平陽王平子，赴試北闈，賃居報國寺。寺中有餘杭生先在，王以比屋居，投刺焉。生不之答。朝夕遇之，多無狀。王怒其狂悖，交往遂絕。一日，有少年遊寺中，白服裙帽，望之傀然。近與接談，言語諧妙。心愛敬之。展問邦族，云：「登州宋姓。」因命蒼頭設座，相對噱談。餘杭生適過，共起遜坐。生居然上座，更不撝挹。卒然問宋：「爾亦入闈者耶？」答曰：「非也。駑駘之才，無志騰驤久矣。」又問：「何省？」宋告之。生曰：「竟不進取，足知高明。山左、右並無一字通者。」宋曰：「北人固少通者，而不通者未必是小生；南人固多通者，然通者亦未必是足下。」言已，鼓掌；王和之，因而鬨堂。生慚忿，軒眉攘腕而大言曰：「敢當前命題，一校文藝乎？」宋他顧而哂曰：「有何不敢！」便趨寓所，出經授王。王隨手一翻，指曰：「『闕黨童子將命。』」生起，求筆札。宋曳之曰：「口占可也。我破已成：『於賓客往來之地，而見一無所知之人焉。』」王捧腹大笑。生怒曰：「全不能文，徒事嫚罵，何以為人！」王力為排難，請另命佳題。又翻曰：「『殷有三仁焉。』」宋立應曰：「三子者不同道，其趨一也。夫一者何也？曰：仁也。君子亦仁而已矣，何必同？」生遂不作，起曰：「其為人也小有才。」遂去。王以此益重宋。邀入寓室，款言移晷，盡出所作質宋。宋流覽絕疾，踰刻已盡百首。曰：「君亦沉深於此道者；然命筆時，無求必得之念，而尚有冀倖得之心，即此，已落下乘。」遂取閱過者一一詮說。王大悅，師事之。使庖人以蔗糖作水角。宋啗而甘之，曰：「生平未解此味，煩異日更一作也。」由此相得甚懽。宋三五日輒一至，王必為之設水角焉。餘杭生時一遇之，雖不甚傾談，而傲睨之氣頓減。一日，以窗藝示宋。宋見諸友圈贊已濃，目一過，推置案頭，不作一語。生疑其未閱，復請之。答已覽竟。生又疑其不解。宋曰：「有何難解？但不佳耳！」生曰：「一覽丹黃，何知不佳？」宋便誦其文，如夙讀者，且誦且訾。生跼蹐汗流，不言而去。移時，宋去，生入，堅請王作。王拒之。生強搜得，見文多圈點，笑曰：「此大似水角子！」王故樸訥，靦然而已。次日，宋至，王具以告。宋怒曰：「我謂『南人不復反矣』，傖楚何敢乃爾！必當有以報之！」王力陳輕薄之戒以勸之，宋深感佩。既而場後，以文示宋，宋頗相許。偶與涉歷殿閣，見一瞽僧坐廊下，設藥賣醫。宋訝曰：「此奇人也！最能知文，不可不一請教。」因命歸寓取文。遇餘杭生，遂與俱來。王呼師而參之。僧疑其問醫者，便詰症候。王具白請教之意。僧笑曰：「是誰多口？無目何以論文？」王請以耳代目。僧曰：「三作兩千餘言，誰耐久聽！不如焚之，我視以鼻可也。」王從之。每焚一作，僧嗅而頷之曰：「君初法大家，雖未逼真，亦近似矣。我適受之以脾。」問：「可中否？」曰：「亦中得。」餘杭生未深信，先以古大家文燒試之。僧再嗅曰：「妙哉！此文我心受之矣，非歸、胡何解辦此！」生大駭，始焚己作。僧曰：「適領一藝，未窺全豹，何忽另易一人來也？」生託言：「朋友之作，止彼一首；此乃小生作也。」僧嗅其餘灰，咳逆數聲，曰：「勿再投矣！格格而不能下，強受之以鬲；再焚，則作惡矣。」生慚而退。數日榜放，生竟領薦；王下第。生與王走告僧。僧歎曰：「僕雖盲於目，而不盲於鼻；簾中人並鼻盲矣。」俄餘杭生至，意氣發舒，曰：「盲和尚，汝亦啖人水角耶？今竟何如？」僧曰：「我所論者文耳，不謀與君論命。君試尋諸試官之文，各取一首焚之，我便知孰為爾師。」生與王並搜之，止得八九人。生曰：「如有舛錯，以何為罰？」僧憤曰：「剜我盲瞳去！」生焚之，每一首，都言非是；至第六篇，忽向壁大嘔，下氣如雷。眾皆粲然。僧拭目向生曰：「此真汝師也！初不知而驟嗅之，刺於鼻，棘於腹，膀胱所不能容，直自下部出矣！」生大怒，去，曰：「明日自見，勿悔！勿悔！」越二三日，竟不至；視之，已移去矣。──乃知即某門生也。宋慰王曰：「凡吾輩讀書人，不當尤人，但當克己：不尤人則德益弘，能克己則學益進。當前踧落，固是數之不偶；平心而論，文亦未便登峰，其由此砥礪，天下自有不盲之人。」王肅然起敬。又聞次年再行鄉試，遂不歸，止而受教。宋曰：「都中薪桂米珠，勿憂資斧。舍後有窖鏹，可以發用。」即示之處。王謝曰：「昔竇、范貧而能廉，今某幸能自給，敢自污乎？」王一日醉眠，僕及庖人竊發之。王忽覺，聞舍後有聲；窺出，則金堆地上。情見事露，並相慴伏。方訶責間，見有金爵，類多鐫款，審視，皆大父字諱。──蓋王祖曾為南部郎，入都寓此，暴病而卒，金其所遺也。王乃喜，稱得金八百餘兩。明日告宋，且示之爵，欲與瓜分，固辭乃已。以百金往贈瞽僧，僧已去。積數月，敦習益苦。及試，宋曰：「此戰不捷，始真是命矣！」俄以犯規被黜。王尚無言；宋大哭，不能止。王反慰解之。宋曰：「僕為造物所忌，困頓至於終身，今又累及良友。其命也夫！其命也夫！」王曰：「萬事固有數在。如先生乃無志進取，非命也。」宋拭淚曰：「久欲有言，恐相驚怪。某非生人，乃飄泊之游魂也。少負才名，不得志於場屋。佯狂至都，冀得知我者，傳諸著作。甲申之年，竟罹於難，歲歲飄蓬。幸相知愛，故極力為『他山』之攻，生平未酬之願，實欲借良朋一快之耳。今文字之厄若此，誰復能漠然哉！」王亦感泣。問：「何淹滯？」曰：「去年上帝有命，委宣聖及閻羅王核查劫鬼，上者備諸曹任用，餘者即俾轉輪。賤名已錄，所未投到者，欲一見飛黃之快耳，今請別矣。」王問：「所考何職？」曰：「梓潼府中缺一司文郎，暫令聾僮署篆，文運所以顛倒。萬一倖得此秩，當使聖教昌明。」明日，忻忻而至，曰：「願遂矣！宣聖命作『性道論』，視之色喜，謂可司文。閻羅稽簿，欲以『口孽』見棄。宣聖爭之，乃得就。某伏謝已。又呼近案下，囑云：『今以憐才，拔充清要；宜洗心供職，勿蹈前愆。』此可知冥中重德行更甚於文學也。君必修行未至，但積善勿懈可耳。」王曰：「果爾，餘杭其德行何在？」曰：「此即不知。要冥司賞罰，皆無少爽。即前日瞽僧，亦一鬼也，是前朝名家。以生前拋棄字紙過多，罰作瞽。彼自欲醫人疾苦，以贖前愆，故託游廛肆耳。」王命置酒。宋曰：「無須；終歲之擾，盡此一刻，再為我設水角足矣。」王悲愴不食。坐令自噉，頃刻，已過三盛。捧腹曰：「此餐可飽三日，吾以志君德耳。向所食，都在舍後，已成菌矣。藏作藥餌，可益兒慧。」王問後會，曰：「既有官責，當引嫌也。」又問：「梓潼祠中，一相酹祝，可能達否？」曰：「此都無益。九天甚遠，但潔身力行，自有地司牒報，則某必與知之。」言已，作別而沒。王視舍後，果生紫菌，采而藏之。旁有新土墳起，則水角宛然在焉。王歸，彌自刻厲。一夜，夢宋輿蓋而至，曰：「君向以小忿，誤殺一婢，削去祿籍；今篤行已折除矣。然命薄不足任仕進也。」是年，捷於鄉；明年，春闈又捷。遂不復仕。生二子，其一絕鈍，啖以菌，遂大慧。後以故詣金陵，遇餘杭生於旅次，極道契闊，深自降抑，然鬢毛斑矣。
平陽人王平子到京城參加鄉試，在報國寺租房住下。寺裡已經住著一個餘杭來的書生，王平子與他住在相鄰的屋子裡，便遞上名帖前去拜訪。那書生卻不回訪，早晚碰面時，也常常十分無禮。王平子惱怒他的狂妄，便斷絕了來往。一天，有個年輕人在寺裡遊覽，穿著白色衣裙，戴著帽子，看上去身材魁偉。王平子走近與他交談，覺得他說話風趣巧妙，心裡很喜歡，也很敬重他。進一步問起他的籍貫和姓氏，他說：「我是登州人，姓宋。」王平子便叫老僕擺好座位，兩人相對坐下，說說笑笑。餘杭生恰好經過，兩人一起起身讓座。他毫不客氣地坐上了首座，一點也不謙讓，突然問宋生：「你也是來參加考試的嗎？」宋生答道：「不是。我才能低下，早就沒有飛黃騰達的志向了。」他又問：「你是哪個省的？」宋生告訴了他。餘杭生說：「你索性不求進身，可見很有自知之明。山左、山右兩地，連一個通曉文章的人也沒有。」宋生說：「北方人通曉文章的確實少，可是不通曉的未必就是我；南方人通曉文章的確實多，可是通曉的也未必就是你。」說完便拍起手來，王平子也跟著拍手，兩人放聲大笑。餘杭生又羞又惱，揚起眉毛，捋起衣袖，大聲說：「敢不敢當場出個題目，比一比文章？」宋生轉頭看向別處，冷笑道：「有什麼不敢的！」便快步走進王平子的住處，拿出一部經書交給他。王平子隨手翻開，指著一句說：「闕黨的童子替人傳話。」餘杭生站起來，要筆和紙。宋生拉住他說：「口頭說出來就行。我的開頭已經想好了：『在賓客來來往往的地方，卻看見一個什麼也不懂的人。』」王平子捧著肚子大笑。餘杭生怒道：「根本不會寫文章，只會肆意辱罵，怎麼配做人！」王平子竭力勸解，請求另出一個好題目。他又翻開一頁，說：「殷朝有三位仁人。」宋生立即應道：「這三個人走的道路不同，追求的目標卻是同一個。這個共同的目標是什麼？就是仁。君子只要做到仁就夠了，何必走同一條道路？」餘杭生沒有再作文章，站起來說：「這個人倒有一點小才。」便走了。王平子因此更加看重宋生，請他進屋，誠懇地談了很久，又把自己的文章全拿出來，請他評判。宋生讀得極快，一刻多鐘便看完了一百篇，說：「你在文章上也下了很深的功夫。可是動筆時，沒有一定要成功的決心，卻還存著僥倖成功的念頭，單憑這一點，就已經落了下等。」接著把看過的文章逐篇講解。王平子大喜，把他當老師一樣敬奉，又讓廚子用蔗糖做水角。宋生吃著覺得很香甜，說：「我這輩子還沒嘗過這樣的美味，麻煩你改天再做一次。」從此兩人相處得十分融洽。