Chapter 15: Kunlun Mountain: Zi Ya Descends the Mountain

诗曰： 子牙此际落凡尘，白首牢骚类野人。几度策身成老拙；三番涉世反相嗔。 磻溪未入飞熊梦，渭水安知有瑞林。世际风云开帝业，享年八百庆长春。

The poem says: At this moment, Zi Ya descended to the mortal world; with white hair and a weary heart, he resembled a wild man. He had several times resolved to cultivate his body but ended up growing old and clumsy; Three times he ventured into the world, only for people to resent him in return. Before entering Panxi, he had not yet dreamed of the flying bear; how could he have known that auspicious trees would appear along the Wei River? In an age of storm and cloud, imperial glory was born; may his life span eight hundred years to celebrate eternal spring.

话说昆仑山玉虚宫掌阐教道法元始天尊因门下十二弟子犯了红尘之厄，杀罚临身，故此闭宫止讲；又因昊天上帝命仙首十二称臣；故此三教并谈，乃阐教、截教、人道三等，共编成三百六十五位成神，又分八部：上四部雷、火、瘟、斗，下四部群星列宿、三山五岳、布雨兴云、善恶之神。此时成汤合灭，周室当兴；又逢神仙犯戒，元始封神，姜子牙享将相之福，恰逢其数，非是偶然。所以“五百年有王者起，其间必有名世者”，正此之故。

It is said that the Jade Xū Palace on Kunlun Mountain, where Yuanshi Tiandi, who presided over the Dao Fa of the Zhan Chan Sect, resided, had closed its doors and ceased lectures because his twelve disciples had incurred calamities from worldly attachments, facing retribution. Moreover, this was also due to the command of Haotian Shangdi that the Twelve Leaders of the Immortals should submit as subjects; Therefore, the Three Teachings were combined: the Zhan Sect, the Jie Sect, and the human path. Together they compiled three hundred and sixty-five deities, divided into eight divisions: the upper four divisions of Thunder, Fire, Plague, and Battle; and the lower four divisions of constellations and star clusters, the Three Mountains and Five Great Peaks, rain and cloud summoning, and gods of virtue and vice. At this time, Cheng Tang should perish, and the Zhou dynasty was destined to rise; Moreover, as deities had violated their vows, Yuanshi Tiandi decreed the gods' fates. Jiang Ziya would enjoy the blessings of a general and minister, which coincided precisely with this number; it was no mere coincidence. Therefore, "Every five hundred years there will arise a great ruler, and between them must be one who is renowned in the world"—this was precisely the reason.

一日，元始天尊坐八宝云光座上，命白鹤童子：“请你师叔姜尚来。”白鹤童子往桃园中来请子牙，口称：“师叔，老爷有请。”子牙忙至宝殿座前行礼曰：“弟子姜尚拜见。”天尊曰：“你上昆仑几载了？”子牙曰：“弟子三十二岁上山，如今虚度七十二岁了。”天尊曰：“你生来命薄，仙道难成，只可受人间之福。成汤数尽，周室将兴。你与我代劳，封神下山，扶助明主，身为将相，也不枉你上山修行四十年之功。此处亦非汝久居之地，可早早收拾下山。”子牙哀告曰：“弟子乃真心出家，苦熬岁月，今亦有年。修行虽是滚芥投针，望老爷大发慈悲，指迷归觉，弟子情愿在山苦行，必不敢贪恋红尘富贵，望尊师收录。”天尊曰：“你命缘如此，必听于天，岂得违拗？”子牙恋恋难舍。有南极仙翁上前言曰：“子牙，机会难逢，时不可失；况天数已定，自难逃躲。你虽是下山，待你功成之时，自有上山之日。”子牙只得下山。子牙收拾琴剑衣囊，起身拜别师尊，跪而泣曰：“弟子领师法旨下山，将来归著如何？”天尊曰：“子今下山，我有八句钤偈，后日有验。偈曰：“ 二十年来窘迫联，耐心守分且安然。磻溪石上垂竿钓，自有高明访子贤。 辅佐圣君为相父，九三拜将握兵权。诸侯会合逢戊申，九八封神又四年。”

One day, Yuanshi Tiandi sat upon the Baobao Yunguang Seat and ordered Bihetongzi: "Go and summon your uncle-teacher Jiang Shang." Bihetongzi went to the peach garden to invite Zi Ya, saying: "Uncle-teacher, Master is requesting your presence." Zi Ya hurriedly arrived at the treasure hall and paid his respects, saying: "Disciple Jiang Shang pays homage to you." Yuanshi Tiandi said, "How many years have passed since you came to Kunlun?" Zi Ya replied: "Disciple ascended the mountain at thirty-two, and now I have idly passed seventy-two years." Yuanshi Tiandi said: "Your life was marked by a weak destiny from birth; the Dao of immortality is hard for you to achieve. You can only receive blessings in the mortal world. The fate of Cheng Tang has reached its end, and the Zhou dynasty will soon rise. You shall act on my behalf, descend the mountain to seal the fates