文登周生，與成生少共筆硯，遂訂為杵臼交。而成貧，故終歲常依周。以齒則周為長，呼周妻以嫂。節序登堂，如一家焉。周妻生子，產後暴卒。繼聘王氏，成以少故，未嘗請見之也。一日，王氏弟來省姊，宴于內寢。成適至。家人通白，周坐命邀之。成不入，辭去。周移席外舍，追之而還。甫坐，即有人白別業之僕，為邑宰重笞者。先是，黃吏部家牧傭，牛蹊周田，以是相詬。牧傭奔告主，捉僕送官，遂被笞責。周詰得其故，大怒曰：「黃家牧豬奴，何敢爾！其先世為大父服役；促得志，乃無人耶！」氣填吭臆，忿而起，欲往尋黃。成捺而止之，曰：「強梁世界，原無皂白。況今日官宰半強寇不操矛弧者耶？」周不聽。成諫止再三，至泣下，周乃止。怒終不釋，轉側達旦。謂家人曰：「黃家欺我，我仇也，姑置之。邑令為朝廷官，非勢家官，縱有互爭，亦須兩造，何至如狗之隨嗾者？我亦呈治其傭，視彼將何處分。」家人悉慫恿之，計遂決。具狀赴宰，宰裂而擲之。周怒，語侵宰。宰慚恚，因逮繫之。
文登有個周生，從小就與成生一起讀書，兩人因此結下了不分貧富的深厚交情。成生家貧，一年到頭常靠周生接濟。周生年紀較大，成生便稱周生的妻子為嫂子。逢年過節，他都會登門，親近得如同一家人。周生的妻子生下一個兒子，產後突然去世。周生後來又娶了王氏，成生因為她年輕，從未請求與她見面。一天，王氏的弟弟來看望姐姐，周生在內室設宴招待。成生正好來了，家人進去通報，周生坐在席上，吩咐請他進來。成生不肯進去，告辭走了。周生便把酒席移到外面的屋子，追上成生，將他請了回來。剛坐下，就有人來報，說周生另一處田莊的僕人被縣令狠狠打了一頓。原來，黃吏部家僱用的牧牛人讓牛踩壞了周家的田，周家的僕人因此與他對罵。牧牛人跑回去告訴主人，黃家便抓住周家的僕人，送到官府，僕人就遭了杖責。周生問清緣由，大怒道：「黃家那個放豬的奴才，怎麼敢這樣！他的祖輩曾給我祖父當僕人，他才一得勢，就眼裡沒有別人了嗎！」他氣得喉嚨、胸口都發堵，憤然起身，要去找黃吏部算賬。成生按住他，勸道：「這是個強橫之人橫行的世道，本來就沒有什麼是非黑白。何況如今的官員，有一半不就是不拿刀弓的強盜嗎？」周生不聽。成生再三勸阻，急得流下淚來，周生才作罷。可他的怒氣始終沒有消，翻來覆去直到天亮。他對家人說：「黃家欺負我，是我的仇人，姑且先放在一邊。縣令是朝廷的官，不是權勢人家的官。即便雙方有爭執，也該聽取兩邊的說法，怎麼能像狗一樣，別人一唆使就撲上去？我也要遞狀子，請求懲治黃家的牧牛人，看看他會怎樣處置。」家人都慫恿他，他便定下了主意。他寫好狀子，去見縣令，縣令卻把狀子撕了，扔在地上。周生大怒，出言冒犯了縣令。縣令惱羞成怒，便把他抓起來，關進了監牢。
文登周生，与成生少共笔砚，遂订为杵臼交。而成贫，故终岁常依周。以齿则周为长，呼周妻以嫂。节序登堂，如一家焉。周妻生子，产后暴卒。继聘王氏，成以少故，未尝请见之也。一日，王氏弟来省姊，宴于内寝。成适至。家人通白，周坐命邀之。成不入，辞去。周移席外舍，追之而还。甫坐，即有人白别业之仆，为邑宰重笞者。先是，黄吏部家牧佣，牛蹊周田，以是相诟。牧佣奔告主，捉仆送官，遂被笞责。周诘得其故，大怒曰：「黄家牧猪奴，何敢尔！其先世为大父服役；促得志，乃无人耶！」气填吭臆，忿而起，欲往寻黄。成捺而止之，曰：「强梁世界，原无皂白。况今日官宰半强寇不操矛弧者耶？」周不听。成谏止再三，至泣下，周乃止。怒终不释，转侧达旦。谓家人曰：「黄家欺我，我仇也，姑置之。邑令为朝廷官，非势家官，纵有互争，亦须两造，何至如狗之随嗾者？我亦呈治其佣，视彼将何处分。」家人悉怂恿之，计遂决。具状赴宰，宰裂而掷之。周怒，语侵宰。宰惭恚，因逮系之。
文登有个周生，从小就与成生一起读书，两人因此结下了不分贫富的深厚交情。成生家贫，一年到头常靠周生接济。周生年纪较大，成生便称周生的妻子为嫂子。逢年过节，他都会登门，亲近得如同一家人。周生的妻子生下一个儿子，产后突然去世。周生后来又娶了王氏，成生因为她年轻，从未请求与她见面。一天，王氏的弟弟来看望姐姐，周生在内室设宴招待。成生正好来了，家人进去通报，周生坐在席上，吩咐请他进来。成生不肯进去，告辞走了。周生便把酒席移到外面的屋子，追上成生，将他请了回来。刚坐下，就有人来报，说周生另一处田庄的仆人被县令狠狠打了一顿。原来，黄吏部家雇用的牧牛人让牛踩坏了周家的田，周家的仆人因此与他对骂。牧牛人跑回去告诉主人，黄家便抓住周家的仆人，送到官府，仆人就遭了杖责。周生问清缘由，大怒道：“黄家那个放猪的奴才，怎么敢这样！他的祖辈曾给我祖父当仆人，他才一得势，就眼里没有别人了吗！”他气得喉咙、胸口都发堵，愤然起身，要去找黄吏部算账。成生按住他，劝道：“这是个强横之人横行的世道，本来就没有什么是非黑白。何况如今的官员，有一半不就是不拿刀弓的强盗吗？”周生不听。成生再三劝阻，急得流下泪来，周生才作罢。可他的怒气始终没有消，翻来覆去直到天亮。他对家人说：“黄家欺负我，是我的仇人，姑且先放在一边。县令是朝廷的官，不是权势人家的官。即便双方有争执，也该听取两边的说法，怎么能像狗一样，别人一唆使就扑上去？我也要递状子，请求惩治黄家的牧牛人，看看他会怎样处置。”家人都怂恿他，他便定下了主意。他写好状子，去见县令，县令却把状子撕了，扔在地上。周生大怒，出言冒犯了县令。县令恼羞成怒，便把他抓起来，关进了监牢。
A scholar of Wendeng named Zhou and a scholar named Cheng had shared brush and inkstone since boyhood, and they swore a friendship of the mortar and pestle. Cheng was poor, and all year round he depended on Zhou. Zhou was the elder, so Cheng called Zhou’s wife ‘sister-in-law’. At the festivals he came up into the hall like one of the family. Zhou’s wife bore a son and died suddenly after the birth. Zhou married again, a wife of the Wang family, and because she was young Cheng had never asked to be presented to her. One day Mrs. Wang’s younger brother came to visit his sister, and they were feasting in the inner rooms when Cheng happened to arrive. A servant announced him, and Zhou, without getting up, told the man to bring him in. Cheng would not come in, and took his leave. Zhou had the feast moved to the outer hall, and went after him and brought him back. They had barely sat down when someone came to report that a servant from Zhou’s country estate had been badly flogged by the county magistrate. It had come about like this. A herdsman hired by the household of Huang, an official of the Ministry of Personnel, had let his cattle trample Zhou’s fields, and the two men had cursed each other over it. The herdsman ran to tell his