中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì sān shí sì huí qíng zhōng qíng yīn qíng gǎn mèi mèi cuò lǐ cuò yǐ cuò quàn gē gē CHAPTER XXXIV.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XXXIV.
huà shuō xí rén jiàn jiǎ mǔ wáng fū rén děng qù hòu， biàn zǒu lái bǎo yù shēn biān zuò xià， hán lèi wèn tā： “ zěn me jiù dǎ dào zhè bù tián dì？ bǎo yù tàn qì shuō dào： tīng shuō， biàn qīng qīng de shēn shǒu jìn qù， jiāng zhōng yī tuì xià。 bǎo yù lüè dòng yī dòng， biàn yǎo zhe yá jiào ‘ ài yō ’， xí rén lián máng tíng zhù shǒu， rú cǐ sān sì cì cái tuì liǎo xià lái。 xí rén kàn shí， zhǐ jiàn tuǐ shàng bàn duàn qīng zǐ， dōuyòu sì zhǐ kuān de jiāng hén gāo liǎo qǐ lái。 xí rén yǎo zhe yá shuō dào：“ wǒ de niàn， zěn me xià zhè bān de hěn shǒu！ nǐ dàn fán tīng wǒ yī jù huà， yě bù dé dào zhè bù dì wèi。 xìng 'ér méi dòng jīn gǔ， cháng huò dǎ chū gè cán jí lái， kě jiào rén zěn me yàng ní！ " zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ tīng yā huán men shuō：“ bǎo gū niàn lái liǎo。 ” xí rén tīng jiàn， zhī dào chuān bù jí zhōng yī， biàn ná liǎo yī chuáng qiā shā bèi tì bǎo yù gài liǎo。 zhǐ jiàn bǎo chāi shǒu lǐ tuō zhe yī wán yào zǒu jìn lái， xiàng xí rén shuō dào：“ wǎn shàng bǎ zhè yào yòng jiǔ yán kāi， tì tā fū shàng， bǎ nà yū xuè de rè dú sàn kāi， kě yǐ jiù hǎo liǎo。” shuō bì， dì yǔ xí rén， yòu wèn dào：“ zhè huì zǐ kě hǎo xiē？ " bǎo yù yī miàn dào xiè shuō：“ hǎo liǎo。” yòu ràng zuò。 bǎo chāi jiàn tā zhēng kāi yǎn shuō huà， bù xiàng xiān shí， xīn zhōng yě kuān wèi liǎo hǎo xiē， biàn diǎn tóu tàn dào：“ zǎo tīng rén yī jù huà， yě bù zhì jīn rì。 bié shuō lǎo tài tài， tài tài xīn téng， jiù shì wǒ men kàn zhe， xīn lǐ yě téng。” gāng shuō liǎo bàn jù yòu máng yān zhù， zì huǐ shuō de huà jí liǎo， bù jué de jiù hóng liǎo liǎn， dī xià tóu lái。 bǎo yù tīng dé zhè huà rú cǐ qīnqiè chóu mì， dà yòu shēn yì， hū jiàn tā yòu yān zhù bù wǎng xià shuō， hóng liǎo liǎn， dī xià tóu zhǐ guǎn nòng yī dài， nà yī zhǒng jiāo xiū qiè qiè， fēi kě xíng róng dé chū zhě， bù jué xīn zhōng dà chàng， jiāng téng tòng zǎo diū zài jiǔ xiāo yún wài， xīn zhōng zì sī：“ wǒ bù guò 'āi liǎo jǐ xià dǎ， tā men yī gè gè jiù yòu zhè xiē lián xī bēi gǎn zhī tài lù chū， lìng rén kě wán kě guān， kě lián kě jìng。 jiǎ ruò wǒ yī shí jìng zāo yāng hèngsǐ， tā men hái bù zhī shì hé děng bēi gǎn ní！ jì shì tā men zhè yàng， wǒ biàn yī shí sǐ liǎo， dé tā men rú cǐ， yī shēng shì yè zòng rán jìn fù dōng liú， yì wú zú tàn xī， míng míng zhī zhōng ruò bù yí rán zì dé， yì kě wèi hú tú guǐ suì yǐ。” xiǎng zhe， zhǐ tīng bǎo chāi wèn xí rén dào：“ zěn me hǎohǎo de dòng liǎo qì， jiù dǎ qǐ lái liǎo？ " xí rén biàn bǎ bèi míng de huà shuō liǎo chū lái。 bǎo yù yuán lái hái bù zhī dào jiǎ huán de huà， jiàn xí rén shuō chū fāng cái zhī dào。 yīn yòu lā shàng xuē pán， wéi kǒng bǎo chāi chén xīn， máng yòu zhǐ zhù xí rén dào：“ xuē dà gē gē cóng lái bù zhè yàng de， nǐ men bù kě hùn cāi dù。 " bǎo chāi tīng shuō， biàn zhī dào shì pà tā duō xīn， yòng huà xiāng lán xí rén， yīn xīn zhōng 'àn 'àn xiǎng dào：“ dǎ de zhè gè xíng xiàng， téng hái gù bù guò lái， hái shì zhè yàng xì xīn， pà dé zuì liǎo rén， kě jiàn zài wǒ men shēn shàng yě suàn shì yòng xīn liǎo。 nǐ jì zhè yàng yòng xīn， hé bù zài wài tóu dà shì shàng zuò gōng fū， lǎo yé yě xǐ huān liǎo， yě bù néng chī zhè yàng kuī。 dàn nǐ gù rán pà wǒ chén xīn， suǒ yǐ lán xí rén de huà， nán dào wǒ jiù bù zhī wǒ de gē gē sù rì zì xīn zòng yù， háo wú fáng fàn de nà zhǒng xīn xìng。 dāng rì wéi yī gè qín zhōng， hái nào de tiān fān dì fù， zì rán rú jīn bǐ xiān yòu gèng lì hài liǎo。” xiǎng bì， yīn xiào dào：“ nǐ men yě bù bì yuàn zhè gè， yuàn nà gè。 jù wǒ xiǎng， dào dǐ bǎo xiōng dì sù rì bù zhèng， kěn hé nà xiē rén lái wǎng， lǎo yé cái shēng qì。 jiù shì wǒ gē gē shuō huà bù fáng tóu， yī shí shuō chū bǎo xiōng dì lái， yě bù shì yòu xīn tiáosuō： yī zé yě shì běn lái de shí huà， èr zé tā yuán bù lǐ lùn zhè xiē fáng xián xiǎo shì。 xí gū niàn cóng xiǎo 'ér zhǐ jiàn bǎo xiōng dì zhè me yàng xì xīn de rén， nǐ hé cháng jiàn guò tiān bù pà dì bù pà， xīn lǐ yòu shénme kǒu lǐ jiù shuō shénme de rén。” xí rén yīn shuō chū xuē pán lái， jiàn bǎo yù lán tā de huà， zǎo yǐ míng bái zì jǐ shuō zào cì liǎo， kǒng bǎo chāi méi yì sī， tīng bǎo chāi rú cǐ shuō， gèng jué xiū kuì wú yán。 bǎo yù yòu tīng bǎo chāi zhè fān huà， yī bàn shì táng huáng zhèng dà， yī bàn shì qù jǐ yí xīn， gèng jué bǐ xiān chàng kuài liǎo。 fāng yù shuō huà shí， zhǐ jiàn bǎo chāi qǐ shēn shuō dào：“ míng 'ér zài lái kàn nǐ， nǐ hǎo shēng yǎng zhe bà。 fāng cái wǒ ná liǎo yào lái jiāo gěi xí rén， wǎn shàng fū shàng guǎn jiù hǎo liǎo。 " shuō zhe biàn zǒu chū mén qù。 xí rén gǎn zhe sòng chū yuàn wài， shuō：“ gū niàn dǎo fèi xīn liǎo。 gǎi rì bǎo 'èr yé hǎo liǎo， qīn zì lái xiè。” bǎo chāi huí tóu xiào dào：“ yòu shénme xiè chù。 nǐ zhǐ quàn tā hǎo shēng jìng yǎng， bié hú sī luàn xiǎng de jiù hǎo liǎo。 bù bì jīng dòng lǎo tài tài， tài tài zhòng rén， cháng huò chuī dào lǎo yé 'ěr duǒ lǐ， suī rán bǐ shí bù zěn me yàng， jiāng lái duì jǐng， zhōng shì yào chī kuī de。” shuō zhe， yī miàn qù liǎo。
xí rén chōu shēn huí lái， xīn nèi zhuóshí gǎn jī bǎo chāi。 jìn lái jiàn bǎo yù chén sī mò mò sì shuì fēi shuì de múyàng， yīn 'ér tuì chū fáng wài， zì qù zhì mù。 bǎo yù mò mò de tǎng zài chuáng shàng， wú nài tún shàng zuò tòng， rú zhēn tiǎo dāo wā yī bān， gèng yòu rè rú huǒ zhì， lüè zhǎn zhuǎn shí， jìn bù zhù " ài yō " zhī shēng。 nà shí tiān sè jiāng wǎn， yīn jiàn xí rén qù liǎo， què yòu liǎng sān gè yā huán cìhou， cǐ shí bìng wú hū huàn zhī shì， yīn shuō dào：“ nǐ men qiě qù shū xǐ， děng wǒ jiào shí zài lái。” zhòng rén tīng liǎo， yědōu tuì chū。
zhè lǐ bǎo yù hūn hūn mò mò， zhǐ jiàn jiǎng yù hàn zǒu liǎo jìn lái， sù shuō zhōng shùn fǔ ná tā zhī shì， yòu jiàn jīn chuàn 'ér jìn lái kū shuō wèitā tóu jǐng zhī qíng。 bǎo yù bàn mèng bàn xǐng， dōubù zài yì。 hū yòu jué yòu rén tuī tā， huǎng huǎng hū hū tīng dé yòu rén bēi qī zhī shēng。 bǎo yù cóng mèng zhōng jīng xǐng， zhēng yǎn yī kàn， bù shì bié rén， què shì lín dài yù。 bǎo yù yóu kǒng shì mèng， máng yòu jiāng shēn zǐ qiàn qǐ lái， xiàng liǎn shàng xì xì yī rèn， zhǐ jiàn liǎng gè yǎn jīng zhǒng de táo 'ér yī bān， mǎn miàn lèi guāng， bù shì dài yù， què shì nà gè？ bǎo yù hái yù kàn shí， zěn nài xià bàn jié téng tòng nán rěn， zhī chí bù zhù， biàn " ài yō " yī shēng， réng jiù dǎo xià， tàn liǎo yī shēng， shuō dào：“ nǐ yòu zuò shénme páo lái！ suī shuō tài yáng làxià qù， nà dì shàng de yú qì wèi sàn， zǒu liǎng tàng yòu yào shòu liǎo shǔ。 wǒ suī rán 'ái liǎo dǎ， bìng bù jué téng tòng。 wǒ zhè gè yàng 'ér， zhǐ zhuāng chū lái hǒngtā men， hǎo zài wài tóu bù sàn yǔ lǎo yé tīng， qí shí shì jiǎ de。 nǐ bù kě rèn zhēn。” cǐ shí lín dài yù suī bù shì háo táo dà kū， rán yuè shì zhè děng wú shēng zhī qì， qì shā hóu dǔ， gèng jué dé lì hài。 