晏仲，陝西延安人。與兄伯同居，友愛敦篤。伯三十而卒，無嗣；妻亦繼亡。仲痛悼之，每思生二子，則以一子為兄後。甫舉一男，而仲妻又死。仲恐繼室不卹其子，將購一妾。鄰村有貨婢者，仲往相之，略不稱意，情緒無聊，被友人留酌，醺醉而歸。途中遇故窗友梁生，握手殷殷，邀過其家。醉中忘其已死，從之而去。入其門，並非舊第，疑而問之。曰：「新移此耳。」入而謀酒，則家釀已竭，囑仲坐待，挈瓶往沽。仲出立門外以俟之。見一婦人控驢而過，有童子隨之，年可八九歲，面目神色，絕類其兄。心惻然動，急委綴之。便問童子何姓。答言：「姓晏。」仲益驚，又問：「汝父何名。」答言：「不知。」言次，已至其門，婦人下驢入。仲執童子曰：「汝父在家否？」童諾而入。頃之，一媼出窺，真其嫂也。訝叔何來。仲大悲，隨之而入。見廬落亦復整頓。因問：「兄何在？」曰：「責負未歸。」問：「跨驢者何人？」曰：「此汝兄妾甘氏，生兩男矣。長阿大，赴市未返；汝所見者阿小。」坐久，酒漸解，始悟所見皆鬼。以兄弟情切，即亦不懼。嫂溫酒治具。仲急欲見兄，促阿小覓之。良久，哭而歸曰：「李家負欠不還，反與父鬧。」仲聞之，與阿小奔去。見有兩人方捽兄地上。仲怒，奮拳直入，當者盡踣。急救兄起，敵已俱奔。追捉一人，捶楚無算，始起。執兄手，頓足哀泣；兄亦泣。既歸，舉家慰問，乃具酒食，兄弟相慶。居無何，一少年入，年約十六七。伯呼阿大，令拜叔。仲挽之，哭向兄曰：「大哥地下有兩男子，而墳墓不掃；弟又子少而鰥，奈何？」伯亦悽惻。嫂謂伯曰：「遣阿小從叔去，亦得。」阿小聞言，依叔肘下，眷戀不去。仲撫之，倍益酸辛。問：「汝樂從否？」答云：「樂從。」仲念鬼雖非人，慰情亦勝無也，因為解顏。伯曰：「從去，但勿嬌慣，宜啖以血肉，驅向日中曝之，午過乃已。六七歲兒，歷春及夏，骨肉更生，可以娶妻育子；但恐不壽耳。」
晏仲是陝西延安人，和哥哥晏伯住在一起，兄弟倆感情深厚。晏伯三十歲就去世了，沒有留下子嗣，妻子也接著去世。晏仲十分悲痛，常想自己要是能生兩個兒子，就把一個過繼給哥哥。可他才生了一個男孩，妻子又去世了。晏仲怕續娶的妻子不疼愛自己的兒子，打算買一個妾。鄰村有人賣婢女，他去看了，卻不怎麼滿意，心裡很不痛快，被朋友留下喝酒，喝得醉醺醺才回家。路上遇到從前的同窗梁生，梁生熱情地握著他的手，請他到家裡去。晏仲醉中忘了梁生已經去世，就跟著去了。進了門，發現不是從前的住所，便疑惑地問起。梁生說：「我才搬到這裡。」進屋後，梁生準備拿酒招待他，卻發現家裡釀的酒已經喝完，就讓晏仲坐著等候，提著瓶子出去買酒。晏仲走到門外，站著等他。看見一個婦人騎著驢經過，後面跟著一個八九歲的男孩，容貌神情都極像自己的哥哥。晏仲心裡一陣酸楚，連忙跟了上去，問男孩姓什麼。男孩回答：「姓晏。」晏仲越發吃驚，又問：「你父親叫什麼名字？」男孩回答：「不知道。」說話間，已經到了他們家門口，婦人下了驢，走進門去。晏仲拉住男孩問：「你父親在家嗎？」男孩應了一聲，進去了。過了一會兒，一個老婦人出來看，果然是他的嫂子。嫂子很驚訝，問他怎麼來了。晏仲悲痛萬分，跟著她進了屋，見房屋院落也收拾得很整齊，便問：「哥哥在哪裡？」嫂子說：「出去討債，還沒回來。」晏仲問：「騎驢的是什麼人？」嫂子說：「這是你哥哥的妾甘氏，已經生了兩個男孩。大的叫阿大，去了集市還沒回來；你看見的是阿小。」坐了很久，晏仲的酒漸漸醒了，這才明白自己見到的都是鬼。但他惦念哥哥的心情太深，也就不覺得害怕。嫂子溫酒備菜，晏仲急著見哥哥，催阿小出去找他。過了很久，阿小哭著回來，說：「李家欠債不還，反倒和爹鬧起來了。」晏仲聽了，跟阿小奔過去，看見兩個人正把哥哥揪倒在地。晏仲大怒，揮拳衝了進去，擋在面前的人都被打倒。他趕緊扶起哥哥，兩個對手已經逃跑了。他追上一個，抓住痛打一頓，才讓那人起來。接著握住哥哥的手，跺著腳痛哭，哥哥也哭了。回到家，全家都來安慰問候，隨後擺上酒飯，兄弟倆慶賀重逢。不久，一個十六七歲的少年進來，晏伯叫他阿大，讓他拜見叔叔。晏仲扶住他，哭著對哥哥說：「大哥在地下有兩個兒子，墳墓卻沒人掃祭；弟弟又只有一個兒子，還死了妻子，這可怎麼辦？」晏伯也很傷心。嫂子對晏伯說：「讓阿小跟叔叔去，也可以。」阿小聽了，緊靠在叔叔身旁，依戀著不肯離開。晏仲撫摸著他，心裡更加酸楚，問：「你願意跟我去嗎？」阿小回答：「願意。」晏仲想，鬼雖然不是活人，但能安慰自己的心，總比沒有好，因此露出了笑容。晏伯說：「帶他去吧，只是別嬌慣他。要給他吃鮮血和肉，趕他到太陽底下曬，過了中午才讓他回來。六七歲的孩子，經過春天和夏天，骨肉就能重新生長，也能娶妻生子，只怕活不長罷了。」
