A Taoist fortune-teller, Wu the Taoist (吴神仙), visits the household of Ximen Qing (西门庆) and reads the faces of several women. He bluntly tells Sun Xue'e (孙雪娥) that she is scheming and likely to live unloved. He warns that Ximen Dajie (西门大姐) will not rise to prominence. He praises Pang Chunmei (庞春梅) as having promise but notes faults that may invite gossip. The readings provoke unease and quiet hopes in the house. Meanwhile Lai Bao (来保) and Wu Dian'en (吴典恩) go to the capital to present gifts to Taishi Cai Jing (蔡京). After bribing gate guards they are received and rewarded. Steward Zhai Qian (翟谦) helps them with food and paperwork. They return with news of offices and money. Ximen Qing feels hopeful and begins to plan his display of rank. Li Ping'er (李瓶儿) then comes into labor by the lotus pool. The midwife Cai Laoniang (蔡老娘) attends and a healthy son is born. The household celebrates. Pan Jinlian (潘金莲) grows jealous and speaks ill. Meng Yulou (孟玉楼) intervenes to calm matters. Ying Bojue (应伯爵) flatters Ximen Qing about a rare rhinoceros-horn belt and pleads for Wu Dian'en. Ximen Qing lends a hundred taels. He commissions official robes and prepares to assume his post. Gifts arrive from local officials including Li Datian (李达天). At the full-month banquet a silver wine jug goes missing. A new book boy, Xiao Zhang Song (小张松), is shown to be talented and quickly wins favor in the study. The maid Yu Xiao (玉箫) takes a fancy to him. A qin boy, Tianfu (天福), sees the hidden jug and brings it to Yingchun (迎春), who returns it to Li Ping'er. Chen Jingji (陈敬济) had summoned the book boy away earlier. Pan Jinlian accuses Li Ping'er and is struck. Entertainers Li Guijie (李桂姐) and Wu Yiner (吴银儿) perform and Li Guijie secures special favor from Wu Yue-niang (吴月娘). The incidents are patched over, but flirtation, loans, gossip and jealousy have shifted household relations. Surface celebration masks deeper quarrels. Tensions and alliances are reshaped. The episode closes with uneasy harmony and hints of more serious conflicts to come. FREE transcripts of the audio files are available for download at: https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/

此卷开端由一位算命道人入府相面，直言孙雪娥机心深重，西门大姐命途多难，而庞春梅面相有福可得良缘。话语激起众人感慨，西门庆暗生仕途期盼。来保与吴典恩奉命进京觐见太师蔡京，行贿过关后获授官职并得路费，喜讯返府。李瓶儿临盆在荷池侧，由接生娘蔡老娘顺利产下一子，府中张灯结彩。潘金莲心生嫉妒，多言指责，引起争执被责罚，孟玉楼出面调停。应伯爵在席间阿谀献媚，称赞西门庆珍物并为吴典恩筹借一百两。西门庆遂制作官服冠带，赴任设宴。喜庆之中满月酒失壶，银壶失而复得，牵出新来的书童小张松、丫鬟玉箫与琴童天福等人。玉箫暗暗倾心书童，玉壶藏匿引发误会。李桂姐与吴银儿等艺人入庭助兴，倚势结好吴月娘。表面庆贺背后，妒忌与猜疑在府中蔓延，众人心结未解，隐隐预示更深的纠葛。 音频文件的字幕稿可在以下网址免费下载： https://www.truelake.com/qrpages/pingshufreedownloads/