中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì sān shí huí bǎo chāi jiè shàn jī dài shuāng qiāo líng guān huá qiáng chī jí jú wài CHAPTER XXX.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XXX.
huà shuō lín dài yù yǔ bǎo yù jiǎo kǒu hòu， yě zì hòu huǐ， dàn yòu wú qù jiù tā zhī lǐ， yīn cǐ rì yè mèn mèn， rú yòu suǒ shī。 zǐ juān dù qí yì， nǎi quàn dào： “ ruò lùn qián rì zhī shì， jìng shì gū niàn tài fú zào liǎo xiē。 bié rén bù zhī bǎo yù nà pí qì， nán dào zán men yě bù zhī dào de。 wéi nà yù yě bù shì nào liǎo yī zāo liǎng zāo liǎo。 " dài yù cuì dào：“ nǐ dǎo lái tì rén pài wǒ de bù shì。 wǒ zěn me fú zào liǎo？ " zǐ juān xiào dào：“ hǎohǎo de， wèishénme yòu jiǎn liǎo nà suì zǐ？ qǐ bù shì bǎo yù zhǐ yòu sān fēn bù shì， gū niàn dǎo yòu qī fēn bù shì。 wǒ kàn tā sù rì zài gū niàn shēn shàng jiù hǎo， jiē yīn gū niàn xiǎo xìng 'ér， cháng yào wāi pài tā， cái zhè me yàng。 ”
lín dài yù zhèng yù dá huà， zhǐ tīng yuàn wài jiào mén。 zǐ juān tīng liǎo yī tīng， xiào dào：“ zhè shì bǎo yù de shēng yīn， xiǎng bì shì lái péi bù shì lái liǎo。 " lín dài yù tīng liǎo dào：“ bù xǔ kāi mén！ " zǐ juān dào：“ gū niàn yòu bù shì liǎo。 zhè me rè tiān dú rì tóu dì xià， shài huài liǎo tā rú hé shǐ dé ní！ " kǒu lǐ shuō zhe， biàn chū qù kāi mén， guǒ rán shì bǎo yù。 yī miàn ràng tā jìn lái， yī miàn xiào dào：“ wǒ zhǐ dāng shì bǎo 'èr yé zài bù shàng wǒ men zhè mén liǎo， shuí zhī zhè huì zǐ yòu lái liǎo。 " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ men bǎ jí xiǎo de shì dǎo shuō dà liǎo。 hǎohǎo de wèishénme bù lái？ wǒ biàn sǐ liǎo， hún yě yào yī rì lái yī bǎi zāo。 mèi mèi kě dà hǎo liǎo？ " zǐ juān dào：“ shēn shàng bìng hǎo liǎo， zhǐ shì xīn lǐ qì bù dà hǎo。 " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ wǒ xiǎo dé yòu shénme qì。 " yī miàn shuō zhe， yī miàn jìn lái， zhǐ jiàn lín dài yù yòu zài chuáng shàng kū。
nà lín dài yù běn bù céng kū， tīng jiàn bǎo yù lái， yóu bù dé shāng liǎo xīn， zhǐ bù zhù gǔn xià lèi lái。 bǎo yù xiào zhe zǒu jìn chuáng lái， dào：“ mèi mèi shēn shàng kě dà hǎo liǎo？ " lín dài yù zhǐ gù shì lèi， bìng bù dāyìng。 bǎo yù yīn biàn 'āi zài chuáng yán shàng zuò liǎo， yī miàn xiào dào：“ wǒ zhī dào mèi mèi bù nǎo wǒ。 dàn zhǐ shì wǒ bù lái， jiào bàng rén kàn zhe， dǎo xiàng shì zán men yòu bàn liǎo zuǐ de shìde。 ruò děng tā men lái quàn zán men， nà shí jié qǐ bù zán men dǎo jué shēng fēn liǎo？ bù rú zhè huì zǐ， nǐ yào dǎ yào mà， píng zhe nǐ zěn me yàng， qiān wàn bié bù lǐ wǒ。 " shuō zhe， yòu bǎ " hǎo mèi mèi " jiào liǎo jǐ wàn shēng。 lín dài yù xīn lǐ yuán shì zài bù lǐ bǎo yù de， zhè huì zǐ jiàn bǎo yù shuō bié jiào rén zhī dào tā men bàn liǎo zuǐ jiù shēng fēn liǎo shìde zhè yī jù huà， yòu kě jiàn dé bǐ rén yuán qīn jìn， yīn yòu chēng bù zhù kū dào：“ nǐ yě bù yòng hǒngwǒ。 cóng jīn yǐ hòu， wǒ yě bù gǎn qīn jìn 'èr yé， èr yé yě quán dāng wǒ qù liǎo。 " bǎo yù tīng liǎo xiào dào：“ nǐ wǎng nà qù ní？ " lín dài yù dào：“ wǒ huí jiā qù。 " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ wǒ gēn liǎo nǐ qù。 " lín dài yù dào：“ wǒ sǐ liǎo。 " bǎo yù dào：“ nǐ sǐ liǎo， wǒ zuò hé shàng！ " lín dài yù yī wén cǐ yán， dēng shí jiāng liǎn fàng xià lái， wèn dào：“ xiǎng shì nǐ yào sǐ liǎo， hú shuō de shì shénme！ nǐ jiā dǎo yòu jǐ gè qīn jiě jiě qīn mèi mèi ní， míng 'ér dū sǐ liǎo， nǐ jǐ gè shēn zǐ qù zuò hé shàng？ míng 'ér wǒ dǎo bǎ zhè huà gào sù bié rén qù píng píng。”
bǎo yù zì zhī zhè huà shuō de zào cì liǎo， hòu huǐ bù lái， dēng shí liǎn shàng hóng zhàng qǐ lái， dī zhe tóu bù gǎn zé yī shēng。 xìng 'ér wū lǐ méi rén。 lín dài yù zhí dèng dèng de chǒu liǎo tā bàn tiān， qì de yī shēng 'ér yě shuō bù chū lái。 jiàn bǎo yù biē de liǎn shàng zǐ zhàng shí shì jiè hé gǎi zào shì jiè jù yòu zhòng yào yì yì。， biàn yǎo zhe yá yòng zhǐ tóu hěn mìng de zài tā 'é lú shàng chuō liǎo yī xià， hēng liǎo yī shēng， yǎo yá shuō dào：“ nǐ zhè héng héng " gāng shuō liǎo liǎng gè zì， biàn yòu tàn liǎo yī kǒu qì， réng ná qǐ shǒu pà zǐ lái chá yǎn lèi。 bǎo yù xīn lǐ yuán yòu wú xiàn de xīn shì， yòu jiān shuō cuò liǎo huà， zhèng zì hòu huǐ， yòu jiàn dài yù chuō tā yī xià， yào shuō yòu shuō bù chū lái， zì tàn zì qì， yīn cǐ zì jǐ yě yòu suǒ gǎn， bù jué gǔn xià lèi lái。 yào yòng pà zǐ kāi shì， bù xiǎng yòu wàng liǎo dài lái， biàn yòng shān xiù qù chá。 lín dài yù suī rán kū zhe， què yī yǎn kàn jiàn liǎo， jiàn tā chuānzhuó cù xīn 'ǒu hé shā shān， jìng qù shì lèi， biàn yī miàn zì jǐ shì zhe lèi， yī miàn huí shēn jiāng zhěn biān dā de yī fāng xiāo pà zǐ ná qǐ lái， xiàng bǎo yù huái lǐ yī shuāi， yī yǔ bù fā， réng yǎn miàn zì qì。 bǎo yù jiàn tā shuāi liǎo pà zǐ lái， máng jiē zhù shì liǎo lèi， yòu 'āi jìn qián xiē， shēn shǒu lā liǎo lín dài yù yī zhǐ shǒu， xiào dào：“ wǒ de wǔ zàng dū suì liǎo， nǐ hái zhǐ shì kū。 zǒu bà， wǒ tóng nǐ wǎng lǎo tài tài gēn qián qù。 " lín dài yù jiāng shǒu yī shuāi dào：“ shuí tóng nǐ lā lā chě chě de。 yī tiān dà sì yī tiān de， hái zhè me が pí lài liǎn de， lián gè dào lǐ yě bù zhī dào。”
