渭南姜部郎第，多鬼魅，常惑人。因徙去。留蒼頭門之而死，數易皆死；遂廢之。里有陶生望三者，夙倜儻，好狎妓，酒闌輒去之。友人故使妓奔就之，亦笑內不拒；而實終夜無所沾染。常宿部郎家，有婢夜奔，生堅拒不亂，部郎以是契重之。家綦貧，又有「鼓盆之戚」，茆屋數椽，溽暑不堪其熱；因請部郎，假廢第。部郎以其凶故，卻之。生因作「續無鬼論」獻部郎，且曰：「鬼何能為！」部郎以其請之堅，諾之。生往除廳事。薄暮，置書其中；返取他物，則書已亡。怪之，仰臥榻上，靜息以伺其變。食頃，聞步履聲，睨之，見二女自房中出，所亡書，送還案上。一約二十，一可十七八，並皆姝麗。逡巡立榻下，相視而笑。生寂不動。長者翹一足踹生腹，少者掩口匿笑。生覺心搖搖若不自持，即急肅然端念，卒不顧。女近以左手捋髭，右手輕批頤頰，作小響。少者益笑。生驟起，叱曰：「鬼物敢爾！」二女駭奔而散。生恐夜為所苦，欲移歸，又恥其言不掩；乃挑燈讀。暗中鬼影憧憧，略不顧瞻。夜將半，燭而寢。始交睫，覺人以細物穿鼻，奇癢，大嚏；但聞暗處隱隱作笑聲。生不語，假寐以俟之。俄見少女以紙條撚細股，鶴行鷺伏而至；生暴起訶之，飄竄而去。既寢，又穿其耳。終夜不堪其擾。雞既鳴，乃寂無聲，生始酣眠，終日無所睹聞。日既下，恍惚出現。生遂夜炊，將以達旦。長者漸曲肱几上，觀生讀。既而掩生卷。生怒捉之，即已飄散；少間，又撫之。生以手按卷讀。少者潛於腦後，交兩手掩生目，瞥然去，遠立以哂。生指罵曰：「小鬼頭！捉得便都殺卻！」女子即又不懼。因戲之曰：「房中縱送，我都不解，纏我無益。」二女微笑，轉身向灶，析薪溲米，為生執爨。生顧而獎曰：「兩卿此為，不勝憨跳耶？」俄頃，粥熟，爭以匕、箸、陶椀置几上。生曰：「感卿服役，何以報德？」女笑云：「飯中溲合砒、酖矣。」生曰：「與卿夙無嫌怨，何至以此相加。」啜已，復盛，爭為奔走。生樂之，習以為常。
渭南姜部郎的宅院裡有許多鬼怪，常常迷惑人，姜家因此搬走了。他留下一個老僕看門，老僕卻死了；接連換了幾個人，也都死了，於是這所宅院便荒廢了。同鄉有個書生叫陶望三，向來灑脫不羈，喜歡同妓女嬉笑玩鬧，酒興一過便離開她們。朋友故意讓妓女夜裡主動來找他，他也笑著讓她進來，並不拒絕，但整夜都不曾碰她。他常在姜部郎家留宿，有一次，一個婢女夜裡來找他，他堅決拒絕，毫不動心，姜部郎因此十分賞識他。他家非常貧窮，妻子也已經去世，只有幾間茅屋，盛夏溼熱，屋裡熱得難以忍受，便請求姜部郎把那所荒宅借給他住。姜部郎因為宅子鬧鬼，拒絕了。陶望三於是寫了一篇《續無鬼論》送給姜部郎，又說：「鬼能把人怎麼樣！」姜部郎見他堅持請求，便答應了。陶望三前去打掃廳堂。傍晚，他把書放在那裡，回去取其他東西，等再回來，書已經不見了。他覺得奇怪，便仰臥在床榻上，屏息靜候，看會發生什麼。過了一頓飯的工夫，他聽到腳步聲，斜眼看去，只見兩個女子從房裡出來，把不見的書放回桌上。一個約莫二十歲，一個大約十七八歲，都很美麗。她們在床榻前徘徊，對望著發笑。陶望三靜靜躺著，一動不動。年長的女子抬起一隻腳，踩在他肚子上，年少的女子捂著嘴偷笑。陶望三覺得心神搖盪，幾乎把持不住，立刻收斂心神，端正念頭，始終不去理會她們。年長的女子走近，用左手捋他的鬍鬚，右手輕輕拍打他的下巴和臉頰，發出細小的響聲。年少的女子笑得更厲害了。陶望三猛然起身，喝道：「你們這些鬼東西，竟敢這樣！」兩個女子嚇得四散逃開。陶望三怕夜裡受她們折磨，想搬回去，又覺得自己說過的話做不到，實在丟臉，便撥亮燈芯讀書。黑暗中鬼影來來往往，他一點也不去看。快到半夜，他點著蠟燭躺下睡覺。剛閉上眼，就覺得有人拿細東西往他鼻孔裡戳，癢得厲害，打了個大噴嚏，只聽見暗處傳來隱隱的笑聲。他不說話，裝睡等著。不久，見那年少的女子把紙條捻成細細的一根，輕手輕腳、彎腰俯身地走過來。他突然跳起來斥責她，她便飄然逃走。等他再次躺下，她又來戳他的耳朵。他整夜被攪擾得受不了。雞叫以後，四下才安靜下來，他這才睡得香甜。整個白天，他什麼也沒看見，什麼也沒聽見。太陽落山後，她們又隱隱約約地出現了。陶望三於是夜裡生火做飯，打算一直熬到天亮。年長的女子漸漸湊過來，彎著胳膊伏在桌上，看他讀書，隨後又把他的書合上。他惱怒地伸手去抓，她已經飄散了；沒過多久，又伸手來摸他的書。他便用手按著書讀。年少的女子偷偷走到他身後，伸出兩隻手捂住他的眼睛，隨即一閃而去，遠遠站著笑。他指著她罵道：「小鬼頭！抓住你們，就把你們全殺了！」兩個女子仍舊毫不害怕。他便逗她們說：「男女之間的那些事，我全不懂，纏著我也沒有用。」兩個女子微微一笑，轉身走到灶前，劈柴淘米，替他做飯。陶望三看著她們，誇道：「你們這樣做，不比傻乎乎地蹦跳胡鬧強嗎？」不一會兒，粥煮好了，她們爭著把勺子、筷子和陶碗擺在桌上。陶望三說：「多謝你們照料我，我拿什麼報答呢？」女子笑著說：「粥裡摻了砒霜和鴆毒。」陶望三說：「我和你們向來沒有仇怨，何至於拿這些來害我？」他喝完一碗，她們又給他盛上，爭著來回伺候。他覺得很快樂，漸漸習慣了這樣的生活。
