喬生，晉寧人。少負才名。年二十餘，猶偃蹇。為人有肝膽。與顧生善；顧卒，時恤其妻子。邑宰以文相契重；宰終於任，家口淹滯不能歸，生破產扶柩，往返二千餘里。以故士林益重之，而家由此益替。史孝廉有女，字連城，工刺繡，知書。父嬌愛之。出所刺「倦繡圖」，徵少年題詠，意在擇婿。生獻詩云：
「慵鬟高髻綠婆娑，早向蘭窗繡碧荷；刺到鴛鴦魂欲斷，暗停針線蹙雙蛾。」
又贊挑繡之工云：
「繡線挑來似寫生，幅中花鳥自天成；當年織錦非長技，幸把回文感聖明。」
女得詩喜，對父稱賞。父貧之。女逢人輒稱道；又遣媼矯父命，贈金以助燈火。生嘆曰：「連城我知己也！」傾懷結想，如飢思啖。
喬生是晉寧人，年輕時就以才華出名，二十多歲了，卻仍然困頓失意。他為人重情重義，很有膽識。他和顧生交好，顧生死後，他時常接濟顧生的妻子兒女。縣令欣賞他的文章，和他意氣相投，十分看重他。縣令在任上去世，家人滯留當地，無法回鄉，喬生便傾盡家產，護送靈柩回去，往返走了兩千多里。因此，讀書人更加敬重他，他的家境卻也越發衰落。史孝廉有個女兒，名叫連城，擅長刺繡，也讀過書。父親十分疼愛她，拿出她繡的《倦繡圖》，徵求年輕人題詩吟詠，打算從中挑選女婿。喬生獻上一首詩：「略顯慵懶的烏黑秀髮，盤成高高的髮髻，輕輕搖曳， 一早就在窗前繡著碧綠的荷花； 繡到成雙的鴛鴦，心中悲傷得幾乎斷了魂， 悄悄停下針線，皺起一雙秀眉。」他又寫了一首，讚美她刺繡的技藝：「繡線挑出的圖案，好像照著實物描畫， 繡幅中的花鳥，彷彿天然生成； 當年織錦算不上多大的本事， 不過是僥倖用迴文詩打動了聖明的君主。」連城看到詩很高興，在父親面前稱讚喬生。父親卻嫌他貧窮。連城每逢見人，總要誇讚他，還派一個老婦人假傳父親的吩咐，送錢給他，資助他讀書。喬生感嘆道：「連城是我的知己啊！」他把滿腔心意都寄託在她身上，日夜思念，就像飢餓的人盼著吃東西一樣。
乔生，晋宁人。少负才名。年二十余，犹偃蹇。为人有肝胆。与顾生善；顾卒，时恤其妻子。邑宰以文相契重；宰终于任，家口淹滞不能归，生破产扶柩，往返二千余里。以故士林益重之，而家由此益替。史孝廉有女，字连城，工刺绣，知书。父娇爱之。出所刺「倦绣图」，征少年题咏，意在择婿。生献诗云：
「慵鬟高髻绿婆娑，早向兰窗绣碧荷；刺到鸳鸯魂欲断，暗停针线蹙双蛾。」
又赞挑绣之工云：
「绣线挑来似写生，幅中花鸟自天成；当年织锦非长技，幸把回文感圣明。」
女得诗喜，对父称赏。父贫之。女逢人辄称道；又遣媪矫父命，赠金以助灯火。生叹曰：「连城我知己也！」倾怀结想，如饥思啖。
乔生是晋宁人，年轻时就以才华出名，二十多岁了，却仍然困顿失意。他为人重情重义，很有胆识。他和顾生交好，顾生死后，他时常接济顾生的妻子儿女。县令欣赏他的文章，和他意气相投，十分看重他。县令在任上去世，家人滞留当地，无法回乡，乔生便倾尽家产，护送灵柩回去，往返走了两千多里。因此，读书人更加敬重他，他的家境却也越发衰落。史孝廉有个女儿，名叫连城，擅长刺绣，也读过书。父亲十分疼爱她，拿出她绣的《倦绣图》，征求年轻人题诗吟咏，打算从中挑选女婿。乔生献上一首诗：“略显慵懒的乌黑秀发，盘成高高的发髻，轻轻摇曳， 一早就在窗前绣着碧绿的荷花； 绣到成双的鸳鸯，心中悲伤得几乎断了魂， 悄悄停下针线，皱起一双秀眉。”他又写了一首，赞美她刺绣的技艺：“绣线挑出的图案，好像照着实物描画， 绣幅中的花鸟，仿佛天然生成； 当年织锦算不上多大的本事， 不过是侥幸用回文诗打动了圣明的君主。”连城看到诗很高兴，在父亲面前称赞乔生。父亲却嫌他贫穷。连城每逢见人，总要夸赞他，还派一个老妇人假传父亲的吩咐，送钱给他，资助他读书。乔生感叹道：“连城是我的知己啊！”他把满腔心意都寄托在她身上，日夜思念，就像饥饿的人盼着吃东西一样。
Qiao was a scholar of Jinning. While still young he had a name for his talent, yet at past twenty he was still getting nowhere. He was a man of loyalty and courage. He was friends with a scholar named Gu, and when Gu died he often helped Gu’s widow and children. The county magistrate admired Qiao’s writing and held him in high regard. When the magistrate died in office, his family were stranded and could not get home, and Qiao spent all he had to take the coffin back, a journey of more than two thousand li there and back. For this the scholars of the region thought all the