Wang liu lang

　　A man named Xu lived in the northern outskirts of Zichuan. He made his living as a fisherman. Every night, he would take his wine to the river and drink as he fished. Before each drink, he would pour a little on the ground as an offering and pray, "May the drowned ghosts in the river have some wine, too." He did this every time without fail. Other men could fish in that same spot all night and catch nothing, but Xu alone would fill his baskets.

　　One evening, as he was drinking alone, a young man came and paced back and forth beside him. Xu invited him to share the wine, and the young man gladly sat down to drink with him. But that night, Xu didn't catch a single fish, and he was feeling rather disappointed. The young man stood up and said, "Let me go downstream and drive the fish up for you." With that, he drifted away. A moment later, he returned and said, "A big school of fish is coming." Sure enough, Xu heard the fish nibbling and sucking at the surface. He cast his net and hauled in several fish, each over a foot long. Overjoyed, he thanked the young man profusely. As he was leaving for home, he offered some fish to the young man, but the young man refused, saying, "I have enjoyed your fine wine so many times now. This little favor is hardly worth mentioning as thanks. If you don't mind, I'd like to make this a regular thing."

　　Xu said, "We've only shared one evening together—how can you say 'so many times'? If you are willing to keep coming, I would be truly delighted. The only thing is, I'm ashamed I have no way to repay your kindness." He asked the young man's full name. The young man replied, "My surname is Wang. I have no courtesy name. When we meet, just call me Wang Liulang." Then they parted.

　　The next day, Xu sold his fish, bought more wine, and went back to the river that evening. The young man was already there waiting for him. They drank happily together. After a few cups, Wang Liulang would get up and drive the fish for Xu.

　　This went on for half a year. Then one day, the young man suddenly told Xu, "Since I came to know you, our friendship has grown deeper than that of blood brothers. But the day of our parting is drawing near." His voice was full of sorrow. Alarmed, Xu asked him what he meant. The young man started to speak, held back, then started again, and finally said, "With a friendship as close as ours, I hope you won't be too shocked by what I'm about to tell you. The truth is, I am a ghost. When I was alive, I was a heavy drinker. One night I got dead drunk and drowned in this river. That was years ago. The reason you always catch more fish than anyone else is that I have been secretly driving the fish toward you, to repay you for your wine offerings. Tomorrow, my term of suffering is complete. Someone will come to take my place, and I will be reborn into the world of the living. Tonight is our last night together. That is why I cannot help but feel sad."

　　When Xu first heard that Wang Liulang was a ghost, he was terrified. But since they had grown so close over such a long time, his fear soon faded, and he too wept in sorrow. He filled a cup and said, "Liulang, drink this. Do not grieve so. Meeting and then parting so soon is indeed heartbreaking. But you have completed your punishment and are escaping this bitter fate—that is cause for celebration. To weep at such a time would be out of place." So they drank together cheerfully. Then Xu asked, "Who is the one who will take your place?" The young man said, "Watch by the river tomorrow, brother. At noon, a young woman will cross the river and drown. She is the one."

　　When the village rooster crowed, they wiped away their tears and parted.

　　The next day, Xu waited by the river, eager to see if this strange thing would happen. Sure enough, at noon, a young woman came along carrying a baby in her arms. She fell into the water as she tried to cross. The baby was tossed onto the bank, where it waved its arms and kicked its legs, wailing. The woman sank and surfaced several times. Then, dripping wet, she pulled herself up onto the bank by her hands. She lay on the ground for a moment to catch her breath, then picked up the baby and walked away.

　　When the woman was drowning, Xu's heart had ached for her, and he had wanted to rush in and save her. But then he thought, This is the one who is supposed to take Liulang's place. So he held back and did not go to her rescue. Yet when the woman climbed out on her own, he began to wonder whether Wang Liulang's words had come true.

　　That evening, he went fishing at the same spot as before. The young man appeared again and said, "Here we are together once more. For now, let's not speak of parting." When Xu asked what had happened, Wang Liulang said, "That woman was indeed meant to take my place. But I took pity on the baby in her arms. I couldn't bear to take two lives just to replace one man. So I let her go. Now, who knows when another replacement will come? Perhaps the bond between us is not yet meant to end."

　　Xu sighed and said, "A heart as merciful as yours is sure to move Heaven itself." From that night on, they went back to meeting and drinking together as before.

