There are Zhou Sheng and Cheng Sheng in Wendeng County. They studied together since childhood and became good friends. Cheng Sheng is very poor and relies on Zhou Sheng's help all the year round. As far as age is concerned, Zhou Sheng is his brother, while Cheng Sheng regards Zhou Sheng's wife as his sister-in-law. These two festivals get together like a family. Zhou Sheng's wife gave birth to a child and died suddenly after giving birth. He continued to marry Wang, because Wang was very young and never asked to meet him when he was born. One day, Wang's younger brother came to visit his sister and held a party in the bedroom. Sheng Sheng Gang is here. When the family spread the news, Zhou Sheng sat still and invited him in for a drink. Cheng Sheng refused to go in, so he left and walked out. Chow Sang moved the wine table to the outhouse and recovered it himself. No sooner had I sat down than someone came in and told me that another professional servant had been severely beaten by the county magistrate.
It turned out that the cowherd of the yellow official department was driving the cattle and trampled the crops of the Zhou family. Because of this, the two sides began to abuse each other. Niu Guan ran back and told his master that the master sent someone to catch Zhou's servant and sent him to the yamen to beat him up. When Zhou Sheng asked him why he was beaten, he flew into a rage and said, "How dare you make the Huang family a pig slave! His ancestors worked hard for my grandfather. As soon as he realized his ambition, he became arrogant! " He choked up his chest and jumped up angrily, trying to reason with Huang's official department. Cheng Sheng held him down and stopped him, saying, "The world on earth is always black and white. What's more, most of the officials are robbers now. Who doesn't act violently? " Chow sang won't listen. Cheng Sheng repeatedly dissuaded him until he wept, and then he sat down. But the anger has never been eliminated, lying in bed at night, tossing and turning until dawn. He said to his family, "The Huang family bullied me and let my enemies ignore him for the time being. The county magistrate is an official of the court. From time to time, powerful family officials. Even if there is a dispute between them, both the plaintiff and the defendant must be present. As for being like a dog, who is instigated by the owner to bite who? I also want to sue Huang Niulang and see what he can do. " Her family encouraged her, so he made up his mind. He wrote a complaint and went to the county magistrate to report it. Now he tore up his complaint and threw it away. Zhou sheng was very angry and resisted the danger. The county magistrate became angry from embarrassment and arrested him and threw him into prison.
After the morning, Cheng Sheng went to visit Chow Sang, only to know that Chow Sang had gone to town to complain. He hurried to dissuade Zhou Sheng, who had already been thrown into prison. He stamped his feet in a hurry, but there was nothing he could do.
At that time, Wendeng County captured three pirates, and the county magistrate and the Huangli Department bribed the pirates to fabricate facts and framed Zhou Sheng as an accomplice. According to the fabricated testimony of pirates, he reported to the boss, revoked the reputation of Zhou Sheng, stripped the scholar of his coat and hat, and tortured him cruelly. Cheng Sheng discussed with him to report to the court in Beijing. Zhou Sheng said, "I am in prison, like a bird trapped in a cage. Although I have a cowardly brother, I can only deliver meals to the prison. " Cheng Sheng stepped forward and said, "This is my responsibility. You can't worry, what do you want your friends to do! " Say that finish and left. Zhou Sheng's younger brother has been away for a long time since he came to deliver the money.
When Sanzang arrived in Beijing, there was no way to enter the palace to report to the court. At that time, people told each other that the emperor was going out hunting, and he hid in the timber market in advance as soon as he was born. Soon, the emperor passed by the timber market, and he came, kneeling on the ground, worshiping three times and nine times, crying and wailing, and even getting the permission of the emperor. After the post horse was handed down, the governor of Shandong Province was ordered to hear the case and report the trial results to the emperor. At that time, more than ten months had passed, and Zhou Sheng had been sentenced to death according to the framed words. The governor was surprised when he received the emperor's instructions. He sent the case back for retrial and ruled it himself. Huang of the official department was afraid, too, so he planned to kill him. Therefore, the jailer was bribed, Zhou Sheng's diet was cut off, and his younger brother came to visit the prison to deliver meals. The jailer strongly forbids meeting. Sheng Sheng went to the Taishou yamen to complain, only to be summoned, but Zhou Sheng was too hungry to stand up. The warden was furious and killed the jailer. The yellow official department was scared to death and sent thousands of taels of silver to the governor for relief. The governor turned a blind eye and forgave him. Because of corruption, the county magistrate decided to send him to a remote place to exile the army.
