Explore the story of Nianyang, a tale of deception, unexpected encounters, and clever swindlers, where a chance meeting leads to surprising twists.
Yi Shi said: Human nature is as treacherous as ghosts and demons, and this is true everywhere, especially in the key transportation routes connecting the north and south, where calamity is particularly severe. Those who wield strong bows, ride fierce horses, and block people from entering the country, everyone knows them as bandits. However, there are those who cut bags and stab purses to steal things, plundering valuables in the streets and markets. Often, in the blink of an eye, property and goods are gone. Isn’t this worse than ghosts and demons? There are also people who meet by chance, speak sweetly, gradually get closer to you, and deepen their relationships step by step. They are often mistaken for true friends, only to result in financial loss disasters. These people set traps randomly, using various methods. People believe that their words are gentle and persuasive, so they are called “Nian Yang” (meaning deceitful flatterers). Nowadays, there are many such people on the northern highways, and many people have fallen victim to them.
My fellow townsman, Wang Zixun, was a scholar in our county. He had a distant relative who held a position as a Hanlin Academy official in the capital city, so he decided to pay a visit. After preparing his travel essentials, he headed north from our hometown, passing through Jinan. After traveling a few miles, he encountered a man riding a black donkey who caught up with him and walked alongside him. This man often engaged in idle chatter, drawing Wang Zixun into conversation, to which Wang occasionally responded.
The man introduced himself as “Zhang” and claimed to be a subordinate dispatched by the county magistrate of Qixia to handle affairs in the capital city. He was humble in his address and quite servile. They walked together for several dozen miles, and Zhang suggested they stay at the same inn. When Wang Zixun walked ahead, Zhang would whip his donkey to catch up, and when Wang followed behind, Zhang would wait by the roadside.
Wang Zixun’s servant became suspicious of him and sternly told him to leave, refusing to let him accompany them. Zhang felt embarrassed and rode away. In the evening, while Wang Zixun was resting at the inn, he happened to take a stroll in the courtyard and saw Zhang enjoying food and drink outside. Wang was surprised and suspicious, but when Zhang noticed him, he immediately lowered his head and stood respectfully, resembling a servant. They exchanged a few polite words, and Wang Zixun thought it was just a chance encounter, having no suspicions. However, Wang’s servant remained vigilant throughout the night.
At daybreak, when the rooster crowed, Zhang approached Wang Zixun and suggested they continue their journey together. The servant scolded him and refused, so Zhang departed.
The sun had risen high when Wang Sheng began his journey. After walking for about half a day, he noticed a man riding a white donkey up ahead. The man appeared to be in his forties, dressed neatly and cleanly, but he was riding with his head lowered, almost nodding off. Sometimes, he would get ahead of Wang Sheng, and other times, he would fall behind. They continued this way for over ten miles. Wang Sheng found this man quite peculiar and asked, “What did you do last night to be so exhausted and sleepy?” The man, upon hearing someone inquire, suddenly stretched and yawned, saying, “I’m from Qingyuan, with the surname Xu. My distant cousin, Gao Qing, is an official in Linzi County. I went to visit him and received some gifts. Last night, I stayed at an inn and unintentionally ended up sharing a room with some dubious flatterers. I stayed vigilant all night and couldn’t close my eyes, so now I’m feeling drowsy.” Wang Sheng intentionally asked, “What are these ‘dubious flatterers’?” Xu explained, “Since you’re a newcomer here, you might not be familiar with the dangers. Nowadays, there’s a group of criminals who specialize in sweet-talking and deceiving travelers. They engage with you, walk with you, and stay with you, all the while looking for opportunities to swindle money and valuables. Just yesterday, a distant relative of mine fell victim to them, and he lost all his travel expenses. We all need to be cautious and vigilant.” Wang Sheng nodded in agreement. He had previously interacted with the magistrate of Linzi County, and Wang had served as his assistant. He was acquainted with some of the magistrate’s associates, including someone named Xu. Thus, he no longer doubted Xu’s sincerity. They continued to chat about various topics, and Wang Sheng inquired about Xu’s brother’s situation. Xu then proposed that they should meet up and stay at an inn after dark, to which Wang Sheng agreed. However, Wang Sheng’s servant remained suspicious of Xu, secretly discussed with his master, delayed their departure, and eventually, they lost track of Xu, and he disappeared without a trace.
On the second day, around noon, Wang Sheng encountered another young man, approximately sixteen or seventeen years old, riding a sturdy mule. He was dressed neatly with fine clothing and a handsome appearance. They walked together for a long time without exchanging a word. As the sun started to set, the young man suddenly said, “We’re not far from Qu Lu’s Inn up ahead.” Wang Sheng gave a faint acknowledgment. The young man then sighed, seemingly unable to control himself.
