A carter, of modest means, possessed a serious drinking habit; unable to sleep without at least three cups each night, he took to keeping a supply of liquor right beside his bed.

That night, waking from a dream, he rolled over and found an extra presence beside him.

Touching it, he felt something furry—it was a fox, completely inebriated.

The bottles by the bedside were empty, the fox having drained every drop.

The carter burst into laughter, muttering to himself, "This fox is my drinking companion." Unable to wake the creature, he gently covered it with his quilt and settled back to sleep alongside it.

In the dead of night, the fox stirred.

The carter smiled and asked, "Friend, did you sleep well?" Pulling back the covers, he saw that the fox had transformed into an elegant, scholarly youth.

The youth stood, bowed deeply, and said, "I have been reckless; I thank the young master for sparing my life." The carter replied, "I am addicted to drink; others call me a fool for it.

You and I are kindred spirits.

If you do not mind, let us henceforth call each other drinking friends." As he spoke, he pulled the youth back onto the bed to rest, advising him, "Friend, feel free to visit often in the future; there is no need for suspicion." The youth agreed.

When dawn broke the next day, the youth was long gone, but the carter paid it no mind; he simply prepared fine wine, eagerly awaiting his companion's return that evening.

As dusk settled, the youth arrived as promised.

The two talked intimately, the youth possessing a generous capacity for drink and a witty tongue.

The carter was overjoyed, feeling an instant kinship, as if they had known each other for years.

The youth remarked, "I have repeatedly imposed upon your excellent wine; I hardly know how to repay such kindness." The carter scoffed, "The pleasure of sharing a jug of wine—why should that be mentioned?" The youth insisted, "Though that is true, your circumstances are not wealthy, and money is hard-won.

I must find a way to procure some funds for your drinking." The following evening, the youth told the carter, "Go seven li to the southeast; by the roadside, there is lost money waiting to be picked up tomorrow morning." The very next morning, the carter went as instructed and, indeed, found two liang of gold.

Overjoyed, he immediately went to the market and bought several jars of fine spirits, preparing for a grand night with the youth.

That night, the youth arrived punctually and declared, "There is treasure hidden in the root cellar in the back courtyard; it should be unearthed." The carter followed the advice, and upon digging, uncovered over a thousand diao of copper coins.

The carter was ecstatic, laughing, "With wealth secured, I shall never worry about affording wine again." The youth countered, "Not so.

How can that meager sum suffice? Allow me to devise something further." A few days later, the youth advised the carter, "Buckwheat is cheap in the market right now; it is a commodity poised to become scarce." The carter understood immediately and purchased over forty shi of buckwheat at once.

Not long after, a severe drought struck, and all the rice paddies and bean shoots withered, but only the buckwheat could survive.

Common folk flocked to the carter to buy the buckwheat seeds, allowing him to profit tenfold and earn a substantial amount of silver.

From that time forward, the carter became prosperous, acquiring over two hundred acres of prime farmland.

He sought the youth’s guidance for all farming matters; whether planting wheat or millet, the harvests were bountiful year after year.

Their bond grew intimate.

The youth addressed the carter's wife as "Elder Sister-in-Law" and treated the carter’s son as his own.

Later, when the carter passed away, the youth ceased his visits.