Wang Cheng

　　Wang Cheng was a scion of an old official family in Pingyuan. By nature he was extremely lazy, and his livelihood declined day by day until only a few broken rooms remained. He and his wife lay together on a straw mat, and her constant reproaches made life unbearable.

　　It was high summer, swelteringly hot. Outside the village there had once been a garden belonging to the Zhou family; now its walls and buildings had all collapsed, leaving only a single pavilion. The villagers often lodged there overnight, and Wang Cheng was among them. At dawn, all the sleepers left. Only when the sun was three rods high did Wang Cheng rise. He dawdled, thinking of going home, when he spotted a gold hairpin in the grass. Picking it up, he saw tiny characters engraved on it: "Made by the Yibin Mansion." Wang Cheng's grandfather had been an Yibin (imperial son-in-law) of the Heng Mansion, and many heirlooms bore that mark. He held the hairpin, hesitating.

　　Suddenly an old woman came looking for the hairpin. Though poor, Wang Cheng was upright by nature, and at once handed it over. The old woman was delighted and praised his virtue, saying, "The hairpin is worth little, but it was a keepsake from my late husband." When asked who her husband was, she replied, "The late Yibin Wang Jianzhi." Wang Cheng started: "He was my grandfather. How is it that you knew him?" The old woman was equally surprised: "Are you Wang Jianzhi's grandson? I am a fox spirit. A hundred years ago, I was deeply attached to your grandfather. After he died, I went into seclusion. Passing by here, I dropped the hairpin, and it fell into your hands—is this not fate?" Wang Cheng had heard that his grandfather had a fox wife, so he believed her and invited her to his home. The old woman followed him.

　　Wang Cheng called his wife out to meet her. The wife wore tattered clothes and had a sallow, hungry look. The old woman sighed, "Alas! A grandson of Wang Jianzhi—reduced to such poverty!" Looking at the cold, smokeless stove, she asked, "With your household in this state, how do you manage to live?" The wife then told in detail of their destitution, sobbing as she spoke. The old woman gave the hairpin back to the wife and told her to pawn it for rice, saying she would return in three days. Wang Cheng tried to detain her, but she said, "You cannot even support your own wife. If I stay, looking at these bare walls, what good would it do?" And she left.

　　Wang Cheng told his wife the story; she was terrified. But he praised the old woman's kindness and urged his wife to serve her as a mother-in-law, to which she agreed. Three days later, the old woman indeed came back. She produced several taels of silver and had them buy a picul of millet and a picul of wheat. That night she shared the short bed with the wife. At first the wife was afraid, but seeing how sincerely she acted, her suspicions faded.

　　The next day, the old woman said to Wang Cheng, "Grandson, do not be lazy. You should try some small trade. How can you live forever on your rations?" Wang Cheng said he had no capital. She replied, "When your grandfather was alive, I could take whatever gold and silk I pleased. But since I was a recluse, I had no need for such things and never took much. I saved forty taels from my cosmetics allowance, and they are still with me. There is no use in hoarding them longer. Take them, buy plain white cloth, and go to the capital within a week—you will make a small profit." Wang Cheng followed her advice and bought over fifty bolts of cloth. The old woman urged him to pack quickly, calculating that the journey would take six or seven days. She warned: "Be diligent, not lazy; be quick, not slow. If you are a day late, you will regret it!" Wang Cheng respectfully agreed.

　　He loaded his goods and set off. On the way he was caught in rain, soaking his clothes and shoes. Having never endured hardship, he was utterly exhausted and rested at an inn. But the rain poured all night, and the next day the mud was even deeper. Seeing pedestrians up to their calves in mud, he was disheartened. He waited until noon when the ground began to dry, but clouds gathered again and rain fell even harder. He stayed two more nights before resuming. Approaching the capital, he heard that cloth prices had soared and rejoiced inwardly. When he arrived and unpacked at an inn, the innkeeper regretted that he had come too late. Earlier, when the southern roads had first opened, cloth was scarce, and a prince's mansion urgently bought it, tripling the price. But the day before Wang Cheng arrived, the mansion had filled its order, leaving later arrivals disappointed. The innkeeper told him this, and Wang Cheng grew despondent. The next day, more cloth arrived, prices dropped further. Wang Cheng refused to sell at a loss. After ten days of delay, with mounting expenses, he grew more anxious. The innkeeper advised him to sell cheap and try something else. He followed the advice, losing over ten taels of silver.