of gods, assist a wise ruler, and serve as general or minister. This will not be in vain for your forty years of cultivation up this mountain. "This place is no longer suitable for you to dwell long-term; you should prepare early and descend the mountain soon." Zi Ya pleaded sorrowfully: "Disciple truly left home with sincerity, enduring hardships through many years. Now I have also grown old. Though cultivation is as difficult as trying to pierce a needle with a rolling mustard seed, I beg Master to show great compassion and guide me back from confusion. Disciple would willingly endure hardship on the mountain; I certainly will not covet worldly wealth or glory. I hope my revered teacher will accept me." Yuanshi Tiandi said: "Your fate is thus determined by karmic conditions; you must obey the will of Heaven. How could it be possible to resist or defy?" Zi Ya clung with deep reluctance, unable to let go. Nanjing Xianweng stepped forward and said: "Zi Ya, this is a rare opportunity; do not let the moment slip away. Moreover, since Heaven's decree has already been set, it cannot be avoided or escaped." "Although you must descend the mountain now, when your task is accomplished, there will surely come a day for you to return." Zi Ya had no choice but to descend the mountain. Zi Ya packed his zither, sword, and belongings, rose to bid farewell to his teacher, knelt down weeping, and said: "Disciple will obey my master's decree and descend the mountain. In the future, how shall I return?" Yuanshi Tiandi said: "Now that you descend the mountain, I have eight lines of a prophecy for you. In days to come, they will prove true. The verse said: "For twenty years in hardship and distress, with patience and contentment you shall remain at ease." "On the stone of Panxi I will cast my rod to fish; naturally, a wise and noble one will come to visit you, O virtuous man." Assisting the sage ruler as prime minister, you shall be honored with nine bows and appointed general, holding military authority. "When feudal lords gather on the Wushen day, after four more years of sealing gods at ninety-eight."

天尊道：“罢，虽然你去，还有上山之日。”子牙拜辞天尊，又辞众位道友，随带行囊，出玉虚宫。有南极仙翁送子牙，在麒麟崖吩咐曰：“子牙前途保重！”子牙别了南极仙翁，自己暗思：“我上无叔伯、兄嫂，下无弟妹、子侄，叫我往那里去？我似失林飞鸟，无一枝可栖。……”忽然想起：“朝歌有一结义仁兄宋异人，不若去投他罢。”子牙借土遁前来，早至朝歌。离南门三十五里，至宋家庄。子牙看门庭依旧，绿柳长存。子牙叹曰：“我离此四十载，不觉风光依旧，人面不同。”子牙到得门前，对看门的问曰：“你员外在家否？”管门人问曰：“你是谁？”子牙曰：“你只说故人姜子牙相访。”庄童来报员外：“外边有一故人姜子牙相访。”宋异人正算帐，听见子牙来，忙忙迎出庄来，口称：“贤弟，如何数十载不通音问？”子牙连应曰：“不才弟有。”二人携手相搀，至于草堂，各施礼坐下。异人曰：“常时渴慕，今日重逢，幸甚，幸甚！”子牙曰：“自别仁兄，实指望出世超凡，奈何缘浅分薄，未遂其志。今到高庄，得会仁兄，乃尚之幸。”异人忙吩咐收拾饭食，又问曰：“是斋？是荤？”子牙曰：“既出家，岂有饮酒吃荤之理。弟是吃斋。”宋异人曰：“酒乃瑶池玉液，洞府琼浆，就是神仙也赴蟠桃会，酒吃些儿无妨。”子牙曰：“仁兄见教，小弟领命。”二人欢饮。异人曰：“贤弟上昆仑多少年了？”子牙曰：“不觉四十载。”异人叹曰：“好快！贤弟在山可曾学些甚么？”子牙曰：“怎么不学？不然所作何事？”异人曰：“学些甚么道术？”子牙曰：“挑水，浇松，种桃，烧火，扇炉，炼丹。”异人笑曰：“此乃仆佣之役，何足挂齿。今贤弟既回来，不若寻些事业，何必出家。就在我家同住，不必又往别处去。我与你相知，非比别人。”子牙曰：“正是。”异人曰：“古云：‘不孝有三，无后为大。’贤弟，也是我与你相处一场，明日与你议一门亲，生下一男半女，也不失姜姓之后。”子牙摇手曰：“仁兄，此事且再议。”二人谈讲至晚，子牙就在宋家庄住下。

Yuanshi Tiandi continued: "Enough. Although you are leaving now, there will still come a day for you to ascend the mountain again." Zi Ya paid his respects and bid farewell to Yuanshi Tiandi and all his fellow Daoist friends, packed his belongings, and left the Jade Xū Palace. Nanjing Xianwong saw Zi Ya off and at Qilin Cliff gave instructions, saying: "Zi Ya, take good care on your journey ahead!" Zi Ya bid farewell to Nanjing Xianweng and pondered in his heart: "I have no uncles or aunts, brothers-in-law above me, nor younger siblings or nephews below. Where should I go?" "I am like a bird that has lost its forest, with