中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì shí wǔ huí wáng fèng jiě nòng quán tiě jiàn sì qín jīng qīng dé qù mán tóu 'ān CHAPTER XV.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XV.
huà shuō bǎo yù jǔ mù jiàn běi jìng wáng shuǐ róng tóu shàng dài zhe jié bái zān yīng yín chì wáng mào， chuānzhuó jiāng yá hǎi shuǐ wǔ zhǎo zuò lóng bái mǎng páo， xì zhe bì yù hóng dài， miàn rú měi yù， mù sì míng xīng， zhēn hǎo xiù lì rén wù。 bǎo yù máng qiǎng shàng lái cān jiàn， shuǐ róng lián máng cóng jiào nèi shēn chū shǒu lái wǎn zhù。 jiàn bǎo yù dài zhe shùfà yín guān， lè zhe shuāng lóng chū hǎi mǒ 'é， chuān zhe bái mǎng jiàn xiù， wéi zhe cuán zhū yín dài， miàn ruò chūn huā， mù rú diǎn qī。 shuǐ róng xiào dào： “ míng bù xū chuán， guǒ rán rú ‘ bǎo ’ sì‘ yù’。 ” yīn wèn：“ xián de nà bǎo bèi zài nà lǐ？ " bǎo yù jiàn wèn， lián máng cóng yī nèi qǔ liǎo dì yǔ guò qù。 shuǐ róng xì xì de kàn liǎo， yòu niàn liǎo nà shàng tóu de zì， yīn wèn：“ guǒ líng yàn fǒu？ " jiǎ zhèng máng dào：“ suī rú cǐ shuō， zhǐ shì wèi céng shì guò。” shuǐ róng yī miàn jí kǒu chēng qí dào yì， yī miàn lǐ hǎo cǎi tāo， qīn zì yǔ bǎo yù dài shàng， yòu xié shǒu wèn bǎo yù jǐ suì， dú hé shū。 bǎo yù yī yī de dāyìng。
shuǐ róng jiàn tā yǔ yán qīng chǔ， tán tù yòu zhì， yī miàn yòu xiàng jiǎ zhèng xiào dào：“ lìng láng zhēn nǎi lóng jū fèng chú， fēi xiǎo wáng zài shì wēng qián táng tū， jiāng lái‘ chú fèng qīng yú lǎo fèng shēng’， wèi kě liàng yě。” jiǎ zhèng máng péi xiào dào：“ quǎn zǐ qǐ gǎn miù chéng jīn jiǎng。 lài fān jùn yú zhēn， guǒ rú shì yán， yì yìn shēng bèi zhī xìng yǐ。” shuǐ róng yòu dào：“ zhǐ shì yī jiàn， lìng láng rú shì zī zhì， xiǎng lǎo tài fū rén， fū rén bèi zì rán zhōng 'ài jí yǐ， dàn wú bèi hòu shēng， shèn bù yí zhōng nì， zhōng nì zé wèi miǎn huāng shī xué yè。 xī xiǎo wáng céng dǎo cǐ zhé， xiǎng lìng láng yì wèi bì bù rú shì yě。 ruò lìng láng zài jiā nán yǐ yòng gōng， bù fáng cháng dào hán dì。 xiǎo wáng suī bù cái， què duō méng hǎi shàng zhòng míng shì fán zhì dū zhě， wèi yòu bù lìng chuí qīng mù。 shì yǐ hán dì gāo rén pō jù。 lìng láng cháng qù tán huì tán huì， zé xué wèn kě yǐ rì jìn yǐ。” jiǎ zhèng máng gōng shēn dāyìng。
shuǐ róng yòu jiāng wàn shàng yī chuàn niàn zhū xiè liǎo xià lái， dì yǔ bǎo yù dào：“ jīn rì chū huì， cāng cù jìng wú jìng hè zhī wù， cǐ shì qián rì shèng shàng qīn cì йк xiāng niàn zhū yī chuàn， quán wéi hè jìng zhī lǐ。” bǎo yù lián máng jiē liǎo， huí shēn fèng yǔ jiǎ zhèng。 jiǎ zhèng yǔ bǎo yù yī qí xiè guò。 yú shì jiǎ shè， jiǎ zhēn děng yī qí shàng lái qǐng huí yú， shuǐ róng dào：“ shì zhě yǐ dēng xiān jiè， fēi lù lù nǐ wǒ chén huán zhōng zhī rén yě。 xiǎo wáng suī shàng dāo tiān 'ēn， xū yāo jùn xí， qǐ V kě yuè xiān ér jìn yě？ " jiǎ shè děng jiàn zhí yì bù cóng， zhǐ dé gào cí xiè 'ēn huí lái， mìng shǒu xià yǎn lè tíng yīn， tāo tāo rán jiāng bìn guò wán， fāng ràng shuǐ róng huí yú qù liǎo。 bù zài huà xià。
qiě shuō níng fǔ sòng bìn， yī lù rè nào fēi cháng。 gāng zhì chéng mén qián， yòu yòu jiǎ shè， jiǎ zhèng， jiǎ zhēn děng zhū tóng liáo shǔ xià gè jiā jì péng jiē jì， yī yī de xiè guò， rán hòu chū chéng， jìng bēn tiě jiàn sì dà lù xíng lái。 bǐ shí jiǎ zhēn dài jiǎ róng lái dào zhū zhǎngbèi qián， ràng zuò jiào shàng mǎ， yīn 'ér jiǎ shè yī bèi de gè zì shàng liǎo chē jiào， jiǎ zhēn yī bèi de yě jiāng yào shàng mǎ。 fèng jiě 'ér yīn jì guà zhe bǎo yù， pà tā zài jiāo wài zòng xìng chěng qiáng， bù fú jiā rén de huà， jiǎ zhèng guǎn bù zhe zhè xiē xiǎo shì， wéi kǒng yòu gè shī shǎn， nán jiàn jiǎ mǔ， yīn cǐ biàn mìng xiǎo sī lái huàn tā。 bǎo yù zhǐ dé lái dào tā chē qián。 fèng jiě xiào dào：“ hǎo xiōng dì， nǐ shì gè zūn guì rén， nǚ hái 'ér yī yàng de rén pǐn， bié xué tā men hóu zài mǎ shàng。 xià lái， zán men jiě 'ér liǎng gè zuò chē， qǐ bù hǎo？ " bǎo yù tīng shuō， máng xià liǎo mǎ， pá rù fèng jiě chē shàng， èr rén shuō xiào qián lái。 bù yī shí， zhǐ jiàn cóng nà biān liǎng qí mǎ yā dì fēi lái， lí fèng jiě chē bù yuǎn， yī qí cuān xià lái， fú chē huí shuō：“ zhè lǐ yòu xià chù， nǎi nǎi qǐng xiē gēngyī。” fèng jiě jí mìng qǐng xíng fū rén wáng fū rén de shì xià， nà rén huí lái shuō：“ tài tài men shuō bù yòng xiē liǎo， jiào nǎi nǎi zì biàn bà。” fèng jiě tīng liǎo， biàn mìng xiē liǎo zài zǒu。 zhòng xiǎo sī tīng liǎo， yī dài yuán mǎ， chà chū rén qún， wǎng běi fēi zǒu。 bǎo yù zài chē nèi jí mìng qǐng qín xiāng gōng。 nà shí qín zhōng zhèng qí mǎ suí zhe tā fù qīn de jiào， hū jiàn bǎo yù de xiǎo sī páo lái， qǐng tā qù dǎ jiān。 qín zhōng kàn shí， zhǐ jiàn fèng jiě 'ér de chē wǎng běi 'ér qù， hòu miàn lā zhe bǎo yù de mǎ， dā zhe 'ān lóng， biàn zhī bǎo yù tóng fèng jiě zuò chē， zì jǐ yě biàn dài mǎ gǎn shàng qù， tóng rù yī zhuāng mén nèi。 zǎo yòu jiā rén jiāng zhòng zhuāng hàn niǎn jìn。 nà zhuāng nóng rén jiā wú duō fáng shè， pó niàn men wú chù huí bì， zhǐ dé yóu tā men qù liǎo。 nà xiē cūn gū zhuāng fù jiàn liǎo fèng jiě， bǎo yù， qín zhōng de rén pǐn yī fú， lǐ shù kuǎn duàn， qǐ yòu bù 'ài kàn de？
