聂小倩
Nie Xiaoqian
1．
原文：
宁采臣，浙人。性慷爽，廉隅*自重。每*对人言：“生平无二色*。”适赴金华，至北郭*，
解装兰若*。寺中殿塔壮丽；然蓬蒿没*人，似绝行踪。东西僧舍，双扉虚掩；惟南一小舍，扃
键*如新。又顾殿东隅*，修竹拱把*；阶下有巨池，野藕已花。意甚乐其幽杳。会*学使案临*，城
舍价昂，思便留止，遂散步以待僧归。日暮，有士人来，启南扉。宁趋为礼，且告以意。士
人曰：“此间无房主，仆亦侨居*。能甘荒落，旦晚惠教，幸甚。”宁喜，藉藁代床，支板作
几，为久客计。是夜，月明高洁，清光似水，二人促膝殿廊，各展姓字*。士人*自言：“燕
姓，字赤霞。”宁疑为赴试诸生，而听其音声，殊不类浙。诘之，自言：“秦人。”语甚朴
诚。既而相对词竭，遂拱别归寝。
注释：
1．廉隅：棱角。，比喻品行端正。《礼记。儒行》：“近文章，砥厉廉隅。”2。每：经常，时常，时不时。 3。无二色：不娶第二个女人，指不娶妾，没有外遇，也就是现在常说的二奶。色，女色。 4。适赴金华：适：恰好；往。赴：去。金华：当年的府名，地处现在浙江省的金华县，以火腿著称，金华火腿为当地的名牌特产。5。郭：古城外围加筑的一道城墙。6。兰若：梵语“阿兰若”的音译。原为佛家比丘习静修的处所，后一般指佛寺。7。没：读“莫”。淹没；遮蔽。8。扃键：门上的金属插棍儿。“扃”，读“迥”的平声。从外面关门的门闩或门环之类的东西，借指门扇。键，插门的金属棍儿，俗称插关。9。 隅：读“雨”，角落。10。拱吧：一手满握。11。 会：时机，机会。引申为“正赶上”。12。学使临案：学使，督学使者，就是提督学政，简称学政，是封建时代中央政府派往各省督察学政的长官。科举时代，各省学使在三年任期内，依次巡行所辖各府的考试生员，称“临案”。13。侨居：现在指在外国居住。但在古代也指在外乡居住。14。姓字：也说姓名。字，表字，正名之外的别名。15：士人：封建时代的读书人。16。秦：古秦国之地，在现今的陕西。。
白话：
宁采臣，浙江人。性情慷慨豪爽，品行端正，对自己要求很严格。经常对人说：“我这辈子不沾第二个女人。”恰好往金华去，到了北城墙外，在一座佛寺中解开行李休息。寺庙里殿堂佛塔十分壮丽；但是庭院里蓬蒿（又高又密），人在里面都看不见，似乎没有人迹行踪。东西各有一间僧人住的小屋，两扇虚掩着；只有南面一间小屋，门上的铁插关像新的一样。再看殿堂东面的角落里，高高的竹子有一把粗；台阶下有个大池塘，野荷已经开花。他非常喜欢这里的幽雅宁静。正赶上提督学政到这里巡行考察考试生员的情况，城里的房价随之昂贵起来，他就想住在这里，于是散步等待僧人回来。傍晚时分，有一位书生回来，打开南房门。宁采臣走上前去施礼，并且说明来意。书生说：“这里没有房主，我也是在这里居住的外乡人。（如果你）不怕寂寞（住在这里），（我）一早一晚地能够向你请教，实在荣幸。”宁采臣非常高兴，就用蓬蒿代替床，支块木板作茶几，打算长期客居在这里。当天夜里，明月高洁，清光似水，二人在殿堂的走廊里促膝畅谈，各报姓名和表字。书生自己主动说：“我姓燕，字赤霞。”宁采臣怀疑他是参加考试的书生，可是听他说话的声音，根本不像是浙江人。问他，他就说：“我是秦人。”说话非常朴实诚恳。随后互相之间说得已经没话可说，就拱起手相互告别，回去睡觉了。
英译：
Ning Caichen of Zhejiang Province was straightforward and well-behaved. He often said to others, “I’ll never have a second woman in my whole life.”
One day, going to Jinhua City, he had a rest in a temple in the northern suburb. The buildings were grand but the wormwood rose up to one’s head. The place seemed desolate and uninhabited. But when drawing near, he found two monk’s houses, one in east side, the other west side, the doors closed but unlocked. And still there was another one in south side, though small, yet the door latch was strong as a new one. Looking at the eastern corner to the main building, Ning found, at the foot of the steps, some bamboo and a large pond with wild lotus in flower.
Ning was quite satisfied with the tranquility. Moreover the rental in downtown was much higher than ever before because the term examination was drawing near. The relative officials and many scholars had already come and the houses in town thus became more insufficient than usual. After having considered all these, he decided to stay here and had a walk in the courtyard waiting for the monk to come back.
At dusk a scholar came and opened the door of the house in south side. Ning stepped up politely and told his intention to the man.
“No landlord here. I stay here just temporarily too,” said the scholar. “If you don’t care about the desolation, just stay here. It’s my honor to be your neighbor and maybe I will turn to you for help.”
Ning was very happy and used wormwood in place of a bed and put up a board as a table. By doing so, he decided to stay long.
A bright moon in the night sky with the silver light as clear as water, the two men exchanged names while having a hear-to-heart talk in the veranda.
“My family name is Yan, another name is Chixia,” said the scholar.
Ning doubted that he was maybe a candidate who was to go and sit in the examination. Judging from his accent, Ning felt that he seemed to come far away.
“I’m not a local resident.” What Yan said was quite sincere and honest. Yet with every minute passing so rapidly, they could only looked at each other and found no more to say, so they bid farewell in a respectful manner and went to bed respectively..
