江漢之間，俗事蛙神最虔。祠中蛙不知幾百千萬，有大如籠者。或犯神怒，家中輒有異兆：蛙游几榻，甚或攀緣滑壁不得墮，其狀不一，此家當凶。人則大恐，斬牲禳禱之，神喜則已。楚有薛昆生者，幼惠，美姿容。六七歲時，有青衣媼至其家，自稱神使，坐致神意，願以女下嫁崑生。薛翁性朴拙，雅不欲，辭以兒幼。雖故卻之，而亦未敢議婚他姓。遲數年，崑生漸長，委禽於姜氏。神告姜曰：「薛崑生，吾婿也，何得近禁臠！」姜懼，反其儀。薛翁憂之，潔牲往禱，自言：「不敢與神相匹偶。」祝已，見肴酒中皆有巨蛆浮出，蠢然擾動；傾棄，謝罪而歸。心益懼，亦姑聽之。一日，崑生在途，有使者迎宣神命，苦邀移趾。不得已，從與俱往。入一朱門，樓閣華好。有叟坐堂上，類七八十歲人。崑生伏謁，叟命曳起之，賜坐案旁。少間，婢媼集視，紛紜滿側。叟顧曰：「入言薛郎至矣。」數婢奔去。移時，一媼率女郎出，年十六七，麗絕無儔。叟指曰：「此小女十娘，自謂與君可稱佳偶；君家尊乃以異類見拒。此自百年事，父母止主其半，是在君耳。」崑生目注十娘，心愛好之，默然不言。媼曰：「我固知郎意良佳。請先歸，當即送十娘往也。」崑生曰：「諾。」趨歸告翁。翁倉遽無所為計，乃授之詞，使返謝之，崑生不肯行。方誚讓間，輿已在門，青衣成群，而十娘入矣。上堂朝拜，翁姑見之皆喜。即夕合巹，琴瑟甚諧。由此神翁神媼，時降其家。視其衣，赤為喜，白為財，必見，以故家日興。自婚於神，門堂藩溷皆蛙，人無敢詬蹴之。惟崑生少年任性，喜則忌，怒則踐斃，不甚愛惜。十娘雖謙馴，但善怒，頗不善崑生所為；而崑生不以十娘故斂抑之。十娘語侵崑生。崑生怒曰：「豈以汝家翁媼能禍人耶？丈夫何畏蛙也！」十娘甚諱言「蛙」，聞之恚甚，曰：「自妾入門，為汝家田增粟、賈益價，亦復不少。今老幼皆已溫飽，遂如鴞鳥生翼，欲啄母睛耶！」崑生益憤曰：「吾正嫌所增污穢，不堪貽子孫。請不如早別。」遂逐十娘。翁媼既聞之，十娘已去。呵崑生，使急往追復之。崑生盛氣不屈。至夜，母子俱病，鬱冒不食。翁懼，負荊於祠，詞義殷切。過三日，病尋愈。十娘亦自至，夫妻懽好如初。十娘日輒凝妝坐，不操女紅，崑生衣履，一委諸母。母一日忿曰：「兒既娶，仍累媼！人家婦事姑，吾家姑事婦！」十娘適聞之，負氣登堂曰：「兒婦朝侍食，暮問寢，事姑者，其道如何？所短者，不能吝傭錢，自作苦耳。」母無言，慚沮自哭。崑生入，見母涕痕，詰得故，怒責十娘。十娘執辨不相屈。崑生曰：「娶妻不能承歡，不如勿有！便觸老蛙怒，不過橫災死耳！」復出十娘。十娘亦怒，出門逕去。次日，居舍災，延燒數屋，几案床榻，悉為煨燼。崑生怒，詣祠責數曰：「養女不能奉翁姑，略無庭訓，而曲護其短！神者至公，有教人畏婦者耶！且盎盂相敲，皆臣所為，無所涉於父母。刀鋸斧鉞，即加臣身；如其不然，我亦焚汝居室，聊以相報。」言已，負薪殿下，爇火欲舉。居人集而哀之，始憤而歸。父母聞之，大懼失色。至夜，神示夢於近村，使為婿家營宅。及明，齎材鳩工，共為崑生建造，辭之不止；日數百人相屬於道，不數日，第舍一新，床幕器具悉備焉。修除甫竟，十娘已至，登堂謝過，言詞溫婉。轉身向崑生展笑，舉家變怨為喜。自此十娘性益和，居二年，無間言。十娘最惡蛇，崑生戲函小蛇，紿使啟之。十娘變色，詬崑生。崑生亦轉笑生嗔，惡相抵。十娘曰：「今番不待相迫逐，請從此絕！」遂出門去。薛翁大恐，杖崑生，請罪於神。幸不禍之，亦寂無音。積有年餘，崑生懷念十娘，頗自悔，竊詣神所哀十娘，迄無聲應。未幾，聞神以十娘字袁氏，中心失望，因亦求婚他族；而歷相數家，並無如十娘者，於是益思十娘。往探袁氏，則已堊壁滌庭，候魚軒矣。心愧憤不能自已，廢食成疾。父母憂皇，不知所處。忽昏憒中有人撫之曰：「大丈夫頻欲斷絕，又作此態！」開目，則十娘也。喜極，躍起曰：「卿何來？」十娘曰：「以輕薄人相待之禮，止宜從父命，另醮而去。固久受袁家采幣，妾千思萬思而不忍也。卜吉已在今夕，父又無顏反璧，妾親攜而置之矣。適出門，父走送曰：『癡婢！不聽吾言，後受薛家凌虐，縱死亦勿歸也！』」崑生感其義，為之流涕。家人皆喜，奔告翁媼。媼聞之，不待往朝，奔入子舍，執手嗚泣。由此崑生亦老成，不作惡謔，於是情好益篤。十娘曰：「妾向以君儇薄，未必遂能相白首，故不敢留孽根於人世；今已靡他，妾將生子。」居無何，神翁神媼著朱袍，降臨其家。次日，十娘臨蓐，一舉兩男。由此往來無間。居民或犯神怒，輒先求崑生；乃使婦女輩盛妝入閨，朝拜十娘，十娘笑則解。薛氏苗裔甚繁，人名之「薛蛙子家」。近人不敢呼，遠人呼之。
長江與漢水之間的地方，百姓祭奉蛙神格外虔誠。神祠裡的青蛙不知有多少，成百上千，甚至成千上萬，有的大得像蒸籠。有人觸怒了神，家裡就會出現怪異的徵兆：青蛙在桌子、床榻上爬來爬去，有的甚至爬上光滑的牆壁而不掉下來，種種情形各不相同，這都預示著這家將有災禍。人們便十分恐懼，宰殺牲畜祭祀，祈求消災，等神高興了，事情才會平息。楚地有個薛昆生，從小聰明，容貌俊美。六七歲時，一個穿青衣的老婦人來到他家，自稱是神的使者，坐下來傳達神的意思，說願意把女兒嫁給昆生。薛老翁性情樸實，不善應對，向來不願結這門親事，便以孩子年紀小為由推辭。雖然有意拒絕了，卻也不敢再和別家議婚。過了幾年，昆生漸漸長大，薛家向姜家送去了聘禮。神告訴姜家：「薛昆生是我的女婿，你們怎麼敢來染指我定下的人！」姜家害怕，退回了聘禮。薛老翁為此憂慮，備好潔淨的祭牲，前去祈禱，說：「我不敢與神結為親家。」祈禱完了，看見祭獻的菜餚和酒裡都有大蛆浮出來，蠕動不止。他把酒菜倒掉，賠罪後回了家。心裡越發害怕，也只好暫且聽任這門親事。一天，昆生走在路上，有個使者迎上來傳達神的命令，執意邀請他前去。他不得已，便跟著使者去了。走進一道硃紅大門，只見樓閣華美。一個老翁坐在堂上，看上去有七八十歲。昆生伏地拜見，老翁叫人把他扶起來，賜他坐在桌旁。過了一會兒，婢女和老婦人都聚過來看他，擠滿了四周。老翁回頭說：「進去告訴她，薛郎來了。」幾個婢女跑了進去。過了一會兒，一個老婦人領著一位姑娘出來，年紀十六七歲，美貌無比。老翁指著她說：「這是我的小女兒十娘，她自認為與你能結成一對好夫妻；你的父親卻因為我們不是同類而拒絕。這是關係到一輩子的事，父母只能做一半的主，還得看你自己。」昆生目不轉睛地看著十娘，心裡十分喜歡，卻默默地不說話。