　　A few days later, Wang Liulang came to say goodbye once more. Xu suspected that another replacement had appeared. But Wang Liulang said, "No, that's not it. My moment of compassion the other day was indeed heard by the Heavenly Emperor. I have been appointed the local land god of Wu Town in Zhaoyuan County. I am to take up my post tomorrow. If you do not forget our old friendship, you must come and visit me. Do not let the long road stop you."

　　Xu congratulated him, saying, "An upright man like you becoming a god—that truly brings joy to one's heart. But the paths of men and gods are separate. Even if I am not afraid of the distance, how can I meet with you?" Wang Liulang said, "Just come. Do not worry." He urged this again and again, then left.

　　When Xu returned home, he set about packing his bags to travel east to visit Wang Liulang. His wife laughed and said, "That place is hundreds of miles away. Even if such a town exists, what are you going to do—talk to a clay statue?" Xu paid her no mind and went all the way to Zhaoyuan. He asked the local people, and sure enough, there was a town called Wu. He found it, put up at an inn, and asked the innkeeper where the temple was.

　　The innkeeper was astonished. "Would you, by any chance, have the surname Xu?" he asked. Xu said, "Yes. How did you know?" The innkeeper asked, "And would you happen to be from Zichuan County?" Xu said, "Yes. How did you know?" The innkeeper didn't answer but hurried out.

　　In a moment, men carrying children, women peeking through doorways, and a crowd of people gathered in a jumble, surrounding Xu like a wall. Xu was even more astonished. Then the people told him, "A few nights ago, we all dreamed that the land god said, 'A friend of mine named Xu from Zichuan is coming soon. You should help him with travel expenses.' We have been waiting for you for some time."

　　Xu found this truly strange. He went to the land god's temple, offered incense, and prayed, "Since we parted, I have thought of you day and night, awake and asleep. I have come from afar to keep our old promise. And you even sent a dream to the villagers here, showing your kindness to me—I am deeply grateful. I am ashamed that I have no fine gift to offer, only this cup of wine. If you do not scorn it, please drink as we used to drink by the river." After his prayer, he burned paper money. Soon a gust of wind rose from behind the altar. It swirled there for a while and then died down.

　　That night, Xu dreamed that Wang Liulang came to him, dressed in fine clothes and a formal hat, looking very different from his usual self. Wang Liulang bowed and said, "I am touched and overjoyed that you have come all this way to see me. But now that I hold this humble post, I cannot meet you face to face. Though we are close, it feels like a thousand mountains and rivers separate us. It grieves my heart. The villagers here will give you some small gifts as a token of our old friendship. When you set your return date, I will see you off."

　　After a few days, Xu wanted to go home. The villagers urged him to stay longer. They invited him to breakfast and dinner, and every day a different family would take turns hosting him. But Xu insisted on leaving. Then they brought out lists of gifts and bundles of goods, vying with each other to offer him travel presents. Before the morning was over, his bag was full to bursting. Young and old alike gathered to see him off with a farewell feast. As he left the village, a whirlwind suddenly sprang up and followed him for over ten miles. Xu bowed again and again and said, "Take care, Liulang! Do not trouble yourself to come so far. With your merciful heart, I know you will do good for the people of your town. An old friend like me need not tell you that." The whirlwind lingered there for a long while before finally dying down. The villagers, full of wonder and sighs, turned back to the village.

　　Xu returned home. His household gradually grew better off, and he no longer went fishing. Later, whenever he met people from Zhaoyuan, he would ask them about the land god. They all said the god answered their prayers as swiftly as an echo. Some say that Wang Liulang's post was actually at Shikeng Village in Zhangqiu County. No one knows for certain which is true.

　　The Historian of the Strange comments:

　　To rise to a high position and still not forget the friends of one's lowly days—that is why Wang Liulang became a god. Look at the high officials riding in their carriages today. Would any of them still recognize an old friend in a straw hat? In my hometown, there was a retired gentleman who was extremely poor. He had a childhood friend who had gained a fat official post. The gentleman believed that if he went to his friend, he would surely be helped. He strained every resource to prepare for the journey and traveled a thousand miles, only to return bitterly disappointed. He had to sell his horse just to make it home. His younger cousin, a witty fellow, made up a lampoon in the style of the "Monthly Orders" that went like this: "In this month, the elder brother arrives. The sable hat comes off. The umbrella does not open. The horse turns into a donkey. The boots finally fall silent." I recall this and cannot help but smile.