渭南姜部郎第，多鬼魅，常惑人。因徙去。留苍头门之而死，数易皆死；遂废之。里有陶生望三者，夙倜傥，好狎妓，酒阑辄去之。友人故使妓奔就之，亦笑内不拒；而实终夜无所沾染。常宿部郎家，有婢夜奔，生坚拒不乱，部郎以是契重之。家綦贫，又有「鼓盆之戚」，茆屋数椽，溽暑不堪其热；因请部郎，假废第。部郎以其凶故，却之。生因作「续无鬼论」献部郎，且曰：「鬼何能为！」部郎以其请之坚，诺之。生往除厅事。薄暮，置书其中；返取他物，则书已亡。怪之，仰卧榻上，静息以伺其变。食顷，闻步履声，睨之，见二女自房中出，所亡书，送还案上。一约二十，一可十七八，并皆姝丽。逡巡立榻下，相视而笑。生寂不动。长者翘一足踹生腹，少者掩口匿笑。生觉心摇摇若不自持，即急肃然端念，卒不顾。女近以左手捋髭，右手轻批颐颊，作小响。少者益笑。生骤起，叱曰：「鬼物敢尔！」二女骇奔而散。生恐夜为所苦，欲移归，又耻其言不掩；乃挑灯读。暗中鬼影憧憧，略不顾瞻。夜将半，烛而寝。始交睫，觉人以细物穿鼻，奇痒，大嚏；但闻暗处隐隐作笑声。生不语，假寐以俟之。俄见少女以纸条撚细股，鹤行鹭伏而至；生暴起诃之，飘窜而去。既寝，又穿其耳。终夜不堪其扰。鸡既鸣，乃寂无声，生始酣眠，终日无所睹闻。日既下，恍惚出现。生遂夜炊，将以达旦。长者渐曲肱几上，观生读。既而掩生卷。生怒捉之，即已飘散；少间，又抚之。生以手按卷读。少者潜于脑后，交两手掩生目，瞥然去，远立以哂。生指骂曰：「小鬼头！捉得便都杀却！」女子即又不惧。因戏之曰：「房中纵送，我都不解，缠我无益。」二女微笑，转身向灶，析薪溲米，为生执爨。生顾而奖曰：「两卿此为，不胜憨跳耶？」俄顷，粥熟，争以匕、箸、陶椀置几上。生曰：「感卿服役，何以报德？」女笑云：「饭中溲合砒、酖矣。」生曰：「与卿夙无嫌怨，何至以此相加。」啜已，复盛，争为奔走。生乐之，习以为常。
渭南姜部郎的宅院里有许多鬼怪，常常迷惑人，姜家因此搬走了。他留下一个老仆看门，老仆却死了；接连换了几个人，也都死了，于是这所宅院便荒废了。同乡有个书生叫陶望三，向来洒脱不羁，喜欢同妓女嬉笑玩闹，酒兴一过便离开她们。朋友故意让妓女夜里主动来找他，他也笑着让她进来，并不拒绝，但整夜都不曾碰她。他常在姜部郎家留宿，有一次，一个婢女夜里来找他，他坚决拒绝，毫不动心，姜部郎因此十分赏识他。他家非常贫穷，妻子也已经去世，只有几间茅屋，盛夏湿热，屋里热得难以忍受，便请求姜部郎把那所荒宅借给他住。姜部郎因为宅子闹鬼，拒绝了。陶望三于是写了一篇《续无鬼论》送给姜部郎，又说：“鬼能把人怎么样！”姜部郎见他坚持请求，便答应了。陶望三前去打扫厅堂。傍晚，他把书放在那里，回去取其他东西，等再回来，书已经不见了。他觉得奇怪，便仰卧在床榻上，屏息静候，看会发生什么。过了一顿饭的工夫，他听到脚步声，斜眼看去，只见两个女子从房里出来，把不见的书放回桌上。一个约莫二十岁，一个大约十七八岁，都很美丽。她们在床榻前徘徊，对望着发笑。陶望三静静躺着，一动不动。年长的女子抬起一只脚，踩在他肚子上，年少的女子捂着嘴偷笑。陶望三觉得心神摇荡，几乎把持不住，立刻收敛心神，端正念头，始终不去理会她们。年长的女子走近，用左手捋他的胡须，右手轻轻拍打他的下巴和脸颊，发出细小的响声。年少的女子笑得更厉害了。陶望三猛然起身，喝道：“你们这些鬼东西，竟敢这样！”两个女子吓得四散逃开。陶望三怕夜里受她们折磨，想搬回去，又觉得自己说过的话做不到，实在丢脸，便拨亮灯芯读书。黑暗中鬼影来来往往，他一点也不去看。快到半夜，他点着蜡烛躺下睡觉。刚闭上眼，就觉得有人拿细东西往他鼻孔里戳，痒得厉害，打了个大喷嚏，只听见暗处传来隐隐的笑声。他不说话，装睡等着。不久，见那年少的女子把纸条捻成细细的一根，轻手轻脚、弯腰俯身地走过来。他突然跳起来斥责她，她便飘然逃走。等他再次躺下，她又来戳他的耳朵。他整夜被搅扰得受不了。鸡叫以后，四下才安静下来，他这才睡得香甜。整个白天，他什么也没看见，什么也没听见。太阳落山后，她们又隐隐约约地出现了。陶望三于是夜里生火做饭，打算一直熬到天亮。年长的女子渐渐凑过来，弯着胳膊伏在桌上，看他读书，随后又把他的书合上。他恼怒地伸手去抓，她已经飘散了；没过多久，又伸手来摸他的书。他便用手按着书读。年少的女子偷偷走到他身后，伸出两只手捂住他的眼睛，随即一闪而去，远远站着笑。他指着她骂道：“小鬼头！抓住你们，就把你们全杀了！”两个女子仍旧毫不害怕。他便逗她们说：“男女之间的那些事，我全不懂，缠着我也没有用。”两个女子微微一笑，转身走到灶前，劈柴淘米，替他做饭。陶望三看着她们，夸道：“你们这样做，不比傻乎乎地蹦跳胡闹强吗？”不一会儿，粥煮好了，她们争着把勺子、筷子和陶碗摆在桌上。陶望三说：“多谢你们照料我，我拿什么报答呢？”女子笑着说：“粥里掺了砒霜和鸩毒。”陶望三说：“我和你们向来没有仇怨，何至于拿这些来害我？”他喝完一碗，她们又给他盛上，争着来回伺候。他觉得很快乐，渐渐习惯了这样的生活。
