紅玉（狐媒俠肝義膽）:聊齋故事係列四合一（原著-注釋-白話-英譯

紅玉 （狐媒俠肝義膽）聊齋故事係列四合一（原著-注釋-白話-英譯）

紅玉


原文：

廣平馮翁有一子，字相如。父子俱諸生*。翁年近六旬，性方鯁*，而家屢空*。數年間，媼
與子婦又相繼逝，井臼*自操之。一夜，相如坐月下，忽見東鄰女自牆上來窺。視之，美。近
之，微笑。招以手，不來亦不去。固請之，乃梯而過，遂共寢處。問其姓名，曰：“妾鄰女
紅玉也。”生大愛悅，與訂永好。女諾之。夜夜往來，約半年許。翁夜起，聞子舍笑語，窺
之，見子，怒，喚出，罵曰：“畜產所為何事！如此落寞，尚不刻苦，乃學浮蕩耶？人知
之，喪汝德；人不知，促汝壽！”生跪自投，泣言知悔。翁叱女曰：“女子不守閨戒，既自
玷，而又以玷人。倘事一發，當不僅貽寒舍羞！”罵已，憤然歸寢。女流涕曰：“親庭罪
責，良足愧辱！我二人緣分盡矣！”生曰：“父在不得自專*。卿如有情，尚當含垢為好。”
女言辭決絕。生乃灑涕。女止之曰：“妾與君無媒妁之言，父母之命，逾牆鑽隙，何能白
首？此處有一佳耦*，可聘也。”告以貧。女曰：“來宵相俟*，妾為君謀之。”次夜，女果
至，出白金四十兩贈生。曰：“去此六十裏，有吳村衛氏，年十八矣。高其價*，故未售*也。
君重啖*之，必合諧允。”言已，別去。


注釋：

1．諸生：明清時期經考試錄取而進入府、州、縣各級學校學習的生員。生員有增生、附生、廩生、例生等，統稱諸生。2．方鯁：性情方正耿直。鯁，讀“耿”。 3. 屢空:經常貧窮。語出《論語。先進》：“回也其庶乎，屢空。”4． 井臼：從井裏打水，在石臼裏舂米。比喻家務。5．自專：自作主張。6．耦：兩人並排行走耕地。此處音義皆同“偶”，配偶。7．俟：等待。讀“四”。8．高其價；聘禮要價高。9．未售：沒有嫁出去。10．重啖之：多下聘禮來滿足對方要求。啖，讀“但”，原意為“吃”或“給別人吃”，本文借用後者，表示滿足對方要求。

白話：

河北廣平的馮老漢有一個兒子，取字叫相如。父子倆都是生員。老漢年近六十，性情方正耿直，家裏窮得經常揭不開鍋。數年之間，老伴和兒媳又都相繼過世，家務事都由自己操持。一天夜晚，相如坐在月下，忽見東鄰女郎從牆上偷看他。一看，這女郎挺美。相如走到她跟前，女郎麵帶微笑。用手招呼她，她不來也不去。經過反複請求，她才登著梯子過來，於是就和他同床共枕。問她姓名，她說：“我是你鄰居的姑娘，紅玉呀。”相如非常喜歡她，就要和她訂下終生為伴的盟約。女郎答應了。於是夜夜往來，約半年左右。老漢夜間起來，聽到兒子的房間裏又說又笑，於是偷偷偷地看著，見到兒子，大怒，叫他出來，罵曰：“你這畜生幹的什麽好事！這麽寂寞，還不刻苦讀書，你這史在學壞吧？人家要是知道，就敗壞了你的品德；人家要是不知道，那可就折你的壽啦！”相如跪下承認錯誤，哭泣說知道悔改。老漢又喝叱女方說：“女子不守閨戒，既玷汙了，又玷汙了別人。一旦事情敗露，蒙羞的那就不僅是我們一家了！”罵完之後，就氣鼓鼓地回去睡下了。女郎痛哭流涕地說：“被你老爸臭罵一頓，實在太丟麵子了！我們兩人的緣分已經到頭！”相如說：“老爸是怪我自作主張。你如果真的有情有意，還得多擔待著點，挨罵也要和我好才對。”
女郎言辭激烈，斷然拒絕。相如淚流滿麵。女郎勸他說：“我和你沒有媒妁之言，父母之命，爬牆頭鑽窟窿，這這麽能白頭到老？本地有一美人，你可以娶她。”相如說自己太窮。女郎說：“明天夜裏等著，我幫你想想辦法。”第二天夜裏，女郎果然來了，還拿出白金四十兩贈給相如。說：“離這兒六十裏有個吳村，村裏有個姓衛的姑娘，十八歲。因為聘禮要價太高，一直也沒有嫁出去。你多下聘禮去滿足她的要求，那就一定會成功。”說完就走了。