晏仲，陕西延安人。与兄伯同居，友爱敦笃。伯三十而卒，无嗣；妻亦继亡。仲痛悼之，每思生二子，则以一子为兄后。甫举一男，而仲妻又死。仲恐继室不恤其子，将购一妾。邻村有货婢者，仲往相之，略不称意，情绪无聊，被友人留酌，醺醉而归。途中遇故窗友梁生，握手殷殷，邀过其家。醉中忘其已死，从之而去。入其门，并非旧第，疑而问之。曰：「新移此耳。」入而谋酒，则家酿已竭，嘱仲坐待，挈瓶往沽。仲出立门外以俟之。见一妇人控驴而过，有童子随之，年可八九岁，面目神色，绝类其兄。心恻然动，急委缀之。便问童子何姓。答言：「姓晏。」仲益惊，又问：「汝父何名。」答言：「不知。」言次，已至其门，妇人下驴入。仲执童子曰：「汝父在家否？」童诺而入。顷之，一媪出窥，真其嫂也。讶叔何来。仲大悲，随之而入。见庐落亦复整顿。因问：「兄何在？」曰：「责负未归。」问：「跨驴者何人？」曰：「此汝兄妾甘氏，生两男矣。长阿大，赴市未返；汝所见者阿小。」坐久，酒渐解，始悟所见皆鬼。以兄弟情切，即亦不惧。嫂温酒治具。仲急欲见兄，促阿小觅之。良久，哭而归曰：「李家负欠不还，反与父闹。」仲闻之，与阿小奔去。见有两人方捽兄地上。仲怒，奋拳直入，当者尽踣。急救兄起，敌已俱奔。追捉一人，捶楚无算，始起。执兄手，顿足哀泣；兄亦泣。既归，举家慰问，乃具酒食，兄弟相庆。居无何，一少年入，年约十六七。伯呼阿大，令拜叔。仲挽之，哭向兄曰：「大哥地下有两男子，而坟墓不扫；弟又子少而鳏，奈何？」伯亦凄恻。嫂谓伯曰：「遣阿小从叔去，亦得。」阿小闻言，依叔肘下，眷恋不去。仲抚之，倍益酸辛。问：「汝乐从否？」答云：「乐从。」仲念鬼虽非人，慰情亦胜无也，因为解颜。伯曰：「从去，但勿娇惯，宜啖以血肉，驱向日中曝之，午过乃已。六七岁儿，历春及夏，骨肉更生，可以娶妻育子；但恐不寿耳。」
晏仲是陕西延安人，和哥哥晏伯住在一起，兄弟俩感情深厚。晏伯三十岁就去世了，没有留下子嗣，妻子也接着去世。晏仲十分悲痛，常想自己要是能生两个儿子，就把一个过继给哥哥。可他才生了一个男孩，妻子又去世了。晏仲怕续娶的妻子不疼爱自己的儿子，打算买一个妾。邻村有人卖婢女，他去看了，却不怎么满意，心里很不痛快，被朋友留下喝酒，喝得醉醺醺才回家。路上遇到从前的同窗梁生，梁生热情地握着他的手，请他到家里去。晏仲醉中忘了梁生已经去世，就跟着去了。进了门，发现不是从前的住所，便疑惑地问起。梁生说：“我才搬到这里。”进屋后，梁生准备拿酒招待他，却发现家里酿的酒已经喝完，就让晏仲坐着等候，提着瓶子出去买酒。晏仲走到门外，站着等他。看见一个妇人骑着驴经过，后面跟着一个八九岁的男孩，容貌神情都极像自己的哥哥。晏仲心里一阵酸楚，连忙跟了上去，问男孩姓什么。男孩回答：“姓晏。”晏仲越发吃惊，又问：“你父亲叫什么名字？”男孩回答：“不知道。”说话间，已经到了他们家门口，妇人下了驴，走进门去。晏仲拉住男孩问：“你父亲在家吗？”男孩应了一声，进去了。过了一会儿，一个老妇人出来看，果然是他的嫂子。嫂子很惊讶，问他怎么来了。晏仲悲痛万分，跟着她进了屋，见房屋院落也收拾得很整齐，便问：“哥哥在哪里？”嫂子说：“出去讨债，还没回来。”晏仲问：“骑驴的是什么人？”嫂子说：“这是你哥哥的妾甘氏，已经生了两个男孩。大的叫阿大，去了集市还没回来；你看见的是阿小。”坐了很久，晏仲的酒渐渐醒了，这才明白自己见到的都是鬼。但他惦念哥哥的心情太深，也就不觉得害怕。嫂子温酒备菜，晏仲急着见哥哥，催阿小出去找他。过了很久，阿小哭着回来，说：“李家欠债不还，反倒和爹闹起来了。”晏仲听了，跟阿小奔过去，看见两个人正把哥哥揪倒在地。晏仲大怒，挥拳冲了进去，挡在面前的人都被打倒。他赶紧扶起哥哥，两个对手已经逃跑了。他追上一个，抓住痛打一顿，才让那人起来。接着握住哥哥的手，跺着脚痛哭，哥哥也哭了。回到家，全家都来安慰问候，随后摆上酒饭，兄弟俩庆贺重逢。不久，一个十六七岁的少年进来，晏伯叫他阿大，让他拜见叔叔。晏仲扶住他，哭着对哥哥说：“大哥在地下有两个儿子，坟墓却没人扫祭；弟弟又只有一个儿子，还死了妻子，这可怎么办？”晏伯也很伤心。嫂子对晏伯说：“让阿小跟叔叔去，也可以。”阿小听了，紧靠在叔叔身旁，依恋着不肯离开。晏仲抚摸着他，心里更加酸楚，问：“你愿意跟我去吗？”阿小回答：“愿意。”晏仲想，鬼虽然不是活人，但能安慰自己的心，总比没有好，因此露出了笑容。晏伯说：“带他去吧，只是别娇惯他。要给他吃鲜血和肉，赶他到太阳底下晒，过了中午才让他回来。六七岁的孩子，经过春天和夏天，骨肉就能重新生长，也能娶妻生子，只怕活不长罢了。”