Wang Sheng inquired slightly, and the young man continued, “I’m from Jiangnan, my last name is Jin. I’ve endured three years of hard studying, hoping to pass the imperial examination, but I never expected to fail. My older brother is in charge of a government department, so he brought our family here to relax. I’m not used to long journeys and the swirling dust on the road, which is quite vexing.” Saying this, he took out a red handkerchief to wipe his face and continued sighing. As the young man spoke, he had a Southern accent and a soft, melodious voice like that of a young girl. Wang Sheng felt fond of him and offered some comforting words.
The young man said, “I ran ahead by myself just now, and my family members and servants have been waiting for a long time without arriving. I don’t know why they haven’t come. It’s getting dark, and I don’t know what to do.” The young man stood still, gazing into the distance, walking slowly. Wang Sheng, feeling pressed for time, continued on the road and gradually distanced himself from the young man.
When night fell, Wang Sheng checked into an inn. As he entered his guest room, he noticed a bed against the wall with luggage already placed on it. While Wang Sheng was inquiring with the innkeeper, another person walked in, picked up the luggage, and said, “Please rest here; I’ll move to another place.” Wang Sheng recognized this person as Xu. Wang Sheng stopped him and suggested they share the same room. Xu agreed, and they both stayed. They sat down to talk.
After a short while, another person with luggage entered. As soon as they saw Wang Sheng and Xu inside the room, they turned to leave, saying, “There are already guests here.” Wang Sheng realized it was the young man he had encountered earlier on the road. Before Wang Sheng could say anything, Xu hastily got up, pulled the young man back, and he took a seat.
Xu inquired about the young man’s family and hometown, and the young man repeated what he had mentioned earlier on the journey. Shortly after, the young man opened his money pouch and placed a pile of silver coins together, which appeared quite substantial. He weighed out more than a couple of taels of silver, handed it to the innkeeper, and instructed to prepare food and drinks for the evening chat. Both Wang Sheng and Xu tried to dissuade the young man, but he insisted. In no time, food and drinks were served. While drinking, the young man discussed the art of writing eloquently and gracefully. Wang Sheng inquired about the exam questions in Jiangnan, and the young man shared all of them. He even recited passages from his own essays, including his interpretations and memorable sentences, expressing his frustration and dissatisfaction. Everyone present empathized with him.
The young man also mentioned his lost family members, the absence of servants, and his lack of knowledge about caring for livestock. Wang Sheng then asked his own servant to help him, which the young man deeply appreciated.
Not long after, the young man stomped his foot and said, “Throughout my life, I’ve faced hardships and misfortunes, and even when I go out, nothing good ever happens. Last night, while staying at an inn, I encountered a group of troublemakers. They were throwing dice and making a lot of noise, which kept me awake and irritated.” In the Southern dialect, they call dice “兜” (dou), and Xu didn’t understand. He kept asking, and the young man used his hands to gesture the shape. Xu then laughed and took a die out of his pocket, asking, “Is it this thing?” The young man confirmed it was. Xu then suggested using the dice as part of a drinking game, and everyone happily joined in. As the alcohol flowed, Xu proposed that they all play dice together, with the goal of making the loser host the next meal. Wang Sheng declined, claiming not to know how to play. So, Xu and the young man played against each other.
Secretly, Xu advised Wang Sheng, “Don’t reveal anything. This young man from the South is quite wealthy, and being young, he may not be well-versed in gambling. If I win some money, I’ll treat you to a meal tomorrow.” Afterward, the two of them moved to another room. Before long, the sound of a lively gambling session could be heard. Wang Sheng sneaked a look and noticed that even the constables from Qixia County were among the players. He was very puzzled, so he opened his bedding and lay down alone to sleep.
After a while, the others came and tried to persuade Wang Sheng to join the gambling. Wang Sheng firmly refused, using the excuse of not knowing how to play. Xu offered to gamble on Wang Sheng’s behalf, but Wang Sheng initially hesitated. However, they eventually forced him to participate. Later, they returned to Wang Sheng’s bedside and reported, “You’ve won several rounds of dice.” Wang Sheng responded in his sleep.
Suddenly, several individuals pushed the door open and began speaking in an unfamiliar foreign language. The leader introduced himself as Mr. Tong and claimed to be in charge of patrolling and apprehending gamblers under a specific banner. At that time, gambling was strictly prohibited, and everyone appeared extremely anxious. Mr. Tong tried to intimidate Wang Sheng loudly, but Wang Sheng used the Tai Shi banner to counter them.
