朱大興，彰德人。家富有而吝嗇已甚，非兒女婚嫁，坐無賓、廚無肉。然佻達喜漁色，色所在，冗費不惜。每夜，踰垣過村，從蕩婦眠。一夜，遇少婦獨行，知為亡者，強脅之，引與俱歸。燭之，美絕。自言「霍氏」。細致研詰。女不悅曰：「既加收齒，何必復盤察？如恐相累，不如早去。」朱不敢問，留與寢處。顧女不能安粗糲，又厭見肉臛，必燕窩或雞心、魚肚白作羹湯，始能饜飽。朱無奈，竭力奉之。又善病，日須參湯一碗。朱初不肯。女呻吟垂絕，不得已，投之，病若失。遂以為常。女衣必錦繡，數日，即厭其故。如是月餘，計費不貲，朱漸不供。女啜泣不食，求去。朱懼，又委曲承順之。每苦悶，輒令十數日一招優伶為戲；戲時，朱設凳簾外，抱兒坐觀之。女亦無喜容，數相誚罵，朱亦不甚分解。居二年，家漸落。向女婉言，求少減；女許之，用度皆損其半。久之，仍不給，女亦以肉糜相安；又漸而不珍亦御矣。朱竊喜。忽一夜，啟後扉亡去。朱怊悵若失；遍訪之，乃知在鄰村何氏家。何大姓，世冑也，豪縱好客，燈火達旦。忽有麗人，半夜入閨闥。詰之，則朱家之逃妾也。朱為人，何素藐之；又悅女美，竟納焉。綢繆數日，益惑之，窮極奢欲，供奉一如朱。朱得耗，坐索之，何殊不為意。朱質於官。官以其姓名來歷不明，置不理。朱貨產行賕，乃准拘質。女謂何曰：「妾在朱家，原非采禮媒定者，胡畏之？」何喜，將與質成。座客顧生諫曰：「收納逋逃，已干國紀；況此女入門，日費無度，即千金之家，何能久也？」何大悟，罷訟，以女歸朱。過一二日，女又逃。有黃生者，故貧士，無偶。女叩扉入，自言所來。黃見豔麗忽投，驚懼不知所為。黃素懷刑，固卻之。女不去。應對間，嬌婉無那。黃心動，留之；而慮其不能安貧。女早起，躬操家苦，劬勞過舊室。黃為人蘊藉瀟灑，工於內媚，因恨相得之晚。止恐風聲漏洩，為歡不久。而朱自訟後，家益貧；又度女終不能安，遂置不究。女從黃數歲，親愛甚篤。一日，忽欲歸寧，要黃御送之。黃曰：「向言無家，何前後之舛？」曰：「曩漫言之。妾鎮江人。昔從蕩子，流落江湖，遂至於此。妾家頗裕，君竭貲而往，必無相虧。」黃從其言，賃輿同去。至揚州境，泊舟江際。女適凭窗，有巨商子過，驚其豔，反舟綴之，而黃不知也。女忽曰：「君家綦貧，今有一療貧之法，不知能從否？」黃詰之。女曰：「妾相從數年，未能為君育男女，亦一不了事。妾雖陋，幸未老耄，有能以千金相贈者，便鬻妾去，此中妻室、田廬皆備焉。此計如何？」黃失色，不知何故。女笑曰：「君勿急，天下固多佳人，誰肯以千金買妾者。其戲言於外，以覘其有無。賣不賣，固自在君耳。」黃不肯。女自與榜人婦言之，婦目黃，黃漫應焉。婦去無幾，返言：「鄰舟有商人子，願出八百。」黃故搖首以難之。未幾，復來，便言如命，即請過船交兌。黃微哂。女曰：「教渠姑待，我囑黃郎，即令去。」女謂黃曰：「妾日以千金之軀事君，今始知耶？」黃問：「以何詞遣之？」女曰：「請即往署券，去不去固自在我耳。」黃不可。女逼促之，黃不得已，詣焉。立刻兌付。黃令封誌之，曰：「遂以貧故，竟果如此，遽相割捨。倘室人必不肯從，仍以原金璧趙。」方運金至舟，女已從榜人婦從船尾登商舟，遙顧作別，並無悽戀。黃驚魂離舍，嗌不能言。俄商舟解纜，去如箭激。黃大號，欲追傍之，榜人不從，開舟南渡矣。瞬息達鎮江，運貲上岸。榜人急解舟去。黃守裝悶坐，無所適歸，望江水之滔滔，如萬鏑之叢體。方掩泣間，忽聞姣聲呼「黃郎」。愕然四顧，則女已在前途。喜極，負裝從之。問：「卿何遽得來？」女笑曰：「再遲數刻，則君有疑心矣。」黃乃疑其非常，固詰其情。女笑曰：「妾生平於吝者則破之，於邪者則誑之也。若實與君謀，君必不肯，何處可致千金者？錯囊充牣，而合浦珠還，君幸足矣，窮問何為？」乃僱役荷囊，相將俱去。至水門內，一宅南向，逕入。俄而翁媼男婦，紛出相迎，皆曰：「黃郎來也！」黃入參公姥。有兩少年，揖坐與語，是女兄弟，大郎、三郎也。筵間味無多品，玉柈四枚，方几已滿。雞蟹鵝魚，皆臠切為箇。少年以巨椀行酒，談吐豪放。已而導入別院，俾夫婦同處。衾枕滑耎，而床則以熟革代棕藤焉。日有婢媼饋致三餐，女或時竟日不出。黃獨居悶苦，屢言歸，女固止之。一日，謂黃曰：「今為君謀：請買一人，為子嗣計。然買婢媵則價奢；當偽為妾也兄者，使父與論婚，良家子不難致。」黃不可，女弗聽。有張貢士之女新寡，議聘金百緡，女強為娶之。新婦小名阿美，頗婉妙。女嫂呼之；黃瑟踧不安，而女殊坦坦。他日，謂黃曰：「妾將與大姊至南海一省阿姨，月餘可返，請夫婦安居。」遂去。夫妻獨居一院，按時給飲食，亦甚隆備。然自入門後，曾無一人復至其室。每晨，阿美入覲媼，一兩言輒退。娣姒在旁，惟相視一笑。既流連久坐，亦不款曲，黃見翁，亦如之。偶值諸郎聚語，黃至，既都寂然。黃疑悶莫可告語。阿美覺之，詰曰：「君既與諸郎伯仲，何以月來都如生客？」黃倉猝不能對，吃吃而言曰：「我十年於外，今始歸耳。」美又細審翁姑閥閱，及妯娌里居。黃大窘，不能復隱，底里盡露。女泣曰：「妾家雖貧，無作賤媵者，無怪諸宛若鄙不齒數矣！」黃惶怖莫知籌計，惟長跪一聽女命。美收涕挽之，轉請所處。黃曰：「僕何敢他謀，計惟孑身自去耳。」女曰：「既嫁復歸，於情何忍？渠雖先從，私也；妾雖後至，公也。不如姑俟其歸，問彼既出此謀，將何以置妾也？」居數月，女竟不返。一夜，聞客舍喧飲，黃潛往窺之，見二客戎裝上坐：一人裹豹皮巾，凜若天神；東首一人，以虎頭革作兜牟，虎口啣額，鼻耳悉具焉。驚異而返，以告阿美，竟莫測霍父子何人。夫妻疑懼，謀欲僦寓他所，又恐生其猜度。黃曰：「實告卿：即南海人還，折證已定，僕亦不能家此也。今欲攜卿去，又恐尊大人別有異言。不如姑別，二年中當復至。卿能待，待之；如欲他適，亦自任也。」阿美欲告父母而從之，黃不可。阿美流涕，要以信誓，乃別而歸。黃入辭翁姑。時諸郎皆他出，翁挽留以待其歸，黃不聽而行。登舟淒然，形神喪失。至瓜州，忽回首見片帆來，駛如飛；漸近，則船頭按劍而坐者，霍大郎也。遙謂曰：「君欲遄返，胡再不謀？遺夫人去，二三年，誰能相待也？」言次，舟已逼近。阿美自舟中出，大郎挽登黃舟，跳身逕去。先是，阿美既歸，方向父母泣訴，忽大郎將輿登門，按劍相脅，逼女風走。一家慴息，莫敢遮問。女述其狀，黃不解何意，而得美良喜，開舟遂發。至家，出貲營業，頗稱富有。
阿美常懸念父母，欲黃一往探之；又恐以霍女來，嫡庶復有參差。
居無何，張翁訪至，見屋宇修整，心頗慰。謂女曰：「汝出門後，遂詣霍家探問，見門戶已扃，第主亦不之知，半年竟無消息。汝母日夜零涕，謂被奸人賺去，不知流離何所。今幸無恙耶？」黃實告以情，因相猜為神。後阿美生子，取名仙賜。至十餘歲，母遣詣鎮江，至揚州界，休於旅舍，從者皆出。有女子來，挽兒入他室，下簾，抱諸膝上，笑問何名。兒告之。問：「取名何義？」答云：「不知。」女曰：「歸問汝父當自知。」乃為挽髻，自摘髻上花代簪之；出金釧束腕上。又以黃金內袖，曰：「將去買書讀。」兒問其誰，曰：「兒不知更有一母耶？歸告汝父：朱大興死無棺木，當助之，勿忘也。」老僕歸舍，失少主；尋至他室，聞與人語，窺之，則故主母。簾外微嗽，將有咨白。女推兒榻上，恍惚已杳。問之舍主，並無知者。數日，自鎮江歸，語黃，又出所贈。黃感歎不已。及詢朱，則死裁三日，露尸未葬，厚恤之。
朱大興是彰德人，家裡很富有，卻吝嗇到了極點。除非兒女婚嫁，否則家裡沒有客人，廚房裡也沒有肉。然而，他輕浮放蕩，喜歡追逐女色，只要有美色可求，多花多少錢也不心疼。他每晚翻牆穿村，去和淫蕩的婦人過夜。一天夜裡，他遇見一個獨自行走的少婦，知道她是逃出來的，便強行威脅她，把她帶回了家。在燭光下看去，她美得無與倫比。她說自己姓霍。朱大興細細追問她的來歷，她不高興地說：「既然已經收留了我，何必再盤問？如果怕我連累你，不如讓我早點走。」朱大興不敢再問，留下她一起生活。可是，她吃不慣粗糧，又嫌棄肉湯，非得用燕窩，或者雞心、魚肚清燉成湯，才肯吃飽。朱大興沒有辦法，只得盡力供給。她還常常生病，每天要喝一碗人參湯。朱大興起初不肯，她便呻吟著，像是快要斷氣了。他不得已給她喝了人參湯，病就像一下子消失了似的。此後，每天喝人參湯便成了慣例。她穿的衣服一定要是錦繡，穿上幾天就嫌舊了。這樣過了一個多月，花費已經難以計算，朱大興漸漸供給不起。她就哭哭啼啼，不肯吃飯，要求離開。朱大興害怕了，又曲意順從她。她每逢煩悶，就要他每隔十幾天請一班戲子來唱戲。唱戲時，朱大興把凳子放在簾外，抱著孩子坐在那裡看。她仍然沒有高興的樣子，常常譏諷責罵他，朱大興也不怎麼辯解。過了兩年，家業漸漸衰敗。朱大興婉言求她稍微節省些，她答應了，各項開支都減去一半。過了一段時間，仍然供給不起，她也肯安心吃肉粥了，後來連不精美的飯菜也漸漸肯吃。朱大興暗自高興。不料一天夜裡，她打開後門逃走了。朱大興惆悵失落，四處打聽，才知道她在鄰村何家。何家是當地的大族，世代做官。何氏為人豪放，花錢沒有節制，又喜歡招待賓客，家裡的燈火常常一直亮到天明。一天半夜，忽然有個美人走進他的內室。一問，原來是朱家逃出來的妾。何氏向來看不起朱大興，又喜歡這女子的美貌，便把她收下了。兩人親熱了幾天，他越發迷戀她。她極盡奢侈之能事，何氏對她的供養和朱大興當初一樣。朱大興得到訊息，便去索要，何氏全不放在心上。朱大興到官府告狀，官府因為女子的姓名來歷不明，擱置不理。朱大興變賣家產，拿錢行賄，這才准許拘傳雙方到堂對質。女子對何氏說：「我在朱家，原本就不是經過送聘禮、由媒人說定才進去的，怕他做什麼？」何氏很高興，準備和朱大興對質到底。座中一位姓顧的讀書人勸他說：「收留逃走的人，已經違反國法了。何況這女子進門以後，每天花錢毫無節制，即使有千金家產，又能支撐多久？」何氏這才醒悟，停止爭訟，把女子送回朱家。過了一兩天，女子又逃走了。有個黃生，本是貧窮的讀書人，沒有妻子。女子敲開他的門，走進去，把自己的來歷告訴了他。黃生見這樣一個美人突然投奔自己，又驚又怕，不知道該怎麼辦。