中文如下：

　　【原文】

　　许姓，家淄之北郭，业渔。每夜，携酒河上，饮且渔。饮则酹地，祝云：“河中溺鬼得饮。”以为常。他人渔，迄无所获，而许独满筐。

　　一夕，方独酌，有少年来，徘徊其侧。让之饮，慨与同酌。既而终夜不获一鱼，意颇失。少年起曰：“请于下流为君驱之。”遂飘然去。少间，复返，曰：“鱼大至矣。”果闻唼呷有声。举网而得数头，皆盈尺。喜极，申谢。欲归，赠以鱼，不受，曰：“屡叨佳酝，区区何足云报。如不弃，要当以为常耳。”许曰：“方共一夕，何言屡也？如肯永顾，诚所甚愿。但愧无以为情。”询其姓字，曰：“姓王，无字，相见可呼王六郎。”遂别。明日，许货鱼，益沽酒。晚至河干，少年已先在，遂与欢饮。饮数杯，辄为许驱鱼。

　　如是半载。忽告许曰：“拜识清扬，情逾骨肉。然相别有日矣。”语甚凄楚。惊问之。欲言而止者再，乃曰：“情好如吾两人，言之或勿讶耶？今将别，无妨明告：我实鬼也，素嗜酒，沉醉溺死，数年于此矣。前君之获鱼，独胜于他人者，皆仆之暗驱，以报酹奠耳。明日业满，当有代者，将往投生。相聚只今夕，故不能无感。”许初闻甚骇，然亲狎既久，不复恐怖，因亦欷歔。酌而言曰：“六郎饮此，勿戚也。相见遽违，良足悲恻。然业满劫脱，正宜相贺，悲乃不伦。”遂与畅饮。因问：“代者何人？”曰：“兄于河畔视之，亭午，有女子渡河而溺者，是也。”听村鸡既唱，洒涕而别。

　　明日，敬伺河边，以觇其异。果有妇人抱婴儿来，及河而堕。儿抛岸上，扬手掷足而啼。妇沉浮者屡矣，忽淋淋攀岸以出，藉地少息，抱儿径去。当妇溺时，意良不忍，思欲奔救。转念是所以代六郎者，故止不救。及妇自出，疑其言不验。抵暮，渔旧处。少年复至，曰：“今又聚首，且不言别矣。”问其故。曰：“女子已相代矣，仆怜其抱中儿，代弟一人，遂残二命，故舍之。更代不知何期。或吾两人之缘未尽耶？”许感叹曰：“此仁人之心，可以通上帝矣。”由此相聚如初。

　　数日，又来告别。许疑其复有代者。曰：“非也。前一念恻隐，果达帝天。今授为招远县邬镇土地，来朝赴任。倘不忘故交，当一往探，勿惮修阻。”许贺曰：“君正直为神，甚慰人心。但人神路隔，即不惮修阻，将复如何？”少年曰：“但往，勿虑。”再三叮咛而去。

　　许归，即欲治装东下。妻笑曰：“此去数百里，即有其地，恐土偶不可以共语。”许不听，竟抵招远。问之居人，果有邬镇。寻至其处，息肩逆旅，问祠所在。主人惊曰：“得无客姓为许？”许曰：“然。何见知？”又曰：“得勿客邑为淄？”曰：“然。何见知？”主人不答，遽出。俄而丈夫抱子，媳女窥门，杂沓而来，环如墙堵。许益惊。众乃告曰：“数夜前，梦神言：淄川许友当即来，可助以资斧。祗候已久。”许亦异之。乃往祭于祠而祝曰：“别君后，寤寐不去心，远践曩约。又蒙梦示居人，感篆中怀。愧无腆物，仅有卮酒。如不弃，当如河上之饮。”祝毕，焚钱纸。俄见风起座后，旋转移时，始散。夜梦少年来，衣冠楚楚，大异平时。谢曰：“远劳顾问，喜泪交并。但任微职，不便会面，咫尺河山，甚怆于怀。居人薄有所赠，聊酬夙好。归如有期，尚当走送。”居数日，许欲归。众留殷恳，朝请暮邀，日更数主。许坚辞欲行。众乃折柬抱襆，争来致赆，不终朝，馈遗盈橐。苍头稚子毕集，祖送出村。欻有羊角风起，随行十馀里。许再拜曰：“六郎珍重！勿劳远涉。君心仁爱，自能造福一方，无庸故人嘱也。”风盘旋久之，乃去。村人亦嗟讶而返。

