Xu, the household registration secretary of Shanyin County, fell ill and in a daze saw his deceased brother come to him and say, “I’ve bought an official vacancy for you in the underworld. After you die, you’ll still be the secretary in the underworld, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Shortly after, another deceased local constable named Zhu came and said, “You don’t have to die, but you have to give me a large sum of money. I can grease the wheels for you in the underworld.” Xu agreed.
As soon as Zhu left, Xu’s brother returned and said, “Just now, Zhu was only trying to plot for your vacancy and make money off you. Your lifespan is predetermined, seeking immortality is futile, you’re just wasting the opportunity for this official position.” Xu said, “I’ve already promised Zhu, what should I do now?” His brother said, “Matters in the underworld are similar to those in the mortal world. This vacancy will take some time to obtain; it’s just a preliminary registration. You can still go back on your agreement with Zhu, there’s still time.” Xu said, “But where can I find Zhu to go back on my agreement with him?” His brother said, “I can go.”
The next day, Xu’s brother and Zhu came together to discuss the matter of buying the vacancy. Zhu had indeed devised this plan to buy the vacancy. Zhu and Xu’s brother argued about who should go first, and another ghost who arrived earlier intervened to mediate, settling the dispute. It was proposed that after five years, Xu would fill the vacancy first, and when Xu’s five-year term was complete, Zhu would take over. Zhu agreed. Shortly after, Zhu came back and said, “I can’t wait; I’m going to find another way to get a different vacancy.” After this, Xu’s illness gradually improved. This occurred during the 56th year of the Qianlong era.
Now, Xu is still healthy and without illness. Officials in Shanyin County can clearly recount this incident, so it seems to be a true story.
Translated from《鬼買缺》in 《子不語》:
山陰戶書徐某病，見其故兄來曰：「吾已為爾買缺於冥府矣，死可仍為冥判書吏，無苦也。」既而有縣役已死祝姓者，亦來謂之曰：「爾可不死，但以重資付我，我能為爾彌縫。」某許之。既去，其兄復來謂之曰：「曩祝姓蓋欲謀買爾缺耳，且賺爾錢。爾壽數有定，求不死無益，徒自棄此缺耳。」徐某曰：「吾已許祝姓矣，奈何？」其兄曰：「冥司事如人間，此缺尚隔年月，此時不過預定期約耳。祝姓尚可回覆，未晚也。」徐曰：「然則何處覓祝而覆之？」其兄曰：「余能往。」
翌日，則其兄與祝同來，聚而議之，祝果為買缺謀也，與徐之兄爭先。復有故鬼某某者同至，為之平其爭議，令五年後此缺出讓徐某先補，候徐某五年吏滿，再令祝頂補，祝允諾，既而祝又來曰：「吾不及待也，當改圖他缺去。」徐某病亦漸瘳。
此乾隆辛亥年事，今徐某無恙。此事山陰書吏皆能言之，甚確實也。