中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì sì shí liù huí gān gà rén nán miǎn gān gà shì yuān yāng nǚ shì jué yuān yāng 'ǒu CHAPTER XLVI.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XLVI.
huà shuō lín dài yù zhí dào sì gèng jiāng lán， fāng jiàn jiàn de shuì qù， zàn qiě wú huà。 rú jīn qiě shuō fèng jiě 'ér yīn jiàn xíng fū rén jiào tā， bù zhī hé shì， máng lìng chuān dài liǎo yī fān， zuò chē guò lái。 xíng fū rén jiāng fáng nèi rén qiǎn chū， qiǎo xiàng fèng jiě 'ér dào： “ jiào nǐ lái bù wéi bié shì， yòu yī jiàn wéi nán de shì， lǎo yé tuō wǒ， wǒ bù dé zhù yì， xiān hé nǐ shāng yì。 lǎo yé yīn kàn shàng liǎo lǎo tài tài de yuān yāng， yào tā zài fáng lǐ， jiào wǒ hé lǎo tài tài tǎo qù。 wǒ xiǎng zhè dǎo píng cháng yòu de shì， zhǐ shì pà lǎo tài tài bù gěi， nǐ kě yòu fǎ zǐ？ " fèng jiě 'ér tīng liǎo， máng dào：“ yǐ wǒ shuō， jìng bié pèng zhè gè dīng zǐ qù。 lǎo tài tài lí liǎo yuān yāng， fàn yě chī bù xià qù de， nà lǐ jiù shè dé liǎo？ kuàng qiě píng rì shuō qǐ xián huà lái， lǎo tài tài cháng shuō， lǎo yé rú jīn shàng liǎo nián jì， zuò shénme zuǒ yī gè xiǎo lǎo pó yòu yī gè xiǎo lǎo pó fàng zài wū lǐ， méi de dān wù liǎo rén jiā。 fàng zhe shēn zǐ bù bǎo yǎng， guān 'ér yě bù hǎo shēng zuò qù， chéng rì jiā hé xiǎo lǎo pó hē jiǔ。 tài tài tīng zhè huà， hěn xǐ huān lǎo yé ní？ zhè huì zǐ huí bì hái kǒng huí bì bù jí， dàoná cǎo gùn 'ér chuō lǎo hǔ de bí zǐ yǎn 'ér qù liǎo！ tài tài bié nǎo， wǒ shì bù gǎn qù de。 míng fàng zhe bù zhōng yòng， ér qiě fǎn zhāo chū méi yì sī lái。 lǎo yé rú jīn shàng liǎo nián jì， xíng shì bù tuǒ， tài tài gāi quàn cái shì。 bǐ bù dé nián qīng， zuò zhè xiē shì wú 'ài。 rú jīn xiōng dì， zhí 'ér， ér zǐ， sūn zǐ yī dà qún， hái zhè me nào qǐ lái， zěn yàng jiàn rén ní？ " xíng fū rén lěng xiào dào：“ dà jiā zǐ sān fáng sì qiè de yě duō， piān zán men jiù shǐ bù dé？ wǒ quàn liǎo yě wèi bì yǐ。 jiù shì lǎo tài tài xīn 'ài de yā tóu， zhè me hú zǐ cāng bái liǎo yòu zuò liǎo guān de yī gè dà 'ér zǐ， yào liǎo zuōfáng lǐ rén， yě wèi bì hǎo bó huí de。 wǒ jiào liǎo nǐ lái， bù guò shāng yì shāng yì， nǐ xiān pài shàng liǎo yī piān bù shì。 yě yòu jiào nǐ yào qù de lǐ？ zì rán shì wǒ shuō qù。 nǐ dǎo shuō wǒ bù quàn， nǐ hái bù zhī dào nà xìng zǐ de， quàn bù chéng， xiān hé wǒ nǎo liǎo。 ”
fèng jiě 'ér zhī dào xíng fū rén bǐng xìng yú А， zhǐ zhī chéng shùn jiǎ shè yǐ zì bǎo， cì zé lán qǔ cái huò wéi zì dé， jiā xià yī yìng dà xiǎo shì wù， jù yóu jiǎ shè bǎi bù。 fán chū rù yín qián shì wù， yī jīng tā shǒu， biàn kè sè yì cháng， yǐ jiǎ shè làng fèi wéi míng， " xū dé wǒ jiù zhōng jiǎn shěng， fāng kě cháng bǔ "， ér nǚ nú pú， yī rén bù kào， yī yán bù tīng de。 rú jīn yòu tīng xíng fū rén rú cǐ de huà， biàn zhī tā yòu nòng zuǒ xìng， quàn liǎo bù zhōng yòng， lián máng péi xiào shuō dào：“ tài tài zhè huà shuō de jí shì。 wǒ néng huó liǎo duō dà， zhī dào shénme qīng zhòng？ xiǎng lái fù mǔ gēn qián， bié shuō yī gè yā tóu， jiù shì nà me dà de huó bǎo bèi， bù gěi lǎo yé gěi shuí？ bèi dì lǐ de huà nà lǐ xìn dé？ wǒ jìng shì gè dāi zǐ。 liǎn 'èr yé huò yòu rì dé liǎo bù shì， lǎo yé tài tài hèn de nà yàng， hèn bù dé lì kè ná lái yī xià zǐ dǎ sǐ， jí zhì jiàn liǎo miàn， yě bà liǎo， yǐ jiù ná zhe lǎo yé tài tài xīn 'ài de dōng xī shǎng tā。 rú jīn lǎo tài tài dài lǎo yé， zì rán yě shì nà yàng liǎo。 yǐ wǒ shuō， lǎo tài tài jīn 'ér xǐ huān， yào tǎo jīn 'ér jiù tǎo qù。 wǒ xiān guò qù hōng zhe lǎo tài tài fā xiào， děng tài tài guò qù liǎo， wǒ dā shàn zhe zǒu kāi， bǎ wū zǐ lǐ de rén wǒ yě dài kāi， tài tài hǎo hé lǎo tài tài shuō de。 gěi liǎo gèng hǎo， bù gěi yě méi fáng 'ài， zhòng rén yě bù zhī dào。” xíng fū rén jiàn tā zhè bān shuō， biàn yòu xǐ huān qǐ lái， yòu gào sù tā dào：“ wǒ de zhù yì xiān bù hé lǎo tài tài yào。 lǎo tài tài yào shuō bù gěi， zhè shì biàn sǐ liǎo。 wǒ xīn lǐ xiǎng zhe xiān qiāoqiāo de hé yuān yāng shuō。 tā suī hài sào， wǒ xì xì de gào sù liǎo tā， tā zì rán bù yán yǔ， jiù tuǒ liǎo。 nà shí zài hé lǎo tài tài shuō， lǎo tài tài suī bù yǐ， gē bù zhù tā yuàn yì， cháng yán ‘ rén qù bù zhōng liú ’， zì rán zhè jiù tuǒ liǎo。 " fèng jiě 'ér xiào dào：“ dào dǐ shì tài tài yòu zhì móu， zhè shì qiān tuǒ wàn tuǒ de。 bié shuō shì yuān yāng， píng tā shì shuí， nà yī gè bù xiǎng bā gāo wàng shàng， bù xiǎng chū tóu de？ zhè bàn gè zhù zǐ bù zuò， dǎo yuàn yì zuò gè yā tóu， jiāng lái pèi gè xiǎo zǐ jiù wán liǎo。 " xíng fū rén xiào dào：“ zhèng shì zhè gè huà liǎo。 bié shuō yuān yāng， jiù shì nà xiē zhí shì de dà yā tóu， shuí bù yuàn yì zhè yàng ní。 nǐ xiān guò qù， bié lù yī diǎn fēng shēng， wǒ chī liǎo wǎn fàn jiù guò lái。”
fèng jiě 'ér 'àn xiǎng：“ yuān yāng sù xí shì gè kěwù de， suī rú cǐ shuō， bǎo bù yán tā jiù yuàn yì。 wǒ xiān guò qù liǎo， tài tài hòu guò qù， ruò tā yǐ liǎo biàn méi huà shuō， cháng huò bù yǐ， tài tài shì duō yí de rén， zhǐ pà jiù yí wǒ zǒu liǎo fēng shēng， shǐ tā ná qiāng zuò shì de。 nà shí tài tài yòu jiàn liǎo yìng liǎo wǒ de huà， xiū nǎo biàn chéng nù， ná wǒ chū qǐ qì lái， dǎo méi yì sī。 bù rú tóng zhe yī qí guò qù liǎo， tā yǐ yě bà， bù yǐ yě bà， jiù yí bù dào wǒ shēn shàng liǎo。” xiǎng bì， yīn xiào dào：“ fāng cái lín lái， jiù mǔ nà biān sòng liǎo liǎng lóng zǐ 'ān chún， wǒ fēn fù tā men zhà liǎo， yuán yào gǎn tài tài wǎn fàn shàng sòng guò lái de。 wǒ cái jìn dà mén shí， jiàn xiǎo zǐ men tái chē， shuō tài tài de chē bá liǎo féng， ná qù shōu shí qù liǎo。 bù rú zhè huì zǐ zuò liǎo wǒ de chē yī qí guò qù dǎo hǎo。 " xíng fū rén tīng liǎo， biàn mìng rén lái huàn yī fú。 fèng jiě máng zhe fú shì liǎo yī huí， niàn 'ér liǎng gè zuò chē guò lái。 fèng jiě 'ér yòu shuō dào：“ tài tài guò lǎo tài tài nà lǐ qù， wǒ ruò gēn liǎo qù， lǎo tài tài ruò wèn qǐ wǒ guò qù zuò shénme de， dǎo bù hǎo。 bù rú tài tài xiān qù， wǒ tuō liǎo yī cháng zài lái。”
xíng fū rén tīng liǎo yòu lǐ， biàn zì wǎng jiǎ mǔ chù， hé jiǎ mǔ shuō liǎo yī huí xián huà， biàn chū lái jiǎ tuō wǎng wáng fū rén fáng lǐ qù， cóng hòu mén chū qù xī tián jǐ duō láng（ 1870 héng 1945） rì běn xiàn dài wéi xīn zhù yì zhé xué jiā。 xī， dǎ yuān yāng de wò fáng qián guò。 zhǐ jiàn yuān yāng zhèng rán zuò zài nà lǐ zuò zhēn xiàn， jiàn liǎo xíng fū rén， máng zhàn qǐ lái。 xíng fū rén xiào dào：“ zuò shí me ní？ wǒ qiáo qiáo， nǐ zhā de huā 'ér yuè fā hǎo liǎo。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn biàn jiē tā shǒu nèi de zhēn xiàn qiáo liǎo yī qiáo， zhǐ guǎn zàn hǎo。 fàng xià zhēn xiàn， yòu hún shēn dǎliang。 zhǐ jiàn tā chuānzhuó bàn xīn de 'ǒu hé sè de líng 'ǎo， qīng duàn qiā yá bèi xīn， xià miàn shuǐ lǜ qún zǐ。 fēng yāo xuē bèi， yā dàn liǎn miàn， wū yóu tóu fā， gāo gāo de bí zǐ， liǎng biān sāi shàng wēi wēi de jǐ diǎn qiāobān。 yuān yāng jiàn zhè bān kàn tā， zì jǐ dǎo bù hǎo yì sī qǐ lái， xīn lǐ biàn jué chà yì， yīn xiào wèn dào：“ tài tài， zhè huì zǐ bù zǎo bù wǎn de， guò lái zuò shénme？ " xíng fū rén shǐ gè yǎn sè 'ér， gēn de rén tuì chū。 xíng fū rén biàn zuò xià， lā zhe yuān yāng de shǒu xiào dào：“ wǒ tè lái gěi nǐ dào xǐ lái liǎo。” yuān yāng tīng liǎo， xīn zhōng yǐ cāizháo sān fēn， bù jué hóng liǎo liǎn， dī liǎo tóu bù fā yī yán。 tīng xíng fū rén dào：“ nǐ zhī dào nǐ lǎo yé gēn qián jìng méi yòu gè kě kào de rén， xīn lǐ zài yào mǎi yī gè， yòu pà nà xiē rén yá zǐ jiā chū lái de bù gān bù jìng， yě bù zhī dào máo bìng 'ér， mǎi liǎo lái jiā， sān rì liǎng rì， yòu yào у guǐ diào hóu de。 yīn mǎn fǔ lǐ yào tiǎo yī gè jiā shēng nǚ 'ér shōu liǎo， yòu méi gè hǎo de： bù shì múyàng 'ér bù hǎo， jiù shì xìng zǐ bù hǎo， yòu liǎo zhè gè hǎo chù， méi liǎo nà gè hǎo chù。 yīn cǐ lěng yǎn xuǎn liǎo bàn nián， zhè xiē nǚ hái zǐ lǐ tóu， jiù zhǐ nǐ shì gè jiān 'ér， múyàng 'ér， xíng shì zuò rén， wēn róu kě kào， yī gài shì qí quán de。 yì sī yào hé lǎo tài tài tǎo liǎo nǐ qù， shōu zài wū lǐ。 