yī shí fèng jiě jìn rù máo táng， yīn mìng bǎo yù děng xiān chū qù wán wán。 bǎo yù děng huì yì， yīn tóng qín zhōng chū lái， dài zhe xiǎo sī men gè chù yóu wán。 fán zhuāng nóng dòng yòng zhī wù， jiē bù céng jiàn guò。 bǎo yù yī jiàn liǎo qiāo， jué， chú， lí děng wù， jiē yǐ wéi qí， bù zhī hé xiàng suǒ shǐ， qí míng wéi hé。 xiǎo sī zài bàng yī yī de gào sù liǎo míng sè， shuō míng yuán wěi。 bǎo yù tīng liǎo， yīn diǎn tóu tàn dào：“ guài dào gǔ rén shī shàng shuō，‘ shuí zhī pán zhōng cān， lì lì jiē xīn kǔ’， zhèng wéi cǐ yě。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn yòu zhì yī jiān fáng qián， zhǐ jiàn kàng shàng yòu gè fǎng chē， bǎo yù yòu wèn xiǎo sī men：“ zhè yòu shì shénme？ " xiǎo sī men yòu gào sù tā yuán wěi。 bǎo yù tīng shuō， biàn shàng lái nǐngzhuǎn zuò shuǎ， zì wéi yòu qù。 zhǐ jiàn yī gè yuē yòu shí qī bā suì de cūn zhuāng yā tóu páo liǎo lái luàn rǎng：“ bié dòng huài liǎo！ " zhòng xiǎo sī máng duàn hē lán zǔ。 bǎo yù máng diū kāi shǒu， péi xiào shuō dào：“ wǒ yīn wéi méi jiàn guò zhè gè， suǒ yǐ shì tā yī shì。” nà yā tóu dào：“ nǐ men nà lǐ huì nòng zhè gè， zhàn kāi liǎo， wǒ fǎng yǔ nǐ qiáo。” qín zhōng 'àn lā bǎo yù xiào dào：“ cǐ qīng dà yòu yì qù。” bǎo yù yī bǎ tuī kāi， xiào dào：“ gāi sǐ de！ zài hú shuō， wǒ jiù dǎ liǎo。” shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn nà yā tóu fǎng qǐ xiàn lái。 bǎo yù zhèng yào shuō huà shí， zhǐ tīng nà biān lǎo pó zǐ jiào dào：“ èr yā tóu， kuài guò lái！ " nà yā tóu tīng jiàn， diū xià fǎng chē， yī jìng qù liǎo。
bǎo yù chàng rán wú qù。 zhǐ jiàn fèng jiě 'ér dǎ fā rén lái jiào tā liǎng gè jìn qù。 fèng jiě xǐ liǎo shǒu， huàn yī fú dǒu huī， wèn tā men huàn bù huàn。 bǎo yù bù huàn， zhǐ dé bà liǎo。 jiā xià pú fù men jiāng dài zhe xíng lù de chá hú chá bēi， shí jǐn tì hé， gè yàng xiǎo shí duān lái， fèng jiě děng chī guò chá， dài tā men shōu shí wán bì， biàn qǐ shēn shàng chē。 wài miàn wàng 'ér yù bèi xià shǎng fēng， shǎng liǎo běn cūn zhù rén。 zhuāng fù děng lái kòu shǎng。 fèng jiě bìng bù zài yì， bǎo yù què liú xīn kàn shí， nèi zhōng bìng wú 'èr yā tóu。 yī shí shàng liǎo chē， chū lái zǒu bù duō yuǎn， zhǐ jiàn yíng tóu 'èr yā tóu huái lǐ bào zhe tā xiǎo xiōng dì， tóng zhe jǐ gè xiǎo nǚ hái zǐ shuō xiào 'ér lái。 bǎo yù hèn bù dé xià chē gēn liǎo tā qù， liào shì zhòng rén bù yǐ de， shǎo bù dé yǐ mù xiāng sòng， zhēng nài chē qīng mǎ kuài， yī shí zhǎn yǎn wú zōng。
zǒu bù duō shí， réng yòu gēn shàng dà bìn liǎo。 zǎo yòu qián miàn fǎ gǔ jīn náo， chuáng fān bǎo gài： tiě jiàn sì jiē líng zhòng sēng qí zhì。 shàoshí dào rù sì zhōng， lìng yǎn fó shì， zhòng shè xiāng tán。 ān líng yú nèi diàn piān shì zhī zhōng， bǎo zhū 'ān yú lǐ qǐn shì xiāng bàn。 wài miàn jiǎ zhēn kuǎn dài yī yìng qīn yǒu， yě yòu rǎo fàn de， yě yòu bù chī fàn 'ér cí de， yī yìng xiè guò fá， cóng gōng hóu bǎizǐ nán yī qǐ yī qǐ de sàn qù， zhì wèi mò shí fēn fāng cái sàn jìn liǎo。 lǐ miàn de táng kè jiē shì fèng jiě zhāng luó jiē dài， xiān cóng xiǎn guān gào mìng sàn qǐ， yě dào shǎng wǔ dà cuò shí fāng sàn jìn liǎo。 zhǐ yòu jǐ gè qīn qī shì zhì jìn de， děng zuò guò sān rì 'ān líng dào chǎng fāng qù。 nà shí xíng， wáng 'èr fū rén zhī fèng jiě bì bù néng lái jiā， yě biàn jiù yào jìn chéng。 wáng fū rén yào dài bǎo yù qù， bǎo yù zhà dào jiāo wài， nà lǐ kěn huí qù， zhǐ yào gēn fèng jiě zhù zhe。 wáng fū rén wú fǎ， zhǐ dé jiāo yǔ fèng jiě biàn huí lái liǎo。 yuán lái zhè tiě jiàn sì yuán shì níng róng 'èr gōng dāng rì xiū zào， xiàn jīn hái shì yòu xiāng huǒ dì mǔ bù shī， yǐ bèi jīng zhōng lǎo liǎo rén kǒu， zài cǐ piányí jì fàng。 qí zhōng yīn yáng liǎng zhái jù yǐ yù bèi tuǒ tiē， hǎo wéi sòng líng rén kǒu jì jū。 bù xiǎng rú jīn hòu bèi rén kǒu fán shèng， qí zhōng pín fù bù yī， huò xìng qíng shēnshāng： yòu nà jiā yè jiān nán 'ān fēn de， biàn zhù zài zhè lǐ liǎo， yòu nà shàng pái chǎng yòu qián shì de， zhǐ shuō zhè lǐ bù fāng biàn， yī dìng lìng wài huò cūn zhuāng huò ní 'ān xún gè xià chù， wéi shì bì yàn tuì zhī suǒ。 jí jīn qín shì zhī sàng， zú zhōng zhū rén jiē quán zài tiě jiàn sì xià tà， dú yòu fèng jiě xián bù fāng biàn， yīn 'ér zǎo qiǎn rén lái hé mán tóu 'ān de gū zǐ jìng xū shuō liǎo， téng chū liǎng jiān fáng zǐ lái zuò xià chù。 yuán lái zhè mán tóu 'ān jiù shì shuǐ yuè 'ān， yīn tā miào lǐ zuò de mán tóu hǎo， jiù qǐ liǎo zhè gè hún hào， lí tiě jiàn sì bù yuǎn。 dāng xià hé shàng gōng kè yǐ wán， diàn guò chá fàn， jiǎ zhēn biàn mìng jiǎ róng qǐng fèng jiě xiē xī。 fèng jiě jiàn hái yòu jǐ gè zhóu lǐ péi zhe nǚ qīn， zì jǐ biàn cí liǎo zhòng rén， dài liǎo bǎo yù， qín zhōng wǎng shuǐ yuè 'ān lái。 yuán lái qín yè nián mài duō bìng， bù néng zài cǐ， zhǐ mìng qín zhōng děng dài 'ān líng bà liǎo。 nà qín zhōng biàn zhǐ gēn zhe fèng jiě， bǎo yù， yī shí dào liǎo shuǐ yuè 'ān， jìng xū dài lǐng zhì shàn， zhì néng liǎng gè tú dì chū lái yíng jiē， dà jiā jiàn guò。 