Wang Lan

　　In Lijin there was a man named Wang Lan who died suddenly of a violent illness. When the King of Hell reviewed his case, it turned out that the ghostly attendant had summoned the wrong soul. The King ordered him to be sent back to life, but his body had already decayed. The ghost attendant, fearing punishment, said to Wang, "For a man to be a ghost is suffering, but for a ghost to become an immortal is joy. If there is joy, why need you be born again?" Wang thought this made sense.

　　The ghost said, "There is a fox here who has perfected the Golden Elixir. If you steal his elixir and swallow it, your soul will never dissipate and you can live forever. You may go wherever you wish, and nothing will thwart your will. Are you willing?" Wang agreed. The ghost led him to a grand mansion with lofty towers and pavilions, but not a soul was there. A fox was in the moonlight, looking up at the sky. When it exhaled, a pellet emerged from its mouth and rose straight into the moon; when it inhaled, the pellet fell back, and the fox caught it in its mouth, then exhaled again. It went on like this without pause.

　　The ghost hid nearby, and when the fox spat out the pellet, he snatched it and gave it to Wang to swallow. The fox, startled, turned angrily toward them. Seeing two men, and fearing he could not overcome them, he left in fury and resentment. Wang parted from the ghost and returned to his home. His wife and children saw him and all fled in terror. Wang told them what had happened, and gradually they gathered around him. From then on, he lived at home as usual.

　　A friend of his, named Zhang, heard of this and came to visit. When they met, they exchanged pleasantries. Wang then said to Zhang, "Your family and mine have always been poor. Now I have a skill that can make us wealthy. Will you travel with me?" Zhang assented. Wang said, "I can heal without medicine and divine without casting lots. But if I appear in my own form, those who know me will be alarmed and think me a ghost. Would you let me accompany you invisibly?" Zhang again agreed.

　　That very day they packed and set out, reaching the borders of Shanxi. A wealthy family had a daughter who had suddenly fallen ill—she lay in a daze, unconscious. Every remedy and ritual had been exhausted. Zhang called at their house and boasted of his skill. The rich man had only this one daughter and treasured her dearly. He promised a thousand taels of silver to anyone who could cure her. Zhang asked to see her. He followed the father into the inner chamber. The girl lay with her eyes closed. He lifted her quilt and touched her body, but she remained unconscious.

　　Wang secretly told Zhang, "Her soul has left her. I must go find it." Zhang then told the father, "Though her illness is critical, she can be saved." When asked what medicine he needed, Zhang replied, "None. Your daughter's soul has wandered elsewhere, and I have already sent a spirit to find it." After about an hour, Wang suddenly returned and said he had found it. Zhang asked the father to enter the room again and touched the girl once more. A moment later, she stretched and yawned, and suddenly opened her eyes. The father was overjoyed and fondly asked her what had happened.

　　The girl said, "Earlier, I was in the garden when I saw a young man with a slingshot shooting birds. Several men led fine horses and followed behind him. I tried to flee, but he blocked my way. He put the slingshot in my hand and taught me how to shoot. While I was shyly scolding him, he lifted me onto his horse and rode with me double, laughing and saying, 'I like playing with you—don't be shy.' After several li we entered the mountains. On the horse I wept and cursed, and the young man, angered, pushed me off by the roadside. I wanted to go home but could not find the way. Just then a man came, seized my arm, and carried me along as fast as a galloping horse. In an instant I was home—and suddenly I woke as if from a dream."

　　The father, marveling at Zhang's power, indeed gave him a thousand taels of silver. That night, Wang discussed with Zhang: they set aside two hundred taels for traveling expenses, and Wang transported the rest by supernatural means. He went to Wang's home, knocked on the door, and gave the money to his son, also instructing him to give three hundred taels to Zhang's family—then Wang returned. The next day, when Zhang took leave of the rich man, the man could not see where the gold was hidden and was even more astonished. He gave them generous gifts and saw them off.

　　A few days later, Zhang met a fellow townsman named He Cai in the countryside. He Cai was addicted to drinking and gambling, did no honest work, and was as poor as a beggar. Hearing that Zhang had acquired strange powers and gained countless riches, he came running to find him. Wang advised Zhang to give He Cai a small sum and send him away. But He Cai did not mend his ways; within ten days he had squandered everything and came looking for Zhang again. Wang already knew this and said, "He Cai is wild and perverse—you cannot keep company with him. The best course is to bribe him to leave, so that any trouble he causes will remain shallow."

