Wang Liulang: 王六郎

王wáng六郎liù láng

Wang Liulang

许許xǔ姓xìng，家jiā淄zī之zhī北běi郭guō，业業yè渔漁yú。

His surname was Xu. He lived in the northern outskirts of Zichuan and made his living by fishing.

每夜měi yè，携攜xié酒jiǔ河上hé shàng，饮飲yǐn且qiě渔漁yú。

Every evening, he would take wine to the riverbank, drinking as he fished.

饮飲yǐn则則zé酹lèi地dì，祝zhù云雲yún： “河中hé zhōng溺nì鬼guǐ得dé饮飲yǐn。”

Whenever he drank, he would pour a libation onto the ground and pray, saying, "May the drowned spirits in the river have a drink."

以为以爲yǐ wéi常cháng。

He made a habit of this.

他人tā rén渔漁yú，迄无迄無qì wú所suǒ获獲huò，而ér许許xǔ独獨dú满滿mǎn筐kuāng。

Other fishermen caught nothing at all, while Xu alone always filled his basket.

一夕yì xī，方fāng独酌獨酌dú zhuó，有yǒu少年shào nián来來lái，徘徊pái huái其qí侧側cè。

One evening, as he was drinking alone, a young man came and lingered nearby.

让讓ràng之zhī饮飲yǐn，慨kǎi与與yǔ同tóng酌zhuó。

Xu invited him to drink, and the young man gladly joined him.

既而jì ér终夜終夜zhōng yè不bù获獲huò一yī鱼魚yú，意yì颇頗pō失shī。

But as the night wore on, they failed to catch a single fish, and Xu grew rather disappointed.

少年shào nián起qǐ曰yuē： “请請qǐng于於yú下流xià liú为爲wèi君jūn驱驅qū之zhī。”

The young man rose and said, "Allow me to drive the fish toward you from downstream."

遂suì飘飄piāo然rán去qù。

With that, he departed lightly and gracefully.

少shǎo间間jiān，复復fù返fǎn，曰yuē： “鱼魚yú大dà至zhì矣yǐ。”

A short while later, he returned and said, "A great many fish are coming!"

果guǒ闻聞wén唼shà呷xiā有yǒu声聲shēng。

Sure enough, they heard the sound of fish feeding and splashing in the water.

举舉jǔ网網wǎng而ér得dé数數shù头頭tóu，皆jiē盈yíng尺chǐ。

They raised the net and caught several fish, each more than a foot long.

喜xǐ极極jí，申shēn谢謝xiè。

Overjoyed, Xu thanked him profusely.

欲yù归歸guī，赠贈zèng以yǐ鱼魚yú，不受bú shòu，曰yuē：

When Xu was about to leave, he offered the young man some fish, but the young man refused, saying:

“屡屢lǚ叨dāo佳jiā酝醞yùn，区区區區qū qū何hé足zú云雲yún报報bào。如rú不bù弃棄qì，要yào当當dāng以为以爲yǐ wéi长長cháng耳ěr。”

"I have repeatedly enjoyed your fine wine. How could such a small gift possibly repay your kindness? If you do not object, I hope we may continue this friendship for a long time."

许許xǔ曰yuē： “方fāng共gòng一夕yì xī，何hé言yán屡屢lǚ也yě？如rú肯kěn永yǒng顾顧gù，诚誠chéng所suǒ甚shèn愿願yuàn；但dàn愧kuì无無wú以为以爲yǐ wéi情qíng。”

Xu replied, "We have only shared one evening together. How can you speak of having enjoyed my wine repeatedly? If you are willing to visit me regularly, I would be delighted. I only regret that I have nothing worthy to offer you."

询詢xún其qí姓字xìng zì，曰yuē： “姓xìng王wáng，无無wú字zì，相xiāng见見jiàn可kě呼hū王wáng六郎liù láng。”

When Xu asked his surname and given name, the young man replied, "My surname is Wang, and I have no courtesy name. When we meet, you may call me Wang Liulang."

遂suì别別bié。

And so they parted.

明日míng rì，许許xǔ货貨huò鱼魚yú，益yì沽酒gū jiǔ。

The next day, Xu sold his fish and bought even more wine.

晚wǎn至zhì河hé干幹gān，少年shào nián已yǐ先xiān在zài，遂suì与與yǔ欢歡huān饮飲yǐn。

When he arrived at the riverbank that evening, the young man was already there, and they happily drank together.