Yan Zhong was a man of Yan’an in Shaanxi. He lived under one roof with his elder brother, Yan Bo, and the two were devoted to each other. Bo died at thirty with no heir, and his wife soon followed him. Zhong grieved for them deeply. He always thought that if he had two sons, he would give one to his brother as heir. But he had only just had one boy when his own wife died. Afraid that a second wife would not care for the child, he meant to buy a concubine. Someone in the next village had a maid for sale. Zhong went to look her over, but she was not much to his liking. Out of sorts, he let a friend keep him for a drink, and he was tipsy when he started home. On the road he met Liang, an old schoolmate, who clasped his hand warmly and invited him to his house. In his drunkenness Zhong forgot that Liang was dead, and went along with him. When they went in at the gate, it was not the house he remembered. He wondered at this and asked. “I’ve only just moved here,” said Liang. Inside, Liang went to fetch wine, but the household brew was all gone. He told Zhong to sit and wait, and went off with a jug to buy some. Zhong went out and stood at the gate to wait for him. A woman came past riding a donkey, with a boy of about eight or nine following her. The boy’s face and bearing were the very image of Zhong’s brother. Zhong’s heart was moved, and he hurried after them. He asked the boy his family name. “Yan,” said the boy. Zhong was even more startled. “What is your father’s name?” “I don’t know.” As they talked they reached the woman’s gate. She got off the donkey and went in. Zhong took hold of the boy. “Is your father at home?” The boy said yes and went in. Soon an old woman came out to look: it really was his sister-in-law. She was surprised to see him and asked what had brought him. Zhong was overcome with grief and followed her in. He saw that the house and yard were kept in good order. “Where is my brother?” he asked. “Out collecting debts, and not back yet.” “Who was the woman on the donkey?” “That is your brother’s concubine, Gan. She has borne him two sons. The elder, A-da, has gone to market and isn’t