馬二混，居青州東門內，以貨麵為業。家貧，無婦，與母共作苦。一日，媼獨居，忽有美人來，年可十六七，椎布甚樸，而光華照人。媼驚顧窮詰。女笑曰：「我以賢郎誠篤，願委身母家。」媼益驚曰：「娘子天人，有此一言，則折我母子數年壽！」女固請之。意必為侯門亡人，拒益力。女乃去。越三日，復來，留連不去。問其姓氏，曰：「母肯納我，我乃言；不然，固無庸問。」媼曰：「貧賤傭保骨，得婦如此，不稱亦不祥。」女笑坐床頭，戀戀殊殷。媼辭之，言：「娘子宜速去，勿相禍。」女乃出門，媼視之西去。又數日，西巷中呂媼來，謂母曰：「鄰女董蕙芳，孤而無依，自願為賢郎婦，胡弗納？」母以所疑慮具白之。呂曰：「烏有此耶？如有乖謬，咎在老身。」母大喜，諾之。呂既去，媼掃室布席，將待子歸往娶之。日將暮，女飄然自至。入室參母，起拜盡禮。告媼曰：「妾有兩婢，未得母命，不敢進也。」媼曰：「我母子守窮廬，不解役婢僕。日得蠅頭利，僅足自給。今增新婦一人，嬌嫩坐食，尚恐不充飽；益之二婢，豈吸風所能活耶？」女笑曰：「婢來，亦不費母度支，皆能自得食。」問：「婢何在？」女乃呼：「秋月、秋松！」聲未及已，忽如飛鳥墮，二婢已立於前。即令伏地叩母。既而馬歸，母迎告之。馬喜。入室，見翠棟雕梁，侔於宮殿；中之几屏簾幙，光耀奪視。驚極，不敢入。女下床迎笑，睹之若仙。益駭，卻退。女挽之，坐與溫語。馬喜出非分，形神若不相屬。即起，欲出行沽。女止曰：勿須。」因命二婢治具。秋月出一革袋，執向扉後，格格撼擺之。已而以手探入，壺盛酒，柈盛炙，觸類熏騰。飲已而寢，則花罽錦裀，溫膩非常。天明出門，則茅廬依舊。母子共奇之。媼詣呂所，將跡所由。入門，先謝其媒合之德。呂訝云：「久不拜訪，何鄰女之曾託乎？」媼益疑，具言端委。呂大駭，即同媼來視新婦。女笑逆之，極道作合之義。呂見其惠麗，愕眙良久，即亦不辨，唯唯而已。女贈白木搔具一事，曰：「無以報德，姑奉此為姥姥爬背耳。」呂受以歸，審視則化為白金。馬自得婦，頓更舊業，門戶一新。笥中貂錦無數，任馬取著；而出室門，則為布素，但輕煖耳。女所自衣亦然。積四五年，忽曰：「我謫降人間十餘載，因與子有緣，遂暫留止。今別矣。」馬苦留之。女曰：「請別擇良偶，以承廬墓。我歲月當一至焉。」忽不見。馬乃娶秦氏。後三年，七夕，夫妻方共語，女忽入，笑曰：「新偶良懽，不念故人耶？」馬驚起，愴然曳坐，便道衷曲。女曰：「我適送織女渡河，乘間一相望耳。」兩相依依，語無休止。忽空際有人呼「蕙芳」，女急起作別。馬問其誰。曰：「余適同雙成姊來，彼不耐久伺矣。」馬送之。女曰：「子壽八旬，至期，我來收爾骨。」言已，遂逝。今馬六十餘矣。其人但樸訥，無他長。
馬二混住在青州東門裡面，以賣麵粉為生。家裡貧窮，沒有妻子，與母親一起辛苦勞作。一天，母親獨自在家，忽然來了一個美麗女子，年紀約十六七歲，梳著簡單的髮髻，穿著粗布衣服，十分樸素，卻容光照人。老婦人驚訝地看著她，仔細追問來意。女子笑著說：「我覺得您的兒子誠實厚道，願意嫁到您家來。」老婦人更加驚訝，說：「姑娘像天上的仙人，你說出這樣的話，可要折掉我們母子好幾年的壽命！」女子堅持請求。老婦人認定她一定是從顯貴人家逃出來的，因此拒絕得更加堅決，女子便走了。過了三天，她又來，留戀著不肯離去。問她姓名，她說：「母親肯接納我，我才說；不然，也沒有必要問了。」老婦人說：「我們是貧窮卑賤、給人做工的命，得到你這樣的媳婦，不相稱，也不吉利。」女子笑著坐在床頭，對這裡十分依戀。老婦人辭謝，說：「姑娘應該趕快離開，別給我們招來禍患。」女子這才出門，老婦人看著她向西走去。又過了幾天，西巷裡的呂老婦人來對馬母說：「我鄰居有個姑娘，叫董蕙芳，孤苦無依，自願嫁給你的兒子，你為什麼不接納？」馬母把自己的疑慮一一告訴她。呂老婦人說：「哪有這種事？如果有什麼差錯，都由我負責。」馬母大喜，答應了。呂老婦人走後，馬母打掃房間，鋪好席子，準備等兒子回來，再去迎娶。天快黑時，女子獨自輕盈地來了。她進屋拜見母親，起身跪拜，禮數週全。她對老婦人說：「我有兩個婢女，沒有得到母親的允許，不敢讓她們進來。」老婦人說：「我們母子守著這間窮屋子，不懂得使喚婢女僕人。每天掙一點微薄的利潤，僅夠自己生活。如今添了一個嬌嫩的媳婦，不做活也要吃飯，我還怕養不飽；再添兩個婢女，難道她們喝西北風就能活嗎？」女子笑著說：「婢女來了，也不用母親花錢，她們都能自己弄到吃的。」老婦人問：「婢女在哪裡？」女子便喊：「秋月、秋松！」話音還沒落，兩個婢女已像飛鳥落下一樣，忽然站在面前。女子讓她們伏在地上，向母親叩頭。不久，馬二混回來，母親迎上去告訴了他。他很高興。來到房門前，卻看見翠綠的棟柱、雕花的梁木，宛如宮殿，裡面的桌案、屏風、簾子和帷幕，光彩耀眼。他驚訝極了，不敢進去。女子下床，笑著來迎接，看著就像仙人。他更加害怕，向後退去。女子拉住他，讓他坐下，溫柔地與他說話。這份喜悅遠遠超出了馬二混的想望，他恍惚得彷彿身子與心神不在一起。