中国经典 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions   》 'èr shí huí  jiǎng hàn qíng zèng qiàn xiāng luó  xuē bǎo chāi xiū lóng hóng shè chuàn CHAPTER XXVIII.      cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin    gāo 'ě Gao E


     CHAPTER XXVIII.
  huà shuō lín dài zhǐ yīn zuó qíng wén kāi mén shìcuò zài bǎo shēn shàngzhì yòu qiǎo jiàn jiàn huā zhī zhèng shì qiāng míng zhèng wèi xièyòu gòu shāng chūn chóu yīn xiē cán huā luò bàn yǎn máiyóu gǎn huā shāng liǎo shēngbiàn suí kǒu niàn liǎo xiǎng bǎo zài shān shàng tīng jiànxiān guò diǎn tóu gǎn tàn hòu tīng dào " nóng jīn zàng huā rén xiào chī nián zàng nóng zhī shì shuí ", " yīzhāo chūn jìn hóng yán lǎohuā luò rén wáng liǎng zhī " děng jué tòng dǎo shān zhī shànghuái dōu de luò huā liǎo shì xiǎng lín dài de huā yán yuè màojiāng lái dào xún zhī shínìngbù xīn suì cháng duàn dài zhōng guī xún zhī shítuī zhī rén bǎo chāixiāng líng rén děng dào xún zhī shí bǎo chāi děng zhōng guī xún zhī shí yòu 'ān zài zāiqiě shēn shàng zhī zài wǎng chù yuán huā liǔyòu zhī dāng shǔ shuí xìng héng héng yīn 'ér 'èrèr 'ér sānfǎn tuī qiú liǎo zhēn zhī shí wèihé děng chǔn yǎo suǒ zhītáo zàochū chén wǎngshǐ jiě shì zhè duàn bēi shāngzhèng shìhuā yǐng shēn zuǒ yòuniǎo shēng zhǐ zài 'ěr dōng
   lín dài zhèng shāng gǎn tīng shān shàng yòu bēi shēngxīn xià xiǎng dào rén réndōu xiào yòu xiē chī bìngnán dào hái yòu chī chéng? " xiǎng zhetái tóu kànjiàn shì bǎo lín dài kàn jiànbiàn dào:“ cuì dào shì shuíyuán lái shì zhè hěn xīn duǎn mìng de … " gāng shuō dào " duǎn mìng " èr yòu kǒu yǎn zhùcháng tàn liǎo shēng chōu shēn biàn zǒu liǎo
   zhè bǎo bēi tòng liǎo huí rán tái tóu jiàn liǎo dài biàn zhī dài kàn jiàn duǒ kāi liǎo jué wèidǒu dǒu láixià shān xún guī jiù wǎng hóng yuàn lái qiǎo kàn jiàn lín dài zài qián tóu zǒulián máng gǎn shàng shuō dào:“ qiě zhàn zhù zhī zhǐ shuō huàcóng jīn hòu liào kāi shǒu lín dài huí tóu kàn jiàn shì bǎo dài yào tīng shuō " zhǐ shuō huàcóng liào kāi shǒu ", zhè huà yòu wén zhāngshǎo zhàn zhù shuō dào:“ yòu huàqǐng shuō lái。” bǎo xiào dào:“ liǎng huàshuō liǎo tīng tīng? " dài tīng shuōhuí tóu jiù zǒubǎo zài shēn hòu miàn tàn dào:“ yòu jīn dāng chū! " lín dài tīng jiàn zhè huàyóu zhàn zhùhuí tóu dào:“ dāng chū zěn me yàngjīn zěn me yàng? " bǎo tàn dào:“ dāng chū niàn lái liǎo shì péi zhe wán xiàopíng xīn 'ài de niàn yàojiù 'ài chī detīng jiàn niàn 'ài chīlián máng gān gān jìng jìng shōu zhe děng niàn chī zhuō chī fàn chuáng shàng shuì jué tóu men xiǎng dào de niàn shēng tóu men xiǎng dào liǎo xīn xiǎng zhe mèi men cóng xiǎo 'ér zhǎngdàqīn dào liǎo 'ércái jiàn rén hǎo jīn shuí chéng wàng niàn rén xīn fàng zài yǎn jīng dǎo wài de shénme bǎo jiě jiě fèng jiě jiě de fàng zài xīn kǎn 'ér shàngdǎo sān jiàn de yòu méi qīn xiōng qīn mèihéng héng suī rán yòu liǎng nán dào zhī dào shì de shìde chūzhǐ tóng de xīn yàngshuí zhī shì bái cāo liǎo zhè xīnnòng de yòu yuān chù ! " shuō zhe jué xià yǎn lèi lái
   dài 'ěr nèi tīng liǎo zhè huàyǎn nèi jiàn liǎo zhè xíng jǐngxīn nèi jué huī liǎo bàn jué xià lèi lái tóu bǎo jiàn zhè bān xíng jǐng 'ér xíng zhī shénrén zhī zhì huìběn cháng zhī rén yòusuì yòu shuō dào:“ zhī dào jīn hǎo liǎodàn zhǐ píng zhe zěn me hǎowàn gǎn zài mèi mèi gēn qián yòu cuò chùbiàn yòu 'èr fēn cuò chù dǎo shì huò jiào dǎo jiè xià huò liǎng liǎng xiàwǒdōu huī xīnshuí zhī zǒng jiào zhe tóu nǎoshǎo hún shī zhī zěn me yàng cái hǎojiù biàn liǎo shì guǐrèn píng gāo sēng gāo dào chàn huǐ néng chāo shēnghái shēn míng liǎo yuán cái tuō shēng !”
   dài tīng liǎo zhè huà jué jiāng zuó wǎn de shìdōu wàng zài jiǔ xiāo yún wài liǎobiàn shuō dào:“ zhè me shuōzuó 'ér wèishénme liǎo jiào tóu kāi mén? " bǎo chà dào:“ zhè huà cóng shuō yào shì zhè me yàng jiù liǎo! " lín dài cuì dào:“ qīng zǎo huó de huì shuō yòu jiù yòuméi yòu jiù méi yòu shénme shì 。” bǎo dào:“ shí zài méi yòu jiàn jiù shì bǎo jiě jiě zuò liǎo zuòjiù chū lái liǎo。” lín dài xiǎng liǎo xiǎngxiào dào:“ shì liǎoxiǎng shì de tóu men lǎn dài dòngsàng shēng wāi de shì yòu de。” bǎo dào:“ xiǎng shì zhè yuán děng huí wèn liǎo shì shuíjiào xùn jiào xùn men jiù hǎo liǎo。” dài dào:“ de xiē niàn men gāi jiào xùn jiào xùnzhǐ shì lùn gāi shuōjīn 'ér zuì liǎo de shì xiǎocháng huò míng 'ér bǎo niàn láishénme bèi niàn lái zuì liǎoshì qíng liǎo。” shuō zhe mǐn zhe zuǐ xiàobǎo tīng liǎoyòu shì yǎo yòu shì xiào
   èr rén zhèng shuō huàzhǐ jiàn tóu lái qǐng chī fànsuì wǎng qián tóu lái liǎowáng rén jiàn liǎo lín dài yīn wèn dào:“ niàn chī bào tài de yào hǎo xiē? " lín dài dào:“ guò zhèmezhāolǎo tài tài hái jiào chī wáng de yào 。” bǎo dào:“ tài tài zhī dàolín mèi mèi shì nèi zhèngxiān tiān shēng de ruòsuǒ jìn zhù diǎn fēng hán guò chī liǎng jiān yào jiù hǎo liǎosàn liǎo fēng hánhái shì chī wán yào de hǎo。” wáng rén dào:“ qián 'ér shuō liǎo wán yào de míng wàng liǎo。” bǎo dào:“ zhī dào xiē wán yào guò jiào chī shénme rénshēn yǎng róng wán。” wáng rén dào:“ shì。” bǎo yòu dào:“ zhēn wánzuǒ guīyòu guīzài jiù shì mài wèi huáng wán。” wáng rén dào:“ dōubù shì zhǐ yòu jīn gāng liǎng de。” bǎo zhā shǒu xiào dào:“ cóng lái méi tīng jiàn yòu shénmejīn gāng wán’。 ruò yòu liǎojīn gāng wán’, rán yòu sànliǎo! " shuō de mǎn réndōu xiào liǎobǎo chāi mǐn zuǐ xiào dào:“ xiǎng shì tiān wáng xīn dān。 " wáng rén xiào dào:“ shì zhè míng 'ér jīn liǎo。” bǎo dào:“ tài tài dǎo dōushì jiàojīn gāng’‘ zhī shǐ liǎo。” wáng rén dào:“ chě niàn de sàoyòu qiàn lǎo chuí liǎo。” bǎo xiào dào:“ lǎo zài bùwèi zhè chuí de。”
   wáng rén yòu dào:“ yòu zhè míng 'érmíng 'ér jiù jiào rén mǎi xiē lái chī。” bǎo xiào dào:“ zhè xiē dōubù zhōng yòng detài tài gěi sān bǎi liù shí liǎng yín mèi mèi pèi liào wán yàobāo guǎn liào wán jiù hǎo liǎo。” wáng rén dào:“ fàng shénme yào jiù zhè me guì? " bǎo xiào dào:“ dàngzhēn de zhè fāng bié de tóng yào míng 'ér guài rén běn zhù huà de cháorèn wéi zhù shì zhǒng mìng wéi biāo de shí shuō qīngzhǐ jiǎng tóu tāi chērén xíng dài cānsān bǎi liù shí liǎng guī shǒu qiān nián sōng gēn líng dǎnzhū lèi de yào suàn wéi zhǐ zài qún yào suàn wéi jūn de yàoshuō lái rén tiàoqián 'ér xuē qiú liǎo 'èr nián cái gěi liǎo zhè fāng liǎo fāng yòu xún liǎo 'èr sān niánhuā liǎo yòu shàng qiān de yín cái pèi chéng liǎotài tài xìnzhǐ wèn bǎo jiě jiě。” bǎo chāi tīng shuōxiào zhe yáo shǒu 'ér shuō:“ zhī dào méi tīng jiàn bié jiào niàn wèn 。” wáng rén xiào dào:“ dào shì bǎo tóuhǎo hái huǎng。” bǎo zhàn zài dāng tīng jiàn shuō huí shēn shǒu pāishuō dào:“ shuō de dǎo shì zhēn huà dǎo shuō huǎng。” kǒu shuō zhe huí shēnzhǐ jiàn lín dài zuò zài bǎo chāi shēn hòu mǐn zhe zuǐ xiàoyòng shǒu zhǐ tóu zài liǎn shàng huà zhe xiū
   fèng jiě yīn zài jiān kàn zhe rén fàng zhuō tīng shuōbiàn zǒu lái xiào dào:“ bǎo xiōng shì huǎngzhè dǎo shì yòu deshàng xuē qīn lái xún zhēn zhū wèn zuò shénme shuō pèi yào hái bào yuàn shuō pèi liǎo jīn zhī dào zhè me fèi shì wèn shénme yào shuō shì bǎo xiōng de fāng shuō liǎo duō shǎo yào méi gōng tīng shuō rán mǎi zhēn zhū liǎozhǐ shì dìng yào tóu shàng dài guò desuǒ lái xún shuō:‘ mèi mèi jiù méi sàn dehuā 'ér shàng qiā xià láiguò hòu 'ér jiǎn hǎo de zài gěi mèi mèi chuān liǎo lái。’ méi 'ér liǎng zhī zhū huā 'ér xiàn chāi liǎo gěi hái yào liǎo kuài sān chǐ shàng yòng hóng shā liǎo miàn 。” fèng jiě shuō bǎo niàn shuō:“ tài yáng zài ! " fèng jiě shuō wán liǎobǎo yòu dào:“ tài tài xiǎngzhè guò shì jiāng jiù zhèng jīng 'àn fāng zhè zhēn zhū bǎo shí dìng yào zài fén deyòu shí guì rén jiā zhuāng guǒ
   de tóu miàn liǎo lái cái hǎo jīn wéi zhè bào fén jué suǒ zhǐ shì huó rén dài guò de shǐ 。” wáng rén dào:“ ēmítuófó dāng jiā huā huā dejiù shì fén yòu zhè rén jiā liǎo bǎi niánzhè huì fān shī dào dezuò liǎo yào líng!”