　　许归。家稍裕，遂不复渔。后见招远人问之，其灵验如响云。或言：即章丘石坑庄。未知孰是。

　　异史氏曰：置身青云，无忘贫贱，此其所以神也。今日车中贵介，宁复识戴笠人哉？余乡有林下者，家綦贫。有童稚交，任肥秩。计投之必相周顾。竭力办装，奔涉千里，殊失所望。泻囊货骑，始得归。其族弟甚谐，作月令嘲之云：“是月也，哥哥至，貂帽解，伞盖不张，马化为驴，靴始收声。”念此可为一笑。

　　【翻译】

　　有个姓许的人，家住在淄川的北城，以捕鱼为业。每天夜里，他都要带着酒到河边，一边饮酒，一边捕鱼。每次饮酒时，他都先把一些酒祭洒在地上，祷告说：“河中的淹死鬼请来喝酒吧！”习以为常。别人在这里捕鱼，几乎打不着什么，只有他打的鱼满筐满篓。

　　一天晚上，许某正在自斟自饮，有一位少年徘徊在他身边不去。许某便邀他一起喝酒，那少年也不推辞，爽快地和他一同喝了起来。结果一整夜也没打着一条鱼，许某的心里很失望。少年站起身来说：“请让我到下游去为你赶鱼吧！”说完，就飘飘然地离开了。不一会儿，他返回来说：“很多鱼都来了！”果然，就听到了河里鱼群“唧唧呷呷”的吞吐声。许某撒下渔网打上好几条鱼，条条都有一尺多长。他高兴极了，连忙向少年道谢。回去时，许某要把鱼送给少年，少年却不肯收，说：“多次喝到你的好酒，这一点儿小事算不上什么报答。如果你不嫌弃的话，希望以后可以常常这样。”许某说：“咱们刚只在一起喝了一晚上的酒，怎么谈得上是多次呢？如果你愿意常来光顾，那实在是我所希望的，只是惭愧自己没法儿报答你为我赶鱼的盛情。”许某又问他的姓名字号，少年回答说：“我姓王，没有字号，见面可以叫我王六郎。”说完两人便分手了。第二天，许某卖掉鱼赚了钱，又多买了些酒。晚上，来到河边，只见那少年已经先到了，两人就高高兴兴地喝起酒来。喝了几杯酒以后，少年起身又为许某赶鱼去了。

　　这样过了半年。一天，少年忽然告诉许某说：“结识你以来，感情超过了亲兄弟。可是和你分别的日子就要到了。”话语说得十分凄楚。许某吃惊地问这是怎么回事儿。少年几次要开口都止住了，最后终于说：“感情好得像咱们这样，我说出来或许你不会惊讶吧？现在你我就要分别了，我不妨跟你实话实说：我其实是个鬼，生前平素最爱喝酒，喝得大醉后淹死在这里，有好几年了。以前你捕获的鱼之所以远远比别人多，就是因为有我在暗中为你驱赶，为的是以此报答你洒酒奠祭的情义。明天我的罪期就满了，将有人来代替我，我要到阳间去投生。咱们相聚只有今天一晚了，因此不能不伤感。”许某猛一听王六郎是鬼，刚开始很是惊恐，然而毕竟在一起亲近了这么长时间，也就不再害怕了，也因为要分别而难过叹息。许某斟满一杯酒对王六郎说：“六郎请喝了这杯酒，不要再难过了。刚认识马上就要分手，当然是很让人悲伤的。不过你罪孽期满脱身苦海，正应该庆贺，再悲痛就不合情理了。”于是，两人又举杯畅饮起来。许某又问：“来代替你的是什么人呢？”王六郎回答说：“兄长在河边看着，明天中午，有一个少妇渡河时会淹死，就是她了。”听见村子里的鸡已经叫过，王六郎与许某才洒泪告别。

　　第二天，许某在河边认真地等待，准备看这件奇异的事情。到了中午时分，果然有一个少妇抱着婴儿走来，到了河边就掉进去了。婴儿被抛在河岸上，扬手蹬脚地“哇哇”大哭。那少妇在河里屡沉屡浮，忽然全身湿淋淋地攀着河岸爬了上来，她趴在地上歇息了一会儿，就抱起孩子径直走了。当那个少妇落在水里时，许某心里实在是不忍，想要跑过去救她。转念一想，她是来代替王六郎的，所以就停住没去救。等到那少妇从河中爬了上来，他怀疑王六郎说的话不灵验。到了傍晚，许某仍然在老地方捕鱼。王六郎又来了，说：“现在我们又相见了，暂且不用再提分手的事儿了。”许某向他询问原因，王六郎说：“那少妇已经来代替我了，但我可怜她怀里抱着的那个孩子。我不想因为代替我一人，却要死两条人命，所以就放掉了她。下次什么时候再有人代替我还不知道。这也许是我们俩的缘分还没有尽吧！”许某感叹地说：“这样仁义的心，上天一定会知道的。”从此俩人又像以前那样相聚饮酒。

