婴宁（人狐恋）： 聊斋故事系列四合一（原著-注释-白话-英译）

　 　 　　

婴宁
Giggling Girl

说明：本文的主角婴宁最大的特点就是爱笑。笑有很多种。在中文里区别笑的种类，造词方法是在“笑”前分别添加形容词，如“微”笑，“大”笑，“讥”笑，“冷”笑，“苦”笑；或添加不同的动作，如“抿嘴”笑，“哈哈”大笑，“咯咯”地笑，等等。因此无论怎么变化，“笑”字是不可或缺的。但在英文中却完全变了样。最常见的如smile （不出声的笑，如微笑），laugh（出声的笑，如哈哈大笑）此外，咯咯地笑，则是giggle；抿嘴笑，则是 chuckle。文中婴宁的笑绝大多数是出声的笑，无外乎laugh与 giggle。前者常见，后者不常见。但我经过仔细推敲，觉得似乎用后者较好，因为前者给人的第一印象似乎总是“哈哈大笑”，如果像婴宁这样一天到晚动不动就哈哈大笑，岂不累煞人也？似乎“咯咯而笑”更贴切一些，因为它给人的印象是开心爽朗，纯真可爱。经反复比较，我采取了giggle，当然用laugh也未尝不可，因为这个词最常见，也最一目了然。翻译本来就是煞费苦心的事，而即便如此，也未必都能收到满意的效果。因本文通篇都是笑，实在太多，为对读者负责，特此说明，也请读者自己斟酌，我的选词仅供参考。

1．

原文：

王子服，莒*之罗店人，早孤*。绝惠，十四入泮*，母最爱之，寻常不令游郊野。聘萧氏，
未嫁而夭，故求凰*未就也。会上元*，有舅氏子吴生，邀同眺瞩*。方至村外，舅家有仆来，招吴去。生见游女如云，乘兴独遨*。有女郎携婢，拈梅花一枝，容华绝代，笑容可掬。生注目不移，竟忘顾忌。女过去数武*，顾婢曰：“个儿郎*目灼灼似贼！”遗花地上，笑语自去。

注释：

1。莒：今山东莒县。读“举”。2。孤：孤儿，成为孤儿。本文指死去父亲。3。入泮：考中秀才，入县学为生员。泮，读“盼”，指泮宫，古代的学校。清代称考中秀才为“入泮”。而“秀才”和“生员”又是怎么回事呢？明清两代称通过最低一级考试得以在府（即省）、县学校读书的人，叫“生员”，这种人有应乡试资格，通称“秀才”。2。求凰：汉司马相如《琴歌》：“凤兮凤兮归故乡，遨游四海求其凰。”后因此成男子求偶为“求凰”。3。上元：上元节，旧历正月十五。4。眺瞩：居高远望。本文指游览。5。遨：遨游，本文指出游。6。武：半步。泛指脚步。7。个儿郎：这个小伙。个，这个。儿郎，小伙子。

白话：

王子服，山东莒县罗店人，小时候死了父亲，聪慧绝顶，十四岁考取秀才，到县学堂读书，母亲非常宠爱，平常不让他外出游玩。与萧家订亲，女方未过门就死了，至今还没有再续上。正赶上正月十五上元节，舅舅有个儿子吴生，邀他一同出外观景。刚到村外，舅家有个仆人来，把吴生叫了回去。王生见郊游的美女如云，就乘兴独自到处闲逛起来。有个女郎带着婢女，手拿一枝梅花，貌美绝伦，笑容可掬。王生目不转睛地盯着看，居然把什么顾虑忌讳都忘掉了。女郎走过几步，看着婢女说：“这小子目光热辣辣的像个贼！”于是把花扔在地上，说说笑笑地走开了。

英译：

Wang Zifu lost his father when he was a child. Much clever, he passed the national examination at the county level just at the age of fourteen. Treating him like a pearl in her palm, his mother seldom allowed him to go outing. Growing up, his mother found him a girl friend, yet unfortunately the girl died before wedding. So he’d been keeping single.
The Lantern Festival had come. Wu, the son of his mother’s sister, invited him to go sightseeing. But just on the way out, Wu was called back. Seeing so many beautiful girls, Wang felt very much excited and loitered alone.
Shortly, there came a pretty girl accompanied by a maid. Holding a spray of plum blossom and wearing a broad smile, the girl was really a matchless beauty. Gazing at the girl with fixed eyes, he simply discarded all scruples.
Noticing this, the girl said to her maid, “This guy’s glaring at us fiercely just like a thief!”
Speaking and giggling, the girl dropped the plum blossom onto the ground and walked away with her maid.

2．

原文：

生拾花怅然，神魂丧失，怏怏遂返。至家，藏花枕底，垂头而睡。不语亦不食。母忧
之。醮禳*益剧，肌革*锐减。医师诊视，投剂发表*，忽忽若迷。母抚问所由，默然不答。适吴
生来，嘱密诘*之。吴至榻前，生见之泪下。吴就榻慰解，渐致研诘*。生具吐其实，且求谋
画。吴笑曰：“君意亦复痴！此愿有何难遂？当代访之。徒步于野，必非世家*。如其未字*，
事固谐*矣；不然，拚以重赂，计必允遂*。但得痊瘳*，成事在我。”生闻之，不觉解颐*。吴出
告母，物色女子居里，而近代访既穷，并无踪绪。母大忧，无所为计。然自吴去后，颜顿
开，食亦略进。数日，吴复来。生问所谋，吴绐*之曰：“已得之矣。我以为谁何人，乃我姑
氏子，即君姨妹行，今尚待聘。虽内戚有婚姻之嫌，实告之，无不谐者。”生喜溢眉宇，
问：“居何里？”吴诡曰：“西南山中，去此可三十余里。”生又付嘱*再四，吴锐身自任而
去。

注释：

*1。醮禳：祈祷消灾免祸。读“叫攘”。醮，祭神。 禳，消灾。 2。肌革：肌肤。3。投剂发表：吃药把体内的邪火发散出来。剂，药。发表，发散。4。诘：盘问。读“洁”。4。研：细磨。此处指仔细。5。世家：世代门庭显赫的家族。6。 未字：女子未许婚。如“待字闺中”之说。古代称女子成年待嫁为“待字”。《仪礼。士昏礼》：“女子许嫁，笄而醴之，称字。”古代贵族女子十五许嫁时举行笄礼，然后命字。笄，古代束发用的篦子，借指一种束发仪式。读“机”。醴，甜酒。指喝酒。7。 谐：办成，成功。8。允遂：因答应而办成事情。遂，成功。如“遂愿”，如愿以偿。9。痊瘳：痊愈，病好了。痊，痊愈。瘳，病好了，读“抽”。10。解颐：露出笑容。颐，面颊。 11。绐：欺骗，读“代”。12。付嘱：嘱咐。

白话：

王生把花捡起来，惆怅万分，丧魂失魄，闷闷不乐地往回走。到家他就把花藏到枕头底下，倒头就睡。不说话也不吃饭。母亲为他担忧，经常为他祈祷。然而越是祈祷，王生消瘦得越快。虽经医生诊断，下药表发，王生恍恍惚惚，好像迷了魂。母亲爱抚着追问原因，他却闭口不答。正好吴生来，母亲就让他悄悄地盘问。吴生来到床前，王生见到就流下泪来。吴生靠近床边先是安慰，继而仔细追问。王生把实话都说了出来，而且求吴生帮助出个主意。吴生笑着说：“你怎么傻到这份上！这点愿望有什么难实现的？我替你去访一访她。既然她们在野外步行，想必也不是什么大户人家出身。如果她还没有许配人家，事情自然很好办；不然的话，豁出去多下聘礼，我想她一定答应。等你病好了，办成这件事就包在我身上。”王生听他这么一说，不知不觉地露出了笑容。吴生走出去把情况告诉王母，并让她去寻找女郎的住处。可是到处寻遍了，也没有线索。王母忧心忡忡，没有办法。不过自从吴生走后，王生的面色逐渐好起来，也略微吃些东西。几天后，吴生又来了。王生连忙打听事情办得如何，吴生骗他说：“已经找到了。我以为是谁呢，原来是我姑姑家的女孩，论起辈分也就是你的姨妹，现在还没有许婚。虽说姨表亲避讳联姻，实话告诉她，也没有什么不成的。”王生喜形于色，问：“她住在哪里？”吴生谎称：“在西南方向的山里，离这里大约三十多里。”王生又再三叮嘱，吴生自告奋勇地走了。