老婦人說：「我就知道郎君很願意。請你先回去，我們馬上把十娘送過去。」昆生說：「好。」便趕回家告訴父親。薛老翁慌亂之中想不出辦法，就教給他一番推辭的話，讓他回去謝絕，昆生卻不肯去。父親正在責備他，花轎已經到了門口，穿青衣的侍女成群簇擁著，十娘也進了門。她上堂拜見公婆，公婆見了她都很喜歡。當晚兩人喝了交杯酒，結成夫妻，十分恩愛。從此，神老翁和神老婦人時常來到他們家。看他們穿的衣服就能知道將有什麼事：穿紅衣預示喜事，穿白衣預示進財，每次都應驗，因此薛家一天比一天興旺。自從與神結親，門口、廳堂、籬牆、廁所，到處都有青蛙，誰也不敢辱罵或踢它們。只有昆生年輕任性，高興時還知道顧忌，生氣時就把它們踩死，並不怎麼愛惜。十娘雖然謙和溫順，卻容易發怒，很不喜歡昆生的做法；昆生也不肯為了十娘有所剋制。十娘說了幾句刺耳的話，昆生怒道：「你以為你家那兩個老人能害人嗎？大丈夫怕什麼青蛙！」十娘非常忌諱別人說「蛙」字，聽了大怒，說：「自從我進門，讓你家田裡多收了糧食，買賣多賺了錢，也不算少了。如今全家老小都已吃飽穿暖，你就像長出了翅膀的鴞鳥，想啄瞎母親的眼睛嗎！」昆生越發憤怒，說：「我正嫌這些增添的財物骯髒，不配留給子孫。還不如早些分開！」於是把十娘趕了出去。父母聽說時，十娘已經走了。他們責罵昆生，讓他趕緊去追回來。昆生正在氣頭上，不肯低頭。到了夜裡，母子兩人都病了，頭昏胸悶，吃不下東西。薛老翁害怕，揹著荊條到神祠請罪，言辭十分懇切。過了三天，兩人的病便好了。十娘也自己回來了，夫妻又像從前一樣恩愛。十娘每天都打扮得整整齊齊地坐著，不做針線活，昆生的衣服鞋子全交給母親料理。一天，母親氣憤地說：「兒子已經娶了妻，還要勞累我這個老太婆！別人家是媳婦侍奉婆婆，我們家卻是婆婆侍奉媳婦！」十娘恰好聽見，氣沖沖地來到堂上，說：「兒媳早晨侍奉您吃飯，晚上問候您安寢，侍奉婆婆還該怎樣做呢？我欠缺的，不過是捨不得花僱人的錢，非要自己做苦工這一點罷了。」母親無話可說，又羞又難過，獨自哭了起來。昆生進來，看見母親臉上的淚痕，追問出緣故，便憤怒地責備十娘。十娘堅持分辯，不肯讓步。昆生說：「娶了妻子卻不能讓父母歡喜，還不如沒有！就算觸怒了老青蛙，也不過是遭橫禍死了罷了！」又把十娘趕了出去。十娘也很生氣，出了門徑直走了。第二天，家裡失火，接連燒燬了好幾間房屋，桌椅床榻全成了灰燼。昆生大怒，到神祠責問道：「你養的女兒不能侍奉公婆，一點家教也沒有，你還偏袒她，掩護她的過錯！神應該最公正，哪有教人怕老婆的！再說，夫妻間的爭吵都是我造成的，與我父母無關。刀鋸斧鉞，儘管用在我身上；若不這樣，我也要燒掉你的房屋，算是還報你！」說完，把柴背到殿下，點起火來，就要放火。附近的居民聚過來苦苦勸求，他這才憤憤地回去了。父母聽說後，嚇得臉色都變了。到了夜裡，神託夢給附近村莊的人，讓他們為女婿家建造住宅。天一亮，村民便帶著木材，召集工匠，一起為昆生建房，推辭也攔不住。每天幾百人在路上接連往來，沒幾天，宅院煥然一新，床鋪、帳幔、器具全都置辦齊全。房屋剛修好、打掃完，十娘已經來了，上堂賠罪，言辭溫柔和婉。她轉身向昆生微笑，全家人的怨氣都變成了歡喜。從此十孃的性情更加平和，過了兩年，夫妻沒有說過一句傷和氣的話。十娘最討厭蛇，昆生為了逗她，把一條小蛇放進盒子，騙她打開。十娘臉色大變，罵起昆生。昆生也由笑轉怒，兩人惡語相向。十娘說：「這回不必等你趕我走，請從此斷絕關係！」便出門走了。薛老翁十分害怕，用棍子打了昆生，又去向神請罪。幸好神沒有降災，卻也一直沒有訊息。過了一年多，昆生思念十娘，很是後悔，偷偷到神祠哀求十娘回來，始終沒有回應。不久，聽說神已把十娘許配給袁家，心裡十分失望，於是也向別家求婚；可是接連看了幾家的姑娘，沒有一個比得上十娘，他便更加思念她。他去探看袁家，見那裡已經粉刷了牆壁，洗掃了庭院，只等迎親的車子了。昆生又羞愧又悲憤，難以自制，不再吃飯，終於病倒了。父母憂慮驚慌，不知怎麼辦。忽然，在昏昏沉沉中，有人撫摸著他說：「大丈夫屢次要斷絕關係，如今又弄成這副樣子！」他睜開眼睛，原來是十娘。昆生歡喜極了，一躍而起，說：「你怎麼來了？」十娘說：「照你這輕薄人的待我方式，我本該聽從父親的命令，另嫁別人。袁家的聘禮確實早已收下，可我千思萬想，還是不忍心。選定的吉日就在今晚，父親又沒臉退還聘禮，我便親自帶去送還了。剛出門時，父親跑來送我，說：『傻丫頭！不聽我的話，往後再受薛家的欺凌，就算死了，也別回來！』」昆生感動於她的情義，流下了眼淚。家裡人都很歡喜，跑去告訴他的父母。母親聽說後，等不及十娘前來拜見，就奔進兒子的屋裡，握著十孃的手嗚嗚哭泣。從此，昆生也變得穩重了，不再開傷人的玩笑，夫妻感情越發深厚。十娘說：「從前我覺得你輕浮，未必能與我白頭到老，所以不敢在人世間留下孩子，讓他們日後受苦；如今你已沒有別的心思，我要生孩子了。」沒過多久，神老翁和神老婦人穿著紅袍，來到他們家。第二天，十娘分娩，一胎生了兩個男孩。從此兩家親密往來，毫無隔閡。居民有誰觸怒了神，總先來求昆生；昆生便讓那家的婦女盛裝進入內室，拜見十娘，十娘一笑，神的怒氣就消了。薛家的後代十分繁盛，人們稱他們為「薛蛙子家」。住得近的人不敢這麼叫，遠處的人才這樣稱呼。
江汉之间，俗事蛙神最虔。祠中蛙不知几百千万，有大如笼者。或犯神怒，家中辄有异兆：蛙游几榻，甚或攀缘滑壁不得堕，其状不一，此家当凶。人则大恐，斩牲禳祷之，神喜则已。楚有薛昆生者，幼惠，美姿容。六七岁时，有青衣媪至其家，自称神使，坐致神意，愿以女下嫁昆生。薛翁性朴拙，雅不欲，辞以儿幼。虽故却之，而亦未敢议婚他姓。迟数年，昆生渐长，委禽于姜氏。神告姜曰：「薛昆生，吾婿也，何得近禁脔！」姜惧，反其仪。薛翁忧之，洁牲往祷，自言：「不敢与神相匹偶。」祝已，见肴酒中皆有巨蛆浮出，蠢然扰动；倾弃，谢罪而归。心益惧，亦姑听之。一日，昆生在途，有使者迎宣神命，苦邀移趾。不得已，从与俱往。入一朱门，楼阁华好。有叟坐堂上，类七八十岁人。昆生伏谒，叟命曳起之，赐坐案旁。少间，婢媪集视，纷纭满侧。叟顾曰：「入言薛郎至矣。」数婢奔去。移时，一媪率女郎出，年十六七，丽绝无俦。叟指曰：「此小女十娘，自谓与君可称佳偶；君家尊乃以异类见拒。