他一向畏懼刑罰，堅決拒絕收留她，女子卻不肯走。交談之間，她嬌柔婉轉，叫人無法抗拒。黃生動了心，便留下她，但又擔心她不能安於貧困。女子每天早起，親自操持家中辛苦的事務，比多年持家的妻子還要勤勞。黃生為人溫文灑脫，又善於在床笫間討她歡心，兩人只恨相識太晚。他們只是怕訊息洩露，美好的日子不能長久。然而朱大興打官司以後，家裡越發貧窮，又料想女子終究不能安心留下，便不再追究。女子跟隨黃生過了幾年，兩人十分親愛。一天，她忽然想回孃家探望父母，要黃生送她去。黃生說：「你從前說沒有家，怎麼前後不一致？」她說：「從前不過是隨口說說。我是鎮江人，早年跟著一個浪蕩子，四處流落，才到了這裡。我家裡頗有錢財，你就是花光積蓄到那裡去，也一定不會吃虧。」黃生聽從她的話，租了轎子，兩人一起出發。到了揚州境內，船停在江邊。女子恰好靠著窗，有個富商的兒子經過，驚歎她的美貌，便掉轉船頭跟著他們，黃生卻不知道。女子忽然說：「你家裡實在太窮了，如今有個擺脫貧困的辦法，不知道你願不願意照著做？」黃生問是什麼辦法。女子說：「我跟著你過了幾年，沒能給你生下一男半女，也是一件沒辦成的事。我雖然長得不好，幸而還沒有老。要是有人肯給一千兩銀子，你就把我賣掉，妻子、田地、房屋，都可以用這筆錢置辦。這個主意怎麼樣？」黃生臉色變了，不知道她為什麼這樣說。女子笑著說：「你彆著急，天下本來就有許多美人，誰肯花一千兩銀子買我？不妨在外面當作玩笑說說，看有沒有人肯買。賣不賣，本來還是由你決定。」黃生不肯。女子便親自把這話告訴船伕的妻子。船伕的妻子看著黃生，黃生隨口應了一聲。她去了沒多久，回來告訴他們：「鄰船有個商人的兒子，願意出八百兩。」黃生故意搖頭，想讓對方知難而退。不久，她又來了，說對方願意照他們要的價錢付錢，請黃生過船交割。黃生微微一笑。女子說：「叫他先等著，我囑咐黃郎幾句話，就讓他過去。」她對黃生說：「我每天用這價值千兩銀子的身子服侍你，你今天才知道嗎？」黃生問：「該用什麼話打發他？」女子說：「你只管去籤契約，去不去，本來還由我決定。」黃生不同意。女子催逼他，他不得已，便去了。對方當場付清銀子。黃生叫人把銀子封好，做上記號，說：「竟然因為貧窮，真的到了這種地步，要這樣突然割捨夫妻情分。倘若我妻子堅決不肯跟你去，我仍會把原來的銀子完整退還。」正把銀子搬回自己船上時，女子已經跟著船伕的妻子，從船尾登上商人的船。她遠遠回頭告別，沒有一點悲傷留戀。黃生驚得魂不守舍，喉嚨堵住，說不出話來。片刻後，商船解開纜繩，像箭一樣駛去。黃生放聲大哭，想追上去，船伕不肯，開船向南渡江。轉眼到了鎮江，銀子搬上岸，船伕便急忙解纜離去。黃生守著行李，悶悶地坐著，無處可去。望著滔滔江水，他只覺得像有萬支箭一齊射進身體。他正掩面哭泣，忽然聽見一個嬌柔的聲音叫「黃郎」。他驚訝地四下望去，女子已經站在前面的路上。他歡喜到了極點，背起行李跟著她走，問道：「你怎麼這麼快就來了？」女子笑著說：「再遲一會兒，你就要起疑心了。」黃生這才懷疑她不是尋常人，堅決追問實情。女子笑著說：「我一向遇到吝嗇的人，就讓他破財；遇到邪惡的人，就欺騙他。如果事先把實情告訴你，和你商量，你一定不肯，那又到哪裡去弄這一千兩銀子？如今你的錢袋裝得滿滿的，我也回到你身邊，你已經夠幸運了，何必追問到底？」於是僱人扛著錢袋，兩人一起走去。進了水門，有一所朝南的宅子，女子徑直走了進去。不一會兒，老人、男女紛紛出來迎接，都說：「黃郎來了！」黃生進去拜見女子的父母。有兩個年輕人向他作揖，請他坐下交談，原來是女子的兄弟大郎、三郎。宴席上菜餚種類不多，四隻玉盤已經擺滿了方桌。雞、蟹、鵝、魚，都切成塊。兩個年輕人用大碗勸酒，談吐豪放。吃過飯，他們把兩人領進另一處院子，讓夫妻同住。被褥枕頭光滑柔軟，床上卻用鞣製過的皮革代替棕繩和藤條。每天有婢女和老婦送來三餐，女子有時一整天都不出來。黃生獨自待著，覺得煩悶，多次說要回家，女子堅決不讓。一天，她對黃生說：「如今我替你打算，請買一個女人，考慮生兒育女的事。不過，買婢女作妾價錢太貴。你應當假裝是我的哥哥，讓父親出面給你議親，娶到良家女子並不難。」黃生不同意，女子不聽。有個張貢士的女兒剛守寡，商定聘禮是一百串錢，女子硬讓黃生娶了她。新婦小名阿美，頗為溫柔美麗。霍氏叫她嫂子，黃生侷促不安，霍氏卻十分坦然。又過了些日子，霍氏對黃生說：「我要和大姐到南海去看望姨母，一個多月就能回來。請你們夫妻安心住著。」說完便走了。黃生和阿美獨住一座院子，飲食按時送來，也很豐盛。不過，自從阿美進門以後，再沒有一個人到過他們的屋裡。每天早晨，阿美進去拜見老婦，說一兩句話便退出來。妯娌們在旁邊，只是相互看著笑。即使阿美留下來坐很久，她們也不親熱。黃生去見老翁，情形也一樣。偶爾碰上幾個兄弟聚在一起說話，黃生一到，他們便全都不作聲了。黃生疑惑煩悶，卻沒有人可以訴說。阿美察覺了，問道：「你既然和他們是兄弟，為什麼這一個月來，他們待你都像生客一樣？」黃生猝不及防，答不上來，結結巴巴地說：「我在外面十年，如今才回來。」阿美又細問公婆的家世，以及妯娌們孃家的住處。黃生十分窘迫，再也隱瞞不住，把全部實情都說了出來。阿美哭著說：「我家雖然貧窮，卻沒有給人做卑賤侍妾的。難怪那些妯娌看不起我，不肯把我當作她們中的一員！」黃生驚慌害怕，不知道怎麼辦，只能直挺挺地跪著，完全聽憑阿美處置。阿美止住眼淚，拉他起來，轉而問他打算怎麼辦。黃生說：「我哪裡敢有別的打算，只能獨自離開罷了。」阿美說：「已經嫁了人，又回孃家，於情於心怎麼忍得下？她雖然先跟了你，卻是私下結合；我雖然後到，卻是正式娶進門的。不如暫且等她回來，問問她，既然出了這個主意，打算把我放在什麼地位？」住了幾個月，霍氏始終沒有回來。一天夜裡，黃生聽見客房裡喧鬧飲酒，便悄悄過去偷看。只見兩個穿著戎裝的客人坐在上座，一人裹著豹皮頭巾，威嚴得像天神；坐在東邊的一人，用虎頭皮做成頭盔，虎口銜著額頭，鼻子、耳朵全都留著。黃生驚訝地回去，把所見告訴阿美，兩人終究猜不出霍家父子是什麼人。夫妻倆又疑惑又害怕，商量著想在別處租房住，又怕引起霍家的猜疑。黃生說：「實話告訴你，即使去南海的人回來，把名分的事情說定，我也不能在這裡安家。如今想帶你一起走，又怕你父親另有意見。不如暫且分開，兩年以內我一定回來。你能等，就等我；如果想另嫁別人，也由你決定。」阿美想告訴父母，跟他一起走，黃生不同意。阿美流著眼淚，要他鄭重發誓，隨後告別，回了孃家。黃生進去辭別老翁和老婦。當時幾個兄弟都出去了，老翁挽留他，要他等兄弟們回來，黃生不聽，走了。他上船時十分淒涼，整個人失魂落魄。到了瓜州，他忽然回頭看見一張船帆飛快駛來。漸漸近了，只見船頭坐著一個手按佩劍的人，正是霍大郎。大郎遠遠地說：「你想趕快回去，怎麼不再和我們商量？把夫人留下，走上兩三年，誰能等你那麼久？」說話間，船已經靠近。阿美從船裡出來，大郎拉著她登上黃生的船，隨即縱身跳回自己的船，徑直離去。原來，阿美回到孃家後，剛向父母哭訴，霍大郎忽然帶著轎子登門，按著劍威脅他們，逼著阿美飛快離去。一家人嚇得屏住呼吸，沒有誰敢攔阻詢問。阿美把這情形告訴黃生，黃生不明白霍大郎的用意，但能得到阿美，十分高興，便開船出發。到了家，他拿出銀子經營生意，日子過得頗為富足。阿美常常惦念父母，想讓黃生去探望一次，卻又怕他把霍氏帶回來，妻妾的名分再起爭端。沒過多久，張老翁找來了，看見房屋整齊完好，心裡很是寬慰。他對女兒說：「你出門以後，我就到霍家打聽，見大門已經鎖上，房屋主人也不知道他們的下落。半年過去，始終沒有訊息。你母親日夜流淚，說你被壞人騙走了，不知道流落在什麼地方。如今你幸而平安無事吧？」黃生把實情告訴他，大家便猜測霍家人是神仙。後來阿美生了一個兒子，取名仙賜。孩子長到十幾歲，母親讓他到鎮江去。他到了揚州境內，在旅店休息，隨行的人都出去了。有個女子過來，拉著孩子進了另一間屋子，放下簾子，把他抱在膝上，笑著問他叫什麼名字。孩子告訴了她。她問：「取這個名字是什麼意思？」孩子回答：「不知道。」女子說：「回去問你父親，自然就知道了。」她替孩子挽好髮髻，又摘下自己髮髻上的花，代替髮簪插在他的頭上，把金鐲子戴在他的手腕上。她又把黃金放進他的袖子，說：「拿去買書讀。」孩子問她是誰，她說：「你不知道自己還有一個母親嗎？回去告訴你父親，朱大興死了，沒有棺木，應當幫幫他，不要忘了。」老僕回到旅店，不見了小主人，找到另一間屋子，聽見孩子在和人說話，偷偷一看，原來是從前的女主人。他在簾外輕輕咳嗽，正想向她說話，女子卻把孩子推到榻上，轉眼便消失了。問旅店主人，也沒有人知道她的來歷。幾天後，他們從鎮江回來，把事情告訴黃生，又拿出女子所送的東西。黃生感嘆不已。等他打聽朱大興的情況，才知道朱大興剛死了三天，屍體還露在外面，沒有下葬，便拿出許多錢幫助料理他的喪事。
