且不言唐僧等在華光破屋中苦耐夜雨存身。卻說銅臺府地靈縣城內有夥兇徒，因宿娼、飲酒、賭博，花費了家私，無計過活，遂夥了十數人做賊，算道本城哪家是第一個財主，哪家是第二個財主，去打劫些金銀用度。內有一人道：「也不用緝訪，也不須算計，只有今日送那唐朝和尚的寇員外家十分富厚。我們乘此夜雨，街上人也不防備，火甲等也不巡邏，就此下手，劫他些貲本，我們再去嫖賭兒耍子，豈不美哉？」眾賊歡喜，齊了心，都帶了短刀、蒺藜、拐子、悶棍、麻繩、火把，冒雨前來，打開寇家大門，吶喊殺入。慌得他家裡若大若小，是男是女，俱躲個乾淨：媽媽兒躲在床底；老頭兒閃在門後；寇梁、寇棟與著親的幾個兒女，都戰戰兢兢的四散逃走顧命。那夥賊拿著刀，點著火，將他家箱籠打開，把些金銀寶貝、首飾衣裳、器皿家火，盡情搜劫。那員外割捨不得，拚了命，走出門來，對眾強人哀告道：「列位大王，夠你用的便罷，還留幾件衣物與我老漢送終。」那眾強人哪容分說，趕上前，把寇員外撩陰一腳，踢翻在地。可憐三魂渺渺歸陰府，七魄悠悠別世人！眾賊得了手，走出寇家，順城腳做了軟梯，漫城牆一一繫出，冒著雨連夜奔西而去。那寇家僮僕見賊退了，方才出頭。及看時，老員外已死在地下。放聲哭道：「天呀！主人公已打死了！」眾皆伏屍而哭，悲悲啼啼。
且不言唐僧等在华光破屋中苦耐夜雨存身。却说铜台府地灵县城内有伙凶徒，因宿娼、饮酒、赌博，花费了家私，无计过活，遂伙了十数人做贼，算道本城哪家是第一个财主，哪家是第二个财主，去打劫些金银用度。内有一人道：「也不用缉访，也不须算计，只有今日送那唐朝和尚的寇员外家十分富厚。我们乘此夜雨，街上人也不防备，火甲等也不巡逻，就此下手，劫他些赀本，我们再去嫖赌儿耍子，岂不美哉？」众贼欢喜，齐了心，都带了短刀、蒺藜、拐子、闷棍、麻绳、火把，冒雨前来，打开寇家大门，呐喊杀入。慌得他家里若大若小，是男是女，俱躲个干净：妈妈儿躲在床底；老头儿闪在门后；寇梁、寇栋与着亲的几个儿女，都战战兢兢的四散逃走顾命。那伙贼拿着刀，点着火，将他家箱笼打开，把些金银宝贝、首饰衣裳、器皿家火，尽情搜劫。那员外割舍不得，拼了命，走出门来，对众强人哀告道：「列位大王，够你用的便罢，还留几件衣物与我老汉送终。」那众强人哪容分说，赶上前，把寇员外撩阴一脚，踢翻在地。可怜三魂渺渺归阴府，七魄悠悠别世人！众贼得了手，走出寇家，顺城脚做了软梯，漫城墙一一系出，冒着雨连夜奔西而去。那寇家僮仆见贼退了，方才出头。及看时，老员外已死在地下。放声哭道：「天呀！主人公已打死了！」众皆伏尸而哭，悲悲啼啼。
We leave the Tang Monk and his companions sheltering in the ruined buildings of Radiant Splendour Temple, miserably enduring the night’s rain. Our story turns to a gang of ruffians in the town of Earth-Spirit County, Copper Terrace Prefecture. They had squandered their family property on prostitutes, drink and gambling, and now had no means of living. A dozen or more joined together to become robbers, reckoning which household in town was richest, and which came second, so they could steal some gold and silver to spend. One of them said, “No need to ask around or work it out. Squire Kou, who saw those monks from the Tang off today, is enormously rich. With this rain tonight, nobody in the streets will be on their guard, and the fire-wardens won’t be patrolling. We can strike now, steal some of his money, and go back to whoring and gambling for fun. Wouldn’t that be grand?” The robbers were delighted. All of one mind, they armed themselves with short knives, spiked clubs, crooked cudgels, blackjacks, hemp ropes and torches. Through the rain they came, broke open the Kou family’s main gate and charged in with murderous shouts. Everyone in the house, young and old, male and