yī jù méi shuō wán， zhǐ tīng hǎn dào：“ hǎo liǎo！ " bǎo lín 'èr rén bù fáng， dū hǔ liǎo yī tiào， huí tóu kàn shí， zhǐ jiàn fèng jiě 'ér tiào liǎo jìn lái， xiào dào：“ lǎo tài tài zài nà lǐ bào yuàn tiān bào yuàn dì， zhǐ jiào wǒ lái qiáo qiáo nǐ men hǎo liǎo méi yòu。 wǒ shuō bù yòng qiáo， guò bù liǎo sān tiān， tā men zì jǐ jiù hǎo liǎo。 lǎo tài tài mà wǒ， shuō wǒ lǎn。 wǒ lái liǎo， guǒ rán yìng liǎo wǒ de huà liǎo。 yě méi jiàn nǐ men liǎng gè rén yòu xiē shénme kě bàn de， sān rì hǎo liǎo， liǎng rì nǎo liǎo， yuè dà yuè chéng liǎo hái zǐ liǎo！ yòu zhè huì zǐ lā zhe shǒu kū de， zuó 'ér wèishénme yòu chéng liǎo wū yǎn jī ní！ hái bù gēn wǒ zǒu， dào lǎo tài tài gēn qián， jiào lǎo rén jiā yě fàng xiē xīn。 " shuō zhe lā liǎo lín dài yù jiù zǒu。 lín dài yù huí tóu jiào yā tóu men， yī gè yě méi yòu。 fèng jiě dào：“ yòu jiào tā men zuò shénme， yòu wǒ fú shì nǐ ní。 " yī miàn shuō， yī miàn lā liǎo jiù zǒu。 bǎo yù zài hòu miàn gēn zhe chū liǎo yuán mén。 dào liǎo jiǎ mǔ gēn qián， fèng jiě xiào dào：“ wǒ shuō tā men bù yòng rén fèi xīn， zì jǐ jiù huì hǎo de。 lǎo zǔ zōng bù xìn， yī dìng jiào wǒ qù shuō hé。 wǒ jí zhì dào nà lǐ yào shuō hé， shuí zhī liǎng gè rén dǎo zài yī chù duì péi bù shì liǎo。 duì xiào duì sù， dǎo xiàng ‘ huáng yīng zhuā zhù liǎo yào zǐ de jiǎo ’， liǎng gèdōu kòu liǎo huán liǎo， nà lǐ hái yào rén qù shuō hé。 " shuō de mǎn wū lǐ dū xiào qǐ lái。
cǐ shí bǎo chāi zhèng zài zhè lǐ。 nà lín dài yù zhǐ yī yán bù fā， āi zhe jiǎ mǔ zuò xià。 bǎo yù méi shèn shuō de， biàn xiàng bǎo chāi xiào dào： dà gē gē hǎo rì zǐ， piān shēng wǒ yòu bù hǎo liǎo， méi bié de lǐ sòng， lián gè tóu yě bù dé kē qù。 dà gē gē bù zhī wǒ bìng， dǎo xiàng wǒ lǎn， tuī gù bù qù de。 cháng huò míng 'ér nǎo liǎo， jiě jiě tì wǒ fēn biàn fēn biàn。 " bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ zhè yě duō shì。 nǐ biàn yào qù yě bù gǎn jīng dòng， hé kuàng shēn shàng bù hǎo， dì xiōng men rì rì yī chù， yào cún zhè gè xīn dǎo shēng fēn liǎo。 " bǎo yù yòu xiào dào：“ jiě jiě zhī dào tǐ liàng wǒ jiù hǎo liǎo。 " yòu dào：“ jiě jiě zěn me bù kàn xì qù？ " bǎo chāi dào：“ wǒ pà rè， kàn liǎo liǎng chū， rè de hěn。 yào zǒu， kè yòu bù sàn。 wǒ shǎo bù dé tuī shēn shàng bù hǎo， jiù lái liǎo。 " bǎo yù tīng shuō， zì jǐ yóu bù dé liǎn shàng méi yì sī， zhǐ dé yòu dā shàn xiào dào：“ guài bù dé tā men ná jiě jiě bǐ yáng fēi， yuán lái yě tǐ fēng qiè rè。 " bǎo chāi tīng shuō， bù yóu de dà nù， dài yào zěn yàng， yòu bù hǎo zěn yàng。 huí sī liǎo yī huí， liǎn hóng qǐ lái， biàn lěng xiào liǎo liǎng shēng， shuō dào：“ wǒ dǎo xiàng yáng fēi， zhǐ shì méi yī gè hǎo gē gē hǎo xiōng dì kě yǐ zuò dé yáng guó zhōng de！ " èr rén zhèng shuō zhe， kě qiǎo xiǎo yā tóu diàn 'ér yīn bù jiàn liǎo shàn zǐ， hé bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ bì shì bǎo gū niàn cáng liǎo wǒ de。 hǎo gū niàn， shǎng wǒ bà。 " bǎo chāi zhǐ tā dào：“ nǐ yào zǎi xì！ wǒ hé nǐ wán guò， nǐ zài yí wǒ。 hé nǐ sù rì xī pí xiào liǎn de nà xiē gū niàn men gēn qián， nǐ gāi wèn tā men qù。 " shuō de gè diàn 'ér páo liǎo。 bǎo yù zì zhī yòu bǎ huà shuō zào cì liǎo， dāng zhe xǔ duō rén， gèng bǐ cái zài lín dài yù gēn qián gèng bù hǎo yì sī， biàn jí huí shēn yòu tóng bié rén dā shàn qù liǎo。
lín dài yù tīng jiàn bǎo yù xī luò bǎo chāi， xīn zhōng zhuóshí dé yì， cái yào dā yán yě chèn shì 'ér qǔ gè xiào， bù xiǎng diàn 'ér yīn zhǎo shàn zǐ， bǎo chāi yòu fā liǎo liǎng jù huà bèi xiàn zhì， què wéi gòng tóng zì yóu suǒ bǔ cháng。， tā biàn gǎi kǒu xiào dào：“ bǎo jiě jiě， nǐ tīng liǎo liǎng chū shénme xì？ " bǎo chāi yīn jiàn lín dài yù miàn shàng yòu dé yì zhī tài， yī dìng shì tīng liǎo bǎo yù fāng cái xī luò zhī yán， suì liǎo tā de xīn yuàn， hū yòu jiàn wèn tā zhè huà， biàn xiào dào：“ wǒ kàn de shì lǐ kuí mà liǎo sòng jiāng， hòu lái yòu péi bù shì。 " bǎo yù biàn xiào dào：“ jiě jiě tōng jīn bó gǔ， sè sè dōuzhī dào， zěn me lián zhè yī chū xì de míng zì yě bù zhī dào， jiù shuō liǎo zhè me yī chuàn zǐ。 zhè jiào《 fù jīng qǐng zuì》。 " bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ yuán lái zhè jiào zuò《 fù jīng qǐng zuì》！ nǐ men tōng jīn bó gǔ， cái zhī dào‘ fù jīng qǐng zuì’， wǒ bù zhī dào shénme shì‘ fù jīng qǐng zuì’！ " yī jù huà hái wèi shuō wán， bǎo yù lín dài yù 'èr rén xīn lǐ yòu bìng， tīng liǎo zhè huà zǎo bǎ liǎn xiū hóng liǎo。 fèng jiě yú zhè xiē shàng suī bù tōng dá， dàn jiàn tā sān rén xíng jǐng， biàn zhī qí yì， biàn yě xiào zhe wèn rén dào：“ nǐ men dà shǔ tiān， shuí hái chī shēng jiāng ní？ " zhòng rén bù jiě qí yì， biàn shuō dào：“ méi yòu chī shēng jiāng。 fēng jiě gù yì yòng shǒu mō zhe sāi， chà yì dào： fā bù hǎo guò liǎo。 bǎo chāi zài yào shuō huà， jiàn bǎo yù shí fēn tǎo kuì， xíng jǐng gǎi biàn， yě jiù bù hǎo zài shuō， zhǐ dé yī xiào shōu zhù。 bié rén zǒng wèi jiě dé tā sì gè rén de yán yǔ， yīn cǐ fù zhī liú shuǐ。
yī shí bǎo chāi fèng jiě qù liǎo， lín dài yù xiào xiàng bǎo yù dào：“ nǐ yě shì zhe bǐ wǒ lì hài de rén liǎo。 shuídōu xiàng wǒ xīn zhuō kǒu bèn de， yóu zhe rén shuō ní。 " bǎo yù zhèng yīn bǎo chāi duō liǎo xīn， zì jǐ méi qù， yòu jiàn lín dài yù lái wèn zhe tā， yuè fā méi hǎo qì qǐ lái。 dài yào shuō liǎng jù， yòu kǒng lín dài yù duō xīn， shuō bù dé rěn zhe qì， wú jīng dǎ cǎi yī zhí chū lái。
shuí zhī mù jīn shèng shǔ zhī shí， yòu dāng zǎo fàn yǐ guò， gè chù zhù pú rén děng duō bàn dū yīn rì cháng shén juàn zhī shí， bǎo yù bēizhe shǒu， dào yī chù， yī chù yā què wú wén。 cóng jiǎ mǔ zhè lǐ chū lái， wǎng xī zǒu liǎo chuān táng， biàn shì fèng jiě de yuàn luò。 dào tā men yuàn mén qián， zhǐ jiàn yuàn mén yǎn zhe。 zhī dào fèng jiě sù rì de guīju， měi dào tiān rè， wǔ jiān yào xiē yī gè shí chén de， jìn qù bù biàn， suì jìn jiǎo mén， lái dào wáng fū rén shàng fáng nèi。 zhǐ jiàn jǐ gè yā tóu zǐ shǒu lǐ ná zhe zhēn xiàn， què dǎ dǔn 'ér ní。 wáng fū rén zài lǐ jiān liáng tà shàng shuì zhe， jīn chuàn 'ér zuò zài bàng biān chuí tuǐ， yě miē xié zhuóyǎn luàn huǎng。
