In the Tang Dynasty, there was a scholar named LuSheng.

唐代有个读书人，名叫卢生。

One day, Lu Sheng went to the capital for theimperial examination On his way when he reachedHandan, he stayed at an inn. A Taoist priestsurnamed Lii was also staying there. Sitting in hisroom, Lu Sheng lamented over his poverty andunsuccessful career and sighed in grief with knittedbrows and a long face.

一天，卢生赴京赶考，路过邯郸，住在一家客店里。一个姓吕的道士，也住在这家店里。卢生坐在屋里慨叹自己的穷困不得志，唉声叹气，愁眉苦脸。

As the Taoist priest Lu saw Lu Sheng in such a state, he took out a pillow from his pocket, gaveit to him and said:

吕道士看见卢生这个样子，便从自己口袋里拿出一个枕头递给卢生，并且对他说:

“Try sleeping with this pillow under your head. It may be good for you.”

“你枕这个枕头睡一觉试试，可能会有好处的。”

Lu Sheng went to bed as told, while the owner of the inn was steaming millet. With the Taoistpriest’s pillow, Lu Sheng fell asleep and had a dream. In his dream, he married the daughter ofa high official surnamed Cui in Qinghe and he himself also became an official.

卢生照着道士的嘱咐去睡觉了。这时候，客店主人正在蒸小米饭，卢生枕着道士的枕头睡着了，做了一个梦。梦中，他娶了清河崔大官的女儿，自己也做了官。

He had a brilliant career as an official and often got promoted. Once he went to fight againstthe enemy and rendered outstanding service. Thus he rose higher and higher in officialdom tillhe became the Minister of Revenue and concurrently Imperial Law Enforcement Official.

他官运亨通，不断提升，一次上阵杀敌又立了功。这样，他官越做越大，一直做到户部尚书兼御史大夫。

Later, someone was jealous of him and framed a case of conspiracy against him. The emperorordered to have his house ransacked, his property confiscated, and him condemned.

后来，卢生遭人嫉妒。有人诬陷卢生谋反，皇帝下令抄家问罪。

After a few years, the emperor reinstated him to his original post. He had a large family withlots of children and grandchildren, and enjoyed great wealth and high position as before. In hisold age, he fell ill, could not be cured, and eventually died.

过了几年，皇帝又恢复了他的官职。他子孙满堂，继续享受着荣华富贵。晚年，他得了病，医治无效，终于死去.

Lu Sheng woke up from his dream and found himself still sleeping at the inn, with the Taoistpriest Lu sitting beside him. The millet which the owner of the inn had been steaming was notyet done.

卢生一梦醒来，发现自己仍然睡在客店里，吕道士就坐在他的身旁，连店主人蒸的小米饭还没熟呢.