中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì 'èr shí huí wáng xī fèng zhèng yán dàn dù yì lín dài yù qiào yǔ xuè jiāo yīn CHAPTER XX.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XX.
huà shuō bǎo yù zài lín dài yù fáng zhōng shuō " hào zǐ jīng "， bǎo chāi zhuàng lái， fěng cì bǎo yù yuán xiāo bù zhī " lǜ là " zhī diǎn， sān rén zhèng zài fáng zhōng hù xiāng jī cì qǔ xiào。 nà bǎo yù zhèng kǒng dài yù fàn hòu tān mián， yī shí cún liǎo shí， huò yè jiān zǒu liǎo kùn， jiē fēi bǎo yǎng shēn tǐ zhī fǎ， xìng 'ér bǎo chāi zǒu lái， dà jiā tán xiào， nà lín dài yù fāng bù yù shuì， zì jǐ cái fàng liǎo xīn。 hū tīng tā fáng zhōng rǎng qǐ lái， dà jiā cè 'ěr tīng liǎo yī tīng， lín dài yù xiān xiào dào： “ zhè shì nǐ mā mā hé xí rén jiào rǎng ní。 nà xí rén yě bà liǎo， nǐ mā mā zài yào rèn zhēn pái chǎng tā， kě jiàn lǎo bèi huì liǎo。 ”
bǎo yù máng yào gǎn guò lái， bǎo chāi máng yī bǎ lā zhù dào：“ nǐ bié hé nǐ mā mā chǎo cái shì， tā lǎo hú tú liǎo， dǎo yào ràng tā yī bù wèishì。” bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ zhī dào liǎo。” shuō bì zǒu lái， zhǐ jiàn lǐ mó mó zhǔ zhe guǎi gùn， zài dāng dì mà xí rén：“ wàng liǎo běn de xiǎo chāng fù！ wǒ tái jǔ qǐ nǐ lái， zhè huì zǐ wǒ lái liǎo， nǐ dà mó dà yàng de tǎng zài kàng shàng， jiàn wǒ lái yě bù lǐ yī lǐ。 yī xīn zhǐ xiǎng zhuāng hú mèi zǐ hōng bǎo yù， hōng de bǎo yù bù lǐ wǒ， tīng nǐ men de huà。 nǐ bù guò shì jǐ liǎng chòu yín zǐ mǎi lái de máo yā tóu， zhè wū lǐ nǐ jiù zuò hào， rú hé shǐ dé！ hǎo bù hǎo lā chū qù pèi yī gè xiǎo zǐ， kàn nǐ hái yāo jīng shìde hōng bǎo yù bù hōng！ " xí rén xiān zhǐ dào lǐ mó mó bù guò wèitā tǎng zhe shēng qì， shǎo bù dé fēn biàn shuō " bìng liǎo， cái chū hàn， méng zhe tóu， yuán méi kàn jiàn nǐ lǎo rén jiā " děng yǔ。 hòu lái zhǐ guǎn tīng tā shuō " hōng bǎo yù "， " zhuāng hú mèi "， yòu shuō " pèi xiǎo zǐ " děng， yóu bù dé yòu kuì yòu wěi qū， jìn bù zhù kū qǐ lái。
bǎo yù suī tīng liǎo zhè xiē huà， yě bù hǎo zěn yàng， shǎo bù dé tì xí rén fēn biàn bìng liǎo chī yào děng huà， yòu shuō：“ nǐ bù xìn， zhǐ wèn bié de yā tóu men。” lǐ mó mó tīng liǎo zhè huà， yì fā qì qǐ lái liǎo， shuō dào：“ nǐ zhǐ hù zhe nà qǐ hú lí， nà lǐ rèn dé wǒ liǎo， jiào wǒ wèn shuí qù？ shuí bù bāng zhe nǐ ní， shuí bù shì xí rén ná xià mǎ lái de！ wǒdōu zhī dào nà xiē shì。 wǒ zhǐ hé nǐ zài lǎo tài tài， tài tài gēn qián qù jiǎng liǎo。 bǎ nǐ nǎi liǎo zhè me dà， dào rú jīn chī bù zhe nǎi liǎo， bǎ wǒ diū zài yī bàng， chěng zhe yā tóu men yào wǒ de qiáng。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn yě kū qǐ lái。 bǐ shí dài yù bǎo chāi děng yě zǒu guò lái quàn shuō：“ mā mā nǐ lǎo rén jiā dān dài tā men yī diǎn zǐ jiù wán liǎo。” lǐ mó mó jiàn tā 'èr rén lái liǎo， biàn lā zhù sù wěi qū， jiāng dāng rì chī chá， qiàn xuě chū qù， yǔ zuó rì sū lào děng shì， láo láo dāo dāo shuō gè bù qīng。 kě qiǎo fèng jiě zhèng zài shàng fáng suàn wán shū yíng zhàng， tīng dé hòu miàn shēng rǎng， biàn zhī shì lǐ mó mó lǎo bìng fā liǎo， pái xuān bǎo yù de rén。 héng héng zhèng zhí tā jīn 'ér shū liǎo qián， qiān nù yú rén。 biàn lián máng gǎn guò lái， lā liǎo lǐ mó mó， xiào dào：“ hǎo mā mā， bié shēng qì。 dà jié xià lǎo tài tài cái xǐ huān liǎo yī rì， nǐ shì gè lǎo rén jiā， bié rén gāo shēng， nǐ hái yào guǎn tā men ní， nán dào nǐ fǎn bù zhī dào guīju， zài zhè lǐ rǎng qǐ lái， jiào lǎo tài tài shēng qì bù chéng？ nǐ zhǐ shuō shuí bù hǎo， wǒ tì nǐ dǎ tā。 wǒ jiā lǐ shāo de gǔn rè de yě jī， kuài lái gēn wǒ chī jiǔ qù。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn lā zhe zǒu， yòu jiào：“ fēng 'ér， tì nǐ lǐ nǎi nǎi ná zhe guǎi gùn zǐ， cā yǎn lèi de shǒu pà zǐ。” nà lǐ mó mó jiǎo bù zhān dì gēn liǎo fèng jiě zǒu liǎo， yī miàn hái shuō：“ wǒ yě bù yào zhè lǎo mìng liǎo， yuè xìng jīn 'ér méi liǎo guīju， nào yīcháng zǐ， tǎo gè méi liǎn， qiáng rú shòu nà chāng fù tí zǐ de qì！ " hòu miàn bǎo chāi dài yù suí zhe。 jiàn fèng jiě 'ér zhè bān， dū pāi shǒu xiào dào：“ kuī zhè yī zhèn fēng lái， bǎ gè lǎo pó zǐ cuō liǎo qù liǎo。” bǎo yù diǎn tóu tàn dào：“ zhè yòu bù zhī shì nà lǐ de zhàng， zhǐ jiǎn ruǎn de pái xuān。 zuó 'ér yòu bù zhī shì nà gè gū niàn dé zuì liǎo， shàng zài tā zhàng shàng。” yī jù wèi liǎo， qíng wén zài bàng xiào dào：“ shuí yòu bù fēng liǎo， dé zuì tā zuò shénme。 biàn dé zuì liǎo tā， jiù yòu běn shì chéng rèn， bù fàn dài lěi bié rén！ " xí rén yī miàn kū， yī miàn lā zhe bǎo yù dào：“ wèiwǒ dé zuì liǎo yī gè lǎo nǎi nǎi， nǐ zhè huì zǐ yòu wéi wǒ dé zuì zhè xiē rén， zhè hái bù gòu wǒ shòu de， hái zhǐ shì lā bié rén。” bǎo yù jiàn tā zhè bān bìng shì， yòu tiān liǎo zhè xiē fán nǎo， lián máng rěn qì tūn shēng， ān wèi tā réng jiù shuì xià chū hàn。 yòu jiàn tā tānɡ shāo huǒ rè， zì jǐ shǒu zhe tā， wāi zài bàng biān， quàn tā zhǐ yǎng zhe bìng， bié xiǎng zhe xiē méi yào jǐn de shì shēng qì。 xí rén lěng xiào dào：“ yào wéi zhè xiē shì shēng qì， zhè wū lǐ yī kè hái zhàn bù dé liǎo。 dàn zhǐ shì tiān cháng rì jiǔ， zhǐ guǎn zhè yàng， kě jiào rén zěn me yàng cái hǎo ní。 shí cháng wǒ quàn nǐ， bié wèiwǒ men dé zuì rén， nǐ zhǐ gù yī shí wèiwǒ men nà yàng， tā mendōu jì zài xīn lǐ， yù zhe kǎn 'ér， shuō de hǎo shuō bù hǎo tīng， dà jiā shénme yì sī。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn jìn bù zhù liú lèi， yòu pà bǎo yù fán nǎo， zhǐ dé yòu miǎnqiǎng rěn zhe。
