奚成列，成都士人也。有一妻一妾。妾何氏，小字昭容。妻早沒，繼娶申氏，性妒，虐遇何，因並及奚；終日嘵聒，恆不聊生。奚怒，亡去。去後，何生一子大男。奚去不返，申擯何不與同炊，計日授粟。大男漸長，用不給，何紡績佐食。大男見塾中諸兒吟誦，亦欲讀。母以其太穉，姑送詣讀。大男慧，所讀倍諸兒。師奇之，願不索束脩。何乃使從師，薄相酬。積二三年，經書全通。一日歸，謂母曰：「塾中五六人，皆從父乞錢買餅，我何獨無？」母曰：「待汝長，告汝知。」大男曰：「今方七八歲，何時長也？」母曰：「汝往塾，路經關帝廟，當拜之，祐汝速長。」大男信之，每過必入拜。母知之，問曰：「汝所祝何詞？」笑云：「但祝明年便使我十六七歲。」母笑之。然大男學與軀長並速：至十歲，便如十三四歲者；其所為文竟成章。一日，謂母曰：「昔謂我壯大，當告父處，今可矣。」母曰：「尚未，尚未。」又年餘，居然成人，研詰益頻，母乃緬述之。大男悲不自勝，欲往尋父。母曰：「兒太幼，汝父存亡未知，何遽可尋？」大男無言而去，至午不歸。往塾問師，則辰餐未復。母大驚，出貲傭役，到處冥搜，杳無蹤蹟。大男出門，循途奔去，茫然不知何往。適遇一人將如夔州，言姓錢。大男丐食相從。錢病其緩，為賃代步，資斧耗竭。至夔，同食，錢陰投毒食中，大男瞑不覺。錢載至大剎，託為己子，偶病絕貲，賣諸僧。僧見其丰姿秀異，爭購之。錢得金竟去。僧飲之，略醒。長老知而詣視，奇其相，研詰，始得顛末。甚憐之，贈貲使去。有瀘州蔣秀才，下第歸，途中問得故，嘉其孝，攜與同行。至瀘，主其家。月餘，遍加諮訪。或言閩商有奚姓者，乃辭蔣，欲之閩。蔣贈以衣履，里黨皆斂貲助之。途遇二布客，欲往福清，邀與同侶。行數程，客窺囊金，引至空所，摯其手足，解奪而去。適有永福陳翁過其地，脫其縛，載歸其家。翁豪富，諸路商賈，多出其門，翁囑南北客代訪奚耗。留大男伴諸兒讀。大男遂住翁家，不復游。然去家愈遠，音益梗矣。何昭容孤居三四年，申氏減其費，抑勒令嫁。何志不搖。申強賣於重慶賈，賈劫取而去。至夜，以刀自劙。賈不敢逼，俟創瘥，又轉鬻於鹽亭賈。至鹽亭，自刺心頭，洞見臟腑。賈大懼，敷以藥，創平，求為尼。賈曰：「我有商侶，身無淫具，每欲得一人主縫紉。此與作尼無異，亦可少償吾值。」何諾。賈輿送去。入門，主人趨出，則奚生也。蓋奚已棄儒為商，賈以其無婦，故贈之也。相見悲駭，各述苦況，始知有兒尋父未歸。奚乃囑諸客旅，偵察大男。而昭容遂以妾為妻矣。然自歷艱苦，痾痛多疾，不能操作，勸奚納妾。奚鑒前禍，不從所請。何曰：「妾如爭床第者，數年來固已從人生子，尚得與君有今日耶？且人加我者，隱痛在心，豈及諸身而自蹈之？」奚乃囑客侶，為買三十餘老妾。踰半年，客果為買妾歸，入門，則妻申氏。各相駭異。先是，申獨居年餘，兄苞勸令再適。申從之。惟田產為子姪所阻，不得售。鬻諸所有，積數百金，攜歸兄家。有保寧賈，聞其富有匳資，以多金啗苞，賺娶之。而賈老廢不能人。申怨兄，不安於室，懸梁投井，不堪其擾。賈怒，搜括其貲，將賣作妾。聞者皆嫌其老。賈將適夔，乃載與俱去。遇奚同肆，適中其意，遂貨之而去。既見奚，慙懼不出一語。奚問同肆商，略知梗概。因曰：「使遇健男，則在保寧，無再見之期，此亦數也。然今日我買妾，非娶妻，可先拜昭容，修嫡庶禮。」申恥之。奚曰：「昔日汝作嫡，何如哉！」何勸止之。奚不可，操杖臨偪。申不得已，拜之。然終不屑承奉，但操作別室。何悉優容之，亦不忍課其勤惰。奚每與昭容談讌，輒使役使其側；何更代以婢，不聽前。會陳公嗣宗宰鹽亭。奚與里人有小爭，里人以逼妻作妾揭訟奚。公不准理，叱逐之。奚喜，方與何竊頌公德。一漏既盡，僮呼叩扉，入報曰：「邑令公至。」奚駭極，急覓衣履，則公已至寢門；益駭，不知所為。何審之，急出曰：「是吾兒也！」遂哭。公乃伏地悲哽。蓋大男從陳翁姓，業為官矣。初，公至自都，迂道過故里，始知兩母皆醮，伏膺哀痛。族人知大男已貴，反其田廬。公留僕營造，冀父復還。既而授任鹽亭，又欲棄官尋父，陳翁苦勸止之。會有卜者，使筮焉。卜者曰：「小者居大，少者為長；求雄得雌，求一得兩：為官吉。」公乃之任。為不得親，居官不茹葷酒。是日，得里人狀，睹奚姓名，疑之。陰遣內使細訪，果父。乘夜微行而出。見母，益信卜者之神。臨去，囑勿播，出金二百，啟父辦裝歸里。父抵家，門戶一新，廣畜僕馬，居然大家矣。申見大男貴盛，益自斂。兄苞不憤，告官，為妹爭嫡。官廉得其情，怒曰：「貪貲勸嫁，已更二夫，尚何顏爭昔年嫡庶耶！」重笞苞。由此名分益定。而申妹何，何姊之。衣服飲食，悉不自私。申初懼其復仇，今益愧悔。奚亦忘其舊惡，俾內外皆呼以太母，但誥命不及耳。
奚成列是成都的讀書人，有一妻一妾。妾姓何，小名昭容。妻子早早去世了，他續娶了申氏。申氏生性嫉妒，虐待何氏，連奚成列也跟著受罪。她整天吵鬧不休，讓人難以過日子。奚成列一怒之下，離家出走。他走後，何氏生了個兒子，叫大男。奚成列一直沒有回來，申氏便排擠何氏，不許她與自己共用爐灶做飯，每天只給她定量的糧食。大男漸漸長大，口糧不夠吃，何氏就靠紡紗織布補貼生活。大男看見私塾裡的孩子們吟誦課文，也想讀書。母親覺得他年紀太小，便先送他去試著讀讀。大男很聰明，學的內容比其他孩子多一倍。先生覺得他不同尋常，願意不收學費。何氏便讓他跟著先生讀書，只給先生一點微薄的酬謝。過了兩三年，他已把經書全都讀通了。有一天，他回家對母親說：「私塾裡有五六個孩子，都向父親要錢買餅，怎麼只有我沒有父親呢？」母親說：「等你長大了，我就告訴你。」大男說：「我現在才七八歲，什麼時候才能長大呢？」母親說：「你去私塾，路上經過關帝廟，就進去拜一拜，求關帝保佑你快些長大。」大男信以為真，每次經過都進去拜。母親知道後，問他：「你禱告時說些什麼？」他笑著說：「我只求明年就讓我長到十六七歲。」母親聽了也笑了。不過，大男的學問和身體確實都長得很快。到了十歲，他就像十三四歲的人了，寫的文章也已經有模有樣。有一天，他對母親說：「以前你說，等我長大了，就告訴我父親在哪裡，現在可以告訴我了。」母親說：「還不行，還不行。」又過了一年多，他看上去已經像個成年人，追問得也越來越頻繁，母親這才把往事從頭告訴了他。大男悲痛得難以自制，想去尋找父親。母親說：「孩子，你年紀還太小，你父親是死是活都不知道，怎麼能貿然去找呢？」大男沒說話就走了，到了中午還沒有回來。母親去私塾問先生，才知道他早飯後就沒有再來。母親大驚，拿錢僱人四處搜尋，卻始終找不到他的蹤跡。大男出門後，沿著道路奔走，茫然不知該往哪裡去。恰好遇見一個要去夔州的人，那人說自己姓錢。大男便向他討飯吃，跟著他走。錢某嫌他走得慢，就替他租了坐騎，路費也花光了。到了夔州，兩人一起吃飯，錢某偷偷在飯裡下了毒，大男便昏睡過去，不省人事。