甄士隐：甄士隐家住姑苏城十里街仁清巷葫芦庙旁。姓甄名费，字士隐；嫡妻封氏，性情贤淑，深明礼义；家中虽不甚富贵，然本地也推他为望族了。因这甄士隐禀性恬淡，不以功名为念，每日只以观花种竹、酌酒吟诗为乐，倒是神仙一流人物；只是一件不足：年过半百，膝下无儿，只有一女，乳名英莲，年方三岁。倏忽又是元宵佳节。士隐令家仆霍启抱了英莲去看社火花灯，半夜中，霍启因要小解，便将英莲放在一家门槛上坐着，待他小解完了来抱时，哪有英莲的踪影？急得霍启直寻了半夜，至天明不见，那霍启也不敢回来见主人，便逃往他乡去了。那士隐夫妇见女儿一夜不归，便知有些不好，再使几人去找寻，回来皆云影响全无。夫妻二人半世只生此女，一旦失去，何等烦恼，因此昼夜啼哭，几乎不顾性命。
看看一月，士隐已先得病，夫人封氏也因思女构疾，日日请医问卦。
Zhen Shiyin： Zhe Shiyin lived beside the Gourd Temple in the lane of Humanity and Purity off acertain Ten-li Street of Gusu City. His family name is Zhen， named Fei， his courtesy name is Shiyin. Hiswife née Feng， is a worthy virtuous woman with a strong sense of propriety and right. Although neither veryrich nor noble， their family is highly regarded in that locality. Zhen Shiyin has a quiet disposition. Instead ofhankering after wealth or rank， he is quite happy tending flowers， growing bamboos， sipping wine or writingpoems—spending his time very much like an immortal. One thing alone is lacking： he is now over fifty buthas no son， only a three-year-old daughter named Yinglian. In a flash the merry Festival of Lanterns cameround and Shiyin told his servant Huo Qi to take Yinglian out to see the fireworks and ornamental lanterns.
Towards midnight Huo Qi set the little girl down on a doorstep while he stepped round the corner to urinate.
When he came back she had gone. He made a frantic search for her all night. And at dawn， not daring to facehis master without her， he ran away to another district. Shiyin and his wife were naturally alarmed when theirdaughter failed to come home. They sent search parties out， but all returned without any word of her. She wasthe middle-aged couple’s only child， and her loss nearly drove them distracted. They wept day and night andwere tempted to take their own lives. After a month’s grief Shiyin fell ill， and then his wife. Every day theysent for doctors.
不想这日三月十五，葫芦庙中炸供，那和尚不小心，油锅火逸，便烧着窗纸。此方人家俱用竹篱木壁，——也是劫数应当如此，——于是接二连三，牵五挂四，将一条街烧得如“火焰山”一般； 彼时虽有军民来救，那火已成了势了，如何救得下，直烧了一夜方息，也不知烧了多少人家。只可怜甄家在隔壁，早成一堆瓦砾场了。只有他夫妇并几个家人的性命不曾伤了，急得士隐惟跌足长叹而已。与妻子商议且到田庄上去住，偏值近年水旱不收，贼盗蜂起，官兵剿捕，田庄上又难以安身，只得将田地都折变了，携了妻子与两个丫鬟，投他岳丈家去。
Then， on the fifteenth day of the third month， a fire broke out in Gourd Temple—the monk preparingthe sacrifice carelessly let a pan of oil catch fire and soon the window paper was alight. Since most of thenearby buildings had bamboo walls and were probably doomed to destruction， the flames spread from houseto house until the whole street was ablaze like a flaming mountain. Soldiers and civilians tried to put out thefire， but it was beyond control. The conflagration raged for a whole night and destroyed none knew how manyhouses before it burned itself out. The Zhens’ home， being next to the temple， was reduced to a pile of rubble.
Although they and their few servants were lucky enough to escape with their lives， poor Shiyin could donothing but stamp his feet and sigh. He and his wife decided then to go and live on their farm. But the last fewyears’ harvests had been ruined by flood and draught and the countryside was overrun by bandits who seizedfields and land， giving the people no peace. The punitive expeditions by government troops only made mattersworse. Finding it impossible to settle there， Shiyin had to mortgage his land and take his wife and two maidsto find refuge with his father-in-law Feng Su.
