Trickery of the netherworld abounds in the mortal realm. This blight is particularly virulent along the major north-south thoroughfares. Methods used to deter travelers at the nation's gates, like a taut bow and an angry steed, are known to all. Then there is the cutting of satchels and the slashing of baggage in bustling markets to snatch wealth—a skill that reaches the apex of crooked arts. Or perhaps, a chance meeting where honeyed words and slick rhetoric lure a traveler into a deep friendship, only for a moment of inattention to result in stolen funds. These swindlers set traps at random, employing endless variations; because their rhetoric is so refined and their actions so subtle, the common folk have universally dubbed this practice “Nian Yang.”

The northern “Nian Yang” practitioners are frequent nuisances, and their victims are numerous.

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Wang Zixun, a scholar from the county town, journeyed north to pay respects to a relative who had attained the rank of Grand Historian. A few li after departing Jinan, he encountered a man riding a black donkey. They fell into conversation, and the man introduced himself as Zhang, a bailiff from Qixia County, under orders for the capital. His speech was humble, his demeanor attentive. They traveled together for dozens of li, agreeing to lodge together that night. Wang Zixun would ride ahead, with Bailiff Zhang following on his donkey; or, Zhang would wait by the roadside. Wang Zixun’s servant grew suspicious of Zhang’s intentions and sharply ordered the man away. Zhang, realizing his embarrassment, whipped his donkey and departed.

As dusk settled, Wang Zixun rested at an inn. While strolling outside, he saw Zhang drinking in the main hall, which surprised him. Zhang also noticed him, stood respectfully with hands clasped, and approached Wang Zixun. The scholar offered only vague replies, never questioning how the bailiff had arrived at the same establishment. The servant, however, remained highly vigilant, standing guard throughout the night, deeply fearful of Zhang’s ill intentions.

At daybreak, Zhang once again broached the idea of accompanying Wang Zixun. The servant sharply refused, leaving Zhang no recourse but to withdraw with a sheepish air. Only when the sun was high did Wang Zixun set off. After traveling half a day, he saw a man ahead riding a white donkey, about forty years old, dressed neatly. The man’s head was slumped against the donkey’s neck, apparently fast asleep, his body swaying precariously with each step. The donkey occasionally lagged behind or moved ahead. After traveling like this for ten li or so, Wang Zixun found it very odd and inquired, “My friend, what kept you up last night? Why are you so exhausted?”

The man started awake at the sound of the voice, stretched widely, and replied, “My surname is Xu, from Qingyuan. The Magistrate of Linzi County, Gao Qing, is my cousin. My elder brother teaches at the Gao residence, and I was visiting him. My brother gave me many gifts. Who knew that last night when I stopped at an inn, I was lodged with a Nian Yang practitioner? I was so terrified that I didn’t dare close my eyes all night, leading to this afternoon grogginess.”

Wang Zixun asked, “What is Nian Yang?” Xu replied, “Young Master, you haven’t been traveling outside for long and are unaware of these treacherous schemes. Nowadays, a type of scoundrel charms merchants with sweet talk, finding ways to eat and lodge with them to steal their money. Yesterday, a distant relative of mine was tricked this way, losing all his valuables—a considerable loss. We should all take this as a warning.”

Wang Zixun nodded in agreement, thinking, The Magistrate of Linzi County is very familiar with me; I once served as his advisor. I know all the retainers in his household, and there is indeed one surnamed Xu. This person seems entirely above suspicion. Thus, they exchanged pleasantries, and Wang Zixun inquired about Xu’s brother’s well-being.

Xu suggested they lodge together that evening, to which Wang Zixun agreed. The servant, however, suspected Xu’s origins were dubious and consulted with his master, suggesting they travel slowly and avoid keeping too close to Xu. Master and servant intentionally lagged behind, creating distance from Xu, eventually shaking him off.

At noon the next day, they met another traveler on the road—a youth of sixteen or seventeen, riding a fine mule, neatly dressed, with a handsome appearance. They traveled together in silence until the sun began to set, when the youth suddenly spoke, “The old shop at Qulu is just ahead.” Wang Zixun responded casually. The youth sighed deeply, appearing overwhelmingly melancholic. Wang Zixun asked, “My friend, why such unhappiness?”

The youth sighed again, “I am from Jiangnan, surnamed Jin. After three years of arduous study, I only hoped to achieve success in the imperial exams, but alas, I failed. My elder brother holds an official post in the court, and with my examination failure, I decided to bring my family and travel to the capital to seek him out and drown my sorrows. I am not accustomed to crossing mountains and rivers, nor to the choking dust and sand that cause such vexation.” As he spoke, he took out a piece of red silk and meticulously wiped his face, his expression dejected.