back. The one you saw is A-xiao.” They sat a long time, and as the wine wore off Zhong understood that everyone he had seen was a ghost. But his love for his brother was so strong that he felt no fear. His sister-in-law warmed wine and set out food. Zhong was eager to see his brother and urged A-xiao to go and find him. After a long while the boy came back crying. “The Lis won’t pay what they owe, and they’re fighting with Father!” Zhong ran off with A-xiao. They found two men holding his brother down on the ground. Zhong was furious. He went straight in with his fists flying, and everyone in his way went down. He pulled his brother up, and the attackers all fled. Zhong chased one, caught him, and beat him past counting before he let him up. Then he took his brother’s hands, stamping his feet and weeping; his brother wept too. When they got home the whole family gathered round to comfort them. Wine and food were laid out, and the brothers celebrated together. Before long a youth of sixteen or seventeen came in. Bo called him A-da and told him to bow to his uncle. Zhong raised him up and turned to his brother in tears. “Big Brother, you have two sons here under the earth, yet no one sweeps your grave. And I have one young son and no wife. What is to be done?” Bo was saddened too. His wife said to him, “Send A-xiao back with his uncle. That would do.” Hearing this, A-xiao pressed close to his uncle’s side and would not leave him. Zhong stroked his head, more heartsick than ever. “Would you like to come with me?” “I would,” said the boy. Zhong thought that a ghost was not a living person, but for comfort he was better than nothing, and his face brightened. Bo said, “Take him, but don’t spoil him. Feed him on blood and meat, and drive him out into the sun to bake, and don’t let him stop till past noon. A child of six or seven, after a spring and a summer, will grow new flesh and bone, and can marry and have sons. Only I fear he will not live long.”