封肃，本贯大如州人氏，虽是务农，家中却还殷实，今见女婿这等狼狈而来，心中便有些不乐。幸而士隐还有折变田产的银子在身边，拿出来托他随便置买些房地，以为日后衣食之计；那封肃便半用半赚的，略与他些薄田破屋。士隐乃读书之人，不惯生理稼穑等事，勉强支持了一二年，越发穷了，封肃见面时，便说些现成话儿，且人前人后，又怨他不会过、只一味好吃懒做。士隐知道了，心中未免悔恨，再兼上年惊唬，急忿怨痛，暮年之人，哪禁得贫病交攻，竟渐渐地露出了那下世的光景来。可巧这日拄了拐扎挣到街前散散心时，忽见那边来了一个跛足道人，口内吟诵着《好了歌》。士隐本是有夙慧的，一闻此言，心中早已悟彻，因笑道：“且往！待我将你这《好了歌》注解出来何如？”道人笑道：“你就请解。”士隐乃说道：
陋室空堂，当年笏满床；衰草枯杨，曾为歌舞场；蛛丝儿结满雕梁，绿纱今又在蓬窗上。说甚么脂正浓、粉正香，如何两鬓又成霜？昨日黄土陇头埋白骨，今宵红绡帐底卧鸳鸯。金满箱，银满箱，转眼乞丐人皆谤； 正叹他人命不长，那知自己归来丧？训有方，保不定日后作强梁。择膏粱，谁承望流落在烟花巷！因嫌纱帽小，致使锁枷扛；昨怜破袄寒，今嫌紫蟒长：乱烘烘你方唱罢我登场，反认他乡是故乡；甚荒唐，至头来都是为他人作嫁衣裳。
那疯跛道人听了，拍掌大笑道：“解得切！解得切！”士隐便说一声“走罢”，将道人肩上的搭裢抢过来背上，竟不回家，同着疯道人飘飘而去。真是：“看破的，遁入空门；痴迷的，枉送了性命。”
Feng Su， a native of Daruzhou， although only a farmer is quite comfortably off. He was not pleased bythe arrival of his daughter and son-in-law in this sorry state. Fortunately Shiyin had some money left fromthe mortgage of his land， and he asked Feng Su to invest this for him in some estate on which he could live infuture. His father-in-law tricked him， however， by pocketing half the sum and buying him some poor fieldsand a ramshackle cottage. As a scholar， Shiyin had no knowledge of business or farming. He struggled alongfor a year or two， losing money all the time， while Feng Su kept admonishing him to his face and complainingto all and sundry behind his back of his incompetence， idleness and extravagance. To the shock Shiyinhad suffered the previous year and the toll taken by his subsequent misfortunes was now added the bitterrealization that he had misplaced his trust， Ageing and a prey to poverty and ill health， he began to look likea man with one foot in the grave. He made the effort one day to find some distraction by taking a walk in thestreet， leaning on his cane. Suddenly a Taoist limped towards him， chanting the song All Good Things MustEnd. Shiyin with his innate intelligence at once grasped the meaning. Putting on a smile he said，“Wait aminute. Will you let me expound this song of yours ？”“By all means do，”said the Taoist. Shiyin thendeclaimed：
“Mean huts and empty hallswhere emblems of nobility once hung；Dead weeds and withered trees，where men have once danced and sung.
Carved beams are swathed in cobwebsBut briar-choked casements screened again with gauze；While yet the rouge is fresh， the powder fragrant，The hair at the temples turns hoary—for what cause ？
Yesterday， yellow clay received white bones；Today， red lanterns light the love—birds’ nest；While men with gold and silver by the chestTurn beggars， scorned by all the dispossessed.
A life cut short one moment makes one sight，who would have known it’s her turn next to die？
No matter with what pains he schools his sons，Who knows if they will turn to brigandry？
A pampered girl brought up in luxuryMay slip into a quarter of ill fame；Resentment at low official rankMay lead to fetters and a felon’s shame.
In ragged coat one shivered yesterday，Today a purple robe he frowns upon；All’s strife and tumult on the stage，As one man ends his song the next comes on.