宋生每隔三五天就來一趟，王平子每次都做水角招待他。餘杭生偶爾遇見宋生，雖然不怎麼傾心交談，傲慢的神氣卻大為收斂。一天，他把平日練習的文章拿給宋生看。宋生見上面已經密密麻麻地畫著朋友們讚賞的圈點，掃了一遍，便推到桌上，一句話也沒說。餘杭生懷疑他沒有看，再次請他過目。他回答說已經看完了。餘杭生又懷疑他看不懂。宋生說：「有什麼難懂的？只是寫得不好罷了！」餘杭生說：「你只看了一眼那些批點，怎麼就知道不好？」宋生便背誦起他的文章，像早已讀熟一樣，一邊背，一邊指出毛病。餘杭生侷促不安，汗流不止，一句話也沒說就走了。過了一會兒，宋生離開，餘杭生進來，堅持要看王平子的文章。王平子不肯，他卻硬搜了出來。見文章上有許多圈點，他笑道：「這可真像水角！」王平子本來就樸實，不善言辭，只是紅了臉。第二天宋生來時，王平子把事情全告訴了他。宋生怒道：「我還以為『南方人不會再反叛了』，這個南方粗人怎麼敢這樣！我一定要回敬他！」王平子竭力勸他，告誡他不要輕薄嘲弄別人。宋生聽了，十分感動，也很佩服。後來考試結束，王平子把考場上的文章拿給宋生看，宋生頗為讚許。一次，兩人一起遊覽寺裡的殿閣，看見一個盲僧坐在廊下，賣藥行醫。宋生驚訝地說：「這是個奇人！他最懂文章，不能不向他請教。」便讓王平子回住處取文章。王平子遇見餘杭生，就與他一起回來。他稱盲僧為師父，上前拜見。盲僧以為他是來求醫的，便問他有什麼症狀。王平子詳細說明了想請教文章的意思。盲僧笑道：「是誰多嘴？我沒有眼睛，怎麼評判文章？」王平子請他用耳朵代替眼睛。盲僧說：「三篇文章，兩千多字，誰有耐心聽那麼久！不如燒了，我用鼻子看就行。」王平子照辦。每燒一篇，盲僧就聞一聞，點頭說：「你開始學那些文章大家的寫法，雖然還沒學到十分相像，也已經接近了。我剛才是用脾來承受這篇文章的。」王平子問：「能考中嗎？」盲僧說：「也能考中。」餘杭生還不大相信，先拿一篇古代文章大家的作品燒了，試探他。盲僧又聞了聞，說：「妙啊！這篇文章我是用心來承受的，不是歸、胡，誰能寫得出來！」餘杭生大為驚駭，這才燒自己的文章。盲僧說：「剛才才領教了一篇，還沒看出那人的全部本領，怎麼忽然又換了一個人？」餘杭生託辭說：「那是朋友的作品，只有那一篇；這才是我的文章。」盲僧聞了剩下的紙灰，連著嗆咳了幾聲，說：「別再放進來燒了！卡得咯咯作響，怎麼也咽不下去，我勉強用膈來承受它；再燒，我就要噁心了。」餘杭生慚愧地退了下去。幾天後發榜，餘杭生竟然中了舉，王平子卻落榜了。宋生和王平子趕去告訴盲僧。盲僧嘆道：「我的眼睛雖然瞎了，鼻子卻沒有瞎；簾子裡面的考官，連鼻子也瞎了。」不久，餘杭生也來了，神氣十足地說：「瞎和尚，你也吃了人家的水角嗎？現在究竟怎麼樣？」盲僧說：「我評論的只是文章，並沒有打算與你談命運。你去找來各位考官的文章，每人取一篇燒了，我就知道哪個是你的老師。」餘杭生和王平子一起搜尋，只找到八九位考官的文章。餘杭生說：「要是說錯了，罰你什麼？」盲僧氣憤地說：「挖掉我這雙瞎眼！」餘杭生開始燒文章，每燒一篇，盲僧都說不是這個人。燒到第六篇時，他忽然朝著牆壁大吐起來，又放出雷鳴般的響屁。眾人都笑了。盲僧擦著眼睛，對餘杭生說：「這才真是你的老師！我起初不知道，猛地聞了一下，它刺得我鼻子疼，扎得我肚子疼，連膀胱也容不下，直接從下身出來了！」餘杭生大怒，走時說：「明天你就知道了，別後悔！別後悔！」過了兩三天，他卻一直沒來。去看時，他已經搬走了。這才知道，他果然是那位考官的門生。宋生安慰王平子說：「凡是我們這些讀書人，都不該責怪別人，只該約束自己。不責怪別人，德行就會更加寬厚；能約束自己，學問就會不斷進步。這次落榜，固然是運氣不好；但平心而論，你的文章也還沒有達到最高境界。你就從這裡繼續磨鍊，天下總有眼睛不瞎的人。」王平子肅然起敬。又聽說明年還要舉行鄉試，他便沒有回家，留下來向宋生求教。宋生說：「京城裡柴米貴得像桂木、珍珠一樣，你不用擔心生活費用。房子後面埋著銀錢，可以挖出來用。」隨即指給他看。王平子辭謝道：「從前竇、範貧窮卻能保持廉潔，如今我有幸還能養活自己，怎敢玷汙自己的品行？」一天，王平子喝醉睡下，僕人和廚子偷偷把埋藏的錢財挖了出來。王平子忽然醒來，聽見屋後有聲音，探頭看去，只見地上堆著黃金。兩人事情敗露，都嚇得伏在地上。他正在斥責他們，忽然看見一些金爵，大多刻著款識。仔細一看，都是他祖父的名字。原來王平子的祖父曾任南部郎，到京城時住在這裡，突發重病去世，這些黃金就是他留下的。王平子這才高興起來，稱得黃金八百多兩。第二天，他告訴宋生，又拿金爵給他看，想分一半給他。宋生堅決推辭，他才作罷。他拿了一百兩黃金去贈給盲僧，盲僧卻已經走了。此後幾個月，他更加刻苦地認真學習。到了考試時，宋生說：「這回要是還考不中，才真是命運了！」不久，王平子因違反考試規矩被除名。他自己還沒有說什麼，宋生卻放聲大哭，怎麼也止不住，反倒要王平子來安慰他。宋生說：「我被造物者嫉忌，一輩子窮困失意，如今又連累了好朋友。這就是命啊！這就是命啊！」王平子說：「萬事固然都有定數。可是像先生這樣，是自己沒有求取功名的志向，算不上命運的安排。」宋生擦著眼淚說：「我早就想告訴你一件事，又怕讓你驚恐疑怪。我不是活人，是個四處漂泊的遊魂。年輕時以才華出名，卻在科舉中一直不得志。我裝瘋來到京城，希望能找到了解我的人，使我的著作得以流傳。甲申年，我終於遭難而死，此後年年像飛蓬一樣漂泊。幸好得到你的理解和友愛，所以盡力幫你磨鍊文章。我生前沒有實現的願望，實在想借著好朋友的成功，痛快一次。如今你的文章遭遇這樣的厄運，誰還能無動於衷！」王平子也感動得流下淚來，問：「你為什麼還滯留在這裡？」宋生說：「去年，上帝下令，委派宣聖和閻羅王核查遭難而死的鬼魂，其中優秀的，留待各部門任用；其餘的，就讓他們轉世投胎。我的名字已經登記了，還沒有去報到，是想親眼看見你飛黃騰達，痛快一回。如今要向你告別了。」王平子問：「你要考什麼官職？」宋生說：「梓潼府裡缺一名司文郎，暫時讓一個耳聾的童子代管官印，所以文運才會顛倒錯亂。萬一我有幸得到這個職位，一定要使聖人的教化發揚光大。」第二天，他高高興興地來了，說：「願望實現了！宣聖命我寫一篇《性道論》，看了面露喜色，說我可以掌管文章。閻羅王查閱簿冊，想因為我言語上造下的罪過，不錄用我。宣聖替我爭辯，我才得以就任。我已經伏地謝恩，宣聖又叫我走近他的書案，囑咐說：『如今因為愛惜你的才華，提拔你擔任清貴而重要的官職。你應當洗去心中的雜念，認真供職，不要再犯以前的過錯。』由此可見，陰間看重德行，還勝過文章學問。你的品行修養一定還有不到的地方，只要堅持行善，不要鬆懈就行。」王平子說：「如果真是這樣，餘杭生的德行又在哪裡？」宋生說：「這個我就不知道了。不過陰間的賞罰，都沒有絲毫差錯。就是前些天那個盲僧，也是個鬼，是前朝的文章名家。因為生前丟棄了太多寫有文字的紙張，被罰成瞎子。他想替人治病，解除痛苦，贖回以前的罪過，所以才在街市間遊走謀生。」王平子吩咐擺酒。宋生說：「不用了。一整年對你的打擾，到這一刻就結束了，再替我做一次水角就夠了。」王平子悲傷得吃不下東西，坐著讓他獨自吃。沒一會兒，他已經吃完了三份，捧著肚子說：「這一頓能讓我飽上三天，我要藉此記住你的恩德。從前吃的，都在屋後，已經變成菌子了。你收起來當藥，可以使孩子聰明。」王平子問以後什麼時候還能見面，他說：「如今有了官職，就應當避嫌。」王平子又問：「我到梓潼祠裡灑酒禱告，能傳到你那裡嗎？」宋生說：「這些都沒有用。九天十分遙遠，你只要保持清白，努力踐行善行，自然會有當地的神司用公文上報，我就一定能知道。」說完便告別，消失了。王平子到屋後看，果然長出了紫色的菌子，便採來收藏。旁邊有一處新土隆起，水角還好端端地在那裡。王平子回家後，更加嚴格地要求自己。一天夜裡，他夢見宋生乘著有傘蓋的車子到來，說：「你從前因為一時小小的惱怒，誤殺了一個婢女，名字被從享有官祿的名冊上刪去了。如今你誠懇地踐行善行，已經抵消了這項罪過。可是你的命數薄弱，承受不了仕途上的進取。」這一年，王平子考中了舉人；第二年，又通過了春季會試，於是沒有再謀求做官。他生了兩個兒子，其中一個十分遲鈍，給他吃了菌子，便變得極其聰明。後來王平子因事到金陵，在旅舍遇見餘杭生。餘杭生談了許多分別以來的經歷，態度十分謙遜，只是兩鬢已經斑白了。
