丁前溪，諸城人。富有錢穀。游俠好義，慕郭解之為人。御史行臺按訪之。丁亡去。至安丘，遇雨，避身逆旅。雨日中不止。有少年來，館穀豐隆。既而昏暮，止宿其家；莝豆飼畜，給食周至。問其姓字，少年云：「主人楊姓，我其內侄也。主人好交游，適他出，家惟娘子在。貧不能厚客給，幸能垂諒。」問主人何業，則家無資產，惟日設博場，以謀升斗。次日，雨仍不止，供給弗懈。至暮，剉芻，芻束濕，頗極參差。丁怪之。少年曰：「實告客：家貧無以飼畜，適娘子撤屋上茅草。」丁益異之，謂其意在得直。天明，付之金，不受；強付，少年持入。俄了，仍出以反客，云：「娘子言：我非業此獵食者。主人在外，嘗數日不攜一錢；客至吾家，何遂索償乎？」丁嘆贊而別。囑曰：「我諸城丁某，主人歸，宜告之。暇幸見顧。」
丁前溪是諸城人，家裡錢糧豐厚。他喜歡行俠仗義，仰慕郭解的為人。御史行臺查訪他的情況，丁前溪便逃走了。到了安丘，遇上下雨，他到一家旅店避雨。到了中午，雨還沒有停。有個年輕人來接待他，給他準備了豐盛的飯食。後來天黑了，他便住在這人的家裡。他的牲口有碎草和豆子餵養，他自己的飲食也照料得十分周到。丁前溪問那年輕人的姓名，年輕人說：「主人姓楊，我是他妻子的侄子。主人喜歡結交朋友，恰好出門去了，家裡只有娘子在。我們家窮，不能好好招待客人，還望您原諒。」丁前溪問主人靠什麼謀生，才知道這家沒有什麼產業，只靠每天開設賭局，掙一點餬口的錢糧。第二天，雨仍沒有停，他們照舊盡心供應食物。到了傍晚，丁前溪看見用來鍘碎的草料，草捆是溼的，長短也很不整齊，覺得奇怪。年輕人說：「實話告訴您，家裡窮，沒有東西喂牲口，娘子剛才把屋頂的茅草拆下來了。」丁前溪越發驚訝，認為他們是想得到報酬。天亮後，他拿錢給年輕人，年輕人不肯收。他硬塞過去，年輕人便拿了進去。不一會兒，年輕人又出來，把錢退還給他，說：「娘子說，我們不是靠招待過路客人謀生的。主人出門在外，也常常好幾天不帶一個錢；客人來到我們家，怎麼就要向他索取報酬呢？」丁前溪感嘆讚賞，告辭離開，囑咐說：「我是諸城的丁某，主人回來，請把這話告訴他。有空還望到我那裡來看看。
丁前溪，诸城人。富有钱谷。游侠好义，慕郭解之为人。御史行台按访之。丁亡去。至安丘，遇雨，避身逆旅。雨日中不止。有少年来，馆谷丰隆。既而昏暮，止宿其家；莝豆饲畜，给食周至。问其姓字，少年云：「主人杨姓，我其内侄也。主人好交游，适他出，家惟娘子在。贫不能厚客给，幸能垂谅。」问主人何业，则家无资产，惟日设博场，以谋升斗。次日，雨仍不止，供给弗懈。至暮，剉刍，刍束湿，颇极参差。丁怪之。少年曰：「实告客：家贫无以饲畜，适娘子撤屋上茅草。」丁益异之，谓其意在得直。天明，付之金，不受；强付，少年持入。俄了，仍出以反客，云：「娘子言：我非业此猎食者。主人在外，尝数日不携一钱；客至吾家，何遂索偿乎？」丁叹赞而别。嘱曰：「我诸城丁某，主人归，宜告之。暇幸见顾。」
丁前溪是诸城人，家里钱粮丰厚。他喜欢行侠仗义，仰慕郭解的为人。御史行台查访他的情况，丁前溪便逃走了。到了安丘，遇上下雨，他到一家旅店避雨。到了中午，雨还没有停。有个年轻人来接待他，给他准备了丰盛的饭食。后来天黑了，他便住在这人的家里。他的牲口有碎草和豆子喂养，他自己的饮食也照料得十分周到。丁前溪问那年轻人的姓名，年轻人说：“主人姓杨，我是他妻子的侄子。主人喜欢结交朋友，恰好出门去了，家里只有娘子在。我们家穷，不能好好招待客人，还望您原谅。”丁前溪问主人靠什么谋生，才知道这家没有什么产业，只靠每天开设赌局，挣一点糊口的钱粮。第二天，雨仍没有停，他们照旧尽心供应食物。到了傍晚，丁前溪看见用来铡碎的草料，草捆是湿的，长短也很不整齐，觉得奇怪。年轻人说：“实话告诉您，家里穷，没有东西喂牲口，娘子刚才把屋顶的茅草拆下来了。”丁前溪越发惊讶，认为他们是想得到报酬。天亮后，他拿钱给年轻人，年轻人不肯收。他硬塞过去，年轻人便拿了进去。不一会儿，年轻人又出来，把钱退还给他，说：“娘子说，我们不是靠招待过路客人谋生的。主人出门在外，也常常好几天不带一个钱；客人来到我们家，怎么就要向他索取报酬呢？”丁前溪感叹赞赏，告辞离开，嘱咐说：“我是诸城的丁某，主人回来，请把这话告诉他。有空还望到我那里来看看。
Ding Qianxi was a man of Zhucheng, rich in money and grain. He played the knight-errant and loved to do the right thing, and he admired the kind of man Guo Xie had been. The censor’s regional office ordered an inquiry into him, and Ding fled. At Anqiu he was caught by rain and took shelter at an inn. By midday the rain had still not stopped. A young man came and took him in, and fed him generously. When dusk fell, Ding stayed the night at his house. His animals were given chopped straw and beans, and he himself was looked after in every way. When Ding asked his name, the young man said, “The master of the house is named Yang. I am his wife’s nephew. The master loves making friends, but he happens to be away, and only the mistress is at home. We are poor and cannot treat a guest handsomely. We hope you will forgive us.” Ding asked what the master did for a living. It turned out the family had no