王子服，莒之羅店人，早孤。絕惠，十四入泮，母最愛之，尋常不令游郊野。聘蕭氏，未嫁而夭，故求凰未就也。會上元，有舅氏子吳生，邀同眺矚。方至村外，舅家有僕來，招吳去。生見游女如雲，乘興獨遨。有女郎攜婢，拈梅花一枝，容華絕代，笑容可掬。生注目不移，竟忘顧忌。女過去數武，顧婢曰：「個兒郎目灼灼似賊！」遺花地上，笑語自去。
王子服是莒地羅店人，幼年就失去了父親。他非常聰明，十四歲便考中了秀才。母親十分疼愛他，平時不讓他到郊外遊玩。他曾與蕭家的姑娘訂婚，姑娘還沒過門就去世了，因此一直沒有娶妻。正逢元宵節，舅舅的兒子吳生邀他一起出去觀賞景緻。兩人剛到村外，舅舅家就有僕人趕來，把吳生叫走了。王子服見出遊的女子很多，便興致勃勃地獨自閒逛。有位姑娘帶著婢女，手裡拿著一枝梅花，容貌美得無人可比，滿臉都是動人的笑意。王子服目不轉睛地望著她，竟忘了有所顧忌。姑娘走過去幾步，回頭對婢女說：「這個小夥子眼睛直勾勾的，像個賊！」她把花丟在地上，笑著說著走了。
王子服，莒之罗店人，早孤。绝惠，十四入泮，母最爱之，寻常不令游郊野。聘萧氏，未嫁而夭，故求凰未就也。会上元，有舅氏子吴生，邀同眺瞩。方至村外，舅家有仆来，招吴去。生见游女如云，乘兴独遨。有女郎携婢，拈梅花一枝，容华绝代，笑容可掬。生注目不移，竟忘顾忌。女过去数武，顾婢曰：「个儿郎目灼灼似贼！」遗花地上，笑语自去。
王子服是莒地罗店人，幼年就失去了父亲。他非常聪明，十四岁便考中了秀才。母亲十分疼爱他，平时不让他到郊外游玩。他曾与萧家的姑娘订婚，姑娘还没过门就去世了，因此一直没有娶妻。正逢元宵节，舅舅的儿子吴生邀他一起出去观赏景致。两人刚到村外，舅舅家就有仆人赶来，把吴生叫走了。王子服见出游的女子很多，便兴致勃勃地独自闲逛。有位姑娘带着婢女，手里拿着一枝梅花，容貌美得无人可比，满脸都是动人的笑意。王子服目不转睛地望着她，竟忘了有所顾忌。姑娘走过去几步，回头对婢女说：“这个小伙子眼睛直勾勾的，像个贼！”她把花丢在地上，笑着说着走了。
Wang Zifu was a man of Luodian, in Ju County. He lost his father early. He was exceptionally clever, and at fourteen he entered the county school. His mother loved him above everything and seldom let him go roaming in the countryside. He had been betrothed to a girl of the Xiao family, but she died before the wedding, so his search for a phoenix mate had come to nothing. At the Lantern Festival his cousin Wu, the son of his mother’s brother, invited him out to see the sights. They had only just reached the edge of the village when a servant came from his uncle’s house and called Wu away. Seeing girls out walking as thick as clouds, Wang wandered on alone as the mood took him. There was a young lady with a maid, twirling a sprig of plum blossom: a beauty without equal in her age, with a smile so sweet you could almost scoop it up in your hands. Wang fixed his eyes on her and could not take them away, quite forgetting himself. A few paces past him, she turned to her maid. “That young man’s eyes glitter like a thief’s!” She let the blossom fall to the ground and went on her way, laughing and chatting.
生拾花悵然，神魂喪失，怏怏遂返。至家，藏花枕底，垂頭而睡。不語亦不食。母懮之。醮禳益劇，肌革銳減。醫師診視，投劑發表，忽忽若迷。母撫問所由，默然不答。適吳生來，囑密詰之。吳至榻前，生見之淚下。吳就榻慰解，漸致研詰。生具吐其實，且求謀畫。吳笑曰：「君意亦復痴！此願有何難遂？當代訪之。徒步于野，必非世家。如其未字，事固諧矣；不然，拚以重賂，計必允遂。但得痊瘳，成事在我。」生聞之，不覺解頤。吳出告母，物色女子居里，而探訪既窮，並無蹤緒。母大懮，無所為計。然自吳去後，顏頓開，食亦略進。數日，吳復來。生問所謀，吳紿之曰：「已得之矣。我以為誰何人，乃我姑氏子，即君姨妹行，今尚待聘。雖內戚有婚姻之嫌，實告之，無不諧者。」生喜溢眉宇，問：「居何里？」吳詭曰：「西南山中，去此可三十餘里。」生又付囑再四，吳銳身自任而去。
王子服拾起梅花，悵然若失，彷彿丟了魂，悶悶不樂地回了家。到家後，他把花藏在枕頭底下，垂著頭躺下睡覺，既不說話，也不吃飯。母親十分憂慮，請人設壇作法，祈求消災，他的病卻越來越重，人也迅速消瘦下去。醫生來看病，給他開了發汗祛病的藥，他仍舊恍恍惚惚，像迷失了心神。母親撫慰他，問他為什麼會這樣，他默不作聲。恰好吳生來了，母親便囑咐吳生私下仔細問問。吳生來到床前，王子服一見他便流下淚來。吳生坐到床邊安慰他，漸漸追問緣由。王子服把實情全說了出來，還求他設法幫忙。吳生笑道：「你這心思也太痴了！這點願望有什麼難實現的？我替你去打聽。她徒步在野外遊玩，想必不是世家大戶的姑娘。要是還沒有許配給人，事情自然能成；要是已經許了人，就豁出去送上一份厚禮，料想也一定能如願。你只管養好病，成親的事交給我。」王子服聽了，不由得露出笑容。吳生出去告訴了他母親，又四處尋找姑娘住在哪裡，可是能打聽的地方都打聽過了，仍舊沒有一點線索。母親十分憂愁，想不出辦法。不過，自從吳生走後，王子服的臉色便開朗了，也稍微吃得下東西了。過了幾天，吳生又來。王子服問事情辦得怎樣，吳生騙他說：「已經找到她了。我還以為是什麼人，原來是我姑母的女兒，也就是你的姨表妹，如今還沒有訂親。雖說姨表親之間結婚有些不妥，但把實情告訴她家，沒有不答應的道理。」王子服喜上眉梢，問：「她住在哪裡？」吳生編話說：「在西南邊的山裡，離這裡大約三十多里。」王子服又再三囑託，吳生滿口答應，把事情都攬在自己身上，便走了。
生拾花怅然，神魂丧失，怏怏遂返。至家，藏花枕底，垂头而睡。不语亦不食。母懮之。醮禳益剧，肌革锐减。医师诊视，投剂发表，忽忽若迷。母抚问所由，默然不答。适吴生来，嘱密诘之。吴至榻前，生见之泪下。吴就榻慰解，渐致研诘。生具吐其实，且求谋画。吴笑曰：「君意亦复痴！此愿有何难遂？当代访之。徒步于野，必非世家。如其未字，事固谐矣；不然，拼以重赂，计必允遂。但得痊瘳，成事在我。」生闻之，不觉解颐。吴出告母，物色女子居里，而探访既穷，并无踪绪。母大懮，无所为计。然自吴去后，颜顿开，食亦略进。数日，吴复来。生问所谋，吴绐之曰：「已得之矣。我以为谁何人，乃我姑氏子，即君姨妹行，今尚待聘。虽内戚有婚姻之嫌，实告之，无不谐者。」生喜溢眉宇，问：「居何里？」吴诡曰：「西南山中，去此可三十余里。」生又付嘱再四，吴锐身自任而去。
王子服拾起梅花，怅然若失，仿佛丢了魂，闷闷不乐地回了家。到家后，他把花藏在枕头底下，垂着头躺下睡觉，既不说话，也不吃饭。母亲十分忧虑，请人设坛作法，祈求消灾，他的病却越来越重，人也迅速消瘦下去。医生来看病，给他开了发汗祛病的药，他仍旧恍恍惚惚，像迷失了心神。母亲抚慰他，问他为什么会这样，他默不作声。恰好吴生来了，母亲便嘱咐吴生私下仔细问问。吴生来到床前，王子服一见他便流下泪来。吴生坐到床边安慰他，渐渐追问缘由。王子服把实情全说了出来，还求他设法帮忙。吴生笑道：“你这心思也太痴了！这点愿望有什么难实现的？我替你去打听。她徒步在野外游玩，想必不是世家大户的姑娘。要是还没有许配给人，事情自然能成；要是已经许了人，就豁出去送上一份厚礼，料想也一定能如愿。你只管养好病，成亲的事交给我。”王子服听了，不由得露出笑容。吴生出去告诉了他母亲，又四处寻找姑娘住在哪里，可是能打听的地方都打听过了，仍旧没有一点线索。母亲十分忧愁，想不出办法。不过，自从吴生走后，王子服的脸色便开朗了，也稍微吃得下东西了。过了几天，吴生又来。王子服问事情办得怎样，吴生骗他说：“已经找到她了。我还以为是什么人，原来是我姑母的女儿，也就是你的姨表妹，如今还没有订亲。虽说姨表亲之间结婚有些不妥，但把实情告诉她家，没有不答应的道理。”王子服喜上眉梢，问：“她住在哪里？”吴生编话说：“在西南边的山里，离这里大约三十多里。”王子服又再三嘱托，吴生满口答应，把事情都揽在自己身上，便走了。
Wang picked up the blossom, crestfallen, as if his soul had left him, and went home in low spirits. At home he hid the blossom under his pillow and lay down with his head hanging. He neither spoke nor ate. His mother was worried. Daoist rites and exorcisms only made him worse, and he wasted away. A doctor examined him and gave him medicine to sweat out the illness, but he lay dazed, as if lost. His mother stroked him and asked what was wrong, but he said nothing. Just then Wu came, and she asked him to question Wang privately. When Wu came to the bedside, Wang burst into tears at the sight of him. Wu sat by the bed comforting him, and little by little pressed him with questions. Wang poured out the whole truth and begged him to think of a plan. Wu laughed. “You are being silly, cousin! What is so hard about this wish? I’ll find her for you. A girl walking out in the fields can’t be from a great family. If she isn’t promised to anyone, it’s as good as settled. If she is, we’ll pay a handsome price, and it will surely go through. Just get well, and leave the rest to me.” Hearing this, Wang could not help smiling. Wu went out and told Wang’s mother, and searched for the place where the girl lived; but though he looked everywhere, he found no trace of her. Wang’s mother was very worried and did not know what to do. But since Wu’s visit Wang’s face had brightened, and he was eating a little. A few days later Wu came again. Wang asked how his plans were going. Wu lied to him: “I’ve found her. And who do you think she turned out to be? She is the daughter of my father’s sister, which makes her your cousin on your mother’s side, and she isn’t promised yet. There is some scruple about marrying so close a relation, but if we tell them the truth, it’s bound to go well.” Joy flooded Wang’s face. “Where does she live?” he asked. “In the hills to the southwest,” Wu lied, “some thirty li from here.” Wang charged him with it again and again, and Wu eagerly took it all on himself and went away.