2．
原文：
宁以新居，久不成寐。闻舍北喁喁*，如有家口。起伏北壁石窗下，微窥之。见短墙外一
小院落，有妇可四十余；又一媪衣【黑曷】绯*，插蓬沓*，鲐背*龙钟，偶语月下。妇曰：“小
倩何久不来？”媪曰：“殆*好至矣。”妇曰：“将无向姥姥有怨言否？”曰：“不闻，但意
似蹙蹙。”妇曰：“婢子不宜好相识！”言未已，有一十七八女子来，仿佛艳绝。媪笑曰：
“背地不言人，我两个正谈道，小妖婢悄来无迹响。幸不訾*着短处。”又曰：“小娘子端好
是画中人，遮莫*老身是男子，也被摄魂去。”女曰：“姥姥不相誉，更阿谁道好？”妇人女
子又不知何言。宁意其邻人眷口，寝不复听。又许时，始寂无声。方将睡去，觉有人至寝
所。急起审顾，则北院女子也。惊问之。女笑曰：“月夜不寐，愿修燕好*。”宁正容曰：
“卿防物议，我畏人言；略一失足，廉耻道丧。”女云：“夜无知者。”宁又咄之。女逡巡
若复有词。宁叱：“速去！不然，当呼南舍生知。”女惧，乃退。至户外复返，以黄金一铤
置褥上。宁掇掷庭墀*，曰：“非义之物，污吾囊橐！”女惭，出，拾金自言曰：“此汉当是
铁石。”
注释：
1．喁喁：读“庸庸”，低声说话的声音。2。衣【黑曷】绯：穿着退色的红绸服。衣，这里是动词“穿”。【黑曷】，括号中两个字组成一个字。电脑无此字，因此以这种方式表示。读“叶”，变色，退色。绯，读“飞”，红色，此处指红色绸缎。3。蓬沓，银制的大梳子。苏轼《於潜令刁同年野翁亭》诗自注：“於潜妇女皆插大银栉，长尺许，谓之蓬沓。” 栉，读“志”，梳子，篦子。4。鲐背：驼背。鲐，读“台”，因此也作“台背”，驼背。5。殆：读“代”，几乎，差不多。这里作“待，等待”解。6。将无：“得无”，“有没有”的意思。7。蹙蹙：读“促”，皱眉头。8。訾：读“资”，说坏话。9。端好：果然，的确。也作“端的”，“的”，读“地”。“端的”多见于早期白话文。10。遮莫：假如，如果。11。誉：称赞。12。燕好：结为夫妇。燕好，亲好，夫妇之好。“燕好”，也就是常说的“秦晋之好”，春秋时期，秦晋两国好几代都结为婚姻。后称两姓联姻为“秦晋之好”。12。墀：读“迟”，台阶。
白话：
宁采臣因为住在新地方，久久不能入睡。他听到屋子背面有人在低声说话，好像有人家。于
是起来，背面墙壁上的石窗下，悄悄地往里偷看。只见短墙外面有一个小院落，那里有大约
四十多个女人；又见有一个老太太，身穿退色的红绸服，头上插着大银梳子，驼着背，一副
老态龙钟的样子，偶尔在月光下说上几句。有个女人说：“小倩为什么这么长时间还不来？”
老太太说：“等她把事办好就会来。”女人说：“她有没有向姥姥发过怨言？”老太太说：
“没听到过，似乎只是皱着眉头。”女人说曰：“小妮子真不知好歹！”话音未落，有一个
十七八的姑娘走来了，看上去很漂亮。老太太笑着说“背地不说人，我两个正说着呢，小妮子悄
悄进来一点响动都没有。幸亏没有说你的坏话。”又说：“小丫头真是画中人，假如老身
是男人，我的魂也会被她勾去的。”姑娘说：“要不是姥姥您夸我，还有谁能说我的好话
？”那女人和姑娘又不知说了些什么。宁采臣以为是他邻居的女眷，就去睡觉不再听了。
又过了一会儿，才变得寂静无声。他刚要睡着，觉得有人来到至寝室，于是急忙起来观看，
原来是北院的姑娘。他吃惊地问她。姑娘笑着说：“月夜睡不着，我愿和你结为夫妻。”宁
采臣正颜厉色地说：“你应该防止别人议论，我怕人家说闲话；稍微一失足，廉耻道德就会
丧失掉。”姑娘说：“夜里没有人知道。”宁采臣又斥责她。姑娘犹犹豫豫，似乎还有话说。
宁采臣喝斥：“赶快离开！不然，我就喊南屋的书生，让他知道。”姑娘害怕，就退下去了。
可走到窗外她又返回来，把一锭黄金放到褥子上。宁采臣（拿起来就）扔到庭院的台阶上去，
还说：“不义之财，脏了我的钱袋！”姑娘惭愧地走出去，拾起金子自言自语：“这条汉子
真是铁石心肠。”
英译：
Staying in a new place, Ning could not fall asleep until very late. Hearing some people whisper in north of the house, he thought there should be a family. He got up and went to the northern wall bending over the stone window and peeping through. Outside the short wall there existed a little compound in which there were two ladies. One was over forty; the other was very old and in a faded red silk blouse and with a large silver comb in her hair. Hunchbacked she was old and shaky and spoke accidentally under the moon.
“Why was Xiaoqian so late?” said the middle-aged woman.
“She will come whenever she is ready,” said the old lady.
“Did she complaint to you?” asked the middle-aged.
“I’ve never heard, but she seems to be gloomy all the time.”
“That kind of girls! It’s quite enough just to be acquainted with them but not advisable to be good to them.” Said the middle aged.
An extremely beautiful girl of seventeen or eighteen arrived before their conversation had finished.
“Backbite is no good,” said the old lady smilingly. “We’re just talking about you, and you girl are coming quietly without any sound. As luck would have it, we didn’t say anything unpleasant about you.” She said continuously, “You pretty girl is really a beauty in painting. Even I myself would be infatuated with you if I were a man.”
“Without your praise, grandmother, who would speak well of me?” said the girl.
There was then a conversation between the middle-aged and the young girl, but the meaning was not understandable. Considering it was just a conversation among his neighbors, Ning went back to go to sleep without listening anymore.
At the beginning it was quiet without any sound. Yet he felt someone had come in just at the moment when he nearly felt asleep. Getting up hurriedly and scrutinizing, he found that it was just the girl of the northern courtyard. Taken by surprise he asked the reason of her arrival.
“I can’t fall asleep in this moon night,” said the girl. “I come to tell you that I’d like to marry you.”
“You should take precautions against backbite of others. And gossip is horrible to me,” said Ning earnestly. “Just one single false step may cause demoralization and beget an eternal sorrow.”
“No one knows at night,” the girl said.
Ning rebuked her again. Showing embarrassment, she seemed to have something more to say.
“Leave right away!” Upbraided he. “Or I’ll call the man in the southern house.”
Much scared, the girl left. Yet she came back again from outside and left a lump of gold on his bed.
Picking up the gold and throwing it onto the outside step, Ning said, “Ill-gotten wealth will dirty my moneybag!”
Quite shamed, the girl went out and picked up the gold, muttering to herself, “This man is really hardhearted.”
