中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì sān shí sān huí shǒu zú dān dān xiǎo dòng chún shé bù xiào zhǒng zhǒng dà chéng chī tà CHAPTER XXXIII.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XXXIII.
què shuō wáng fū rén huàn tā mǔ qīn shàng lái， ná jǐ jiàn zān huán dāng miàn shǎng yǔ， yòu fēn fù qǐng jǐ zhòng sēng rén niàn jīng chāo dù。 tā mǔ qīn kē tóu xiè liǎo chū qù。 yuán lái bǎo yù huì guò yǔ cūn huí lái tīng jiàn liǎo， biàn zhī jīn chuàn 'ér hán xiū dǔ qì zì jìn， xīn zhōng zǎo yòu wǔ nèi cuī shāng， jìn lái bèi wáng fū rén shǔluò jiào xùn， yě wú kě huí shuō。 jiàn bǎo chāi jìn lái， fāng dé biàn chū lái， máng rán bù zhī hé wǎng， bēizhe shǒu， dī tóu yī miàn gǎn tàn， yī miàn màn màn de zǒu zhe， xìn bù lái zhì tīng shàng。 gāng zhuǎn guò píng mén， bù xiǎng duì miàn lái liǎo yī rén zhèng wǎng lǐ zǒu， kě qiǎo 'ér zhuàng liǎo gè mǎn huái。 zhǐ tīng nà rén hē liǎo yī shēng " zhàn zhù！ " bǎo yù hǔ liǎo yī tiào， tái tóu yī kàn， bù shì bié rén， què shì tā fù qīn， bù jué de dǎo chōu liǎo yī kǒu qì， zhǐ dé chuí shǒu yī bàng zhàn liǎo。 jiǎ zhèng dào： “ hǎo duān duān de， nǐ chuí tóu sàng qì も xiē shénme？ fāng cái yǔ cūn lái liǎo yào jiàn nǐ， jiào nǐ nà bàn tiān nǐ cái chū lái， jì chū lái liǎo， quán wú yī diǎn kāng kǎi huī sǎ tán tù， réng shì wēi wēi ruí ruí。 wǒ kàn nǐ liǎn shàng yī tuán sī yù chóu mèn qì sè， zhè huì zǐ yòu hāishēng tàn qì。 nǐ nà xiē hái bù zú， hái bù zì zài？ wú gù zhè yàng， què shì wèihé？ " bǎo yù sù rì suī shì kǒu jiǎo líng lì， zhǐ shì cǐ shí yī xīn zǒng wéi jīn chuàn 'ér gǎn shāng， hèn bù dé cǐ shí yě shēn wáng mìng yǔn， gēn liǎo jīn chuàn 'ér qù。 rú jīn jiàn liǎo tā fù qīn shuō zhè xiē huà， jiū jìng bù céng tīng jiàn， zhǐ shì zhèng hē hē de zhàn zhe。
jiǎ zhèng jiàn tā huáng sǒng， yìng duì bù sì wǎng rì， yuán běn wú qì de， zhè yī lái dǎo shēng liǎo sān fēn qì。 fāng yù shuō huà， hū yòu huí shì rén lái huí：“ zhōng shùn qīn wáng fǔ lǐ yòu rén lái， yào jiàn lǎo yé。 ” jiǎ zhèng tīng liǎo， xīn xià yí huò， àn 'àn sī cǔn dào：“ sù rì bìng bù hé zhōng shùn fǔ lái wǎng， wèishénme jīn rì dǎ fā rén lái？ " yī miàn xiǎng yī miàn lìng " kuài qǐng "， jí zǒu chū lái kàn shí， què shì zhōng shùn fǔ zhǎngshǐ guān， máng jiē jìn tīng shàng zuò liǎo xiàn chá。 wèi jí xù tán， nà zhǎngshǐ guān xiān jiù shuō dào：“ xià guān cǐ lái， bìng fēi shàn zào tán fǔ， jiē yīn fèng wáng mìng 'ér lái， yòu yī jiàn shì xiāng qiú。 kàn wáng yé miàn shàng， gǎn fán lǎo dà rén zuò zhù， bù dàn wáng yé zhī qíng， qiě lián xià guān bèi yì gǎn xiè bù jìn。” jiǎ zhèng tīng liǎo zhè huà， zhuā bù zhù tóu nǎo， máng péi xiào qǐ shēn wèn dào：“ dà rén jì fèng wáng mìng 'ér lái， bù zhī yòu hé jiàn yù， wàng dà rén xuān míng， xué shēng hǎo zūn yù chéng bàn。” nà zhǎngshǐ guān biàn lěng xiào dào：“ yě bù bì chéng bàn， zhǐ yòng dà rén yī jù huà jiù wán liǎo。 wǒ men fǔ lǐ yòu yī gè zuò xiǎo dàn de qí guān， yī xiàng hǎohǎo zài fǔ lǐ， rú jīn jìng sān wǔ rì bù jiàn huí qù， gè chù qù zhǎo， yòu mō bù zhe tā de dào lù， yīn cǐ gè chù fǎng chá。 zhè yī chéng nèi， shí tíng rén dǎo yòu bā tíng réndōu shuō， tā jìn rì hé xián yù de nà wèi lìng láng xiāng yǔ shèn hòu。 xià guān bèi děng tīng liǎo， zūn fǔ bù bǐ bié jiā， kě yǐ shàn rù suǒ qǔ， yīn cǐ qǐ míng wáng yé。 wáng yé yì yún： ‘ ruò shì bié de xì zǐ ní， yī bǎi gè yě bà liǎo， zhǐ shì zhè qí guān suí jī yìng dá， jǐn shèn lǎo chéng， shèn hé wǒ lǎo rén jiā de xīn， jìng duàn duàn shǎo bù dé cǐ rén。 ’ gù cǐ qiú lǎo dà rén zhuǎn yù lìng láng， qǐng jiāng qí guān fàng huí， yī zé kě wèi wáng yé zhūn zhūn fèng kěn， èr zé xià guān bèi yě kě miǎn cāo láo qiú mì zhī kǔ。” shuō bì， máng dǎ yī gōng。
jiǎ zhèng tīng liǎo zhè huà， yòu jīng yòu qì， jí mìng huàn bǎo yù lái。 bǎo yù yě bù zhī shì hé yuán gù， máng gǎn lái shí， jiǎ zhèng biàn wèn：“ gāi sǐ de nú cái！ nǐ zài jiā bù dú shū yě bà liǎo， zěn me yòu zuò chū zhè xiē wú fǎ wú tiān de shì lái！ nà qí guān xiàn shì zhōng shùn wáng yé jià qián chéng fèng de rén， nǐ shì hé děng cǎo jiè， wú gù yǐn dòu tā chū lái， rú jīn huò jí yú wǒ。” bǎo yù tīng liǎo hǔ liǎo yī tiào， máng huí dào：“ shí zài bù zhī cǐ shì。 jiū jìng lián‘ qí guān’ liǎng gè zì bù zhī wèihé wù， qǐ gèng yòu jiā‘ yǐn dòu’ èr zì！ " shuō zhe biàn kū liǎo。 jiǎ zhèng wèi jí kāi yán， zhǐ jiàn nà zhǎngshǐ guān lěng xiào dào：“ gōng zǐ yě bù bì yǎn shì。 huò yǐn cáng zài jiā， huò zhī qí xià luò， zǎo shuō liǎo chū lái， wǒ men yě shǎo shòu xiē xīn kǔ， qǐ bù niàn gōng zǐ zhī dé？ " bǎo yù lián shuō bù zhī， " kǒng shì 'é chuán， yě wèi jiàn dé。” nà zhǎngshǐ guān lěng xiào dào：“ xiàn yòu jù zhèng， hé bì hái lài？ bì dìng dāng zhe lǎo dà rén shuō liǎo chū lái， gōng zǐ qǐ bù chī kuī？ jì yún bù zhī cǐ rén， nà hóng hàn jīn zǐ zěn me dào liǎo gōng zǐ yāo lǐ？ " bǎo yù tīng liǎo zhè huà， bù jué hōng qù hún bó， mù dèng kǒu dāi， xīn xià zì sī：“ zhè huà tā rú hé dé zhī！ tā jì lián zhè yàng jī mì shìdōu zhī dào liǎo， dà yuē bié de mán tā bù guò， bù rú dǎ fā tā qù liǎo， miǎn de zài shuō chū bié de shì lái。” yīn shuō dào：“ dà rén jì zhī tā de dǐ xì， rú hé lián tā zhì mǎi fáng shè zhè yàng dà shì dǎo bù xiǎo dé liǎo？ tīng dé shuō tā rú jīn zài dōng jiāo lí chéng 'èr shí lǐ yòu gè shénme zǐ tán bǎo， tā zài nà lǐ zhì liǎo jǐ mǔ tián dì jǐ jiān fáng shè。 xiǎng shì zài nà lǐ yě wèi kě zhī。” nà zhǎngshǐ guān tīng liǎo， xiào dào：“ zhè yàng shuō， yī dìng shì zài nà lǐ。 wǒ qiě qù zhǎo yī huí， ruò yòu liǎo biàn bà， ruò méi yòu， hái yào lái qǐng jiào。” shuō zhe， biàn máng máng de zǒu liǎo。