Zhou Sheng came back from his hometown prison and regarded Cheng Sheng as a caring friend. After experiencing Zhou Sheng's unjust case, Cheng Sheng became disheartened about everything in the world and lived in seclusion with Zhou Sheng. Zhou Sheng is infatuated with his young wife, and always smiles without answering. Cheng Sheng didn't say anything, but his intention was firm. After saying goodbye, he didn't come back for several days. Zhou Sheng sent someone to his house to inquire about the situation. His family thought he lived in Zhou's house, and neither of them had seen him, so they began to suspect. After learning about this change, Zhou Sheng sent someone to look for it. I looked for Buddhist temples and deep valleys everywhere, but there was no sign of success. I have to take out some money, food and cloth from time to time to help my son.
Eight or nine years later, Cheng Sheng suddenly came by himself, wearing a yellow turban and a crane, looking dignified. Zhou Sheng was very happy. He grabbed his arm and asked, "I've been looking for you everywhere. Where have you been?" Cheng Sheng said with a smile, "The solitary wild crane has no fixed place. After leaving, fortunately, my body is still very strong. " Chow Sang told his family that he would hold a banquet, talked for a while about the situation after a long separation, and wanted to change clothes. ChengSheng walked over and said nothing. Chow Sang said, "You are so stupid! Why is it so easy to throw away a broken shoe when you abandon your wife and children? " Cheng Sheng smiled and said, "What you said is wrong. If others want to abandon me, who should I abandon? " Asked where he got married, he replied that it was in the Shangqing Palace on Laoshan Mountain.
Later, when they slept together, Zhou Shengsheng dreamed that Cheng Sheng was naked on his chest, which made him unable to breathe. He was surprised to ask him what he wanted to do, but Cheng Sheng refused. He woke up suddenly and called Cheng Sheng, but no one answered. He sat up and touched his hand. The bed is empty, and Cheng Sheng doesn't know where to go. After a pause, he realized that he was sleeping in an adult bed. He said in surprise, "I wasn't drunk last night. How can I be so sad! " Greet your family. When the family is bright, it is obviously a victory. Chow Sang's beard is already very thick, and when he brushes it with his hand, there are very few sparse ones. I looked in the mirror and said in surprise, "Cheng Sheng is here. Where have I been? " After thinking for a while, I suddenly understood that it was Cheng Sheng who recruited him to become a monk by magic. He wanted to go back to the bedroom, but his brother stopped him because his face changed. He couldn't explain himself clearly, so he asked the Portuguese to prepare their horses and find Cheng Sheng.
After walking for a few days, I entered Laoshan Mountain. The horse walked too fast for the servant to keep up. He sat under the tree and had a rest. He saw many Taoist priests coming and going. One of them threw a stone at him, and he took the opportunity to inquire about Cheng Sheng. The Taoist laughed and said, "I've heard of this name, and it seems to be in the Qing palace." Say that finish and left. He looked at the Taoist priest, watched him walk out of an arrow, stood down to talk to another person, said a few words and left. The horse, who was talking to the Taoist priest, slowly came to him. It turned out to be a classmate of the same club. When he saw Chow Sang, he suddenly said in surprise, "I haven't seen you for several years. People think you are studying Taoism in a famous mountain. Are you still wandering around the world? " Zhou Sheng saw that he was mistaken for someone else, so he told the strange story of changing his face again. That classmate was surprised and said, "The Taoist I met just now thought it was you. He walked for a while, maybe not far. " Chow Sang was very surprised and said, "Strange! Why didn't anyone come out when I saw my face in person? "
When the servant found him, he rode his horse and chased him for a long time, but there was no trace. Looking up, I can't make up my mind whether to advance or retreat. I thought I was homeless and decided to chase it to the end, but the mountain road was too steep to continue riding, so I gave the horse to the servant to take it back and walked along the winding path myself. Seeing a Taoist boy sitting alone on the side of the road, he hurried forward to ask for directions and told the Taoist that he was looking for success. Daotong said that he was a disciple of Chengsheng, so he put his clothes and food on his back and led him forward together. Sleeping on the beach, I walked a long way. It took three days to arrive, but it was not the Qing Palace on earth. It's already mid-October, and the mountains and flowers are all over the road, unlike the scene of early winter. Daotong went in to report that the guest had arrived. Cheng Sheng hurried out to meet him, and he realized his gaffe. Hand in hand, the two men walked in and talked over coffee. When he saw the beautiful birds, he became so docile that he was not afraid of strangers at all. His voice is as beautiful as a spring, and he often falls on his seat and sings softly, which makes him feel very strange. However, because I am eager to be homesick, I have no mind to stay here. There are two futons underground, and Cheng Sheng pulls him to sit down together. After sitting in the second watch, I didn't think about anything. Suddenly I seemed to take a nap and felt that my body and life had changed places. In doubt, I reached out and touched my chin, and my thick beard looked like the past again.