bǎo yù qīng qīng de zǒu dào gēn qián， bǎ tā 'ěr shàng dài de zhuì zǐ yī zhāi， jīn chuàn 'ér zhēng kāi yǎn， jiàn shì bǎo yù。 bǎo yù qiāoqiāo de xiào dào：“ jiù kùn de zhèmezhāo？ " jīn chuàn mǐn zuǐ yī xiào， bǎi shǒu lìng tā chū qù mǎ kè sī liè níng zhù yì de jī běn yuán lǐ， bǎ zhōng guó cháng qī gé mìng shí jiàn zhōng de yī xì， réng hé shàng yǎn， bǎo yù jiàn liǎo tā， jiù yòu xiē liàn liàn bùshě de， qiāoqiāo de tàn tóu qiáo qiáo wáng fū rén hé zhe yǎn， biàn zì jǐ xiàng shēn biān hé bāo lǐ dài de xiāng xuě rùn jīn dān tāo liǎo chū lái， biàn xiàng jīn chuàn 'ér kǒu lǐ yī sòng。 jīn chuàn 'ér bìng bù zhēng yǎn， zhǐ guǎn qín liǎo。 bǎo yù shàng lái biàn lā zhe shǒu， qiāoqiāo de xiào dào：“ wǒ míng rì hé tài tài tǎo nǐ， zán men zài yī chù bà。 " jīn chuàn 'ér bù dá。 bǎo yù yòu dào：“ bù rán， děng tài tài xǐng liǎo wǒ jiù tǎo。 " jīn chuàn 'ér zhēng kāi yǎn， jiāng bǎo yù yī tuī， xiào dào：“ nǐ máng shénme！‘ jīn zān zǐ diào zài jǐng lǐ tóu， yòu nǐ de zhǐ shì yòu nǐ de "， lián zhè jù huà yǔ nán dào yě bù míng bái？ wǒ dǎo gào sù nǐ gè qiǎo zōng 'ér， nǐ wǎng dōng xiǎo yuàn zǐ lǐ ná huán gē 'ér tóng cǎi yún qù。 " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ píng tā zěn me qù bà， wǒ zhǐ shǒu zhe nǐ。 " zhǐ jiàn wáng fū rén fān shēn qǐ lái， zhào jīn chuàn 'ér liǎn shàng jiù dǎ liǎo gè zuǐ bā zǐ， zhǐ zhe mà dào：“ xià zuò xiǎo chāng fù， hǎohǎo de yé men， dū jiào nǐ jiào huài liǎo。 " bǎo yù jiàn wáng fū rén qǐ lái， zǎo yī liù yān qù liǎo。
zhè lǐ jīn chuàn 'ér bàn biān liǎn huǒ rè， yī shēng bù gǎn yán yǔ。 dēng shí zhòng yā tóu tīng jiàn wáng fū rén xǐng liǎo， dū máng jìn lái。 wáng fū rén biàn jiào yù chuàn 'ér：“ bǎ nǐ mā jiào lái， dài chū nǐ jiě jiě qù。 " jīn chuàn 'ér tīng shuō， máng guì xià kū dào：“ wǒ zài bù gǎn liǎo。 tài tài yào dǎ mà， zhǐ guǎn fā luò， bié jiào wǒ chū qù jiù shì tiān 'ēn liǎo。 wǒ gēn liǎo tài tài shí lái nián， zhè huì zǐ niǎn chū qù， wǒ hái jiàn rén bù jiàn rén ní！ " wáng fū rén gù rán shì gè kuān rén cí hòu de rén， cóng lái bù céng dǎ guò yā tóu men yī xià， jīn hū jiàn jīn chuàn 'ér xíng cǐ wú chǐ zhī shì， cǐ nǎi píng shēng zuì hèn zhě， gù qì fèn bù guò， dǎ liǎo yī xià， mà liǎo jǐ jù。 suī jīn chuàn 'ér kǔ qiú， yì bù kěn shōu liú， dào dǐ huàn liǎo jīn chuàn 'ér zhī mǔ bái lǎo xí fù lái lǐng liǎo xià qù。 nà jīn chuàn 'ér hán xiū rěn rǔ de chū qù， bù zài huà xià。
qiě shuō nà bǎo yù jiàn wáng fū rén xǐng lái， zì jǐ méi qù， máng jìn dà guān yuán lái。 zhǐ jiàn chì rì dāng kōng， shù yīn hé dì， mǎn 'ěr chán shēng， jìng wú rén yǔ。 gāng dào liǎo qiáng wēi huā jià， zhǐ tīng yòu rén gěng shā zhī shēng。 bǎo yù xīn zhōng yí huò， biàn zhàn zhù xì tīng， guǒ rán jià xià nà biān yòu rén。 rú jīn wǔ yuè zhī jì， nà qiáng wēi zhèng shì huā yè mào shèng zhī jì， bǎo yù biàn qiāoqiāo de gé zhe lí bā dòng 'ér yī kàn， zhǐ jiàn yī gè nǚ hái zǐ dūn zài huā xià， shǒu lǐ ná zhe gēn wǎn tóu de zān zǐ zài dì xià kōu tǔ， yī miàn qiāoqiāo de liú lèi， bǎo yù xīn zhōng xiǎng dào：“ nán dào zhè yě shì gè chī yā tóu， yòu xiàng pín 'ér lái zàng huā bù chéng？ " yīn yòu zì tàn dào：“ ruò zhēn yě zàng huā， kě wèi‘ dōng shī xiào pín’， bù dàn bùwèi xīn tè， qiě gèng kě yàn liǎo。 " xiǎng bì， biàn yào jiào nà nǚ zǐ， shuō：“ nǐ bù yòng gēn zhe nà lín gū niàn xué liǎo。 " huà wèi chū kǒu， xìng 'ér zài kàn shí， zhè nǚ hái zǐ miàn shēng， bù shì gè shì 'ér， dǎo xiàng shì nà shí 'èr gè xué xì de nǚ hái zǐ zhī nèi de， què biàn bù chū tā shì shēng dàn jìng chǒu nà yī gè juésè lái。 bǎo yù máng bǎ shé tóu yī shēn， jiāng kǒu yǎn zhù， zì jǐ xiǎng dào：“ xìng 'ér bù céng zào cì。 shàng liǎng cì jiē yīn zào cì liǎo， pín 'ér yě shēng qì， bǎo 'ér yě duō xīn， rú jīn zài dé zuì liǎo tā men， yuè fā méi yì sī liǎo。 " yī miàn xiǎng， yī miàn yòu hèn rèn bù dé zhè gè shì shuí。 zài liú shén xì kàn， zhǐ jiàn zhè nǚ hái zǐ méi cù chūn shān， yǎn pín qiū shuǐ， miàn bó yāo xiān， niǎo niǎo tíng tíng， dà yòu lín dài yù zhī tài。 bǎo yù zǎo yòu bù rěn qì tā 'ér qù， zhǐ guǎn chī kàn。 zhǐ jiàn tā suī rán yòng jīn zān huàdì， bìng bù shì jué tǔ mái huā， jìng shì xiàng tǔ shàng huà zì。 bǎo yù yòng yǎn suí zhe zān zǐ de qǐ luò， yī zhí yī huà yī diǎn yī gòu de kàn liǎo qù， shǔyīshǔ， shí bā bǐ。 zì jǐ yòu zài shǒu xīn lǐ yòng zhǐ tóu 'àn zhe tā fāng cái xià bǐ de guīju xiě liǎo， cāi shì gè shénme zì。 xiě chéng yī xiǎng， yuán lái jiù shì gè qiáng wēi huā de " qiáng " zì。 bǎo yù xiǎng dào：“ bì dìng shì tā yě yào zuò shī tián cí。 zhè huì zǐ jiàn liǎo zhè huā， yīn yòu suǒ gǎn， huò zhě 'ǒu chéng liǎo liǎng jù， yī shí xīng zhì kǒng wàng， zài dì xià huà zhe tuī qiāo， yě wèi kě zhī。 qiě kàn tā dǐ xià zài xiě shénme。 " yī miàn xiǎng， yī miàn yòu kàn， zhǐ jiàn nà nǚ hái zǐ hái zài nà lǐ huà ní， huà lái huà qù， hái shì gè " qiáng " zì。 zài kàn， hái shì gè " qiáng " zì。 lǐ miàn de yuán shì zǎo yǐ chī liǎo， huà wán yī gè yòu huà yī gè， yǐ jīng huà liǎo yòu jǐ qiān gè " qiáng "。 wài miàn de bù jué yě kàn chī liǎo， liǎng gè yǎn jīng zhū 'ér zhǐ guǎn suí zhe zān zǐ dòng， xīn lǐ què xiǎng：“ zhè nǚ hái zǐ yī dìng yòu shénme huà shuō bù chū lái de dà xīn shì， cái zhè yàng gè xíng jǐng。 wài miàn jì shì zhè gè xíng jǐng， xīn lǐ bù zhī zěn me 'áo jiān。 kàn tā de múyàng 'ér zhè bān dān bó， xīn lǐ nà lǐ hái gē de zhù 'áo jiān。 kě hèn wǒ bù néng tì nǐ fēn xiē guò lái。”