jiǎ zhèng cǐ shí qì de mù dèng kǒu wāi， yī miàn sòng nà zhǎngshǐ guān， yī miàn huí tóu mìng bǎo yù " bù xǔ dòng！ huí lái yòu huà wèn nǐ！ " yī zhí sòng nà guān yuán qù liǎo。 cái huí shēn， hū jiàn jiǎ huán dài zhe jǐ gè xiǎo sī yī zhèn luàn páo。 jiǎ zhèng hèlìng xiǎo sī " kuài dǎ， kuài dǎ！ " jiǎ huán jiàn liǎo tā fù qīn“ huò bì shù liàng lùn”， fǎn duì jiǎn qīng lìlǜ、 jiànjiē shuì hé tí gāo“ láo dòng jià gé”。， hǔ de gǔ ruǎn jīn sū， máng dī tóu zhàn zhù。 jiǎ zhèng biàn wèn：“ nǐ páo shénme？ dài zhe nǐ de nà xiē réndōu bù guǎn nǐ， bù zhī wǎng nà lǐ guàng qù， yóu nǐ yě mǎ yī bān！ " hèlìng jiào gēn shàng xué de rén lái。 jiǎ huán jiàn tā fù qīn shèng nù， biàn chéng jī shuō dào：“ fāng cái yuán bù céng páo， zhǐ yīn cóng nà jǐng biān yī guò， nà jǐng lǐ yān sǐ liǎo yī gè yā tóu， wǒ kàn jiàn rén tóu zhè yàng dà， shēn zǐ zhè yàng cū， pào de shí zài kě pà， suǒ yǐ cái gǎn zhe páo liǎo guò lái。” jiǎ zhèng tīng liǎo jīng yí， wèn dào：“ hǎo duān duān de， shuí qù tiào jǐng？ wǒ jiā cóng wú zhè yàng shì qíng， zì zǔ zōng yǐ lái， jiē shì kuān róu yǐ dài xià rén。 héng héng dà yuē wǒ jìn nián yú jiā wù shū lǎn， zì rán zhí shì rén cāo kè duó zhī quán， zhì shǐ shēng chū zhè bào tiǎn qīng shēng de huò huàn。 ruò wài rén zhī dào， zǔ zōng yán miàn hé zài！ " hèlìng kuài jiào jiǎ liǎn， lài dà， lái xīng。 xiǎo sī men dāyìng liǎo yī shēng， fāng yù jiào qù， jiǎ huán máng shàng qián lā zhù jiǎ zhèng de páo jīn， tiē xī guì xià dào：“ fù qīn bù yòng shēng qì。 cǐ shì chú tài tài fáng lǐ de rén， bié rén yī diǎn yě bù zhī dào。 wǒ tīng jiàn wǒ mǔ qīn shuō …… " shuō dào zhè lǐ， biàn huí tóu sì gù yī kàn。 jiǎ zhèng zhī yì， jiāng yǎn yī kàn zhòng xiǎo sī， xiǎo sī men míng bái， dū wǎng liǎng biān hòu miàn tuì qù。 jiǎ huán biàn qiāoqiāo shuō dào：“ wǒ mǔ qīn gào sù wǒ shuō， bǎo yù gē gē qián rì zài tài tài wū lǐ， lā zhe tài tài de yā tóu jīn chuàn 'ér qiáng jiān bùsuí， dǎ liǎo yī dùn。 nà jīn chuàn 'ér biàn dǔ qì tóu jǐng sǐ liǎo。 " huà wèi shuō wán， bǎ gè jiǎ zhèng qì de miàn rú jīn zhǐ， dàhè " kuài ná bǎo yù lái！ " yī miàn shuō yī miàn biàn wǎng lǐ biān shū fáng lǐ qù， hèlìng " jīn rì zài yòu rén quàn wǒ， wǒ bǎ zhè guàndài jiā sī yī yìng jiāo yǔ tā yǔ bǎo yù guò qù！ wǒ miǎn bù dé zuò gè zuì rén， bǎ zhè jǐ gēn fán nǎo bìn máo tì qù， xún gè gān jìng qù chù zì liǎo， yě miǎn dé shàng rǔ xiān rén xià shēng nì zǐ zhī zuì。” zhòng mén kè pú cóng jiàn jiǎ zhèng zhè gè xíng jǐng， biàn zhī yòu shì wéi bǎo yù liǎo， yī gè gèdōu shì dàn zhǐ yǎo shé， lián máng tuì chū。 nà jiǎ zhèng chuǎn xū xū zhí tǐng tǐng zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng， mǎn miàn lèi hén， yī dié shēng " ná bǎo yù！ ná dà gùn！ ná suǒ zǐ kǔn shàng！ bǎ gè mén dū guān shàng！ yòu rén chuán xìn wǎng lǐ tóu qù， lì kè dǎ sǐ！ " zhòng xiǎo sī men zhǐ dé qí shēng dāyìng， yòu jǐ gè lái zhǎo bǎo yù。
nà bǎo yù tīng jiàn jiǎ zhèng fēn fù tā " bù xǔ dòng "， zǎo zhī duō xiōng shǎo jí， nà lǐ chéng wàng jiǎ huán yòu tiān liǎo xǔ duō de huà。 zhèng zài tīng shàng gān zhuǎn， zěn dé gè rén lái wǎng lǐ tóu qù shào xìn， piān shēng méi gè rén， lián bèi míng yě bù zhī zài nà lǐ。 zhèng pàn wàng shí， zhǐ jiàn yī gè lǎo mǔ mǔ chū lái。 bǎo yù rú dé liǎo zhēn bǎo， biàn gǎn shàng lái lā tā， shuō dào：“ kuài jìn qù gào sù： lǎo yé yào dǎ wǒ ní！ kuài qù， kuài qù！ yào jǐn， yào jǐn！ " bǎo yù yī zé jí liǎo， shuō huà bù míng bái， èr zé lǎo pó zǐ piān shēng yòu lóng， jìng bù céng tīng jiàn shì shénme huà， bǎ " yào jǐn " èr zì zhǐ tīng zuò " tiào jǐng " èr zì， biàn xiào dào：“ tiào jǐng ràng tā tiào qù， èr yé pà shénme？ " bǎo yù jiàn shì gè lóng zǐ， biàn zháojí dào：“ nǐ chū qù jiào wǒ de xiǎo sī lái bà。” nà pó zǐ dào：“ yòu shénme bù liǎo de shì？ lǎo zǎo de wán liǎo。 tài tài yòu shǎng liǎo yī fú， yòu shǎng liǎo yín zǐ， zěn me bù liǎo shì de！”
bǎo yù jí de duǒ jiǎo， zhèng méi zhuā xún chù， zhǐ jiàn jiǎ zhèng de xiǎo sī zǒu lái， bī zhe tā chū qù liǎo。 jiǎ zhèng yī jiàn， yǎn dū hóng zǐ liǎo， yě bù xiá wèn tā zài wài liú dàng yōu líng， biǎo zèng sī wù， zài jiā huāng shū xué yè， yín rǔ mǔ bì děng yǔ， zhǐ hèlìng " dǔ qǐ zuǐ lái， zhuóshí dǎ sǐ！ " xiǎo sī men bù gǎn wéi 'ào， zhǐ dé jiāng bǎo yù 'àn zài dèng shàng， jǔ qǐ dà bǎn dǎ liǎo shí lái xià。 jiǎ zhèng yóu xián dǎ qīng liǎo， yī jiǎo tī kāi zhǎng bǎn de， zì jǐ duó guò lái， yǎo zhe yá hěn mìng gài liǎo sān sì shí xià。 zhòng mén kè jiàn dǎ de bù xiáng liǎo， máng shàng qián duó quàn。 jiǎ zhèng nà lǐ kěn tīng， shuō dào：“ nǐ men wèn wèn tā gān de gòu dāng kě ráo bù kě ráo！ sù rì jiē shì nǐ men zhè xiē rén bǎ tā niàng huài liǎo， dào zhè bù tián dì hái lái jiě quàn。 míng rì niàng dào tā shì jūn shā fù， nǐ men cái bù quàn bù chéng！”