錢某把他帶到一座大寺院，謊稱他是自己的兒子，途中偶然生病，錢又用光了，便把他賣給僧人。僧人見他容貌俊秀出眾，爭著要買。錢某拿到錢就走了。僧人給大男餵了些喝的，他稍稍清醒過來。長老得知此事，前來看他，覺得他的相貌不同尋常，仔細詢問，這才知道事情的來龍去脈。長老十分憐憫他，給了他路費，讓他離開。有個瀘州的蔣秀才，考試落第後回鄉，在路上問明瞭大男的遭遇，讚賞他的孝心，便帶著他一起走。到了瀘州，讓他住在自己家裡，一個多月來四處替他打聽。有人說，福建有個姓奚的商人，大男便向蔣秀才辭行，打算去福建。蔣秀才送給他衣服鞋子，鄉鄰也都湊錢幫助他。途中，他遇見兩個要去福清的布商，對方邀他結伴同行。走了幾段路，布商發現他袋子裡有錢，便把他引到無人之處，綁住手腳，解下錢袋搶走了。恰好永福的陳老翁經過那裡，替他解開繩索，把他帶回家。陳老翁十分富有，各路商人中，許多都依附於他。他囑咐南來北往的商人，替大男打聽奚成列的訊息，又留下大男，陪自己的孩子們讀書。大男便住在陳老翁家裡，不再外出奔波。然而，他離家越來越遠，訊息也越來越難傳通。何昭容獨自過了三四年，申氏削減她的生活用度，強逼她改嫁。何氏始終不肯改變心意。申氏便強行把她賣給一個重慶商人，商人把她強行帶走。到了夜裡，她用刀割傷自己。商人不敢逼迫，等她傷口痊癒，又把她轉賣給一個鹽亭商人。到了鹽亭，她用刀刺向胸口，傷得連內臟都露了出來。商人大為驚恐，給她敷藥。傷口癒合後，她請求出家做尼姑。商人說：「我有個一起做生意的同伴，身上沒有男子的生殖器，一直想找個人替他料理縫紉。你去他那裡，與做尼姑沒有兩樣，也能讓我多少收回一點買你的錢。」何氏答應了，商人便用轎子把她送過去。她一進門，主人就快步迎了出來，竟是奚成列。原來，奚成列已經放棄讀書，改做生意，商人因為他沒有妻子，便把何氏送給了他。兩人相見，既悲傷又驚訝，各自講述這些年受的苦，奚成列這才知道自己有個兒子，出門尋父至今未歸。他便囑咐往來的商人，留意打聽大男的下落。昭容也從妾成了妻子。不過，她歷經艱難，身上多處疼痛，又常常生病，不能操持家務，便勸奚成列納妾。奚成列記著從前的禍患，不肯答應。何氏說：「我如果是那種爭寵的人，這幾年早就跟別人生兒育女了，還能有今天與你重逢的時候嗎？況且，別人加在我身上的痛苦，一直藏在心裡，我又怎麼會自己重犯這樣的過錯呢？」奚成列這才囑咐做生意的同伴，替他買個三十多歲、年紀較大的妾。過了半年多，同伴果然買了個妾回來。一進門，竟是他的妻子申氏。雙方都十分驚愕。原來，申氏獨居了一年多，哥哥苞勸她改嫁，她答應了。只是奚家的子侄阻攔她變賣田產，田產沒能賣掉。她把其餘所有的東西都賣了，湊了幾百兩銀子，帶回哥哥家。有個保寧商人，聽說她有豐厚的嫁妝，便用重金誘惑苞，騙娶了她。可是，那商人年老體衰，已經不能行房。申氏埋怨哥哥，在夫家吵鬧不安，又是上吊，又是投井，商人實在受不了她的折騰。商人大怒，搜走她所有的錢財，打算把她賣給別人做妾。聽說的人都嫌她年紀大。商人將要去夔州，便把她一起帶上，遇見與奚成列同在一家商鋪做生意的人，正好合了那人的要求，就把她賣掉，離開了。申氏見到奚成列，又羞愧又害怕，一句話也說不出來。奚成列問了同鋪的商人，大致知道了她的經歷，便說：「你要是嫁了個身體強健的男人，就會留在保寧，我們再也沒有見面的機會。這也是命數。不過，我今天買的是妾，並不是娶妻，你得先向昭容行禮，按正妻與妾的規矩辦。」申氏覺得羞恥。奚成列說：「從前你做正妻時，又是怎樣對待她的！」何氏勸他算了，奚成列不肯，拿著棍子站在申氏面前逼迫她。申氏不得已，只好向何氏行禮。不過，她始終不肯屈身侍奉何氏，只在另一間屋子裡幹活。何氏處處寬容她，也不忍心查問她幹活勤快還是懶惰。奚成列每逢與昭容談笑飲宴，總要讓申氏在一旁伺候；何氏便換個婢女替她，不讓她上前。這時，陳嗣宗來到鹽亭做知縣。奚成列與一個同鄉發生了小爭執，那人便告到縣衙，說奚成列逼妻子做妾。陳知縣不受理，斥責那人，把他趕了出去。奚成列十分高興，正在私下與何氏稱讚知縣的恩德。剛過一更，僕人喊著敲門，進來稟告說：「知縣大人來了。」奚成列驚恐萬分，急忙找衣服鞋子，知縣卻已經來到臥室門口。他越發驚慌，不知道怎麼辦。何氏仔細看了看，急忙走出來說：「這是我的兒子！」說完便哭了起來。知縣也伏在地上，悲傷得哽咽不止。原來，大男隨陳老翁姓了陳，已經做了官。起初，他從京城回來，繞路經過故鄉，才知道兩位母親都已改嫁，撫著胸口悲痛不已。族人得知大男已經顯貴，便歸還了他的田地房屋。他留下僕人修建住宅，希望父親還能回來。後來，他被任命為鹽亭知縣，又想放棄官職去尋找父親，陳老翁苦苦勸住了他。恰好來了個占卜的人，他便請那人卜了一卦。占卜的人說：「小的居於大位，年輕的成了尊長；尋找男人卻找到了女人，尋找一個卻得到了兩個：做官吉利。」他這才前去赴任。因為沒有找到父母，他做官期間不吃葷，也不喝酒。這一天，他收到那位同鄉的訴狀，看見奚成列的姓名，便懷疑是自己的父親。他暗中派貼身僕人仔細查訪，果然如此，便趁夜晚換上便服，悄悄出門。見到母親後，他更加相信那位占卜的人算得神奇。臨走時，他囑咐父母不要把訊息傳出去，拿出二百兩銀子，請父親準備行裝，返回故鄉。父親回到家中，只見房屋門戶煥然一新，僕人馬匹也很多，儼然成了富貴人家。申氏見大男如此顯貴，更加約束自己。哥哥苞卻不服氣，告到官府，替妹妹爭奪正妻的名分。官員查明實情，怒道：「你貪圖錢財，勸她改嫁，她已經又嫁過兩個丈夫，還有什麼臉面來爭當年的妻妾名分！」於是重重打了苞一頓。從此，妻妾的名分更加確定。申氏稱何氏為妹妹，何氏稱申氏為姐姐。衣服飲食，何氏都不獨自享用。申氏起初害怕何氏報復，如今更加羞愧悔恨。奚成列也忘記了她從前的惡行，讓家裡內外的人都稱她為太母，只是朝廷的誥命封贈沒有她的份罷了。