饮飲yǐn数數shù杯bēi，辄輒zhé为爲wèi许許xǔ驱驅qū鱼魚yú。

After Xu had drunk a few cups, the young man would go and drive fish toward him.

如是rú shì半载半載bàn zǎi。

They continued in this way for half a year.

忽hū告gào许許xǔ曰yuē： “拜bài识識shí清qīng扬揚yáng，情qíng逾yú骨肉gǔ ròu。然rán相xiāng别別bié有yǒu日rì矣yǐ。”

Suddenly, the young man said to Xu, "Since first having the honour of meeting you, our affection has grown deeper than that between blood relatives. Yet the day of our parting is drawing near."

语語yǔ甚shèn凄悽qī楚chǔ。

His words were deeply sorrowful.

惊驚jīng问問wèn之zhī。

Xu was startled and asked him what he meant.

欲yù言yán而ér止zhǐ者zhě再zài，乃nǎi曰yuē： “情qíng好hǎo如rú吾wú两兩liǎng人rén，言yán之zhī或huò勿wù讶訝yà耶yē？今jīn将將jiāng别別bié，无無wú妨fáng明míng告gào：我wǒ实實shí鬼guǐ也yě。素sù嗜酒shì jiǔ，沉醉chén zuì溺死nì sǐ，数數shù年nián于於yú此cǐ矣yǐ。前qián君jūn之zhī获獲huò鱼魚yú，独獨dú胜勝shèng于於yú他人tā rén者zhě，皆jiē仆僕pú之zhī暗àn驱驅qū，以yǐ报報bào酹lèi奠diàn耳ěr。明日míng rì业業yè满滿mǎn，当當dāng有yǒu代dài者zhě，将將jiāng往wǎng投tóu生shēng。相聚xiāng jù只今zhī jīn夕xī，故gù不能bù néng无無wú感gǎn。”

The young man started to speak, then stopped himself twice before finally saying, "Our friendship is so close that perhaps you will not be astonished by what I am about to tell you. Since we are about to part, I may as well speak plainly: I am, in truth, a ghost. I have always been fond of wine, and I drowned here several years ago while dead drunk. The reason you have consistently caught more fish than anyone else is that I secretly drove them toward you, in repayment for the libations you offered me. Tomorrow my term of punishment will end, and someone will take my place. I shall then go to be reborn. Tonight is the last time we shall meet, so naturally I cannot help feeling sorrowful."

许許xǔ初chū闻聞wén甚shèn骇駭hài；然rán亲親qīn狎xiá既jì久jiǔ，不bù复復fù恐怖kǒng bù。

At first, Xu was horrified to hear this. But having grown so familiar with the young man, he was no longer afraid.

因yīn亦yì欷歔xī xū，酌zhuó而言ér yán曰yuē： “六郎liù láng饮飲yǐn此cǐ，勿wù戚qī也yě。相xiāng见見jiàn遽jù违違wéi，良liáng足zú悲bēi恻惻cè，然rán业業yè满滿mǎn劫jié脱脫tuō，正zhèng宜yí相贺相賀xiāng hè，悲bēi乃nǎi不bù伦倫lún。”

Xu too sighed sorrowfully, poured him a drink, and said, "Liulang, drink this, and do not grieve. It is indeed heartbreaking that we must part so soon after meeting, but your term of punishment is over and you are escaping your tribulation. This is a cause for congratulations, not sorrow."

遂suì与與yǔ畅暢chàng饮飲yǐn。

And so they drank freely together.

因yīn问問wèn： “代dài者zhě何人hé rén？”

Xu then asked, "Who will take your place?"

曰yuē： “兄xiōng于於yú河畔hé pàn视視shì之zhī，亭午tíng wǔ，有yǒu女子nǚ zǐ渡河dù hé而ér溺nì者zhě，是shì也yě。”

The young man replied, "Watch the riverbank tomorrow at noon. The woman who crosses the river and drowns will be the one."

听聽tīng村cūn鸡雞jī既jì唱chàng，洒灑sǎ涕tì而ér别別bié。

When the village roosters began to crow, they parted in tears.

明日míng rì，敬jìng伺sì河hé边邊biān，以yǐ觇覘chān其qí异異yì。

The next day, Xu waited attentively by the river to see whether this strange prediction would come true.