生由是飲食漸加，日就平復。探視枕底，花雖枯，未便雕落。凝思把玩，如見其人。怪吳不至，折柬招之。吳支托不肯赴招。生恚怒，悒悒不歡。母慮其復病，急為議姻。略與商榷，輒搖首不願，惟日盼吳。吳迄無耗，益怨恨之。轉思三十里非遙，何必仰息他人？懷梅袖中，負氣自往，而家人不知也。伶仃獨步，無可問程，但望南山行去。約三十餘里，亂山合沓，空翠爽肌，寂無人行，止有鳥道。遙望谷底，叢花亂樹中，隱隱有小里落。下山入村，見舍宇無多，皆茅屋，而意甚修雅。北向一家，門前皆絲柳，牆內桃杏尤繁，間以修竹；野鳥格磔其中。意其園亭，不敢遽入。回顧對戶，有巨石滑潔，因據坐少憩。俄聞牆內有女子，長呼「小榮」，其聲嬌細。方佇聽間，一女郎由東而西，執杏花一朵，俯首自簪。舉頭見生，遂不復簪，含笑拈花而入。審視之，即上元途中所遇也。心驟喜。但念無以階進；欲呼姨氏，顧從無還往，懼有訛誤。門內無人可問。坐臥徘徊，自朝至於日昃，盈盈望斷，並忘飢渴。時見女子露半面來窺，似訝其不去者。忽一老媼扶杖出，顧生曰：「何處郎君，聞自辰刻便來，以至於今。意將何為？得勿飢耶？」生急起揖之，答云：「將以探親。」媼聾聵不聞。又大言之。乃問：「貴戚何姓？」生不能答。媼笑曰：「奇哉！姓名尚自不知，何親可探？我視郎君，亦書痴耳。不如從我來，啖以粗糲，家有短榻可臥。待明朝歸，詢知姓氏，再來探訪，不晚也。」生方腹餒思啖，又從此漸近麗人，大喜。從媼入，見門內白石砌路，夾道紅花，片片墮階上；曲折而西，又啟一關，豆棚花架滿庭中。肅客入舍，粉壁光明如鏡；窗外海棠枝朵，探入室中；裀藉幾榻，罔不潔澤。甫坐，即有人自窗外隱約相窺。媼喚：「小榮！可速作黍。」外有婢子噭聲而應。坐次，具展宗閥。媼曰：「郎君外祖，莫姓吳否？」曰：「然。」媼驚曰：「是吾甥也！尊堂，我妹子。年來以家窶貧，又無三尺男，遂至音問梗塞。甥長成如許，尚不相識。」生曰：「此來即為姨也，匆遽遂忘姓氏。」媼曰：「老身秦姓，並無誕育；弱息僅存，亦為庶產。渠母改醮，遺我鞠養。頗亦不鈍，但少教訓，嬉不知愁。少頃，使來拜識。」
從此，王子服吃喝漸漸多了，身體一天天恢復。他檢視枕頭底下的梅花，花雖然枯了，花瓣卻還沒有掉落。他拿在手裡凝神端詳，彷彿又見到了那姑娘。他納悶吳生為什麼不來，便寫信請他過來。吳生找藉口推託，不肯赴約。王子服又生氣又鬱悶。母親怕他再病倒，急著給他說親，稍一與他商量，他便搖頭不肯，只是天天盼著吳生。吳生始終沒有訊息，他越發怨恨。轉念又想，三十里並不遠，何必事事指望別人？於是把梅花揣在袖子裡，賭著氣獨自出發，家裡人全不知道。他孤零零地走著，找不到人問路，只管朝南邊的山走去。走了大約三十多里，群山層層疊疊，山間青翠的景色讓人覺得清爽涼快，四下寂靜，不見行人，只有狹窄險峻的山路。遠遠望見谷底的繁花雜樹之間，隱約有個小村落。他下山進村，見房屋不多，都是茅屋，卻佈置得十分雅緻。有一家門朝北，門前全是垂柳，牆內桃花、杏花尤其繁盛，其間夾著高高的竹子，野鳥在裡面嘰嘰喳喳地叫。他覺得那是人家的園林，不敢貿然進去。回頭看見門對面有塊大石頭，光滑潔淨，便坐上去歇一會兒。不久，聽見牆內有個女子拖長聲音叫「小榮」，聲音嬌柔纖細。他正凝神聽著，一位姑娘從東往西走來，拿著一朵杏花，低頭往頭髮上插。她抬頭看見王子服，便不再插花，含笑拿著花走了進去。王子服仔細一看，正是元宵節在路上遇見的姑娘，心裡頓時歡喜起來。但他想不出怎樣才能上前搭話，想叫一聲姨母，又想到從前從無往來，怕認錯了人。門裡也沒有人可以詢問。他一會兒坐著，一會兒躺著，一會兒來回走動，從早晨一直等到太陽偏西，眼巴巴地望著，連飢渴都忘了。不時看見姑娘露出半張臉來偷看，像是奇怪他怎麼還不走。忽然，一位老婦人拄著柺杖出來，看著他說：「你是哪裡來的公子？聽說你從早晨辰時就來了，一直待到現在。你想做什麼？難道不餓嗎？」王子服趕忙起身作揖，回答：「我是來探親的。」老婦人耳聾，沒有聽見。他又大聲說了一遍。老婦人便問：「你的親戚姓什麼？」王子服答不上來。老婦人笑道：「真奇怪！連姓名都不知道，還探什麼親？我看你也是個讀書讀呆了的人。不如跟我來，吃些粗茶淡飯，家裡還有張小床可以睡。等明天回去，問清姓氏再來探訪，也不遲。」王子服正餓得想吃東西，又能借此接近那姑娘，十分高興。他跟著老婦人進去，見門內是白石鋪的路，兩邊開著紅花，花瓣一片片落在臺階上。小路曲折向西，又經過一道門，院子裡滿是豆棚和花架。老婦人請他進屋，粉刷過的牆壁明亮如鏡；窗外的海棠花枝伸進屋內；墊褥、桌子和床榻，無不潔淨光亮。他剛坐下，就隱約看見有人在窗外偷望。老婦人叫道：「小榮！快去做黍米飯。」外面有婢女大聲答應。坐著交談時，王子服詳細說了自己的家世。老婦人問：「你的外祖父，莫非姓吳？」他答道：「是。」老婦人驚訝地說：「原來是我的外甥！你母親是我的妹妹。這些年家裡窮，又沒有個兒子，便斷了音信。外甥長到這麼大了，我竟還不認識。」王子服說：「我這次就是來探望姨母的，只因來得匆忙，竟忘了姓氏。」老婦人說：「我夫家姓秦，自己沒有生過孩子。如今只有一個女兒，是丈夫的妾生的。她母親改嫁，把她留下來讓我撫養。她也不笨，只是缺少教導，整天嬉鬧，不知道憂愁。過一會兒，我叫她來見你。」
生由是饮食渐加，日就平复。探视枕底，花虽枯，未便雕落。凝思把玩，如见其人。怪吴不至，折柬招之。吴支托不肯赴招。生恚怒，悒悒不欢。母虑其复病，急为议姻。略与商榷，辄摇首不愿，惟日盼吴。吴迄无耗，益怨恨之。转思三十里非遥，何必仰息他人？怀梅袖中，负气自往，而家人不知也。伶仃独步，无可问程，但望南山行去。约三十余里，乱山合沓，空翠爽肌，寂无人行，止有鸟道。遥望谷底，丛花乱树中，隐隐有小里落。下山入村，见舍宇无多，皆茅屋，而意甚修雅。北向一家，门前皆丝柳，墙内桃杏尤繁，间以修竹；野鸟格磔其中。意其园亭，不敢遽入。回顾对户，有巨石滑洁，因据坐少憩。俄闻墙内有女子，长呼「小荣」，其声娇细。方伫听间，一女郎由东而西，执杏花一朵，俯首自簪。举头见生，遂不复簪，含笑拈花而入。审视之，即上元途中所遇也。心骤喜。但念无以阶进；欲呼姨氏，顾从无还往，惧有讹误。门内无人可问。坐卧徘徊，自朝至于日昃，盈盈望断，并忘饥渴。时见女子露半面来窥，似讶其不去者。忽一老媪扶杖出，顾生曰：「何处郎君，闻自辰刻便来，以至于今。意将何为？得勿饥耶？」生急起揖之，答云：「将以探亲。」媪聋聩不闻。又大言之。乃问：「贵戚何姓？」生不能答。媪笑曰：「奇哉！姓名尚自不知，何亲可探？我视郎君，亦书痴耳。不如从我来，啖以粗粝，家有短榻可卧。待明朝归，询知姓氏，再来探访，不晚也。」生方腹馁思啖，又从此渐近丽人，大喜。从媪入，见门内白石砌路，夹道红花，片片堕阶上；曲折而西，又启一关，豆棚花架满庭中。肃客入舍，粉壁光明如镜；窗外海棠枝朵，探入室中；裀藉几榻，罔不洁泽。甫坐，即有人自窗外隐约相窥。媪唤：「小荣！可速作黍。」外有婢子噭声而应。坐次，具展宗阀。媪曰：「郎君外祖，莫姓吴否？」曰：「然。」媪惊曰：「是吾甥也！尊堂，我妹子。年来以家窭贫，又无三尺男，遂至音问梗塞。甥长成如许，尚不相识。」生曰：「此来即为姨也，匆遽遂忘姓氏。」媪曰：「老身秦姓，并无诞育；弱息仅存，亦为庶产。渠母改醮，遗我鞠养。颇亦不钝，但少教训，嬉不知愁。少顷，使来拜识。」
从此，王子服吃喝渐渐多了，身体一天天恢复。他查看枕头底下的梅花，花虽然枯了，花瓣却还没有掉落。他拿在手里凝神端详，仿佛又见到了那姑娘。他纳闷吴生为什么不来，便写信请他过来。吴生找借口推托，不肯赴约。王子服又生气又郁闷。母亲怕他再病倒，急着给他说亲，稍一与他商量，他便摇头不肯，只是天天盼着吴生。吴生始终没有消息，他越发怨恨。转念又想，三十里并不远，何必事事指望别人？于是把梅花揣在袖子里，赌着气独自出发，家里人全不知道。他孤零零地走着，找不到人问路，只管朝南边的山走去。走了大约三十多里，群山层层叠叠，山间青翠的景色让人觉得清爽凉快，四下寂静，不见行人，只有狭窄险峻的山路。远远望见谷底的繁花杂树之间，隐约有个小村落。他下山进村，见房屋不多，都是茅屋，却布置得十分雅致。有一家门朝北，门前全是垂柳，墙内桃花、杏花尤其繁盛，其间夹着高高的竹子，野鸟在里面叽叽喳喳地叫。他觉得那是人家的园林，不敢贸然进去。回头看见门对面有块大石头，光滑洁净，便坐上去歇一会儿。不久，听见墙内有个女子拖长声音叫“小荣”，声音娇柔纤细。他正凝神听着，一位姑娘从东往西走来，拿着一朵杏花，低头往头发上插。她抬头看见王子服，便不再插花，含笑拿着花走了进去。王子服仔细一看，正是元宵节在路上遇见的姑娘，心里顿时欢喜起来。但他想不出怎样才能上前搭话，想叫一声姨母，又想到从前从无往来，怕认错了人。门里也没有人可以询问。他一会儿坐着，一会儿躺着，一会儿来回走动，从早晨一直等到太阳偏西，眼巴巴地望着，连饥渴都忘了。不时看见姑娘露出半张脸来偷看，像是奇怪他怎么还不走。忽然，一位老妇人拄着拐杖出来，看着他说：“你是哪里来的公子？听说你从早晨辰时就来了，一直待到现在。你想做什么？难道不饿吗？”王子服赶忙起身作揖，回答：“我是来探亲的。”老妇人耳聋，没有听见。他又大声说了一遍。老妇人便问：“你的亲戚姓什么？”王子服答不上来。老妇人笑道：“真奇怪！连姓名都不知道，还探什么亲？我看你也是个读书读呆了的人。不如跟我来，吃些粗茶淡饭，家里还有张小床可以睡。等明天回去，问清姓氏再来探访，也不迟。”王子服正饿得想吃东西，又能借此接近那姑娘，十分高兴。他跟着老妇人进去，见门内是白石铺的路，两边开着红花，花瓣一片片落在台阶上。小路曲折向西，又经过一道门，院子里满是豆棚和花架。老妇人请他进屋，粉刷过的墙壁明亮如镜；窗外的海棠花枝伸进屋内；垫褥、桌子和床榻，无不洁净光亮。他刚坐下，就隐约看见有人在窗外偷望。老妇人叫道：“小荣！快去做黍米饭。”外面有婢女大声答应。坐着交谈时，王子服详细说了自己的家世。老妇人问：“你的外祖父，莫非姓吴？”他答道：“是。”老妇人惊讶地说：“原来是我的外甥！你母亲是我的妹妹。这些年家里穷，又没有个儿子，便断了音信。外甥长到这么大了，我竟还不认识。”王子服说：“我这次就是来探望姨母的，只因来得匆忙，竟忘了姓氏。”老妇人说：“我夫家姓秦，自己没有生过孩子。如今只有一个女儿，是丈夫的妾生的。她母亲改嫁，把她留下来让我抚养。她也不笨，只是缺少教导，整天嬉闹，不知道忧愁。过一会儿，我叫她来见你。”
From then on Wang ate and drank a little more each day and steadily recovered. He looked under his pillow: the blossom had withered, but its petals had not yet fallen. He turned it in his fingers, lost in thought, as though he were seeing her. He wondered why Wu did not come, and sent him a note inviting him. Wu made excuses and would not come. Wang was angry and sulked. His mother, afraid he would fall ill again, hurried to arrange a marriage for him, but whenever she raised a match he shook his head; all he did was wait for Wu day after day. When no word came from Wu at all, he resented him more and more. Then he thought: thirty li is not far, so why depend on anyone else? He tucked the plum blossom into his sleeve and set off by himself in a temper, without his family knowing. Walking all alone, with no one to ask the way, he simply headed for the southern hills. After some thirty li, the hills crowded in on every side, their empty green cool and fresh against his skin. All was silent. There was no one on the road, only a trail fit for birds. Far below, at the bottom of a valley, among masses of flowers and tangled trees, he could just make out a little hamlet. He went down the hill into the village. There were only a few houses, all thatched cottages, but very