他隨即起身，想出門買酒。女子阻止說：「不用了。」便吩咐兩個婢女準備酒菜。秋月拿出一個皮袋，提到門後，搖得格格作響。隨後伸手進去，取出裝著酒的壺、盛著烤肉的盤，各樣食物都熱氣騰騰。喝完酒，兩人便睡下，床上鋪著花紋毛毯和錦緞褥子，溫暖柔軟得非同尋常。天亮後走出房門，外面仍是原來的茅屋。母子倆都覺得奇怪。老婦人到呂老婦人家，想弄清事情的來由。進門後，她先感謝對方說媒的恩情。呂老婦人驚訝地說：「我很久沒去看你了，哪裡有什麼鄰家姑娘托我說媒？」馬母更加疑惑，把事情從頭到尾講了一遍。呂老婦人大驚，立即跟著她來看新媳婦。女子笑著迎上來，反覆感謝她撮合婚事的情義。呂老婦人見她聰慧美麗，驚愕地看了很久，也就不再分辯，只是連聲答應。女子送她一件白木做的癢癢撓，說：「沒有什麼可以報答您的恩情，暫且送這個給姥姥撓背吧。」呂老婦人拿回家，仔細一看，卻變成了銀子。馬二混娶妻以後，立即不再做原來的營生，家中面貌煥然一新。箱子裡有數不清的貂皮和錦緞衣服，任他取來穿；可是走出房門，就變成了素色布衣，只是輕便暖和。女子自己穿的衣服也是如此。過了四五年，她忽然說：「我被貶到人間十多年了，因為與你有緣，才暫時留在這裡。如今要分別了。」馬二混苦苦挽留。女子說：「請另外娶個好妻子，好照管家業和祖墳。我隔些時候，會來一次。」說完，忽然不見了。馬二混便娶了秦氏。三年後的一天，正是七夕，夫妻倆正在一起說話，女子忽然進來，笑著說：「和新妻子過得這麼歡喜，就不想念舊人了嗎？」馬二混驚得站起來，悲傷地拉她坐下，訴說心裡的思念。女子說：「我剛送織女過河，趁著空閒來看你一眼。」兩人依依不捨，說個不停。忽然空中有人喊「蕙芳」，女子急忙起身告別。馬二混問是誰，她說：「我剛才和雙成姐姐一起來，她等得不耐煩了。」馬二混送她出去。女子說：「你能活到八十歲。到了那時，我來收你的遺骨。」說完就走了。如今馬二混已經六十多歲，為人只是質樸寡言，沒有別的長處。
马二混，居青州东门内，以货面为业。家贫，无妇，与母共作苦。一日，媪独居，忽有美人来，年可十六七，椎布甚朴，而光华照人。媪惊顾穷诘。女笑曰：「我以贤郎诚笃，愿委身母家。」媪益惊曰：「娘子天人，有此一言，则折我母子数年寿！」女固请之。意必为侯门亡人，拒益力。女乃去。越三日，复来，留连不去。问其姓氏，曰：「母肯纳我，我乃言；不然，固无庸问。」媪曰：「贫贱佣保骨，得妇如此，不称亦不祥。」女笑坐床头，恋恋殊殷。媪辞之，言：「娘子宜速去，勿相祸。」女乃出门，媪视之西去。又数日，西巷中吕媪来，谓母曰：「邻女董蕙芳，孤而无依，自愿为贤郎妇，胡弗纳？」母以所疑虑具白之。吕曰：「乌有此耶？如有乖谬，咎在老身。」母大喜，诺之。吕既去，媪扫室布席，将待子归往娶之。日将暮，女飘然自至。入室参母，起拜尽礼。告媪曰：「妾有两婢，未得母命，不敢进也。」媪曰：「我母子守穷庐，不解役婢仆。日得蝇头利，仅足自给。今增新妇一人，娇嫩坐食，尚恐不充饱；益之二婢，岂吸风所能活耶？」女笑曰：「婢来，亦不费母度支，皆能自得食。」问：「婢何在？」女乃呼：「秋月、秋松！」声未及已，忽如飞鸟堕，二婢已立于前。即令伏地叩母。既而马归，母迎告之。马喜。入室，见翠栋雕梁，侔于宫殿；中之几屏帘幙，光耀夺视。惊极，不敢入。女下床迎笑，睹之若仙。益骇，却退。女挽之，坐与温语。马喜出非分，形神若不相属。即起，欲出行沽。女止曰：勿须。」因命二婢治具。秋月出一革袋，执向扉后，格格撼摆之。已而以手探入，壶盛酒，柈盛炙，触类熏腾。饮已而寝，则花罽锦裀，温腻非常。天明出门，则茅庐依旧。母子共奇之。媪诣吕所，将迹所由。入门，先谢其媒合之德。吕讶云：「久不拜访，何邻女之曾托乎？」媪益疑，具言端委。吕大骇，即同媪来视新妇。女笑逆之，极道作合之义。吕见其惠丽，愕眙良久，即亦不辨，唯唯而已。女赠白木搔具一事，曰：「无以报德，姑奉此为姥姥爬背耳。」吕受以归，审视则化为白金。马自得妇，顿更旧业，门户一新。笥中貂锦无数，任马取着；而出室门，则为布素，但轻煖耳。女所自衣亦然。积四五年，忽曰：「我谪降人间十余载，因与子有缘，遂暂留止。今别矣。」马苦留之。女曰：「请别择良偶，以承庐墓。我岁月当一至焉。」忽不见。马乃娶秦氏。后三年，七夕，夫妻方共语，女忽入，笑曰：「新偶良懽，不念故人耶？」马惊起，怆然曳坐，便道衷曲。女曰：「我适送织女渡河，乘间一相望耳。」两相依依，语无休止。忽空际有人呼「蕙芳」，女急起作别。马问其谁。曰：「余适同双成姊来，彼不耐久伺矣。」马送之。女曰：「子寿八旬，至期，我来收尔骨。」言已，遂逝。今马六十余矣。其人但朴讷，无他长。