　　The next morning, planning to return home, he opened his purse—and the money was gone. In panic he told the innkeeper, who could do nothing. Some suggested reporting to the authorities and making the innkeeper pay. Wang Cheng sighed, "This is my fate. What blame does the innkeeper bear?" The innkeeper, grateful for his integrity, gave him five taels of silver and urged him to go home. But Wang Cheng, feeling he could not face his grandmother, paced back and forth, trapped between hope and despair.

　　Just then he noticed people betting on quail fights, often for thousands of cash. Each quail cost over a hundred cash. An idea struck him; counting his remaining money, he had just enough to buy quails. He consulted the innkeeper, who eagerly encouraged him and offered free room and board. Wang Cheng set off, bought a full load of quails, and returned to the capital. The innkeeper was glad and wished him a quick sale. That night, however, it rained heavily until dawn. The streets were flooded and rain continued. He waited for clear weather, but the rain lasted days without end. Checking his cages, quails began to die. Alarmed, he saw more deaths each day until only a few remained. He put them in one cage. The next morning, only one quail survived. In tears, he told the innkeeper, who lamented his misfortune. Wang Cheng, seeing his capital gone, considered suicide. The innkeeper comforted him and they examined the surviving quail carefully. The innkeeper said, "This one seems extraordinary. The others may have died fighting it. Since you have nothing to do, train it—if it is good, gambling with it can earn a living." Wang Cheng followed his advice. Once trained, the innkeeper had him take it to the streets to bet for food and drink. The quail was strong and won repeatedly. The innkeeper, pleased, lent him silver to bet against professional players—three bouts, three wins. In half a year, Wang Cheng accumulated twenty taels. He grew more confident and cherished the quail like his life.

　　Now, a Grand Prince was fond of quail fights. Every Lantern Festival, he would allow commoners to bring their quails to his mansion to compete. The innkeeper told Wang Cheng, "Great wealth is within your grasp. The only unknown is your fate." He explained the situation and led him to the mansion, advising: "If you lose, just withdraw. But if by chance your quail wins, the prince will want to buy it—do not agree. If he insists, watch my face; only when I nod should you accept." Wang Cheng agreed.

　　At the mansion, quail owners crowded below the steps. Soon the prince appeared and announced for challengers to step forward. One man went up, released his quail, and lost after a single exchange. The prince laughed. Several more lost in turn. The innkeeper said, "Now is the time." They went up together. The prince examined Wang Cheng's quail and said, "There is an angry vein in its eyes—a strong bird. Do not take it lightly." He ordered his Iron Beak quail to face it. After several bouts, the prince's quail lost. He replaced it with a better one; it lost again. He then ordered his Jade Quail brought out. It had white feathers like an egret and was extraordinarily spirited. Wang Cheng faltered, knelt, and begged to withdraw, saying, "Your Highness's quail is divine—I fear it will injure my bird and ruin my livelihood." The prince laughed, "Let it fight. If it dies, I will compensate you generously." Wang Cheng released his quail. The Jade Quail charged straight at it, but Wang's quail crouched low like an angry chicken, waiting. When the Jade Quail pecked fiercely, Wang's quail rose like a crane in flight and struck back. They fought back and forth, the battle lasting about the time of a meal. Gradually the Jade Quail tired, while Wang's grew fiercer and faster. Soon its white feathers were scattered, and it fled with drooping wings. The crowd of thousands gasped in admiration.