not even one branch to perch upon." ...Suddenly he recalled: "Chaoguo has a sworn elder brother named Song Yiren. I might as well go to him." Zi Ya used earth-cloaking magic and arrived at Chaoguo early. Thirty-five li south of the city gate, he reached Songjiazhuang. Zi Ya looked around and saw that the courtyard remained as it was, with green willows still standing. Zi Ya sighed: "Forty years have passed since I left this place, yet the scenery remains unchanged while people's faces are different." Zi Ya arrived at the gate and asked the gatekeeper: "Is your wealthy master at home?" The gatekeeper asked, "Who are you?" Zi Ya said: "Just say an old friend named Jiang Ziya is visiting." A servant boy came to report to the wealthy master: "An old friend, Jiang Ziya, is visiting from outside." Song Yiren was just keeping accounts when he heard that Zi Ya had arrived. He hurriedly stepped out of the village to greet him, saying: "Dear younger brother, how could it have been several decades without any word or news?" Zi Ya responded repeatedly: "It is my humble self's fault." The two men held hands and supported each other as they walked to the thatched hall, where they paid respects to one another before sitting down. Yiren said: "I have longed for this reunion for a long time; it is truly fortunate to meet again today!" Zi Ya said: "Since parting from my kind elder brother, I had hoped to transcend the mundane and achieve immortality. Unfortunately, my karmic conditions are shallow and our bond is weak; my aspirations have not been fulfilled. Now that I have arrived at Gao Zhuang and am reunited with you, dear elder brother, this is indeed a blessing for me." Yiren quickly gave orders to prepare food and asked: "Will it be vegetarian?" Or meaty dishes?" Zi Ya said: "Now that I have left home, how could there be a reason to drink alcohol or eat meat? I am a vegetarian." Song Yiren said: "Wine is the jade nectar of 瑶池 and the ambrosia of cave dwellings. Even immortals attend the Peach Banquet, so drinking a little wine would be no harm." Zi Ya said: "I appreciate my elder brother's instruction; I shall follow your command, dear brother." The two men drank joyfully. Yiren asked: "Dear younger brother, how many years have you been on Kunlun Mountain?" Zi Ya replied: "Unconsciously, forty years." Yiren sighed: "How fast time has passed! Dear younger brother, while on the mountain did you learn anything special?" Zi Ya said: "How could I not study? Otherwise, what else would I have been doing?" Yiren asked: "What Daoist techniques did you study?" Zi Ya said: "Carrying water, watering pines, planting peaches, lighting fires, fanning the stove, and refining pills." Yiren laughed and said: "These are merely tasks for servants; they are not worth mentioning. Now that my dear younger brother has returned, you might as well seek some worldly endeavors instead of leaving home." You can stay at my house and there is no need to go elsewhere. We have known each other for a long time, not like with others." Zi Ya said: "Exactly." Yiren said: "As the ancients said, 'There are three forms of filial impiety; having no descendants is the greatest.'" Dear younger brother, since we have spent time together, tomorrow I will arrange a marriage for you. Having one or two children would not let the Jiang lineage die out." Zi Ya shook his head and said: "Dear elder brother, let us discuss this matter again at another time." The two men continued talking until evening, and Zi Ya stayed in Songjiazhuang that night.