yī shí zá shǐ de lǎo pó zǐ jiān liǎo 'èr hé yào lái。 bǎo yù jiàn tā cái yòu hàn yì， bù kěn jiào tā qǐ lái， zì jǐ biàn duān zhe jiù zhěn yǔ tā chī liǎo， jí mìng xiǎo yā tóu zǐ men pū kàng。 xí rén dào：“ nǐ chī fàn bù chī fàn， dào dǐ lǎo tài tài sī tǎn · wò 'ěr fú。， tài tài gēn qián zuò yī huì zǐ， hé gū niàn men wán yī huì zǐ zài huí lái。 wǒ jiù jìng jìng de tǎng yī tǎng yě hǎo。” bǎo yù tīng shuō， zhǐ dé tì tā qù liǎo zān huán， kàn tā tǎng xià， zì wǎng shàng fáng lái。 tóng jiǎ mǔ chī bì fàn， jiǎ mǔ yóu yù tóng nà jǐ gè lǎo guǎn jiā mó mó dǒu pái jiě mèn， bǎo yù jì zhe xí rén， biàn huí zhì fáng zhōng， jiàn xí rén méng méng shuì qù。 zì jǐ yào shuì， tiān qì shàng zǎo。 bǐ shí qíng wén， qǐ xiàn， qiū wén， bì hén dū xún rè nào， zhǎo yuān yāng hǔ pò děng shuǎ xì qù liǎo， dú jiàn shè yuè yī gè rén zài wài jiān fáng lǐ dēng xià mǒ gǔ pái。 bǎo yù xiào wèn dào：“ nǐ zěn bù tóng tā men wán qù？ " shè yuè dào：“ méi yòu qián。” bǎo yù dào：“ chuáng dǐ xià duī zhe nà me xiē， hái bù gòu nǐ shū de？ " shè yuè dào：“ dū wán qù liǎo， zhè wū lǐ jiāo gěi shuí ní？ nà yī gè yòu bìng liǎo。 mǎn wū lǐ shàng tóu shì dēng， dì xià shì huǒ。 nà xiē lǎo mā mā zǐ men， lǎo tiān bá dì， fú shì yī tiān， yě gāi jiào tā men xiē xiē， xiǎo yā tóu zǐ men yě shì fú shì liǎo yī tiān， zhè huì zǐ hái bù jiào tā men wán wán qù。 suǒ yǐ ràng tā men dū qù bà， wǒ zài zhè lǐ kàn zhe。”
bǎo yù tīng liǎo zhè huà， gōng rán yòu shì yī gè xí rén。 yīn xiào dào：“ wǒ zài zhè lǐ zuò zhe， nǐ fàng xīn qù bà。” shè yuè dào：“ nǐ jì zài zhè lǐ， yuè fā bù yòng qù liǎo， zán men liǎng gè shuō huà wán xiào qǐ bù hǎo？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ zán liǎng gè zuò shénme ní？ guài méi yì sī de， yě bà liǎo， zǎo shàng nǐ shuō tóu yǎng， zhè huì zǐ méi shí me shì， wǒ tì nǐ bì tóu bà。” shè yuè tīng liǎo biàn dào：“ jiù shì zhè yàng。” shuō zhe， jiāng wén jù jìng xiá bān lái， xiè qù chāi chuàn， dǎ kāi tóu fā， bǎo yù ná liǎo bì zǐ tì tā yī yī de shū bì。 zhǐ bì liǎo sān wǔ xià， zhǐ jiàn qíng wén máng máng zǒu jìn lái qǔ qián。 yī jiàn liǎo tā liǎng gè， biàn lěng xiào dào：“ ò， jiāo bēi zhǎn hái méi chī， dǎo shàng tóu liǎo！ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ lái， wǒ yě tì nǐ bì yī bì。” qíng wén dào：“ wǒ méi nà me dà fú。” shuō zhe， ná liǎo qián， biàn shuāi lián zǐ chū qù liǎo。
bǎo yù zài shè yuè shēn hòu， shè yuè duì jìng， èr rén zài jìng nèi xiāng shì。 bǎo yù biàn xiàng jìng nèi xiào dào：“ mǎn wū lǐ jiù zhǐ shì tā mó yá。” shè yuè tīng shuō， máng xiàng jìng zhōng bǎi shǒu， bǎo yù huì yì。 hū tīng hū yī shēng lián zǐ xiǎng， qíng wén yòu páo jìn lái wèn dào：“ wǒ zěn me mó yá liǎo？ zán men dǎo dé shuō shuō。” shè yuè xiào dào：“ nǐ qù nǐ de bà， yòu lái wèn rén liǎo。” qíng wén xiào dào：“ nǐ yòu hù zhe。 nǐ men nà mán shén nòng guǐ de， wǒdōu zhī dào。 děng wǒ lāo huí běn 'ér lái zài shuō huà。” shuō zhe， yī jìng chū qù liǎo。 zhè lǐ bǎo yù tōng liǎo tóu， mìng shè yuè qiāoqiāo de fú shì tā shuì xià， bù kěn jīng dòng xí rén。 yīxiǔ wú huà。 zhì cì rì qīng chén qǐ lái， xí rén yǐ shì yè jiān fā liǎo hàn， jué dé qīng shěng liǎo xiē， zhǐ chī xiē mǐ tānɡ jìng yǎng。 bǎo yù fàng liǎo xīn， yīn fàn hòu zǒu dào xuē yí mā zhè biān lái xián guàng。 bǐ shí zhēngyuè nèi， xué fáng zhōng fàng nián xué， guī gé zhōng jì zhēn， què dōushì xián shí。 jiǎ huán yě guò lái wán， zhèng yù jiàn bǎo chāi， xiāng líng， yīng 'ér sān gè gǎn wéi qí zuò shuǎ， jiǎ huán jiàn liǎo yě yào wán。 bǎo chāi sù xí kàn tā yì rú bǎo yù， bìng méi tā yì。 jīn 'ér tīng tā yào wán， ràng tā shàng lái zuò liǎo yī chù。 yī lěi shí gè qián， tóu yī huí zì jǐ yíng liǎo， xīn zhōng shí fēn huān xǐ。 hòu lái jiē lián shū liǎo jǐ pán， biàn yòu xiē zháojí。 gǎn zhe zhè pán zhèng gāi zì jǐ zhì tóu zǐ， ruò zhì gè qī diǎn biàn yíng， ruò zhì gè liù diǎn， xià gāi yīng 'ér zhì sān diǎn jiù yíng liǎo。 yīn ná qǐ tóu zǐ lái， hěn mìng yī zhì， yī gè zuò dìng liǎo wǔ， nà yī gè luàn zhuǎn。 yīng 'ér pāi zhuóshǒu zhǐ jiào " yāo "， jiǎ huán biàn dèng zhe yǎn， " liù héng héng qī héng héng bā " hùn jiào。 nà tóu zǐ piān shēng zhuǎn chū yāo lái。 jiǎ huán jí liǎo， shēn shǒu biàn zhuā qǐ tóu zǐ lái， rán hòu jiù ná qián， shuō shì gè liù diǎn。 yīng 'ér biàn shuō：“ fēn míng shì gè yāo！ " bǎo chāi jiàn jiǎ huán jí liǎo， biàn chǒu yīng 'ér shuō dào：“ yuè dà yuè méi guīju， nán dào yé men hái lài nǐ？ hái bù fàng xià qián lái ní！ " yīng 'ér mǎn xīn wěi qū， jiàn bǎo chāi shuō， bù gǎn zé shēng， zhǐ dé fàng xià qián lái， kǒu nèi dū nāng shuō：“ yī gè zuò yé de， hái lài wǒ men zhè jǐ gè qián， lián wǒ yě bù fàng zài yǎn lǐ。 qián 'ér wǒ hé bǎo 'èr yé wán， tā shū liǎo nà xiē， yě méi zháojí。 xià shèng de qián， hái shì jǐ gè xiǎo yā tóu zǐ men yī qiǎng， tā yī xiào jiù bà liǎo。” bǎo chāi bù děng shuō wán， lián máng duàn hē。 jiǎ huán dào：“ wǒ ná shénme bǐ bǎo yù ní。 nǐ men pà tā， dū hé tā hǎo， dū qī fù wǒ bù shì tài tài yǎng de。 " shuō zhe， biàn kū liǎo。 bǎo chāi máng quàn tā：“ hǎo xiōng dì， kuài bié shuō zhè huà， rén jiā xiào huà nǐ。” yòu mà yīng 'ér。 zhèng zhí bǎo yù zǒu lái， jiàn liǎo zhè bān xíng kuàng， wèn shì zěn me liǎo。 jiǎ huán bù gǎn zé shēng。 bǎo chāi sù zhī tā jiā guīju， fán zuò xiōng dì de， dū pà gē gē。 què bù zhī nà bǎo yù shì bù yào rén pà tā de。 tā xiǎng zhe：“ xiōng dì men yī bìng dōuyòu fù mǔ jiào xùn， hé bì wǒ duō shì， fǎn shēng shū liǎo。 kuàng qiě wǒ shì zhèng chū， tā shì shù chū， ráo zhè yàng hái yòu rén bèi hòu tán lùn， hái jìn dé xiá zhì tā liǎo。 " gèng yòu gè dāi yì sī cún zài xīn lǐ。 héng héng nǐ dào shì hé dāi yì？ yīn tā zì yòu zǐ mèi cóng zhōng zhǎngdà， qīn zǐ mèi yòu yuán chūn， tàn chūn， bó shū de yòu yíng chūn， xī chūn， qīn qī zhōng yòu yòu shǐ xiāng yún， lín dài yù， xuē bǎo chāi děng zhū rén。 tā biàn liào dìng， yuán lái tiān shēng rén wéi wàn wù zhī líng， fán shān chuān rì yuè zhī jīng xiù， zhǐ zhōng yú nǚ 'ér， xū méi nán zǐ bù guò shì xiē zhā zǐ zhuó mò 'ér yǐ。 yīn yòu zhè gè dāi niàn zài xīn， bǎ yī qiē nán zǐ dū kàn chéng hùn dùn zhuó wù， kě yòu kě wú。 zhǐ shì fù qīn shū bó xiōng dì zhōng。 yīn kǒng zǐ shì gèn gǔ dì yī rén shuō xià de。 bù kě wǔ màn， zhǐ dé yào tīng tā zhè jù huà。 suǒ yǐ， dì xiōng zhī jiān bù guò jìn qí dà gài de qíng lǐ jiù bà liǎo， bìng bù xiǎng zì jǐ shì zhàng fū， xū yào wéi zǐ dì zhī biǎo shuài。 shì yǐ jiǎ huán děngdōu bù pà tā， què pà jiǎ mǔ， cái ràng tā sān fēn。 rú jīn bǎo chāi kǒng pà bǎo yù jiào xùn tā， dǎo méi yì sī， biàn lián máng tì jiǎ huán yǎn shì。 bǎo yù dào：“ dà zhèng yuè lǐ kū shénme？ zhè lǐ bù hǎo， nǐ bié chù wán qù。 nǐ tiān tiān niàn shū， dǎo niàn hú tú liǎo。 bǐ rú zhè jiàn dōng xī bù hǎo， héng shù nà yī jiàn hǎo， jiù qì liǎo zhè jiàn qǔ nà gè。 nán dào nǐ shǒu zhe zhè gè dōng xī kū yī huì zǐ jiù hǎo liǎo bù chéng？ nǐ yuán shì lái qǔ lè wán de， jì bù néng qǔ lè， jiù wǎng bié chù qù xún lè wán qù。 kū yī huì zǐ， nán dào suàn qǔ lè wán liǎo bù chéng？ dǎo zhāo zì jǐ fán nǎo， bù rú kuài qù wèishì。” jiǎ huán tīng liǎo， zhǐ dé huí lái。
zhào yí niàn jiàn tā zhè bān， yīn wèn：“ yòu shì nà lǐ diàn liǎo chuài wō lái liǎo？ " yī wèn bù dá， zài wèn shí， jiǎ huán biàn shuō：“ tóng bǎo jiě jiě wán de， yīng 'ér qī fù wǒ shàng tí chū jīng yàn pī pàn zhù yì de biàn zhǒng héng héng jīng yàn yī yuán lùn。 rèn wéi wù lǐ de dōng， lài wǒ de qián， bǎo yù gē gē niǎn wǒ lái liǎo。” zhào yí niàn cuì dào：“ shuí jiào nǐ shàng gāo tái pán qù liǎo？ xià liú méi liǎn de dōng xī！ nà lǐ wán bù dé？ shuí jiào nǐ páo liǎo qù tǎo méi yì sī！ " zhèng shuō zhe， kě qiǎo fèng jiě zài chuāng wài guò。 dū tīng zài 'ěr nèi。 biàn gé chuāng shuō dào：“ dà zhèng yuè yòu zěn me liǎo？ huán xiōng dì xiǎo hái zǐ jiā， yī bàn diǎn 'ér cuò liǎo， nǐ zhǐ jiào dǎo tā， shuō zhè xiē dàn huà zuò shénme！ píng tā zěn me qù， hái yòu tài tài lǎo yé guǎn tā ní， jiù dà kǒu cuì tā！ tā xiàn shì zhù zǐ， bù hǎo liǎo， héng shù yòu jiào dǎo tā de rén， yǔ nǐ shénme xiāng gān！ huán xiōng dì， chū lái， gēn wǒ wán qù。” jiǎ huán sù rì pà fèng jiě bǐ pà wáng fū rén gèng shèn， tīng jiàn jiào tā， máng wéi wéi de chū lái。 zhào yí niàn yě bù gǎn zé shēng。 fèng jiě xiàng jiǎ huán dào：“ nǐ yě shì gè méi qì xìng de！ shí cháng shuō gěi nǐ： yào chī， yào hē， yào wán， yào xiào， zhǐ 'ài tóng nà yī gè jiě jiě mèi mèi gē gē sǎo zǐ wán， jiù tóng nà gè wán。 nǐ bù tīng wǒ de huà， fǎn jiào zhè xiē rén jiào de wāi xīn xié yì， hú mèi zǐ bà dào de。 zì jǐ bù zūn zhòng， yào wǎng xià liú zǒu， ān zhe huài xīn， hái zhǐ guǎn yuàn rén jiā piān xīn。 shū liǎo jǐ gè qián？ jiù zhè me gè yàng 'ér！ " jiǎ huán jiàn wèn， zhǐ dé nuò nuò de huí shuō：“ shū liǎo yī 'èr bǎi。” fèng jiě dào：“ kuī nǐ hái shì yé， shū liǎo yī 'èr bǎi qián jiù zhè yàng！ " huí tóu jiào fēng 'ér：“ qù qǔ yī diào qián lái， gū niàn mendōu zài hòu tóu wán ní， bǎ tā sòng liǎo wán qù。 héng héng nǐ míng 'ér zài zhè me xià liú hú mèi zǐ， wǒ xiān dǎ liǎo nǐ， dǎ fā rén gào sù xué lǐ， pí bù jiē liǎo nǐ de！ wéi nǐ zhè gè bù zūn zhòng， hèn de nǐ gē gē yá gēn yǎng yǎng， bù shì wǒ lán zhe， wō xīn jiǎo bǎ nǐ de cháng zǐ wō chū lái liǎo。” hē mìng：“ qù bà！ " jiǎ huán nuò nuò de gēn liǎo fēng 'ér， dé liǎo qián， zì jǐ hé yíng chūn děng wán qù。 bù zài huà xià。