　　The prince took Wang's quail in his own hands and examined it from beak to claws. He asked, "Will you sell it?" Wang replied, "I have no fixed property—this bird is my life. I do not wish to sell it." The prince said, "I will pay you a good price—enough to make you a middle-class family. Would you like that?" Wang pondered for a long time, then said, "I would not willingly part with it, but since Your Highness favors it, if it gives me a livelihood, what more could I ask?" Asked the price, he said a thousand taels. The prince laughed, "You foolish fellow! What treasure is this to be worth a thousand?" Wang said, "Your Highness may not value it, but to me it is worth even a jade disc that could buy a city." The prince asked why. Wang said, "I take it to the market and earn several taels a day, enough to feed more than ten mouths. What treasure could compare?" The prince offered two hundred. Wang shook his head. The prince increased by a hundred. Wang glanced at the innkeeper, whose expression remained unchanged. Then Wang said, "By Your Highness's command, I will reduce the price by a hundred." The prince said, "Enough! Who would pay nine hundred for a quail?" Wang bagged his quail to leave. The prince called out, "Quail man, quail man! I will truly give you six hundred. If you agree, sell; if not, no matter." Wang glanced again at the innkeeper, who still showed no reaction. Wang's heart was already full—he feared to miss the chance—and said, "At this price, I am reluctant, but after so much bargaining, if I don't sell, I will have offended Your Highness. Very well, I accept your offer." The prince was delighted and paid the silver. Wang pocketed it, bowed, and left. The innkeeper chided him, "I told you—why sell so hastily? If you had held out a little longer, you could have had eight hundred." Wang returned to the inn, placed the silver on the table, and insisted that the innkeeper take some, but the innkeeper refused. After further urging, he calculated the cost of board and accepted that amount.

　　Wang Cheng packed and went home. At home, he recounted all his adventures and shared the silver in celebration. The old woman told him to buy three hundred acres of good farmland, build a house, and furnish it, and soon his household regained the style of a noble family. The old woman rose early every day, ordering Wang to supervise the farm work and his wife to oversee weaving. If they slacked, she would scold them. The couple submitted, not daring to complain. After three years, the family grew richer, and the old woman announced her departure. The couple tried to detain her, even weeping, and she relented. But the next morning when they went to pay respects, she had vanished without a trace.

　　The Historian of the Strange comments: Wealth is usually gained through diligence, but here it was gained through laziness—a novelty indeed. Yet one does not see that though he was utterly poor, his innate honesty never changed. This is why Heaven first abandoned him but finally showed him mercy. How could laziness itself bring riches?




原文如下：

　　王成，平原故家子。性最懒，生涯日落，惟剩破屋数间，与妻卧牛衣中，交谪不堪。时盛夏燠热，村外故有周氏园，墙宇尽倾，唯存一亭，村人多寄宿其中，王亦在焉。既晓，睡者尽去。红日三竿，王始起，逡巡欲归。见草际金钗一股，拾视之，镌有细字云：“仪宾府造。”王祖为衡府仪宾，家中故物，多此款式，因把钗踌躇。欻一妪来寻钗。王虽故贫，然性介，遽出授之。妪喜，极赞盛德，曰：“钗直几何，先夫之遗泽也。”问：“夫君伊谁？”答云：“故仪宾王柬之也。”王惊曰：“吾祖也。何以相遇？”妪亦惊曰：“汝即王柬之之孙耶？我乃狐仙。百年前，与君祖缱绻。君祖殁，老身遂隐。过此遗钗，适入子手，非天数耶！”王亦曾闻祖有狐妻，信其言，便邀临顾。妪从之。