3．
原文：
诘旦*，有兰溪生携一仆来候试，寓于东厢，至夜暴亡。足心有小孔，如锥刺者，细细有
血出。俱莫知故。经宿，仆亦死，症亦如之。向晚*，燕生归，宁质之，燕以为魅。宁素抗
直，颇不在意。宵分，女子复至，谓宁曰：“妾阅人多矣，未有刚肠如君者。君诚圣贤，妾
不敢欺。小倩，姓聂氏，十八夭殂*，葬寺侧，辄被妖物威胁，历役贱务；覥*颜向人，
实非所乐。今寺中无可杀者，恐当以夜叉*来。”宁骇求计。女曰：“与燕生同室可免。”
问：“何不惑燕生？”曰：“彼奇人也，不敢近。”问：“迷人若何？”曰：“狎昵我者，
隐以锥刺其足，彼即茫若迷，因摄血以供妖饮；又或以金，非金也，乃罗刹*鬼骨，留之能截
取人心肝：二者，凡以投时好耳。”宁感谢。问戒备之期，答以明宵。临别泣曰：“妾堕玄
海*，求岸不得。郎君义气干云，必能拔生救苦。倘肯囊妾朽骨，归葬安宅*，不啻*再造。”宁
毅然诺之。因问葬处，曰：“但记取白杨之上，有乌巢者是也。”言已出门，纷然*而灭。
注释：
诘旦：等到天亮。诘，读“截”，本来是“问”、“盘问”的意思。这里作“等到”，“一到”解。旦，白天，天亮。2。向晚：傍晚。“向”，将近；接近。3。夭殂：夭折，未成年死亡。殂，读“粗”第一声，死亡。3。辄：总是。读“这”。3。“覥”， 同 腼腆的“腆”。4。夜叉：梵语，义为凶暴丑恶。佛经中的一种恶鬼。5。罗刹：梵语音译。佛教故事中食人血肉的恶鬼，能在天上飞，能在地上走。6。玄海：佛家语，指苦海。7。安宅：安定的住处。《诗。小雅。鸿雁》：“虽则劬劳，其究安宅。”劬：读“渠”，劳苦，勤劳。8。不啻：不仅。“啻”，读“赤”，“仅仅”、“只”的意思。此处引申为“不亚于，不次于”的意思。8。纷然：慌乱的样子。
白话：
等天一亮，有个兰溪来的书生带着一名仆人来等候考试，住在东厢房，到夜间突然死了。脚心有小眼儿，好像是锥子扎的，细细的直流血。谁都不知道原因。过了一夜，仆人也死了，症状也像那个样子。傍晚，姓燕的书生回来，宁采臣就问他，燕生认为是鬼魅作祟。宁采臣一向耿直，很不在意。半夜时分，那姑娘又来了，对宁采臣说：“我见识的人多了，可心肠没有像你这样硬的。你实在是圣贤人物，我不敢欺骗你。我叫小倩，姓聂，十八岁就早早地死了，埋葬在寺庙旁边，总是受到妖精的威胁，干遍了下贱的活儿；不好意思见人，这实在不是我乐意干的。今天庙里没有可杀的了，恐怕会让夜叉来。”宁采臣很害怕，求她想个办法。姑娘说：“和燕生同住一室就可避免。”宁采臣问：“你为什么不去迷惑燕生呢？”姑娘说：“他是奇人，我不敢接近。”宁采臣问：“你怎么迷惑人？”姑娘说：“谁和我亲近，我就偷偷地用锥子扎他的脚，他立刻就会晕晕乎乎，像是昏迷过去，我就趁机吸他的血，给妖精喝；又有人可以用金子迷惑，那其实不是金子，而是罗刹鬼的骨头，谁留下它，就能割取他的心肝：这两种办法不过都是投人所好罢了。”宁采臣连声感谢，问什么时候要提防着，回答是明天夜间。临分别，姑娘哭泣着说：“小女子坠入苦海，不能自拔。郎君义气冲天，一定能救我脱离苦海。倘若你肯用袋子装了小女子的朽骨，归葬故里，入土为安，那真不次于再给我一条命。”宁采臣毅然地答应了她。于是问（她的尸骨）埋在了什么地方。姑娘说：“只管记住在白杨树上，有乌鸦窝的那座坟就是。”她说完一出门，就慌慌张张地不见了。
英译：
Next morning, there came a scholar from Blue Brook accompanied by a servant to wait for the imperial examination. He stayed in the eastern house but died suddenly at the very first night..
A small prick was found in each of his two foot arches with blood trickling out, which was seemed to be made with an awl. No one knew the reason. Worse than all, on the second night the servant died too in the same way.
Scholar Yan came at dusk. Ning inquired him about this strange matter. Yan thought it was a demon that played a deep game. As an honest man, Ning did not care in the least.
At night the girl came again.
“I’ve been looking into so many people but no one is as honest as you. You are really a saint and I don’t dare to cheat,” said she. “My name’s Nie Xiaoqian . I died at eighteen and was buried by the side of the temple. The demons often forced me to do something evil. I feel shy with strangers and really don’t want to do. Tonight there is no one in the temple to kill people for them and I am afraid they’ll send Monster Yecha to come here.”
Greatly terrified, Ning asked her for help.
“Just stay in the same room with Scholar Yan and then you can avert any disasters,” said the girl.
“Then why don’t you fool Scholar Yan?” he asked.
“He is a queer fellow. I don’t dare to draw close to him.”
“How do you fool people?”
“If someone behaves badly and seduces me, I’ll stealthily prick his feet with an awl and he’ll fall into a stupor. And then I’ll draw blood for the demons to drink.” She said. “I can also use gold to fool people. In fact that’s not gold but the bone of demons. The bone can take the heart and liver from whoever takes it. The purpose of either of these two ways is to cater to people’s fancies.”
Ning felt very much grateful and asked her about the date to be on the alert. She told him it was on the next day.
At parting, the girl wept and said, “I fell into the abyss of misery and can’t extricate myself. You are high-spirited and vigorous and so you must be able to save me. If you are willing to wrap my bones and rebury them into a quiet grave, I would tremendously appreciate your kindness. ”
Ning resolutely made a promise of help and asked where her bones were buried.
“Please remember that on my grave there is a poplar with a crow nest.”
After saying this the girl went outside and vanished into the void.