master, who had Zhou’s man seized and handed over to the magistrate, and he was flogged. Zhou questioned the man and got the story, and flew into a rage. “That swineherd Huang, how dare he! His forebears were servants to my grandfather. He has come up in the world in a hurry — does he think there is nobody else left?” Rage choked his throat and swelled his chest. He sprang up in fury, meaning to go and find Huang. Cheng pushed him back down and stopped him. “This is a world of bullies,” he said. “Black and white never came into it. Besides, half the officials these days are bandits who just don’t carry spear and bow.” Zhou would not listen. Cheng begged him again and again, until he was in tears, and at last Zhou gave it up. But his anger never left him, and he tossed and turned till dawn. Then he said to his household, “The Huangs have wronged me, and they are my enemies, but let that be for now. The county magistrate is an officer of the court, not an officer of the great families. Even in a quarrel he has to hear both sides. Why should he jump like a dog when it’s set on? I will lodge a complaint of my own and have their herdsman punished, and we’ll see how he deals with that.” The household all egged him on, and so it was decided. He drew up a complaint and took it to the magistrate, who tore it up and threw it down. Zhou lost his temper and spoke insultingly to the magistrate. The magistrate, stung and angry, had him arrested and locked up.
辰後，成往訪周，始知入城訟理。急奔勸止，則已在囹圄矣。頓足無所為計。時獲海寇三名，宰與黃賂囑之，使捏周同黨。據詞申黜頂衣，搒掠酷慘。成入獄，相顧淒酸。謀叩闕。周曰：「身系重犴，如鳥在籠；雖有弱弟，止足供囚飯耳。」成銳身自任，曰：「是予責也。難而不急，烏用友也！」乃行。周弟贐之，則去已久矣。至都，無門入控。相傳駕將出獵，成預隱木市中；俄駕過，伏舞哀號，遂得准。驛送而下，著部院審奏。時閱十月余，周已誣服論辟。院接御批，大駭，復提躬讞。黃亦駭，謀殺周。因賂監者，絕其食飲；弟來饋問，苦禁拒之。成又為赴院聲屈，始蒙提問，業已飢餓不起。院臺怒，杖斃監者。黃大怖，納數千金，囑為營脫，以是得朦朧題免。宰以枉法擬流。周放歸，益肝膽成。
上午，成生去找周生，才知道他已經進城告狀，急忙趕去勸阻，可週生已經在牢裡了。成生急得跺腳，卻想不出辦法。當時抓到了三個海盜，縣令和黃吏部賄賂他們，授意他們誣稱周生是同夥。縣令根據他們的供詞，上報革去周生的生員身份，又對他施以極其殘酷的拷打。成生到牢裡探望，兩人相對，悲痛不已，商量著向皇帝申訴。周生說：「我被關在重犯的牢裡，像籠中的鳥一樣。雖然有個弟弟，可他軟弱無能，只能給我送送牢飯罷了。」成生挺身承擔下來，說：「這是我的責任。朋友有難，卻不趕緊相救，還要朋友做什麼！」說完便動身了。周生的弟弟拿著路費來送他時，他早已走遠。到了京城，成生找不到申訴的門路。聽說皇帝將要出城打獵，他就事先躲在木材市場裡。不久，皇帝的車駕經過，他伏地行禮，哭喊冤情，申訴終於獲准受理。皇帝的批示通過驛站傳送下來，命部院審理後上奏。這時已經過了十個多月，周生被迫承認了捏造的罪名，判了死刑。院臺收到皇帝的批示，大為震驚，重新提來周生，親自審理。黃吏部也驚慌起來，謀劃殺死周生，便賄賂獄卒，斷絕他的飲食。周生的弟弟來送飯探望，也被獄卒嚴厲攔住。成生又到院臺那裡替周生申冤，周生才被提出來問話，可這時他已經餓得站不起來了。院臺大怒，下令把獄卒杖斃。黃吏部十分害怕，拿出幾千兩銀子，託人替自己設法脫罪，因此上奏時含糊掩飾，使他免受了懲處。縣令因枉法被判流放。周生獲釋回家，對成生更加推心置腹。
辰后，成往访周，始知入城讼理。急奔劝止，则已在囹圄矣。顿足无所为计。时获海寇三名，宰与黄赂嘱之，使捏周同党。据词申黜顶衣，搒掠酷惨。成入狱，相顾凄酸。谋叩阙。周曰：「身系重犴，如鸟在笼；虽有弱弟，止足供囚饭耳。」成锐身自任，曰：「是予责也。难而不急，乌用友也！」乃行。周弟赆之，则去已久矣。至都，无门入控。相传驾将出猎，成预隐木市中；俄驾过，伏舞哀号，遂得准。驿送而下，着部院审奏。时阅十月余，周已诬服论辟。院接御批，大骇，复提躬谳。黄亦骇，谋杀周。因赂监者，绝其食饮；弟来馈问，苦禁拒之。成又为赴院声屈，始蒙提问，业已饥饿不起。院台怒，杖毙监者。黄大怖，纳数千金，嘱为营脱，以是得朦胧题免。宰以枉法拟流。周放归，益肝胆成。
上午，成生去找周生，才知道他已经进城告状，急忙赶去劝阻，可周生已经在牢里了。成生急得跺脚，却想不出办法。当时抓到了三个海盗，县令和黄吏部贿赂他们，授意他们诬称周生是同伙。县令根据他们的供词，上报革去周生的生员身份，又对他施以极其残酷的拷打。成生到牢里探望，两人相对，悲痛不已，商量着向皇帝申诉。周生说：“我被关在重犯的牢里，像笼中的鸟一样。虽然有个弟弟，可他软弱无能，只能给我送送牢饭罢了。”成生挺身承担下来，说：“这是我的责任。朋友有难，却不赶紧相救，还要朋友做什么！”说完便动身了。周生的弟弟拿着路费来送他时，他早已走远。到了京城，成生找不到申诉的门路。听说皇帝将要出城打猎，他就事先躲在木材市场里。不久，皇帝的车驾经过，他伏地行礼，哭喊冤情，申诉终于获准受理。皇帝的批示通过驿站传送下来，命部院审理后上奏。这时已经过了十个多月，周生被迫承认了捏造的罪名，判了死刑。院台收到皇帝的批示，大为震惊，重新提来周生，亲自审理。黄吏部也惊慌起来，谋划杀死周生，便贿赂狱卒，断绝他的饮食。周生的弟弟来送饭探望，也被狱卒严厉拦住。成生又到院台那里替周生申冤，周生才被提出来问话，可这时他已经饿得站不起来了。院台大怒，下令把狱卒杖毙。黄吏部十分害怕，拿出几千两银子，托人替自己设法脱罪，因此上奏时含糊掩饰，使他免受了惩处。县令因枉法被判流放。周生获释回家，对成生更加推心置腹。