　　王呼妻出见，负败絮，菜色黯焉。妪叹曰：“嘻！王柬之孙子，乃一贫至此哉！”又顾败灶无烟。曰：“家计若此，何以聊生？”妻因细述贫状，呜咽饮泣。妪以钗授妇，使姑质钱市米，三日外请复相见。王挽留之。妪曰：“汝一妻不能自存活，我在，仰屋而居，复何裨益？”遂径去。王为妻言其故，妻大怖。王诵其义，使姑事之，妻诺。逾三日，果至。出数金，籴粟麦各石。夜与妇共短榻。妇初惧之，然察其意殊拳拳，遂不之疑。

　　翌日，谓王曰：“孙勿惰，宜操小生业。坐食乌可长也？”王告以无赀。曰：“汝祖在时，金帛凭所取。我以世外人，无需是物，故未尝多取。积花粉之金四十两，至今犹存。久贮亦无所用，可将去悉以市葛，刻日赴都，可得微息。”王从之，购五十馀端以归。妪命趣装，计六七日可达燕都。嘱曰：“宜勤勿懒，宜急勿缓。迟之一日，悔之已晚！”王敬诺。

　　囊货就路，中途遇雨，衣履浸濡。王生平未历风霜，委顿不堪，因暂休旅舍。不意淙淙彻暮，檐雨如绳。过宿，泞益甚。见往来行人践淖没胫，心畏苦之。待至亭午，始渐燥，而阴云复合，雨又大作。信宿乃行。将近京，传闻葛价翔贵，心窃喜。入都，解装客店，主人深惜其晚。先是，南道初通，葛至绝少，贝勒府购致甚急，价顿昂，较常可三倍。前一日方购足，后来者并皆失望。主人以故告王，王郁郁不得志。越日，葛至愈多，价益下。王以无利不肯售。迟十馀日，计食耗烦多，倍益忧闷。主人劝令贱鬻，改而他图，从之。亏赀十馀两，悉脱去。早起，将作归计，启视囊中，则金亡矣。惊告主人，主人无所为计。或劝鸣官，责主人偿。王叹曰：“此我数也，于主人何尤？”主人闻而德之，赠金五两，慰之使归。自念无以见祖母，蹀踱内外，进退维谷。

　　适见斗鹑者，一赌辄数千，每市一鹑，恒百钱不止。意忽动，计囊中赀，仅足贩鹑，以商主人。主人亟怂恿之，且约假寓饮食，不取其直。王喜，遂行。购鹑盈儋，复入都。主人喜，贺其速售。至夜，大雨彻曙。天明，衢水如河，淋零犹未休也。居以待晴。连绵数日，更无休止。起视笼中，鹑渐死。王大惧，不知计之所出。越日，死愈多，仅馀数头，并一笼饲之。经宿往窥，则一鹑仅存。因告主人，不觉涕堕。主人亦为扼腕。王自度金尽罔归，但欲觅死。主人劝慰之，共往视鹑，审谛之，曰：“此似英物。诸鹑之死，未必非此之斗杀之也。君暇亦无所事，请把之，如其良也，赌亦可以谋生。”王如其教。既驯，主人令持向街头，赌酒食。鹑健甚，辄赢。主人喜，以金授王，使复与子弟决赌，三战三胜。半年许，积二十金。心益慰，视鹑如命。

　　先是，大亲王好鹑，每值上元，辄放民间把鹑者入邸相角。主人谓王曰：“今大富宜可立致。所不可知者，在子之命矣。”因告以故，导与俱往。嘱曰：“脱败，则丧气出耳。倘有万分一，鹑斗胜，王必欲市之，君勿应。如固强之，惟予首是瞻，待首肯而后应之。”王曰：“诺。”