　　过了几天后，王六郎又来告别。许某疑心又有了来代替他的人。王六郎说：“这次不是有人代替我。上回我的一番恻隐之心果然被上天知道了，现在任命我为招远县邬镇的土地神，过几天就要上任。你如果不忘记我们的老交情，可以前去看看我，不要怕路远难走啊。”许某祝贺说：“你为人正直做了神，真让人高兴。但人与神是在两个不同的世界里，即使我不怕路远难走，又怎么能见到你呢？”王六郎说：“你只管前去好了，不要担心。”王六郎再三叮嘱后，就走了。

　　许某回到家里，就打算收拾行装往东边去探望王六郎。他的妻子笑着说：“招远县的邬镇距此地有好几百里地，即使有这么个地方，恐怕到了那里和泥像也没法说话呀。”许某不听劝阻，最终去了招远县。向当地居民一打听，果然有个邬镇。他找到那个地方，住在客店里，就向店老板打听土地庙在哪里。店老板听后，吃惊地反问：“客人您是不是姓许？”许某说：“是呀，你是怎么知道的？”店老板又问：“您的家乡是不是在淄川县？”许某说：“是呀，你是怎么知道的？”店老板并不回答，急急忙忙地走了出去。一会儿，男人们抱着小孩，媳妇、姑娘们也挤在门口张望，镇上的人纷纷都来了，人群像是一堵墙，把许某围在中间。许某更加惊讶，众人于是告诉他说：“前几天夜里，我们梦见土地神说：‘淄川县有我的一个姓许的朋友马上要来，请你们大家送他些盘缠。’所以我们已经恭候您很久了。”许某听了很是惊奇。许某便前往土地庙去祭告说：“自从和你分别后，我日日夜夜思念着你，现在我从远处来实践我们的约定。又蒙你梦里指示百姓资助，实在让我心中感激。只是惭愧没什么丰厚的礼物，仅有薄酒一杯。如果你不嫌弃，请你像在河边那样喝了吧。”祝告完毕，他又焚烧了纸钱。一会儿，只见从神座后面刮起了一阵风，旋转了多时才散去。当夜，许某梦见王六郎衣冠齐整地来相会，和从前迥然不同。王六郎道谢说：“有劳你远来探望，让我喜泪交流。但我现在做了这个小官，不便与你会面，虽然近在咫尺，却像隔着千山万水，心里很是难过。这地方的百姓会送你一些薄礼，就算我对老朋友的一点儿心意吧。你如果定下了回去的日子，到时候我再来相送。”住了几天后，许某打算回去。当地人都殷勤地挽留他。早上请吃饭，晚上邀喝酒，每天要轮换好几家。许某最后坚持要回去，众人拿着礼单，抱着包袱，纷纷争着前来送行赠礼，不到一个早晨，送来的礼物就装满了一口袋。临行时，镇上的老人和小孩全都来为许某饯行送别。刚一出村，忽然一阵旋风平地而起，伴随着许某一直走了十多里路。许某再三拜谢说：“六郎请多保重，不要再劳你远送了。你心地仁慈，一定能为一方百姓造福，用不着老朋友我再叮嘱什么了。”那阵风在地上盘旋了很久，才渐渐离去。村里来送许某的人们也惊叹着回村去了。

　　许某回到家里，渐渐富裕起来，不再打鱼了。后来他遇见招远来的人，问起土地神，都说十分灵验，有求必应。也有人说：王六郎的任所在章丘县的石坑庄。不知是谁说的对。

　　异史氏说：做了高官，仍旧不忘贫贱之交，这就是王六郎之所以成神的原因。且看今天那些坐在车里的达官显贵，还肯相认戴草帽的旧日穷朋友吗？我的家乡有个士绅，家里十分贫穷。有一个自幼相好的朋友担任了收入丰厚的官职，便想前去投奔，认为一定能得到照顾。于是拿出全部钱财来置办行装，经过千里跋涉到了那里，却大失所望。最后只好花光了钱，又卖掉坐骑，才得以回家。他同族的一个弟弟生性幽默，编了个“月令”来嘲笑他说：“是月也，哥哥至，貂帽解，伞盖不张，马化为驴，靴始收声。”念此可作一笑。