zhòng rén tīng zhè huà bù hǎo tīng， zhī dào qì jí liǎo， máng yòu tuì chū， zhǐ dé mì rén jìn qù gěi xìn。 wáng fū rén bù gǎn xiān huí jiǎ mǔ， zhǐ dé máng chuān yī chū lái de běn zhì， yǔ zhòu zhōng de yī qiēdōu yóu tā suǒ chuàng zào。 chuàng zào de guò chéng shì rèn yì de、， yě bù gù yòu rén méi rén， máng máng gǎn wǎng shū fáng zhōng lái， huāng de zhòng mén kè xiǎo sī děng bì zhī bù jí。 wáng fū rén yī jìn fáng lái， jiǎ zhèng gèng rú huǒ shàng jiāo yóu yī bān， nà bǎn zǐ yuè fā xià qù de yòu hěn yòu kuài。 àn bǎo yù de liǎng gè xiǎo sī máng sōng liǎo shǒu zǒu kāi， bǎo yù zǎo yǐ dòng dàn bù dé liǎo。 jiǎ zhèng hái yù dǎ shí， zǎo bèi wáng fū rén bào zhù bǎn zǐ。 jiǎ zhèng dào：“ bà liǎo， bà liǎo！ jīn rì bì dìng yào qì sǐ wǒ cái bà！ " wáng fū rén kū dào：“ bǎo yù suī rán gāi dǎ， lǎo yé yě yào zì zhòng。 kuàng qiě yán tiān shǔ rì de， lǎo tài tài shēn shàng yě bù dà hǎo， dǎ sǐ bǎo yù shì xiǎo， cháng huò lǎo tài tài yī shí bù zì zài liǎo， qǐ bù shì dà！ " jiǎ zhèng lěng xiào dào：“ dǎo xiū tí zhè huà。 wǒ yǎng liǎo zhè bù xiào de niè zhàng， yǐ bù xiào， jiào xùn tā yī fān， yòu yòu zhòng rén hù chí， bù rú chèn jīn rì yī fā lēisǐ liǎo， yǐ jué jiāng lái zhī huàn！ " shuō zhe， biàn yào shéng suǒ lái lēisǐ。 wáng fū rén lián máng bào zhù kū dào：“ lǎo yé suī rán yīngdāng guǎn jiào 'ér zǐ， yě yào kàn fū qī fēn shàng。 wǒ rú jīn yǐ jiāng wǔ shí suì de rén， zhǐ yòu zhè gè niè zhàng， bì dìng kǔ kǔ de yǐ tā wéi fǎ， wǒ yě bù gǎn shēn quàn。 jīn rì yuè fā yào tā sǐ， qǐ bù shì yòu yì jué wǒ。 jì yào lēisǐ tā， kuài ná shéng zǐ lái xiān lēisǐ wǒ， zài lēisǐ tā。 wǒ men niàn 'ér men bù gǎn hán yuàn， dào dǐ zài yīn sī lǐ dé gè yǐ kào。” shuō bì， pá zài bǎo yù shēn shàng dà kū qǐ lái。 jiǎ zhèng tīng liǎo cǐ huà， bù jué cháng tàn yī shēng， xiàng yǐ shàng zuò liǎo， lèi rú yǔ xià。 wáng fū rén bào zhe bǎo yù， zhǐ jiàn tā miàn bái qì ruò， dǐ xià chuānzhuó yī tiáo lǜ shā xiǎo yī jiē shì xuè zì， jìn bù zhù jiě xià hàn jīn kàn， yóu tún zhì jìng， huò qīng huò zǐ， huò zhěng huò pò， jìng wú yī diǎn hǎo chù， bù jué shī shēng dà kū qǐ lái， " kǔ mìng de 'ér xià！ " yīn kū chū " kǔ mìng 'ér " lái， hū yòu xiǎng qǐ jiǎ zhū lái， biàn jiào zhe jiǎ zhū kū dào：“ ruò yòu nǐ huó zhe， biàn sǐ yī bǎi gè wǒ yě bù guǎn liǎo。” cǐ shí lǐ miàn de rén wén dé wáng fū rén chū lái， nà lǐ gōng cái wáng xī fèng yǔ yíng chūn zǐ mèi zǎo yǐ chū lái liǎo。 wáng fū rén kū zhe jiǎ zhū de míng zì， bié rén hái kě， wéi yòu gōng cái jìn bù zhù yě fàng shēng kū liǎo。 jiǎ zhèng tīng liǎo， nà lèi zhū gèng sì gǔn guā yī bān gǔn liǎo xià lái。 zhèng méi kāi jiāo chù， hū tīng yā huán lái shuō：“ lǎo tài tài lái liǎo。” yī jù huà wèi liǎo， zhǐ tīng chuāng wài chàn wēi wēi de shēng qì shuō dào：“ xiān dǎ sǐ wǒ， zài dǎ sǐ tā， qǐ bù gān jìng liǎo！ " jiǎ zhèng jiàn tā mǔ qīn lái liǎo， yòu jí yòu tòng， lián máng yíng jiē chū lái， zhǐ jiàn jiǎ mǔ fú zhe yā tóu， chuǎn xū xū de zǒu lái。 jiǎ zhèng shàng qián gōng shēn péi xiào dào：“ dà shǔ rè tiān， mǔ qīn yòu hé shēng qì qīn zì zǒu lái？ yòu huà zhǐ gāi jiào liǎo 'ér zǐ jìn qù fēn fù。” jiǎ mǔ tīng shuō， biàn zhǐ zhù bù chuǎn xī yī huí， lì shēng shuō dào：“ nǐ yuán lái shì hé wǒ shuō huà！ wǒ dǎo yòu huà fēn fù， zhǐ shì kě lián wǒ yī shēng méi yǎng gè hǎo 'ér zǐ， què jiào wǒ hé shuí shuō qù！ " jiǎ zhèng tīng zhè huà bù xiàng， máng guì xià hán lèi shuō dào：“ wéi 'ér de jiào xùn 'ér zǐ， yě wéi de shì guāng zōng yào zǔ。 mǔ qīn zhè huà， wǒ zuò 'ér de rú hé jìn dé qǐ？ " jiǎ mǔ tīng shuō， biàn cuì liǎo yī kǒu， shuō dào：“ wǒ shuō yī jù huà， nǐ jiù jìn bù qǐ， nǐ nà yàng xià sǐ shǒu de bǎn zǐ， nán dào bǎo yù jiù jìn dé qǐ liǎo？ nǐ shuō jiào xùn 'ér zǐ shì guāng zōng yào zǔ， dāng chū nǐ fù qīn zěn me jiào xùn nǐ lái！ " shuō zhe， bù jué jiù gǔn xià lèi lái。 jiǎ zhèng yòu péi xiào dào：“ mǔ qīn yě bù bì shāng gǎn， jiē shì zuò 'ér de yī shí xìng qǐ， cóng cǐ yǐ hòu zài bù dǎ tā liǎo。” jiǎ mǔ biàn lěng xiào dào：“ nǐ yě bù bì hé wǒ shǐ xìng zǐ dǔ qì de。 nǐ de 'ér zǐ， wǒ yě bù gāi guǎn nǐ dǎ bù dǎ。 wǒ cāizháo nǐ yě yàn fán wǒ men niàn 'ér men。 bù rú wǒ men gǎn zǎo 'ér lí liǎo nǐ， dà jiā gān jìng！ " shuō zhe biàn lìng rén qù kàn jiào mǎ， " wǒ hé nǐ tài tài bǎo yù lì kè huí nán jīng qù！ " jiā xià rén zhǐ dé gān dāyìng zhe。 jiǎ mǔ yòu jiào wáng fū rén dào：“ nǐ yě bù bì kū liǎo。 rú jīn bǎo yù nián jì xiǎo， nǐ téng tā， tā jiāng lái zhǎngdà chéng rén， wéi guān zuò zǎi de， yě wèi bì xiǎng zhe nǐ shì tā mǔ qīn liǎo。 nǐ rú jīn dǎo bù yào téng tā， zhǐ pà jiāng lái hái shǎo shēng yī kǒu qì ní。” jiǎ zhèng tīng shuō， máng kòu tóu kū dào：“ mǔ qīn rú cǐ shuō， jiǎ zhèng wú lì zú zhī dì。” jiǎ mǔ lěng xiào dào：“ nǐ fēn míng shǐ wǒ wú lì zú zhī dì， nǐ fǎn shuō qǐ nǐ lái！ zhǐ shì wǒ men huí qù liǎo， nǐ xīn lǐ gān jìng， kàn yòu shuí lái xǔ nǐ dǎ。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn zhǐ lìng kuài dǎ diǎn xíng lǐ chē jiào huí qù。 jiǎ zhèng kǔ kǔ kòu qiú rèn zuì。