elegant in feeling. One house faced north, with willows all along the front of its gate; inside the wall were peach and apricot trees in thick blossom, set among tall bamboos, where wild birds chattered. Taking it for someone’s garden, he did not dare go straight in. Looking round, he saw a huge rock, smooth and clean, across from the gate, and sat on it to rest awhile. Presently he heard a girl inside the wall calling out a long “Xiaorong!” in a sweet, soft voice. As he stood listening, a young lady came along from east to west, holding a sprig of apricot blossom and bending her head to put it in her hair. She raised her head and saw Wang, put no more into her hair, but went in smiling, twirling the flower. He looked carefully: it was the girl he had met on the road at the Lantern Festival. His heart leapt with joy. But he could think of no way to approach her. He wanted to call out for his aunt, but the two families had never had any dealings, and he feared he might be mistaken. There was no one at the gate to ask. He sat, he lay down, he paced back and forth, from morning until the sun was slanting west, gazing until his eyes ached and forgetting hunger and thirst. Now and then he saw the girl peep out with half her face, as if surprised that he had not gone. Suddenly an old woman came out leaning on a stick. She looked at Wang. “Where are you from, young sir? I hear you’ve been here since early morning, and here you are still. What do you want? Aren’t you hungry?” Wang quickly rose and bowed. “I have come to visit relatives,” he answered. The old woman was deaf and did not hear him. He said it again, loudly. Then she asked, “What is your relatives’ name?” Wang could not answer. The old woman laughed. “How odd! You don’t even know their name — what relatives can you be visiting? I can see you’re one of those bookworms. You had better come with me. I’ll give you a bite of plain food, and there’s a little bed you can sleep on. Go home tomorrow, find out their name, and come back to look for them then. It won’t be too late.” Wang was just feeling hungry, and this would bring him a step nearer the beauty besides, so he was delighted. He followed the old woman in. Inside the gate a path paved with white stones ran between red flowers, whose petals were dropping one by one on the steps. It wound round to the west, through another gate, into a courtyard full of bean trellises and flower frames. She showed her guest into the house. The whitewashed walls shone like mirrors. Outside the window, sprays of crabapple blossom reached into the room. The cushions and mats, tables and couches were all spotless and gleaming. He had hardly sat down when someone could be dimly seen peeping in from outside the window. “Xiaorong!” the old woman called. “Quick, make us some food.” Outside, a maid shouted an answer. As they sat, Wang told her all about his family. “Your mother’s father — was his name Wu, by any chance?” said the old woman. “Yes,” he said. The old woman was astonished. “Then you are my nephew! Your mother is my younger sister. All these years, what with our poverty and not a son in the house, not even one three feet tall, we have quite lost touch. My nephew has grown so tall, and I didn’t even know him.” “It was you I came to see, aunt,” said Wang. “I was in such a hurry that I forgot the name.” “My married name is Qin,” said the old woman. “I never bore a child. The one weak little girl I have is a concubine’s daughter. Her mother married again and left her to me to bring up. She is not at all slow, but she has had little teaching; she plays all day and knows no care. In a little while I’ll have her come and meet you.”
未幾，婢子具飯，雛尾盈握。媼勸餐已，婢來斂具。媼曰：「喚寧姑來。」婢應去。良久，聞戶外隱有笑聲。媼又喚曰：「嬰寧，汝姨兄在此。」戶外嗤嗤笑不已。婢推之以入，猶掩其口，笑不可遏。媼嗔目曰：「有客在，吒吒叱叱，是何景象？」女忍笑而立，生揖之。媼曰：「此王郎，汝姨子。一家尚不相識，可笑人也。」生問：「妹子年幾何矣？」媼未能解。生又言之。女復笑，不可仰視。媼謂生曰：「我言少教誨，此可見矣。年已十六，呆痴裁如嬰兒。」生曰：「小於甥一歲。」曰：「阿甥已十七矣，得非庚午屬馬者耶？」生首應之。又問：「甥婦阿誰？」答云：「無之。」曰：「如甥才貌，何十七歲猶未聘？嬰寧亦無姑家，極相匹敵；惜有內親之嫌。」生無語，目注嬰寧，不遑他瞬。婢向女小語云：「目灼灼，賊腔未改！」女又大笑，顧婢曰：「視碧桃開未？」遽起，以袖掩口，細碎連步而出。至門外，笑聲始縱。媼亦起，喚婢襆被，為生安置。曰：「阿甥來不易，宜留三五日，遲遲送汝歸。如嫌幽悶，舍後有小園，可供消遣；有書可讀。」次日，至舍後，果有園半畝，細草鋪氈，楊花糝徑；有草舍三楹，花木四合其所。穿花小步，聞樹頭囌囌有聲，仰視，則嬰寧在上。見生來，狂笑欲墮。生曰：「勿爾，墮矣！」女且下且笑，不能自止。方將及地，失手而墮，笑乃止。生扶之，陰捘其腕。女笑又作，倚樹不能行，良久乃罷。生俟其笑歇，乃出袖中花示之。女接之，曰：「枯矣。何留之？」曰：「此上元妹子所遺，故存之。」問：「存之何意？」曰：「以示相愛不忘也。自上元相遇，凝思成病，自分化為異物；不圖得見顏色，幸垂憐憫。」女曰：「此大細事。至戚何所靳惜？待郎行時，園中花，當喚老奴來，折一巨捆負送之。」生曰：「妹子痴耶？」女曰：「何便是痴？」生曰：「我非愛花，愛拈花之人耳。」女曰：「葭莩之情，愛何待言。」生曰：「我所謂愛，非瓜葛之愛，乃夫妻之愛。」女曰：「有以異乎？」曰：「夜共枕蓆耳。」女俯思良久，曰：「我不慣與生人睡。」語未已，婢潛至，生惶恐遁去。少時，會母所。母問：「何往？」女答以園中共話。媼曰：「飯熟已久，有何長言，周遮乃爾。」女曰：「大哥欲我共寢。」言未已，生大窘，急目瞪之。女微笑而止。幸媼不聞，猶絮絮究詰。生急以他詞掩之，因小語責女。女曰：「適此語不應說耶？」生曰：「此背人語。」女曰：「背他人，豈得背老母。且寢處亦常事，何諱之？」生恨其痴，無術可以悟之。食方竟，家中人捉雙衛來尋生。
不久，婢女擺好飯菜，其中有小雞，尾巴已長到足夠握滿一把。老婦人勸王子服吃過飯，婢女便來收拾碗筷。老婦人說：「叫寧姑娘來。」婢女答應著去了。過了好一陣，門外隱約傳來笑聲。老婦人又叫：「嬰寧，你姨表哥在這裡。」門外仍舊嗤嗤地笑個不停。婢女把她推進屋來，她還捂著嘴，笑得停不下來。老婦人瞪著她說：「有客人在，你這樣嘻嘻哈哈的，成什麼樣子？」姑娘忍著笑站在那裡，王子服向她作揖。老婦人說：「這是王公子，你姨母的兒子。一家人還不認識，真叫人笑話。」王子服問：「妹妹多大了？」老婦人沒聽明白，他又說了一遍。姑娘又笑起來，連頭都抬不起來。老婦人對王子服說：「我說她缺少教導，這下你看見了吧。已經十六歲了，還像個嬰兒一樣傻乎乎的。」王子服說：「比我小一歲。」老婦人說：「外甥已經十七歲了，莫非是庚午年生、屬馬的？」王子服點頭答應。她又問：「你娶的是誰家的姑娘？」他回答：「還沒有娶妻。」老婦人說：「憑你的才貌，怎麼十七歲了還沒訂親？嬰寧也沒有許配給人，你們倒很相配，可惜有姨表親這層顧忌。」王子服沒有說話，眼睛一直望著嬰寧，顧不上看別處。婢女低聲對姑娘說：「眼睛直勾勾的，那副賊樣子還沒改！」姑娘又大笑起來，回頭對婢女說：「去看看碧桃開了沒有？」隨即起身，用袖子掩著嘴，邁著細碎的步子連忙出去。到了門外，才放開聲音大笑。老婦人也起身，叫婢女鋪好被褥，替王子服安排住處，說：「外甥難得來一趟，該住上三五天，過幾天再送你回去。要是嫌這裡寂寞無聊，屋後有個小園子，可以消遣，也有書可以讀。」第二天，王子服來到屋後，果然有半畝園子，細草鋪得像氈子，楊花散落在小路上。有三間茅屋，四周環繞著花木。他穿過花叢慢慢走著，聽見樹梢傳來窸窸窣窣的聲音，抬頭一看，嬰寧正在樹上。她見王子服來了，笑得厲害，幾乎要掉下來。王子服說：「別這樣，會掉下來的！」姑娘一邊下樹一邊笑，怎麼也停不住。快到地面時，她手一鬆，摔了下來，這才不笑了。王子服扶起她，暗暗捏了捏她的手腕。她又笑起來，靠著樹走不動，過了好久才停下。王子服等她笑完，才取出袖中的梅花給她看。姑娘接過花，說：「已經枯了，為什麼還留著？」王子服說：「這是元宵節那天妹妹丟下的，所以我留著。」她問：「留著做什麼？」他說：「表示我愛你，忘不了你。自從元宵節遇見你，我日夜思念，竟病倒了，原以為自己就要死了。沒想到還能見到你，希望你可憐可憐我。」姑娘說：「這不過是件小事。至親之間，有什麼捨不得的？等你走時，園裡的花，我叫老僕人來，折上一大捆，揹著送給你。」王子服說：「妹妹是個傻姑娘嗎？」姑娘說：「怎麼就傻了？」王子服說：「我愛的不是花，是拿花的人。」姑娘說：「親戚之間的情分，彼此親愛還用說嗎？」王子服說：「我說的愛，不是親戚之間的愛，是夫妻之間的愛。」姑娘問：「有什麼不同嗎？」他說：「就是夜裡同床共枕。」姑娘低頭想了很久，說：「我不習慣跟生人一起睡。」話還沒說完，婢女悄悄來了，王子服慌忙躲開。過了一會兒，兩人在老婦人那裡碰面。老婦人問：「到哪裡去了？」姑娘回答說，兩人在園子裡說話。老婦人說：「飯早做好了，有什麼話說不完，竟說了這麼久？」姑娘說：「大哥想讓我跟他一起睡。」話還沒說完，王子服窘迫極了，趕忙瞪她。姑娘微微一笑，便不說了。幸好老婦人沒聽見，還在絮絮叨叨地追問。王子服趕忙拿別的話掩飾過去，又低聲責備姑娘。姑娘說：「剛才那話不該說嗎？」王子服說：「這話得避著別人說。」姑娘說：「可以避著別人，怎麼能避著老母親？再說，睡覺也是平常事，有什麼不能說的？」王子服惱她太傻，卻想不出辦法讓她明白。飯剛吃完，家裡的人牽著兩頭驢來找王子服了。