果guǒ有yǒu妇人婦人fù rén抱bào婴儿嬰兒yīng ér来來lái，及jí河hé而ér堕墮duò。

Sure enough, a woman came carrying an infant. When she reached the river, she fell in.

儿兒ér抛拋pāo岸上àn shàng，扬揚yáng手shǒu掷擲zhì足zú而ér啼tí。

She tossed the child onto the bank, where it waved its arms and kicked its legs, crying.

妇婦fù沉chén浮fú者zhě屡屢lǚ矣yǐ，忽hū淋淋lín lín攀pān岸àn以yǐ出chū，藉jiè地dì少shǎo息xī，抱bào儿兒ér径徑jìng去qù。

The woman sank beneath the water and resurfaced several times. Suddenly, dripping wet, she managed to climb out onto the bank. She rested on the ground for a little while, then picked up the child and went straight away.

当當dāng妇婦fù溺nì时時shí，意yì良liáng不忍bù rěn，思sī欲yù奔bēn救jiù，转轉zhuǎn念niàn是shì所以suǒ yǐ代dài六郎liù láng者zhě，故gù止zhǐ不bù救jiù。

When the woman was drowning, Xu could scarcely bear to watch and wanted to rush to her rescue. But then he remembered that she was meant to take Liulang's place, so he held back and did not save her.

及jí妇婦fù自zì出chū，疑yí其qí言yán不bù验驗yàn。

When the woman climbed out by herself, Xu began to doubt whether the young man's prediction had been accurate.

抵dǐ暮mù，渔漁yú旧舊jiù处處chù。

Toward evening, Xu went fishing at their usual spot.

少年shào nián复復fù至zhì，曰yuē： “今jīn又yòu聚首jù shǒu，且qiě不言bù yán别別bié矣yǐ。”

The young man appeared again and said, "Here we are together once more. This time, I shall not speak of parting."

问問wèn其qí故gù。

Xu asked him why.

曰yuē： “女子nǚ zǐ已yǐ相xiāng代dài矣yǐ；仆僕pú怜憐lián其qí抱bào中zhōng儿兒ér，代dài弟dì一人yì rén，遂suì残殘cán二èr命mìng，故gù舍shè之zhī。更gèng代dài不知bù zhī何hé期qī。或huò吾wú两兩liǎng人rén之zhī缘緣yuán未wèi尽盡jìn耶yē？”

He replied, "The woman was indeed meant to take my place. But I pitied the child in her arms. To save one child in exchange for two lives would have been cruel, so I let her go. I do not know when another replacement will appear. Perhaps the bond between us is not yet destined to end?"

许許xǔ感叹感嘆gǎn tàn曰yuē： “此cǐ仁rén人rén之zhī心xīn，可以kě yǐ通tōng上帝shàng dì矣yǐ。”

Xu exclaimed with deep admiration, "Such a compassionate heart must surely reach the ears of Heaven!"

由此yóu cǐ相聚xiāng jù如初rú chū。

From then on, they continued meeting as before.

数數shù日rì，又yòu来來lái告别告別gào bié。

Several days later, the young man came again to announce his departure.

许許xǔ疑yí其qí复復fù有yǒu代dài者zhě。

Xu suspected that another replacement had been found.

曰yuē： “非也fēi yě。前qián一念yí niàn恻隐惻隱cè yǐn，果guǒ达達dá帝dì天tiān。今jīn授shòu为爲wèi招zhāo远遠yuǎn县縣xiàn邬鄔wū镇鎮zhèn土地tǔ dì，来日來日lái rì赴任fù rèn。倘tǎng不忘bú wàng故交gù jiāo，当當dāng一往yì wǎng探tàn，勿wù惮憚dàn修xiū阻zǔ。”

The young man said, "No. That moment of compassion reached Heaven, just as you said. I have now been appointed the local earth god of Wu Town in Zhaoyuan County, and tomorrow I shall take up my post. If you have not forgotten your old friend, do come and visit me sometime. Do not let the distance or difficulties of the journey deter you."

许許xǔ贺賀hè曰yuē： “君jūn正直zhèng zhí为爲wèi神shén，甚shèn慰wèi人心rén xīn。但dàn人rén神路shén lù隔gé，即jí不bù惮憚dàn修xiū阻zǔ，将將jiāng复復fù如何rú hé？”

Xu congratulated him, saying, "It is a great comfort to know that an upright man such as yourself has become a god. But the paths of mortals and spirits are separate. Even if I do not fear the distance or difficulties, how could I possibly visit you?"