nǐ bǐ bù dé wài tóu xīn mǎi de， nǐ zhè yī jìn qù liǎo， jìn mén jiù kāi liǎo liǎn， jiù fēng nǐ yí niàn， yòu tǐ miàn， yòu zūn guì。 nǐ yòu shì gè yào qiáng de rén， sú huà shuō de，‘ jīn zǐ zhōng dé jīn zǐ huàn’， shuí zhī jìng bèi lǎo yé kàn zhòng liǎo nǐ。 rú jīn zhè yī lái， nǐ kě suì liǎo sù rì zhì dà xīn gāo de yuàn liǎo， yě dǔ yī dǔ nà xiē xián nǐ de rén de zuǐ。 gēn liǎo wǒ huí lǎo tài tài qù！ " shuō zhe lā liǎo tā de shǒu jiù yào zǒu。 yuān yāng hóng liǎo liǎn， duó shǒu bù xíng。 xíng fū rén zhī tā hài sào， yīn yòu shuō dào：“ zhè yòu shénme sào chù？ nǐ yòu bù yòng shuō huà， zhǐ gēn zhe wǒ jiù shì liǎo。” yuān yāng zhǐ dī liǎo tóu bù dòng shēn。 xíng fū rén jiàn tā zhè bān， biàn yòu shuō dào：“ nán dào nǐ bù yuàn yì bù chéng？ ruò guǒ rán bù yuàn yì， kě zhēn shì gè shǎ yā tóu liǎo。 fàng zhe zhù zǐ nǎi nǎi bù zuò， dǎo yuàn yì zuò yā tóu！ sān nián 'èr nián， bù guò pèi shàng gè xiǎo zǐ， hái shì nú cái。 nǐ gēn liǎo wǒ men qù， nǐ zhī dào wǒ de xìng zǐ yòu hǎo， yòu bù shì nà bù róng rén de rén。 lǎo yé dài nǐ men yòu hǎo。 guò yī nián bàn zài， shēng xià gè yī nán bàn nǚ， nǐ jiù hé wǒ bìng jiān liǎo。 jiā lǐ rén nǐ yào shǐ huàn shuí， shuí hái bù dòng？ xiàn chéng zhù zǐ bù zuò qù， cuò guò zhè gè jī huì， hòu huǐ jiù chí liǎo。” yuān yāng zhǐ guǎn dī liǎo tóu， réng shì bù yǔ。 xíng fū rén yòu dào：“ nǐ zhè me gè xiǎng kuài rén， zěn me yòu zhè yàng jī nián qǐ lái？ yòu shénme bù chēng xīn zhī chù， zhǐ guǎn shuō yǔ wǒ， wǒ guǎn nǐ suì xīn rú yì jiù shì liǎo。” yuān yāng réng bù yǔ。 xíng fū rén yòu xiào dào：“ xiǎng bì nǐ yòu lǎo zǐ niàn， nǐ zì jǐ bù kěn shuō huà， pà sào。 nǐ děng tā men wèn nǐ， zhè yě shì lǐ。 ràng wǒ wèn tā men qù， jiào tā men lái wèn nǐ， yòu huà zhǐ guǎn gào sù tā men。” shuō bì， biàn wǎng fèng jiě 'ér fáng zhōng lái。
fèng jiě 'ér zǎo huàn liǎo yī fú， yīn fáng nèi wú rén， biàn jiāng cǐ huà gào sù liǎo píng 'ér。 píng 'ér yě yáo tóu xiào dào：“ jù wǒ kàn， cǐ shì wèi bì tuǒ。 píng cháng wǒ men bēizhe rén shuō qǐ huà lái， tīng tā nà zhù yì， wèi bì shì kěn de。 yě zhǐ shuō zhe qiáo bà liǎo。 " fèng jiě 'ér dào：“ tài tài bì lái zhè wū lǐ shāng yì。 yǐ liǎo hái kě， ruò bù yǐ， bái tǎo gè sào， dāng zhe nǐ men， qǐ bù liǎn shàng bù hǎo kàn。 nǐ shuō gěi tā men zhà 'ān chún， zài yòu shénme pèi jǐ yàng， yù bèi chī fàn。 nǐ qiě bié chù guàng guàng qù， gūliáng zhe qù liǎo zài lái。” píng 'ér tīng shuō， zhào yàng chuán gěi pó zǐ men， biàn xiāo yáo zì zài de wǎng yuán zǐ lǐ lái。
zhè lǐ yuān yāng jiàn xíng fū rén qù liǎo， bì zài fèng jiě 'ér fáng lǐ shāng yì qù liǎo， bì dìng yòu rén lái wèn tā de， bù rú duǒ liǎo zhè lǐ， yīn zhǎo liǎo hǔ pò shuō dào：“ lǎo tài tài yào wèn wǒ， zhǐ shuō wǒ bìng liǎo， méi chī zǎo fàn， wǎng yuán zǐ lǐ guàng guàng jiù lái。 " hǔ pò dāyìng liǎo。 yuān yāng yě wǎng yuán zǐ lǐ lái， gè chù yóu wán， bù xiǎng zhèng yù jiàn píng 'ér。 píng 'ér yīn jiàn wú rén， biàn xiào dào：“ xīn yí niàn lái liǎo！ " yuān yāng tīng liǎo， biàn hóng liǎo liǎn， shuō dào：“ guài dào nǐ men chuàn tōng yī qì lái suàn jì wǒ！ děng zhe wǒ hé nǐ zhù zǐ nào qù jiù shì liǎo。” píng 'ér tīng liǎo， zì huǐ shī yán， biàn lā tā dào fēng shù dǐ xià， zuò zài yī kuài shí shàng， yuè xìng bǎ fāng cái fèng jiě guò qù huí lái suǒ yòu de xíng jǐng yán cí shǐ mò yuán yóu gào sù yǔ tā。 yuān yāng hóng liǎo liǎn， xiàng píng 'ér lěng xiào dào：“ zhè shì zán men hǎo， bǐ rú xí rén， hǔ pò， sù yún， zǐ juān， cǎi xiá， yù chuàn 'ér， shè yuè， cuì mò， gēn liǎo shǐ gū niàn qù de cuì lǚ， sǐ liǎo de kě rén hé jīn chuàn， qù liǎo de qiàn xuě， lián shàng nǐ wǒ， zhè shí lái gè rén， cóng xiǎo 'ér shénme huà 'ér bù shuō？ shénme shì 'ér bù zuò？ zhè rú jīn yīn dōudà liǎo， gè zì gān gè zì de qù liǎo， rán wǒ xīn lǐ réng shì zhào jiù， yòu huà yòu shì， bìng bù mán nǐ men。 zhè huà wǒ qiě fàng zài nǐ xīn lǐ， qiě bié hé 'èr nǎi nǎi shuō： bié shuō dà lǎo yé yào wǒ zuò xiǎo lǎo pó， jiù shì tài tài zhè huì zǐ sǐ liǎo， tā sān méi liù pìn de qǔ wǒ qù zuò dà lǎo pó， wǒ yě bù néng qù。”
píng 'ér fāng yù xiào dá， zhǐ tīng shān shí bèi hòu hā hā de xiào dào：“ hǎo gè méi liǎn de yā tóu， kuī nǐ bù pà yá chěn。” èr rén tīng liǎo bù miǎn chī liǎo yī jīng， máng qǐ shēn xiàng shān shí bèi hòu zhǎo xún， bù shì bié rén běn yuán。 xī zhōu mò bó yáng fù yòu“ tiān dì zhī qì， bù shī qí xù” de shuō fǎ。 zhàn， què shì xí rén xiào zhe zǒu liǎo chū lái wèn：“ shénme shì qíng？ gào sù wǒ。” shuō zhe， sān rén zuò zài shí shàng。 píng 'ér yòu bǎ fāng cái de huà shuō yǔ xí rén tīng dào：“ zhēn zhēn zhè huà lùn lǐ bù gāi wǒ men shuō， zhè gè dà lǎo yé tài hǎo sè liǎo， lüè píng tóu zhèng liǎn de， tā jiù bù fàng shǒu liǎo。” píng 'ér dào：“ nǐ jì bù yuàn yì， wǒ jiào nǐ gè fǎ zǐ， bù yòng fèi shì jiù wán liǎo。” yuān yāng dào：“ shénme fǎ zǐ？ nǐ shuō lái wǒ tīng。” píng 'ér xiào dào：“ nǐ zhǐ hé lǎo tài tài shuō， jiù shuō yǐ jīng gěi liǎo liǎn 'èr yé liǎo， dà lǎo yé jiù bù hǎo yào liǎo。” yuān yāng cuì dào：“ shénme dōng xī！ nǐ hái shuō ní！ qián 'ér nǐ zhù zǐ bù shì zhè me húnshuō de？ shuí zhī yìng dào jīn 'ér liǎo！ " xí rén xiào dào：“ tā men liǎng gèdōu bù yuàn yì， wǒ jiù hé lǎo tài tài shuō， jiào lǎo tài tài shuō bǎ nǐ yǐ jīng xǔ liǎo bǎo yù liǎo， dà lǎo yé yě jiù sǐ liǎo xīn liǎo。” yuān yāng yòu shì qì， yòu shì sào， yòu shì jí， yīn mà dào：“ liǎng gè tí zǐ bù dé hǎo sǐ de！ rén jiā yòu wéi nán de shì， ná zhe nǐ men dāng zhèng jīng rén， gào sù nǐ men yǔ wǒ pái jiě pái jiě， nǐ men dǎo tì huàn zhe qǔ xiào 'ér。 nǐ men zì wéi dōuyòu liǎo jiēguǒ liǎo， jiāng láidōu shì zuò yí niàn de。 jù wǒ kàn， tiān xià de shì wèi bì dū suì xīn rú yì。 nǐ men qiě shōu zhe xiē 'ér， bié tè lè guò liǎo tóu 'ér！ " èr rén jiàn tā jí liǎo， máng péi xiào yāng gào dào：“ hǎo jiě jiě， bié duō xīn， zán men cóng xiǎo 'ér dōushì qīn zǐ mèi yī bān， bù guò wú rén chù 'ǒu rán qǔ gè xiào 'ér。 nǐ de zhù yì gào sù wǒ men zhī dào， yě hǎo fàng xīn。” yuān yāng dào：“ shénme zhù yì！ wǒ zhǐ bù qù jiù wán liǎo。” píng 'ér yáo tóu dào：“ nǐ bù qù wèi bì dé gān xiū。 dà lǎo yé de xìng zǐ nǐ shì zhī dào de。 suī rán nǐ shì lǎo tài tài fáng lǐ de rén， cǐ kè bù gǎn bǎ nǐ zěn me yàng， jiāng lái nán dào nǐ gēn lǎo tài tài yī bèi zǐ bù chéng？ yě yào chū qù de。 nà shí luò liǎo tā de shǒu， dǎo bù hǎo liǎo。” yuān yāng lěng xiào dào：“ lǎo tài tài zài yī rì， wǒ yī rì bù lí zhè lǐ， ruò shì lǎo tài tài guī xī qù liǎo， tā héng shù hái yòu sān nián de xiào ní， méi gè niàn cái sǐ liǎo tā xiān nà xiǎo lǎo pó de！ děng guò sān nián， zhī dào yòu shì zěn me gè guāng jǐng， nà shí zài shuō。 zòng dào liǎo zhì jí wéi nán， wǒ jiǎn liǎo tóu fā zuò gū zǐ qù， bù rán， hái yòu yī sǐ。 yī bèi zǐ bù jià nán rén， yòu zěn me yàng？ lè dé gān jìng ní！ " píng 'ér xí rén xiào dào：“ zhēn zhè tí zǐ méi liǎo liǎn， yuè fā xìn kǒu 'ér dōushuō chū lái liǎo。” yuān yāng dào：“ shì dào rú cǐ， sào yī huì zěn me yàng！ nǐ men bù xìn， màn màn de kàn zhe jiù shì liǎo。 tài tài cái shuō liǎo， zhǎo wǒ lǎo zǐ niàn qù。 wǒ kàn tā nán jīng zhǎo qù！ " píng 'ér dào：“ nǐ de fù mǔ dōuzài nán jīng kàn fáng zǐ， méi shàng lái， zhōng jiǔ yě xún de zhe。 xiàn zài hái yòu nǐ gē gē sǎo zǐ zài zhè lǐ。 kě xī nǐ shì zhè lǐ de jiā shēng nǚ 'ér， bù rú wǒ men liǎng gè rén shì dān zài zhè lǐ。” yuān yāng dào：“ jiā shēng nǚ 'ér zěn me yàng？‘ niú bù chī shuǐ qiáng 'àn tóu’？ wǒ bù yuàn yì， nán dào shā wǒ de lǎo zǐ niàn bù chéng？”
zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn tā sǎo zǐ cóng nà biān zǒu lái。 xí rén dào：“ dāng shí zhǎo bù zhe nǐ de diē niàn， yī dìng hé nǐ sǎo zǐ shuō liǎo。” yuān yāng dào：“ zhè gè chāng fù zhuān guǎn shì gè‘ jiǔ guó fàn luò tuó de’， tīng liǎo zhè huà， tā yòu gè bù fèng chéng qù de！ " shuō huà zhī jiān， yǐ lái dào gēn qián。 tā sǎo zǐ xiào dào：“ nà lǐ méi zhǎo dào， gū niàn páo liǎo zhè lǐ lái！ nǐ gēn liǎo wǒ lái， wǒ hé nǐ shuō huà。” píng 'ér xí réndōu máng ràng zuò。 tā sǎo zǐ shuō：“ gū niàn men qǐng zuò， wǒ zhǎo wǒ men gū niàn shuō jù huà。” xí rén píng 'ér dū zhuāng bù zhī dào， xiào dào：“ shénme huà zhè yàng máng？ wǒ men zhè lǐ cāi mí 'ér yíng shǒu pī zǐ dǎ ní， děng cāi liǎo zhè gè zài qù。 " yuān yāng dào：“ shénme huà？ nǐ shuō bà。” tā sǎo zǐ xiào dào：“ nǐ gēn wǒ lái， dào nà lǐ wǒ gào sù nǐ， héng shù yòu hǎo huà 'ér。” yuān yāng dào：“ kě shì dà tài tài hé nǐ shuō de nà huà？ " tā sǎo zǐ xiào dào：“ gū niàn jì zhī dào， hái nài hé wǒ！ kuài lái， wǒ xì xì de gào sù nǐ， kě shì tiān dà de xǐ shì。” yuān yāng tīng shuō， lì qǐ shēn lái， zhào tā sǎo zǐ liǎn shàng xià sǐ jìn cuì liǎo yī kǒu， zhǐ zhe tā mà dào：“ nǐ kuài jiā zhe Б zuǐ lí liǎo zhè lǐ， hǎo duō zhe ní！ shénme‘ hǎo huà’！ sòng huī zōng de yīng， zhào zǐ 'áng de mǎ， dōushì hǎo huà 'ér。 shénme‘ xǐ shì’！ zhuàng yuán dòu 'ér guàn de jiāng 'ér yòu mǎn shì xǐ shì。 guài dào chéng rì jiā xiàn mù rén jiā nǚ 'ér zuò liǎo xiǎo lǎo pó， yī jiā zǐ dū zhàng zhe tā héng xíng bà dào de， yī jiā zǐ dōuchéng liǎo xiǎo lǎo pó liǎo！ kàn de yǎn rè liǎo， yě bǎ wǒ sòng zài huǒ kēng lǐ qù。 wǒ ruò dé liǎn ní， nǐ men zài wài tóu héng xíng bà dào， zì jǐ jiù fēng zì jǐ shì jiù yé liǎo。 wǒ ruò bù dé liǎn bài liǎo shí， nǐ men bǎ wàng bā bó zǐ yī suō， shēng sǐ yóu wǒ。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn kū， píng 'ér xí rén lán zhe quàn。 tā sǎo zǐ liǎn shàng xià bù lái， yīn shuō dào：“ yuàn yì bù yuàn yì， nǐ yě hǎo shuō， bù fàn zhe qiān sān guà sì de。 sú yǔ shuō，‘ dāng zhe 'ǎi rén， bié shuō duǎn huà’。 gū nǎi nǎi mà wǒ， wǒ bù gǎn hái yán， zhè 'èr wèi gū niàn bìng méi rě zhe nǐ， xiǎo lǎo pó cháng xiǎo lǎo pó duǎn， rén jiā liǎn shàng zěn me guò dé qù？ " xí rén píng 'ér máng dào：“ nǐ dǎo bié zhè me shuō， tā yě bìng bù shì shuō wǒ men， nǐ dǎo bié qiān sān guà sì de。 nǐ tīng jiàn nà wèi tài tài， tài yé men fēng wǒ men zuò xiǎo lǎo pó？ kuàng qiě wǒ men liǎng gè
yě méi yòu diē niàn gē gē xiōng dì zài zhè mén zǐ lǐ zhàng zhe wǒ men héng xíng bà dào de。 tā mà de rén zì yòu tā mà de， wǒ men fàn bù zhe duō xīn。” yuān yāng dào：“ tā jiàn wǒ mà liǎo tā， tā sào liǎo， méi de gài liǎn， yòu ná huà tiǎo suō nǐ men liǎng gè， xìng kuī nǐ men liǎng gè míng bái。 yuán shì wǒ jí liǎo， yě méi fēn bié chū lái， tā jiù tiǎo chū zhè gè kòng'ér lái。” tā sǎo zǐ zì jué méi qù， dǔ qì qù liǎo。
yuān yāng qì dé hái mà， píng 'ér xí rén quàn tā yī huí， fāng cái bà liǎo。 píng 'ér yīn wèn xí rén dào：“ nǐ zài nà lǐ cáng zhe zuò shèn me de？ wǒ men jìng méi kàn jiàn nǐ。” xí rén dào：“ wǒ yīn wéi wǎng sì gū niàn fáng lǐ qiáo wǒ men bǎo 'èr yé qù de， shuí zhī chí liǎo yī bù， shuō shì lái jiā lǐ lái liǎo。 wǒ yí huò zěn me bù yù jiàn ní bì yòu míng shì zhě”（《 mèng zǐ · gōng sūn chǒu xià》）。 bìng lìshǔ yáo、 shùn、 tānɡ、 wén， xiǎng yào wǎng lín gū niàn jiā lǐ zhǎo qù， yòu yù jiàn tā de rén shuō yě méi qù。 wǒ zhè lǐ zhèng yí huò shì chū yuán zǐ qù liǎo， kě qiǎo nǐ cóng nà lǐ lái liǎo， wǒ yī shǎn， nǐ yě méi kàn jiàn。 hòu lái tā yòu lái liǎo。 wǒ cóng zhè shù hòu tóu zǒu dào shān zǐ shí hòu， wǒ què jiàn nǐ liǎng gè shuō huà lái liǎo， shuí zhī nǐ men sì gè yǎn jīng méi jiàn wǒ。”
yī yǔ wèi liǎo， yòu tīng shēn hòu xiào dào：“ sì gè yǎn jīng méi jiàn nǐ？ nǐ men liù gè yǎn jīng jìng méi jiàn wǒ！ " sān rén hǔ liǎo yī tiào， huí shēn yī kàn， bù shì bié gè， zhèng shì bǎo yù zǒu lái。 xí rén xiān xiào dào：“ jiào wǒ hǎo zhǎo， nǐ nà lǐ lái？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ wǒ cóng sì mèi mèi nà lǐ chū lái， yíng tóu kàn jiàn nǐ lái liǎo， wǒ jiù zhī dào shì zhǎo wǒ qù de， wǒ jiù cáng liǎo qǐ lái hǒngnǐ。 kàn nǐ В zhe tóu guò qù liǎo， jìn liǎo yuàn zǐ jiù chū lái liǎo， féng rén jiù wèn。 wǒ zài nà lǐ hǎo xiào， zhǐ děng nǐ dào liǎo gēn qián hǔ nǐ yī tiào de， hòu lái jiàn nǐ yě cáng cáng duǒ duǒ de， wǒ jiù zhī dào yě shì yào hǒngrén liǎo。 wǒ tàn tóu wǎng qián kàn liǎo yī kàn， què shì tā liǎng gè， suǒ yǐ wǒ jiù rào dào nǐ shēn hòu。 nǐ chū qù， wǒ jiù duǒ zài nǐ duǒ de nà lǐ liǎo。” píng 'ér xiào dào：“ zán mén zài wǎng hòu zhǎo zhǎo qù， zhǐ pà hái zhǎo chū liǎng gè rén lái yě wèi kě zhī。” bǎo yù xiào dào：“ zhè kě zài méi liǎo。” yuān yāng yǐ zhī huà jù bèi bǎo yù tīng liǎo， zhǐ fú zài shí tóu shàng zhuāng shuì。 bǎo yù tuī tā xiào dào：“ zhè shí tóu shàng lěng， zán men huí fáng lǐ qù shuì， qǐ bù hǎo？ " shuō zhe lā qǐ yuān yāng lái， yòu máng ràng píng 'ér lái jiā zuò chī chá。 píng 'ér hé xí réndōu quàn yuān yāng zǒu， yuān yāng fāng lì qǐ shēn lái， sì rén jìng wǎng yí hóng yuàn lái。 bǎo yù jiāng fāng cái de huà jù yǐ tīng jiàn， xīn zhōng zì rán bù kuài， zhǐ mò mò de wāi zài chuáng shàng， rèn tā sān rén zài wài jiān shuō xiào。
nà biān xíng fū rén yīn wèn fèng jiě 'ér yuān yāng de fù mǔ， fèng jiě yīn huí shuō：“ tā diē de míng zì jiào jīn cǎi， liǎng kǒu zǐ dōuzài nán jīng kàn fáng zǐ， cóng bù dà shàng jīng。 tā gē gē jīn wén xiáng， xiàn zài shì lǎo tài tài nà biān de mǎi bàn。 tā sǎo zǐ yě shì lǎo tài tài nà biān jiāng xǐ de tóu 'ér。” xíng fū rén biàn lìng rén jiào liǎo tā sǎo zǐ jīn wén xiáng xí fù lái， xì xì shuō yǔ tā。 jīn jiā xí fù zì shì xǐ huān， xīng xīng tóu tóu zhǎo yuān yāng， zhǐ wàng yī shuō bì tuǒ， bù xiǎng bèi yuān yāng qiǎng bái yī dùn， yòu bèi xí rén píng 'ér shuō liǎo jǐ jù， xiū nǎo huí lái， biàn duì xíng fū rén shuō：“ bù zhōng yòng， tā dǎo mà liǎo wǒ yīcháng。” yīn fèng jiě 'ér zài bàng， bù gǎn tí píng 'ér， zhǐ shuō：“ xí rén yě bāng zhe tā qiǎng bái wǒ， yě shuō liǎo xǔ duō bù zhī hǎo dǎi de huà， huí bù dé zhù zǐ de。 tài tài hé lǎo yé shāng yì zài mǎi bà。 liàng nà xiǎo tí zǐ yě méi yòu zhè me dà fú， wǒ men yě méi yòu zhè me dà zào huà。” xíng fū rén tīng liǎo， yīn shuō dào：“ yòu yǔ xí rén shénme xiāng gān？ tā men rú hé zhī dào de？ " yòu wèn：“ hái yòu shuí zài gēn qián？ " jīn jiā de dào：“ hái yòu píng gū niàn。 " fèng jiě 'ér máng dào：“ nǐ bù gāi ná zuǐ bā zǐ dǎ tā huí lái？ wǒ yī chū liǎo mén， tā jiù guàng qù liǎo， huí jiā lái lián yī gè yǐng 'ér yě mō bù zhe tā！ tā bì dìng yě bāng zhe shuō shí me ní！ " jīn jiā de dào：“ píng gū niàn méi zài gēn qián， yuǎn yuǎn de kàn zhe dǎo xiàng shì tā， kě yě bù zhēn qiē， bù guò shì wǒ bái cǔnduó。” fèng jiě biàn mìng rén qù：“ kuài dǎ liǎo tā lái， gào sù tā wǒ lái jiā liǎo， tài tài yě zài zhè lǐ， qǐng tā lái bāng gè máng 'ér。” fēng 'ér máng shàng lái huí dào：“ lín gū niàn dǎ fā liǎo rén xià qǐng zì qǐng liǎo sān sì cì， tā cái qù liǎo。 nǎi nǎi yī jìn mén wǒ jiù jiào tā qù de。 lín gū niàn shuō：‘ gào sù nǐ nǎi nǎi， wǒ fán tā yòu shì ní。’ " fèng jiě 'ér tīng liǎo fāng bà， gù yì de hái shuō " tiān tiān fán tā， yòu xiē shénme shì！”
xíng fū rén wú jì， chī liǎo fàn huí jiā， wǎn jiān gào sù liǎo jiǎ shè。 jiǎ shè xiǎng liǎo yī xiǎng， jí kè jiào jiǎ liǎn lái shuō：“ nán jīng de fáng zǐ hái yòu rén kàn zhe， bù zhǐ yī jiā shǐ dì guān chá shì wù， jù tǐ dì fēn xī jù tǐ wèn tí， gēn jù shì wù de nèi zài guī lǜ， jí kè jiào shàng jīn cǎi lái。” jiǎ liǎn huí dào：“ shàng cì nán jīng xìn lái， jīn cǎi yǐ jīng dé liǎo tán mí xīn qiào， nà biān lián guān cái yín zǐ dū shǎng liǎo， bù zhī rú jīn shì sǐ shì huó， biàn shì huó zhe， rén shì bù zhī， jiào lái yě wú yòng。 tā lǎo pó zǐ yòu shì gè lóng zǐ。” jiǎ shè tīng liǎo， hē liǎo yī shēng， yòu mà：“ xià liú qiú nǎng de， piān nǐ zhè me zhī dào， hái bù lí liǎo wǒ zhè lǐ！ " hǔ dé jiǎ liǎn tuì chū， yī shí yòu jiào chuán jīn wén xiáng。 jiǎ liǎn zài wài shū fáng sì hòu zhe， yòu bù gǎn jiā qù， yòu bù gǎn jiàn tā fù qīn， zhǐ dé tīng zhe。 yī shí jīn wén xiáng lái liǎo， xiǎo yāo 'ér men zhí dài rù 'èr mén lǐ qù， gé liǎo wǔ liù dùn fàn de gōng fū cái chū lái qù liǎo。 jiǎ liǎn zàn qiě bù gǎn dǎ tīng， gé liǎo yī huì， yòu dǎ tīng jiǎ shè shuì liǎo， fāng cái guò lái。 zhì wǎn jiān fèng jiě 'ér gào sù tā， fāng cái míng bái。
