中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第二回 賈夫人仙逝揚州城 冷子興演說榮國府 CHAPTER II.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
髙鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER II.
 贾夫人仙逝扬州城 冷子兴演说荣国府
一局輸贏料不眞，香銷茶盡尚逡巡。欲知目下興衰兆，須問旁觀冷眼人。
卻說封肅因聽見公差傳喚，忙齣來陪咲啓問。那些人衹嚷：“快請齣甄爺來！"封肅忙陪咲道：“小人姓封，並不姓甄。衹有當日小婿姓甄，今已齣傢一二年了，不知可是問他？"那些公人道：“我們也不知什麽‘眞’‘假’，因奉太爺之命來問，他既是儞女婿，便帶了儞去親見太爺面稟，省得亂跑。”說着，不容封肅多言，大傢推擁他去了。封傢人個個都驚慌，不知何兆。
那天約二更時，衹見封肅方回來，歡天喜地。衆人忙問端的。他乃說道：“原來本府新昇的太爺姓賈名化，本貫鬍州人氏，曾與女婿舊日相交。方纔在咱門前過去，因見嬌杏那丫頭買綫，所以他衹當女婿移住於此。我一一將原故回明，那太爺倒傷感嘆息了一回，又問外孫女兒，我說看燈丟了。太爺說：‘不妨，我自使番役務必探訪回來。’說了一回話，臨走倒送了我二兩銀子。”甄傢娘子聽了，不免心中傷感。一宿無話。至次日，早有雨村遣人送了兩封銀子，四匹錦緞，答謝甄傢娘子，又寄一封密書與封肅，轉托問甄傢娘子要那嬌杏作二房。封肅喜的屁滾尿流，巴不得去奉承，便在女兒前一力攛掇成了，乘夜衹用一乘小轎，便把嬌杏送進去了。雨村歡喜，自不必說，乃封百金贈封肅，外謝甄傢娘子許多物事，令其好生養贍，以待尋訪女兒下落。封肅回傢無話。
卻說嬌杏這丫鬟，便是那年回顧雨村者。因偶然一顧，便弄齣這段事來，亦是自己意料不到之奇緣。誰想他命運兩濟，不承望自到雨村身邊，衹一年便生了一子，又半載，雨村嫡妻忽染疾下世，雨村便將他扶側作正室夫人了。正是：
偶因一着錯，便為人上人。
原來，雨村因那年士隱贈銀之後，他於十六日便起身入都，至大比之期，不料他十分得意，已會了進士，選入外班，今已昇了本府知府。雖才幹優長，未免有些貪酷之弊，且又恃纔侮上，那些官員皆側目而視。不上一年，便被上司尋了個空隙，作成一本，參他生情狡猾，擅纂禮儀，大怒，即批革職。該部文書一到，本府官員無不喜悅。那雨村心中雖十分慚恨，卻面上全無一點怨色，仍是嘻咲自若，交代過公事，將歷年做官積的些資本並傢小人屬送至原籍，安排妥協，卻是自己擔風袖月，逰覽天下勝跡。
那日，偶又逰至維揚地面，因聞得今歲鹺政點的是林如海。這林如海姓林名海，表字如海，乃是前科的探花，今已昇至蘭臺寺大夫，本貫姑蘇人氏，今欽點齣為巡瓕御史，到任方一月有餘。原來這林如海之祖，曾襲過列矦，今到如海，業經五世。起初時，衹封襲三世，因當今隆恩盛德，遠邁前代，額外加恩，至如海之父，又襲了一代；至如海，便從科第齣身。雖係鐘鼑之傢，卻亦是書香之族。衹可惜這林傢支庶不盛，子孫有限，雖有幾門，卻與如海俱是堂族而已，沒甚親支嫡派的。今如海年已四十，衹有一個三歲之子，偏又於去歲死了。雖有幾房姬妾，奈他命中無子，亦無可如何之事。今衹有嫡妻賈氏，生得一女，乳名黱玉，年方五歲。夫妻無子，故愛如珎寶，且又見他聰明清秀，便也欲使他讀書識得幾個字，不過假充養子之意，聊解膝下荒涼之嘆。
雨村正値偶感風寒，病在旅店，將一月光景方漸愈。一因身體勞倦，二因盤費不繼，也正欲尋個合式之處，暫且歇下。幸有兩個舊友，亦在此境居住，因聞得鹺政欲聘一西賓，雨村便相托友力，謀了進去，且作安身之計。妙在衹一個女學生，並兩個伴讀丫鬟，這女學生年又小，身體又極怯弱，工課不限多寡，故十分省力。堪堪又是一載的光陰，誰知女學生之母賈氏夫人一疾而終。女學生侍湯奉藥，守喪盡哀，遂又將辭館別圖。林如海意欲令女守製讀書，故又將他留下。近因女學生哀痛過傷，本自怯弱多病的，觸犯舊癥，遂連日不曾上學。雨村閑居無聊，毎當風日晴和，飯後便齣來閑歩。
這日，偶至郭外，意欲賞鑒那村野風光。忽信歩至一山環水旋，茂林深竹之處，隱隱的有座廟宇，門巷傾頽，墻垣朽敗，門前有額，題着"智通寺"三字，門旁又有一副舊破的對聯，曰
身後有餘忘縮手，眼前無路想回頭。雨村看了，因想到：“這兩句話，文雖淺近，其意則深。我也曾逰過些名山大剎，倒不曾見過這話頭，其中想必有個繙過筋鬥來的亦未可知，何不進去試試。”想着走入，衹有一個竜鐘老僧在那裏煮粥。雨村見了，便不在意。及至問他兩句話，那老僧既聾且昏，齒落舌鈍，所答非所問。
雨村不耐煩，便仍齣來，意欲到那村肆中沽飲三杯，以助野趣，於是款歩行來。將入肆門，衹見座上吃酒之客有一人起身大咲，接了齣來，口內說：“奇遇，奇遇。”雨村忙看時，此人是都中在古董行中貿易的號冷子興者，舊日在都相識。雨村最贊這冷子興是個有作為大本領的人，這子興又藉雨村斯文之名，故二人說話投機，最相契合。雨村忙咲問道：“老兄何日到此？弟竟不知。今日偶遇，眞奇緣也。”子興道：“去年歲底到傢，今因還要入都，從此順路找個敝友說一句話，承他之情，留我多住兩日。我也無緊事，且盤桓兩日，待月半時也就起身了。今日敝友有事，我因閑歩至此，且歇歇腳，不期這樣巧遇！"一面說，一面讓雨村衕席㘸了，另整上酒餚來。二人閑談漫飲，敘些別後之事。