qiě shuō bǎo yù zhèng hé bǎo chāi wán xiào， hū jiàn rén shuō：“ shǐ dà gū niàn lái liǎo。” bǎo yù tīng liǎo， tái shēn jiù zǒu。 bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ děng zhe， zán men liǎng gè yī qí zǒu， qiáo qiáo tā qù。” shuō zhe， xià liǎo kàng， tóng bǎo yù yī qí lái zhì jiǎ mǔ zhè biān。 zhǐ jiàn shǐ xiāng yún dà xiào dà shuō de， jiàn tā liǎng gè lái， máng wèn hǎo sī jiàn。 zhèng zhí lín dài yù zài bàng， yīn wèn bǎo yù：“ zài nà lǐ de？ " bǎo yù biàn shuō：“ zài bǎo jiě jiě jiā de。” dài yù lěng xiào dào：“ wǒ shuō ní， kuī zài nà lǐ bàn zhù， bù rán zǎo jiù fēi liǎo lái liǎo。 " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ zhǐ xǔ tóng nǐ wán， tì nǐ jiě mèn 'ér。 bù guò 'ǒu rán qù tā nà lǐ yī tàng， jiù shuō zhè huà。” lín dài yù dào：“ hǎo méi yì sī de huà！ qù bù qù guǎn wǒ shénme shì， wǒ yòu méi jiào nǐ tì wǒ jiě mèn 'ér。 kě xǔ nǐ cóng cǐ bù lǐ wǒ ní！ " shuō zhe， biàn dǔ qì huí fáng qù liǎo。
bǎo yù máng gēn liǎo lái， wèn dào：“ hǎohǎo de yòu shēng qì liǎo？ jiù shì wǒ shuō cuò liǎo， nǐ dào dǐ yě hái zuò zài nà lǐ， hé bié rén shuō xiào yī huì zǐ。 yòu lái zì jǐ nà mèn。” lín dài yù dào：“ nǐ guǎn wǒ ní！ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ wǒ zì rán bù gǎn guǎn nǐ， zhǐ méi yòu gè kàn zhe nǐ zì jǐ zuò jiàn liǎo shēn zǐ ní。” lín dài yù dào：“ wǒ zuò jiàn huài liǎo shēn zǐ， wǒ sǐ， yǔ nǐ hé gān！ " bǎo yù dào：“ hé kǔ lái， dà zhèng yuè lǐ， sǐ liǎo huó liǎo de。” lín dài yù dào：“ piān shuō sǐ！ wǒ zhè huì zǐ jiù sǐ！ nǐ pà sǐ， nǐ cháng mìng bǎi suì de， rú hé？ " bǎo yù xiào dào： yào xiàng zhǐ guǎn zhè yàng nào， wǒ hái pà sǐ ní？ dǎo bù rú sǐ liǎo gān jìng。” dài yù máng dào：“ zhèng shì liǎo， yào shì zhè yàng nào， bù rú sǐ liǎo gān jìng。” bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ shuō wǒ zì jǐ sǐ liǎo gān jìng， bié tīng cuò liǎo huà lài rén。” zhèng shuō zhe， bǎo chāi zǒu lái dào：“ shǐ dà mèi mèi děng nǐ ní。” shuō zhe， biàn tuī bǎo yù zǒu liǎo。 zhè lǐ dài yù yuè fā qì mèn， zhǐ xiàng chuāng qián liú lèi。
méi liǎng zhǎn chá de gōng fū， bǎo yù réng lái liǎo。 lín dài yù jiàn liǎo， yuè fā chōu chōu shā shā de kū gè bù zhù。 bǎo yù jiàn liǎo zhè yàng， zhī nán wǎn huí， dǎ dié qǐ qiān bǎi yàng de kuǎn yǔ wēn yán lái quàn wèi。 bù liào zì jǐ wèi zhāng kǒu shèng rén zhī běn。”（《 tōng shū》） míng qīng zhī jì wáng fū zhī bǎ chéng jiě shì wéi“ shí yòu”、， zhǐ jiàn dài yù xiān shuō dào：“ nǐ yòu lái zuò shénme？ héng shù rú jīn yòu rén hé nǐ wán， bǐ wǒ yòu huì niàn， yòu huì zuò， yòu huì xiě， yòu huì shuō xiào， yòu pà nǐ shēng qì lā liǎo nǐ qù， nǐ yòu zuò shénme lái？ sǐ huó píng wǒ qù bà liǎo！ " bǎo yù tīng liǎo máng shàng lái qiāoqiāo de shuō dào：“ nǐ zhè me gè míng bái rén， nán dào lián ‘ qīn bù jiànshū， xiān bù jiàn hòu ’ yě bù zhī dào？ wǒ suī hú tú， què míng bái zhè liǎng jù huà。 tóu yī jiàn， zán men shì gū jiù zǐ mèi， bǎo jiě jiě shì liǎng yí zǐ mèi， lùn qīn qī， tā bǐ nǐ shū。 dì 'èr jiàn， nǐ xiān lái， zán men liǎng gè yī zhuō chī， yī chuáng shuì， cháng de zhè me dà liǎo， tā shì cái lái de， qǐ yòu gè wèitā shū nǐ de？ " lín dài yù cuì dào：“ wǒ nán dào wéi jiào nǐ shū tā？ wǒ chéng liǎo gè shénme rén liǎo ní！ wǒ wéi de shì wǒ de xīn。” bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ yě wéi de shì wǒ de xīn。 nán dào nǐ jiù zhī nǐ de xīn， bù zhī wǒ de xīn bù chéng？ " lín dài yù tīng liǎo， dī tóu yī yǔ bù fā， bàn rì shuō dào：“ nǐ zhǐ yuàn rén xíng dòng chēn guài liǎo nǐ， nǐ zài bù zhī dào nǐ zì jǐ 'òu rén nán shòu。 jiù ná jīn rì tiān qì bǐ， fēn míng jīn 'ér lěng de zhè yàng， nǐ zěn me dǎo fǎn bǎ gè qīng qiǎn pī fēng tuō liǎo ní？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ hé cháng bù chuānzhuó， jiàn nǐ yī nǎo， wǒ yī pào zào jiù tuō liǎo。” lín dài yù tàn dào：“ huí lái shāng liǎo fēng， yòu gāi 'è zhe chǎo chī de liǎo。”
èr rén zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn xiāng yún zǒu lái， xiào dào：“ èr gē gē， lín jiě jiě， nǐ men tiān tiān yī chù wán， wǒ hǎo róng yì lái liǎo， yě bù lǐ wǒ yī lǐ 'ér。” dài yù xiào dào：“ piān shì yǎo shé zǐ 'ài shuō huà， lián gè‘ èr’ gē gē yě jiào bù chū lái， zhǐ shì‘ ài’ gē gē‘ ài’ gē gē de。 huí lái gǎn wéi qí 'ér， yòu gāi nǐ nào‘ yāo 'ài sān sì wǔ’ liǎo。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ xué guàn liǎo tā， míng 'ér lián nǐ hái yǎo qǐ lái ní。” shǐ xiāng yún dào：“ tā zài bù fàng rén yī diǎn 'ér， zhuān tiǎo rén de bù hǎo。 nǐ zì jǐ biàn bǐ shì rén hǎo， yě bù fàn zhe jiàn yī gè dǎ qù yī gè。 zhǐ chū yī gè rén lái， nǐ gǎn tiǎo tā， wǒ jiù fú nǐ。” dài yù máng wèn shì shuí。 xiāng yún dào：“ nǐ gǎn tiǎo bǎo jiě jiě de duǎn chù， jiù suàn nǐ shì hǎo de。 wǒ suàn bù rú nǐ， tā zěn me bù jí nǐ ní。” dài yù tīng liǎo， lěng xiào dào：“ wǒ dāng shì shuí， yuán lái shì tā！ wǒ nà lǐ gǎn tiǎo tā ní。” bǎo yù bù děng shuō wán， máng yòng huà chà kāi。 xiāng yún xiào dào：“ zhè yī bèi zǐ wǒ zì rán bǐ bù shàng nǐ。 wǒ zhǐ bǎo yòu zhe míng 'ér dé yī gè yǎo shé de lín jiě fū， shí shí kè kè nǐ kě tīng‘ ài’‘ è’ qù。 ēmítuófó， nà cái xiàn zài wǒ yǎn lǐ！ " shuō de zhòng rén yī xiào， xiāng yún máng huí shēn páo liǎo。 yào zhī duān xiáng， xià huí fēn jiě。