英译：

Quite depressed, Wang picked up the plum blossom and went back as if losing his soul. Back at home, he hid the plum blossom beneath his pillow and went to bed immediately without speaking and eating anything,
Burning with anxiety, his mother knelt down before the Buddha statue and prayed earnestly for Wang. Yet becoming thinner and thinner, he went from bad to worse. A famous doctor was then invited to make a diagnosis and give treatment. It’s no use. Wang was still in a trance day and night. His mother asked him the reasons, he just kept silent.
Later, Wu came. His mother requested him to ask Wang secretly. Wu stepped up to Wang’s bed. Seeing him, Wang cried with tears streaming down like raindrops.
Sitting beside Wang, Wu comforted him and asked the details. Telling all the truth, Wang asked Wu for an advice.
“You’re really stupid,” said Wu. “It’s quite easy to satisfy your desire. I’m willing to visit her for you,” Wu said continuously. “Now that she went outing just by feet, I don’t think she comes from a rich and noble family. If she’s still unmarried, there’s no problem at all. Even if she’s got married, we can still change her mind so long as we’re willing to give her a large amount of money. Whenever you recover your health, just leave the task to me.”
Hearing this, Wang turned tears into smiles. Walking out, Wu told his plan to Wang’s mother. But there’s no result though trying every possible means to locate the girl’s whereabouts. Heavy-hearted, Wang’s mother didn’t know what to do next.
But after Wu left, Wang suddenly beamed with smile and began to eat a little more. Several days later, Wu came again. Wang asked him about their next step. Wu said happily, “We got it. Just guess who she is? She’s the daughter of your mother’s sister and still unmarried. Although intermarriage is a taboo, it’s still possible so long as you tell her the truth.”
“Where does she live?” Wang asked.
“In the southwest mountains,” Wu told him a lie. “It’s a little more than thirty miles from here.”
Wang repeatedly implored Wu for help. Readily making a promise, Wu left.



3．

原文：

生由是饮食渐加，日就平复。探视枕底，花虽柘*，未便雕落。凝思把玩，如见其人。怪
吴不至，折柬招之。吴支托不肯赴招。生恚怒，悒悒不欢。母虑其复病，急为议姻。略与商
榷，辄摇首不愿，惟日盼吴。吴迄无耗*，益怨恨之。转思三十里非遥，何必仰息*他人？怀梅
袖中，负气自往，而家人不知也。伶仃独步，无可问程，但望南山行去。约三十余里，乱山
合沓，空翠爽肌，寂无人行，止有鸟道。遥望谷底，丛花乱树中，隐隐有小里落。下山入
村，见舍宇无多，皆茅屋，而意甚修雅。北向一家，门前皆丝柳，墙内桃杏尤繁，间以修
竹；野鸟格磔*其中。意其园亭，不敢遽入。回顾对户，有巨石滑洁，因据坐少憩。

注释：

柘：本指一种落叶灌木。此处指枯萎。读“这”。2。仰息：本指仰人鼻息。此指仰赖他人。
3．无耗：没有消息。耗，坏消息或一般的消息。如“噩耗”。4。格磔：鸟鸣声。磔，读“哲”。

白话：
王生从此饭量逐渐大起来，病情日渐好转。往枕头底下看看，那花虽然枯萎，但还没有从枝子上凋落。边沉思，边把玩，见花如见人。他怪吴生迟迟不来，就发出便笺叫他。王生感到心中窝火，闷闷不乐。王母怕他旧病复发，就急着和他商量婚姻之事。可是稍微和他一商量，他就摇头表示不愿意，只是每天都盼着吴生来。可是至今吴生也没有消息，于是就非常怨恨他。但转念一想，三十里也并不遥远，何必依赖别人帮忙呢？王生把梅花揣在怀里，一气之下自己就去了，家里人都不知道。孤苦伶仃一人赶路，连个问路的人也没有，只是朝南山方向走。大约三十里之外，只见层峦叠嶂，荒凉杂乱；空旷苍翠的环境，使肌肤颇感凉爽；静谧已极毫无人迹，道路十分险峻，只有鸟才能飞过去。远远地朝山谷下望去，繁花似锦，绿树葱茏，隐隐约约地有一个小村落。下山进村，只见房屋不多，都是茅屋，意境幽雅。朝北向的一户人家，门前柳丝随风飘摇，墙内桃杏争奇斗艳，葱葱然杂以修竹，欢欢然野鸟啁啾其间。心想那一定是这家的花园，王生不敢急于贸然闯入。回过来再看对面一家，门前有一块大石头，又滑溜，又干净，于是就坐在上面稍微休息片刻。

英译：

From then on, Wang’s appetite became better and better and he gradually recovered his health. Taking out the spray of plum blossom from beneath his pillow, he found the blossom already faded but didn’t fall down from the spray. He played with the plum blossom and mused as if seeing the girl. Blaming Wu for not coming, Wang wrote him a letter. Wu made an excuse for being unable to come.
Angry with Wu, Wang was quite depressed. Being afraid Wang would have a recurrence of his disease, he mother was busy with looking for a girl for her son. Whenever his mother discussed with him, he would shake his head expressing his unwillingness. What he did everyday was just to wait for Wu. Without any news from Wu, Wang began to bear resentment against Wu. Yet thinking better of it, a thirty- mile-distance wasn’t far. What’s the need to rely on others?
With the plum blossom in his sleeve, Wang went out alone in a fit of pique. No one in his family knew it.
Going alone, no one on the way for him to ask directions, Wang was only walking toward the south mountains. About thirty miles away, peaks and hill crests were up and down everyway. Green and fresh , the place was so cool as to cause him to feel chilly. Extremely quiet, no human beings were to be seen except for some birds flying among the cliffy mountains. Looking at the valley bellow, Wang found a village indistinctly visible among trees and flowers at the deep bottom.
Entering the village, Wang found only a few houses all of which were elegant thatched cottages. The one facing north caught his eyes. In front of the gate, willows were dancing; and within the walls, apricot and peach already came into pink flowers among which there were some tender bamboos with wild birds perching in the green leaves.
Thinking this must be the garden of the family, Wang didn’t dare to go in abruptly. Looking at the opposite house, he found a large smooth stone at the gate. Sitting on it, he took a rest and still looked at the family facing north.

4．

原文：

俄*闻墙内有女子，长呼“小荣”，其声娇细。方伫*听间，一女郎由东而西，执杏花一朵，俯首自簪*。举头见生，遂不复簪，含笑拈花而入。审视之，即上元途中所遇也。心骤喜。但念无以阶进*；欲呼姨氏，顾从无还往，惧有讹误。门内无人可问。坐卧徘徊，自朝至于日昃*，盈盈望
断，并忘饥渴。时见女子露半面来窥，似讶其不去者。忽一老媪扶杖出，顾生曰：“何处郎
君，闻自辰刻*便来，以至于今。意将何为？得勿饥耶？”生急起揖之，答云：“将以盼
亲。”媪聋聩不闻。又大言之。乃问：“贵戚何姓？”生不能答。媪笑曰：“奇哉！姓名尚
自不知，何亲可探？我视郎君，亦书痴耳。不如从我来，啖*以粗粝，家有短榻可卧。待明朝归，询知姓氏，再来探访，不晚也。”生方腹馁思啖，又从此渐近丽人，大喜。

注释：

1．俄：时间很短。2。伫：站。读“注”。簪：戴花。往头发上插花。3。阶进：进身的缘由。阶，缘由，因由。4。日昃：太阳偏西。昃，读“则”。5。辰刻：旧式计时法，指上午七点至九点。6。啖：吃或给别人吃，读“但”。