话说宋异人二日早起，骑了驴儿往马家庄上来议亲。异人到庄，有庄童报与马员外曰：“有宋员外来拜。”马员外大喜，迎出门来，便问：“员外是那阵风儿刮将来？”异人曰：“小侄特来与令爱议亲。”马员外大悦，施体坐下。茶罢，员外问曰：“贤契，将小女说与何人？”异人曰：“此人乃东海许州人氏，姓姜，名尚，字子牙，别号飞熊，与小侄契交通家，因此上这一门亲正好。”马员外曰：“贤契主亲，并无差迟。”宋异人取白金四锭以为聘资，马员外收了，忙设酒席款待异人，抵暮而散。且说子牙起来，一日不见宋异人，问庄童曰：“你员外那里去了？”庄童曰：“早晨出门，想必讨帐去了。”不一时，异人下了牲口，子牙看见，迎门接曰：“长兄那里回来？”异人曰：“恭喜贤弟！”子牙问曰：“小弟喜从何至？”异人曰：“今日与你议亲，正是相逢千里，会合姻缘。”子牙曰：“今日时辰不好。”异人曰：“阴阳无忌，吉人天相。”子牙曰：“是那家女子？”异人曰：“马洪之女，才貌两全，正好配贤弟；还是我妹子，人家六十八岁黄花女儿。”异人治酒与子牙贺喜。二人饮罢，异人曰：“可择一良辰娶亲。”子牙谢曰：“承兄看顾，此德怎忘。”乃择选良时吉日，迎娶马氏。宋异人又排设酒席，邀庄前、庄后邻舍，四门亲友，庆贺迎亲。其日马氏过门，洞房花烛，成就夫妻。正是：天缘遇合，不是偶然。有诗曰： 离却昆仑到帝邦，子牙今日娶妻房。六十八岁黄花女，稀寿有二做新郎。

It is said that two days later, early in the morning, Song Yiren rode a donkey to Ma Jiazhuang to discuss the marriage arrangement. Upon arriving at the village, the servant boy reported to Master Ma: "Master Song has come to visit." Master Ma was overjoyed and hurriedly stepped outside the gate, asking: "Which wind has blown you here, Master?" Yiren said: "I have specially come to discuss a marriage for your daughter." Master Ma was greatly pleased and sat down with proper courtesy. After the tea, Master Ma asked: "Dear friend, to whom would you like to give my daughter?" Yiren said: "This person is from Xuzhou in the East Sea. His surname is Jiang, given name Shang, courtesy name Ziya, and his other name Feixiong. He is a close friend of my family; therefore, this marriage would be most suitable." Master Ma said: "If you, dear friend, recommend the match, there can be no mistake." Song Yiren took four ingots of white silver as a dowry, which Master Ma accepted. He promptly arranged a banquet to entertain Yiren, and they parted ways at dusk. Meanwhile, Zi Ya got up one day and did not see Song Yiren for a while. He asked the servant boy: "Where has your wealthy master gone?" The servant boy replied: "He left early in the morning; he must have gone to collect debts." Not long after, Yiren dismounted from his animal. Zi Ya saw him and hurried to greet him at the gate, saying: "Elder brother, where have you returned from?" Yiren said: "Congratulations, dear younger brother!" Zi Ya asked: "Dear elder brother, from where does my joy come?" Yiren said: "Today we arranged a marriage for you; it is indeed an encounter across thousands of miles, the meeting of marital fate." Zi Ya said: "The time today is not auspicious." Yiren said: "There are no taboos in Yin and Yang; Heaven will assist a virtuous person." Zi Ya asked: "Which family's daughter is it?" Yiren said: "It is the daughter of Ma Hong, who possesses both talent and beauty. She would be a perfect match for you, dear younger brother; she might as well be my sister—still an unmarried girl at sixty-eight." Yiren prepared wine to celebrate and congratulate Zi Ya. After they finished drinking, Yiren said: "We should choose a good day for the wedding." Zi Ya thanked him and said: "I am grateful for your care, elder brother. How could I ever forget this kindness?" They then selected a favorable time and auspicious day to welcome the Ma family's daughter in marriage. Song Yiren arranged a banquet again, inviting neighbors from before and after Zhuang's residence as well as relatives from all four directions to celebrate the wedding. On that day, Ma Shi crossed the threshold; in the bridal chamber with glowing candles, their marriage was consummated. Indeed: A meeting of fate is no mere coincidence. There is a poem that says: Leaving Kunlun to arrive at the imperial capital, today Zi Ya enters the bridal chamber as a newlywed. An unmarried girl of sixty-eight, rare in longevity—two men become her new husbands.