Wang Hsi-feng with earnest words upbraids Mrs. Chao's jealous notions. Lin Tai-yue uses specious language to make sport of Shih Hsiang-yuen's querulous tone of voice.
But to continue. Pao-yue was in Tai yue's apartments relating about the rat-elves, when Pao-ch'ai entered unannounced, and began to gibe Pao-yue, with trenchant irony: how that on the fifteenth of the first moon, he had shown ignorance of the allusion to the green wax; and the three of them then indulged in that room in mutual poignant satire, for the sake of fun. Pao-yue had been giving way to solicitude lest Tai-yue should, by being bent upon napping soon after her meal, be shortly getting an indigestion, or lest sleep should, at night, be completely dispelled, as neither of these things were conducive to the preservation of good health, when luckily Pao-ch'ai walked in, and they chatted and laughed together; and when Lin Tai-yue at length lost all inclination to dose, he himself then felt composed in his mind. But suddenly they heard clamouring begin in his room, and after they had all lent an ear and listened, Lin Tai-yue was the first to smile and make a remark. "It's your nurse having a row with Hsi Jen!" she said. "Hsi Jen treats her well enough, but that nurse of yours would also like to keep her well under her thumb; she's indeed an old dotard;" and Pao-yue was anxious to go over at once, but Pao-ch'ai laid hold of him and kept him back, suggesting: "It's as well that you shouldn't wrangle with your nurse, for she's quite stupid from old age; and it's but fair, on the contrary, that you should bear with her a little."
"I know all about that!" Pao-yue rejoined. But having concluded this remark, he walked into his room, where he discovered nurse Li, leaning on her staff, standing in the centre of the floor, abusing Hsi Jen, saying: "You young wench! how utterly unmindful you are of your origin! It's I who've raised you up, and yet, when I came just now, you put on high airs and mighty side, and remained reclining on the stove-couch! You saw me well enough, but you paid not the least heed to me! Your whole heart is set upon acting like a wily enchantress to befool Pao-yue; and you so impose upon Pao-yue that he doesn't notice me, but merely lends an ear to what you people have to say! You're no more than a low girl bought for a few taels and brought in here; and will it ever do that you should be up to your mischievous tricks in this room? But whether you like it or not, I'll drag you out from this, and give you to some mean fellow, and we'll see whether you will still behave like a very imp, and cajole people or not?"
Hsi Jen was, at first, under the simple impression that the nurse was wrath for no other reason than because she remained lying down, and she felt constrained to explain that "she was unwell, that she had just succeeded in perspiring, and that having had her head covered, she hadn't really perceived the old lady;" but when she came subsequently to hear her mention that she imposed upon Pao-yue, and also go so far as to add that she would be given to some mean fellow, she unavoidably experienced both a sense of shame and injury, and found it impossible to restrain herself from beginning to cry.
Pao-yue had, it is true, caught all that had been said, but unable with any propriety to take notice of it, he thought it his duty to explain matters for her. "She's ill," he observed, "and is taking medicines; and if you don't believe it," he went on, "well then ask the rest of the servant-girls."
Nurse Li at these words flew into a more violent dudgeon. "Your sole delight is to screen that lot of sly foxes!" she remarked, "and do you pay any notice to me? No, none at all! and whom would you like me to go and ask; who's it that doesn't back you? and who hasn't been dismounted from her horse by Hsi Jen? I know all about it; but I'll go with you and explain all these matters to our old mistress and my lady; for I've nursed you till I've brought you to this age, and now that you don't feed on milk, you thrust me on one side, and avail yourself of the servant-girls, in your wish to browbeat me."
As she uttered this remark, she too gave way to tears, but by this time, Tai-yue and Pao-ch'ai had also come over, and they set to work to reassure her. "You, old lady," they urged, "should bear with them a little, and everything will be right!" And when nurse Li saw these two arrive, she hastened to lay bare her grievances to them; and taking up the question of the dismissal in days gone by, of Hsi Hsueeh, for having drunk some tea, of the cream eaten on the previous day, and other similar matters, she spun a long, interminable yarn.