　　至邸，则鹑人肩摩于墀下。顷之，王出御殿，左右宣言：“有愿斗者上。”即有一人把鹑，趋而进。王命放鹑，客亦放，略一腾踔，客鹑已败。王大笑。俄顷，登而败者数人。主人曰：“可矣。”相将俱登。王相之，曰：“睛有怒脉，此健羽也，不可轻敌。”命取铁喙者当之。一再腾跃，而王鹑铩羽。更选其良，再易再败。王急命取宫中玉鹑。片时把出，素羽如鹭，神骏不凡。王成意馁，跪而求罢，曰：“大王之鹑，神物也，恐伤吾禽，丧吾业矣。”王笑曰：“纵之。脱斗而死，当厚尔偿。”成乃纵之。玉鹑直奔之。而玉鹑方来，则伏如怒鸡以待之；玉鹑健啄，则起如翔鹤以击之。进退颉颃，相持约一伏时，玉鹑渐懈，而其怒益烈，其斗益急。未几，雪毛摧落，垂翅而逃。观者千人，罔不叹羡。

　　王乃索取而亲把之，自喙至爪，审周一过。问成曰：“鹑可货否？”答云：“小人无恒产，与相依为命，不愿售也。”王曰：“赐而重直，中人之产可致。颇愿之乎？”成俯思良久，曰：“本不乐置，顾大王既爱好之，苟使小人得衣食业，又何求？”王请直，答以千金。王笑曰：“痴男子！此何珍宝而千金直也？”成曰：“大王不以为宝，臣以为连城之璧不过也。”王曰：“如何？”曰：“小人把向市廛，日得数金，易升斗粟，一家十馀食指，无冻馁忧，是何宝如之？”王言：“予不相亏，便与二百金。”成摇首。又增百数。成目视主人，主人色不动。乃曰：“承大王命，请减百价。”王曰：“休矣！谁肯以九百易一鹑者！”成囊鹑欲行。王呼曰：“鹑人来，鹑人来！实给六百，肯则售，否则已耳。”成又目主人，主人仍自若。成心愿盈溢，惟恐失时，曰：“以此数售，心实怏怏。但交而不成，则获戾滋大。无已，即如王命。”王喜，即秤付之。成囊金，拜赐而出。主人怼曰：“我言如何，子乃急自鬻也？再少靳之，八百金在掌中矣。”成归，掷金案上，请主人自取之，主人不受。又固让之，乃盘计饭直而受之。

　　王治装归，至家，历述所为，出金相庆。妪命治良田三百亩，起屋作器，居然世家。妪早起，使成督耕，妇督织，稍惰，辄诃之。夫妇相安，不敢有怨词。过三年，家益富，妪辞欲去。夫妻共挽之，至泣下，妪亦遂止。旭旦候之，已杳矣。

　　异史氏曰：富皆得于勤，此独得于惰，亦创闻也。不知一贫彻骨，而至性不移，此天所以始弃之而终怜之也。懒中岂果有富贵乎哉！

　　【翻译】

　　王成是平原县旧时官宦人家的子弟。生性最为懒惰，家境一天天没落下去，只剩下几间破屋子，与妻子躺在麻草席里，被妻子责怨，难以度日。当时正是盛夏，天气炎热，村子外面原先有个周家花园，现在墙倒房塌，只剩下一个凉亭，村子里的很多人为了避暑住在那里，王成也在其中。这天天亮后，睡觉的人陆续都离去了。待到红日升到三竿高，王成才起来，磨磨蹭蹭地想要回家。他忽然看见草丛里有一枝金钗，捡起来一看，上面刻着几个小字：“仪宾府造。”王成的祖父原先是衡王的女婿，家里的旧物，有不少刻有这种标记，王成因此拿着金钗犹豫猜测了一番。这时，有一个老太太前来寻找丢失的金钗。王成虽然很穷，但却品性耿直，立刻拿出金钗交给了她。老太太很高兴，大大称赞了王成的品德，又说：“这枝金钗能值几个钱，可这是我故去的丈夫的遗物。”王成问：“您的丈夫是谁？”老太太回答说：“是已故的仪宾王柬之。”王成吃惊地说：“那是我的祖父啊！你们怎么能相遇呢？”老太太也惊奇地说：“你就是王柬之的孙子吗？我是个狐仙。一百年前，与你祖父曾结为夫妻。你祖父死后，我就隐居起来了。经过这里时丢失了金钗，恰好被你捡到，这不是上天的安排吗！”王成从前也曾听说过祖父有位狐狸妻子，便相信了她的话，邀请老太太到家里去坐坐。老妇人跟着他去了。