tīng liǎo bǎo yù zhè fān huà， xīn zhōng suī rán yòu wàn jù yán yǔ， zhǐ shì bù néng shuō dé， bàn rì， fāng chōu chōu shā shā de shuō dào：“ nǐ cóng cǐ kě dū gǎi liǎo bà！ " bǎo yù tīng shuō， biàn cháng tàn yī shēng， dào：“ nǐ fàng xīn， bié shuō zhè yàng huà。 jiù biàn wéi zhè xiē rén sǐ liǎo， yě shì qíng yuàn de！ " yī jù huà wèi liǎo， zhǐ jiàn yuàn wài rén shuō：“ èr nǎi nǎi lái liǎo。” lín dài yù biàn zhī shì fèng jiě lái liǎo， lián máng lì qǐ shēn shuō dào：“ wǒ cóng hòu yuàn zǐ qù bà， huí lái zài lái。” bǎo yù yī bǎ lā zhù dào：“ zhè kě qí liǎo， hǎohǎo de zěn me pà qǐ tā lái。” lín dài yù jí de duǒ jiǎo， qiāoqiāo de shuō dào：“ nǐ qiáo qiáo wǒ de yǎn jīng， yòu gāi tā qǔ xiào kāi xīn ní。” bǎo yù tīng shuō gǎn máng de fàng shǒu。 dài yù sān bù liǎng bù zhuǎn guò chuáng hòu， chū hòu yuàn 'ér qù。 fèng jiě cóng qián tóu yǐ jìn lái liǎo， wèn bǎo yù：“ kě hǎo xiē liǎo？ xiǎng shénme chī， jiào rén wǎng wǒ nà lǐ qǔ qù。” jiē zhe， xuē yí mā yòu lái liǎo。 yī shí jiǎ mǔ yòu dǎ fā liǎo rén lái。 zhì zhǎng dēng shí fēn， bǎo yù zhǐ hē liǎo liǎng kǒu tānɡ， biàn hūn hūn chén chén de shuì qù。 jiē zhe， zhōu ruì xí fù， wú xīn dēng xí fù， zhèng hǎo shí xí fù zhè jǐ gè yòu nián jì cháng wǎng lái de， tīng jiàn bǎo yù 'ái liǎo dǎ， yědōu jìn lái。 xí rén máng yíng chū lái， qiāoqiāo de xiào dào：“ shěn shěn men lái chí liǎo yī bù， èr yé cái shuì zhe liǎo。 " shuō zhe， yī miàn dài tā men dào nà biān fáng lǐ zuò liǎo， dàochá yǔ tā men chī。 nà jǐ gè xí fù zǐ dū qiāoqiāo de zuò liǎo yī huí， xiàng xí rén shuō：“ děng 'èr yé xǐng liǎo， nǐ tì wǒ men shuō bà。”
xí rén dāyìng liǎo， sòng tā men chū qù。 gāng yào huí lái， zhǐ jiàn wáng fū rén shǐ gè pó zǐ lái， kǒu chēng " tài tài jiào yī gè gēn 'èr yé de rén ní。” xí rén jiàn shuō， xiǎng liǎo yī xiǎng dǎo wú wéi 'ér xiāo yáo， yóu xīn yú sì hǎi zhī wài de lǐ xiǎng jìng jiè。 lǎo zhuāng zài zhèng zhì shàng， biàn huí shēn qiāoqiāo de gào sù qíng wén， shè yuè， tán yún， qiū wén děng shuō：“ tài tài jiào rén， nǐ men hǎo shēng zài fáng lǐ， wǒ qù liǎo jiù lái。” shuō bì， tóng nà pó zǐ yī jìng chū liǎo yuán zǐ， lái zhì shàng fáng。 wáng fū rén zhèng zuò zài liáng tà shàng yáo zhe bā jiāo shàn zǐ， jiàn tā lái liǎo， shuō：“ bù guǎn jiào gè shuí lái yě bà liǎo。 nǐ yòu diū xià tā lái liǎo， shuí fú shì tā ní？ " xí rén jiàn shuō， lián máng péi xiào huí dào：“ èr yé cái shuì 'ān wěn liǎo， nà sì wǔ gè yā tóu rú jīn yě hǎo liǎo， huì fú shì 'èr yé liǎo， tài tài qǐng fàng xīn。 kǒng pà tài tài yòu shénme huà fēn fù， dǎ fā tā men lái， yī shí tīng bù míng bái， dǎo dān wù liǎo。” wáng fū rén dào：“ yě méi shèn huà， bái wèn wèn tā zhè huì zǐ téng de zěn me yàng。” xí rén dào：“ bǎo gū niàn sòng qù de yào， wǒ gěi 'èr yé fū shàng liǎo， bǐ xiān hǎo xiē liǎo。 xiān téng de tǎng bù wěn， zhè huì zǐ dū shuì chén liǎo， kě jiàn hǎo xiē liǎo。” wáng fū rén yòu wèn：“ chī liǎo shénme méi yòu？ " xí rén dào：“ lǎo tài tài gěi de yī wǎn tānɡ， hē liǎo liǎng kǒu， zhǐ rǎng gān hē， yào chī suān méi tānɡ。 wǒ xiǎng zhe suān méi shì gè shōu liǎn de dōng xī， cái gāng 'ái liǎo dǎ， yòu bù xǔ jiào hǎn， zì rán jí de nà rè dú rè xuè wèi miǎn bù cún zài xīn lǐ， cháng huò chī xià zhè gè qù jī zài xīn lǐ， zài nòng chū dà bìng lái， kě zěn me yàng ní。 yīn cǐ wǒ quàn liǎo bàn tiān cái méi chī， zhǐ ná nà táng yān de méi guī lǔ zǐ hé liǎo chī， chī liǎo bàn wǎn， yòu xián chī xù liǎo， bù xiāng tián。 " wáng fū rén dào：“ ài yō， nǐ bù gāi zǎo lái hé wǒ shuō。 qián 'ér yòu rén sòng liǎo liǎng píng zǐ xiāng lù lái， yuán yào gěi tā diǎn zǐ de， wǒ pà tā hú zāo tà liǎo， jiù méi gěi。 jì shì tā xián nà xiē méi guī gāo zǐ xù fán， bǎ zhè gè ná liǎng píng zǐ qù。 yī wǎn shuǐ lǐ zhǐ yòng tiǎo yī chá chí 'ér， jiù xiāng de liǎo bù dé ní。” shuō zhe jiù huàn cǎi yún lái， " bǎ qián 'ér de nà jǐ píng xiāng lù ná liǎo lái。 " xí rén dào：“ zhǐ ná liǎng píng lái bà， duō liǎo yě bái zāo tà。 děng bù gòu zài yào， zài lái qǔ yě shì yī yàng。” cǎi yún tīng shuō， qù liǎo bàn rì， guǒ rán ná liǎo liǎng píng lái， fù yǔ xí rén。 xí rén kàn shí， zhǐ jiàn liǎng gè bō lí xiǎo píng， què yòu sān cùn dà xiǎo， shàng miàn luó sī yín gài， é huáng jiān shàng xiě zhe " mù xī qīng lù "， nà yī gè xiě zhe " méi guī qīng lù " xí rén xiào dào：“ hǎo jīn guì dōng xī！ zhè me gè xiǎo píng zǐ， néng yòu duō shǎo？ " wáng fū rén dào：“ nà shì jìn shàng de， nǐ méi kàn jiàn 'é huáng jiān zǐ？ nǐ hǎo shēng tì tā shōu zhe， bié zāo tà liǎo。”
xí rén dāyìng zhe， fāng yào zǒu shí， wáng fū rén yòu jiào：“ zhàn zhe， wǒ xiǎng qǐ yī jù huà lái wèn nǐ。” xí rén máng yòu huí lái。 wáng fū rén jiàn fáng nèi wú rén， biàn wèn dào：“ wǒ huǎng hū tīng jiàn bǎo yù jīn 'ér 'ái dǎ， shì huán 'ér zài lǎo yé gēn qián shuō liǎo shénme huà。 nǐ kě tīng jiàn zhè gè liǎo？ nǐ yào tīng jiàn， gào sù wǒ tīng tīng， wǒ yě bù chǎo chū lái jiào rén zhī dào shì nǐ shuō de。” xí rén dào：“ wǒ dǎo méi tīng jiàn zhè huà， wéi 'èr yé bà zhàn zhe xì zǐ， rén jiā lái hé lǎo yé yào， wéi zhè gè dǎ de。” wáng fū rén yáo tóu shuō dào：“ yě wéi zhè gè， hái yòu bié de yuán gù。” xí rén dào：“ bié de yuán gù shí zài bù zhī dào liǎo。 wǒ jīn 'ér zài tài tài gēn qián dà dǎn shuō jù bù zhī hǎo dǎi de huà。 lùn lǐ …… " shuō liǎo bàn jié máng yòu yān zhù。 wáng fū rén dào：“ nǐ zhǐ guǎn shuō。” xí rén xiào dào：“ tài tài bié shēng qì， wǒ jiù shuō liǎo。” wáng fū rén dào：“ wǒ yòu shénme shēng qì de， nǐ zhǐ guǎn shuō lái。 " xí rén dào：“ lùn lǐ， wǒ men 'èr yé yě xū dé lǎo yé jiào xùn liǎng dùn。 ruò lǎo yé zài bù guǎn， jiāng lái bù zhī zuò chū shénme shì lái ní。 " wáng fū rén yī wén cǐ yán， biàn hé zhǎng niàn shēng " ēmítuófó "， yóu bù dé gǎn zhe xí rén jiào liǎo yī shēng " wǒ de 'ér， kuī liǎo nǐ yě míng bái， zhè huà hé wǒ de xīn yī yàng。 wǒ hé céng bù zhī dào guǎn 'ér zǐ， xiān shí nǐ zhū dà yé zài， wǒ shì zěn me yàng guǎn tā， nán dào wǒ rú jīn dǎo bù zhī guǎn 'ér zǐ liǎo？ zhǐ shì yòu gè yuán gù： rú jīn wǒ xiǎng， wǒ yǐ jīng kuài wǔ shí suì de rén， tōng gòng shèng liǎo tā yī gè， tā yòu cháng de dān ruò， kuàng qiě lǎo tài tài bǎo bèi shìde， ruò guǎn jǐn liǎo tā， cháng huò zài yòu gè hǎo dǎi， huò shì lǎo tài tài qì huài liǎo， nà shí shàng xià bù 'ān， qǐ bù dǎo huài liǎo。 suǒ yǐ jiù zòng huài liǎo tā。 wǒ cháng cháng bāi zhe kǒu 'ér quàn yī zhèn， shuō yī zhèn， qì de mà yī zhèn， kū yī zhèn， bǐ shí tā hǎo， guò hòu 'ér hái shì bù xiāng gān， duān de chī liǎo kuī cái bà liǎo。 ruò dǎ huài liǎo， jiāng lái wǒ kào shuí ní！ " shuō zhe， yóu bù dé gǔn xià lèi lái。