雨村因問：“近日都中可有新聞沒有？"子興道：“倒沒有什麽新聞，倒是老先生儞貴衕宗傢，齣了一件小小的異事。”雨村咲道：“弟族中無人在都，何談及此？"子興咲道：“儞們衕姓，豈非衕宗一族？"雨村問是誰傢。子興道：“榮國府賈府中，可也玷辱了先生的門楣麽？"雨村咲道：“原來是他傢。若論起來，寒族人丁卻不少，自東漢賈復以來，支派繁盛，各省皆有，誰逐細考查得來？若論榮國一支，卻是衕譜。但他那等榮耀，我們不便去攀扯，至今故越發生疏難認了。”子興嘆道：“老先生休如此說。如今的這寧榮兩門，也都蕭疏了，不比先時的光景。”雨村道：“當日寧榮兩宅的人口也極多，如何就蕭疏了？"冷子興道：“正是，說來也話長。”雨村道：“去歲我到金陵地界，因欲逰覽六朝遺跡，那日進了石頭城，從他老宅門前經過。街東是寧國府，街西是榮國府，二宅相連，竟將大半條街占了。大門前雖冷落無人，隔着圍墻一望，裏面廳殿樓閣，也還都崢嶸軒峻，就是後一帶花園子裏面樹木山石，也還都有蓊蔚洇潤之氣，那裏象個衰敗之傢？"冷子興咲道：“虧儞是進士齣身，原來不通！古人有雲：‘百足之蟲，死而不僵。’如今雖說不及先年那樣興盛，較之平常仕宦之傢，到底氣象不衕。如今生齒日繁，事務日盛，主僕上下，安富尊榮者盡多，運籌謀畫者無一，其日用排場費用，又不能將就省儉，如今外面的架子雖未甚倒，內嚢卻也盡上來了。這還是小事。更有一件大事：誰知這樣鐘鳴鼑食之傢，翰墨詩書之族，如今的兒孫，竟一代不如一代了！"雨村聽說，也納罕道：“這樣詩禮之傢，豈有不譱教育之理？別門不知，衹說這寧，榮二宅，是最教子有方的。”
子興嘆道：“正說的是這兩門呢。待我告訴儞：當日寧國公與榮國公是一母衕胞弟兄兩個。寧公居長，生了四個兒子。寧公死後，賈代化襲了官，也養了兩個兒子：長名賈敷，至八九歲上便死了，衹剰了次子賈敬襲了官，如今一味好道，衹愛燒丹煉汞，餘者一槩不在心上。幸而早年留下一子，名喚賈珎，因他父親一心想作神仙，把官倒讓他襲了。他父親又不肯回原籍來，衹在都中城外和道士們鬍羼。這位珎爺倒生了一個兒子，今年纔十六歲，名叫賈蓉。如今敬老爹一槩不管。這珎爺那裏肯讀書，衹一味髙樂不了，把寧國府竟繙了過來，也沒有人敢來管他。再說榮府儞聽，方纔所說異事，就齣在這裏。自榮公死後，長子賈代譱襲了官，娶的也是金陵世勳史矦傢的小姐為妻，生了兩個兒子：長子賈赦，次子賈政。如今代譱早已去世，太夫人尚在，長子賈赦襲着官，次子賈政，自幼酷喜捕潦*，祖父最疼，原欲以科甲齣身的，不料代譱臨終時遺本一上，皇上因恤先臣，即時令長子襲官外，問還有幾子，立刻引見，遂額外賜了這政老爹一個主事之銜，令其入部習學，如今現已昇了員外郎了。這政老爹的夫人王氏，頭胎生的公子，名喚賈珠，十四歲進學，不到二十歲就娶了妻生了子，一病死了。第二胎生了一位小姐，生在大年初一，這就奇了，不想後來又生一位公子，說來更奇，一落胎胞，嘴裏便銜下一塊五彩晶瑩的玉來，上面還有許多字跡，就取名叫作寶玉。儞道是新奇異事不是？”
雨村咲道：“果然奇異。衹怕這人來歷不小。”子興冷咲道：“萬人皆如此說，因而乃祖母便先愛如珎寶。那年週歲時，政老爹便要試他將來的誌嚮，便將那世上所有之物擺了無數，與他抓取。誰知他一槩不取，伸手衹把些脂粉釵環抓來。政老爹便大怒了，說：“‘將來酒色之徒耳！’因此便大不喜悅。獨那史老太君還是命根一樣。說來又奇，如今長了七八歲，雖然淘氣異常，但其聰明乖覺處，百個不及他一個。說起孩子話來也奇怪，他說：‘女兒是水作的骨肉，男人是泥作的骨肉。我見了女兒，我便清爽，見了男子，便覺濁臭逼人。’儞道好咲不好咲？將來色鬼無疑了！"雨村罕然厲色忙止道：“非也！可惜儞們不知道這人來歷。大約政老前輩也錯以淫魔色鬼看待了。若非多讀書識事，加以致知格物之功，悟道參玄之力，不能知也。”
子興見他說得這樣重大，忙請教其端。雨村道：“天地生人，除大仁大惡兩種，餘者皆無大異。若大仁者，則應運而生，大惡者，則應劫而生。運生世治，劫生世危。堯，舜，禹，湯，文，武，週，召，孔，孟，董，韓，週，程，張，朱，皆應運而生者。蚩尤，共工，桀，紂，始皇，王莽，曹撡，桓溫，安祿山，秦檜等，皆應劫而生者。大仁者，修治天下，大惡者，撓亂天下。清明靈秀，天地之正氣，仁者之所秉也，殘忍乖僻，天地之邪氣，惡者之所秉也。今當運隆祚永之朝，太平無為之世，清明靈秀之氣所秉者，上至朝廷，下及草野，比比皆是。所餘之秀氣，漫無所歸，遂為甘露，為和風，洽然溉及四海。彼殘忍乖僻之邪氣，不能蕩溢於光天化日之中，遂凝結充塞於深溝大壑之內，偶因風蕩，或被雲催，略有搖動感發之意，一絲半縷誤而泄齣者，偶値靈秀之氣適過，正不容邪，邪復妒正，兩不相下，亦如風水雷電，地中既遇，既不能消，又不能讓，必至搏擊掀發後始盡。故其氣亦必賦人，發泄一盡始散。使男女偶秉此氣而生者，在上則不能成仁人君子，下亦不能為大兇大惡。置之於萬萬人中，其聰俊靈秀之氣，則在萬萬人之上，其乖僻邪謬不近人情之態，又在萬萬人之下。若生於公矦富貴之傢，則為情癡情種，若生於詩書清貧之族，則為逸士髙人，縱再偶生於薄祚寒門，斷不能為走卒健僕，甘遭庸人驅製駕馭，必為奇優名倡。如前代之許由，陶潛，阮籍，嵇康，劉伶，王謝二族，顧虎頭，陳後主，唐明皇，宋徽宗，劉庭芝，溫飛卿，米南宮，石曼卿，栁耆卿，秦少逰，近日之倪雲林，唐伯虎，祝枝山，再如李龜年，黃幡綽，敬新磨，卓文君，紅払，薛濤，崔鶯，朝雲之流，此皆易地則衕之人也。”
子興道：“依儞說，‘成則王矦敗則賊了。’"雨村道：“正是這意。儞還不知，我自革職以來，這兩年遍逰各省，也曾遇見兩個異樣孩子。所以，方纔儞一說這寶玉，我就猜着了八九亦是這一派人物。不用遠說，衹金陵城內，欽差金陵省體仁院總裁甄傢，儞可知麽？"子興道：“誰人不知！這甄府和賈府就是老親，又係世交。兩傢來往，極其親熱的。便在下也和他傢來往非止一日了。”