　　到了家中，王成叫妻子出来，只见她身上穿得破破烂烂，饿得脸色青黄。老太太不由得叹息说：“唉！王柬之的孙子，竟然穷到这种地步了吗！”她看到破败的灶台没有一星烟火，就问：“家里的景况这样，靠什么维持生活呢？”王成的妻子于是细细述说了贫苦的遭遇，不禁呜咽哭泣了起来。老太太把金钗交给她，让她暂且换些钱买米，说三天以后再来与他们相见。王成要挽留她。老太太说：“你自己连一个妻子还养活不了，我留在这里，望着屋顶发呆，又有什么用呢？”说完径自走了。王成向妻子说明了老太太的来历，妻子大为惊恐。王成又说起她的仁义，让妻子把她当成婆婆侍奉，妻子答应了。过了三天，老太太果然又来了。她拿出几两银子，让王成买回一石谷子、一石麦子。夜里老太太就与王成的妻子一同睡在短床上。王成的妻子起初还有些怕她，但后来发现她的心意是诚恳的，也就不再有疑心了。

　　第二天，老太太对王成说：“孙子你不要再懒惰了，应该做个小买卖。坐吃山空怎么能长久呢？”王成告诉她说没有本钱。老太太说：“你祖父在世的时候，金银绸缎任凭我拿。我因为自己是世外之人，不需要这些，所以没有多拿过。只积攒下买胭脂花粉的银子四十两，至今还留着。长时间储存在我这里也没有用处，你可以拿去全都买成葛布，限定日子赶到京城，就能得到些小利润。”王成听了她的话，买回来五十多匹葛布。老太太让他马上收拾行装出发，计算好六七天内就可以赶到京城。又叮嘱王成：“你要勤快，不要懒惰，务必快走，不能迟缓。如果晚到一天，就后悔莫及了！”王成恭敬地答应了。

　　王成挑着货物上了路，中途遇上下雨，衣裳鞋子都湿透了。他平生没有吃过风霜雨雪之苦，觉得困乏不堪，因此决定暂时在一个旅店里休息。不料大雨淙淙地下了整整一夜，房檐下雨水流得像一根根绳子似的。过了一夜，道路泥泞得更加厉害。王成看见往来行人走在泥泞的道路上，稀泥没过了小腿，心里十分怕苦。等到了中午，地上刚刚有些干燥，却又阴云密布，下起了滂沱大雨。一直连住了两天，他才起程上路。快要到京城的时候，王成听人说京城的葛布售价昂贵，不断飞涨，心里暗暗高兴。到了京城后，他解下行装住进客店，店主却深深地惋惜他来晚了。原来在此之前，去往南方的道路刚刚打通，运到京城的葛布非常少，但贝勒府里又急着要购买，因此葛布的价格顿时高涨起来，大约是平常的三倍。王成入京的前一天贝勒府刚好已经买足，后来运到葛布的人都很失望。店主把原委告诉王成以后，王成心里很是郁郁不乐。又过了一天，葛布运到京城的更多了，价格下跌得更厉害。王成因为没有利润仍然不肯出售。这样迟疑了十几天，盘算着饮食等耗费已经很多，他心中倍感愁闷。这时店主奉劝他把葛布贱价卖掉，改作别的打算。王成听从了他的劝告，亏损十几两本钱，都脱了手。第二天早晨起来，他准备回去，打开行囊一看，银子全丢了。他惊慌地去告诉店主，店主也没有办法可想。有人劝他去报告官府，责令店主赔偿。王成叹口气说道：“这是因为我的运气不好，和店主有什么关系？”店主听说后，很感激他的仁德，送给他五两银子，劝慰着让他回去。王成自己寻思着没脸回去见祖母，出出进进徘徊不定，陷入了进退维谷的境地。

