英语小说网

"I am a ghost," replied the ghost. "And who are you?"

Thereupon the ghost carried Dingbo on its back. After walking for a few li, it found Dingbo rather heavy. It became suspicious and asked:

"I am a ghost too," Dingbo lied.

"You are too heavy. Are you not a ghost?"

Thereupon, they walked together. After walking for a few li, the ghost suggested:

"I am a new ghost. I don't know what ghosts are afraid of."

"Where are you going?" the ghost asked.

"Excellent," Dingbo agreed.

Song Dingbo of Nanyang came across a ghost when he was walking at night. Dingbo asked who he was.

"I died not long ago, so I am heavy," Dingbo gave a clever reply.

"To the City of Wan," Dingbo replied.

Thus they carried each other by turns and went on their journey. At this moment, Dingbo asked again:

"I am going to the City of Wan, too," said the ghost. "We happen to go the same way."

It was now Dingbo's turn to carry the ghost. As expected, the ghost really had no weight.

"It is too tiring to walk. Let us carry each other on the back by turns."

Dingbo explained:

"It is man's spittle that ghosts fear most."

The ghost whispered:

The ghost became suspicious again and asked:

As they walked along, they came to a small creek. Dingbo let the ghost cross first. The ghost crossed the creek as if it were walking on land in shoes, without making the slightest noise. But when Dingbo crossed the creek, he splashed the water in all directions with a lot of noise.

"I'm a new ghost and not used to crossing the water yet."

At that, the ghost was convinced.

As they were approaching the City of Wan, Dingbo carried the ghost on his shoulder, held it tightly and started to run very fast with vigorous strides. The ghost shouted loudly and demanded that it be put down, but Dingbo turned a deaf ear to its demand. He reached the city of Wan in one breath and threw the ghost to the ground. Then and there the ghost revealed its original shape of a sheep. Dingbo sold it and, fearing it might turn back into a ghost, spit on it several times. With a payment of 1,500 coins from the sale, he left happily.

"Why was there such noise when you crossed the creek?"