且說馬強將翟九成送縣，正要搜尋寫狀之人，只見那邊來了個乘馬的相公，後面跟定老僕。看他等形景，有些疑惑，便想出個計較來，將絲韁一抖，迎了上來，雙手一拱道：「尊兄請了！可是上天竺進香的麼？」原來乘馬的就是倪繼祖，順著惡賊的口氣答道：「正是。請問足下何人？如何知道學生進香呢？」惡賊道：「小弟姓馬，在前面莊中居住。小弟有個心願，但凡有進香的，必要請到莊中待茶，也是一片施捨好善之心。」說著話，目視惡奴。眾家人會意，不管倪繼祖依與不依，便上前牽住嚼環，拉著就走。倪忠見此光景，知道有些不妥，只得在後面緊緊跟隨。不多時，來至莊前，過了護莊橋，便是莊門。馬強下了馬，也不謙讓，回頭吩咐道：「把他們帶進來。」惡奴答應一聲，把主僕蜂擁而入。倪繼祖暗道：「我正要探訪，不想就遇見他。看他這般權勢，惟恐不懷好意。且進去看個端的怎樣。」
且说马强将翟九成送县，正要搜寻写状之人，只见那边来了个乘马的相公，后面跟定老仆。看他等形景，有些疑惑，便想出个计较来，将丝缰一抖，迎了上来，双手一拱道：「尊兄请了！可是上天竺进香的么？」原来乘马的就是倪继祖，顺着恶贼的口气答道：「正是。请问足下何人？如何知道学生进香呢？」恶贼道：「小弟姓马，在前面庄中居住。小弟有个心愿，但凡有进香的，必要请到庄中待茶，也是一片施舍好善之心。」说着话，目视恶奴。众家人会意，不管倪继祖依与不依，便上前牵住嚼环，拉着就走。倪忠见此光景，知道有些不妥，只得在后面紧紧跟随。不多时，来至庄前，过了护庄桥，便是庄门。马强下了马，也不谦让，回头吩咐道：「把他们带进来。」恶奴答应一声，把主仆蜂拥而入。倪继祖暗道：「我正要探访，不想就遇见他。看他这般权势，惟恐不怀好意。且进去看个端的怎样。」
Now, Ma Qiang had sent Zhai Jiucheng off to the county and was about to hunt down whoever had written his complaint, when he saw a young gentleman come riding up from the other direction, with an old servant close behind. Something in the look of the pair made him suspicious, and he hit on a scheme. With a shake of his silk reins he rode to meet them, raised his clasped hands and said, “Your servant, honoured sir! Would you be on your way up to Tianzhu to offer incense?” The rider was none other than Ni Jizu, and he fell in with the villain’s words. “I am indeed. And may I ask who you are, sir, and how you knew I was going to offer incense?” “My name is Ma,” said the villain, “and I live in the manor just ahead. I have made a vow: whenever pilgrims pass this way, I must invite them to my manor for tea. It’s a little act of charity, a way of doing good.” As he spoke, he gave his vicious servants a look. His men took the hint. Without waiting to hear whether Ni Jizu would accept or not, they stepped up, seized his horse by the bit and led him off. At the sight of this Ni Zhong knew something was wrong, but all he could do was follow close behind. Before long they reached the manor. Over the bridge across the manor moat stood the gate. Ma Qiang got down from his horse and, with no polite show of yielding his guest the way, turned and ordered, “Bring them in.” The vicious servants answered with a shout and swarmed master and man inside. Ni Jizu thought to himself, “I came here to make inquiries, and the very man walks up to me. With power like this to throw about, I fear he means no good. I’ll go in and see how things really stand.”