马二混住在青州东门里面，以卖面粉为生。家里贫穷，没有妻子，与母亲一起辛苦劳作。一天，母亲独自在家，忽然来了一个美丽女子，年纪约十六七岁，梳着简单的发髻，穿着粗布衣服，十分朴素，却容光照人。老妇人惊讶地看着她，仔细追问来意。女子笑着说：“我觉得您的儿子诚实厚道，愿意嫁到您家来。”老妇人更加惊讶，说：“姑娘像天上的仙人，你说出这样的话，可要折掉我们母子好几年的寿命！”女子坚持请求。老妇人认定她一定是从显贵人家逃出来的，因此拒绝得更加坚决，女子便走了。过了三天，她又来，留恋着不肯离去。问她姓名，她说：“母亲肯接纳我，我才说；不然，也没有必要问了。”老妇人说：“我们是贫穷卑贱、给人做工的命，得到你这样的媳妇，不相称，也不吉利。”女子笑着坐在床头，对这里十分依恋。老妇人辞谢，说：“姑娘应该赶快离开，别给我们招来祸患。”女子这才出门，老妇人看着她向西走去。又过了几天，西巷里的吕老妇人来对马母说：“我邻居有个姑娘，叫董蕙芳，孤苦无依，自愿嫁给你的儿子，你为什么不接纳？”马母把自己的疑虑一一告诉她。吕老妇人说：“哪有这种事？如果有什么差错，都由我负责。”马母大喜，答应了。吕老妇人走后，马母打扫房间，铺好席子，准备等儿子回来，再去迎娶。天快黑时，女子独自轻盈地来了。她进屋拜见母亲，起身跪拜，礼数周全。她对老妇人说：“我有两个婢女，没有得到母亲的允许，不敢让她们进来。”老妇人说：“我们母子守着这间穷屋子，不懂得使唤婢女仆人。每天挣一点微薄的利润，仅够自己生活。如今添了一个娇嫩的媳妇，不做活也要吃饭，我还怕养不饱；再添两个婢女，难道她们喝西北风就能活吗？”女子笑着说：“婢女来了，也不用母亲花钱，她们都能自己弄到吃的。”老妇人问：“婢女在哪里？”女子便喊：“秋月、秋松！”话音还没落，两个婢女已像飞鸟落下一样，忽然站在面前。女子让她们伏在地上，向母亲叩头。不久，马二混回来，母亲迎上去告诉了他。他很高兴。来到房门前，却看见翠绿的栋柱、雕花的梁木，宛如宫殿，里面的桌案、屏风、帘子和帷幕，光彩耀眼。他惊讶极了，不敢进去。女子下床，笑着来迎接，看着就像仙人。他更加害怕，向后退去。女子拉住他，让他坐下，温柔地与他说话。这份喜悦远远超出了马二混的想望，他恍惚得仿佛身子与心神不在一起。他随即起身，想出门买酒。女子阻止说：“不用了。”便吩咐两个婢女准备酒菜。秋月拿出一个皮袋，提到门后，摇得格格作响。随后伸手进去，取出装着酒的壶、盛着烤肉的盘，各样食物都热气腾腾。喝完酒，两人便睡下，床上铺着花纹毛毯和锦缎褥子，温暖柔软得非同寻常。天亮后走出房门，外面仍是原来的茅屋。母子俩都觉得奇怪。老妇人到吕老妇人家，想弄清事情的来由。进门后，她先感谢对方说媒的恩情。吕老妇人惊讶地说：“我很久没去看你了，哪里有什么邻家姑娘托我说媒？”马母更加疑惑，把事情从头到尾讲了一遍。吕老妇人大惊，立即跟着她来看新媳妇。女子笑着迎上来，反复感谢她撮合婚事的情义。吕老妇人见她聪慧美丽，惊愕地看了很久，也就不再分辩，只是连声答应。女子送她一件白木做的痒痒挠，说：“没有什么可以报答您的恩情，暂且送这个给姥姥挠背吧。”吕老妇人拿回家，仔细一看，却变成了银子。马二混娶妻以后，立即不再做原来的营生，家中面貌焕然一新。箱子里有数不清的貂皮和锦缎衣服，任他取来穿；可是走出房门，就变成了素色布衣，只是轻便暖和。女子自己穿的衣服也是如此。过了四五年，她忽然说：“我被贬到人间十多年了，因为与你有缘，才暂时留在这里。如今要分别了。”马二混苦苦挽留。女子说：“请另外娶个好妻子，好照管家业和祖坟。我隔些时候，会来一次。”说完，忽然不见了。马二混便娶了秦氏。三年后的一天，正是七夕，夫妻俩正在一起说话，女子忽然进来，笑着说：“和新妻子过得这么欢喜，就不想念旧人了吗？”马二混惊得站起来，悲伤地拉她坐下，诉说心里的思念。女子说：“我刚送织女过河，趁着空闲来看你一眼。”两人依依不舍，说个不停。忽然空中有人喊“蕙芳”，女子急忙起身告别。马二混问是谁，她说：“我刚才和双成姐姐一起来，她等得不耐烦了。”马二混送她出去。女子说：“你能活到八十岁。到了那时，我来收你的遗骨。”说完就走了。如今马二混已经六十多岁，为人只是质朴寡言，没有别的长处。
Ma Erhun lived just inside the east gate of Qingzhou and made his living selling flour. He was poor and had no wife, and he and his mother toiled hard together. One day, when the old woman was home alone, a beautiful girl suddenly appeared. She was about sixteen or seventeen, her hair in a plain knot and her clothes of coarse cloth, very simple, yet she was radiant. The old woman stared at her in alarm and questioned her closely. The