俞慎，字謹庵，順天舊家子。赴試入都，舍於郊郭。時見對戶一少年，美如冠玉。心好之，漸近與語，風雅尤絕。大悅，捉臂邀至寓，便相款宴。審其姓氏，自言：「金陵人，姓俞，名士忱，字恂九。」公子聞與同姓，又益親洽，因訂為昆仲；少年遂以名減字為忱。
俞慎，字謹庵，是順天一個世家子弟。他到京城應試，住在城郊。常看見對門有個少年，容貌像帽上鑲的美玉一樣俊秀。俞慎心裡喜歡他，漸漸主動接近，與他交談，發現他的言談舉止更是風雅出眾。俞慎十分高興，拉著他的胳膊，請到自己的住處，設宴款待。問起姓名，少年說：「我是金陵人，姓俞，名士忱，字恂九。」俞公子聽說他與自己同姓，越發親近，便與他結為兄弟；少年於是把名字減去一個字，改叫俞忱。
俞慎，字谨庵，顺天旧家子。赴试入都，舍于郊郭。时见对户一少年，美如冠玉。心好之，渐近与语，风雅尤绝。大悦，捉臂邀至寓，便相款宴。审其姓氏，自言：「金陵人，姓俞，名士忱，字恂九。」公子闻与同姓，又益亲洽，因订为昆仲；少年遂以名减字为忱。
俞慎，字谨庵，是顺天一个世家子弟。他到京城应试，住在城郊。常看见对门有个少年，容貌像帽上镶的美玉一样俊秀。俞慎心里喜欢他，渐渐主动接近，与他交谈，发现他的言谈举止更是风雅出众。俞慎十分高兴，拉着他的胳膊，请到自己的住处，设宴款待。问起姓名，少年说：“我是金陵人，姓俞，名士忱，字恂九。”俞公子听说他与自己同姓，越发亲近，便与他结为兄弟；少年于是把名字减去一个字，改叫俞忱。
Yu Shen, styled Jin’an, was the young master of an old family of Shuntian. He went to the capital for the examinations and took lodgings outside the city wall. He often saw a young man in the house across the way, his looks as fine as the jade on a cap. Yu took to him, drew closer little by little and spoke with him, and found him refined beyond compare. Delighted, he took him by the arm, invited him back to his lodging and gave him a feast. When he asked his name, the young man said, “I am from Jinling. My surname is Yu, my name Shichen, and my courtesy name Xunjiu.” Hearing that they shared a surname, the young master grew closer to him still, and they swore to be brothers. The young man then shortened his name to the single character Chen.
明日，過其家，書舍光潔；然門庭踧落，更無廝僕。引公子入內，呼妹出拜，年十三四以來，肌膚瑩澈，粉玉無其白也。少頃，托茗獻客，似家中亦無婢媼。公子異之，數語遂出。由是友愛如胞。恂九無日不來寓所；或留共宿，則以弱妹無伴為辭。公子曰：「吾弟流寓千里，曾無應門之僮，兄妹纖弱，何以為生矣？計不如從我去，有斗舍可共棲止，如何？」恂九喜，約以闈後。試畢，恂九邀公子去，曰：「中秋月明如晝，妹子素秋，具有蔬酒，勿違其意。」竟挽入內。素秋出，略道溫涼，便入複室，下簾治具。少間，自出行炙。公子起曰：「妹子奔波，情何以忍！」素秋笑入。頃之，搴簾出，則一青衣婢捧壺；又一媼托柈進烹魚。公子訝曰：「此輩何來？不早從事，而煩妹子？」恂九微哂曰：「素秋又弄怪矣。」但聞簾內吃吃作笑聲，公子不解其故。既而筵終，婢媼徹器，公子適嗽，悞墮婢衣；婢隨唾而倒，碎椀流炙。視婢，則帛剪小人，僅四寸許。恂九大笑。素秋笑出，拾之而去。俄而婢復出，奔走如故，公子大異之。恂九曰：「此不過妹子幼時，卜紫姑之小技耳。」公子因問：「弟妹都已長成，何未婚姻？」答云：「先人即世，去留尚無定所，故此遲遲。」遂與商定行期，鬻宅，攜妹與公子俱西。既歸，除舍舍之；又遣一婢為之服役。
第二天，公子去他家探望，只見書房明亮整潔，門庭卻冷落蕭條，連一個僕人也沒有。恂九領公子進了內室，叫妹妹出來拜見。她大約十三四歲，肌膚晶瑩清透，連玉粉也沒有她那樣白。不一會兒，她又端茶奉客，看來家裡也沒有婢女和老媽子。公子覺得奇怪，說了幾句話便走了。從此兩人親如同胞兄弟。恂九每天都來公子的住處；公子有時留他過夜，他總推辭說年幼的妹妹沒人陪伴。公子說：「賢弟遠離家鄉千里，連個應門的童僕也沒有，你們兄妹又都柔弱，靠什麼生活呢？依我看，不如跟我一起回去。我有個小屋，可以一起住，怎麼樣？」恂九很高興，約定考完試就走。考試結束後，恂九請公子到家裡去，說：「中秋的月光亮得像白天一樣，妹妹素秋準備了些酒菜，你別辜負她的心意。」說著便把他拉進內室。素秋出來，略說了幾句問候的話，就進了裡間，放下簾子準備飯菜。不久，她親自出來上烤肉。公子起身說：「讓妹妹這樣來回忙碌，我心裡怎麼過意得去！」素秋笑著進去了。過了一會兒，簾子掀開，一個穿青衣的婢女捧著酒壺出來，隨後又有個老媽子托著盤子送上煮好的魚。公子驚訝地說：「這些人從哪裡來的？怎麼不早些動手，倒讓妹妹受累？」恂九微微一笑，說：「素秋又在弄些怪把戲了。」只聽簾內傳來吃吃的笑聲，公子不明白是怎麼回事。後來宴席散了，婢女和老媽子收拾餐具，公子恰好咳嗽，一口唾沫不小心落在婢女衣服上。婢女隨即倒下，碗摔碎了，肉也灑了一地。再看那婢女，竟是個用絲帛剪成的小人，只有四寸左右高。恂九放聲大笑。素秋笑著出來，拾起小人便走了。不一會兒，婢女又出來，仍像先前一樣奔走忙碌，公子大為驚奇。恂九說：「這不過是妹妹小時候占卜紫姑時學會的一點小法術。」公子於是問：「賢弟和妹妹都已經長大了，為什麼還沒有婚配？」恂九回答：「父母去世後，我們一直沒有安定的住處，所以拖延至今。」兩人便商定了出發的日子。恂九賣掉房子，帶著妹妹，跟公子一同向西回去。到家後，公子收拾出一處房舍，讓他們居住，又派了一個婢女照料他們。