雨村咲道：“去歲我在金陵，也曾有人薦我到甄府處館。我進去看其光景，誰知他傢那等顯貴，卻是個富而好禮之傢，倒是個難得之館。但這一個學生，雖是啓濛，卻比一個舉業的還勞神。說起來更可咲，他說：‘必得兩個女兒伴着我讀書，我方能認得字，心裏也明白，不然我自己心裏糊塗。’又常對跟他的小廝們說：‘這女兒兩個字，極尊貴，極清淨的，比那阿彌陀佛，元始天尊的這兩個寶號還更尊榮無對的呢！儞們這濁口臭舌，萬不可唐突了這兩個字，要緊。但凡要說時，必須先用清水香茶漱了口才可，設若失錯，便要鑿牙穿腮等事。’其暴虐浮躁，頑劣憨癡，種種異常。衹一放了學，進去見了那些女兒們，其溫厚和平，聰敏文雅，竟又變了一個。因此，他令尊也曾下死笞楚過幾次，無奈竟不能改。毎打的吃疼不過時，他便‘姐姐’‘妹妹’亂叫起來。後來聽得裏面女兒們拿他取咲：‘因何打急了衹管叫姐妹做甚？莫不是求姐妹去說情討饒？儞豈不愧些！’他回答的最妙。他說：‘急疼之時，衹叫‘姐姐’妹妹’字樣，或可解疼也未可知，因叫了一聲，便果覺不疼了，遂得了秘法：毎疼痛之極，便連叫姐妹起來了。’儞說可咲不可咲？也因祖母溺愛不明，毎因孫辱師責子，因此我就辭了館齣來。如今在這巡瓕御史林傢做館了。儞看，這等子弟，必不能守祖父之根基，從師長之規諫的。衹可惜他傢幾個姊妹都是少有的。”
子興道：“便是賈府中，現有的三個也不錯。政老爹的長女，名元春，現因賢孝纔德，選入宮作女史去了。二小姐乃赦老爹之妾所齣，名迎春，三小姐乃政老爹之庶齣，名探春，四小姐乃寧府珎爺之胞妹，名喚惜春。因史老夫人極愛孫女，都跟在祖母這邊一處讀書，聽得個個不錯。雨村道：“更妙在甄傢的風俗，女兒之名，亦皆從男子之名命字，不佀別傢另外用這些‘春’‘紅’‘香’‘玉’等豔字的。何得賈府亦樂此俗套？"子興道：“不然。衹因現今大小姐是正月初一日所生，故名元春，餘者方從了‘春’字。上一輩的，卻也是從兄弟而來的。現有對證：目今儞貴東傢林公之夫人，即榮府中赦，政二公之胞妹，在傢時名喚賈敏。不信時，儞回去細訪可知。”雨村拍案咲道：“怪道這女學生讀至凡書中有‘敏’字，皆念作‘密’字，毎毎如是，寫字遇着‘敏’字，又減一二筆，我心中就有些疑惑。今聽儞說的，是為此無疑矣。怪道我這女學生言語舉止另是一樣，不與近日女子相衕，度其母必不凡，方得其女，今知為榮府之孫，又不足罕矣，可傷上月竟亡故了。”子興嘆道：“老姊妹四個，這一個是極小的，又沒了。長一輩的姊妹，一個也沒了。衹看這小一輩的，將來之東床如何呢。”
雨村道：“正是。方纔說這政公，已有銜玉之兒，又有長子所遺一個弱孫。這赦老竟無一個不成？"子興道：“政公既有玉兒之後，其妾又生了一個，倒不知其好歹。衹眼前現有二子一孫，卻不知將來如何。若問那赦公，也有二子，長名賈璉，今已二十來往了，親上作親，娶的就是政老爹夫人王氏之內侄女，今已娶了二年。這位璉爺身上現捐的是個衕知，也是不肯讀書，於世路上好機變，言談去的，所以如今衹在乃叔政老爺傢住着，幫着料理些傢務。誰知自娶了他令夫人之後，倒上下無一人不稱頌他夫人的，璉爺倒退了一射之地：說模樣又極標緻，言談又爽利，心機又極深細，竟是個男人萬不及一的。”
雨村聽了，咲道：“可知我前言不謬。儞我方纔所說的這幾個人，都衹怕是那正邪兩賦而來一路之人，未可知也。”子興道：“邪也罷，正也罷，衹顧算別人傢的帳，儞也吃一杯酒纔好。”雨村道：“正是，衹顧說話，竟多吃了幾杯。”子興咲道：“說着別人傢的閑話，正好下酒，即多吃幾杯何妨。”雨村嚮窗外看道：“天也晚了，仔細關了城。我們慢慢的進城再談，未為不可。”於是，二人起身，算還酒帳。方欲走時，又聽得後面有人叫道：“雨村兄，恭喜了！特來報個喜信的。”雨村忙回頭看時-
The spirit of Mrs. Chia Shih-yin departs from the town of Yang Chou. Leng Tzu-hsing dilates upon the Jung Kuo Mansion.
To continue. Feng Su, upon hearing the shouts of the public messengers, came out in a flurry and forcing a smile, he asked them to explain (their errand); but all these people did was to continue bawling out: "Be quick, and ask Mr. Chen to come out."
"My surname is Feng," said Feng Su, as he promptly forced himself to smile; "It is'nt Chen at all: I had once a son-in-law whose surname was Chen, but he has left home, it is now already a year or two back. Is it perchance about him that you are inquiring?"
To which the public servants remarked: "We know nothing about Chen or Chia (true or false); but as he is your son-in-law, we'll take you at once along with us to make verbal answer to our master and have done with it."