female, fled into hiding: the old woman crawled beneath the bed; the old man slipped behind a door; Kou Liang, Kou Dong and the other sons and daughters who were married scattered in all directions, trembling and running for their lives. Knives in hand and torches lit, the robbers smashed open the chests and trunks and ransacked the house, taking gold, silver, treasures, jewellery, clothes, vessels and household goods. The squire could not bear to part with them all. Risking his life, he came out from behind the door and pleaded with the bandits, “Great Kings, once you have enough for your needs, please stop. Leave this old man a few things to be buried in.” They would hear none of it. Rushing up, they kicked Squire Kou in the groin and knocked him to the ground. Alas, his three souls drifted off to the Underworld; his seven spirits floated away from the world of men! Having got what they wanted, the robbers left the Kou house, made rope ladders along the foot of the town wall and let themselves down over it one by one. Through the rain they fled west all that night. Only when they saw the robbers had gone did the Kou servants venture out. Looking about, they found the old squire dead on the ground. “Heavens!” they cried aloud. “Our master has been beaten to death!” They all threw themselves over his body, weeping bitterly.
將四更時，那媽媽想恨唐僧等不受他的齋供，因為花撲撲的送他，惹出這場災禍，便生妒害之心，欲陷他四眾。扶著寇梁道：「兒啊，不須哭了。你老子今日也齋僧，明日也齋僧，豈知今日做圓滿，齋著那一夥送命的僧也。」他兄弟道：「母親，怎麼是送命僧？」媽媽道：「賊勢兇勇，殺進房來，我就躲在床下，戰兢兢的留心向燈火處看得明白。你說是誰？點火的是唐僧，持刀的是豬八戒，搬金銀的是沙和尚，打死你老子的是孫行者。」二子聽言，認了真實道：「母親既然看得明白，必定是了。他四人在我家住了半月，將我家門戶牆垣、窗櫺巷道，俱看熟了，財動人心，所以乘此夜雨，復到我家，既劫去財物，又害了父親，此情何毒！待天明到府裡遞失狀，坐名告他。」寇棟道：「失狀如何寫？」寇梁道：「就依母親之言。」寫道： 唐僧點著火，八戒叫殺人。沙和尚劫出金銀去，孫行者打死我父親。 一家子吵吵鬧鬧，不覺天曉。一壁廂傳請親人，置辦棺木；一壁廂寇梁兄弟，赴府投詞。原來這銅臺府刺史正堂大人： 平生正直，素性賢良。少年向雪案攻書，早歲在金鑾對策。常懷忠義之心，每切仁慈之念。名揚青史播千年，龔黃再見；聲振黃堂傳萬古，卓魯重生。 當時坐了堂，發放了一應事務，即令擡出放告牌。這寇梁兄弟抱牌而入，跪倒高叫道：「爺爺，小的們是告強盜得財，殺傷人命重情事。」刺史接上狀去，看了這般這的，如此如彼，即問道：「昨日有人傳說，你家齋僧圓滿，齋得四眾高僧，乃東土唐朝的羅漢，花撲撲的滿街鼓樂送行，怎麼卻有這般事情？」寇梁等磕頭道：「爺爺，小的父親寇洪，齋僧二十四年。因這四僧遠來，恰足萬僧之數，因此做了圓滿，留他住了半月。他就將路道、門窗都看熟了。當日送出，當晚復回，乘黑夜風雨，遂明火執杖，殺進房來，劫去金銀財寶、衣服首飾，又將父打死在地。望爺爺與小民做主。」刺史聞言，即點起馬步快手并民壯人役，共有百五十人，各執鋒利器械，出西門，一直來趕唐僧四眾。