明日，过其家，书舍光洁；然门庭踧落，更无厮仆。引公子入内，呼妹出拜，年十三四以来，肌肤莹澈，粉玉无其白也。少顷，托茗献客，似家中亦无婢媪。公子异之，数语遂出。由是友爱如胞。恂九无日不来寓所；或留共宿，则以弱妹无伴为辞。公子曰：「吾弟流寓千里，曾无应门之僮，兄妹纤弱，何以为生矣？计不如从我去，有斗舍可共栖止，如何？」恂九喜，约以闱后。试毕，恂九邀公子去，曰：「中秋月明如昼，妹子素秋，具有蔬酒，勿违其意。」竟挽入内。素秋出，略道温凉，便入复室，下帘治具。少间，自出行炙。公子起曰：「妹子奔波，情何以忍！」素秋笑入。顷之，搴帘出，则一青衣婢捧壶；又一媪托柈进烹鱼。公子讶曰：「此辈何来？不早从事，而烦妹子？」恂九微哂曰：「素秋又弄怪矣。」但闻帘内吃吃作笑声，公子不解其故。既而筵终，婢媪彻器，公子适嗽，悮堕婢衣；婢随唾而倒，碎椀流炙。视婢，则帛剪小人，仅四寸许。恂九大笑。素秋笑出，拾之而去。俄而婢复出，奔走如故，公子大异之。恂九曰：「此不过妹子幼时，卜紫姑之小技耳。」公子因问：「弟妹都已长成，何未婚姻？」答云：「先人即世，去留尚无定所，故此迟迟。」遂与商定行期，鬻宅，携妹与公子俱西。既归，除舍舍之；又遣一婢为之服役。
第二天，公子去他家探望，只见书房明亮整洁，门庭却冷落萧条，连一个仆人也没有。恂九领公子进了内室，叫妹妹出来拜见。她大约十三四岁，肌肤晶莹清透，连玉粉也没有她那样白。不一会儿，她又端茶奉客，看来家里也没有婢女和老妈子。公子觉得奇怪，说了几句话便走了。从此两人亲如同胞兄弟。恂九每天都来公子的住处；公子有时留他过夜，他总推辞说年幼的妹妹没人陪伴。公子说：“贤弟远离家乡千里，连个应门的童仆也没有，你们兄妹又都柔弱，靠什么生活呢？依我看，不如跟我一起回去。我有个小屋，可以一起住，怎么样？”恂九很高兴，约定考完试就走。考试结束后，恂九请公子到家里去，说：“中秋的月光亮得像白天一样，妹妹素秋准备了些酒菜，你别辜负她的心意。”说着便把他拉进内室。素秋出来，略说了几句问候的话，就进了里间，放下帘子准备饭菜。不久，她亲自出来上烤肉。公子起身说：“让妹妹这样来回忙碌，我心里怎么过意得去！”素秋笑着进去了。过了一会儿，帘子掀开，一个穿青衣的婢女捧着酒壶出来，随后又有个老妈子托着盘子送上煮好的鱼。公子惊讶地说：“这些人从哪里来的？怎么不早些动手，倒让妹妹受累？”恂九微微一笑，说：“素秋又在弄些怪把戏了。”只听帘内传来吃吃的笑声，公子不明白是怎么回事。后来宴席散了，婢女和老妈子收拾餐具，公子恰好咳嗽，一口唾沫不小心落在婢女衣服上。婢女随即倒下，碗摔碎了，肉也洒了一地。再看那婢女，竟是个用丝帛剪成的小人，只有四寸左右高。恂九放声大笑。素秋笑着出来，拾起小人便走了。不一会儿，婢女又出来，仍像先前一样奔走忙碌，公子大为惊奇。恂九说：“这不过是妹妹小时候占卜紫姑时学会的一点小法术。”公子于是问：“贤弟和妹妹都已经长大了，为什么还没有婚配？”恂九回答：“父母去世后，我们一直没有安定的住处，所以拖延至今。”两人便商定了出发的日子。恂九卖掉房子，带着妹妹，跟公子一同向西回去。到家后，公子收拾出一处房舍，让他们居住，又派了一个婢女照料他们。
Next day the young master called at his house. The study was bright and clean, but the gate and courtyard were bare and forlorn, with not a single servant. Xunjiu led him into the inner rooms and called his sister out to greet him. She was thirteen or fourteen, her skin so lustrous and clear that powdered jade could not match its whiteness. Presently she brought tea for the guest on a tray; it seemed there were no maids or old women in the house either. The young master thought it strange, and left after a few words. From then on they were as fond of each other as brothers born. Not a day passed that Xunjiu did not come to the lodging; but if he was asked to stay the night, he would excuse himself because his young