   bǎo xiàng lín dài shuō dào:“ tīng jiàn liǎo méi yòunán dào 'èr jiě jiě gēn zhe huǎng chéng? " liǎn wàng zhe dài shuō huàquè yǎn jīng zhe bǎo chāidài biàn wáng rén dào:“ jiù tīng tīngbǎo jiě jiě yuán huǎng de yuánjiù · hēng · 'ěr gēn de yán jiū chéng guǒ 'ér zuò)》。 ēn zhī zhe 。 " wáng rén dào:“ bǎo hěn huì mèi mèi。” bǎo xiào dào:“ tài tài zhī dào zhè yuán bǎo jiě jiě xiān zài jiā zhù zhe xuē de shì zhī dào kuàng jīn zài tóu zhù zhe rán shì yuè zhī dào liǎolín mèi mèi cái zài bèi hòu xiū liàng huǎng 。” zhèng shuō zhezhǐ jiàn jiǎ fáng de tóu zhǎo bǎo lín dài chī fànlín dài jiào bǎo biàn shēn liǎo tóu jiù zǒu tóu shuō děng zhe bǎo kuài 'ér zǒulín dài dào:“ chī fàn liǎozán men zǒu xiān zǒu liǎo。” shuō zhe biàn chū liǎobǎo dào:“ jīn 'ér hái gēn zhe tài tài chī 。 " wáng rén dào:“ jīn 'ér chī zhāi zhèng jīng chī de 。” bǎo dào:“ gēn zhe chī zhāi。” shuō zhe biàn jiào tóu " ", xiān páo dào zhuō shàng zuò liǎowáng rén xiàng bǎo chāi děng xiào dào:“ men zhǐ guǎn chī men deyóu 。” bǎo chāi yīn xiào dào:“ zhèng jīng chī chīpéi zhe lín niàn zǒu tàng xīn jǐn de zài 。” bǎo dào:“ guò huì jiù hǎo liǎo。”
   shí chī guò fànbǎo jiǎ guàèr guà zhe lín dài máng máng de yào chá shù kǒutàn chūn chūn xiào dào:“ èr chéng jiā máng xiē shénmechī fàn chī chá shì zhè me máng de。” bǎo chāi xiào dào:“ jiào kuài chī liǎo qiáo lín mèi mèi jiào zài zhè chàn xiē shénme。” bǎo chī liǎo chábiàn chū lái zhí wǎng yuàn lái qiǎo zǒu dào fèng jiě 'ér yuàn mén qiánzhǐ jiàn fèng jiě dèng zhe mén jiàn 'ěr kàn zhe shí lái xiǎo men nuó huā pén jiàn bǎo lái liǎoxiào dào:“ lái de hǎojìn láijìn lái xiě 'ér。” bǎo zhǐ gēn liǎo jìn láidào liǎo fèng jiě mìng rén guò yàn zhǐ láixiàng bǎo dào:“ hóng zhuāng duàn shí mǎng duàn shí shàng yòng shā bǎi jīn xiàng juàn 。” bǎo dào:“ zhè suàn shénmeyòu shì zhàngyòu shì zěn me xiě ? " fèng jiě 'ér dào:“ zhǐ guǎn xiě shànghéng shù míng bái jiù liǎo。” bǎo tīng shuō zhǐ xiě liǎofèng jiě miàn shōu miàn xiào dào:“ hái yòu huà gào zhī yòu tóu jiào hóng yào jiào liǎo lái shǐ huànmíng 'ér zài tiǎo shǐ ? " bǎo dào:“ de rén duō de hěnjiě jiě huān shuízhǐ guǎn jiào liǎo lái wèn 。” fèng jiě xiào dào:“ zhèmezhāo jiù jiào rén dài liǎo。” bǎo dào:“ zhǐ guǎn dài 。” shuō zhe biàn yào zǒufèng jiě 'ér dào:“ huí lái hái yòu huà 。” bǎo dào:“ lǎo tài tài jiào yòu huà děng huí lái 。” shuō zhe biàn lái zhì jiǎ zhè biānzhǐ jiàn dōuyǐ chī wán fàn liǎojiǎ yīn wèn :“ gēn zhe niàn chī liǎo shénme hǎo de? " bǎo xiào dào:“ méi shénme hǎo de dǎo duō chī liǎo wǎn fàn。” yīn wèn:“ lín mèi mèi zài ? " jiǎ dào:“ tóu 。”
   bǎo jìn láizhǐ jiàn xià tóu chuī yùn dǒukàng shàng liǎng tóu fěn xiàndài wān zhe yāo zhe jiǎn cái shí me bǎo zǒu jìn lái xiào dào:“ òzhè shì zuò shénme cái chī liǎo fànzhè me kōng zhe tóu huì yòu tóu téng liǎo。 " dài bìng zhǐ guǎn cái deyòu tóu shuō dào:“ kuài chóu jué'ér hái hǎo zài yùn yùn。” dài biàn jiǎn liàoshuō dào:“ guò huì jiù hǎo liǎo。” bǎo tīng liǎozhǐ shì mènzhǐ jiàn bǎo chāi tàn chūn děng lái liǎo jiǎ shuō liǎo huí huàbǎo chāi jìn lái wèn:“ lín mèi mèi zuò shénme ? " yīn jiàn lín dài cái jiǎnyīn xiào dào:“ mèi mèi yuè néng gān liǎolián cái jiǎn huì liǎo。” dài xiào dào:“ zhè guò shì huǎng hǒngrén liǎo。 " bǎo chāi xiào dào:“ gào xiào huà 'ércái gāng wéi yào shuō liǎo zhī dàobǎo xiōng xīn shòu yòng liǎo。 " lín dài dào:“ guò huì jiù hǎo liǎo。” bǎo xiàng bǎo chāi dào:“ lǎo tài tài yào páizhèng méi rén pái 。” bǎo chāi tīng shuōbiàn xiào dào:“ shì wéi pái cái lái liǎo? " shuō zhe biàn zǒu liǎolín dài dào:“ dǎo shì zhè yòu lǎo kàn chī liǎo ! " shuō zhe yòu cáibǎo jiàn zhǐ hái péi xiào shuō dào:“ chū guàng guàng zài cái chí。” lín dài zǒng bǎo biàn wèn tóu men:“ zhè shì shuí jiào cái de? " lín dài jiàn wèn tóu menbiàn shuō dào:“ píng shuí jiào cái guǎn 'èr de shì! " bǎo fāng shuō huàzhǐ jiàn yòu rén jìn lái huí shuō " wài tóu yòu rén qǐng "。 bǎo tīng liǎománg chè shēn chū láidài xiàng wài tóu shuō dào:“ ēmítuófógǎn huí lái liǎo liǎo。”
   bǎo chū láidào wài miànzhǐ jiàn bèi míng shuō dào:“ féng jiā qǐng。” bǎo tīng liǎozhī dào shì zuó de huàbiàn shuō:“ yào cháng 。” biàn wǎng shū fáng láibèi míng zhí dào liǎo 'èr mén qián děng rén rèn 'ài 'ěr lán nán luó yīn jiào zhù jiàomíng què xuān de zhé xué shì wéi shénzhǐ jiàn lǎo chū lái liǎobèi míng shàng shuō dào:“ bǎo 'èr zài shū fáng děng chū mén de cháng lǎo rén jiā jìn dài xìn 'ér。” shuō:“ fàng niàn de dǎo hǎobǎo 'èr jīn zài yuán zhù zhegēn de réndōu zài yuán yòu páo liǎo zhè lái dài xìn 'ér lái liǎo! " bèi míng tīng liǎoxiào dào:“ de shì liǎo。” shuō zhe jìng wǎng dōng biān 'èr mén qián lái qiǎo mén shàng xiǎo zài yǒng xià qiúbèi míng jiāng yuán shuō liǎoxiǎo páo liǎo jìn bàn bào liǎo bāo chū lái bèi mínghuí dào shū fáng bǎo huàn liǎomìng rén bèi zhǐ dài zhe bèi míngchú yàoshuāng ruìshuāng shòu xiǎo liǎo jìng dào liǎo féng yīng jiā mén kǒuyòu rén bào liǎo féng yīngchū lái yíng jiē jìn zhǐ jiàn xuē pán zǎo zài jiǔ hòuhái yòu duō chàng 'ér de xiǎo bìng chàng xiǎo dàn de jiǎng hànjǐn xiāng yuàn de yún 'ér jiādōu jiàn guò liǎorán hòu chī chábǎo qíng chá xiào dào:“ qián 'ér suǒ yán xìng xìng zhī shì zhòu xuán xiǎngjīn wén huàn zhì。” féng yīng xiào dào:“ men lìng biǎo xiōng dǎo xīn shíqián guò shì de shè chéng xīn qǐng men yǐnkǒng yòu tuī tuō shuō xià zhè huàjīn yāo zhìshuí zhī xìn zhēn liǎo。” shuō jiā xiàorán hòu bǎi shàng jiǔ lái zuò dìngféng yīng xiān mìng chàng 'ér de xiǎo guò lái ràng jiǔrán hòu mìng yún 'ér lái jìng
   xuē pán sān bēi xià jué wàng liǎo qíng zhe yún 'ér de shǒu xiào dào:“ xīn yàng 'ér de qǔzǐ chàng tīng chī tán ? " yún 'ér tīng shuōzhǐ láichàng dào
   liǎng yuān jiā nán diū xiàxiǎng zhe lái yòu guà zhe liǎng rén xíng
   róng jùn qiào nán miáo huàxiǎng zuó xiāo yōu dìng zài shū jià tōu qíng
   xún zhù liǎo sān cáo duì 'àn huí huàchàng xiào dào:“ tán liǎo。” xuē pán tīng shuōxiào dào:“ zhí tánzài chàng hǎo de lái。”
   bǎo xiào dào:“ tīng shuō lái làn yǐn zuì 'ér wèi xiān hǎi xīn lìngyòu zūn zhělián shí hǎizhú chū wài rén zhēn jiǔ。” féng yīng jiǎng hàn děng dào:“ yòu yòu 。” bǎo hǎi lái yǐn gānshuō dào:“ jīn yào shuō bēichóu què yào shuō chū 'ér láihái yào zhù míng zhè yuán shuō wán liǎoyǐn mén bēijiǔ miàn yào chàng xīn xiān shí yàng qǔzǐjiǔ yào shàng shēng fēng yàng dōng huò shījiù duì,《 shū》《 jīngchéng 。” xuē pán wèi děng shuō wánxiān zhàn lái lán dào:“ láibié suàn zhè jìng shì zhuō nòng ! " yún 'ér zhàn láituī zuò xiàxiào dào:“ shénmezhè hái kuī tiān tiān chī jiǔ nán dào lián huí lái hái shuō shuō shì liǎo shì liǎo guò shàng bēi jiù zuì liǎo jīn luàn lìngdǎo shí hǎixià zhēn jiǔ chéng? " zhòng réndōu pāi shǒu dào miàoxuē pán tīng shuō zhǐ zuò liǎotīng bǎo shuō dào:“ 'ér bēiqīng chūn shǒu kōng guī 'ér chóuhuǐ jiào fēng hóu 'ér duì jìng chén zhuāng yán měi 'ér qiū qiān jià shàng chūn shān 。”
   zhòng rén tīng liǎo dào:“ shuō yòu 。” xuē pán yáng zhe liǎn yáo tóu shuō:“ hǎogāi ! " zhòng rén wèn:“ gāi ? " xuē pán dào:“ shuō de tōng dǒngzěn me gāi ? " yún 'ér biàn níng xiào dào:“ qiāoqiāo de xiǎng de huí lái shuō chūyòu gāi liǎo。” shì tīng bǎo chàng dào
   jìn xiāng xuè lèi pāo hóng dòukāi wán chūn liǔ chūn huā mǎn huà lóushuì wěn shā chuāng fēng huáng hūn hòuwàng liǎo xīn chóu jiù chóuyān xià jīn
   chún shā mǎn hóuzhào jiàn líng huā jìng xíng róng shòuzhǎn kāi de méi tóuái míng de gēnglòuqià biàn zhē zhù de qīng shān yǐn yǐnliú duàn de
   shuǐ yōu yōuchàng wán jiā shēng hècǎi xuē pán shuō bǎnbǎo yǐn liǎo mén bēibiàn niān piàn láishuō dào:“ huā shēn mén。” wán liǎo lìng
   xià gāi féng yīngshuō dào:“ 'ér bēiér rǎn bìng zài chuí wēi 'ér chóu fēng chuī dǎo shū zhuāng lóu 'ér tóu tāi yǎng liǎo shuāng shēng 'ér xiàng huā yuán tāo shuài。” shuō duān jiǔ láichàng dào
   shì rén shì duō qíng shì diāo zuàn guài guǐ líng jīng
   shì shén xiān líng shuō de huà 'ér quán xìnzhǐ jiào bèi
   tīngcái zhī dào téng téngchàng wányǐn liǎo mén bēishuō dào:“ shēng máo diàn yuè。” lìng wánxià gāi yún 'ér
   yún 'ér biàn shuō dào:“ 'ér bēijiāng lái zhōng shēn zhǐ kào shuí? " xuē pán tàn dào:“ de 'éryòu xuē zài shénme! " zhòng rén dào:“ bié hùn bié hùn ! " yún 'ér yòu dào:“ 'ér chóu shí xiū! " xuē pán dào:“ qián 'ér jiàn liǎo hái fēn jiào 。” zhòng rén dào:“ zài duō yán zhě jiǔ shí bēi。” xuē pán lián máng liǎo zuǐ shuō dào:“ méi 'ěr xìngzài shuō liǎo。” yún 'ér yòu dào:“ 'ér qíng láng bùshě hái jiā 'ér zhù liǎo xiāo guǎn nòng xián suǒ。” shuō wánbiàn chàng dào