more of him, but his family grew poorer still. A provincial graduate named Shi had a daughter called Liancheng, who was skilled at embroidery and well read. Her father doted on her. He brought out a piece she had embroidered, “Tired of Embroidery”, and invited young men to write poems on it, meaning to choose a son-in-law. Qiao offered this poem:
“Lazy locks piled high, a swaying cloud of green, /early at the orchid window she stitches jade-green lotus; /her needle reaches the mandarin ducks, and her soul is near to breaking —/ quietly she stops her thread and knits her moth brows.”
And he praised the skill of her needlework in another:
“The silk she draws through paints as if from life; /the flowers and birds on the cloth seem made by Heaven. /The woven brocade of old was no great art —/ it was luck that its palindrome moved a wise ruler.”
Liancheng was delighted with the poems and praised them to her father, but her father thought Qiao too poor. Whenever she met anyone, she spoke well of him. She also sent an old woman, pretending it was her father’s wish, to give him money for his lamp oil. “Liancheng understands me!” Qiao sighed. He poured out his whole heart in longing for her, like a starving man who dreams of food.
無何，女許字于鹺賈之子王化成，生始絕望；然夢魂中猶佩戴之。未幾，女病瘵，沉痼不起。有西域頭陀，自謂能療；但須男子膺肉一錢，搗合藥屑。史使人詣王家告婿。婿笑曰：「痴老翁，欲我剜心頭肉也！」使返。史乃言于人曰：「有能割肉者妻之。」生聞而往，自出白刃，刲膺授僧。血濡袍褲，僧敷藥始止。合藥三丸。三日服盡，疾若失。史將踐其言，先告王。王怒，欲訟官。史乃設筵招生，以千金列幾上，曰：「重負大德，請以相報。」因具白背盟之由。生怫然曰：「僕所以不愛膺肉者，聊以報知己耳，豈貨肉哉！」拂袖而歸。女聞之，意良不忍，托媼慰諭之。且云：「以彼才華，當不久落。天下何患無佳人？我夢不祥，三年必死，不必與人爭此泉下物也。」生告媼曰：「『士為知己者死』，不以色也。誠恐連城未必真知我；但得真知我，不諧何害？」媼代女郎矢誠自剖。生曰：「果爾，相逢時，當為我一笑，死無憾。」媼既去，逾數日，生偶出，遇女自叔氏歸，睨之。女秋波轉顧，啟齒嫣然。生大喜曰：「連城真知我者！」會王氏來議吉期，女前症又作，數月尋死。生往臨吊，一痛而絕。史舁送其家。
沒過多久，連城被許配給了鹽商的兒子王化成，喬生這才絕了希望，可連夢裡也仍然惦念著她。不久，連城患了癆病，病勢沉重，臥床不起。有個從西域來的頭陀，自稱能治好她，但需要男子胸前的一錢肉，搗碎後混入藥末。史孝廉派人去王家，告訴未來的女婿。王化成笑道：「這痴傻的老頭，竟想讓我挖出心口的肉！」使者回來後，史孝廉便對人說：「誰能割肉救她，我就把女兒嫁給誰。」喬生聽說後趕來，自己拔出刀，割下胸前的肉，交給僧人。鮮血浸透了袍子和褲子，直到僧人敷上藥才止住。僧人把肉和藥末製成三顆藥丸，連城三天服完，病就像一下子消失了。史孝廉準備履行諾言，先把事情告訴王家。王化成大怒，要告到官府。史孝廉於是設宴邀請喬生，把千金擺在桌上，說：「承蒙你這樣大的恩德，請讓我用這些錢報答你。」隨後詳細說明了不能履行婚約的緣由。喬生氣憤地說：「我之所以捨得割下胸前的肉，只是為了報答知己，難道是來賣肉的嗎！」說完，甩袖回家去了。連城聽說後，心裡很過意不去，托老婦人去安慰、勸解他，還說：「憑他的才華，想來不會長久失意。天下何愁沒有好女子？我做了一個不吉利的夢，三年之內一定會死，他不必和別人爭我這個將要入土的人。」喬生對老婦人說：「有志之士願意為理解自己的人而死，並不是為了美色。我真正擔心的，是連城未必真的懂我。只要她真懂我，不能結成夫妻又有什麼關係？」老婦人代連城發誓，向他表明她的真心。喬生說：「果真這樣，下次相遇時，請她對我笑一笑，我死也沒有遺憾了。」老婦人走後，過了幾天，喬生偶然出門，遇見連城從叔父家回來，便側眼望著她。連城轉過清亮的眼睛看他，露出牙齒，嫣然一笑。喬生大喜，說：「連城真是懂我的人！」恰好王家來商議婚期，連城的舊病又發作了，幾個月後便去世了。喬生前去弔唁，悲痛之下，竟斷了氣。史孝廉讓人把他抬回家去。