馬強此時坐在招賢館，兩旁羅列坐著許多豪傑光棍。馬強便說：「遇見翟九成搜出一張呈子，寫的甚是利害。我立刻派人將他送縣。正要搜查寫狀之人，可巧來了個斯文秀才公，我想此狀必是他寫的，因此把他誆來。」說罷，將狀子拿出，遞與沈仲元。沈仲元看了道：「果然寫的好。但不知是這秀才不是？」馬強道：「管他是不是，把他吊起拷打就完了。」沈仲元道：「員外不可如此。他既是讀書之人，須要以禮相待，用言語套問他。如若不應，再行拷打不遲，所謂先禮而後兵也。」馬強道：「賢弟所論甚是。」吩咐請那秀士。
马强此时坐在招贤馆，两旁罗列坐着许多豪杰光棍。马强便说：「遇见翟九成搜出一张呈子，写的甚是利害。我立刻派人将他送县。正要搜查写状之人，可巧来了个斯文秀才公，我想此状必是他写的，因此把他诓来。」说罢，将状子拿出，递与沈仲元。沈仲元看了道：「果然写的好。但不知是这秀才不是？」马强道：「管他是不是，把他吊起拷打就完了。」沈仲元道：「员外不可如此。他既是读书之人，须要以礼相待，用言语套问他。如若不应，再行拷打不迟，所谓先礼而后兵也。」马强道：「贤弟所论甚是。」吩咐请那秀士。
Ma Qiang was now sitting in the Zhaoxian Lodge, with a crowd of bravos and ruffians seated in rows on either side. “I ran into Zhai Jiucheng,” he told them, “and found a complaint on him, and a nasty piece of work it was. I had him sent to the county at once. I was just about to look for whoever wrote it when, as luck would have it, along came a refined young scholar. I reckon he must have written it, so I tricked him into coming here.” With that he took out the complaint and handed it to Shen Zhongyuan. Shen Zhongyuan read it. “It is well written indeed. But who knows whether this scholar wrote it or not?” “Who cares whether he did or not?” said Ma Qiang. “String him up and beat him, and that’s that.” “You mustn’t do that, Squire,” said Shen Zhongyuan. “He is a man of letters, so you must treat him with courtesy and draw him out with talk. If he won’t answer, there will be time enough to beat him then. As the saying goes, ‘First courtesy, then the sword.’” “You’re quite right, my good brother,” said Ma Qiang, and gave orders to invite the scholar in.
此時惡奴等俱在外面候信，聽見說請秀士，連忙對倪繼祖道：「我們員外請你呢。你見了要小心些。」倪繼祖來到廳房，見中間廊下懸一匾額，寫著「招賢館」三字，暗暗道：「他是何等樣人，竟敢設立招賢館。可見是不法之徒。」及至進了廳房，見馬強坐在上位，傲不為禮。兩旁坐著許多人物，看上去俱非善類。卻有兩個人站起，執手讓道：「請坐。」倪繼祖也只得執手回答道：「恕坐。」便在下手坐了。
此时恶奴等俱在外面候信，听见说请秀士，连忙对倪继祖道：「我们员外请你呢。你见了要小心些。」倪继祖来到厅房，见中间廊下悬一匾额，写着「招贤馆」三字，暗暗道：「他是何等样人，竟敢设立招贤馆。可见是不法之徒。」及至进了厅房，见马强坐在上位，傲不为礼。两旁坐着许多人物，看上去俱非善类。却有两个人站起，执手让道：「请坐。」倪继祖也只得执手回答道：「恕坐。」便在下手坐了。
The vicious servants were all waiting outside for word, and when they heard the scholar was to be invited in, they hurried over to Ni Jizu. “Our squire is asking for you. Mind your manners when you see him.” Ni Jizu came to the hall. Under the eaves in the middle hung a plaque bearing three characters: Zhaoxian Lodge, the Lodge for Summoning Worthies. He thought to himself, “What sort of man is he, that he dares to set up a lodge for summoning worthies? He must be an outlaw.” When he went into the hall, there sat Ma Qiang in the seat of honour, too proud to greet him. On either side sat a crowd of men, and not one of them looked like decent folk. But two of them rose, raised their clasped hands and said, “Please, be seated.” Ni Jizu had no choice but to raise his own hands in reply. “Pardon me for sitting,” he said, and took a lower seat.