jiǎ mǔ yī miàn shuō huà， yī miàn yòu jì guà bǎo yù， máng jìn lái kàn shí， zhǐ jiàn jīn rì zhè dùn dǎ bù bǐ wǎng rì， yòu shì xīn téng， yòu shì shēng qì， yě bào zhe kū gè bù liǎo。 wáng fū rén yǔ fèng jiě děng jiě quàn liǎo yī huì， fāng jiàn jiàn de zhǐ zhù。 zǎo yòu yā huán xí fù děng shàng lái， yào chān bǎo yù， fèng jiě biàn mà dào：“ hú tú dōng xī， yě bù zhēng kāi yǎn qiáo qiáo！ dǎ de zhè me gè yàng 'ér， hái yào chān zhe zǒu！ hái bù kuài jìn qù bǎ nà téng tì zǐ chūn dèng tái chū lái ní。” zhòng rén tīng shuō lián máng jìn qù， guǒ rán tái chū chūn dèng lái， jiāng bǎo yù tái fàng dèng shàng， suí zhe jiǎ mǔ wáng fū rén děng jìn qù， sòng zhì jiǎ mǔ fáng zhōng。
bǐ shí jiǎ zhèng jiàn jiǎ mǔ qì wèi quán xiāo， bù gǎn zì biàn， yě gēn liǎo jìn qù。 kàn kàn bǎo yù， guǒ rán dǎ zhòng liǎo。 zài kàn kàn wáng fū rén， ér zhè huì zǐ nǐ cháng huò yòu gè hǎo dǎi， diū xià wǒ， jiào wǒ kào nà yī gè！ " shǔluò yīcháng， yòu kū " bù zhēng qì de 'ér "。 jiǎ zhèng tīng liǎo， yě jiù huī xīn， zì huǐ bù gāi xià dú shǒu dǎ dào rú cǐ dì bù。 xiān quàn jiǎ mǔ， jiǎ mǔ hán lèi shuō dào：“ nǐ bù chū qù， hái zài zhè lǐ zuò shí me！ nán dào yú xīn bù zú， hái yào yǎn kàn zhe tā sǐ liǎo cái qù bù chéng！ " jiǎ zhèng tīng shuō， fāng tuì liǎo chū lái。
cǐ shí xuē yí mā tóng bǎo chāi， xiāng líng， xí rén， shǐ xiāng yún yědōu zài zhè lǐ。 xí rén mǎn xīn wěi qū， zhǐ bù hǎo shí fēn shǐ chū lái zì rán zhù yì ① fàn zhǐ yī zhǒng zhé xué qīng xiàng。 rèn wéi zì rán jiù shì néng rèn shí de， jiàn zhòng rén wéi zhe， guàn shuǐ de guàn shuǐ， dǎ shàn de dǎ shàn， zì jǐ chā bù xià shǒu qù， biàn yuè xìng zǒu chū lái dào 'èr mén qián， lìng xiǎo sī men zhǎo liǎo bèi míng lái xì wèn：“ fāng cái hǎo duān duān de， wèishénme dǎ qǐ lái？ nǐ yě bù zǎo lái tòu gè xìn 'ér！ " bèi míng jí de shuō：“ piān shēng wǒ méi zài gēn qián， dǎ dào bàn zhōng jiān wǒ cái tīng jiàn liǎo。 máng dǎ tīng yuán gù， què shì wéi qí guān jīn chuàn jiě jiě de shì。 " xí rén dào：“ lǎo yé zěn me dé zhī dào de？ " bèi míng dào：“ nà qí guān de shì， duō bàn shì xuē dà yé sù rì chī cù， méi fǎ 'ér chū qì， bù zhī zài wài tóu suō tiǎo liǎo shuí lái， zài lǎo yé gēn qián xià de huǒ。 nà jīn chuàn 'ér de shì shì sān yé shuō de， wǒ yě shì tīng jiàn lǎo yé de rén shuō de。” xí rén tīng liǎo zhè liǎng jiàn shìdōu duì jǐng， xīn zhōng yě jiù xìn liǎo bā jiǔ fēn。 rán hòu huí lái， zhǐ jiàn zhòng réndōu tì bǎo yù liáo zhì。 tiáotíng wán bèi， jiǎ mǔ lìng " hǎo shēng tái dào tā fáng nèi qù "。 zhòng rén dāyìng， qī shǒu bā jiǎo， máng bǎ bǎo yù sòng rù yí hóng yuàn nèi zì jǐ chuáng shàng wò hǎo。 yòu luàn liǎo bàn rì， zhòng rén jiàn jiàn sàn qù， xí rén fāng jìn qián lái jīng xīn fú shì， wèn tā duān de。 qiě tīng xià huí fēn jiě。
A brother is prompted by ill-feeling to wag his tongue a bit. A depraved son receives heavy blows with a rattan cane.
Madame Wang, for we shall now continue our story, sent for Chin Ch'uan-erh's mother. On her arrival, she gave her several hair-pins and rings, and then told her that she could invite several Buddhist priests as well to read the prayers necessary to release the spirit from purgatory. The mother prostrated herself and expressed her gratitude; after which, she took her leave.
Indeed, Pao-yue, on his return from entertaining Yue-ts'un, heard the tidings that Chin Ch'uan-erh had been instigated by a sense of shame to take her own life and he at once fell a prey to grief. So much so, that, when he came inside, and was again spoken to and admonished by Madame Wang, he could not utter a single word in his justification. But as soon as he perceived Pao-ch'ai make her appearance in the room, he seized the opportunity to scamper out in precipitate haste. Whither he was trudging, he himself had not the least idea. But throwing his hands behind his back and drooping his head against his chest, he gave way to sighs, while with slow and listless step he turned towards the hall. Scarcely, however, had he rounded the screen-wall, which stood in front of the door-way, when, by a strange coincidence, he ran straight into the arms of some one, who was unawares approaching from the opposite direction, and was just about to go towards the inner portion of the compound.
"Hallo!" that person was heard to cry out, as he stood still.
Pao-yue sustained a dreadful start. Raising his face to see, he discovered that it was no other than his father. At once, he unconsciously drew a long breath and adopted the only safe course of dropping his arms against his body and standing on one side.