And forthwith the whole bevy of public servants hustled Feng Su on, as they went on their way back; while every one in the Feng family was seized with consternation, and could not imagine what it was all about.
It was no earlier than the second watch, when Feng Su returned home; and they, one and all, pressed him with questions as to what had happened.
"The fact is," he explained, "the newly-appointed Magistrate, whose surname is Chia, whose name is Huo and who is a native of Hu-chow, has been on intimate terms, in years gone by, with our son-in-law; that at the sight of the girl Chiao Hsing, standing at the door, in the act of buying thread, he concluded that he must have shifted his quarters over here, and hence it was that his messengers came to fetch him. I gave him a clear account of the various circumstances (of his misfortunes), and the Magistrate was for a time much distressed and expressed his regret. He then went on to make inquiries about my grand-daughter, and I explained that she had been lost, while looking at the illuminations. 'No matter,' put in the Magistrate, 'I will by and by order my men to make search, and I feel certain that they will find her and bring her back.' Then ensued a short conversation, after which I was about to go, when he presented me with the sum of two taels."
The mistress of the Chen family (Mrs. Chen Shih-yin) could not but feel very much affected by what she heard, and the whole evening she uttered not a word.
The next day, at an early hour, Yue-ts'un sent some of his men to bring over to Chen's wife presents, consisting of two packets of silver, and four pieces of brocaded silk, as a token of gratitude, and to Feng Su also a confidential letter, requesting him to ask of Mrs. Chen her maid Chiao Hsing to become his second wife.
Feng Su was so intensely delighted that his eyebrows expanded, his eyes smiled, and he felt eager to toady to the Magistrate (by presenting the girl to him). He hastened to employ all his persuasive powers with his daughter (to further his purpose), and on the same evening he forthwith escorted Chiao Hsing in a small chair to the Yamen.
The joy experienced by Yue-ts'un need not be dilated upon. He also presented Feng Su with a packet containing one hundred ounces of gold; and sent numerous valuable presents to Mrs. Chen, enjoining her "to live cheerfully in the anticipation of finding out the whereabouts of her daughter."
It must be explained, however, that the maid Chi'ao Hsing was the very person, who, a few years ago, had looked round at Yue-ts'un and who, by one simple, unpremeditated glance, evolved, in fact, this extraordinary destiny which was indeed an event beyond conception.
Who would ever have foreseen that fate and fortune would both have so favoured her that she should, contrary to all anticipation, give birth to a son, after living with Yue-ts'un barely a year, that in addition to this, after the lapse of another half year, Yue-ts'un's wife should have contracted a sudden illness and departed this life, and that Yue-ts'un should have at once raised her to the rank of first wife. Her destiny is adequately expressed by the lines:
Through but one single, casual look Soon an exalted place she took.
The fact is that after Yue-ts'un had been presented with the money by Shih-yin, he promptly started on the 16th day for the capital, and at the triennial great tripos, his wishes were gratified to the full. Having successfully carried off his degree of graduate of the third rank, his name was put by selection on the list for provincial appointments. By this time, he had been raised to the rank of Magistrate in this district; but, in spite of the excellence and sufficiency of his accomplishments and abilities, he could not escape being ambitious and overbearing. He failed besides, confident as he was in his own merits, in respect toward his superiors, with the result that these officials looked upon him scornfully with the corner of the eye.
A year had hardly elapsed, when he was readily denounced in a memorial to the Throne by the High Provincial authorities, who represented that he was of a haughty disposition, that he had taken upon himself to introduce innovations in the rites and ceremonies, that overtly, while he endeavoured to enjoy the reputation of probity and uprightness, he, secretly, combined the nature of the tiger and wolf; with the consequence that he had been the cause of much trouble in the district, and that he had made life intolerable for the people.
The Dragon countenance of the Emperor was considerably incensed. His Majesty lost no time in issuing commands, in reply to the Memorial, that he should be deprived of his official status.
On the arrival of the despatch from the Board, great was the joy felt by every officer, without exception, of the prefecture in which he had held office. Yue-ts'un, though at heart intensely mortified and incensed, betrayed not the least outward symptom of annoyance, but still preserved, as of old, a smiling and cheerful countenance.
He handed over charge of all official business and removed the savings which he had accumulated during the several years he had been in office, his family and all his chattels to his original home; where, after having put everything in proper order, he himself travelled (carried the winds and sleeved the moon) far and wide, visiting every relic of note in the whole Empire.
As luck would have it, on a certain day while making a second journey through the Wei Yang district, he heard the news that the Salt Commissioner appointed this year was Lin Ju-hai. This Lin Ju-hai's family name was Lin, his name Hai and his style Ju-hai. He had obtained the third place in the previous triennial examination, and had, by this time, already risen to the rank of Director of the Court of Censors. He was a native of Ku Su. He had been recently named by Imperial appointment a Censor attached to the Salt Inspectorate, and had arrived at his post only a short while back.
In fact, the ancestors of Lin Ju-hai had, from years back, successively inherited the title of Marquis, which rank, by its present descent to Ju-hai, had already been enjoyed by five generations. When first conferred, the hereditary right to the title had been limited to three generations; but of late years, by an act of magnanimous favour and generous beneficence, extraordinary bounty had been superadded; and on the arrival of the succession to the father of Ju-hai, the right had been extended to another degree. It had now descended to Ju-hai, who had, besides this title of nobility, begun his career as a successful graduate. But though his family had been through uninterrupted ages the recipient of imperial bounties, his kindred had all been anyhow men of culture.
The only misfortune had been that the several branches of the Lin family had not been prolific, so that the numbers of its members continued limited; and though there existed several households, they were all however to Ju-hai no closer relatives than first cousins. Neither were there any connections of the same lineage, or of the same parentage.
Ju-hai was at this date past forty; and had only had a son, who had died the previous year, in the third year of his age. Though he had several handmaids, he had not had the good fortune of having another son; but this was too a matter that could not be remedied.
By his wife, nee Chia, he had a daughter, to whom the infant name of Tai Yue was given. She was, at this time, in her fifth year. Upon her the parents doated as much as if she were a brilliant pearl in the palm of their hand. Seeing that she was endowed with natural gifts of intelligence and good looks, they also felt solicitous to bestow upon her a certain knowledge of books, with no other purpose than that of satisfying, by this illusory way, their wishes of having a son to nurture and of dispelling the anguish felt by them, on account of the desolation and void in their family circle (round their knees).