In Weinan, the mansion of Jiang, a secretary in one of the ministries, was haunted by ghosts and goblins that often bewitched people. So the family moved away. They left an old servant to keep the gate, and he died; they replaced him several times, and each one died. So the house was abandoned. In the neighbourhood lived a scholar named Tao Wangsan, a free spirit who had always liked to amuse himself with courtesans, but when the wine was finished he would send them away. Once his friends deliberately had a courtesan go to him in the night. He laughed and let her in without refusing, but in fact all night long he never touched her. He often stayed at Secretary Jiang’s house, and once a maid came to him in the night; Tao firmly refused her and would not be led astray. For this the secretary thought highly of him. Tao’s family was very poor, and he had also suffered “the grief of drumming on the basin.” His few rooms of thatch were unbearably hot in the steamy summer, so he asked the secretary to lend him the abandoned mansion. Because it was haunted, the secretary refused. So Tao wrote “A Sequel to ‘There Are No Ghosts’” and presented it to him, saying, “What can ghosts do?” Since he asked so insistently, the secretary agreed. Tao went and swept out the main hall. At dusk he put his books there; when he went back to fetch his other things, the books had vanished. He thought this odd, and lay on his back on the couch, breathing quietly, to wait and see what would happen. After about as long as it takes to eat a meal, he heard footsteps. He looked out of the corner of his eye and saw two girls come out of the inner room and put the missing books back on the desk. One was about twenty, the other perhaps seventeen or eighteen, and both were beautiful. They hovered at the foot of the couch, looking at each other and laughing. Tao lay quite still. The elder lifted a