English Original
James and John were close friends for many years, and James placed complete trust in John.
Initially, James hired John to manage his household affairs. Later, when James served as a provincial governor, he enlisted John's help with official business. Trusting John implicitly, James kept no secrets from him.
James only realized John's true, despicable nature after John usurped all his property. Fearful that John knew of his own past misdeeds, James dared not expose him. Depressed and with no other recourse, James went to the Cheng Huang Temple to vent his anger and accuse John of wrongdoing.
That night, James dreamed that the City God asked him why he had trusted John so completely. After long thought, James replied, "Because he could make everything go exactly as I wished." The City God said, "Such a person is the most dangerous! You did not fear him but liked him. Who else would be a better target for his deception?"
中文翻译
詹姆斯和约翰是多年的好友，詹姆斯一直对约翰深信不疑。
起初，詹姆斯请约翰管理家务。后来，詹姆斯官任巡抚时，又请约翰协助处理公务。由于对约翰格外放心，詹姆斯对他毫无防备。
直到自己的全部家产都被约翰侵吞，詹姆斯才发现约翰是个卑鄙小人。考虑到自己有把柄落在约翰手中，詹姆斯不敢声张。郁闷难申的他，为了发泄怒气，万般无奈地来到城隍庙，告了约翰一状。
晚上，詹姆斯梦见城隍问他为何如此信任约翰。他思索良久，回答说：“因为他事事都能如我意。”城隍说：“这种人最可怕！你不怕他反而喜欢他，他不骗你又能骗谁呢？”