girl smiled. “Your son is honest and true,” she said, “so I wish to give myself to your family.” The old woman was more alarmed than ever. “Miss, you are a lady out of heaven. Just to hear such words will cost my son and me years off our lives!” The girl pressed her. The old woman, sure she must be a runaway from some noble house, refused all the more firmly, and the girl went away. Three days later she came again and lingered on, unwilling to leave. Asked her name, she said, “If you will take me in, Mother, I will tell you. If not, there is no need to ask.” “We are poor folk with the bones of hired drudges,” said the old woman. “A wife like you would not fit us, and it would bring bad luck.” The girl only smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, clinging to them with the warmest affection. The old woman turned her away. “You had better leave at once, miss. Don’t bring trouble on us.” So the girl went out of the door, and the old woman watched her go off to the west. A few days later old Mrs. Lü from the west lane came and said to Ma’s mother, “There’s a neighbour girl of mine, Dong Huifang, an orphan with no one to turn to. She wants to marry your son of her own accord. Why won’t you take her?” The mother told her all her doubts. “There’s nothing of the kind!” said Mrs. Lü. “If anything goes amiss, the blame is mine.” The mother was overjoyed and agreed. When Mrs. Lü had gone, the old woman swept the room and spread the mats, meaning to wait for her son to come home and go to fetch the bride. Toward evening the girl came drifting in by herself. She went in to pay her respects to the mother, bowing with full ceremony. “I have two maids,” she told the old woman. “Without your word, Mother, they dare not come in.” “My son and I keep a poor hut,” said the old woman. “We know nothing about ordering maids and servants. Each day we make a profit the size of a fly’s head, just enough to keep ourselves. Now we have a new bride as well, a delicate thing who sits and eats, and I’m afraid even she