掖縣相國毛公，家素微，其父常為人牧牛。時邑世族張姓，有新阡在東山之陽。或經其側，聞墓中叱咤聲曰：「若等速避去，勿久混貴人宅！」張聞，亦未深信。既又頻得夢警曰：「汝家墓地，本是毛公佳城，何得久假此？」由是家數不利。客勸徙葬吉，張乃徙焉。
掖縣的相國毛公，家裡一向貧寒，他父親常替別人放牛。當時，縣裡有個姓張的世家，在東山南坡新設了一處墓地。有人從旁邊經過，聽見墓裡傳出呵斥聲：「你們趕快躲開，不要長久佔著貴人的宅院！」張家人聽說後，也沒有十分相信。後來又接連在夢中受到警告：「你家的墓地，本來是毛公的安葬之處，怎麼能一直借佔著？」從此，張家接連遇到不順心的事。有位客人勸他遷移墳墓，說這樣會吉利，張家便把墳墓遷走了。
掖县相国毛公，家素微，其父常为人牧牛。时邑世族张姓，有新阡在东山之阳。或经其侧，闻墓中叱咤声曰：「若等速避去，勿久混贵人宅！」张闻，亦未深信。既又频得梦警曰：「汝家墓地，本是毛公佳城，何得久假此？」由是家数不利。客劝徙葬吉，张乃徙焉。
掖县的相国毛公，家里一向贫寒，他父亲常替别人放牛。当时，县里有个姓张的世家，在东山南坡新设了一处墓地。有人从旁边经过，听见墓里传出呵斥声：“你们赶快躲开，不要长久占着贵人的宅院！”张家人听说后，也没有十分相信。后来又接连在梦中受到警告：“你家的墓地，本来是毛公的安葬之处，怎么能一直借占着？”从此，张家接连遇到不顺心的事。有位客人劝他迁移坟墓，说这样会吉利，张家便把坟墓迁走了。
Lord Mao, the Grand Secretary, came from Ye County. His family had always been humble, and his father often herded cattle for other people. At that time an old family of the county named Zhang had a new burial ground on the south slope of the East Hills. Someone passing by heard a voice shouting from inside the tomb: “Clear out of here, all of you, and quickly! You have lingered too long in a great man’s house!” When Zhang heard of it he did not really believe it. But then he was warned again and again in dreams: “The ground where your family’s tomb stands is by rights Lord Mao’s resting place. How can you go on borrowing it?” After that the family had one misfortune after another. A visitor advised that it would be lucky to move the graves, so Zhang moved them.
一日相國父牧，出張家故墓，猝遇雨，匿身廢壙中。已而雨益甚，潦水奔穴，崩渹灌注，遂溺以死。相國時尚孩童。母自詣張，丐咫尺地掩兒父。張問其姓氏，大異之。往視溺死所，儼當置棺處，更駭；乃使就故壙窆焉。且令攜若兒來。葬已，母偕兒詣張謝。張一見，輒喜，即留其家，教之讀，以齒子弟行。又請以長女妻兒，母謝不敢。張妻卒許之。然其女甚薄毛家，怨慚之意時形言色。且曰：「我死不從牧牛兒！」及親迎，新郎入宴，彩輿在門，女方掩袂向隅而哭。催之妝不妝，勸亦不解。俄而新郎告行，鼓樂大作，女猶眼零雨而首飛蓬也。父入勸女，不聽，怒逼之，哭益厲，父無奈。家人報新郎欲行，父急出曰：「衣妝未竟，煩郎少待。」又奔入視女。往復數番，女終無回意。其父周張欲死，皇急無計。其次女在側，因非其姊，苦逼勸之。姊怒曰：「小妮子，亦學人喋聒！爾何不從他去？」妹曰：「阿爺原不曾以妹子屬毛郎；若以妹子屬毛郎，何煩姊姊勸駕耶？」父聽其言慷爽，因與伊母竊議，以次易長。母即向次女曰：「迕逆婢不遵父母命，今欲以兒代姊，兒肯行否？」女慨然曰：「父母之命，即乞丐不敢辭；且何以見毛家郎便終身餓莩死乎？」父母大喜，即以姊妝妝女，倉猝登車徑去。入門，夫婦雅敦好逑。第女素病赤鬜，毛郎稍介意。及知易嫁之說，由是益以知己德女。
一天，相國的父親放牛時，走到張家的舊墓旁，突然遇上大雨，便躲進廢棄的墓穴。不久，雨越下越大，積水奔湧著衝進墓穴，猛烈灌入，他就這樣淹死了。相國當時還是個孩子。他母親親自去見張家人，乞求給一小塊地方，安葬孩子的父親。張家人問了她的姓氏，十分驚訝。再到淹死人的地方一看，死者所在的位置恰好就是安放棺材的地方，更加吃驚，便讓她把丈夫葬在原來的墓穴裡，又叫她把孩子帶來。安葬完畢，母親帶著孩子到張家道謝。張家人一見孩子就很喜歡，把他留在家裡，教他讀書，按年齡將他列入自家子弟之中。又提出把長女嫁給孩子，母親不敢答應，連忙謝絕。張家的妻子最終答應了這門婚事。然而，長女十分看不起毛家，怨恨和羞恥的心情常常流露在言語和臉色上，還說：「我就是死，也不嫁給放牛人的兒子！」到了迎親那天，新郎入席吃酒，彩轎已經停在門口，長女卻用袖子遮著臉，朝著屋角哭泣。催她梳妝，她不肯梳妝，勸她也勸不動。不久，新郎提出該啟程了，鼓樂齊鳴，她仍舊淚流不止，頭髮蓬亂。父親進屋勸她，她不聽；父親生氣，逼她出嫁，她反而哭得更厲害，父親也沒有辦法。家人來報，說新郎要走了，父親急忙出去說：「她還沒梳妝完，煩請新郎稍等片刻。」說完又跑進去看女兒。這樣來回了好幾次，長女始終不肯回心轉意。父親急得團團轉，幾乎要急死，慌亂之中想不出辦法。次女就在旁邊，覺得姐姐不對，極力勸她。姐姐生氣地說：「小丫頭，也學著別人嘮叨！你怎麼不跟他去？」妹妹說：「爹原本沒有把我許給毛郎；要是把我許給毛郎，哪裡還用得著姐姐勸我出嫁？」父親聽她說得爽快，便和她母親悄悄商量，讓次女代替長女出嫁。母親當即對次女說：「那個忤逆的丫頭不聽父母的話，如今想讓你代替姐姐，你肯去嗎？」次女爽快地說：「父母吩咐的婚事，就是嫁給乞丐，我也不敢推辭。再說，憑什麼認定嫁給毛家郎，就會一輩子捱餓，最後餓死呢？」父母大喜，立即用姐姐的嫁衣首飾替她裝扮，匆忙讓她上轎出發。進了毛家的門，夫妻十分恩愛。只是她向來患有赤鬜，頭皮發紅，頭髮脫落，毛郎對此有些介意。後來得知她替姐姐出嫁的經過，就越發感激她，把她看作真正懂得自己的人。