To take strange parts as home.
Is folly past compare；And all our labour in the endIs making clothes for someone else to wear.”
The lame， eccentric Taoist clapped his hands.“You have hit the nail on the head，”he cried.“Let’sgo，”was Shiyin’s brief reply. He transferred the sack from the Taoist’s shoulder to his own， and then， withouteven calling in at his home， he strode off with the priest. Truly：“Those who see through the world escapefrom the world， while foolish lovers forfeit their lives for nothing.”
贾雨村：贾雨村姓贾名化（贾化，谐音假话），表字时飞、别号雨村，原系湖州人氏，也是诗书仕宦之族，因他生于末世，父母祖宗根基已尽，人口衰丧，只剩得他一身一口，在家乡无益，因进京求取功名，再整基业。自前岁来此，钱已用完，只得到葫芦庙中安身，每日卖字作文为生，故士隐常与他交接。一日到了中秋佳节，雨村因思及平生抱负，苦未逢时，乃搔首对天长叹，复又高吟一联云：玉在匮中求善价，钗于奁内待时飞。恰值士隐邀雨村到他书房饮酒听见。他二人越饮越添豪兴，酒到杯干。雨村饮干，忽叹道：“非晚生酒后狂言，若论时尚之学，晚生也或可去充数沽名，只是如今行李路费，一概无措，神京路远，非赖卖字撰文即能到得——”士隐不待说完，便道：“兄何不早言？且喜明岁正当大比，兄宜作速入都，春闱一捷，方不负兄之所学。其盘费余事，弟自代为处置，亦不枉兄之谬识矣。”当下即命小童进去，速封五十两白银，并两套冬衣。雨村收了银衣，不过略谢一语，并不介意，仍是吃酒谈笑。次日五鼓雨村不及面辞，便离开赴京了。
Jia Yucun： His name is Jia Hua (homophone for“false talk”)， his courtesy name Shifei， and his pen-name Yucun. A native of Huzhou， he was the last of a line of scholars and officials. His parents had exhaustedthe family property and died leaving him alone in the world. Since nothing was to be gained by staying athome， he had set out for the capital in the hope of securing a position and restoring the family fortunes. But bythe time he had reached here a couple of years ago his money had run out and he had gone to live in GourdTemple where he made a precarious living by working as a scrivener. For this reason Shiyin saw a good dealof him. In time the Mid-Autumn Festival came round， Yucun rumpled his hair and sighed as he reflectedhow far he was from realizing his ambitions. He chanted the couplet：“The Jade in the box hopes to fetch agood price； the pin in the casket longs to soar on high.”He was overheard by Shiyin who just arrived to invitehim to have a drink in his study. The two men became very merry and drained cup after cup. Yucun tosseda cup of wine off and then sighed.“Don’t think this is just drunken talk，”he said.“I’m sure I could acquitmyself quite creditably in the examinations； but I have no money in my wallet for travelling expenses andthe capital is far away. I can’t raise enough as a scrivener...”“Why didn’t you say so before？”interposedShiyin.“Luckily the Metropolitan Examinations are coming up next year. You must go as fast as you can tothe capital and prove your learning in the Spring Test. I shall count it a privilege to take care of the travellingexpenses and other business for you.”Shiyin sent his boy in to fetch fifty taels of silver and two suits of winterclothes. Yucun accepted the silver and clothes with no more than perfunctory thanks， then said no more of thematter but went on feasting and talking. At the fifth watch next morning Yucun left for the capital； so he hadno time to say goodbye in person.