fèng jiě děng lái zhì jìng shì gēngyī jìng shǒu bì， yīn jiàn zhì néng 'ér yuè fā cháng gāo liǎo， múyàng 'ér yuè fā chū xī liǎo， yīn shuō dào：“ nǐ men shī tú zěn me zhè xiē rì zǐ yě bù wǎng wǒ men nà lǐ qù？ " jìng xū dào：“ kě shì zhè jǐ tiān dōuméi gōng fū， yīn hú lǎo yé fǔ lǐ chǎn liǎo gōng zǐ， tài tài sòng liǎo shí liǎng yín zǐ lái zhè lǐ， jiào qǐng jǐ wèi shī fù niàn sān rì《 xuè pén jīng》， máng de méi gè kòng'ér， jiù méi lái qǐng nǎi nǎi de 'ān。” bù yán lǎo ní péi zhe fèng jiě。 qiě shuō qín zhōng， bǎo yù 'èr rén zhèng zài diàn shàng wán shuǎ， yīn jiàn zhì néng guò lái， bǎo yù xiào dào：“ néng 'ér lái liǎo。” qín zhōng dào：“ lǐ nà dōng xī zuò shénme？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ bié nòng guǐ， nà yī rì zài lǎo tài tài wū lǐ， yī gè rén méi yòu， nǐ lǒu zhe tā zuò shénme？ zhè huì zǐ hái hǒngwǒ。” qín zhōng xiào dào：“ zhè kě shì méi yòu de huà。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ yòu méi yòu yě bù guǎn nǐ， nǐ zhǐ jiào zhù tā dǎo wǎn chá lái wǒ chī， jiù diū kāi shǒu。” qín zhōng xiào dào：“ zhè yòu qí liǎo， nǐ jiào tā dǎo qù， hái pà tā bù dǎo？ hé bì yào wǒ shuō ní。” bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ jiào tā dǎo de shì wú qíng yì de， bù jí nǐ jiào tā dǎo de shì yòu qíng yì de。” qín zhōng zhǐ dé shuō dào：“ néng 'ér， dǎo wǎn chá lái gěi wǒ。” nà zhì néng 'ér zì yòu zài róng fǔ zǒu dòng， wú rén bù shí， yīn cháng yǔ bǎo yù qín zhōng wán xiào。 tā rú jīn dà liǎo， jiàn zhī fēng yuè， biàn kàn shàng liǎo qín zhōng rén wù fēng liú， nà qín zhōng yě jí 'ài tā yán mèi， èr rén suī wèi shàng shǒu， què yǐ qíng tóu yì hé liǎo。 jīn zhì néng jiàn liǎo qín zhōng， xīn yǎn jù kāi， zǒu qù dǎo liǎo chá lái。 qín zhōng xiào dào：“ gěi wǒ。” bǎo yù jiào：“ gěi wǒ！ " zhì néng 'ér mǐn zuǐ xiào dào：“ yī wǎn chá yě zhēng， wǒ nán dào shǒu lǐ yòu mì！ " bǎo yù xiān qiǎng dé liǎo， chī zhe， fāng yào wèn huà， zhǐ jiàn zhì shàn lái jiào zhì néng qù bǎi chá dié zǐ， yī shí lái qǐng tā liǎng gè qù chī chá guǒ diǎn xīn。 tā liǎng gè nà lǐ chī zhè xiē dōng xī， zuò yī zuò réng chū lái wán shuǎ。
fèng jiě yě lüè zuò piàn shí， biàn huí zhì jìng shì xiē xī， lǎo ní xiāng sòng。 cǐ shí zhòng pó niàn xí fù jiàn wú shì， dū lù xù sàn liǎo， zì qù xiē xī， gēn qián bù guò jǐ gè xīn fù cháng shì xiǎo bì， lǎo ní biàn chèn jī shuō dào：“ wǒ zhèng yòu yī shì， yào dào fǔ lǐ qiú tài tài， xiān qǐng nǎi nǎi yī gè shì xià。” fèng jiě yīn wèn hé shì。 lǎo ní dào：“ ēmítuófó！ zhǐ yīn dāng rì wǒ xiān zài cháng 'ān xiàn nèi shàn cái 'ān nèi chū jiā de shí jié， nà shí yòu gè shī zhù xìng zhāng， shì dà cái zhù。 tā yòu gè nǚ 'ér xiǎo míng jīn gē， nà nián dū wǎng wǒ miào lǐ lái jìn xiāng， bù xiǎng yù jiàn liǎo cháng 'ān fǔ fǔ tài yé de xiǎo jiù zǐ lǐ yá nèi。 nà lǐ yá nèi yī xīn kàn shàng， yào qǔ jīn gē， dǎ fā rén lái qiú qīn， bù xiǎng jīn gē yǐ shòu liǎo yuán rèn cháng 'ān shǒu bèi de gōng zǐ de pìn dìng。 zhāng jiā ruò tuì qīn， yòu pà shǒu bèi bù yǐ， yīn cǐ shuō yǐ yòu liǎo rén jiā。 shuí zhī lǐ gōng zǐ zhí yì bù yǐ， dìng yào qǔ tā nǚ 'ér， zhāng jiā zhèng wú jì cè， liǎng chù wéi nán。 bù xiǎng shǒu bèi jiā tīng liǎo cǐ yán， yě bù guǎn qīng hóng zào bái， biàn lái zuò jiàn rǔ mà， shuō yī gè nǚ 'ér xǔ jǐ jiā， piān bù xǔ tuì dìng lǐ， jiù dǎ guān sī gào zhuàng qǐ lái。 nà zhāng jiā jí liǎo， zhǐ dé zhe rén shàng jīng lái xún mén lù， dǔ qì piān yào tuì dìng lǐ。 wǒ xiǎng rú jīn cháng 'ān jié dù yún lǎo yé yǔ fǔ shàng zuì qì， kě yǐ qiú tài tài yǔ lǎo yé shuō shēng， dǎ fā yī fēng shū qù， qiú yún lǎo yé hé nà shǒu bèi shuō yī shēng， bù pà nà shǒu bèi bù yǐ。 ruò shì kěn xíng， zhāng jiā lián qīng jiā xiào shùn yědōu qíng yuàn。”
fèng jiě tīng liǎo xiào dào：“ zhè shì dǎo bù dà， zhǐ shì tài tài zài bù guǎn zhè yàng de shì。” lǎo ní dào：“ tài tài bù guǎn， nǎi nǎi yě kě yǐ zhù zhāng liǎo。” fèng jiě tīng shuō xiào dào：“ wǒ yě bù děng yín zǐ shǐ， yě bù zuò zhè yàng de shì。” jìng xū tīng liǎo， dǎ qù wàng xiǎng， bàn shǎng tàn dào：“ suī rú cǐ shuō， zhāng jiā yǐ zhī wǒ lái qiú fǔ lǐ， rú jīn bù guǎn zhè shì， zhāng jiā bù zhī dào méi gōng fū guǎn zhè shì， bù xī hǎn tā de xiè lǐ， dǎo xiàng fǔ lǐ lián zhè diǎn zǐ shǒu duàn yě méi yòu de yī bān。”
fèng jiě tīng liǎo zhè huà， biàn fā liǎo xīng tóu， shuō dào：“ nǐ shì sù rì zhī dào wǒ de， cóng lái bù xìn shénme shì yīn sī dì yù bào yìng de， píng shì shénme shì， wǒ shuō yào xíng jiù xíng。 nǐ jiào tā ná sān qiān yín zǐ lái， wǒ jiù tì tā chū zhè kǒu qì。” lǎo ní tīng shuō， xǐ bù zì jìn， máng shuō：“ yòu， yòu！ zhè gè bù nán。” fèng jiě yòu dào：“ wǒ bǐ bù dé tā men chě péng lā qiān de tú yín zǐ。 zhè sān qiān yín zǐ， bù guò shì gěi dǎ fā shuō qù de xiǎo sī zuò pán chán， shǐ tā zuàn jǐ gè xīn kǔ qián， wǒ yī gè qián yě bù yào tā de。 biàn shì sān wàn liǎng， wǒ cǐ kè yě ná de chū lái。” lǎo ní lián máng dāyìng， yòu shuō dào：“ jì rú cǐ， nǎi nǎi míng rì jiù kāi 'ēn yě bà liǎo。” fèng jiě dào：“ nǐ qiáo qiáo wǒ máng de， nà yī chù shǎo liǎo wǒ？ jì yìng liǎo nǐ， zì rán kuài kuài de liǎo jié。” lǎo ní dào：“ zhè diǎn zǐ shì， zài bié rén de gēn qián jiù máng de bù zhī zěn me yàng， ruò shì nǎi nǎi de gēn qián， zài tiān shàng xiē yě bù gòu nǎi nǎi yī fā huī de。 zhǐ shì sú yǔ shuō de，‘ néng zhě duō láo’， tài tài yīn dà xiǎo shì jiàn nǎi nǎi tuǒ tiē， yuè xìng dū tuī gěi nǎi nǎi liǎo， nǎi nǎi yě yào bǎo zhòng jīn tǐ cái shì。” yī lù huà fèng chéng de fèng jiě yuè fā shòu yòng， yě bù gù láo fá， gèng pān tán qǐ lái。