property at all; Yang simply kept a gambling table every day to earn a little grain. The next day it was still raining, and they looked after him as carefully as before. At dusk, when the fodder was chopped, the bundles were wet and of all different lengths. Ding thought this strange. “To tell you the truth, sir,” said the young man, “we are too poor to feed your animals, so the mistress has just pulled the thatch off the roof.” Ding thought this all the more remarkable, and supposed they were hoping to be paid. At daybreak he offered them money. They would not take it. He pressed it on them, and the young man carried it inside. In a moment he came out again and gave it back. “The mistress says: we don’t make our living off travellers. When the master is away, he often goes for days without a coin on him. When a guest comes to our house, why should we ask him to pay?” Ding sighed in admiration and took his leave. “I am Ding of Zhucheng,” he said. “When the master comes home, tell him so. I hope he will call on me when he has the time.”
數年無耗。值歲大飢，楊困甚，無所為計。妻漫勸詣丁，從之。至諸城，通姓名于門者。丁茫不憶。申言始憶之。蹝履而出，揖客入。見其衣敝踵決，居之溫室，設筵相款，寵禮異常。明日，為制冠服，表裡溫暖。楊義之；而內顧增懮，褊心不能無少望。居數日，殊不言贈別。楊意甚亟，告丁曰：「顧不敢隱：僕來時，米不滿升。今過蒙推解，固樂；妻子如何矣！」丁曰：「是無煩慮，已代經紀矣。幸舒意少留，當助資斧。」走伻招諸博徒，使楊坐而抽頭，終夜得百金，乃送之還。歸見室人，衣履鮮整，小婢侍焉。驚問之。妻言：「自若去後，次日即有車徒齎送布帛菽粟，堆積滿屋，云是丁客所贈。又婢十指，為妾驅使。」楊感不自已。由此小康，不屑舊業矣。
過了幾年，兩家一直沒有音信。遇上大荒年，楊家十分困窘，想不出什麼辦法。妻子試著勸他去找丁前溪，他便去了。到了諸城，他向看門人報上姓名，丁前溪卻完全想不起來。等他進一步說明，丁前溪才記起那件事，來不及提好鞋就迎了出來，向客人作揖，請他進屋。看見他的衣服破舊，鞋後跟裂開了，便安排他住進暖和的房間，擺下酒席招待，禮遇格外隆重。第二天，又給他做了帽子和衣服，裡外都很暖和。楊某感激他的情義，可一想到家裡，便越發憂愁。他心胸狹窄，不免有些怨望。住了幾天，丁前溪始終沒有提臨別贈送財物的事。楊某心裡十分著急，對丁前溪說：「實在不敢瞞您，我來時家裡的米還不到一升。如今承蒙您這樣給我衣食，我自然高興，可我的妻子兒女又怎麼樣了呢！」丁前溪說：「這事不必擔心，我已經替你安排好了。請放寬心，再住些日子，我會幫你準備路費。」他派僕人去招來一群賭徒，讓楊某坐著抽取賭局的分成，一整夜得了一百兩銀子，才送他回去。楊某回家，看見妻子的衣服鞋子都鮮潔整齊，還有個小婢女在旁服侍，便驚訝地問是怎麼回事。妻子說：「你走後的第二天，就有人趕著車，送來布帛、豆子和糧食，堆滿了屋子，說是丁客人送的。還送來一個婢女，供我使喚。」楊某感激得不能自已。從此，他們家過上了小康日子，他也不屑再做從前的營生了。
数年无耗。值岁大饥，杨困甚，无所为计。妻漫劝诣丁，从之。至诸城，通姓名于门者。丁茫不忆。申言始忆之。蹝履而出，揖客入。见其衣敝踵决，居之温室，设筵相款，宠礼异常。明日，为制冠服，表里温暖。杨义之；而内顾增懮，褊心不能无少望。居数日，殊不言赠别。杨意甚亟，告丁曰：「顾不敢隐：仆来时，米不满升。今过蒙推解，固乐；妻子如何矣！」丁曰：「是无烦虑，已代经纪矣。幸舒意少留，当助资斧。」走伻招诸博徒，使杨坐而抽头，终夜得百金，乃送之还。归见室人，衣履鲜整，小婢侍焉。惊问之。妻言：「自若去后，次日即有车徒赍送布帛菽粟，堆积满屋，云是丁客所赠。又婢十指，为妾驱使。」杨感不自已。由此小康，不屑旧业矣。
过了几年，两家一直没有音信。遇上大荒年，杨家十分困窘，想不出什么办法。妻子试着劝他去找丁前溪，他便去了。到了诸城，他向看门人报上姓名，丁前溪却完全想不起来。等他进一步说明，丁前溪才记起那件事，来不及提好鞋就迎了出来，向客人作揖，请他进屋。看见他的衣服破旧，鞋后跟裂开了，便安排他住进暖和的房间，摆下酒席招待，礼遇格外隆重。第二天，又给他做了帽子和衣服，里外都很暖和。杨某感激他的情义，可一想到家里，便越发忧愁。他心胸狭窄，不免有些怨望。住了几天，丁前溪始终没有提临别赠送财物的事。杨某心里十分着急，对丁前溪说：“实在不敢瞒您，我来时家里的米还不到一升。如今承蒙您这样给我衣食，我自然高兴，可我的妻子儿女又怎么样了呢！”丁前溪说：“这事不必担心，我已经替你安排好了。请放宽心，再住些日子，我会帮你准备路费。”他派仆人去招来一群赌徒，让杨某坐着抽取赌局的分成，一整夜得了一百两银子，才送他回去。杨某回家，看见妻子的衣服鞋子都鲜洁整齐，还有个小婢女在旁服侍，便惊讶地问是怎么回事。妻子说：“你走后的第二天，就有人赶着车，送来布帛、豆子和粮食，堆满了屋子，说是丁客人送的。还送来一个婢女，供我使唤。”杨某感激得不能自已。从此，他们家过上了小康日子，他也不屑再做从前的营生了。