未几，婢子具饭，雏尾盈握。媪劝餐已，婢来敛具。媪曰：「唤宁姑来。」婢应去。良久，闻户外隐有笑声。媪又唤曰：「婴宁，汝姨兄在此。」户外嗤嗤笑不已。婢推之以入，犹掩其口，笑不可遏。媪嗔目曰：「有客在，咤咤叱叱，是何景象？」女忍笑而立，生揖之。媪曰：「此王郎，汝姨子。一家尚不相识，可笑人也。」生问：「妹子年几何矣？」媪未能解。生又言之。女复笑，不可仰视。媪谓生曰：「我言少教诲，此可见矣。年已十六，呆痴裁如婴儿。」生曰：「小于甥一岁。」曰：「阿甥已十七矣，得非庚午属马者耶？」生首应之。又问：「甥妇阿谁？」答云：「无之。」曰：「如甥才貌，何十七岁犹未聘？婴宁亦无姑家，极相匹敌；惜有内亲之嫌。」生无语，目注婴宁，不遑他瞬。婢向女小语云：「目灼灼，贼腔未改！」女又大笑，顾婢曰：「视碧桃开未？」遽起，以袖掩口，细碎连步而出。至门外，笑声始纵。媪亦起，唤婢襆被，为生安置。曰：「阿甥来不易，宜留三五日，迟迟送汝归。如嫌幽闷，舍后有小园，可供消遣；有书可读。」次日，至舍后，果有园半亩，细草铺毡，杨花糁径；有草舍三楹，花木四合其所。穿花小步，闻树头苏苏有声，仰视，则婴宁在上。见生来，狂笑欲堕。生曰：「勿尔，堕矣！」女且下且笑，不能自止。方将及地，失手而堕，笑乃止。生扶之，阴捘其腕。女笑又作，倚树不能行，良久乃罢。生俟其笑歇，乃出袖中花示之。女接之，曰：「枯矣。何留之？」曰：「此上元妹子所遗，故存之。」问：「存之何意？」曰：「以示相爱不忘也。自上元相遇，凝思成病，自分化为异物；不图得见颜色，幸垂怜悯。」女曰：「此大细事。至戚何所靳惜？待郎行时，园中花，当唤老奴来，折一巨捆负送之。」生曰：「妹子痴耶？」女曰：「何便是痴？」生曰：「我非爱花，爱拈花之人耳。」女曰：「葭莩之情，爱何待言。」生曰：「我所谓爱，非瓜葛之爱，乃夫妻之爱。」女曰：「有以异乎？」曰：「夜共枕席耳。」女俯思良久，曰：「我不惯与生人睡。」语未已，婢潜至，生惶恐遁去。少时，会母所。母问：「何往？」女答以园中共话。媪曰：「饭熟已久，有何长言，周遮乃尔。」女曰：「大哥欲我共寝。」言未已，生大窘，急目瞪之。女微笑而止。幸媪不闻，犹絮絮究诘。生急以他词掩之，因小语责女。女曰：「适此语不应说耶？」生曰：「此背人语。」女曰：「背他人，岂得背老母。且寝处亦常事，何讳之？」生恨其痴，无术可以悟之。食方竟，家中人捉双卫来寻生。
不久，婢女摆好饭菜，其中有小鸡，尾巴已长到足够握满一把。老妇人劝王子服吃过饭，婢女便来收拾碗筷。老妇人说：“叫宁姑娘来。”婢女答应着去了。过了好一阵，门外隐约传来笑声。老妇人又叫：“婴宁，你姨表哥在这里。”门外仍旧嗤嗤地笑个不停。婢女把她推进屋来，她还捂着嘴，笑得停不下来。老妇人瞪着她说：“有客人在，你这样嘻嘻哈哈的，成什么样子？”姑娘忍着笑站在那里，王子服向她作揖。老妇人说：“这是王公子，你姨母的儿子。一家人还不认识，真叫人笑话。”王子服问：“妹妹多大了？”老妇人没听明白，他又说了一遍。姑娘又笑起来，连头都抬不起来。老妇人对王子服说：“我说她缺少教导，这下你看见了吧。已经十六岁了，还像个婴儿一样傻乎乎的。”王子服说：“比我小一岁。”老妇人说：“外甥已经十七岁了，莫非是庚午年生、属马的？”王子服点头答应。她又问：“你娶的是谁家的姑娘？”他回答：“还没有娶妻。”老妇人说：“凭你的才貌，怎么十七岁了还没订亲？婴宁也没有许配给人，你们倒很相配，可惜有姨表亲这层顾忌。”王子服没有说话，眼睛一直望着婴宁，顾不上看别处。婢女低声对姑娘说：“眼睛直勾勾的，那副贼样子还没改！”姑娘又大笑起来，回头对婢女说：“去看看碧桃开了没有？”随即起身，用袖子掩着嘴，迈着细碎的步子连忙出去。到了门外，才放开声音大笑。老妇人也起身，叫婢女铺好被褥，替王子服安排住处，说：“外甥难得来一趟，该住上三五天，过几天再送你回去。要是嫌这里寂寞无聊，屋后有个小园子，可以消遣，也有书可以读。”第二天，王子服来到屋后，果然有半亩园子，细草铺得像毡子，杨花散落在小路上。有三间茅屋，四周环绕着花木。他穿过花丛慢慢走着，听见树梢传来窸窸窣窣的声音，抬头一看，婴宁正在树上。她见王子服来了，笑得厉害，几乎要掉下来。王子服说：“别这样，会掉下来的！”姑娘一边下树一边笑，怎么也停不住。快到地面时，她手一松，摔了下来，这才不笑了。王子服扶起她，暗暗捏了捏她的手腕。她又笑起来，靠着树走不动，过了好久才停下。王子服等她笑完，才取出袖中的梅花给她看。姑娘接过花，说：“已经枯了，为什么还留着？”王子服说：“这是元宵节那天妹妹丢下的，所以我留着。”她问：“留着做什么？”他说：“表示我爱你，忘不了你。自从元宵节遇见你，我日夜思念，竟病倒了，原以为自己就要死了。没想到还能见到你，希望你可怜可怜我。”姑娘说：“这不过是件小事。至亲之间，有什么舍不得的？等你走时，园里的花，我叫老仆人来，折上一大捆，背着送给你。”王子服说：“妹妹是个傻姑娘吗？”姑娘说：“怎么就傻了？”王子服说：“我爱的不是花，是拿花的人。”姑娘说：“亲戚之间的情分，彼此亲爱还用说吗？”王子服说：“我说的爱，不是亲戚之间的爱，是夫妻之间的爱。”姑娘问：“有什么不同吗？”他说：“就是夜里同床共枕。”姑娘低头想了很久，说：“我不习惯跟生人一起睡。”话还没说完，婢女悄悄来了，王子服慌忙躲开。过了一会儿，两人在老妇人那里碰面。老妇人问：“到哪里去了？”姑娘回答说，两人在园子里说话。老妇人说：“饭早做好了，有什么话说不完，竟说了这么久？”姑娘说：“大哥想让我跟他一起睡。”话还没说完，王子服窘迫极了，赶忙瞪她。姑娘微微一笑，便不说了。幸好老妇人没听见，还在絮絮叨叨地追问。王子服赶忙拿别的话掩饰过去，又低声责备姑娘。姑娘说：“刚才那话不该说吗？”王子服说：“这话得避着别人说。”姑娘说：“可以避着别人，怎么能避着老母亲？再说，睡觉也是平常事，有什么不能说的？”王子服恼她太傻，却想不出办法让她明白。饭刚吃完，家里的人牵着两头驴来找王子服了。
Before long the maid brought the meal: young chickens, plump enough to fill the hand. The old woman pressed him to eat, and when he had finished, the maid came to clear away. “Go and call Miss Ning,” said the old woman. The maid said she would and went. After a long while there came the faint sound of laughter outside the door. The old woman called again, “Ying Ning, your cousin is here.” Outside the door the giggling went on and on. The maid pushed her in, still covering her mouth, unable to stop laughing. The old woman glared. “With a guest here, all this tittering and snickering — what kind of behaviour is that?” The girl stood holding back her laughter, and Wang bowed to her. “This is young Master Wang, your aunt’s son,” said the old woman. “One family, and you don’t even know each other. It’s laughable.” “How old is my little cousin?” Wang asked. The old woman did not understand. Wang said it again. The girl laughed again, so hard she could not look up. “I told you she’d had little teaching,” the old woman said to Wang. “Now you can see it. She is sixteen already, and as silly as a baby.” “A year younger than your nephew,” said Wang. “So you are seventeen already. Then you must have been born in the gengwu year, the year of the horse?” Wang nodded. “And who is your wife?” “I have none,” he answered. “With your talent and looks, how is it you’re seventeen and not yet betrothed? Ying Ning has no husband’s family yet either. You would be a perfect match. A pity there is the scruple about close kin.” Wang said nothing. His eyes were fixed on Ying Ning, and he had no time to look anywhere else. The maid whispered to the girl, “Eyes glittering — still the same thief’s look!” The girl burst out laughing again. “Let’s go and see if the flowering peach is out,” she said to the maid, and jumped up, covering her mouth with her sleeve, and went out with quick little steps. Once outside the door, she let her laughter go. The old woman got up too, called the maid to bring bedding and settled Wang for the night. “It isn’t easy for you to come here, nephew,” she said. “You should stay three or five days. We’ll take our time sending you home. If you find it dull, there is a little garden behind the house where you can amuse yourself, and there are books to read.” The next day he went behind the house. There was indeed a garden of half a mu, the fine grass spread like felt, willow catkins scattered over the paths. There was a thatched cottage of three bays, ringed round with flowers and