话说子牙成亲之后，终日思慕昆仑，只虑大道不成，心中不悦，那里有心情与马氏暮乐朝欢。马氏不知子牙心事，只说子牙是无用之物。不觉过了两月。马氏便问子牙曰：“宋伯伯是你姑表弟兄？”子牙曰：“宋兄是我结义兄弟。”马氏曰：“原来如此。便是亲生弟兄，也无有不散的筵席。今宋伯伯在，我夫妻可以安闲自在；倘异日不在，我和你如何处？常言道：‘人生天地间，以营运为主。’我劝你做些生意，以防我夫妻后事。”子牙曰：“贤妻说的是。”马氏曰：“你会做些甚么生理？”子牙曰：“我三十二岁在昆仑学道，不识甚么世务生意，只会编笊篱。”马氏曰：“就是这个生意也好。况后园又有竹子，砍些来，劈些篾，编成笊篱，往朝歌城卖些钱钞，大小都是生意。”子牙依其言，劈了篾子，编了一担笊篱，挑到朝歌来卖。从早至午，卖到未末申初，也卖不得一个。子牙见天色至申时，还要挑著走三十五里，腹内又饿了，只得奔回。一去一来，共七十里路，子牙把肩头都压肿了。回到门前，马氏看时，一担去，还是一担来。正待问时，只见子牙指马氏曰：“娘子，你不贤。恐怕我在家闲著，叫我卖笊篱，朝歌城必定不用笊篱，如何卖了一日，一个也卖不得，倒把肩头压肿了？”马氏曰：“笊篱乃天下通用之物，不说你不会卖，反来假报怨！”夫妻二人语去言来，犯颜嘶嚷。宋异人听得子牙夫妇吵囔，忙来问子牙曰：“贤弟，为何事夫妻相争？”子牙把卖笊篱事说了一遍。异人曰：“不要说是你夫妻二人，就有三二十口，我也养得起。你们何必如此？”马氏曰：“伯伯虽是这等好意，但我夫妻日后也要归著，难道束手待毙。”宋异人曰：“弟妇之言也是，何必做这个生意；我家仓里麦子生芽，可叫后生磨些面，贤弟可挑去货卖，却不强如编笊篱。”子牙把箩担收拾，后生支起磨来，磨了一担乾面，子牙次日挑著进朝歌货卖。从四门都走到了，也卖不得一筋。腹内又饥，担子又重，只得出南门，肩头又痛。子牙歇下了担儿，靠著城墙坐一坐，少憩片时。自思运蹇时乖，作诗一首，诗曰：“ 四入昆仑访道玄，岂知缘浅不能全！红尘黯黯难睁眼；浮世纷纷怎脱肩。 借得一枝栖止处，金枷玉锁又来缠。何时得遂平生志，静坐溪头学老禅。”

After marrying, Zi Ya longed for Kunlun every day. He was troubled by the fear that he would not achieve the great Dao and thus felt unhappy; how could he have any heart to enjoy evening pleasures or morning delights with Ma Shi? Ma Shi was unaware of Zi Ya's inner thoughts and merely considered him a useless man. Unaware, two months had passed. Ma Shi then asked Zi Ya: "Is Uncle Song your cousin?" Zi Ya said: "Song is my sworn brother." Ma Shi said: "Ah, I see. Even if they were blood brothers, there is no banquet that does not eventually break up." Now that Uncle Song is here, my husband and I can live in peace and ease; if he should leave one day, how will you and I manage?" As the saying goes: "In life between heaven and earth, it is operation that matters most." I advise you to engage in some business so as to provide for my husband and me in the future." Zi Ya said: "My dear wife is right." Ma Shi asked: "What kind of trade are you capable of doing?" Zi Ya said: "At the age of thirty-two, I studied the Dao on Kunlun and knew nothing about worldly affairs or trade; I only know how to weave bamboo sieves." Ma Shi said: "Even this kind of business is good enough. Besides, there are bamboo groves in the back garden. Cut some down, split them into strips, weave them into bamboo sieves, and sell them in Chao Ge city for a few coins; it's still a trade, big or small." Zi Ya followed her advice, split the bamboo strips, wove a load of bamboo sieves, and carried them to Chao Ge for sale. From early morning until noon, and on into the late afternoon, he failed to sell even one. Zi Ya saw that it was already the hour of Shen, and he still had to carry them for another thirty-five li. His stomach was also hungry, so he had no choice but to return home in haste. Going and returning made a total of seventy li; Zi Ya's shoulders were all swollen from the burden. When he returned home, Ma Shi looked at him and saw that he had come back with the same load as when he left. Just as she was about to ask, Zi Ya suddenly pointed at Ma Shi and said: "My wife is not virtuous." "I fear that I would be idle at home, so you told me to sell bamboo sieves. But the people of Chao Ge City must not need them, for how could I have failed to sell a single one all day long and ended up with swollen shoulders?" Ma Shi said: "Bamboo sieves are a common item used throughout the world. It is not that you cannot sell them, yet you come back falsely complaining!" The couple argued loudly and fiercely, their voices rising in anger. Song Yiren heard the quarrel between Zi Ya and his wife, and hurriedly came to ask Zi Ya: "Dear younger brother, what is it that caused you two to argue?" Zi Ya recounted the whole story of selling bamboo sieves. Yiren said: "Don't say it's just you two as a couple; even if there were thirty or forty people, I could