Several years passed without any word. Then came a year of great famine. Yang was in dire straits and could think of nothing to do. His wife suggested, without much hope, that he go to Ding, and he did. At Zhucheng he gave his name to the gatekeeper. Ding had no memory of him; only when Yang explained further did he remember. He came hurrying out without stopping to pull his shoes on, bowed, and showed his guest in. Seeing that Yang’s clothes were in rags and his heels showed through his shoes, he lodged him in a warm room and laid on a feast, and treated him with extraordinary honour. The next day he had a hat and clothes made for him, warm inside and out. Yang was grateful for his generosity; but thinking of his family at home, he grew more and more anxious, and in his narrow heart he could not help a little resentment. Several days passed, and Ding said not a word about a parting gift. Yang grew desperate and said to Ding, “I dare not hide it from you: when I left home there was not a pint of rice in the house. You have shared your food and clothes with me, more than I deserve, and I am glad indeed — but what of my wife and children?” “Don’t trouble yourself about that,” said Ding. “I have already seen to it for you. Please set your mind at ease and stay a little longer. I will help you with money for the road.” He sent a servant to call in all the gamblers, and had Yang sit and take the house’s cut. In one night he made a hundred taels of silver. Then Ding sent him home. When Yang got home, he found his wife in fresh, neat clothes and shoes, with a little maid waiting on her. He asked her in astonishment what had happened. “The day after you left,” she said, “carts and men came bringing cloth and silk, beans and grain, and piled the house full. They said it was a gift from our guest Ding. And a maid besides, a pair of hands at my bidding.” Yang was moved beyond words. From then on they were comfortably off, and he would no longer stoop to his old trade.
異史氏曰：「貧而好客，飲博浮蕩者優為之；最異者，獨其妻耳。受之施而不報，豈人也哉？然一飯之德不忘，丁其有焉？
異史氏說：「家裡貧窮卻喜歡招待客人，喝酒賭博、遊蕩無業的人也很能做到；最不同尋常的，只有他的妻子。受了人家的恩惠卻不報答，還算是人嗎？不過，連一頓飯的恩情都不忘記，丁前溪大概就是這樣的人吧？」
异史氏曰：「贫而好客，饮博浮荡者优为之；最异者，独其妻耳。受之施而不报，岂人也哉？然一饭之德不忘，丁其有焉？
异史氏说：“家里贫穷却喜欢招待客人，喝酒赌博、游荡无业的人也很能做到；最不同寻常的，只有他的妻子。受了人家的恩惠却不报答，还算是人吗？不过，连一顿饭的恩情都不忘记，丁前溪大概就是这样的人吧？”
The Historian of the Strange says: To be poor and yet love guests is something drinkers, gamblers and idlers do well enough. The truly remarkable one is his wife alone. To take a kindness and never repay it — is that being human? Yet never to forget the kindness of a single meal: Ding had that, did he not?