fú zhōng yīn qíng bù dìng， piàn yún kě yǐ zhì yǔ， hū yī zhèn liáng fēng guò liǎo， shuā shuā de làxià yī zhèn yǔ lái。 bǎo yù kàn zhe nà nǚ zǐ tóu shàng dī xià shuǐ lái， shā yī cháng dēng shí shī liǎo。 bǎo yù xiǎng dào：“ zhè shí xià yǔ。 tā zhè gè shēn zǐ lì fǎ hé jiào yù rù shǒu。 dàn lì fǎ hé jiào yù de hǎo huài yòu qǔ jué yú lì fǎ zhě hé jiào， rú hé jìn dé zhòu yǔ yī jī！ " yīn cǐ jìn bù zhù biàn shuō dào：“ bù yòng xiě liǎo。 nǐ kàn xià dà yǔ， shēn shàng dū shī liǎo。 " nà nǚ hái zǐ tīng shuō dǎo hǔ liǎo yī tiào， tái tóu yī kàn， zhǐ jiàn huā wài yī gè rén jiào tā bù yào xiě liǎo， xià dà yǔ liǎo。 yī zé bǎo yù liǎn miàn jùn xiù， èr zé huā yè fán mào， shàng xià jù bèi zhī yè yǐn zhù， gāng lù zhe bàn biān liǎn， nà nǚ hái zǐ zhǐ dāng shì gè yā tóu， zài bù xiǎng shì bǎo yù， yīn xiào dào：“ duō xiè jiě jiě tí xǐng liǎo wǒ。 nán dào jiě jiě zài wài tóu yòu shénme zhē yǔ de？ " yī jù tí xǐng liǎo bǎo yù， " ài yō " liǎo yī shēng， cái jué dé hún shēn bīng liáng。 dī tóu yī kàn， zì jǐ shēn shàng yědōu shī liǎo。 shuō shēng " bù hǎo "， zhǐ dé yī qì páo huí yí hóng yuàn qù liǎo， xīn lǐ què hái jì guà zhe nà nǚ hái zǐ méi chù bì yǔ。
yuán lái míng rì shì duān yáng jié， nà wén guān děng shí 'èr gè nǚ zǐ dū fàng liǎo xué， jìn yuán lái gè chù wán shuǎ。 kě qiǎo xiǎo shēng bǎo guān， zhēngdàn yù guān děng liǎng gè nǚ hái zǐ， zhèng zài yí hóng yuàn hé xí rén wán xiào， bèi dà yǔ zǔ zhù。 dà jiā bǎ gōu dǔ liǎo， shuǐ jī zài yuàn nèi， bǎ xiē lǜ tóu yā， huā ぎ quan， cǎi yuān yāng， zhuō de zhuō， gǎn de gǎn， féng liǎo chì bǎng， fàng zài yuàn nèi wán shuǎ， jiāng yuàn mén guān liǎo。 xí rén děngdōu zài yóu láng shàng xī xiào。
bǎo yù jiàn guān zhe mén， biàn yǐ shǒu kòu mén， lǐ miàn zhū rén zhǐ gù xiào， nà lǐ tīng jiàn。 jiào liǎo bàn rì， pāi de mén shān xiǎng， lǐ miàn fāng tīng jiàn liǎo， gū liàng zhe bǎo yù zhè huì zǐ zài bù huí lái de。 xí rén xiào dào：“ shuí zhè huì zǐ jiào mén， méi rén kāi qù。 " bǎo yù dào：“ shì wǒ。 " shè yuè dào：“ shì bǎo gū niàn de shēng yīn。 " qíng wén dào：“ hú shuō！ bǎo gū niàn zhè huì zǐ zuò shí me lái。 " xí rén dào：“ ràng wǒ gé zhe mén féng 'ér qiáo qiáo， kě kāi jiù kāi， yào bù kě kāi， jiào tā lín zhe qù。 " shuō zhe， biàn shùn zhe yóu láng dào mén qián， wǎng wài yī qiáo， zhǐ jiàn bǎo yù lín de yǔ dǎ jī yī bān。 xí rén jiàn liǎo yòu shì zháománg yòu shì kě xiào， máng kāi liǎo mén， xiào de wān zhe yāo pāi shǒu dào：“ zhè me dà yǔ dì lǐ páo shénme？ nà lǐ zhī dào yé huí lái liǎo。”
bǎo yù yī dù zǐ méi hǎo qì， mǎn xīn lǐ yào bǎ kāi mén de tī jǐ jiǎo， jí kāi liǎo mén， bìng bù kàn zhēn shì shuí， hái zhǐ dāng shì nà xiē xiǎo yā tóu zǐ men bù kě fēn gē dì lián xì zhe， yīn cǐ duì rén lái shuō bù cún zài dú lì zì zài de shì jiè。 zhù， biàn tái tuǐ tī zài lē shàng。 xí rén " ài yō " liǎo yī shēng。 bǎo yù hái mà dào：“ xià liú dōng xī men！ wǒ sù rì dān dài nǐ men dé liǎo yì， yī diǎn 'ér yě bù pà， yuè fā ná wǒ qǔ xiào 'ér liǎo。 " kǒu lǐ shuō zhe， yī dī tóu jiàn shì xí rén kū liǎo， fāng zhī tī cuò liǎo， máng xiào dào：“ ài yō， shì nǐ lái liǎo！ tī zài nà lǐ liǎo？ " xí rén cóng lái bù céng shòu guò dà huà de， jīn 'ér hū jiàn bǎo yù shēng qì tī tā yī xià， yòu dāng zhe xǔ duō rén， yòu shì xiū， yòu shì qì， yòu shì téng， zhēn yī shí zhì shēn wú dì。 dài yào zěn me yàng， liào zhe bǎo yù wèi bì shì 'ān xīn tī tā， shǎo bù dé rěn zhe shuō dào：“ méi yòu tī zhe。 hái bù huàn yī cháng qù。 " bǎo yù yī miàn jìn fáng lái jiě yī， yī miàn xiào dào：“ wǒ cháng liǎo zhè me dà， jīn rì shì tóu yī zāo 'ér shēng qì dǎ rén， bù xiǎng jiù piān yù jiàn liǎo nǐ！ " xí rén yī miàn rěn tòng huàn yī cháng， yī miàn xiào dào：“ wǒ shì gè qǐ tóu 'ér de rén， bù lùn shì dà shì xiǎo shì hǎo shì dǎi， zì rán yě gāi cóng wǒ qǐ。 dàn zhǐ shì bié shuō dǎ liǎo wǒ， míng 'ér shùn liǎo shǒu yě dǎ qǐ bié rén lái。 " bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ cái yě bù shì 'ān xīn。 " xí rén dào：“ shuí shuō nǐ shì 'ān xīn liǎo！ sù rì kāi mén guān mén， dōushì nà qǐ xiǎo yā tóu zǐ men de shì。 tā men shì hān pí guàn liǎo de， zǎo yǐ hèn de rén yá yǎng yǎng， tā men yě méi gè pà jù 'ér。 nǐ dāng shì tā men， tī yī xià zǐ， hǔ hǔ tā men yě hǎo xiē。 cái gāng shì wǒ táo qì， bù jiào kāi mén de。”
shuō zhe， nà yǔ yǐ zhù liǎo， bǎo guān， yù guān yě zǎo qù liǎo。 xí rén zhǐ jué lē xià téng de xīn lǐ fā nào， wǎn fàn yě bù céng hǎo shēng chī。 zhì wǎn jiān xǐ zǎo shí tuō liǎo yī fú， zhǐ jiàn lē shàng qīng liǎo wǎn dà yī kuài， zì jǐ dǎo hǔ liǎo yī tiào， yòu bù hǎo shēng zhāng。 yī shí shuì xià， mèng zhōng zuò tòng， yóu bù dé " ài yō " zhī shēng cóng shuì zhōng hēng chū。 bǎo yù suī shuō bù shì 'ān xīn， yīn jiàn xí rén lǎn lǎn de， yě shuì bù 'ān wěn。 hū yè jiān tīng dé " ài yō "， biàn zhī tī zhòng liǎo， zì jǐ xià chuáng qiāoqiāo de bǐng dēng lái zhào。 gāng dào chuáng qián， zhǐ jiàn xí rén sòu liǎo liǎng shēng， tù chū yī kǒu tán lái， " ài yō " yī shēng， zhēng kāi yǎn jiàn liǎo bǎo yù， dǎo hǔ liǎo yī tiào dào：“ zuò shénme？ " bǎo yù dào：“ nǐ mèng lǐ‘ ài yō’， bì dìng tī zhòng liǎo。 wǒ qiáo qiáo。 " xí rén dào：“ wǒ tóu shàng fā yùn， sǎng zǐ lǐ yòu xīng yòu tián， nǐ dǎo zhào yī zhào dì xià bà。 bǎo yù tīng shuō， guǒ rán chí dēng xiàng dì xià yī zhào， zhǐ jiàn yī kǒu xiān xuè zài dì。 bǎo yù huāng liǎo， zhǐ shuō yě jiù xīn liáng liǎo bàn jié。 yào zhī duān de， qiě tīng xià huí fēn jiě。