xí rén jiàn wáng fū rén zhè bān bēi gǎn， zì jǐ yě bù jué shāng liǎo xīn， péi zhe luò lèi。 yòu dào：“ èr yé shì tài tài yǎng de， qǐ bù xīn téng。 biàn shì wǒ men zuò xià rén de fú shì yīcháng， dà jiā luò gè píng 'ān， yě suàn shì zào huà liǎo， yào zhè yàng qǐ lái， lián píng 'ān dōubù néng liǎo。 nà yī rì nà yī shí wǒ bù quàn 'èr yé， zhǐ shì zài quàn bù xǐng。 piān shēng nà xiē rén yòu kěn qīn jìn tā， yě yuàn bù dé tā zhè yàng， zǒng shì wǒ men quàn de dǎo bù hǎo liǎo。 jīn 'ér tài tài tí qǐ zhè huà lái， wǒ hái jì guà zhe yī jiàn shì， měi yào lái huí tài tài， tǎo tài tài gè zhù yì。 zhǐ shì wǒ pà tài tài yí xīn， bù dàn wǒ de huà bái shuō liǎo， qiě lián zàng shēn zhī dì dū méi liǎo。 " wáng fū rén tīng liǎo zhè huà nèi yòu yīn， máng wèn dào：“ wǒ de 'ér， nǐ yòu huà zhǐ guǎn shuō。 jìn lái wǒ yīn tīng jiàn zhòng rén bèi qián bèi hòu dū kuā nǐ， wǒ zhǐ shuō nǐ bù guò shì zài bǎo yù shēn shàng liú xīn， huò shì zhū rén gēn qián hé qì， zhè xiē xiǎo yì sī hǎo， suǒ yǐ jiāng nǐ hé lǎo yí niàn yī tǐ xíng shì。 shuí zhī nǐ fāng cái hé wǒ shuō de huà quán shì dà dào lǐ， zhèng hé wǒ de xiǎng tóu yī yàng。 nǐ yòu shénme zhǐ guǎn shuō shénme， zhǐ bié jiào bié rén zhī dào jiù shì liǎo。” xí rén dào：“ wǒ yě méi shénme bié de shuō。 wǒ zhǐ xiǎng zhe tǎo tài tài yī gè shì xià， zěn me biàn gè fǎ 'ér， yǐ hòu jìng hái jiào 'èr yé bān chū yuán wài lái zhù jiù hǎo liǎo。” wáng fū rén tīng liǎo， chī yī dà jīng， máng lā liǎo xí rén de shǒu wèn dào：“ bǎo yù nán dào hé shuí zuò guài liǎo bù chéng？ " xí rén lián máng huí dào：“ tài tài bié duō xīn， bìng méi yòu zhè huà。 zhè bù guò shì wǒ de xiǎo jiàn shí。 rú jīn 'èr yé yě dà liǎo， lǐ tóu gū niàn men yě dà liǎo， kuàng qiě lín gū niàn bǎo gū niàn yòu shì liǎng yí gū biǎo zǐ mèi， suī shuō shì zǐ mèi men， dào dǐ shì nán nǚ zhī fēn， rì yè yī chù qǐ zuò bù fāng biàn， yóu bù dé jiào rén xuán xīn， biàn shì wài rén kàn zhe yě bù xiàng。 yī jiā zǐ de shì， sú yǔ shuō de‘ méi shì cháng sī yòu shì’， shì shàng duō shǎo wú tóu nǎo de rén， duō bàn yīn wéi wú xīn zhōng zuò chū， yòu xīn rén kàn jiàn， dāng zuò yòu xīn shì， fǎn shuō huài liǎo。 zhǐ shì yù xiān bù fáng zhe， duàn rán bù hǎo。 èr yé sù rì xìng gé， tài tài shì zhī dào de。 tā yòu piān hǎo zài wǒ men duì lǐ nào， cháng huò bù fáng， qián hòu cuò liǎo yī diǎn bàn diǎn， bù lùn zhēn jiǎ， rén duō kǒu zá， nà qǐ xiǎo rén de zuǐ yòu shénme bì huì， xīn shùn liǎo， shuō de bǐ pú sà hái hǎo， xīn bù shùn， jiù biǎn de lián chù shēng bù rú。 èr yé jiāng lái cháng huò yòu rén shuō hǎo， bù guò dà jiā zhí guò méi shì， ruò yào jiào rén shuō chū yī gè bù hǎo zì lái， wǒ men bù yòng shuō， fěn shēn suì gǔ， zuì yòu wàn zhòng， dōushì píng cháng xiǎo shì， dàn hòu lái 'èr yé yī shēng de shēng míng pǐn xíng qǐ bù wán liǎo， èr zé tài tài yě nán jiàn lǎo yé。 sú yǔ yòu shuō‘ jūn zǐ fáng bù rán’， bù rú zhè huì zǐ fáng bì de wèishì。 tài tài shì qíng duō， yī shí gù rán xiǎng bù dào。 wǒ men xiǎng bù dào zé kě， jì xiǎng dào liǎo， ruò bù huí míng tài tài， zuì yuè zhòng liǎo。 jìn lái wǒ wéi zhè shì rì yè xuán xīn， yòu bù hǎo shuō yǔ rén， wéi yòu dēng zhī dào bà liǎo。 " wáng fū rén tīng liǎo zhè huà， rú léi hōng diàn chè de yī bān， zhèng chù liǎo jīn chuàn 'ér zhī shì， xīn nèi yuè fā gǎn 'ài xí rén bù jìn， máng xiào dào：“ wǒ de 'ér， nǐ jìng yòu zhè gè xīn xiōng， xiǎng de zhè yàng zhōu quán！ wǒ hé céng yòu bù xiǎng dào zhè lǐ， zhǐ shì zhè jǐ cì yòu shì jiù wàng liǎo。 nǐ jīn 'ér zhè yī fān huà tí xǐng liǎo wǒ。 nán wéi nǐ chéng quán wǒ niàn 'ér liǎng gè shēng míng tǐ miàn， zhēn zhēn wǒ jìng bù zhī dào nǐ zhè yàng hǎo。 bà liǎo， nǐ qiě qù bà， wǒ zì yòu dào lǐ。 zhǐ shì hái yòu yī jù huà： nǐ jīn jì shuō liǎo zhè yàng de huà， wǒ jiù bǎ tā jiāo gěi nǐ liǎo， hǎo dǎi liú xīn， bǎo quán liǎo tā， jiù shì bǎo quán liǎo wǒ。 wǒ zì rán bù gū fù nǐ。 " xí rén lián lián dāyìng zhe qù liǎo。 huí lái zhèng zhí bǎo yù shuì xǐng， xí rén huí míng xiāng lù zhī shì。 bǎo yù xǐ bù zì jìn， jí lìng diào lái cháng shì， guǒ rán xiāng miào fēi cháng。 yīn xīn xià jì guà zhe dài yù， mǎn xīn lǐ yào dǎ fā rén qù， zhǐ shì pà xí rén， biàn shè yī fǎ， xiān shǐ xí rén wǎng bǎo chāi nà lǐ qù jiè shū。
xí rén qù liǎo， bǎo yù biàn mìng qíng wén lái fēn fù dào：“ nǐ dào lín gū niàn nà lǐ kàn kàn tā zuò shí me ní。 tā yào wèn wǒ， zhǐ shuō wǒ hǎo liǎo。” qíng wén dào：“ bái méi chì yǎn， zuò shí me qù ní？ dào dǐ shuō jù huà 'ér， yě xiàng yī jiàn shì。” bǎo yù dào：“ méi yòu shénme kě shuō de。” qíng wén dào：“ ruò bù rán shì yī gè rén lèi yǒng yuǎn yě bù kě néng dá dào de“ jí xiàn gài niàn”， ér bù shì shí jì cún， huò shì sòng jiàn dōng xī， huò shì qǔ jiàn dōng xī， bù rán wǒ qù liǎo zěn me dā shàn ní？ " bǎo yù xiǎng liǎo yī xiǎng， biàn shēn shǒu ná liǎo liǎng tiáo shǒu pà zǐ liào yǔ qíng wén， xiào dào：“ yě bà， jiù shuō wǒ jiào nǐ sòng zhè gè gěi tā qù liǎo。” qíng wén dào：“ zhè yòu qí liǎo。 tā yào zhè bàn xīn bù jiù de liǎng tiáo shǒu pà zǐ？ tā yòu yào nǎo liǎo， shuō nǐ dǎ qù tā。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ fàng xīn， tā zì rán zhī dào。”
qíng wén tīng liǎo， zhǐ dé ná liǎo pà zǐ wǎng xiāo xiāng guǎn lái。 zhǐ jiàn chūn xiān zhèng zài lán gān shàng liàng shǒu pà zǐ， jiàn tā jìn lái， máng bǎi shǒu 'ér， shuō：“ shuì xià liǎo。” qíng wén zǒu jìn lái， mǎn wū а hēi。 bìng wèi diǎn dēng。 dài yù yǐ shuì zài chuáng shàng， wèn shì shuí。 qíng wén máng dá dào：“ qíng wén。” dài yù dào：“ zuò shí me？ " qíng wén dào：“ èr yé sòng shǒu pà zǐ lái gěi gū niàn。” dài yù tīng liǎo， xīn zhōng fā mèn：“ zuò shí me sòng shǒu pà zǐ lái gěi wǒ？ " yīn wèn：“ zhè pà zǐ shì shuí sòng tā de？ bì shì shàng hǎo de， jiào tā liú zhe sòng bié rén qù bà， wǒ zhè huì zǐ bù yòng zhè gè。” qíng wén xiào dào：“ bù shì xīn de， jiù shì jiā cháng jiù de。” lín dài yù tīng jiàn， yuè fā mèn zhù， zhuóshí xì xīn sōu qiú， sī cǔn yī shí， fāng dà wù guò lái， lián máng shuō：“ fàng xià， qù bà。” qíng wén tīng liǎo， zhǐ dé fàng xià， chōu shēn huí qù， yī lù pán suàn， bù jiě hé yì。
zhè lǐ lín dài yù tǐ tiē chū shǒu pà zǐ de yì sī lái， bù jué shén hún chí dàng： bǎo yù zhè fān kǔ xīn， néng lǐng huì wǒ zhè fān kǔ yì， yòu lìng wǒ kě xǐ， wǒ zhè fān kǔ yì， bù zhī jiāng lái rú hé， yòu lìng wǒ kě bēi， hū rán hǎohǎo de sòng liǎng kuài jiù pà zǐ lái， ruò bù shì lǐng wǒ shēn yì， dān kàn liǎo zhè pà zǐ， yòu lìng wǒ kě xiào， zài xiǎng lìng rén sī xiāng chuán dì yǔ wǒ， yòu kě jù， wǒ zì jǐ měi měi hǎo kū， xiǎng lái yě wú wèi， yòu lìng wǒ kě kuì。 rú cǐ zuǒ sī yòu xiǎng， yī shí wǔ nèi fèi rán zhì qǐ。 dài yù yóu bù dé yú yì mián chán， lìng zhǎng dēng， yě xiǎng bù qǐ xián yí bì huì děng shì， biàn xiàng 'àn shàng yán mò zhàn bǐ， biàn xiàng nà liǎng kuài jiù pà zǐ shàng zǒu bǐ xiě dào：
yǎn kōng xù lèi lèi kōng chuí， àn sǎ xián pāo què wéi shuí？
chǐ fú jiāo あ láo jiě zèng jiào rén yān dé bù shāng bēi！
qí 'èr
pāo zhū gǔn yù zhǐ tōu shān zhèn rì wú xīn zhèn rì xián，
zhěn shàng xiù biān nán fú shì， rèn tā diǎn diǎn yǔ bān bān。
qí sān
cǎi xiàn nán shōu miàn shàng zhū， xiāng jiāng jiù jì yǐ mó hú，
chuāng qián yì yòu qiān gān zhú， bù shí xiāng hén zì yě wú？ lín dài yù hái yào wǎng xià xiě shí， jué dé hún shēn huǒ rè， miàn shàng zuò shāo， zǒu zhì jìng tái jiē qǐ jǐn fú yī zhào， zhǐ jiàn sāi shàng tōng hóng， zì xiàn yā dǎo táo huā， què bù zhī bìng yóu cǐ méng。 yī shí fāng shàng chuáng shuì qù， yóu ná zhe nà pà zǐ sī suǒ， bù zài huà xià。