yuān yāng yī yè méi shuì， zhì cì rì， tā gē gē huí jiǎ mǔ jiē tā jiā qù guàng guàng， jiǎ mǔ yǔn liǎo， mìng tā chū qù。 yuān yāng yì yù bù qù， yòu pà jiǎ mǔ yí xīn， zhǐ dé miǎnqiǎng chū lái。 tā gē gē zhǐ dé jiāng jiǎ shè de huà shuō yǔ tā， yòu xǔ tā zěn me tǐ miàn， yòu zěn me dāng jiā zuò yí niàn。 yuān yāng zhǐ yǎo dìng yá bù yuàn yì。 tā gē gē wú fǎ， shǎo bù dé qù huí fù liǎo jiǎ shè。 jiǎ shè nù qǐ lái， yīn shuō dào：“ wǒ zhè huà gào sù nǐ， jiào nǐ nǚ rén xiàng tā shuō qù， jiù shuō wǒ de huà：‘ zì gǔ cháng 'é 'ài shàonián’， tā bì dìng xián wǒ lǎo liǎo， dà yuē tā liàn zhe shǎo yé men， duō bàn shì kàn shàng liǎo bǎo yù， zhǐ pà yě yòu jiǎ liǎn。 guǒ yòu cǐ xīn， jiào tā zǎo zǎo xiē liǎo xīn， wǒ yào tā bù lái， cǐ hòu shuí hái gǎn shōu？ cǐ shì yī jiàn。 dì 'èr jiàn， xiǎng zhe lǎo tài tài téng tā， jiāng lái zì rán wǎng wài pìn zuò zhèng tóu fū qī qù。 jiào tā xì xiǎng， píng tā jià dào shuí jiā qù， yě nán chū wǒ de shǒu xīn。 chú fēi tā sǐ liǎo， huò shì zhōng shēn bù jià nán rén， wǒ jiù fú liǎo tā！ ruò bù rán shí， jiào tā chèn zǎo huí xīn zhuǎn yì， yòu duō shàohǎo chù。 " jiǎ shè shuō yī jù， jīn wén xiáng yìng yī shēng " shì "。 jiǎ shè dào：“ nǐ bié hǒngwǒ， wǒ míng 'ér hái dǎ fā nǐ tài tài guò qù wèn yuān yāng， nǐ men shuō liǎo， tā bù yǐ， biàn méi nǐ men de bù shì。 ruò wèn tā， tā zài yǐ liǎo， zǎi xì nǐ de nǎo dài！”
jīn wén xiáng máng yìng liǎo yòu yìng， tuì chū huí jiā， yě bù děng dé gào sù tā nǚ rén zhuǎn shuō， jìng zì jǐ duì miàn shuō liǎo zhè huà。 bǎ gè yuān yāng qì de wú huà kě huí， xiǎng liǎo yī xiǎng， biàn shuō dào：“ biàn yuàn yì qù， yě xū dé nǐ men dài liǎo wǒ huí shēng lǎo tài tài qù。” tā gē sǎo tīng liǎo， zhǐ dāng huí xiǎng guò lái， dū xǐ zhī bù shèng。 tā sǎo zǐ jí kè dài liǎo tā shàng lái jiàn jiǎ mǔ。
kě qiǎo wáng fū rén， xuē yí mā， lǐ wán， fèng jiě 'ér， bǎo chāi děng zǐ mèi bìng wài tóu de jǐ gè zhí shì yòu tóu liǎn de xí fù zhī miè， huǒ bù kě fù rán， rén sǐ yì bù kě fù 'ér wéi guǐ。 jiè yǐ pī bó yīn guǒ bào， dōuzài jiǎ mǔ gēn qián còu qù 'ér ní。 yuān yāng xǐ zhī bù jìn， lā liǎo tā sǎo zǐ， dào jiǎ mǔ gēn qián guì xià， yī xíng kū， yī xíng shuō， bǎ xíng fū rén zěn me lái shuō， yuán zǐ lǐ tā sǎo zǐ yòu rú hé shuō， jīn 'ér tā gē gē yòu rú hé shuō， " yīn wéi bù yǐ， fāng cái dà lǎo yé yuè xìng shuō wǒ liàn zhe bǎo yù， bù rán yào děng zhe wǎng wài pìn， wǒ dào tiān shàng， zhè yī bèi zǐ yě tiào bù chū tā de shǒu xīn qù， zhōng jiǔ yào bào chóu。 wǒ shì héng liǎo xīn de， dāng zhe zhòng rén zài zhè lǐ， wǒ zhè yī bèi zǐ mò shuō shì‘ bǎo yù’， biàn shì‘ bǎo jīn’‘ bǎo yín’‘ bǎo tiān wáng’‘ bǎo huáng dì’， héng shù bù jià rén jiù wán liǎo！ jiù shì lǎo tài tài bī zhe wǒ， wǒ yī dāo mǒ sǐ liǎo， yě bù néng cóng mìng！ ruò yòu zào huà， wǒ sǐ zài lǎo tài tài zhī xiān， ruò méi zào huà， gāi tǎo chī de mìng， fú shì lǎo tài tài guī liǎo xī， wǒ yě bù gēn zhe wǒ lǎo zǐ niàn gē gē qù， wǒ huò shì xínsǐ， huò shì jiǎn liǎo tóu fā dāng ní gū qù！ ruò shuō wǒ bù shì zhēn xīn， zàn qiě ná huà lái zhī wú， rì hòu zài tú bié de， tiān dì guǐ shén， rì tóu yuè liàng zhào zhe sǎng zǐ， cóng sǎng zǐ lǐ tóu cháng dīng làn liǎo chū lái， làn huà chéng jiàng zài zhè lǐ！ " yuán lái tā yī jìn lái shí， biàn xiù liǎo yī bǎ jiǎn zǐ， yī miàn shuō zhe， yī miàn zuǒ shǒu dǎ kāi tóu fā， yòu shǒu biàn jiǎo。 zhòng pó niàn yā huán máng lái lā zhù， yǐ jiǎn xià bàn liǔ lái liǎo。 zhòng rén kàn shí， xìng 'ér tā de tóu fā jí duō， jiǎo de bù tòu， lián máng tì tā wǎn shàng。 jiǎ mǔ tīng liǎo， qì de hún shēn luàn zhàn， kǒu nèi zhǐ shuō：“ wǒ tōng gòng shèng liǎo zhè me yī gè kě kào de rén， tā men hái yào lái suàn jì！ " yīn jiàn wáng fū rén zài bàng， biàn xiàng wáng fū rén dào：“ nǐ men yuán láidōu shì hǒngwǒ de！ wài tóu xiào jìng， àn dì lǐ pán suàn wǒ。 yòu hǎo dōng xī yě lái yào， yòu hǎo rén yě yào， shèng liǎo zhè me gè máo yā tóu， jiàn wǒ dài tā hǎo liǎo， nǐ men zì rán qì bù guò， nòng kāi liǎo tā， hǎo bǎi nòng wǒ！ " wáng fū rén máng zhàn qǐ lái， bù gǎn hái yī yán。 xuē yí mā jiàn lián wáng fū rén guài shàng， fǎn bù hǎo quàn de liǎo。 lǐ wán yī tīng jiàn yuān yāng de huà， zǎo dài liǎo zǐ mèi men chū qù。
tàn chūn yòu xīn de rén， xiǎng wáng fū rén suī yòu wěi qū， rú hé gǎn biàn， xuē yí mā yě shì qīn zǐ mèi， zì rán yě bù hǎo biàn de， bǎo chāi yě bù biàn wéi yí mǔ biàn， lǐ wán， fèng jiě， bǎo yù yī gài bù gǎn biàn， zhè zhèng yòng zhe nǚ hái 'ér zhī shí， yíng chūn lǎo shí， xī chūn xiǎo， yīn cǐ chuāng wài tīng liǎo yī tīng， biàn zǒu jìn lái péi xiào xiàng jiǎ mǔ dào：“ zhè shì yǔ tài tài shénme xiāng gān？ lǎo tài tài xiǎng yī xiǎng， yě yòu dàbǎizǐ yào shōu wū lǐ de rén， xiǎo shěn zǐ rú hé zhī dào？ biàn zhī dào， yě tuī bù zhī dào。” yóu wèi shuō wán， jiǎ mǔ xiào dào：“ kě shì wǒ lǎo hú tú liǎo！ yí tài tài bié xiào huà wǒ。 nǐ zhè gè jiě jiě tā jí xiào shùn wǒ， bù xiàng wǒ nà dà tài tài yī wèi pà lǎo yé， pó pó gēn qián bù guò yìng jǐng 'ér。 kě shì wěi qū liǎo tā。” xuē yí mā zhǐ dāyìng " shì "， yòu shuō：“ lǎo tài tài piān xīn， duō téng xiǎo 'ér zǐ xí fù， yě shì yòu de。” jiǎ mǔ dào：“ bù piān xīn！ " yīn yòu shuō dào：“ bǎo yù， wǒ cuò guài liǎo nǐ niàn， nǐ zěn me yě bù tí wǒ， kàn zhe nǐ niàn shòu wěi qū？ " bǎo yù xiào dào：“ wǒ piān zhe niàn shuō dà yé dà niàn bù chéng？ tōng gòng yī gè bù shì， wǒ niàn zài zhè lǐ bù rèn， què tuī shuí qù？ wǒ dǎo yào rèn shì wǒ de bù shì， lǎo tài tài yòu bù xìn。” jiǎ mǔ xiào dào：“ zhè yě yòu lǐ。 nǐ kuài gěi nǐ niàn guì xià， nǐ shuō tài tài bié wěi qū liǎo， lǎo tài tài yòu nián jì liǎo， kàn zhe bǎo yù bà。 " bǎo yù tīng liǎo， máng zǒu guò qù， biàn guì xià yào shuō， wáng fū rén máng xiào zhe lā tā qǐ lái， shuō：“ kuài qǐ lái， kuài qǐ lái， duàn hū shǐ bù dé。 zhōng bù chéng nǐ tì lǎo tài tài gěi wǒ péi bù shì bù chéng？ " bǎo yù tīng shuō， máng zhàn qǐ lái。 jiǎ mǔ yòu xiào dào： fèng jiě 'ér yě bù tí wǒ。 zhòng réndōu xiào dào：“ zhè kě qí liǎo！ dǎo yào tīng tīng zhè bù shì。” fèng jiě 'ér dào：“ shuí jiào lǎo tài tài huì tiáolǐ rén， tiáolǐ de shuǐ cōng 'ér shìde， zěn me yuàn dé rén yào？ wǒ xìng kuī shì sūn zǐ xí fù， ruò shì sūn zǐ， wǒ zǎo yào liǎo， hái děng dào zhè huì zǐ ní。” jiǎ mǔ xiào dào：“ zhè dǎo shì wǒ de bù shì liǎo？ " fèng jiě 'ér xiào dào：“ zì rán shì lǎo tài tài de bù shì liǎo。 " jiǎ mǔ xiào dào：“ zhè yàng， wǒ yě bù yào liǎo， nǐ dài liǎo qù bà！ " fèng jiě 'ér dào：“ děng zhe xiū liǎo zhè bèi zǐ， lái shēng tuō shēng nán rén， wǒ zài yào bà。” jiǎ mǔ xiào dào：“ nǐ dài liǎo qù， gěi liǎn 'ér fàng zài wū lǐ， kàn nǐ nà méi liǎn de gōng gōng hái yào bù yào liǎo！ " fèng jiě 'ér dào：“ liǎn 'ér bù pèi， jiù zhǐ pèi wǒ hé píng 'ér zhè yī duì shāo hú liǎo de juǎnzǐ hé tā hùn bà。” shuō de zhòng réndōu xiào qǐ lái liǎo。 yā huán huí shuō：“ dà tài tài lái liǎo。” wáng fū rén máng yíng liǎo chū qù。 yào zhī duān de héng héng
An improper man with difficulty keeps from improprieties. The maid, Yuean Yang, vows to break off the marriage match.
Lin Tai-yue, to resume our story, dropped off gradually to sleep about the close of the fourth watch. As there is therefore nothing more that we can for the present say about her, let us take up the thread of our narrative with lady Feng.
Upon hearing that Madame Hsing wanted to see her, she could not make out what it could be about, so hurriedly putting on some extra things on her person and head, she got into a carriage and crossed over.