　　恰好这时他看见街上有斗鹌鹑的，一赌就是几千文钱，每买一头，常常花费不止一百文钱。他心中忽然念头一动，算了算行囊里的钱，仅够贩卖鹌鹑的，就回去和店主商量。店主极力怂恿他去试试，并约定好让他吃住在店里，不要他的钱。王成很高兴，就上了路。他买了满满一担子鹌鹑，又回到了京城。店主也很欣喜，预祝他能尽早卖光。不料半夜里忽然下起大雨，一直下到黎明。天亮以后，街上水流如河，雨“嘀嘀嗒嗒”地还没有停止。王成只好住在店里等着天放晴。可这场雨竟然连绵不断地下了好几天，还不见休止。他起身去看笼子，鹌鹑渐渐地开始死去了。他十分惊怕，不知道该怎么办好。又过了一天，鹌鹑死得更多了，只剩下了几头，他就把它们并在一个笼子里饲养。再过了一夜去看，笼子里只有一只鹌鹑还活着。王成于是把情况告诉了店主，不由得泪如雨下。店主也为他的种种不幸扼腕长叹。王成感到银钱亏光了，有家也难归，悲痛得只想寻死。店主又一再劝慰他，拉他一起再去看看仅存的那只鹌鹑，细细打量了一番，说：“这好像是个不寻常的良种。其他鹌鹑之所以死去，未必不是被它咬斗死的。你现在也闲着没事，就请训练训练它，如果真是个良种，用它来赌博也可以谋生。”王成遵照店主的主意去做了。训练好了以后，店主让他带着鹌鹑到街上赌顿酒饭。那只鹌鹑十分雄健，几次赌斗都赢了。店主很欢喜，出银子交给王成，让他再与专养鹌鹑的子弟去决战，结果三战三胜。这样过了半年多，王成竟积攒下了二十两银子。王成心里更加宽慰，把这只鹌鹑看作性命一般。

　　起先，大亲王嗜好斗鹌鹑，每逢元宵节，就放民间养鹌鹑的进王府去与他养的互相角斗。店主对王成说：“现在发大财应该说立刻可以做到，就不知你的命运如何了。”于是把王府斗鹌鹑的事告诉了他，带他一起前往。店主又叮嘱说：“如果败了，就自认晦气出来。要是万一你的鹌鹑斗胜了，亲王肯定要把它买下来，你不要答应。如果他实在要强买，你只管看我的脸色行事，等我点头以后再答应他。”王成说：“好的。”

　　到了王府，只见来斗鹌鹑的人已经摩肩接踵地挤在台阶下了。过了一会儿，亲王出来坐在殿上，左右的官员宣布说：“有愿意斗的上来。”立即有一个人手握着鹌鹑，小步快跑了上去。亲王命令放出王府的鹌鹑，客方也放了出来。两只鹌鹑刚一腾跃相斗，客方的鹌鹑就败了。亲王不禁哈哈大笑。这样，不一会儿，登台后败下阵来的已经有好几个人了。店主说：“可以了。”两人就相跟着都登上了台。亲王打量了一下王成的鹌鹑，说：“眼睛里有怒线，这是一只刚勇善斗的鹌鹑，不可轻敌。”就命令取一只叫做铁嘴的来对阵。两只鹌鹑一再腾跃激斗后，王府的败了下来。亲王又选出更好的来斗，换了两只都败了。亲王急忙命令取出宫中珍养的玉鹑来。过了片刻，就有人把着它出来了，只见这只玉鹑全身像鹭鸶一样长着雪白的羽毛，确实不是一般的神骏之物。王成心中胆怯，跪在地上恳求不要斗了，说：“大王的玉鹑，是天上的神物，怕伤了我的鸟，砸了我谋生的饭碗啊！”亲王笑着说：“放出来吧。要是你的斗死了，我会重重地赔偿你。”王成这才放出了鹌鹑。那只玉鹑一见对手就直扑了过来。当玉鹑正扑过来的时候，王成的鹌鹑就趴伏在那里如同怒鸡一样等待着；玉鹑猛地一啄，王成的鹌鹑却突然跃起像飞翔的仙鹤似的向下攻击。两只鹌鹑忽进忽退，忽上忽下，相持了大约一伏时，玉鹑渐渐地气力不支，开始松懈；而王成的鹌鹑却怒气更盛，出击更急。不一会儿，只见玉鹑雪白的羽毛纷纷被啄落在地，玉鹑垂着翅膀逃走了。周围观看的有上千人，无不赞叹羡慕王成的鹌鹑。