此自百年事，父母止主其半，是在君耳。」昆生目注十娘，心爱好之，默然不言。媪曰：「我固知郎意良佳。请先归，当即送十娘往也。」昆生曰：「诺。」趋归告翁。翁仓遽无所为计，乃授之词，使返谢之，昆生不肯行。方诮让间，舆已在门，青衣成群，而十娘入矣。上堂朝拜，翁姑见之皆喜。即夕合卺，琴瑟甚谐。由此神翁神媪，时降其家。视其衣，赤为喜，白为财，必见，以故家日兴。自婚于神，门堂藩溷皆蛙，人无敢诟蹴之。惟昆生少年任性，喜则忌，怒则践毙，不甚爱惜。十娘虽谦驯，但善怒，颇不善昆生所为；而昆生不以十娘故敛抑之。十娘语侵昆生。昆生怒曰：「岂以汝家翁媪能祸人耶？丈夫何畏蛙也！」十娘甚讳言「蛙」，闻之恚甚，曰：「自妾入门，为汝家田增粟、贾益价，亦复不少。今老幼皆已温饱，遂如鸮鸟生翼，欲啄母睛耶！」昆生益愤曰：「吾正嫌所增污秽，不堪贻子孙。请不如早别。」遂逐十娘。翁媪既闻之，十娘已去。呵昆生，使急往追复之。昆生盛气不屈。至夜，母子俱病，郁冒不食。翁惧，负荆于祠，词义殷切。过三日，病寻愈。十娘亦自至，夫妻懽好如初。十娘日辄凝妆坐，不操女红，昆生衣履，一委诸母。母一日忿曰：「儿既娶，仍累媪！人家妇事姑，吾家姑事妇！」十娘适闻之，负气登堂曰：「儿妇朝侍食，暮问寝，事姑者，其道如何？所短者，不能吝佣钱，自作苦耳。」母无言，惭沮自哭。昆生入，见母涕痕，诘得故，怒责十娘。十娘执辨不相屈。昆生曰：「娶妻不能承欢，不如勿有！便触老蛙怒，不过横灾死耳！」复出十娘。十娘亦怒，出门径去。次日，居舍灾，延烧数屋，几案床榻，悉为煨烬。昆生怒，诣祠责数曰：「养女不能奉翁姑，略无庭训，而曲护其短！神者至公，有教人畏妇者耶！且盎盂相敲，皆臣所为，无所涉于父母。刀锯斧钺，即加臣身；如其不然，我亦焚汝居室，聊以相报。」言已，负薪殿下，爇火欲举。居人集而哀之，始愤而归。父母闻之，大惧失色。至夜，神示梦于近村，使为婿家营宅。及明，赍材鸠工，共为昆生建造，辞之不止；日数百人相属于道，不数日，第舍一新，床幕器具悉备焉。修除甫竟，十娘已至，登堂谢过，言词温婉。转身向昆生展笑，举家变怨为喜。自此十娘性益和，居二年，无间言。十娘最恶蛇，昆生戏函小蛇，绐使启之。十娘变色，诟昆生。昆生亦转笑生嗔，恶相抵。十娘曰：「今番不待相迫逐，请从此绝！」遂出门去。薛翁大恐，杖昆生，请罪于神。幸不祸之，亦寂无音。积有年余，昆生怀念十娘，颇自悔，窃诣神所哀十娘，迄无声应。未几，闻神以十娘字袁氏，中心失望，因亦求婚他族；而历相数家，并无如十娘者，于是益思十娘。往探袁氏，则已垩壁涤庭，候鱼轩矣。心愧愤不能自已，废食成疾。父母忧皇，不知所处。忽昏愦中有人抚之曰：「大丈夫频欲断绝，又作此态！」开目，则十娘也。喜极，跃起曰：「卿何来？」十娘曰：「以轻薄人相待之礼，止宜从父命，另醮而去。固久受袁家采币，妾千思万思而不忍也。卜吉已在今夕，父又无颜反璧，妾亲携而置之矣。适出门，父走送曰：『痴婢！不听吾言，后受薛家凌虐，纵死亦勿归也！』」昆生感其义，为之流涕。家人皆喜，奔告翁媪。媪闻之，不待往朝，奔入子舍，执手呜泣。由此昆生亦老成，不作恶谑，于是情好益笃。十娘曰：「妾向以君儇薄，未必遂能相白首，故不敢留孽根于人世；今已靡他，妾将生子。」居无何，神翁神媪着朱袍，降临其家。次日，十娘临蓐，一举两男。由此往来无间。居民或犯神怒，辄先求昆生；乃使妇女辈盛妆入闺，朝拜十娘，十娘笑则解。薛氏苗裔甚繁，人名之「薛蛙子家」。近人不敢呼，远人呼之。
长江与汉水之间的地方，百姓祭奉蛙神格外虔诚。神祠里的青蛙不知有多少，成百上千，甚至成千上万，有的大得像蒸笼。有人触怒了神，家里就会出现怪异的征兆：青蛙在桌子、床榻上爬来爬去，有的甚至爬上光滑的墙壁而不掉下来，种种情形各不相同，这都预示着这家将有灾祸。人们便十分恐惧，宰杀牲畜祭祀，祈求消灾，等神高兴了，事情才会平息。楚地有个薛昆生，从小聪明，容貌俊美。六七岁时，一个穿青衣的老妇人来到他家，自称是神的使者，坐下来传达神的意思，说愿意把女儿嫁给昆生。薛老翁性情朴实，不善应对，向来不愿结这门亲事，便以孩子年纪小为由推辞。虽然有意拒绝了，却也不敢再和别家议婚。过了几年，昆生渐渐长大，薛家向姜家送去了聘礼。神告诉姜家：“薛昆生是我的女婿，你们怎么敢来染指我定下的人！”姜家害怕，退回了聘礼。薛老翁为此忧虑，备好洁净的祭牲，前去祈祷，说：“我不敢与神结为亲家。”祈祷完了，看见祭献的菜肴和酒里都有大蛆浮出来，蠕动不止。他把酒菜倒掉，赔罪后回了家。心里越发害怕，也只好暂且听任这门亲事。一天，昆生走在路上，有个使者迎上来传达神的命令，执意邀请他前去。他不得已，便跟着使者去了。走进一道朱红大门，只见楼阁华美。一个老翁坐在堂上，看上去有七八十岁。昆生伏地拜见，老翁叫人把他扶起来，赐他坐在桌旁。过了一会儿，婢女和老妇人都聚过来看他，挤满了四周。老翁回头说：“进去告诉她，薛郎来了。”几个婢女跑了进去。过了一会儿，一个老妇人领着一位姑娘出来，年纪十六七岁，美貌无比。老翁指着她说：“这是我的小女儿十娘，她自认为与你能结成一对好夫妻；你的父亲却因为我们不是同类而拒绝。这是关系到一辈子的事，父母只能做一半的主，还得看你自己。”昆生目不转睛地看着十娘，心里十分喜欢，却默默地不说话。老妇人说：“我就知道郎君很愿意。请你先回去，我们马上把十娘送过去。”昆生说：“好。”便赶回家告诉父亲。薛老翁慌乱之中想不出办法，就教给他一番推辞的话，让他回去谢绝，昆生却不肯去。父亲正在责备他，花轿已经到了门口，穿青衣的侍女成群簇拥着，十娘也进了门。她上堂拜见公婆，公婆见了她都很喜欢。当晚两人喝了交杯酒，结成夫妻，十分恩爱。从此，神老翁和神老妇人时常来到他们家。看他们穿的衣服就能知道将有什么事：穿红衣预示喜事，穿白衣预示进财，每次都应验，因此薛家一天比一天兴旺。自从与神结亲，门口、厅堂、篱墙、厕所，到处都有青蛙，谁也不敢辱骂或踢它们。只有昆生年轻任性，高兴时还知道顾忌，生气时就把它们踩死，并不怎么爱惜。十娘虽然谦和温顺，却容易发怒，很不喜欢昆生的做法；昆生也不肯为了十娘有所克制。十娘说了几句刺耳的话，昆生怒道：“你以为你家那两个老人能害人吗？大丈夫怕什么青蛙！”