　　The next day, He Cai indeed arrived and insisted on staying with Zhang. Zhang said, "I knew you would come back. You drink and gamble every day—how can a thousand taels fill your bottomless pit? If you truly change your ways, I will give you a hundred taels." He Cai agreed. Zhang emptied his purse and gave him the money. He Cai left, and with a hundred taels in his bag, he gambled even more wildly, visited brothels, and spent money like dirt. The local constables, suspicious, arrested him and took him before the magistrate, where he was cruelly tortured. He Cai confessed where the money had come from. The magistrate sent guards to escort He Cai to arrest Zhang. After a few days, He Cai's wounds grew severe and he died on the road.

　　But his soul did not forget Zhang and returned to attach itself to him, thus meeting Wang. One day they were drinking together at a beacon mound. He Cai, drunk, began to shout wildly. Wang tried to stop him, but he would not listen. Just then the Imperial Censor passed by on his inspection tour. Hearing the shouting, he searched and captured Zhang. Zhang, terrified, told the truth. The Censor was furious, had Zhang flogged, and sent a written complaint to the gods.

　　That night the Censor dreamed that a man in golden armor appeared and told him: "It has been investigated—Wang Lan died innocently and has now become a ghost immortal. Healing is also a benevolent art and should not be punished as demonic sorcery. By the Jade Emperor's decree, he is appointed as the Clear Path Envoy. He Cai, being dissolute and wicked, has been punished and exiled to the Iron Wall Mountains. Zhang is innocent and should be pardoned." The Censor woke up, astonished, and released Zhang.

　　Zhang packed his things and returned home. He had a few hundred taels left in his purse, and respectfully gave half to Wang's family. Wang's descendants thus grew wealthy.



原文如下：

王兰暴死被误勾魂，吞狐仙金丹成鬼仙，附身好友行医致富，最终获封清道使。揭秘人鬼仙奇缘，点击阅读。

原文和翻译 对比【原文】

利津王兰，暴病死。阎王覆勘，乃鬼卒之误勾也。责送还生，则尸已败。鬼惧罪，谓王曰：“人而鬼也则苦，鬼而仙也则乐。苟乐矣，何必生？”王以为然。鬼曰：“此处一狐，金丹成矣。窃其丹吞之，则魂不散，可以长存，但凭所之，罔不如意。子愿之否？”王从之。鬼导去，入一高第，见楼阁渠然，而悄无一人。有狐在月下，仰首望空际，气一呼，有丸自口中出，直上入于月中；一吸，辄复落，以口承之，则又呼之。如是不已。鬼潜伺其侧，俟其吐，急掇于手，付王吞之。狐惊，盛气相向。见二人在，恐不敌，愤恨而去。王与鬼别，至其家，妻子见之，咸惧却走。王告以故，乃渐集。由此在家寝处如平时。

其友张姓者，闻而省之，相见，话温凉。因谓张曰：“我与若家夙贫，今有术，可以致富。子能从我游乎？”张唯唯。曰：“我能不药而医，不卜而断。我欲现身，恐识我者，相惊以怪。附子而行，可乎？”张又唯唯。于是即日趣装，至山西界。富室有女，得暴疾，眩然瞀瞑，前后药禳既穷。张造其庐，以术自炫。富翁止此女，常珍惜之，能医者，愿以千金为报。张请视之。从翁入室，见女瞑卧，启其衾，抚其体，女昏不觉。王私告张曰：“此魂亡也，当为觅之。”张乃告翁：“病虽危，可救。”问：“需何药？”俱言不须，“女公子魂离他所，业遣神觅之矣”。约一时许，王忽来，具言已得。张乃请翁再入，又抚之。少顷女欠伸，目遽张。翁大喜，抚问。女言：“向戏园中，见一少年郎，挟弹弹雀，数人牵骏马，从诸其后。急欲奔避，横被阻止。少年以弓授儿，教儿弹。方羞诃之，便携儿马上，累骑而行，笑曰：‘我乐与子戏，勿羞也。’数里入山中。我马上号且骂，少年怒，推堕路旁，欲归无路。适有一人至，捉儿臂，疾若驰，瞬息至家，忽若梦醒。”翁神之，果贻千金。王夜与张谋，留二百金作路用，馀尽摄去。款门而付其子，又命以三百馈张氏，乃复还。次日与翁别，不见金藏何所，益异之，厚礼而送之。