Mr. Tong’s anger dissipated when he realized they were under the same banner as Wang Sheng. He smiled and invited everyone to continue playing. As a result, they resumed gambling, with Mr. Tong joining in as well. Wang Sheng told Xu, “I don’t care about the outcome; I just want to sleep, so please don’t disturb me.” However, Xu persisted and continued to convey messages back and forth.
When the gambling session ended, they calculated the debts, and Wang Sheng owed a substantial amount. Mr. Tong began searching Wang Sheng’s belongings, intending to seize items to cover the debt. Wang Sheng grew angry and resisted. The young man surnamed Jin took Wang Sheng’s arm and whispered, “They are all bandits; it’s hard to predict what they might do. We’re friends in literature; we should help each other out. I won some money in the gambling earlier, which can cover your debt. Originally, I was supposed to get the gambling debt from Mr. Xu, but now let’s switch it up. Ask Mr. Xu to repay Mr. Tong, and you repay me. This is just a temporary cover-up; later on, I’ll return the money to you. Otherwise, from a standpoint of friendship, can I really make you repay the debt?” Wang Sheng was originally a kind-hearted person, and upon hearing this, he believed in the young man’s sincerity.
The young man left the room and explained the debt exchange plan to Mr. Tong. In front of everyone, they opened Wang Sheng’s belongings and placed items worth the gambling debt into the young man’s pocket. Mr. Tong then went to Xu and Zhang to collect the debts.
The young man brought his own bedding over and shared the pillow with Wang Sheng. His bedding was exquisite and luxurious. Wang Sheng also asked his servant to come and sleep on the bed, and they all lay down quietly to rest. After a long time, the young man intentionally started tossing and turning, pressing his lower body against the servant. The servant moved away to avoid him, but the young man leaned closer. The servant’s skin touched the young man’s thigh, feeling smooth and slippery. Thoughts stirred in the servant’s mind, and they attempted to get closer to the young man, who responded warmly. The sound of the blankets moving and their breathing could be heard by Wang Sheng. Although he found it very surprising and strange, he never suspected any malicious intent.
Just as daybreak approached, the young man got up and urged everyone to leave early. He even said, “Your donkey is quite tired, and the things left behind last night, I’ll return them to you further ahead.” Before Wang Sheng could respond, the young man had already packed his belongings and mounted his mule. Wang Sheng had no choice but to follow along. The young man’s mule began to run faster and farther. Initially, Wang Sheng thought the young man would be waiting ahead and didn’t pay much attention. He asked the servant about what happened during the night, and the servant honestly recounted the events.
It was only then that Wang Sheng realized the truth and exclaimed, “We’ve been deceived by these tricksters! How could a young aristocrat voluntarily engage in such activities with a servant?” He thought again, considering the young man’s refined manner of speaking, which didn’t align with the behavior of swindlers. Wang Sheng desperately chased after them for dozens of miles, but there was no sign of them. He finally understood that the individuals surnamed Zhang, Xu, and Tong were all part of the same group, switching scams when one failed, all with the aim of ensnaring people. They had already laid a scheme to evade their debt obligations, and if their disguise didn’t work, they would resort to their earlier plan of forceful robbery. Wang Sheng had followed them for hundreds of miles over a few dozen taels of silver, and he also feared that his servant might expose their conspiracy. They even used their own bodies to gain the servant’s favor, showing their meticulous planning in this plot.
Several years later, there was the incident involving Mr. Wu.
A few years later, another incident involving Mr. Wu occurred.
In the city, there was a man named Wu Sheng, with the courtesy name Anren. When he was thirty years old, his wife passed away, leaving him alone in his empty study. One day, a scholar came to chat with him, and they quickly became good friends. The visitor had a young servant named Guitou, who got along well with Wu Sheng’s own servant. As time passed, Wu Sheng came to realize that they were fox spirits in disguise.
Whenever Wu Sheng went on a journey, they would follow him, even though they shared the same room, they remained invisible to others. Wu Sheng was temporarily residing in the capital and preparing to return home when he heard about Wang Sheng’s encounter with the mischievous fox spirits. He warned his servant to stay cautious. The fox spirits, however, just laughed and said, “No need to worry, this journey will be smooth without any trouble.”
They arrived in Zhuozhou and saw a man tying his horse outside a smoky inn, dressed neatly. When this man spotted Wu Sheng passing by, he stood up and mounted his horse to follow behind. Gradually, he struck up a conversation with Wu Sheng. The man introduced himself as Huang, a native of Shandong, and he worked as a local official responsible for delivering government documents to the Ministry of Revenue. He mentioned that he was heading east to return home and was delighted to have company on the journey to avoid feeling lonely.