Pao-ch'ai avails herself of the excuse afforded her by a fan to administer a couple of raps. While Ch'un Ling traces, in a absent frame of mind, the outlines of the character Ch'iang, a looker-on appears on the scene.
Lin Tai-yue herself, for we will now resume our narrative, was also, ever since her tiff with Pao-yue, full of self-condemnation, yet as she did not see why she should run after him, she continued, day and night, as despondent as she would have been had she lost some thing or other belonging to her.
Tzu Chuean surmised her sentiments. "As regards what happened the other day," she advised her, "you were, after all, Miss, a little too hasty; for if others don't understand that temperament of Pao-yue's, have you and I, surely, also no idea about it? Besides, haven't there been already one or two rows on account of that very jade?"
"Ts'ui!" exclaimed Tai-yue. "Have you come, on behalf of others, to find fault with me? But how ever was I hasty?"
"Why did you," smiled Tzu Chuean, "take the scissors and cut that tassel when there was no good reason for it? So isn't Pao-yue less to blame than yourself, Miss? I've always found his behaviour towards you, Miss, without a fault. It's all that touchy disposition of yours, which makes you so often perverse, that induces him to act as he does."
Lin Tai-yue had every wish to make some suitable reply, when she heard some one calling at the door. Tzu Chuean discerned the tone of voice. "This sounds like Pao-yue's voice," she smiled. "I expect he's come to make his apologies."
"I won't have any one open the door," Tai-yue cried at these words.
"Here you are in the wrong again, Miss," Tzu Chuean observed. "How will it ever do to let him get a sunstroke and come to some harm on a day like this, and under such a scorching sun?"
Saying this, she speedily walked out and opened the door. It was indeed Pao-yue. While ushering him in, she gave him a smile. "I imagined," she said, "that you would never again put your foot inside our door, Master Secundus. But here you are once more and quite unexpectedly!"
"You have by dint of talking," Pao-yue laughed, "made much ado of nothing; and why shouldn't I come, when there's no reason for me to keep away? Were I even to die, my spirit too will come a hundred times a day! But is cousin quite well?"
"She is," replied Tzu Chuean, "physically all right; but, mentally, her resentment is not quite over."
"I understand," continued Pao-yue with a smile. "But resentment, for what?"
With this inquiry, he wended his steps inside the apartment. He then caught sight of Lin Tai-yue reclining on the bed in the act of crying. Tai-yue had not in fact shed a tear, but hearing Pao-yue break in upon her, she could not help feeling upset. She found it impossible therefore to prevent her tears from rolling down her cheeks.
Pao-yue assumed a smiling expression and drew near the bed. "Cousin, are you quite well again?" he inquired.
Tai-yue simply went on drying her tears, and made no reply of any kind.
Pao-yue approached the bed, and sat on the edge of it. "I know," he smiled, "that you're not vexed with me. But had I not come, third parties would have been allowed to notice my absence, and it would have appeared to them as if we had had another quarrel. And had I to wait until they came to reconcile us, would we not by that time become perfect strangers? It would be better, supposing you wish to beat me or blow me up, that you should please yourself and do so now; but whatever you do, don't give me the cold shoulder!"
Continuing, he proceeded to call her "my dear cousin" for several tens of times.
Tai-yue had resolved not to pay any more heed to Pao-yue. When she, however, now heard Pao-yue urge: "don't let us allow others to know anything about our having had a quarrel, as it will look as if we had become thorough strangers," it once more became evident to her, from this single remark, that she was really dearer and nearer to him than any of the other girls, so she could not refrain from saying sobbingly: "You needn't have come to chaff me! I couldn't presume henceforward to be on friendly terms with you, Master Secundus! You should treat me as if I were gone!"
At these words, Pao-yue gave way to laughter. "Where are you off to?" he inquired.
"I'm going back home," answered Tai-yue.
"I'll go along with you then," smiled Pao-yue.
"But if I die?" asked Tai-yue.
"Well, if you die," rejoined Pao-yue, "I'll become a bonze."
The moment Tai-yue caught this reply, she hung down her head. "You must, I presume, be bent upon dying?" she cried. "But what stuff and nonsense is this you're talking? You've got so many beloved elder and younger cousins in your family, and how many bodies will you have to go and become bonzes, when by and bye they all pass away! But to-morrow I'll tell them about this to judge for themselves what your motives are!"
Pao-yue was himself aware of the fact that this rejoinder had been recklessly spoken, and he was seized with regret. His face immediately became suffused with blushes. He lowered his head and had not the courage to utter one word more. Fortunately, however, there was no one present in the room.