"Why are you," exclaimed Chia Cheng, "drooping your head in such a melancholy mood, and indulging in all these moans? When Yue-ts'un came just now and he asked to see you, you only put in your appearance after a long while. But though you did come, you were not in the least disposed to chat with anything like cheerfulness and animation; you behaved, as you ever do, like a regular fool. I detected then in your countenance a certain expression of some hidden hankering and sadness; and now again here you are groaning and sighing! Does all you have not suffice to please you? Are you still dissatisfied? You've no reason to be like this, so why is it that you go on in this way?"
Pao-yue had ever, it is true, shown a glib tongue, but on the present occasion he was so deeply affected by Chin Ch'uan-erh's fate, and vexed at not being able to die that very instant and follow in her footsteps that although he was now fully conscious that his father was speaking to him he could not, in fact, lend him an ear, but simply stood in a timid and nervous mood. Chia Cheng noticed that he was in a state of trembling and fear, not as ready with an answer as he usually was, and his sorry plight somewhat incensed him, much though he had not at first borne him any ill-feeling. But just as he was about to chide him, a messenger approached and announced to him: "Some one has come from the mansion of the imperial Prince Chung Shun, and wishes to see you, Sir." At this announcement, surmises sprung up in Chia Cheng's mind. "Hitherto," he secretly mused, "I've never had any dealings with the Chung Shun mansion, and why is it that some one is despatched here to-day?" As he gave way to these reflections. "Be quick," he shouted, "and ask him to take a seat in the pavilion," while he himself precipitately entered the inner room and changed his costume. When he came out to greet the visitor, he discovered that it was the senior officer of the Chung Shun mansion. After the exchange of the salutations prescribed by the rites, they sat down and tea was presented. But before (Chia Cheng) had had time to start a topic of conversation, the senior officer anticipated him, and speedily observed: "Your humble servant does not pay this visit to-day to your worthy mansion on his own authority, but entirely in compliance with instructions received, as there is a favour that I have to beg of you. I make bold to trouble you, esteemed Sir, on behalf of his highness, to take any steps you might deem suitable, and if you do, not only will his highness remember your kindness, but even I, your humble servant, and my colleagues will feel extremely grateful to you."
Chia Cheng listened to him, but he could not nevertheless get a clue of what he was driving at. Promptly returning his smile, he rose to his feet. "You come, Sir," he inquired, "at the instance of his royal highness, but what, I wonder, are the commands you have to give me? I hope you will explain them to your humble servant, worthy Sir, in order to enable him to carry them out effectively."
The senior officer gave a sardonic smile.
"There's nothing to carry out," he said. "All you, venerable Sir, have to do is to utter one single word and the whole thing will be effected. There is in our mansion a certain Ch'i Kuan, who plays the part of young ladies. He hitherto stayed quietly in the mansion; but for the last three or five days or so no one has seen him return home. Search has been instituted in every locality, yet his whereabouts cannot be discovered. But throughout these various inquiries, eight out of the ten tenths of the inhabitants of the city have, with one consent, asserted that he has of late been on very friendly terms with that honourable son of yours, who was born with the jade in his mouth. This report was told your servant and his colleagues, but as your worthy mansion is unlike such residences as we can take upon ourselves to enter and search with impunity, we felt under the necessity of laying the matter before our imperial master. 'Had it been any of the other actors,' his highness also says, 'I wouldn't have minded if even one hundred of them had disappeared; but this Ch'i Kuan has always been so ready with pat repartee, so respectful and trustworthy that he has thoroughly won my aged heart, and I could never do without him.' He entreats you, therefore, worthy Sir, to, in your turn, plead with your illustrious scion, and request him to let Ch'i Kuan go back, in order that the feelings, which prompt the Prince to make such earnest supplications, may, in the first place, be satisfied: and that, in the next, your mean servant and his associates may be spared the fatigue of toiling and searching."