Madame Hsing at once dismissed every attendant from her suite of apartments. "I sent for you," she began, addressing herself to lady Feng, in a confidential tone, "not for anything else, but on account of something which places me on the horns of a dilemma. My husband has entrusted me with a job; and being quite at my wits' ends how to act, I'd like first to consult with you. My husband has taken quite a fancy to Yuean Yang, who is in our worthy senior's rooms; so much so, that he's desirous to get her into his quarters as a secondary wife. He has deputed me therefore to ask her of our venerable ancestor. I know that this is quite an ordinary matter. Yet I can't help fearing that our worthy senior may refuse to give her. But do you perchance see your way to bring this concern about?"
Lady Feng listened to her. "You shouldn't, I say, go and bang your head against a nail!" she then vehemently exclaimed. "Were our old ancestor separated from Yuean Yang, she wouldn't even touch her rice! How ever could she reconcile herself to part from her? Besides, our worthy senior has time and again said, in the course of a chat, 'that she can't see the earthly use of a man well up in years, as your lord and master is, having here one concubine, and there another? That cooping them up in his rooms, is a mere waste of human beings. That he neglects his constitution and doesn't husband it; and that he doesn't either attend diligently to his official duties, but spends his whole days in boozing with his young concubines. When your ladyship hears these nice doings of his, don't you feel enamoured with that fine gentleman of ours? Were he even to try, at this juncture, to beat a retreat, he couldn't, I fear, effectively do so. Yet, instead of (making an effort to turn tail), he wants to go and dig the tiger's nostrils with a blade of straw. Don't, my lady, be angry with me; but I daren't undertake the errand. It's clear as day that it will be a wild goose chase. What's more, it will do him no good; but will, contrariwise, heap disgrace upon his own head! Our Mr. Chia She is now so stricken in years, that in all his actions he unavoidably behaves somewhat as a dotard. It would be well therefore for your ladyship to advise him what to do. It isn't as if he were in the prime of life to be able to do all these things with impunity! He's got at present a whole array of brothers, nieces, sons, and grandsons; and should he still go on in this wild sort of way, how will he be able to face any of them?"
Madame Hsing gave a sardonic smile. "There are endless wealthy families with three and four concubines," she said, "and is it in ours that such a thing won't do? But were I even to tender him as much advice as I can, it isn't at all likely that he'll abide by it! Even though that maid be one beloved by our venerable senior, it doesn't follow that she'll very well be able to give a rebuff to a hoary-bearded elderly son, and, erewhile, an official, were he to express a wish to have her as an inmate of his household! I sent for you for no other purpose than to deliberate with you, and here you take the initiative and enumerate a whole array of shortcomings. But is there any reason why I should commission you to go? Of course I'll go and speak to her! You make a bold statement that I don't give him any good counsel; but don't you yet know that with a disposition, such as his, he rushes, before I can very well open my lips to advise him, into a tantrum with me?"
Lady Feng was well alive to the fact that Madame Hsing was, by nature, simple and weak-minded, and that all she knew was to adulate Chia She so as to ensure her own safety. That she was, in the next place, ever ready, so greedy was she, to grasp as much hard cash and as many effects, as she could lay hold of, for her own private gain. That she left all family matters, irrespective of important or unimportant, under the sole control of Chia She; but that, whenever anything turned up, involving any receipts or payments, she extorted an unusual percentage, the moment the money passed through her clutches, giving out as a pretence: 'Well Chia She is so extravagant that I have to interfere and effect sufficient economies to enable us to make up our deficits.' And that she would not trust any one, whether son, daughter or servant, nor lend an ear to a single word of remonstrance. When she therefore now heard Madame Hsing speak as she did, she concluded that she must be in another of her perverse moods, and that any admonitions would be of no avail. So hastily forcing a smile: "My lady," she observed, "you're perfectly right in your remarks! But how long can I have lived, and what discrimination can I boast of? It seems to me that if a father and mother do not bestow, not a mere servant-girl like she is, but a living jewel of the size of her, on one like Mr. Chia She, to whom are they likely to give her? How can one give faith to words spoken behind one's back? So what a fool I was (in cramming what I heard down my throat)! Just take our Mr. Secundus, (my husband), as an instance. If ever he does anything to incur blame, Mr. Chia She and you, my lady, feel so wrath with him as to only wish you could lay hands upon him there and then and give him such a blow as would kill him downright, but the moment you set eyes on his face, your whole resentment vanishes, and lo, you again let him have, as of old, everything, and anything, much though both of you might relish it in your hearts! Our worthy ancestor will certainly therefore behave in the present instance, with equal liberality, towards Mr. Chia She! So if her ladyship feels in the humour to-day, she'll let him have her, I fancy, at once this very day, if he makes the proper advances. But I'll go ahead and coax our venerable senior; and, when your ladyship comes over, I'll find some pretence to get out of the way, and take along with me those too who may be present in her rooms, so as to make it convenient for you to broach the subject. If she gives her, so much the better. But if even she doesn't, it won't matter; for none of the inmates will have any idea what the object of your mission could have been."
After listening to her suggestion, Madame Hsing began again to feel in a happier frame of mind. "My idea is," she observed, "that I shouldn't start by mentioning anything to our venerable senior, for were she to say that she wouldn't give her, the matter would be simply quashed on the head. I can't help thinking that I should first and foremost quietly approach Yuean Yang on the subject. She will, of course, feel extremely ashamed, but when I explain everything minutely to her, she'll certainly have nothing to say against the proposal, and everything will be all right. I can then speak to our old senior; and, despite any desire on her part not to accede to our wishes, she won't be able to put the girl off, provided she herself be willing; for as the adage says: 'If a person wishes to go, it's no use trying to keep him.' Thus needless to say, the whole thing will be satisfactorily settled!"
"You're really shrewd in your devices, my lady!" lady Feng smilingly ejaculated. "This is perfect in every respect! For without taking Yuean Yang into account, what girl does not long to rise high, or hope to exalt herself, or think of pushing herself forward above the rest as to cast away the chances of becoming half a mistress, and prefer instead being a maid, and merely becoming by and bye the mate of some servant-lad?"
"Quite so!" Madame Hsing smiled. "But let's put Yuean Yang aside. Who is there, even among the various elderly waiting-maids, who look after the house, who wouldn't be only too willing to step into these shoes? You'd better then go ahead. But, mind, don't let the cat out of the bag! I'll join you as soon as I can finish my evening meal."