平阳王平子，赴试北闱，赁居报国寺。寺中有余杭生先在，王以比屋居，投刺焉。生不之答。朝夕遇之，多无状。王怒其狂悖，交往遂绝。一日，有少年游寺中，白服裙帽，望之傀然。近与接谈，言语谐妙。心爱敬之。展问邦族，云：「登州宋姓。」因命苍头设座，相对噱谈。余杭生适过，共起逊坐。生居然上座，更不㧑挹。卒然问宋：「尔亦入闱者耶？」答曰：「非也。驽骀之才，无志腾骧久矣。」又问：「何省？」宋告之。生曰：「竟不进取，足知高明。山左、右并无一字通者。」宋曰：「北人固少通者，而不通者未必是小生；南人固多通者，然通者亦未必是足下。」言已，鼓掌；王和之，因而哄堂。生惭忿，轩眉攘腕而大言曰：「敢当前命题，一校文艺乎？」宋他顾而哂曰：「有何不敢！」便趋寓所，出经授王。王随手一翻，指曰：「『阙党童子将命。』」生起，求笔札。宋曳之曰：「口占可也。我破已成：『于宾客往来之地，而见一无所知之人焉。』」王捧腹大笑。生怒曰：「全不能文，徒事嫚骂，何以为人！」王力为排难，请另命佳题。又翻曰：「『殷有三仁焉。』」宋立应曰：「三子者不同道，其趋一也。夫一者何也？曰：仁也。君子亦仁而已矣，何必同？」生遂不作，起曰：「其为人也小有才。」遂去。王以此益重宋。邀入寓室，款言移晷，尽出所作质宋。宋流览绝疾，逾刻已尽百首。曰：「君亦沉深于此道者；然命笔时，无求必得之念，而尚有冀幸得之心，即此，已落下乘。」遂取阅过者一一诠说。王大悦，师事之。使庖人以蔗糖作水角。宋啗而甘之，曰：「生平未解此味，烦异日更一作也。」由此相得甚懽。宋三五日辄一至，王必为之设水角焉。余杭生时一遇之，虽不甚倾谈，而傲睨之气顿减。一日，以窗艺示宋。宋见诸友圈赞已浓，目一过，推置案头，不作一语。生疑其未阅，复请之。答已览竟。生又疑其不解。宋曰：「有何难解？但不佳耳！」生曰：「一览丹黄，何知不佳？」宋便诵其文，如夙读者，且诵且訾。生跼蹐汗流，不言而去。移时，宋去，生入，坚请王作。王拒之。生强搜得，见文多圈点，笑曰：「此大似水角子！」王故朴讷，腼然而已。次日，宋至，王具以告。宋怒曰：「我谓『南人不复反矣』，伧楚何敢乃尔！必当有以报之！」王力陈轻薄之戒以劝之，宋深感佩。既而场后，以文示宋，宋颇相许。偶与涉历殿阁，见一瞽僧坐廊下，设药卖医。宋讶曰：「此奇人也！最能知文，不可不一请教。」因命归寓取文。遇余杭生，遂与俱来。王呼师而参之。僧疑其问医者，便诘症候。王具白请教之意。僧笑曰：「是谁多口？无目何以论文？」王请以耳代目。僧曰：「三作两千余言，谁耐久听！不如焚之，我视以鼻可也。」王从之。每焚一作，僧嗅而颔之曰：「君初法大家，虽未逼真，亦近似矣。我适受之以脾。」问：「可中否？」曰：「亦中得。」余杭生未深信，先以古大家文烧试之。僧再嗅曰：「妙哉！此文我心受之矣，非归、胡何解办此！」生大骇，始焚己作。僧曰：「适领一艺，未窥全豹，何忽另易一人来也？」生托言：「朋友之作，止彼一首；此乃小生作也。」僧嗅其余灰，咳逆数声，曰：「勿再投矣！格格而不能下，强受之以鬲；再焚，则作恶矣。」生惭而退。数日榜放，生竟领荐；王下第。生与王走告僧。僧叹曰：「仆虽盲于目，而不盲于鼻；帘中人并鼻盲矣。」俄余杭生至，意气发舒，曰：「盲和尚，汝亦啖人水角耶？今竟何如？」僧曰：「我所论者文耳，不谋与君论命。君试寻诸试官之文，各取一首焚之，我便知孰为尔师。」生与王并搜之，止得八九人。生曰：「如有舛错，以何为罚？」僧愤曰：「剜我盲瞳去！」生焚之，每一首，都言非是；至第六篇，忽向壁大呕，下气如雷。众皆粲然。僧拭目向生曰：「此真汝师也！初不知而骤嗅之，刺于鼻，棘于腹，膀胱所不能容，直自下部出矣！」生大怒，去，曰：「明日自见，勿悔！勿悔！」越二三日，竟不至；视之，已移去矣。──乃知即某门生也。宋慰王曰：「凡吾辈读书人，不当尤人，但当克己：不尤人则德益弘，能克己则学益进。当前踧落，固是数之不偶；平心而论，文亦未便登峰，其由此砥砺，天下自有不盲之人。」王肃然起敬。又闻次年再行乡试，遂不归，止而受教。宋曰：「都中薪桂米珠，勿忧资斧。舍后有窖镪，可以发用。」即示之处。王谢曰：「昔窦、范贫而能廉，今某幸能自给，敢自污乎？」王一日醉眠，仆及庖人窃发之。王忽觉，闻舍后有声；窥出，则金堆地上。情见事露，并相慴伏。方诃责间，见有金爵，类多镌款，审视，皆大父字讳。──盖王祖曾为南部郎，入都寓此，暴病而卒，金其所遗也。王乃喜，称得金八百余两。明日告宋，且示之爵，欲与瓜分，固辞乃已。以百金往赠瞽僧，僧已去。积数月，敦习益苦。及试，宋曰：「此战不捷，始真是命矣！」俄以犯规被黜。王尚无言；宋大哭，不能止。王反慰解之。宋曰：「仆为造物所忌，困顿至于终身，今又累及良友。其命也夫！其命也夫！」王曰：「万事固有数在。如先生乃无志进取，非命也。」宋拭泪曰：「久欲有言，恐相惊怪。某非生人，乃飘泊之游魂也。少负才名，不得志于场屋。佯狂至都，冀得知我者，传诸著作。甲申之年，竟罹于难，岁岁飘蓬。幸相知爱，故极力为『他山』之攻，生平未酬之愿，实欲借良朋一快之耳。今文字之厄若此，谁复能漠然哉！」王亦感泣。问：「何淹滞？」曰：「去年上帝有命，委宣圣及阎罗王核查劫鬼，上者备诸曹任用，余者即俾转轮。贱名已录，所未投到者，欲一见飞黄之快耳，今请别矣。」王问：「所考何职？」曰：「梓潼府中缺一司文郎，暂令聋僮署篆，文运所以颠倒。万一幸得此秩，当使圣教昌明。」明日，忻忻而至，曰：「愿遂矣！宣圣命作『性道论』，视之色喜，谓可司文。阎罗稽簿，欲以『口孽』见弃。宣圣争之，乃得就。某伏谢已。又呼近案下，嘱云：『今以怜才，拔充清要；宜洗心供职，勿蹈前愆。』此可知冥中重德行更甚于文学也。君必修行未至，但积善勿懈可耳。」王曰：「果尔，余杭其德行何在？」曰：「此即不知。要冥司赏罚，皆无少爽。即前日瞽僧，亦一鬼也，是前朝名家。以生前抛弃字纸过多，罚作瞽。彼自欲医人疾苦，以赎前愆，故托游廛肆耳。」王命置酒。宋曰：「无须；终岁之扰，尽此一刻，再为我设水角足矣。」王悲怆不食。坐令自噉，顷刻，已过三盛。捧腹曰：「此餐可饱三日，吾以志君德耳。向所食，都在舍后，已成菌矣。藏作药饵，可益儿慧。」王问后会，曰：「既有官责，当引嫌也。」又问：「梓潼祠中，一相酹祝，可能达否？」曰：「此都无益。九天甚远，但洁身力行，自有地司牒报，则某必与知之。」言已，作别而没。王视舍后，果生紫菌，采而藏之。旁有新土坟起，则水角宛然在焉。王归，弥自刻厉。一夜，梦宋舆盖而至，曰：「君向以小忿，误杀一婢，削去禄籍；今笃行已折除矣。然命薄不足任仕进也。」是年，捷于乡；明年，春闱又捷。遂不复仕。生二子，其一绝钝，啖以菌，遂大慧。后以故诣金陵，遇余杭生于旅次，极道契阔，深自降抑，然鬓毛斑矣。
平阳人王平子到京城参加乡试，在报国寺租房住下。寺里已经住着一个余杭来的书生，王平子与他住在相邻的屋子里，便递上名帖前去拜访。那书生却不回访，早晚碰面时，也常常十分无礼。王平子恼怒他的狂妄，便断绝了来往。一天，有个年轻人在寺里游览，穿着白色衣裙，戴着帽子，看上去身材魁伟。王平子走近与他交谈，觉得他说话风趣巧妙，心里很喜欢，也很敬重他。进一步问起他的籍贯和姓氏，他说：“我是登州人，姓宋。”王平子便叫老仆摆好座位，两人相对坐下，说说笑笑。余杭生恰好经过，两人一起起身让座。他毫不客气地坐上了首座，一点也不谦让，突然问宋生：“你也是来参加考试的吗？”宋生答道：“不是。我才能低下，早就没有飞黄腾达的志向了。”他又问：“你是哪个省的？”宋生告诉了他。余杭生说：“你索性不求进身，可见很有自知之明。山左、山右两地，连一个通晓文章的人也没有。”宋生说：“北方人通晓文章的确实少，可是不通晓的未必就是我；南方人通晓文章的确实多，可是通晓的也未必就是你。”说完便拍起手来，王平子也跟着拍手，两人放声大笑。余杭生又羞又恼，扬起眉毛，捋起衣袖，大声说：“敢不敢当场出个题目，比一比文章？”宋生转头看向别处，冷笑道：“有什么不敢的！”便快步走进王平子的住处，拿出一部经书交给他。王平子随手翻开，指着一句说：“阙党的童子替人传话。”余杭生站起来，要笔和纸。宋生拉住他说：“口头说出来就行。我的开头已经想好了：‘在宾客来来往往的地方，却看见一个什么也不懂的人。’”王平子捧着肚子大笑。余杭生怒道：“根本不会写文章，只会肆意辱骂，怎么配做人！”王平子竭力劝解，请求另出一个好题目。他又翻开一页，说：“殷朝有三位仁人。”宋生立即应道：“这三个人走的道路不同，追求的目标却是同一个。这个共同的目标是什么？就是仁。君子只要做到仁就够了，何必走同一条道路？”余杭生没有再作文章，站起来说：“这个人倒有一点小才。”便走了。王平子因此更加看重宋生，请他进屋，诚恳地谈了很久，又把自己的文章全拿出来，请他评判。宋生读得极快，一刻多钟便看完了一百篇，说：“你在文章上也下了很深的功夫。可是动笔时，没有一定要成功的决心，却还存着侥幸成功的念头，单凭这一点，就已经落了下等。”接着把看过的文章逐篇讲解。王平子大喜，把他当老师一样敬奉，又让厨子用蔗糖做水角。宋生吃着觉得很香甜，说：“我这辈子还没尝过这样的美味，麻烦你改天再做一次。”从此两人相处得十分融洽。宋生每隔三五天就来一趟，王平子每次都做水角招待他。余杭生偶尔遇见宋生，虽然不怎么倾心交谈，傲慢的神气却大为收敛。一天，他把平日练习的文章拿给宋生看。宋生见上面已经密密麻麻地画着朋友们赞赏的圈点，扫了一遍，便推到桌上，一句话也没说。余杭生怀疑他没有看，再次请他过目。他回答说已经看完了。余杭生又怀疑他看不懂。宋生说：“有什么难懂的？只是写得不好罢了！”余杭生说：“你只看了一眼那些批点，怎么就知道不好？”宋生便背诵起他的文章，像早已读熟一样，一边背，一边指出毛病。余杭生局促不安，汗流不止，一句话也没说就走了。过了一会儿，宋生离开，余杭生进来，坚持要看王平子的文章。王平子不肯，他却硬搜了出来。见文章上有许多圈点，他笑道：“这可真像水角！”王平子本来就朴实，不善言辞，只是红了脸。