I want to go back after dawn. Sheng Sheng repeatedly asked him to stay, and he reluctantly stayed. After three days, Cheng Sheng said, "I hope you can sleep and send you away tomorrow morning." No sooner had he closed his eyes than he heard Cheng Sheng call him, "The luggage is ready." He got up and followed Cheng Sheng forward. The way we went is not the way we came. I don't think I've been away for long. I've seen the house. Cheng Sheng sat on the side of the road and waited, telling him to go back by himself. Zhou Shengqiang tugged hard, but Cheng Sheng didn't leave, so he came to the door alone. No one answered knocking at the door. If I want to climb over the wall, I feel my body is as light as a leaf, so I will jump over it. Jumping over several walls in succession, I came to the bedroom. The light in the room is very bright. My wife is not sleeping. She is talking to someone. He licked the broken window paper and looked in, only to see his wife and a servant drinking water from cups, looking very lewd. So he was furious and planned to close the door and arrest him, but he was afraid that he would be alone and it would be difficult to win. He quietly opened the door, walked out of the gate, ran to tell Cheng Sheng and asked Cheng Sheng to help him. Cheng Sheng generously promised him and went to the bedroom. Chow Sang lifted a stone and knocked at the door, unable to catch his head. The more he knocks, the tighter the door closes. Cheng Sheng suddenly waved a sword and opened the door. Zhou Sheng ran into the house and the servant rushed out of the door to escape. Cheng Sheng stood outside the door and cut off his arm with a sword. Zhou Sheng grabbed his wife, tortured her and interrogated her, only knowing that when he was taken to prison, her wife was having an affair with her servant. He borrowed a winning sword, cut off his head and hung his intestines on a big tree in the yard. Chengsheng gave birth to the door and found his way back.
Chow Sang suddenly woke up, still sleeping in bed, and said in surprise, "I had a very messy strange dream, which surprised and scared people!" " Cheng Sheng smiled and said, "What I saw in my dream was thought to be true by my brother, but you thought it was a dream. Chow Sang asked him in surprise what this meant. Chow Sang pulled out his sword and showed it to him. The blood spilled just now is still on his sword. Chow Sang was almost scared to death, secretly suspecting that Cheng Sheng had tricked him with magic. Cheng Sheng knew what he thought and urged him to tie up his luggage and send him home. I slowly came to my hometown and said, "Some time ago, I waited for you with a sword. Isn't this the place? "I hate to see filthy things. Please go home by yourself. I'm still waiting for you here. If you don't come back after the deadline, I'll go by myself. "
Chow Sang returned home, only to find that the door was deserted, as if no one lived, and he went to his younger brother's house. When the younger brother saw his brother come back, he said with tears in his eyes, "After the younger brother left, the robber killed his sister-in-law at night, cut open his belly and took out his intestines. It was a terrible scene and it really hurt. " At present, the government has not caught the murderer. Zhou Sheng woke up like a dream, told his brother the truth and warned him not to pursue it again. My brother was taken aback and stayed for a long time. Chow Sang asked about his son again, and his brother asked an old woman to show him. Zhou Sheng said: "This baby is related to my family's blood, so my brother should take good care of it. My brother is going to say goodbye to the world. " Then he stood up and walked away. The younger brother chased him out with tears to keep him, and he walked forward without looking back. When I arrived in the suburbs, I saw Cheng Sheng waiting for him and left with Cheng Sheng. After a long walk, I turned around and said, "Patience is the happiest thing. "My brother wanted to talk, but his wide sleeves disappeared at once. My brother stood disappointed for a while and went home crying.
Zhou sheng's younger brother is simple and honest, and he is not good at managing the production at home. After several years, his family became poorer and poorer. Zhou Sheng's son grew up gradually. When he had no money to hire a teacher, he personally taught his children to read. One day, he got up early and went to the study. He saw a letter on the desk, sealed tightly, and three words were written on the envelope: "clock." Look carefully, it's my brother's handwriting. When I opened it, it was empty. There is nothing but a nail, about two fingers long. He is very strange in his heart. Put your nails on the inkstone and go out and ask your family where this letter came from. No one in your family knows. When I came back, I saw the inkstone shining and turned into gold. He was taken aback. Try copper and iron with your nails, and they will all turn into gold. Made a fortune from then on. Take out the daughter and give it to Cheng Sheng's son, so people tell each other that both of them have alchemy.