shuí xiǎng qín zhōng chèn hēi wú rén， lái xún zhì néng。 gāng zhì hòu miàn fáng zhōng， zhǐ jiàn zhì néng dú zài fáng zhōng xǐ chá wǎn， qín zhōng páo lái biàn lǒu zhe qīn zuǐ。 zhì néng jí de duǒ jiǎo shuō：“ zhè suàn shénme！ zài zhè me wǒ jiù jiào huàn。” qín zhōng qiú dào：“ hǎo rén， wǒ yǐ jí sǐ liǎo。 nǐ jīn 'ér zài bù yǐ， wǒ jiù sǐ zài zhè lǐ。” zhì néng dào：“ nǐ xiǎng zěn yàng？ chú fēi děng wǒ chū liǎo zhè láo kēng， lí liǎo zhè xiē rén， cái yǐ nǐ。” qín zhōng dào：“ zhè yě róng yì， zhǐ shì yuǎn shuǐ jiù bù dé jìn kě。” shuō zhe， yī kǒu chuī liǎo dēng， mǎn wū qī hēi， jiāng zhì néng bào dào kàng shàng， jiù yún yǔ qǐ lái。 nà zhì néng bǎi bān de zhèng cuò bù qǐ， yòu bù hǎo jiào de， shǎo bù dé yǐ tā liǎo。 zhèng zài dé qù， zhǐ jiàn yī rén jìn lái， jiāng tā 'èr rén 'àn zhù， yě bù zé shēng。 èr rén bù zhī shì shuí， hǔ de bù gǎn dòng yī dòng。 zhǐ tīng nà rén chī de yī shēng， zhǎng bù zhù xiào liǎo， èr rén tīng shēng fāng zhī shì bǎo yù。 qín zhōng lián máng qǐ lái， bào yuàn dào：“ zhè suàn shénme？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ dǎo bù yǐ， zán men jiù jiào hǎn qǐ lái。” xiū de zhì néng chèn hēi dì páo liǎo。 bǎo yù lā liǎo qín zhōng chū lái dào：“ nǐ kě hái hé wǒ qiáng？ " qín zhōng xiào dào：“ hǎo rén， nǐ zhǐ bié rǎng de zhòng rén zhī dào， nǐ yào zěn yàng wǒdōu yǐ nǐ。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ zhè huì zǐ yě bù yòng shuō， děng yī huì shuì xià， zài xì xì de suàn zhàng。” yī shí kuān yī 'ān xiē de shí jié， fèng jiě zài lǐ jiān， qín zhōng bǎo yù zài wài jiān， mǎn dì xià jiē shì jiā xià pó zǐ， dǎ pū zuò gèng。 fèng jiě yīn pà tōng líng yù shī luò， biàn děng bǎo yù shuì xià， mìng rén ná lái zài zì jǐ zhěn biān。 bǎo yù bù zhī yǔ qín zhōng suàn hé zhàng mù， wèi jiàn zhēn qiē， wèi céng jì dé， cǐ shì yí 'àn， bù gǎn zuǎn chuàng。
yīxiǔ wú huà。 zhì cì rì yī zǎo， biàn yòu jiǎ mǔ wáng fū rén dǎ fā liǎo rén lái kàn bǎo yù， yòu mìng duō chuān liǎng jiàn yī fú， wú shì nìngkě huí qù。 bǎo yù nà lǐ kěn huí qù， yòu yòu qín zhōng liàn zhe zhì néng， tiáosuō bǎo yù qiú fèng jiě zài zhù yī tiān。 fèng jiě xiǎng liǎo yī xiǎng： fán sāngyí dà shì suī tuǒ， hái yòu yī bàn diǎn xiǎo shì wèi céng 'ān chā， kě yǐ zhǐ cǐ zài zhù yī rì， qǐ bù yòu zài jiǎ zhēn gēn qián sòng liǎo mǎn qíng， èr zé yòu kě yǐ wán jìng xū nà shì， sān zé shùn liǎo bǎo yù de xīn， jiǎ mǔ tīng jiàn， qǐ bù huān xǐ？ yīn yòu cǐ sān yì， biàn xiàng bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ de shìdōu wán liǎo， nǐ yào zài zhè lǐ guàng， shǎo bù dé yuè xìng xīn kǔ yī rì bà liǎo， míng 'ér kě shì dìng yào zǒu de liǎo。” bǎo yù tīng shuō， qiān jiě jiě wàn jiě jiě de yāng qiú：“ zhǐ zhù yī rì， míng 'ér bì huí qù de。” yú shì yòu zhù liǎo yī yè。
fèng jiě biàn mìng qiāoqiāo jiāng zuó rì lǎo ní zhī shì， shuō yǔ lái wàng 'ér。 lái wàng 'ér xīn zhōng jù yǐ míng bái， jí máng jìn chéng zhǎo zhe zhù wén de xiànggōng， jiǎ tuō jiǎ liǎn suǒ zhǔ， xiū shū yī fēng， lián yè wǎng cháng 'ān xiàn lái， bù guò bǎi lǐ lù chéng， liǎng rì gōng fū jù yǐ tuǒ xié。 nà jié dù shǐ míng huàn yún guāng， jiǔ jiàn jiǎ fǔ zhī qíng， zhè diǎn xiǎo shì， qǐ yòu bù yǔn zhī lǐ， gěi liǎo huí shū， wàng 'ér huí lái。 qiě bù zài huà xià。
què shuō fèng jiě děng yòu guò yī rì， cì rì fāng bié liǎo lǎo ní， zhe tā sān rì hòu wǎng fǔ lǐ qù tǎo xìn。 nà qín zhōng yǔ zhì néng bǎi bān bù rěn fēn lí， bèi dì lǐ duō shǎo yōu qī mì yuē， jù bù yòng xì shù， zhǐ dé hán hèn 'ér bié。 fèng jiě yòu dào tiě jiàn sì zhōng zhào wàng yī fān。 bǎo zhū zhí yì bù kěn huí jiā， jiǎ zhēn zhǐ dé pài fù nǚ xiāng bàn。 hòu huí zài jiàn。
Lady Peng, nee Wang, exercises her authority in the Iron Fence Temple. Ch'in Ching-ch'ing (Ch'ing Chung) amuses himself in the Man-t'ou (Bread) nunnery.
But we shall now resume our story. When Pao-yue raised his eyes, he noticed that Shih Jung, Prince of Pei Ching, wore on his head a princely cap with pure white tassels and silvery feathers, that he was appareled in a white ceremonial robe, (with a pattern representing) the toothlike ripple of a river and the waters of the sea, embroidered with five-clawed dragons; and that he was girded with a red leather belt, inlaid with white jade. That his face was like a beauteous gem; that his eyes were like sparkling stars; and that he was, in very truth, a human being full of graceful charms.