  щ kòu kāi huā sān yuè sān chóng 'ér wǎng zuànzuàn liǎo bàn jìn
   dào huā 'ér shàng qiū qiānròu 'ér xiǎo xīn gān kāi liǎo zěn me zuànchàng yǐn liǎo mén bēishuō dào:“ táo zhī yāo yāo。” lìng wán liǎoxià gāi xuē pán
   xuē pán dào:“ yào shuō liǎo 'ér bēi héng héng " shuō liǎo bàn jiàn shuō xià deféng yīng xiào dào:“ bēi shénmekuài shuō lái。” xuē pán dēng shí de yǎn jīng líng chēng bāndèng liǎo bàn cái shuō dào:“ 'ér bēi héng héng " yòu sòu liǎo liǎng shēngshuō dào:“ 'ér bēijià liǎo nán rén shì guī。” zhòng rén tīng liǎo dōudà xiào láixuē pán dào:“ xiào shénmenán dào shuō de shì 'ér jià liǎo hàn yào dāng wàng zěn me shāng xīn ? " zhòng rén xiào de wān yāo shuō dào:“ shuō de hěn shìkuài shuō xià de。” xuē pán dèng liǎo dèng yǎnyòu shuō dào:“ 'ér chóu héng héng " shuō liǎo zhè yòu yán liǎozhòng rén dào:“ zěn me chóu? " xuē pán dào:“ xiù fáng cuān chū hóu。” zhòng rén xiào dào:“ gāi gāi zhè gèng tōngxiān hái shù。” shuō zhe biàn yào shāi jiǔbǎo xiào dào:“ yùn jiù hǎo。” xuē pán dào:“ lìng guān zhǔn liǎo men nào shénme? " zhòng rén tīng shuōfāng cái liǎoyún 'ér xiào dào:“ xià liǎng yuè fānàn shuō liǎo shuō 。” xuē pán dào:“ shuōdàngzhēn jiù méi hǎo de liǎotīng shuō 'ér dòng fáng huā zhú cháo yōng 。” zhòng rén tīng liǎo chà dào:“ zhè tài yùn? " xuē pán yòu dào:“ 'ér gēn фх wǎng chuō。” zhòng rén tīng liǎo niǔ zhe liǎn shuō dào:“ gāi gāi kuài chàng liǎo 。” xuē pán biàn chàng dào:“ wén hēng hēng hēng。” zhòng réndōu zhèng liǎoshuō:“ zhè shì shénme 'ér? " xuē pán hái chàng dào:“ liǎng cāng yíng wēng wēng wēng。” zhòng rén dào:“ ! " xuē pán dào:“ ài tīng tīngzhè shì xīn xiān 'érjiào zuò hēng hēng yùn men yào lǎn dài tīnglián jiǔ miǎn liǎo jiù chàng。” zhòng rén dào:“ miǎn liǎo miǎn liǎo dǎo bié dān liǎo bié rén jiā。” shì jiǎng hàn shuō dào:“ 'ér bēizhàng huí guī 'ér chóu qián guì huā yóu 'ér dēng huā bìng tóu jié shuāng ruǐ 'ér chàng suí zhēn 。” shuō chàng dào
   tiān shēng chéng bǎi mèi jiāoqià biàn huó shén xiān xiāo qīng chūn
   nián zhèng xiǎopèi luán fèngzhēn zhekàn tiān zhèng gāotīng qiáo lóu qiāo
   yín dēng tóng yuān wéi qiǎochàng yǐn liǎo mén bēixiào dào:“ zhè shī shàng dǎo yòu xiànxìng 'ér zuó jiàn liǎo duì qiǎo zhǐ zhè xìng 'ér shàng hái yòu zhè jiàn dōng 。” shuō biàn gān liǎo jiǔ duǒ láiniàn dào:“ huā rén zhī zhòu nuǎn。”
   zhòng rén dǎo liǎowán lìngxuē pán yòu tiào liǎo láixuān rǎng dào:“ liǎo liǎo gāi gāi zhè shàng yòu méi yòu bǎo bèi zěn me niàn bǎo bèi lái? " jiǎng hàn zhèng liǎoshuō dào:“ céng yòu bǎo bèi? " xuē pán dào:“ hái lài zài niàn lái。” jiǎng hàn zhǐ yòu niàn liǎo biànxuē pán dào:“ rén shì bǎo bèi shì shénme men xìnzhǐ wèn 。” shuō zhǐ zhe bǎo bǎo méi hǎo láishuō:“ xuē gāi duō shǎo? " xuē pán dào:“ gāi gāi ! " shuō zhe jiǔ lái yǐn 'ér jìnféng yīng jiǎng hàn děng zhī yuán yún 'ér biàn gào liǎo chū láijiǎng hàn máng shēn péi zuìzhòng rén dào:“ zhī zhě zuò zuì。”
   shǎo bǎo chū jiě shǒujiǎng hàn biàn suí liǎo chū láièr rén zhàn zài láng yán xiàjiǎng hàn yòu péi shìbǎo jiàn mèi wēn róuxīn zhōng shí fēn liú liànbiàn jǐn jǐn de zhe de shǒujiào :“ xián liǎo wǎng men hái yòu huà jiè wèn shì men guì bān zhōngyòu jiào guān de zài jīn míng chí tiān xià yuán jiàn。” jiǎng hàn xiào dào:“ jiù shì de xiǎo míng 'ér。” bǎo tīng shuō jué xīn rán diē xiào dào:“ yòu xìngyòu xìngguǒ rán míng chuánjīn 'ér chū huìbiàn zěn me yàng ? " xiǎng liǎo xiǎngxiàng xiù zhōng chū shàn jiāng shàn zhuì jiě xià lái guāndào:“ wēi kānlüè biǎo jīn zhī 。” guān jiē liǎoxiào dào:“ gōng shòu dāng zhè liǎo jiàn jīn zǎo fāng jìshànghái shì xīn deliáo biǎo diǎn qīn zhī 。” shuō liáo jiāng xiǎo 'ér
   tiáo hóng hàn jīn jiě liǎo xià lái bǎo dào:“ zhè hàn jīn shì qiàn xiāng guó guó wáng suǒ gòng zhī xià tiān zhe shēng xiāng shēng hàn zuó běi jìng wáng gěi dejīn cái shàng shēnruò shì bié rén duàn kěn xiāng zèngèr qǐng de jiě xià láigěi zhe。” bǎo tīng shuō jìnlián máng jiē liǎojiāng tiáo sōng huā hàn jīn jiě liǎo xià lái guānèr rén fāng shù hǎozhǐ jiàn shēng jiào:“ zhù liǎo! " zhǐ jiàn xuē pán tiào liǎo chū lái zhe 'èr rén dào:“ fàng zhe jiǔ chīliǎng rén táo chū lái gànshénmekuài chū lái qiáo qiáo。” èr rén dào:“ méi yòu shénme。” xuē pán kěn hái shì féng yīng chū lái cái jiě kāi liǎo shì yòu guī zuò yǐn jiǔzhì wǎn fāng sàn
   bǎo huí zhì yuán zhōngkuān chī chá rén jiàn shàn shàng de zhuì 'ér méi liǎobiàn wèn :“ wǎng liǎo? " bǎo dào:“ shàng diū liǎo。” shuì jué shí zhǐ jiàn yāo tiáo xuè diǎn shìde hóng hàn jīn rén biàn cāi liǎo jiǔ fēnyīn shuō dào:“ yòu liǎo hǎo de tiáo hái 。” bǎo tīng shuōfāng xiǎng tiáo hàn jīn yuán shì rén de gāi gěi rén cái shìxīn hòu huǐkǒu shuō chū láizhǐ xiào dào:“ péi tiáo 。” rén tīng liǎodiǎn tóu tàn dào:“ jiù zhī dào yòu gān zhè xiē shì gāi zhe de dōng gěi hùn zhàng rén nán wéi xīn méi suàn 'ér。” zài yào shuō yòu kǒng 'òu shàng de jiǔ láishǎo shuì liǎoyīxiǔ huàzhì tiān míngfāng cái xǐng liǎozhǐ jiàn bǎo xiào dào:“ shī liǎo dào xiǎo qiáo qiáo shàng。” rén tóu kànzhǐ jiàn zuó bǎo de tiáo hàn jīn zài yāo biàn zhī shì bǎo jiān huàn liǎománg dùn jiě xià láishuō dào:“ hǎn zhè xíng chèn zǎo 'ér liǎo ! " bǎo jiàn zhǐ wěi wǎn jiě quàn liǎo huí rén zhǐ zài yāo guò hòu bǎo chū zhōng jiǔ jiě xià lái zhì zài kōng xiāng yòu huàn liǎo tiáo zhe
   bǎo bìng wèi lùnyīn wèn zuó yòu shénme shì qíng rén biàn huí shuō:“ èr nǎi nǎi rén jiào liǎo hóng liǎo yuán yào děng lái de xiǎng shénme yào jǐn jiù zuò liǎo zhù liǎo。” bǎo dào:“ hěn shì zhī dào liǎo děng liǎo。” rén yòu dào:“ zuó 'ér guì fēi xià tàijiàn chū láisòng liǎo bǎi 'èr shí liǎng yín jiào zài qīng guān chū dào chū sān sān tiān píng 'ān jiàochàng xiàn gōngjiào zhēn lǐng zhe zhòng wèi men guì xiāng bài hái yòu duān
ér de jié shǎng liǎo。” shuō zhe mìng xiǎo tóu láijiāng zuó suǒ zhī liǎo chū láizhǐ jiàn shàng děng gōng shàn liǎng bǐnghóng shè xiāng zhū 'èr chuànfèng wěi luó 'èr duān róng diàn lǐngbǎo jiàn liǎo shèngwèn " bié rén de yědōu shì zhè ? " rén dào:“ lǎo tài tài de duō zhe xiāng nǎo zhěntài tàilǎo tài tài de zhǐ duō zhe de tóng bǎo niàn de yànglín niàn tóng 'èr niànsān niàn niàn zhǐ dān yòu shàn tóng shù zhū 'érbié réndōu méi liǎo nǎi nǎièr nǎi nǎi liǎng shì měi rén liǎng shāliǎng luóliǎng xiāng dàiliǎng dìng yào。” bǎo tīng liǎoxiào dào:“ zhè shì zěn me yuán zěn me lín niàn de dǎo tóng de yàngdǎo shì bǎo jiě jiě de tóng yàngbié shì chuán cuò liǎo ? " rén dào:“ zuó 'ér chū láidōushì fèn fèn de xiě zhe qiān zěn me jiù cuò liǎo de shì zài lǎo tài tài de liǎo lái liǎolǎo tài tài shuō liǎomíng 'ér jiào gèng tiān jìn xiè 'ēn 。” bǎo dào:“ rán yào zǒu tàng。” shuō zhe biàn jiào xiāo lái:“ liǎo zhè dào lín niàn jiù shuō shì zuó 'ér deài shénme liú xià shénme。” xiāo dāyìng liǎo liǎo shí huí lái shuō:“ lín niàn shuō liǎozuó 'ér liǎoèr liú zhe 。”
   bǎo tīng shuōbiàn mìng rén shōu liǎogāng liǎo liǎn chū láiyào wǎng jiǎ qǐng 'ān zhǐ jiàn lín dài dǐng tóu lái liǎobǎo gǎn shàng xiào dào:“ de dōng jiào jiǎn zěn me jiǎn? " lín dài zuó suǒ nǎo bǎo de xīn shì zǎo yòu diū kāiyòu jīn de shì liǎoyīn shuō dào:“ méi zhè me jìn shòu bǎo niànshénme jīn shénme de men guò shì cǎo zhī rén! " bǎo tīng chū " jīn " èr lái jué xīn dòng cāibiàn shuō dào:“ chú liǎo bié rén shuō shénme jīn shénme xīn yào yòu zhè xiǎng tóutiān zhū mièwàn shì rén shēn! " lín dài tīng zhè huàbiàn zhī xīn dòng liǎo máng yòu xiào dào:“ hǎo méi bái bái de shuō shénme shìguǎn shénme jīn shénme de ! " bǎo dào:“ xīn de shì nán duì shuō hòu rán míng báichú liǎo lǎo tài tàilǎo tài tài zhè sān rén jiù shì mèi mèi liǎoyào yòu rén shuō shì。” lín dài dào:“ yòng shuō shì hěn zhī dào xīn yòumèi mèi’, dàn zhǐ shì jiàn liǎojiě jiě’, jiù mèi mèiwàng liǎo。” bǎo dào:“ shì duō xīn zài de。” lín dài dào:“ zuó 'ér bǎo tóu yuán huǎngwèishénme wèn zhe yào shì yòu zhī zěn me yàng liǎo。” zhèng shuō zhezhǐ jiàn bǎo chāi cóng biān lái liǎoèr rén biàn zǒu kāi liǎobǎo chāi fēn míng kàn jiànzhǐ zhuāng kàn jiàn zhe tóu guò liǎodào liǎo wáng rén zuò liǎo huírán hòu dào liǎo jiǎ zhè biānzhǐ jiàn bǎo zài zhè xuē bǎo chāi yīn wǎng qīn duì wáng rén děng céng guò " jīn suǒ shì shàng