第二天宋生来时，王平子把事情全告诉了他。宋生怒道：“我还以为‘南方人不会再反叛了’，这个南方粗人怎么敢这样！我一定要回敬他！”王平子竭力劝他，告诫他不要轻薄嘲弄别人。宋生听了，十分感动，也很佩服。后来考试结束，王平子把考场上的文章拿给宋生看，宋生颇为赞许。一次，两人一起游览寺里的殿阁，看见一个盲僧坐在廊下，卖药行医。宋生惊讶地说：“这是个奇人！他最懂文章，不能不向他请教。”便让王平子回住处取文章。王平子遇见余杭生，就与他一起回来。他称盲僧为师父，上前拜见。盲僧以为他是来求医的，便问他有什么症状。王平子详细说明了想请教文章的意思。盲僧笑道：“是谁多嘴？我没有眼睛，怎么评判文章？”王平子请他用耳朵代替眼睛。盲僧说：“三篇文章，两千多字，谁有耐心听那么久！不如烧了，我用鼻子看就行。”王平子照办。每烧一篇，盲僧就闻一闻，点头说：“你开始学那些文章大家的写法，虽然还没学到十分相像，也已经接近了。我刚才是用脾来承受这篇文章的。”王平子问：“能考中吗？”盲僧说：“也能考中。”余杭生还不大相信，先拿一篇古代文章大家的作品烧了，试探他。盲僧又闻了闻，说：“妙啊！这篇文章我是用心来承受的，不是归、胡，谁能写得出来！”余杭生大为惊骇，这才烧自己的文章。盲僧说：“刚才才领教了一篇，还没看出那人的全部本领，怎么忽然又换了一个人？”余杭生托辞说：“那是朋友的作品，只有那一篇；这才是我的文章。”盲僧闻了剩下的纸灰，连着呛咳了几声，说：“别再放进来烧了！卡得咯咯作响，怎么也咽不下去，我勉强用膈来承受它；再烧，我就要恶心了。”余杭生惭愧地退了下去。几天后发榜，余杭生竟然中了举，王平子却落榜了。宋生和王平子赶去告诉盲僧。盲僧叹道：“我的眼睛虽然瞎了，鼻子却没有瞎；帘子里面的考官，连鼻子也瞎了。”不久，余杭生也来了，神气十足地说：“瞎和尚，你也吃了人家的水角吗？现在究竟怎么样？”盲僧说：“我评论的只是文章，并没有打算与你谈命运。你去找来各位考官的文章，每人取一篇烧了，我就知道哪个是你的老师。”余杭生和王平子一起搜寻，只找到八九位考官的文章。余杭生说：“要是说错了，罚你什么？”盲僧气愤地说：“挖掉我这双瞎眼！”余杭生开始烧文章，每烧一篇，盲僧都说不是这个人。烧到第六篇时，他忽然朝着墙壁大吐起来，又放出雷鸣般的响屁。众人都笑了。盲僧擦着眼睛，对余杭生说：“这才真是你的老师！我起初不知道，猛地闻了一下，它刺得我鼻子疼，扎得我肚子疼，连膀胱也容不下，直接从下身出来了！”余杭生大怒，走时说：“明天你就知道了，别后悔！别后悔！”过了两三天，他却一直没来。去看时，他已经搬走了。这才知道，他果然是那位考官的门生。宋生安慰王平子说：“凡是我们这些读书人，都不该责怪别人，只该约束自己。不责怪别人，德行就会更加宽厚；能约束自己，学问就会不断进步。这次落榜，固然是运气不好；但平心而论，你的文章也还没有达到最高境界。你就从这里继续磨炼，天下总有眼睛不瞎的人。”王平子肃然起敬。又听说明年还要举行乡试，他便没有回家，留下来向宋生求教。宋生说：“京城里柴米贵得像桂木、珍珠一样，你不用担心生活费用。房子后面埋着银钱，可以挖出来用。”随即指给他看。王平子辞谢道：“从前窦、范贫穷却能保持廉洁，如今我有幸还能养活自己，怎敢玷污自己的品行？”一天，王平子喝醉睡下，仆人和厨子偷偷把埋藏的钱财挖了出来。王平子忽然醒来，听见屋后有声音，探头看去，只见地上堆着黄金。两人事情败露，都吓得伏在地上。他正在斥责他们，忽然看见一些金爵，大多刻着款识。仔细一看，都是他祖父的名字。原来王平子的祖父曾任南部郎，到京城时住在这里，突发重病去世，这些黄金就是他留下的。王平子这才高兴起来，称得黄金八百多两。第二天，他告诉宋生，又拿金爵给他看，想分一半给他。宋生坚决推辞，他才作罢。他拿了一百两黄金去赠给盲僧，盲僧却已经走了。此后几个月，他更加刻苦地认真学习。到了考试时，宋生说：“这回要是还考不中，才真是命运了！”不久，王平子因违反考试规矩被除名。他自己还没有说什么，宋生却放声大哭，怎么也止不住，反倒要王平子来安慰他。宋生说：“我被造物者嫉忌，一辈子穷困失意，如今又连累了好朋友。这就是命啊！这就是命啊！”王平子说：“万事固然都有定数。可是像先生这样，是自己没有求取功名的志向，算不上命运的安排。”宋生擦着眼泪说：“我早就想告诉你一件事，又怕让你惊恐疑怪。我不是活人，是个四处漂泊的游魂。年轻时以才华出名，却在科举中一直不得志。我装疯来到京城，希望能找到了解我的人，使我的著作得以流传。甲申年，我终于遭难而死，此后年年像飞蓬一样漂泊。幸好得到你的理解和友爱，所以尽力帮你磨炼文章。我生前没有实现的愿望，实在想借着好朋友的成功，痛快一次。如今你的文章遭遇这样的厄运，谁还能无动于衷！”王平子也感动得流下泪来，问：“你为什么还滞留在这里？”宋生说：“去年，上帝下令，委派宣圣和阎罗王核查遭难而死的鬼魂，其中优秀的，留待各部门任用；其余的，就让他们转世投胎。我的名字已经登记了，还没有去报到，是想亲眼看见你飞黄腾达，痛快一回。如今要向你告别了。”王平子问：“你要考什么官职？”宋生说：“梓潼府里缺一名司文郎，暂时让一个耳聋的童子代管官印，所以文运才会颠倒错乱。万一我有幸得到这个职位，一定要使圣人的教化发扬光大。”第二天，他高高兴兴地来了，说：“愿望实现了！宣圣命我写一篇《性道论》，看了面露喜色，说我可以掌管文章。阎罗王查阅簿册，想因为我言语上造下的罪过，不录用我。宣圣替我争辩，我才得以就任。我已经伏地谢恩，宣圣又叫我走近他的书案，嘱咐说：‘如今因为爱惜你的才华，提拔你担任清贵而重要的官职。你应当洗去心中的杂念，认真供职，不要再犯以前的过错。’由此可见，阴间看重德行，还胜过文章学问。你的品行修养一定还有不到的地方，只要坚持行善，不要松懈就行。”王平子说：“如果真是这样，余杭生的德行又在哪里？”宋生说：“这个我就不知道了。不过阴间的赏罚，都没有丝毫差错。就是前些天那个盲僧，也是个鬼，是前朝的文章名家。因为生前丢弃了太多写有文字的纸张，被罚成瞎子。他想替人治病，解除痛苦，赎回以前的罪过，所以才在街市间游走谋生。”王平子吩咐摆酒。宋生说：“不用了。一整年对你的打扰，到这一刻就结束了，再替我做一次水角就够了。”王平子悲伤得吃不下东西，坐着让他独自吃。没一会儿，他已经吃完了三份，捧着肚子说：“这一顿能让我饱上三天，我要借此记住你的恩德。从前吃的，都在屋后，已经变成菌子了。你收起来当药，可以使孩子聪明。”王平子问以后什么时候还能见面，他说：“如今有了官职，就应当避嫌。”王平子又问：“我到梓潼祠里洒酒祷告，能传到你那里吗？”宋生说：“这些都没有用。九天十分遥远，你只要保持清白，努力践行善行，自然会有当地的神司用公文上报，我就一定能知道。”说完便告别，消失了。王平子到屋后看，果然长出了紫色的菌子，便采来收藏。旁边有一处新土隆起，水角还好端端地在那里。王平子回家后，更加严格地要求自己。一天夜里，他梦见宋生乘着有伞盖的车子到来，说：“你从前因为一时小小的恼怒，误杀了一个婢女，名字被从享有官禄的名册上删去了。如今你诚恳地践行善行，已经抵消了这项罪过。可是你的命数薄弱，承受不了仕途上的进取。”这一年，王平子考中了举人；第二年，又通过了春季会试，于是没有再谋求做官。他生了两个儿子，其中一个十分迟钝，给他吃了菌子，便变得极其聪明。后来王平子因事到金陵，在旅舍遇见余杭生。余杭生谈了许多分别以来的经历，态度十分谦逊，只是两鬓已经斑白了。
Wang Pingzi of Pingyang went to sit the provincial examination in the capital, and rented lodgings in the Baoguo Temple. A scholar from Yuhang was already staying there. Since they had neighbouring rooms, Wang sent in his card. The scholar did not return the call. When they met morning or evening, he was often rude. Wang was angered by his arrogance and had nothing more to do with him. One day a young man came wandering through the temple, dressed in white, in a skirt and cap — a striking figure. Wang went up and talked with him, and found his conversation witty and delightful. He took a liking to him and respected him. When Wang asked about his home