英譯：

Feng Xiangru and his father were all scholars. The father was nearly sixty. Although honest by nature, they were very poor. Worse of all, Feng’s mother and wife died within a short period.
One evening, sitting in the moon light, Feng suddenly found the girl of the east neighbor looking at him at the wall. The girl was very beautiful. Feng went near, she only smiled at him. He beckoned her over, but she neither came nor left.
Feng insisted on inviting her, she climbed over the wall with the help of a ladder. These two slept together in his room.
To be asked, she said, “I’m the daughter of your neighbor. My name is Red Jade.”
Feng was delighted and suggested they should be life-long companions. Red Jade agreed.
From then on, they were together every evening. This case secretly lasted about half year.
One evening, Feng’s father got up and heard a woman laughing and speaking in his son’s room. Peeping stealthily, he found a girl. Flying in a rage, he called Feng out.
“What a pretty mess you have done!” he scolded his son. “Why don’t you study hard? Why are you so loose in conduct?” The old man said continuously. “If someone knows, your reputation is ruined. Even if no one knows, but your life will be shortened!”
Kneeling down and weeping, Feng showed repentance. Then the old man scolded the girl, stern in voice and countenance.
“As a woman, you don’t follow the women’s moral standards,” said the old man. “You not only smeared the reputation of yourself but also defamed others. If this ill news goes out, it will insult not only my family but also yours.”
After finishing his scolding, the old man angrily went to sleep.
“I’m rebuked by your father. I really feel ashamed!” the girl said in tears. “Our relationship is doom to end up here!”
“I’m sorry I cannot decide and act on my own because of my father.” He said. “But, if you really love me, you should stick to our friendly relations even if you’re put to shame.”
But the girl sternly refused. Feng wept.
Red Jade dissuaded him from crying and comforted him, “We lack not only a go-between but also your father’s approval, so we can only keep a secret relationship. How can we keep a life-long relationship like this?” she told him. “There’s a good girl. You can marry her.”
Feng said he was too poor.
“Wait for me tomorrow night,” said Red Jade. “I’ll make you a plan.”
Next evening, the girl really came, and moreover, she had also brought him some money.
“Sixty miles away from here, there’s a Wu Village.” Red Jade told him. “There’s a girl of eighteen in a Wei family. The family always wants too much money, so she still remains unmarried. So long as you give her family a large amount of money, they will agree.”
Finishing her words, Red Jade has already left.


原文：

生乘間語父，欲往相之*。而隱饋金不敢告。翁自度無資，以是故，止之。生又婉言：
“試可乃已。”翁頷之。生遂假仆馬，詣衛氏。衛故田舍翁，生呼出，引與間語。衛知生望
族，又見儀采軒豁，心許之，而慮其靳*於資。生聽其詞意吞吐，會其旨，傾囊陳幾上。衛乃
喜，浼*鄰生居間，書紅箋而盟焉。生入拜媼，居室幅側，女依母自幛。微睨之，雖荊布*之
飾，而神情光豔，心竊喜。衛借舍款婿，便言：“公子無須親迎，待少作衣妝，即合舁送
去。”生與期而歸。詭告翁，言衛愛清門，不責*資，翁亦喜。至日，衛果送女至，女勤儉，
有順德，琴瑟*甚篤。逾二年，舉一男，名福兒。會清明抱子登墓，遇邑紳宋氏。宋官禦史，
坐行賕免*，居林下*，大煽威虐。是日亦上墓歸，見女豔之，問村人，知為生配。料馮貧士，
誘以重賂，冀可搖，使家人風示之。生驟聞，怒形於色；既思勢不敵，斂怒為笑，歸告翁。
翁大怒，奔出，對其家人，指天畫地，詬罵萬端。家人鼠竄而去。宋氏亦怒，竟遣數人入生
家，毆翁及子，洶若沸鼎。女聞之，棄兒於床，披發號救。群篡舁之，哄然便去。父子傷
殘，呻吟在地。兒呱呱啼室中。鄰人共憐之，扶之榻上。經日，生杖而能起，翁忿不食，嘔
血尋斃。生大哭，抱子興詞*，上至督撫，訟幾遍，卒不得直*。後聞婦不屈死，益悲。冤塞胸
吭*，無路可伸。每思要路刺殺宋，而慮其扈從繁，兒又罔托。日夜哀思，雙睫為不交。


注釋：

1．相之：相親。2．靳：吝惜。3．浼：請托。讀“美”。4．荊布：荊釵布裙，貧家女子的裝束。
5．責：索取，苛求。6．琴瑟：夫妻之情。坐行賕免：因為行賄被免官。坐，因為。7．居林下：罷官居於鄉間。8．興詞：遞交訟詞，告狀。9．直：打贏（官司）。10．吭：喉嚨。讀“航”。