gěi deděng hòu yòu de fāng jié wéi hūn yīn " děng suǒ zǒng yuǎn zhe bǎo zuó 'ér jiàn yuán chūn suǒ de dōng bǎo yàngxīn yuè méi láixìng kuī bǎo bèi lín dài chán mián zhù liǎoxīn xīn niàn niàn zhǐ guà zhe lín dài bìng lùn zhè shì jiàn bǎo xiào wèn dào:“ bǎo jiě jiě qiáo qiáo de hóng shè chuàn ? " qiǎo bǎo chāi zuǒ wàn shàng lóng zhe chuànjiàn bǎo wèn shǎo tuì liǎo xià láibǎo chāi shēng de fēng róng tuì xià láibǎo zài bàng kàn zhe xuě bái duàn jué dòng liǎo xiàn zhī xīnàn 'àn xiǎng dào:“ zhè bǎng yào cháng zài lín mèi mèi shēn shànghuò zhě hái piān shēngzhǎng zài shēn shàng。” zhèng shì hèn méi rán xiǎng jīn lìng zhǒng mèi fēng liú jué jiù dāi liǎobǎo chāi tuì liǎo chuàn lái wàng liǎo jiēbǎo chāi jiàn zhèng liǎo dǎo hǎo dediū xià chuàn huí shēn cái yào zǒuzhǐ jiàn lín dài dèng zhe mén jiàn zuǐ yǎo zhuóshǒu xiào bǎo chāi dào:“ yòu jìn fēng chuīzěn me yòu zhàn zài fēng kǒu ? " lín dài xiào dào:“ céng shì zài dezhǐ yīn tīng jiàn tiān shàng shēng jiào huànchū lái qiáo liǎo qiáoyuán lái shì dāi yàn。” xuē bǎo chāi dào:“ dāi yàn zài qiáo qiáo。” lín dài dào:“ cái chū lái jiù 'ér shēng fēi liǎo。” kǒu shuō zhejiāng shǒu de shuǎixiàng bǎo liǎn shàng shuǎi láibǎo fángzhèng zài yǎn shàng, " ài " liǎo shēngyào zhī duān deqiě tīng xià huí fēn jiě


  Chiang Yue-han lovingly presents a rubia-scented silk sash. Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai blushingly covers her musk-perfumed string of red beads.
   Lin Tai-yue, the story goes, dwelt, after Ch'ing Wen's refusal, the previous night, to open the door, under the impression that the blame lay with Pao-yue. The following day, which by another remarkable coincidence, happened to correspond with the season, when the god of flowers had to be feasted, her total ignorance of the true circumstances, and her resentment, as yet unspent, aroused again in her despondent thoughts, suggested by the decline of spring time. She consequently gathered a quantity of faded flowers and fallen petals, and went and interred them. Unable to check the emotion, caused by the decay of the flowers, she spontaneously recited, after giving way to several loud lamentations, those verses which Pao-yue, she little thought, overheard from his position on the mound. At first, he did no more than nod his head and heave sighs, full of feeling. But when subsequently his ear caught:
   "Here I am fain these flowers to inter, but humankind will laugh me as a fool; Who knows who will, in years to come, commit me to my grave! In a twinkle springtime draws to an end, and maidens wax in age. Flowers fade and maidens die; and of either naught any more is known."
   he unconsciously was so overpowered with grief that he threw himself on the mound, bestrewing the whole ground with the fallen flowers he carried in his coat, close to his chest. "When Tai-yue's flowerlike charms and moon-like beauty," he reflected, "by and bye likewise reach a time when they will vanish beyond any hope of recovery, won't my heart be lacerated and my feelings be mangled! And extending, since Tai-yue must at length some day revert to a state when it will be difficult to find her, this reasoning to other persons, like Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang Ling, Hsi Jen and the other girls, they too are equally liable to attain a state beyond the reach of human search. But when Pao-ch'ai and all the rest have ultimately reached that stage when no trace will be visible of them, where shall I myself be then? And when my own human form will have vanished and gone, whither I know not yet, to what person, I wonder, will this place, this garden and these plants, revert?"
   From one to a second, and from a second to a third, he thus pursued his reflections, backwards and forwards, until he really did not know how he could best, at this time and at such a juncture, dispel his fit of anguish. His state is adequately described by:
   The shadow of a flower cannot err from the flower itself to the left or the right. The song of birds can only penetrate into the ear from the east or the west.
   Lin Tai-yue was herself a prey to emotion and agitation, when unawares sorrowful accents also struck her ear, from the direction of the mound. "Every one," she cogitated, "laughs at me for labouring under a foolish mania, but is there likely another fool besides myself?" She then raised her head, and, casting a glance about her, she discovered that it was Pao-yue. "Ts'ui!" eagerly cried Tai-yue, "I was wondering who it was; but is it truly this ruthless-hearted and short-lived fellow!"
   But the moment the two words "short-lived" dropped from her mouth, she sealed her lips; and, heaving a deep sigh, she turned herself round and hurriedly walked off.
   Pao-yue, meanwhile, remained for a time a prey to melancholy. But perceiving that Tai-yue had retired, he at once realised that she must have caught sight of him and got out of his way; and, as his own company afforded him no pleasure, he shook the dust off his clothes, rose to his feet and descending the hill, he started for the I Hung court by the path by which he had come. But he espied Tai-yue walking in advance of him, and with rapid stride, he overtook her. "Stop a little!" he cried. "I know you don't care a rap for me; but I'll just make one single remark, and from this day forward we'll part company."
   Tai-yue looked round. Observing that it was Pao-yue, she was about to ignore him; hearing him however mention that he had only one thing to say, "Please tell me what it is," she forthwith rejoined.
   Pao-yue smiled at her. "If I pass two remarks will you listen to me; yes or no?" he asked.
   At these words, Tai-yue twisted herself round and beat a retreat. Pao-yue however followed behind.
   "Since this is what we've come to now," he sighed, "what was the use of what existed between us in days gone by?"
   As soon as Tai-yue heard his exclamation, she stopped short impulsively. Turning her face towards him, "what about days gone by," she remarked, "and what about now?"
   "Ai!" ejaculated Pao-yue, "when you got here in days gone by, wasn't I your playmate in all your romps and in all your fun? My heart may have been set upon anything, but if you wanted it you could take it away at once. I may have been fond of any eatable, but if I came to learn that you too fancied it, I there and then put away what could be put away, in a clean place, to wait, Miss, for your return. We had our meals at one table; we slept in one and the same bed; whatever the servant-girls could not remember, I reminded them of, for fear lest your temper, Miss, should get ruffled. I flattered myself that cousins, who have grown up together from their infancy, as you and I have, would have continued, through intimacy or friendship, either would have done, in peace and harmony until the end, so as to make it palpable that we are above the rest. But, contrary to all my expectations, now that you, Miss, have developed in body as well as in mind, you don't take the least heed of me. You lay hold instead of some cousin Pao or cousin Feng or other from here, there and everywhere and give them a place in your affections; while on the contrary you disregard me for three days at a stretch and decline to see anything of me for four! I have besides no brother or sister of the same mother as myself. It's true there are a couple of them, but these, are you not forsooth aware, are by another mother! You and I are only children, so I ventured to hope that you would have reciprocated my feelings. But, who'd have thought it, I've simply thrown away this heart of mine, and here I am with plenty of woes to bear, but with nowhere to go and utter them!"
   While expressing these sentiments, tears, unexpectedly, trickled from his eyes.
   When Lin Tai-yue caught, with her ears, his protestations, and noticed with her eyes his state of mind, she unconsciously experienced an inward pang, and, much against her will, tears too besprinkled her cheeks; so, drooping her head, she kept silent.