and family, he said, “I am from Dengzhou; my name is Song.” Wang had his old servant set out seats, and they sat facing each other, laughing and talking. The scholar from Yuhang happened to pass by, and they both rose to offer him a seat. He took the place of honour as if it were his due, without the least show of modesty. Abruptly he asked Song, “Are you sitting the examination too?” “No,” Song answered. “I have the talents of a broken-down nag, and gave up all hope of galloping long ago.” “Which province?” the scholar asked. Song told him. “So you’re not trying for advancement at all,” said the scholar. “That shows good sense. East of the mountains or west, there isn’t one man who can write a sentence that makes sense.” “It’s true that few northerners can write sense,” said Song, “but the one who can’t may not be me. And it’s true that many southerners can, but the one who can may not be you.” With that he clapped his hands; Wang joined in, and the whole room roared with laughter. The scholar, ashamed and furious, raised his eyebrows, pushed up his sleeves and said loudly, “Do you dare to set a topic here and now, and compete in composition?” Song looked away and smiled scornfully. “Why should I not dare?” He hurried to Wang’s rooms, took out a book of the Classics and handed it to Wang. Wang opened it at random and pointed: “‘A boy from the village of Que carried messages.’” The scholar rose and asked for brush and paper. Song held him back. “Just say it aloud. I already have my opening: ‘In a place where guests come and go, one sees a person who knows nothing at all.’” Wang held his belly with laughter. “You can’t write at all,” the scholar said angrily. “All you can do is hurl insults. What kind of a man are you?” Wang did his best to make peace, and asked to set another, better topic. He opened the book again: “‘The Yin had three men of humaneness.’” Song answered at once: “The three gentlemen did not walk the same way, but they were heading for one thing. And what is that one thing? It is humaneness. A gentleman need only be humane; why must they be the same?” At that the scholar composed nothing. He rose, said, “‘He is a man of small talent,’” and went off. After this Wang thought all the more of Song. He invited him into his rooms, and they talked earnestly for a long time; Wang brought out everything he had written for Song to judge. Song read through them at great speed; in little more than a quarter of an hour he had gone through a hundred pieces. “You too have gone deep into this art,” he said. “But when you take up your brush, you have no resolve that says ‘I must win’ — only a hope that you may win by luck. That alone puts you in the lower ranks.” Then he took the pieces he had read and explained each one in turn. Wang was overjoyed, and treated him as his teacher. He had his cook make boiled dumplings with cane sugar. Song ate them with relish. “I have never tasted anything like this in my life,” he said. “Please make them again another day.” From then on they got on famously. Every three or five days Song would come, and Wang always had dumplings made for him. When the scholar from Yuhang met Song now and then, he did not talk much with him, but his haughty air was much reduced. One day he showed Song his practice essays. Song saw that they were already thick with his friends’ circles and words of praise. He ran his eye over them once, pushed them aside on the table and said not a word. The scholar suspected he had not read them, and asked again. Song said he had read them all. Then the scholar suspected he had not understood them. “What is hard to understand?” said Song. “They are just not good!” “You glanced once at the red marks,” said the scholar. “How do you know they’re not