Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Dedication v
3. Contents vii
4. Acknowledgments xi
5. Foreword xiii
6. Introduction xix
7. Translators’ Note xxiii
8. Chronology of Chinese Dynasties xxv
9. Stories to Awaken the World
10. Preface [to the 1627 edition] 1
11. 1. Two High-Minded County Magistrates Vie to Take On an Orphan Girl as Daughter-in-Law 5
12. 2. Three Devoted Brothers Win Honor by Yielding Family Property to One Another 23
13. 3. The Oil-Peddler Wins the Queen of Flowers 38
14. 4. The Old Gardener Meets Fair Maidens 78
15. 5. The Grateful Tiger Delivers the Bride at Big Tree Slope 102
16. 6. Divine Foxes Lose a Book at Small Water Bay 116
17. 7. Scholar Qian Is Blessed with a Wife through a Happy Mistake 135
18. 8. Prefect Qiao Rearranges Matches in an Arbitrary Decision 159
19. 9. Chen Duoshou and His Wife Bound in Life and in Death 185
20. 10. The Liu Brothers in Brotherhood and in Marriage 205
21. 11. Three Times Su Xiaomei Tests Her Groom 226
22. 12. Four Times Abbot Foyin Flirts with Qinniang 242
23. 13. The Leather Boot as Evidence against the God Erlang’s Impostor 251
24. 14. The Fan Tower Restaurant as Witness to the Love of Zhou Shengxian 275
25. 15. In Eternal Regret, He Daqing Leaves Behind a Lovers’ Silk Ribbon 290
26. 16. In Defiance, Lu Wuhan Refuses to Give Up the Colored Shoes 320
27. 17. Zhang Xiaoji Takes in His Brother-in-Law at Chenliu 345
28. 18. Shi Fu Encounters a Friend at Tanque 373
29. 19. Bai Yuniang Endures Hardships and Brings about Her Husband’s Success 396
30. 20. Zhang Tingxiu Escapes from Death and Saves His Father 415
31. 21. With Her Wisdom Zhang Shu’er Helps Mr. Yang Escape 471
32. 22. With His Flying Sword Lü Dongbin Attempts to Kill the Yellow Dragon 484
33. 23. Prince Hailing of Jin Dies from Indulgence in Lust 501
34. 24. Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty Is Punished for His Life of Extravagance 542
35. 25. Mr. Dugu Has the Strangest Dreams on His Journey Home 561
36. 26. Magistrate Xue Proves His Divinity through a Fish 588
37. 27. Li Yuying Appeals for Justice from Jail 609
38. 28. Young Master Wu Goes to a Tryst in the Next Boat 643
39. 29. With His Passion for Poetry and Wine, Scholar Lu Scorns Dukes and Earls 664
40. 30. In a Humble Inn, Li Mian Meets a Knight-Errant 698
41. 31. Regional Commander Zheng Renders Distinguished Service with His Divine-Arm Bow 728
42. 32. Scholar Huang Is Blessed with Divine Aid through His Jade-Horse Pendant 748
43. 33. Over Fifteen Strings of Cash, a Jest Leads to Dire Disasters 767
44. 34. For One Penny, a Small Grudge Ends in Stark Tragedies 782
45. 35. In Righteous Wrath, Old Servant Xu Builds Up a Family Fortune 814
46. 36. Enduring Humiliation, Cai Ruihong Seeks Revenge 835
47. 37. Du Zichun Goes to Chang’an Three Times 862
48. 38. Daoist Li Enters Cloud Gate Cave Alone 886
49. 39. Magistsrate Wang Burns Down Precious Lotus Monastery 915
50. 40. The God of Madang Conjures Wind to Blow Wang Bo to Prince Teng’s Pavilion 931
51. Notes 943