4．
原文：
明日，恐燕他出，早诣*邀致*。辰*后具酒馔，留意察燕。既约同宿，辞以性癖耽寂*。宁不
从，强携卧具来。燕不得已，移榻从之，嘱曰：“仆知足下*丈夫，倾风*良切。要有微衷*，难
以遽白*。幸勿翻窥箧襆，违之两俱不利。”宁谨受教。既而各寝，燕以箱筐置窗上，就枕移时，齁如雷吼。宁不能寐。近一更许，窗外隐隐有人影。俄而*近窗来窥，目光睒闪*。宁惧，惧方欲呼燕，忽有物裂箧而出，耀若匹练*，触折窗上石棂，欻*一射，即遽敛入，宛如电灭。燕觉而起，宁伪睡以觇*之。燕捧箧检征*，取一物，对月嗅视，白光晶莹，长可二寸，径*韭叶许。已而数重包固，仍置破箧中。自语曰：“何物老魅，直尔大胆，致坏箧子。”遂复卧。宁大奇之，因起问之，且以所见告。燕曰：“既相知爱，何敢深隐。我，剑客也。若非石棂，妖当立毙；虽然，亦伤。”问：“所缄*何物？”曰：“剑也。适*嗅之，有妖气。”宁欲观之。慨出相示，荧荧然一小剑也。于是益厚重燕。明日，视窗外，有血迹。遂出寺北，见荒坟累累，果有白杨，乌巢其颠。*迨营谋既就，趣装欲归。燕生设祖帐，情义殷渥*。以破革囊赠宁，曰：“此剑袋也。宝藏可远魑魅。”宁欲从授其术。曰：“如君信义刚直，可以为此。然君犹富贵中人，非此道中人也。”宁乃托有妹葬此，发掘女骨，敛以衣衾，赁舟而归。
注释：
1．诣：读“义”，到某人所在地去；到某地方去看某人，多去看所尊敬的人。2。致：同“至”。3。辰：中国古代把一昼夜分成十二辰，叫时辰。而“辰时”，则是旧时计时法中上午七点钟到九点钟的时间。4。耽寂：非常喜欢寂静。眈，读“单”，沉溺，入迷。5。微衷：一点儿心里话。6。遽白：很快地说出来。遽，读“巨”，很快。白，说话。7。俄而：不一会儿。8。睒闪：闪烁。睒，本意是眨眼，读“闪”。9。匹练：练绸，就是白绸。“匹”同“疋”，本是中国的纺织品长度单位。一匹，五十尺或一百尺不等。也有说一匹等于十五尺的。单字“练”就是指白绢。如可说“江平如练”，江上风平浪静，如同白绸一般。10。欻：象声词，快读“吃乌啊”，如平常说的“欻啦一声”。11。觇：窥视，偷偷地看。读“搀”。12。征：迹象。13。径：宽。14。缄：封闭。读“坚”。常用在信封上寄信人姓名后，如张某缄，北京王缄。缄口，闭着嘴（指不说话），如“三缄其口”。另如缄默，闭着口不说话。15。适：刚才。16。迨：等到。17。趣装：打点行装。18。祖帐：为出行者饯别而设置的帐篷，引申为饯行送别。祖，一种祭祀的名称，指出行前祭祀路神。19。殷渥：情谊恳切深厚。
白话：
转天，宁采臣怕燕生外出，早早就邀请他。午后一边准备酒菜，一边留心观察燕生的行动。接着又要求和他住在一起。燕生以喜欢清静为由谢绝。宁采臣不听，硬是把被褥搬过来。燕生不得已，只好把床铺移过来听从他的要求，（让他住下）并嘱咐说：“我知道足下是堂堂的男子汉大丈夫，非常仰慕你。只是我有点隐私话，很难马上说明白。请不要翻看我的箱子和包袱，不然对咱们俩都不利。”宁采臣郑重其事地接受他的嘱咐，接着两人各睡各的觉。燕上把箱子放到窗台上，躺下每多大功夫就鼾声如雷。宁采臣睡不着。接近一更天的时候，
只見窗外隱隐约約有人影，一会儿走近窗來偷看，目光閃闪烁。宁采臣害怕，正要招呼燕生，忽然有一個東西破箱而出，发出耀眼的光芒，就像白绸一般，撞断石头窗棱，先是像阵风一样发射出去，隨即又馬上被收回箱内，好像闪电消失自灭。燕生发觉后起床，宁采臣装睡暗自偷看。燕生捧着箱子查看，然后拿出个东西，对着月光边看边闻，只见那东西银光闪烁，有两寸长，大约有一韭菜叶宽。不一会儿，他又把那东西一层一层紧紧地包好，仍然放在那只破箱子里。（燕生）自言自语道：“什么样的老鬼，居然这么大胆，以致弄破了我的箱子。说完他又接着躺下。宁采臣非常好奇，于是起来询问，还把看到的情况告诉他。燕生说：“既然相知相爱，我哪敢隐瞒。我呀，是个剑客。要不是石头窗棱，那妖精本来会马上死掉的；不过虽然没死，也伤了。”宁采臣问：“箱子里秘藏的是什么东西？”燕生说：“是剑。刚才闻闻，还有妖气呢。”宁采臣想看看。燕生就很慷慨地拿出来给他看，原来是一把闪闪发光的小剑。于是他越发敬重燕生。第二天，到窗外一看，还有血迹呢。燕生就从寺庙北门出去，只见荒坟累累，而且果然有一颗杨树，乌鸦已经在上面做了窝。等到安排妥当，就打点行装要回家。燕生立即为他备酒餞行，情深意重，随后又以破皮袋相贈，說：「這是劍袋，珍藏起来可以运离妖魅。”宁采臣向他学剑术，燕生说：“像你这样信义刚直的人，本可以干这行。不过你现在还是富贵中人，不是此道中人哪。”宁采臣就推说有个妹妹埋葬在这里，于是就挖出那女子的尸骨，用衣服被褥装殓起来，租船回家了。
英译：
Next day, afraid that Yan might go on a journey, Ning got up early and invited him to have dinner with him. It was just after early morning that Ning began to prepare wine and dinner with his eyes widely open to observe Yan’s move. At night, Ning asked to sleep in his room. Yan refused on the pretext that he had a fondness for quiet. Not listening to him, Ning persisted in coming with bedding. Yan had no choice but move his bed to accept him.
“I know you are a true man and deeply admire you. But I have something secret which I can’t explain in a hurry. Anyhow I’d like to give you a sincerely advice to follow,” said Yan. “Please don’t open my little box and take a peep at it. Otherwise it is no good for both of us.”
Ning readily accepted his advice. They went to bed right away. Having put a box on the windowsill, Yan took his pillow and fell asleep rapidly with thundering snores. But Ning could not get to sleep at all.