白话：

过了一会儿，墙内有个女子，拉着长声招呼“小荣”，声音娇滴滴地很细。王生正站在那里听着，一名女郎从门里出来，由东向西地走过来，手里拿着一朵杏花，低着头往自己的头上插。抬头看见王生，就不再继续插，面带笑容地，拿着花又走了进去。仔细一看，就是上元节那天在路上遇到的那个女郎。他心里骤然一阵喜悦。可又一想也没有进见的理由；想喊姨母，又顾虑从来没有交往，怕出差错。门里又无人可问。他在那里坐卧不宁，徘徊不止，从早晨一直到太阳偏西，望穿秋水，也忘掉饥渴。不时地见那女郎露出半张脸朝外偷看，似乎因为他久久不离开而感到惊讶。忽然一位老妇拄着拐杖走出来，看到王生说：“小伙子是哪里人，听说你从早晨就来了，一直待到现在。你有什么事？能不饿吗？”王生急忙起身作揖，回答说：“是来探亲的。”老妇耳背听不到。他又大声说一遍。老妇这才问：“你的亲戚姓什么？”王生答不上来。老妇笑道：“真奇怪！连姓名都不知道，还谈什么探亲？我看小伙子，你也是个书虫子呀。不如跟我来，先吃点粗茶淡饭，家里还有小床可以躺着休息一下。等明天回家，问清楚姓什么再来探访也不晚。”王生这时才感到肚子饿，想东西吃。再者，他还有机会一睹美人的风采，这使他感到非常高兴。

英译：

Shortly, he heard, within the walls, a girl was calling someone with the name of Xiao Rong in a long sweet voice. While listening attentively, Wang saw a girl walking from east to west with an apricot blossom in hand. With her head bending down, she wanted to insert the flower into her hair by herself. Raising her head and finding Wang, the girl abruptly stopped inserting and went in with the flower in her hand.
Scrutinizing, Wang found she’s just the girl he met on the way during Lantern Festival. Suddenly delighted, yet he had no reasons to go in. Going to call his aunt, but he was afraid of going wrong because the two families had never any dealings with each other.
Seeing no one coming out from within the walls for him to ask, Wang sat on the stone from morning till the sun going west as if sitting on pins and needles. Looking forward with impatient expectancy, Wang simply forgot hunger and thirsty.
Later on, Wang found the girl appear to have a furtive glance every now and then with half face covered as if astonishing about his stubbornness.
Suddenly, an old lady came out with support of a walking stick.
“Where do you come from?” the old lady asked. “You’ve been here from morning till now, I heard,” she asked continuously. “For what? Not hungry?”
Hurriedly rising on his feet, Wang was made a bow with his hands folded in front.
“I’m waiting for a relative,” said Wang.
Finding the old lady didn’t hear his words because of hard hearing, Wang said it again in a loud voice. Only then, did she ask continuously.
“What’s the family name of your relative?” asked she.
Wang couldn’t answer at all.
“Quite strange!” said the old lady. “Now that you don’t know the family name, how can you visit your relative?” the old one said continuously. “In my opinion, you’re just a book worm. You’d better come with me to eat something. I can also give you a short bed to sleep in. Tomorrow you can go home and find out the family name and then come back again. It can’t be late.”
At this moment, Wang felt very hungry and wanted to eat something. He’s rather excited not only because he could eat his fill but also have an opportunity to meet the beautiful girl.
5．

原文：

从媪入，见门内白石砌路，夹道红花，片片堕阶上；曲折而西，又启一关，豆棚花架满庭中。肃客入舍，粉壁光明如镜；窗外海棠枝朵，探入室中；裀藉*几榻，罔不洁泽。甫坐，即有人自窗外隐约相窥。媪唤：“小荣！可速作黍。”外有婢子曒声*而应。坐次，具展宗阀*。媪曰：“郎君外祖，莫姓吴否？”曰：“然。”媪惊曰：“是吾甥也！尊堂，我妹子。年来以家窭*贫，又无三尺男，遂至音问*梗塞。甥长成如许，尚不相识。”生曰：“此来即为姨也，匆遽遂忘姓氏。”媪曰：“老身秦姓，并无诞育；弱息仅存，亦为庶产。渠母改醮*，遗我鞠养。颇亦不钝，但少教训，嬉不知悉。少顷，使来拜识。”

注释：

1．裀藉：席垫。裀，读“印”。同“茵”，垫子。如“绿草如茵”。2。曒声：高声。3。宗阀：宗族门阀。阀，本指在某方面具有支配势力的人或家族。如“军阀”，“财阀”等。4。窭：贫穷。 5。音问：音讯。6。改醮：改嫁。醮，古代婚礼的一种仪式，后多指女子出嫁。

白话：

王生跟着老妇走进去，只见门内白石修路，红花夹道，花瓣一片片坠落在台阶上：蜿蜒曲折地向西延伸而去，又开了一道门，满庭满院的都是豆棚花架。请客人进入房间，只见粉刷的墙壁像镜子那样光亮；窗外海棠的花枝，伸入室内；茶几床铺，连同垫席，没有不清洁的。刚刚坐下，就有人从窗外隐隐约约地朝里偷看。老妇喊道：“小荣！赶快做饭。”外面有个婢女高声答应。坐定后，老妇开始讲述自己的门阀身世。老妇说：“小伙儿的姥姥家莫非姓吴？”王生说：“是。”老妇吃惊地说：“是我外甥呀！你母亲是我的妹妹。多年来家境贫寒，又没有男人，这才断了音信往来。外甥长这么大了，还不认识。”王生说：“这次我就是为姨妈您才来的，只是因为匆忙之中忘了您姓什么。”老妇说：“老身姓秦，没有生过一男半女；现在仅有的一个女儿，也是你姨夫的小妾生的。她母亲改嫁，就留给我抚养了。一点也不迟钝，就是缺少调教，总是不知不觉地嘻嘻哈哈笑个没完。过一会儿，让她来拜见你。”


英译：


Following the old lady and entering, Wang found a white pebble path with red flowers along both sides. Many petals fell down all over the nearby steps. The little path zigzagged west. Opening another gate, they stepped into another compound with trellises of beans and flowers everywhere. Being led into the house, Wang found bright rooms and white walls with fresh cherry blossoms stretching in through windows. Furniture was all clean and glistening.
Sitting for a moment, Wang faintly found someone peeping through windows.
“Xiao Rong!” cried the old lady. “Prepare a meal immediately.”
A maid replied at once from outside. Sitting there face to face, both sides began to introduce their respective families.
“Your mother’s family name is Wu, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Yes,” Wang said.
“Then you’re the son of my sister! Your mother is my sister.” The old lady said. “I’m very poor and have no sons. So, I lost contact with your family. You’ve already become an adult but we don’t know each other.”
“I come here just to look for you, aunt.” Wang said. “But I’m in a hurry so forget to ask my mother for your name”
“My hu*****and’s family name is Qin” said the old lady. “I only have a daughter but no sons. Yet, she was born by the second wife of my hu*****and. Her mother got remarried and left her to my hand. She’s quite clever. The only problem is that she is lack of education and loves to giggle without knowing anything about worry. Wait, I’ll call her over to meet you.”

6．

原文：

未几，婢子具饭，雏尾盈握*。媪劝餐已，婢来敛具。媪曰：“唤宁姑来。”婢应去。良久，闻户外隐有笑声。媪又唤曰：“婴宁，汝姨兄在此。”户外嗤嗤笑不已。婢推之以入，犹掩其口，笑不可遏。媪嗔目*曰：“有客在，咤咤叱叱，是何景象？”女忍笑而立，生揖之。媪曰：“此王郎，汝姨子。一家尚不相识，可笑人也。”生问：“妹子年几何矣？”媪未能解。生又言之。女复笑，不可仰视。媪谓生曰：“我言少教诲，此可见矣。年已十六，呆痴裁*如婴儿。”生曰：“小于甥一岁。”曰：“阿甥已十七矣，得非*庚午*属马者耶？”生首*应之。又问：“甥妇阿谁？”答云：“无之。”曰：“如甥才貌，何十七岁犹未聘？婴宁亦无姑家，极相匹敌；惜有内亲之嫌。”生无语，目注婴宁，不遑他瞬*。婢向女小语云：“目灼灼，贼腔未改！”女又大笑，顾婢曰：“视碧桃开未？”遽起，以袖掩口，细碎连步而出。至门外，笑声始纵。媪亦起，唤婢襥被*，为生安置。曰：“阿甥来不易，宜留三五日，迟迟送汝归。如嫌幽闷，舍后有小园，可供消遣；有书可读。”