白話：

相如找機會告訴父親，想去相親。但是他把紅玉送的金子藏起來不敢告訴他。老漢覺得沒有錢，就以此為理由阻止他。相如又委婉地說：“試一試就算了。”老漢這才點頭答應。相如就借了仆人的馬，找到了衛家。衛老漢本是農夫，相如把他喊出來，找個僻靜地方講明來意。衛老漢知道相如家是名門望族，又見他儀表堂堂，氣宇軒昂，從心裏就答應了，可是憂怕對方吝惜聘金。相如聽他吞吞吐吐，閃爍其詞，就明白他的意思，於是把金子傾囊而出，擺在桌子上。衛老漢這才滿心歡喜，托付鄰居小夥作中間人，書寫紅箋訂立婚約。相如進屋拜見衛老太太，隻見女郎在居室旁邊的小套間裏，依偎著母親遮擋著自己。相如略微看了一眼，女郎雖荊釵布裙，然而神情光豔，心中竊喜。衛老漢就在家裏款待女婿，說：“公子無須親自來迎娶，等略微做一點嫁妝，就派人抬著她給你送
去。”相如和衛家訂好日期就回家了。假裝告訴老漢，說衛家就喜歡清貧人家，不要聘金，老漢也很高興。日子一到，衛家果然把女兒送到送，女郎十分勤儉，溫存孝順，夫妻感性很深。過兩年，生一個男孩，取名福兒。不巧媳婦在清明節期間抱著兒子去掃墓，遇到鄉紳宋家的人。宋家本來官至禦史，因為行賕被罷官，正居住在鄉下，但是淫威不減當年。當天也是掃墓歸來，見到這個女人就被她的美貌迷住了，問村裏人，得知是相如的妻子。料想馮家貧寒貧，隻要以重金引誘，可望使相如動搖，於是就讓家人去吹風。相如突然聽到這件事，怒形於色；可又考慮到自己敵不過對方，就轉怒為笑，回家告訴老爹。老漢一聽勃然大怒，跑出去，麵對宋家派來的家人，指天畫地，臭罵一通。家人抱頭鼠竄，跑了回去。宋家也大發雷霆之怒，竟然派了好幾個人闖入相如家，毆打老漢和他的兒子，氣勢洶洶，不可一世。女人聽到動靜，把兒子扔在床上，披頭散發地大聲呼救。那群人趁勢抬起她，哄然散去。父子傷殘嚴重，坐在地上呻吟。小兒在屋中呱呱啼哭。鄰居都覺得可憐，就把他們扶到床上。幾天之後，相如能拄著棍子站起來，老漢氣得不吃東西，吐血不止，每多久就死去了。相如大哭，抱著兒子去告狀，一直告到督撫，打了幾次官司，都沒有打贏。後來聽說媳婦不屈而死，越發悲痛。滿腹冤屈，無處可伸。經常想著要到半路去刺殺宋家歹徒，可是考慮到他們的走狗眾多，兒子又沒有地方托付。日夜苦思苦想，難以成眠。



英譯：


Taking a chance when his father wasn’t busy, Feng told this matter to the old man. He said to his father he wanted to go and have a look, but he didn’t have the gut to mention the money given by Red Jade.
Thinking his son had no money and taking this as a pretext, the old man didn’t agree. Feng tactfully persisted on going.
“I just want to have a try and see whether they agree,” said Feng.
The father finally agreed.
Borrowing a servant and a horse from neighborhood, Feng went to Wu Village.
The master of Wei Family was a farmer. Feng had a discussion with him. Learning Feng came from a distinguished family, and especially seeing the elegant appearance of Feng, the old man was very satisfied with him, but simultaneously afraid the young man would grudge paying much money. Finding that the old man just minced his words, Feng immediately realized his true intention and put the money onto a table.
Mrs. Wei was delighted and asked his neighbor as a go-between and then signed a marriage contract written in a large piece of red paper.
Feng went into another room and gave a kowtow to Mrs. Wei. The girl was standing together with her mother. Stealthily glancing at the girl, he found her dress was rather simple but her look was beaming and buoyant. He was delighted.
The old couple cordially entertained their son-in-law.
“You just go back home and wait. It’s unnecessary for you to come here to escort your bride to wedding,” said the old man. “I’ll take her to you whenever her wedding dress is well prepared.”
Back at home, Feng made his father a false report that the girl’s family only loved decent families and didn’t care about money. The old man was very happy.
On the very day fixed by Feng and his parents-in-law, the girl really came accompanied by her father.
The girl was not only able and virtuous but also industrious and thrifty in running their home. The young couple was congenial in feelings and interests. Two years later, they got a lovely baby-boy named Happiness.
One day, on her way back home from the tomb of her late mother-in-law. Feng’s wife met a rich man named Song. This guy was a bad higher official running amuck everywhere. He found Feng’s wife a true beauty and became infatuated with her at once. Song learnt from the villagers that she was Feng’s wife. Now that Feng was very poor, he thought he could easily buy his wife with a large amount of money. Then he sent a servant to Feng’s home to give a massage to the family.
Suddenly learning this sort of things, Feng was very angry. But thinking better of it, he was no match for Song. Feng tried hard to hold back his anger and made smiles to pacify the servant. But his father was beside himself with rage and sternly abused the servant who ran widely like a cornered rat.
Flaring up, Song sent his running dogs to Feng’s home. Feng and his father were given a good beating. A hell of mess was made in the family. Scared to death, Feng’s wife left her son on bed and ran out. With her hair hanging down loosely, she hoarsely cried for help. But at last, she was dragged away by the running dogs.
Badly wounded, the father and son were bitterly groaning on the ground. And the little baby was crying in the bedroom. Taking pity on the poor family, the neighbors supported them onto their bed.
Several days later, Feng could stand up and walk with a stick. But the old man was too angry to eat anything and shortly died of blood vomiting.
Sorrowfully crying, Feng carried his son and went to sue Song. Busy running about, but he failed at last. Later on, learning his wife dauntlessly died, he was torn by sorrow and anger. Although burning with anger, he could do nothing. He often had the idea to kill Song. But he was afraid the bad guy had too many running dogs. Beside, he feared lest there would be no one to take care of his son. Racking his brain day and night, Feng felt uneasy even when eating and sleeping.