Wang Zixun noted that his speech carried a distinct Southern accent, delicate and charming, almost feminine. He took a liking to the youth and offered words of comfort. The youth then lamented, “I was eager to travel quickly, and my dependents couldn’t keep up; I don’t even know where my servant got off to. It’s getting late; what should I do now?” He slowed his pace, planning to wait as they proceeded.

Wang Zixun cupped his hands and said, “I will press on ahead.” He spurred his horse and quickly left the youth far behind. In the evening, he arrived at the inn and entered his room to find two beds, one piled high with luggage. Wang Zixun was displeased and spoke to the innkeeper, “Landlord, wasn’t this supposed to be a private room? Why is there someone else’s luggage here?”

Before he finished speaking, a man emerged from within the room, bent down, gathered the luggage, turned toward the door, and said, “Please don’t be angry, Sir. I’ll give this room to you; I’ll find another.” Wang Zixun recognized the voice as somewhat familiar. Looking up, he saw that the man was none other than Xu—truly, fate brings people together in the most unexpected places. He smiled faintly and said, “Brother Xu, we meet again. What are you doing here? Don't leave; let’s share a room tonight.”

The two sat down to catch up, but before they could exchange many words, another person entered the room carrying luggage. Seeing both Wang and Xu present, the newcomer turned to leave, saying, “Oh, the room is already occupied; sorry, I took a wrong turn.” Wang focused his gaze; this man was the Jin youth. Before Wang Zixun could speak, Xu jumped up preemptively, inviting the youth to stay, saying, “Brother, it’s getting late, and rooms are scarce. If you don’t mind, stay with us tonight. Squeezing three people together will be warmer.”

The youth thanked them and sat down. Xu asked about his background, and the youth recounted everything. Soon after, the youth took out a quantity of silver fragments from his bundle, weighed out about one liang, and handed it to the innkeeper. “Get us some side dishes and warm a few pots of wine. The three of us must talk all night.”

The other two hastily stopped him. “How could we let you foot the bill? That’s too embarrassing!” The youth laughed, “We are like brothers; why be so formal?” Not long after, the feast arrived. During the meal, the youth discussed literature and poetry, exhibiting elegant conversation. Wang Zixun inquired about the current imperial exam topics, which the youth described in detail. He then recited the essays he had composed, dwelling on the brilliant passages that brought him momentary elation, only to sink back into dejection upon remembering that such fine writing had found no appreciative audience.

Wang and Xu both expressed sympathy. The youth then said, “I’ve been separated from my family and have no servants with me. I don’t know how to feed livestock. My mule hasn’t eaten since morning. What should I do?” Wang Zixun replied, “Young friend, do not worry. My servant knows how to care for horses; I will instruct him to look after your mount later.” The youth expressed deep gratitude.

A moment later, the youth continued, “My luck has always been poor; I never encounter good fortune when traveling. Last night at the inn, I shared quarters with villains. Those rascals were throwing dice all night, making so much noise I couldn’t sleep.” The Southern dialect pronounced the word for dice differently; Xu didn't understand immediately and asked, “What did you just say, throwing douzi? What strange object is a douzi?”

The youth gestured with his hand, describing the shape of dice. Xu immediately understood, pulled a die from his pocket, and laughed, “Are you referring to this thing?” The youth nodded repeatedly. Xu declared, “Good! Let’s try rolling these dice. Whoever loses drinks the penalty.” The three drank as they gambled. Eventually, the fine wine was gone, and Xu, unwilling to stop, suggested, “Let’s play a few more rounds. Whoever loses treats the next round.”

Wang Zixun demurred, “I’m not very good at this. I made a fool of myself earlier while rolling; I won’t embarrass myself further.” Xu conceded, “Suit yourself. Young friend, let’s you and I play.” The youth said cheerfully, “Fine, if you want to play, who’s afraid of whom?” Xu roared with laughter, secretly giving Wang Zixun a meaningful glance when the youth wasn't looking. He whispered, “Young Master, keep this secret. This foolish youth has quite a bit of gold and silver on him, and he is young—he likely hasn't mastered gambling. I plan to fleece him thoroughly. If I win money, I’ll treat you to drinks tomorrow.”

As they spoke, the two retreated into the adjacent small room. Soon after, shouts of excitement erupted incessantly. Wang Zixun stealthily crept closer to observe. He saw three people in the room; the other gambler was also an acquaintance—it was Bailiff Zhang. Suspicion flared in his mind: How did these three end up together? Could they be cohorts? He didn't dwell on it, returning to his own room, pulling the quilt over himself, and falling fast asleep.