"Yuean Yang," thereupon secretly reflected lady Feng, "has always been an extremely shrewd-minded girl; to such a degree, that there is notwithstanding all our arguments, no saying positively whether she'll accept or refuse. So were I to go ahead, and Madame Hsing to follow me by and bye, there won't be any occasion for her to grumble or complain, so long as she assents; but, if she doesn't, why, Madame Hsing, who is so suspicious a creature, will possibly imagine that I've been gassing with her, and been the means of making her put on side and assume high airs. When Madame Hsing finds then that my conjectures have turned out true again, her shame will be converted into anger, and she'll so vent her spite upon me that I shall, after all, be put in a false position. Would it not be better then that she and I should go together; for, if she says 'yes,' I'll be all right; and, if she replies 'no,' I'll be on the safe side; and no suspicion, of any kind, will fall upon me!"
At the close of her reflections, "As I was about to cross over here," she remarked laughingly, "our aunt yonder sent us two baskets of quails, and I gave orders that they should be fried, with the idea that they should be brought to your ladyship, in time for you to have some at your evening repast. Just as I was stepping inside the main entrance, I saw the servant-boys carrying your curricle; they said that it was your ladyship's vehicle, that it had cracked, and that they were taking it to be repaired. Wouldn't it be as well then that you should now come in my carriage, for it will be better for you and me to get there together?"
At this suggestion, Madame Hsing directed her servants to come and change her costume. Lady Feng quickly waited upon her, and in a while the two ladies got into one and the same curricle and drove over.
"My lady," lady Feng went on to say, "it would be well for you to look up our worthy senior, for were I to accompany you, and her ladyship to ask me what was the object of my visit, it would be rather awkward. The best way is for your ladyship to go first, and I'll join you, as soon as I divest myself of my fine clothes."
Madame Hsing noticed how reasonable her proposal was, and she readily betook herself to old lady Chia's quarters. But after a chat with her senior, she quitted the apartment, under the pretence that she was going to Madame Wang's rooms. Then making her exit by the back door, she passed in front of Yuean Yang's bedroom. Here she saw Yuean Yang sitting, hard at work at some needlework. The moment she caught sight of Madame Hsing, she rose to her feet.
"What are you up to?" Madame Hsing laughingly inquired. "Let me see! How much nicer you embroider artificial flowers now!"
So speaking, she entered, and, taking the needlework from her hands, she scrutinised it, while extolling its beauty. Then laying down the work, and scanning her again from head to foot, she observed that her costume consisted of a half-new, grey thin silk jacket, and a bluish satin waistcoat with scollops; that below this came a water-green jupe; that her waist was slim as that of a wasp; that her shoulders sloped as if pared; that her face resembled a duck's egg; that her hair was black and shiny; that her nose was very high, and that on both her cheeks were slightly visible several small flat moles.
Yuean Yang realised how intently she was being passed under scrutiny, and began to feel inwardly uneasy; while utter astonishment prevailed in her mind. "Madame," she felt impelled to ask, "what do you come for at this impossible hour?"
At a wink from Madame Hsing, her attendants withdrew from the room. Madame Hsing forthwith seated herself, and grasped Yuean Yang's hand in hers. "I've come," she smiled, "with the special purpose of presenting you my congratulations."
This reply enabled Yuean Yang at once to form within herself some surmise more or less correct of the object of her errand, and suddenly blushing crimson, she lowered her head, and uttered not a word.
"You know well enough," she next heard Madame Hsing resume, "that there's not a single reliable person with my husband; but much though we'd like to purchase some other girl we fear that such as might come out of a broker's household wouldn't be quite spotless and taintless. Nor would one be able to get any idea what her failings are, until after she has been purchased and brought home; when she too will be sure, in two or three days, to behave like an imp and play some monkey tricks! That's why we thought of choosing some home-born girl out of those which throng in our mansion, but then again we could find none decent enough; for if her looks were not at fault, her disposition was not proper; and if she possessed this quality, she lacked that one. Hence it is that after repeatedly choosing with dispassionate eye, during half a year, (he finds) that there's only you among that whole bevy of girls, who's worth anything; that in looks, behaviour and deportment, you're gentle, trustworthy, and perfection itself in every respect. His intention therefore is to ask your hand of our old lady and take you over and attach you to his quarters. You won't be treated as one newly-purchased, or newly-sought for outside; for the moment you put your foot into our house, you'll at once have your face shaved and be promoted to a secondary wife; so you'll thus attain as much dignity as honour. More, you're one who is anxious to excel; and, as the proverb says, 'gold will still be exchanged for gold.' My husband has, who'd have thought it, taken a fancy to you, so when you now enter our threshold, you'll fulfil the wish you've cherished all along with such high purpose and lofty aim, and stop the mouths of those persons, who are envious of your lot. Follow me therefore and let's go and lay the matter before our venerable ancestor."
Arguing the while, she dragged her by the hand with the idea of hurrying her off there and then. Yuean Yang, however, blushed to her very ears, and, snatching her hand out of her grip she refused to budge.
Madame Hsing was conscious that she was under the spell of intense shame. "What's there in this to be ashamed?" she continued, "You needn't besides breathe a word! All you have to do is to follow me, that's all."
Yuean Yang continued to droop her head and to decline to go with her. Madame Hsing, perceiving her behaviour, went on to exhort her. "Is it likely, pray," she said, "that you still hesitate? If you actually don't feel inclined to accept the offer, you're, in real truth, a foolish girl; for here you let go the chances of becoming the secondary consort of a master, and choose instead to continue a servant-girl. You'll be united, in two or three years, to no one higher than some young domestic, and remain as much a bond-servant as ever! If you come along with us, you know that my disposition too is gentle; that I'm not one of those persons, who don't show any regard for any one; that my husband will also treat you as well as he does every one else, and that when, in the course of a year or so, you give birth to a son or daughter, you'll be placed on the same footing as myself. And of all the servants at home, will any you may wish to employ not deign to move to execute your orders? If now that you have a chance of becoming a mistress, you don't choose to, why, you'll miss the opportunity, and then you may repent it, but it will be too late!"
Yuean Yang still kept her head bent against her chest and spake not a syllable by way of reply.
"How is it," added Madame Hsing, "that you, who've ever been so quick have now too begun to be so infirm of purpose? What is there that doesn't fall in with your wishes? Just tell me; and I can safely assure you that you'll have everything done to satisfy you."
Yuean Yang observed, as hitherto, perfect silence.
"I suppose," laughed Madame Hsing, "that having a father and mother, you yourself don't wish to speak, for fear of being put to the blush, and that you want to wait until such time as they consult you about it, eh? This is quite right! But you'd better let me go and make the proposal to them and tell them to come and ascertain your wishes; and whatever your answer then may be just entrust it to them."
This said, she sped into lady Feng's suite of rooms.
Lady Feng had long ago changed her attire, and availed herself of the absence of any bystander in her apartments to confide the whole matter to P'ing Erh.
P'ing Erh nodded her head and smiled. "According to my views, success is not so certain," she observed. "She and I have often secretly talked this matter over, and the arguments I heard her propound don't make it the least probable that she'll consent. But all we can say now is: 'We'll see!'"
"Madame Hsing," lady Feng remarked, "is sure to come over here to consult with me. If she has assented, well and good; but, if she hasn't, she'll bring displeasure upon her own self, and won't she feel out of countenance, if all of you are present? So tell the others to fry several quails, and get anything nice, that goes well with them, and prepare it for our repast, while you can go and stroll about in some other spot, and return when you fancy she has gone."
Hearing this, P'ing Erh transmitted her wishes word for word to the matrons; after which, she sauntered leisurely all alone, into the garden.
When Yuean Yang saw Madame Hsing depart, she concluded that she was bound to go into lady Feng's rooms to consult with her, and that some one was sure to come and ask her about the proposal, so thinking it advisable to cross over to this side of the mansion to get out of the way, she consequently repaired in quest of Hu Po.
"Should our old mistress," she said to her, "ask for me, just say that I was so unwell that I couldn't even have any breakfast; that I've gone into the garden for a stroll, but that I will be back at once."
Hu Po undertook to tell her so, and Yuean Yang then betook herself too into the garden. While lolling all over the place, she, contrary to her expectations, encountered P'ing Erh. P'ing Erh looked round to see that there was no one about. "Here comes the new secondary wife!" she smilingly exclaimed.
Yuean Yang caught this greeting, and promptly the colour rose to her face. "How strange it is," she rejoined, "that you've all colluded together to come, with one accord, and scheme against me! But wait until I've had it out with your mistress, and then I'll set things all right."
When P'ing Erh observed the angry look on Yuean Yang's countenance, her conscience was so stricken with remorse, on account of the inconsiderate remark she had passed, that drawing her under the maple tree, she made her sit on the same boulder as herself, and then went so far as to recount to her, from beginning to end, all that transpired, and everything that was said on lady Feng's return, a short while back, from the off mansion.
Blushes flew to Yuean Yang's cheeks. Facing P'ing Erh, she gave a sardonic smile. "We've all ever been friends," she said, "that is: Hsi Jen, Hu Po, Su Yuen, Tzu Chuean, Ts'ai Hsia, Yue Ch'uan, She Yueeh, Ts'ui Mo, Ts'ui Lue, who was in Miss Shih's service and is now gone, K'o Jen and Chin Ch'uan, now deceased, Hsi Hsueeh, who left, and you and I. Ever since our youth up, how many chats have the ten or dozen of us not had, and what have we not been up to together? But now that we've grown up, each of us has gone her own way! Yet, my heart is just what it was in days gone by. Whenever there's anything for me to say or do, I don't try to impose upon any of you; so just first treasure in your heart the secret I'm going to tell you, and don't mention it to our lady Secunda! Not to speak of our senior master wishing to make me his concubine, were even our lady to die this very moment, and he to send endless go-betweens, and countless betrothal presents, with the idea of wedding me and taking me over as his lawful primary wife, I wouldn't also go."
P'ing Erh was at this point desirous to put in some observation, when from behind the boulder became audible the loud tones of laughter. "You most barefaced girl!" a voice cried. "It's well you're not afraid of your teeth falling when you utter such things!"
These words reached the ears of both girls, and, so unawares were they taken, that they got a regular start, and jumping up with all haste they went to see behind the boulder. They found no one else than Hsi Jen, who presented herself before them, with a smiling countenance, and asked: "What's up? Do tell me!"
As she spoke, the trio seated themselves on a rock. P'ing Erh then imparted to Hsi Jen as well the drift of their recent conversation.
"Properly speaking, we shouldn't pass such judgments," Hsi Jen remarked, after listening to her confidences, "but this senior master of ours is really a most licentious libertine. So much so, that whenever he comes across a girl with any good looks about her, he won't let her out of his grasp."
"Since you don't like to entertain his offer," P'ing Erh suggested, "I'll put you up to a plan."
"What plan is it?" Yuean Yang inquired.
"Just simply tell our old mistress," P'ing Erh laughed, "this answer: that you've already been promised to our master Secundus, Mr. Lien. Our senior master then won't very well be able to be importunate.'"
"Ts'ui!" ejaculated Yuean Yang. "What a thing you are! Do you still make such suggestions? Didn't your mistress the other day utter this silly nonsense! Who'd have thought it, her words have now come true!"
"If you won't have either of them," Hsi Jen smiled, "my idea is that you should tell our old lady point blank and ask her to give out that she promised you long ago to our master, number two, Pao-yue. Our senior master will then banish this fad from his mind."
