In Yangxin County there was a certain old man, a man of Caidian Village. The village was five or six li from the county town. Father and son kept a roadside shop, lodging traveling merchants. There were several carters who came and going with their wares, often staying at his home.

　　One day at dusk, four men came together, seeking shelter at his door. The old man's guest rooms were full. The four men, having no other recourse, firmly begged to be accommodated. The old man pondered and thought of a place, yet seemed afraid it might not suit the guests' wishes. The guests said, "We only ask for a space under a roof; we dare not choose further." At that time, the old man's daughter-in-law had just died, her corpse lying in a room. The son had gone out to buy timber and had not yet returned. The old man, deeming the mourning room quiet, led the guests through the lanes to that place.

　　They entered the room. On the table a lamp burned dimly. Behind the table hung a curtain over the bier, and a paper quilt covered the deceased. Looking at the sleeping quarters, there was a joined couch in the inner room. The four guests, exhausted from their journey, had barely laid their heads on the pillows when their breathing grew heavy. Only one guest was still in a drowsy state when suddenly he heard a rustling sound from the bier. He quickly opened his eyes. The lamp before the bier shone clearly upon it: the female corpse had already lifted the quilt and sat up, then soon descended, gradually entering the bedroom. Her face was pale golden; a raw silk band bound her forehead. Bending down and approaching the couch, she blew on each of the sleeping guests three times.

　　The guest was greatly terrified, fearing that she would reach him. He stealthily pulled the cover over his head, held his breath and swallowed his fear, listening. Shortly, the woman indeed came and blew on him as on the other guests. He felt her leave the room, and then heard the sound of the paper quilt. Peeking out slightly, he saw that the corpse lay stiff as at first. The guest was terrified beyond measure. Not daring to make a sound, he secretly kicked the other guests with his foot, but none of them stirred in the least.

　　He pondered but saw no plan. Better to put on his clothes and flee. He had just risen and shaken out his garments when the rustling sound came again. The guest, frightened, lay back down and tucked his head under the cover. He felt the woman come again, blowing on him repeatedly several times before leaving. After a little while, he heard the bier creak and knew that she had lain back down. Then from under the bedding he gradually extended his hand, found his trousers, and promptly put them on. Barefoot, he dashed out.

　　The corpse also rose, as if to pursue the guest. But by the time she left the curtain, the guest had already unlatched the door and fled. The corpse sped after him. The guest ran and shouted, but none in the village were roused. He wanted to knock at the host's door, but feared that he would be caught if he delayed. So he faced the road to the county town and fled with all his might.

　　He reached the eastern outskirts and caught sight of a Buddhist temple. Hearing the sound of a wooden fish, he urgently pounded on the temple gate. The Daoist priest, surprised by his unusual behavior, did not immediately let him in. In the turn of a heel, the corpse had arrived, no more than a foot from his body. The guest grew even more distressed.

　　Outside the gate stood a white poplar tree, about four or five chi in circumference. He used the tree to shield himself: she went right, he went left; she went left, he went right. The corpse grew angrier, but both gradually tired. The corpse suddenly stood still. The guest, sweating and gasping, sheltered himself by the tree. The corpse suddenly lunged, extending both arms to reach over the tree and grab him. The guest, startled, fell to the ground. The corpse, unable to seize him, clasped the tree and stiffened.

　　The Daoist priest had been eavesdropping for a long time. Hearing no sound, he gradually came out. He saw the guest lying on the ground. Lighting a candle, he appeared dead, yet there was faint, wispy breath in his heart. The priest carried him inside. It was only after the whole night that he revived. He gave the guest some hot water to drink and asked him what had happened. The guest told him the whole story in detail.

　　By then the morning bell had finished, and the dawn light was hazy. The Daoist priest went to look at the tree and indeed saw the stiff female corpse. Greatly horrified, he reported it to the county magistrate. The magistrate personally came to examine and verify. He ordered men to pull the woman's hands loose, but they were firmly stuck. Looking closely, the four fingers on each hand were curled like hooks, penetrating the wood past the nails. Then several men pulled together, and only then did they get her down. The finger holes in the tree were like holes bored by a chisel.