无何，女许字于鹾贾之子王化成，生始绝望；然梦魂中犹佩戴之。未几，女病瘵，沉痼不起。有西域头陀，自谓能疗；但须男子膺肉一钱，捣合药屑。史使人诣王家告婿。婿笑曰：「痴老翁，欲我剜心头肉也！」使返。史乃言于人曰：「有能割肉者妻之。」生闻而往，自出白刃，刲膺授僧。血濡袍裤，僧敷药始止。合药三丸。三日服尽，疾若失。史将践其言，先告王。王怒，欲讼官。史乃设筵招生，以千金列几上，曰：「重负大德，请以相报。」因具白背盟之由。生怫然曰：「仆所以不爱膺肉者，聊以报知己耳，岂货肉哉！」拂袖而归。女闻之，意良不忍，托媪慰谕之。且云：「以彼才华，当不久落。天下何患无佳人？我梦不祥，三年必死，不必与人争此泉下物也。」生告媪曰：「『士为知己者死』，不以色也。诚恐连城未必真知我；但得真知我，不谐何害？」媪代女郎矢诚自剖。生曰：「果尔，相逢时，当为我一笑，死无憾。」媪既去，逾数日，生偶出，遇女自叔氏归，睨之。女秋波转顾，启齿嫣然。生大喜曰：「连城真知我者！」会王氏来议吉期，女前症又作，数月寻死。生往临吊，一痛而绝。史舁送其家。
没过多久，连城被许配给了盐商的儿子王化成，乔生这才绝了希望，可连梦里也仍然惦念着她。不久，连城患了痨病，病势沉重，卧床不起。有个从西域来的头陀，自称能治好她，但需要男子胸前的一钱肉，捣碎后混入药末。史孝廉派人去王家，告诉未来的女婿。王化成笑道：“这痴傻的老头，竟想让我挖出心口的肉！”使者回来后，史孝廉便对人说：“谁能割肉救她，我就把女儿嫁给谁。”乔生听说后赶来，自己拔出刀，割下胸前的肉，交给僧人。鲜血浸透了袍子和裤子，直到僧人敷上药才止住。僧人把肉和药末制成三颗药丸，连城三天服完，病就像一下子消失了。史孝廉准备履行诺言，先把事情告诉王家。王化成大怒，要告到官府。史孝廉于是设宴邀请乔生，把千金摆在桌上，说：“承蒙你这样大的恩德，请让我用这些钱报答你。”随后详细说明了不能履行婚约的缘由。乔生气愤地说：“我之所以舍得割下胸前的肉，只是为了报答知己，难道是来卖肉的吗！”说完，甩袖回家去了。连城听说后，心里很过意不去，托老妇人去安慰、劝解他，还说：“凭他的才华，想来不会长久失意。天下何愁没有好女子？我做了一个不吉利的梦，三年之内一定会死，他不必和别人争我这个将要入土的人。”乔生对老妇人说：“有志之士愿意为理解自己的人而死，并不是为了美色。我真正担心的，是连城未必真的懂我。只要她真懂我，不能结成夫妻又有什么关系？”老妇人代连城发誓，向他表明她的真心。乔生说：“果真这样，下次相遇时，请她对我笑一笑，我死也没有遗憾了。”老妇人走后，过了几天，乔生偶然出门，遇见连城从叔父家回来，便侧眼望着她。连城转过清亮的眼睛看他，露出牙齿，嫣然一笑。乔生大喜，说：“连城真是懂我的人！”恰好王家来商议婚期，连城的旧病又发作了，几个月后便去世了。乔生前去吊唁，悲痛之下，竟断了气。史孝廉让人把他抬回家去。
Before long the girl was promised to Wang Huacheng, the son of a salt merchant, and only then did Qiao give up hope; yet even in his dreams his soul still cherished her. Not long after, the girl fell ill with consumption and lay in bed beyond all cure. An ascetic monk from the Western Regions said he could heal her, but he would need one qian of flesh from a man’s chest to pound into the medicine. Shi sent someone to the Wang house to tell his future son-in-law. The young man laughed. “The silly old man! He wants me to gouge out the flesh over my heart!” The messenger came back. So Shi announced, “Whoever can cut his flesh for