trees. As he strolled through the flowers, he heard a rustling at the top of a tree. He looked up: Ying Ning was up there. When she saw Wang coming, she laughed so wildly she nearly fell. “Don’t!” said Wang. “You’ll fall!” She came down laughing all the way and could not stop. Just as she was about to reach the ground, she lost her grip and fell, and that stopped her laughing. Wang helped her up and secretly squeezed her wrist. Her laughter broke out again. She leaned against the tree, unable to walk, and only after a long while did it stop. Wang waited until her laughter had died down, then took the flower from his sleeve and showed it to her. She took it. “It’s withered. Why keep it?” “You dropped it at the Lantern Festival, cousin, so I kept it.” “What’s the point of keeping it?” “To show that I love you and can’t forget you. Ever since we met at the Lantern Festival I have brooded over you until I fell ill. I was sure I would die. I never thought I would see your face again. Have pity on me.” “That’s such a little thing,” said the girl. “Between close relatives, why grudge it? When you leave, I’ll call the old servant to pick a great bundle of flowers from the garden and carry it for you.” “Are you silly, cousin?” said Wang. “What’s silly about that?” said the girl. “It isn’t the flowers I love,” said Wang. “It’s the person who held the flower.” “We’re family,” said the girl. “It goes without saying that we love each other.” “The love I mean isn’t the love of kin,” said Wang. “It’s the love of husband and wife.” “Is there any difference?” “Sharing a pillow at night, that’s all.” The girl bent her head and thought for a long while. “I’m not used to sleeping with strangers.” Before she had finished, the maid crept up, and Wang fled in alarm. A little later they met again in the old woman’s room. “Where have you been?” her mother asked. The girl answered that they had been talking in the garden. “The food has been ready for ages,” said the old woman. “What could you have so much to say about, going on and on like that?” “Big Brother wants me to sleep with him,” said the girl. Before she had finished, Wang, mortified, glared at her. The girl smiled and stopped. Luckily the old woman had not heard, and kept on asking, on and on. Wang hurriedly covered it up with something else, and then scolded the girl in a whisper. “Shouldn’t I have said that just now?” said the girl. “That was for no one else’s ears,” said Wang. “No one else’s, of course,” said the girl, “but how can I keep it from my old mother? Besides, sleeping is an everyday thing. Why hide it?” Wang was exasperated by her silliness, but there was no way to make her understand. They had just finished eating when servants from his home arrived, leading two donkeys, to look for him.
先是，母待生久不歸，始疑；村中搜覓幾遍，竟無蹤兆。因往詢吳。吳憶曩言，因教于西南山村行覓。凡歷數村，始至於此。生出門，適相值，便入告媼，且請偕女同歸。媼喜曰：「我有志，匪伊朝夕。但殘軀不能遠涉，得甥攜妹子去，識認阿姨，大好！」呼嬰寧。寧笑至。媼曰：「有何喜，笑輒不輟？若不笑，當為全人。」因怒之以目。乃曰：「大哥欲同汝去，可便裝束。」又餉家人酒食，始送之出曰：「姨家田產豐裕，能養冗人。到彼且勿歸，小學詩禮，亦好事翁姑。即煩阿姨，為汝擇一良匹。」二人遂發。至山坳，回顧，猶依稀見媼倚門北望也。
原來，母親等了很久不見王子服回來，才起了疑心，派人在村裡找了幾遍，始終沒有蹤跡，便去問吳生。吳生想起自己先前說過的話，就讓他們到西南邊的山村去找。他們經過了好幾個村子，才找到這裡。王子服走出門來，恰好與他們碰上，便進去告訴老婦人，又請求帶姑娘一起回家。老婦人高興地說：「我有這個心願，已經不是一天兩天了。只是這衰老的身子走不了遠路，能讓外甥帶妹妹去，認認姨母，真是太好了！」她叫來嬰寧，嬰寧笑著走過來。老婦人說：「有什麼喜事，笑起來就不停？要是不這樣笑，你就十全十美了。」說著，生氣地瞪了她一眼，又說：「大哥想帶你一起去，你就去收拾吧。」她又拿酒飯招待王家的人，然後送他們出門，對嬰寧說：「姨母家田產豐厚，多養一個人也不愁。到了那裡就先別回來，學些詩書禮儀，將來也好侍奉公婆。再請姨母替你挑個好丈夫。」兩人於是出發。走到山坳時回頭看，還依稀看見老婦人倚著門，朝北望著他們。
先是，母待生久不归，始疑；村中搜觅几遍，竟无踪兆。因往询吴。吴忆曩言，因教于西南山村行觅。凡历数村，始至于此。生出门，适相值，便入告媪，且请偕女同归。媪喜曰：「我有志，匪伊朝夕。但残躯不能远涉，得甥携妹子去，识认阿姨，大好！」呼婴宁。宁笑至。媪曰：「有何喜，笑辄不辍？若不笑，当为全人。」因怒之以目。乃曰：「大哥欲同汝去，可便装束。」又饷家人酒食，始送之出曰：「姨家田产丰裕，能养冗人。到彼且勿归，小学诗礼，亦好事翁姑。即烦阿姨，为汝择一良匹。」二人遂发。至山坳，回顾，犹依稀见媪倚门北望也。
原来，母亲等了很久不见王子服回来，才起了疑心，派人在村里找了几遍，始终没有踪迹，便去问吴生。吴生想起自己先前说过的话，就让他们到西南边的山村去找。他们经过了好几个村子，才找到这里。王子服走出门来，恰好与他们碰上，便进去告诉老妇人，又请求带姑娘一起回家。老妇人高兴地说：“我有这个心愿，已经不是一天两天了。只是这衰老的身子走不了远路，能让外甥带妹妹去，认认姨母，真是太好了！”她叫来婴宁，婴宁笑着走过来。老妇人说：“有什么喜事，笑起来就不停？要是不这样笑，你就十全十美了。”说着，生气地瞪了她一眼，又说：“大哥想带你一起去，你就去收拾吧。”她又拿酒饭招待王家的人，然后送他们出门，对婴宁说：“姨母家田产丰厚，多养一个人也不愁。到了那里就先别回来，学些诗书礼仪，将来也好侍奉公婆。再请姨母替你挑个好丈夫。”两人于是出发。走到山坳时回头看，还依稀看见老妇人倚着门，朝北望着他们。
Earlier, when Wang had been gone a long time without coming home, his mother had begun to worry. They searched the village several times but found no sign of him. So she went to ask Wu. Wu remembered what he had said before, and told them to search the hill villages to the southwest. They had been through several villages before they came to this one. Wang was coming out of the gate just as they arrived. He went in and told the old woman, and asked to take the girl home with him. The old woman was delighted. “I have wished for this a long time, not just for a morning or an evening. But this worn-out old body can’t travel far. If my nephew will take his cousin and let her get to know her aunt, that is very good!” She called Ying Ning, and Ying Ning came, laughing. “What is there to be so pleased about, that you can never stop laughing?” said the old woman. “If you didn’t laugh, you would be perfect.” And she glared at her. Then she said, “Big Brother wants to take you with him. Go and get ready.” She gave the servants wine and food, and then saw them off. “Your aunt’s family has plenty of land; they can feed an extra mouth,” she said to the girl. “When you get there, don’t come back. Learn a little poetry and proper manners, so that you can serve your husband’s parents well. And trouble your aunt to choose a good husband for you.” And so the two of them set off. When they reached a fold in the hills, they looked back, and could still faintly see the old woman leaning on the gate, looking north.