Later that morning Cheng went to call on Zhou, and only then learned that he had gone into town to go to law. He ran after him to stop him, but Zhou was already in jail. Cheng stamped his feet, at a loss what to do. Just then three pirates had been caught. The magistrate and Huang bribed them to name Zhou falsely as one of their gang. On their word the magistrate petitioned to strip Zhou of his licentiate’s cap and gown, and he was beaten and tortured most cruelly. Cheng went into the prison, and the two looked at each other in misery. They talked of appealing to the throne. “I am locked in a deep cell, like a bird in a cage,” said Zhou. “I have a younger brother, but he is weak — good for nothing but bringing a prisoner his meals.” Cheng stepped forward and took it upon himself. “This is my duty,” he said. “What use is a friend who won’t hurry when you are in trouble?” And he set out. Zhou’s brother came with money for the road, but Cheng was long gone. In the capital he could find no door through which to lodge his appeal. Word went round that the emperor was going out to hunt, so Cheng hid himself beforehand in the timber market. Presently the imperial train came by; he threw himself down in obeisance and cried out his grievance, and his appeal was accepted. It was sent down by the post relays, with orders for the governor’s tribunal to try the case and report to the throne. By then more than ten months had passed, and Zhou had confessed under torture to what he had not done and been sentenced to death. When the governor received the emperor’s endorsement he was greatly alarmed, and had the case brought up to try it himself. Huang was alarmed too, and plotted to kill Zhou. He bribed the jailer to stop Zhou’s food and drink; when Zhou’s brother came with food, the jailer turned him away hard. Cheng went to the governor again to cry out the injustice, and only then was Zhou brought up for questioning — by which time he was too starved to stand. The governor, in a rage, had the jailer beaten to death. Huang was terrified. He paid out He paid out several thousand taels of silver to have the matter smoothed over, and so the report to the throne was fudged and he got off. The magistrate was sentenced to exile for perverting the law. Zhou was set free and came home, more devoted to Cheng than ever.
成自經訟系，世情盡灰，招周偕隱。周溺少婦，輒迂笑之。成雖不言，而意甚決。別後，數日不至。周使探諸其家，家人方疑其在周所；兩無所見，始疑。周心知其異，遣人蹤跡之，寺觀壑谷，物色殆遍。時以金帛恤其子。又八九年，成忽自至，黃巾氅服，岸然道貌。周喜把臂曰：「君何往，使我尋欲遍？」成笑曰：「孤雲野鶴，棲無定所。別後幸復頑健。」周命置酒，略道間闊，欲為變易道裝。成笑不語。周曰：「愚哉！何棄妻孥猶敝履也？」成笑曰：「不然。人將棄予，其何人之能棄。」問所棲止，答在勞山之上清宮。既而抵足寢，夢成裸伏胸上，氣不得息。訝問何為，殊不答。忽驚而寤，呼成不應；坐而索之，杳然不知所往。定移時，始覺在成榻，駭曰：「昨不醉，何顛倒至此耶！」乃呼家人。家人火之，儼然成也。周固多髭，以手自捋，則疏無幾莖。取鏡自照，訝曰：「成生在此，我何往！」已而大悟，知成以幻術招隱。意欲歸內，弟以其貌異，禁不聽前。周亦無以自明。即命僕馬往尋成。數日，入勞山。馬行疾，僕不能及。休止樹下，見羽客往來甚眾。內一道人目周，周因以成問。道士笑曰：「耳其名矣，似在上清。」言已，徑去。周目送之，見一矢之外，又與一人語，亦不數言而去。與言者漸至，乃同社生。見周，愕曰：「數年不晤，人以君學道名山，今尚游戲人間耶？」周述其異。生驚曰：「我適遇之，而以為君也。去無幾時，或當不遠。」周大異，曰：「怪哉！何自己面目覿面而不之識？」僕尋至，急馳之，竟無蹤兆。一望寥闊，進退難以自主。自念無家可歸，遂決意窮追。而怪險不復可騎，遂以馬付僕歸，迤邐自往。遙見一童獨坐，趨近問程，且告以故。童自言為成弟子，代荷衣糧，導與俱行。星飯露宿，逴行殊遠，三日始至，又非世之所謂上清。時十月中，山花滿路，不類初冬。童入報客，成即遽出，始認己形。執手入，置酒宴語。見異彩之禽，馴人不驚，聲如笙簧，時來鳴于座上。心甚異之。然塵俗念切，無意留連。地下有蒲團二，曳與並坐。至二更後，萬慮俱寂，忽似瞥然一盹，身覺與成易位。疑之，自捋頷下，則于思者如故矣。既曙，浩然思返。成固留之。越三日，乃曰：「乞少寐息，早送君行。」甫交睫，聞成呼曰：「行裝已具矣。」遂起從之。