foot and pressed it on his belly, and the younger covered her mouth and giggled. Tao felt his heart sway as if he could not hold himself steady, but at once he gravely composed his thoughts and paid them no attention at all. The elder girl came closer, stroked his whiskers with her left hand, and with her right patted his cheek lightly, making little slapping sounds. The younger one laughed harder than ever. Tao sprang up and shouted at them, “How dare you, ghosts!” The two girls fled in fright and scattered. Tao was afraid they would torment him in the night, and thought of going home, but he was ashamed that his boast would not stand. So he trimmed the lamp and read. In the darkness the shadows of ghosts flitted to and fro, but he never once looked up. Toward midnight he lit a candle and went to bed. He had barely closed his eyes when he felt someone poking something thin up his nose. It tickled terribly, and he gave a great sneeze, and heard faint laughter from somewhere in the dark. Tao said nothing, but pretended to sleep and waited. Soon he saw the younger girl coming with a twist of paper rolled into a fine spill, stalking like a crane and crouching like an egret. Tao sprang up and scolded her, and she whisked away. When he lay down again, she poked his ear. All night long the teasing was more than he could bear. Once the cocks had crowed it was quiet, and Tao slept soundly at last. All the next day he saw and heard nothing. As soon as the sun had set, they appeared again, dimly. So Tao cooked his meal at night, meaning to stay up until dawn. The elder one gradually came to lean on her elbows on the desk and watch Tao read; then she shut his book. Tao angrily grabbed at her, but she drifted away at once; a little later she was touching the book again. Tao held the book down with his hand and read on. The younger one stole up behind him and covered his eyes with both hands, then whisked away and stood at a distance, smirking. Tao pointed at her and scolded: “Little