抵家，母睹姝麗，驚問為誰。生以姨女對。母曰：「前吳郎與兒言者，詐也。我未有姊，何以得甥？」問女，女曰：「我非母出。父為秦氏，沒時，兒在褓中，不能記憶。」母曰：「我一姊適秦氏，良確，然殂謝已久，那得復存？」因審詰面龐﹑志贅，一一符合。又疑曰：「是矣。然亡已多年，何得復存？」疑慮間，吳生至，女避入室。吳詢得故，惘然久之。忽曰：「此女名嬰寧耶？」生然之。吳亟稱怪事。問所自知，吳曰：「秦家姑去世後，姑丈鰥居，祟于狐，病瘠死。狐生女名嬰寧，繃臥床上，家人皆見之。姑丈沒，狐猶時來；後求天師符粘壁上，狐遂攜女去。將勿此耶？」彼此疑參。但聞室中吃吃皆嬰寧笑聲。母曰：「此女亦太憨生。」吳請面之。母入室，女猶濃笑不顧。母促令出，始極力忍笑，又面壁移時，方出。才一展拜，翻然遽入，放聲大笑。滿室婦女，為之粲然。吳請往覘其異，就便執柯。尋至村所，廬舍全無，山花零落而已。吳憶姑葬處，仿彿不遠；然墳壠湮沒，莫可辨識，詫嘆而返。母疑其為鬼。入告吳言，女略無駭意；又吊其無家，亦殊無悲意，孜孜憨笑而已。眾莫之測。母令與少女同寢止。昧爽即來省問，操女紅精巧絕倫。但善笑，禁之亦不可止；然笑處嫣然，狂而不損其媚，人皆樂之。鄰女少婦，爭承迎之。母擇吉將為合巹，而終恐為鬼物。竊于日中窺之，形影殊無少異。至日，使華裝行新婦禮；女笑極不能俯仰，遂罷。生以其憨痴，恐泄漏房中隱事；而女殊密秘，不肯道一語。每值母懮怒，女至，一笑即解。奴婢小過，恐遭鞭楚，輒求詣母共話；罪婢投見，恆得免。而愛花成癖，物色遍戚黨；竊典金釵，購佳種，數月，階砌藩溷，無非花者。
到了家，母親看見這麼美麗的姑娘，驚訝地問她是誰。王子服回答說，是姨母的女兒。母親說：「先前吳生跟你說的，都是騙你的。我已經沒有姐姐了，哪裡來的外甥女？」她問姑娘，姑娘說：「我不是母親親生的。父親姓秦，他去世時，我還在襁褓裡，記不得了。」母親說：「我的確有個姐姐嫁到秦家，可她早已去世，怎麼還能活著？」她便仔細詢問老婦人的相貌、痣和贅瘤，竟一一吻合。母親又疑惑地說：「是她沒錯，可她已經死了多年，怎麼還能活著？」正疑慮間，吳生來了，姑娘避進裡屋。吳生問明事情經過，茫然了好一會兒，忽然說：「這姑娘叫嬰寧嗎？」王子服說是。吳生連連說真是怪事。問他怎麼知道的，吳生說：「嫁到秦家的姑母去世後，姑父獨自生活，被狐狸纏上，漸漸病得消瘦，最後死了。狐狸生了個女兒，叫嬰寧，裹在襁褓裡躺在床上，家裡人都見過。姑父去世後，狐狸還時常來；後來家裡求來天師的符，貼在牆上，狐狸才帶著女兒離開。莫非就是她？」幾個人滿懷疑惑，互相商議，只聽見屋裡不斷傳來嬰寧嗤嗤的笑聲。母親說：「這姑娘也太憨了。」吳生請求見見她。母親進了屋，姑娘還在笑個不停，並不理會。母親催她出去，她才使勁忍住笑，又面朝牆站了一會兒，才走出來。剛行了一禮，她就轉身跑回屋裡，放聲大笑。滿屋的婦女都被她逗笑了。吳生提出去那地方看看究竟，順便替他們做媒。他找到原先村子所在的地方，房屋全都不見了，只剩零落的山花。吳生記得姑母的墓似乎就在附近，可墳丘已經湮沒，無法辨認，只好驚訝嘆息著回來。母親懷疑姑娘是鬼，進屋把吳生的話告訴她，她卻絲毫不驚訝害怕；母親又憐惜她沒有家，她也沒有一點悲傷，只管憨憨地笑個不停。大家都猜不透她。母親讓她和家裡的年輕姑娘同住同睡。天剛亮，嬰寧就來問候母親，做起針線活來，精巧得無人能比。只是她太愛笑，即使不許她笑，也止不住。不過她笑起來十分美麗，縱然笑得放肆，也不減嬌媚，人人都喜歡她。鄰家的姑娘和年輕媳婦爭著與她親近。母親挑了吉日，準備給兩人成婚，卻始終擔心她是鬼，便偷偷在正午的陽光下觀察她，見她的身體和影子都沒有一點異常。到了成婚那天，讓她盛裝行新婦的禮，她卻笑得連彎腰起身都做不到，只好作罷。王子服覺得她憨傻，擔心她把夫妻房裡的私事說出去，她卻守口如瓶，一句話也不肯說。每逢母親憂愁或生氣，嬰寧來了，一笑就讓母親消了憂愁怒氣。奴婢犯了小錯，怕挨鞭打，便求嬰寧去陪母親說話；犯錯的婢女趁這時候來見母親，往往都能免罰。嬰寧愛花成了癖好，在親戚家裡到處尋覓，還偷偷典當金釵，買來好品種。幾個月後，臺階、籬笆和廁所周圍，到處都是花。
抵家，母睹姝丽，惊问为谁。生以姨女对。母曰：「前吴郎与儿言者，诈也。我未有姊，何以得甥？」问女，女曰：「我非母出。父为秦氏，没时，儿在褓中，不能记忆。」母曰：「我一姊适秦氏，良确，然殂谢已久，那得复存？」因审诘面庞﹑志赘，一一符合。又疑曰：「是矣。然亡已多年，何得复存？」疑虑间，吴生至，女避入室。吴询得故，惘然久之。忽曰：「此女名婴宁耶？」生然之。吴亟称怪事。问所自知，吴曰：「秦家姑去世后，姑丈鳏居，祟于狐，病瘠死。狐生女名婴宁，绷卧床上，家人皆见之。姑丈没，狐犹时来；后求天师符粘壁上，狐遂携女去。将勿此耶？」彼此疑参。但闻室中吃吃皆婴宁笑声。母曰：「此女亦太憨生。」吴请面之。母入室，女犹浓笑不顾。母促令出，始极力忍笑，又面壁移时，方出。才一展拜，翻然遽入，放声大笑。满室妇女，为之粲然。吴请往觇其异，就便执柯。寻至村所，庐舍全无，山花零落而已。吴忆姑葬处，仿佛不远；然坟垅湮没，莫可辨识，诧叹而返。母疑其为鬼。入告吴言，女略无骇意；又吊其无家，亦殊无悲意，孜孜憨笑而已。众莫之测。母令与少女同寝止。昧爽即来省问，操女红精巧绝伦。但善笑，禁之亦不可止；然笑处嫣然，狂而不损其媚，人皆乐之。邻女少妇，争承迎之。母择吉将为合卺，而终恐为鬼物。窃于日中窥之，形影殊无少异。至日，使华装行新妇礼；女笑极不能俯仰，遂罢。生以其憨痴，恐泄漏房中隐事；而女殊密秘，不肯道一语。每值母懮怒，女至，一笑即解。奴婢小过，恐遭鞭楚，辄求诣母共话；罪婢投见，恒得免。而爱花成癖，物色遍戚党；窃典金钗，购佳种，数月，阶砌藩溷，无非花者。
到了家，母亲看见这么美丽的姑娘，惊讶地问她是谁。王子服回答说，是姨母的女儿。母亲说：“先前吴生跟你说的，都是骗你的。我已经没有姐姐了，哪里来的外甥女？”她问姑娘，姑娘说：“我不是母亲亲生的。父亲姓秦，他去世时，我还在襁褓里，记不得了。”母亲说：“我的确有个姐姐嫁到秦家，可她早已去世，怎么还能活着？”她便仔细询问老妇人的相貌、痣和赘瘤，竟一一吻合。母亲又疑惑地说：“是她没错，可她已经死了多年，怎么还能活着？”正疑虑间，吴生来了，姑娘避进里屋。吴生问明事情经过，茫然了好一会儿，忽然说：“这姑娘叫婴宁吗？”王子服说是。吴生连连说真是怪事。问他怎么知道的，吴生说：“嫁到秦家的姑母去世后，姑父独自生活，被狐狸缠上，渐渐病得消瘦，最后死了。狐狸生了个女儿，叫婴宁，裹在襁褓里躺在床上，家里人都见过。姑父去世后，狐狸还时常来；后来家里求来天师的符，贴在墙上，狐狸才带着女儿离开。莫非就是她？”几个人满怀疑惑，互相商议，只听见屋里不断传来婴宁嗤嗤的笑声。母亲说：“这姑娘也太憨了。”吴生请求见见她。母亲进了屋，姑娘还在笑个不停，并不理会。母亲催她出去，她才使劲忍住笑，又面朝墙站了一会儿，才走出来。刚行了一礼，她就转身跑回屋里，放声大笑。满屋的妇女都被她逗笑了。吴生提出去那地方看看究竟，顺便替他们做媒。他找到原先村子所在的地方，房屋全都不见了，只剩零落的山花。吴生记得姑母的墓似乎就在附近，可坟丘已经湮没，无法辨认，只好惊讶叹息着回来。母亲怀疑姑娘是鬼，进屋把吴生的话告诉她，她却丝毫不惊讶害怕；母亲又怜惜她没有家，她也没有一点悲伤，只管憨憨地笑个不停。大家都猜不透她。母亲让她和家里的年轻姑娘同住同睡。天刚亮，婴宁就来问候母亲，做起针线活来，精巧得无人能比。只是她太爱笑，即使不许她笑，也止不住。不过她笑起来十分美丽，纵然笑得放肆，也不减娇媚，人人都喜欢她。邻家的姑娘和年轻媳妇争着与她亲近。母亲挑了吉日，准备给两人成婚，却始终担心她是鬼，便偷偷在正午的阳光下观察她，见她的身体和影子都没有一点异常。到了成婚那天，让她盛装行新妇的礼，她却笑得连弯腰起身都做不到，只好作罢。王子服觉得她憨傻，担心她把夫妻房里的私事说出去，她却守口如瓶，一句话也不肯说。每逢母亲忧愁或生气，婴宁来了，一笑就让母亲消了忧愁怒气。奴婢犯了小错，怕挨鞭打，便求婴宁去陪母亲说话；犯错的婢女趁这时候来见母亲，往往都能免罚。婴宁爱花成了癖好，在亲戚家里到处寻觅，还偷偷典当金钗，买来好品种。几个月后，台阶、篱笆和厕所周围，到处都是花。
When they got home, Wang’s mother saw the beautiful girl and asked in surprise who she was. Wang said she was his aunt’s daughter. “What Wu told you before was a lie,” said his mother. “I have no elder sister. How could I have a niece?” She asked the girl. “I am not my mother’s child,” said the girl. “My father was a Qin. When he died I was a baby in swaddling clothes, so I can’t remember.” “I did have an elder sister who married into the Qin family, that is true,” said his mother. “But she died long ago. How could she still be living?” Then she asked closely about the old woman’s face, her moles and warts, and every detail matched. Doubtful again, she said, “That is her. But she has been dead for years. How can she still be living?” As she puzzled over it, Wu arrived, and the girl withdrew into the inner room. Wu asked what had happened, and was bewildered for a long while. Then suddenly he said, “Is this girl called Ying Ning?” Wang said she was. Wu kept exclaiming what a strange thing it was. When they asked how he knew, he said, “After our aunt Qin died, her husband lived on alone as a widower. A fox haunted him, and he wasted away and died. The fox bore a daughter called Ying Ning, who lay swaddled on the bed; everyone in the house saw her. After our uncle died, the fox still came now and then. Later the family got a charm from the Celestial Master and stuck it on the wall, and the fox took the girl and went away. Could this be her?” They puzzled over it together. All they could hear from the room was giggle after giggle: Ying Ning laughing. “This girl is far too silly,” said Wang’s mother. Wu asked to meet her. Wang’s mother went into the room, but the girl went on laughing heartily and paid no attention. Wang’s mother urged her to come out. Only then did she try hard to hold back her laughter, and she stood facing the wall a while before she came out. She had barely made one bow when she whirled round and darted back in, and burst out laughing. The women filling the room all broke into smiles. Wu asked to go and see the strange place for himself, and to act as go-between while he was there. He found the village, but there were no houses at all, only mountain flowers scattered here and there. Wu remembered that their aunt’s grave was somewhere near, but the mounds had sunk and could not be made out. He came back, marvelling and sighing. Wang’s mother suspected the girl was a ghost. She went in and told her what Wu had said, but the girl showed no fear at all. When she pitied her for having no home, the girl showed no sorrow either, but only went on giggling foolishly. No one could make her out. Wang’s mother had her share a room with a young girl of the household. At first light the girl came to ask after her health. Her needlework was exquisite beyond compare. But she was always laughing, and even when told not to, she could not stop. Yet her laughter was so lovely that, wild as it was, it took nothing from her charm, and everyone delighted in her. The girls and young wives of the neighbourhood vied to make friends with her. Wang’s mother picked a lucky day for the wedding, but she still feared the girl might be a ghost. She secretly watched her in the noon sun: her body and her shadow were not the least bit out of the ordinary. On the day, the girl was dressed in finery to perform the rites of a bride, but she laughed so hard she could not bow and rise, and the rites had to be given up. Wang feared that in her silliness she would let out the secrets of their bedroom, but she was in fact most discreet and would not say a word about them. Whenever his mother was upset or angry, the girl had only to come in and laugh, and it passed. When a maid had committed some small fault and feared a whipping, she would beg the girl to go and talk with Wang’s mother; if the guilty maid then presented herself, she was always let off. The girl loved flowers to the point of obsession and hunted for them among all their relations. She secretly pawned her gold hairpins to buy fine varieties, and within a few months the steps, the hedges, even the privy, were nothing but flowers.