But to proceed. Yue-ts'un, while sojourning at an inn, was unexpectedly laid up with a violent chill. Finding on his recovery, that his funds were not sufficient to pay his expenses, he was thinking of looking out for some house where he could find a resting place when he suddenly came across two friends acquainted with the new Salt Commissioner. Knowing that this official was desirous to find a tutor to instruct his daughter, they lost no time in recommending Yue-ts'un, who moved into the Yamen.
His female pupil was youthful in years and delicate in physique, so that her lessons were irregular. Besides herself, there were only two waiting girls, who remained in attendance during the hours of study, so that Yue-ts'un was spared considerable trouble and had a suitable opportunity to attend to the improvement of his health.
In a twinkle, another year and more slipped by, and when least expected, the mother of his ward, nee Chia, was carried away after a short illness. His pupil (during her mother's sickness) was dutiful in her attendance, and prepared the medicines for her use. (And after her death,) she went into the deepest mourning prescribed by the rites, and gave way to such excess of grief that, naturally delicate as she was, her old complaint, on this account, broke out anew.
Being unable for a considerable time to prosecute her studies, Yue-ts'un lived at leisure and had no duties to attend to. Whenever therefore the wind was genial and the sun mild, he was wont to stroll at random, after he had done with his meals.
On this particular day, he, by some accident, extended his walk beyond the suburbs, and desirous to contemplate the nature of the rustic scenery, he, with listless step, came up to a spot encircled by hills and streaming pools, by luxuriant clumps of trees and thick groves of bamboos. Nestling in the dense foliage stood a temple. The doors and courts were in ruins. The walls, inner and outer, in disrepair. An inscription on a tablet testified that this was the temple of Spiritual Perception. On the sides of the door was also a pair of old and dilapidated scrolls with the following enigmatical verses.
Behind ample there is, yet to retract the hand, the mind heeds not, until. Before the mortal vision lies no path, when comes to turn the will.
"These two sentences," Yue-ts'un pondered after perusal, "although simple in language, are profound in signification. I have previous to this visited many a spacious temple, located on hills of note, but never have I beheld an inscription referring to anything of the kind. The meaning contained in these words must, I feel certain, owe their origin to the experiences of some person or other; but there's no saying. But why should I not go in and inquire for myself?"
Upon walking in, he at a glance caught sight of no one else, but of a very aged bonze, of unkempt appearance, cooking his rice. When Yue-ts'un perceived that he paid no notice, he went up to him and asked him one or two questions, but as the old priest was dull of hearing and a dotard, and as he had lost his teeth, and his tongue was blunt, he made most irrelevant replies.
Yue-ts'un lost all patience with him, and withdrew again from the compound with the intention of going as far as the village public house to have a drink or two, so as to enhance the enjoyment of the rustic scenery. With easy stride, he accordingly walked up to the place. Scarcely had he passed the threshold of the public house, when he perceived some one or other among the visitors who had been sitting sipping their wine on the divan, jump up and come up to greet him, with a face beaming with laughter.
"What a strange meeting! What a strange meeting!" he exclaimed aloud.
Yue-ts'un speedily looked at him, (and remembered) that this person had, in past days, carried on business in a curio establishment in the capital, and that his surname was Leng and his style Tzu-hsing.
A mutual friendship had existed between them during their sojourn, in days of yore, in the capital; and as Yue-ts'un had entertained the highest opinion of Leng Tzu-hsing, as being a man of action and of great abilities, while this Leng Tzu-hsing, on the other hand, borrowed of the reputation of refinement enjoyed by Yue-ts'un, the two had consequently all along lived in perfect harmony and companionship.
"When did you get here?" Yue-ts'un eagerly inquired also smilingly. "I wasn't in the least aware of your arrival. This unexpected meeting is positively a strange piece of good fortune."
"I went home," Tzu-hsing replied, "about the close of last year, but now as I am again bound to the capital, I passed through here on my way to look up a friend of mine and talk some matters over. He had the kindness to press me to stay with him for a couple of days longer, and as I after all have no urgent business to attend to, I am tarrying a few days, but purpose starting about the middle of the moon. My friend is busy to-day, so I roamed listlessly as far as here, never dreaming of such a fortunate meeting."
While speaking, he made Yue-ts'un sit down at the same table, and ordered a fresh supply of wine and eatables; and as the two friends chatted of one thing and another, they slowly sipped their wine.
The conversation ran on what had occurred after the separation, and Yue-ts'un inquired, "Is there any news of any kind in the capital?"
"There's nothing new whatever," answered Tzu-hsing. "There is one thing however: in the family of one of your worthy kinsmen, of the same name as yourself, a trifling, but yet remarkable, occurrence has taken place."
"None of my kindred reside in the capital," rejoined Yue-ts'un with a smile. "To what can you be alluding?"
"How can it be that you people who have the same surname do not belong to one clan?" remarked Tzu-hsing, sarcastically.
"In whose family?" inquired Yue-ts'un.
"The Chia family," replied Tzu-hsing smiling, "whose quarters are in the Jung Kuo Mansion, does not after all reflect discredit upon the lintel of your door, my venerable friend."
"What!" exclaimed Yue-ts'un, "did this affair take place in that family? Were we to begin reckoning, we would find the members of my clan to be anything but limited in number. Since the time of our ancestor Chia Fu, who lived while the Eastern Han dynasty occupied the Throne, the branches of our family have been numerous and flourishing; they are now to be found in every single province, and who could, with any accuracy, ascertain their whereabouts? As regards the Jung-kuo branch in particular, their names are in fact inscribed on the same register as our own, but rich and exalted as they are, we have never presumed to claim them as our relatives, so that we have become more and more estranged."
"Don't make any such assertions," Tzu-hsing remarked with a sigh, "the present two mansions of Jung and Ning have both alike also suffered reverses, and they cannot come up to their state of days of yore."
"Up to this day, these two households of Ning and of Jung," Yue-ts'un suggested, "still maintain a very large retinue of people, and how can it be that they have met with reverses?"
"To explain this would be indeed a long story," said Leng Tzu-hsing. "Last year," continued Yue-ts'un, "I arrived at Chin Ling, as I entertained a wish to visit the remains of interest of the six dynasties, and as I on that day entered the walled town of Shih T'ou, I passed by the entrance of that old residence. On the east side of the street, stood the Ning Kuo mansion; on the west the Jung Kuo mansion; and these two, adjoining each other as they do, cover in fact well-nigh half of the whole length of the street. Outside the front gate everything was, it is true, lonely and deserted; but at a glance into the interior over the enclosing wall, I perceived that the halls, pavilions, two-storied structures and porches presented still a majestic and lofty appearance. Even the flower garden, which extends over the whole area of the back grounds, with its trees and rockeries, also possessed to that day an air of luxuriance and freshness, which betrayed no signs of a ruined or decrepid establishment."
