中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì sì shí qī huí dāi bà wáng tiáoqíng zāo kǔ dǎ lěng láng jūn jù huò zǒu tā xiāng CHAPTER XLVII.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XLVII.
huà shuō wáng fū rén tīng jiàn xíng fū rén lái liǎo， lián máng yíng liǎo chū qù。 xíng fū rén yóu bù zhī jiǎ mǔ yǐ zhī yuān yāng zhī shì， zhèng hái yào lái dǎ tīng xìn xī， jìn liǎo yuàn mén， zǎo yòu jǐ gè pó zǐ qiāoqiāo de huí liǎo tā， tā fāng zhī dào。 dài yào huí qù， lǐ miàn yǐ zhī， yòu jiàn wáng fū rén jiē liǎo chū lái， shǎo bù dé jìn lái， xiān yǔ jiǎ mǔ qǐng 'ān， jiǎ mǔ yī shēng 'ér bù yán yǔ， zì jǐ yě jué dé kuì huǐ。 fèng jiě 'ér zǎo zhǐ yī shì huí bì liǎo。 yuān yāng yě zì huí fáng qù shēng qì。 xuē yí mā wáng fū rén děng kǒng 'ài zhe xíng fū rén de liǎn miàn， yědōu jiàn jiàn de tuì liǎo。 xíng fū rén qiě bù gǎn chū qù。
jiǎ mǔ jiàn wú rén， fāng shuō dào： “ wǒ tīng jiàn nǐ tì nǐ lǎo yé shuō méi lái liǎo。 nǐ dǎo yě sān cóng sì dé， zhǐ shì zhè xián huì yě tài guò liǎo！ nǐ men rú jīn yě shì sūn zǐ 'ér zǐ mǎn yǎn liǎo， nǐ hái pà tā， quàn liǎng jù dū shǐ bù dé， hái yóu zhe nǎ chù xián yuǎn *。 ” xíng fū rén mǎn miàn tōng hóng， huí dào：“ wǒ quàn guò jǐ cì bù yǐ。 lǎo tài tài hái yòu shénme bù zhī dào ní， wǒ yě shì bù dé yǐ 'ér。 " jiǎ mǔ dào：“ tā bī zhe nǐ shā rén， nǐ yě shā qù？ rú jīn nǐ yě xiǎng xiǎng， nǐ xiōng dì xí fù běn lái lǎo shí， yòu shēng dé duō bìng duō tòng， shàng shàng xià xià nà bù shì tā cāo xīn？ nǐ yī gè xí fù suī rán bāng zhe， yě shì tiān tiān diū xià bā 'ér nòng sǎo zhǒu。 fán bǎi shì qíng， wǒ rú jīn dū zì jǐ jiǎn liǎo。 tā men liǎng gè jiù yòu yī xiē bù dào de qù chù， yòu yuān yāng， nà hái zǐ hái xīn xì xiē， wǒ de shì qíng tā hái xiǎng zhe yī diǎn zǐ， gāi yào qù de， tā jiù yào lái liǎo， gāi tiān shénme， tā jiù dù kōng 'ér gào sù tā men tiān liǎo。 yuān yāng zài bù zhè yàng， tā niàn 'ér liǎng gè， lǐ tóu wài tóu， dà de xiǎo de， nà lǐ bù hū lüè yī jiàn bàn jiàn， wǒ rú jīn fǎn dǎo zì jǐ cāo xīn qù bù chéng？ hái shì tiān tiān pán suàn hé nǐ men yào dōng xī qù？ wǒ zhè wū lǐ yòu de méi de， shèng liǎo tā yī gè， nián jì yě dà xiē， wǒ fán bǎi de pí qì xìng gé 'ér tā hái zhī dào xiē。 èr zé tā hái tóu zhù zǐ men de yuán fǎ， yě bìng bù zhǐ zhe wǒ hé zhè wèi tài tài yào yī cháng qù， yòu hé nà wèi nǎi nǎi yào yín zǐ qù。 suǒ yǐ zhè jǐ nián yī yìng shì qíng， tā shuō shénme， cóng nǐ xiǎo shěn hé nǐ xí fù qǐ， yǐ zhì jiā xià dà dà xiǎo xiǎo， méi yòu bù xìn de。 suǒ yǐ bù dān wǒ dé kào， lián nǐ xiǎo shěn xí fù yědōu shěng xīn。 wǒ yòu liǎo zhè me gè rén， biàn shì xí fù hé sūn zǐ xí fù yòu xiǎng bù dào de， wǒ yě bù dé quē liǎo， yě méi qì kě shēng liǎo。 zhè huì zǐ tā qù liǎo， nǐ men nòng gè shénme rén lái wǒ shǐ？ nǐ men jiù nòng tā nà me yī gè zhēn zhū de rén lái， bù huì shuō huà yě wú yòng。 wǒ zhèng yào dǎ fā rén hé nǐ lǎo yé shuō qù， tā yào shénme rén， wǒ zhè lǐ yòu qián， jiào tā zhǐ guǎn yī wàn bā qiān de mǎi， jiù zhǐ zhè gè yā tóu bù néng。 liú xià tā fú shì wǒ jǐ nián， jiù bǐ tā rì yè fú shì wǒ jìn liǎo xiào de yī bān。 nǐ lái de yě qiǎo， nǐ jiù qù shuō， gèng tuǒ dāng liǎo。”