庭後有木香一架，故鄰西家。女每攀登其上，摘供簪玩。母時遇見，輒訶之。女卒不改。一日，西人子見之，凝注傾倒。女不避而笑。西人子謂女意已屬，心益蕩。女指牆底笑而下，西人子謂示約處，大悅。及昏而往，女果在焉。就而淫之，則陰如錐刺，痛徹于心，大號而踣。細視非女，則一枯木臥牆邊，所接乃水淋竅也。鄰父聞聲，急奔研問，呻而不言。妻來，始以實告。爇火燭竅，見中有巨蠍，如小蟹然。翁碎木捉殺之。負子至家，半夜尋卒。鄰人訟生，訐發嬰寧妖異。邑宰素仰生才，稔知其篤行士，謂鄰翁訟誣，將杖責之。生為乞免，遂釋而出。母謂女曰：「憨狂爾爾，早知過喜而伏懮也。邑令神明，幸不牽累；設鶻突官宰，必逮婦女質公堂，我兒何顏見戚里？」女正色，矢不復笑。母曰：「人罔不笑，但須有時。」而女由是竟不復笑，雖故逗，亦終不笑；然竟日未嘗有戚容。
院子後面有一架木香，緊挨著西邊鄰居家。嬰寧常常爬上去，摘花插在頭上或拿著玩。母親有時碰見，總要訓斥她，她卻始終不改。一天，西邊鄰居家的兒子看見她，目不轉睛地望著，被她迷住了。嬰寧並不迴避，只是笑。鄰家兒子以為她已經喜歡上自己，越發心神盪漾。嬰寧指著牆腳，笑著下來。鄰家兒子以為她在指約會的地方，十分高興。到了黃昏，他前往那裡，果然見她在那裡。他湊過去與她交合，陰莖卻像被錐子刺中，痛得直鑽心裡，頓時大叫一聲，倒在地上。仔細一看，那裡根本不是姑娘，而是一截躺在牆邊的枯木，他插進去的，是個雨水淋蝕出來的洞。鄰家的父親聽到聲音，急忙跑來追問，兒子只管呻吟，不肯說話。直到妻子來了，他才說出實情。他們點起火，照著木洞，發現裡面有隻大蠍子，像小螃蟹一樣。老翁劈碎枯木，把蠍子捉住打死，又揹著兒子回家，到了半夜，兒子便死了。鄰家把王子服告上官府，揭發嬰寧是妖怪。邑宰一向仰慕王子服的才學，也深知他品行端正，認定鄰家老翁是在誣告，準備打他板子。王子服替老翁求情，請求免罰，邑宰才把老翁放了。母親對嬰寧說：「你這樣憨笑胡鬧，我早就知道，過分歡喜會埋下憂患。幸虧邑令明察，才沒有牽連我們；要是遇上個糊塗官，必定把婦女抓到公堂上對質，我兒子還有什麼臉面去見親戚鄉鄰？」嬰寧神情嚴肅，發誓再也不笑。母親說：「哪有人不笑的，只是要看時候。」可從此以後，嬰寧竟真的不再笑了，即使有人故意逗她，她始終也不笑，不過整天也不曾露出憂愁的神色。
庭后有木香一架，故邻西家。女每攀登其上，摘供簪玩。母时遇见，辄诃之。女卒不改。一日，西人子见之，凝注倾倒。女不避而笑。西人子谓女意已属，心益荡。女指墙底笑而下，西人子谓示约处，大悦。及昏而往，女果在焉。就而淫之，则阴如锥刺，痛彻于心，大号而踣。细视非女，则一枯木卧墙边，所接乃水淋窍也。邻父闻声，急奔研问，呻而不言。妻来，始以实告。爇火烛窍，见中有巨蝎，如小蟹然。翁碎木捉杀之。负子至家，半夜寻卒。邻人讼生，讦发婴宁妖异。邑宰素仰生才，稔知其笃行士，谓邻翁讼诬，将杖责之。生为乞免，遂释而出。母谓女曰：「憨狂尔尔，早知过喜而伏懮也。邑令神明，幸不牵累；设鹘突官宰，必逮妇女质公堂，我儿何颜见戚里？」女正色，矢不复笑。母曰：「人罔不笑，但须有时。」而女由是竟不复笑，虽故逗，亦终不笑；然竟日未尝有戚容。
院子后面有一架木香，紧挨着西边邻居家。婴宁常常爬上去，摘花插在头上或拿着玩。母亲有时碰见，总要训斥她，她却始终不改。一天，西边邻居家的儿子看见她，目不转睛地望着，被她迷住了。婴宁并不回避，只是笑。邻家儿子以为她已经喜欢上自己，越发心神荡漾。婴宁指着墙脚，笑着下来。邻家儿子以为她在指约会的地方，十分高兴。到了黄昏，他前往那里，果然见她在那里。他凑过去与她交合，阴茎却像被锥子刺中，痛得直钻心里，顿时大叫一声，倒在地上。仔细一看，那里根本不是姑娘，而是一截躺在墙边的枯木，他插进去的，是个雨水淋蚀出来的洞。邻家的父亲听到声音，急忙跑来追问，儿子只管呻吟，不肯说话。直到妻子来了，他才说出实情。他们点起火，照着木洞，发现里面有只大蝎子，像小螃蟹一样。老翁劈碎枯木，把蝎子捉住打死，又背着儿子回家，到了半夜，儿子便死了。邻家把王子服告上官府，揭发婴宁是妖怪。邑宰一向仰慕王子服的才学，也深知他品行端正，认定邻家老翁是在诬告，准备打他板子。王子服替老翁求情，请求免罚，邑宰才把老翁放了。母亲对婴宁说：“你这样憨笑胡闹，我早就知道，过分欢喜会埋下忧患。幸亏邑令明察，才没有牵连我们；要是遇上个糊涂官，必定把妇女抓到公堂上对质，我儿子还有什么脸面去见亲戚乡邻？”婴宁神情严肃，发誓再也不笑。母亲说：“哪有人不笑的，只是要看时候。”可从此以后，婴宁竟真的不再笑了，即使有人故意逗她，她始终也不笑，不过整天也不曾露出忧愁的神色。
Behind the courtyard there was a trellis of banksia roses that ran along the wall of the neighbours to the west. The girl often climbed up it to pick flowers to wear in her hair and play with. Whenever Wang’s mother caught her at it she scolded her, but the girl never changed her ways. One day the son of the west neighbours saw her, stared at her and was smitten. The girl did not hide from him, but laughed. The neighbour’s son thought she had taken a fancy to him, and his heart was stirred all the more. The girl pointed to the foot of the wall, laughed and climbed down. The neighbour’s son thought she was showing him where to meet, and was overjoyed. At dusk he went there, and sure enough, there she was. He went up to her and had his way with her, and at once his member felt as if an awl had pierced it. The pain went right to his heart; he gave a great howl and fell down. Looking closely, he saw that it was not the girl but a dead log lying by the wall, and what he had entered was a hole worn by dripping rain. His father heard the noise, came running and asked what had happened, but the son only groaned and would not say. Only when his wife came did he tell the truth. They lit a fire and shone it into the hole, and inside they saw a huge scorpion, like a small crab. The old man smashed the log, caught the scorpion and killed it. He carried his son home on his back, and in the middle of the night the son died. The neighbour brought a suit against Wang, charging that Ying Ning was an evil spirit. The county magistrate had long admired Wang’s talent and knew him well as a man of upright conduct. He declared the old man’s charge false and was about to have him beaten, but Wang begged him off, and the old man was let go. “Silly and wild like this!” Wang’s mother said to the girl. “I always knew too much gaiety hides sorrow. The magistrate is wise as a god, and luckily we weren’t dragged into it. If it had been some muddle-headed official, he would surely have had the women hauled into court for questioning, and how could my son ever face our relatives and neighbours?” The girl’s face turned grave, and she swore she would never laugh again. “Everyone laughs,” said Wang’s mother. “It just has to be at the right time.” But from then on the girl never laughed again. Even when people tried to make her laugh, she never would. Yet all day long she never looked sad.