少年shào nián曰yuē： “但dàn往wǎng，勿wù虑慮lǜ。”

The young man said, "Just go. Have no worries."

再三zài sān叮咛叮嚀dīng níng而ér去qù。

He repeated these instructions several times before departing.

许許xǔ归歸guī，即jí欲yù治zhì装裝zhuāng东東dōng下xià。

Xu returned home and immediately began preparing for the journey east.

妻qī笑xiào曰yuē： “此cǐ去qù数百數百shù bǎi里裏lǐ，即jí有其yǒu qí地dì，恐kǒng土偶tǔ ǒu不bù可以kě yǐ共gòng语語yǔ。”

His wife laughed and said, "That place is hundreds of miles away. Even if it exists, I doubt a clay idol will be able to hold a conversation with you."

许許xǔ不bù听聽tīng，竟jìng抵dǐ招zhāo远遠yuǎn。

Xu paid no heed to her and went all the way to Zhaoyuan.

问問wèn之zhī居jū人rén，果guǒ有yǒu邬鄔wū镇鎮zhèn。

He asked the local residents, and sure enough, there was a town called Wu.

寻尋xún至zhì其qí处處chù，息xī肩jiān逆旅nì lǚ，问問wèn祠cí所在suǒ zài。

After finding his way there, he stopped at an inn to rest and asked where the shrine was.

主人zhǔ rén惊驚jīng曰yuē： “得dé无無wú客kè姓xìng为爲wèi许許xǔ？”

The innkeeper asked in astonishment, "Might your surname happen to be Xu?"

许許xǔ曰yuē： “然rán。何hé见見jiàn知zhī？”

Xu replied, "Indeed it is. How did you know?"

又yòu曰yuē： “得dé勿wù客kè邑yì为爲wèi淄zī？”

The innkeeper then asked, "And might your hometown be Zichuan?"

曰yuē： “然rán。何hé见見jiàn知zhī？”

Xu replied, "Yes. How did you know?"

主人zhǔ rén不bù答dá，遽jù出chū。

The innkeeper did not answer, but hurried outside.

俄而é ér丈夫zhàng fu抱bào子zǐ，媳xí女nǚ窥窺kuī门門mén，杂沓雜沓zá tà而来而來ér lái，环環huán如rú墙牆qiáng堵dǔ。

A short while later, men carrying children and young women peering through the doorway came crowding in, surrounding Xu in a dense throng.

许許xǔ乃nǎi告gào曰yuē： “数數shù夜yè前qián，梦夢mèng神shén言yán：淄zī川chuān许許xǔ友yǒu当即當即dāng jí来來lái，可kě助zhù为爲wèi资資zī斧fǔ。祗候zhī hòu已久yǐ jiǔ。”

The innkeeper then explained, "Several nights ago, I dreamed that the god told me: 'Your friend Xu from Zichuan will soon arrive. You may provide him with travel provisions.' We have been waiting for you ever since."

许許xǔ亦yì异異yì之zhī，乃nǎi往wǎng祭jì于於yú祠cí而ér祝zhù曰yuē：

Xu found this extraordinary. He went to the shrine, made an offering, and prayed:

“别別bié君jūn后後hòu，寤wù寐mèi不去bú qù心xīn，远遠yuǎn践踐jiàn曩nǎng约約yuē。又yòu蒙méng梦夢mèng示shì居jū人rén，感gǎn篆zhuàn中zhōng怀懷huái。愧kuì无無wú腆tiǎn物wù，仅僅jǐn有yǒu卮zhī酒jiǔ；如rú不bú弃棄qì，当當dāng如rú河上hé shàng之zhī饮飲yǐn。”

"Since our parting, you have never been absent from my thoughts, waking or sleeping. I have travelled this great distance to fulfil our former promise. You have even appeared in the dreams of the local people to guide me here, and I am deeply moved by your kindness. I am ashamed to have brought no worthy gift, only a cup of wine. If you will accept it, let us drink together as we once did by the river."

祝zhù毕畢bì，焚fén钱錢qián纸紙zhǐ。

When he had finished praying, he burned paper money.