朱大兴，彰德人。家富有而吝啬已甚，非儿女婚嫁，坐无宾、厨无肉。然佻达喜渔色，色所在，冗费不惜。每夜，逾垣过村，从荡妇眠。一夜，遇少妇独行，知为亡者，强胁之，引与俱归。烛之，美绝。自言「霍氏」。细致研诘。女不悦曰：「既加收齿，何必复盘察？如恐相累，不如早去。」朱不敢问，留与寝处。顾女不能安粗粝，又厌见肉臛，必燕窝或鸡心、鱼肚白作羹汤，始能餍饱。朱无奈，竭力奉之。又善病，日须参汤一碗。朱初不肯。女呻吟垂绝，不得已，投之，病若失。遂以为常。女衣必锦绣，数日，即厌其故。如是月余，计费不赀，朱渐不供。女啜泣不食，求去。朱惧，又委曲承顺之。每苦闷，辄令十数日一招优伶为戏；戏时，朱设凳帘外，抱儿坐观之。女亦无喜容，数相诮骂，朱亦不甚分解。居二年，家渐落。向女婉言，求少减；女许之，用度皆损其半。久之，仍不给，女亦以肉糜相安；又渐而不珍亦御矣。朱窃喜。忽一夜，启后扉亡去。朱怊怅若失；遍访之，乃知在邻村何氏家。何大姓，世胄也，豪纵好客，灯火达旦。忽有丽人，半夜入闺闼。诘之，则朱家之逃妾也。朱为人，何素藐之；又悦女美，竟纳焉。绸缪数日，益惑之，穷极奢欲，供奉一如朱。朱得耗，坐索之，何殊不为意。朱质于官。官以其姓名来历不明，置不理。朱货产行赇，乃准拘质。女谓何曰：「妾在朱家，原非采礼媒定者，胡畏之？」何喜，将与质成。座客顾生谏曰：「收纳逋逃，已干国纪；况此女入门，日费无度，即千金之家，何能久也？」何大悟，罢讼，以女归朱。过一二日，女又逃。有黄生者，故贫士，无偶。女叩扉入，自言所来。黄见艳丽忽投，惊惧不知所为。黄素怀刑，固却之。女不去。应对间，娇婉无那。黄心动，留之；而虑其不能安贫。女早起，躬操家苦，劬劳过旧室。黄为人蕴藉潇洒，工于内媚，因恨相得之晚。止恐风声漏泄，为欢不久。而朱自讼后，家益贫；又度女终不能安，遂置不究。女从黄数岁，亲爱甚笃。一日，忽欲归宁，要黄御送之。黄曰：「向言无家，何前后之舛？」曰：「曩漫言之。妾镇江人。昔从荡子，流落江湖，遂至于此。妾家颇裕，君竭赀而往，必无相亏。」黄从其言，赁舆同去。至扬州境，泊舟江际。女适凭窗，有巨商子过，惊其艳，反舟缀之，而黄不知也。女忽曰：「君家綦贫，今有一疗贫之法，不知能从否？」黄诘之。女曰：「妾相从数年，未能为君育男女，亦一不了事。妾虽陋，幸未老耄，有能以千金相赠者，便鬻妾去，此中妻室、田庐皆备焉。此计如何？」黄失色，不知何故。女笑曰：「君勿急，天下固多佳人，谁肯以千金买妾者。其戏言于外，以觇其有无。卖不卖，固自在君耳。」黄不肯。女自与榜人妇言之，妇目黄，黄漫应焉。妇去无几，返言：「邻舟有商人子，愿出八百。」黄故摇首以难之。未几，复来，便言如命，即请过船交兑。黄微哂。女曰：「教渠姑待，我嘱黄郎，即令去。」女谓黄曰：「妾日以千金之躯事君，今始知耶？」黄问：「以何词遣之？」女曰：「请即往署券，去不去固自在我耳。」黄不可。女逼促之，黄不得已，诣焉。立刻兑付。黄令封志之，曰：「遂以贫故，竟果如此，遽相割舍。倘室人必不肯从，仍以原金璧赵。」方运金至舟，女已从榜人妇从船尾登商舟，遥顾作别，并无凄恋。黄惊魂离舍，嗌不能言。俄商舟解缆，去如箭激。黄大号，欲追傍之，榜人不从，开舟南渡矣。瞬息达镇江，运赀上岸。榜人急解舟去。黄守装闷坐，无所适归，望江水之滔滔，如万镝之丛体。方掩泣间，忽闻姣声呼「黄郎」。愕然四顾，则女已在前途。喜极，负装从之。问：「卿何遽得来？」女笑曰：「再迟数刻，则君有疑心矣。」黄乃疑其非常，固诘其情。女笑曰：「妾生平于吝者则破之，于邪者则诳之也。若实与君谋，君必不肯，何处可致千金者？错囊充牣，而合浦珠还，君幸足矣，穷问何为？」乃雇役荷囊，相将俱去。至水门内，一宅南向，径入。俄而翁媪男妇，纷出相迎，皆曰：「黄郎来也！」黄入参公姥。有两少年，揖坐与语，是女兄弟，大郎、三郎也。筵间味无多品，玉柈四枚，方几已满。鸡蟹鹅鱼，皆脔切为个。少年以巨椀行酒，谈吐豪放。已而导入别院，俾夫妇同处。衾枕滑耎，而床则以熟革代棕藤焉。日有婢媪馈致三餐，女或时竟日不出。黄独居闷苦，屡言归，女固止之。一日，谓黄曰：「今为君谋：请买一人，为子嗣计。然买婢媵则价奢；当伪为妾也兄者，使父与论婚，良家子不难致。」黄不可，女弗听。有张贡士之女新寡，议聘金百缗，女强为娶之。新妇小名阿美，颇婉妙。女嫂呼之；黄瑟踧不安，而女殊坦坦。他日，谓黄曰：「妾将与大姊至南海一省阿姨，月余可返，请夫妇安居。」遂去。夫妻独居一院，按时给饮食，亦甚隆备。然自入门后，曾无一人复至其室。每晨，阿美入觐媪，一两言辄退。娣姒在旁，惟相视一笑。既流连久坐，亦不款曲，黄见翁，亦如之。偶值诸郎聚语，黄至，既都寂然。黄疑闷莫可告语。阿美觉之，诘曰：「君既与诸郎伯仲，何以月来都如生客？」黄仓猝不能对，吃吃而言曰：「我十年于外，今始归耳。」美又细审翁姑阀阅，及妯娌里居。黄大窘，不能复隐，底里尽露。女泣曰：「妾家虽贫，无作贱媵者，无怪诸宛若鄙不齿数矣！」黄惶怖莫知筹计，惟长跪一听女命。美收涕挽之，转请所处。黄曰：「仆何敢他谋，计惟孑身自去耳。」女曰：「既嫁复归，于情何忍？渠虽先从，私也；妾虽后至，公也。不如姑俟其归，问彼既出此谋，将何以置妾也？」居数月，女竟不返。一夜，闻客舍喧饮，黄潜往窥之，见二客戎装上坐：一人裹豹皮巾，凛若天神；东首一人，以虎头革作兜牟，虎口啣额，鼻耳悉具焉。惊异而返，以告阿美，竟莫测霍父子何人。夫妻疑惧，谋欲僦寓他所，又恐生其猜度。黄曰：「实告卿：即南海人还，折证已定，仆亦不能家此也。今欲携卿去，又恐尊大人别有异言。不如姑别，二年中当复至。卿能待，待之；如欲他适，亦自任也。」阿美欲告父母而从之，黄不可。阿美流涕，要以信誓，乃别而归。黄入辞翁姑。时诸郎皆他出，翁挽留以待其归，黄不听而行。登舟凄然，形神丧失。至瓜州，忽回首见片帆来，驶如飞；渐近，则船头按剑而坐者，霍大郎也。遥谓曰：「君欲遄返，胡再不谋？遗夫人去，二三年，谁能相待也？」言次，舟已逼近。阿美自舟中出，大郎挽登黄舟，跳身径去。先是，阿美既归，方向父母泣诉，忽大郎将舆登门，按剑相胁，逼女风走。一家慴息，莫敢遮问。女述其状，黄不解何意，而得美良喜，开舟遂发。至家，出赀营业，颇称富有。
阿美常悬念父母，欲黄一往探之；又恐以霍女来，嫡庶复有参差。
居无何，张翁访至，见屋宇修整，心颇慰。谓女曰：「汝出门后，遂诣霍家探问，见门户已扃，第主亦不之知，半年竟无消息。汝母日夜零涕，谓被奸人赚去，不知流离何所。今幸无恙耶？」黄实告以情，因相猜为神。后阿美生子，取名仙赐。至十余岁，母遣诣镇江，至扬州界，休于旅舍，从者皆出。有女子来，挽儿入他室，下帘，抱诸膝上，笑问何名。儿告之。问：「取名何义？」答云：「不知。」女曰：「归问汝父当自知。」乃为挽髻，自摘髻上花代簪之；出金钏束腕上。又以黄金内袖，曰：「将去买书读。」儿问其谁，曰：「儿不知更有一母耶？归告汝父：朱大兴死无棺木，当助之，勿忘也。」老仆归舍，失少主；寻至他室，闻与人语，窥之，则故主母。帘外微嗽，将有咨白。女推儿榻上，恍惚已杳。问之舍主，并无知者。数日，自镇江归，语黄，又出所赠。黄感叹不已。及询朱，则死裁三日，露尸未葬，厚恤之。
朱大兴是彰德人，家里很富有，却吝啬到了极点。除非儿女婚嫁，否则家里没有客人，厨房里也没有肉。然而，他轻浮放荡，喜欢追逐女色，只要有美色可求，多花多少钱也不心疼。他每晚翻墙穿村，去和淫荡的妇人过夜。一天夜里，他遇见一个独自行走的少妇，知道她是逃出来的，便强行威胁她，把她带回了家。在烛光下看去，她美得无与伦比。她说自己姓霍。朱大兴细细追问她的来历，她不高兴地说：“既然已经收留了我，何必再盘问？如果怕我连累你，不如让我早点走。”朱大兴不敢再问，留下她一起生活。可是，她吃不惯粗粮，又嫌弃肉汤，非得用燕窝，或者鸡心、鱼肚清炖成汤，才肯吃饱。朱大兴没有办法，只得尽力供给。她还常常生病，每天要喝一碗人参汤。朱大兴起初不肯，她便呻吟着，像是快要断气了。他不得已给她喝了人参汤，病就像一下子消失了似的。此后，每天喝人参汤便成了惯例。她穿的衣服一定要是锦绣，穿上几天就嫌旧了。这样过了一个多月，花费已经难以计算，朱大兴渐渐供给不起。她就哭哭啼啼，不肯吃饭，要求离开。朱大兴害怕了，又曲意顺从她。她每逢烦闷，就要他每隔十几天请一班戏子来唱戏。唱戏时，朱大兴把凳子放在帘外，抱着孩子坐在那里看。她仍然没有高兴的样子，常常讥讽责骂他，朱大兴也不怎么辩解。过了两年，家业渐渐衰败。朱大兴婉言求她稍微节省些，她答应了，各项开支都减去一半。过了一段时间，仍然供给不起，她也肯安心吃肉粥了，后来连不精美的饭菜也渐渐肯吃。朱大兴暗自高兴。不料一天夜里，她打开后门逃走了。朱大兴惆怅失落，四处打听，才知道她在邻村何家。何家是当地的大族，世代做官。何氏为人豪放，花钱没有节制，又喜欢招待宾客，家里的灯火常常一直亮到天明。一天半夜，忽然有个美人走进他的内室。一问，原来是朱家逃出来的妾。何氏向来看不起朱大兴，又喜欢这女子的美貌，便把她收下了。两人亲热了几天，他越发迷恋她。她极尽奢侈之能事，何氏对她的供养和朱大兴当初一样。朱大兴得到消息，便去索要，何氏全不放在心上。朱大兴到官府告状，官府因为女子的姓名来历不明，搁置不理。朱大兴变卖家产，拿钱行贿，这才准许拘传双方到堂对质。女子对何氏说：“我在朱家，原本就不是经过送聘礼、由媒人说定才进去的，怕他做什么？”何氏很高兴，准备和朱大兴对质到底。座中一位姓顾的读书人劝他说：“收留逃走的人，已经违反国法了。何况这女子进门以后，每天花钱毫无节制，即使有千金家产，又能支撑多久？”何氏这才醒悟，停止争讼，把女子送回朱家。过了一两天，女子又逃走了。有个黄生，本是贫穷的读书人，没有妻子。女子敲开他的门，走进去，把自己的来历告诉了他。黄生见这样一个美人突然投奔自己，又惊又怕，不知道该怎么办。他一向畏惧刑罚，坚决拒绝收留她，女子却不肯走。交谈之间，她娇柔婉转，叫人无法抗拒。黄生动了心，便留下她，但又担心她不能安于贫困。女子每天早起，亲自操持家中辛苦的事务，比多年持家的妻子还要勤劳。黄生为人温文洒脱，又善于在床笫间讨她欢心，两人只恨相识太晚。他们只是怕消息泄露，美好的日子不能长久。然而朱大兴打官司以后，家里越发贫穷，又料想女子终究不能安心留下，便不再追究。女子跟随黄生过了几年，两人十分亲爱。一天，她忽然想回娘家探望父母，要黄生送她去。黄生说：“你从前说没有家，怎么前后不一致？”她说：“从前不过是随口说说。我是镇江人，早年跟着一个浪荡子，四处流落，才到了这里。我家里颇有钱财，你就是花光积蓄到那里去，也一定不会吃亏。”黄生听从她的话，租了轿子，两人一起出发。到了扬州境内，船停在江边。女子恰好靠着窗，有个富商的儿子经过，惊叹她的美貌，便掉转船头跟着他们，黄生却不知道。