sister had no one with her. The young master said, “You are living a thousand miles from home, brother, and you haven’t even a boy to answer the door. You and your sister are young and frail. How will you live? You had better come with me. I have a tiny house where we can all stay. What do you say?” Xunjiu was glad, and they agreed on it for after the examination. When the examination was over, Xunjiu invited the young master to come home with him. “The mid-autumn moon is as bright as day,” he said. “My sister Suqiu has prepared some vegetables and wine. Don’t refuse her.” And he pulled him into the inner rooms. Suqiu came out, said a few words of greeting, then went into the back room, let down the curtain and set about the meal. After a while she came out herself to serve the roast meat. The young master rose. “My little sister running back and forth for us! How can I bear it?” Suqiu laughed and went in. Soon the curtain was lifted, and out came a maid in a blue dress carrying a wine pot, then an old woman bringing cooked fish on a platter. The young master was surprised. “Where did these come from? Why didn’t they do the work earlier, instead of troubling my sister?” Xunjiu gave a slight smile. “Suqiu is playing tricks again.” From behind the curtain came the sound of giggling. The young master did not understand. When the feast was over and the maid and the old woman were clearing the dishes, the young master happened to cough, and spat on the maid’s dress by mistake. At the spittle the maid fell over; the bowl broke and the food spilled. He looked at the maid: she was a little figure cut out of silk, barely four inches tall. Xunjiu roared with laughter. Suqiu came out laughing, picked it up and went in. In a moment the maid came out again and ran about as before. The young master was astonished. “It’s nothing but a little trick my sister learned as a child, divining with the Purple Maiden,” said Xunjiu. The young master then asked, “You and your sister are both grown. Why are you not married?” “Since our parents passed away,” he answered, “we have had no settled place to go or stay, and so it has waited.” They agreed on a day to leave. Xunjiu sold the house and, bringing his sister, went west with the young master. When they got home, the young master cleared out a house for them to live in, and sent a maid to wait on them.