奚成列，成都士人也。有一妻一妾。妾何氏，小字昭容。妻早没，继娶申氏，性妒，虐遇何，因并及奚；终日哓聒，恒不聊生。奚怒，亡去。去后，何生一子大男。奚去不返，申摈何不与同炊，计日授粟。大男渐长，用不给，何纺绩佐食。大男见塾中诸儿吟诵，亦欲读。母以其太穉，姑送诣读。大男慧，所读倍诸儿。师奇之，愿不索束脩。何乃使从师，薄相酬。积二三年，经书全通。一日归，谓母曰：「塾中五六人，皆从父乞钱买饼，我何独无？」母曰：「待汝长，告汝知。」大男曰：「今方七八岁，何时长也？」母曰：「汝往塾，路经关帝庙，当拜之，祐汝速长。」大男信之，每过必入拜。母知之，问曰：「汝所祝何词？」笑云：「但祝明年便使我十六七岁。」母笑之。然大男学与躯长并速：至十岁，便如十三四岁者；其所为文竟成章。一日，谓母曰：「昔谓我壮大，当告父处，今可矣。」母曰：「尚未，尚未。」又年余，居然成人，研诘益频，母乃缅述之。大男悲不自胜，欲往寻父。母曰：「儿太幼，汝父存亡未知，何遽可寻？」大男无言而去，至午不归。往塾问师，则辰餐未复。母大惊，出赀佣役，到处冥搜，杳无踪迹。大男出门，循途奔去，茫然不知何往。适遇一人将如夔州，言姓钱。大男丐食相从。钱病其缓，为赁代步，资斧耗竭。至夔，同食，钱阴投毒食中，大男瞑不觉。钱载至大刹，托为己子，偶病绝赀，卖诸僧。僧见其丰姿秀异，争购之。钱得金竟去。僧饮之，略醒。长老知而诣视，奇其相，研诘，始得颠末。甚怜之，赠赀使去。有泸州蒋秀才，下第归，途中问得故，嘉其孝，携与同行。至泸，主其家。月余，遍加咨访。或言闽商有奚姓者，乃辞蒋，欲之闽。蒋赠以衣履，里党皆敛赀助之。途遇二布客，欲往福清，邀与同侣。行数程，客窥囊金，引至空所，挚其手足，解夺而去。适有永福陈翁过其地，脱其缚，载归其家。翁豪富，诸路商贾，多出其门，翁嘱南北客代访奚耗。留大男伴诸儿读。大男遂住翁家，不复游。然去家愈远，音益梗矣。何昭容孤居三四年，申氏减其费，抑勒令嫁。何志不摇。申强卖于重庆贾，贾劫取而去。至夜，以刀自劙。贾不敢逼，俟创瘥，又转鬻于盐亭贾。至盐亭，自刺心头，洞见脏腑。贾大惧，敷以药，创平，求为尼。贾曰：「我有商侣，身无淫具，每欲得一人主缝纫。此与作尼无异，亦可少偿吾值。」何诺。贾舆送去。入门，主人趋出，则奚生也。盖奚已弃儒为商，贾以其无妇，故赠之也。相见悲骇，各述苦况，始知有儿寻父未归。奚乃嘱诸客旅，侦察大男。而昭容遂以妾为妻矣。然自历艰苦，疴痛多疾，不能操作，劝奚纳妾。奚鉴前祸，不从所请。何曰：「妾如争床第者，数年来固已从人生子，尚得与君有今日耶？且人加我者，隐痛在心，岂及诸身而自蹈之？」奚乃嘱客侣，为买三十余老妾。逾半年，客果为买妾归，入门，则妻申氏。各相骇异。先是，申独居年余，兄苞劝令再适。申从之。惟田产为子姪所阻，不得售。鬻诸所有，积数百金，携归兄家。有保宁贾，闻其富有匳资，以多金啗苞，赚娶之。而贾老废不能人。申怨兄，不安于室，悬梁投井，不堪其扰。贾怒，搜括其赀，将卖作妾。闻者皆嫌其老。贾将适夔，乃载与俱去。遇奚同肆，适中其意，遂货之而去。既见奚，慙惧不出一语。奚问同肆商，略知梗概。因曰：「使遇健男，则在保宁，无再见之期，此亦数也。然今日我买妾，非娶妻，可先拜昭容，修嫡庶礼。」申耻之。奚曰：「昔日汝作嫡，何如哉！」何劝止之。奚不可，操杖临偪。申不得已，拜之。然终不屑承奉，但操作别室。何悉优容之，亦不忍课其勤惰。奚每与昭容谈䜩，辄使役使其侧；何更代以婢，不听前。会陈公嗣宗宰盐亭。奚与里人有小争，里人以逼妻作妾揭讼奚。公不准理，叱逐之。奚喜，方与何窃颂公德。一漏既尽，僮呼叩扉，入报曰：「邑令公至。」奚骇极，急觅衣履，则公已至寝门；益骇，不知所为。何审之，急出曰：「是吾儿也！」遂哭。公乃伏地悲哽。盖大男从陈翁姓，业为官矣。初，公至自都，迂道过故里，始知两母皆醮，伏膺哀痛。族人知大男已贵，反其田庐。公留仆营造，冀父复还。既而授任盐亭，又欲弃官寻父，陈翁苦劝止之。会有卜者，使筮焉。卜者曰：「小者居大，少者为长；求雄得雌，求一得两：为官吉。」公乃之任。为不得亲，居官不茹荤酒。是日，得里人状，睹奚姓名，疑之。阴遣内使细访，果父。乘夜微行而出。见母，益信卜者之神。临去，嘱勿播，出金二百，启父办装归里。父抵家，门户一新，广畜仆马，居然大家矣。申见大男贵盛，益自敛。兄苞不愤，告官，为妹争嫡。官廉得其情，怒曰：「贪赀劝嫁，已更二夫，尚何颜争昔年嫡庶耶！」重笞苞。由此名分益定。而申妹何，何姊之。衣服饮食，悉不自私。申初惧其复仇，今益愧悔。奚亦忘其旧恶，俾内外皆呼以太母，但诰命不及耳。
奚成列是成都的读书人，有一妻一妾。妾姓何，小名昭容。妻子早早去世了，他续娶了申氏。申氏生性嫉妒，虐待何氏，连奚成列也跟着受罪。她整天吵闹不休，让人难以过日子。奚成列一怒之下，离家出走。他走后，何氏生了个儿子，叫大男。奚成列一直没有回来，申氏便排挤何氏，不许她与自己共用炉灶做饭，每天只给她定量的粮食。大男渐渐长大，口粮不够吃，何氏就靠纺纱织布补贴生活。大男看见私塾里的孩子们吟诵课文，也想读书。母亲觉得他年纪太小，便先送他去试着读读。大男很聪明，学的内容比其他孩子多一倍。先生觉得他不同寻常，愿意不收学费。何氏便让他跟着先生读书，只给先生一点微薄的酬谢。过了两三年，他已把经书全都读通了。有一天，他回家对母亲说：“私塾里有五六个孩子，都向父亲要钱买饼，怎么只有我没有父亲呢？”母亲说：“等你长大了，我就告诉你。”大男说：“我现在才七八岁，什么时候才能长大呢？”母亲说：“你去私塾，路上经过关帝庙，就进去拜一拜，求关帝保佑你快些长大。”大男信以为真，每次经过都进去拜。母亲知道后，问他：“你祷告时说些什么？”他笑着说：“我只求明年就让我长到十六七岁。”母亲听了也笑了。不过，大男的学问和身体确实都长得很快。到了十岁，他就像十三四岁的人了，写的文章也已经有模有样。有一天，他对母亲说：“以前你说，等我长大了，就告诉我父亲在哪里，现在可以告诉我了。”母亲说：“还不行，还不行。”又过了一年多，他看上去已经像个成年人，追问得也越来越频繁，母亲这才把往事从头告诉了他。大男悲痛得难以自制，想去寻找父亲。母亲说：“孩子，你年纪还太小，你父亲是死是活都不知道，怎么能贸然去找呢？”大男没说话就走了，到了中午还没有回来。母亲去私塾问先生，才知道他早饭后就没有再来。母亲大惊，拿钱雇人四处搜寻，却始终找不到他的踪迹。大男出门后，沿着道路奔走，茫然不知该往哪里去。恰好遇见一个要去夔州的人，那人说自己姓钱。大男便向他讨饭吃，跟着他走。钱某嫌他走得慢，就替他租了坐骑，路费也花光了。到了夔州，两人一起吃饭，钱某偷偷在饭里下了毒，大男便昏睡过去，不省人事。钱某把他带到一座大寺院，谎称他是自己的儿子，途中偶然生病，钱又用光了，便把他卖给僧人。僧人见他容貌俊秀出众，争着要买。钱某拿到钱就走了。僧人给大男喂了些喝的，他稍稍清醒过来。长老得知此事，前来看他，觉得他的相貌不同寻常，仔细询问，这才知道事情的来龙去脉。长老十分怜悯他，给了他路费，让他离开。有个泸州的蒋秀才，考试落第后回乡，在路上问明了大男的遭遇，赞赏他的孝心，便带着他一起走。到了泸州，让他住在自己家里，一个多月来四处替他打听。有人说，福建有个姓奚的商人，大男便向蒋秀才辞行，打算去福建。蒋秀才送给他衣服鞋子，乡邻也都凑钱帮助他。途中，他遇见两个要去福清的布商，对方邀他结伴同行。走了几段路，布商发现他袋子里有钱，便把他引到无人之处，绑住手脚，解下钱袋抢走了。