女子忽然说：“你家里实在太穷了，如今有个摆脱贫困的办法，不知道你愿不愿意照着做？”黄生问是什么办法。女子说：“我跟着你过了几年，没能给你生下一男半女，也是一件没办成的事。我虽然长得不好，幸而还没有老。要是有人肯给一千两银子，你就把我卖掉，妻子、田地、房屋，都可以用这笔钱置办。这个主意怎么样？”黄生脸色变了，不知道她为什么这样说。女子笑着说：“你别着急，天下本来就有许多美人，谁肯花一千两银子买我？不妨在外面当作玩笑说说，看有没有人肯买。卖不卖，本来还是由你决定。”黄生不肯。女子便亲自把这话告诉船夫的妻子。船夫的妻子看着黄生，黄生随口应了一声。她去了没多久，回来告诉他们：“邻船有个商人的儿子，愿意出八百两。”黄生故意摇头，想让对方知难而退。不久，她又来了，说对方愿意照他们要的价钱付钱，请黄生过船交割。黄生微微一笑。女子说：“叫他先等着，我嘱咐黄郎几句话，就让他过去。”她对黄生说：“我每天用这价值千两银子的身子服侍你，你今天才知道吗？”黄生问：“该用什么话打发他？”女子说：“你只管去签契约，去不去，本来还由我决定。”黄生不同意。女子催逼他，他不得已，便去了。对方当场付清银子。黄生叫人把银子封好，做上记号，说：“竟然因为贫穷，真的到了这种地步，要这样突然割舍夫妻情分。倘若我妻子坚决不肯跟你去，我仍会把原来的银子完整退还。”正把银子搬回自己船上时，女子已经跟着船夫的妻子，从船尾登上商人的船。她远远回头告别，没有一点悲伤留恋。黄生惊得魂不守舍，喉咙堵住，说不出话来。片刻后，商船解开缆绳，像箭一样驶去。黄生放声大哭，想追上去，船夫不肯，开船向南渡江。转眼到了镇江，银子搬上岸，船夫便急忙解缆离去。黄生守着行李，闷闷地坐着，无处可去。望着滔滔江水，他只觉得像有万支箭一齐射进身体。他正掩面哭泣，忽然听见一个娇柔的声音叫“黄郎”。他惊讶地四下望去，女子已经站在前面的路上。他欢喜到了极点，背起行李跟着她走，问道：“你怎么这么快就来了？”女子笑着说：“再迟一会儿，你就要起疑心了。”黄生这才怀疑她不是寻常人，坚决追问实情。女子笑着说：“我一向遇到吝啬的人，就让他破财；遇到邪恶的人，就欺骗他。如果事先把实情告诉你，和你商量，你一定不肯，那又到哪里去弄这一千两银子？如今你的钱袋装得满满的，我也回到你身边，你已经够幸运了，何必追问到底？”于是雇人扛着钱袋，两人一起走去。进了水门，有一所朝南的宅子，女子径直走了进去。不一会儿，老人、男女纷纷出来迎接，都说：“黄郎来了！”黄生进去拜见女子的父母。有两个年轻人向他作揖，请他坐下交谈，原来是女子的兄弟大郎、三郎。宴席上菜肴种类不多，四只玉盘已经摆满了方桌。鸡、蟹、鹅、鱼，都切成块。两个年轻人用大碗劝酒，谈吐豪放。吃过饭，他们把两人领进另一处院子，让夫妻同住。被褥枕头光滑柔软，床上却用鞣制过的皮革代替棕绳和藤条。每天有婢女和老妇送来三餐，女子有时一整天都不出来。黄生独自待着，觉得烦闷，多次说要回家，女子坚决不让。一天，她对黄生说：“如今我替你打算，请买一个女人，考虑生儿育女的事。不过，买婢女作妾价钱太贵。你应当假装是我的哥哥，让父亲出面给你议亲，娶到良家女子并不难。”黄生不同意，女子不听。有个张贡士的女儿刚守寡，商定聘礼是一百串钱，女子硬让黄生娶了她。新妇小名阿美，颇为温柔美丽。霍氏叫她嫂子，黄生局促不安，霍氏却十分坦然。又过了些日子，霍氏对黄生说：“我要和大姐到南海去看望姨母，一个多月就能回来。请你们夫妻安心住着。”说完便走了。黄生和阿美独住一座院子，饮食按时送来，也很丰盛。不过，自从阿美进门以后，再没有一个人到过他们的屋里。每天早晨，阿美进去拜见老妇，说一两句话便退出来。妯娌们在旁边，只是相互看着笑。即使阿美留下来坐很久，她们也不亲热。黄生去见老翁，情形也一样。偶尔碰上几个兄弟聚在一起说话，黄生一到，他们便全都不作声了。黄生疑惑烦闷，却没有人可以诉说。阿美察觉了，问道：“你既然和他们是兄弟，为什么这一个月来，他们待你都像生客一样？”黄生猝不及防，答不上来，结结巴巴地说：“我在外面十年，如今才回来。”阿美又细问公婆的家世，以及妯娌们娘家的住处。黄生十分窘迫，再也隐瞒不住，把全部实情都说了出来。阿美哭着说：“我家虽然贫穷，却没有给人做卑贱侍妾的。难怪那些妯娌看不起我，不肯把我当作她们中的一员！”黄生惊慌害怕，不知道怎么办，只能直挺挺地跪着，完全听凭阿美处置。阿美止住眼泪，拉他起来，转而问他打算怎么办。黄生说：“我哪里敢有别的打算，只能独自离开罢了。”阿美说：“已经嫁了人，又回娘家，于情于心怎么忍得下？她虽然先跟了你，却是私下结合；我虽然后到，却是正式娶进门的。不如暂且等她回来，问问她，既然出了这个主意，打算把我放在什么地位？”住了几个月，霍氏始终没有回来。一天夜里，黄生听见客房里喧闹饮酒，便悄悄过去偷看。只见两个穿着戎装的客人坐在上座，一人裹着豹皮头巾，威严得像天神；坐在东边的一人，用虎头皮做成头盔，虎口衔着额头，鼻子、耳朵全都留着。黄生惊讶地回去，把所见告诉阿美，两人终究猜不出霍家父子是什么人。夫妻俩又疑惑又害怕，商量着想在别处租房住，又怕引起霍家的猜疑。黄生说：“实话告诉你，即使去南海的人回来，把名分的事情说定，我也不能在这里安家。如今想带你一起走，又怕你父亲另有意见。不如暂且分开，两年以内我一定回来。你能等，就等我；如果想另嫁别人，也由你决定。”阿美想告诉父母，跟他一起走，黄生不同意。阿美流着眼泪，要他郑重发誓，随后告别，回了娘家。黄生进去辞别老翁和老妇。当时几个兄弟都出去了，老翁挽留他，要他等兄弟们回来，黄生不听，走了。他上船时十分凄凉，整个人失魂落魄。到了瓜州，他忽然回头看见一张船帆飞快驶来。渐渐近了，只见船头坐着一个手按佩剑的人，正是霍大郎。大郎远远地说：“你想赶快回去，怎么不再和我们商量？把夫人留下，走上两三年，谁能等你那么久？”说话间，船已经靠近。阿美从船里出来，大郎拉着她登上黄生的船，随即纵身跳回自己的船，径直离去。原来，阿美回到娘家后，刚向父母哭诉，霍大郎忽然带着轿子登门，按着剑威胁他们，逼着阿美飞快离去。一家人吓得屏住呼吸，没有谁敢拦阻询问。阿美把这情形告诉黄生，黄生不明白霍大郎的用意，但能得到阿美，十分高兴，便开船出发。到了家，他拿出银子经营生意，日子过得颇为富足。阿美常常惦念父母，想让黄生去探望一次，却又怕他把霍氏带回来，妻妾的名分再起争端。没过多久，张老翁找来了，看见房屋整齐完好，心里很是宽慰。他对女儿说：“你出门以后，我就到霍家打听，见大门已经锁上，房屋主人也不知道他们的下落。半年过去，始终没有消息。你母亲日夜流泪，说你被坏人骗走了，不知道流落在什么地方。如今你幸而平安无事吧？”黄生把实情告诉他，大家便猜测霍家人是神仙。后来阿美生了一个儿子，取名仙赐。孩子长到十几岁，母亲让他到镇江去。他到了扬州境内，在旅店休息，随行的人都出去了。有个女子过来，拉着孩子进了另一间屋子，放下帘子，把他抱在膝上，笑着问他叫什么名字。孩子告诉了她。她问：“取这个名字是什么意思？”孩子回答：“不知道。”女子说：“回去问你父亲，自然就知道了。”她替孩子挽好发髻，又摘下自己发髻上的花，代替发簪插在他的头上，把金镯子戴在他的手腕上。她又把黄金放进他的袖子，说：“拿去买书读。”孩子问她是谁，她说：“你不知道自己还有一个母亲吗？回去告诉你父亲，朱大兴死了，没有棺木，应当帮帮他，不要忘了。”老仆回到旅店，不见了小主人，找到另一间屋子，听见孩子在和人说话，偷偷一看，原来是从前的女主人。他在帘外轻轻咳嗽，正想向她说话，女子却把孩子推到榻上，转眼便消失了。问旅店主人，也没有人知道她的来历。几天后，他们从镇江回来，把事情告诉黄生，又拿出女子所送的东西。黄生感叹不已。等他打听朱大兴的情况，才知道朱大兴刚死了三天，尸体还露在外面，没有下葬，便拿出许多钱帮助料理他的丧事。
Zhu Daxing was a man of Zhangde. His family was rich, but he was miserly in the extreme: unless a son or daughter was being married, no guest sat in his house and no meat hung in his kitchen. Yet he was a frivolous man who loved chasing women, and where a woman was concerned he grudged no waste of money. Every night he climbed over walls and went across to other villages to sleep with loose women. One night he met a young woman walking alone. Knowing she must be a runaway, he forced her with threats to come home with him. By candlelight she was a rare beauty. She said her family name was Huo. He questioned her closely. She was displeased. “Now that you have taken me in, why cross-examine me? If you are afraid I will get you into trouble, I had better go now.” Zhu dared not ask further, and kept her to share