注释：

1。雏尾盈握：肥嫩的雏鸡。雏，指小鸡。盈握，刚满一把。指用手一握，小鸡尾部刚满一把。指肥。2。嗔目：怒目。嗔，怒，读“琛”。3。裁：同“才”。4。得非：莫非。5。庚午：庚午年生人。午，十二生肖中的马，称“午”。6。首：点头。7。不遑他瞬：没有闲工夫看别的。遑，闲暇。他瞬，看别的。瞬，眼珠一动；一眨眼。本处是指看的意思。8。襥被：包起被子。襥，包袱，此处是动词“包起来”。

白话：

不一会儿，婢女把饭菜端上来，是肥嫩的雏鸡。老妇催王生吃过饭之后，婢女就过来收敛餐具。她说：“叫宁姑过来。”婢女答应着离开了。过了很久，就听窗外隐隐约约地有笑声。老妇又喊了一声：“婴宁，你姨哥在这儿。”窗外咯咯笑个不停。婢女把她推进来，还在捂着嘴，止不住地笑。老妇生气地看了她一眼说：“有客人在，还咯咯地，成什么样子？”女郎忍住笑声站在那里，王生向他作揖。老妇说：“这是王郎，你姨妈的儿子。一家人还不认识，真可笑啊。”王生问：“妹妹今年多大了？”老妇一时没有理解他的意思。王生又问了一遍。女郎又笑起来，笑得不能抬头看人。老妇对王生说：“我说缺少调教，这你可见到了吧？她今年已经十六岁了，痴痴呆呆的，就像小孩子。”王生说：“比外甥我小一岁。”老妇说：“外甥已经十七岁了，莫非你是庚午年出生，属马的？”王生点头回应。老妇又问：“外甥媳妇是谁？”王生答道：“还没有。”老妇说：“像外甥的才貌，为什么十七岁还没有娶亲？婴宁也还没有婆婆家，非常相似；可惜亲戚之间不好结亲。”王生没言语，只是目不转睛地凝视婴宁，眼睛一眨都不眨。婢女对女郎笑着说：“目光火辣辣的，贼腔滑调地没有改！”女郎又大笑起来，看着婢女说：“看看碧桃开花没有？”随后急忙起身，用衣袖捂着嘴，迈着细碎的步子走出去了。到门外，又开始放纵地大笑起来。老妇也站起来，招呼婢女准备被褥，安顿王生。她说：“外甥来一趟不容易，应该住上三五天，等慢慢地过几天再送你回家。如果嫌闷得慌，屋后有一个小花园，可以供你消遣；还有书可读。”

英译：

Shortly, the maid served a delicious meal. After dinner, the maid came to collect dishes and cups. “Ask Ying Ning to come here,” the old lady said.
The maid left. After a long period, there came a faint giggling from outside the window.
“Ying Ning,” the old lady called again. “The son of my sister is here. He’s your brother.”
The giggling outside the window didn’t stop. Pushed into the room by the maid, she still couldn’t stop giggling.
Angrily looking at her with a glare, the old lady said, “A guest is here. But you only giggle. How disgraceful you are!”
Forcing herself to stop giggling, the girl stood there. Wang made her a bow with hands folded in front.
“This is Wang. The son of my sister,” the old lady said. “We’re one family. But we don’t know each other. Others will laugh at us.”
“How old are you?” Wang asked.
The old lady didn’t understand what he meant. Wang asked again. And the girl giggled again. She giggled so hard as to be unable to raise her head and look at him.
“Lack of education as I mentioned just now,” said the old lady. “Now you can see clearly. She’s already sixteen, but she’s still clumsy and stupid just like a baby.”
“She’s one year younger than I.” Wang said.
“In other words, you’re seventeen,” said the old lady.
Wang nodded his head.
“Who’s your wife?” the old lady asked.
“I’m still single,” Wang said.
“With remarkable talent and handsome appearance, you’re still a single man. On what ground?” the old lady said continuously. “Ying Ning remains single, too. You two would make a perfect couple. There’s only a suspicion of intermarriage. What a pity.”
Saying nothing, Wang only gazed at the girl without blinking his eyes.
The maid said to the girl in a low voice, “He’s glaring at us fiercely and covetously just like tiger. The guy hasn’t changed his thief appearance.”
Giggling loudly, the girl said to the maid, “Go see whether the peach bursts in blossoms.”
The girl raised on her feet and left with her right hand covering her mouth. Immediately after going outside, she began to giggle with nothing to scruple. The old lady also stood up and asked the maid to make Wang well fixed up.
“It’s no easy job for you to come here,” the old lady said. “You’d better stay for four or five days. I don’t want you to leave in a hurry. There’s a little garden behind the house. If you feel lonely and uncomfortable, you can go there to divert yourself from boredom. And there’re also books for you to read.”

7．

原文：

次日，至舍后，果有园半亩，细草铺毡，杨花糁*径；有草舍三楹*，花木四合其所。穿花小步，闻树头苏苏有声，仰视，则婴宁在上。见生来，狂笑欲堕。生曰：“勿尔，堕矣！”女且下且笑，不能自止。方将及地，失手而堕，笑乃止。生扶之，阴捘*其腕。女笑又作，倚树不能行，良久乃罢。生俟*其笑歇，乃出袖中花示之。女接之，曰：“枯矣。何留之？”曰：“此上元妹子所遗，故存之。”问：“存之何意？”曰：“以示相爱不忘也。自上元相遇，凝思成病，自分*化为异物*；不图得见颜色，幸垂怜悯。”女曰：“此大细事。至戚何所靳*惜？待郎行时，园中花，当唤老奴来，折一巨捆负送之。”生曰：“妹子痴耶？”女曰：“何便是痴？”生曰：“我非爱花，爱拈花之人耳。”女曰：“葭莩*之情，爱何待言。”生曰：“我所谓爱，非瓜葛*之爱，乃夫妻之爱。”女曰：“有以异乎？”曰：“夜共枕席耳。”女俯思良久，曰：“我不惯与生人睡。”语未已，婢潜至，生惶恐遁去。少时，会母所。母问：“何往？”女答以园中共话。媪曰：“饭熟已久，有何长言，周遮*乃尔*。”女曰：“大哥欲我共寝。”言未已，生大窘，急目瞪之。女微笑而止。幸媪不闻，犹絮絮究诘。生急以他词掩之，因小语责女。女曰：“适此语不应说耶？”生曰：“此背人语。”女曰：“背他人，岂得背老母。且寝处亦常事，何讳之？”生恨其痴，无术可以悟之。食方竟，家中人捉双卫*来寻生。

注释

1．糁：粉粒。2。楹：一间房屋叫一楹。读“盈”。3。捘：用手指捏，按。读“尊”。4。俟：等待。读“四”。5。自分：自认为。6。异物：指死掉。7。靳：砍。读“进。8。葭莩：芦苇内壁的薄膜，比喻指疏运的亲戚。读“加伏”。9。瓜葛：亲戚。10。周遮：言语的烦琐。11：乃尔：这样，如此。12。捉双卫：牵着两头驴。卫，驴的别称。据传，春秋时期晋国的卫玠喜欢乘驴，后人就以“卫”代称驴。