   Her manner did not escape Pao-yue's notice. "I myself am aware," he speedily resumed, "that I'm worth nothing now; but, however imperfect I may be, I could on no account presume to become guilty of any shortcoming with you cousin. Were I to ever commit the slightest fault, your task should be either to tender me advice and warn me not to do it again, or to blow me up a little, or give me a few whacks; and all this reproof I wouldn't take amiss. But no one would have ever anticipated that you wouldn't bother your head in the least about me, and that you would be the means of driving me to my wits' ends, and so much out of my mind and off my head, as to be quite at a loss how to act for the best. In fact, were death to come upon me, I would be a spirit driven to my grave by grievances. However much exalted bonzes and eminent Taoist priests might do penance, they wouldn't succeed in releasing my soul from suffering; for it would still be needful for you to clearly explain the facts, so that I might at last be able to come to life."
   After lending him a patient ear, Tai-yue suddenly banished from her memory all recollection of the occurrences of the previous night. "Well, in that case," she said, "why did you not let a servant-girl open the door when I came over?"
   This question took Pao-yue by surprise. "What prompts you to say this?" he exclaimed. "If I have done anything of the kind, may I die at once."
   "Psha!" cried Tai-yue, "it's not right that you-should recklessly broach the subject of living or dying at this early morn! If you say yea, it's yea; and nay, it's nay; what use is there to utter such oaths!"
   "I didn't really see you come over," protested Pao-yue. "Cousin Pao-ch'ai it was, who came and sat for a while and then left."
   After some reflection, Lin Tai-yue smiled. "Yes," she observed, "your servant-girls must, I fancy, have been too lazy to budge, grumpy and in a cross-grained mood; this is probable enough."
   "This is, I feel sure, the reason," answered Pao-yue, "so when I go back, I'll find out who it was, call them to task and put things right."
   "Those girls of yours;" continued Tai-yue, "should be given a lesson, but properly speaking it isn't for me to mention anything about it. Their present insult to me is a mere trifle; but were to-morrow some Miss Pao (precious) or some Miss Pei (jewel) or other to come, and were she to be subjected to insult, won't it be a grave matter?"
   While she taunted him, she pressed her lips, and laughed sarcastically.
   Pao-yue heard her remarks and felt both disposed to gnash his teeth with rage, and to treat them as a joke; but in the midst of their colloquy, they perceived a waiting-maid approach and invite them to have their meal.
   Presently, the whole body of inmates crossed over to the front.
   "Miss," inquired Madame Wang at the sight of Tai-yue, "have you taken any of Dr. Pao's medicines? Do you feel any better?"
   "I simply feel so-so," replied Lin Tai-yue, "but grandmother Chia recommended me to go on taking Dr. Wang's medicines."
   "Mother," Pao-yue interposed, "you've no idea that cousin Lin's is an internal derangement; it's because she was born with a delicate physique that she can't stand the slightest cold. All she need do is to take a couple of closes of some decoction to dispel the chill; yet it's preferable that she should have medicine in pills."
   "The other day," said Madame Wang, "the doctor mentioned the name of some pills, but I've forgotten what it is."
   "I know something about pills," put in Pao-yue; "he merely told her to take some pills or other called 'ginseng as-a-restorative-of-the-system.'"
   "That isn't it," Madame Wang demurred.
   "The 'Eight-precious-wholesome-to-mother' pills," Pao-yue proceeded, "or the 'Left-angelica' or 'Right-angelica;' if these also aren't the ones, they must be the 'Eight-flavour Rehmannia-glutinosa' pills."
   "None of these," rejoined Madame Wang, "for I remember well that there were the two words chin kang (guardians in Buddhistic temples)."
   "I've never before," observed Pao-yue, clapping his hands, "heard of the existence of chin kang pills; but in the event of there being any chin kang pills, there must, for a certainty, be such a thing as P'u Sa (Buddha) powder."
   At this joke, every one in the whole room burst out laughing. Pao-ch'ai compressed her lips and gave a smile. "It must, I'm inclined to think," she suggested, "be the 'lord-of-heaven-strengthen-the-heart' pills!"
   "Yes, that's the name," Madame Wang laughed, "why, now, I too have become muddle-headed."
   "You're not muddle-headed, mother," said Pao-yue, "it's the mention of Chin kangs and Buddhas which confused you."
   "Stuff and nonsense!" ejaculated Madame Wang. "What you want again is your father to whip you!"
   "My father," Pao-yue laughed, "wouldn't whip me for a thing like this."
   "Well, this being their name," resumed Madame Wang, "you had better tell some one to-morrow to buy you a few."
   "All these drugs," expostulated Pao-yue, "are of no earthly use. Were you, mother, to give me three hundred and sixty taels, I'll concoct a supply of pills for my cousin, which I can certify will make her feel quite herself again before she has finished a single supply."
   "What trash!" cried Madame Wang. "What kind of medicine is there so costly!"
   "It's a positive fact," smiled Pao-yue. "This prescription of mine is unlike all others. Besides, the very names of those drugs are quaint, and couldn't be enumerated in a moment; suffice it to mention the placenta of the first child; three hundred and sixty ginseng roots, shaped like human beings and studded with leaves; four fat tortoises; full-grown polygonum multiflorum; the core of the Pachyma cocos, found on the roots of a fir tree of a thousand years old; and other such species of medicines. They're not, I admit, out-of-the-way things; but they are the most excellent among that whole crowd of medicines; and were I to begin to give you a list of them, why, they'd take you all quite aback. The year before last, I at length let Hsueeh P'an have this recipe, after he had made ever so many entreaties during one or two years. When, however, he got the prescription, he had to search for another two or three years and to spend over and above a thousand taels before he succeeded in having it prepared. If you don't believe me, mother, you are at liberty to ask cousin Pao-ch'ai about it."
   At the mention of her name, Pao-ch'ai laughingly waved her hand. "I know nothing about it," she observed. "Nor have I heard anything about it, so don't tell your mother to ask me any questions."
   "Really," said Madame Wang smiling, "Pao-ch'ai is a good girl; she does not tell lies."
   Pao-yue was standing in the centre of the room. Upon hearing these words, he turned round sharply and clapped his hands. "What I stated just now," he explained, "was the truth; yet you maintain that it was all lies."
   As he defended himself, he casually looked round, and caught sight of Lin Tai-yue at the back of Pao-ch'ai laughing with tight-set lips, and applying her fingers to her face to put him to shame.
   But Lady Feng, who had been in the inner rooms overseeing the servants laying the table, came out at once, as soon as she overheard the conversation. "Brother Pao tells no lies," she smilingly chimed in, "this is really a fact. Some time ago cousin Hsueeh P'an came over in person and asked me for pearls, and when I inquired of him what he wanted them for, he explained that they were intended to compound some medicine with; adding, in an aggrieved way, that it would have been better hadn't he taken it in hand for he never had any idea that it would involve such a lot of trouble! When I questioned him what the medicine was, he returned for answer that it was a prescription of brother Pao's; and he mentioned ever so many ingredients, which I don't even remember. 'Under other circumstances,' he went on to say, 'I would have purchased a few pearls, but what are absolutely wanted are such pearls as have been worn on the head; and that's why I come to ask you, cousin, for some. If, cousin, you've got no broken ornaments at hand, in the shape of flowers, why, those that you have on your head will do as well; and by and bye I'll choose a few good ones and give them to you, to wear.' I had no other course therefore than to snap a couple of twigs from some flowers I have, made of pearls, and to let him take them away. One also requires a piece of deep red gauze, three feet in length of the best quality; and the pearls must be triturated to powder in a mortar."
   After each sentence expressed by lady Feng, Pao-yue muttered an invocation to Buddha. "The thing is as clear as sunlight now," he remarked.
   The moment lady Feng had done speaking, Pao-yue put in his word. "Mother," he added, "you should know that this is a mere makeshift, for really, according to the letter of the prescription, these pearls and precious stones should, properly speaking, consist of such as had been obtained from, some old grave and been worn as head-ornaments by some wealthy and honourable person of bygone days. But how could one go now on this account and dig up graves, and open tombs! Hence it is that such as are simply in use among living persons can equally well be substituted."
   "O-mi-to-fu!" exclaimed Madame Wang, after listening to him throughout. "That will never do, and what an arduous job to uselessly saddle one's self with; for even though there be interred in some graves people, who've been dead for several hundreds of years, it wouldn't be a propitious thing were their corpses turned topsy-turvey now and the bones abstracted; just for the sake of preparing some medicine or other."
   Pao-yue thereupon addressed himself to Tai-yue. "Have you heard what was said or not?" he asked. "And is there, pray, any likelihood that cousin Secunda would also follow in my lead and tell lies?"
   While saying this, his eyes were, albeit his face was turned towards Lin Tai-yue, fixed upon Pao-ch'ai.
   Lin Tai-yue pulled Madame Wang. "You just listen to him, aunt," she observed. "All because cousin Pao-ch'ai would not accommodate him by lying, he appeals to me."
   "Pao-yue has a great knack," Madame Wang said, "of dealing contemptuously with you, his cousin."
   "Mother," Pao-yue smilingly protested, "you are not aware how the case stands. When cousin Pao-ch'ai lived at home, she knew nothing whatever about my elder cousin Hsueeh P'an's affairs, and how much less now that she has taken up her quarters inside the garden? She, of course, knows less than ever about them! Yet, cousin Lin just now stealthily treated my statements as lies, and put me to the blush."
   These words were still on his lips, when they perceived a waiting-maid, from dowager lady Chia's apartments, come in quest of Pao-yue and Lin Tai-yue to go and have their meal. Lin Tai-yue, however, did not even call Pao-yue, but forthwith rising to her feet, she went along, dragging the waiting-maid by the hand.
   "Let's wait for master Secundus, Mr. Pao, to go along with us," demurred the girl.
   "He doesn't want anything to eat," Lin Tai-yue replied; "he won't come with us, so I'll go ahead." So saying she promptly left the room.
   "I'll have my repast with my mother to-day," Pao-yue said.
   "Not at all," Madame Wang remarked, "not at all. I'm going to fast to-day, so it's only right and proper that you should go and have your own."
   "I'll also fast with you then," Pao-yue retorted.
   As he spoke, he called out to the servant to go back, and rushing up to the table, he took a seat.
   Madame Wang faced Pao-ch'ai and her companions. "You, girls," she observed, "had better have your meal, and let him have his own way!"
   "It's only right that you should go," Pao-ch'ai smiled. "Whether you have anything to eat or not, you should go over for a while to keep company to cousin Lin, as she will be quite distressed and out of spirits."
   "Who cares about her!" Pao-yue rejoined, "she'll get all right again after a time."
   Shortly, they finished their repast. But Pao-yue apprehended, in the first place, that his grandmother Chia, would be solicitous on his account, and longed, in the second, to be with Lin Tai-yue, so he hurriedly asked for some tea to rinse his mouth with.
   "Cousin Secundus," T'an Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un interposed with an ironic laugh, "what's the use of the hurry-scurry you're in the whole day long! Even when you're having your meals, or your tea, you're in this sort of fussy helter-skelter!"
   "Make him hurry up and have his tea," Pao-ch'ai chimed in smiling, "so that he may go and look up his cousin Lin. He'll be up to all kinds of mischief if you keep him here!"
   Pao-yue drank his tea. Then hastily leaving the apartment, he proceeded straightway towards the eastern court. As luck would have it, the moment he got near lady Feng's court, he descried lady Feng standing at the gateway. While standing on the step, and picking her teeth with an ear-cleaner, she superintended about ten young servant-boys removing the flower-pots from place to place. As soon as she caught sight of Pao-yue approaching, she put on a smiling face. "You come quite opportunely," she said; "walk in, walk in, and write a few characters for me."
   Pao-yue had no option but to follow her in. When they reached the interior of her rooms, lady Feng gave orders to a servant to fetch a pen, inkslab and paper.