his bed. But she could not put up with coarse food, and the sight of meat stew sickened her; only soups made of bird’s nest, or chicken hearts, or fish maw would satisfy her. Zhu had no choice, and strained every resource to provide them. She was often ill, too, and needed a bowl of ginseng broth every day. At first Zhu refused. She lay moaning at death’s door, until he had to give it to her, and the illness was gone as if it had never been. After that it became the rule. Her clothes had to be brocade and embroidery, and after a few days she was tired of them as old. After a month or more of this, the cost was past reckoning, and Zhu began to hold back. She wept and would not eat, and asked to leave. Zhu took fright and bent himself once more to humour her. She was often low and bored, and every ten days or so she had a troupe of actors called in to put on a play; while it was playing, Zhu set a stool outside the curtain and sat watching with a child in his arms. Even so she never looked pleased, and often mocked and scolded him, and Zhu hardly tried to defend himself. After two years the family was going down. He spoke to her gently and asked her to cut back a little. She agreed, and all her expenses were halved. In time even that was more than he could meet, and she made do with minced-meat porridge; little by little she would eat even plain fare. Zhu was secretly pleased. Then one night she opened the back door and ran away. Zhu was as forlorn as if he had lost something. He searched everywhere, and learned that she was at the house of the He family in the next village. The Hes were a great family of long official descent. He himself was lavish and unbridled and loved company, and his lamps burned till dawn. One midnight a beautiful woman suddenly walked into his private rooms. When questioned, she proved to be the runaway concubine of the Zhu household. He had always despised Zhu as a man, and he was taken with her beauty, so he kept her. After a few days of lovemaking he was more infatuated than ever. She indulged every extravagance, and he kept her exactly as Zhu had. Zhu got word and came and sat at He’s gate demanding her back; He paid him no attention at all. Zhu took the case to the magistrate. Since the woman’s name and origins were unknown, the magistrate let it lie. Zhu sold property to pay bribes, and only then was a summons granted to bring the parties to court. The woman said to He, “I was never betrothed into the Zhu house with gifts and a go-between. Why fear him?” He was pleased, and prepared to fight it out in court. One of his guests, a scholar named Gu, warned him: “Harbouring a runaway is already against the laws of the state. Besides, since this woman came through your door the daily spending has had no limit. Even a family worth a thousand in gold could not last long.” He saw it at once. He dropped the suit and gave her back to Zhu. A day or two later she ran away again. There was a scholar named Huang, a poor man with no wife. She knocked at his door, came in, and told him where she had come from. Seeing such a beauty arrive out of nowhere, Huang was startled and afraid and did not know what to do. He had always been mindful of the law, and he firmly refused her. She would not leave. As they talked she was charming beyond words. Huang’s heart was moved, and he let her stay; but he worried that she could not settle to poverty. She rose early and did the hard work of the house herself, toiling harder than a wife of many years. Huang was a refined, easy-going man and skilled at pleasing a woman in bed, and the two of them regretted only that they had not found each other sooner. Their one fear was that word would get out and their happiness would not last. But after the lawsuit Zhu’s family was poorer still, and reckoning that she would never settle with him anyway, he let the matter drop. She stayed with Huang for several years, and they were deeply devoted. One day she suddenly wanted to go and visit her parents, and asked Huang to escort her. “You