Yuean Yang was overcome with anger, shame and exasperation. "What dreadful vixens both of you are!" she shouted. "You don't deserve a natural death! I find myself in a fix, and treat you as decent sort of persons and confide in you so that you should arrange matters for me; and not to say that you don't bother yourselves a rap about me, you take turn and turn about to poke fun at me! You're under the impression, in your own minds, that your fates are sealed, and that both of you are bound by and bye to become secondary wives; but I can't help thinking that affairs under the heavens don't so certainly fall in always with one's wishes and expectations! So you'd better now pull up a bit, and not be cheeky to such an excessive degree!"
Both her companions then realised in what state of despair she was, and promptly forcing a smile, "Dear sister," they said, "don't be so touchy! We've been, ever since we were little mites, like very sisters! All we've done is to spontaneously indulge in a little fun in a spot where there's no one present. But tell us what you've decided to do, so that we too should know, and set our minds at ease."
"Decided what?" Yuean Yang cried. "All I know is that I won't go; that's finished."
P'ing Erh shook her head. "You mightn't go," she interposed, "but it isn't likely that the matter will drop. You're well aware what sort of temperament that of our senior master's is. It's true that you're attached to our old mistress' rooms, and that he can't, just at present, presume to do the least thing to you; but can it be, forsooth, that you'll be with the old dame for your whole lifetime? You'll also have to leave to get married, and if you then fall into his hands, it won't go well with you."
Yuean Yang smiled ironically. "I won't leave this place so long as my old lady lives!" Yuean Yang protested. "In the event of her ladyship departing this life, he'll have, under any circumstances, to also go into mourning for three years; for there's no such thing as starting by marrying a concubine, soon after a mother's death! And while he waits for three years to expire, can one say what may not happen? It will be time enough to talk about it when that date comes. But should I be driven to despair from being hard pressed, I'll cut my hair off and become a nun. If not, there's yet another thing: death! And as for a whole life time I shall not join myself to a man, what joy will not then be mine, for having managed to preserve my purity?"
"In very truth," P'ing Erh and Hsi Jen laughed, "this vixen has no sense of shame! She has now more than ever spoken whatever came foremost to her lips!"
"What matters a moment's shame," Yuean Yang rejoined, "when things have reached this juncture? But if you don't believe my words, well, you'll be able to see by and bye; then you'll feel convinced. Madame Hsing said a short while back that she was going to look up my father and mother, but I'd like to see whether she'll proceed to Nanking to find them."
"Your parents are in Nanking looking after the houses," P'ing Erh said, "and they can't come up; yet, in the long run, they can be found out. Your elder brother and your sister-in-law are besides in here at present. You, poor thing, are a child born in this establishment. You're not like us two, who are solitary creatures here."
"What does it matter whether I be born here or not?" Yuean Yang exclaimed. "'You can lead a horse to a fountain, but you can't make him drink!' So if I don't listen to any proposals, is it likely, may I ask, that they'll kill my father and mother?" While the words were still on her lips, they caught sight of her sister-in-law, advancing from the opposite side. "As they couldn't at once get at your parents," Hsi Jen remarked, "they've, for a certainty, told your sister-in-law."
"All this wench is good for," Yuean Yang shouted, "is 'to rush about as if selling camels in the six states!' If she heard what I said, she won't feel flattered."
But while she spoke, her sister-in-law approached them. "Where didn't I look for you?" her sister-in-law smilingly observed. "Have you, miss, run over here? Come along with me; I've got something to tell you!"
P'ing Erh and Hsi Jen speedily motioned to her to sit down, but (Yuean Yang's) sister-in-law demurred. "Young ladies, pray be seated; I've come in search of our girl to tell her something."
Hsi Jen and P'ing Erh feigned perfect ignorance. "What can it be that it's so pressing?" they said with a smile. "We were engaged in guessing puns here, so let's find out this, before you go."
"What do you want to tell me?" Yuan Yang inquired. "Speak out!"
"Follow me!" her sister-in-law laughed. "When we get over there, I'll tell you. It's really some good tidings!"
"Is it perchance what Madame Hsing has told you?" Yuean Yang asked.
"Since you, miss, know what it's all about," her sister-in-law added smilingly, "what else remains for me to do? Be quick and come with me and I'll explain everything. Verily, it's a piece of happiness as large as the heavens!"
Yuean Yang, at these words, rose to her feet and spat contemptuously with all her might in her sister-in-law's face. Pointing at her: "Be quick," she cried abusively, "and stop that filthy tongue of yours! It would be ever so much better, were you to bundle yourself away from this! What good tidings and what piece of happiness! Little wonder is it that you long and crave the whole day long to see other people's daughter turned into a secondary wife as one and all of your family would rely upon her to act contrary to reason and right! A whole household has been converted into secondary wives! But the sight fills you with such keen jealousy that you would like to also lay hold of me and throw me into the pit-fire! If any honours fall to my share, all of you outside will do everything disorderly and improper, and raise yourselves, in your own estimations, to the status of uncles (and aunts). But if I don't get any, and come to grief, you'll draw in your foul necks, and let me live or die as I please!"
While indulging in this raillery, she gave vent to tears. P'ing Erh and Hsi Jen did all they could to reason with her so as to prevent her from crying.
Her sister-in-law felt quite out of countenance. "Whether you mean to accept the proposal, or not," she consequently said, "you can anyhow speak nicely. It isn't worth the while dragging this one in and involving that one! The proverb adequately says: 'In the presence of a dwarf one mustn't speak of dwarfish things!' Here you've been heaping insult upon me, but I didn't presume to retaliate. These two young ladies have however given you no provocation whatever; and yet by referring, as you've done, in this way and that way to secondary wives how can people stand it peacefully?"
"You shouldn't speak so!" Hsi Jen and P'ing Erh quickly remonstrated. "She didn't allude to us; so don't be implicating others! Have you heard of any ladies or gentlemen who'd like to raise us to the rank of secondary wives? What's more, we two have neither father nor mother, nor brothers, within these doors, to avail themselves of our positions to act in a way contrary to right and reason! If she abuses people, let her do so; it isn't worth our while to be touchy!"
"Seeing," Yuean Yang resumed, "that the abuse I've heaped upon her head has put her to such shame that she doesn't know where to go and screen her face, she tries to egg you two on! But you two have, fortunately, your wits about you! Though quite impatient, I never started arguing the question; she it was who chose to speak just now."
Her sister-in-law felt inwardly much disconcerted, and beat a retreat in high dudgeon. But Yuean Yang so lost her temper that she still went on to abuse her; and it was only after P'ing Erh and Hsi Jen had admonished her for ever so long that she let the matter drop.
"What were you hiding there for?" P'ing Erh then asked Hsi Jen. "We couldn't see anything of you."
"I went," Hsi Jen explained, "into Miss Quarta's rooms to see our Mr. Pao-yue, but, who'd have thought it, I got there a little too late, and they told me that he had gone home. But my suspicions were, however, aroused as I couldn't make out how it was that I hadn't come across him, and I was about to go and hunt him up in Miss Lin's apartments, when I met one of her servants who said that he hadn't been there either. Then just as I was surmising that he must have gone out of the garden, behold, you came, as luck would have it, from the opposite direction. But I dodged you, so you didn't see anything of me. Subsequently, she too appeared on the scene; but I got behind the boulder, from the back of these trees. I, however, saw that you two had come to have a chat. Strange to say, though you have four eyes between you, you never caught a glimpse of me."
Scarcely had she concluded this remark, than they heard some one else from behind, laughingly exclaim, "Four eyes never saw you, but your six eyes haven't as yet found me out!"
The three girls received quite a shock from fright; but turning round, they perceived that it was no other person than Pao-yue.
Hsi Jen smiled, and was the first to speak. "You've made me have a good search," she said. "Where do you hail from?"
"I was just leaving cousin Quarta's," Pao-yue laughed, "when I noticed you coming along, just in front of me; and knowing well enough that you were bent upon finding me, I concealed myself to have a lark with you. I saw you then go by, with uplifted head, enter the court, walk out again, and ask every one you met on your way; but there I stood convulsed with laughter. I was only waiting to rush up to you and frighten you, when I afterwards realised that you too were prowling stealthily about, so I readily inferred that you also were playing a trick upon some one. Then when I put out my head and looked before me, I saw that it was these two girls, so I came behind you, by a circuitous way; and as soon as you left, I forthwith sneaked into your hiding place."
"Let's go and look behind there," P'ing Erh suggested laughingly; "we may possibly discover another couple; there's no saying."
"There's no one else!" Pao-yue laughed.
Yuean Yang had long ago concluded that every word of their conversation had been overheard by Pao-yue; but leaning against the rock, she pretended to be fast asleep.
Pao-yue gave her a push. "This stone is cold!" he smiled. "Let's go and sleep in our rooms. Won't it be better there?"
Saying this, he made an attempt to pull Yuean Yang to her feet. Then hastily pressing P'ing Erh to repair to his quarters and have some tea, he united his efforts with those of Hsi Jen, and tried to induce Yuean Yang to come away. Yuean Yang, at length, got up, and the quartet betook themselves, after all, into the I Hung court.
Pao-yue had caught every word that had fallen from their lips a few minutes back, and felt, indeed, at heart so much distressed on Yuean Yang's behalf, that throwing himself silently on his bed, he left the three girls in the outer rooms to prosecute their chat and laugh.
On the other side of the compound, Madame Hsing about this time inquired of lady Feng who Yuean Yang's father was.
"Her father," lady Feng replied, "is called Chin Ts'ai. He and his wife are in Nanking; they have to look after our houses there, so they can't pay frequent visits to the capital. Her brother is the Wen-hsiang, who acts at present as our senior's accountant; but her sister-in-law too is employed in our worthy ancestor's yonder as head washerwoman."
Madame Hsing thereupon despatched a servant to go and call Yuean Yang's sister-in-law. On Mrs. Chin Wen-hsiang's arrival, she told her all. Mrs. Chin was naturally pleased and left in capital spirits to find Yuean Yang, in the hope that the moment she communicated the offer to her, the whole thing would be satisfactorily arranged. But contrary to all her anticipations, she had to bear a good blowing up from Yuean Yang, and to be told several unpleasant things by Hsi Jen and P'ing Erh, so that she was filled with as much shame as indignation. She then came and reported the result to Madame Hsing. "It's no use," she said, "she gave me a scolding." But as lady Feng was standing by, she could not summon up courage enough to allude to P'ing Erh, so she added: "Hsi Jen too helped her to rate me, and they told me a whole lot of improper words, which could not be breathed in a mistress' ears. It would thus be better to arrange with our master to purchase a girl and have done; for from all I see, neither can that mean vixen enjoy such great good fortune, nor we such vast propitious luck!"
"What's that again to do with Hsi Jen? How came they to know anything about it?" Madame Hsing exclaimed upon learning the issue. "Who else was present?" she proceeded to inquire.
"There was Miss P'ing!" was Chin's wife's reply.
"Shouldn't you have given her a slap on the mouth?" lady Feng precipitately shouted. "As soon as I ever put my foot outside the door, she starts gadding about; and I never see so much as her shadow, when I get home. She too is bound to have had a hand in telling you something or other!"
"Miss P'ing wasn't present," Chin's wife protested. "Looking from a distance it seemed to me like her; but I couldn't see distinctly. It was a mere surmise on my part that it was she at all."
"Go and fetch her at once!" lady Feng shouted to a servant. "Tell her that I've come home, and that Madame Hsing is also here and wants her to help her in her hurry."
Feng Erh quickly came up to her. "Miss Lin," she observed, "despatched a messenger for her, and asked her in writing three and four times before she at last went. I advised her to get back so soon as your ladyship stepped inside the gate, but 'tell your mistress,' Miss Lin said, 'that I've put her to the inconvenience of coming round, as I've got something for her to do for me.'"