   "Forty rolls of deep red ornamented satin," she began, addressing herself to Pao-yue, "forty rolls of satin with dragons; a hundred rolls of gauzes of every colour, of the finest quality; four gold necklaces...."
   "What's this?" Pao-yue shouted, "it is neither a bill; nor is it a list of presents, and in what style shall I write it?"
   Lady Feng remonstrated with him. "Just you go on writing," she said, "for, in fact, as long as I can make out what it means, it's all that is needed."
   Pao-yue at this response felt constrained to proceed with the writing.
   This over lady Feng put the paper by. As she did so, "I've still something more to tell you," she smilingly pursued, "but I wonder whether you will accede to it or not. There is in your rooms a servant-maid, Hsiao Hung by name, whom I would like to bring over into my service, and I'll select several girls to-morrow to wait on you; will this do?"
   "The servants in my quarters," answered Pao-yue, "muster a large crowd, so that, cousin, you are at perfect liberty to send for any one of them, who might take your fancy; what's the need therefore of asking me about it?"
   "If that be so," continued lady Feng laughingly, "I'll tell some one at once to go and bring her over."
   "Yes, she can go and fetch her," acquiesced Pao-yue.
   While replying, he made an attempt to take his leave. "Come back," shouted lady Feng, "I've got something more to tell you."
   "Our venerable senior has sent for me," Pao-yue rejoined; "if you have anything to tell me you must wait till my return."
   After this explanation, he there and then came over to his grandmother Chia's on this side, where he found that they had already got through their meal.
   "Have you had anything nice to eat with your mother?" old lady Chia asked.
   "There was really nothing nice," Pao-yue smiled. "Yet I managed to have a bowl of rice more than usual."
   "Where's cousin Lin?" he then inquired.
   "She's in the inner rooms," answered his grandmother.
   Pao-yue stepped in. He caught sight of a waiting-maid, standing below, blowing into an iron, and two servant-girls seated on the stove-couch making a chalk line. Tai-yue with stooping head was cutting out something or other with a pair of scissors she held in her hand.
   Pao-yue advanced further in. "O! what's this that you are up to!" he smiled. "You have just had your rice and do you bob your head down in this way! Why, in a short while you'll be having a headache again!"
   Tai-yue, however, did not heed him in the least, but busied herself cutting out what she had to do.
   "The corner of that piece of satin is not yet right," a servant-girl put in. "You had better iron it again!"
   Tai-yue threw down the scissors. "Why worry yourself about it?" she said; "it will get quite right after a time."
   But while Pao-yue was listening to what was being said, and was inwardly feeling in low spirits, he became aware that Pao-ch'ai, T'an Ch'un and the other girls had also arrived. After a short chat with dowager lady Chia, Pao-ch'ai likewise entered the apartment to find out what her cousin Lin was up to. The moment she espied Lin Tai-yue engaged in cutting out something: "You have," she cried, "attained more skill than ever; for there you can even cut out clothes!"
   "This too," laughed Tai-yue sarcastically, "is a mere falsehood, to hoodwink people with, nothing more."
   "I'll tell you a joke," replied Pao-ch'ai smiling, "when I just now said that I did not know anything about that medicine, cousin Pao-yue felt displeased." "Who cares!" shouted Lin Tai-yue. "He'll get all right shortly."
   "Our worthy grandmother wishes to play at dominoes," Pao-yue thereupon interposed directing his remarks to Pao-ch'ai; "and there's no one there at present to have a game with her; so you'd better go and play with her."
   "Have I come over now to play dominoes!" promptly smiled Pao-ch'ai when she heard his suggestion. With this remark, she nevertheless at once quitted the room.
   "It would be well for you to go," urged Lin Tai-yue, "for there's a tiger in here; and, look out, he might eat you up."
   As she spoke, she went on with her cutting.
   Pao-yue perceived how both she was to give him any of her attention, and he had no alternative but to force a smile and to observe: "You should also go for a stroll! It will be time enough by and bye to continue your cutting."
   But Tai-yue would pay no heed whatever to him. Pao-yue addressed himself therefore to the servant-girls. "Who has taught her how to cut out these things?" he asked.
   "What does it matter who taught me how to cut?" Tai-yue vehemently exclaimed, when she realised that he was speaking to the maids. "It's no business of yours, Mr. Secundus."
   Pao-yue was then about to say something in his defence when he saw a servant come in and report that there was some one outside who wished to see him. At this announcement, Pao-yue betook himself with alacrity out of the room.
   "O-mi-to-fu!" observed Tai-yue, turning outwards, "it wouldn't matter to you if you found me dead on your return!"
   On his arrival outside, Pao-yue discovered Pei Ming. "You are invited," he said, "to go to Mr. Feng's house."
   Upon hearing this message, Pao-yue knew well enough that it was about the project mooted the previous day, and accordingly he told him to go and ask for his clothes, while he himself wended his steps into the library.
   Pei Ming came forthwith to the second gate and waited for some one to appear. Seeing an old woman walk out, Pei Ming went up to her. "Our Master Secundus, Mr. Pao," he told her, "is in the study waiting for his out-door clothes; so do go in, worthy dame, and deliver the message."
   "It would be better," replied the old woman, "if you did not echo your mother's absurdities! Our Master Secundus, Mr. Pao, now lives in the garden, and all the servants, who attend on him, stay in the garden; and do you again come and bring the message here?"
   At these words, Pei Ming smiled. "You're quite right," he rejoined, "in reproving me, for I've become quite idiotic."
   So saying, he repaired with quick step to the second gate on the east side, where, by a lucky hit, the young servant-boys on duty, were kicking marbles on the raised road. Pei Ming explained to them the object of his coming. A young boy thereupon ran in. After a long interval, he, at length, made his appearance, holding, enfolded in his arms, a bundle of clothes, which he handed to Pei Ming, who then returned to the library. Pao-yue effected a change in his costume, and giving directions to saddle his horse, he only took along with him the four servant-boys, Pei Ming, Chu Lo, Shuang Jui and Shou Erh, and started on his way. He reached Feng Tzu-ying's doorway by a short cut. A servant announced his arrival, and Feng Tzu-ying came out and ushered him in. Here he discovered Hsueeh P'an, who had already been waiting a long time, and several singing-boys besides; as well as Chiang Yue-han, who played female roles, and Yuen Erh, a courtesan in the Chin Hsiang court. The whole company exchanged salutations. They next had tea. "What you said the other day," smiled Pao-yue, raising his cup, "about good fortune coming out of evil fortune has preyed so much upon my mind, both by day and night, that the moment I received your summons I hurried to come immediately."
   "My worthy cousins," rejoined Feng Tzu-ying smiling. "You're all far too credulous! It's a mere hoax that I made use of the other day. For so much did I fear that you would be sure to refuse if I openly asked you to a drinking bout, that I thought it fit to say what I did. But your attendance to-day, so soon after my invitation, makes it clear, little though one would have thought it, that you've all taken it as pure gospel truth."
   This admission evoked laughter from the whole company. The wines were afterwards placed on the table, and they took the seats consistent with their grades. Feng Tzu-ying first and foremost called the singing-boys and offered them a drink. Next he told Yuen Erh to also approach and have a cup of wine.
   By the time, however, that Hsueeh P'an had had his third cup, he of a sudden lost control over his feelings, and clasping Yuen Erh's hand in his: "Do sing me," he smiled, "that novel ballad of your own composition; and I'll drink a whole jar full. Eh, will you?"
   This appeal compelled Yuen Erh to take up the guitar. She then sang:
   Lovers have I two. To set aside either I cannot bear. When my heart longs for thee to come, It also yearns for him. Both are in form handsome and fair. Their beauty to describe it would be hard. Just think, last night, when at a silent hour, we met in secret, by the trellis frame laden with roses white, One to his feelings stealthily was giving vent, When lo, the other caught us in the act, And laying hands on us; there we three stood like litigants before the bar. And I had, verily, no word in answer for myself to give.
   At the close of her song, she laughed. "Well now," she cried, "down with that whole jar!"
   "Why, it isn't worth a jarful," smiled Hsueeh P'an at these words. "Favour us with some other good song!"
   "Listen to what I have to suggest," Pao-yue interposed, a smile on his lips. "If you go on drinking in this reckless manner, we will easily get drunk and there will be no fun in it. I'll take the lead and swallow a large cupful and put in force a new penalty; and any one of you who doesn't comply with it, will be mulcted in ten large cupfuls, in quick succession!"
   Speedily rising from the banquet, he poured the wine for the company. Feng Tzu-ying and the rest meanwhile exclaimed with one voice: "Quite right! quite right!"
   Pao-yue then lifted a large cup and drained it with one draught. "We will now," he proposed, "dilate on the four characters, 'sad, wounded, glad and joyful.' But while discoursing about young ladies, we'll have to illustrate the four states as well. At the end of this recitation, we'll have to drink the 'door cup' over the wine, to sing an original and seasonable ballad, while over the heel taps, to make allusion to some object on the table, and devise something with some old poetical lines or ancient scrolls, from the Four Books or the Five Classics, or with some set phrases."
   Hsueeh P'an gave him no time to finish. He was the first to stand up and prevent him from proceeding. "I won't join you, so don't count me; this is, in fact, done in order to play tricks upon me."
   Yuen Erh, however, also rose to her feet and shoved him down into his seat.
   "What are you in such a funk for?" she laughed. "You're fortunate enough to be able to drink wine daily, and can't you, forsooth, even come up to me? Yet I mean to recite, by and bye, my own share. If you say what's right, well and good; if you don't, you will simply have to swallow several cups of wine as a forfeit, and is it likely you'll die from drunkenness? Are you, pray, going now to disregard this rule and to drink, instead, ten large cups; besides going down to pour the wine?"
   One and all clapped in applause. "Well said!" they shouted.
   After this, Hueeh P'an had no way out of it and felt compelled to resume his seat.
   They then heard Pao-yue recite:
   A girl is sad, When her spring-time of life is far advanced and she still occupies a vacant inner-room. A girl feels wounded in her heart, When she regrets having allowed her better half to go abroad and win a marquisdom. A girl is glad, When looking in the mirror, at the time of her morning toilette, she finds her colour fair. A girl is joyful, What time she sits on the frame of a gallows-swing, clad in a thin spring gown.
   Having listened to him, "Capital!" one and all cried out in a chorus. Hsueeh P'an alone raised his face, shook his head and remarked: "It isn't good, he must be fined."
   "Why should he be fined?" demurred the party.
   "Because," retorted Hsueeh P'an, "what he says is entirely unintelligible to me. So how can he not be fined?"
   Yuen Erh gave him a pinch.--"Just you quietly think of yours," she laughed; "for if by and bye you are not ready you'll also have to bear a fine."
   In due course Pao-yue took up the guitar. He was heard to sing:
   "When mutual thoughts arise, tears, blood-stained, endless drop, like lentiles sown broadcast. In spring, in ceaseless bloom nourish willows and flowers around the painted tower. Inside the gauze-lattice peaceful sleep flies, when, after dark, come wind and rain. Both new-born sorrows and long-standing griefs cannot from memory ever die! E'en jade-fine rice, and gold-like drinks they make hard to go down; they choke the throat. The lass has not the heart to desist gazing in the glass at her wan face. Nothing can from that knitted brow of hers those frowns dispel; For hard she finds it patient to abide till the clepsydra will have run its course. Alas! how fitly like the faint outline of a green hill which nought can screen; Or like a green-tinged stream, which ever ceaseless floweth onward far and wide!"
   When the song drew to an end, his companions with one voice cried out: "Excellent!"
   Hsueeh P'an was the only one to find fault. "There's no metre in them," he said.
   Pao-yue quaffed the "opening cup," then seizing a pear, he added:
   "While the rain strikes the pear-blossom I firmly close the door,"
   and thus accomplished the requirements of the rule.