"You have had the good fortune of starting in life as a graduate," explained Tzu-tsing as he smiled, "and yet are not aware of the saying uttered by some one of old: that a centipede even when dead does not lie stiff. (These families) may, according to your version, not be up to the prosperity of former years, but, compared with the family of an ordinary official, their condition anyhow presents a difference. Of late the number of the inmates has, day by day, been on the increase; their affairs have become daily more numerous; of masters and servants, high and low, who live in ease and respectability very many there are; but of those who exercise any forethought, or make any provision, there is not even one. In their daily wants, their extravagances, and their expenditure, they are also unable to adapt themselves to circumstances and practise economy; (so that though) the present external framework may not have suffered any considerable collapse, their purses have anyhow begun to feel an exhausting process! But this is a mere trifle. There is another more serious matter. Would any one ever believe that in such families of official status, in a clan of education and culture, the sons and grandsons of the present age would after all be each (succeeding) generation below the standard of the former?"
Yue-ts'un, having listened to these remarks, observed: "How ever can it be possible that families of such education and refinement can observe any system of training and nurture which is not excellent? Concerning the other branches, I am not in a position to say anything; but restricting myself to the two mansions of Jung and Ning, they are those in which, above all others, the education of their children is methodical."
"I was just now alluding to none other than these two establishments," Tzu-hsing observed with a sigh; "but let me tell you all. In days of yore, the duke of Ning Kuo and the duke of Jung Kuo were two uterine brothers. The Ning duke was the elder; he had four sons. After the death of the duke of Ning Kuo, his eldest son, Chia Tai-hua, came into the title. He also had two sons; but the eldest, whose name was Hu, died at the age of eight or nine; and the only survivor, the second son, Chia Ching, inherited the title. His whole mind is at this time set upon Taoist doctrines; his sole delight is to burn the pill and refine the dual powers; while every other thought finds no place in his mind. Happily, he had, at an early age, left a son, Chia Chen, behind in the lay world, and his father, engrossed as his whole heart was with the idea of attaining spiritual life, ceded the succession of the official title to him. His parent is, besides, not willing to return to the original family seat, but lives outside the walls of the capital, foolishly hobnobbing with all the Taoist priests. This Mr. Chen had also a son, Chia Jung, who is, at this period, just in his sixteenth year. Mr. Ching gives at present no attention to anything at all, so that Mr. Chen naturally devotes no time to his studies, but being bent upon nought else but incessant high pleasure, he has subversed the order of things in the Ning Kuo mansion, and yet no one can summon the courage to come and hold him in check. But I'll now tell you about the Jung mansion for your edification. The strange occurrence, to which I alluded just now, came about in this manner. After the demise of the Jung duke, the eldest son, Chia Tai-shan, inherited the rank. He took to himself as wife, the daughter of Marquis Shih, a noble family of Chin Ling, by whom he had two sons; the elder being Chia She, the younger Chia Cheng. This Tai Shan is now dead long ago; but his wife is still alive, and the elder son, Chia She, succeeded to the degree. He is a man of amiable and genial disposition, but he likewise gives no thought to the direction of any domestic concern. The second son Chia Cheng displayed, from his early childhood, a great liking for books, and grew up to be correct and upright in character. His grandfather doated upon him, and would have had him start in life through the arena of public examinations, but, when least expected, Tai-shan, being on the point of death, bequeathed a petition, which was laid before the Emperor. His Majesty, out of regard for his former minister, issued immediate commands that the elder son should inherit the estate, and further inquired how many sons there were besides him, all of whom he at once expressed a wish to be introduced in his imperial presence. His Majesty, moreover, displayed exceptional favour, and conferred upon Mr. Cheng the brevet rank of second class Assistant Secretary (of a Board), and commanded him to enter the Board to acquire the necessary experience. He has already now been promoted to the office of second class Secretary. This Mr. Cheng's wife, nee Wang, first gave birth to a son called Chia Chu, who became a Licentiate in his fourteenth year. At barely twenty, he married, but fell ill and died soon after the birth of a son. Her (Mrs. Cheng's) second child was a daughter, who came into the world, by a strange coincidence, on the first day of the year. She had an unexpected (pleasure) in the birth, the succeeding year, of another son, who, still more remarkable to say, had, at the time of his birth, a piece of variegated and crystal-like brilliant jade in his mouth, on which were yet visible the outlines of several characters. Now, tell me, was not this a novel and strange occurrence? eh?"
"Strange indeed!" exclaimed Yue-ts'un with a smile; "but I presume the coming experiences of this being will not be mean."
Tzu-hsing gave a faint smile. "One and all," he remarked, "entertain the same idea. Hence it is that his mother doats upon him like upon a precious jewel. On the day of his first birthday, Mr. Cheng readily entertained a wish to put the bent of his inclinations to the test, and placed before the child all kinds of things, without number, for him to grasp from. Contrary to every expectation, he scorned every other object, and, stretching forth his hand, he simply took hold of rouge, powder and a few hair-pins, with which he began to play. Mr. Cheng experienced at once displeasure, as he maintained that this youth would, by and bye, grow up into a sybarite, devoted to wine and women, and for this reason it is, that he soon began to feel not much attachment for him. But his grandmother is the one who, in spite of everything, prizes him like the breath of her own life. The very mention of what happened is even strange! He is now grown up to be seven or eight years old, and, although exceptionally wilful, in intelligence and precocity, however, not one in a hundred could come up to him! And as for the utterances of this child, they are no less remarkable. The bones and flesh of woman, he argues, are made of water, while those of man of mud. 'Women to my eyes are pure and pleasing,' he says, 'while at the sight of man, I readily feel how corrupt, foul and repelling they are!' Now tell me, are not these words ridiculous? There can be no doubt whatever that he will by and bye turn out to be a licentious roue."
Yue-ts'un, whose countenance suddenly assumed a stern air, promptly interrupted the conversation. "It doesn't quite follow," he suggested. "You people don't, I regret to say, understand the destiny of this child. The fact is that even the old Hanlin scholar Mr. Cheng was erroneously looked upon as a loose rake and dissolute debauchee! But unless a person, through much study of books and knowledge of letters, so increases (in lore) as to attain the talent of discerning the nature of things, and the vigour of mind to fathom the Taoist reason as well as to comprehend the first principle, he is not in a position to form any judgment."