一日相国父牧，出张家故墓，猝遇雨，匿身废圹中。已而雨益甚，潦水奔穴，崩渹灌注，遂溺以死。相国时尚孩童。母自诣张，丐咫尺地掩儿父。张问其姓氏，大异之。往视溺死所，俨当置棺处，更骇；乃使就故圹窆焉。且令携若儿来。葬已，母偕儿诣张谢。张一见，辄喜，即留其家，教之读，以齿子弟行。又请以长女妻儿，母谢不敢。张妻卒许之。然其女甚薄毛家，怨惭之意时形言色。且曰：「我死不从牧牛儿！」及亲迎，新郎入宴，彩舆在门，女方掩袂向隅而哭。催之妆不妆，劝亦不解。俄而新郎告行，鼓乐大作，女犹眼零雨而首飞蓬也。父入劝女，不听，怒逼之，哭益厉，父无奈。家人报新郎欲行，父急出曰：「衣妆未竟，烦郎少待。」又奔入视女。往复数番，女终无回意。其父周张欲死，皇急无计。其次女在侧，因非其姊，苦逼劝之。姊怒曰：「小妮子，亦学人喋聒！尔何不从他去？」妹曰：「阿爷原不曾以妹子属毛郎；若以妹子属毛郎，何烦姊姊劝驾耶？」父听其言慷爽，因与伊母窃议，以次易长。母即向次女曰：「迕逆婢不遵父母命，今欲以儿代姊，儿肯行否？」女慨然曰：「父母之命，即乞丐不敢辞；且何以见毛家郎便终身饿莩死乎？」父母大喜，即以姊妆妆女，仓猝登车径去。入门，夫妇雅敦好逑。第女素病赤鬜，毛郎稍介意。及知易嫁之说，由是益以知己德女。
一天，相国的父亲放牛时，走到张家的旧墓旁，突然遇上大雨，便躲进废弃的墓穴。不久，雨越下越大，积水奔涌着冲进墓穴，猛烈灌入，他就这样淹死了。相国当时还是个孩子。他母亲亲自去见张家人，乞求给一小块地方，安葬孩子的父亲。张家人问了她的姓氏，十分惊讶。再到淹死人的地方一看，死者所在的位置恰好就是安放棺材的地方，更加吃惊，便让她把丈夫葬在原来的墓穴里，又叫她把孩子带来。安葬完毕，母亲带着孩子到张家道谢。张家人一见孩子就很喜欢，把他留在家里，教他读书，按年龄将他列入自家子弟之中。又提出把长女嫁给孩子，母亲不敢答应，连忙谢绝。张家的妻子最终答应了这门婚事。然而，长女十分看不起毛家，怨恨和羞耻的心情常常流露在言语和脸色上，还说：“我就是死，也不嫁给放牛人的儿子！”到了迎亲那天，新郎入席吃酒，彩轿已经停在门口，长女却用袖子遮着脸，朝着屋角哭泣。催她梳妆，她不肯梳妆，劝她也劝不动。不久，新郎提出该启程了，鼓乐齐鸣，她仍旧泪流不止，头发蓬乱。父亲进屋劝她，她不听；父亲生气，逼她出嫁，她反而哭得更厉害，父亲也没有办法。家人来报，说新郎要走了，父亲急忙出去说：“她还没梳妆完，烦请新郎稍等片刻。”说完又跑进去看女儿。这样来回了好几次，长女始终不肯回心转意。父亲急得团团转，几乎要急死，慌乱之中想不出办法。次女就在旁边，觉得姐姐不对，极力劝她。姐姐生气地说：“小丫头，也学着别人唠叨！你怎么不跟他去？”妹妹说：“爹原本没有把我许给毛郎；要是把我许给毛郎，哪里还用得着姐姐劝我出嫁？”父亲听她说得爽快，便和她母亲悄悄商量，让次女代替长女出嫁。母亲当即对次女说：“那个忤逆的丫头不听父母的话，如今想让你代替姐姐，你肯去吗？”次女爽快地说：“父母吩咐的婚事，就是嫁给乞丐，我也不敢推辞。再说，凭什么认定嫁给毛家郎，就会一辈子挨饿，最后饿死呢？”父母大喜，立即用姐姐的嫁衣首饰替她装扮，匆忙让她上轿出发。进了毛家的门，夫妻十分恩爱。只是她向来患有赤鬜，头皮发红，头发脱落，毛郎对此有些介意。后来得知她替姐姐出嫁的经过，就越发感激她，把她看作真正懂得自己的人。
One day the Grand Secretary’s father was herding cattle past the Zhangs’ old tomb when a sudden rain came on, and he took shelter in the empty grave pit. The rain grew heavier still; floodwater rushed into the pit, crashing and pouring in, and he drowned. The Grand Secretary was then still a small child. His mother went to Zhang herself and begged a foot of ground to bury the boy’s father. Zhang asked their surname and was astonished. He went to see where the man had drowned: it was exactly where the coffin had lain. More alarmed than ever, he had him buried right there in the old pit, and told her to bring her son along. After the burial the mother came with the boy to thank Zhang. The moment Zhang saw him he was pleased with him. He kept him in his house, taught him to read, and counted him among the young men of his own family. He also