CONTENTS
UST OF PBINCIPAL CHARACTERS
CHAPTER 1
In which an introductory story of a good scholar points the moral
of the book
CHAPTER 2
Ptovincial Graduate Wang meets a fellow candidate in a village
scbool. Chou Chin passes the examination in his old age
CHAPTER 3
Examiner Chou picks out true talent Butcher Hu cuts up rough
after good news
CHAPTER 4
In which a monk invited to say masses is involved in a lawsuit and
a country gentleman out to raise money runs into trouble
CHAPTER 5
The Wang brothers deliberate how to make a concubine the mistress
of the house. Yen Ta-yu dies
CHAPTER 6
A gentleman's illncss confounds his boatmen An injured widow
accuses her brother-in-law
CHAPTER 7
Examiner Fan examines the list of candidates to fepay his patron's
kindness. Secretary Wang in the Ministry of Works shows kindness
to a friend
CHAPTER 8
In which Wang Hui meets a (riend in need and the Lou brothers
come upon a poor acquaintancc
CHAPTER 9
The Lou brothers redeem a friend Second Captain Liu assumes a
false name to intimidatc boatmen
CHAPTER 10
Compiler Lu chooses a brilliant son-in-law, and Chu Hsien-fu marries
into a rich tamily
CHAPTER 11
Chu Hsien-fu's wife embarrasses him by asking him for an essay,
and Instructor Yang recommends a man of worth to the prime
minister's household
CHAPTER 12
In which famous scholars feast at Oriole-Throat Lake and a swords-
man calls with a human head
CHAPTER 13
Chu Hsien-fu consults a worthy man about the examinations Ma
Chun-shang puts his money at the service of a (riend
CHAPTER 14
In which Chu Hsien-fu sees a triend off from the bookshop and Ma
Chun-shang meets an immortal in a mountain cave
CHAPTER 15
Ma Chun-shang actends the funeral of an immortal, and Kuang
Chao-jen proves himself a filial son
CHAPTER 16
A good son waits upon his fathec in Big Willow Village. A good
magistrate encourages a poor scholar in Yuehching County
CHAPTER 17
Kuang Chao-jen revisits his old haunts D Chao ranks high among
the poets
CHAFTER 18
Famous scholars invrte Kuang Chao-jen to a poetical meeting Pan
Number Three calls on a friend in a bookshop
CHAPTER 19
In which Kuang Chao-jen finds a good fciend and Pan Number
Three comes to grief
CHAPTER 20
Kuang Chao-jen meets good fortune in the capital Niu Pu-yi dies
far from home at Wuhu
CHAPTER 21
An ambitious youth takes a false name An old man who misse
his friend falls ill
CHAPTER 22
In which Niu Yu-fu adopts a grandnephew and Wan Hsueh-chai
entertains guests
CHAPTER 23
The poet who 'discloses a seccet is beaten and a widow looks for
her husband
CHAPTER 24
Niu Pu is involved in a lawsuit and Pao Wen-ching goes back to his
old trade
CHAPTER 25
Pao Wen-ching meets an old acquaintancc in Nanking and Ni
Ting-hsi finds a bride in Anching
CHAPTER 26
After receiving promotion, Prefect Hsiang mourns for a friend After
his father's death, Pao Ting-hsi marries a wife
CHAPTER 27
In which Mcs. Wang quarrels with her husband and Ni Ting-chu
finds his brother
CHAPTER 28
Chi Wei-hsiao takes a second wife in Yangchow Hsiao Chin-hsuan
compiles a book in Nanking
CHAPTER 29
Chuko Tien-shen meets a friend in the priory and Tu Shen-ching
takes a concubine in Nanking
CHAPTER 30
In which a lover of handsome youths seeks a fricnd at Divine
Pleasure Temple, and a splendid contest is hetd at Carefree Lake
CHAPTER 31
Visitors call on a gallant in Tienchang County Good friends drink
wine in Tu Shao-ching's library
CHAPTBR 32
In which are describcd the gallant deeds of Tu Shao-ching and the
last words ot Mr. Lou
CHAPTER 33
Wherein Tu Shao-ching and his wife take a pleasure trip and Chih
Heng-shan discusses cercmony with his (ricnds
CHAPTER 34
Scholars meet to speak of music and cercmony The emperor
summons a talentcd man
CHAPTER 35
Thc Son of Heaven consults a worthy man, but Chuang Shao-kuang
declines all posts and goes home
CHAPTBR 36
A truc Confucian is born in Changshu County. A worthy man be-
comes Mastec of Ceremonies in the Temple ot Tai Po
CHAPTER 37
Through sacrifice to an ancient sage, scholars revive the old ceremony
in Nanking. A filial son is seen off by his friends to search for his
father in Szechuan
CHAPTER 38
Kuo Tieh-shan encounters tigers in the mountain A monk from
Sweet Dew Temple meets his foc
CHAPTER 39
Hsiao Yun-hsien saves a man on Bright Moon Ridge Marshal Ping
triumphs at Green Maple City
CHAPTER 40
Hsiao Yun-hsien enjoys the snow on Kwangwu Mountain Shen
Chiung-chih sells het pocms at Lucky Crossing Bridge
CHAPTER 41
Chuang Cho-chiang talks ot old times at Chinhuai River Shen
Chiung-chih is taken under arrest to Yangchow
CHAPTER 42
Young gentlemen discuss the examinations in a brothel A scrvant
brings news from the Miao regions
CHAPTER 43
The brigade general fights a battle at Wild Goat Pool and a chieftain
caids the camp at the dancing ground
CHAPTER 44
His work accomplishcd, Brigade General Tang goes home Senior
Licentiate Yu discusses burial customs at a feast
CHAPTER 45
In which Yu Yu-chung takes the blame for his brother They bury
theit parents and spcak ot geomancy
CHAPTER 46
Talented men bid farewell at Three Mountains Gate The people
of Wuho are blinded by profit and power
CHAPTER 47
Licentiate Yoo repairs Yuanwu Pavilion. Salt Merchant Fang shocks
scholars at the enshrining ot virtuous women
CHAPTER 48
A /virtuous widow of Huichow follows her husband to the grave
Later scholars admire the old ways at Tai Po's Temple
CHAPTER 49
A Hanlin discourses on the examinations An impostor masquerades
as an official
CHAPTER 50
A bogus official is put to shame A champion procures official cank
for a friend
CHAPTER 51
A young woman tricks a man into losing his money A hero under-
goes torture willingly
CHAPTER 52
A young man is wounded in an athletic contest A hero tears down
a house to collect a debt
CHAPTER 53
A guest is entertained one snowy night at the palace A girl has an
unlucky dream at Welcome Pavilion
CHAPTER 54
A bcautiful invalid has her fortune told in a bawdy house A foolish
scholar offers poems to a courtesan
CHAPTER 55
In which four new characters are introduced to link the past with
the present, and the story ends with an epilogue
AppENDlX: The Examination System and Oflicial Ranks Referred
To in This Novel
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