十娘非常忌讳别人说“蛙”字，听了大怒，说：“自从我进门，让你家田里多收了粮食，买卖多赚了钱，也不算少了。如今全家老小都已吃饱穿暖，你就像长出了翅膀的鸮鸟，想啄瞎母亲的眼睛吗！”昆生越发愤怒，说：“我正嫌这些增添的财物肮脏，不配留给子孙。还不如早些分开！”于是把十娘赶了出去。父母听说时，十娘已经走了。他们责骂昆生，让他赶紧去追回来。昆生正在气头上，不肯低头。到了夜里，母子两人都病了，头昏胸闷，吃不下东西。薛老翁害怕，背着荆条到神祠请罪，言辞十分恳切。过了三天，两人的病便好了。十娘也自己回来了，夫妻又像从前一样恩爱。十娘每天都打扮得整整齐齐地坐着，不做针线活，昆生的衣服鞋子全交给母亲料理。一天，母亲气愤地说：“儿子已经娶了妻，还要劳累我这个老太婆！别人家是媳妇侍奉婆婆，我们家却是婆婆侍奉媳妇！”十娘恰好听见，气冲冲地来到堂上，说：“儿媳早晨侍奉您吃饭，晚上问候您安寝，侍奉婆婆还该怎样做呢？我欠缺的，不过是舍不得花雇人的钱，非要自己做苦工这一点罢了。”母亲无话可说，又羞又难过，独自哭了起来。昆生进来，看见母亲脸上的泪痕，追问出缘故，便愤怒地责备十娘。十娘坚持分辩，不肯让步。昆生说：“娶了妻子却不能让父母欢喜，还不如没有！就算触怒了老青蛙，也不过是遭横祸死了罢了！”又把十娘赶了出去。十娘也很生气，出了门径直走了。第二天，家里失火，接连烧毁了好几间房屋，桌椅床榻全成了灰烬。昆生大怒，到神祠责问道：“你养的女儿不能侍奉公婆，一点家教也没有，你还偏袒她，掩护她的过错！神应该最公正，哪有教人怕老婆的！再说，夫妻间的争吵都是我造成的，与我父母无关。刀锯斧钺，尽管用在我身上；若不这样，我也要烧掉你的房屋，算是还报你！”说完，把柴背到殿下，点起火来，就要放火。附近的居民聚过来苦苦劝求，他这才愤愤地回去了。父母听说后，吓得脸色都变了。到了夜里，神托梦给附近村庄的人，让他们为女婿家建造住宅。天一亮，村民便带着木材，召集工匠，一起为昆生建房，推辞也拦不住。每天几百人在路上接连往来，没几天，宅院焕然一新，床铺、帐幔、器具全都置办齐全。房屋刚修好、打扫完，十娘已经来了，上堂赔罪，言辞温柔和婉。她转身向昆生微笑，全家人的怨气都变成了欢喜。从此十娘的性情更加平和，过了两年，夫妻没有说过一句伤和气的话。十娘最讨厌蛇，昆生为了逗她，把一条小蛇放进盒子，骗她打开。十娘脸色大变，骂起昆生。昆生也由笑转怒，两人恶语相向。十娘说：“这回不必等你赶我走，请从此断绝关系！”便出门走了。薛老翁十分害怕，用棍子打了昆生，又去向神请罪。幸好神没有降灾，却也一直没有消息。过了一年多，昆生思念十娘，很是后悔，偷偷到神祠哀求十娘回来，始终没有回应。不久，听说神已把十娘许配给袁家，心里十分失望，于是也向别家求婚；可是接连看了几家的姑娘，没有一个比得上十娘，他便更加思念她。他去探看袁家，见那里已经粉刷了墙壁，洗扫了庭院，只等迎亲的车子了。昆生又羞愧又悲愤，难以自制，不再吃饭，终于病倒了。父母忧虑惊慌，不知怎么办。忽然，在昏昏沉沉中，有人抚摸着他说：“大丈夫屡次要断绝关系，如今又弄成这副样子！”他睁开眼睛，原来是十娘。昆生欢喜极了，一跃而起，说：“你怎么来了？”十娘说：“照你这轻薄人的待我方式，我本该听从父亲的命令，另嫁别人。袁家的聘礼确实早已收下，可我千思万想，还是不忍心。选定的吉日就在今晚，父亲又没脸退还聘礼，我便亲自带去送还了。刚出门时，父亲跑来送我，说：‘傻丫头！不听我的话，往后再受薛家的欺凌，就算死了，也别回来！’”昆生感动于她的情义，流下了眼泪。家里人都很欢喜，跑去告诉他的父母。母亲听说后，等不及十娘前来拜见，就奔进儿子的屋里，握着十娘的手呜呜哭泣。从此，昆生也变得稳重了，不再开伤人的玩笑，夫妻感情越发深厚。十娘说：“从前我觉得你轻浮，未必能与我白头到老，所以不敢在人世间留下孩子，让他们日后受苦；如今你已没有别的心思，我要生孩子了。”没过多久，神老翁和神老妇人穿着红袍，来到他们家。第二天，十娘分娩，一胎生了两个男孩。从此两家亲密往来，毫无隔阂。居民有谁触怒了神，总先来求昆生；昆生便让那家的妇女盛装进入内室，拜见十娘，十娘一笑，神的怒气就消了。薛家的后代十分繁盛，人们称他们为“薛蛙子家”。住得近的人不敢这么叫，远处的人才这样称呼。
Between the Yangtze and the Han rivers, people worship the Frog God with the greatest devotion. There is no counting the frogs in his shrine — hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands — and some are as big as a steamer basket. If anyone offends the god, strange signs appear in his house at once: frogs crawl over the tables and beds, or even climb up smooth walls without falling. The signs take many forms, and they mean that misfortune is coming to the house. Then people are terrified, and kill animals in sacrifice and pray to avert it; if the god is pleased, that is the end of it. In Chu there was a man named Xue Kunsheng, who was clever as a child and handsome. When he was six or seven, an old woman in a black gown came to his house. She said she was the