原文：

忽一丈夫吊諸其室，虯髯闊頷*，曾與無素*。挽坐，欲問邦族。客遽曰：“君有殺父之
仇，奪妻之恨，而忘報乎？”生疑為宋人之偵*，姑偽應之。客怒眥欲裂，遽*出曰：“仆以君
人也，今乃知不足齒之傖*！”生察其異，跪而挽之，曰：“誠恐宋人餂*我。今實布腹心*；
仆之臥薪嚐膽*者，固有日矣。但憐此褓中物，恐墜宗祧*。君義士，能為我杵臼*否？”客
曰：“此婦人女子之事，非所能。君所欲托諸人者，請自任之；所欲自任者*，願得而代庖*
焉。”生聞，崩角在地*。客不顧而出。生追問姓字，曰：“不濟*，不任受怨；濟，亦不任受
德。”遂去。生懼禍及，抱子亡去。至夜，宋家一門俱寢，有人越重垣入，殺禦史父子三人
及一媳一婢。宋家具狀告官。官大駭，宋執謂相如，於是遣役捕生，生遁不知所之，於是情
益真。宋仆同官役諸處冥搜。夜至南山，聞兒啼，蹤得之，係縲*而行。兒啼愈嗔，群奪兒拋
棄之。生冤憤欲絕。見邑令。問：“何殺人？”生曰：“冤哉！某以夜死，我以晝出，且抱
呱呱者，何能逾垣殺人？”令曰：“不殺人，何逃乎？”生詞窮，不能置辨。乃收諸獄，生
泣曰：“我死無足惜，孤兒何罪？”令曰：“汝殺人子多矣；殺汝子，何怨？”生既褫革*，
屢受梏慘，卒無詞。令是夜方臥，聞有物擊床，震震有聲，大懼而號。舉家驚起，集而燭之，
一短刀，銛*利如霜，剁床入木者寸餘，牢不可拔。令睹之，魂魄喪失。荷戈遍索，竟無蹤跡。
心竊餒。又以宋人死，無可畏懼，乃詳諸憲*，代生解免，竟釋生。


注釋：

1．虯髯闊頷：卷曲的胡須，寬闊的下巴。虯，卷曲，讀“求”。頜，下巴，讀“和”。2．無素：平時沒有往來。素，從前的交往，舊交。3．遽：匆忙。讀“巨”。4．偵：偵探，探子。5．傖：即傖夫，粗俗庸碌之輩。傖，粗野。讀“倉”。6．餂：勾取，探取。讀“恬”。7．實布腹心：實實在在地說出心裏話。腹心，心裏話。8．臥薪嚐膽：刻苦自勵，發誓報仇。9．墜宗祧：斷了後。墜，墜落，斷了線。宗祧，宗廟。祧，讀“挑”，原指祭祀遠祖的廟宇，後指繼承上代。10．杵臼：充當杵臼的角色，指保存孤兒。杵臼，即公孫杵臼。春秋時晉國權臣屠岸賈（讀“古”）欲滅趙氏全家，殺趙朔，並搜捕孤兒趙武。趙氏門客公孫杵臼同程嬰定計救出孤兒，使趙嗣得以延續，報了冤仇。11．所欲自任者：想自告奮勇承擔重任的人。本文的重任就是報宋家之仇。12．代庖：即越俎代庖，包辦代替。13．崩角在地：在地上磕頭。角，額角。崩角，就是額角在地上磕得嘣嘣響。即所謂的磕響頭。14．濟：成功。15．係縲：像對待犯人那樣用繩子捆綁著。係，捆綁。縲，即縲絏，捆綁犯人的繩索。讀“雷謝”。16．褫革：褫職，革職。褫，剝奪，讀“尺”。17．銛：鋒利，讀“先”。18．詳諸憲：把案情呈報上級。詳，一種公文，專用於向上級匯報請示。憲，上級。諸，“之於”的合音。