逾数日，张于郊外遇同乡人贺才。才饮博，不事生产，奇贫如丐。闻张得异术，获金无算，因奔寻之。王劝薄赠令归。才不改故行，旬日荡尽，将复觅张。王已知之，曰：“才狂悖，不可与处，只宜赂之使去，纵祸犹浅。”逾日，才果至，强从与俱。张曰：“我固知汝复来。日事酗赌，千金何能满无底窦？诚改若所为，我百金相赠。”才诺之。张泻囊授之。才去，以百金在橐，赌益豪，益之狭邪游，挥洒如土。邑中捕役疑而执之，质于官，拷掠酷惨。才实告金所自来。乃遣隶押才捉张。数日创剧，毙于涂。魂不忘张，复往依之，因与王会。一日，聚饮于烟墩，才大醉狂呼，王止之，不听。适巡方御史过，闻呼搜之，获张。张惧，以实告。御史怒，笞而牒于神。夜梦金甲人告曰：“查王兰无辜而死，今为鬼仙。医亦仁术，不可律以妖魅。今奉帝命，授为清道使。贺才邪荡，已罚窜铁围山。张某无罪，当宥之。”御史醒而异之，乃释张。

张治装旋里。囊中存数百金，敬以半送王家。王氏子孙以此致富焉。

【翻译】

利津县有个人名叫王兰，忽然身患暴病死去了。到了阴间，阎王复审，才发现是小鬼勾错了魂。阎王责令小鬼把王兰的魂魄送还阳世复活，但他的尸体已经腐烂了。小鬼害怕阎王怪罪自己，就对王兰说：“人死了做鬼很痛苦，但如果能由鬼变成神仙就很快乐。假如有欢乐，又何必再去人间投生呢？”王兰也认为这话有道理。小鬼说：“这地方有一个狐狸精，它已经炼成了金丹。要是去把它的金丹偷来吞吃下去，那人的灵魂就会不消散，可以永远存在，任凭灵魂想去什么地方，没有不如意的。你愿意吗？”王兰听从了小鬼的主意。小鬼就带着他，进了一家高门大院的府第，只见里面的楼阁高大深广，却静悄悄没有一个人。有一个狐狸精在月亮光下面，仰起头朝着天空，它一呼气，就有一个小丸从口中喷出来，一直向上飞入月亮中去；再一吸气，小丸就落下来，狐狸精用口把小丸接住，于是再次呼气。如此反复不已。小鬼悄悄地躲在狐狸精的身边，等到它吐出小丸时，急忙把小丸抓在手里，交给王兰吞了下去。狐狸精大吃一惊，怒气冲冲地扑了过来。但见到对方有两个，怕自己敌不过，只好愤恨地离去了。王兰与小鬼告别后，回到了自己家里，妻子儿女看见他，都惊恐地要逃走。王兰告诉他们原因以后，家人才慢慢地围拢了过来。从此，他就像往常一样地在家里住了下来。