白话：

第二天，王生到屋后，果然发现半亩小园，细草茸茸，仿佛铺毯，杨花粉粒，星星点点，落满小径；有三间草屋，花木葱茏，环绕四周。他迈着小步穿过花丛，就听树上唏嗦作响，抬头一看，原来是婴宁在上边。见王生来到，她笑得简直要摔下来。王生说：“别这样，会掉下来的！”女郎边下边咯咯地笑，根本停不住。快要落地时，把手一松，掉在地上，笑声这才停止。王生连忙去搀扶，暗中捏了捏她的手腕。女郎又笑起来，倚着树迈不开步，过了老半天才停止。王生等她笑完，才从衣袖中掏出花给她看。女郎接过花，说：“干了。为什么还留着它？”王生说：“这是上元节妹妹你扔下的，所以我才保存着。”女郎问：“留着它干什么？”王生说：“以表示不忘和你相爱。自从上元节和你相遇，我苦思成病，暗自思量可能到死也见不到你；可没想到终于见到了你的美貌，希望有幸得到你的怜悯。”女郎说：“这不是什么大事。既然是亲戚，尽管随便砍，没什么可吝惜的。等你走的时候，园子里的花，只要你喜欢，尽管把老仆人找来，替你砍一大捆，叫他背着给你送回家。”王生说：“妹妹你傻了吗？”女郎说：“怎么说是傻了呢？”王生说：“不是爱花，是爱拿着花的人。”女郎说：“亲戚之间的情份，怎么说起爱来了？”王生说：“我所说的爱，不是亲戚之间的爱，而是夫妻之爱。”女郎说：“这有区别吗？”王生说：“夜间同床共枕。”女郎低头思考很久，说：“我不习惯和生人一起睡觉。”话还没说完，婢女悄然而至，王生害怕就惊惶而逃。不一会儿，大家在女郎母亲的房间聚会。老妇问：“刚才到哪里去了？”女郎把园中对话作为她回答母亲的内容。老妇说：“饭早就熟了，有什么话要说这么长时间，啰里啰唆的。”女郎说：“大哥想和我一起睡觉。”话还没说完，王生就感到十分尴尬，急忙用眼睛瞪她。女郎这才面带微笑停止说话。幸亏老妇没有听到，还在那里唠唠叨叨地刨根问底。王生急忙用别的话加以掩饰，还小声责怪女郎。女郎说：“刚才的话不能说吗？”王生说：“这是背人的话。”女郎说：“背着别人，难道还要背着老母亲吗？再说在寝室睡觉也是很平常的事，为什么要避讳？”王生恨她太傻，没有办法开导她。饭刚刚吃完，家里人就牵着两头毛驴来寻找王生了。

英译：

Going behind the house next day, Wang really found a little garden with green grass and poplars everywhere. There were three thatched cottages with their doors covered by woods and flowers.
Sauntering among the flowers, Wang heard rustling on the trees. Looking up at the trees, he found Ying Ning there. Seeing Wang came, she was giggling so wildly that she nearly fell down.
“Don’t do like that,” Wang said. “Be careful not to fall down.”
Sliding downward, the girl still couldn’t help giggling. When nearly touching the ground, she even let go her hold and jumped onto the ground with mighty strength. And only at this moment, did she stop giggling.
Wang hurriedly drew closer to help her up. Taking this opportunity he stealthily pinched her wrest. Leaning against a big tree, she began giggling again so she couldn’t move. Only after a long time did she stop her giggling.
Availing himself of this opportunity, Wang took out the plum blossom from his sleeve.
Taking over the blossom, the girl said, “Faded. What’s the need to keep it?”
“It’s the blossom you left during Lantern Festival, so I keep it,” said Wang.
“What’s the purpose?” she asked.
“To show my love,” Wang said, “and indicate I’ve never forgotten you.” He said continuously. “Ever since meeting you during Lantern Festival, I’ve been missing you too much so I’m ill now. And the illness is very serious, I’m afraid I’ll die. But to my great surprise, I meet you here today. Please take a pity on me!”
“It’s simply a trifle. Not worth grudging.” Said the girl. “When you leave, I’ll ask the servant to cut whatever flowers you like in this garden and make you a large bundle.”
“You’re wrong,” said Wang.
“What’s wrong with me?” the girl asked.
“I don’t love the flower.” He told her. “I just love the person who picked the flower.”
“It’s only the sort of feelings about flowers.” The girls said. “It’s far from being love.”
“The love I mentioned isn’t the one among relatives.” He said. “It’s the love between hu*****and and wife.”
“Any differences?” asked she.
“It’s the love concerning sleeping in a same bed at night,” he said.
Thinking for a long period, the girl said, “I’m not used to sleeping with strangers.”
Before they finished their conversation, the maid came stealthily. Wang was terrified and hid himself among flowers.
Shortly, all of them got together in the old lady’s room.
“Where’ve you been?” asked the old lady.
The girl said they had a talk in the garden.
“The dinner is ready. What’s the need to have a long conversation,” the old lady said. “A short dialogue is enough.”
“My brother wants to sleep with me.” The girl told her mother.
Before the girl finished her words, Wang felt greatly embarrassed and glared at her. The girl smiled and stopped speaking. It’s lucky the old lady didn’t hear what she said and continuously chattered some questions in details. Wang tried to put off the lady with something else and blamed the girl in a low voice.
“I shouldn’t say like that, should I?” asked the girl.
“This sort of words must be said behind other people’s backs.” Wang told her.
“Behind the backs of others. That’s O.K. But how can I say it behind my own mother’s back?” asked the girl. “And further, it’s normal to sleep with someone familiar. What’s the need to avoid it?”
Wang thought this girl was so silly that there was no way to enlighten her.
Immediately after dinner, leading two donkeys, someone came here from his home to look for him.


8．

原文：

先是，母待生久不归，始疑；村中搜觅几遍，竟无踪兆。因往询吴。吴忆曩*言，因教于
西南山村行觅。凡历数村，始至于此。生出门，适相值*，便入告媪，且请偕女同归。媪喜
曰：“我有志，匪伊朝夕*。但残躯不能远涉，得甥携妹子去，识认阿姨，大好！”呼婴宁。
宁笑至。媪曰：“有何喜，笑辄不辍？若不笑，当为全人。”因怒之以目。乃曰：“大哥欲
同汝去，可便装束。”又饷家人酒食，始送之出曰：“姨家田产丰裕，能养冗人*。到彼且勿
归，小学诗礼，亦好事翁姑。即烦阿姨，为汝择一良匹。”二人遂发。至山坳*，回顾，犹依
稀见媪倚门北望也。

注释：

*1。曩：先前。读“囊”的第二声。，即扬声。2。相值：相遇，碰到。3。匪伊朝夕：不只一天。匪，不。伊，句中词，没有实际意义。朝夕，从早到晚，指一天时间。4。冗人：闲人，多余的人。冗，多余的。5。坳：山间平地。读“傲”。

白话：

起初，王母等王生很久不见回家，就开始猜疑起来；在村里找了几遍，竟然毫无踪影。因此就问吴生。吴生回忆起从前的话，就叫人到西南山村去找。一路经过好几个村庄才到。王生一出门，正好相遇，于是进去告诉老妇，并且请求带着女郎一起回家。老妇高兴地说：“我早有此意，已经不是一朝一夕的了。只是我身体衰弱不能出远门，现在有外甥带着妹妹去，认识一下姨妈，太好了！”于是就呼唤婴宁。婴宁咯咯地笑着来了。老妇说：“有什么喜事，笑个不停？要不是总笑，你可就是个完美无缺的人了。”于是怒目相视。这才说：“大哥想和你一起去，赶快梳妆打扮去。”接着又以饭食酒菜招待王生的家人，最后把婴宁送出门说：“你姨妈家田产富裕，能养的起闲人。到那里先别急着回来，学点诗书礼节，也要好好服侍姨夫姨妈。再麻烦姨妈为你挑个好女婿。”两人随即出发。走到一块山间平地上，回头一看，还能隐隐约约地见到老妇倚在门上向北张望。

英译：


The fact was that after Wang left home, his mother waited for him for a long time. Now that he didn’t go home, his mother became suspicious and looked for him in the village. Fail to find her son, the mother went to ask Wu. Remembering what he said to Wang, Wu suggested her mother send a servant to look for Wang in the south mountain area. Passing by several mountain villages, the servant came here at last.
Wang stepped out and met with the man. Learning what’d happened, Wang turned back into the house immediately and told the whole story to the old lady and asked the girl to go with him. The old lady was very happy.
“I’ve been thinking to visit your family for a long time,” said the old lady. “But I’m too old to leave my home. It’s very good for you to take Ying Ning with you and let her to know her aunt.”
The old lady called her daughter. Giggling aloud, Ying Ning came at once.
“What sort of good things made you giggle again?” asked her mother. “If you don’t giggle all the time, you’d be a perfect girl.” Angrily glaring at her daughter, the old lady said continuously. “Your big brother wants to take you to his home. You can go with him. Hurry up and make a good preparation.”
After giving them a send-off dinner, the old lady said to Ying Ning, “Your aunt is rich enough to let you live there. You should well attend upon her and ask her to find you a good hu*****and. ”
Wang and Ying Ning set out. Turning round at the foot of the mountain, they faintly saw the old lady still leaning against the door and looking north into the distance.