This explanation satisfied lady Feng and she let the matter drop. "What has she got to do," she purposely went on to ask, "that she will trouble her day after day?"
Madame Hsing was driven to her wits' ends. As soon as the meal was over, she returned home; and, in the evening, she communicated to Chia She the result of her errand. After some reflection, Chia She promptly summoned Chia Lien.
"There are other people in Nanking to look after our property," he told him on his arrival; "there's not only one family, so be quick and depute some one to go and summon Chin Ts'ai to come up to the capital."
"Last night a letter arrived from Nanking," Chia Lien rejoined, "to the effect that Chin Ts'ai had been suffering from some phlegm-obstruction in the channels of the heart. So a coffin and money were allowed from the other mansion. Whether he be dead or alive now, I don't know. But even if alive, he must have lost all consciousness. It would therefore be a fruitless errand to send for him. His wife, on the other hand, is quite deaf."
Hearing this, Chia She gave vent to an exclamation of reproof, and next launched into abuse. "You stupid and unreasonable rascal!" he shouted. "Is it you of all people, who are up to those things? Don't you yet bundle yourself off from my presence?"
Chia Lien withdrew out of the room in a state of trepidation. But in a short while, (Chia She) gave orders to call Chin Wen-hsiang. Chia Lien (meanwhile) remained in the outer study, for as he neither ventured to go home, nor presumed to face his father, his only alternative was to tarry behind. Presently, Chin Wen-hsiang arrived. The servant-lads led him straightway past the second gate; and he only came out again and took his departure after sufficient time had elapsed to enable one to have four or five meals in.
Chia Lien could not for long summon up courage enough to ask what was up, but when he found out, after a time, that Chia She had gone to sleep, he eventually crossed over to his quarters. In the course of the evening lady Feng told him the whole story. Then, at last, he understood the meaning of the excitement.
But to revert to Yuean Yang. She did not get, the whole night, a wink of sleep. On the morrow, her brother reported to dowager lady Chia that he would like to take her home on a visit. Dowager lady Chia accorded her consent and told her she could go and see her people. Yuean Yang, however, would have rather preferred to stay where she was, but the fear lest her old mistress should give way to suspicion, placed her under the necessity of going, much against her own inclinations though it was. Her brother then had no course but to lay before her Chia She's proposal, and all his promises that she would occupy an honourable position, and that she would be a secondary wife, with control in the house; but Yuean Yang was so persistent in her refusal that her brother was quite nonplussed and he was compelled to return, and inform Chia She.
Chia She flew into a dreadful passion. "I'll tell you what," he shouted; "bid your wife go and tell her that I say: 'that she must, like the goddess Ch'ang O herself who has from olden times shown a predilection for young people, only despise me for being advanced in years; that, as far as I can see, she must be hankering after some young men; that it must, most likely, be Pao-yue; but probably Lien Erh too! If she fosters these affections, warn her to at once set them at rest; for should she not come, when I'm ready to have her, who will by and bye venture to take her? This is the first thing. Should she imagine, in the next place, that because our venerable senior is fond of her, she may, in the future, be engaged to be married in the orthodox way, tell her to consider carefully that she won't very well be able to escape my grip, no matter in what family she may marry. That it's only in case of her dying or of her not wedding any one throughout her life that I shall submit to her decision. Under other circumstances, urge her to seize the first opportunity and change her mind, as she'll come in for many benefits.'"
To every remark that Chia She uttered, Chin Wen-hsiang acquiesced. "Yes!" he said.
"Mind you don't humbug me!" Chia She observed. "I shall to-morrow send again your mistress round to ask Yuean Yang. If you two have spoken to her, and she hasn't given a favorable answer, well, then, no blame will fall on you. But if she does assent, when she broaches the subject with her, look out for your heads!"
Chin Wen-hsiang eagerly expressed his obedience over and over again, and withdrawing out of the room, he retraced his footsteps homeward. Nor did he have the patience to wait until he could commission his womankind to speak to her. Indeed he went in person and told her face to face the injunctions entrusted to him. Yuean Yang was incensed to such a degree that she was at a loss what reply to make. "I'm quite ready to go," she rejoined, after some cogitation, "but you people must take me before my old mistress first and let me tell her something about it."
Her brother and sister-in-law flattered themselves that reflection had induced her to alter her previous decision, and they were both immeasurably delighted. Her sister-in-law there and then led her into the upper quarters and ushered her into the presence of old lady Chia. As luck would have it, Madame Wang, Mrs. Hsueeh, Li Wan, lady Feng, Pao-ch'ai and the other girls were, together with several respectable outside married women who acted as housekeepers, having some fun with old lady Chia. Yuean Yang observed where her mistress was seated, and hastily dragging her sister-in-law before her, she fell on her knees, and explained to her, with tears in her eyes, what proposal Madame Hsing had made to her, what her sister-in-law, who lived in the garden, had told her, and what message her brother had recently conveyed to her. "As I would not accept his advances," (she continued), "our senior master has just now gone so far as to insinuate 'that I was violently attached to Pao-yue; or if that wasn't the case, my object was to gain time so as to espouse some one outside. That were I even to go up to the very heavens, I couldn't, during my lifetime, escape his clutches, and that he would, in the long run, wreak his vengeance on me.' I have obstinately made up my mind, so I may state in the presence of all of you here, that I'll, under no circumstances, marry, as long as I live, any man whatsoever, not to speak of his being a Pao-yue, (precious jade); but even a Pao Chin, (precious gold), a Pao Yin, (precious silver); a Pao T'ien Wang, (precious lord of heaven); or a Pao Huang Ti, (precious Emperor); and have done! Were even your venerable ladyship to press me to take such a step, I couldn't comply with your commands, though you may threaten to cut my throat with a sword. I'm quite prepared to wait upon your ladyship, till you depart this life; but go with my father, mother, or brother, I won't! I'll either commit suicide, or cut my hair off, and go and become a nun. If you fancy that I'm not in earnest, and that I'm temporarily using this language to put you off, may, as surely as heaven, earth, the spirits, the sun and moon look upon me, my throat be covered with boils!"
Yuean Yang had, in fact, upon entering the room, brought along a pair of scissors, concealed in her sleeve, and, while she spoke, she drew her hand back, and, dishevelling her tresses, she began to clip them. When the matrons and waiting-maids saw what she was up to, they hurriedly did everything they could to induce her to desist from her purpose; but already half of her locks had gone. And when they found on close inspection, that with the thick crop of hair she happily had, she had not succeeded in cutting it all, they immediately dressed it up for her.
Upon hearing of Chia She's designs, dowager lady Chia was provoked to displeasure. Her whole body trembled and shook. "Of all the attendants I've had," she cried, "there only remains this single one, upon whom I can depend, and now they want to conspire and carry her off!" Noticing then Madame Wang standing close to her, she turned herself towards her. "All you people really know is to impose upon me!" she resumed. "Outwardly, you display filial devotion; but, secretly, you plot and scheme against me. If I have aught that's worth having, you come and dun me for it. If I have any one who's nice, you come and ask for her. What's left to me is this low waiting-maid, but as you see that she serves me faithfully, you naturally can't stand it, and you're doing your utmost to estrange her from me so as to be the better able to play your tricks upon me."
Madame Wang quickly rose to her feet. She did not, however, dare to return a single syllable in self-defence.
Mrs. Hsueeh noticed that Madame Wang herself came in for her share of blame, and she did not feel as if she could any longer make an attempt to tender words of advice. Li Wan, the moment she heard Yuean Yang speak in the strain she did, seized an early opportunity to lead the young ladies out of the room. T'an Ch'un was a girl with plenty of common sense, so reflecting within herself that Madame Wang could not, in spite of the insult heaped upon her, very well presume to say any thing to exculpate herself, that Mrs. Hsueeh could not, of course, in her position of sister, bring forward any arguments, that Pao-ch'ai was unable to explain things on behalf of her maternal aunt, and that Li Wan, lady Feng or Pao-yue could, still less, take upon themselves the right of censorship, she thought the opportunity rendered necessary the services of a daughter; but, as Ying Ch'un was so quiet, and Hsi Ch'un so young, she consequently walked in, no sooner did she overhear from outside the window what was said inside, and forcing a smile, she addressed herself to her grandmother. "How does this matter concern Madame Wang, my mother?" she interposed. "Venerable senior, just consider! This is a matter affecting her husband's eldest brother; and how could she, a junior sister-in-law, know anything about it?..."
But before she had exhausted all her arguments, dowager lady Chia's countenance thawed into a smile. "I've really grown stupid from old age!" she exclaimed. "Mrs. Hsueeh, don't make fun of me! This eldest sister of yours is most reverent to me; and so unlike that senior lady of mine, who only knows how to regard her lord and master and to simply do things for the mere sake of appearances when she deals with her mother-in-law. I've therefore done her a wrong!"
Mrs. Hsueeh confined her reply to a 'yes.' "Dear senior, you're so full of prejudices," she afterwards observed, "that you love your youngest son's wife more than any one of the others; but it's quite natural."
"I have no prejudices," old lady Chia protested. "Pao-yue," she then proceeded, "I unjustly found fault with your mother; but, how was it that even you didn't tell me anything, but that you looked on, while she was having her feelings trampled upon?"
"Could I," smiled Pao-yue, "have taken my mother's part, and run down my senior uncle and aunt? If my mother did not bear the whole blame, upon whom could she throw it? And had I admitted that it was I who was entirely at fault, you, venerable ancestor, wouldn't have believed me."
"What you say is quite reasonable," his grandmother laughed. "So be quick and fall on your knees before your mother and tell her: 'mother, don't feel aggrieved! Our old lady is so advanced in years. Do it for Pao-yue's sake!'"
At this suggestion, Pao-yue hastily crossed over, and dropping on his knees, he was about to open his lips, when Madame Wang laughingly pulled him up. "Get up," she cried, "at once! This won't do at all! Is it likely, pray, that you would tender apologies to me on behalf of our venerable ancestor?"
Hearing this, Pao-yue promptly stood up.
"Even that girl Feng didn't call me to my senses," dowager lady Chia smiled again.
"I don't lay a word to your charge, worthy senior," lady Feng remarked smilingly, "and yet you brand me with reproach!"
This rejoinder amused dowager lady Chia. "This is indeed strange!" she said to all around. "But I'd like to listen to these charges."
"Who told you, dear senior," lady Feng resumed, "to look after your attendants so well, and lavish such care on them as to make them plump and fine as water onions? How ever can you therefore bear people a grudge, if they ask for her hand? I'm, lucky for you, your grandson's wife; for were I your grandson, I would long ere this have proposed to her. Would I have ever waited up to the present?"
"Is this any fault of mine?" dowager lady Chia laughed.
"Of course, it's your fault, venerable senior!" lady Feng retorted with a smile.
"Well, in that case, I too don't want her," old lady Chia proceeded laughing. "Take her away, and have done!"
"Wait until I go through this existence," lady Feng responded, "and, in the life to come, I'll assume the form of a man and apply for her hand."
"Take her along," dowager lady Chia laughed, "and give her to Lien-Erh to attach to his apartments; and we'll see whether that barefaced father-in-law of yours will still wish to have her or not."
"Lien-Erh is not a match for her!" lady Feng added. "He's only a fit mate for such as myself and P'ing Erh. A pair of loutish bumpkins like us to have anything to do with such a one as herself!"
At this rejoinder, they all exploded into a hearty fit of laughter. But a waiting-maid thereupon announced: "Our senior lady has come." So Madame Wang immediately quitted the room to go and meet her.
But any further particulars, which you, reader may like to know, will be given in the following chapter; so listen to it.
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请给我换一个看看！ 拜托，快把噪音停掉！我读累了，想听点音乐或者请来支歌曲！
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