Tai-yue stared at him for ever so long with eyes fixed straight on him, but losing control over her temper, "Ai!" she shouted, "can't you speak?" Then when she perceived Pao-yue reduced to such straits as to turn purple, she clenched her teeth and spitefully gave him, on the forehead, a fillip with her finger. "Heug!" she cried gnashing her teeth, "you, this......" But just as she had pronounced these two words, she heaved another sigh, and picking up her handkerchief, she wiped her tears.
Pao-yue treasured at one time numberless tender things in his mind, which he meant to tell her, but feeling also, while he smarted under the sting of self-reproach (for the indiscretion he had committed), Tai-yue give him a rap, he was utterly powerless to open his lips, much though he may have liked to speak, so he kept on sighing and snivelling to himself. With all these things therefore to work upon his feelings, he unwillingly melted into tears. He tried to find his handkerchief to dry his face with, but unexpectedly discovering that he had again forgotten to bring one with him, he was about to make his coat-sleeve answer the purpose, when Tai-yue, albeit her eyes were watery, noticed at a glance that he was going to use the brand-new coat of grey coloured gauze he wore, and while wiping her own, she turned herself round, and seized a silk kerchief thrown over the pillow, and thrust it into Pao-yue's lap. But without saying a word, she screened her face and continued sobbing.
Pao-yue saw the handkerchief she threw, and hastily snatching it, he wiped his tears. Then drawing nearer to her, he put out his hand and clasped her hand in his, and smilingly said to her: "You've completely lacerated my heart, and do you still cry? But let's go; I'll come along with you and see our venerable grandmother."
Tai-yue thrust his hand aside. "Who wants to go hand in hand with you?" she cried. "Here we grow older day after day, but we're still so full of brazen-faced effrontery that we don't even know what right means?"
But scarcely had she concluded before she heard a voice say aloud: "They're all right!"
Pao-yue and Tai-yue were little prepared for this surprise, and they were startled out of their senses. Turning round to see who it was, they caught sight of lady Feng running in, laughing and shouting. "Our old lady," she said, "is over there, giving way to anger against heaven and earth. She would insist upon my coming to find out whether you were reconciled or not. 'There's no need for me to go and see,' I told her, 'they will before the expiry of three days, be friends again of their own accord.' Our venerable ancestor, however, called me to account, and maintained that I was lazy; so here I come! But my words have in very deed turned out true. I don't see why you two should always be wrangling! For three days you're on good terms and for two on bad. You become more and more like children. And here you are now hand in hand blubbering! But why did you again yesterday become like black-eyed fighting cocks? Don't you yet come with me to see your grandmother and make an old lady like her set her mind at ease a bit?"
While reproaching them, she clutched Tai-yue's hand and was trudging away, when Tai-yue turned her head round and called out for her servant-girls. But not one of them was in attendance.
"What do you want them for again?" lady Feng asked. "I am here to wait on you!"
Still speaking, she pulled her along on their way, with Pao-yue following in their footsteps. Then making their exit out of the garden gate, they entered dowager lady Chia's suite of rooms. "I said that it was superfluous for any one to trouble," lady Feng smiled, "as they were sure of themselves to become reconciled; but you, dear ancestor, so little believed it that you insisted upon my going to act the part of mediator. Yet when I got there, with the intention of inducing them to make it up, I found them, though one did not expect it, in each other's company, confessing their faults, and laughing and chatting. Just like a yellow eagle clutching the feet of a kite were those two hanging on to each other. So where was the necessity for any one to go?"
These words evoked laughter from every one in the room. Pao-ch'ai, however, was present at the time so Lin Tai-yue did not retort, but went and ensconced herself in a seat near her grandmother.
When Pao-yue noticed that no one had anything to say, he smilingly addressed himself to Pao-ch'ai. "On cousin Hsueeh P'an's birth-day," he remarked, "I happened again to be unwell, so not only did I not send him any presents, but I failed to go and knock my head before him. Yet cousin knows nothing about my having been ill, and it will seem to him that I had no wish to go, and that I brought forward excuses so as to avoid paying him a visit. If to-morrow you find any leisure, cousin, do therefore explain matters for me to him."
"This is too much punctiliousness!" smiled Pao-ch'ai. "Even had you insisted upon going, we wouldn't have been so arrogant as to let you put yourself to the trouble, and how much less when you were not feeling well? You two are cousins and are always to be found together the whole day; if you encourage such ideas, some estrangement will, after all, arise between you."
"Cousin," continued Pao-yue smilingly, "you know what to say; and so long as you're lenient with me all will be all right. But how is it," he went on to ask, "that you haven't gone over to see the theatricals?"
"I couldn't stand the heat" rejoined Pao-ch'ai. "I looked on while two plays were being sung, but I found it so intensely hot, that I felt anxious to retire. But the visitors not having dispersed, I had to give as an excuse that I wasn't feeling up to the mark, and so came away at once."
Pao-yue, at these words, could not but feel ill at ease. All he could do was to feign another smile. "It's no wonder," he observed, "that they compare you, cousin, to Yang Kuei-fei; for she too was fat and afraid of hot weather."
Hearing this, Pao-ch'ai involuntarily flew into a violent rage. Yet when about to call him to task, she found that it would not be nice for her to do so. After some reflection, the colour rushed to her cheeks. Smiling ironically twice, "I may resemble," she said, "Yang Kuei-fei, but there's not one of you young men, whether senior or junior, good enough to play the part of Yang Kuo-chung."
While they were bandying words, a servant-girl Ch'ing Erh, lost sight of her fan and laughingly remarked to Pao-ch'ai: "It must be you, Miss Pao, who have put my fan away somewhere or other; dear mistress, do let me have it!"
"You'd better be mindful!" rejoined Pao-ch'ai, shaking her finger at her. "With whom have I ever been up to jokes, that you come and suspect me? Have I hitherto laughed and smirked with you? There's that whole lot of girls, go and ask them about it!"
At this suggestion, Ch'ing Erh made her escape.
The consciousness then burst upon Pao-yue, that he had again been inconsiderate in his speech, in the presence of so many persons, and he was overcome by a greater sense of shame than when, a short while back, he had been speaking with Lin Tai-yue. Precipitately turning himself round, he went, therefore, and talked to the others as well.
The sight of Pao-yue poking fun at Pao-ch'ai gratified Tai-yue immensely. She was just about to put in her word and also seize the opportunity of chaffing her, but as Ch'ing Erh unawares asked for her fan and Pao-ch'ai added a few more remarks, she at once changed her purpose. "Cousin Pao-ch'ai," she inquired, "what two plays did you hear?"
Pao-ch'ai caught the expression of gratification in Tai-yue's countenance, and concluded that she had for a certainty heard the raillery recently indulged in by Pao-yue and that it had fallen in with her own wishes; and hearing her also suddenly ask the question she did, she answered with a significant laugh: "What I saw was: 'Li Kuei blows up Sung Chiang and subsequently again tenders his apologies'."
Pao-yue smiled. "How is it," he said, "that with such wide knowledge of things new as well as old; and such general information as you possess, you aren't even up to the name of a play, and that you've come out with such a whole string of words. Why, the real name of the play is: 'Carrying a birch and begging for punishment'".
"Is it truly called: 'Carrying a birch and begging for punishment'"? Pao-ch'ai asked with laugh. "But you people know all things new and old so are able to understand the import of 'carrying a birch and begging for punishment.' As for me I've no idea whatever what 'carrying a birch and begging for punishment' implies."
One sentence was scarcely ended when Pao-yue and Tai-yue felt guilty in their consciences; and by the time they heard all she said, they were quite flushed from shame. Lady Feng did not, it is true, fathom the gist of what had been said, but at the sight of the expression betrayed on the faces of the three cousins, she readily got an inkling of it. "On this broiling hot day," she inquired laughing also; "who still eats raw ginger?"
None of the party could make out the import of her insinuation. "There's no one eating raw ginger," they said.
Lady Feng intentionally then brought her hands to her cheeks, and rubbing them, she remarked with an air of utter astonishment, "Since there's no one eating raw ginger, how is it that you are all so fiery in the face?"
Hearing this, Pao-yue and Tai-yue waxed more uncomfortable than ever. So much so, that Pao-ch'ai, who meant to continue the conversation, did not think it nice to say anything more when she saw how utterly abashed Pao-yue was and how changed his manner. Her only course was therefore to smile and hold her peace. And as the rest of the inmates had not the faintest notion of the drift of the remarks exchanged between the four of them, they consequently followed her lead and put on a smile.