won’t get her fill. Add two maids — can they live on the wind?” The girl laughed. “If they come, they won’t cost you anything, Mother. They can all find their own food.” “Where are they?” asked the old woman. The girl called, “Qiuyue! Qiusong!” Before her voice had died away, something dropped like birds out of the sky, and the two maids were standing before them. She had them go down on the ground and knock their heads to the mother. Presently Ma came home, and his mother met him with the news. Ma was delighted. He came to the room and saw green rafters and carved beams fit for a palace, and inside, tables, screens, curtains and hangings so bright they dazzled him. Astounded, he dared not go in. The girl got down from the bed and came to meet him, smiling; she looked like an immortal. More frightened than ever, he backed away. She took hold of him, sat him down and talked to him tenderly. Ma’s joy was more than he had any right to; his body and his wits seemed to have parted company. He got up at once to go out and buy wine. The girl stopped him. “There’s no need.” She told the two maids to set out a meal. Qiuyue brought out a leather bag, took it behind the door, and shook it with a rattle and clatter. Then she reached in: jugs of wine, plates of roast meat — whatever she touched came out steaming. When they had drunk they went to bed, on flowered rugs and brocade mattresses, warm and soft beyond anything. At dawn Ma went out of the door, and there stood the thatched hut just as before. Mother and son marvelled at it together. The old woman went to Mrs. Lü’s house, meaning to get to the bottom of it. As soon as she was through the door she thanked her for her kindness in making the match. Mrs. Lü was taken aback. “I haven’t called on you in a long while. What neighbour girl ever asked me anything?” The old woman, more puzzled still, told her the whole story from start to finish. Mrs. Lü was astounded and went back with her at once to see the bride. The girl met her smiling and thanked her warmly for