As a result, Wu Sheng decided to stop and travel together with Huang. Every time they shared a meal, Huang insisted on paying the bill. While Wu Sheng outwardly expressed his gratitude, he had suspicions about Huang. In private, he asked the fox spirits, who simply said, “It’s fine.” With that assurance, Wu Sheng’s worries eased.
In the evening, they all looked for a place to stay, and a handsome young man was already sitting in the inn. As soon as Huang entered, he greeted the young man warmly and asked, “When did you leave the capital?” The young man replied, “Yesterday.” Huang promptly arranged for them to stay together and introduced the young man to Wu Sheng, saying, “This is Shilang, my cousin, and also a scholar. He can keep you company, discuss poetry and literature, and make the nights less lonely.” Huang then took out money to buy food and drinks for everyone to enjoy together.
This young man was charming and eloquent, leading to mutual admiration between him and Wu Sheng. During their drinking sessions, Shilang often signaled Wu Sheng to cheat during drinking games, imposing penalties on Huang and making him drink. They all laughed and clapped their hands joyfully. Wu Sheng grew even fonder of this young man.
Not long after, Shilang and Huang decided to gamble and invited Wu Sheng to join them. They took out money from their pockets to create a gambling fund. The fox spirits instructed their servant, Bao’er, to secretly lock the door and advised Wu Sheng, “If you hear any commotion, just lie down and pretend to be asleep without moving.” Wu Sheng agreed.
Every time Wu Sheng rolled the dice, he would lose when betting small and win when betting big. By the time it was past midnight, he had won over two hundred taels of silver. Shilang and Huang emptied their money bags and even suggested using their horses as collateral. Suddenly, they heard a loud knocking at the door. Wu Sheng quickly stood up, threw the dice into the fire, and covered himself with a blanket, pretending to be asleep.
After some time, they heard the innkeeper saying that he couldn’t find the key and had to break the door lock to open it. Several people burst in, looking fierce, searching for those involved in gambling. Shilang and Huang both denied any involvement in gambling. One person, however, lifted Wu Sheng’s blanket and accused him of gambling. Wu Sheng refuted their claims. Some of them tried to search Wu Sheng’s belongings.
Just as Wu Sheng was struggling to resist, they suddenly heard the commanding voice of an official outside, leading a large procession of carriages and horses. Wu Sheng rushed out and shouted, which frightened the intruders. They quickly pulled Wu Sheng back into the room, begging him not to raise an alarm. Wu Sheng calmly handed over his bag to the innkeeper. Once the procession had passed by, the intruders left the room.
Huang and Shilang both pretended to be relieved and began searching for a place to sleep. Huang suggested that Shilang share a bed with Wu Sheng. Wu Sheng placed his bundle, which he had wrapped around his waist, under his head and then lay down under the blanket. After a while, Shilang uncovered Wu Sheng’s blanket and slipped into Wu Sheng’s embrace, whispering softly, “I admire your straightforwardness and would like to be close to you.”
Wu Sheng knew it was a deceit but thought it might not be a bad idea, so he embraced Shilang. Shilang flattered him, but to his surprise, Wu Sheng was quite robust, making their encounter feel like a struggle. Shilang moaned in discomfort and quietly begged Wu Sheng to stop. Wu Sheng initially planned to finish but upon feeling the blood, he realized it had gone too far. He released Shilang, allowing him to return to sleep.
At daybreak, Shilang was exhausted and couldn’t get out of bed. He pretended to be seriously ill and asked Wu Sheng and Huang to continue their journey without him. As they left, Wu Sheng gave Shilang some money for medical expenses. On the road, Wu Sheng conversed with the fox spirits, learning that the nighttime procession of carriages and horses had all been orchestrated by the fox spirits.
On the way, Huang became even more attentive to Wu Sheng. At night, they stayed in the same inn again. The room was small, with only one bed, but it was warm and clean. Wu Sheng found it too narrow, and Huang suggested, “This room is a bit tight for two people. If you sleep here alone, it will be spacious enough. What’s the harm in that?” After dinner, Huang left. Wu Sheng also preferred staying alone in a room, as it allowed him to accommodate his fox friends.
Wu Sheng sat for a long time, but the fox spirits had not yet arrived. Suddenly, he heard a sound like a finger tapping on a small door on the wall. Wu Sheng went to open the latch to see what was happening. A young woman, beautifully dressed and resembling a fairy, entered the room and closed the door behind her. She smiled at Wu Sheng, charming him. Wu Sheng was fond of her and asked who she was. She turned out to be the innkeeper’s daughter-in-law. They became intimate and enjoyed each other’s company.