　　亲王于是把王成的鹌鹑要来放在手上亲自把玩起来，从嘴到爪，细细审视了一遍后，问王成：“你的鹌鹑可以卖吗？”王成回答说：“小人没有什么固定的家产，只与它相依为命，不愿意卖。”亲王又说：“赏给你个好价钱，中等人家的财产马上到手。你愿意了吧？”王成低头考虑了很久，说：“我本不愿意卖，考虑到大王既然这么喜欢它，而且大王如果真能让小人我得到一份衣食无忧的产业，我还有什么可求的呢？”亲王问卖的价值，王成回答说是一千两银子。亲王笑着说：“傻汉子！这算什么珍宝，能值一千两银子啊？”王成说：“大王不以为它是珍宝，小人却认为它比价值连城的璧玉还贵重呀。”亲王问：“为什么呢？”王成说：“小人我拿着它到市上去斗，每天能得到好几两银子，换来一升半斗的谷米，一家十几口就没有受冻挨饿的忧虑了，什么宝物能像它这样？”亲王又说：“我不亏待你，就给你二百两银子。”王成摇摇头。亲王又加了一百两。王成偷眼看了看店主，见店主神色不动，就说：“承大王的命令，请让我也减去一百两。”亲王说：“算了吧！谁肯用九百两银子换一只鹌鹑呀？”王成装起鹌鹑就要走。亲王呼喊道：“养鹌鹑的回来，养鹌鹑的回来！我实实在在地给你六百两，你肯就卖，否则就算了。”王成又看店主，店主仍没有什么反应。王成心里已经万分满足了，唯恐失去这个机会，就说：“以这个数成交，小人心里实在不甘愿。但讨价还价半天买卖不成，一定会大大得罪王爷您。没别的法子，就按王爷说的那样办吧。”亲王十分欢喜，马上命令称出银子交给他。王成装好银子，谢过赏就出来了。店主埋怨他说：“我怎么说的，你就这样急着自己做主卖了？再稍微坚持一会儿，八百两银子就在手中了。”王成回到店里，把银子放在桌子上，请店主自己拿，店主却不要。王成又执意要给，店主才算出了王成几个月来的饭钱收下了。

　　王成置办好行装回到家，一五一十地述说了自己的经历，拿出银子让大家一起庆贺。老太太让他买下了三百亩良田，盖起房屋，置办器具，居然又恢复了祖上的世家景况。老太太每天很早就起来，让王成督促雇工耕地，让媳妇督促家人织布，两人稍有懒惰，老太太就会加以斥责。王成夫妻倒也安分服帖，不敢有什么怨言。这样过了三年，家里更加富裕了，老太太却告辞要走。王成夫妻俩一起执意挽留，直至声泪俱下，老太太也就留了下来。但到了第二天早晨，夫妻俩前去问候时，她却已经杳然不见踪影了。

　　异史氏说：富裕都是得自于勤劳的，唯独王成的富裕却是得自于懒惰，也算是闻所未闻的事情了。但人们却不知道这是因为王成虽然一贫如洗，但他那份至真至诚的性情不变，所以上天才一开始抛弃他，最终还是怜惜了他。懒惰之中难道还真能有富贵吗？