god’s messenger, sat down and conveyed the god’s wish: he wanted to give his daughter to Kunsheng in marriage. Old Xue was a plain, simple man and did not want it at all; he declined, saying the boy was too young. But though he had refused, he did not dare discuss a match with any other family either. Some years later, when Kunsheng was growing up, Xue sent betrothal gifts to the Jiang family. The god told Jiang, “Xue Kunsheng is my son-in-law. How dare you touch a morsel reserved for me!” Jiang was afraid and sent back the gifts. Old Xue was worried. He took clean sacrificial animals to the shrine and prayed, saying, “I do not dare to be joined in marriage with a god.” When he had finished the prayer, he saw huge maggots floating up out of the meat and wine, squirming. He poured it all away, apologized and went home. He was more frightened than ever, and for the time being let things be. One day Kunsheng was on the road when a messenger came to meet him, proclaimed the god’s command and pressed him to come along. He had no choice but to go with him. He went in through a red gate, among fine towers and halls. An old man sat in the hall, who looked seventy or eighty. Kunsheng prostrated himself; the old man had him pulled to his feet and gave him a seat by the table. In a little while maids and old women gathered to look at him, crowding round on every side. The old man turned and said, “Tell them Master Xue has come.” Several maids ran off. After a while an old woman came out leading a young lady of sixteen or seventeen, beautiful beyond compare. The old man pointed to her. “This is my little daughter, Shiniang. She thinks she would make you a good match, but your honoured father has refused us because we are not of your kind. This is a matter for a whole lifetime, and parents decide only half of it. The rest is up to you.” Kunsheng gazed at Shiniang. His heart went out to her, but he said nothing. The old woman said, “I knew you liked her well enough. Go home first, and we will send Shiniang to you directly.” “Yes,” said Kunsheng, and hurried home to tell his father. Old Xue was flustered and could think of no plan. He gave Kunsheng a speech to make and told him to go back and decline, but Kunsheng would not go. While his father was still scolding him, the bridal chair was at the gate, with crowds of maids in black, and Shiniang came in. She came up into the hall and paid her respects, and Kunsheng’s parents were both delighted when they saw her. That very night the couple drank the wedding cup, and they were in perfect