成生經歷了這場官司和牢獄之禍，對世事徹底灰了心，勸周生與自己一起隱居。周生迷戀年輕的妻子，總笑他迂腐。成生雖然不再說什麼，心意卻十分堅決。兩人分別後，好幾天都不見成生來。周生派人到成生家打聽，成生的家人還以為他在周家。兩邊都不見人，這才起了疑心。周生心裡明白，他有意離開了，便派人追尋他的行蹤，寺院、道觀、山谷、溝壑，幾乎都找遍了。周生不時送些銀錢和布帛，接濟成生的兒子。又過了八九年，成生忽然自己來了，頭戴黃巾，身穿道袍，一副莊重的道人模樣。周生高興地拉住他的胳膊，說：「你去了哪裡？我找你都快找遍天下了！」成生笑道：「我像孤雲野鶴，居無定所。分別以後，幸好還算健壯。」周生命人擺酒，兩人略敘別後的事情。周生想讓他換下道裝，成生只是笑，不說話。周生說：「你真糊塗！怎麼能把妻子兒女像破鞋一樣丟下？」成生笑道：「不是這樣。人終究要拋下我，我又能拋下誰呢？」周生問他住在哪裡，他回答說，在勞山的上清宮。後來，兩人腳挨著腳睡下。周生夢見成生赤裸著身子趴在自己胸口，壓得他喘不過氣來。他驚訝地問成生做什麼，成生卻始終不答。周生忽然驚醒，叫成生，沒有回應；坐起來尋找，也不知道成生去了哪裡。過了一陣，他定下神來，才發覺自己睡在成生的床上，驚道：「昨晚沒有喝醉，怎麼會顛倒著睡到這裡來了！」他便叫來家人。家人拿燈一照，他竟完全是成生的模樣。周生原本鬍鬚濃密，伸手一摸，下巴上卻稀稀疏疏，沒剩幾根。他拿鏡子照著自己，驚道：「成生在這裡，我到哪裡去了！」隨後他恍然明白，成生是用幻術引他去隱居。他想回內室，弟弟卻見他相貌不同，攔著不讓他進去，周生也無法證明自己的身份。他立刻叫上僕人，備馬去尋找成生。幾天後，他進入勞山。馬走得快，僕人跟不上。他停在樹下休息，看見許多道人來來往往。其中一個道人看了周生一眼，周生便向他打聽成生。道人笑道：「聽過這個名字，好像在上清宮。」說完就徑直走了。周生目送他離去，只見他走出約一箭遠，又與一個人說話，沒說幾句便走了。與他說話的那人漸漸走近，原來是周生讀書結社時的一位朋友。那人見了周生，驚訝地說：「好幾年沒見，大家都說你到名山學道去了，怎麼還在人間遊玩？」周生便講了自己的怪事。那人吃驚道：「我剛才遇到他，還以為他是你。他才走一會兒，應該還不遠。」周生十分驚異，說：「真奇怪！我面對面見到自己的相貌，竟然沒認出來！」僕人不久趕到，他們急忙追趕，終究沒有找到蹤跡。周圍一片空曠，周生不知該往前還是退回去。他想到自己已經有家難歸，便決心一直找下去。後來山路崎嶇險峻，再也不能騎馬，他便把馬交給僕人帶回家，自己沿著曲折的山路前行。遠遠看見一個童子獨自坐著，他趕忙走近問路，並說明來意。童子說自己是成生的弟子，替他背起衣物和糧食，領著他一同趕路。他們在星光下吃飯，在露天過夜，走了很遠，三天後才到達那裡。這裡又不是世人所說的上清宮。當時是十月中旬，山花卻開滿道路，全不像初冬。童子進去通報有客人來，成生立刻快步出來，周生這才認出了自己的相貌。成生拉著他的手進去，擺下酒菜，邊吃邊談。只見一些羽毛色彩奇異的鳥，十分馴順，不怕人，叫聲像笙管，不時飛到席間鳴叫，周生心裡很覺驚奇。不過，他牽掛塵世，無心久留。地上有兩個蒲團，成生拉他過去，並排坐下。二更過後，周生的一切雜念都靜了下來，忽然像是打了個短短的盹，覺得自己與成生換了位置。他心裡疑惑，摸了摸下巴，濃密的鬍鬚已經和從前一樣了。天亮後，他一心想回家，成生極力挽留。又過了三天，成生才說：「請稍微睡一會兒，歇歇精神，我早些送你上路。」周生剛閉上眼，就聽見成生叫道：「行裝已經備好了。」他便起身跟著成生走了。
成自经讼系，世情尽灰，招周偕隐。周溺少妇，辄迂笑之。成虽不言，而意甚决。别后，数日不至。周使探诸其家，家人方疑其在周所；两无所见，始疑。周心知其异，遣人踪迹之，寺观壑谷，物色殆遍。时以金帛恤其子。又八九年，成忽自至，黄巾氅服，岸然道貌。周喜把臂曰：「君何往，使我寻欲遍？」成笑曰：「孤云野鹤，栖无定所。别后幸复顽健。」周命置酒，略道间阔，欲为变易道装。成笑不语。周曰：「愚哉！何弃妻孥犹敝履也？」成笑曰：「不然。人将弃予，其何人之能弃。」问所栖止，答在劳山之上清宫。既而抵足寝，梦成裸伏胸上，气不得息。讶问何为，殊不答。忽惊而寤，呼成不应；坐而索之，杳然不知所往。定移时，始觉在成榻，骇曰：「昨不醉，何颠倒至此耶！」乃呼家人。家人火之，俨然成也。周固多髭，以手自捋，则疏无几茎。取镜自照，讶曰：「成生在此，我何往！」已而大悟，知成以幻术招隐。意欲归内，弟以其貌异，禁不听前。周亦无以自明。即命仆马往寻成。数日，入劳山。马行疾，仆不能及。休止树下，见羽客往来甚众。内一道人目周，周因以成问。道士笑曰：「耳其名矣，似在上清。」言已，径去。周目送之，见一矢之外，又与一人语，亦不数言而去。与言者渐至，乃同社生。见周，愕曰：「数年不晤，人以君学道名山，今尚游戏人间耶？」周述其异。生惊曰：「我适遇之，而以为君也。去无几时，或当不远。」周大异，曰：「怪哉！何自己面目觌面而不之识？」仆寻至，急驰之，竟无踪兆。一望寥阔，进退难以自主。自念无家可归，遂决意穷追。而怪险不复可骑，遂以马付仆归，迤逦自往。遥见一童独坐，趋近问程，且告以故。童自言为成弟子，代荷衣粮，导与俱行。星饭露宿，逴行殊远，三日始至，又非世之所谓上清。时十月中，山花满路，不类初冬。童入报客，成即遽出，始认己形。执手入，置酒宴语。见异彩之禽，驯人不惊，声如笙簧，时来鸣于座上。心甚异之。然尘俗念切，无意留连。地下有蒲团二，曳与并坐。至二更后，万虑俱寂，忽似瞥然一盹，身觉与成易位。疑之，自捋颔下，则于思者如故矣。既曙，浩然思返。成固留之。越三日，乃曰：「乞少寐息，早送君行。」甫交睫，闻成呼曰：「行装已具矣。」遂起从之。
成生经历了这场官司和牢狱之祸，对世事彻底灰了心，劝周生与自己一起隐居。周生迷恋年轻的妻子，总笑他迂腐。成生虽然不再说什么，心意却十分坚决。两人分别后，好几天都不见成生来。周生派人到成生家打听，成生的家人还以为他在周家。两边都不见人，这才起了疑心。周生心里明白，他有意离开了，便派人追寻他的行踪，寺院、道观、山谷、沟壑，几乎都找遍了。周生不时送些银钱和布帛，接济成生的儿子。又过了八九年，成生忽然自己来了，头戴黄巾，身穿道袍，一副庄重的道人模样。周生高兴地拉住他的胳膊，说：“你去了哪里？我找你都快找遍天下了！”成生笑道：“我像孤云野鹤，居无定所。分别以后，幸好还算健壮。”周生命人摆酒，两人略叙别后的事情。周生想让他换下道装，成生只是笑，不说话。周生说：“你真糊涂！怎么能把妻子儿女像破鞋一样丢下？”成生笑道：“不是这样。人终究要抛下我，我又能抛下谁呢？”周生问他住在哪里，他回答说，在劳山的上清宫。后来，两人脚挨着脚睡下。周生梦见成生赤裸着身子趴在自己胸口，压得他喘不过气来。他惊讶地问成生做什么，成生却始终不答。周生忽然惊醒，叫成生，没有回应；坐起来寻找，也不知道成生去了哪里。过了一阵，他定下神来，才发觉自己睡在成生的床上，惊道：“昨晚没有喝醉，怎么会颠倒着睡到这里来了！”他便叫来家人。家人拿灯一照，他竟完全是成生的模样。周生原本胡须浓密，伸手一摸，下巴上却稀稀疏疏，没剩几根。他拿镜子照着自己，惊道：“成生在这里，我到哪里去了！”随后他恍然明白，成生是用幻术引他去隐居。他想回内室，弟弟却见他相貌不同，拦着不让他进去，周生也无法证明自己的身份。他立刻叫上仆人，备马去寻找成生。几天后，他进入劳山。马走得快，仆人跟不上。他停在树下休息，看见许多道人来来往往。其中一个道人看了周生一眼，周生便向他打听成生。道人笑道：“听过这个名字，好像在上清宫。”说完就径直走了。周生目送他离去，只见他走出约一箭远，又与一个人说话，没说几句便走了。与他说话的那人渐渐走近，原来是周生读书结社时的一位朋友。那人见了周生，惊讶地说：“好几年没见，大家都说你到名山学道去了，怎么还在人间游玩？”周生便讲了自己的怪事。那人吃惊道：“我刚才遇到他，还以为他是你。他才走一会儿，应该还不远。”周生十分惊异，说：“真奇怪！我面对面见到自己的相貌，竟然没认出来！”仆人不久赶到，他们急忙追赶，终究没有找到踪迹。周围一片空旷，周生不知该往前还是退回去。他想到自己已经有家难归，便决心一直找下去。后来山路崎岖险峻，再也不能骑马，他便把马交给仆人带回家，自己沿着曲折的山路前行。远远看见一个童子独自坐着，他赶忙走近问路，并说明来意。童子说自己是成生的弟子，替他背起衣物和粮食，领着他一同赶路。他们在星光下吃饭，在露天过夜，走了很远，三天后才到达那里。这里又不是世人所说的上清宫。当时是十月中旬，山花却开满道路，全不像初冬。童子进去通报有客人来，成生立刻快步出来，周生这才认出了自己的相貌。成生拉着他的手进去，摆下酒菜，边吃边谈。只见一些羽毛色彩奇异的鸟，十分驯顺，不怕人，叫声像笙管，不时飞到席间鸣叫，周生心里很觉惊奇。不过，他牵挂尘世，无心久留。地上有两个蒲团，成生拉他过去，并排坐下。二更过后，周生的一切杂念都静了下来，忽然像是打了个短短的盹，觉得自己与成生换了位置。他心里疑惑，摸了摸下巴，浓密的胡须已经和从前一样了。天亮后，他一心想回家，成生极力挽留。又过了三天，成生才说：“请稍微睡一会儿，歇歇精神，我早些送你上路。”周生刚闭上眼，就听见成生叫道：“行装已经备好了。”他便起身跟着成生走了。