By a strange coincidence lady Feng was at this moment in the upper rooms, where she had been making up the account of losses and winnings, and upon hearing at the back a continuous sound of shouting and bustling, she readily concluded that nurse Li's old complaint was breaking forth, and that she was finding fault with Pao-yue's servants. But she had, as luck would have it, lost money in gambling on this occasion, so that she was ready to visit her resentment upon others. With hurried step, she forthwith came over, and laying hold of nurse Li, "Nurse," she said smiling, "don't lose your temper, on a great festival like this, and after our venerable lady has just gone through a day in excellent spirits! You're an old dame, and should, when others get up a row, still do what is right and keep them in proper order; and aren't you, instead of that, aware what good manners imply, that you will start vociferating in this place, and make our dowager lady full of displeasure? Tell me who's not good, and I'll beat her for you; but be quick and come along with me over to my quarters, where a pheasant which they have roasted is scalding hot, and let us go and have a glass of wine!" And as she spoke, she dragged her along and went on her way. "Feng Erh," she also called, "hold the staff for your old lady Li, and the handkerchief to wipe her tears with!" While nurse Li walked along with lady Feng, her feet scarcely touched the ground, as she kept on saying: "I don't really attach any value to this decrepid existence of mine! and I had rather disregard good manners, have a row and lose face, as it's better, it seems to me, than to put up with the temper of that wench!"
Behind followed Pao-ch'ai and Tai-yue, and at the sight of the way in which lady Feng dealt with her, they both clapped their hands, and exclaimed, laughing, "What piece of luck that this gust of wind has come, and dragged away this old matron!" while Pao-yue nodded his head to and fro and soliloquised with a sigh: "One can neither know whence originates this score; for she will choose the weak one to maltreat; nor can one see what girl has given her offence that she has come to be put in her black books!"
Scarcely had he ended this remark, before Ch'ing Wen, who stood by, put in her word. "Who's gone mad again?" she interposed, "and what good would come by hurting her feelings? But did even any one happen to hurt her, she would have pluck enough to bear the brunt, and wouldn't act so improperly as to involve others!"
Hsi Jen wept, and as she, did so, she drew Pao-yue towards her: "All through my having aggrieved an old nurse," she urged, "you've now again given umbrage, entirely on my account, to this crowd of people; and isn't this still enough for me to bear but must you also go and drag in third parties?"
When Pao-yue realised that to this sickness of hers, had also been superadded all these annoyances, he promptly stifled his resentment, suppressed his voice and consoled her so far as to induce her to lie down again to perspire. And when he further noticed how scalding like soup and burning like fire she was, he himself watched by her, and reclining by her side, he tried to cheer her, saying: "All you must do is to take good care of your ailment; and don't give your mind to those trifling matters, and get angry."
"Were I," Hsi Jen smiled sardonically, "to lose my temper over such concerns, would I be able to stand one moment longer in this room? The only thing is that if she goes on, day after day, doing nothing else than clamour in this manner, how can she let people get along? But you rashly go and hurt people's feelings for our sakes; but they'll bear it in mind, and when they find an opportunity, they'll come out with what's easy enough to say, but what's not pleasant to hear, and how will we all feel then?"
While her mouth gave utterance to these words, she could not stop her tears from running; but fearful, on the other hand, lest Pao-yue should be annoyed, she felt compelled to again strain every nerve to repress them. But in a short while, the old matrons employed for all sorts of duties, brought in some mixture of two drugs; and, as Pao-yue noticed that she was just on the point of perspiring, he did not allow her to get up, but readily taking it up to her, she immediately swallowed it, with her head still on her pillow; whereupon he gave speedy directions to the young servant-maids to lay her stove-couch in order.
"Whether you mean to have anything to eat or not," Hsi Jen advised, "you should after all sit for a time with our old mistress and our lady, and have a romp with the young ladies; after which you can come back again; while I, by quietly keeping lying down, will also feel the better."
When Pao-yue heard this suggestion, he had no help but to accede, and, after she had divested herself of her hair-pins and earrings, and he saw her lie down, he betook himself into the drawing-rooms, where he had his repast with old lady Chia. But the meal over, her ladyship felt still disposed to play at cards with the nurses, who had looked after the household for many years; and Pao-yue, bethinking himself of Hsi Jen, hastened to return to his apartments; where seeing that Hsi Jen was drowsily falling asleep, he himself would have wished to go to bed, but the hour was yet early. And as about this time Ch'ing Wen, I Hsia, Ch'in Wen, Pi Hen had all, in their desire of getting some excitement, started in search of Yuean Yang, Hu Po and their companions, to have a romp with them, and he espied She Yueeh alone in the outer room, having a game of dominoes by lamp-light, Pao-yue inquired full of smiles: "How is it you don't go with them?"
"I've no money," She Yueeh replied.
"Under the bed," continued Pao-yue, "is heaped up all that money, and isn't it enough yet for you to lose from?"
"Had we all gone to play," She Yueeh added, "to whom would the charge of this apartment have been handed over? That other one is sick again, and the whole room is above, one mass of lamps, and below, full of fire; and all those old matrons, ancient as the heavens, should, after all their exertions in waiting upon you from morning to night, be also allowed some rest; while the young servant girls, on the other hand, have likewise been on duty the whole day long, and shouldn't they even at this hour be left to go and have some distraction? and that's why I am in here on watch."
When Pao-yue heard these words, which demonstrated distinctly that she was another Hsi Jen, he consequently put on a smile and remarked: "I'll sit in here, so you had better set your mind at ease and go!"
"Since you remain in here, there's less need for me to go," resumed She Yueeh, "for we two can chat and play and laugh; and won't that be nice?"
"What can we two do? it will be awfully dull! but never mind," Pao-yue rejoined; "this morning you said that your head itched, and now that you have nothing to do, I may as well comb it for you."
"Yes! do so!" readily assented She Yueeh, upon catching what he suggested; and while still speaking, she brought over the dressing-case containing a set of small drawers and looking-glass, and taking off her ornaments, she dishevelled her hair; whereupon Pao-yue picked up the fine comb and passed it repeatedly through her hair; but he had only combed it three or five times, when he perceived Ch'ing Wen hurriedly walk in to fetch some money. As soon as she caught sight of them both: "You haven't as yet drunk from the marriage cup," she said with a smile full of irony, "and have you already put up your hair?"
"Now that you've come, let me also comb yours for you," Pao-yue continued.
"I'm not blessed with such excessive good fortune!" Ch'ing Wen retorted, and as she uttered these words, she took the money, and forthwith dashing the portiere after her, she quitted the room.
Pao-yue stood at the back of She Yueeh, and She Yueeh sat opposite the glass, so that the two of them faced each other in it, and Pao-yue readily observed as he gazed in the glass, "In the whole number of rooms she's the only one who has a glib tongue!"
She Yueeh at these words hastily waved her hand towards the inside of the glass, and Pao-yue understood the hint; and suddenly a sound of "hu" was heard from the portiere, and Ch'ing Wen ran in once again.
"How have I got a glib tongue?" she inquired; "it would be well for us to explain ourselves."
"Go after your business, and have done," She Yueeh interposed laughingly; "what's the use of your coming and asking questions of people?"
"Will you also screen him?" Ch'ing Wen smiled significantly; "I know all about your secret doings, but wait until I've got back my capital, and we'll then talk matters over!"
With this remark still on her lips, she straightway quitted the room, and during this while, Pao-yue having finished combing her hair, asked She Yueeh to quietly wait upon him, while he went to sleep, as he would not like to disturb Hsi Jen.