9．

原文：

抵家，母睹姝丽，惊问为谁。生以姨女对。母曰：“前吴郎与儿言者，诈也。我未有
姊，何以得甥？”问女，女曰：“我非母出。父为秦氏，没时，儿在褓中，不能记忆。”母
曰：“我一姊适*秦氏，良确，然殂谢*已久，那得复存？”因审诘面庞、志赘*，一一符合。又疑曰：“是矣。然亡已多年，何得复存？”疑虑间，吴生至，女避入室。吴询得故，惘然久
之。忽曰：“此女名婴宁耶？”生然之。吴亟称怪事。问所自知，吴曰：“秦家姑去世后，
姑丈鳏居，祟*于狐，病瘠*死。狐生女名婴宁，绷卧床上，家人皆见之。姑丈没，狐犹时来；
后求天师符*粘壁上，狐遂携女去。将勿此耶？”彼此疑参。

注释：

适：嫁人。2。殂谢：死亡。3。志赘：痣和痦子。志，通“痣”。赘，痦子，赘疣，读“坠”。4。祟：作祟。5。瘠：瘦弱。读“吉”。5。天师符：张天师的符。天师，东汉时期道教创始人张道陵，徒众尊其为天师，世人称之为张天师。

白话：

到家后，王母看到这位美丽的姑娘，惊奇地问是谁。王生说是姨妈的女儿。王母说：“吴郎先前和你说的话，都不是真的。我没有姐姐，哪里还会有外甥女？”问女郎，女郎说：“我不是这个母亲生的。父亲姓秦，死的时候，我还在襁褓中，什么也记不得。”王母说：“我有一个姐姐嫁给了秦家，确有此事。不过她已经死去很久了，哪能再活在世上？”于是就仔细观察女郎的体貌特征，包括痣和痦子在内，全都非常吻合。于是又满腹狐疑地说：“是呀。可是死这么多年，怎么能还存活在世呢？”正在猜疑时，吴生赶到了，女郎急忙避开进到屋里。吴生得知情况后，茫然不知所措。过了好久忽然说：“这女孩叫婴宁吧？”王生说是。吴生极力说这真是一件怪事。问他从何得知，吴生说：“秦家的姑妈去世后，姑夫单身独居，被狐狸迷惑，病弱而死。狐狸生有一女，名叫婴宁，绷着脸躺在床上，家里人都见到过。姑夫过世后，狐狸还时常来；后来求得张天师的神符贴在墙上，狐狸才带着女儿离开。难道不是这样吗？”彼此疑虑重重。


英译：

Back at home, Wang introduced Ying Ning to his mother. Seeing such a beautiful girl, the mother was surprisingly delighted and asked who she was. Wang told his mother she was his aunt’s daughter.
His mother said, “What Wu told you before is not true. At present I have no sister at all.”
Inquired by the old lady, Ying Ning said, “I wasn’t borne by my present mother. My father’s family name is Qin. When my father died, I was still a little baby in swaddling clothes. So I don’t remember anything about that.”
“I really had a sister before,” Wang’s mother said. “But she already died many years ago. How can she still exist in this world?”
Then the old lady asked Ying Ning about the traits of her mother’s appearance, especially the mole in her face. Ying Ning’s deion was just the same as what Wang’s mother said.
“That’s right,” the old lady felt suspicious again. “But she died many years ago. It’s impossible for her to be alive now.”
Just at the moment everyone doubted the truth, Wu came in. Ying Ning immediately went into hiding.
Learning all these details, Wu felt puzzled. Then suddenly he asked, “The girl’s name is Ying Ning?”
Wang said yes. He felt this matter extremely strange.
Being asked why, Wu said, “After my aunt died, her hu*****and lived alone. Later on he was infatuated with a fox and died at last. The fox had borne a baby girl named Ying Ning. All my family saw this baby in bed. After my aunt’s hu*****and died, the fox still came every now and then. Later on, the family asked someone to help them catching demons and monsters. The fox took the baby away and from then on never appeared again. This girl is just the fox baby, isn’t she?”
Everyone was doubted.

10．

原文：

但闻室中吃吃皆婴宁笑声。母曰：“此女亦太憨生。”吴请面之。母入室，女犹浓笑不顾。母促令出，始极力忍笑，又面壁移时，方出。才一展拜，翻然遽入，放声大笑。满室妇女，为之粲然*。吴请往觇*其异，就便执柯*。寻至村所，庐舍全无，山花零落而已。吴忆姑葬处，仿佛不远；然坟垅湮没，莫可辨识，诧叹而返。母疑其为鬼。入告吴言，女略无骇意；又吊*其无家，亦殊无悲意，孜孜憨笑而已。众莫之测*。母令与少女同寝止。昧爽*即来省问，操女红*精巧绝伦。但善笑，禁之亦不可止；然笑处嫣然，狂而不损其媚，人皆乐之。邻女少妇，争承迎之。母择吉将为合卺*，而终恐为鬼物。窃于日中窥之*，形影殊无少异。至日，使华装行新妇礼；女笑极不能俯仰，遂罢。生以其憨痴，恐泄漏房中隐事；而女殊密秘，不肯道一语。每值母忧怒，女至，一笑即解。奴婢小过，恐遭鞭楚，辄求诣母共话；罪婢投见，恒得免。而爱花成癖，物色遍戚党；窃典金钗，购佳种，数月，阶砌藩溷，无非花者。

注释：

1．粲然：笑时露出牙的样子。2。觇：窥视，偷看，读“搀”。3。执柯：做媒。4。吊：怜悯。5。众莫之测：众人都摸不透她的意思。实际上是“众莫测之”，但文言文否定句中宾语如果是代名词就提到动词前。又如“不患人之不己知，患不知人也”，前半句的本意是“不患人之不知己”，但因动词“患”的宾语是人称代词“己”，因此提到“患”之前。意思是说不怕人不了解自己，怕的是不了解别人。6。昧爽：黎明。7。女红：女子该做的活计，如纺织、刺绣、缝纫等。“红”读“工”。8。合卺：成婚。“卺”，读“紧”，是葫芦。把一个葫芦劈成两半为两只瓢。夫妻二人各拿一只饮酒。这是古代婚礼的一种仪式。窃于日中窥之：偷偷地在太阳下面看。传说鬼在日光下没有影子，因此用这种办法来检验婴宁是否是鬼。

白话：

只听屋里吃吃的都是婴宁的笑声。王母说：“这姑娘太傻。”吴生要求见见她。王母进屋，女郎还在不顾一切地笑。王母催着她出来，她才极力忍住笑，又对着墙壁站了很久，才出来。刚一行礼，就急忙转身进屋，放声大笑起来。满屋的女人都因为她而笑起来。吴生请求前往察看这件怪事，于是就拿起斧头出去了。找到那个村子所处的位置，却发现房屋都没有了，只有零落的山花而已。吴生回忆姑妈的埋葬地，似乎不远；可是坟墓现在已被荒草湮没，无法辨认，于是就惊讶叹息着返回来。王母怀疑女郎是鬼。进屋告诉吴生，女郎没有一点害怕的意思；又提到她无家可归，可她也不显得悲伤，只是吃吃地傻笑而已。众人都猜不透她。王母让儿子和少女一起睡。天一亮她就来向王母问早安，针线活儿精巧得无人能比。只是爱笑，想禁止也做不到；但是笑得很美，虽狂但又不伤大雅，人们都很喜欢她。街坊邻居的大姑娘小媳妇，争着欢迎她。王母选择良辰吉日想为她完婚，但又怕她是鬼怪。于是偷偷地在太阳之下观察她，可也看不出一点特殊的蛛丝马迹。吉日一到，让她华装丽服行新婚之礼；女郎因为大笑身子不能前俯后仰，无法行礼，于是作罢。王生恐怕她会因为傻乎乎地，把房中隐私泄露出去；可女郎严格保守秘密，连一句话都不肯说。每当王母烦恼生气，女郎来了，只要一笑立即烟消云散。奴婢出了小差错，害怕遭到鞭打，就求她到王母那里去说情；犯了错误的奴婢主动去认错，总能得到原谅。此外，她爱花成了癖好，寻遍亲朋好友的家；就是偷偷地把金首饰典当出去，也要购买好的花种，几个月之后，房前屋后，没有没花的地方。