恰好永福的陈老翁经过那里，替他解开绳索，把他带回家。陈老翁十分富有，各路商人中，许多都依附于他。他嘱咐南来北往的商人，替大男打听奚成列的消息，又留下大男，陪自己的孩子们读书。大男便住在陈老翁家里，不再外出奔波。然而，他离家越来越远，消息也越来越难传通。何昭容独自过了三四年，申氏削减她的生活用度，强逼她改嫁。何氏始终不肯改变心意。申氏便强行把她卖给一个重庆商人，商人把她强行带走。到了夜里，她用刀割伤自己。商人不敢逼迫，等她伤口痊愈，又把她转卖给一个盐亭商人。到了盐亭，她用刀刺向胸口，伤得连内脏都露了出来。商人大为惊恐，给她敷药。伤口愈合后，她请求出家做尼姑。商人说：“我有个一起做生意的同伴，身上没有男子的生殖器，一直想找个人替他料理缝纫。你去他那里，与做尼姑没有两样，也能让我多少收回一点买你的钱。”何氏答应了，商人便用轿子把她送过去。她一进门，主人就快步迎了出来，竟是奚成列。原来，奚成列已经放弃读书，改做生意，商人因为他没有妻子，便把何氏送给了他。两人相见，既悲伤又惊讶，各自讲述这些年受的苦，奚成列这才知道自己有个儿子，出门寻父至今未归。他便嘱咐往来的商人，留意打听大男的下落。昭容也从妾成了妻子。不过，她历经艰难，身上多处疼痛，又常常生病，不能操持家务，便劝奚成列纳妾。奚成列记着从前的祸患，不肯答应。何氏说：“我如果是那种争宠的人，这几年早就跟别人生儿育女了，还能有今天与你重逢的时候吗？况且，别人加在我身上的痛苦，一直藏在心里，我又怎么会自己重犯这样的过错呢？”奚成列这才嘱咐做生意的同伴，替他买个三十多岁、年纪较大的妾。过了半年多，同伴果然买了个妾回来。一进门，竟是他的妻子申氏。双方都十分惊愕。原来，申氏独居了一年多，哥哥苞劝她改嫁，她答应了。只是奚家的子侄阻拦她变卖田产，田产没能卖掉。她把其余所有的东西都卖了，凑了几百两银子，带回哥哥家。有个保宁商人，听说她有丰厚的嫁妆，便用重金诱惑苞，骗娶了她。可是，那商人年老体衰，已经不能行房。申氏埋怨哥哥，在夫家吵闹不安，又是上吊，又是投井，商人实在受不了她的折腾。商人大怒，搜走她所有的钱财，打算把她卖给别人做妾。听说的人都嫌她年纪大。商人将要去夔州，便把她一起带上，遇见与奚成列同在一家商铺做生意的人，正好合了那人的要求，就把她卖掉，离开了。申氏见到奚成列，又羞愧又害怕，一句话也说不出来。奚成列问了同铺的商人，大致知道了她的经历，便说：“你要是嫁了个身体强健的男人，就会留在保宁，我们再也没有见面的机会。这也是命数。不过，我今天买的是妾，并不是娶妻，你得先向昭容行礼，按正妻与妾的规矩办。”申氏觉得羞耻。奚成列说：“从前你做正妻时，又是怎样对待她的！”何氏劝他算了，奚成列不肯，拿着棍子站在申氏面前逼迫她。申氏不得已，只好向何氏行礼。不过，她始终不肯屈身侍奉何氏，只在另一间屋子里干活。何氏处处宽容她，也不忍心查问她干活勤快还是懒惰。奚成列每逢与昭容谈笑饮宴，总要让申氏在一旁伺候；何氏便换个婢女替她，不让她上前。这时，陈嗣宗来到盐亭做知县。奚成列与一个同乡发生了小争执，那人便告到县衙，说奚成列逼妻子做妾。陈知县不受理，斥责那人，把他赶了出去。奚成列十分高兴，正在私下与何氏称赞知县的恩德。刚过一更，仆人喊着敲门，进来禀告说：“知县大人来了。”奚成列惊恐万分，急忙找衣服鞋子，知县却已经来到卧室门口。他越发惊慌，不知道怎么办。何氏仔细看了看，急忙走出来说：“这是我的儿子！”说完便哭了起来。知县也伏在地上，悲伤得哽咽不止。原来，大男随陈老翁姓了陈，已经做了官。起初，他从京城回来，绕路经过故乡，才知道两位母亲都已改嫁，抚着胸口悲痛不已。族人得知大男已经显贵，便归还了他的田地房屋。他留下仆人修建住宅，希望父亲还能回来。后来，他被任命为盐亭知县，又想放弃官职去寻找父亲，陈老翁苦苦劝住了他。恰好来了个占卜的人，他便请那人卜了一卦。占卜的人说：“小的居于大位，年轻的成了尊长；寻找男人却找到了女人，寻找一个却得到了两个：做官吉利。”他这才前去赴任。因为没有找到父母，他做官期间不吃荤，也不喝酒。这一天，他收到那位同乡的诉状，看见奚成列的姓名，便怀疑是自己的父亲。他暗中派贴身仆人仔细查访，果然如此，便趁夜晚换上便服，悄悄出门。见到母亲后，他更加相信那位占卜的人算得神奇。临走时，他嘱咐父母不要把消息传出去，拿出二百两银子，请父亲准备行装，返回故乡。父亲回到家中，只见房屋门户焕然一新，仆人马匹也很多，俨然成了富贵人家。申氏见大男如此显贵，更加约束自己。哥哥苞却不服气，告到官府，替妹妹争夺正妻的名分。官员查明实情，怒道：“你贪图钱财，劝她改嫁，她已经又嫁过两个丈夫，还有什么脸面来争当年的妻妾名分！”于是重重打了苞一顿。从此，妻妾的名分更加确定。申氏称何氏为妹妹，何氏称申氏为姐姐。衣服饮食，何氏都不独自享用。申氏起初害怕何氏报复，如今更加羞愧悔恨。奚成列也忘记了她从前的恶行，让家里内外的人都称她为太母，只是朝廷的诰命封赠没有她的份罢了。
Xi Chenglie was a scholar of Chengdu. He had a wife and a concubine. The concubine was a woman named He, whose girlhood name was Zhaorong. The wife died young, and Xi married again, a woman named Shen. Shen was jealous by nature. She ill-treated Zhaorong, and went on from her to Xi himself. She nagged and shrilled from morning to night until life was unbearable. Xi lost his temper and ran away. After he left, Zhaorong gave birth to a son, Da Nan. Xi never came back. Shen shut Zhaorong out, would not let her cook at the same stove, and doled out grain to her by the day. As Da Nan grew there was not enough to go round, and Zhaorong spun and wove to eke out their food. Da Nan saw the