癡人說夢記

In a quiet riverside village, an aging farmer named Jia Shouzhuo lives a modest life of tilling fields and sharing jokes with his neighbors. One night he awakens from a vivid dream of floating leaves, distant mountains, and strangers in strange clothing, a vision his wife dismisses as a foolish fancy. The next day, his old scholarly relative, Qi Laogu, arrives to organize a communal donation for a temple ceremony, and Jia readily offers his savings, eager to appear generous.

The routine is shattered when a stern tax collector bursts in, demanding payment for Jia’s wayward nephew’s debts, threatening harsh penalties if the sum isn’t settled. Desperate, Jia turns to Qi Laogu, who proposes a quick‑witted plan involving hidden cash and a hurried trip to the town tavern. As the two men scramble to appease the official, the story unfolds with witty commentary on rural superstitions, bureaucratic absurdities, and the lengths ordinary people will go to keep their heads above water.