Nearly at the first watch of the night, outside the window, there was a person’s shadow which was indistinctly visible. After a moment, that one stepped up and peeped through the window with his eyes flashing. Greatly frightened, Ning was going to call Yan. Yet just at that moment, something as bright as silk opened the little box, broke a stone window grille, flew out and made a shooting, and finally turned back into the box again just like a lightning flash.
Having realized this, Yan got up and Ning pretended to be asleep but in fact was stealthily looking at him. Yan took the box from the windowsill and had an examination. Taking out something, he smelt it and then looked at it under the bright moon. Two inches in length and one Chinese leek leaf’s width in breadth, it had crystalline white light. Yan rapidly wrapped it layer after layer and then put it still into the broken box.
“You dirty old demon. How dare you break my box!” murmuring to himself, he went to sleep again.
Greatly surprised, Ning got up asking and telling Yan all about what he had seen.
“It’s very kind of you to treat me so cordially. How dare I conceal the truth from you! ”said he. “I’m actually a swordsman. Were it not for the stone window grilles, the demon would have died at once. Yet he is badly wounded.”
“What did you seal up?” Ning asked.
“Sword. I took a smell of it just now and there was a smell of monster,” said Yan.
Ning wanted to have a look. Yan showed it to him generously. It was a little dazzling sword. And therefore Yan stood in Ning’s esteem much higher than ever before.
On the next day Ning looked out of the window and found some bloodstains. He went out of the temple and saw heaps of graves in the wild fields. Ning found that among these deserted graves there really existed the one having a poplar with a crow nest atop.
After having everything ready, Ning was going home. With a deep affection, putting up a tent and offering sacrifices to the road god, Yan bid farewell to Ning and then presented him a broken leather bag.
“It’s a sword bag,” said Yan. “Keep it and you can make yourself faraway from demons.”
Ning wanted to follow what Yan taught him.
“That’ll do if you can be firm and straightforward,” said Yan. “Yet you are one of the riches and honors but not among the people of my kind.”
On hearing this, Ning gave him a false pretext that his deceased sister was buried here and he was going to excavate her bones. Having dressed the girl’s bones and laid them in a coffin, he rented a boat and took the coffin back to his native place.
5．
原文：
宁斋临野，因营坟葬诸斋外。祭而祝曰：“怜卿狐魂，葬近蜗居，歌哭相闻，庶*不见陵
于雄鬼*。一瓯*浆水饮，殊不清旨，幸不为嫌！”祝毕而返。后有人呼曰：“缓待同行！”回
顾，则小倩也。欢喜谢曰：“君信义，十死不足以报。请从归，拜识姑嫜*，媵御无悔。“审
谛之，肌映流霞，足翘细笋，白昼端相，娇艳尤绝。遂与俱至斋中。嘱坐少待，先入白母。
母愕然。时宁妻久病，母戒勿言，恐所骇惊。言次，女已翩然入，拜伏地下。宁曰：“此小
倩也。”母惊顾不遑。女谓母曰：“儿飘然一身，远父母兄弟。蒙公子露覆*，泽被发肤*，愿
执箕帚，以报高义。”母见其绰约可爱，始敢与言，曰：“小娘子惠顾吾儿，老身喜不可
已。但生平止此儿，用承祧绪*，不敢令有鬼偶。”女曰：“儿实无二心。泉下人，既不见信
于老母，请以兄事，依高堂，奉晨昏，如何？”母怜其诚，允之。即欲拜嫂。母辞以
疾，乃止。女即入厨下，代母尸饔*。入房穿户，似熟居者。日暮，母畏惧之，辞使归寝，不
为设床褥。女窥知母意，即竟去。过斋俗入，却退，徘徊户外，似有所惧。生呼之。女曰：
“室有剑气畏人。向道途中不奉见者，良以此故。”宁悟为革囊，取悬他室。女乃入，就烛
下坐。移时，殊不一语。久之，问：“夜读否？妾少诵《楞严经》*，今强半遗忘。浼*求一
卷，夜暇，就兄正之。”宁诺。又坐，默然，二更向尽，不言去。宁促之。愀然曰：“异域
孤魂，殊怯荒墓。”宁曰：“斋中别无订寝，且兄妹亦宜远嫌。”女起，眉颦蹙而欲啼，足
【亻匡】【亻襄】*而懒步，从容出门，涉阶而没。宁窃怜之，欲留宿别榻，又惧母嗔。女朝
旦朝母，捧匜沃盥*，下堂操作，无不曲承母志。黄昏告退，辄过斋头，就烛诵经。觉
宁将寝，始惨然去。
注释：
1．庶：“庶几乎”和“庶几”的简略。“庶几乎”，连词，表示在上述情况下才能避免某种后果，或实现某种愿望。相当于“以便”。2．雄鬼：是凶恶强悍之鬼，不是“雄性”之鬼。3。瓯：盅，方言，都“欧”。又如“瓯子”就是“盅子”。4。， 露覆：蒙受恩泽。5。泽被发肤：恩泽施于我身。被，覆盖。发肤：全身。《孝经》：“身体发肤，受之父母。”6。 姑嫜：丈夫的母亲和父亲。姑，婆婆。嫜，公公，读“章”。7。承祧绪：传宗接代。承，继承。祧绪，祖宗后代。祧，祖庙。读“挑”，平声。绪，残余。8。尸饔：料理饮食。尸，主持。饔，熟食。读”庸“。《诗。小雅。祈父》：“胡转予于恤，有母之尸饔。”9。《楞严经》：佛经名。全称为《大佛顶如来密因修正了义诸菩萨万行首楞严经》。10。浼 ：读“美”，请托。11。【亻匡】【亻襄】：电脑无此二字，故而各用两个偏旁拼成，同“劻勷”，读“筐嚷”，慌忙胆怯。12。嗔：发怒，生气。读“琛”。13。捧匜沃盥：侍奉盥洗。匜，古盥器，用来盛水，读“谊”。沃盥，浇洗。
白话：