Pao-yue hastily pressed forward and made a reverent obeisance, and Shih Jung lost no time in extending his arms from inside the sedan-chair, and embracing him. At a glance, he saw that Pao-yue had on his head a silver cap, to which the hair was attached, that he had, round his forehead, a flap on which were embroidered a couple of dragons issuing from the sea, that he wore a white archery-sleeved robe, ornamented with dragons, and that his waist was encircled by a silver belt, inlaid with pearls; that his face resembled vernal flowers and that his eyes were like drops of lacquer.
Shih Jung smiled. "Your name is," he said, "no trumped-up story; for you, verily, resemble a precious gem; but where's the valuable trinket you had in your mouth?" he inquired.
As soon as Pao-yue heard this inquiry, he hastened to produce the jade from inside his clothes and to hand it over to Shih Jung. Shih Jung minutely examined it; and having also read the motto on it, he consequently ascertained whether it was really efficacious or not.
"It's true that it's said to be," Pao-yue promptly explained, "but it hasn't yet been put to the test."
Shih Jung extolled it with unbounded praise, and, as he did so, he set the variegated tassels in proper order, and, with his own hands, attached it on to Pao-yue's neck. Taking also his hand in his, he inquired of Pao-yue what was his age? and what books he was reading at present, to each of which questions Pao-yue gave suitable answer.
Shih Jung perceiving the perspicacity of his speech and the propriety of his utterances, simultaneously turned towards Chia Chen and observed with a smile on his face: "Your worthy son is, in very truth, like the young of a dragon or like the nestling of a phoenix! and this isn't an idle compliment which I, a despicable prince, utter in your venerable presence! But how much more glorious will be, in the future, the voice of the young phoenix than that of the old phoenix, it isn't easy to ascertain."
Chia Chen forced a smile: "My cur-like son," he replied, "cannot presume to such bountiful praise and golden commendation; but if, by the virtue of your Highness' excess of happiness, he does indeed realise your words, he will be a source of joy to us all!"
"There's one thing, however," continued Shih Jung; "with the excellent abilities which your worthy scion possesses, he's sure, I presume, to be extremely loved by her dowager ladyship, (his grandmother), and by all classes. But for young men of our age it's a great drawback to be doated upon, for with over-fondness, we cannot help utterly frustrating the benefits of education. When I, a despicable prince, was young, I walked in this very track, and I presume that your honourable son cannot likewise but do the same. By remaining at home, your worthy scion will find it difficult to devote his attention to study; and he will not reap any harm, were he to come, at frequent intervals, to my humble home; for though my deserts be small, I nevertheless enjoy the great honour of the acquaintance of all the scholars of note in the Empire, so that, whenever any of them visit the capital, not one of them is there who does not lower his blue eyes upon me. Hence it is that in my mean abode, eminent worthies rendezvous; and were your esteemed son to come, as often as he can, and converse with them and meet them, his knowledge would, in that case, have every opportunity of making daily strides towards improvement."
Chia Chen speedily bent his body and expressed his acquiescence, by way of reply; whereupon Shih Jung went further, and taking off from his wrist a chaplet of pearls, he presented it to Pao-yue.
"This is the first time we meet," he observed. "Our meeting was so unexpected that I have no suitable congratulatory present to offer you. This was conferred upon me by His Majesty, and is a string of chaplet-pearls, scented with Ling Ling, which will serve as a temporary token of respectful congratulations."
Pao-yue hastened to receive it from his hands, and turning round, he reverently presented it to Chia Chen. Chia Chen and Pao-yue jointly returned thanks; and forthwith Chia She, Chia Chen and the rest came forward in a body, and requested the Prince to turn his chair homewards.
"The departed," expostulated Shih Jung, "has already ascended the spiritual regions, and is no more a mortal being in this dusty world exposed to vicissitude like you and I. Although a mean prince like me has been the recipient of the favour of the Emperor, and has undeservedly been called to the princely inheritance, how could I presume to go before the spiritual hearse and return home?"
Chia She and the others, perceiving how persistent he was in his refusal had no course but to take their leave, express their sense of gratitude and to rejoin the cortege. They issued orders to their servants to stop the band, and to hush the music, and making the procession go by, they at length left the way clear for Shih Jung to prosecute his way.