公子妻，韓侍郎之猶女也，尤憐愛素秋，飲食共之。公子與恂九亦然。而恂九又最慧，目下十行，試作一藝，老宿不能及之。公子勸赴童子試。恂九曰：「姑為此業者，聊與君分苦耳。自審福薄，不堪仕進；且一入此途，遂不能不戚戚於得失，故不為也。」居三年，公子又下第。恂九大為扼腕，奮然曰：「榜上一名，何遂艱難若此！我初不欲為成敗所惑，故寧寂寂耳；今見大哥不能自發舒，不覺中熱，十九歲老童，當效駒馳也。」公子喜，試期，送入場，邑、郡、道皆第一。益與公子下帷攻苦。踰年科試，並為郡、邑冠軍。恂九名大譟，遠近爭婚之，恂九悉卻去。公子力勸之，乃以場後為解。
公子的妻子是韓侍郎的侄女，格外疼愛素秋，吃喝都與她一起，公子與恂九也是如此。恂九又極其聰慧，一眼能讀十行字，試著寫一篇應試文章，連久經科場的老先生也比不上。公子勸他參加童子試。恂九說：「我暫且做這些功課，只是想與你分擔一點苦處。我知道自己福薄，經受不起仕途上的事；況且一旦走上這條路，就免不了為得失憂愁，所以我不願參加。」住了三年，公子又落了榜。恂九替他十分惋惜，激動地說：「不過是在榜上佔一個名額，怎麼竟這樣艱難！我起初不願被成敗攪亂心思，所以寧可默默無聞。如今見大哥一直不能施展才華，不覺心頭髮熱。我這個十九歲還沒考上秀才的老童生，也該像小馬一樣奮力賓士了。」公子很高興，到了考試的時候，送他進了考場。他在縣、郡、道三級考試中都得了第一名。從此更與公子閉門苦讀。過了一年參加科試，恂九又同時名列全郡和本縣第一。他的名聲大振，遠近人家爭著來提親，他全都拒絕了。公子極力勸他，他便以考完試再說為由推辭。
公子妻，韩侍郎之犹女也，尤怜爱素秋，饮食共之。公子与恂九亦然。而恂九又最慧，目下十行，试作一艺，老宿不能及之。公子劝赴童子试。恂九曰：「姑为此业者，聊与君分苦耳。自审福薄，不堪仕进；且一入此途，遂不能不戚戚于得失，故不为也。」居三年，公子又下第。恂九大为扼腕，奋然曰：「榜上一名，何遂艰难若此！我初不欲为成败所惑，故宁寂寂耳；今见大哥不能自发舒，不觉中热，十九岁老童，当效驹驰也。」公子喜，试期，送入场，邑、郡、道皆第一。益与公子下帷攻苦。逾年科试，并为郡、邑冠军。恂九名大噪，远近争婚之，恂九悉却去。公子力劝之，乃以场后为解。
公子的妻子是韩侍郎的侄女，格外疼爱素秋，吃喝都与她一起，公子与恂九也是如此。恂九又极其聪慧，一眼能读十行字，试着写一篇应试文章，连久经科场的老先生也比不上。公子劝他参加童子试。恂九说：“我暂且做这些功课，只是想与你分担一点苦处。我知道自己福薄，经受不起仕途上的事；况且一旦走上这条路，就免不了为得失忧愁，所以我不愿参加。”住了三年，公子又落了榜。恂九替他十分惋惜，激动地说：“不过是在榜上占一个名额，怎么竟这样艰难！我起初不愿被成败搅乱心思，所以宁可默默无闻。如今见大哥一直不能施展才华，不觉心头发热。我这个十九岁还没考上秀才的老童生，也该像小马一样奋力奔驰了。”公子很高兴，到了考试的时候，送他进了考场。他在县、郡、道三级考试中都得了第一名。从此更与公子闭门苦读。过了一年参加科试，恂九又同时名列全郡和本县第一。他的名声大振，远近人家争着来提亲，他全都拒绝了。公子极力劝他，他便以考完试再说为由推辞。
The young master’s wife was a niece of Vice Minister Han. She loved Suqiu dearly and shared her meals with her, and the young master and Xunjiu were the same. Xunjiu was also exceptionally clever: he could read ten lines at a glance, and when he tried his hand at an examination essay, seasoned old scholars could not match it. The young master urged him to sit the boys’ examination. Xunjiu said, “I only took up this work to share your hardship a little. I know my fortune is thin and I am not fit for an official career. Besides, once a man sets out on that road, he cannot help fretting over success and failure. So I won’t.” Three years passed, and the young master failed again. Xunjiu was bitterly upset for him. “A name on the list!” he said with fervour. “How can it be so hard? At first I did not want to be troubled by success and failure, so I chose to stay quiet. But seeing you, Big Brother, unable to make your way, my blood is up. Old boy candidate of nineteen that I am, I will gallop like a colt.” The young master was delighted. When the examinations came he saw him into the hall, and Xunjiu came out first in the county, the prefecture and the circuit. He shut himself away with the young master and studied all the harder. The following year, at the qualifying examination, the two of them came out first in the prefecture and the county. Xunjiu’s fame resounded; families near and far competed to marry their daughters to him, but he turned them all away. When the young master pressed him, he put it off until after the examination.