《儒林外史》是一部以反映读书人的生活境遇和精神状态为主的小说,但同时在吴敬梓笔下还活跃着一群商贾形象。这既是时代背景使然,也是作者亲历亲闻的结果。他们丰富了文士的生活场景,体现了时代特征,还寄托了作者“述往思来”的社会理想。 “The Scholars” is a novels mainly reflecting the living conditions and mental state of the scholar, but at the same time, a group of merchants are still active in the works written by Wu Jingzi. This is not only the background of the times, but also the result of the writer’s personal experience. They enriched the life scene of the scribes, reflected the characteristics of the times and placed the social ideals of the author in describing things.