But we will now leave him and resume our account of the funeral of the Ning mansion. All along its course the road was plunged in unusual commotion. As soon as they reached the city gates Chia She, Chia Cheng, Chia Chen, and the others again received donations from all their fellow officers and subordinates, in sacrificial sheds erected by their respective families, and after they returned thanks to one after another, they eventually issued from the city walls, and proceeded eventually along the highway, in the direction of the Temple of the Iron Fence.
Chia Chen, at this time, went, together with Chia Jung, up to all their seniors, and pressed them to get into their sedan chairs, and to ride their horses; and Chia She and all of the same age as himself were consequently induced to mount into their respective carriages or chairs. Chia Chen and those of the same generation were likewise about to ride their horses, when lady Feng, through her solicitude on Pao-yue's account, gave way to fears lest now that they had reached the open country, he should do as he pleased, and not listen to the words of any of the household, and lest Chia Chen should not be able to keep him in check; and, as she dreaded that he might go astray, she felt compelled to bid a youth call him to her; and Pao-yue had no help but to appear before her curricle.
"My dear brother," lady Feng remarked smiling, "you are a respectable person, and like a girl in your ways, and shouldn't imitate those monkeys on horseback! do get down and let both you and I sit together in this carriage; and won't that be nice?"
At these words, Pao-yue readily dismounted and climbed up into the carriage occupied by lady Feng; and they both talked and laughed, as they continued their way.
But not a long time elapsed before two men, on horseback, were seen approaching from the opposite direction. Coming straight up to lady Feng's vehicle they dismounted, and said, as they leaned on the sides of her carriage, "There's a halting place here, and will it not please your ladyship to have a rest and change?"
Lady Feng directed them to ask the two ladies Hsing and Wang what they would like to do, and the two men explained: "These ladies have signified that they had no desire to rest, and they wish your ladyship to suit your convenience."
Lady Feng speedily issued orders that they should have a rest, before they prosecuted their way, and the servant youth led the harnessed horses through the crowd of people and came towards the north, while Pao-yue, from inside the carriage, urgently asked that Mr. Ch'in should be requested to come.
Ch'in Chung was at this moment on horseback following in the track of his father's carriage, when unexpectedly he caught sight of Pao-yue's page, come at a running pace and invite him to have some refreshment. Ch'in Chung perceived from a distance that the horse, which Pao-yue had been riding, walked behind lady Feng's vehicle, as it went towards the north, with its saddle and bridles all piled up, and readily concluding that Pao-yue must be in the same carriage with that lady, he too turned his horse and came over in haste and entered, in their company, the door of a farm-house.
This dwelling of the farmer's did not contain many rooms so that the women and girls had nowhere to get out of the way; and when the village lasses and country women perceived the bearing and costumes of lady Feng, Pao-yue, and Ch'in Chung, they were inclined to suspect that celestial beings had descended into the world.
Lady Feng entered a thatched house, and, in the first place, asked Pao-yue and the rest to go out and play. Pao-yue took the hint, and, along with Ch'in Chung, he led off the servant boys and went to romp all over the place.
The various articles in use among the farmers they had not seen before, with the result that after Pao-yue had inspected them, he thought them all very strange; but he could neither make out their names nor their uses. But among the servant boys, there were those who knew, and they explained to them, one after another, what they were called, as well as what they were for. As Pao-yue, after this explanation, nodded his head; "It isn't strange," he said, "that an old writer has this line in his poetical works, 'Who can realise that the food in a bowl is, grain by grain, all the fruit of labour.' This is indeed so!" As he spoke, they had come into another house; and at the sight of a spinning wheel on a stove-bed, they thought it still more strange and wonderful, but the servant boys again told them that it was used for spinning the yarn to weave cloth with, and Pao-yue speedily jumping on to the stove-bed, set to work turning the wheel for the sake of fun, when a village lass of about seventeen or eighteen years of age came forward, and asked them not to meddle with it and spoil it.
The servant boys promptly stopped her interference; but Pao-yue himself desisted, as he added: "It's because I hadn't seen one before that I came to try it for fun."
"You people can't do it," rejoined the lass, "let me turn it for you to see."
Ch'in Chung secretly pulled Pao-yue and remarked, "It's great fun in this village!" but Pao-yue gave him a nudge and observed, "If you talk nonsense again, I'll beat you." Watching intently, as he uttered these words, the village girl who started reeling the thread, and presented, in very truth, a pretty sight. But suddenly an old woman from the other side gave a shout. "My girl Secunda, come over at once;" and the lass discarded the spinning-wheel and hastily went on her way.
Pao-yue was the while feeling disappointed and unhappy, when he espied a servant, whom lady Feng had sent, come and call them both in. Lady Feng had washed her hands and changed her costume; and asked him whether he would change or not, and Pao-yue, having replied "No! it doesn't matter after all if I don't change," the female attendants served tea, cakes and fruits and also poured the scented tea. Lady Feng and the others drank their tea, and waiting until they had put the various articles by, and made all the preparations, they promptly started to get into their carriages. Outside, Wang Erh had got ready tips and gave them to the people of the farm, and the farm women and all the inmates went up to them to express their gratitude; but when Pao-yue came to look carefully, he failed to see anything of the lass who had reeled the thread. But they had not gone far before they caught sight of this girl Secunda coming along with a small child in her arms, who, they concluded, was her young brother, laughing and chatting, in company with a few young girls.
Pao-yue could not suppress the voice of love, but being seated in the carriage, he was compelled to satisfy himself by following her with his eyes. Soon however the vehicle sped on as rapidly as a cloud impelled by the wind, so that when he turned his head round, there was already no vestige to be seen of her; but, while they were bandying words, they had unexpectedly overtaken the great concourse of the cortege.
Likewise, at an early stage men were stationed ahead, with Buddhist drums and gold cymbals, with streamers, and jewelled coverings; and the whole company of bonzes, belonging to the Iron Fence Temple, had already been drawn out in a line by the sides of the road. In a short while, they reached the interior of the temple, where additional sacrifices were offered and Buddhistic services performed; and where altars had again been erected to burn incense on. The coffin was deposited in a side room of the inner court; and Pao Chu got ready a bed-room in which she could keep her watch.
In the outer apartments, Chia Chen did the honours among the whole party of relatives and friends, some of whom asked to be allowed to stay for their meals, while others at this stage took their leave. And after they had one by one returned thanks, the dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts and barons, each in respective batches, (got up to go,) and they kept on leaving from between 1 and 3 p.m. before they had finally all dispersed.
In the inner Chambers, the ladies were solely entertained and attended to by lady Feng. First to make a move were the consorts of officials; and noon had also come, by the time the whole party of them had taken their departure. Those that remained were simply a few relatives of the same clan and others like them, who eventually left after the completion of the three days' rationalistic liturgies.
The two ladies Hsing and Wang, well aware at this time that lady Feng could on no account return home, desired to enter the city at once; and madame Wang wanted to take Pao-yue home; but Pao-yue, who had, on an unexpected occasion, come out into the country, entertained, of course, no wish to go back; and he would agree to nothing else than to stay behind with lady Feng, so that madame Wang had no alternative but to hand him over to her charge and to start.
This Temple of the Iron Fence had, in fact, been erected in days gone by, at the expense of the two dukes Ning and Jung; and there still remained up to these days, acres of land, from which were derived the funds for incense and lights for such occasions, on which the coffins of any members, old or young, (who died) in the capital, had to be deposited in this temple; and the inner and outer houses, in this compound were all kept in readiness and good order, for the accommodation of those who formed part of the cortege.