good?” Song then recited the essay as though he had read it long ago, finding fault as he went. The scholar squirmed and sweated, and left without a word. After a while Song left, and the scholar came in and insisted on seeing Wang’s essays. Wang refused. The scholar searched them out by force, and seeing that they were covered with circles and dots, he laughed. “These look just like dumplings!” Wang was a plain, slow-spoken man, and could only blush. The next day, when Song came, Wang told him everything. Song was angry. “I thought ‘the southerner will not rebel again.’ How dare this southern boor do such a thing! I must pay him back!” Wang urged him earnestly against spiteful mockery, and Song was deeply moved and admired him for it. When the examination was over, Wang showed his essays to Song, who thought well of them. One day, as they were wandering together through the temple halls, they saw a blind monk sitting in a corridor, selling medicines and treating the sick. Song was surprised. “This is a remarkable man! No one knows writing better. You must ask his advice.” So he told Wang to go back to his rooms for his essays. Wang ran into the scholar from Yuhang, and they came back together. Wang called the monk “Master” and paid his respects. The monk thought he had come about some illness and asked about his symptoms. Wang explained that he wanted advice on his writing. The monk laughed. “Who has been talking? How can a man with no eyes judge writing?” Wang asked him to use his ears in place of his eyes. “Three essays, over two thousand words,” said the monk. “Who has the patience to listen to all that? Better burn them. I can look at them with my nose.” Wang did so. As each essay burned, the monk sniffed and nodded. “You have been modelling yourself on the great masters. You haven’t caught them yet, but you are close. I took that in with my spleen.” “Can I pass?” Wang asked. “You can pass.” The scholar from Yuhang did not quite believe it. To test the monk, he first burned an essay by one of the old great masters. The monk sniffed it twice. “Wonderful! This one I take in with my heart. Who but Gui or Hu could have written it?” The scholar was thunderstruck, and only then burned his own. “I had just taken in one piece,” said the monk, “but I haven’t seen the whole leopard yet. Why have you suddenly switched to someone else?” The scholar made an excuse. “That was a friend’s work; he only had the one. This one is mine.” The monk sniffed the rest of the ashes, coughed and choked several times. “Don’t burn any more! It sticks and won’t go down. I forced it as far as my diaphragm. Burn any more and I shall be sick.” The scholar withdrew in shame. Some days later the list was posted. The scholar from Yuhang had passed after all, and Wang had failed. Song and Wang hurried to tell the monk. The monk sighed. “I may be blind in my eyes, but I am not blind in my nose. The men behind the curtain are blind in their noses as well.” Presently the scholar from Yuhang arrived, in high spirits. “Blind monk, have you been eating people’s dumplings too? So how does it look now?” “What I judged was the writing,” said the monk. “I never meant to judge your fate. Go and find the writings of all the examiners, and burn one piece by each, and I shall tell you which one is your master.” The scholar and Wang searched for them together, but could only find those of eight or nine. “If you’re wrong,” said the scholar, “what’s the penalty?” “Gouge out my blind eyes!” said the monk indignantly. The scholar burned them. At each one the monk said it was not the man; but at the sixth piece he suddenly turned to the wall and vomited violently, and broke wind like thunder. Everyone burst out laughing. The monk wiped his