白話：

忽然有一位男子漢大丈夫到到屋裏來吊唁，卷曲的胡須，寬闊的下巴，沒曾與他有過交往。馮相如挽著他的胳膊坐下，想問他的姓氏。客人匆忙地說：“你有殺父之仇，奪妻之恨，難道忘了報仇嗎？”馮生懷疑他是宋家的探子，就虛虛假假地應酬他。客人怒目而視，急急忙忙地走出去說：“我還以為你是正人君子呢，今天才知道你是個不足掛齒的無能之輩！”馮生覺察到來客非同一般，就跪下挽留他說：“實在怕宋家人來打探我。今天實話對你講吧；我一直臥薪嚐膽，尋找機會報仇，可有些日子了。隻是可憐這繈褓中的孩子，萬一有個好歹恐怕絕了後。既然你是君子義士，那你能為我當一回公孫杵臼，保護我的孩子嗎？”客人說：“這種事是女人幹的，我可幹不了。你想托人保護的這個孩子，還是請你自己來吧；誰想自告奮勇做這件事，那是他自願越俎代庖。”馮生聽他這麽一說，立即趴在地上磕響頭。客人連看都不看一眼就出去了。馮生追著問他姓甚名誰，他說：“幫你辦事，辦不成，受不了埋怨；辦的成，也擔當不起誇獎。”說完就走了。馮生害怕大禍臨頭，抱著兒子就逃了。到夜裏，宋家全家人都在睡覺，有人爬過好幾道牆進去，殺掉禦史父子三人，以及一個媳婦和一個婢女。宋家立即把這件事向官方報案。縣令大驚失色，宋家執意說是馮相如幹的，於是就派衙役去抓他，可就不知他逃到哪裏去了，於是馮生殺人之說越發顯得真實。宋家仆人和官方衙役一起到處搜尋。夜間搜到南山，聽到小孩啼哭，於是跟蹤搜尋，終於把馮生抓住，像對犯人那樣用繩子捆著他趕路。孩子哭聲越來越大，有人就把他奪過去扔了。馮生悲憤欲絕。見到縣令。縣令問：“為何殺人？”馮生說：“冤枉啊！那個人夜間被殺死，我白天就出來了，而且還抱著個呱呱啼哭的孩子，怎麽能爬牆殺人？”縣令說：“沒殺人，為何要逃呢？”馮生無話可說，不能為自己辯解。這樣他就被關進監獄。馮生一邊哭泣一邊說：“我死了沒什麽可惜的，可是孤兒有何罪呢？”縣令說：“你殺了人家那麽多孩子；殺你一個孩子，有什麽可抱怨的？”馮生已經被革職，屢遭酷刑，可就是不說話。縣令那天夜裏剛躺下，就聽有東西敲擊床鋪，床鋪被震得顫顫巍巍，還發出響聲，把他嚇得大喊大叫。全家都被驚動起床，聚集在一起用蠟燭照，隻見一把短刀，鋒利如霜，剁入床中的部分長達一寸多，而且牢不可拔。縣令看了，魂飛魄散。扛著一支戈到處搜索，竟然毫無蹤跡。他因此感到心灰意，冷泄了氣。再加上宋禦史人已死，沒什麽可怕的，他就將案件呈交到上級辦理，隨後替馮生解脫罪責，將他釋放。