At this time, as it happened, the descendants mustered an immense crowd, and among them were poor and rich of various degrees, or with likes and dislikes diametrically opposed. There were those, who, being in straitened circumstances at home, and easily contented, readily took up their quarters in the temple. And there were those with money and position, and with extravagant ideas, who maintained that the accommodation in the temple was not suitable, and, of course, went in search of additional quarters, either in country houses, or in convents, where they could have their meals and retire, after the ceremonies were over.
On the occasion of Mrs. Ch'in's funeral, all the members of the clan put up temporarily in the Iron Fence Temple; lady Feng alone looked down upon it as inconvenient, and consequently despatched a servant to go and tell Ch'ing Hsue, a nun in the Bread Convent, to empty two rooms for her to go and live in.
This Bread Convent had at one time been styled the Shui Yueh nunnery (water moon); but as good bread was made in that temple, it gave rise to this nickname.
This convent was not very distant from the Temple of the Iron Fence, so that as soon as the bonzes brought their functions to a close, and the sacrifice of evening was offered, Chia Chen asked Chia Jung to request lady Feng to retire to rest; and as lady Feng perceived that there still remained several sisters-in-law to keep company to the female relatives, she readily, of her own accord, took leave of the whole party, and, along with Pao-yue and Ch'in Chung, came to the Water Moon Convent.
Ch'in Yeh, it must be noticed, was advanced in years and a victim to many ailments, so that he was unable to remain in the temple long, and he bade Ch'in Chung tarry until the coffin had been set in its resting place, with the result that Ch'in Chung came along, at the same time as lady Feng and Pao-yue, to the Water Moon Convent, where Ch'ing Hsue appeared, together with two neophytes, Chih Shan and Chih Neng, to receive them. After they had exchanged greetings, lady Feng and the others entered the "chaste" apartments to change their clothes and wash their hands; and when they had done, as she perceived how much taller in stature Chih Neng had grown and how much handsomer were her features, she felt prompted to inquire, "How is it that your prioress and yourselves haven't been all these days as far as our place?"
"It's because during these days we haven't had any time which we could call our own," explained Ch'ing Hsue. "Owing to the birth of a son in Mr. Hu's mansion, dame Hu sent over about ten taels and asked that we should invite several head-nuns to read during three days the service for the churching of women, with the result that we've been so very busy and had so little leisure, that we couldn't come over to pay our respects to your ladyship."
But leaving aside the old nun, who kept lady Feng company, we will now return to the two lads Pao-yue and Ch'in Chung. They were up to their pranks in the main building of the convent, when seeing Chih Neng come over: "Here's Neng Erh," Pao-yue exclaimed with a smile.
"Why notice a creature like her?" remarked Ch'in Chung; to which Pao-yue rejoined laughingly: "Don't be sly! why then did you the other day, when you were in the old lady's rooms, and there was not a soul present, hold her in your arms? and do you want to fool me now ?"
"There was nothing of the kind," observed Ch'in Chung smiling.
"Whether there was or not," replied Pao-yue, "doesn't concern me; but if you will stop her and tell her to pour a cup of tea and bring it to me to drink, I'll then keep hands off."
"This is indeed very strange!" Ch'in Chung answered laughing; "do you fear that if you told her to pour you one, that she wouldn't; and what need is there that I should tell her?"
"If I ask her," Pao-yue observed, "to pour it, she wouldn't be as ready as she would were you to tell her about it."
Ch'in Chung had no help but to speak. "Neng Erh!" he said, "bring a cup of tea."
This Neng Erh had, since her youth, been in and out of the Jung mansion, so that there was no one that she did not know; and she had also, time after time, romped and laughed with Pao-yue and Ch'in Chung. Being now grown up she gradually came to know the import of love, and she readily took a fancy to Ch'in Chung, who was an amorous being. Ch'in Chung too returned her affection, on account of her good looks; and, although he and she had not had any very affectionate tete-a-tetes, they had, however, long ago come to understand each other's feelings and wishes.
Chih Neng walked away and returned after having poured the tea.
"Give it to me," Ch'in Chung cried out smirkingly; while Pao-yue likewise shouted: "Give it to me."
Chih Neng compressed her lips and sneeringly rejoined, "Are you going to have a fight even over a cup of tea? Is it forsooth likely that there's honey in my hand?"
Pao-yue was the first to grasp and take over the cup, but while drinking it, he was about to make some inquiry, when he caught sight of Chih Shan, who came and called Chih Neng away to go and lay the plates with fruit on the table. Not much time elapsed before she came round to request the two lads to go and have tea and refreshments; but would they eat such things as were laid before them? They simply sat for a while and came out again and resumed their play.
Lady Feng too stayed for a few moments, and then returned, with the old nun as her escort, into the "unsullied" rooms to lie down. By this time, all the matrons and married women discovered that there was nothing else to be done, and they dispersed in succession, retiring each to rest. There only remained in attendance several young girls who enjoyed her confidence, and the old nun speedily availed herself of the opportunity to speak. "I've got something," she said, "about which I mean to go to your mansion to beg of madame Wang; but I'll first request you, my lady, to tell me how to set to work."
"What's it?" ascertained lady Feng.
"O-mi-to-fu!" exclaimed the old nun, "It's this; in days gone by, I first lived in the Ch'ang An district. When I became a nun and entered the monastery of Excellent Merit, there lived, at that time, a subscriber, Chang by surname, a very wealthy man. He had a daughter, whose infant name was Chin Ko; the whole family came in the course of that year to the convent I was in, to offer incense, and as luck would have it they met Li Ya-nei, a brother of a secondary wife of the Prefect of the Ch'ang An Prefecture. This Li Ya-nei fell in love at first sight with her, and would wed Chin Ko as his wife. He sent go-betweens to ask her in marriage, but, contrary to his expectations, Chin Ko had already received the engagement presents of the son of the ex-Major of the Ch'ang An Prefecture. The Chang family, on the other hand, were afraid that if they withdrew from the match, the Major would not give up his claim, and they therefore replied that she was already promised to another. But, who would have thought it, this Mr. Li was seriously bent upon marrying the young lady. But while the Chang family were at a loss what plan to devise, and both parties were in a dilemma, the family of the Major came unexpectedly to hear of the news; and without even looking thoroughly into the matter, they there and then had recourse to insult and abuse. 'Is a girl,' they insinuated, 'to be promised to the sons of several families!' And obstinately refusing to allow the restitution of the betrothal presents, they at once had recourse to litigation and brought an action (against the girl's people.) That family was at their wits' end, and had no alternative but to find some one to go to the capital to obtain means of assistance; and, losing all patience, they insisted upon the return of the presents. I believe that the present commander of the troops at Ch'ang An, Mr. Yuen, is on friendly terms with your honourable family, and could one solicit madame Wang to put in a word with Mr. Chia Cheng to send a letter and ask Mr. Yuen to speak to that Major, I have no fear that he will not agree. Should (your ladyship) be willing to take action, the Chang family are even ready to present all they have, though it may entail the ruin of their estate."
"This affair is, it's true, of no great moment," lady Feng replied smiling, after hearing this appeal; "but the only thing is that madame Wang does no longer attend to matters of this nature."
"If madame doesn't heed them," suggested the old nun, "you, my lady, can safely assume the direction."