support them. "Why must you be like this?" Ma Shi said: "Although Uncle has such good intentions, my husband and I will also need to settle down in the future. Are we going to just sit back and wait for death?" Song Yiren said: "What your wife says is also true; there's no need to engage in this kind of trade; the wheat in my granary has sprouted. You can have the young men grind some flour, and you, dear younger brother, can carry it to sell; that would be much better than weaving bamboo sieves." Zi Ya packed up the baskets, and the young men set up a mill to grind one load of dry flour. The next day, Zi Ya carried it into Chao Ge for sale. He walked through all four gates of the city but failed to sell even a single jin. His stomach was hungry again, and the load on his shoulders was heavy; he had no choice but to leave through the southern gate, with his shoulders aching once more. Zi Ya set down his load, leaned against the city wall to sit for a while and rest briefly. He reflected on his misfortune and bad timing, composed a poem, which said: Four times I entered Kunlun to seek the Dao's mystery, never knowing my karmic ties were shallow and incomplete! The red dust is dim; it is hard to open one's eyes. In this fleeting world, how can I cast off my burdens? Borrowing a branch for temporary rest, golden shackles and jade chains come to bind me once more. When can I finally fulfill my lifelong aspirations and sit in quiet by the streamside, learning from the old Chan master?"

话说子牙坐了一会，方才起身。只见一个人叫：“卖面的站著！”子牙说：“发利市的来了。”歇下担子。只见那人走到面前，子牙问曰：“要多少面？”那人曰：“买一文钱的。”子牙又不好不卖，只得低头撮面。不想子牙不是久挑担子的人，把肩担抛在地傍，绳子撒在地下；此时因纣王无道，反了东南四百镇诸侯，报来甚是紧急；武成王日日操练人马，因放散营炮响，惊了一骑马，溜繮奔走如飞。子牙弯著腰撮面，不曾堤防，后边有人大叫曰：“卖面的，马来了！”子牙忙侧身，马已到了。担上绳子铺在地下，马来的急，绳子套在马七寸上，把两箩面拖了五六丈远，面都泼在地下，被一阵狂风将面刮个乾净。子牙急抢面时，浑身俱是面裹了。买面的人见这等模样，就去了。子牙只得回去。一路嗟叹，来到庄前。马氏见子牙空箩回来，大喜：“朝歌城乾面这等卖的。”子牙到了马氏跟前，把箩担一丢，骂曰：“都是你这贱人多事！”马氏曰：“乾面卖的乾净是好事，反来骂我！”子牙曰：“一担面挑至城里，何尝卖得，至下午才卖一文钱。”马氏曰：“空箩回来，想必都赊去了。”子牙气冲冲的曰：“因被马溜繮，把绳子绊住脚，把一担面带泼了一地；天降狂风，一阵把面都吹去了。都不是你这贱人惹的事！”马氏听说，把子牙劈脸一口啐道：“不是你无用，反来怨我，真是饭囊衣架，惟知饮食之徒！”子牙大怒：“贱人女流，焉敢啐侮丈夫！”二人揪扭一堆。宋异人同妻孙氏来劝：“叔叔却为何事与婶婶争竞？”子牙把卖面的事说了一遍。异人笑曰：“担把面能值几何，你夫妻就这等起来。贤弟同我来。”子牙同异人往书房中坐下。子牙曰：“承兄雅爱，提携小弟。弟时乖运蹇，做事无成，实为有愧！”异人曰：“人以运为主，花逢时发，古语有云：‘黄河尚有澄清日，岂可人无得运时？’贤弟不必如此。我有许多夥计，朝歌城有三五十座酒饭店，俱是我的。待我邀众朋友来，你会他们一会，每店让你开一日，周而复始，轮转作生涯，却不是好。”子牙作谢道：“多承仁兄抬举。”异人随将南门张家酒饭店与子牙开张。朝歌南门乃是第一个所在，近教场，各路通衢，人烟凑积，大是热闹。其日做手多宰猪羊，蒸了点心，收拾酒饮齐整，子牙掌柜，坐在里面。一则子牙乃万神总领，一则年庚不利，从早晨到巳牌时候，鬼也不上门。及至午时，倾盆大雨，黄飞虎不曾操演，天气炎热，猪羊肴馔，被这阵暑气一蒸，登时臭了，点心馊了，酒都酸了。子牙坐得没趣，叫众把持：“你们把酒肴都吃了罢，再过一时可惜了。”子牙作诗曰： “皇天生我出尘寰，虚度风光困世间。鹏翅有时腾万里，也须飞过九重山。”当时子牙至晚回来。异人曰：“贤弟，今日生意如何？”子牙曰：“愧见仁兄！今日折了许多本钱，分文也不曾卖得下来。”异人叹曰：“贤弟不必恼，守时候命，方为君子。总来折我不多，再做区处，别寻道路。”异人怕子牙著恼，兑五十两银子，叫后生同子牙走积场，贩卖牛、马、猪、羊：“难道活东西也会臭了。”子牙收拾去卖猪、羊，非止一日。那日贩卖许多猪、羊，赶往朝歌来卖。此时因纣王失政，妲己残害生灵，奸臣当道，豺狼满朝，故此天心不顺，旱潦不均，朝歌半年不曾下雨。天子百姓祈祷，禁了屠沽，告示晓谕军民人等，各门张挂。子牙失于打点，把牛、马、猪、羊往城里赶，被看门役叫声：“违禁犯法，拿了！”子牙听见，就抽身跑了。牛马牲口，俱被入官。子牙只得束手归来。异人见子牙慌慌张张，面如土色，急问子牙曰：“贤弟为何如此？”子牙长吁叹曰：“屡蒙仁兄厚德，件件生意俱做不著，致有亏折。今贩猪羊，又失打点，不知天子祈雨，断了屠沽，违禁进城，猪、羊、牛、马入官，本钱尽绝，使姜尚愧身无地。奈何！奈何！”宋异人笑曰：“几两银子入了官罢了，何必恼他。今煮得酒一壶与你散散闷怀，到我后花园去。”──子牙时来运至，后花园先收五路神。不知后事如何，且听下回分解。

As the story goes, after sitting for a while, Zi Ya finally got up. Just then, someone shouted: "The flour seller, stand over there!" Zi Ya said: "Here comes the fortune-bringer." He set down his load. As the person approached, Zi Ya asked: "How much flour do you want?" The man said: "Buy a coin's worth." Zi Ya could not refuse to sell, so he lowered his head and scooped the flour. Unbeknownst to him, Zi Ya was not used to carrying heavy loads for long; he dropped the pole beside the ground and let the ropes fall to the earth; at this time, because King Zhou was tyrannical, the lords of four hundred towns in the southeast had rebelled, and news of their uprising came with great