王兰有个姓张的朋友，听说后就来看望他，两人见面后，谈了一会儿离别问候的闲话，王兰便对张某说：“我家和你家向来贫穷，现在我有了法术，可以发财致富了。你能跟着我一起干吗？”张某答应了。王兰又说：“我不用药就能治好病，不用卜卦就能断事如神。但是我要现出原身，恐怕知道我已经死去的人们都会吃惊害怕。让我附在你的身上出去，可以吗？”张某又一口答应了。于是两人当天就收拾行装出发了，他们来到山西地界。那里有个富翁家的女儿，得了暴病，整天昏迷不醒，神志不清，前前后后又是吃药又是求神，各种办法都用尽了，仍不见效。张某来到这家拜访，向富翁炫耀自己的法术。富翁只有这么一个女儿，素来十分珍爱她，他许愿谁能治好女儿的病，就用一千两银子来酬谢。于是张某要求让他去看看病人。张某随着富翁进了内室，只见那个少女昏昏沉沉地躺在那里，掀起她的被子抚摸她的身体，她也昏迷不觉。王兰偷偷地告诉张某说：“她这是灵魂迷失了，应当替她找回来。”张某就告诉富翁说：“病情虽然危险，但还有救。”富翁问：“需要用什么药？”张某说什么药都不需要，“你家女公子的灵魂出窍到了别的地方，我已经派神人前去寻找了”。大约过了一个时辰，王兰突然回来，告诉张某少女的灵魂已经找到了。张某便请富翁再进内室去，富翁再次抚摸自己的女儿。过了一会儿，女儿就弯身伸腰，忽然睁开了眼睛。富翁大为高兴，一边抚爱一边询问女儿是怎么回事儿。他女儿说：“先前我正在花园里游玩，看见一个少年，用弹弓弹射鸟雀，有几人牵着骏马，跟随在他身后。我急忙想躲避，却被他横加阻挡住了。那少年又把弹弓塞到我手里，要教我弹。我正害羞地斥责他，他却把我抱到马上，同马而行，还笑着说：‘我喜欢和你玩，你不要害羞。’走了好几里地进入山中。我在马上又是号哭又是怒骂，那少年一气之下，把我推落到路边，我想回家却又找不到路。恰好这时有一个人来了，抓住我的手臂，带着我飞跑得像是骑马奔驰一样，一转眼就到了家，忽然像做了个梦似地醒过来了。”富翁觉得张某神通广大，果然送给他一千两银子。王兰在这天夜里又和张某商议好，留下二百两银子作为路费用，其馀的都由王兰作法转移到家里去。王兰敲开门把钱交给他儿子，又嘱咐他送三百两给张家，完事之后王兰才返回来。第二天与富翁告别，富翁看不见他们的银子藏在哪里，更加觉得奇异，赠给他们丰厚的礼物，然后送别了他们。

过了几天，张某在郊外遇见了同乡贺才。贺才沉湎于饮酒赌博，不务正业，异常贫穷，像要饭的一样。他听说张某学到了奇异的法术，获取了多得数不过来的银子，于是跑来找张某。王兰劝张某送给贺才少量的银钱，让他回去。但贺才不改旧日恶习，十来天就把银子全花光了，又想再来找张某。王兰已经暗中知道了，对张某说：“贺才为人狂妄背理，不能和他在一起相处，只能是送给他一些钱财让他走人，这样，即使他闯了祸，对我们的危害也会浅一些。”第二天，贺才果然来了，强行要求和张某一块儿干事。张某说：“我早就知道你还会来。你每天酗酒赌博，即使有一千两银子，又怎么能填满你的无底洞？你要是能够痛改前非，我就送给你一百两银子。”贺才答应要改掉恶习。张某就把钱袋里所有的银子都送给了他。贺才离开后，自恃钱袋里有了一百两银子，更加放肆地狂赌，还在花街柳巷里嫖娼，挥金如土。县里的捕快差役怀疑他做了案，就把他抓去见官审讯，对他进行残酷的拷打。贺才一五一十地供出了银子的来历。知县于是派遣差役押着贺才去捉拿张某。但过了几天，贺才因为伤重死在了路上。他的魂魄仍然不忘记去寻找张某，又前去依附张某的身上，因此与王兰的魂魄会合在了一处。有一天，他们在烟墩废址里聚会饮酒时，贺才的灵魂酩酊大醉，狂呼乱叫起来，王兰竭力制止他也不听。正好巡方御史的车驾经过这里，听见呼叫后他就命人搜寻，结果抓获了张某。张某十分害怕，就说出了实情。御史大怒，下令鞭打张某，又把状词通报给了神灵。当天晚上御史梦见有个身穿金甲的神人来告诉他说：“查得王兰是无辜误死的，现在成了鬼仙。他为人治病也算是有仁义，不应该把他当作妖魅处罚。今天奉玉帝的旨意，授他为清道使。贺才淫邪放荡，已经处罚流放到铁围山去了。张某没有罪过，应当宽恕他。”御史从梦中醒来，十分惊异，于是释放了张某。

张某置办行装回到家乡。钱袋里还有几百两银子，就拿出一半来恭敬地送到了王家。王家的子孙因此而变得富裕起来了。