At the conclusion of this appeal, he promptly made a low bow. As soon as Chia Cheng found out the object of his errand, he felt both astonishment and displeasure. With all promptitude, he issued directions that Pao-yue should be told to come out of the garden. Pao-yue had no notion whatever why he was wanted. So speedily he hurried to appear before his father.
"What a regular scoundrel you are!" Chia Cheng exclaimed. "It is enough that you won't read your books at home; but will you also go in for all these lawless and wrongful acts? That Ch'i Kuan is a person whose present honourable duties are to act as an attendant on his highness the Prince of Chung Shun, and how extremely heedless of propriety must you be to have enticed him, without good cause, to come away, and thus have now brought calamity upon me?"
These reproaches plunged Pao-yue in a dreadful state of consternation. With alacrity he said by way of reply: "I really don't know anything about the matter! To what do, after all, the two words Ch'i Kuan refer, I wonder! Still less, besides, am I aware what entice can imply!"
As he spoke, he started crying.
But before Chia Cheng could open his month to pass any further remarks, "Young gentleman," he heard the senior officer interpose with a sardonic smile: "you shouldn't conceal anything! if he be either hidden in your home, or if you know his whereabouts, divulge the truth at once; so that less trouble should fall to our lot than otherwise would. And will we not then bear in mind your virtue, worthy scion!"
"I positively don't know." Pao-yue time after time maintained. "There must, I fear, be some false rumour abroad; for I haven't so much as seen anything of him."
The senior officer gave two loud smiles, full of derision. "There's evidence at hand," he rejoined, "so if you compel me to speak out before your venerable father, won't you, young man, have to suffer the consequences? But as you assert that you don't know who this person is, how is it that that red sash has come to be attached to your waist?"
When Pao-yue caught this allusion, he suddenly felt quite out of his senses. He stared and gaped; while within himself, he argued: "How has he come to hear anything about this! But since he knows all these secret particulars, I cannot, I expect, put him off in other points; so wouldn't it be better for me to pack him off, in order to obviate his blubbering anything more?" "Sir," he consequently remarked aloud, "how is it that despite your acquaintance with all these minute details, you have no inkling of his having purchased a house? Are you ignorant of an essential point like this? I've heard people say that he's, at present, staying in the eastern suburbs at a distance of twenty li from the city walls; at some place or other called Tzu T'an Pao, and that he has bought there several acres of land and a few houses. So I presume he's to be found in that locality; but of course there's no saying."
"According to your version," smiled the senior officer, as soon as he heard his explanation, "he must for a certainty be there. I shall therefore go and look for him. If he's there, well and good; but if not, I shall come again and request you to give me further directions."
These words were still on his lips, when he took his leave and walked off with hurried step.
Chia Cheng was by this time stirred up to such a pitch of indignation that his eyes stared aghast, and his mouth opened in bewilderment; and as he escorted the officer out, he turned his head and bade Pao-yue not budge. "I have," (he said), "to ask you something on my return." Straightway he then went to see the officer off. But just as he was turning back, he casually came across Chia Huan and several servant-boys running wildly about in a body. "Quick, bring him here to me!" shouted Chia Cheng to the young boys. "I want to beat him."
Chia Huan, at the sight of his father, was so terrified that his bones mollified and his tendons grew weak, and, promptly lowering his head, he stood still."
"What are you running about for?" Chia Cheng asked. "These menials of yours do not mind you, but go who knows where, and let you roam about like a wild horse! Where are the attendants who wait on you at school?" he cried.
When Chia Huan saw his father in such a dreadful rage, he availed himself of the first opportunity to try and clear himself. "I wasn't running about just now" he said. "But as I was passing by the side of that well, I caught sight, for in that well a servant-girl was drowned, of a human head that large, a body that swollen, floating about in really a frightful way and I therefore hastily rushed past."
Chia Cheng was thunderstruck by this disclosure. "There's been nothing up, so who has gone and jumped into the well?" he inquired. "Never has there been anything of the kind in my house before! Ever since the time of our ancestors, servants have invariably been treated with clemency and consideration. But I expect that I must of late have become remiss in my domestic affairs, and that the managers must have arrogated to themselves the right of domineering and so been the cause of bringing about such calamities as violent deaths and disregard of life. Were these things to reach the ears of people outside, what will become of the reputation of our seniors? Call Chia Lien and Lai Ta here!" he shouted.
The servant-lads signified their obedience, with one voice. They were about to go and summon them, when Chia Huan hastened to press forward. Grasping the lapel of Chia Cheng's coat, and clinging to his knees, he knelt down. "Father, why need you be angry?" he said. "Excluding the people in Madame Wang's rooms, this occurrence is entirely unknown to any of the rest; and I have heard my mother mention...." At this point, he turned his head, and cast a glance in all four quarters.
Chia Cheng guessed his meaning, and made a sign with his eyes. The young boys grasped his purpose and drew far back on either side.
Chia Huan resumed his confidences in a low tone of voice. "My mother," he resumed, "told me that when brother Pao-yue was, the other day, in Madame Wang's apartments, he seized her servant-maid Chin Ch'uan-erh with the intent of dishonouring her. That as he failed to carry out his design, he gave her a thrashing, which so exasperated Chin Ch'uan-erh that she threw herself into the well and committed suicide...."
Before however he could conclude his account, Chia Cheng had been incensed to such a degree that his face assumed the colour of silver paper. "Bring Pao-yue here," he cried. While uttering these orders, he walked into the study. "If any one does again to-day come to dissuade me," he vociferated, "I shall take this official hat, and sash, my home and private property and surrender everything at once to him to go and bestow them upon Pao-yue; for if I cannot escape blame (with a son like the one I have), I mean to shave this scanty trouble-laden hair about my temples and go in search of some unsullied place where I can spend the rest of my days alone! I shall thus also avoid the crime of heaping, above, insult upon my predecessors, and, below, of having given birth to such a rebellious son."
At the sight of Chia Cheng in this exasperation, the family companions and attendants speedily realised that Pao-yue must once more be the cause of it, and the whole posse hastened to withdraw from the study, biting their fingers and putting their tongues out.
Chia Cheng panted with excitement. He stretched his chest out and sat bolt upright on a chair. His whole face was covered with the traces of tears. "Bring Pao-yue! Bring Pao-yue!" he shouted consecutively. "Fetch a big stick; bring a rope and tie him up; close all the doors! If any one does communicate anything about it in the inner rooms, why, I'll immediately beat him to death."
The servant-boys felt compelled to express their obedience with one consent, and some of them came to look after Pao-yue.