俄é见見jiàn风風fēng起qǐ座zuò后後hòu，旋xuán转移轉移zhuǎn yí时時shí，始shǐ散sàn。

Soon, a wind arose behind the shrine, swirling around for some time before finally dispersing.

夜yè梦夢mèng少年shào nián来來lái，衣冠楚楚yī guān chǔ chǔ，大dà异異yì平时平時píng shí。

That night, the young man appeared in Xu's dream, dressed in immaculate robes and finery, looking quite unlike his former self.

谢謝xiè曰yuē： “远遠yuǎn劳勞láo顾问顧問gù wèn，喜xǐ泪淚lèi交jiāo并並bìng。但dàn任rèn微wēi职職zhí，不便bú biàn会會huì面miàn，咫尺zhǐ chǐ河山hé shān，甚shèn怆愴chuàng于於yú怀懷huái。居jū人rén薄báo有所yǒu suǒ赠贈zèng，聊liáo酬chóu夙sù好hǎo。归歸guī如有rú yǒu期qī，尚shàng当當dāng走zǒu送sòng。”

He thanked Xu, saying, "You have taken the trouble to travel so far to visit me. I am overwhelmed with joy, and tears fill my eyes. However, my humble official duties make it impossible for us to meet in person. Though we are separated by only a short stretch of land and river, it weighs heavily on my heart. The local people have prepared a modest gift for you, as a small token in return for our longstanding friendship. When the time comes for your return, I shall certainly see you off."

居jū数數shù日rì，许許xǔ欲yù归歸guī。

After staying for several days, Xu wished to return home.

众衆zhòng留liú殷勤yīn qín，朝cháo请請qǐng暮mù邀yāo，日rì更gèng数數shù主zhǔ。

The people earnestly begged him to stay, inviting him to breakfast and supper. Each day, a different household played host.

许許xǔ坚堅jiān辞辭cí欲yù行xíng。

Xu firmly declined their invitations and insisted on leaving.

众衆zhòng乃nǎi折zhé柬jiǎn抱bào襆fú，争爭zhēng来來lái致zhì赆贐jìn，不bù终終zhōng朝cháo，馈遗饋遺kuì yí盈yíng橐tuó。

The people then came competing with one another to present him with farewell gifts, bringing notes and bundles of presents. Before the morning was over, his travel bags were overflowing with their offerings.

苍蒼cāng头頭tóu稚子zhì zi毕畢bì集jí，祖zǔ送出sòng chū村cūn。

Old men and young children alike gathered to see him off, accompanying him all the way out of the village.

欻chuā有yǒu羊角风羊角風yáng jiǎo fēng起qǐ，随行隨行suí xíng十shí馀餘yú里裏lǐ。

Suddenly, a whirlwind sprang up and followed him for more than ten miles.

许許xǔ再拜zài bài曰yuē： “六郎liù láng珍重zhēn zhòng！勿wù劳勞láo远涉遠涉yuǎn shè。君jūn心xīn仁爱仁愛rén ài，自zì能néng造福zào fú一方yì fāng，无無wú庸yōng故人gù rén嘱囑zhǔ也yě。”

Xu bowed twice and said, "Farewell, Liulang! Do not trouble yourself by travelling so far. Your heart is kind and benevolent; you will naturally bring blessings to the people under your care. There is no need for an old friend to remind you of this."

风風fēng盘旋盤旋pán xuán久之jiǔ zhī，乃nǎi去qù。

The wind circled around him for a long while before finally departing.

村人cūn rén亦yì嗟jiē讶訝yà而ér返fǎn。

The villagers, too, returned home, marvelling at what they had witnessed.

许許xǔ归歸guī，家jiā稍shāo裕yù，遂suì不bù复復fù渔漁yú。

Xu returned home, and his household gradually grew more prosperous. He gave up fishing altogether.

后後hòu见見jiàn招zhāo远遠yuǎn人rén问問wèn之zhī，其qí灵应靈應líng yìng如rú响響xiǎng云雲yún。

Later, when he met people from Zhaoyuan and asked about the god, they said his responses were as swift and certain as an echo.

或huò言yán：即jí章zhāng丘qiū石坑shí kēng庄莊zhuāng。

Some say the place was actually Shikeng Village in Zhangqiu.

未知wèi zhī孰shú是shì。

It is not known which account is correct.