　　The magistrate sent a constable to investigate the old man's home. There, because the corpse had vanished and a guest had died, a great commotion was underway. The constable told them the reason. The old man then followed him there, and they carried the corpse back.

　　The guest tearfully told the magistrate, "Four of us set out together; now only one returns. How can this matter be believed by my villagers?" The magistrate gave him a written certificate and gave him travel supplies to send him home.

中文：

　　【原文】

　　阳信某翁者，邑之蔡店人。村去城五六里，父子设临路店，宿行商。有车夫数人，往来负贩，辄寓其家。一日昏暮，四人偕来，望门投止，则翁家客宿邸满。四人计无复之，坚请容纳。翁沉吟思得一所，似恐不当客意。客言：“但求一席厦宇，更不敢有所择。”时翁有子妇新死，停尸室中，子出购材木未归。翁以灵所室寂，遂穿衢导客往。

　　入其庐，灯昏案上，案后有搭帐衣，纸衾覆逝者。又观寝所，则复室中有连榻。四客奔波颇困，甫就枕，鼻息渐粗。惟一客尚矇眬，忽闻灵床上察察有声。急开目，则灵前灯火，照视甚了：女尸已揭衾起，俄而下，渐入卧室。面淡金色，生绢抹额。俯近榻前，遍吹卧客者三。客大惧，恐将及己，潜引被覆首，闭息忍咽以听之。未几，女果来，吹之如诸客。觉出房去，即闻纸衾声。出首微窥，见僵卧犹初矣。客惧甚，不敢作声，阴以足踏诸客，而诸客绝无少动。顾念无计，不如着衣以窜。裁起振衣，而察察之声又作。客惧，复伏，缩首衾中。觉女复来，连续吹数数始去。少间，闻灵床作响，知其复卧。乃从被底渐渐出手得袴，遽就着之，白足奔出。尸亦起，似将逐客。比其离帏，而客已拔关出矣。尸驰从之。客且奔且号，村中人无有警者。欲叩主人之门，又恐迟为所及。遂望邑城路，极力窜去。至东郊，瞥见兰若，闻木鱼声，乃急挝山门。道人讶其非常，又不即纳。旋踵，尸已至，去身盈尺。客窘益甚。门外有白杨，围四五尺许，因以树自幛，彼右则左之，彼左则右之。尸益怒，然各寖倦矣。尸顿立。客汗促气逆，庇树间。尸暴起，伸两臂隔树探扑之。客惊仆。尸捉之不得，抱树而僵。

　　道人窃听良久，无声，始渐出。见客卧地上。烛之，死，然心下丝丝有动气。负入，终夜始苏。饮以汤水而问之，客具以状对。时晨钟已尽，晓色迷濛，道人觇树上，果见僵女。大骇，报邑宰。宰亲诣质验。使人拔女手，牢不可开。审谛之，则左右四指，并卷如钩，入木没甲。又数人力拔，乃得下。视指穴如凿孔然。遣役探翁家，则以尸亡客毙，纷纷正哗。役告之故。翁乃从往，舁尸归。客泣告宰曰：“身四人出，今一人归，此情何以信乡里？”宰与之牒，赍送以归。

　　【白话文翻译】

　　阳信县有一个老头儿，是蔡店村的人。住的村子离县城有五六里路，老头儿和儿子开了一家临路的旅店，留宿过往的商人。有几个赶车的人，来来往往贩运货物，时常住在老头儿的客店里。一天黄昏时分，四个车夫一起来到店里投宿，但是老头儿家的客舍已经住满了客人。四个人想不出别的办法来，就坚持请店主想办法接待他们住下。老头儿想了想，想到了一处住所，但又怕不合客人的心意。客人们说：“现在只求能有个遮风挡雨的地方住下就可以了，哪还能挑挑拣拣呢。”当时，老头儿的儿媳妇刚刚死去，尸体正停放在屋子里，老头儿的儿子外出购买做棺材的木料，还没有回来。老头儿想到那间当灵堂的屋子很寂静，就带着客人穿街过巷往那里去了