boys at the village school chanting their lessons and wanted to study too. His mother thought him too small, but sent him along for the time being. Da Nan was clever and learned twice as much as the other boys. The teacher marvelled at him and offered to teach him without a fee. So Zhaorong let him stay on, and paid the teacher a little. In two or three years he had mastered the Classics. One day he came home and said to his mother, “There are five or six boys at school, and they all beg money from their fathers to buy cakes. Why am I the only one who hasn’t got one?” “I’ll tell you when you are grown up,” said his mother. “I’m only seven or eight now,” said Da Nan. “When will I be grown up?” “On your way to school you pass the temple of Lord Guan,” said his mother. “Bow to him, and he will help you grow up fast.” Da Nan believed her, and every time he passed he went in and bowed. His mother found out and asked, “What do you pray for?” He laughed. “I just pray that next year he’ll make me sixteen or seventeen.” His mother laughed at him. But Da Nan’s learning and his body grew together, and both grew fast. At ten he looked thirteen or fourteen, and the essays he wrote were real compositions. One day he said to his mother, “You used to say that when I was big you would tell me where my father was. You can tell me now.” “Not yet, not yet,” said his mother. After another year and more he was to all appearances a grown man, and he pressed her more and more often, until she told him the whole story from the beginning. Da Nan was overcome with grief and wanted to go and find his father. “You are too young, child,” said his mother. “No one knows whether your father is alive or dead. How can you just go off and find him?” Da Nan left without a word, and by noon he had not come home. She went to the school to ask the teacher: he had not come back since breakfast. His mother was terrified. She paid men to search for him high and low, but there was no trace of him. Da Nan had gone out of the gate and run off down the road, with no idea where he was going. He happened to meet a man on his way to Kuizhou, who said his name was Qian, and tagged along with him, begging his food. Qian found him too slow and hired him a mount, and the money for the road ran out. At Kuizhou they ate together. Qian secretly put poison in his food, and Da Nan fell senseless. Qian carried him to a great monastery, said he was his own son, who had fallen ill when their money ran out, and sold him to the monks. Seeing how handsome and uncommon the boy looked, the monks vied to buy him. Qian took the money and was gone. The monks gave Da Nan something to drink, and he came round a little. The abbot heard of it and came to see him. Struck