Of the whole night there is nothing to record. But the next day, when he got up at early dawn, Hsi Jen had already perspired, during the night, so that she felt considerably lighter and better; but limiting her diet to a little rice soup, she remained quiet and nursed herself, and Pao-yue was so relieved in mind that he came, after his meal, over on this side to his aunt Hsueeh's on a saunter. The season was the course of the first moon, and the school was shut up for the new year holidays; while in the inner chambers the girls had put by their needlework, and were all having a time of leisure, and hence it was that when Chia Huan too came over in search of distraction, he discovered Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang Ling, Ying Erh, the three of them, in the act of recreating themselves by playing at chess. Chia Huan, at the sight of them, also wished to join in their games; and Pao-ch'ai, who had always looked upon him with, in fact, the same eye as she did Pao-yue, and with no different sentiment of any kind, pressed him to come up, upon hearing that he was on this occasion desirous to play; and, when he had seated himself together with them, they began to gamble, staking each time a pile of ten cash. The first time, he was the winner, and he felt supremely elated at heart, but as it happened that he subsequently lost in several consecutive games he soon became a prey to considerable distress. But in due course came the game in which it was his turn to cast the dice, and, if in throwing, he got seven spots, he stood to win, but he was likewise bound to be a winner were he to turn up six; and when Ying Erh had turned up three spots and lost, he consequently took up the dice, and dashing them with spite, one of them settled at five; and, as the other reeled wildly about, Ying Erh clapped her hands, and kept on shouting, "one spot;" while Chia Huan at once gazed with fixed eye and cried at random: "It's six, it's seven, it's eight!" But the dice, as it happened, turned up at one spot, and Chia Huan was so exasperated that putting out his hand, he speedily made a snatch at the dice, and eventually was about to lay hold of the money, arguing that it was six spot. But Ying Erh expostulated, "It was distinctly an ace," she said. And as Pao-ch'ai noticed how distressed Chia Huan was, she forthwith cast a glance at Ying Erh and observed: "The older you get, the less manners you have! Is it likely that gentlemen will cheat you? and don't you yet put down the money?"
Ying Erh felt her whole heart much aggrieved, but as she heard Pao-ch'ai make these remarks, she did not presume to utter a sound, and as she was under the necessity of laying down the cash, she muttered to herself: "This one calls himself a gentleman, and yet cheats us of these few cash, for which I myself even have no eye! The other day when I played with Mr. Pao-yue, he lost ever so many, and yet he did not distress himself! and what remained of the cash were besides snatched away by a few servant-girls, but all he did was to smile, that's all!"
Pao-ch'ai did not allow her time to complete what she had to say, but there and then called her to account and made her desist; whereupon Chia Huan exclaimed: "How can I compare with Pao-yue; you all fear him, and keep on good terms with him, while you all look down upon me for not being the child of my lady." And as he uttered these words, he at once gave way to tears.
"My dear cousin," Pao-ch'ai hastened to advise him, "leave off at once language of this kind, for people will laugh at you;" and then went on to scold Ying Erh, when Pao-yue just happened to come in. Perceiving him in this plight, "What is the matter?" he asked; but Chia Huan had not the courage to say anything.
Pao-ch'ai was well aware of the custom, which prevailed in their family, that younger brothers lived in respect of the elder brothers, but she was not however cognisant of the fact that Pao-yue would not that any one should entertain any fear of him. His idea being that elder as well as younger brothers had, all alike, father and mother to admonish them, and that there was no need for any of that officiousness, which, instead of doing good gave, on the contrary, rise to estrangement. "Besides," (he reasoned,) "I'm the offspring of the primary wife, while he's the son of the secondary wife, and, if by treating him as leniently as I have done, there are still those to talk about me, behind my back, how could I exercise any control over him?" But besides these, there were other still more foolish notions, which he fostered in his mind; but what foolish notions they were can you, reader, guess? As a result of his growing up, from his early youth, among a crowd of girls, of whom, in the way of sister, there was Yuean Ch'un, of cousins, from his paternal uncle's side, there were Ying Ch'un, and Hsi Ch'un, and of relatives also there were Shih Hsiang-yuen, Lin Tai-yue, Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai and the rest, he, in due course, resolved in his mind that the divine and unsullied virtue of Heaven and earth was only implanted in womankind, and that men were no more than feculent dregs and foul dirt. And for this reason it was that men were without discrimination, considered by him as so many filthy objects, which might or might not exist; while the relationships of father, paternal uncles, and brothers, he did not however presume to disregard, as these were among the injunctions bequeathed by the holy man, and he felt bound to listen to a few of their precepts. But to the above causes must be assigned the fact that, among his brothers, he did no more than accomplish the general purport of the principle of human affections; bearing in mind no thought whatever that he himself was a human being of the male sex, and that it was his duty to be an example to his younger brothers. And this is why Chia Huan and the others entertained no respect for him, though in their veneration for dowager lady Chia, they yielded to him to a certain degree.
Pao-ch'ai harboured fears lest, on this occasion, Pao-yue should call him to book, and put him out of face, and she there and then lost no time in taking Chia Huan's part with a view to screening him.
"In this felicitous first moon what are you blubbering for?" Pao-yue inquired, "if this place isn't nice, why then go somewhere else to play. But from reading books, day after day, you've studied so much that you've become quite a dunce. If this thing, for instance, isn't good, that must, of course, be good, so then discard this and take up that, but is it likely that by sticking to this thing and crying for a while that it will become good? You came originally with the idea of reaping some fun, and you've instead provoked yourself to displeasure, and isn't it better then that you should be off at once."
Chia Huan upon hearing these words could not but come back to his quarters; and Mrs. Chao noticing the frame of mind in which he was felt constrained to inquire: "Where is it that you've been looked down upon by being made to fill up a hole, and being trodden under foot?"
"I was playing with cousin Pao-ch'ai," Chia Huan readily replied, "when Ying Erh insulted me, and deprived me of my money, and brother Pao-yue drove me away."
"Ts'ui!" exclaimed Mrs. Chao, "who bade you (presume so high) as to get up into that lofty tray? You low and barefaced thing! What place is there that you can't go to and play; and who told you to run over there and bring upon yourself all this shame?"
As she spoke, lady Feng was, by a strange coincidence, passing outside under the window; so that every word reached her ear, and she speedily asked from outside the window: "What are you up to in this happy first moon? These brothers are, really, but mere children, and will you just for a slight mistake, go on preaching to him! what's the use of coming out with all you've said? Let him go wherever he pleases; for there are still our lady and Mr. Chia Cheng to keep him in order. But you go and sputter him with your gigantic mouth; he's at present a master, and if there be anything wrong about him, there are, after all, those to rate him; and what business is that of yours? Brother Huan, come out with you, and follow me and let us go and enjoy ourselves."
Chia Huan had ever been in greater fear and trembling of lady Feng, than of madame Wang, so that when her summons reached his ear, he hurriedly went out, while Mrs. Chao, on the other hand, did not venture to breathe a single word.
"You too," resumed lady Feng, addressing Chia Huan; "are a thing devoid of all natural spirit! I've often told you that if you want to eat, drink, play, or laugh, you were quite free to go and play with whatever female cousin, male cousin, or sister-in-law you choose to disport yourself with; but you won't listen to my words. On the contrary, you let all these persons teach you to be depraved in your heart, perverse in your mind, to be sly, artful, and domineering; and you've, besides, no respect for your own self, but will go with that low-bred lot! and your perverse purpose is to begrudge people's preferences! But what you've lost are simply a few cash, and do you behave in this manner? How much did you lose?" she proceeded to ask Chia Huan; and Chia Huan, upon hearing this question, felt constrained to obey, by saying something in the way of a reply. "I've lost," he explained, "some hundred or two hundred cash."
"You have," rejoined lady Feng, "the good fortune of being a gentleman, and do you make such a fuss for the loss of a hundred or two hundred cash!" and turning her head round, "Feng Erh," she added, "go and fetch a thousand cash; and as the girls are all playing at the back, take him along to go and play. And if again by and by, you're so mean and deceitful, I shall, first of all, beat you, and then tell some one to report it at school, and won't your skin be flayed for you? All because of this want of respect of yours, your elder cousin is so angry with you that his teeth itch; and were it not that I prevent him, he would hit you with his foot in the stomach and kick all your intestines out! Get away," she then cried; whereupon Chia Huan obediently followed Feng Erh, and taking the money he went all by himself to play with Ying Ch'un and the rest; where we shall leave him without another word.