offered him his eldest daughter as a wife. The mother declined; she did not dare. In the end Zhang’s wife agreed to it. But the girl looked down on the Mao family, and her resentment and shame often showed in her words and her face. “I’d rather die than marry a cowherd’s brat!” she said. When the day came for the groom to fetch his bride, he went in to the feast and the decorated bridal chair stood at the gate, while the girl sat in a corner with her sleeve over her face, weeping. They urged her to dress and she would not dress; they reasoned with her and she would not be moved. Presently the groom announced that it was time to go. Drums and music struck up loudly, and still her eyes were raining tears and her hair was flying like tumbleweed. Her father went in and pleaded with her. She would not listen. He grew angry and tried to force her, and she wept louder. He was at his wits’ end. A servant came to say the groom wished to leave. Her father hurried out. “She is not quite dressed yet,” he said. “Please be so kind as to wait a little.” Then he ran back in to see his daughter. He went back and forth several times, but she would not change her mind. Her father was frantic enough to die, and in his panic could think of nothing to do. His second daughter was at his side. She thought her sister in the wrong and pressed her hard to go. Her sister turned on her angrily. “Little minx, now you’re nagging like the rest of them! Why don’t you go with him yourself?” “Father never promised me to Mr. Mao,” said the younger girl. “If he had promised me to Mr. Mao, I wouldn’t need you to talk me into going.” Her father liked how frank and spirited she was, and talked it over privately with her mother: they would put the younger in place of the elder. Her mother turned to the second girl. “That wicked, disobedient girl won’t do as her parents tell her. Now we want you to take your sister’s place. Will you go?” “If my parents tell me to, I wouldn’t dare refuse even a beggar,” the girl said readily. “And who says marrying young Mr. Mao means I’ll end up dead of hunger?” Her parents were overjoyed. They dressed her in her sister’s wedding clothes, and in great haste she got into the carriage and was off. Once she was in his house, husband and wife were a loving and well-matched pair. But she had long suffered from bald red patches on her scalp, and Mao minded that a little. When he learned the story of the exchange, though, he was all the more grateful to her as someone who had known his worth.
