你庙里老韦驮说吗？我说说了，因为他要钱太多。他要三吊，我给五百钱，没雇停当。他说我也不能少要，少要对不起我们庙的韦驮。我说我要多花了也不对。因此又散了。」李国元一听说都没停当：「这怎么办？」和尚说：「我又往前走，走至紫竹林，那庙韦驮饿的都打了晃，远远就喊我，我一提这个事，他就愿意。他说回头就来，价钱随我开。」李国元说：「他甚么时候来？」和尚说：「我们吃完了饭，院子预备桌案，我一叫，他就来。」李国元忙摆饭吃完了，叫家人预备应用东西，搁在院中。和尚说：「你们大家不消慌，一眨眼等星斗出全了。那时我请韦驮来。」和尚说：
「我乃非别，我乃非别，西湖灵隐，济颠僧也，韦驮不到等待何时！」
祇听半空中一声喊嚷：「吾神来了！」
“What have you two come here for?” said the monk. Zhao Wenhui told him all about the lost talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams. “Never mind,” said the monk. He told the Daoist to take off the clothes, and put them on himself. He had Guoyuan hand over his silver and gave it to the Daoist to redeem what he had pawned. The monk left the Sanqing Temple with the two of them and came to Guoyuan’s house. “I’ll cure your wife first,” said the monk, “and then find the talisman. But there’s one thing. While I’m curing your wife, she and I may end up grappling together and rolling about together, and you’re not to interfere.” Guoyuan heard this and said nothing for a long while. “My worthy brother,” said Zhao Wenhui, “you needn’t have any doubts. Ji Gong is a living Buddha in this world; he never puts a foot wrong. If he weren’t a man of upright conduct, I wouldn’t have brought him.” “Very well, then,” said Li Guoyuan, and he took Ji Gong straight to the main house. The door was locked, and Madam Lin was chained up with an iron chain besides. The maids and old serving-women had long since kept well away for fear the madwoman would hit them. The moment the lock was opened and Madam Lin saw a poor monk outside, she rushed out after him. The monk ran into the courtyard, where there stood a big fish vat, and round and round the vat he went, shouting, “Help! Help! If she catches me, I’m a dead man!” He shouted as he ran. Madam Lin tripped and went head over heels, coughed up a gob of phlegm, and her mind cleared. “How did I get out here?” she said. Only then did a bold old serving-woman come over and help her up. The monk took out a piece of medicine and told someone to dissolve it in water and give it to her to drink. A word of explanation: Madam Lin’s illness was phlegm clouding the openings of her heart, brought on by troubles pressing on her. It was all because of her younger brother, Lin Tingyu. He had run through the whole family fortune at home, and the people he went about with were a bad lot. One day he came to his sister to borrow money, saying he was going into business. Her own flesh and blood: how could she not care for him? Behind her husband’s back she lent him several hundred taels of silver. Lin Tingyu took it and blew the lot with his cronies. Then one day he came to his sister again and said, “I took the silver to go into business, but on the way robbers took it off me. Lend me another few hundred taels to do business with, and when I’ve made some money I’ll pay back the earlier silver as well, all together.” Madam Lin gave it to him again. Then one day, as Madam Lin sat in the garden, she saw Tingyu turn up yet again, in rags. In her distress a rush of phlegm rose and clouded her mind, and so she went mad. Today the monk had given her a good run, shaken the phlegm loose, and she had coughed it up. Guoyuan was full of admiration for the monk, invited him to the study and set out wine to entertain him. While they were drinking, a servant came in from outside to report: “Li Shaotang is here again, pressing for the talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams.” Li Guoyuan told the servant to go out and tell him it would be sent along shortly. “Master,” said Li Guoyuan, “what am I to do?” “In a while,” said the monk, “I’ll hire the Weituo from my temple to steal the Celestial Master’s talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams for you.” “Master,” said Li Guoyuan, “the Weituo in your temple is a clay statue. How can he steal anything?” “He can do it,” said Ji Gong. “That Weituo of ours makes a business of minding other people’s affairs.” “Master,” said Li Guoyuan, “how do you go about asking him?” “I’ll have to go and talk it over with him right now,” said the monk. “I’ll have to pay him to go. He won’t go for nothing. You two carry on drinking and wait for me. I’ll go first, and we’ll drink some more when I’m back.” The monk stood up and walked straight out. The two of them saw him off and came back in. “Brother Zhao,” said Li Guoyuan, “do you think what the monk said is true?” “I don’t know whether it’s true or not either,” said Zhao Wenhui. “Last time, at Half-the-City Zhou’s house, he carried a Weituo over on his back and caught a demon. It could go either way. It may be true.” Meanwhile the two of them sat over their wine and waited until after the lamps were lit. They grew very anxious, afraid the city gates would close and shut Ji Gong outside. Just as they were talking about it, they saw Ji Gong come in. “Master, you’re back,” the two of them said. “I’m so angry I could burst!” said Ji Gong. “Master, who are you angry with?” said Zhao Wenhui. “With the Weituo in our temple,” said Ji Gong. “It’s infuriating! Usually, whenever I go out, he says, ‘Master Ji, if there’s any work going, put me down for it.’ Today I went back, and when he saw me heading his way, he stuck his nose in the air and ignored me. So I sidled up and said to him, ‘Old Wei, I’ve found you a job.’ He asked what job. I said I wanted him to go to the Getian Tower in the garden of Chancellor Qin’s mansion and steal the Celestial Master’s talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams. I asked him how much he wanted. Straight off he named a huge price.” “How much did he want?” said Li Guoyuan and Zhao Wenhui together. “He wanted five strings of cash,” said the monk. “I offered him five hundred coppers.” “Five strings isn’t much,” said Li Guoyuan. “At first he did come down,” said the monk. “He said he wanted three strings, and for any less he wouldn’t go. I said, ‘Since you’ve come down, I’ll go up and make it a round five hundred coppers, and not a copper more.’ He said for less he wouldn’t go. So we went our separate ways. I came out of the temple and passed by Dafo Temple, and ran into the Weituo of Dafo Temple. From a long way off he asked where I was going. I said, ‘I’ve found you a job. Will you go or not?’ He asked what job, and I told him I wanted him to go and find a talisman. He said, ‘Haven’t you asked the old Weituo at your own temple?’ I said I had, but he wanted too much money: he wanted three strings and I offered five hundred coppers, and we couldn’t come to terms. He said, ‘I can’t ask any less either. If I asked less, I’d be letting down the Weituo of your temple.’ I said if I paid any more, that wouldn’t be right either. So we went our separate ways again.” Li Guoyuan heard that neither deal had come off. “Then what are we to do?” he said. “I went on further,” said the monk, “and came to Zizhulin Temple. The Weituo there was so hungry he was swaying on his feet. He called out to me from far off, and the moment I mentioned the job, he was willing. He said he’d come along later and I could name my price.” “When is he coming?” said Li Guoyuan. “When we’ve finished eating,” said the monk, “set up a table in the courtyard. As soon as I call, he’ll come.” Li Guoyuan hastily had a meal served, and when they had eaten he told the servants to get everything needed ready and set it out in the courtyard. “None of you need be flustered,” said the monk. “In the blink of an eye the stars will all be out, and then I’ll call Weituo.” The monk said:
“I am none other,I am none otherthan the one from Lingyin by West Lake:Crazy Ji the monk!Weituo, not here yet? What are you waiting for!”
Then a shout rang out in midair: “This god is here!”
不知來者是誰，且看下回分解。
不知来者是谁，且看下回分解。
To learn who had come, read the next chapter.