harmony. From then on the god and his old wife often came down to the house. You could tell by their clothes: red meant a happy event, white meant money, and it always came true. So the family grew more prosperous by the day. Since the marriage to the god there were frogs everywhere — gate and hall, fences and privy — and no one dared curse them or kick them. Only Kunsheng, young and headstrong, left them alone when he was in a good mood but stamped them to death when he was angry, and showed them little care. Shiniang, though modest and gentle, had a quick temper, and she greatly disliked what Kunsheng did; but Kunsheng did not hold himself back for her sake. Shiniang said something cutting to him. Kunsheng said angrily, “Do you think your old folks can do people harm? A man is not afraid of frogs!” Shiniang hated nothing more than the word ‘frog’. Hearing it, she was furious. “Since I came into your house I have added grain to your fields and raised the prices of your goods, and not a little either. Now that old and young are all warm and fed, you are like the owl chick that grows its wings and wants to peck out its mother’s eyes!” Kunsheng grew angrier still. “It’s just what you’ve added that I find filthy. It isn’t fit to leave to my children and grandchildren. Better we part now!” And he drove Shiniang out. By the time his parents heard of it, Shiniang was already gone. They scolded Kunsheng and told him to go after her at once and bring her back. Kunsheng was in a towering rage and would not give way. That night mother and son both fell ill, dazed and stifled, unable to eat. Old Xue was afraid and went to the shrine bearing thorns on his back, pleading earnestly. Three days later they soon recovered. Shiniang came back of her own accord, and husband and wife were as loving as ever. Every day Shiniang sat with her face carefully made up and did no needlework; Kunsheng’s clothes and shoes were all left to his mother. One day his mother said angrily, “My son’s married, and still he’s a burden on his old mother! In other families the wife serves her mother-in-law; in ours the mother-in-law serves the wife!” Shiniang happened to hear and came into the hall in a huff. “Your daughter-in-law serves your food in the morning and sees you settled for the night in the evening. What more is there to serving a mother-in-law? All I lack is that I can’t bring myself to grudge the servants’ wages and do the hard work myself.” His mother had nothing to say; ashamed and crushed, she wept by herself. Kunsheng came in, saw the