As for Pao-yue, when he heard Chia Cheng enjoin him not to move, he forthwith became aware that the chances of an unpropitious issue outnumbered those of a propitious one, but how could he have had any idea that Chia Huan as well had put in his word? There he still stood in the pavilion, revolving in his mind how he could get some one to speed inside and deliver a message for him. But, as it happened, not a soul appeared. He was quite at a loss to know where even Pei Ming could be. His longing was at its height, when he perceived an old nurse come on the scene. The sight of her exulted Pao-yue, just as much as if he had obtained pearls or gems; and hurriedly approaching her, he dragged her and forced her to halt. "Go in," he urged, "at once and tell them that my father wishes to beat me to death. Be quick, be quick, for it's urgent, there's no time to be lost."
But, first and foremost, Pao-yue's excitement was so intense that he spoke with indistinctness. In the second place, the old nurse was, as luck would have it, dull of hearing, so that she did not catch the drift of what he said, and she misconstrued the two words: "it's urgent," for the two representing jumped into the well. Readily smiling therefore: "If she wants to jump into the well, let her do so," she said. "What's there to make you fear, Master Secundus?"
"Go out," pursued Pao-yue, in despair, on discovering that she was deaf, "and tell my page to come."
"What's there left unsettled?" rejoined the old nurse. "Everything has been finished long ago! A tip has also been given them; so how is it things are not settled?"
Pao-yue fidgetted with his hands and feet. He was just at his wits' ends, when he espied Chia Cheng's servant-boys come up and press him to go out.
As soon as Chia Cheng caught sight of him, his eyes got quite red. Without even allowing himself any time to question him about his gadding about with actors, and the presents he gave them on the sly, during his absence from home; or about his playing the truant from school and lewdly importuning his mother's maid, during his stay at home, he simply shouted: "Gag his mouth and positively beat him till he dies!"
The servant-boys did not have the boldness to disobey him. They were under the necessity of seizing Pao-yue, of stretching him on a bench, and of taking a heavy rattan and giving him about ten blows.
Pao-yue knew well enough that he could not plead for mercy, and all he could do was to whimper and cry.
Chia Cheng however found fault with the light blows they administered to him. With one kick he shoved the castigator aside, and snatching the rattan into his own hands, he spitefully let (Pao-yue) have ten blows and more.
Pao-yue had not, from his very birth, experienced such anguish. From the outset, he found the pain unbearable; yet he could shout and weep as boisterously as ever he pleased; but so weak subsequently did his breath, little by little, become, so hoarse his voice, and so choked his throat that he could not bring out any sound.
The family companions noticed that he was beaten in a way that might lead to an unpropitious end, and they drew near with all despatch and made earnest entreaties and exhortations. But would Chia Cheng listen to them?
"You people," he answered, "had better ask him whether the tricks he has been up to deserve to be overlooked or not! It's you who have all along so thoroughly spoilt him as to make him reach this degree of depravity! And do you yet come to advise me to spare him? When by and bye you've incited him to commit parricide or regicide, you will at length, then, give up trying to dissuade me, eh?"
This language jarred on the ears of the whole party; and knowing only too well that he was in an exasperated mood, they fussed about endeavouring to find some one to go in and convey the news.
But Madame Wang did not presume to be the first to inform dowager lady Chia about it. Seeing no other course open to her, she hastily dressed herself and issued out of the garden. Without so much as worrying her mind as to whether there were any male inmates about or not, she straightway leant on a waiting-maid and hurriedly betook herself into the library, to the intense consternation of the companions, pages and all the men present, who could not manage to clear out of the way in time.
Chia Cheng was on the point of further belabouring his son, when at the sight of Madame Wang walking in, his temper flared up with such increased violence, just as fire on which oil is poured, that the rod fell with greater spite and celerity. The two servant-boys, who held Pao-yue down, precipitately loosened their grip and beat a retreat. Pao-yue had long ago lost all power of movement. Chia Cheng, however, was again preparing to assail him, when the rattan was immediately locked tightly by Madame Wang, in both her arms.
"Of course, of course," Chia Cheng exclaimed, "what you want to do to-day is to make me succumb to anger!"
"Pao-yue does, I admit, merit to be beaten," sobbed Madame Wang; "but you should also, my lord, take good care of yourself! The weather, besides, is extremely hot, and our old lady is not feeling quite up to the mark. Were you to knock Pao-yue about and kill him, it would not matter much; but were perchance our venerable senior to suddenly fall ill, wouldn't it be a grave thing?"
"Better not talk about such things!" observed Chia Cheng with a listless smile. "By my bringing up such a degenerate child of retribution I have myself become unfilial! Whenever I've had to call him to account, there has always been a whole crowd of you to screen him; so isn't it as well for me to avail myself of to-day to put an end to his cur-like existence and thus prevent future misfortune?"
As he spoke, he asked for a rope to strangle him; but Madame Wang lost no time in clasping him in her embrace, and reasoning with him as she wept. "My lord and master," she said, "it is your duty, of course, to keep your son in proper order, but you should also regard the relationship of husband and wife. I'm already a woman of fifty and I've only got this scapegrace. Was there any need for you to give him such a bitter lesson? I wouldn't presume to use any strong dissuasion; but having, on this occasion, gone so far as to harbour the design of killing him, isn't this a fixed purpose on your part to cut short my own existence? But as you are bent upon strangling him, be quick and first strangle me before you strangle him! It will be as well that we, mother and son, should die together, so that if even we go to hell, we may be able to rely upon each other!"
At the conclusion of these words, she enfolded Pao-yue in her embrace and raised her voice in loud sobs.
After listening to her appeal, Chia Cheng could not restrain a deep sigh; and taking a seat on one of the chairs, the tears ran down his cheeks like drops of rain.
But while Madame Wang held Pao-yue in her arms, she noticed that his face was sallow and his breath faint, and that his green gauze nether garments were all speckled with stains of blood, so she could not check her fingers from unloosening his girdle. And realising that from the thighs to the buttocks, his person was here green, there purple, here whole, there broken, and that there was, in fact, not the least bit, which had not sustained some injury, she of a sudden burst out in bitter lamentations for her offspring's wretched lot in life. But while bemoaning her unfortunate son, she again recalled to mind the memory of Chia Chu, and vehemently calling out "Chia Chu," she sobbed: "if but you were alive, I would not care if even one hundred died!"
But by this time, the inmates of the inner rooms discovered that Madame Wang had gone out, and Li Kung-ts'ai, Wang Hsi-feng and Ting Ch'un and her sisters promptly rushed out of the garden and came to join her.
While Madame Wang mentioned, with eyes bathed in tears, the name of Chia Chu, every one listened with composure, with the exception of Li Kung-ts'ai, who unable to curb her feelings also raised her voice in sobs. As soon as Chia Cheng heard her plaints, his tears trickled down with greater profusion, like pearls scattered about. But just as there seemed no prospect of their being consoled, a servant-girl was unawares heard to announce: "Our dowager lady has come!" Before this announcement was ended, her tremulous accents reached their ears from outside the window. "If you were to beat me to death and then despatch him," she cried, "won't you be clear of us!"