devil! If I catch you I’ll kill the pair of you!” But the girls were not afraid at all. So he teased them: “The goings-on of the bedroom are nothing I know about. It’s no use pestering me.” The two girls smiled a little, turned to the stove, split firewood and washed rice, and cooked for him. Tao watched them and praised them: “Isn’t this better than romping about like silly children?” In a moment the gruel was cooked, and they vied with each other to set a spoon, chopsticks and an earthenware bowl on the table. “Thank you for your service,” said Tao. “How can I repay you?” The girls laughed. “We’ve mixed arsenic and poison into the rice.” “I’ve never done either of you any wrong,” said Tao. “Why would you do this to me?” When he had eaten, they filled his bowl again, racing each other to wait on him. Tao enjoyed it, and soon it became a habit.
日漸稔，接坐傾語，審其姓名。長者云：「妾秋容，喬氏；彼阮家小謝也。」又研問所由來。小謝笑曰：「癡郎！尚不敢一呈身，誰要汝問門第，作嫁娶耶？」生正容曰：「相對麗質，寧獨無情；但陰冥之氣，中人必死。不樂與居者，行可耳；樂與居者，安可耳。如不見愛，何必玷兩佳人？如果見愛，何必死一狂生？」二女相顧動容，自此不甚虐弄之；然時而探手於懷，捋袴於地，亦置不為怪。
日子久了，彼此越來越熟悉，兩個女子便坐在他身邊，暢快地交談。他仔細詢問她們的姓名。年長的女子說：「我叫秋容，姓喬；她是阮家的小謝。」他又追問她們的來歷。小謝笑著說：「傻郎君！你連跟我們親近一下都不敢，誰要你打聽家世，談婚論嫁呢？」陶望三神色鄭重地說：「面對你們這樣的美貌，我怎麼會沒有情意？只是陰間的氣息侵入活人身體，一定會使人喪命。你們要是不願意和我住在一起，離開就是；要是願意，就安心住下。你們若不愛我，我何必玷汙兩位佳人？你們若愛我，又何必害死我這個狂妄的書生？」兩個女子相互看了看，都受到感動，從此不再那麼厲害地捉弄他。不過，她們偶爾還是會把手伸進他的懷裡，或把他的褲子拉到地上，他也聽之任之，不覺得奇怪。
日渐稔，接坐倾语，审其姓名。长者云：「妾秋容，乔氏；彼阮家小谢也。」又研问所由来。小谢笑曰：「痴郎！尚不敢一呈身，谁要汝问门第，作嫁娶耶？」生正容曰：「相对丽质，宁独无情；但阴冥之气，中人必死。不乐与居者，行可耳；乐与居者，安可耳。如不见爱，何必玷两佳人？如果见爱，何必死一狂生？」二女相顾动容，自此不甚虐弄之；然时而探手于怀，捋袴于地，亦置不为怪。
日子久了，彼此越来越熟悉，两个女子便坐在他身边，畅快地交谈。他仔细询问她们的姓名。年长的女子说：“我叫秋容，姓乔；她是阮家的小谢。”他又追问她们的来历。小谢笑着说：“傻郎君！你连跟我们亲近一下都不敢，谁要你打听家世，谈婚论嫁呢？”陶望三神色郑重地说：“面对你们这样的美貌，我怎么会没有情意？只是阴间的气息侵入活人身体，一定会使人丧命。你们要是不愿意和我住在一起，离开就是；要是愿意，就安心住下。你们若不爱我，我何必玷污两位佳人？你们若爱我，又何必害死我这个狂妄的书生？”两个女子相互看了看，都受到感动，从此不再那么厉害地捉弄他。不过，她们偶尔还是会把手伸进他的怀里，或把他的裤子拉到地上，他也听之任之，不觉得奇怪。