què shuō xí rén lái jiàn bǎo chāi， shuí zhī bǎo chāi bù zài yuán nèi， wǎng tā mǔ qīn nà lǐ qù liǎo， xí rén biàn kōng shǒu huí lái。 děng zhì 'èr gèng， bǎo chāi fāng huí lái。 yuán lái bǎo chāi sù zhī xuē pán qíng xìng， xīn zhōng yǐ yòu yī bàn yí shì xuē pán tiáosuō liǎo rén lái gào bǎo yù de， shuí zhī yòu tīng xí rén shuō chū lái， yuè fā xìn liǎo。 jiū jìng xí rén shì tīng bèi míng shuō de， nà bèi míng yě shì sī xīn kuī dù， bìng wèi jù shí， jìng rèn zhǔn shì tā shuō de。 nà xuē pán dū yīn sù rì yòu zhè gè míng shēng， qí shí zhè yī cì què bù shì tā gān de， bèi rén shēng shēng de yī kǒu yǎo sǐ shì tā， yòu kǒu nán fēn。 zhè rì zhèng cóng wài tóu chī liǎo jiǔ huí lái， jiàn guò mǔ qīn， zhǐ jiàn bǎo chāi zài zhè lǐ， shuō liǎo jǐ jù xián huà， yīn wèn：“ tīng jiàn bǎo xiōng dì chī liǎo kuī， shì wèishénme？ " xuē yí mā zhèng wéi zhè gè bù zì zài， jiàn tā wèn shí， biàn yǎo zhe yá dào：“ bù zhī hǎo dǎi de dōng xī， dōushì nǐ nào de， nǐ hái yòu liǎn lái wèn！ " xuē pán jiàn shuō， biàn zhèng liǎo， máng wèn dào：“ wǒ hé cháng nào shénme？ " xuē yí mā dào：“ nǐ hái zhuāng 5 hān ní！ rén réndōu zhī dào shì nǐ shuō de， hái lài ní。” xuē pán dào：“ rén rén shuō wǒ shā liǎo rén， yě jiù xìn liǎo bà？ " xuē yí mā dào：“ lián nǐ mèi mèi dōuzhī dào shì nǐ shuō de， nán dào tā yě lài nǐ bù chéng？ " bǎo chāi máng quàn dào：“ mā hé gē gē qiě bié jiào hǎn， xiāo xiāo tíng tíng de， jiù yòu gè qīng hóng zào bái liǎo。 " yīn xiàng xuē pán dào：“ shì nǐ shuō de yě bà， bù shì nǐ shuō de yě bà， shì qíng yě guò qù liǎo， bù bì jiào zhèng， dǎo bǎ xiǎo shì 'ér nòng dà liǎo。 wǒ zhǐ quàn nǐ cóng cǐ yǐ hòu zài wài tóu shǎo qù hú nào， shǎo guǎn bié rén de shì。 tiān tiān yī chù dà jiā hú guàng， nǐ shì gè bù fáng tóu de rén， guò hòu 'ér méi shì jiù bà liǎo。 cháng huò yòu shì， bù shì nǐ gān de， rén réndōu yě yí huò shì nǐ gān de， bù yòng shuō bié rén， wǒ jiù xiān yí huò。” xuē pán běn shì gè xīn zhí kǒu kuài de rén， yī shēng jiàn bù dé zhè yàng cáng tóu lù wěi de shì， yòu jiàn bǎo chāi quàn tā bù yào guàng qù， tā mǔ qīn yòu shuō tā fàn shé， bǎo yù zhī dǎ shì tā zhì de， zǎo yǐ jí de luàn tiào， dǔ shēn fā shì de fēn biàn。 yòu mà zhòng rén：“ shuí zhè yàng zāng pài wǒ？ wǒ bǎ nà qiú nǎng de yá qiāo liǎo cái bà！ fēn míng shì wéi dǎ liǎo bǎo yù， méi de xiàn qín 'ér， ná wǒ lái zuò huǎng zǐ。 nán dào bǎo yù shì tiān wáng？ tā fù qīn dǎ tā yī dùn， yī jiā zǐ dìng yào nào jǐ tiān。 nà yī huí wèitā bù hǎo， yí diē dǎ liǎo tā liǎng xià zǐ， guò hòu lǎo tài tài bù zhī zěn me zhī dào liǎo， shuō shì zhēn dà gē gē zhì de， hǎohǎo de jiào liǎo qù mà liǎo yī dùn。 jīn 'ér yuè fā lā xià wǒ liǎo！ jì lā shàng， wǒ yě bù pà， yuè xìng jìn qù bǎ bǎo yù dǎ sǐ liǎo， wǒ tì tā cháng liǎo mìng， dà jiā gān jìng。” yī miàn rǎng， yī miàn zhuā qǐ yī gēn mén shuān lái jiù páo。 huāng de xuē yí mā yī bǎ zhuā zhù， mà dào：“ zuò sǐ de niè zhàng， nǐ dǎ shuí qù？ nǐ xiān dǎ wǒ lái！ " xuē pán jí de yǎn sì tóng líng yī bān， rǎng dào：“ hé kǔ lái！ yòu bù jiào wǒ qù， yòu hǎohǎo de lài wǒ。 jiāng lái bǎo yù huó yī rì， wǒ dān yī rì de kǒu shé， bù rú dà jiā sǐ liǎo qīng jìng。” bǎo chāi máng yě shàng qián quàn dào：“ nǐ rěn nài xiē 'ér bà。 mā jí de zhè gè yàng 'ér， nǐ bù shuō lái quàn mā， nǐ hái fǎn nào de zhè yàng。 bié shuō shì mā， biàn shì bàng rén lái quàn nǐ， yě wéi nǐ hǎo， dǎo bǎ nǐ de xìng zǐ quàn shàng lái liǎo。” xuē pán dào：“ zhè huì zǐ yòu shuō zhè huà。 dōushì nǐ shuō de！ " bǎo chāi dào：“ nǐ zhǐ yuàn wǒ shuō， zài bù yuàn nǐ gù qián bù gù hòu de xíng jǐng。 " xuē pán dào：“ nǐ zhǐ huì yuàn wǒ gù qián bù gù hòu， nǐ zěn me bù yuàn bǎo yù wài tóu zhāo fēng rě cǎo de nà gè yàng zǐ！ bié shuō duō de， zhǐ ná qián 'ér qí guān de shì bǐ gěi nǐ men tīng： nà qí guān， wǒ men jiàn guò shí lái cì de， wǒ bìng wèi hé tā shuō yī jù qīn rè huà， zěn me qián 'ér tā jiàn liǎo， lián xìng míng hái bù zhī dào， jiù bǎ hàn jīn 'ér gěi tā liǎo？ nán dào zhè yě shì wǒ shuō de bù chéng？ " xuē yí mā hé bǎo chāi jí de shuō dào：“ hái tí zhè gè！ kě bù shì wéi zhè gè dǎ tā ní。 kě jiàn shì nǐ shuō de liǎo。” xuē pán dào：“ zhēn zhēn de qì sǐ rén liǎo！ lài wǒ shuō de wǒ bù nǎo， wǒ zhǐ wéi yī gè bǎo yù nào de zhè yàng tiān fān dì fù de。” bǎo chāi dào：“ shuí nào liǎo？ nǐ xiān chí dāo dòng zhàng de nào qǐ lái， dǎo shuō bié rén nào。” xuē pán jiàn bǎo chāi shuō de huà jù jù yòu lǐ， nán yǐ bó zhèng， bǐ mǔ qīn de huà fǎn nán huí dá， yīn cǐ biàn yào shè fǎ ná huà dǔ huí tā qù， jiù wú rén gǎn lán zì jǐ de huà liǎo， yě yīn zhèng zài qì tóu shàng， wèi céng xiǎng huà zhī qīng zhòng， biàn shuō dào：“ hǎo mèi mèi， nǐ bù yòng hé wǒ nào， wǒ zǎo zhī dào nǐ de xīn liǎo。 cóng xiān mā hé wǒ shuō， nǐ zhè jīn yào jiǎn yòu yù de cái kě zhèng pèi， nǐ liú liǎo xīn。 jiàn bǎo yù yòu nà láo shí gǔ zǐ， nǐ zì rán rú jīn xíng dòng hù zhe tā。” huà wèi shuō liǎo， bǎ gè bǎo chāi qì zhèng liǎo， lā zhe xuē yí mā kū dào：“ mā mā nǐ tīng， gē gē shuō de shì shénme huà！ " xuē pán jiàn mèi mèi kū liǎo， biàn zhī zì jǐ mào zhuàng liǎo， biàn dǔ qì zǒu dào zì jǐ fáng lǐ 'ān xiē bù tí。
zhè lǐ xuē yí mā qì de luàn zhàn， yī miàn yòu quàn bǎo chāi dào：“ nǐ sù rì zhī nà niè zhàng shuō huà méi dào lǐ， míng 'ér wǒ jiào tā gěi nǐ péi bù shì。 " bǎo chāi mǎn xīn wěi qū qì fèn， dài yào zěn yàng， yòu pà tā mǔ qīn bù 'ān， shǎo bù dé hán lèi bié liǎo mǔ qīn， gè zì huí lái， dào fáng lǐ zhěng kū liǎo yī yè。 cì rì zǎo qǐ lái， yě wú xīn shū xǐ， hú luàn zhěng lǐ zhěng lǐ， biàn chū lái qiáo mǔ qīn。 kě qiǎo yù jiàn lín dài yù dú lì zài huā yīn zhī xià， wèn tā nà lǐ qù。 xuē bǎo chāi yīn shuō " jiā qù "， kǒu lǐ shuō zhe， biàn zhǐ guǎn zǒu。 dài yù jiàn tā wú jīng dǎ cǎi de qù liǎo， yòu jiàn yǎn shàng yòu kū qì zhī zhuàng， dà fēi wǎng rì kě bǐ， biàn zài hòu miàn xiào dào：“ jiě jiě yě zì bǎo zhòng xiē 'ér。 jiù shì kū chū liǎng gāng yǎn lèi lái， yě yī bù hǎo bàng chuāng。” bù zhī bǎo chāi rú hé dá duì， qiě tīng xià huí fēn jiě。
Tai-yue loves Pao-yue with extreme affection; but, on account of this affection, her female cousin gets indignant. Hsueeh P'an commits a grave mistake; but Pao-ch'ai makes this mistake a pretext to tender advice to her brother.
When Hsi Jen saw dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the other members of the family take their leave, our narrative says, she entered the room. and, taking a seat next to Pao-yue, she asked him, while she did all she could to hide her tears: "How was it that he beat you to such extremes?"
Pao-yue heaved a sigh. "It was simply," he replied, "about those trifles. But what's the use of your asking me about them? The lower part of my body is so very sore! Do look and see where I'm bruised!"