将四更时，那妈妈想恨唐僧等不受他的斋供，因为花扑扑的送他，惹出这场灾祸，便生妒害之心，欲陷他四众。扶着寇梁道：「儿啊，不须哭了。你老子今日也斋僧，明日也斋僧，岂知今日做圆满，斋着那一伙送命的僧也。」他兄弟道：「母亲，怎么是送命僧？」妈妈道：「贼势凶勇，杀进房来，我就躲在床下，战兢兢的留心向灯火处看得明白。你说是谁？点火的是唐僧，持刀的是猪八戒，搬金银的是沙和尚，打死你老子的是孙行者。」二子听言，认了真实道：「母亲既然看得明白，必定是了。他四人在我家住了半月，将我家门户墙垣、窗櫺巷道，俱看熟了，财动人心，所以乘此夜雨，复到我家，既劫去财物，又害了父亲，此情何毒！待天明到府里递失状，坐名告他。」寇栋道：「失状如何写？」寇梁道：「就依母亲之言。」写道： 唐僧点着火，八戒叫杀人。沙和尚劫出金银去，孙行者打死我父亲。 一家子吵吵闹闹，不觉天晓。一壁厢传请亲人，置办棺木；一壁厢寇梁兄弟，赴府投词。原来这铜台府刺史正堂大人： 平生正直，素性贤良。少年向雪案攻书，早岁在金銮对策。常怀忠义之心，每切仁慈之念。名扬青史播千年，龚黄再见；声振黄堂传万古，卓鲁重生。 当时坐了堂，发放了一应事务，即令抬出放告牌。这寇梁兄弟抱牌而入，跪倒高叫道：「爷爷，小的们是告强盗得财，杀伤人命重情事。」刺史接上状去，看了这般这的，如此如彼，即问道：「昨日有人传说，你家斋僧圆满，斋得四众高僧，乃东土唐朝的罗汉，花扑扑的满街鼓乐送行，怎么却有这般事情？」寇梁等磕头道：「爷爷，小的父亲寇洪，斋僧二十四年。因这四僧远来，恰足万僧之数，因此做了圆满，留他住了半月。他就将路道、门窗都看熟了。当日送出，当晚复回，乘黑夜风雨，遂明火执杖，杀进房来，劫去金银财宝、衣服首饰，又将父打死在地。望爷爷与小民做主。」刺史闻言，即点起马步快手并民壮人役，共有百五十人，各执锋利器械，出西门，一直来赶唐僧四众。
As the fourth watch approached, the old woman thought bitterly of how the Tang Monk and his companions had refused her offerings of food. Their showy farewell had brought this disaster upon the house. Malice rose in her, and she decided to frame the four pilgrims. Supporting Kou Liang, she said, “Son, stop crying. Your father fed monks today and fed monks tomorrow, never dreaming that on the very day he fulfilled his vow, he would feed a gang of death-bringing monks.” The brothers asked, “Mother, what do you mean, death-bringing monks?” She said, “When those fierce robbers stormed into the rooms, I hid under the bed. I was shaking, but I kept my eyes on the lamplight and saw them plainly. Who do you think they were? The Tang Monk lit the fire, Zhu Bajie held the knife, Sha Monk carried off the gold and silver, and Pilgrim Sun killed your father.” The two sons believed every word. “If Mother saw them clearly, it must be true. Those four stayed in our house for half a month. They had every gate, wall, window and passage memorized. Wealth stirs a man’s heart, so they took advantage of tonight’s rain to return, steal our property and murder Father. What vicious hearts! At daybreak we’ll submit a complaint to the prefecture and accuse them by name.” Kou Dong asked, “How shall we write the complaint?” Kou Liang said, “Just as Mother told us.” They wrote:
卻說他師徒們在那華光行院破屋下挨至天曉，方才出門，上路奔西。可可的那些強盜當夜打劫了寇家，繫出城外，也向西方大路上，行經天曉，走過華光院西去，有二十里遠近，藏於山凹中，分撥金銀等物。分還未了，忽見唐僧四眾順路而來，眾賊心猶不歇，指定唐僧道：「那不是昨日送行的和尚來了？」眾賊笑道：「來得好，來得好。我們也是幹這般沒天理的買賣，這些和尚緣路來，又在寇家許久，不知身邊有多少東西，我們索性去截住他，奪了盤纏，搶了白馬湊分，卻不是遂心滿意之事？」眾賊遂持兵器，吶一聲喊，跑上大路，一字兒擺開，叫道：「和尚，不要走，快留下買路錢，饒你性命；牙迸半個『不』字，一刀一個，決不留存。」諕得唐僧在馬上亂戰，沙僧與八戒心慌，對行者道：「怎的了？怎的了？苦耐得半夜雨天，又早遇強徒斷路，誠所謂『禍不單行』也。」行者笑道：「師父莫怕，兄弟勿憂，等老孫去問他一問。」