After the lawsuit and the prison, Cheng’s heart for the world turned to ash, and he urged Zhou to withdraw from it with him. But Zhou was besotted with his young wife, and would only laugh at the idea as impractical. Cheng said nothing more, but his mind was made up. After they parted, several days went by and he did not come. Zhou sent to ask at his house; his family had supposed he was at Zhou’s. Neither had seen him, and they began to worry. Zhou knew in his heart what it meant. He sent men to track him, and they searched nearly every temple and monastery, every gorge and valley. From time to time he sent money and silk to help Cheng’s son. Eight or nine years later Cheng suddenly turned up of his own accord, in a yellow headcloth and a Daoist’s cloak, with all the grave bearing of a man of the Way. Zhou was delighted and seized his arm. “Where have you been? I have searched almost everywhere for you!” Cheng laughed. “A lone cloud, a wild crane: I have no fixed roost. Since we parted I have kept hale, I’m glad to say.” Zhou ordered wine, and they talked a little of the years apart. Zhou wanted him to change out of his Daoist clothes; Cheng only smiled and said nothing. “You fool!” said Zhou. “How could you throw away your wife and child like a worn-out shoe?” Cheng laughed. “Not so. People will throw me away. Who is there that I could throw away?” Asked where he lived, he said at the Palace of Highest Clarity on Mount Lao. Later they lay down to sleep foot to foot, and Zhou dreamed that Cheng was lying naked on his chest, so that he could not breathe. Startled, he asked what he was doing, but Cheng gave no answer at all. Zhou woke with a start and called to Cheng, but there was no reply. He sat up and felt about for him, but Cheng was gone, no one knew where. After a while he collected himself, and found that he was lying on Cheng’s side of the bed. “I wasn’t drunk last night,” he said in alarm. “How did I get turned around like this?” He called for the servants. They brought a light, and there, unmistakably, was Cheng. Zhou had always had a thick beard. He stroked his chin: there were only a few thin hairs. He took a mirror and looked at himself. “Here is Cheng,” he cried, “but where have I gone?” Then it dawned on him: Cheng had used magic to call him away from the world. He wanted to go into the inner rooms, but his brother, seeing a stranger’s face, would not let him near. And Zhou had no way to prove who he was. At once he ordered a servant and horses and set out to find Cheng. In a few days he entered Mount Lao. His horse went fast, and the servant could not keep up. He stopped to rest under a tree, and saw a great many feather-robed Daoists coming and going. One of them looked hard at Zhou, so Zhou asked him about Cheng. The Daoist laughed. “I have heard the name. I believe he is at Highest Clarity.” And with that he went straight off. Zhou watched him go. A bowshot away the Daoist stopped to talk with someone else, said only a few words, and went on. The man he had spoken to came nearer: it was a fellow member of Zhou’s literary society. Seeing Zhou, he was astonished. “I haven’t seen you for years. People said you had gone off to the famous mountains to study the Way — and here you are, still playing about in the world?” Zhou told him what had happened. The man was startled. “I just met him, and I took him for you! He left only a moment ago. He can’t be far.” Zhou was amazed. “How strange! I came face