At these words, Hsi Jen put out her hand, and inserting it gently under his clothes, she began to pull down the middle garments. She had but slightly moved them, however, when Pao-yue ground his teeth and groaned "ai-ya." Hsi Jen at once stayed her hand. It was after three or four similar attempts that she, at length, succeeded in drawing them down. Then looking closely, Hsi Jen discovered that the upper part of his legs was all green and purple, one mass of scars four fingers wide, and covered with huge blisters.
Hsi Jen gnashed her teeth. "My mother!" she ejaculated, "how is it that he struck you with such a ruthless hand! Had you minded the least bit of my advice to you, things wouldn't have come to such a pass! Luckily, no harm was done to any tendon or bone; for had you been crippled by the thrashing you got, what could we do?"
In the middle of these remarks, she saw the servant-girls come, and they told her that Miss Pao-ch'ai had arrived. Hearing this, Hsi Jen saw well enough that she had no time to put him on his middle garments, so forthwith snatching a double gauze coverlet, she threw it over Pao-yue. This done, she perceived Pao-ch'ai walk in, her hands laden with pills and medicines.
"At night," she said to Hsi Jen, "take these medicines and dissolve them in wine and then apply them on him, and, when the fiery virus from that stagnant blood has been dispelled, he'll be all right again."
After these directions, she handed the medicines to Hsi Jen. "Is he feeling any better now?" she proceeded to inquired.
"Thanks!" rejoined Pao-yue. "I'm feeling better," he at the same time went on to say; after which, he pressed her to take a seat.
Pao-ch'ai noticed that he could open his eyes wide, that he could speak and that he was not as bad as he had been, and she felt considerable inward relief. But nodding her head, she sighed. "If you had long ago listened to the least bit of the advice tendered to you by people things would not have reached this climax to-day," she said. "Not to speak of the pain experienced by our dear ancestor and aunt Wang, the sight of you in this state makes even us feel at heart...."
Just as she had uttered half of the remark she meant to pass, she quickly suppressed the rest; and smitten by remorse for having spoken too hastily, she could not help getting red in the face and lowering her head.
Pao-yue was realising how affectionate, how friendly and how replete with deep meaning were the sentiments that dropped from her month, when, of a sudden, he saw her seal her lips and, flashing crimson, droop her head, and simply fumble with her girdle. Yet so fascinating was she in those timid blushes, which completely baffle description, that his feelings were roused within him to such a degree, that all sense of pain flew at once beyond the empyrean. "I've only had to bear a few blows," he reflected, "and yet every one of them puts on those pitiful looks sufficient to evoke love and regard; so were, after all, any mishap or untimely end to unexpectedly befall me, who can tell how much more afflicted they won't be! And as they go on in this way, I shall have them, were I even to die in a moment, to feel so much for me; so there will indeed be no reason for regret, albeit the concerns of a whole lifetime will be thus flung entirely to the winds!"
While indulging in these meditations, ha overheard Pao-ch'ai ask Hsi Jen: "How is it that he got angry, without rhyme or reason, and started beating him?" and Hsi Jen tell her, in reply, the version given to her by Pei Ming.
Pao-yue had, in fact, no idea as yet of what had been said by Chia Huan, and, when he heard Hsi Jen's disclosures, he eventually got to know what it was; but as it also criminated Hsueeh P'an, he feared lest Pao-ch'ai might feel unhappy, so he lost no time in interrupting Hsi Jen.
"Cousin Hsueeh," he interposed, "has never been like that; you people mustn't therefore give way to idle surmises!"
These words were enough to make Pao-ch'ai see that Pao-yue had thought it expedient to say something to stop Hsi Jen's mouth, apprehending that her suspicions might get roused; and she consequently secretly mused within herself: "He has been beaten to such a pitch, and yet, heedless of his own pains and aches, he's still so careful not to hurt people's feelings. But since you can be so considerate, why don't you take a little more care in greater concerns outside, so that your father should feel a little happier, and that you also should not have to suffer such bitter ordeals! But notwithstanding that the dread of my feeling hurt has prompted you to interrupt Hsi Jen in what she had to tell me, is it likely that I am blind to the fact that my brother has ever followed his fancies, allowed his passions to run riot, and never done a thing to exercise any check over himself? His temperament is such that he some time back created, all on account of that fellow Ch'in Chung, a rumpus that turned heaven and earth topsy-turvy; and, as a matter of course, he's now far worse than he was ever before!"
"You people," she then observed aloud, at the close of these cogitations, "shouldn't bear this one or that one a grudge. I can't help thinking that it's, after all, because of your usual readiness, cousin Pao-yue, to hobnob with that set that your father recently lost control over his temper. But assuming that my brother did speak in a careless manner and did casually allude to you cousin Pao-yue, it was with no design to instigate any one! In the first place, the remarks he made were really founded on actual facts; and secondly, he's not one to ever trouble himself about such petty trifles as trying to guard against animosities. Ever since your youth up, Miss Hsi, you've simply had before your eyes a person so punctilious as cousin Pao-yue, but have you ever had any experience of one like that brother of mine, who neither fears the powers in heaven or in earth, and who readily blurts out all he thinks?"
Hsi Jen, seeing Pao-yue interrupt her, at the bare mention of Hsueeh P'an, understood at once that she must have spoken recklessly and gave way to misgivings lest Pao-ch'ai might not have been placed in a false position, but when she heard the language used by Pao-ch'ai, she was filled with a keener sense of shame and could not utter a word. Pao-yue too, after listening to the sentiments, which Pao-ch'ai expressed, felt, partly because they were so magnanimous and noble, and partly because they banished all misconception from his mind, his heart and soul throb with greater emotion then ever before. When, however, about to put in his word, he noticed Pao-ch'ai rise to her feet.
"I'll come again to see you to-morrow," she said, "but take good care of yourself! I gave the medicines I brought just now to Hsi Jen; let her rub you with them at night and I feel sure you'll get all right."