bringing them together. Seeing how clever and lovely she was, Mrs. Lü stared, dumbfounded, for a long time; then she did not deny it either, and only said yes, yes. The girl gave her a back-scratcher of white wood. “I have nothing to repay your kindness,” she said. “Take this for now, granny, to scratch your back.” Mrs. Lü took it home, and when she looked at it closely it had turned to silver. Once Ma had a wife, he gave up his old trade at once, and the household took on a new look. Her chests held sables and brocades without number, and Ma took and wore whatever he pleased; but once he was out of the door of her room they were plain cotton, only light and warm. It was the same with the clothes she wore herself. After four or five years she said suddenly, “I was banished down to the world of men more than ten years ago. Because you and I were fated to meet, I stayed with you for a time. Now I must leave you.” Ma begged her to stay. “Choose another good wife,” she said, “to keep up your house and the family graves. I will come once in a while.” Then all at once she was gone. So Ma took a wife from the Qin family. Three years later, on the night of the Seventh of the Seventh Month, Ma and his wife were talking together when Huifang suddenly walked in. “So happy with your new mate,” she said, smiling, “that you never think of an old friend?” Ma started up and, sick at heart, pulled her down to sit beside him and poured out everything he felt. “I have just been seeing the Weaving Maid across the River,” she said, “and took the chance to look in on you.” They clung to each other and talked without end. Suddenly someone called “Huifang!” from the empty air, and she rose hurriedly to take her leave. Ma asked who it was. “I came with my sister Shuangcheng,” she said. “She can’t wait any longer.” Ma saw her out. “You will live to eighty,” she said. “When the time comes, I will come to gather your bones.” And with that she was gone. Ma is past sixty now. He is a simple man, slow of speech, with no other gifts.