her shall have her for his wife.” When Qiao heard this he went there, drew his own bare blade, cut a piece from his chest and handed it to the monk. Blood soaked his gown and trousers, and it stopped only when the monk spread medicine on the wound. The monk made the medicine into three pills. She took them over three days, and the illness was gone as if it had never been. Shi meant to keep his word, and first told Wang. Wang was furious and was going to take him to court. So Shi laid a feast and invited Qiao. He set out a thousand in gold on the table and said, “I owe you a great debt. Let me repay you with this.” And he explained in full why he had to break his promise. Qiao flushed with anger. “I did not grudge the flesh of my chest only to repay the one who understood me. Am I selling meat?” He shook out his sleeves and went home. When the girl heard of this she could hardly bear it, and sent the old woman to comfort him and reason with him. She also said, “With his gifts he will not be down for long. Why should he fear there are no beautiful girls in the world? I have had an ill-omened dream: in three years I am sure to die. There is no need to fight anyone for something already bound for the grave.” Qiao said to the old woman, “‘A man will die for the one who understands him’ — not for her looks. My real fear is that Liancheng may not truly understand me. If only she truly understands me, what harm is there in our not marrying?” The old woman swore on the girl’s behalf that she was sincere, and laid bare her heart for her. “If that is so,” said Qiao, “then when we meet, let her give me one smile, and I can die without regret.” The old woman left. A few days later Qiao happened to go out and met the girl on her way back from her uncle’s house. He gave her a sidelong look. She turned her clear eyes on him, parted her lips and smiled sweetly. Qiao was overjoyed. “Liancheng truly understands me!” Just then the Wangs came to settle the wedding day, and the girl’s old illness came back. Within a few months she was dead. Qiao went to mourn her, and at one burst of grief he died. Shi had him carried home.