英譯：

Suddenly, a man came to condole with Feng upon the death of his father and wife. The stranger had a broad jaw and a curly beard. He had no association with Feng. Hand in hand with the man, Feng urged him to sit down and wanted to ask his name.
“Your father was killed. Your wife was dragged away. So you have a deep-seated hatred,” said the man. “Don’t you forget to avenge their death upon the murderer?”
Doubting whether the stranger was a spy of the higher official Song, Feng had to pretend politeness and compliance.
The stranger flew in a rage and said, “I though you might be a gentleman of moral integrity. So you’re a vulgarian!”
Realizing that this man was quite different with others, Feng knelt down and dissuaded him from leaving.
“I’m really afraid Song’s running dogs will come to sound out my intention,” said Feng. “To tell the truth, I’ve long been thinking to avenge myself on the bad egg. But I’m anxious about my baby and dare not take reckless actions for fear the only successor of my family should be hurt. Since you’re a just gentleman, I’m willing to entrust my baby to you. Will you do me the favor if I die?”
“This is something for women. I can’t do it. You leave your baby to whom? It should be decided by you. The only thing I can do is to help you avenge yourself on that scoundrel.”
Hearing this, Feng was moved to tears of gratitude and knelt down immediately to give sound kowtows to the just stranger. The man walked out without saying anything. Feng hurriedly caught up with him asking his name.
“If fail, don’t blame me. If succeed, don’t praise me.”
After saying this, the man left. Feng escaped with his son for fear a disaster should befall them.
At night, Song’s whole family was fast asleep. Someone climbed over the walls and entered the bedroom and killed five people at one go, including Song, Song’s two sons, and a daughter-in-law and a maid.
Song’s family sued at law immediately. The judge was frightened. Song’s family asserted categorically that the murderer was Feng. The court sent people to catch Feng. But Feng had already fled and hid himself not leaving any traces. Feng thus seemed to be the true murderer. What was make-believe turned out to be true.
Song’s servants and the official attendants searched for Feng everywhere. In the evening, they came to the south mountains where they heard a baby crying. Feng was caught and driven forward with his arms tightly bound. His son cried loudly. They snatched over the little baby from Feng and threw him onto the ground. Feng was torn by sorrow and anger.
When they came to the court, the official asked Feng, “Why did you kill so many people?”
“You wronged an innocent person,” said Feng. “They died at night. But I ran away in daytime. Beside, I carried a crying baby. How could I climb over walls to kill people?”
“If you didn’t kill people, why did you run away?” asked the official.
Feng had nothing more to say without knowing how to justify his conduct. He was put into jail.
“Maybe my death isn’t worth mentioning,” cried Feng. “But what sort of faults did my baby commit?”
“They killed your baby only because you killed so many people.” The official said. “You have no reason to think I wronged you.”
The official ordered the attendants to tear off Feng’s clothes and put him to cruel torture. But Feng refused to plead guilty.
That night, immediately after going to bed, the official heard something loudly striking his bed. Terribly frightened, he screamed with fear. The family got up in a great panic. All members gathered and in candle light, found a sharp sword chopped into the bed half inch deep, too firmly to be pull off.
Seeing this, the official was scared to death. Weapons in hands, the servants carefully searched everywhere but found no trace to follow.
The official was secretly disappointed. But he thought there was no one worth being afraid of now that Song had already been killed. Then he submitted a report to the higher level and got rid of Feng’s charge of murder. Feng was finally released with a verdict of not guilty.



原文：


生歸，甕無升鬥，孤影對四壁。幸鄰人憐饋食飲，苟且自度。念大仇已報，則囅*然喜；
思慘酷之禍，幾於滅門，則淚潸潸墮；及思半生貧徹骨，宗支不續，則於無人處大哭
失聲，不複能自禁。如此半年，捕禁益懈。乃哀邑令，求判還衛氏之骨。及葬而歸，悲怛欲
死。輾轉空床，竟無生路。忽有款門者，凝神寂聽，聞一人在門外，噥噥與小兒語。生急起
窺覘，似一女子。扉初啟，便問：“大冤昭雪，可幸無恙？”其聲稔熟，而倉卒不能追憶。
燭之，則紅玉也。挽一小兒，嬉笑胯下。生不暇問，抱女嗚哭。女亦慘然。既而推兒曰：
“汝忘爾父耶？”兒牽女衣，目灼灼視生。細審之，福兒也。大驚，泣問：“兒那得來？”
女曰：“實告君：昔言鄰女者，妄也。妾實狐。適宵行，見兒啼穀口，抱養於秦。聞大難既
息，故攜來與君團聚耳。”生揮涕拜謝。兒在女懷，如依其母，竟不複能識父矣。天未明，
女即遽起。問之，答曰：“奴欲去。”生裸跪床頭，涕不能仰。女笑曰：“妾誑君耳。今家
道新創，非夙興夜寐*會不可。”乃剪莽擁篲*，類男子操作。生憂貧乏，不自給。女
曰：“但請下帷讀，勿問盈歉，或當不殍餓死。”遂出金治織具，租田數十畝，雇傭耕作。
荷镵*誅茅，牽蘿補屋，日以為常。裏黨聞婦賢，益樂資助之。約半年，人煙騰茂，類素封家*。
生曰：“灰燼之餘，卿白手再造矣。然一事未就安妥，如何？”詰之，答曰：“試期已迫，巾服*尚未複也。”女笑曰：“妾前以四金寄廣文*，已複名在案。若待君言，誤之已久。”生益神之。是科遂領鄉薦*。時年三十六，腴田連阡，夏屋渠渠矣。女嫋娜如隨風欲飄去，而操作過農家婦；雖嚴冬自苦，而手膩如脂。自言二十八歲，人視之，常若
二十許人。


