Wang Zi'an, a celebrated scholar from Dongchang Prefecture, had repeatedly failed his examinations. As the provincial exams concluded this year, just before the results were posted, Wang Zi'an drank himself into a stupor and lay snoring alone in his bedchamber. Suddenly, voices outside called out, "The scholar has passed the provincial exam!" Wang was overjoyed, stumbled to his feet, and commanded his household, "Quickly, reward them with silver!" The "household staff," seeing his inebriation, tricked him, saying, "It has already been done."

A short while later, a man entered the room and announced, "The scholar has been granted the Jinshi degree!" Wang Zi'an muttered to himself, "I haven't even gone to the capital to take the higher court examination; it’s impossible to be a Jinshi yet." The man replied, "Have you forgotten? The three rounds of the metropolitan examination are already over." The scholar's mind was hazy, but hearing this brought immense delight. He cried out, "Servants, bring the rewards quickly!" The "household staff" again lied, "They've already been given."

After an interval, another person entered the room, saying, "The scholar has been appointed to the Hanlin Academy; the court has assigned you two attendants." Wang Zi'an focused his gaze and indeed saw two men kneeling beneath the bed, their attire neat and proper. Wang ordered his household, "Prepare wine at once; I must invite my attendants to dine." The "household staff" dismissively fobbed him off, saying, "Isn't the meal already on the table?"

Wang Zi'an mused, "Since I have become a high official, I must naturally show off in the village." He shouted toward the door, "Attendants, help me out!" After calling for a long time with no response, the "household staff" chuckled, "The attendants have left. You rest for a bit; I'll go chase after them for you." Soon after, one attendant indeed returned to the room. Wang Zi'an pounded the bed in frustration and cursed, "Insolent slave, where did you run off to?" The attendant snapped back angrily, "You pauper! I was only joking with you; why are you actually cursing?" Wang Zi'an was furious, leaped up, grabbed the attendant, and began to beat him vigorously, knocking off his hat in the scuffle as he himself tumbled to the floor.

Hearing the commotion, his wife entered the room to check and frowned, "How could you be so drunk?" Wang Zi'an retorted, "The attendant was wicked; I merely gave him a slight lesson—how am I drunk?" His wife laughed, "In this house, there is only this old woman to cook for you by day and warm your feet by night. Where would there be any attendants to serve you, you poor wretch?" Hearing this, the children burst into uproarious laughter.

As the effects of the wine began to lift, Wang Zi'an awoke as if from a dream. He thought, "I must have been toyed with by a fox spirit. The household staff, the messengers—they were all illusions conjured by the demon." Remembering that he had knocked off the fox spirit's hat, he went to the door to search and, sure enough, found a crimson-tasseled cap, no larger than a teacup.