言間，門外有少女窺聽，意致溫婉。仲疑為兄女，便以問兄。兄曰：「此名湘裙，吾妾妹也。孤而無歸，寄養十年矣。」問：「已字否？」伯云：「尚未。近有媒議東村田家。」女在窗外小語曰：「我不嫁田家牧牛子。」仲頗有動於中，而未便明言。既而伯起，設榻於齋，止弟宿。仲雅不欲留，而意戀湘裙，將設法以窺兄意，遂別兄就榻。時方初春，氣候猶寒，齋中夙無煙火，森然起粟。對燭冷坐，思得小飲。俄而阿小推扉入，以杯羹斗酒置案上。仲喜極，問誰之為。答云：「湘姨。」酒將盡，又以灰覆盆火，擲床下。仲問：「爹娘寢乎？」曰：「睡已久矣。」「汝寢何所？」曰：「與湘姨共榻耳。」阿小俟叔眠，乃掩門去。仲念湘裙惠而解意，益愛慕之；又以其能撫阿小，欲得之心益堅。輾轉床頭，終夜不寐。
說話時，門外有個少女探頭聽著，神態溫柔婉約。晏仲疑心是哥哥的女兒，便問哥哥。晏伯說：「她叫湘裙，是我妾的妹妹。她父母都去世了，無處投靠，在這裡寄養十年了。」晏仲問：「許配人家了嗎？」晏伯說：「還沒有。最近有媒人來說東村田家的親事。」少女在窗外輕聲說：「我不嫁田家那個放牛的。」晏仲心裡頗有些動情，卻不便明說。隨後晏伯起身，在書房安排了床鋪，留弟弟過夜。晏仲本來不想留下，卻又捨不得湘裙，想找個辦法試探哥哥的意思，就向哥哥告辭，去了書房。當時正是初春，天氣還冷，書房裡向來沒有生火，寒氣逼得他起了一身雞皮疙瘩。他對著蠟燭冷冷地坐著，想喝一點酒。不一會兒，阿小推門進來，把一碗羹湯和一斗酒放在桌上。晏仲十分高興，問是誰準備的。阿小回答：「湘姨。」酒快喝完時，阿小又端來一盆用灰蓋著的炭火，放到床下。晏仲問：「爹孃睡了嗎？」阿小說：「早就睡了。」晏仲問：「你睡在哪裡？」阿小說：「我和湘姨睡一張床。」阿小等叔叔躺下，才關門離開。晏仲想到湘裙體貼又懂得自己的心意，越發愛慕她；又覺得她能照顧阿小，想娶她的心就更堅定了。他在床上翻來覆去，一整夜沒有睡著。
言间，门外有少女窥听，意致温婉。仲疑为兄女，便以问兄。兄曰：「此名湘裙，吾妾妹也。孤而无归，寄养十年矣。」问：「已字否？」伯云：「尚未。近有媒议东村田家。」女在窗外小语曰：「我不嫁田家牧牛子。」仲颇有动于中，而未便明言。既而伯起，设榻于斋，止弟宿。仲雅不欲留，而意恋湘裙，将设法以窥兄意，遂别兄就榻。时方初春，气候犹寒，斋中夙无烟火，森然起粟。对烛冷坐，思得小饮。俄而阿小推扉入，以杯羹斗酒置案上。仲喜极，问谁之为。答云：「湘姨。」酒将尽，又以灰覆盆火，掷床下。仲问：「爹娘寝乎？」曰：「睡已久矣。」「汝寝何所？」曰：「与湘姨共榻耳。」阿小俟叔眠，乃掩门去。仲念湘裙惠而解意，益爱慕之；又以其能抚阿小，欲得之心益坚。辗转床头，终夜不寐。
说话时，门外有个少女探头听着，神态温柔婉约。晏仲疑心是哥哥的女儿，便问哥哥。晏伯说：“她叫湘裙，是我妾的妹妹。她父母都去世了，无处投靠，在这里寄养十年了。”晏仲问：“许配人家了吗？”晏伯说：“还没有。最近有媒人来说东村田家的亲事。”少女在窗外轻声说：“我不嫁田家那个放牛的。”晏仲心里颇有些动情，却不便明说。随后晏伯起身，在书房安排了床铺，留弟弟过夜。晏仲本来不想留下，却又舍不得湘裙，想找个办法试探哥哥的意思，就向哥哥告辞，去了书房。当时正是初春，天气还冷，书房里向来没有生火，寒气逼得他起了一身鸡皮疙瘩。他对着蜡烛冷冷地坐着，想喝一点酒。不一会儿，阿小推门进来，把一碗羹汤和一斗酒放在桌上。晏仲十分高兴，问是谁准备的。阿小回答：“湘姨。”酒快喝完时，阿小又端来一盆用灰盖着的炭火，放到床下。晏仲问：“爹娘睡了吗？”阿小说：“早就睡了。”晏仲问：“你睡在哪里？”阿小说：“我和湘姨睡一张床。”阿小等叔叔躺下，才关门离开。晏仲想到湘裙体贴又懂得自己的心意，越发爱慕她；又觉得她能照顾阿小，想娶她的心就更坚定了。他在床上翻来覆去，一整夜没有睡着。
While they were talking, a young girl was peeping in and listening at the door, gentle and sweet in her manner. Zhong thought she must be his brother’s daughter and asked him. “Her name is Xiangqun,” said Bo. “She is my concubine’s younger sister. She was orphaned with nowhere to go, and has lived with us these ten years.” “Is she promised to anyone yet?” “Not yet. A matchmaker has lately been talking of the Tian family in the east village.” Outside the window the girl said softly, “I won’t marry that Tian cowherd.” Zhong was rather stirred, but it was not the moment to say so. Then Bo rose and had a bed made up in his