二刻拍案惊奇(英文)

CONTENTS

Introduction

Talel

Scholar Quan Plots to Relate Himselfto a Distant Aunt;

Mother Bai Is Deceived in Marrying offHer Daughter

Tale2

Inquiring About a Lost Man in Courtesans' Quarters;

Hearing Howls ofGhosts in the Saffron Garden

Tale3

Wang Xiangmin Loses His Son at the Lantem Festival;

The Thirteenth Boy at Age Five Pays Respects to His Majesty

Tale4

General Li Claims a Brother-in-law by Mistake;

Lady Liu Contacts Her Husband by Stealth

Tale5

Shen Binges with Thousands in Silver;

Lord Wang Lays a One-night Trap

Tale6

Rash Young Men Startle Lovers;

Clever Young Women Recognize Jade Toads

Tale7

Five Tigers Cunningly Plot a Family Dispute;

Big Brother Mo Wisely Shatters a Sinister Scheme

Tale8

Lord Man Deserts His Benefactor Spouse;

Jiao Wenji Wreaks Vengeance After Death

Tale9

A Senseless Young Master Squanders His Fortune in Liberal

Donations;

The Virtuous Father-in-law Plots to Bring Him Back to a

Sensible Life

Tale10

Tea-and-drink Man Xu Kidnaps the Bride Amid Wedding

Festivities;

Zheng Ruizhu Utters Her Grievances Ending an Unsettled

Case

Talell

A Muddle-headed Instructor is Mistreated by His Pampered

Daughters;

A Once Poor Scholar Finances His Teacher for a Happy Old

Age

Tale12

A Rich Man Encounters a Headless Female Body;

An Assistant Prefect Clears up Two Unsettled Cases

Tale13

Zhang Funiang Resolves to Stay Unmarried for Integrity;

Zhu Tianxi Takes a Long Journey to Identify a Name

Tale14

Yang Chouma Asks to Be Thrashed;

A Rich Man Is Frightened

Tale15

You Use-me Lustily Revels with Confined Women;

Minister Yang Sinisterly Castrates His Literary Hack

Tale16

Mother Reproaches Daughter for a Suspected Affair;

Youth Takes Wife from a Mistaken Lawsuit

Tale17

Fisherman Wang Donates a Mirror in Worship ofBuddha;

Two Monks Lose Their Lives for Stealing the Treasure

Tale18

Sister Mo Elopes with the Wrong Lover;

Second Brother Yang Marries His Former Mistress

Tale19

An Ingenious ThiefConveys His Sentiment with a Plum;

A Gallant Burglar Plays His Game with Adroitness

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"二刻拍案惊奇(英文)"的书摘……

Miaotong said, "I've got someone in mind for your marriage, but

Lady Bai just now sent for me. I'll come back to discuss it with you

after 1 meet with her."

Quan said, "1 am interested in a girl, so 1 need to talk to a

matchmaker and you're the right person to talk to. Please be sure to

come to my room after you see my aunt. We can talk."

"1 see," Miaotong agreed.

Then Miaotong went in. Bai said to her, "It's been long time since

your last visit here."

Miaotong replied, "1 leamed that you're not in good health. 1 was

about to come to see you when your son came and called me. So I've

arrived."

Bai said, "A few days after my nephew arrived, 1 was both happy

and sad. 1 was also a little tired. So 1 fell sick. Now I've recovered.

Please don't worry about me. 1 do, however, have one thing to talk

over with you, Abbess."

Miaotong asked, "What is it?" Bai said, "I'm worried day and night

about the fact that my daughter is not married."

Miaotong said, "It's not easy to be satisfied on such a matter."

Bai said, "But 1 have someone in mind. 1 want to talk to you about

him."

Miaotong asked, "Why do you want to talk to me, a nun, about the

matter?" Bai said, "Let me ask you something first. 1 have a nephew

who has come from the capital city. He said he got to know you first.

Do you know him?"

Miaotong replied, "Why not? He stayed in our temple for a time.

After 1 told him something about you, he went to see you, claiming

kinship. How could 1 not know him? He's handsome."

Bai said, "My nephew is the same age as my daughter. This 1 have

told you before. Years ago when 1 was in the capital city, 1 wanted to

betroth her to him. But my husband disagreed. Before 1 left the capital

city, 1 secretly split a money box in halfas proofofidentity. One halfl

left with my nephew's family and the other halfl kept with me. 1 also

wrote a note. At that time my nephew was a baby. So many years have

passed and we're worlds apart. 1 wonder whether they still have the

other half of the money box and the note, but 1 believe he is my

nephew. I'm worried about my daughter since there has not been a

satisfactory choice for her marriage. Maybe it is the heavenly

arrangement for him to come here. In any case, 1 desire to fulfill my

promise made years ago. But it is not suitable for me to bring up the

matter with my nephew. Furthermore, 1 don't know whether he is

married or not. 1 would appreciate it if you could go to the westem

chamber and talk to him. If he's not married, 1 will arrange for their

marriage. Would you please do this favor for me?"

Miaotong replied, "My pleasure. 1 think it's going to be very

successful match. I'll take that halfofthe box with me. It will help to

start a conversation."

Bai said, "Exactly." She went into her room, brought out the bottom

part ofthe box and gave it to Miaotong.

With the body of the box tucked in her sleeve, Miaotong made

straight for the west room. Upon meeting, Quan said to her, "Did you

see my aunt, Abbess?"

Miaotong rejoined, "Yes 1 did."

Quan asked, "Can 1 know what you talked about?"

Miaotong replied, "Nothing particular. We had not seen each other

for a long time."

Quan said, "Did you see my cousin?"

Miaotong said, "No, 1 did not. But I'll see her later in her room."

Quan then said, "She has a pretty nice room. Unfortunately she has

to stay alone."

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