却说他师徒们在那华光行院破屋下挨至天晓，方才出门，上路奔西。可可的那些强盗当夜打劫了寇家，系出城外，也向西方大路上，行经天晓，走过华光院西去，有二十里远近，藏于山凹中，分拨金银等物。分还未了，忽见唐僧四众顺路而来，众贼心犹不歇，指定唐僧道：「那不是昨日送行的和尚来了？」众贼笑道：「来得好，来得好。我们也是干这般没天理的买卖，这些和尚缘路来，又在寇家许久，不知身边有多少东西，我们索性去截住他，夺了盘缠，抢了白马凑分，却不是遂心满意之事？」众贼遂持兵器，呐一声喊，跑上大路，一字儿摆开，叫道：「和尚，不要走，快留下买路钱，饶你性命；牙迸半个『不』字，一刀一个，决不留存。」諕得唐僧在马上乱战，沙僧与八戒心慌，对行者道：「怎的了？怎的了？苦耐得半夜雨天，又早遇强徒断路，诚所谓『祸不单行』也。」行者笑道：「师父莫怕，兄弟勿忧，等老孙去问他一问。」
Meanwhile, master and disciples had endured the night beneath the ruined roof of Radiant Splendour Temple. Only when dawn came did they emerge and set off west. As chance would have it, the robbers who had plundered the Kou house that night and lowered themselves outside the town wall had also taken the western highway. Travelling till daybreak, they had passed Radiant Splendour Temple and gone another twenty li or so west, then hidden in a hollow among the hills to divide the gold, silver and other goods. Before they had finished, they saw the four pilgrims coming along the road. Their greed was still unsatisfied. Pointing to the Tang Monk, one said, “Aren’t those the monks who were seen off yesterday?” The robbers laughed. “Just in time! Just in time! Ours is a trade that defies Heaven anyway. These monks have come begging all along the road and stayed so long with the Kous—who knows how much they have on them? We might as well stop them, take their travelling money and steal the white horse to add to our shares. Wouldn’t that suit us nicely?” Weapons in hand, the robbers shouted and ran onto the highway. They drew up in a line and called, “Monks, stop! Pay for your passage and we’ll spare your lives. Let so much as half a ‘no’ slip through your teeth, and it’s one stroke of the knife for each of you. Not one left alive!” The Tang Monk shook all over in his saddle. Sha Monk and Bajie were alarmed too. “What are we to do?” they asked Pilgrim. “What are we to do? After enduring half a night of rain, now we meet bandits blocking the road. Truly, ‘Troubles never come alone.’” Pilgrim laughed. “Master, don’t be afraid. Brothers, don’t worry. Let Old Sun go and ask them a question or two.”