英译：

Hearing Ying Ning giggling in her room, the mother said, “This girl is too silly.”Wu wanted to see her. Wang’s mother entered her room. Ying Ning was completely absorbed in giggling without any scruples. Only when being asked to go outside to meet Wu, did she do stop her giggle. Facing walls for a long period, she walked outside. Yet she abruptly went back into her room and began to wildly giggle again immediately after hastily bowing to Wu. All the women around were stunned.
Wu wanted to go to south mountains to have a look so as to clarify the matter and then play the role of go-between for Wang and the girl. Yet strange enough, when he came to the place where the alleged village was located, he found all the houses vanished. What he saw was only a deserted scene with old trees and faded wild flowers.
Wu remembered it was seemly not far from where he stood to the place his aunt was buried. But disappearing among high weeds, the grave left no marks for him to search. Greatly astonished, Wu could do nothing but sigh and turn back.
Suspecting they met ghosts, Wang’s mother went into Ying Ning’s room and told her about Wu’s words. The girl was only giggling without any sign of fear or sorrow. All the people felt perplexed. Taking pity on her being homeless, the mother let her to stay with the maid.
Early every morning, she went to extend greetings to the old lady immediately after getting up. Moreover, her sewing work was absolutely perfect. The only flaw in an otherwise perfect thing was her giggling which couldn’t be stopped no matter how they forbade her to do so. Yet her giggling was in fact rather nice because it didn’t do any harm to her beauty though sometime rather wildly. And what’s more, her giggling gradually made all the people happy including the neighboring young ladies who were also willing to be with her.
The old lady wanted to choose a lucky day for Wang to marry her. Yet she was still afraid the girl might be a ghost. On day times, she stealthily observed her very carefully. But she found nothing informal except for an extremely beautiful young lady.
Next day, the old lady decided to let her put on the newly made wedding dress. But she giggled wildly again so that Wang’s mother changed her mind. Moreover, Wang was in a nervous state because he was afraid that the girl would disclose their secret intimacy, but fortunately, the girl herself just kept secret without saying anything about their intimacy and wedding.
Whenever the old lady got angry, the girl would come and make the problem resulted immediately just by giggling. Whenever the maid was afraid to be blamed because of her mi*****ehavior, she would persuaded her into saying sorry to the old lady and then accompanied her to enter the mother’s room. And the problem was resulted at once so long as she began to giggle aloud.
Ying Ning had a hobby for flower planting. She often went to the market to buy some fine varieties of flower seeds and then planted them into the garden. Shortly, the garden was filled with beautiful flowers.

11．

原文：

庭后有木香一架，故邻西家。女每攀登其上，摘供簪玩*。母时遇见，辄诃*之。女卒不改。一日，西人子见之，凝注倾倒。女不避而笑。西人子谓女意已属*，心益荡。女指墙底笑而下，西人子谓示约处，大悦。及昏而往，女果在焉。就而淫之，则阴*如锥刺，痛彻于心，大号而踣*。细视非女，则一枯木卧墙边，所接乃水淋窍*也。邻父闻声，急奔研问，呻而不言。妻来，始以实告。爇火*烛窍，见中有巨蝎，如小蟹然。翁碎木捉杀之。负子至家，半夜寻卒。邻人讼生，讦发*婴宁妖异。邑宰*素仰生才，稔知*其笃行士*，谓邻翁讼诬，将杖责之。生为乞免，遂释而出。母谓女曰：“憨狂尔尔，早知过喜而伏忧也。邑令神明，幸不牵累；设鹘突*官宰，必逮妇女质公堂，我儿何颜见戚里？”女正色，矢*不复笑。母曰：“人罔不笑，但须有时。”而女由是竟不复笑，虽故逗，亦终不笑；然竟日未尝有戚容。

注释：

1．簪玩：女子把花摘下来，或者像发簪那样插在头上，或者拿在手中把玩。簪指前者，玩指后者。各选一字，二者合一，便成此词。2。诃：呵斥，斥责。3。已属：已经属于。意思是已经属于他，即看上他了。4。阴：阴部，下体。5。踣：跌倒。读“伯”。6。窍：窟窿。7。爇火：点燃灯火。“爇”，读“若”。8。讦发：揭发。9。邑宰：县官。10。稔知：熟知。稔，读“忍”。11。笃行士：品行忠厚的读书人。12。鹘突：糊涂。鹘，天鹅，读“胡”。


白话：

庭院后有一架木香花，和西面邻居相连。女郎经常爬到上面，摘花插在头上。王母一见到就呵斥她。女郎一直不改。一天，西面邻居的儿子见到她，只顾凝神观看而跌倒。女郎不仅不避讳，还朝他笑。西面邻居的儿子说她已经看上他，于是心旌摇曳。女郎指着墙底下，笑着爬下来，西面邻居的儿子以为她在向他指示约会地点，非常高兴。到黄昏时分，他就到那里去，女郎果然在那里。于是就奸淫她，可阴部却像锥子扎的一样，钻心疼。大哭着往前摔倒在地。仔细一看，并不是女郎，而是一根干木头靠在墙边，他下体接触的原来是雨水淋成的窟窿。邻居家的父亲听到儿子哭声，急忙跑过来问个究竟，儿子只是呻吟不语。他妻子过来，儿子才如实相告。于是点着灯火，往窟窿里照，见里面有一只巨大的蝎子，就像小螃蟹那样。老头把木头砍碎，捉住蝎子然后弄死。他把儿子背回家，半夜时候就突然死了。邻居把王生告上法庭，还发难说婴宁是妖怪。县官平时非常敬仰王生的才华，熟知他是个忠厚的书生，就说邻居老头是诬告，还用刑杖拷打他。王生还为他说情，请求免他的罪，他这才被释放出来。王母对女郎说：“成天不停地傻笑，早就知道高兴过头就埋伏着忧愁。县令英明，才万幸没有受牵连；假如是个糊涂官，必定要把咱母女俩抓起来对簿公堂，我儿还有什么脸面去见乡里乡亲们？”女郎脸色严肃，发誓不再笑。王母说：“人没有不笑的，但应该有时有会儿的。”可女郎从此居然不再笑，虽然故意逗她，也始终不笑；不过每天都没有愁容。

英译：

In the garden, there was a big magnolia near the west neighbor. Ying Ning often climbed up and perched among the branches and picked some flowers and then inserted them into her hair. Whenever seeing her, the old lady would reproach her. But she still persisted in doing so.
One day, the young man of the west neighbor saw her. Infatuated with her beauty, he kept on gazing at her. Without evading, Ying Ning giggled and giggled. Thinking she already took a liking for him, the young guy indulged in wild fantasy. Giggling and pointing at the foot of the walls, Ying Ning climbed down. Thinking it was the place for an appointment, the guy was delighted.
At dusk, the guy went there and really found the girl waiting for him. Holding her tightly, he began to touched her. Yet just at this moment, he felt deadly painful as if his lower body was pricked by a sharp awl. An unbearable pain made him fall down.
Carefully scrutinizing, he found it wasn’t the girl but a withered tree leaning against the wall. Moreover, what he ed was only a tree hole with water dropping slowly.
Hearing his crying, the young man’s father rushed over hurriedly and asked his son what had happened. The son just groaned bitterly without saying anything. Only on seeing his wife did the young guy tell the truth.
They lighted the tree hole with a candle and found a scorpion as large as a little crab. Smashing the withered wood, the father took out the large scorpion and killed it and carried his son back home. The young man died abruptly at midnight.
Exposing that Ying Ning was a demon, the neighbor brought an action against Wang. Deeply knowing Wang was an honest scholar and admiring his fine conduct and intellectual brilliance, the magistrate convicted the neighbor of a slanderous accusation and tortured him. Wang interceded with the magistrate for his neighbor who was finally released.
“Your words and deeds are too free,” said the old lady to Ying Ning. “When the cup of happiness overflows, disaster follows.” Wang’s mother said continuously. “It’s lucky the magistrate is very honest and didn’t dragged you in. If you meet a muddle-headed official, you would be brought into the court for a confrontation with the accuser. In this case, my son will be too ashamed to face anyone.”
Ying Ning became serious and didn’t giggle again. Seeing this, the mother said, “What I said doesn’t mean you are not allowed to smile. All people smile. It’s just a problem to smile timely.”
From then on, she never giggled again. Even if being teased, she didn’t giggle at all, nevertheless she never wore a woebegone appearance.