by his looks, he questioned him closely and got the whole story. He pitied him deeply, gave him money and sent him on his way. A licentiate named Jiang, of Luzhou, on his way home after failing the examinations, learned the boy’s story on the road. Admiring his filial devotion, he took him along. At Luzhou he put him up in his house, and for a month and more made inquiries everywhere. Someone said there was a merchant in Fujian named Xi, so Da Nan took his leave of Jiang, meaning to go there. Jiang gave him clothes and shoes, and the neighbours all took up a collection for him. On the road he met two cloth traders bound for Fuqing, who invited him to travel with them. After a few stages they spied the money in his bag. They led him to a lonely place, tied him hand and foot, took the money and left. An old man named Chen, of Yongfu, happened to pass that way. He untied the boy and took him home. Old Chen was very rich, and merchants from every road were, many of them, his dependents; he asked the traders going north and south to look out for news of Xi. He kept Da Nan to study with his own sons. So Da Nan lived in the old man’s house and travelled no more. But he was farther from home than ever, and news was harder to come by. He Zhaorong lived alone for three or four years. Shen cut her allowance and tried to force her to remarry. Zhaorong would not be shaken. Shen sold her by force to a merchant from Chongqing, who carried her off. That night she slashed herself with a knife. The merchant did not dare press her. He waited for the wound to heal and sold her on to a merchant from Yanting. At Yanting she stabbed herself in the breast, so deep that her insides could be seen. The merchant was terrified and dressed the wound. When it had closed, she asked to become a nun. “I have a trading partner who hasn’t the parts for lust,” said the merchant. “He has always wanted someone to see to his sewing. That would be no different from being a nun, and I’d get back a little of what I paid for you.” Zhaorong agreed, and the merchant sent her off in a sedan chair. When she came in at the gate, the master of the house hurried out, and it was Xi. Xi had given up scholarship for trade, and because he had no woman the merchant had made him a present of her. They were stricken and amazed to see each other. Each told what they had suffered, and only then did Xi learn that he had a son who had gone looking for his father and never come back. Xi asked all the travelling merchants to watch out for Da Nan. And Zhaorong, from concubine, became wife. But after all her hardships she was full of aches and often ill, and could not do the work, so she urged Xi to take a concubine. Remembering the trouble before, Xi would