Suddenly, the woman burst into tears, alarming Wu Sheng. She revealed, “I dare not hide it. I was actually sent by the innkeeper to seduce you. Normally, as soon as I enter the room, someone comes in to catch us in the act. I don’t know why they haven’t shown up tonight.” She continued crying and said, “I am an honorable woman and unwilling to do such things. Now that I’ve told you everything in my heart, I beg you to save me!”
Wu Sheng was very frightened, unable to come up with a solution. He urged her to leave quickly, but she refused to go and continued weeping. Suddenly, they heard Huang and the innkeeper fighting outside the door, making a great commotion. Huang shouted, “I’ve been respectful and attentive to you all along, and now you’re seducing my brother’s wife!” Wu Sheng, in fear, pushed the woman to leave. They then heard more noise from outside the small door on the wall. Wu Sheng was in a state of panic, sweating profusely, while the woman remained huddled, crying.
They also heard someone advising the innkeeper, but the innkeeper didn’t listen and continued banging on the door more urgently. The person trying to advise said, “Innkeeper, what do you intend to do? Do you want to kill them? With us customers present, we won’t stand by if violence occurs. If one of them manages to escape, how will you make them confess? Do you want to take this matter to court? It will only reveal that your household lacks proper discipline, and you’ll be the one shamed. Moreover, you run an inn, and it’s clear that this is a scheme of deceit and entrapment. How can you guarantee that the woman has no ulterior motives?” The innkeeper was left speechless and wide-eyed.
Wu Sheng silently thanked and admired the person who intervened but didn’t know who it was. As the inn was about to close, a scholar with a servant arrived and stayed in the courtyard. He brought fine wine and generously offered it to all the guests, especially the innkeeper and Huang. When the innkeeper and Huang wanted to leave, the scholar grabbed their clothes and earnestly tried to keep them from going. Eventually, they found an opportunity to slip away and rushed to Wu Sheng’s room with sticks and knives.
The scholar, hearing the commotion, entered to mediate. Wu Sheng peered through the window and saw that it was his fox friends. He felt secretly delighted. The innkeeper’s arrogance had been subdued, and the scholar intimidated them with strong words. He also asked the woman, “Why didn’t you speak up?” She cried and replied, “I hate myself for not being like a human, forced into such a wretched act!” The innkeeper turned pale with fear. The scholar scolded, “Your behavior, no better than animals, has been fully exposed. This is something we, the guests, unanimously detest!”
At this point, both Huang and the innkeeper dropped their weapons and knelt down, begging for forgiveness. Wu Sheng came out and scolded them angrily. The scholar mediated between the two parties, and they finally reconciled. The woman continued to cry and refused to go back. Several maids and old women rushed out from inside the house, grabbed the woman, and pulled her back inside. She lay on the ground, crying in sorrow.
The scholar suggested that the innkeeper sell the woman to Wu Sheng at a high price. The innkeeper, with his head lowered, said, “After being a midwife for thirty years, today I find myself wrapping a baby in swaddling clothes. Since it has come to this, there’s nothing more to say.” So, they agreed to the scholar’s proposal. Wu Sheng didn’t want to spend too much, but the scholar mediated between the parties, and they settled on a price of fifty taels of silver. After both sides exchanged the money, the morning bells had already rung. They quickly packed their belongings and left with the woman.
The woman had never ridden a horse before and was exhausted from the ride. They rested briefly around noon. When they were about to continue their journey, Wu Sheng called for Bao’er, but Bao’er was nowhere to be found. The sun had already begun to set, and there was no sign of Bao’er. Wu Sheng was puzzled and asked the fox for advice. The fox said, “Don’t worry; he’ll be back soon.” The stars and moon had appeared in the sky when Bao’er finally returned. Wu Sheng questioned him about his whereabouts.
Bao’er smiled and said, “Sir, after you generously paid those scoundrels fifty taels of silver, I felt uneasy about it. So, I discussed it with Guitou, and we decided to go back and retrieve the money.” With that, he placed the silver on the table. Wu Sheng was astonished and asked for an explanation. It turned out that Gui Tou knew that the woman had only one brother who had been away for over a decade. So, he transformed himself to look like her brother and had Bao’er pose as her younger sibling to go to the innkeeper’s house in search of her. As soon as the innkeeper saw them, he was terrified and claimed that she had died. These two individuals threatened to report the matter to the authorities, and the innkeeper became even more frightened, offering them bribes. The bribe amount gradually increased to forty taels of silver, at which point the two of them agreed to leave. Bao’er recounted the entire process to Wu Sheng, who then rewarded him with the money.
