且說丁二爺叫小童打開包袱。仔細一看，卻不是西紙，全換了桑皮紙，而且大小不同，仍舊是八包。丁二爺道：「此八包分量不同，有輕有重，通共是四百二十兩。」展爺方明白，晚間揣了九次，原來是饒了二十兩來。周老兒歡喜非常，千恩萬謝。丁二爺道：「若有人問你，銀子從何而來？你就說鎮守雄關總兵之子丁兆蕙給的，在松江府茉花村居住。」展爺也道：「老丈若有人問，誰是保人？你就說常州府武進縣遇杰村姓展名昭的保人。」周老一一記住了。又將昨日丁二爺給的那一錠銀子拿出來，雙手捧與丁二爺道：「這是昨日公子爺所賜，小老兒尚未敢動。今日奉還。」丁二爺笑道：「我曉得你的意思了。昨日我原是漁家打扮，給你銀兩，你恐使了被我訛詐。你如今放心罷。既然給你銀兩，再沒有又收回來的道理。就是這四百多兩銀，也不合你要利息。若日後有事到了你這裡，只要好好的預備一碗香茶，那便是利息了。」周老兒連聲應道：「當得，當得。」丁二爺又叫小童將昨日的漁船喚了來，將周老的衣服業已洗淨曬乾，叫他將漁衣換了。又賞了漁船上二兩銀子。就叫僕從幫著周老兒拿著銀兩，隨去料理。周老兒便要跪倒叩頭。丁二爺連忙攙起，又囑咐道：「倘若茶樓開了之後，再不要粗心改換字號。」周老兒連說：「再不改了！再不改了！」隨著僕人，歡歡喜喜而去。
且说丁二爷叫小童打开包袱。仔细一看，却不是西纸，全换了桑皮纸，而且大小不同，仍旧是八包。丁二爷道：「此八包分量不同，有轻有重，通共是四百二十两。」展爷方明白，晚间揣了九次，原来是饶了二十两来。周老儿欢喜非常，千恩万谢。丁二爷道：「若有人问你，银子从何而来？你就说镇守雄关总兵之子丁兆蕙给的，在松江府茉花村居住。」展爷也道：「老丈若有人问，谁是保人？你就说常州府武进县遇杰村姓展名昭的保人。」周老一一记住了。又将昨日丁二爷给的那一锭银子拿出来，双手捧与丁二爷道：「这是昨日公子爷所赐，小老儿尚未敢动。今日奉还。」丁二爷笑道：「我晓得你的意思了。昨日我原是渔家打扮，给你银两，你恐使了被我讹诈。你如今放心罢。既然给你银两，再没有又收回来的道理。就是这四百多两银，也不合你要利息。若日后有事到了你这里，只要好好的预备一碗香茶，那便是利息了。」周老儿连声应道：「当得，当得。」丁二爷又叫小童将昨日的渔船唤了来，将周老的衣服业已洗净晒干，叫他将渔衣换了。又赏了渔船上二两银子。就叫仆从帮着周老儿拿着银两，随去料理。周老儿便要跪倒叩头。丁二爷连忙搀起，又嘱咐道：「倘若茶楼开了之后，再不要粗心改换字号。」周老儿连说：「再不改了！再不改了！」随着仆人，欢欢喜喜而去。
Now, Second Master Ding had told the page boy to undo the bundle. A close look showed that the silver was no longer wrapped in the stout paper: it had all been rewrapped in mulberry-bark paper, and the packets were of different sizes, though there were still eight of them. “These eight packets aren’t the same weight,” said Second Master Ding. “Some are lighter and some heavier, but altogether they come to four hundred and twenty taels.” Only then did Zhan Zhao understand the ninth packet he had watched Ding tuck away the night before: twenty taels more, thrown in for good measure. Old Zhou was overjoyed and thanked him a thousand times over. “If anyone asks you where the silver came from,” said Second Master Ding, “tell them it was given to you by Ding Zhaohui, son of the Regional Commander who held the great pass, and that he lives at Mohua Village in Songjiang Prefecture.” Zhan Zhao added, “And if anyone asks who stood surety, old sir, tell them it was a man named Zhan Zhao, of Yujie Village in Wujin County, Changzhou Prefecture.” Old Zhou committed every word to memory. Then he brought out the ingot of silver Second Master Ding had given him the day before and held it out to him in both hands. “This is what you gave me yesterday, young sir. I haven’t dared touch it. Today I’m giving it back.” Second Master Ding laughed. “I know what you’re thinking. Yesterday I was dressed as a fisherman when I gave you that silver, and you were afraid that if you spent it, I’d turn round and squeeze you for it. You can set your mind at rest now. Once I’ve given you silver, there’s no reason in the world for me to take it