宁采臣的书斋面对田野，他就那外面建了一座坟莹。他将灵柩下葬之后，就地追悼，诵读祭文：“怜卿孤魂，葬近蜗居，歌哭相闻，庶不见陵于雄鬼。一瓯浆水饮，殊不清旨，幸不为嫌！” 祭文的意思是：“可怜你的孤魂，把你埋葬在我家附近，以便互通悲欢，彼此关照，不至于使你受恶鬼凌辱。请饮我清水一盅，味道虽不甘美，切勿嫌弃！ ” 追思祭奠结束，采臣准备起身回家。可就在此时，他听到背后有人在说话：“请留步。我想和你一起走。” 转身一看，他才发现原来是聂小倩！他的心上人已经起死回生。 “你真坚守信义，我就是死十回也难报答你的恩情。”她说。“我愿意和你一起走，好去见一见我的公婆呀。我就是被当作奴仆对待也丝毫不后悔。” 他仔细审视，发现小倩在阳光之下容光焕发。她皮肤佼好如霞，一双美足宛如小巧玲珑的竹笋。小倩跟着采臣进入书斋。他让她在此稍候，而他自己则连忙向母亲通报她的到来。闻听此事，他母亲感到十分惊诧，嘱咐他什么也不要说，以免吓坏久病缠身的妻子。 母子俩话音刚落，小倩便翩然而至，随即拜伏在老夫人的脚下。 “她就是小倩，”采臣说。老太太望着她，只是感到吃惊，并不感到害怕。 “长期以来，我一直远离父母兄弟。”她说。“没有您儿子的帮助，就不会有我这条命。我甘愿作您的奴仆，以报答他的恩情。”看到她美丽的容貌和高雅的气质之后，老太太才敢开口说话。 “你这么高看我的儿子，实在难得。我真的很开心。”宁老夫人说。“不过我就只有这么一个儿子传宗接代，所以不敢让他娶个鬼媳妇。” “我确实没有什么恶意。”小倩说。“作为一个阴间的女鬼，我既然有幸得到您的信任，那就让我试着把您儿子当成我亲兄弟对待，让我从早到晚地服侍您。您的意下如何？”为她的诚恳所动，老夫人同意了。小倩想看一看嫂子，也就是采臣的媳妇。但是被老太太以儿媳生病为借口谢绝了。姑娘也只好打消这个念头。小倩走进厨房，替老太太点火做饭。她进进出出，忙里忙外，动作娴熟，手艺高强，每件事都料理得井井有条，真像在这里长期居住过一样。 夜幕降临，老太太胆战心惊，让小倩停下手里的一切，催她赶紧去睡觉，但是却不给她床和被褥。她明白老太太的心意，于是就立刻离开了。走过书斋的时候，她想进去，但又退出来，在外面徘徊不定，似乎有所畏惧。采臣叫住了她。 “屋里有剑的气味。我很害怕。”姑娘说。“所以那天在回家的路上，我没要你把剑拿给我看。” 采臣意识到她指的就是那只皮袋，于是他就把它挂在另外的房间里。姑娘这才走进来，坐在烛光下，可一时间没有吱声。随着时间的推移，她才终于开口讲话。“请问你夜间读什么东西吗？”姑娘问。“我小时候曾经诵读过>。不过现在已忘掉大半了。请给我抄写一份，以便夜间有空时和兄长你在一起读一读。” 采臣欣然应允。不过她依然默默地坐在那里。二更天都已经过了，她还不说走。于是他就催她离开。 “作为阴间的一个孤魂，我特别害怕孤坟野冢。”姑娘神色黯然地说。 “可是书斋里只有一张床呀，”采臣说。“再说，兄妹之间也应该尽量避免嫌疑。” 姑娘起身，双眉紧锁，似乎要哭。她不愿意离开，但是别无选择。一出门，她便立即在阶前消失了。出于怜悯，采臣本想留她住在另外一个房间，但又怕目前怪罪。每天一大早，姑娘就来。她首先向老夫人请安，然后就整天为家务忙得不可开交。迫使自己对老太太有求必应。天一擦黑，她就离开。每次走过采臣的书斋，她都要进去，就着烛光诵读佛经。什么时候一感觉到采臣想睡觉，她就郁郁寡欢地离开。
英译：
Ning built a grave just outside his study which was facing the field. Burying the coffin, he held a memorial service with a funeral oration saying, “I take pity on your lonely soul and buried you near my study. W can hear each other’s singing and crying, so that you can free yourself from being bullied by the violent demons. Do accept my clear water and have a drink, please. Don’t detest and reject it. ”
The memorial service was finished and he was ready to go back. Just at this instant he heard someone behind him saying, “A moment please. I’d like to go with you.”
Turning back, he found it was Xiaoqian Nie ! His beloved had already been restored to life.
“You’re really honest. I couldn’t repay you for your obligation even if I die ten times,” said she. “I’m willing to go with you in order to get acquainted with my parents-in-law. I wouldn’t have any regrets at all even if I should be treated as a servant.”
Scrutinizing, he found that Xiaoqian was extremely gorgeous in broad daylight with her skin as beautiful as morning glow and her feet as elegant as little bamboo shoots.
Xiaoqian followed Ning. Entering his study, he asked her to wait there temporarily and he himself went to notify his mother of her arrival.
Hearing this, his mother was astonished and told him to say nothing about this so as not to scare his wife who had been ill for a long time.
Immediately after their conversation was finished, Xiaoqian trippingly came in and prostrated herself at the feet of his mother.
“She’s Xiaoqian,” said Ning.
Looking at her, the mother felt surprised but not panic.
“I’m alone all by myself and far away from my parents and bothers,” said she. “But for your son’s help I would not have had this life. I’m willing to be your servant in order to reciprocate his kindness.”
It’s only after seeing her beautiful appearance and elegant manner did the old lady dare to speak.
“It’s very kind of you to think highly of my son. I’m really happy,” said Ning’s mother. “But I only have this son to go down to the future generation, so I don’t dare to let him have a ghost wife.”
“I really don’t have any bad intentions,” said Xiaoqian. “As a girl of the nether world, now that I can’t enjoy your trust, let me try to treat your son as my brother and attend you from morning till night. How about it?”
Moved by her sincerity, the mother agreed. Xiaoqian wanted to see her sister-in-law, namely, Ning’s wife. Yet being refused by the old lady on the excuse of the disease of Ning’s wife, the girl dismissed her idea.
Xiaoqian entered the kitchen and did the cooking in the old lady’s stead. Getting in and out, she did everything skillfully as if she had been living here for a long time.
The curtain of night fell. Being frightened, the old lady stopped the girl from doing anything and asked her to go to sleep but gave her neither a bed nor sheets. Knowing what the old lady was up to, she left immediately.
While passing by the study, the girl wanted to enter but shrank back and wandered outside as if she was afraid of something. Ning called her.
“There’s a sword smell in the room. It scares me,” said the girl. “That’s why I didn’t dare to ask you to show me the sword that day on the way back home.”
Ning realized what she meant was the leather bag so he hang it in the other room. And then the girl came in and sat by the candle without saying a word for a moment. As time went on, she opened her mouth at last.