Upon returning home, Wu Sheng developed a deep bond with the woman, and their household became wealthier. Later, after careful questioning, he learned that the handsome youth they had encountered on the road was her husband, and “Shilang” was a pseudonym for someone surnamed Jin. She was wearing a luxurious brocade shawl that she had obtained from a man surnamed Wang in Shandong. It turned out that this gang of swindlers had many accomplices, including the innkeeper; they were all part of the same group. Little did they know that Wu Sheng had encountered the very people who had been causing misery for Prince Xun, a delightful coincidence indeed. As the saying goes, “Those who know how to ride a horse often fall off.”
《念秧》
异史氏曰：人情鬼蜮，所在皆然，南北冲衢，其害尤烈。如强弓怒马，御人于国门之外者，夫人而知之矣。或有劙囊刺橐，攫货于市，行人回首，财货已空，此非鬼蜮之尤者耶？乃又有萍水相逢，甘言如醴，其来也渐，其入也深，误认倾盖之交，遂罹丧资之祸。随机设阱，情状不一，俗以其言辞浸润，名曰“念秧”。今北途多有之，遭其害者尤众。
余乡王子巽者，邑诸生。有族先生在都为旗籍太史，将往探讯。治装北上，出济南，行数里，有一人跨黑卫，驰与同行。时以闲语相引，王颇与问答。其人自言：“张姓，为栖霞隶，被令公差赴都。”称谓撝卑，祗奉殷勤。相从数十里，约以同宿。王在前，则策蹇追及，在后，则止候道左。仆疑之，因厉色拒去，不使相从。张颇自惭，挥鞭遂去。既暮，休于旅舍，偶步门庭，则见张就外舍饮。方惊疑间，张望见王，垂手拱立，谦若厮仆，稍稍问讯。王亦以泛泛适相值，不为疑，然王仆终夜戒备之。鸡既唱，张来呼与同行，仆咄绝之，乃去。
朝暾已上，王始就道。行半日许，前一人跨白卫，年四十已来，衣帽整洁，垂首蹇分，盹寐欲堕。或先之，或后之，因循十数里。王怪问：“夜何作，致迷顿乃尔？”其人闻之，猛然欠伸，言：“我清苑人，许姓。临淄令高檠是我中表。家兄设帐于官署，我往探省，少获馈贻。今夜旅舍，误同念秧者宿，惊惕不敢交睫，遂致白昼迷闷。”王故问：“念秧何说？”许曰：“君客时少，未知险诈。今有匪类，以甘言诱行旅，夤缘与同休止，因而乘机骗赚。昨有葭莩亲，以此丧资斧。吾等皆宜警备。”王颔之。先是，临淄宰与王有旧，王曾入其幕，识其门客，果有许姓，遂不复疑。因道温凉，兼询其兄况。许约暮共主人，王诺之。仆终疑其伪，阴与主人谋，迟留不进，相失，遂杳。
翼日，日卓午，又遇一少年，年可十六七，骑健骡，冠服秀整，貌甚都。同行久之，未尝交一言。日既西，少年忽言曰：“前去屈律店不远矣。”王微应之。少年因咨嗟欷歔，如不自胜。王略致诘问，少年叹曰：“仆江南金姓。三年膏火，冀博一第，不图竟落孙山！家兄为部中主政，遂载细小来，冀得排遣。生平不习跋涉，扑面尘沙，使人薅恼。”因取红巾拭面，叹咤不已。听其语，操南音，娇婉若女子。王心好之，稍稍慰藉。少年曰：“适先驰出，眷口久望不来，何仆辈亦无至者？日已将暮，奈何！”迟留瞻望，行甚缓。王遂先驱，相去渐远。