注釋：

1．囅：讀“產”，笑的樣子。2．夙興夜寐：早起晚睡，指勤儉持家。3．篲：讀“會”，掃帚。
4．镵：讀“纏”，古代鐵質刨土工具。5．封家：收到帝王賜封的人家。古代帝王把爵位，甚至連同土地或稱號賜給下臣，這叫封。6．廣文：學官。7。巾服尚未複：秀才的資格還沒有恢複。巾服，秀才的服裝。這裏指被罷免的秀才的資格。8。鄉薦：. 由州縣薦舉去應試進士。



白話：

馮相如回到家裏，罐裏沒有一點糧，隻有孤獨的身影對著四麵牆壁。幸虧鄰居可憐才送來些吃喝，湊合活著。考慮到大仇已報，倒是滿心歡喜；然而想到慘遭橫禍，幾乎滅門，有情不自禁地潸然淚下；等再想到半輩子窮得丁當響，又斷了傳宗接代的煙火，就到沒有人的地方痛哭失聲，再也控製不住自己。就這樣過了半年，拘捕他的風聲逐漸減弱。於是就向縣令苦苦哀求，要求判還妻子衛氏的屍骨。等妻子入葬之後回到家裏，簡直悲痛欲絕。躺空蕩蕩的床上翻來覆去睡不著，根本想不出一條活路。這時忽然有人在敲門，他屏息靜聽，聽到有一個人在門外，嘟嘟噥噥地和小孩說話。馮生急忙起床窺視，似乎是一個女子。她一推開門就問：“天大的冤枉已經昭雪，萬幸沒有出什麽差錯吧？”聽聲音很熟悉，可倉促間又想不起來是誰。點上蠟燭一照，原來是紅玉。她領著個小孩，那孩子在她身邊嬉笑著。馮生來不及問，就合紅玉抱頭痛哭。紅玉也很悲傷。隨後推著小孩說：
“你把你爹都忘了嗎？”小孩拉著紅玉的衣服，目光炯炯地看著馮生。仔細一看，原來是福兒。馮生大吃一驚，哭著問：“我兒你從哪裏來呀？”紅玉說：“實話告訴你：從前我說是鄰居的姑娘，那不是真的。我實際上是狐狸。那天夜裏正行走的時候，看到一個小孩在山穀邊兒上啼哭，我就把他抱給秦家收養起來。聽到你的冤案已經了解，這才把他領來和你團聚。”馮生揮涕拜謝。小孩在紅玉的懷裏，就像在依偎自己的母親，居然不再能認識父親。天還沒亮，紅玉就急忙起身。問她，她回答說：“我想走。”馮生光著身子跪在床頭，哭得抬不起頭。紅玉笑著說：“我是在誆騙你。你現在是白手起家，不起早貪黑地幹可不行。”於是割掉荒草，拿起掃帚，像男人那樣幹起活來。馮生憂慮太窮，養活不了自己。紅玉說：“你隻管在屋裏好好讀書，家裏的日子怎麽過你就別操心，反正不會餓死。”於是拿出金子置辦織布機，又租了幾十畝地，雇人耕作。紅玉扛著鐵鍬掘茅草，辛勤耕作，還自己動手修補茅屋，她已經習以為常。鄉裏鄉親都聽說這媳婦非常賢惠，也都樂意資助。大約半年，家境大有起色，殷實得好像是被帝王封賜的人家。馮生說：“我現在就像死灰複燃，這全靠你白手起家，再創家業呀。可是我還有一件事沒有安置妥當，不知道該怎麽辦？”紅玉問他，他回答說：“考試的日期已經臨近，可我的秀才資格還沒有恢複。”紅玉笑著說：“我前幾天已經把四兩黃金寄給學官，你的秀才資格已經恢複，名字也已在案。如果等你說了才辦，早就耽誤了。”馮生覺得她可真神乎其神。當年科考他就被薦舉去應試進士。那年他三十六歲，早已是良田沃野，華屋美舍。紅玉論姿色，體態輕盈，婀娜多姿，如隨風欲飄，論操持家務，則非一般農婦所能企及；雖然嚴冬苦冷，而手指滑膩如脂玉一般。自稱二十八歲，可在人們的眼裏，經常像是二十歲左右的人。