back. And as for these four hundred taels and more, I shan’t ask you for any interest either. If some day I have business that brings me your way, just have a good bowl of fragrant tea ready for me, and that will be all the interest I want.” “That I will, that I will!” said Old Zhou again and again. Second Master Ding also had the page boy call over the fishing boat from the day before. Old Zhou’s own clothes had already been washed and dried, and Ding had him change out of the fisherman’s clothes. He gave the boatmen two taels of silver as well, and then told his servant to help Old Zhou carry the silver and go along with him to see to everything. Old Zhou was about to drop to his knees and kowtow, but Second Master Ding hurried to raise him and gave him one more piece of advice: “Once the teahouse is open, don’t go carelessly changing the shop’s name again.” “I’ll never change it again! Never again!” said Old Zhou over and over, and off he went with the servant, happy as could be.
此時展爺從人已到，拉著馬匹，在一邊伺候。丁二爺問道：「那是展兄的尊騎麼？」展爺道：「正是。」丁二爺道：「昨日家兄遣人來喚小弟。小弟叫來人帶信回稟家兄，說與吾兄巧遇。家兄欲見吾兄，如渴想漿。弟要敦請展兄到敝莊盤桓幾日，不知肯光顧否？」展爺想了一想：「自己原是無事，況假滿尚有日期，趁此何不會會知己，也是快事。」便道：「小弟久已要到寶莊奉謁，未得其便。今既承雅愛，敢不從命。」便叫過從人來，告訴道：「我上松江府茉花村丁大員外那裡去了。我們乘舟。你將馬匹俱各帶回家去罷。不過五六日，我也就回家了。」從人連連答應。拉著馬匹，各自回去不提。
此时展爷从人已到，拉着马匹，在一边伺候。丁二爷问道：「那是展兄的尊骑么？」展爷道：「正是。」丁二爷道：「昨日家兄遣人来唤小弟。小弟叫来人带信回禀家兄，说与吾兄巧遇。家兄欲见吾兄，如渴想浆。弟要敦请展兄到敝庄盘桓几日，不知肯光顾否？」展爷想了一想：「自己原是无事，况假满尚有日期，趁此何不会会知己，也是快事。」便道：「小弟久已要到宝庄奉谒，未得其便。今既承雅爱，敢不从命。」便叫过从人来，告诉道：「我上松江府茉花村丁大员外那里去了。我们乘舟。你将马匹俱各带回家去罢。不过五六日，我也就回家了。」从人连连答应。拉着马匹，各自回去不提。
By now Zhan Zhao’s man had arrived and stood waiting to one side, holding the horses. “Is that your noble steed, Brother Zhan?” asked Second Master Ding. “It is,” said Zhan Zhao. “Yesterday my brother sent a man to call me home,” said Second Master Ding. “I had him take word back to my brother that I’d had the luck to run into you. My brother longs to meet you as a thirsty man longs for a drink. I should like to beg you, Brother Zhan, to come and spend a few days at our humble manor. Will you do us the honour?” Zhan Zhao thought it over. “I’ve nothing in particular to do,” he said to himself, “and there are still some days before my leave is up. Why not take this chance to get to know a kindred spirit? It would be a real pleasure.” So he said, “I’ve long wished to call at your honoured manor, but I never had the chance. Now that you’re so kind as to ask, how could I refuse?” He called his man over and told him, “I’m off to Elder Squire Ding’s, at Mohua Village in Songjiang Prefecture. We’re going by boat, so take the horses back home. I’ll be home myself in five or six days at most.” His man said yes, yes, and led the horses home. But of that no more.