urgency; Wu Chengwang trained his troops daily, and due to the discharge of a camp cannon, startled one horse, which bolted away at full speed. Zi Ya was bent over scooping flour and did not notice, when a voice from behind shouted: "Flour seller, the horse is coming!" Zi Ya hurriedly turned aside, but the horse had already arrived. The ropes from the pole were lying on the ground, and as the horse came rushing in, it stepped into the rope which caught around its hoof. The two baskets of flour were dragged five or six zhang away; all the flour spilled onto the ground and was swept clean by a sudden gust of wind. As Zi Ya rushed to salvage the flour, his entire body became covered in it. The man who had come to buy the flour saw this mess and left immediately. Zi Ya had no choice but to go back home. Along the way, he sighed and lamented until he arrived at Zhuang's front gate. Ma Shi saw Zi Ya return with empty baskets and was greatly pleased: "So the dry flour is sold out in Chao Ge City?" When Zi Ya arrived before Ma Shi, he threw the baskets down and scolded: "It's all because of you, this cheap woman, stirring up trouble!" Ma Shi said: "The flour being sold out is a good thing; yet you come to scold me!" Zi Ya said: "I carried a load of flour into the city, but not even a single coin's worth was sold. It wasn't until late afternoon that I managed to sell just one coin's worth." Ma Shi said: "You came back with empty baskets, so it must have all been sold on credit." Zi Ya, in a rage, said: "Because of a horse bolting away, the rope caught my foot and dragged the entire load of flour to the ground; a sudden gust of wind blew all the flour away." None of this was caused by you, this cheap woman!" Upon hearing this, Ma Shi spat in Zi Ya's face and said: "It is not I who caused the trouble, but you, a useless man! You are nothing more than a gluttonous sack of rice and a clothes hanger, only fit for eating and wearing clothes!" Zi Ya became furious: "You lowly woman, how dare you spit at and insult your husband!" The two of them struggled in a tangle. Song Yiren and his wife Sun Shi came to intervene: "Uncle, what is the matter that you are quarreling with Auntie?" Zi Ya recounted the entire story of selling flour. Yiren laughed and said: "What is a load of flour worth? You two quarrel over such a trivial matter." Come with me, dear younger brother." Zi Ya went with Yiren and sat down in the study. Zi Ya said: "I am grateful for my elder brother's kindness, who has supported me, your younger brother. My fate is unfortunate and my timing poor; I accomplish nothing in what I do. I truly feel ashamed!" Yiren said: "A person's fortune is the main factor. Flowers bloom when their time comes. As an old saying goes, 'Even the Yellow River has a day of clarity; how can it be that people never have their moment of good fortune?' Dear younger brother, there is no need for you to feel this way. I have many partners; in Chao Ge City, there are thirty or fifty wine shops and restaurants, all of which belong to me. I will invite my friends and you can meet them once; each shop will let you operate for a day, rotating in turn. This would make for a good living." Zi Ya expressed his gratitude: "I am deeply grateful to my kind elder brother for your support." Yiren then assigned the Zhang family's wine shop and restaurant at the southern gate to Zi Ya to manage. The southern gate of Chao Ge is the first location; it is near the drill ground and a major crossroads, where people gather in large numbers. It is very lively. On that day, many hands were at work slaughtering pigs and sheep, steaming pastries, and preparing drinks in order. Zi Ya served as the shopkeeper, sitting inside. Firstly, Zi