told me before that you had no family,” said Huang. “Why does your story not hang together?” “That was just talk,” she said. “I am from Zhenjiang. Long ago I went off with a wastrel and drifted about the country, and so I ended up here. My family is quite well off. Spend everything you have on getting there, and you will be no loser by it.” Huang did as she said, and they hired transport and set off together. At the border of Yangzhou they moored their boat by the river. She happened to be leaning at the window when the son of a great merchant went by. Struck by her beauty, he turned his boat about and followed them, though Huang did not know it. Suddenly she said, “You are very poor. Now there is a cure for poverty — I wonder if you will go along with it?” Huang asked what she meant. “I have been with you several years and have not given you a son or a daughter — that is one thing left undone. Plain as I am, I am luckily not yet old. If someone will give a thousand in gold for me, sell me off; with that, a wife, fields and a house are all provided for. What do you say?” Huang went pale, not knowing what she meant by it. She laughed. “Don’t be alarmed. The world is full of beauties — who would pay a thousand for me? Just put it about as a joke and see whether there are any takers. Whether to sell or not is still up to you.” Huang would not. She spoke of it herself to the boatman’s wife. The woman looked at Huang, and Huang gave a vague nod. She was gone only a short while, and came back to say, “There’s a merchant’s son on the next boat who’ll give eight hundred.” Huang shook his head on purpose, to put him off. Soon she came again: the man would meet the price, and asked Huang to come over to his boat and settle. Huang smiled faintly. “Tell him to wait a moment,” said the woman. “I’ll have a word with Huang and send him straight over.” She said to Huang, “Every day I have served you with a body worth a thousand in gold — did you only realize it now?” “What shall I say to get rid of him?” asked Huang. “Just go and sign the contract,” she said. “Whether I go or not is still up to me.” Huang would not. She pressed him until he had no choice, and he went. The money was paid over on the spot. Huang had it sealed and marked, and said, “That poverty should bring it to this — that I should give her up so suddenly! If my wife will not go with you, I will give back the money whole, as the jade went back to Zhao.” Just as the money was being carried back to their boat, she had already gone with the boatman’s wife over the stern onto the merchant’s boat. She looked back from a distance in farewell, with no sign of sorrow or longing. Huang’s soul fled his body; his throat closed and he could not speak. In a moment the merchant’s boat cast off and shot away like an arrow. Huang howled and wanted to give chase, but the boatman would not; he set off south across the river. In no time they reached Zhenjiang. The money was carried ashore, and the boatman cast off in haste and was gone. Huang sat in misery guarding his baggage, with nowhere to go. Watching the river roll on and on, he felt as if ten thousand arrows had struck him at once. As he sat weeping into his hands, he suddenly heard a sweet voice call, “Huang!” Startled, he looked all round: there she was, on the road ahead. Overjoyed, he shouldered the baggage and went after her. “How did you get here so quickly?” he asked. She laughed. “A little later, and you would have begun to doubt me.” Now Huang suspected that she was no ordinary woman, and pressed her for the truth. She laughed. “All my life, the stingy I break and the lecherous I cheat. If I had told you the plan truly, you would never have agreed, and where else were you to find a thousand in gold? Your purse is stuffed full and the pearls have come back to Hepu — be content with your luck. Why ask so much?” So they hired porters to carry the bags, and set off together. Inside the water gate there was a house facing south, and she went straight in. At once an old man