"I'm neither in need of any money to spend," added lady Feng with a smirk, "nor do I undertake such matters!"
These words did not escape Ching Hsue's ear; they scattered to the winds her vain hopes. After a minute or so she heaved a sigh.
"What you say may be true enough," she remarked; "but the Chang family are also aware that I mean to come and make my appeal to your mansion; and were you now not to manage this affair, the Chang family having no idea that the lack of time prevents any steps being taken and that no importance is attached to their presents, it will appear, on the contrary, as if there were not even this little particle of skill in your household."
At these words lady Feng felt at once inspirited. "You've known of old," she added, "that I've never had any faith in anything concerning retribution in the Court of Judgment in the unseen or in hell; and that whatever I say that I shall do, that I do; tell them therefore to bring three thousand taels; and I shall then remedy this grievance of theirs."
The old nun upon hearing this remark was so exceedingly delighted, that she precipitately exclaimed, "They've got it, they've got it! there will be no difficulty about it."
"I'm not," lady Feng went on to add, "like those people, who afford help and render assistance with an eye to money; these three thousand taels will be exclusively devoted for the travelling expenses of those youths, who will be sent to deliver messages and for them to make a few cash for their trouble; but as for me I don't want even so much as a cash. In fact I'm able at this very moment to produce as much as thirty thousand taels."
The old nun assented with alacrity, and said by way of reply, "If that be so, my lady, do display your charitable bounty at once to-morrow and bring things to an end."
"Just see," remarked lady Feng, "how hard pressed I am; which place can do without me? but since I've given you my word, I shall, needless to say, speedily bring the matter to a close."
"A small trifle like this," hinted the old nun, "would, if placed in the hands of any one else, flurry her to such an extent that she would be quite at a loss what to do; but in your hands, my lady, even if much more were superadded, it wouldn't require as much exertion as a wave of your hand. But the proverb well says: 'that those who are able have much to do;' for madame Wang, seeing that your ladyship manages all concerns, whether large or small, properly, has still more shoved the burden of everything on your shoulders, my lady; but you should, it's but right, also take good care of your precious health."
This string of flattery pleased lady Feng more and more, so that heedless of fatigue she went on to chat with still greater zest.
But, thing unthought of, Ch'in Chung availed himself of the darkness, as well as of the absence of any one about, to come in quest of Chih Neng. As soon as he reached the room at the back, he espied Chih Neng all alone inside washing the tea cups; and Ch'in Chung forthwith seized her in his arms and implanted kisses on her cheek. Chih Neng got in a dreadful state, and stamping her feet, cried, "What are you up to?" and she was just on the point of shouting out, when Ch'in Chung rejoined: "My dear girl! I'm nearly dead from impatience, and if you don't again to-day accept my advances, I shall this very moment die on this spot."
"What you're bent upon," added Chih Neng, "can't be effected; not unless you wait until I've left this den and parted company from these people, when it will be safe enough."
"This is of course easy enough!" remonstrated Ch'in Chung; "but the distant water cannot extinguish the close fire!"
As he spoke, with one puff, he put out the light, plunging the whole room in pitch darkness; and seizing Chih Neng, he pushed her on to the stove-couch and started a violent love affair. Chih Neng could not, though she strained every nerve, escape his importunities; nor could she very well shout, so that she felt compelled to humour him; but while he was in the midst of his ecstatic joy, they perceived a person walk in, who pressed both of them down, without uttering even so much as a sound, and plunged them both in such a fright that their very souls flew away and their spirits wandered from their bodies; and it was after the third party had burst out laughing with a spurting sound that they eventually became aware that it was Pao-yue; when, springing to his feet impetuously, Ch'in Chung exclaimed full of resentment, "What's this that you're up to!"
"If you get your monkey up," retorted Pao-yue, "why, then let you and I start bawling out;" which so abashed Chih Neng that she availed herself of the gloomy light to make her escape; while Pao-yue had dragged Ch'in Chung out of the room and asked, "Now then, do you still want to play the bully!"
"My dear fellow," pleaded Ch'in Chung smilingly, "whatever you do don't shout out and let every one know; and all you want, I'll agree to."
"We needn't argue just now," Pao-yue observed with a grin; "wait a while, and when all have gone to sleep, we can minutely settle accounts together."
Soon it was time to ease their clothes, and go to bed; and lady Feng occupied the inner room; Ch'in Chung and Pao-yue the outer; while the whole ground was covered with matrons of the household, who had spread their bedding, and sat watching. As lady Feng entertained fears that the jade of Spiritual Perception might be lost, she waited until Pao-yue fell asleep, when having directed a servant to bring it to her, she placed it under the side of her own pillow.
What accounts Pao-yue settled with Ch'in Chung cannot be ascertained; and as in the absence of any positive proof what is known is based upon surmises, we shall not venture to place it on record.
Nothing worth noticing occurred the whole night; but the next day, as soon as the morning dawned, dowager lady Chia and madame Wang promptly despatched servants to come and see how Pao-yue was getting on; and to tell him likewise to put on two pieces of extra clothing, and that if there was nothing to be done it would be better for him to go back.
But was it likely that Pao-yue would be willing to go back? Besides Ch'in Chung, in his inordinate passion for Chih Neng, instigated Pao-yue to entreat lady Feng to remain another day. Lady Feng pondered in her own mind that, although the most important matters connected with the funeral ceremonies had been settled satisfactorily, there were still a few minor details, for which no provision had been made, so that could she avail herself of this excuse to remain another day would she not win from Chia Chen a greater degree of approbation, in the second place, would she not be able further to bring Ch'ing Hsue's business to an issue, and, in the third place, to humour Pao-yue's wish? In view of these three advantages, which would accrue, "All that I had to do, I have done," she readily signified to Pao-yue, "and if you be bent upon running about in here, you'll unavoidably place me in still greater trouble; so that we must for certain start homewards to-morrow."
"My dear cousin, my own dear cousin," urgently entreated Pao-yue, when he heard these words, "let's stay only this one day, and to-morrow we can go back without fail."
They actually spent another night there, and lady Feng availed herself of their stay to give directions that the case which had been entrusted to her the previous day by the old nun should be secretly communicated to Lai Wang Erh. Lai Wang's mind grasped the import of all that was said to him, and, having entered the city with all despatch, he went in search of the gentleman, who acted as secretary (in Mr. Yuen's office), pretending that he had been directed by Mr. Chia Lien to come and ask him to write a letter and to send it that very night to the Ch'ang An magistrate. The distance amounted to no more than one hundred li, so that in the space of two days everything was brought to a satisfactory settlement. The general, whose name was Yuen Kuang, had been for a long time under obligations to the Chia family, so that he naturally could not refuse his co-operation in such small trifles. When he had handed his reply, Wang Erh started on his way back; where we shall leave him and return to lady Feng.
Having spent another day, she on the morrow took leave of the old nun, whom she advised to come to the mansion after the expiry of three days to fetch a reply.
Ch'in Chung and Chih Neng could not, by any means, brook the separation, and they secretly agreed to a clandestine assignation; but to these details we need not allude with any minuteness; sufficient to say that they had no alternative but to bear the anguish and to part.
Lady Feng crossed over again to the temple of the Iron Fence and ascertained how things were progressing. But as Pao Chu was obstinate in her refusal to return home, Chia Chen found himself under the necessity of selecting a few servants to act as her companions. But the reader must listen to what is said in the next chapter by way of explanation.
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