Ya was the overall leader of all deities; secondly, his birth year was unfavorable. From early morning until around ten o'clock in the morning, not even a ghost came through the door. By noon, it rained heavily. Huang Feihuo had not conducted any drills; the weather was hot and stifling. The pork, mutton, delicacies, and snacks were steamed by this heat and immediately turned foul. The pastries became stale, and the wine all soured. Zi Ya found it dull sitting there and called out to everyone: "You all might as well eat the wine and delicacies, for if we wait any longer, they will be wasted." Zi Ya composed a poem: "Heaven gave birth to me beyond the mundane world, yet I waste my time in idle beauty, trapped within this world. Even when a great bird's wings can soar ten thousand miles at times, it must still fly over nine layers of mountains." At that time, Zi Ya returned home in the evening. Yiren said: "Dear younger brother, how was business today?" Zi Ya said: "I am ashamed to see you, my kind elder brother! Today I lost a lot of capital and did not manage to sell even a single coin's worth." Yiren sighed: "Dear younger brother, do not be upset. Waiting for the right time and accepting one's fate is what a true gentleman does. The loss I have suffered is not great; let us make other arrangements and seek another path." Yiren, fearing that Zi Ya would become upset, gave him fifty taels of silver and sent a young man with Zi Ya to the livestock market to trade in cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep: "Surely living things cannot go bad either." Zi Ya prepared to sell pigs and sheep; this did not last for just one day. On that day, they sold many pigs and sheep and hurriedly went to Chao Ge to sell them. At this time, because King Zhou had lost his virtue in governance and Daji was cruelly harming the people, with corrupt ministers holding power and wolves filling the court, Heaven's will was not harmonious. There were droughts and floods without balance; Chao Ge had not seen rain for half a year. The Son of Heaven and the common people prayed, prohibiting slaughter and alcohol sales. Notices were issued to inform soldiers and civilians alike, posted at each gate. Zi Ya had failed to make the proper arrangements, and as he drove his cattle, horses, pigs and sheep into the city, a gate guard shouted: "This is an illegal act in violation of the ban! Seize them!" Zi Ya heard this and immediately turned around to run away. All the cattle, horses and livestock were confiscated by the authorities. Zi Ya had no choice but to return with his hands tied behind his back. Yiren saw Zi Ya in a flustered state, pale as dirt, and hurriedly asked him: "Dear younger brother, why are you like this?" Zi Ya sighed deeply and said: "I have been repeatedly favored by my kind elder brother's generous kindness, yet I failed in every business venture, resulting in losses. Today, while trading pigs and sheep, I failed to make proper arrangements. I did not know that the Son of Heaven was praying for rain and had banned slaughter and alcohol sales; by violating this ban and entering the city, my cattle, horses, pigs and sheep were confiscated, leaving me with no capital at all. This has left me, Jiang Shang, deeply ashamed." What can I do now! What can I do!" Song Yiren smiled and said: "Only a few taels of silver went to the government, nothing more. There is no need to be upset about it. Let me now brew a pot of wine for you to ease your worries; come with me to my back garden." -- At this time, Zi Ya's fortune had finally arrived. In the back garden, he first received five deities from different directions. What will happen next remains to be seen in the following chapter.