晚投旅邸，既入舍，则壁下一床，先有客解装其上。王问主人。即有一人入，携之而出，曰：“但请安置，当即移他所。”王视之，则许也。王止与同舍，许遂止，因与坐谈。少间，又有携装入者，见王、许在舍，返身遽出，曰：“已有客在。”王审视，则途中少年也。王未言，许急起曳留之，少年遂坐。许乃展问邦族，少年又以途中言为许告。俄顷，解囊出赀，堆累颇重，秤两馀，付主人，嘱治殽酒，以供夜话。二人争劝止之，卒不听。俄而酒炙并陈。筵间，少年论文甚风雅。王问江南闱中题，少年悉告之，且自诵其承破，及篇中得意之句，言已，意甚不平。共扼腕之。少年又以家口相失，夜无仆役，患不解牧圉。王因命仆代摄莝豆，少年深感谢。
居无何，忽蹴然曰：“生平蹇滞，出门亦无好况。昨夜逆旅，与恶人居，掷骰叫呼，聒耳沸心，使人不眠。”南音呼骰为兜，许不解，固问之，少年手摹其状。许乃笑于橐中出色一枚，曰：“是此物否？”少年诺。许乃以色为令，相欢饮。酒既阑，许请共掷，赢一东道主。王辞不解，许乃与少年相对呼卢。又阴嘱王曰：“君勿漏言。蛮公子颇充裕，年又雏，未必深解五木诀。我赢些须，明当奉屈耳。”二人乃入隔舍。旋闻轰赌甚闹，王潜窥之，见栖霞隶亦在其中。大疑，展衾自卧。又移时，众共拉王赌，王坚辞不解。许愿代辨枭雉，王又不肯，遂强代王掷。少间，就榻报王曰：“汝赢几筹矣。”王睡梦应之。
忽数人排阖而入，番语啁嗻。首者言佟姓，为旗下逻捉赌者。时赌禁甚严，各大惶恐。佟大声吓王，王亦以太史旗号相抵。佟怒解，与王叙同籍，笑请复博为戏。众果复赌，佟亦赌。王谓许曰：“胜负我不预闻。但愿睡，无相溷。”许不听，仍往来报之。既散局，各计筹马，王负欠颇多，佟遂搜王装橐取偿。王愤起相争。金捉王臂阴告曰：“彼都匪人，其情叵测。我辈乃文字交，无不相顾。适局中我赢得如干数，可相抵；此当取偿许君者，今请易之，便令许偿佟，君偿我。弗过暂掩人耳目，过此仍以相还。终不然，以道义之友，遂实取君偿耶？”王故长厚，亦遂信之。少年出，以相易之谋告佟，乃对众发王装物，估入己橐。佟乃转索许、张而去。
少年遂襆被来，与王连枕，衾褥皆精美。王亦招仆人卧榻上，各默然安枕。久之，少年故作转侧，以下体昵就仆。仆移身避之，少年又近就之。肤着股际，滑腻如脂。仆心动，试与狎，而少年殷勤甚至。衾息鸣动，王颇闻之，虽甚骇怪，而终不疑其有他也。昧爽，少年即起，促与早行，且云：“君蹇疲殆，夜所寄物，前途请相授耳。”王尚无言，少年已加装登骑。王不得已，从之。骡行驶，去渐远。王料其前途相待，初不为意，因以夜间所闻问仆，仆实告之。王始惊曰：“今被念秧者骗矣！焉有宦室名士，而毛遂于圉仆者？”又转念其谈词风雅，非念秧者所能。急追数十里，踪迹殊杳。始悟张、许、佟皆其一党，一局不行，又易一局，务求其必入也。偿债易装，已伏一图赖之机，设其携装之计不行，亦必执前说篡夺而去。为数十金，委缀数百里，恐仆发其事，而以身交欢之，其术亦苦矣。
邑有吴生，字安仁，三十丧偶，独宿空斋。有秀才来与谈，遂相知悦。从一小奴，名鬼头，亦与吴僮报儿善。久而知其为狐。吴远游，必与俱，同室之中，人不能睹。吴客都中，将旋里，闻王生遭念秧之祸，因戒僮警备。狐笑言：“勿须，此行无不利。”
至涿，一人系马坐烟肆，裘服济楚。见吴过，亦起，超乘从之。渐与吴语，自言：“山东黄姓，提堂户部。将东归，且喜同途不孤寂。”于是吴止亦止，每共食，必代吴偿直。吴阳感而阴疑之，私以问狐，狐但言：“不妨。”吴意乃释。及晚，同寻寓所，先有美少年坐其中。黄入，与拱手为礼，喜问少年：“何时离都？”答云：“昨日。”黄遂拉与共寓，向吴曰：“此史郎，我中表弟，亦文士，可佐君子谈骚雅，夜话当不寥落。”乃出金赀，治具共饮。少年风流蕴藉，遂与吴大相爱悦。饮间，辄目示吴作觞弊，罚黄，强使釂，鼓掌作笑。吴益悦之。