traces of tears on his mother’s face and questioned her until he learned why. He angrily reproached Shiniang. Shiniang argued back and would not give an inch. “A wife who can’t please my parents is worse than none!” said Kunsheng. “Even if it angers the old frog, the worst that can happen is that I meet a violent death!” And again he sent Shiniang away. Shiniang was angry too, and walked straight out of the gate. The next day the house caught fire. The fire spread to several rooms, and tables, chairs and beds were all burned to ashes. Kunsheng was furious. He went to the shrine and denounced the god. “You raise a daughter who cannot serve her husband’s parents, give her no teaching at home, and then shield her faults! A god should be perfectly just — do you teach men to fear their wives? Besides, when the bowls and basins knocked together, it was all my doing. It has nothing to do with my parents. Let the knife and saw, the axe and battle-axe, fall on me. If not, I will burn your house down too, to pay you back.” With that he piled firewood below the shrine hall and struck a light, about to set it ablaze. The people who lived nearby gathered and pleaded with him, and only then did he go home, still fuming. When his parents heard, they turned pale with terror. That night the god appeared in dreams to the people of the nearby villages and told them to build a house for his son-in-law. At daybreak they brought timber and gathered workmen and built for Kunsheng together; when he tried to refuse, they would not stop. Every day hundreds of people streamed along the road, and in a few days the house was new, with beds, curtains and furnishings all complete. The building and cleaning were barely done when Shiniang arrived. She came into the hall and apologized, gently and sweetly. Then she turned to Kunsheng with a smile, and the whole household turned from resentment to joy. From then on Shiniang’s temper was milder, and for two years there was not a cross word between them. Shiniang hated snakes more than anything. As a joke Kunsheng put a little snake in a box and tricked her into opening it. Shiniang turned pale and cursed him. Kunsheng’s laughter turned to anger as well, and they traded harsh words. “This time you needn’t drive me out,” said Shiniang. “Let us be done with each other from now on!” And she walked out of the gate. Old Xue was terrified. He beat Kunsheng with a stick and went to the god to beg forgiveness. Luckily no disaster followed; but there was no word either. After more than a year Kunsheng was