“Do you read anything at night?” asked the girl. “When I was a child, I once recited the Buddhist ures >. But I’ve forgotten more than half. Would you please give me a copy so as I can read it with your help whenever I’m free at night. ”
Ning agreed. But she still sat there silently. It was already over the second watch of the night, but she still didn’t say a word about leaving. He urged her to go.
“As a lonely soul of the nether world, I’m particularly afraid of the deserted graves.” The girl said plaintively.
“But there was no other bed in my study,” said Ning. “Besides, a brother and a sister should try to avoid being suspected.”
The girl stood up with knitted brows and seemed to cry. She did not like to leave but had no other way out. Walking out, she vanished on the steps.
Taking pity upon her, Ning wanted to let her stay in another room but was afraid of being blamed by his mother.
Early in the morning the girl came to greeted the old lady first and then kept busy with every kind of household duties all day long. She forced herself to cater to all the needs of the old lady without any exception. At dusk she retreated. Whenever passing by Ning’s study she would go in and read the Buddhist ures with the help of a candle. She would start to leave depressingly whenever she felt that Ning wanted to go to sleep.
6．
原文：
先是，宁妻病废，母劬*不可堪；自得女，逸甚，心德之。日渐稔*，亲爱如己出，竟忘其
为鬼；不忍晚令去，留与同卧起。女初来未尝食饮，半年渐啜稀【左饣，右拖无扌】*。母子
皆溺爱之，讳言其鬼，人亦不之辨也。无何，宁妻亡。母隐有纳女意，然恐于子不利。女微
窥之，乘间告母曰：“居年余，当知儿肝膈。为不欲祸行人，故从郎君来。区区无他意，止
以公子光明磊落，为天人所钦瞩*，实欲依赞*三数年，借博封诰*，以光泉壤。”母亦知无恶，
但惧不能延宗嗣。女曰：“子女惟天所授。郎君注福籍*，有亢宗子*三，不以鬼妻而遂夺
也。”母信之，与子议。宁喜，因列筵告戚党。或请觌新妇，女慨然华妆出，一堂尽眙*，反
不疑其鬼，疑为仙。由是五党*诸内眷，咸执贽*以贺，争拜识之。女善画兰梅，辄以尺幅酬
答，得者藏什袭*，以为荣。
注释：
1．劬: 劳累。劬，读“渠”。2。 稔：熟悉，多指对人熟悉。读“忍”。 3。【左饣，右拖无扌】：电脑无此字，用两个偏旁拼成。读“义”，粥。4。区区：自称的谦辞。5。钦瞩：钦佩敬重。6。依赞：依靠帮助。赞，帮助，赞助。7。封诰：明、清制度。一至五品官员，皇帝授予诰命，称为“封诰”。本文指因丈夫得官，妻子受封。8。注福籍：意味命中注定有福。9。亢宗子：旧时某人儿子中能够扩展宗族地位的那个就叫“亢宗子”。10。眙：因为惊诧而目光直视，读“赤”。11。五党：不详。疑为“五宗”，指五服内的亲戚。五服，五服指的是五种丧服，在中国古代社会，以丧服来表示亲属之间血缘关系的远近以及尊卑关系。基本上分为五等， 即：斩榱、齐榱、大功、小功、缌麻。 12。执贽： 带着礼物。贽，古人初次拜见长辈所带的礼物。 读“志”。 12。什袭：珍藏。
白话：
先前，宁采臣的妻子患病不能动，老太太累得半死，不过自从小倩来到之后，她才如释重
负，从心里感激她。渐渐地，两人日益熟悉起来。老夫人把她当成自己的女儿一样对待，竟然
已经忘记这姑娘是鬼。最后，老太太终于不忍心在夜间赶她走，而是让她留宿。起初姑娘什么也不吃。半年之后，她才开始吃点东西。出与疼爱，母子俩都忌讳说她是鬼。而别人也认不出这个鬼姑娘的庐山真面目。不久，采臣的妻子不幸离开人世。老夫人有意收留这姑娘，但又怕对儿子不利。注意到这一点之后，小倩就找机会说服老夫人。 “我在这里已经住了一年多。您应该知道我是怎样的人。”姑娘说。“就是因为不想伤害无辜的人，我才跟着您的儿子，我实在没有任何恶意。我想和他在一起过上几年。万一他能封个一官半职，我也好跟着沾点光。就是这样。”虽然知道姑娘并无恶意，但老太太依然怕她不能生育，以至使她断后。 “有没有儿女，这都是天意。”姑娘说。“您儿子托老天的福，注定会有三个儿子为您继承烟火。老天不会因为您儿子有个鬼媳妇就把他的儿子收回去。”老夫人相信了她，就和儿子商量。采臣喜出望外，设宴款待亲朋好友。无论是谁想见一见新娘的面，小倩都是浓妆艳抹，盛装丽服，大方地出头露面。所有的人都会惊艳不已，可就是没人会想到她居然是鬼。不过许多人都怀疑她是仙女下凡。五服内众多的亲族随后都带着贺礼，源源不断地蜂拥而至，拜见这对新人。新娘擅长丹青笔墨，尤其以画兰梅见长，于是她亲手绘制以作回赠之礼。人们都以能获赠她的画作而感到荣幸。
英译：
Previously, the old lady was dead tired everyday because of her daughter-in-law’s serious illness, but felt quite easy ever since Xiaoqian’s coming. And the ghost girl had become a lovable one in the old lady’s eyes. Gradually, these two became more and more familiar with each other. The old lady even forgot the girl was a ghost and treated her as if she was her own daughter. At the end, the old one could not had the heart to ask her to leave at night but let her stay with herself.
At the beginning, the girl did not eat anything. Half year later, she started to take some food. Greatly doting on her, either the mother or the son refrained from saying she was a ghost. And other people could not recognized this ghost girl.
Not long after, Ning’s wife died. The old lady was going to adopt the girl but was afraid it might be harmful to his son. Noticing this, Xiaoqian took the opportunity to speak to the old lady.
“I’ve been living here more than one year. You should know what kind of people I am.” Said the girl. “Only for the purpose not to do any harm to the innocent people did I follow your son really without any evil intent. I know your son is a good man and will surely have a bright future. Maybe he’ll be offered with some high posts and favors. I want to be with him for several years so as to share his honor. That’s all.”
Knowing the girl had no bad intent, yet the old lady worried she might be sterile and cut off her offspring.
“Children are given by Heaven.” The girl said. “Your son is the blessed and he is doom to have three sons to continue the offspring for you. Heaven doesn’t take back offspring from your son just because he has a ghost wife.”