As the days went on they grew familiar with him, sat with him and talked freely. He asked their names. “I am Qiurong, of the Qiao family,” said the elder, “and she is Xiaoxie, of the Ruan family.” He went on to ask where they came from. Xiaoxie laughed. “Silly man! You don’t even dare give yourself to us — who wants you asking about our families, as if you meant to marry?” Tao grew serious. “Face to face with such beauty, how could I feel nothing? But the breath of the dead kills any man it touches. If you don’t like living with me, you can go; if you do, you can stay in peace. If you don’t love me, why should I sully two lovely girls? If you do love me, why should you be the death of a mad scholar?” The two girls looked at each other, moved. From then on they did not torment him so much; but now and then they would slip a hand inside his clothes, or pull his trousers down to the floor, and he let it pass without minding.
一日，錄書未卒業而出，返則小謝伏案頭，操管代錄。見生，擲筆睨笑。近視之，雖劣不成書，而行列疏整。生贊曰：「卿雅人也！苟樂此，僕教卿為之。」乃擁諸懷，把腕而教之畫。秋容自外入，色乍變，意似妒。小謝笑曰：「童時嘗從父學書，久不作，遂如夢寐。」秋容不語。生喻其意，偽為不覺者，遂抱而授以筆，曰：「我視卿能此否？」作數字而起，曰：「秋娘大好筆力！」秋容乃喜。生於是折兩紙為範，俾共臨摹；生另一燈讀。竊喜其各有所事，不相侵擾。倣畢，祗立几前，聽生月旦。秋容素不解讀，塗鴉不可辨認，花判已，自顧不如小謝，有慚色。生獎慰之，顏始霽。二女由此師事生，坐為抓背，臥為按股，不惟不敢侮，爭媚之。
有一天，陶望三抄書還沒抄完就出去了，回來時，見小謝伏在桌前，拿著筆替他抄寫。見他回來，她便放下筆，斜眼看著他笑。他走近細看，字寫得雖差，幾乎不成樣子，行列卻疏密整齊。他稱讚道：「你真是個有雅趣的人！要是喜歡這個，我就教你寫。」於是把她摟在懷裡，握著她的手腕，教她寫筆畫。秋容從外面進來，臉色忽然變了，像是在嫉妒。小謝笑著說：「小時候，我曾跟父親學過寫字，許久沒寫，學過的東西都像夢裡記得的一樣模糊了。」秋容不說話。陶望三明白她的心思，卻裝作沒有察覺，便也把她抱在懷裡，將筆遞給她，說：「我看看你會不會寫。」秋容寫了幾個字，便站了起來。他說：「秋娘的字寫得很有力！」秋容這才高興。陶望三於是摺好兩張紙，寫上字作為範本，讓她們一起臨摹，自己另點一盞燈讀書。他暗自高興，覺得她們各自有事做，就不會來打擾自己了。臨摹完畢，她們恭敬地站在桌前，聽他評說。秋容原本不識字，寫出來的字亂七八糟，無法辨認。他圈點評過以後，秋容自己看出比不上小謝，臉上露出羞愧的神色。他誇獎、安慰她，她才重新露出笑容。從此，兩個女子把他當老師侍奉。他坐著，她們替他撓背；他躺著，她們替他按摩腿。不但不敢戲弄他，還爭著討他歡心。
一日，录书未卒业而出，返则小谢伏案头，操管代录。见生，掷笔睨笑。近视之，虽劣不成书，而行列疏整。生赞曰：「卿雅人也！苟乐此，仆教卿为之。」乃拥诸怀，把腕而教之画。秋容自外入，色乍变，意似妒。小谢笑曰：「童时尝从父学书，久不作，遂如梦寐。」秋容不语。生喻其意，伪为不觉者，遂抱而授以笔，曰：「我视卿能此否？」作数字而起，曰：「秋娘大好笔力！」秋容乃喜。生于是折两纸为范，俾共临摹；生另一灯读。窃喜其各有所事，不相侵扰。倣毕，祗立几前，听生月旦。秋容素不解读，涂鸦不可辨认，花判已，自顾不如小谢，有惭色。生奖慰之，颜始霁。二女由此师事生，坐为抓背，卧为按股，不惟不敢侮，争媚之。