and an old woman, men and women, came crowding out to greet them, all saying, “Huang’s here!” Huang went in and paid his respects to her father and mother. Two young men bowed, sat him down and talked with him: her brothers, Dalang and Sanlang. At the meal there were not many dishes; four jade platters filled the square table. Chicken, crab, goose and fish were all hacked into great chunks. The young men passed the wine round in huge bowls and talked loudly and freely. Afterwards they led the couple to a separate courtyard where husband and wife could stay together. The quilts and pillows were smooth and soft, and the bed was strung with tanned hide instead of palm fibre and rattan. Maids and old women brought three meals a day. At times she did not appear all day. Huang was lonely and miserable on his own, and kept saying he wanted to go home, but she firmly kept him there. One day she said to him, “Now I have a plan for you: buy a woman, so that you will have heirs. But buying a maid or a concubine is expensive. You must pretend to be my brother, and have my father arrange a marriage for you; a girl of good family will not be hard to come by.” Huang would not; she would not listen. A daughter of a tribute scholar named Zhang had lately been widowed. The betrothal money was agreed at a hundred strings of cash, and she forced Huang to marry her. The bride’s pet name was Amei, and she was very sweet and lovely. Miss Huo called her sister-in-law; Huang squirmed with unease, but Miss Huo was perfectly at ease. Some days later she said to Huang, “I am going with my eldest sister to the Southern Sea to visit my aunt. I shall be back in a month or so. You two live here in peace.” And she left. Husband and wife lived alone in their courtyard. Food and drink were brought on time, and generously. But from the day they arrived, no one else ever came to their rooms. Every morning Amei went in to pay her respects to the old woman, and after a word or two she withdrew. The sisters-in-law beside her only looked at one another and smiled. Even if she lingered and sat a long while, they were not cordial. It was the same when Huang saw the old man. If he came upon the brothers talking together, they all fell silent when he came in. Huang was puzzled and troubled, with no one to tell. Amei noticed, and asked him, “You are a brother to these young men — why is it that all this month they have treated you like a stranger?” Caught off guard, Huang could not answer. He stammered, “I have been away ten years. I have only just come home.” Amei went on to ask closely about the old couple’s family standing, and where her sisters-in-law came from. Huang was cornered; he could hide it no longer, and the whole story came out. Amei wept. “My family may be poor, but none of us has ever been a lowly concubine. No wonder those sisters-in-law despise me and will not count me as one of them!” Huang was frightened and at a loss. He could only kneel upright and wait for her to decide. Amei dried her tears and raised him up, and asked in turn what he meant to do. “How could I dare plan anything else?” said Huang. “All I can do is go away alone.” “Married and then sent home — how could I bear it?” she said. “She may have come to you first, but hers was a private arrangement; I came later, but I was married in the open. Better wait till she comes back, and ask her, since this plan was hers, what she means to do with me.” Months passed, and Miss Huo never came back. One night Huang heard loud drinking in the guest quarters. He crept over to look, and saw two guests in armour sitting in the places of honour. One wore a headcloth of leopard skin and looked as awesome as a god from heaven. The one on the east side wore a helmet made from a tiger’s head, the tiger’s jaws clamped round his brow, the nose and ears all still there. Amazed, Huang went back and told Amei, but they could not make out what manner of men Huo and his sons were. Husband and wife were uneasy and afraid. They thought of renting lodgings