study, to keep his brother for the night. Zhong had no real wish to stay, but his heart was on Xiangqun, and he meant to find some way of sounding out his brother. So he said good night and went to bed. It was early spring and still cold. There had never been a fire in the study, and the chill raised gooseflesh on him. He sat in the cold by the candle and thought he would like a little to drink. In a moment A-xiao pushed the door open and set a bowl of broth and a dipper of wine on the table. Zhong was delighted and asked who had sent them. “Aunt Xiang,” said the boy. When the wine was nearly gone, the boy brought a pan of embers banked with ash and pushed it under the bed. “Are your father and mother in bed?” Zhong asked. “They went to sleep long ago.” “And where do you sleep?” “In Aunt Xiang’s bed.” A-xiao waited until his uncle lay down, then closed the door and left. Zhong thought how kind Xiangqun was and how well she understood, and loved her all the more; and seeing how she looked after A-xiao, he was even more set on having her. He tossed and turned and did not sleep all night.
早起，告兄曰：「弟孑然無偶，煩大哥留意也。」伯曰：「吾家非一瓢一擔者，物色當自有人。地下即有佳麗，恐於弟無所利益。」仲曰：「古人亦有鬼妻，何害？」伯似會意，便言：「湘裙亦佳。但以巨針刺人迎，血出不止者，便可為生人妻，何得草草。」仲曰：「得湘裙撫阿小，亦得。」伯但搖首。仲求之不已。嫂曰：「試捉湘裙強刺驗之，不可乃已。」遂握針出。門外遇湘裙，急捉其腕，則血痕猶溼，蓋聞伯言時，早自試之矣。嫂釋手而笑，反告伯曰：「渠作有意喬才久矣，尚為之代慮耶？」妾聞之怒，趨近湘裙，以指刺眶而罵曰：「淫婢不羞！欲從阿叔奔走耶？我定不如其願！」湘裙愧憤，哭欲覓死，舉家騰沸。仲乃大慚，別兄嫂，率阿小而出。兄曰：「弟姑去；阿小勿使復來，恐損其生氣也。」仲諾之。
第二天早晨，晏仲起身對哥哥說：「弟弟孤身一人，沒有妻子，煩請大哥替我留意。」晏伯說：「我們家又不是窮得只有一瓢水、一擔東西的人家，要找妻子，自然會有合適的人。地下雖有美人，只怕對弟弟沒什麼好處。」晏仲說：「古人也有娶鬼做妻子的，有什麼妨礙？」晏伯似乎明白了他的意思，便說：「湘裙也不錯。只是要用粗針刺她的人迎穴，血流個不停，才能做活人的妻子，怎麼能草率決定？」晏仲說：「能讓湘裙照顧阿小，也就很好了。」晏伯只是搖頭。晏仲一再請求，嫂子說：「試著抓住湘裙，硬給她刺一下，驗一驗，不行就算了。」她拿著針出去，在門外遇到湘裙，趕緊抓住她的手腕，卻見血跡還沒幹。原來湘裙聽見晏伯的話，早已自己試過了。嫂子鬆開手笑了，回來對晏伯說：「她早就看上這個郎君了，你還替她操什麼心？」甘氏聽了大怒，快步走到湘裙跟前，用手指戳著她的眼眶罵道：「不要臉的淫婢！想跟著阿叔跑嗎？我一定不讓你如願！」湘裙又羞又氣，哭著要尋死，全家鬧成一團。晏仲十分慚愧，向哥哥嫂子告別，帶著阿小出門。哥哥說：「弟弟先回去吧，不要讓阿小再回來，恐怕會損傷他的生氣。」晏仲答應了。
早起，告兄曰：「弟孑然无偶，烦大哥留意也。」伯曰：「吾家非一瓢一担者，物色当自有人。地下即有佳丽，恐于弟无所利益。」仲曰：「古人亦有鬼妻，何害？」伯似会意，便言：「湘裙亦佳。但以巨针刺人迎，血出不止者，便可为生人妻，何得草草。」仲曰：「得湘裙抚阿小，亦得。」伯但摇首。仲求之不已。嫂曰：「试捉湘裙强刺验之，不可乃已。」遂握针出。门外遇湘裙，急捉其腕，则血痕犹湿，盖闻伯言时，早自试之矣。嫂释手而笑，反告伯曰：「渠作有意乔才久矣，尚为之代虑耶？」妾闻之怒，趋近湘裙，以指刺眶而骂曰：「淫婢不羞！欲从阿叔奔走耶？我定不如其愿！」湘裙愧愤，哭欲觅死，举家腾沸。仲乃大惭，别兄嫂，率阿小而出。兄曰：「弟姑去；阿小勿使复来，恐损其生气也。」仲诺之。