雨村因那年士隐赠银之后，他于十六日便起身赴京，大比之期，十分得意，中了进士，选入外班，今已升了本县太爷。虽才干优长，未免贪酷；且恃才侮上，那同寅皆侧目而视，不上一年，便被上司参了一本，说他貌似有才、性实狡猾；又题了一两件狗庇蠢役、交结乡绅之事。龙颜大怒，即命革职。部文一到，本府各官无不喜悦。那雨村虽十分惭恨，面上却全无一点怨色，仍是嘻笑自若，交代过了公事，将历年所积的宦囊，并家属人等，送至原籍安顿妥当了，却自己担风袖月，游览天下胜迹。恰巧雨村偶感风寒，在旅店待了一月有余，愈后又因盘费不继，正欲得一个居停之所，以为息肩之地，偶遇两个旧友，认得新盐政林如海，知他正要请一西席教训女儿林黛玉，遂将雨村荐进衙门去。这女学生年纪幼小，身体又弱，工课不限多寡，其余不过两个伴读丫鬟，故雨村十分省力，正好养病。看看又是一载有余。今听说都中奏准起复旧员之信，雨村便四下里寻情找门路，央求林如海，转向都中去央烦贾政。如海道：“天缘凑巧：因贱荆去世，都中家岳母念及小女无人依傍，前已遣了男女船只来接，如吾兄同路而往，岂不两便？因向蒙教训之恩，未经酬报，遇此机会，岂有不尽心图报之理，弟已预筹之，修下荐书一封，托内兄务为周全，方可稍尽弟之鄙诚；即有所费，弟于内家信中写明，不劳吾兄多虑。”一日到了京都，雨村先整了衣冠，带着童仆，拿了“宗侄”的名帖，至荣府门上投了。彼时贾政已看了妹丈之书，即忙请入相会……因此优待雨村，更又不同：便极力帮助，题奏之日，谋了一个复职，不上两月，便选了金陵应天府，辞了贾政，择日到任去了。
Yucun， after receiving Shiyin’s gift of silver that year， had left on the sixteenth for the capital. He didso well in the examinations that he became a Palace Graduate and was given a provincial appointment. Hehad now been promoted to this prefectship. But although a capable administrator Yucun was grasping andruthless， while his arrogance and insolence to his superiors made them view him with disfavour. In less thantwo years they found a chance to impeach him. He was accused of“ingrained duplicity， tampering with therites and， under a show of probity， conspiring with his ferocious underlings to foment trouble in his districtand make life intolerable for the local people”. The Emperor， much incensed， sanctioned his dismissal. Thearrival of this edict rejoiced the hearts of all officials in the prefecture. But Yucun， although mortified andenraged， betrayed no indignation and went about looking as cheerful as before. After handing over his affairshe gathered together the capital accumulated during his years in office and moved his household back tohis native place. Having settled them there he set off，“the wind on his back， moonlight in his sleeves，”tosee the famous sights of the empire. It so happened that Yucun had caught a chill which laid him up in hisinn for a month and more. Exhausted by his illness， and short of funds， he was searching for somewhere torecuperate. Fortunately he had two old friends here who knew that the salt commissioner Lin Ruhai waslooking for a tutor for his daugher Lin Daiyu. Upon their recommendation Yucun was given the post， whichprovided the security he needed. He was lucky， too， to have as pupil only one small girl accompanied by twomaids. Since the child was so delicate， her lessons were irregular and this meant that his duties were light.
In a twinkling another year went by. Now there was word from the capital that a request for the reinstatementof former officials had been sanctioned， Yucun was busily pulling strings to find some opening. He askedLin Ruhai to enlist the support of Jia Zheng in the capital.“What a lucky coincidence！”exclaimedRuhai.“Since my wife’s death my mother-in-law in the capital has been worried because my daughter hasno one to bring her up. She has sent two boats with male and female attendants to fetch the child. It wouldsuit both parties， surely if you were to travel together？ I was wondering how to repay you for your goodnessin teaching her： now this gives me a chance to show my appreciation. Set your mind at rest. I foresaw thispossibility and have written a letter to my brother-in-law urging him to do all he can for you as a small returnfor what I owe you. You mustn’t worry either about any expenses that may be incurred—I’ve made that pointclear to my brother-in-law.”In due course they reached the capital and entered the city. Yucun sprucedhimself up and went with his pages to the gate of the Rong Mansion， where he handed in his visiting罥card on which he had styled himself Jia Zheng’s“nephew”. Jia Zheng， who had received his brother-in-law’s letter， lost no time in asking him in and treated him uncommonly well and did all in his power to helphim. The same day that he presented a petition to the throne Yucun was rehabilitated and ordered to awaitan appointment. In less than two months he was sent to Jinling to fill the vacated post of prefect of Yingtian.
Taking leave of Jia Zheng he chose a day to proceed to his new post.