eyes and turned to the scholar. “This truly is your master! I didn’t know, and took it in at one great sniff. It stung my nose, it pricked my belly, my bladder could not hold it, and it went straight out through my bottom!” The scholar flew into a rage and went off, saying, “Tomorrow you’ll see! Don’t be sorry! Don’t be sorry!” Two or three days passed and he never came; when they looked, he had moved out. Then they learned he was that very examiner’s student. Song comforted Wang. “We who study books should not blame others, but master ourselves. If you do not blame others, your virtue grows; if you can master yourself, your learning advances. This setback is of course bad luck; but to be fair, your writing has not quite reached the summit either. Keep sharpening yourself from here on: there are men in the world who are not blind.” Wang rose in respect. He heard that another provincial examination would be held the following year, so he did not go home, but stayed on to be taught. “In the capital firewood costs as much as cassia and rice as much as pearls,” said Song, “but don’t worry about money. Behind your rooms there is silver buried in a pit, which you can dig up and use.” And he showed him the spot. Wang declined. “In the old days Dou and Fan were poor, yet kept their hands clean. I am lucky enough to be able to support myself. How dare I soil them?” One day, when Wang was sleeping off his wine, his servant and the cook dug it up in secret. Wang woke suddenly and heard noises behind the house. He peeped out: there was gold heaped on the ground. Caught in the act, they both cowered before him. While he was scolding them, he noticed some gold wine cups, many of them engraved with inscriptions. Looking closely, he saw that they all bore his grandfather’s name. — It turned out that Wang’s grandfather had been a secretary in one of the Nanjing ministries; he had come to the capital and lodged here, and died of a sudden illness, and the gold was what he had left. Now Wang was glad, and weighed out more than eight hundred taels. The next day he told Song, showed him the cups and wanted to share it with him; only Song’s firm refusal stopped him. He took a hundred taels to give to the blind monk, but the monk was gone. For several months Wang studied harder than ever. When the examination came, Song said, “If you don’t win this battle, then truly it is fate.” Before long Wang was struck off for breaking the rules. Wang himself said nothing; but Song wept aloud and could not stop, and it was Wang who had to comfort him. “The Creator has it in for me,” said Song. “I was kept down all my life, and now I have dragged my good friend down too. It is fate! It is fate!” “All things have their fixed lot,” said Wang. “But you, sir, have no wish to advance yourself; it is not fate.” Song wiped away his tears. “I have long wanted to tell you something, but was afraid of startling you. I am not a living man. I am a wandering ghost. In my youth I had a name for talent, but I never got anywhere in the examination halls. I came to the capital feigning madness, hoping to find someone who understood me and to pass my writing on through him. In the jiashen year I died in the calamity, and year after year since I have drifted like tumbleweed. Luckily I found your friendship, and so I did all I could to be the stone from another hill that polishes your jade. The wish I never fulfilled in my own life I truly hoped to see fulfilled through a good friend, for the joy of it. Now that your writing has met such a disaster, who could take it calmly?” Wang too was moved to tears. “Why have you lingered here?” he asked. “Last year the Lord on High issued a command charging the Sage Proclaimer and King Yama to examine the ghosts