In a short while, however, Pao-ch'ai and lady Feng took their leave.
"You've also tried your strength with them," Tai-yue said to Pao-yue laughingly. "But they're far worse than I. Is every one as simple in mind and dull of tongue as I am as to allow people to say whatever they like."
Pao-yue was inwardly giving way to that unhappiness, which had been occasioned by Pao-ch'ai's touchiness, so when he also saw Tai-yue approach him and taunt him, displeasure keener than ever was aroused in him. A desire then asserted itself to speak out his mind to her, but dreading lest Tai-yue should he in one of her sensitive moods, he, needless to say, stifled his anger and straightway left the apartment in a state of mental depression.
It happened to be the season of the greatest heat. Breakfast time too was already past, and masters as well as servants were, for the most part, under the influence of the lassitude felt on lengthy days. As Pao-yue therefore strolled, from place to place, his hands behind his back he heard not so much as the caw of a crow. Issuing out of his grandmother's compound on the near side, he wended his steps westwards, and crossed the passage, on which lady Feng's quarters gave. As soon as he reached the entrance of her court, he perceived the door ajar. But aware of lady Feng's habit of taking, during the hot weather, a couple of hours' siesta at noon, he did not feel it a convenient moment to intrude. Walking accordingly through the corner door, he stepped into Madame Wang's apartment. Here he discovered several waiting-maids, dosing with their needlework clasped in their hands. Madame Wang was asleep on the cool couch in the inner rooms. Chin Ch'uan-erh was sitting next to her massaging her legs. But she too was quite drowsy, and her eyes wore all awry. Pao-yue drew up to her with gentle tread. The moment, however, that he unfastened the pendants from the earrings she wore, Chin Ch'uan opened her eyes, and realised that it was no one than Pao-yue.
"Are you feeling so worn out!" he smilingly remarked in a low tone of voice.
Chin Ch'uan pursed up her lips and gave him a smile. Then waving her hand so as to bid him quit the room, she again closed her eyes.
Pao-yue, at the sight of her, felt considerable affection for her and unable to tear himself away, so quietly stretching his head forward, and noticing that Madame Wang's eyes were shut, he extracted from a purse, suspended about his person, one of the 'scented-snow-for-moistening-mouth pills,' with which it was full, and placed it on Chin Ch'uan-erh's lips. Chin Ch'uan-erh, however, did not open her eyes, but simply held (the pill) in her mouth. Pao-yue then approached her and took her hand in his. "I'll ask you of your mistress," he gently observed smiling, "and you and I will live together."
To this Chin Ch'uan-erh said not a word.
"If that won't do," Pao-yue continued, "I'll wait for your mistress to wake and appeal to her at once."
Chin Ch'uan-erh distended her eyes wide, and pushed Pao-yue off. "What's the hurry?" she laughed. "'A gold hair-pin may fall into the well; but if it's yours it will remain yours only.' Is it possible that you don't even see the spirit of this proverb? But I'll tell you a smart thing. Just you go into the small court, on the east side, and you'll find for yourself what Mr. Chia Huau and Ts'ai Yun are up to!"
"Let them be up to whatever they like," smiled Pao-yue, "I shall simply stick to your side!"
But he then saw Madame Wang twist herself round, get up, and give a slap to Chin Ch'uan-erh on her mouth. "You mean wench!" she exclaimed, abusing her, while she pointed her finger at her, "it's you, and the like of you, who corrupt these fine young fellows with all the nice things you teach them!"
The moment Pao-yue perceived Madame Wang rise, he bolted like a streak of smoke. Chin Ch'uan-erh, meanwhile, felt half of her face as hot as fire, yet she did not dare utter one word of complaint. The various waiting-maids soon came to hear that Madame Wang had awoke and they rushed in in a body.
"Go and tell your mother," Madame Wang thereupon said to Yue Ch'uan-erh, "to fetch your elder sister away."
Chin Ch'uan-erh, at these words, speedily fell on her knees. With tears in her eyes: "I won't venture to do it again," she pleaded. "If you, Madame, wish to flog me, or to scold me do so at once, and as much as you like but don't send me away. You will thus accomplish an act of heavenly grace! I've been in attendance on your ladyship for about ten years, and if you now drive me away, will I be able to look at any one in the face?"
Though Madame Wang was a generous, tender-hearted person, and had at no time raised her hand to give a single blow to any servant-girl, she, however, when she accidentally discovered Chin Ch'uan-erh behave on this occasion in this barefaced manner, a manner which had all her lifetime been most reprehensible to her, was so overcome by passion that she gave Chin Ch'uan-erh just one slap and spoke to her a few sharp words. And albeit Chin Ch'uan-erh indulged in solicitous entreaties, she would not on any account keep her in her service. At length, Chin Ch'uan-erh's mother, Dame Pao, was sent for to take her away. Chin Ch'uan-erh therefore had to conceal her disgrace, suppress her resentment, and quit the mansion.
But without any further reference to her, we will now take up our story with Pao-yue. As soon as he saw Madame Wang awake, his spirits were crushed. All alone he hastily made his way into the Ta Kuan garden. Here his attention was attracted by the ruddy sun, shining in the zenith, the shade of the trees extending far and wide, the song of the cicadas, filling the ear; and by a perfect stillness, not even broken by the echo of a human voice. But the instant he got near the trellis, with the cinnamon roses, the sound of sobs fell on his ear. Doubts and surmises crept into Pao-yue's mind, so halting at once, he listened with intentness. Then actually he discerned some one on the off-side of the trellis. This was the fifth moon, the season when the flowers and foliage of the cinnamon roses were in full bloom. Furtively peeping through an aperture in the fence, Pao-yue saw a young girl squatting under the flowers and digging the ground with a hair-pin she held in her hand. As she dug, she silently gave way to tears.
"Can it be possible," mused Pao-yue, "that this girl too is stupid? Can she also be following P'in Erh's example and come to inter flowers? Why if she's likewise really burying flowers," he afterwards went on to smilingly reflect, "this can aptly be termed: 'Tung Shih tries to imitate a frown.' But not only is what she does not original, but it is despicable to boot. You needn't," he meant to shout out to the girl, at the conclusion of this train of thought, "try and copy Miss Lin's example." But before the words had issued from his mouth, he luckily scrutinised her a second time, and found that the girl's features were quite unfamiliar to him, that she was no menial, and that she looked like one of the twelve singing maids, who were getting up the plays. He could not, however, make out what _roles_ she filled: scholars, girls, old men, women, or buffoons. Pao-yue quickly put out his tongue and stopped his mouth with his hand. "How fortunate," he inwardly soliloquised, "that I didn't make any reckless remark! It was all because of my inconsiderate talk on the last two occasions, that P'in Erh got angry with me, and that Pao-ch'ai felt hurt. And had I now given them offence also, I would have been in a still more awkward fix!"
While wrapt in these thoughts, he felt much annoyance at not being able to recognise who she was. But on further minute inspection, he noticed that this maiden, with contracted eyebrows, as beautiful as the hills in spring, frowning eyes as clear as the streams in autumn, a face, with transparent skin, and a slim waist, was elegant and beautiful and almost the very image of Lin Tai-yue. Pao-yue could not, from the very first, make up his mind to wrench himself away. But as he stood gazing at her in a doltish mood, he realised that, although she was tracing on the ground with the gold hair-pin, she was not digging a hole to bury flowers in, but was merely delineating characters on the surface of the soil. Pao-yue's eyes followed the hair-pin from first to last, as it went up and as it came down. He watched each dash, each dot and each hook. He counted the strokes. They numbered eighteen. He himself then set to work and sketched with his finger on the palm of his hand, the lines, in their various directions, and in the order they had been traced a few minutes back, so as to endeavour to guess what the character was. On completing the sketch, he discovered, the moment he came to reflect, that it was the character "Ch'iang," in the combination, 'Ch'iang Wei,' representing cinnamon roses.