to face with my own face and didn’t know it!” His servant caught up, and they rode hard after Cheng, but found no trace of him. All around was empty wilderness, and Zhou could not decide whether to go on or turn back. Then he thought that he had no home to go back to, and resolved to follow to the end. But the way became too wild and steep to ride, so he gave the horse to the servant to take home, and wound his way on alone. Far off he saw a boy sitting by himself. He hurried up to ask the way, and told him why he had come. The boy said he was Cheng’s disciple. He took Zhou’s clothes and provisions on his own back and led him on. Eating under the stars and sleeping in the dew, they went a very long way, and only on the third day did they arrive. It was not the Highest Clarity the world knows. It was the middle of the tenth month, yet mountain flowers lined the path; it was nothing like early winter. The boy went in to announce a visitor, and Cheng came hurrying out. Only then did Zhou recognize his own form. Cheng took his hand and led him in, and set out wine, and they feasted and talked. Birds of strange bright plumage, so tame they had no fear of people, came now and then and sang above their seats with voices like reed pipes. Zhou marvelled at them. But his thoughts of the dusty world were pressing, and he had no wish to linger. There were two rush cushions on the floor; Cheng drew him down and they sat side by side. After the second watch, when every care had fallen still, Zhou seemed to nod off for an instant, and felt that he and Cheng had changed places. Wondering, he stroked his chin: the bushy beard was there as before. At daybreak he was set on going home. Cheng pressed him to stay. After three days Cheng said, “Take a little sleep, and I will see you off early.” Zhou had barely closed his eyes when he heard Cheng call, “Your things are ready.” So he got up and followed him.
所行殊非舊途，覺無幾時，里居已在望中。成坐候路側，俾自歸。周強之不得，因踽踽至家門。叩不能應，思欲越牆，覺身飄似葉，一躍已過。凡逾數重垣，始抵臥室，燈燭熒然，內人未寢，噥噥與人語。舐窗以窺，則妻與一廝僕同杯飲，狀甚狎褻。於是怒火如焚；計將掩執，又恐孤力難勝。遂潛身脫扃而出，奔告成，且乞為助。成慨然從之，直抵內寢。周舉石撾門，內張皇甚；擂愈急，內閉益堅。成撥以劍，劃然頓闢。周奔入，僕沖戶而走。成在門外，以劍擊之，斷其肩臂。周執妻拷訊，乃知被收時即與僕私。周借劍決其首，罥腸庭樹間。乃從成出，尋途而返。驀然忽醒，則身在臥榻，驚而言曰：「怪夢參差，使人駭懼！」成笑曰：「夢者兄以為真，真者乃以為夢。」周愕而問之。成出劍示之，濺血猶存。周驚怛欲絕，竊疑成譸張為幻。成知其意，乃促裝送之歸。荏苒至里門，乃曰：「疇昔之夜，倚劍而相待者，非此處耶！吾厭見惡濁，請還待君于此；如過晡不來，予自去。」周至家，門戶蕭索，似無居人。還入弟家。弟見兄，雙淚遽墮，曰：「兄去後，盜夜殺嫂，刳腸去，酷慘可悼。于今官捕未獲。」周如夢醒，因以情告，戒勿究。弟錯愕良久。周問其子，乃命老媼抱至。周曰：「此襁褓物，宗緒所關，弟好視之。兄欲辭人世矣。」遂起，徑出。弟涕泗追挽，笑行不顧。至野外，見成，與俱行。遙回顧曰：「忍事最樂。」弟欲有言，成闊袖一舉，即不可見。悵立移時，痛哭而返。
他們走的完全不是來時的路，感覺沒過多久，家鄉已經出現在眼前。成生坐在路旁等候，讓周生獨自回家。周生硬要拉他一起去，卻拉不動，只好獨自走到家門前。他敲門，無人應答，便想翻牆進去，忽然覺得身體輕得像樹葉，一躍就越過了牆頭。他接連越過幾道牆，才來到臥室外。屋裡燈光明亮，妻子還沒睡，正低聲與人說話。他舔破窗紙往裡看，只見妻子與一個男僕共用一隻杯子喝酒，舉止十分輕佻親暱。周生頓時怒火中燒，想衝進去抓住兩人，又怕獨自一人制服不了他們。他便悄悄打開門閂出去，跑去告訴成生，求他幫忙。成生爽快地答應了，隨他直接來到內室。周生舉起石頭砸門，屋裡的人十分驚慌。他砸得越急，裡面越是死死頂住門。成生用劍一撥，門豁然打開。周生衝進去，男僕奪門逃跑。成生站在門外，揮劍砍斷了他的一條胳膊。周生抓住妻子拷問，才知道自己被捕時，她就已經與這個僕人私通。周生借來劍，砍下她的頭，把她的腸子掛在院中的樹上。隨後，他跟著成生出去，沿路返回。忽然，他一下醒來，發現自己躺在床上，驚道：「這場夢真是離奇紛亂，嚇死人了！」成生笑道：「兄長把夢當成真的，卻把真的當成夢。」周生驚訝地問他是什麼意思。成生取出劍給他看，上面還留著濺上的血跡。周生驚恐萬分，幾乎昏過去，心裡暗暗懷疑成生是在用幻術欺騙自己。成生知道他的心思，便催他收拾行裝，送他回家。他們走了一陣，來到村口，成生說：「那天夜裡，我拄著劍等你的地方，不就是這裡嗎？我厭惡見到那些汙濁的事情，請讓我回到這裡等你。要是過了傍晚你還不來，我就自己走了。」周生到家，只見門戶冷清，像是沒有人住。他轉身去了弟弟家。弟弟見到兄長，眼淚立刻流下來，說：「兄長走後，有盜賊夜裡殺了嫂子，剖開肚子，挖出腸子後逃走，慘得叫人痛心。到現在，官府還沒有抓到兇手。」周生像是從夢中醒來，便將實情告訴弟弟，囑咐他不要再追究。弟弟驚愕了很久。周生問起兒子，弟弟便叫老媼抱來。周生說：「這個還在襁褓裡的孩子，關係到我們家香火的延續，你要好好照顧他。我就要告別人世了。」說完起身，徑直往外走。弟弟流著淚追上去，想把他拉住，他卻笑著往前走，沒有回頭。到了野外，他見到成生，便與他一同離去。走遠後，他回頭說道：「遇事能夠忍耐，才是最大的快樂。」弟弟還想說什麼，成生把寬大的袖子一揮，兩人就不見了。弟弟惆悵地站了一陣，痛哭著回去了。
