Ghost Story of Liaozhai

Mr. Zhao, a native of Wuling, Huguang, used to work in the prince's mansion. After retiring from his old age and returning to his hometown, he cultivated his moral character and stopped meddling in political affairs.On this day, a certain young man came to ask for an interview, and wanted to join Zhao and take care of the documents for him.Seeing his handsome appearance, Zhao Gong asked him his name, and he said, "My surname is Lu, and my name is a prison officer. I just want to have something to do, and I don't get paid."

Mr. Zhao kept the young man by his side, and the young man was extremely intelligent. He handled the letters and ledgers in an orderly and decent manner, and his chess skills were superb.Every time Liu Gong plays chess with a guest, if he is at a disadvantage, he only needs a little guidance from the young man to turn defeat into victory. Seeing this, Zhao Gong loves him even more.

Seeing that the boy was favored, the servants yelled for him to treat him.The young man agreed without hesitation, and asked, "How many guests are there in total?" He replied, "No less than thirty." Hearing this, the young man looked embarrassed.Everyone spoke out, "If you don't want to spend money, then forget it."

The young man said displeased: "Am I a stingy person? Tomorrow at noon, I will set up a banquet in the inn, and we will see you there." At noon the next day, a group of people came to the hotel and sat down, the young man stood up and poured wine .One person reached out to press the flagon and said, "Wait a minute. Who is the host of today's banquet? It's best to pay the deposit first. Otherwise, everyone will eat and drink, and then pat their buttocks and leave. Who will come?" Will the money be accepted?" Everyone nodded their heads again and again, all looking at the young man.

The young man smiled and said, "You think I have no money? I have money." While talking, he walked to the kitchen, took out a basin of flour, moistened it with water, kneaded it into small balls, threw it on the table, and threw it as he wanted. The table is full of dough.As soon as the dough touches the board, it turns into a white mouse, walking back and forth on the table, running left and right.The boy stretched out his palm, grabbed a white mouse, tore open its belly, and took out a piece of broken silver.Going back and forth like this, catching mice, disemboweling them, and taking silver.Soon, the palms were full of silver ingots, and they smiled and said: "Is it enough?" Everyone was amazed, and said: "Enough, enough."

After eating, everyone said their goodbyes and left. A servant asked the young man for a piece of silver, and brought this matter up to Mr. Zhao when he returned.Zhao Gong ordered him to hand over the broken silver, but the servant touched his body and found that the bag was empty. The broken silver had already turned into air and disappeared.Mr. Zhao knew that something was different, so he ordered his servants to go to the inn to inquire about the whereabouts of the broken silver. The shop owner had a bitter face and scolded: "Scrap silver, broken silver. All the broken silver has turned into weeds."

When Mr. Zhao heard about this, he reprimanded the young man severely, and said angrily, "What's going on?" The young man laughed and said, "My friends forced me to treat you, and I was surrounded by poverty. Rest assured, my master, I am not a person who cheats food and drink. In the threshing ground of East Village, the broken wheat is piled up on the ground, and if the dust is removed, there are at least two stones of wheat, which is enough to pay off the wine debt." Mr. Zhao nodded, and immediately dispatched a A servant, together with the boy, went to the East Village to fetch wheat.When I came to the threshing ground, there was a lot of broken wheat on the ground. After some cleaning, it was just filled with two stones, no more, no less.

This day, Zhao Gong went to a friend's house for a meeting. There was a pot of orchids in the hall, which were blooming vigorously and lingering in fragrance.The young man said: "If my master really likes orchids, it's not difficult to get them." Zhao Gong heard the words, half-believing.

The next morning, Mr. Zhao went to his study, and suddenly there was a strong fragrance. He looked intently, and saw a pot of orchids by the window with green leaves like arrows. It was the one in his friend's house, and he thought, "Could it be that the young man stole it? "The young man was asked to interrogate him, and the young man said: "I love growing flowers most, there are thousands of them in my house, why steal it?" Mr. Zhao didn't believe it.

Coincidentally, a friend came to visit and saw the orchid for the first time, and said in surprise: "Where did you get the familiar orchid?" Zhao Gongdao: "I bought it on the street. As for where it was produced, I don't know. By the way, when you go out Is that pot of orchid at home still there?" The friend asked, "I didn't go to the study today, so I don't know if the orchid is there or not. If this pot of orchid is mine, why did it come here?"

The young man smiled and said, "It's not hard to tell. Your orchids have broken flower pots, which have been mended; mine are intact." The friend checked carefully, and it was indeed the case.

That night, the young man said to Zhao Gong: "There are indeed many flowers and plants in my next house. If my master doesn't believe me, I can go to see them while the moon is shining tonight. But the servants are not tight-lipped, so they can't bring more. Only the book boy A Ya, He is honest and simple, you can let him accompany you."

Mr. Zhao nodded in agreement, and the group set off on the road. When they came to the door, there were four strong men waiting for them with soft sedan chairs. When Mr. Zhao got on the soft sedan chair, he felt like flying and galloping horses.After a while, I came to a cave, which was dotted with bright pearls, as bright as day.The towers, pavilions, carved beams and painted buildings are luxurious and extraordinary.Strange flowers and stones can be seen everywhere, innumerable.There are dozens of pots of orchids alone, all of which are lush.

Zhao Gong opened his eyes and couldn't help praising.After wandering around for a while, the night was getting dark, so he took his leave immediately and left. The young man closed his cave and escorted him all the way home.Later, the young man followed Zhao Gong for more than ten years until his death.

After Zhao Gong passed away, the young man took Aya away, and the two wandered around the world without any news.