elsewhere, but feared that would make the family suspicious. Huang said, “I’ll tell you the truth. Even when the one in the Southern Sea comes back and the matter is settled, I cannot make my home here. I would take you with me now, but I fear your father would have something to say against it. Better we part for now; within two years I will come back. If you can wait, wait for me; if you want to marry elsewhere, that is up to you.” Amei wanted to tell her parents and go with him, but Huang would not have it. Amei wept and made him swear an oath, and then they parted and she went home. Huang went in to take leave of the old couple. The sons were all out at the time; the old man pressed him to wait till they came back, but Huang would not listen and left. When he boarded the boat he was desolate, a man who had lost body and soul. At Guazhou he looked back and saw a single sail coming on as if flying. As it drew near, the man sitting in the bow with his hand on his sword was Huo’s eldest brother, Dalang. He called from afar, “If you wanted to hurry home, why not talk to us again? Leave your lady behind for two or three years — who could wait that long?” As he spoke, his boat drew alongside. Amei came out of the cabin. Dalang handed her across into Huang’s boat, then leapt back and was gone. What had happened was this: when Amei got home, she was in tears telling her parents everything when suddenly Dalang came to the door with a sedan chair, hand on his sword, threatening them, and hustled her off like the wind. The whole family held its breath, and no one dared stop him or ask. She told Huang all this. He could not tell what it meant, but he was very glad to have Amei, and they cast off and went on their way. Back home he put the money into business and became quite rich.
Amei often thought anxiously of her parentsand wished Huang would go and see them;but she feared that Miss Huo might come back with him,and the question of wife and concubine be stirred up again.
Before long old Zhang came looking for them. Seeing the house well kept, he was much comforted. He said to his daughter, “After you left, I went to the Huo house to ask after you, and found the gates locked; the owner of the house knew nothing of them either. For half a year there was no news at all. Your mother wept day and night, thinking you had been tricked away by villains and were wandering who knows where. And you are safe and well, thank heaven?” Huang told him all that had happened, and together they guessed that the Huos were gods. Later Amei bore a son, and they named him Xianci. When he was a little over ten, his mother sent him to Zhenjiang. At the border of Yangzhou he stopped at an inn, and his attendants all went out. A woman came, led the boy into another room, let down the curtain, took him on her knee and asked him, smiling, what his name was. He told her. “What does the name mean?” she asked. “I don’t know,” he said. “Ask your father when you get home, and you will find out.” She did his hair up in a topknot, took the flower from her own hair and pinned it in his instead, and fastened a gold bracelet on his wrist. She also slipped gold into his sleeve, saying, “Take this and buy books to read.” The boy asked who she was. “Don’t you know you have another mother? Go home and tell your father: Zhu Daxing has died with no coffin. He must help him. He must not forget.” When the old servant came back to the inn, the young master was gone. He searched till he came to the other room, heard the boy talking with someone, peeped in, and saw his former mistress. He gave a little cough outside the curtain, meaning to speak to her. She pushed the boy onto the couch, and in a blur she was gone. He asked the innkeeper, but no one knew anything of her. Some days later, back from Zhenjiang, he told Huang, and brought out her gifts. Huang sighed over it again and again. When he inquired after Zhu, he found the man had been dead only three days, his body lying unburied in the open. Huang gave generously for him.