"She too," pondered Pao-yue, "must have been bent upon writing verses, or supplying some line or other, and at the sight now of the flowers, the idea must have suggested itself to her mind. Or it may very likely be that having spontaneously devised a couplet, she got suddenly elated and began, for fear it should slip from her memory, to trace it on the ground so as to tone the rhythm. Yet there's no saying. Let me see, however, what she's going to write next."
While cogitating, he looked once more. Lo, the girl was still tracing. But tracing up or tracing down, it was ever the character "Ch'iang." When he gazed again, it was still the self-same Ch'iang.
The one inside the fence fell, in fact, from an early stage, into a foolish mood, and no sooner was one 'Ch'iang,' finished than she started with another; so that she had already written several tens of them. The one outside gazed and gazed, until he unwittingly also got into the same foolish mood. Intent with his eyes upon following the movements of the pin, in his mind, he communed thus with his own thoughts: "This girl must, for a certainty, have something to say, or some unspeakable momentous secret that she goes on like this. But if outwardly she behaves in this wise, who knows what anguish she mayn't suffer at heart? And yet, with a frame to all appearances so very delicate, how could she ever resist much inward anxiety! Woe is me that I'm unable to transfer some part of her burden on to my own shoulders!"
In midsummer, cloudy and bright weather are uncertain. A few specks of clouds suffice to bring about rain. Of a sudden, a cold blast swept by, and tossed about by the wind fell a shower of rain. Pao-yue perceived that the water trickling down the girl's head saturated her gauze attire in no time. "It's pouring," Pao-yue debated within himself, "and how can a frame like hers resist the brunt of such a squall." Unable therefore to restrain himself, he vehemently shouted: "Leave off writing! See, it's pouring; you're wet through!"
The girl caught these words, and was frightened out of her wits. Raising her head, she at once descried some one or other standing beyond the flowers and calling out to her: "Leave off writing. It's pouring!" But as Pao-yue was, firstly, of handsome appearance, and as secondly the luxuriant abundance of flowers and foliage screened with their boughs, thick-laden with leaves, the upper and lower part of his person, just leaving half of his countenance exposed to view, the maiden simply jumped at the conclusion that he must be a servant girl, and never for a moment dreamt that it might be Pao-yue. "Many thanks, sister, for recalling me to my senses," she consequently smiled. "Yet is there forsooth anything outside there to protect you from the rain?"
This single remark proved sufficient to recall Pao-yue to himself. With an exclamation of "Ai-yah," he at length became conscious that his whole body was cold as ice. Then drooping his head, he realised that his own person too was drenched. "This will never do," he cried, and with one breath he had to run back into the I Hung court. His mind, however, continued much exercised about the girl as she had nothing to shelter her from the rain.
As the next day was the dragon-boat festival, Wen Kuan and the other singing girls, twelve in all, were given a holiday, so they came into the garden and amused themselves by roaming everywhere and anywhere. As luck would have it, the two girls Pao-Kuan, who filled the _role_ of young men and Yue Kuan, who represented young women, were in the I Hung court enjoying themselves with Hsi Jen, when rain set in and they were prevented from going back, so in a body they stopped up the drain to allow the water to accumulate in the yard. Then catching those that could be caught, and driving those that had to be driven, they laid hold of a few of the green-headed ducks, variegated marsh-birds and coloured mandarin-ducks, and tying their wings they let them loose in the court to disport themselves. Closing the court Hsi Jen and her playmates stood together under the verandah and enjoyed the fun. Pao-yue therefore found the entrance shut. He gave a rap at the door. But as every one inside was bent upon laughing, they naturally did not catch the sound; and it was only after he had called and called, and made a noise by thumping at the door, that they at last heard. Imagining, however, that Pao-yue could not be coming back at that hour, Hsi Jen shouted laughing: "who's it now knocking at the door? There's no one to go and open."
"It's I," rejoined Pao-yue.
"It's Miss Pao-ch'ai's tone of voice," added She Yueeh.
"Nonsense!" cried Ch'ing Wen. "What would Miss Pao-ch'ai come over to do at such an hour?"
"Let me go," chimed in Hsi Jen, "and see through the fissure in the door, and if we can open, we'll open; for we mustn't let her go back, wet through."
With these words, she came along the passage to the doorway. On looking out, she espied Pao-yue dripping like a chicken drenched with rain.
Seeing him in this plight, Hsi Jen felt solicitous as well as amused. With alacrity, she flung the door wide open, laughing so heartily that she was doubled in two. "How could I ever have known," she said, clapping her hands, "that you had returned, Sir! Yet how is it that you've run back in this heavy rain?"
Pao-yue had, however, been feeling in no happy frame of mind. He had fully resolved within himself to administer a few kicks to the person, who came to open the door, so as soon as it was unbarred, he did not try to make sure who it was, but under the presumption that it was one of the servant-girls, he raised his leg and give her a kick on the side.
"Ai-yah!" ejaculated Hsi Jen.
Pao-yue nevertheless went on to abuse. "You mean things!" he shouted. "It's because I've always treated you so considerately that you don't respect me in the least! And you now go to the length of making a laughing-stock of me!"
As he spoke, he lowered his head. Then catching sight of Hsi Jen, in tears, he realised that he had kicked the wrong person. "Hallo!" he said, promptly smiling, "is it you who've come? Where did I kick you?"
Hsi Jen had never, previous to this, received even a harsh word from him. When therefore she on this occasion unexpectedly saw Pao-yue gave her a kick in a fit of anger and, what made it worse, in the presence of so many people, shame, resentment, and bodily pain overpowered her and she did not, in fact, for a time know where to go and hide herself. She was then about to give rein to her displeasure, but the reflection that Pao-yue could not have kicked her intentionally obliged her to suppress her indignation. "Instead of kicking," she remarked, "don't you yet go and change your clothes?"
Pao-yue walked into the room. As he did so, he smiled. "Up to the age I've reached," he observed, "this is the first instance on which I've ever so thoroughly lost control over my temper as to strike any one; and, contrary to all my thoughts, it's you that happened to come in my way?"
Hsi Jen, while patiently enduring the pain, effected the necessary change in his attire. "I've been here from the very first," she simultaneously added, smilingly, "so in all things, whether large or small, good or bad, it has naturally fallen to my share to bear the brunt. But not to say another word about your assault on me, why, to-morrow you'll indulge your hand and star-beating others!"
"I did not strike you intentionally just now," retorted Pao-yue.
"Who ever said," rejoined Hsi Jen, "that you did it intentionally! It has ever been the duty of that tribe of servant-girls to open and shut the doors, yet they've got into the way of being obstinate, and have long ago become such an abomination that people's teeth itch to revenge themselves on them. They don't know, besides, what fear means. So had you first assured yourself that it was they and given them a kick, a little intimidating would have done them good. But I'm at the bottom of the mischief that happened just now, for not calling those, upon whom it devolves, to come and open for you."
During the course of their conversation, the rain ceased, and Pao Kuan and Yue Kuan had been able to take their leave. Hsi Jen, however, experienced such intense pain in her side, and felt such inward vexation, that at supper she could not put a morsel of anything in her mouth. When in the evening, the time came for her to have her bath, she discovered, on divesting herself of her clothes, a bluish bruise on her side of the size of a saucer and she was very much frightened. But as she could not very well say anything about it to any one, she presently retired to rest. But twitches of pain made her involuntarily moan in her dreams and groan in her sleep.
Pao-yue did, it is true, not hurt her with any malice, but when he saw Hsi Jen so listless and restless, and suddenly heard her groan in the course of the night, he realised how severely he must have kicked her. So getting out of bed, he gently seized the lantern and came over to look at her. But as soon as he reached the side of her bed, he perceived Hsi Jen expectorate, with a retch, a whole mouthful of phlegm. "Oh me!" she gasped, as she opened her eyes. The presence of Pao-yue startled her out of her wits. "What are you up to?" she asked.
"You groaned in your dreams," answered Pao-yue, "so I must have kicked you hard. Do let me see!"
"My head feels giddy," said Hsi Jen. "My throat foul and sweet; throw the light on the floor!"
At these words, Pao-yue actually raised the lantern. The moment he cast the light below, he discerned a quantity of fresh blood on the floor.
Pao-yue was seized with consternation. "Dreadful!" was all he could say. At the sight of the blood, Hsi Jen's heart too partly waxed cold.
But, reader, the next chapter will reveal the sequel, if you really have any wish to know more about them.
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