But to return to Pao-yue. He was just amusing himself and laughing with Pao-ch'ai, when at an unexpected moment, he heard some one announce that Miss Shih had come. At these words, Pao-yue rose, and was at once going off when "Wait," shouted Pao-ch'ai with a smile, "and we'll go over together and see her."
Saying this, she descended from the stove-couch, and came, in company with Pao-yue, to dowager lady Chia's on this side, where they saw Shih Hsiang-yuen laughing aloud, and talking immoderately; and upon catching sight of them both, she promptly inquired after their healths, and exchanged salutations.
Lin Tai-yue just happened to be standing by, and having set the question to Pao-yue "Where do you come from?" "I come from cousin Pao-ch'ai's rooms," Pao-yue readily replied.
Tai-yue gave a sardonic smile. "What I maintain is this," she rejoined, "that lucky enough for you, you were detained over there; otherwise, you would long ago have, at once, come flying in here!"
"Am I only free to play with you?" Pao-yue inquired, "and to dispel your ennui! I simply went over to her place for a run, and that quite casually, and will you insinuate all these things?"
"Your words are quite devoid of sense," Tai-yue added; "whether you go or not what's that to me? neither did I tell you to give me any distraction; you're quite at liberty from this time forth not to pay any notice to me!"
Saying this, she flew into a high dudgeon and rushed back into her room; but Pao-yue promptly followed in her footsteps: "Here you are again in a huff," he urged, "and all for no reason! Had I even passed any remark that I shouldn't, you should anyhow have still sat in there, and chatted and laughed with the others for a while; instead of that, you come again to sit and mope all alone!"
"Are you my keeper?" Tai-yue expostulated.
"I couldn't, of course," Pao-yue smiled, "presume to exercise any influence over you; but the only thing is that you are doing your own health harm!"
"If I do ruin my health," Tai-yue rejoined, "and I die, it's my own lookout! what's that to do with you?"
"What's the good," protested Pao-yue, "of talking in this happy first moon of dying and of living?"
"I _will_ say die," insisted Tai-yue, "die now, at this very moment! but you're afraid of death; and you may live a long life of a hundred years, but what good will that be!"
"If all we do is to go on nagging in this way," Pao-yue remarked smiling, "will I any more be afraid to die? on the contrary, it would be better to die, and be free!"
"Quite so!" continued Tai-yue with alacrity, "if we go on nagging in this way, it would be better for me to die, and that you should be free of me!"
"I speak of my own self dying," Pao-yue added, "so don't misunderstand my words and accuse people wrongly."
While he was as yet speaking, Pao-ch'ai entered the room: "Cousin Shih is waiting for you;" she said; and with these words, she hastily pushed Pao-yue on, and they walked away.
Tai-yue, meanwhile, became more and more a prey to resentment; and disconsolate as she felt, she shed tears in front of the window. But not time enough had transpired to allow two cups of tea to be drunk, before Pao-yue came back again. At the sight of him, Tai-yue sobbed still more fervently and incessantly, and Pao-yue realising the state she was in, and knowing well enough how arduous a task it would be to bring her round, began to join together a hundred, yea a thousand kinds of soft phrases and tender words to console her. But at an unforeseen moment, and before he could himself open his mouth, he heard Tai-yue anticipate him.
"What have you come back again for?" she asked. "Let me die or live, as I please, and have done! You've really got at present some one to play with you, one who, compared with me, is able to read and able to compose, able to write, to speak, as well as to joke, one too who for fear lest you should have ruffled your temper dragged you away: and what do you return here for now?"
Pao-yue, after listening to all she had to say, hastened to come up to her. "Is it likely," he observed in a low tone of voice, "that an intelligent person like you isn't so much as aware that near relatives can't be separated by a distant relative, and a remote friend set aside an old friend! I'm stupid, there's no gainsaying, but I do anyhow understand what these two sentiments imply. You and I are, in the first place, cousins on my father's sister's side; while sister Pao-ch'ai and I are two cousins on mother's sides, so that, according to the degrees of relationship, she's more distant than yourself. In the second place, you came here first, and we two have our meals at one table and sleep in one bed, having ever since our youth grown up together; while she has only recently come, and how could I ever distance you on her account?"
"Ts'ui!" Tai-yue exclaimed. "Will I forsooth ever make you distance her! who and what kind of person have I become to do such a thing? What (I said) was prompted by my own motives."
"I too," Pao-yue urged, "made those remarks prompted by my own heart's motives, and do you mean to say that your heart can only read the feelings of your own heart, and has no idea whatsoever of my own?"
Tai-yue at these words, lowered her head and said not a word. But after a long interval, "You only know," she continued, "how to feel bitter against people for their action in censuring you: but you don't, after all, know that you yourself provoke people to such a degree, that it's hard for them to put up with it! Take for instance the weather of to-day as an example. It's distinctly very cold, to-day, and yet, how is it that you are so contrary as to go and divest yourself of the pelisse with the bluish breast-fur overlapping the cloth?"
"Why say I didn't wear it?" Pao-yue smilingly observed. "I did, but seeing you get angry I felt suddenly in such a terrible blaze, that I at once took it off!"
Tai-yue heaved a sigh. "You'll by and by catch a cold," she remarked, "and then you'll again have to starve, and vociferate for something to eat!"
While these two were having this colloquy, Hsiang-yuen was seen to walk in! "You two, Ai cousin and cousin Lin," she ventured jokingly, "are together playing every day, and though I've managed to come after ever so much trouble, you pay no heed to me at all!"
"It's invariably the rule," Tai-yue retorted smilingly, "that those who have a defect in their speech will insist upon talking; she can't even come out correctly with 'Erh' (secundus) cousin, and keeps on calling him 'Ai' cousin, 'Ai' cousin! And by and by when you play 'Wei Ch'i' you're sure also to shout out yao, ai, (instead of erh), san; (one, two, three)."
Pao-yue laughed. "If you imitate her," he interposed, "and get into that habit, you'll also begin to bite your tongue when you talk."
"She won't make even the slightest allowance for any one," Hsiang-yuen rejoined; "her sole idea being to pick out others' faults. You may readily be superior to any mortal being, but you shouldn't, after all, offend against what's right and make fun of every person you come across! But I'll point out some one, and if you venture to jeer her, I'll at once submit to you."
"Who is it?" Tai-yue vehemently inquired.
"If you do have the courage," Hsiang-yuen answered, "to pick out cousin Pao-ch'ai's faults, you then may well be held to be first-rate!"
Tai-yue after hearing these words, gave a sarcastic smile. "I was wondering," she observed, "who it was. Is it indeed she? How could I ever presume to pick out hers?"
Pao-yue allowed her no time to finish, but hastened to say something to interrupt the conversation.
"I couldn't, of course, during the whole of this my lifetime," Hsiang-yuen laughed, "attain your standard! but my earnest wish is that by and by should be found for you, cousin Lin, a husband, who bites his tongue when he speaks, so that you should every minute and second listen to 'ai-ya-os!' O-mi-to-fu, won't then your reward be manifest to my eyes!"
As she made this remark, they all burst out laughing heartily, and Hsiang-yuen speedily turned herself round and ran away.
But reader, do you want to know the sequel? Well, then listen to the explanation given in the next chapter.
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