所行殊非旧途，觉无几时，里居已在望中。成坐候路侧，俾自归。周强之不得，因踽踽至家门。叩不能应，思欲越墙，觉身飘似叶，一跃已过。凡逾数重垣，始抵卧室，灯烛荧然，内人未寝，哝哝与人语。舐窗以窥，则妻与一厮仆同杯饮，状甚狎亵。于是怒火如焚；计将掩执，又恐孤力难胜。遂潜身脱扃而出，奔告成，且乞为助。成慨然从之，直抵内寝。周举石挝门，内张皇甚；擂愈急，内闭益坚。成拨以剑，划然顿辟。周奔入，仆冲户而走。成在门外，以剑击之，断其肩臂。周执妻拷讯，乃知被收时即与仆私。周借剑决其首，罥肠庭树间。乃从成出，寻途而返。蓦然忽醒，则身在卧榻，惊而言曰：「怪梦参差，使人骇惧！」成笑曰：「梦者兄以为真，真者乃以为梦。」周愕而问之。成出剑示之，溅血犹存。周惊怛欲绝，窃疑成诪张为幻。成知其意，乃促装送之归。荏苒至里门，乃曰：「畴昔之夜，倚剑而相待者，非此处耶！吾厌见恶浊，请还待君于此；如过晡不来，予自去。」周至家，门户萧索，似无居人。还入弟家。弟见兄，双泪遽堕，曰：「兄去后，盗夜杀嫂，刳肠去，酷惨可悼。于今官捕未获。」周如梦醒，因以情告，戒勿究。弟错愕良久。周问其子，乃命老媪抱至。周曰：「此襁褓物，宗绪所关，弟好视之。兄欲辞人世矣。」遂起，径出。弟涕泗追挽，笑行不顾。至野外，见成，与俱行。遥回顾曰：「忍事最乐。」弟欲有言，成阔袖一举，即不可见。怅立移时，痛哭而返。
他们走的完全不是来时的路，感觉没过多久，家乡已经出现在眼前。成生坐在路旁等候，让周生独自回家。周生硬要拉他一起去，却拉不动，只好独自走到家门前。他敲门，无人应答，便想翻墙进去，忽然觉得身体轻得像树叶，一跃就越过了墙头。他接连越过几道墙，才来到卧室外。屋里灯光明亮，妻子还没睡，正低声与人说话。他舔破窗纸往里看，只见妻子与一个男仆共用一只杯子喝酒，举止十分轻佻亲昵。周生顿时怒火中烧，想冲进去抓住两人，又怕独自一人制服不了他们。他便悄悄打开门闩出去，跑去告诉成生，求他帮忙。成生爽快地答应了，随他直接来到内室。周生举起石头砸门，屋里的人十分惊慌。他砸得越急，里面越是死死顶住门。成生用剑一拨，门豁然打开。周生冲进去，男仆夺门逃跑。成生站在门外，挥剑砍断了他的一条胳膊。周生抓住妻子拷问，才知道自己被捕时，她就已经与这个仆人私通。周生借来剑，砍下她的头，把她的肠子挂在院中的树上。随后，他跟着成生出去，沿路返回。忽然，他一下醒来，发现自己躺在床上，惊道：“这场梦真是离奇纷乱，吓死人了！”成生笑道：“兄长把梦当成真的，却把真的当成梦。”周生惊讶地问他是什么意思。成生取出剑给他看，上面还留着溅上的血迹。周生惊恐万分，几乎昏过去，心里暗暗怀疑成生是在用幻术欺骗自己。成生知道他的心思，便催他收拾行装，送他回家。他们走了一阵，来到村口，成生说：“那天夜里，我拄着剑等你的地方，不就是这里吗？我厌恶见到那些污浊的事情，请让我回到这里等你。要是过了傍晚你还不来，我就自己走了。”周生到家，只见门户冷清，像是没有人住。他转身去了弟弟家。弟弟见到兄长，眼泪立刻流下来，说：“兄长走后，有盗贼夜里杀了嫂子，剖开肚子，挖出肠子后逃走，惨得叫人痛心。到现在，官府还没有抓到凶手。”周生像是从梦中醒来，便将实情告诉弟弟，嘱咐他不要再追究。弟弟惊愕了很久。周生问起儿子，弟弟便叫老媪抱来。周生说：“这个还在襁褓里的孩子，关系到我们家香火的延续，你要好好照顾他。我就要告别人世了。”说完起身，径直往外走。弟弟流着泪追上去，想把他拉住，他却笑着往前走，没有回头。到了野外，他见到成生，便与他一同离去。走远后，他回头说道：“遇事能够忍耐，才是最大的快乐。”弟弟还想说什么，成生把宽大的袖子一挥，两人就不见了。弟弟惆怅地站了一阵，痛哭着回去了。
The road they took was not the way he had come, and it seemed no time at all before his home village was in sight. Cheng sat down by the roadside to wait, and let Zhou go on alone. Zhou could not make him come, so he went on by himself to his own gate. He knocked, but no one answered. He thought of climbing the wall, and found his body as light as a leaf: one leap and he was over. He crossed several more walls before he reached the bedroom. A lamp was glimmering; his wife was not yet asleep, and was murmuring to someone. He licked a hole in the window paper and peeped through: his wife was drinking from the same cup as one of the menservants, and the two were very lewd together. Rage burned in him like fire. He thought of bursting in and seizing them, but feared he could not manage it alone. So he slipped out, unbarring the gate, ran to tell Cheng, and begged his help. Cheng came at once, without a second thought, and they went straight to the inner rooms. Zhou picked up a stone and pounded on the door. Inside there was panic. The harder he battered, the more firmly they held it shut. Cheng pried at it with his sword, and it flew open with a crack. Zhou rushed in; the servant burst out of the door and ran. Cheng, waiting outside, struck at him with his sword and cut off his arm at the shoulder. Zhou seized his wife and beat the truth out of her: she had been carrying on with the servant ever since he was arrested. Zhou borrowed the sword, cut off her head, and hung her guts in the tree in the courtyard. Then he went out with Cheng and found the road back. All at once he woke, and he was lying in bed. “What a strange, tangled dream,” he said, shaken. “It frightened me!” Cheng laughed. “Brother, you take a dream for real, and what is real you take for a dream.” Zhou stared and asked what he meant. Cheng drew his sword and showed it to him: the spattered blood was still on it. Zhou was so horrified