有一天，陶望三抄书还没抄完就出去了，回来时，见小谢伏在桌前，拿着笔替他抄写。见他回来，她便放下笔，斜眼看着他笑。他走近细看，字写得虽差，几乎不成样子，行列却疏密整齐。他称赞道：“你真是个有雅趣的人！要是喜欢这个，我就教你写。”于是把她搂在怀里，握着她的手腕，教她写笔画。秋容从外面进来，脸色忽然变了，像是在嫉妒。小谢笑着说：“小时候，我曾跟父亲学过写字，许久没写，学过的东西都像梦里记得的一样模糊了。”秋容不说话。陶望三明白她的心思，却装作没有察觉，便也把她抱在怀里，将笔递给她，说：“我看看你会不会写。”秋容写了几个字，便站了起来。他说：“秋娘的字写得很有力！”秋容这才高兴。陶望三于是折好两张纸，写上字作为范本，让她们一起临摹，自己另点一盏灯读书。他暗自高兴，觉得她们各自有事做，就不会来打扰自己了。临摹完毕，她们恭敬地站在桌前，听他评说。秋容原本不识字，写出来的字乱七八糟，无法辨认。他圈点评过以后，秋容自己看出比不上小谢，脸上露出羞愧的神色。他夸奖、安慰她，她才重新露出笑容。从此，两个女子把他当老师侍奉。他坐着，她们替他挠背；他躺着，她们替他按摩腿。不但不敢戏弄他，还争着讨他欢心。
One day Tao went out before he had finished copying something, and when he came back he found Xiaoxie bent over the desk, brush in hand, copying it for him. When she saw him, she threw down the brush and looked at him sidelong with a smile. He looked closely: the writing was poor, hardly proper characters, but the columns were neatly spaced. “You have refined tastes, my dear!” he said admiringly. “If you enjoy this, I will teach you.” He took her on his lap and, holding her wrist, taught her to make the strokes. Qiurong came in from outside, and her face changed; she seemed jealous. Xiaoxie laughed. “When I was little I learned to write from my father. I haven’t done it for so long that it’s like a dream.” Qiurong said nothing. Tao understood how she felt, but pretended not to notice. He took her on his lap too and gave her the brush. “Let me see whether you can do this.” She wrote a few characters and got up. “What a strong hand, Qiuniang!” said Tao, and Qiurong was pleased. Then Tao folded two sheets of paper as models and had them both copy them, while he read by another lamp. He was secretly glad that they each had something to do and left him in peace. When they had finished copying, they stood respectfully before the desk to hear his verdict. Qiurong had never learned to read, and her scrawl was illegible. When he had marked their work, she saw she was not as good as Xiaoxie and looked ashamed. Tao praised and comforted her, and at last her face cleared. From then on the two girls treated Tao as their teacher. When he sat, they scratched his back; when he lay down, they rubbed his legs. Far from daring to tease him, they vied to please him.