　　进了房间，只见木桌上点着一盏昏暗的油灯，桌子后面是挂在灵床上的帷幛，一床纸被盖在死者身上。再看卧室，里屋有一张连在一起的大通铺。四个人旅途中一路奔波，困乏得非常厉害，躺下不一会儿就鼾声四起了。只有一个客人还在似睡非睡之间，忽然听到灵床上发出“嚓嚓”的声音。他急忙睁开眼睛，这时灵床前的灯光把四周照得十分清楚：只见那个女尸已经揭开身上的纸被坐了起来，不一会儿下了床，慢慢地走进了卧室。那女尸的面容是淡黄色的，额头上系着一块生绢。她接近床前俯下身来，逐一对睡着的三个客人吹气。没入睡的那个客人惊恐万分，害怕女尸吹到自己，便偷偷地拉上被子蒙住头，屏住呼吸听女尸的动静。没过多久，女尸果然走了过来，像对其他客人一样地朝他吹气。那个客人感觉到女尸走出了卧室，不一会儿，就听到了纸被发出的声音。他把头探出来偷看，只见女尸如同原来一样僵卧在那里。他非常恐惧，不敢出声，偷偷地用脚蹬那几个旅伴，但他们都一动不动。他左思右想，无计可施，心想不如穿上衣服逃出去吧。他坐起来刚要穿衣服，那“嚓嚓”的声音又响起来了。他害怕了，又躺下身来，把头缩在被子里。他觉得女尸又来到了他跟前，连续向他吹了好几次气才离开。不一会儿，他听见灵床又发出了响动，知道是女尸又躺在灵床上了。于是他就从被子底下慢慢地伸出手来，找到裤子，急忙穿上，光着脚跑了出去。女尸也坐了起来，像要追逐客人。但等到她离开灵床边的帷幛时，客人已经打开房门逃了出去。女尸在后面跑着追来。客人一边奔跑一边喊叫，但村里却没有一个人被惊醒。他本想去敲店主的家门，又怕跑慢了被女尸追上。于是就朝着去往县城的路拼命奔跑起来。跑到了城东郊，他望见一座寺庙，还听见了里面敲打木鱼的声音，就急忙去敲庙门。寺中的僧人对他不正常的举动感到惊讶，不肯马上开门让他进去。正在这时，女尸已经到了，离他身后只有一尺来远。客人更加害怕着急了。寺庙门外有棵白杨树，树干有四五尺粗，客人就躲在树后面，女尸扑到右边，他就躲到左边，女尸扑到左边，他就躲到右边。女尸更加恼怒，但是双方都渐渐地疲乏了。女尸停下来站立在那里。客人浑身冒汗、上气不接下气，躲藏在树后。突然，女尸猛然向前扑来，伸出两只胳膊，从树干两侧伸过手来抓他。客人惊吓得跌倒在地上。女尸抓不到他，就抱着树干渐渐僵硬了。

　　寺里的僧人偷偷地听了很长时间，听到没有声音了，才慢慢走了出来。他看见客人倒在地上，用灯烛一照，像是死了，但是心口还微微地有些热气。于是僧人把客人背进了庙里，经过一夜，客人才苏醒过来。道人给他喝了点儿热水，问起事情的缘由，客人就把事情的经过一五一十地说了一遍。这时候，晨钟已经响过，借着拂晓的迷蒙天色，道人去察看白杨树，果然看见一具女僵尸。僧人大为惊骇，便报告给了知县。知县亲自前来勘验，让人把女尸的手从树上拉下来，但是那手抓得太牢了，怎么也掰不动。仔细察看，原来女尸左右两手的四根手指像钩子一样地蜷曲着，连同指甲深深地嵌进了树干里。知县又让好几个人一起上去用力拔，才把女尸从树上拔下来。只见女尸手指头在树上抓下的洞就像凿子打出的孔穴一样。知县派差役去老头儿家探听情况，那里正因为女尸不见、客人暴死而乱作一团。差役向老头儿说明了缘故，老头儿就跟随差役前往，把女尸抬回了家。客人哭着对知县说：“我们四个人是一块儿出来的，现在只有我一个人回去，这事情怎么能让乡里人相信呢？”知县于是给他写了一份证明文书，赠给他一些东西让他回去了。