Chia Cheng, upon seeing that his mother was coming, felt distressed and pained. With all promptitude, he went out to meet her. He perceived his old parent, toddling along, leaning on the arm of a servant-girl, wagging her head and gasping for breath.
Chia Cheng drew forward and made a curtsey. "On a hot broiling day like this," he ventured, forcing a smile, "what made you, mother, get so angry as to rush over in person? Had you anything to enjoin me, you could have sent for me, your son, and given me your orders."
Old lady Chia, at these words, halted and panted. "Are you really chiding me?" she at the same time said in a stern tone. "It's I who should call you to task! But as the son, I've brought up, isn't worth a straw, to whom can I go and address a word?"
When Chia Cheng heard language so unlike that generally used by her, he immediately fell on his knees. While doing all in his power to contain his tears: "The reason why," he explained, "your son corrects his offspring is a desire to reflect lustre on his ancestors and splendour on his seniors; so how can I, your son, deserve the rebuke with which you greet me, mother?"
At this reply, old lady Chia spurted contemptuously. "I made just one remark," she added, "and you couldn't stand it, and can Pao-yue likely put up with that death-working cane? You say that your object in correcting your son is to reflect lustre on your ancestors and splendour on your seniors, but in what manner did your father correct you in days gone by?"
Saying this, tears suddenly rolled down from her eyes also.
Chia Cheng forced another smile. "Mother;" he proceeded, "you shouldn't distress yourself! Your son did it in a sudden fit of rage, but from this time forth I won't touch him again."
Dowager lady Chia smiled several loud sneering smiles. "But you shouldn't get into a huff with me!" she urged. "He's your son, so if you choose to flog him, you can naturally do so, but I cannot help thinking that you're sick and tired of me, your mother, of your wife and of your son, so wouldn't it be as well that we should get out of your way, the sooner the better, as we shall then be able to enjoy peace and quiet?"
So speaking, "Go and look after the chairs." she speedily cried to a servant. "I and your lady as well as Pao-yue will, without delay, return to Nanking."
The servant had no help but to assent.
Old lady Chia thereupon called Madame Wang over to her. "You needn't indulge in sorrow!" she exhorted her. "Pao-yue is now young, and you cherish him fondly; but does it follow that when in years to come he becomes an official, he'll remember that you are his mother? You mustn't therefore at present lavish too much of your affection upon him, so that you may by and bye, spare yourself, at least, some displeasure."
When these exhortations fell on Chia Cheng's ear, he instantly prostrated himself before her. "Your remarks mother," he observed, "cut the ground under your son's very feet."
"You distinctly act in a way," cynically smiled old lady Chia, "sufficient to deprive me of any ground to stand upon, and then you, on the contrary, go and speak about yourself! But when we shall have gone back, your mind will be free of all trouble. We'll see then who'll interfere and dissuade you from beating people!"
After this reply, she went on to give orders to directly get ready the baggage, carriages, chairs and horses necessary for their return.
Chia Cheng stiffly and rigidly fell on his knees, and knocked his head before her, and pleaded guilty. Dowager lady Chia then addressed him some words, and as she did so, she came to have a look at Pao-yue. Upon perceiving that the thrashing he had got this time was unlike those of past occasions, she experienced both pain and resentment. So clasping him in her arms, she wept and wept incessantly. It was only after Madame Wang, lady Feng and the other ladies had reasoned with her for a time that they at length gradually succeeded in consoling her.
But waiting-maids, married women, and other attendants soon came to support Pao-yue and take him away. Lady Feng however at once expostulated with them. "You stupid things," she exclaimed, won't you open your eyes and see! How ever could he be raised and made to walk in the state he's in! Don't you yet instantly run inside and fetch some rattan slings and a bench to carry him out of this on?
At this suggestion, the servants rushed hurry-scurry inside and actually brought a bench; and, lifting Pao-yue, they placed him on it. Then following dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the other inmates into the inner part of the building, they carried him into his grandmother's apartments. But Chia Cheng did not fail to notice that his old mother's passion had not by this time yet abated, so without presuming to consult his own convenience, he too came inside after them. Here he discovered how heavily he had in reality castigated Pao-yue. Upon perceiving Madame Wang also crying, with one breath, "My flesh;" and, with another, saying with tears: "My son, if you had died sooner, instead of Chu Erh, and left Chu Erh behind you, you would have saved your father these fits of anger, and even I would not have had to fruitlessly worry and fret for half of my existence! Were anything to happen now to make you forsake me, upon whom will you have me depend?" And then after heaping reproaches upon herself for a time, break out afresh in lamentations for her, unavailing offspring, Chia Cheng was much cut up and felt conscious that he should not with his own hand have struck his son so ruthlessly as to bring him to this state, and he first and foremost directed his attention to consoling dowager lady Chia.
"If your son isn't good," rejoined the old lady, repressing her tears, "it is naturally for you to exercise control over him. But you shouldn't beat him to such a pitch! Don't you yet bundle yourself away? What are you dallying in here for? Is it likely, pray, that your heart is not yet satisfied, and that you wish to feast your eyes by seeing him die before you go?"
These taunts induced Chia Cheng to eventually withdraw out of the room. By this time, Mrs. Hsueeh together with Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang Ling, Hsi Jen, Shih Hsiang-yuen and his other cousins had also congregated in the apartments. Hsi Jen's heart was overflowing with grief; but she could not very well give expression to it. When she saw that a whole company of people shut him in, some pouring water over him, others fanning him; and that she herself could not lend a hand in any way, she availed herself of a favourable moment to make her exit. Proceeding then as far as the second gate, she bade the servant-boys go and fetch Pei-Ming. On his arrival, she submitted him to a searching inquiry. "Why is it," she asked, "that he was beaten just now without the least provocation; and that you didn't run over soon to tell me a word about it?"
"It happened," answered Pei Ming in great perplexity, "that I wasn't present. It was only after he had given him half the flogging that I heard what was going on, and lost no time in ascertaining what it was all about. It's on account of those affairs connected with Ch'i Kuan and that girl Chin Ch'uan."
"How did these things come to master's knowledge?" inquired Hsi Jen.
"As for that affair with Ch'i Kuan," continued Pei Ming, "it is very likely Mr. Hsueeh P'an who has let it out; for as he has ever been jealous, he may, in the absence of any other way of quenching his resentment, have instigated some one or other outside, who knows, to come and see master and add fuel to his anger. As for Chin Ch'uan-erh's affair it has presumably been told him by Master Tertius. This I heard from the lips of some person, who was in attendance upon master."
Hsi Jen saw how much his two versions tallied with the true circumstances, so she readily credited the greater portion of what was told her. Subsequently, she returned inside. Here she found a whole crowd of people trying to do the best to benefit Pao-yue. But after they had completed every arrangement, dowager lady Chia impressed on their minds that it would be better were they to carefully move him into his own quarters. With one voice they all signified their approval, and with a good deal of bustling and fussing, they speedily transferred Pao-yue into the I Hung court, where they stretched him out comfortably on his own bed. Then after some further excitement, the members of the family began gradually to disperse. Hsi Jen at last entered his room, and waited upon him with singleness of heart.
But, reader, if you feel any curiosity to hear what follows, listen to what you will find divulged in the next chapter.
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