not. “If I were the kind to fight over a bed,” said Zhaorong, “I would have gone with another man years ago and borne him children. Would I have this day with you? Besides, what others did to me is a hidden pain in my heart. Now that it is in my own hands, would I do the same?” So Xi asked his trading partners to buy him an older concubine, past thirty. Over half a year later a partner did come back with one he had bought. She came in at the gate: it was his wife, Shen. Both were astounded. Earlier, after Shen had lived alone for a year or so, her brother Bao urged her to remarry, and she agreed. Only the land she could not sell, because the young men of Xi’s family blocked it. She sold everything else, gathered several hundred taels, and took it to her brother’s house. A merchant from Baoning, hearing that she had a rich dowry, baited Bao with a large sum and tricked her into marriage. But the merchant was old and worn out and could not perform as a man. Shen blamed her brother and would not settle down. She tried hanging herself from a beam and throwing herself down a well, until the merchant could not stand the trouble. In a rage he took every bit of her money and set out to sell her as a concubine. Everyone who heard of her thought her too old. The merchant was going to Kuizhou, so he took her along. There he met a man who kept shop with Xi; she was just what the man wanted, and the merchant sold her and went his way. When she saw Xi she was too ashamed and frightened to say a word. Xi asked his shop partner and learned roughly what had happened. Then he said, “If you had met a lusty man, you would be in Baoning and we would never have met again. This too is fate. But today I have bought a concubine, not married a wife. You will first bow to Zhaorong, with the courtesies a concubine owes a principal wife.” Shen felt the shame of it. “And how was it in the old days, when you were the wife?” said Xi. Zhaorong tried to talk him out of it, but Xi would not hear of it. He took up a stick and stood over Shen. She had no choice and bowed. But she would never stoop to waiting on Zhaorong, and only did her work in another room. Zhaorong bore with all of it generously, and had not the heart to check whether she worked or idled. Whenever Xi sat talking and feasting with Zhaorong, he made Shen wait on them; but Zhaorong put a maid in her place and would not let her come near. Now a Lord Chen Sizong was appointed county magistrate of Yanting. Xi had a small quarrel with a neighbour, and the neighbour brought a suit against him for forcing his wife to be a concubine. His lordship refused to hear the case and drove the man out with a scolding. Xi was delighted. He was privately praising the magistrate’s