居無何，毛郎補博士弟子，往應鄉試。經王舍人莊，店主先一夕夢神曰：「旦夕有毛解元來，後且脫汝于厄，可善待之。」以故晨起，專伺察東來客，及得公，甚喜。供具甚豐，且不索直。公問故，特以夢兆告。公頗自負；私計女發鬑鬑，慮為顯者笑，富貴後當易之。及試，竟落第，偃蹇喪志，赧見主人，不敢復由王舍，迂道歸家。
不久，毛郎被錄為博士弟子，前去參加鄉試。經過王舍人莊時，店主人前一夜夢見神對他說：「這兩天會有毛解元到來，將來他還會救你脫離災難，你要好好款待他。」因此，店主人一早起來，專門留意從東邊來的客人，等找到毛公，十分高興。他準備了豐盛的飲食，也不收錢。毛公問是什麼緣故，他便把夢中的預兆告訴了毛公。毛公頗為自得，暗自盤算，妻子的頭髮稀疏，怕她被顯貴們取笑，等自己富貴以後，應當另換一個妻子。等到考試，竟然落榜了。他困頓失意，覺得沒臉見店主人，不敢再經過王舍人莊，便繞道回家。
居无何，毛郎补博士弟子，往应乡试。经王舍人庄，店主先一夕梦神曰：「旦夕有毛解元来，后且脱汝于厄，可善待之。」以故晨起，专伺察东来客，及得公，甚喜。供具甚丰，且不索直。公问故，特以梦兆告。公颇自负；私计女发鬑鬑，虑为显者笑，富贵后当易之。及试，竟落第，偃蹇丧志，赧见主人，不敢复由王舍，迂道归家。
不久，毛郎被录为博士弟子，前去参加乡试。经过王舍人庄时，店主人前一夜梦见神对他说：“这两天会有毛解元到来，将来他还会救你脱离灾难，你要好好款待他。”因此，店主人一早起来，专门留意从东边来的客人，等找到毛公，十分高兴。他准备了丰盛的饮食，也不收钱。毛公问是什么缘故，他便把梦中的预兆告诉了毛公。毛公颇为自得，暗自盘算，妻子的头发稀疏，怕她被显贵们取笑，等自己富贵以后，应当另换一个妻子。等到考试，竟然落榜了。他困顿失意，觉得没脸见店主人，不敢再经过王舍人庄，便绕道回家。
Before long Mao became a licentiate and set out to sit the provincial examination. He passed through Wang Sheren Village, where, the night before, the innkeeper had dreamed that a god told him: “Any day now Top Graduate Mao will be coming this way. In time he will save you from trouble. Treat him well.” So the innkeeper rose early and watched carefully for every traveller coming from the east. When he found Mao he was delighted. He served him lavishly and would take no payment. Mao asked why, and the innkeeper told him of the dream. Mao thought a good deal of himself. Privately he reckoned that his wife’s hair was thin and sparse, and worried that great people would laugh at her; once he was rich and eminent, he would replace her. When the examination came, he failed. Downcast and dispirited, ashamed to face his host, he did not dare go back by Wang Sheren, but went home by a roundabout road.