既而史与黄谋博赌，共牵吴，遂各出橐金为质。狐嘱报儿暗锁板扉，嘱吴曰：“倘闻人喧，但寐无吪。”吴诺。吴每掷，小注则输，大注辄赢，更馀，计得二百金。史、黄错囊垂罄，议质其马。忽闻挝门声甚厉，吴急起，投色于火，蒙被假卧。久之，闻主人觅钥不得，破扃起关，有数人汹汹入，搜捉博者。史、黄并言无有。一人竟捋吴被，指为赌者。吴叱咄之。数人强捡吴装。方不能与之撑拒，忽闻门外舆马呵殿声。吴急出鸣呼，众始惧，曳入之，但求勿声。吴乃从容苞苴付主人。卤簿既远，众乃出门去。黄与史共作惊喜状，取次觅寝。黄命史与吴同榻。吴以腰橐置枕头，方命被而睡。无何，史启吴衾，裸体入怀，小语曰：“爱兄磊落，愿从交好。”吴心知其诈，然计亦良得，遂相偎抱。史极力周奉，不料吴固伟男，大为凿枘，呻殆不可任，窃窃哀免。吴固求讫事，手扪之，血流漂杵矣，乃释令归。及明，史惫不能起，托言暴病，但请吴、黄先发。吴临别，赠金为药饵之费。途中语狐，乃知夜来卤簿，皆狐为也。
黄于途，益谄事吴。暮复同舍，斗室甚隘，仅容一榻，颇暖洁。而吴狭之，黄曰：“此卧两人则隘，君自卧则宽，何妨？”食已径去。吴亦喜独宿可接狐友。坐良久，狐不至。倏闻壁上小扉，有指弹声。吴拔关探视，一少女艳妆遽入，自扃门户，向吴展笑，佳丽如仙。吴喜致研诘，则主人之子妇也。遂与狎，大相爱悦。女忽潸然泣下，吴惊问之，女曰：“不敢隐匿，妾实主人遣以饵君者。曩时入室，即被掩执，不知今宵何久不至。”又呜咽曰：“妾良家女，情所不甘。今已倾心于君，乞垂拔救！”吴闻，骇惧，计无所出，但遣速去，女惟俯首泣。忽闻黄与主人捶阖鼎沸，但闻黄曰：“我一路祗奉，谓汝为人，何遂诱我弟室！”吴惧，逼女令去。闻壁扉外亦有腾击声，吴仓卒汗如流沈，女亦伏泣。
又闻有人劝止主人，主人不听，推门愈急。劝者曰：“请问主人意将胡为？如欲杀耶？有我等客数辈，必不坐视凶暴。如两人中有一逃者，抵罪安所辞？如欲质之公庭耶？帷薄不修，适以取辱。且尔宿行旅，明明陷诈，安保女子无异言？”主人张目不能语。吴闻，窃感佩，而不知其谁。初，肆门将闭，即有秀才共一仆，来就外舍宿。携有香酝，遍酌同舍，劝黄及主人尤殷。两人辞欲起，秀才牵裾，苦不令去。后乘间得遁，操杖奔吴所。秀才闻喧，始入劝解。吴伏窗窥之，则狐友也，心窃喜。又见主人意稍夺，乃大言以恐之。又谓女子：“何默不一言？”女啼曰：“恨不如人，为人驱役贱务！”主人闻之，面如死灰。秀才叱骂曰：“尔辈禽兽之情，亦已毕露。此客子所共愤者！”黄及主人，皆释刀杖，长跽而请。吴亦启户出，顿大怒詈。秀才又劝止吴，两始和解。女子又啼，宁死不归。内奔出妪婢，捽女令入，女子卧地哭益哀。秀才劝主人重价货吴生，主人俯首曰：“‘作老娘三十年，今日倒绷孩儿。’亦复何说！”遂依秀才言。吴固不肯破重赀，秀才调停主客间，议定五十金。人财交付后，晨钟已动，乃共促装，载女子以行。
女未经鞍马，驰驱颇殆。午间稍休憩。将行，唤报儿，不知所往。日已西斜，尚无迹响，颇怀疑讶，遂以问狐。狐曰：“无忧，将自至矣。”星月已出，报儿始至。吴诘之，报儿笑曰：“公子以五十金肥奸伧，窃所不平。适与鬼头计，反身索得。”遂以金置几上。吴惊问其故，盖鬼头知女止一兄，远出十馀年不返，遂幻化作其兄状，使报儿冒弟行，入门索姊妹。主人惶恐，诡托病殂。二僮欲质官，主人益惧，啖之以金，渐增至四十，二僮乃行。报儿具述其故。吴即赐之。吴归，琴瑟綦笃，家益富。细诘女子，曩美少即其夫，盖史即金也。袭一槲帔，云是得之山东王姓者。盖其党与甚众，逆旅主人，皆其一类。何意吴生所遇，即王子巽连天叫苦之人，不亦快哉！旨哉古言：“骑者善堕。”