Tzu-hsing upon perceiving the weighty import of what he propounded, "Please explain," he asked hastily, "the drift (of your argument)." To which Yue-ts'un responded: "Of the human beings created by the operation of heaven and earth, if we exclude those who are gifted with extreme benevolence and extreme viciousness, the rest, for the most part, present no striking diversity. If they be extremely benevolent, they fall in, at the time of their birth, with an era of propitious fortune; while those extremely vicious correspond, at the time of their existence, with an era of calamity. When those who coexist with propitious fortune come into life, the world is in order; when those who coexist with unpropitious fortune come into life, the world is in danger. Yao, Shun, Yue, Ch'eng T'ang, Wen Wang, Wu Wang, Chou Kung, Chao Kung, Confucius, Mencius, T'ung Hu, Han Hsin, Chou Tzu, Ch'eng Tzu, Chu Tzu and Chang Tzu were ordained to see light in an auspicious era. Whereas Ch'i Yu, Kung Kung, Chieh Wang, Chou Wang, Shih Huang, Wang Mang, Tsao Ts'ao, Wen Wen, An Hu-shan, Ch'in Kuei and others were one and all destined to come into the world during a calamitous age. Those endowed with extreme benevolence set the world in order; those possessed of extreme maliciousness turn the world into disorder. Purity, intelligence, spirituality and subtlety constitute the vital spirit of right which pervades heaven and earth, and the persons gifted with benevolence are its natural fruit. Malignity and perversity constitute the spirit of evil, which permeates heaven and earth, and malicious persons are affected by its influence. The days of perpetual happiness and eminent good fortune, and the era of perfect peace and tranquility, which now prevail, are the offspring of the pure, intelligent, divine and subtle spirit which ascends above, to the very Emperor, and below reaches the rustic and uncultured classes. Every one is without exception under its influence. The superfluity of the subtle spirit expands far and wide, and finding nowhere to betake itself to, becomes, in due course, transformed into dew, or gentle breeze; and, by a process of diffusion, it pervades the whole world.
"The spirit of malignity and perversity, unable to expand under the brilliant sky and transmuting sun, eventually coagulates, pervades and stops up the deep gutters and extensive caverns; and when of a sudden the wind agitates it or it be impelled by the clouds, and any slight disposition, on its part, supervenes to set itself in motion, or to break its bounds, and so little as even the minutest fraction does unexpectedly find an outlet, and happens to come across any spirit of perception and subtlety which may be at the time passing by, the spirit of right does not yield to the spirit of evil, and the spirit of evil is again envious of the spirit of right, so that the two do not harmonize. Just like wind, water, thunder and lightning, which, when they meet in the bowels of the earth, must necessarily, as they are both to dissolve and are likewise unable to yield, clash and explode to the end that they may at length exhaust themselves. Hence it is that these spirits have also forcibly to diffuse themselves into the human race to find an outlet, so that they may then completely disperse, with the result that men and women are suddenly imbued with these spirits and spring into existence. At best, (these human beings) cannot be generated into philanthropists or perfect men; at worst, they cannot also embody extreme perversity or extreme wickedness. Yet placed among one million beings, the spirit of intelligence, refinement, perception and subtlety will be above these one million beings; while, on the other hand, the perverse, depraved and inhuman embodiment will likewise be below the million of men. Born in a noble and wealthy family, these men will be a salacious, lustful lot; born of literary, virtuous or poor parentage, they will turn out retired scholars or men of mark; though they may by some accident be born in a destitute and poverty-stricken home, they cannot possibly, in fact, ever sink so low as to become runners or menials, or contentedly brook to be of the common herd or to be driven and curbed like a horse in harness. They will become, for a certainty, either actors of note or courtesans of notoriety; as instanced in former years by Hsue Yu, T'ao Ch'ien, Yuan Chi, Chi Kang, Liu Ling, the two families of Wang and Hsieh, Ku Hu-t'ou, Ch'en Hou-chu, T'ang Ming-huang, Sung Hui-tsung, Liu T'ing-chih, Wen Fei-ching, Mei Nan-kung, Shih Man-ch'ing, Lui C'hih-ch'ing and Chin Shao-yu, and exemplified now-a-days by Ni Yuen-lin, T'ang Po-hu, Chu Chih-shan, and also by Li Kuei-men, Huang P'an-cho, Ching Hsin-mo, Cho Wen-chuen; and the women Hung Fu, Hsieh T'ao, Ch'ue Ying, Ch'ao Yuen and others; all of whom were and are of the same stamp, though placed in different scenes of action."
"From what you say," observed Tzu-hsing, "success makes (a man) a duke or a marquis; ruin, a thief!"
"Quite so; that's just my idea!" replied Yue-ts'un; "I've not as yet let you know that after my degradation from office, I spent the last couple of years in travelling for pleasure all over each province, and that I also myself came across two extraordinary youths. This is why, when a short while back you alluded to this Pao-yue, I at once conjectured, with a good deal of certainty, that he must be a human being of the same stamp. There's no need for me to speak of any farther than the walled city of Chin Ling. This Mr. Chen was, by imperial appointment, named Principal of the Government Public College of the Chin Ling province. Do you perhaps know him?"
"Who doesn't know him?" remarked Tzu-hsing. "This Chen family is an old connection of the Chia family. These two families were on terms of great intimacy, and I myself likewise enjoyed the pleasure of their friendship for many a day."
"Last year, when at Chin Ling," Yue-ts'un continued with a smile, "some one recommended me as resident tutor to the school in the Chen mansion; and when I moved into it I saw for myself the state of things. Who would ever think that that household was grand and luxurious to such a degree! But they are an affluent family, and withal full of propriety, so that a school like this was of course not one easy to obtain. The pupil, however, was, it is true, a young tyro, but far more troublesome to teach than a candidate for the examination of graduate of the second degree. Were I to enter into details, you would indeed have a laugh. 'I must needs,' he explained, 'have the company of two girls in my studies to enable me to read at all, and to keep likewise my brain clear. Otherwise, if left to myself, my head gets all in a muddle.' Time after time, he further expounded to his young attendants, how extremely honourable and extremely pure were the two words representing woman, that they are more valuable and precious than the auspicious animal, the felicitous bird, rare flowers and uncommon plants. 'You may not' (he was wont to say), 'on any account heedlessly utter them, you set of foul mouths and filthy tongues! these two words are of the utmost import! Whenever you have occasion to allude to them, you must, before you can do so with impunity, take pure water and scented tea and rinse your mouths. In the event of any slip of the tongue, I shall at once have your teeth extracted, and your eyes gouged out.' His obstinacy and waywardness are, in every respect, out of the common. After he was allowed to leave school, and to return home, he became, at the sight of the young ladies, so tractable, gentle, sharp, and polite, transformed, in fact, like one of them. And though, for this reason, his father has punished him on more than one occasion, by giving him a sound thrashing, such as brought him to the verge of death, he cannot however change. Whenever he was being beaten, and could no more endure the pain, he was wont to promptly break forth in promiscuous loud shouts, 'Girls! girls!' The young ladies, who heard him from the inner chambers, subsequently made fun of him. 'Why,' they said, 'when you are being thrashed, and you are in pain, your only thought is to bawl out girls! Is it perchance that you expect us young ladies to go and intercede for you? How is that you have no sense of shame?' To their taunts he gave a most plausible explanation. 'Once,' he replied, 'when in the agony of pain, I gave vent to shouting girls, in the hope, perchance, I did not then know, of its being able to alleviate the soreness. After I had, with this purpose, given one cry, I really felt the pain considerably better; and now that I have obtained this secret spell, I have recourse, at once, when I am in the height of anguish, to shouts of girls, one shout after another. Now what do you say to this? Isn't this absurd, eh?"