一夕，對生零涕。異之，女哽咽曰：「曩以相從日淺，言之恐致駭怪。今日察姑及郎，皆過愛無有異心，直告或無妨乎？妾本狐產。母臨去，以妾托鬼母，相依十餘年，始有今日。妾又無兄弟，所恃者惟君。老母岑寂山阿，無人憐而合厝之，九泉輒為悼恨。君倘不惜煩費，使地下人消此怨恫，庶養女者不忍溺棄。」生諾之，然慮墳塚迷于荒草。女但言無慮。刻日，夫妻輿櫬而往。女于荒煙錯楚中，指示墓處，果得媼尸，膚革猶存。女撫哭哀痛。舁歸，尋秦氏墓合葬焉。是夜，生夢媼來稱謝，寤而述之。女曰：「妾夜見之，囑勿驚郎君耳。」生恨不邀留。女曰：「彼鬼也。生人多，陽氣勝，何能久居？」生問小榮，曰：「是亦狐，最黠。狐母留以視妾，每攝餌相哺，故德之常不去心。昨問母，云已嫁之。」由是歲值寒食，夫妻登秦墓，拜掃無缺。女逾年，生一子。在懷抱中，不畏生人，見人輒笑，亦大有母風云。
一天晚上，嬰寧對著王子服流淚。王子服覺得奇怪，嬰寧哽咽著說：「從前我們相處的日子還短，我怕說了會讓你驚恐疑怪。如今看出婆母和你都十分疼愛我，沒有別的心思，也許直說就沒有妨礙了吧？我本是狐狸生的。母親離開時，把我託付給了鬼母，我們相依為命十多年，才有今天。我又沒有兄弟，唯一能依靠的就是你。老母親孤零零地在山坳裡，沒有人憐惜她，把她與丈夫合葬，她在地下總為這件事悲傷遺憾。你要是不嫌麻煩，也捨得花費，讓地下的人消除這份怨恨和痛苦，也許養育女兒的人就不忍心把女兒溺死或拋棄了。」王子服答應了，卻擔心墳墓已經隱沒在荒草中。嬰寧只說不必擔心。約定日期後，夫妻兩人帶著棺材前往。嬰寧在煙靄迷濛、荊棘叢生的荒野裡指出墓地，果然找到了老婦人的屍體，皮膚還儲存著。嬰寧撫著屍體，悲痛地哭泣。他們把屍體抬回去，找到秦氏的墓，將兩人合葬。當夜，王子服夢見老婦人來道謝，醒來便告訴嬰寧。嬰寧說：「我夜裡也見到她了，囑咐她別驚嚇你。」王子服遺憾沒能邀她留下。嬰寧說：「她是鬼，活人多的地方陽氣旺，怎麼能久留？」王子服問起小榮，嬰寧說：「她也是狐狸，非常聰明。狐母留下她來照顧我，她常找食物來餵我，所以我一直感念她的恩情，從沒有忘記。昨夜問老母親，她說已經把小榮嫁出去了。」從此每年寒食節，夫妻兩人都到秦氏墓前祭拜掃墓，從沒有缺過。一年多以後，嬰寧生了個兒子。孩子還在懷抱裡，就不怕陌生人，見人便笑，也很有他母親的樣子。
一夕，对生零涕。异之，女哽咽曰：「曩以相从日浅，言之恐致骇怪。今日察姑及郎，皆过爱无有异心，直告或无妨乎？妾本狐产。母临去，以妾托鬼母，相依十余年，始有今日。妾又无兄弟，所恃者惟君。老母岑寂山阿，无人怜而合厝之，九泉辄为悼恨。君倘不惜烦费，使地下人消此怨恫，庶养女者不忍溺弃。」生诺之，然虑坟冢迷于荒草。女但言无虑。刻日，夫妻舆榇而往。女于荒烟错楚中，指示墓处，果得媪尸，肤革犹存。女抚哭哀痛。舁归，寻秦氏墓合葬焉。是夜，生梦媪来称谢，寤而述之。女曰：「妾夜见之，嘱勿惊郎君耳。」生恨不邀留。女曰：「彼鬼也。生人多，阳气胜，何能久居？」生问小荣，曰：「是亦狐，最黠。狐母留以视妾，每摄饵相哺，故德之常不去心。昨问母，云已嫁之。」由是岁值寒食，夫妻登秦墓，拜扫无缺。女逾年，生一子。在怀抱中，不畏生人，见人辄笑，亦大有母风云。
一天晚上，婴宁对着王子服流泪。王子服觉得奇怪，婴宁哽咽着说：“从前我们相处的日子还短，我怕说了会让你惊恐疑怪。如今看出婆母和你都十分疼爱我，没有别的心思，也许直说就没有妨碍了吧？我本是狐狸生的。母亲离开时，把我托付给了鬼母，我们相依为命十多年，才有今天。我又没有兄弟，唯一能依靠的就是你。老母亲孤零零地在山坳里，没有人怜惜她，把她与丈夫合葬，她在地下总为这件事悲伤遗憾。你要是不嫌麻烦，也舍得花费，让地下的人消除这份怨恨和痛苦，也许养育女儿的人就不忍心把女儿溺死或抛弃了。”王子服答应了，却担心坟墓已经隐没在荒草中。婴宁只说不必担心。约定日期后，夫妻两人带着棺材前往。婴宁在烟霭迷蒙、荆棘丛生的荒野里指出墓地，果然找到了老妇人的尸体，皮肤还保存着。婴宁抚着尸体，悲痛地哭泣。他们把尸体抬回去，找到秦氏的墓，将两人合葬。当夜，王子服梦见老妇人来道谢，醒来便告诉婴宁。婴宁说：“我夜里也见到她了，嘱咐她别惊吓你。”王子服遗憾没能邀她留下。婴宁说：“她是鬼，活人多的地方阳气旺，怎么能久留？”王子服问起小荣，婴宁说：“她也是狐狸，非常聪明。狐母留下她来照顾我，她常找食物来喂我，所以我一直感念她的恩情，从没有忘记。昨夜问老母亲，她说已经把小荣嫁出去了。”从此每年寒食节，夫妻两人都到秦氏墓前祭拜扫墓，从没有缺过。一年多以后，婴宁生了个儿子。孩子还在怀抱里，就不怕陌生人，见人便笑，也很有他母亲的样子。
One evening she wept in front of Wang. He was surprised. Choking back her sobs, the girl said, “Before, we had not been together long, and I was afraid that telling you would shock and frighten you. Now I can see that your mother and you both love me dearly and have no other thought toward me, so perhaps there is no harm in telling you plainly. I was born of a fox. When my mother left, she gave me into the care of my ghost mother, and we lived together more than ten years, until I came to this day. I have no brothers either; you are the only one I can rely on. My old mother lies lonely in a mountain hollow, with no one to pity her and bury her beside her husband, and down in the Nine Springs she grieves over it. If you will not grudge the trouble and expense, and will let her under the earth be rid of this sorrow, then perhaps people who raise daughters will not bear to drown them.” Wang promised, but he was worried that the grave would be lost in the wild grass. The girl only told him not to worry. On the appointed day, husband and wife set out with a coffin carried on a cart. Among the wild mist and tangled thorns the girl pointed out the grave, and there, sure enough, they found the old woman’s body, the skin still whole. The girl stroked it and wept bitterly. They carried it home, found the grave of Mr. Qin and buried her there with him. That night Wang dreamed that the old woman came to thank him. When he woke he told the girl about it. “I saw her in the night,” she said. “I told her not to frighten you.” Wang was sorry he had not asked her to stay. “She is a ghost,” said the girl. “Where there are many living people, the breath of life is strong. How could she stay long?” Wang asked about Xiaorong. “She is a fox too, and the cleverest of them all. My fox mother left her to look after me. She was always fetching food to feed me, so I am grateful to her and never forget her. I asked my mother last night, and she said she had married her off.” From then on, every year at the Cold Food Festival, husband and wife climbed to the Qin grave to pay their respects and sweep it, and they never missed a year. A year later the girl bore a son. While he was still in arms, he was not afraid of strangers and laughed at everyone he saw. He took a great deal after his mother, they say.
異史氏曰：「觀其孜孜憨笑，似全無心肝者；而牆下惡作劇，其黠孰甚焉。至淒戀鬼母，反笑為哭，我嬰寧殆隱于笑者矣。竊聞山中有草，名「笑矣乎」。嗅之，則笑不可止。房中植此一種，則合歡﹑忘懮，並無顏色矣。若解語花，正嫌其作態耳。」
異史氏說：「看她總是憨憨地笑個不停，彷彿完全沒有心思和感情；可她在牆腳乾的那場惡作劇，又有誰比她更狡黠呢？等到她悲傷地思念鬼母，收起笑容，流下淚來，我這嬰寧，大概是把自己的心事藏在笑裡的人啊。我曾聽說山裡有一種草，名叫『笑矣乎』，聞一聞，就會笑得停不下來。屋裡種上這一種草，合歡、忘憂便都黯然失色了。至於被稱作解語花的美人，我倒嫌她們矯揉造作。」
异史氏曰：「观其孜孜憨笑，似全无心肝者；而墙下恶作剧，其黠孰甚焉。至凄恋鬼母，反笑为哭，我婴宁殆隐于笑者矣。窃闻山中有草，名「笑矣乎」。嗅之，则笑不可止。房中植此一种，则合欢﹑忘懮，并无颜色矣。若解语花，正嫌其作态耳。」
异史氏说：“看她总是憨憨地笑个不停，仿佛完全没有心思和感情；可她在墙脚干的那场恶作剧，又有谁比她更狡黠呢？等到她悲伤地思念鬼母，收起笑容，流下泪来，我这婴宁，大概是把自己的心事藏在笑里的人啊。我曾听说山里有一种草，名叫‘笑矣乎’，闻一闻，就会笑得停不下来。屋里种上这一种草，合欢、忘忧便都黯然失色了。至于被称作解语花的美人，我倒嫌她们矫揉造作。”
The Historian of the Strange says: To see her giggling away so foolishly, you would think she had no heart or mind at all. Yet that nasty trick at the foot of the wall — who could be craftier? And when she longed so sadly for her ghost mother and turned her laughter to tears, then I think our Ying Ning was one who hid herself in laughter. I have heard that in the mountains there grows a herb called Laugh-Away: one sniff of it, and you cannot stop laughing. Plant one of these in your rooms, and the Joining-Joy and the Forget-Sorrow would lose all their colour. As for the ‘flower that understands speech’, one would only find her affected.