With these recommendations, she walked out of the door.
Hsi Jen hastened to catch her up and escorted her beyond the court. "Miss," she remarked, "we've really put you to the trouble of coming. Some other day, when Mr. Secundus is well, I shall come in person to thank you."
"What's there to thank me for?" replied Pao-ch'ai, turning her head round and smiling. "But mind, you advise him to carefully tend his health, and not to give way to idle thoughts and reckless ideas, and he'll recover. If there's anything he fancies to eat or to amuse himself with, come quietly over to me and fetch it for him. There will be no use to disturb either our old lady, or Madame Wang, or any of the others; for in the event of its reaching Mr. Chia Cheng's ear, nothing may, at the time, come of it; but if by and bye he finds it to be true, we'll, doubtless, suffer for it!"
While tendering this advice, she went on her way.
Hsi Jen retraced her steps and returned into the room, fostering genuine feelings of gratitude for Pao-ch'ai. But on entering, she espied Pao-yue silently lost in deep thought, and looking as if he were asleep, and yet not quite asleep, so she withdrew into the outer quarters to comb her hair and wash.
Pao-yue meanwhile lay motionless in bed. His buttocks tingled with pain, as if they were pricked with needles, or dug with knives; giving him to boot a fiery sensation just as if fire were eating into them. He tried to change his position a bit, but unable to bear the anguish, he burst into groans. The shades of evening were by this time falling. Perceiving that though Hsi Jen had left his side there remained still two or three waiting-maids in attendance, he said to them, as he could find nothing for them to do just then, "You might as well go and comb your hair and perform your ablutions; come in, when I call you."
Hearing this, they likewise retired. During this while, Pao-yue fell into a drowsy state. Chiang Yue-han then rose before his vision and told him all about his capture by men from the Chung Shun mansion. Presently, Chin Ch'uan-erh too appeared in his room bathed in tears, and explained to him the circumstances which drove her to leap into the well. But Pao-yue, who was half dreaming and half awake, was not able to give his mind to anything that was told him. Unawares, he became conscious of some one having given him a push; and faintly fell on his ear the plaintive tones of some person in distress. Pao-yue was startled out of his dreams. On opening his eyes, he found it to be no other than Lin Tai-yue. But still fearing that it was only a dream, he promptly raised himself, and drawing near her face he passed her features under a minute scrutiny. Seeing her two eyes so swollen, as to look as big as peaches, and her face glistening all over with tears: "If it is not Tai-yue," (he thought), "who else can it be?"
Pao-yue meant to continue his scrutiny, but the lower part of his person gave him such unbearable sharp twitches that finding it a hard task to keep up, he, with a shout of "Ai-yo," lay himself down again, as he heaved a sigh. "What do you once more come here for?" he asked. "The sun, it is true, has set; but the heat remaining on the ground hasn't yet gone, so you may, by coming over, get another sunstroke. Of course, I've had a thrashing but I don't feel any pains or aches. If I behave in this fashion, it's all put on to work upon their credulity, so that they may go and spread the reports outside in such a way as to reach my father's ear. Really it's all sham; so you mustn't treat it as a fact!"
Though Lin Tai-yue was not giving way at the time to any wails or loud sobs, yet the more she indulged in those suppressed plaints of hers, the worse she felt her breath get choked and her throat obstructed; so that when Pao-yue's assurances fell on her ear, she could not express a single sentiment, though she treasured thousands in her mind. It was only after a long pause that she at last could observe, with agitated voice: "You must after this turn over a new leaf."
At these words, Pao-yue heaved a deep sigh. "Compose your mind," he urged. "Don't speak to me like this; for I am quite prepared to even lay down my life for all those persons!"
But scarcely had he concluded this remark than some one outside the court was heard to say: "Our lady Secunda has arrived."
Lin Tai-yue readily concluded that it was lady Feng coming, so springing to her feet at once, "I'm off," she said; "out by the back-court. I'll look you up again by and bye."
"This is indeed strange!" exclaimed Pao-yue as he laid hold of her and tried to detain her. "How is it that you've deliberately started living in fear and trembling of her!"
Lin Tai-yue grew impatient and stamped her feet. "Look at my eyes!" she added in an undertone. "Must those people amuse themselves again by poking fun at me?"
After this response, Pao-yue speedily let her go.
Lin Tai-yue with hurried step withdrew behind the bed; and no sooner had she issued into the back-court, than lady Feng made her appearance in the room by the front entrance.
"Are you better?" she asked Pao-yue. "If you fancy anything to eat, mind you send some one over to my place to fetch it for you."
Thereupon Mrs. Hsueeh also came to pay him a visit. Shortly after, a messenger likewise arrived from old lady Chia (to inquire after him).
When the time came to prepare the lights, Pao-yue had a couple of mouthfuls of soup to eat, but he felt so drowsy and heavy that he fell asleep.
Presently, Chou Jui's wife, Wu Hsin-teng's wife and Cheng Hao-shih's wife, all of whom were old dames who frequently went to and fro, heard that Pao-yue had been flogged and they too hurried into his quarters.
Hsi Jen promptly went out to greet them. "Aunts," she whispered, smiling, "you've come a little too late; Master Secundus is sleeping." Saying this, she led them into the room on the opposite side, and, pressing then to sit down, she poured them some tea.
After sitting perfectly still for a time, "When Master Secundus awakes" the dames observed, "do send us word!"
Hsi Jen assured them that she would, and escorted them out. Just, however, as she was about to retrace her footsteps, she met an old matron, sent over by Madame Wang, who said to her: "Our mistress wants one of Master Secundus attendants to go and see her."
Upon hearing this message, Hsi Jen communed with her own thoughts. Then turning round, she whispered to Ch'ing Wen, She Yueeh, Ch'iu Wen, and the other maids: "Our lady wishes to see one of us, so be careful and remain in the room while I go. I'll be back soon."
At the close of her injunctions, she and the matron made their exit out of the garden by a short cut, and repaired into the drawing-room.
Madame Wang was seated on the cool couch, waving a banana-leaf fan. When she became conscious of her arrival: "It didn't matter whom you sent," she remarked, "any one would have done. But have you left him again? Who's there to wait on him?"
At this question, Hsi Jen lost no time in forcing a smile. "Master Secundus," she replied, "just now fell into a sound sleep. Those four or five girls are all right now, they are well able to attend to their master, so please, Madame, dispel all anxious thoughts! I was afraid that your ladyship might have some orders to give, and that if I sent any of them, they might probably not hear distinctly, and thus occasion delay in what there was to be done."
"There's nothing much to tell you," added Madame Wang. "I only wish to ask how his pains and aches are getting on now?"
"I applied on Mr. Secundus," answered Hsi Jen, "the medicine, which Miss Pao-ch'ai brought over; and he's better than he was. He was so sore at one time that he couldn't lie comfortably; but the deep sleep, in which he is plunged now, is a clear sign of his having improved."
"Has he had anything to eat?" further inquired Madame Wang.
"Our dowager mistress sent him a bowl of soup," Hsi Jen continued, "and of this he has had a few mouthfuls. He shouted and shouted that his mouth was parched and fancied a decoction of sour plums, but remembering that sour plums are astringent things, that he had been thrashed only a short time before, and that not having been allowed to groan, he must, of course, have been so hard pressed that fiery virus and heated blood must unavoidably have accumulated in the heart, and that were he to put anything of the kind within his lips, it might be driven into the cardiac regions and give rise to some serious illness; and what then would we do? I therefore reasoned with him for ever so long and at last succeeded in deterring him from touching any. So simply taking that syrup of roses, prepared with sugar, I mixed some with water and he had half a small cup of it. But he drank it with distaste; for, being surfeited with it, he found it neither scented nor sweet."
"Ai-yah!" ejaculated Madame Wang. "Why didn't you come earlier and tell me? Some one sent me the other day several bottles of scented water. I meant at one time to have given him some, but as I feared that it would be mere waste, I didn't let him have any. But since he is so sick and tired of that preparation of roses, that he turns up his nose at it, take those two bottles with you. If you just mix a teaspoonful of it in a cup of water, it will impart to it a very strong perfume."
So saying, she hastened to tell Ts'ai Yuen to fetch the bottles of scented water, which she had received as a present a few days before.
"Let her only bring a couple of them, they'll be enough!" Hsi Jen chimed in. "If you give us more, it will be a useless waste! If it isn't enough, I can come and fetch a fresh supply. It will come to the same thing!"
Having listened to all they had to say, Ts'ai Yuen left the room. After some considerable time, she, in point of fact, returned with only a couple of bottles, which she delivered to Hsi Jen.
On examination, Hsi Jen saw two small glass bottles, no more than three inches in size, with screwing silver stoppers at the top. On the gosling-yellow labels was written, on one: "Pure extract of _olea fragrans_," on the other, "Pure extract of roses."
"What fine things these are!" Hsi Jen smiled. "How many small bottles the like of this can there be?"
"They are of the kind sent to the palace," rejoined Madame Wang. "Didn't you notice that gosling-yellow slip? But mind, take good care of them for him; don't fritter them away!"
Hsi Jen assented. She was about to depart when Madame Wang called her back. "I've thought of something," she said, "that I want to ask you."
Hsi Jen hastily came back.
Madame Wang made sure that there was no one in the room. "I've heard a faint rumour," she then inquired, "to the effect that Pao-yue got a thrashing on this occasion on account of something or other which Huan-Erh told my husband. Have you perchance heard what it was that he said? If you happen to learn anything about it, do confide in me, and I won't make any fuss and let people know that it was you who told me."
"I haven't heard anything of the kind," answered Hsi Jen. "It was because Mr. Secundus forcibly detained an actor, and that people came and asked master to restore him to them that he got flogged."
"It was also for this," continued Madame Wang as she nodded her head, "but there's another reason besides."
"As for the other reason, I honestly haven't the least idea about it," explained Hsi Jen. "But I'll make bold to-day, and say something in your presence, Madame, about which I don't know whether I am right or wrong in speaking. According to what's proper...."
She had only spoken half a sentence, when hastily she closed her mouth again.
"You are at liberty to proceed," urged Madame Wang.
"If your ladyship will not get angry, I'll speak out," remarked Hsi Jen.
"Why should I get angry?" observed Madame Wang. "Proceed!"