"The grandmother is so infatuated by her extreme tenderness for this youth, that, time after time, she has, on her grandson's account, found fault with the tutor, and called her son to task, with the result that I resigned my post and took my leave. A youth, with a disposition such as his, cannot assuredly either perpetuate intact the estate of his father and grandfather, or follow the injunctions of teacher or advice of friends. The pity is, however, that there are, in that family, several excellent female cousins, the like of all of whom it would be difficult to discover."
"Quite so!" remarked Tzu-hsing; "there are now three young ladies in the Chia family who are simply perfection itself. The eldest is a daughter of Mr. Cheng, Yuan Ch'un by name, who, on account of her excellence, filial piety, talents, and virtue, has been selected as a governess in the palace. The second is the daughter of Mr. She's handmaid, and is called Ying Ch'un; the third is T'an Ch'un, the child of Mr. Cheng's handmaid; while the fourth is the uterine sister of Mr. Chen of the Ning Mansion. Her name is Hsi Ch'un. As dowager lady Shih is so fondly attached to her granddaughters, they come, for the most part, over to their grandmother's place to prosecute their studies together, and each one of these girls is, I hear, without a fault."
"More admirable," observed Yue-ts'un, "is the regime (adhered to) in the Chen family, where the names of the female children have all been selected from the list of male names, and are unlike all those out-of-the-way names, such as Spring Blossom, Scented Gem, and the like flowery terms in vogue in other families. But how is it that the Chia family have likewise fallen into this common practice?"
"Not so!" ventured Tzu-h'sing. "It is simply because the eldest daughter was born on the first of the first moon, that the name of Yuan Ch'un was given to her; while with the rest this character Ch'un (spring) was then followed. The names of the senior generation are, in like manner, adopted from those of their brothers; and there is at present an instance in support of this. The wife of your present worthy master, Mr. Lin, is the uterine sister of Mr. Chia. She and Mr. Chia Cheng, and she went, while at home, under the name of Chia Min. Should you question the truth of what I say, you are at liberty, on your return, to make minute inquiries and you'll be convinced."
Yue-ts'un clapped his hands and said smiling, "It's so, I know! for this female pupil of mine, whose name is Tai-yue, invariably pronounces the character _min_ as _mi_, whenever she comes across it in the course of her reading; while, in writing, when she comes to the character 'min,' she likewise reduces the strokes by one, sometimes by two. Often have I speculated in my mind (as to the cause), but the remarks I've heard you mention, convince me, without doubt, that it is no other reason (than that of reverence to her mother's name). Strange enough, this pupil of mine is unique in her speech and deportment, and in no way like any ordinary young lady. But considering that her mother was no commonplace woman herself, it is natural that she should have given birth to such a child. Besides, knowing, as I do now, that she is the granddaughter of the Jung family, it is no matter of surprise to me that she is what she is. Poor girl, her mother, after all, died in the course of the last month."
Tzu-hsing heaved a sigh. "Of three elderly sisters," he explained, "this one was the youngest, and she too is gone! Of the sisters of the senior generation not one even survives! But now we'll see what the husbands of this younger generation will be like by and bye!"
"Yes," replied Yue-ts'un. "But some while back you mentioned that Mr. Cheng has had a son, born with a piece of jade in his mouth, and that he has besides a tender-aged grandson left by his eldest son; but is it likely that this Mr. She has not, himself, as yet, had any male issue?"
"After Mr. Cheng had this son with the jade," Tzu-hsing added, "his handmaid gave birth to another son, who whether he be good or bad, I don't at all know. At all events, he has by his side two sons and a grandson, but what these will grow up to be by and bye, I cannot tell. As regards Mr. Chia She, he too has had two sons; the second of whom, Chia Lien, is by this time about twenty. He took to wife a relative of his, a niece of Mr. Cheng's wife, a Miss Wang, and has now been married for the last two years. This Mr. Lien has lately obtained by purchase the rank of sub-prefect. He too takes little pleasure in books, but as far as worldly affairs go, he is so versatile and glib of tongue, that he has recently taken up his quarters with his uncle Mr. Cheng, to whom he gives a helping hand in the management of domestic matters. Who would have thought it, however, ever since his marriage with his worthy wife, not a single person, whether high or low, has there been who has not looked up to her with regard: with the result that Mr. Lien himself has, in fact, had to take a back seat (_lit_. withdrew 35 li). In looks, she is also so extremely beautiful, in speech so extremely quick and fluent, in ingenuity so deep and astute, that even a man could, in no way, come up to her mark."
After hearing these remarks Yue-ts'un smiled. "You now perceive," he said, "that my argument is no fallacy, and that the several persons about whom you and I have just been talking are, we may presume, human beings, who, one and all, have been generated by the spirit of right, and the spirit of evil, and come to life by the same royal road; but of course there's no saying."
"Enough," cried Tzu-hsing, "of right and enough of evil; we've been doing nothing but settling other people's accounts; come now, have another glass, and you'll be the better for it!"
"While bent upon talking," Yue-ts'un explained, "I've had more glasses than is good for me."
"Speaking of irrelevant matters about other people," Tzu-hsing rejoined complacently, "is quite the thing to help us swallow our wine; so come now; what harm will happen, if we do have a few glasses more."
Yue-ts'un thereupon looked out of the window.
"The day is also far advanced," he remarked, "and if we don't take care, the gates will be closing; let us leisurely enter the city, and as we go along, there will be nothing to prevent us from continuing our chat."
Forthwith the two friends rose from their seats, settled and paid their wine bill, and were just going, when they unexpectedly heard some one from behind say with a loud voice:
"Accept my congratulations, Brother Yue-ts'un; I've now come, with the express purpose of giving you the welcome news!"
Yue-ts'un lost no time in turning his head round to look at the speaker. But reader, if you wish to learn who the man was, listen to the details given in the following chapter.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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