A while later, the others tried to pull Wang into the gambling, but Wang firmly refused. Xu insisted, “How about this? I’ll bet on your behalf. If we win, we split it fifty-fifty, how about that?” Wang shook his head, declining. Xu insisted on rolling the dice for him, and shortly after, he returned to the room to report, “Brother Wang, I’ve won a few chips for you.” Wang Zixun was in the midst of a dream and only mumbled vaguely, “Got it.”

Suddenly, several men burst through the door, chattering in Manchu. The leader claimed his surname was Tong, a bannerman soldier commissioned to arrest gamblers. At that time, the government strictly forbade gambling, and everyone panicked upon hearing this. Tong loudly threatened Wang Zixun, “Boy, gambling in a crowd, you have guts! Say nothing more; come with this official to see the magistrate!” Wang Zixun showed no fear. “To see the magistrate? Do you know Grand Historian Wang? He is of my clan.” Hearing this, Tong’s demeanor immediately softened, and he smiled, “Ah, Brother Wang is also an official’s retainer. My apologies, my mistake. Let’s carry on with what we were doing—count me in. Rolling dice, Old Tong is quite an expert at that.”

The four gamblers made a perfect table. They played high stakes immediately. Wang Zixun said to Xu, “I have no interest in the outcome; I just want to sleep. Don’t disturb me again.” Xu paid him no mind, continuing to report the progress of the game. Eventually, the betting ended, and they tallied the chips. Wang Zixun owed the most debt. Tong, as one of the winners, began actively searching Wang’s belongings for silver. Wang Zixun erupted in anger, “I didn’t participate in the gambling; why are you coming after my debt?” He argued his case vigorously based on principle.

The youth grabbed his arm and whispered quietly, “These men are ferocious, and every one of them has malicious intent. You and I are different; we bonded over scholarship and should look out for each other. In the last round, I won dozens of liang from Xu, and Tong won dozens from Brother Wang. My winnings are about the same as his. How about this: let Xu repay the gambling debt you owe Tong, and you repay the debt Xu owes me. Don't worry; I won't actually collect the money. It’s just a pretense. Once Tong and Xu are gone, I will return every last coin to you. We are bound by righteousness; I guarantee it on my honor as a scholar—I will never betray Brother Wang.”

Wang Zixun was naturally kind-hearted, and seeing that this plan was feasible, he nodded immediately, completely trusting the youth.

The youth went out and relayed the matter to Tong. Tong responded, “Fine. I only care about receiving the silver; I don’t care who gives it.” So, Xu produced the silver and ‘paid’ it to Tong. Then, in full view of everyone, the youth took dozens of liang from Wang Zixun’s bundle as gambling debt and tucked it into his own sash.

Tong and Xu departed. The youth brought out bedding and slept with Wang Zixun and his servant. The silken pillows were fragrant. The three retired in silence. The youth secretly began to use his body to tease the servant. The servant shifted to avoid him, but the youth persisted, unable to let go. The servant felt the softness of his skin, his resolve melting, and succumbed to intimacy. The youth was eager to please, his gasps and moans filling the room. Wang Zixun heard it all. Though he found it strange, he didn't ponder it too deeply.

The next day, as the sky began to lighten, the youth was already up, urging the master and servant to set off early. He said, “Your lordship’s donkey is tired and weak. I will ride ahead and wait for you. I will return those dozens of liang of debt later.” Before Wang Zixun could say anything, the youth had packed his bags and mounted his steed. Wang Zixun had no choice but to comply. The youth’s mule moved swiftly, gradually receding until it vanished from sight.

Wang Zixun assumed the youth would keep his promise and wait ahead. Initially, he thought nothing of it, asking his servant, “The bed planks were shaking all night; what mischief were you up to?” The servant told him truthfully, “Nothing much, just indulging in some intimacy with the young master while we had nothing else to do.” Wang Zixun’s expression changed. “Bad news! We’ve been tricked by Nian Yang! The youth claimed to be from an official family, but what wealthy young master would actively seduce a stable hand?”

Then he reconsidered: the youth’s speech was cultured, and his talent noteworthy. An ordinary Nian Yang operative would never possess such refinement. It seemed the ways of the world had changed, and even the swindlers were keeping pace. He urged his own mount forward for dozens of li but found no trace of the youth. Only then did Wang Zixun realize the truth: Zhang, Xu, Tong, and the youth were all partners. When one scheme failed, they set another, employing every trick to lure him in. For the sake of a few dozen liang of silver, they had tracked him for hundreds of li, and to prevent the servant from exposing their trickery, they weren't afraid to use seduction—truly a scheme conceived with painstaking effort.

Several years later, Scholar Wu encountered a similar deception.