第二天早晨，晏仲起身对哥哥说：“弟弟孤身一人，没有妻子，烦请大哥替我留意。”晏伯说：“我们家又不是穷得只有一瓢水、一担东西的人家，要找妻子，自然会有合适的人。地下虽有美人，只怕对弟弟没什么好处。”晏仲说：“古人也有娶鬼做妻子的，有什么妨碍？”晏伯似乎明白了他的意思，便说：“湘裙也不错。只是要用粗针刺她的人迎穴，血流个不停，才能做活人的妻子，怎么能草率决定？”晏仲说：“能让湘裙照顾阿小，也就很好了。”晏伯只是摇头。晏仲一再请求，嫂子说：“试着抓住湘裙，硬给她刺一下，验一验，不行就算了。”她拿着针出去，在门外遇到湘裙，赶紧抓住她的手腕，却见血迹还没干。原来湘裙听见晏伯的话，早已自己试过了。嫂子松开手笑了，回来对晏伯说：“她早就看上这个郎君了，你还替她操什么心？”甘氏听了大怒，快步走到湘裙跟前，用手指戳着她的眼眶骂道：“不要脸的淫婢！想跟着阿叔跑吗？我一定不让你如愿！”湘裙又羞又气，哭着要寻死，全家闹成一团。晏仲十分惭愧，向哥哥嫂子告别，带着阿小出门。哥哥说：“弟弟先回去吧，不要让阿小再回来，恐怕会损伤他的生气。”晏仲答应了。
In the morning he got up and said to his brother, “I am all alone with no wife. I hope you will keep an eye out for me, Big Brother.” “Ours is no family that lives on a gourd of water and a load of grain,” said Bo. “Someone will surely turn up for you. Even if there were beauties down here under the earth, I fear they would do you no good.” “Men in the old stories had ghost wives,” said Zhong. “What harm is there in it?” Bo seemed to take his meaning. “Xiangqun would do well enough,” he said. “But you have to prick her renying point with a big needle. If the blood keeps flowing, she can be a living man’s wife. It is not something to rush into.” “If I had Xiangqun to look after A-xiao, that would do,” said Zhong. Bo only shook his head. Zhong begged and begged. At last Bo’s wife said, “Let’s catch Xiangqun and prick her by force and see. If it won’t work, that’s the end of it.” She took a needle and went out. Outside the door she came on Xiangqun and seized her wrist: the blood on it was still wet. When the girl heard what Bo said, she had already tried it on herself. The wife let go, laughing, and went back to tell Bo. “She’s been sweet on him all along. And you’re still worrying on her behalf?” The concubine heard this and flew into a rage. She went up to Xiangqun, jabbed a finger at her eyes, and cursed her. “Shameless slut! You want to run off with Uncle, do you? I’ll make sure you don’t get your way!” Xiangqun, ashamed and furious, wept and wanted to kill herself. The whole household was in an uproar. Zhong was deeply embarrassed. He took leave of his brother and sister-in-law and set out with A-xiao. “Go for now,” said his brother. “But don’t let A-xiao come back here, or it may harm his living breath.” Zhong promised.