英譯：


Back at home, lonely facing walls, Feng had nothing to eat. Thanks to the help of his neighbors, he eked out a living. Now that he had already avenged his father’s death upon the murderer, he felt gratified at the result. But thinking of the disaster which nearly destroyed his whole family, he felt greatly sorrowful with tears streaming out. He would be chocked with tears in his empty room with no one at his side whenever thinking of his bleak prospects: he would be as poor as a church mouse and he couldn’t go down to posterity.
Half year passed over and the situation turned tranquil. Feng found and buried his wife’s body with the help of the official. After funeral, he felt too sorrowful to live any longer.
One night, someone was knocking at the door. Carefully listening, Feng heard the knocker whispering with a little boy. Getting up hurriedly and peeping through the keyhole, he found the knocker seemed to be a woman.
Immediately after he opened the door, the knocker asked, “You’ve avenged yourself on the bad egg. Everything’s O.K.?”
The voice was quite familiar but Feng, in haste, couldn’t remember who she was. Looking at her carefully in candle light, he found it was Red Jad！And the little boy was laughing and playing merrily beside her. Feng wanted to ask him something, but before he could open his mouth, the boy had started crying with his hands firmly holding Red Jade.
Red Jade felt heartbroken and pushed the boy forward.
“You’ve forgotten your father, have you?” Red Jade asked the boy.
Firmly holding her dress, the boy was gazing at Feng with sparkling eyes.
Scrutinizing, Feng found the boy was his son, Happiness. He was greatly surprised and burst into tears.
“How do you come here?” he asked his son.
“To tell the truth,” Red Jade said. “In the past, I told you I was your neighbor. That’s not true. In fact, I’m a fox.” She told him. “That night, I passed by the mountain area and found your baby crying at the foot of a hill. I took him home and looked after him for you. Learning you’ve survived the disaster, I bring him here for you to have a family reunion.”
Feng thanked her in tears. Snuggling up to Red Jade as if she was his mother, the boy Happiness should be unable to recognize his father.
Red Jade got up before daybreak and wanted to leave. Feng knelt down at bedside and couldn’t help weeping grievously.
“I’m cheating you,” said Red Jade. “How can I have the heart to leave you? I know you badly need someone to help you rebuild a new family. ”
From then on, Red Jade did her best to help Feng look after household affairs. Industrious and thrifty in running his home, she was just like a man. Feng was much anxious whenever thinking he was too poor to rely on his own.
“You may simply study hard. Nothing for you to worry about,” she said continuously. “It’s unnecessary for you to ask me about profit and loss. I can ensure enough food and clothing for you lest you should die of hunger or cold.”
Roughly half year later, there was some improvement in the family which gradually became better and better as if a dead man had been brought back to life. Especially after Feng gained position and fortune, they began to live a happy life.
There were two things to make the neighbors surprised. Firstly, this poor family should be changed so profoundly with the help of this mystical woman. Secondly, Red Jade said she was twenty-eight, but she seemed to be eighteen. And though working hard and undergoing hot summers and cold winters, her skin was still delicate as that of young girls.
These people looked at things just on the surface without going deep, so they didn’t know she was a fox.



原文：

異史氏曰：“其子賢，其父德，故其報之也俠*。非特*人俠，狐亦俠也。遇亦奇
矣！然官宰悠悠，豎人毛發，刀震震入木，何惜不略移床上半尺許哉？使蘇子美讀之，必浮
白曰：‘惜乎擊之不中*！’


注釋：

俠：本指俠客。此指得到俠客的幫助。特：僅僅。蘇子美句：蘇子美，宋代文學家蘇舜欽，字子美。他讀《漢書》張良傳，讀到荊軻沒有刺中秦王時一邊說：“惜乎擊之不中！”然後飲了滿滿一大白。白，即浮白。浮，罰酒。後稱滿飲為浮白。這個故事用到此處，正好契合沒有殺掉害民的貪官汙吏的情況。所以說，如果蘇子美如果讀了這個故事，也一定會和讀《漢書》張良傳一樣大呼：惜乎擊之不中！

白話

作者感言：“兒子賢善，父親德高，所以才有俠客來報答。不僅人有大俠，狐狸也有大俠。故事實屬奇遇！那位贓官懵懵懂懂，忽忽悠悠，所作所為令人毛發倒立。那把刀雖然也砍進床的木頭裏，然而為何那麽可惜沒有再往床上靠近半尺左右呢？假如當年蘇子美讀到這段故事，他必定會一邊飲酒，一邊驚呼：可惜沒有刺中！”

英譯：

Author’s Commentary:
The son is a youth of prominent personage; the father is a man of high morality. Therefore, they got a chivalrous repay. Not only the human beings are chivalrous but the fox is chivalrous, too. And moreover, their meeting is also a miracle! While deciding the case, the official’s behavior is too preposterous. But he wasn’t wounded that night when they found a sharp sword chopped into the bed half inch deep, too firmly to be pull off. If Zimei Su ( a famous writer of Song Dynasty) read my story, he would say while drinking wine: “What a pity! The sword didn’t hit the stupid official in the bed.”