12．

原文：

一夕，对生零涕。异之，女哽咽曰：“曩以相从日浅，言之恐致骇怪。今日察姑*及郎，皆过爱无有异心，直告或无妨乎？妾本狐产。母临去，以妾托鬼母，相依十余年，始有今日。妾又无兄弟，所恃者惟君。老母岑寂山阿*，无人怜而合厝*之，九泉辄为悼恨。君倘不惜烦费，使地下人消此怨恫，庶养女者不妨溺弃。”生诺之，然虑坟冢迷于荒草。女但言无虑。刻日，夫妻舆榇*而往。女于荒烟错楚中，指示墓处，果得媪尸，肤革犹存。女抚哭哀痛。舁*归，寻秦氏墓合葬焉。是夜，生梦媪来称谢，寤而述之。女曰：“妾夜见之，嘱勿惊郎君耳。”生恨不邀留。女曰：“彼鬼也。生人多，阳气胜，何能久居？”生问小荣，曰：“是亦狐，最黠。狐母留以视妾，每摄饵相哺，故德之常不去心。昨问母，云已嫁之。”由是岁值寒食，夫妻登秦墓，拜扫无缺。女逾年，生一子。在怀抱中，不畏生人，见人辄笑，亦大有母风云。

注释：

1．姑：婆婆2。山阿：山间平地。3。合厝：合葬。厝，安葬，读“错”。4。舆榇：以车运棺。舆，车，读“与”。櫬，棺，读“亲”。5。舁：共同抬。读“于”。

白话：

一天晚上，婴宁对王生哭泣。王生感到奇怪，女郎哽咽着说：“从前我认为咱们接触的日子太浅，说出实话恐怕吓着你们。现在看看婆婆和郎君，对我都宠爱有加，没有外心，直说了或许也没关系吧？我本是狐狸所生。母亲临死的时候，把我托付给鬼妈妈，相依为命十多年，才有今天。我又没有兄弟，能依靠的只有郎君。老母寂静地安卧在山里，没人以怜悯之心把她和父亲合葬，使她遗恨九泉。郎君倘若不怕麻烦和破费，让地下之人消除这种怨恨，这样才能使养育我的人免遭遗忘。”王生答应了她，可是又顾虑坟墓被荒草湮没。女郎只是说不要多虑。等到商定的日子一到，夫妻俩就用车拉着棺材前往寻墓。女郎在荒无人烟的杂树丛中，指出了坟墓所在地，果然挖出老太太的尸首，皮肤完好无损。女郎抚尸痛哭。他们把尸体拉回去，找到秦老爹的坟墓合葬起来。当天夜里，王生就梦见老太太前来感谢，醒后他都讲了出来。女郎说：“我夜间见到了母亲，她嘱咐我不要惊动郎君。”王生怪她没有请老太太留下来。女郎说：“她是鬼呀。活人一多，阳气就盛，她怎能久留呢？”王生问小荣的事，女郎说：“她也是狐狸，最精明了。母亲把她留下来照顾我，每当猎取食物后都和我分享，我认为她品行端正，从来没有把她打发走的想法。昨天我问过母亲，说已经把她嫁出去了。”从此以后，每年一到清明节，夫妻二人就去给秦氏二老扫墓，年年都去。女郎过了一年，生个儿子。这小子在父母怀里，从不怕生人，见人就笑，也大有母亲的风采。

英译：

One evening, Ying Ning wept. Wang felt strange. She choked, “I’ve got something to tell you. But I’m afraid the truth may scare you because our relation has just been formed.” She said continuously. “But I find you and your mother love me without any doubt. I’m going to tell you my true story frankly. It’s no harm, is it?” Then she said without reserve. “I was produced by a fox. In her dying hour, my mother left me to a ghost mother. I lived together with my ghost mother for over ten years. Only because of this, can I have my today. Now that I have no brothers, I can only rely on you. My mother’s body is still lying in the wild mountains alone. It’s a pity no one has compassion for her and buries her together with my father. If you can spare no pains to help, my mother’s soul will be able to rest in peace. And if so, she didn’t give birth to me for nothing. As her daughter, I’ll be moved to tears of gratitude.”
Wang agreed but was afraid the grave might be lost among weeds. Ying Ning said there’s no need to be worried.
Next day, the couple went to the mountains with a new coffin carried by a wagon. Ying Ning indicated where the grave was located among trees and weeds in a mess. Opening the grave, they really found her mother’s remains with skin and flesh nearly as soft as before. Bending over her mother’s dead body, Ying Ning choked with tears. They laid her mother’s remains in the new coffin which was buried together with her father’s.
That night, Wang dreamed Ying Ning’s mother came to thank him. After waking up, Wang told her about his dream. Ying Ning said that she met her mother at night but was told not to disturb him. Wang blamed her for not persuading her mother into staying.
“She’s a ghost,” said Ying Ning. “There’re so many living people here. How can she stay long?”
Wang asked her about their maid. Ying Ning said, “She is a fox, too.” She told him. “She is very clever. My mother asked her to look after me. Whenever getting something eatable, she would let me eat. My mother was very grateful to her for her persisting on staying with us. Last night I asked my mother about her recent conditions. I was told that she already got married.”
From then on, each year on the traditional grave-visiting day, the couple would go to her parents’ grave to offer sacrifices to the deceased.
A year later, Ying Ning had a baby boy. Afraid of no strangers, he would giggle to whoever carried him. People said the lovely boy just had her mother’s bearing.

1．

原文：

异史氏曰：“观其孜孜*憨笑，似全无心肝者；而墙下恶作剧，其黠孰甚焉。至凄恋鬼母，反笑为哭，我婴宁殆隐于笑者矣。窃闻山中有草，名‘笑矣乎’。嗅之，则笑不可止。房中植此一种，则合欢*、忘忧*，并无颜色矣。若解语花*，正嫌其作态耳。”
注释：
1.孜孜：不停。读“资”。2. 合欢：花名，俗称夜合花，因羽状复叶夜间合闭而得名；又因形状像绒球，故而得名“绒花”；又因酷似马鞭上的红缨，故而得名“马缨花”。3。忘忧：忘忧草，萱草的别名。4。解语花：典出《开元天宝遗事。解语花》：唐明皇与杨贵妃在太液池赏花之际，有人赞美池花之美，而明皇立即指着贵妃说：“争如我解语花？”（如我的解语花美吗？）
白话：
异史氏感言：“看她吃吃傻笑的样子，似乎完全是没心没肺；而墙下那场恶作剧，却说明她机智绝顶。等到凄凄然思念鬼母时，却一反常态地破笑为哭。我笔下婴宁的本性完全隐含在笑声中。我听说山中有一种草，名叫‘笑矣乎’。闻一闻，就会笑个不停。如果室内栽植这种草，那马缨花及萱草就显得相形见绌了。就如同解语花，为迎合他人而故作姿态。
英译：

Author’s Commentary:
Ying Ning always giggled foolishly as if thoughtless. But the mischief at the foot of the wall indicated that she was rather cunning and quite mature. When missing her ghost mother, she would cry but not giggle anymore. Ying Ning just hid her inner feelings into her giggling. I heard there was a sort of weeds named Laughing Grass which had no beautiful flowers. Smelling it, you would laugh without ending. If planting a Laughing Grass in you room, filled with great joy, the whole family would forget sorrow. But this sort of grass was just like a beautiful woman who only knows how to cater to the desires of others. And if so, her affected behavior would bore others to tears.