he nearly fainted. Secretly he suspected Cheng of tricking him with illusions. Cheng knew what he was thinking, so he had him pack and took him home. In time they came to the village gate. “Isn’t this where I waited for you that night, leaning on my sword?” said Cheng. “I can’t bear the sight of filth. Let me wait for you here again. If you have not come by late afternoon, I will go on alone.” Zhou reached his house. It was bleak and desolate, as if no one lived there. He went on to his brother’s house. When his brother saw him, the tears poured down. “After you left, a robber came in the night and killed your wife. He cut her open and pulled out her guts, then made off — it was horrible, pitiful. The constables still haven’t caught him.” Zhou felt as if he were waking from a dream. He told his brother what had really happened, and warned him not to pursue it. His brother was stunned for a long time. Zhou asked after his son, and his brother had an old nurse carry the boy in. “This child in swaddling clothes carries on our family line,” said Zhou. “Look after him well, brother. I am about to take leave of the world.” And he rose and walked straight out. His brother ran after him in tears, trying to hold him back, but Zhou laughed and walked on without looking round. Out in the open country he found Cheng, and they went on together. From far off Zhou looked back and called, “Bear things patiently — that is the greatest happiness!” His brother was about to say something when Cheng raised one of his wide sleeves, and they were gone. He stood forlorn for a while, then went home weeping bitterly.
周弟樸拙，不善治家人生產，居數年，家益貧。周子漸長，不能延師，因自教讀。一日，早至齋，見案頭有函書，緘封甚固，簽題「仲氏啟」。審之，為兄跡；開視，則虛無所有，只見爪甲一枚，長二指許。心怪之。以甲置研上，出問家人所自來，並無知者。回視，則研石燦燦，化為黃金。大驚。以試銅鐵，皆然。由此大富。以千金賜成氏子，因相傳兩家有點金術雲。
周生的弟弟樸實笨拙，不善於經營家裡的生計。過了幾年，家裡越來越窮。周生的兒子漸漸長大，家裡請不起先生，叔父便自己教他讀書。一天，弟弟清早來到書房，看見桌上有一封信，封得十分嚴密，封面寫著「二弟親啟」。他仔細看，認出是兄長的筆跡。打開一看，裡面沒有信紙，只有一枚指甲，約有兩根手指那麼長。他心裡奇怪，把指甲放在硯臺上，出去問家人這封信從哪裡來的，卻沒有人知道。回來再看，硯臺閃閃發亮，竟變成了黃金。他大吃一驚，又拿指甲去試銅器和鐵器，也都變成了黃金。從此，周家十分富有。他拿出一千兩銀子送給成生的兒子，於是人們傳說，這兩家都有點金術。
周弟朴拙，不善治家人生产，居数年，家益贫。周子渐长，不能延师，因自教读。一日，早至斋，见案头有函书，缄封甚固，签题「仲氏启」。审之，为兄迹；开视，则虚无所有，只见爪甲一枚，长二指许。心怪之。以甲置研上，出问家人所自来，并无知者。回视，则研石灿灿，化为黄金。大惊。以试铜铁，皆然。由此大富。以千金赐成氏子，因相传两家有点金术云。
周生的弟弟朴实笨拙，不善于经营家里的生计。过了几年，家里越来越穷。周生的儿子渐渐长大，家里请不起先生，叔父便自己教他读书。一天，弟弟清早来到书房，看见桌上有一封信，封得十分严密，封面写着“二弟亲启”。他仔细看，认出是兄长的笔迹。打开一看，里面没有信纸，只有一枚指甲，约有两根手指那么长。他心里奇怪，把指甲放在砚台上，出去问家人这封信从哪里来的，却没有人知道。回来再看，砚台闪闪发亮，竟变成了黄金。他大吃一惊，又拿指甲去试铜器和铁器，也都变成了黄金。从此，周家十分富有。他拿出一千两银子送给成生的儿子，于是人们传说，这两家都有点金术。
Zhou’s brother was a simple, clumsy man, no good at managing the family’s living, and within a few years the household was poorer than ever. Zhou’s son was growing up, and with no money to hire a tutor, his uncle taught him to read himself. One day the brother went early to the study and found a letter on the desk, very tightly sealed and addressed: ‘To be opened by my younger brother.’ He looked closer: it was his brother’s hand. He opened it: there was nothing inside but a single fingernail, about two fingers long. He thought it strange. He laid the nail on the inkstone and went out to ask the household where the letter had come from, but no one knew. When he looked back, the inkstone was glittering: it had turned to gold. He was astounded. He tried the nail on copper and iron, and they turned to gold too. From then on he was very rich. He gave a thousand in gold to Cheng’s son, and so it was said that the two families had the art of turning things to gold.