   Feng Tzu-ying's turn came next.
   "A maid is glad."
   he commenced:
   When at her first confinement she gives birth to twins, both sons. A maid is joyful, When on the sly she to the garden creeps crickets to catch. A maid is sad, When her husband some sickness gets and lies in a bad state. A maiden is wounded at heart, When a fierce wind blows down the tower, where she makes her toilette.
   Concluding this recitation, he raised the cup and sang:
   "Thou art what one could aptly call a man. But thou'rt endowed with somewhat too much heart! How queer thou art, cross-grained and impish shrewd! A spirit too, thou couldst not be more shrewd. If all I say thou dost not think is true, In secret just a minute search pursue; For then thou'lt know if I love thee or not."
   His song over, he drank the "opening cup" and then observed:
   "The cock crows when the moon's rays shine upon the thatched inn."
   After his observance of the rule followed Yuen Erh's turn.
   A girl is sad,
   Yuen Erh began,
   When she tries to divine on whom she will depend towards the end of life.
   "My dear child!" laughingly exclaimed Hsueeh P'an, "your worthy Mr. Hsueeh still lives, and why do you give way to fears?"
   "Don't confuse her!" remonstrated every one of the party, "don't muddle her!"
   "A maiden is wounded at heart."
   Yuen Erh proceeded:
   "When her mother beats and scolds her and never for an instant doth desist."
   "It was only the other day," interposed Hsueeh P'an, "that I saw your mother and that I told her that I would not have her beat you."
   "If you still go on babbling," put in the company with one consent, "you'll be fined ten cups."
   Hsueeh P'an promptly administered himself a slap on the mouth. "How you lack the faculty of hearing!" he exclaimed. "You are not to say a word more!"
   "A girl is glad,"
   Yuen Erh then resumed:
   When her lover cannot brook to leave her and return home. A maiden is joyful, When hushing the pan-pipe and double pipe, a stringed instrument she thrums.
   At the end of her effusion, she at once began to sing:
   "T'is the third day of the third moon, the nutmegs bloom; A maggot, lo, works hard to pierce into a flower; But though it ceaseless bores it cannot penetrate. So crouching on the buds, it swing-like rocks itself. My precious pet, my own dear little darling, If I don't choose to open how can you steal in?"
   Finishing her song, she drank the "opening cup," after which she added: "the delicate peach-blossom," and thus complied with the exigencies of the rule.
   Next came Hsueeh P'an. "Is it for me to speak now?" Hsueeh P'an asked.
   "A maiden is sad..."
   But a long time elapsed after these words were uttered and yet nothing further was heard.
   "Sad for what?" Feng Tzu-ying laughingly asked. "Go on and tell us at once!"
   Hsueeh P'an was much perplexed. His eyes rolled about like a bell.
   "A girl is sad..."
   he hastily repeated. But here again he coughed twice before he proceeded.
   "A girl is sad."
   he said:
   "When she marries a spouse who is a libertine."
   This sentence so tickled the fancy of the company that they burst out into a loud fit of laughter.
   "What amuses you so?" shouted Hsueeh P'an, "is it likely that what I say is not correct? If a girl marries a man, who chooses to forget all virtue, how can she not feel sore at heart?"
   But so heartily did they all laugh that their bodies were bent in two. "What you say is quite right," they eagerly replied. "So proceed at once with the rest."
   Hsueeh P'an thereupon stared with vacant gaze.
   "A girl is grieved...."
   he added:
   But after these few words he once more could find nothing to say.
   "What is she grieved about?" they asked.
   "When a huge monkey finds its way into the inner room."
   Hsueeh P'an retorted.
   This reply set every one laughing. "He must be mulcted," they cried, "he must be mulcted. The first one could anyhow be overlooked; but this line is more unintelligible."
   As they said this, they were about to pour the wine, when Pao-yue smilingly interfered. "The rhyme is all right," he observed.
   "The master of the rules," Hsueeh P'an remarked, "approves it in every way, so what are you people fussing about?"
   Hearing this, the company eventually let the matter drop.
   "The two lines, that follow, are still more difficult," suggested Yuen Erh with a smile, "so you had better let me recite for you."
   "Fiddlesticks!" exclaimed Hsueeh P'an, "do you really fancy that I have no good ones! Just you listen to what I shall say.
   "A girl is glad, When in the bridal room she lies, with flowery candles burning, and she is loth to rise at morn."
   This sentiment filled one and all with amazement. "How supremely excellent this line is!" they ejaculated.
   "A girl is joyful,"
   Hsueeh P'an resumed,
   "During the consummation of wedlock."
   Upon catching this remark, the party turned their heads away, and shouted: "Dreadful! Dreadful! But quick sing your song and have done."
   Forthwith Hsueeh P'an sang:
   "A mosquito buzzes heng, heng, heng!"
   Every one was taken by surprise. "What kind of song is this?" they inquired.
   But Hsueeh P'an went on singing:
   "Two flies buzz weng, weng, weng."
   "Enough," shouted his companions, "that will do, that will do!"
   "Do you want to hear it or not?" asked Hsueeh P'an, "this is a new kind of song, called the 'Heng, heng air,' but if you people are not disposed to listen, let me off also from saying what I have to say over the heel-taps and I won't then sing."
   "We'll let you off! We'll let you off," answered one and all, "so don't be hindering others."
   "A maiden is sad,"
   Chiang Yue-han at once began,
   When her husband leaves home and never does return. A maiden is disconsolate, When she has no money to go and buy some _olea frangrans_ oil. A maiden is glad, When the wick of the lantern forms two heads like twin flowers on one stem. A maiden is joyful, When true conjugal peace prevails between her and her mate.
   His recital over, he went on to sing:
   "How I love thee with those seductive charms of thine, heaven-born! In truth thou'rt like a living fairy from the azure skies! The spring of life we now enjoy; we are yet young in years. Our union is, indeed, a happy match! But. lo! the milky way doth at its zenith soar; Hark to the drums which beat around in the watch towers; So raise the silver lamp and let us soft under the nuptial curtain steal."
   Finishing the song, he drank the "opening cup." "I know," he smiled, "few poetical quotations bearing on this sort of thing. By a stroke of good fortune, however, I yesterday conned a pair of antithetical scrolls; of these I can only remember just one line, but lucky enough for me the object it refers to figures as well on this festive board."
   This said he forthwith drained the wine, and, picking up a bud of a diminutive variety of _olea fragrans_, he recited:
   "When the perfume of flowers wafts (hsi jen) itself into a man, he knows the day is warm."
   The company unanimously conceded that the rule had been adhered to. But Hsueeh P'an once again jumped up. "It's awful, awful!" he bawled out boisterously; "he should be fined, he should be made to pay a forfeit; there's no precious article whatever on this table; how is it then that you introduce precious things?"
   "There was nothing about precious things!" Chiang Yue-han vehemently explained.
   "What I are you still prevaricating?" Hsueeh P'an cried, "Well, repeat it again!"
   Chiang Yue-han had no other course but to recite the line a second time. "Now is not Hsi Jen a precious thing?" Hsueeh P'an asked. "If she isn't, what is she? And if you don't believe me, you ask him about it," pointing, at the conclusion of this remark, at Pao-yue.
   Pao-yue felt very uncomfortable. Rising to his feet, "Cousin," he observed, "you should be fined heavily."
   "I should be! I should be!" Hsueeh P'an shouted, and saying this, he took up the wine and poured it down his throat with one gulp.
   Feng Tzu-ying, Chiang Yue-han and their companions thereupon asked him to explain the allusion. Yuen Erh readily told them, and Chiang Yue-han hastily got up and pleaded guilty.
   "Ignorance," the party said with one consent, "does not amount to guilt."
   But presently Pao-yue quitted the banquet to go and satisfy a natural want and Chiang Yue-han followed him out. The two young fellows halted under the eaves of the verandah, and Chiang Yue-han then recommenced to make ample apologies. Pao-yue, however, was so attracted by his handsome and genial appearance, that he took quite a violent fancy to him; and squeezing his hand in a firm grip. "If you have nothing to do," he urged, "do let us go over to our place. I've got something more to ask you. It's this, there's in your worthy company some one called Ch'i Kuan, with a reputation extending at present throughout the world; but, unfortunately, I alone have not had the good luck of seeing him even once."
   "This is really," rejoined Chiang Yue-han with a smile, "my own infant ? name."
   This disclosure at once made Pao-yue quite exuberant, and stamping his feet he smiled. "How lucky! I'm in luck's way!" he exclaimed. "In very truth your reputation is no idle report. But to-day is our first meeting, and what shall I do?"
   After some thought, he produced a fan from his sleeve, and, unloosening one of the jade pendants, he handed it to Ch'i Kuan. "This is a mere trifle," he said. "It does not deserve your acceptance, yet it will be a small souvenir of our acquaintance to-day."
   Ch'i Kuan received it with a smile. "I do not deserve," he replied, "such a present. How am I worthy of such an honour! But never mind, I've also got about me here a strange thing, which I put on this morning; it is brand-new yet, and will, I hope, suffice to prove to you a little of the feeling of esteem which I entertain for you."
   With these protestations, he raised his garment, and, untying a deep red sash, with which his nether clothes were fastened, he presented it to Pao-yue. "This sash," he remarked, "is an article brought as tribute from the Queen of the Hsi Hsiang Kingdom. If you attach this round you in summer, your person will emit a fragrant perfume, and it will not perspire. It was given to me yesterday by the Prince of Pei Ching, and it is only to-day that I put it on. To any one else, I would certainly not be willing to present it. But, Mr. Secundus, please do unfasten the one you have on and give it to me to bind round me."
   This proposal extremely delighted Pao-yue. With precipitate haste, he accepted his gift, and, undoing the dark brown sash he wore, he surrendered it to Ch'i Kuan. But both had just had time to adjust their respective sashes when they heard a loud voice say: "Oh! I've caught you!" And they perceived Hsueeh P'an come out by leaps and bounds. Clutching the two young fellows, "What do you," he exclaimed, "leave your wine for and withdraw from the banquet. Be quick and produce those things, and let me see them!"
   "There's nothing to see!" rejoined the two young fellows with one voice.
   Hsueeh P'an, however, would by no means fall in with their views. And it was only Feng Tzu-ying, who made his appearance on the scene, who succeeded in dissuading him. So resuming their seats, they drank until dark, when the company broke up.
   Pao-yue, on his return into the garden, loosened his clothes, and had tea. But Hsi Jen noticed that the pendant had disappeared from his fan and she inquired of him what had become of it.
   "I must have lost it this very moment," Pao-yue replied.
   At bedtime, however, descrying a deep red sash, with spots like specks of blood, attached round his waist, Hsi Jen guessed more or less the truth of what must have transpired. "As you have such a nice sash to fasten your trousers with," Hsi Jen consequently said, "you'd better return that one of mine."
   This reminder made the fact dawn upon Pao-yue that the sash had originally been the property of Hsi Jen, and that he should by rights not have parted with it; but however much he felt his conscience smitten by remorse, he failed to see how he could very well disclose the truth to her. He could therefore only put on a smiling expression and add, "I'll give you another one instead."
   Hsi Jen was prompted by his rejoinder to nod her head and sigh. "I felt sure;" she observed; "that you'd go again and do these things! Yet you shouldn't take my belongings and bestow them on that low-bred sort of people. Can it be that no consideration finds a place in your heart?"
   She then felt disposed to tender him a few more words of admonition, but dreading, on the other hand, lest she should, by irritating him, bring the fumes of the wine to his head, she thought it best to also retire to bed.
   Nothing worth noticing occurred during that night. The next day, when she woke up at the break of day, she heard Pao-yue call out laughingly: "Robbers have been here in the night; are you not aware of it? Just you look at my trousers."