missing Shiniang and full of remorse. He went secretly to the god’s shrine and pleaded for Shiniang, but there was never any answer. Before long he heard that the god had promised Shiniang to the Yuan family. Bitterly disappointed, he too sought a match with other families; but of all the girls he looked at, none was a match for Shiniang, and he longed for her all the more. He went to look at the Yuan house: the walls had been whitewashed and the courtyard swept, ready for the bridal carriage. Ashamed and furious beyond bearing, he stopped eating and fell ill. His parents were frantic with worry and did not know what to do. Suddenly, in his stupor, someone stroked him and said, “A grown man who keeps wanting to break things off, and now look at you!” He opened his eyes: it was Shiniang. Overjoyed, he leapt up. “Where did you come from?” “The way to treat a frivolous man,” said Shiniang, “would have been to obey my father and marry someone else. The Yuan family’s betrothal silks had long since been accepted. But I thought it over a thousand times, ten thousand times, and could not bear to. The lucky day was fixed for tonight, and my father had no face to send back the gifts, so I took them back myself. As I was going out of the door, my father ran after me and said, ‘Silly girl! You won’t listen to me. If the Xues mistreat you after this, don’t come home, even if you die!’” Kunsheng was moved by her devotion and wept. The household was overjoyed and ran to tell his parents. When his mother heard, she did not wait for Shiniang to come and pay her respects, but ran into her son’s room, took her hands and wept. From then on Kunsheng grew steadier too and played no more cruel jokes, and so their love grew deeper still. “Before this,” said Shiniang, “I thought that, fickle as you were, we might not grow old together, so I didn’t dare leave a root of trouble in the world. Now that you have no thought for anyone else, I will bear you a son.” Before long the god and his wife came down to the house in red robes. The next day Shiniang went into labour and gave birth to two boys at once. From then on the two families came and went freely. If anyone in the district offended the god, he went first to Kunsheng for help; then the women of the family put on their best and went into the inner rooms to pay their respects to Shiniang, and if Shiniang laughed, the trouble passed. The Xues had very many descendants, and people called them ‘the Xue Frog-Children’. Those who lived nearby did not dare call them that; people from far away did.