且說展爺與丁二爺帶領小童，一同登舟，竟奔松江府，水路極近。丁二爺乘舟慣了，不甚理會；惟有展爺今日坐在船上，玩賞沿途景致，不覺就神清氣爽，快樂非常。與丁二爺說說笑笑，情投意合。彼此方敘年庚。丁二爺小，展爺大兩歲，便以大哥呼之。展爺便稱丁二爺為賢弟。因敘話間，又提起周老兒一事。展爺問道：「賢弟奉伯母之命，前來進香，如何帶許多銀兩呢？」丁二爺道：「原是要買辦東西的。」展爺道：「如今將此銀贈了周老，又拿甚麼買辦東西呢？」丁二爺道：「弟雖不才，還可以借得出來。」展爺笑道：「借得出來更好；他若不借，必然將燈吹滅，便可借來。」丁二爺聽了，不覺詫異道：「展大哥，此話怎講？」展爺笑道：「莫道人行早，還有早行人。」便將昨晚之事說明。二人鼓掌大笑。
且说展爷与丁二爷带领小童，一同登舟，竟奔松江府，水路极近。丁二爷乘舟惯了，不甚理会；惟有展爷今日坐在船上，玩赏沿途景致，不觉就神清气爽，快乐非常。与丁二爷说说笑笑，情投意合。彼此方叙年庚。丁二爷小，展爷大两岁，便以大哥呼之。展爷便称丁二爷为贤弟。因叙话间，又提起周老儿一事。展爷问道：「贤弟奉伯母之命，前来进香，如何带许多银两呢？」丁二爷道：「原是要买办东西的。」展爷道：「如今将此银赠了周老，又拿甚么买办东西呢？」丁二爷道：「弟虽不才，还可以借得出来。」展爷笑道：「借得出来更好；他若不借，必然将灯吹灭，便可借来。」丁二爷听了，不觉诧异道：「展大哥，此话怎讲？」展爷笑道：「莫道人行早，还有早行人。」便将昨晚之事说明。二人鼓掌大笑。
Our story turns to Zhan Zhao and Second Master Ding, who went aboard a boat with the page boy and made straight for Songjiang Prefecture. By water it was no distance at all. Second Master Ding was used to boats and took little notice of the journey; but Zhan Zhao, sitting in a boat that day and enjoying the scenery along the way, felt his head clear and his spirits lift before he knew it, and he was as happy as could be. He talked and laughed with Second Master Ding, and the two of them found they were of one heart and one mind. Only now did they tell each other their ages. Second Master Ding was the younger and Zhan Zhao the elder by two years, so Ding called him Big Brother, and Zhan Zhao called Second Master Ding his worthy younger brother. As they talked, the matter of Old Zhou came up again. “Brother,” asked Zhan Zhao, “you came to burn incense at your honoured mother’s bidding. How is it you brought so much silver with you?” “It was for buying things,” said Second Master Ding. “And now that you’ve given it to Old Zhou,” said Zhan Zhao, “what are you going to buy things with?” “Unworthy as I am,” said Second Master Ding, “I can still manage to borrow some.” Zhan Zhao laughed. “Borrowing is better still. And if he won’t lend, you’ve only to blow out his lamp, and the loan is yours.” Second Master Ding was startled. “Big Brother Zhan, what do you mean by that?” Zhan Zhao laughed. “Never say you’re the first on the road — there’s always someone who set out before you.” And he told him all about the night before. The two of them clapped their hands and roared with laughter.