of the calamity. The best were to be held ready for appointment in the various bureaus, and the rest were to be sent on to the wheel of rebirth. My humble name is already on the list. I have not yet reported because I wanted to enjoy seeing you soar. Now I must say goodbye.” “What post are you being examined for?” Wang asked. “In the court of Zitong there is a vacancy for an Officer of Letters. For the time being a deaf boy has been told to hold the seal, and that is why the fortunes of letters are turned upside down. If I am lucky enough to get the post, I shall make the Sage’s teaching shine bright.” The next day he came, beaming. “My wish has come true! The Sage Proclaimer had me write ‘An Essay on Nature and the Way.’ When he read it his face lit up, and he said I could take charge of letters. King Yama checked the register and wanted to reject me for ‘sins of the tongue,’ but the Sage Proclaimer argued for me, and so I got it. I bowed my thanks. Then he called me up close to his desk and charged me: ‘Now, out of pity for your talent, you are raised to a pure and important office. Cleanse your heart and serve faithfully; do not repeat your past faults.’ From this you can see that the world below values virtue even more than learning. Your own cultivation must still fall short. Only go on doing good, and do not slacken.” “If that is so,” said Wang, “where is the virtue of the man from Yuhang?” “That I don’t know. But the rewards and punishments of the court below are never the least bit off. Even the blind monk the other day was a ghost too, a famous writer of the last dynasty. Because he threw away too much paper with writing on it while he was alive, he was punished with blindness. He wanted to cure people’s sufferings to atone for his past faults, and so he was wandering the markets.” Wang ordered wine. “No need,” said Song. “A whole year of troubling you ends with this moment. Just make me dumplings once more; that is enough.” Wang was too grief-stricken to eat, and sat while Song ate alone. In no time he had finished three bowls. Patting his belly, he said, “This meal will keep me full for three days. I eat it to remember your kindness. Everything I ate before is behind your house, and has turned into mushrooms. Keep them and use them as medicine: they will make a child clever.” Wang asked when they would meet again. “Now that I hold office, I must keep clear of any suspicion of favour.” “If I pour a libation and pray at the Zitong shrine, will it reach you?” “That will do no good at all. The Nine Heavens are very far away. Only keep yourself clean and work hard at doing right, and the officers of the earth will report it in their dispatches. Then I am sure to know.” With that he said goodbye and vanished. Wang looked behind the house: purple mushrooms had indeed sprung up there. He gathered them and stored them away. Beside them was a mound of fresh earth, and there were the dumplings, just as they had been. Wang went home and drove himself harder than ever. One night he dreamed that Song came in a canopied carriage and said, “Some time ago, in a moment of petty anger, you killed a maid by mistake, and you were struck off the register of office. Now your earnest conduct has cancelled that out. But your fate is too thin to bear an official career.” That year Wang passed the provincial examination, and the next year he passed the spring examination in the capital as well. But he never took office. He had two sons. One was extremely slow; he was fed the mushrooms, and became very clever. Later, going to Jinling on some business, Wang met the scholar from Yuhang at an inn. The scholar talked at length of all the years apart, very humble and self-effacing — but his temples had turned grey.