virtue with Zhaorong when, just as the first watch ran out, a servant boy called and knocked at the door and came in to announce, “His Honour the magistrate is here!” Xi was terrified and scrambled for his clothes and shoes, but the magistrate was already at the bedroom door. More frightened still, Xi did not know what to do. Zhaorong looked hard at the visitor, rushed out and cried, “It’s my son!” and burst into tears. The magistrate threw himself on the ground, choking with grief. For Da Nan had taken old Chen’s surname and was now an official. Earlier, coming from the capital, he had gone out of his way to visit his old home and learned that both his mothers had remarried. He beat his breast in grief. When the clan learned that Da Nan had risen high, they gave back his land and house. He left servants to rebuild, hoping his father would return. Then he was posted to Yanting, and wanted once more to give up office and look for his father, but old Chen talked him out of it. A diviner happened by, and Da Nan had him cast the stalks. The diviner said: “The small dwells in the great, the young becomes the elder; seek a male and find a female, seek one and find two. Taking office is auspicious.” So he went to his post. Because he had not found his parents, in office he ate no meat and drank no wine. That day, when the neighbour’s complaint came in and he saw Xi’s name, he grew suspicious. He secretly sent a trusted servant to make careful inquiries: it was indeed his father. He slipped out by night in plain clothes. Finding his mother as well, he believed all the more in the diviner’s powers. As he left he asked them not to spread the news, and gave them two hundred taels, begging his father to pack and go home. When his father reached home, the gates and buildings were all new; with servants and horses in plenty, he was now a great family. Seeing Da Nan so high and mighty, Shen kept herself still more in check. But her brother Bao was resentful and went to the authorities to fight for his sister’s place as principal wife. The official looked into it, learned the truth, and said angrily, “You were greedy for money and talked her into remarrying. She has had two husbands since. How have you the face to fight over who was wife and who concubine years ago?” He had Bao soundly flogged. After that everyone’s place in the household was settled for good. Shen called Zhaorong younger sister, and Zhaorong called her elder sister. In clothes and food Zhaorong kept nothing to herself. Shen had at first feared her revenge; now she was all the more ashamed and sorry. Xi too forgot her old wrongs, and had the whole household, inside and out, call her the Old Mistress. Only the imperial patent did not reach her.