"According to what's proper," resumed Hsi Jen, "our Mr. Secundus should receive our master's admonition, for if master doesn't hold him in check, there's no saying what he mightn't do in the future."
As soon as Madame Wang heard this, she clasped her hands and uttered the invocation, "O-mi-to-fu!" Unable to resist the impulse, she drew near Hsi Jen. "My dear child," she added, "you have also luckily understood the real state of things. What you told me is in perfect harmony with my own views! Is it likely that I don't know how to look after a son? In former days, when your elder master, Chu, was alive, how did I succeed in keeping him in order? And can it be that I don't, after all, now understand how to manage a son? But there's a why and a wherefore in it. The thought is ever present in my mind now, that I'm already a woman past fifty, that of my children there only remains this single one, that he too is developing a delicate physique, and that, what's more, our dear senior prizes him as much as she would a jewel, that were he kept under strict control, and anything perchance to happen to him, she might, an old lady as she is, sustain some harm from resentment, and that as the high as well as the low will then have no peace or quiet, won't things get in a bad way? So I feel prompted to spoil him by over-indulgence. Time and again I reason with him. Sometimes, I talk to him; sometimes, I advise him; sometimes, I cry with him. But though, for the time being, he's all right, he doesn't, later on, worry his mind in any way about what I say, until he positively gets into some other mess, when he settles down again. But should any harm befall him, through these floggings, upon whom will I depend by and bye?"
As she spoke, she could not help melting into tears.
At the sight of Madame Wang in this disconsolate mood, Hsi Jen herself unconsciously grew wounded at heart, and as she wept along with her, "Mr. Secundus," she ventured, "is your ladyship's own child, so how could you not love him? Even we, who are mere servants, think it a piece of good fortune when we can wait on him for a time, and all parties can enjoy peace and quiet. But if he begins to behave in this manner, even peace and quiet will be completely out of the question for us. On what day, and at what hour, don't I advise Mr. Secundus; yet I can't manage to stir him up by any advice! But it happens that all that crew are ever ready to court his friendship, so it isn't to be wondered that he is what he is! The truth is that he thinks the advice we give him is not right and proper! As you have to-day, Madame, alluded to this subject, I've got something to tell you which has weighed heavy on my mind. I've been anxious to come and confide it to your ladyship and to solicit your guidance, but I've been in fear and dread lest you should give way to suspicion. For not only would then all my disclosures have been in vain, but I would have deprived myself of even a piece of ground wherein my remains could be laid."
Madame Wang perceived that her remarks were prompted by some purpose. "My dear child," she eagerly urged; "go on, speak out! When I recently heard one and all praise you secretly behind your back, I simply fancied that it was because you were careful in your attendance on Pao-yue; or possibly because you got on well with every one; all on account of minor considerations like these; (but I never thought it was on account of your good qualities). As it happens, what you told me just now concerns, in all its bearings, a great principle, and is in perfect accord with my ideas, so speak out freely, if you have aught to say! Only let no one else know anything about it, that is all that is needed."
"I've got nothing more to say," proceeded Hsi Jen. "My sole idea was to solicit your advice, Madame, as to how to devise a plan to induce Mr. Secundus to move his quarters out of the garden by and bye, as things will get all right then."
This allusion much alarmed Madame Wang. Speedily taking Hsi Jen's hand in hers: "Is it likely," she inquired, "that Pao-yue has been up to any mischief with any one?"
"Don't be too suspicious!" precipitately replied Hsi Jen. "It wasn't at anything of the kind that I was hinting. I merely expressed my humble opinion. Mr. Secundus is a young man now, and the young ladies inside are no more children. More than that, Miss Lin and Miss Pao may be two female maternal first cousins of his, but albeit his cousins, there is nevertheless the distinction of male and female between them; and day and night, as they are together, it isn't always convenient, when they have to rise and when they have to sit; so this cannot help making one give way to misgivings. Were, in fact, any outsider to see what's going on, it would not look like the propriety, which should exist in great families. The proverb appositely says that: 'when there's no trouble, one should make provision for the time of trouble.' How many concerns there are in the world, of which there's no making head or tail, mostly because what persons do without any design is construed by such designing people, as chance to have their notice attracted to it, as having been designedly accomplished, and go on talking and talking till, instead of mending matters, they make them worse! But if precautions be not taken beforehand, something improper will surely happen, for your ladyship is well aware of the temperament Mr. Secundus has shown all along! Besides, his great weakness is to fuss in our midst, so if no caution be exercised, and the slightest mistake be sooner or later committed, there'll be then no question of true or false: for when people are many one says one thing and another, and what is there that the months of that mean lot will shun with any sign of respect? Why, if their hearts be well disposed, they will maintain that he is far superior to Buddha himself. But if their hearts be badly disposed, they will at once knit a tissue of lies to show that he cannot even reach the standard of a beast! Now, if people by and bye speak well of Mr. Secundus, we'll all go on smoothly with our lives. But should he perchance give reason to any one to breathe the slightest disparaging remark, won't his body, needless for us to say, be smashed to pieces, his bones ground to powder, and the blame, which he might incur, be made ten thousand times more serious than it is? These things are all commonplace trifles; but won't Mr. Secundus' name and reputation be subsequently done for for life? Secondly, it's no easy thing for your ladyship to see anything of our master. A proverb also says: 'The perfect man makes provision beforehand;' so wouldn't it be better that we should, this very minute, adopt such steps as will enable us to guard against such things? Your ladyship has much to attend to, and you couldn't, of course, think of these things in a moment. And as for us, it would have been well and good, had they never suggested themselves to our minds; but since they have, we should be the more to blame did we not tell you anything about them, Madame. Of late, I have racked my mind, both day and night on this score; and though I couldn't very well confide to any one, my lamp alone knows everything!"
After listening to these words, Madame Wang felt as if she had been blasted by thunder and struck by lightning; and, as they fitted so appositely with the incident connected with Chin Ch'uan-erh, her heart was more than ever fired with boundless affection for Hsi Jen. "My dear girl," she promptly smiled, "it's you, who are gifted with enough foresight to be able to think of these things so thoroughly. Yet, did I not also think of them? But so busy have I been these several times that they slipped from my memory. What you've told me to-day, however, has brought me to my senses! It's, thanks to you, that the reputation of me, his mother, and of him, my son, is preserved intact! I really never had the faintest idea that you were so excellent! But you had better go now; I know of a way. Yet, just another word. After your remarks to me, I'll hand him over to your charge; please be careful of him. If you preserve him from harm, it will be tantamount to preserving me from harm, and I shall certainly not be ungrateful to you for it."
Hsi Jen said several consecutive yes's, and went on her way. She got back just in time to see Pao-yue awake. Hsi Jen explained all about the scented water; and, so intensely delighted was Pao-yue, that he at once asked that some should be mixed and brought to him to taste. In very deed, he found it unusually fragrant and good. But as his heart was a prey to anxiety on Tai-yue's behalf, he was full of longings to despatch some one to look her up. He was, however, afraid of Hsi Jen. Readily therefore he devised a plan to first get Hsi Jen out of the way, by despatching her to Pao-ch'ai's, to borrow a book. After Hsi Jen's departure, he forthwith called Ch'ing Wen. "Go," he said, "over to Miss Lin's and see what she's up to. Should she inquire about me, all you need tell her is that I'm all right."
"What shall I go empty-handed for?" rejoined Ch'ing Wen. "If I were, at least, to give her a message, it would look as if I had gone for something."
"I have no message that you can give her," added Pao-yue.
"If it can't be that," suggested Ch'ing Wen; "I might either take something over or fetch something. Otherwise, when I get there, what excuse will I be able to find?"
After some cogitation, Pao-yue stretched out his hand and, laying hold of a couple of handkerchiefs, he threw them to Ch'ing Wen. "These will do," he smiled. "Just tell her that I bade you take them to her."
"This is strange!" exclaimed Ch'ing Wen. "Will she accept these two half worn-out handkerchiefs! She'll besides get angry and say that you were making fun of her."
"Don't worry yourself about that;" laughed Pao-yue. "She will certainly know what I mean."
Ch'ing Wen, at this rejoinder, had no help but to take the handkerchiefs and to go to the Hsiao Hsiang lodge, where she discovered Ch'un Hsien in the act of hanging out handkerchiefs on the railings to dry. As soon as she saw her walk in, she vehemently waved her hand. "She's gone to sleep!" she said. Ch'ing Wen, however, entered the room. It was in perfect darkness. There was not even so much as a lantern burning, and Tai-yue was already ensconced in bed. "Who is there?" she shouted.
"It's Ch'ing Wen!" promptly replied Ch'ing Wen.
"What are you up to?" Tai-yue inquired.
"Mr. Secundus," explained Ch'ing Wen, "sends you some handkerchiefs, Miss."
Tai-yue's spirits sunk as soon as she caught her reply. "What can he have sent me handkerchiefs for?" she secretly reasoned within herself. "Who gave him these handkerchiefs?" she then asked aloud. "They must be fine ones, so tell him to keep them and give them to some one else; for I don't need such things at present."
"They're not new," smiled Ch'ing Wen. "They are of an ordinary kind, and old."
Hearing this, Lin Tai-yue felt downcast. But after minutely searching her heart, she at last suddenly grasped his meaning and she hastily observed: "Leave them and go your way."
Ch'ing Wen was compelled to put them down; and turning round, she betook herself back again. But much though she turned things over in her mind during the whole of her way homewards, she did not succeed in solving their import.
When Tai-yue guessed the object of the handkerchief, her very soul unawares flitted from her. "As Pao-yue has gone to such pains," she pondered, "to try and probe this dejection of mine, I have, on one hand, sufficient cause to feel gratified; but as there's no knowing what my dejection will come to in the future there is, on the other, enough to make me sad. Here he abruptly and deliberately sends me a couple of handkerchiefs; and, were it not that he has divined my inmost feelings, the mere sight of these handkerchiefs would be enough to make me treat the whole thing as ridiculous. The secret exchange of presents between us," she went on to muse, "fills me also with fears; and the thought that those tears, which I am ever so fond of shedding to myself, are of no avail, drives me likewise to blush with shame."