   Hsi Jen lowered her head and looked. She saw at a glance that the sash, which Pao-yue had worn the previous day, was bound round her own waist, and she at once realised that Pao-yue must have effected the change during the night; but promptly unbinding it, "I don't care for such things!" she cried, "quick, take it away!"
   At the sight of her manner, Pao-yue had to coax her with gentle terms. This so disarmed Hsi Jen, that she felt under the necessity of putting on the sash; but, subsequently when Pao-yue stepped out of the apartment, she at last pulled it off, and, throwing it away in an empty box, she found one of hers and fastened it round her waist.
   Pao-yue, however, did not in the least notice what she did, but inquired whether anything had happened the day before.
   "Lady Secunda," Hsi Jen explained, "dispatched some one and fetched Hsiao Hung away. Her wish was to have waited for your return; but as I thought that it was of no consequence, I took upon myself to decide, and sent her off."
   "That's all right!" rejoined Pao-yue. "I knew all about it, there was no need for her to wait."
   "Yesterday," resumed Hsi Jen, "the Imperial Consort deputed the Eunuch Hsia to bring a hundred and twenty ounces of silver and to convey her commands that from the first to the third, there should be offered, in the Ch'ing Hsu temple, thanksgiving services to last for three days and that theatrical performances should be given, and oblations presented: and to tell our senior master, Mr. Chia Chen, to take all the gentlemen, and go and burn incense and worship Buddha. Besides this, she also sent presents for the dragon festival."
   Continuing, she bade a young servant-maid produce the presents, which had been received the previous day. Then he saw two palace fans of the best quality, two strings of musk-scented beads, two rolls of silk, as fine as the phoenix tail, and a superior mat worked with hibiscus. At the sight of these things, Pao-yue was filled with immeasurable pleasure, and he asked whether the articles brought to all the others were similar to his.
   "The only things in excess of yours that our venerable mistress has," Hsi Jen explained, "consist of a scented jade sceptre and a pillow made of agate. Those of your worthy father and mother, our master and mistress, and of your aunt exceed yours by a scented sceptre of jade. Yours are the same as Miss Pao's. Miss Lin's are like those of Misses Secunda, Tertia and Quarta, who received nothing beyond a fan and several pearls and none of all the other things. As for our senior lady, Mrs. Chia Chu, and lady Secunda, these two got each two rolls of gauze, two rolls of silk, two scented bags, and two sticks of medicine."
   After listening to her enumeration, "What's the reason of this?" he smiled. "How is it that Miss Lin's are not the same as mine, but that Miss Pao's instead are like my own? May not the message have been wrongly delivered?"
   "When they were brought out of the palace yesterday," Hsi Jen rejoined, "they were already divided in respective shares, and slips were also placed on them, so that how could any mistake have been made? Yours were among those for our dowager lady's apartments. When I went and fetched them, her venerable ladyship said that I should tell you to go there to-morrow at the fifth watch to return thanks.
   "Of course, it's my duty to go over," Pao-yue cried at these words, but forthwith calling Tzu Chuean: "Take these to your Miss Lin," he told her, "and say that I got them, yesterday, and that she is at liberty to keep out of them any that take her fancy."
   Tzu Chuean expressed her obedience and took the things away. After a short time she returned. "Miss Lin says," she explained, "that she also got some yesterday, and that you, Master Secundus, should keep yours."
   Hearing this reply, Pao-yue quickly directed a servant to put them away. But when he had washed his face and stepped out of doors, bent upon going to his grandmother's on the other side, in order to pay his obeisance, he caught sight of Lin Tai-yue coming along towards him, from the opposite direction. Pao-yue hurriedly walked up to her, "I told you," he smiled, "to select those you liked from my things; how is it you didn't choose any?"
   Lin Tai-yue had long before banished from her recollection the incident of the previous day, which had made her angry with Pao-yue, and was only exercised about the occurrence of this present occasion. "I'm not gifted with such extreme good fortune," she consequently answered, "as to be able to accept them. I can't compete with Miss Pao, in connection with whom something or other about gold or about jade is mentioned. We are simply beings connected with the vegetable kingdom."
   The allusion to the two words "gold and jade," aroused, of a sudden, much emotion in the heart of Pao-yue. "If beyond what people say about gold or jade," he protested, "the idea of any such things ever crosses my mind, may the heavens annihilate me, and may the earth extinguish me, and may I for ten thousand generations never assume human form!"
   These protestations convinced Lin Tai-yue that suspicion had been aroused in him. With all promptitude, she smiled and observed, "They're all to no use! Why utter such oaths, when there's no rhyme or reason! Who cares about any gold or any jade of yours!"
   "It would be difficult for me to tell you, to your face, all the secrets of my heart," Pao-yue resumed, "but by and bye you'll surely come to know all about them! After the three--my old grandmother, my father and my mother--you, my cousin, hold the fourth place; and, if there be a fifth, I'm ready to swear another oath."
   "You needn't swear any more," Lin Tai-yue replied, "I'm well aware that I, your younger cousin, have a place in your heart; but the thing is that at the sight of your elder cousin, you at once forget all about your younger cousin."
   "This comes again from over-suspicion!" ejaculated Pao; "for I'm not at all disposed that way."
   "Well," resumed Lin Tai-yue, "why did you yesterday appeal to me when that hussey Pao-ch'ai would not help you by telling a story? Had it been I, who had been guilty of any such thing, I don't know what you wouldn't have done again."
   But during their _tete-a-tete_, they espied Pao-ch'ai approach from the opposite direction, so readily they beat a retreat. Pao-ch'ai had distinctly caught sight of them, but pretending she had not seen them, she trudged on her way, with lowered head, and repaired into Madame Wang's apartments. After a short stay, she came to this side to pay dowager lady Chia a visit. With her she also found Pao-yue.
   Pao-ch'ai ever made it a point to hold Pao-yue aloof as her mother had in days gone by mentioned to Madame Wang and her other relatives that the gold locket had been the gift of a bonze, that she had to wait until such time as some suitor with jade turned up before she could be given in marriage, and other similar confidences. But on discovery the previous day that Yuean Ch'un's presents to her alone resembled those of Pao-yue, she began to feel all the more embarrassed. Luckily, however, Pao-yue was so entangled in Lin Tai-yue's meshes and so absorbed in heart and mind with fond thoughts of his Lin Tai-yue that he did not pay the least attention to this circumstance. But she unawares now heard Pao-yue remark with a smile: "Cousin Pao, let me see that string of scented beads of yours!"
   By a strange coincidence, Pao-ch'ai wore the string of beads round her left wrist so she had no alternative, when Pao-yue asked her for it, than to take it off. Pao-ch'ai, however, was naturally inclined to embonpoint, and it proved therefore no easy matter for her to get the beads off; and while Pao-yue stood by watching her snow-white arm, feelings of admiration were quickly stirred up in his heart. "Were this arm attached to Miss Lin's person," he secretly pondered, "I might, possibly have been able to caress it! But it is, as it happens, part and parcel of her body; how I really do deplore this lack of good fortune."
   Suddenly he bethought himself of the secret of gold and jade, and he again scanned Pao-ch'ai's appearance. At the sight of her countenance, resembling a silver bowl, her eyes limpid like water and almond-like in shape, her lips crimson, though not rouged, her eyebrows jet-black, though not pencilled, also of that fascination and grace which presented such a contrast to Lin Tai-yue's style of beauty, he could not refrain from falling into such a stupid reverie, that though Pao-ch'ai had got the string of beads off her wrist, and was handing them to him, he forgot all about them and made no effort to take them. Pao-ch'ai realised that he was plunged in abstraction, and conscious of the awkward position in which she was placed, she put down the string of beads, and turning round was on the point of betaking herself away, when she perceived Lin Tai-yue, standing on the door-step, laughing significantly while biting a handkerchief she held in her mouth. "You can't resist," Pao-ch'ai said, "a single puff of wind; and why do you stand there and expose yourself to the very teeth of it?"
   "Wasn't I inside the room?" rejoined Lin Tai-yue, with a cynical smile. "But I came out to have a look as I heard a shriek in the heavens; it turned out, in fact, to be a stupid wild goose!"
   "A stupid wild goose!" repeated Pao-ch'ai. "Where is it, let me also see it!"
   "As soon as I got out," answered Lin Tai-yue, "it flew away with a 't'e-rh' sort of noise."
   While replying, she threw the handkerchief, she was holding, straight into Pao-yue's face. Pao-yue was quite taken by surprise. He was hit on the eye. "Ai-yah!" he exclaimed.
   But, reader, do you want to hear the sequel? In that case, listen to the circumstances, which will be disclosed in the next chapter.



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【选集】hóng lóu chūn mèng
huí  zhēn shì yǐn mèng huàn shí tōng líng  jiǎ cūn fēng chén huái guī xiù CHAPTER I. 'èr huí  jiǎ rén xiān shì yáng zhōu chéng  lěng xīng yǎn shuō róng guó CHAPTER II.
sān huí jiǎ cūn yín yuán jiù zhí  lín dài pāo jìn jīng CHAPTER III. huí mìng piān féng mìng láng  sēng luàn pàn 'àn CHAPTER IV.
huí yóu huàn jìng zhǐ shí 'èr chāi  yǐn xiān láo yǎn hóng lóu mèng CHAPTER V. liù huí jiǎ bǎo chū shì yún qíng  liú lǎo lǎo jìn róng guó CHAPTER VI.
huí sòng gōng huā jiǎ liǎn fèng  yàn níng bǎo huì qín zhōng CHAPTER VII. huí tōng líng jīn yīng wēi   tàn bǎo chāi dài bàn hán suān CHAPTER VIII.
jiǔ huí liàn fēng liú qíng yǒu jiā shú  xián wán tóng nào xué táng CHAPTER IX. shí huí  jīn guǎ tān quán shòu   zhāng tài lùn bìng qióng yuán CHAPTER X.
shí huí qìng shòu chén níng pái jiā yàn  jiàn fèng jiǎ ruì yín xīn CHAPTER XI. shí 'èr huí  wáng fèng shè xiāng   jiǎ tiān xiáng zhèng zhào fēng yuè jiàn CHAPTER XII.
shí sān huí  qín qīng fēng lóng jìn wèi  wáng fèng xié níng guó CHAPTER XIII. shí huí  lín hǎi juān guǎn yáng zhōu chéng  jiǎ bǎo běi jìng wáng CHAPTER XIV.
shí huí  wáng fèng jiě nòng quán tiě jiàn   qín jīng qīng mán tóu 'ān CHAPTER XV. shí liù huí  jiǎ yuán chūn cái xuǎn fèng zǎo gōng  qín jīng qīng yāo shì huáng quán CHAPTER XVI.
shí huí  guān yuán shì cái duì 'é  róng guó guī shěng qìng yuán xiāo CHAPTER XVII. shí huí  zhū lián miǎn zhōng qín  nuò xiāng guǎn cái yǒng CHAPTER XVIII.
shí jiǔ huí  qíng qiē qiē liáng xiāo huā jiě   mián mián jìng shēng xiāng CHAPTER XIX. 'èr shí huí  wáng fèng zhèng yán dàn   lín dài qiào xuè jiāo yīn CHAPTER XX.
'èr shí huí  xián rén jiāo chēn zhēn bǎo   qiào píng 'ér ruǎn jiù jiǎ liǎn CHAPTER XXI. 'èr shí 'èr huí  tīng wén bǎo chán   zhì dēng jiǎ zhèng bēi chèn CHAPTER XXII.
'èr shí sān huí  xiāng miào tōng   dān tíng yàn jǐng fāng xīn CHAPTER XXIII. 'èr shí huí  zuì jīn gāng qīng cái shàng xiá  chī 'ér xiāng CHAPTER XXIV.
dì   I   [II]   [III]   [IV]   [V]   yè

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