The mother believed and had a discussion with the son. Quite happy, Ning prepared a banquet and invited many relatives and friends. No matter whoever wanted to look at the bride, she, gorgeously dressed, would come out graciously. All the people were much surprised but no one thought that she was a ghost. Yet many of them suspected that she was a fairy.
Carrying congratulatory gifts, the kinsfolk came in a continuous stream to make respectful calls on this new couple. Good at painting orchids and plum blossom, the bride usually returned them some pictures drawn with her own hands. They all took pride in getting her paintings.
7．
原文：
一日，俯颈窗前，怊怅若失*。忽问：“革囊何在？”曰：“以卿畏之，故缄置他所。”曰：
“妾受生气已久，当不复畏，宜取挂订头。”宁诘其意，曰：“三日来，心怔忡*无停息，意
金华妖物，恨妾远遁，恐旦晚寻及也。”宁果携革囊来。女反复审视，曰：“此剑仙将盛人
头者也。敝败*至此，不知杀人几何许！妾今日视之，肌犹粟慄*。”乃悬之。次日，又
命移悬户上。夜对烛坐，约宁勿寝。欻有一物，如飞鸟堕。女惊匿夹幕*间。宁视之，
物如夜叉状，电目血舌，睒闪攫拿而前。至门却步；逡巡久之，渐近革囊，以爪摘取，
似将抓裂。囊忽格然一响，大可合篑*；恍惚有鬼物，突出半身，揪夜叉入，声遂寂然，囊亦
顿缩如故。宁骇诧。女亦出，大喜曰：“无恙矣！”共视囊中，清水数斗*而已。后数年，宁
果登进士。女举一男。纳妾后，又各生一男，皆仕进有声*。
注释：
1．怊怅若失：感伤失意。怊，悲伤失意，读“超”。2。怔忡：心悸，恐惧不安。读“争冲”。 3。敝败：破烂败坏。 4。粟慄：吓得起鸡皮疙瘩。粟，米粒。此处指皮肤上起米粒状疙瘩。读“诉”。慄，惊恐。读“利”。5。夹幕：帷幕。6。合篑：（两个）筐合起来。篑，盛土的筐，读“溃”。7．斗：盛粮食的器具，也用作粮食的计量单位，是“市斗”的通称。一斗本来很多。此处只是用来形容水多，并非特指几斗，因为一斗的容量就已经很大，恐怕这样一个小小的盛剑箱子连一斗都容不下的。8．有声：政绩上很有名声，就是口碑不错。此处的“声”指政绩上的名声。
白话：
一天，小倩神色忧伤地坐在窗前，低着头，一言不发。很久之后，她才突然开口讲话。 “那个皮袋在哪儿？”她问。 “想到你很怕它，我就把它藏在别处了。”采臣说。 “我一直和生人在一起过了这么长时间，应该是不再怕它了。你最好还是把它拿来挂在你的床头。”她说。采臣惑然不解，询问其中原因。 “三天来，我一直忧心忡忡。我逃得这么远，想必那金华妖怪一定对我恨之入骨。也
许一两天之内他就会来找我算帐。”闻听此言，采臣立即把皮袋拿回来。她仔仔细细，翻来复去地审视着。 “这袋子是仙人用来装人头用的。谁知道它已经装过多少人头。”她说。“现在一看到它，我还吓得直哆嗦呢。”起初采臣只是把它挂在床头。第二天，她又叫他把它挂在窗户上方。夜间，她面对烛光，坐在那里，不叫丈夫睡觉。片刻之后，有个象大鸟一样的东西突然掉下来。她惊恐万状的迅速躲藏在帘幕后面。定睛一看，采臣发现那怪物有两只闪电般的眼睛，和一只血淋淋的舌头。怪物迅速地向前冲，而后停在门口，徘徊良久，最后才继续往前走。它逐渐靠近皮袋，用爪子把它扯下来，似乎要打开。就在这个节骨眼儿上，随着一种震耳欲聋的声音，皮袋迅速膨胀，最后变得和衣箱那么大。紧接着，有个怪物似的东西从里面冒出来，露出半截身子，顺手抓住妖精，把它重新放入袋内。随后，一切归于平静。而就在这鸦雀无声之际，那袋子突然之间又缩回到原来那样大小。采臣吓得魂飞魄散，而他的新娘这才走出来。 “平安无事啦！”她兴高采烈地说。往袋子一看，他们才发现里面只是清水一汪。数年之后，宁采臣果然荣登进士。爱妻也为他生一娇儿。纳妾之后，两房太太又各添一丁。三名小辈，日后为官都享有盛誉。
英译：
One day, lowering her head with a sad look, Xiaoqian sat at the window without speaking. Long after, she suddenly opened her mouth.
“Where is the leather bag?” asked she.
“Considering you’re afraid of it, I sealed it in other place.” She was told.
“I’ve been living together with strangers so long a time and should not be afraid of it anymore. It’s proper for you to take it back and hang it at the bed,” said the young lady.
Without understanding, Ning asked why.
“I’ve been distracted with anxiety for three days. I thought the demon in Jinhua must hate me to the bone because of my long distance escape. Maybe within one or two days, he’ll come here to search me.”
On hearing this, Ning took back the leather bag immediately. She examined it carefully and repeatedly.
“This sword bag belongs to supernatural beings. It’s a tool to contain people’s heads. Who knows how many heads it has ever contained up to now,” said she. “Looking at it now, I still shiver with fright.”
At first he hung it above the bed. And the next day, she asked Ning to hang it above the window. At night, facing the candle, she sat there and asked her hu*****and not to sleep.
A moment later, something like a large flying bird suddenly fell down. Alarmed and panicky, she promptly hid herself behind the curtain. Taking a look, Ning found the demon with lightning eyes and bloody tongue.
The demon rapidly rushed forward and stopped at the door. Shilly-shally for a long while, the demon stepped up at last, gradually drew close to the leather bag, took it down with its paw and seemly wanted to tear it open. Just at that moment, with a deafening cracking sound, the bag quickly enlarged as big as a suitcase. And then, something like a monster came out revealing only half of its body, and grasped the demon and put him into the bag again. After all these, everything became soundless and in a sudden, the bag shrank into the original size.
Ning was terribly frightened and his new wife came out.
“Everything is all right!” she said, extremely happy.
Looked into the bag, they found only some clear water in it.
Several years later, as expected, Ning Caichen successfully passed an imperial examination while the lady gave birth to a boy. After taking a concubine, Ning got two more boys, one from Xiaoqian, one from the concubine. And moreover, all these boys enjoyed a very high reputation in official circles.
(Translated from >)