And by dint of musing and reflecting, her heart began, in a moment, to bubble over with such excitement that, much against her will, her thoughts in their superabundance rolled on incessantly. So speedily directing that a lamp should be lighted, she little concerned herself about avoiding suspicion, shunning the use of names, or any other such things, and set to work and rubbed the ink, soaked the pen, and then wrote the following stanzas on the two old handkerchiefs:
Vain in my eyes the tears collect; those tears in vain they flow, Which I in secret shed; they slowly drop; but for whom though? The silk kerchiefs, which he so kindly troubled to give me, How ever could they not with anguish and distress fill me?
The second ran thus:
Like falling pearls or rolling gems, they trickle on the sly. Daily I have no heart for aught; listless all day am I. As on my pillow or sleeves' edge I may not wipe them dry, I let them dot by dot, and drop by drop to run freely.
And the third:
The coloured thread cannot contain the pearls cov'ring my face. Tears were of old at Hsiang Chiang shed, but faint has waxed each trace. Outside my window thousands of bamboos, lo, also grow, But whether they be stained with tears or not, I do not know.
Lin Tai-yue was still bent upon going on writing, but feeling her whole body burn like fire, and her face scalding hot, she advanced towards the cheval-glass, and, raising the embroidered cover, she looked in. She saw at a glance that her cheeks wore so red that they, in very truth, put even the peach blossom to the shade. Yet little did she dream that from this date her illness would assume a more serious phase. Shortly, she threw herself on the bed, and, with the handkerchiefs still grasped in her hand, she was lost in a reverie.
Putting her aside, we will now take up our story with Hsi Jen. She went to pay a visit to Pao-ch'ai, but as it happened, Pao-ch'ai was not in the garden, but had gone to look up her mother. Hsi Jen, however, could not very well come back with empty hands so she waited until the second watch, when Pao-ch'ai eventually returned to her quarters.
Indeed, so correct an estimate of Hsueeh P'an's natural disposition did Pao-ch'ai ever have, that from an early moment she entertained within herself some faint suspicion that it must have been Hsueeh P'an, who had instigated some person or other to come and lodge a complaint against Pao-yue. And when she also unexpectedly heard Hsi Jen's disclosures on the subject, she became more positive in her surmises. The one, who had, in fact, told Hsi Jen was Pei Ming. But Pei Ming too had arrived at the conjecture in his own mind, and could not adduce any definite proof, so that every one treated his statements as founded partly on mere suppositions, and partly on actual facts; but, despite this, they felt quite certain that it was (Hsueeh P'an) who had intrigued.
Hsueeh P'an had always enjoyed this reputation; but on this particular instance the harm was not, actually, his own doing; yet as every one, with one consent, tenaciously affirmed that it was he, it was no easy matter for him, much though he might argue, to clear himself of blame.
Soon after his return, on this day, from a drinking bout out of doors, he came to see his mother; but finding Pao-ch'ai in her rooms, they exchanged a few irrelevant remarks. "I hear," he consequently asked, "that cousin Pao-yue has got into trouble; why is it?"
Mrs. Hsueeh was at the time much distressed on this score. As soon therefore as she caught this question, she gnashed her teeth with rage, and shouted: "You good-for-nothing spiteful fellow! It's all you who are at the bottom of this trouble; and do you still have the face to come and ply me with questions?"
These words made Hsueeh P'an wince. "When did I stir up any trouble?" he quickly asked.
"Do you still go on shamming!" cried Mrs. Hsueeh. "Every one knows full well that it was you, who said those things, and do you yet prevaricate?"
"Were every one," insinuated Hsueeh P'an, "to assert that I had committed murder, would you believe even that?"
"Your very sister is well aware that they were said by you." Mrs. Hsueeh continued, "and is it likely that she would accuse you falsely, pray?"
"Mother," promptly interposed Pao-ch'ai, "you shouldn't be brawling with brother just now! If you wait quietly, we'll find out the plain and honest truth." Then turning towards Hsueeh P'an: "Whether it's you, who said those things or not," she added, "it's of no consequence. The whole affair, besides, is a matter of the past, so what need is there for any arguments; they will only be making a mountain of a mole-hill! I have just one word of advice to give you; don't, from henceforward, be up to so much reckless mischief outside; and concern yourself a little less with other people's affairs! All you do is day after day to associate with your friends and foolishly gad about! You are a happy-go-lucky sort of creature! If nothing happens well and good; but should by and bye anything turn up, every one will, though it be none of your doing, imagine again that you are at the bottom of it! Not to speak of others, why I myself will be the first to suspect you!"
Hsueeh P'an was naturally open-hearted and plain-spoken, and could not brook anything in the way of innuendoes, so, when on the one side, Pao-ch'ai advised him not to foolishly gad about, and his mother, on the other, hinted that he had a foul tongue, and that he was the cause that Pao-yue had been flogged, he at once got so exasperated that he jumped about in an erratic manner and did all in his power, by vowing and swearing, to explain matters. "Who has," he ejaculated, heaping abuse upon every one, "laid such a tissue of lies to my charge! I'd like to take the teeth of that felon and pull them out! It's clear as day that they shove me forward as a target; for now that Pao-yue has been flogged they find no means of making a display of their zeal. But, is Pao-yue forsooth the lord of the heavens that because he has had a thrashing from his father, the whole household should be fussing for days? The other time, he behaved improperly, and my uncle gave him two whacks. But our venerable ancestor came, after a time, somehow or other, I don't know how, to hear about it, and, maintaining that it was all due to Mr. Chia Chen, she called him before her, and gave him a good blowing up. And here to-day, they have gone further, and involved me. They may drag me in as much as they like, I don't fear a rap! But won't it be better for me to go into the garden, and take Pao-yue and give him a bit of my mind and kill him? I can then pay the penalty by laying down my life for his, and one and all will enjoy peace and quiet!"
While he clamoured and shouted, he looked about him for the bar of the door, and, snatching it up, he there and then was running off, to the consternation of Mrs. Hsueeh, who clutched him in her arms. "You murderous child of retribution!" she cried. "Whom would you go and beat? come first and assail me?"
From excitement Hsueeh P'an's eyes protruded like copper bells. "What are you up to," he vociferated, "that you won't let me go where I please, and that you deliberately go on calumniating me? But every day that Pao-yue lives, the longer by that day I have to bear a false charge, so it's as well that we should both die that things be cleared up?"
Pao-ch'ai too hurriedly rushed forward. "Be patient a bit!" she exhorted him. "Here's mamma in an awful state of despair. Not to mention that it should be for you to come and pacify her, you contrariwise kick up all this rumpus! Why, saying nothing about her who is your parent, were even a perfect stranger to advise you, it would be meant for your good! But the good counsel she gave you has stirred up your monkey instead."
"From the way you're now speaking," Hsueeh P'an rejoined, "it must be you, who said that it was I; no one else but you!"
"You simply know how to feel displeased with me for speaking," argued Pao-ch'ai, "but you don't feel displeased with yourself for that reckless way of yours of looking ahead and not minding what is behind!"
"You now bear me a grudge," Hsueeh P'an added, "for looking to what is ahead and not to what is behind; but how is it you don't feel indignant with Pao-yue for stirring up strife and provoking trouble outside? Leaving aside everything else, I'll merely take that affair of Ch'i Kuan-erh's, which occurred the other day, and recount it to you as an instance. My friends and I came across this Ch'i Kuan-erh, ten times at least, but never has he made a single intimate remark to me, and how is it that, as soon as he met Pao-yue the other day, he at once produced his sash, and gave it to him, though he did not so much as know what his surname and name were? Now is it likely, forsooth, that this too was something that I started?"
"Do you still refer to this?" exclaimed Mrs. Hsueeh and Pao-ch'ai, out of patience. "Wasn't it about this that he was beaten? This makes it clear enough that it's you who gave the thing out."
"Really, you're enough to exasperate one to death!" Hsueeh P'an exclaimed. "Had you confined yourselves to saying that I had started the yarn, I wouldn't have lost my temper; but what irritates me is that such a fuss should be made for a single Pao-yue, as to subvert heaven and earth!"
"Who fusses?" shouted Pao-ch'ai. "You are the first to arm yourself to the teeth and start a row, and then you say that it's others who are up to mischief!"
Hsueeh P'an, seeing that every remark, made by Pao-ch'ai, contained so much reasonableness that he could with difficulty refute it, and that her words were even harder for him to reply to than were those uttered by his mother, he was consequently bent upon contriving a plan to make use of such language as could silence her and compel her to return to her room, so as to have no one bold enough to interfere with his speaking; but, his temper being up, he was not in a position to weigh his speech. "Dear Sister!" he readily therefore said, "you needn't be flying into a huff with me! I've long ago divined your feelings. Mother told me some time back that for you with that gold trinket, must be selected some suitor provided with a jade one; as such a one will be a suitable match for you. And having treasured this in your mind, and seen that Pao-yue has that rubbishy thing of his, you naturally now seize every occasion to screen him...."
However, before he could finish, Pao-ch'ai trembled with anger, and clinging to Mrs. Hsueeh, she melted into tears. "Mother," she observed, "have you heard what brother says, what is it all about?"
Hsueeh P'an, at the sight of his sister bathed in tears, became alive to the fact that he had spoken inconsiderately, and, flying into a rage, he walked away to his own quarters and retired to rest. But we can well dispense with any further comment on the subject.
Pao-ch'ai was, at heart, full of vexation and displeasure. She meant to give vent to her feelings in some way, but the fear again of upsetting her mother compelled her to conceal her tears. She therefore took leave of her parent, and went back all alone. On her return to her chamber, she sobbed and sobbed throughout the whole night. The next day, she got out of bed, as soon as it dawned; but feeling even no inclination to comb her chevelure or perform her ablutions, she carelessly adjusted her clothes and came out of the garden to see her mother.
As luck would have it, she encountered Tai-yue standing alone under the shade of the trees, who inquired of her: "Where she was off to?"
"I'm going home," Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai replied. And as she uttered these words, she kept on her way.
But Tai-yue perceived that she was going off in a disconsolate mood; and, noticing that her eyes betrayed signs of crying, and that her manner was unlike that of other days, she smilingly called out to her from behind: "Sister, you should take care of yourself a bit. Were you even to cry so much as to fill two water jars with tears, you wouldn't heal the wounds inflicted by the cane."
But as what reply Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai gave is not yet known to you, reader, lend an ear to the explanation contained in the next chapter.
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