shuō bì， mìng rén lái：“ qǐng liǎo yí tài tài nǐ gū niàn men lái shuō gè huà 'ér， cái gāo xīng， zěn me yòu dū sàn liǎo！ " yā tóu men máng dāyìng zhe qù liǎo。 zhòng rén máng gǎn de yòu lái。 zhǐ yòu xuē yí mā xiàng yā huán dào：“ wǒ cái lái liǎo， yòu zuò shénme qù？ nǐ jiù shuō wǒ shuì liǎo jué liǎo。 nà yā tóu dào： wǒ men bà。 nǐ lǎo rén jiā xián fá， wǒ bēiliǎo nǐ lǎo rén jiā qù。” xuē yí mā dào：“ xiǎo guǐ tóu 'ér， nǐ pà xiē shénme？ bù guò mà jǐ jù wán liǎo。” shuō zhe， zhǐ dé hé zhè xiǎo yā tóu zǐ zǒu lái。 jiǎ mǔ máng ràng zuò， yòu xiào dào：“ zán men dǒu pái bà。 yí tài tài de pái yě shēng， zán men yī chù zuò zhe， bié jiào fèng jiě 'ér hùn liǎo wǒ men qù。” xuē yí mā xiào dào：“ zhèng shì ní， lǎo tài tài tì wǒ kàn zhe xiē 'ér。 jiù shì zán men niàn 'ér sì gè dǒu ní， hái shì zài tiān gè ní？ " wáng fū rén xiào dào：“ kě bù zhǐ sì gè。” fèng jiě 'ér dào：“ zài tiān yī gè rén rè nào xiē。” jiǎ mǔ dào：“ jiào yuān yāng lái， jiào tā zài zhè xià shǒu lǐ zuò zhe。 yí tài tài yǎn huā liǎo， zán men liǎng gè de pái dū jiào tā qiáo zhe xiē 'ér。” fèng jiě 'ér tàn liǎo yī shēng， xiàng tàn chūn dào：“ nǐ men shí shū shí zì de， dǎo bù xué suàn mìng！ " tàn chūn dào：“ zhè yòu qí liǎo。 zhè huì zǐ nǐ dǎo bù dǎ diǎn jīng shén yíng lǎo tài tài jǐ gè qián， yòu xiǎng suàn mìng。” fèng jiě 'ér dào：“ wǒ zhèng yào suàn suàn mìng jīn 'ér gāi shū duō shǎo ní， wǒ hái xiǎng yíng ní！ nǐ qiáo qiáo， chángzǐ méi shàng， zuǒ yòu dū mái fú xià liǎo。” shuō de jiǎ mǔ xuē yí mā dū xiào qǐ lái。
yī shí yuān yāng lái liǎo， biàn zuò zài jiǎ mǔ xià shǒu， yuān yāng zhī xià biàn shì fèng jiě 'ér。 pū xià hóng zhān， xǐ pái gào yāo， wǔ rén qǐ pái。 dǒu liǎo yī huí xué guī lǜ yě yào fā zhǎn。， yuān yāng jiàn jiǎ mǔ de pái yǐ shí yán， zhǐ děng yī zhāng 'èr bǐng， biàn dì liǎo 'àn hào yǔ fèng jiě 'ér。 fèng jiě 'ér zhèng gāi fā pái， biàn gù yì chóu chú liǎo bàn shǎng， xiào dào：“ wǒ zhè yī zhāng pái dìng zài yí mā shǒu lǐ kòu zhe ní。 wǒ ruò bù fā zhè yī zhāng， zài dǐng bù xià lái de。” xuē yí mā dào：“ wǒ shǒu lǐ bìng méi yòu nǐ de pái。” fèng jiě 'ér dào：“ wǒ huí lái shì yào chá de。” xuē yí mā dào：“ nǐ zhǐ guǎn chá。 nǐ qiě fā xià lái， wǒ qiáo qiáo shì zhāng shénme。” fèng jiě 'ér biàn sòng zài xuē yí mā gēn qián。 xuē yí mā yī kàn shì gè 'èr bǐng， biàn xiào dào：“ wǒ dǎo bù xī hǎn tā， zhǐ pà lǎo tài tài mǎn liǎo。” fèng jiě 'ér tīng liǎo， máng xiào dào：“ wǒ fā cuò liǎo。” jiǎ mǔ xiào de yǐ zhì xià pái lái， shuō：“ nǐ gǎn ná huí qù！ shuí jiào nǐ cuò de bù chéng？ " fèng jiě 'ér dào：“ kě shì wǒ yào suàn yī suàn mìng ní。 zhè shì zì jǐ fā de， yě yuàn mái fú！ " jiǎ mǔ xiào dào：“ kě shì ní， nǐ zì jǐ gāi dǎzháo nǐ nà zuǐ， wèn zhe nǐ zì jǐ cái shì。” yòu xiàng xuē yí mā xiào dào：“ wǒ bù shì xiǎo qì 'ài yíng qián， yuán shì gè cǎi tóu 'ér。 " xuē yí mā xiào dào：“ kě bù shì zhè yàng， nà lǐ yòu nà yàng hú tú rén shuō lǎo tài tài 'ài qián ní？ " fèng jiě 'ér zhèng shù zhe qián， tīng liǎo zhè huà， máng yòu bǎ qián chuān shàng liǎo， xiàng zhòng rén xiào dào：“ gòu liǎo wǒ de liǎo。 jìng bùwèi yíng qián， dān wéi yíng cǎi tóu 'ér。 wǒ dào dǐ xiǎo qì， shū liǎo jiù shù qián， kuài shōu qǐ lái bà。” jiǎ mǔ guīju shì yuān yāng dài xǐ pái， yīn hé xuē yí mā shuō xiào， bù jiàn yuān yāng dòng shǒu， jiǎ mǔ dào：“ nǐ zěn me nǎo liǎo， lián pái yě bù tì wǒ xǐ。” yuān yāng ná qǐ pái lái， xiào dào：“ èr nǎi nǎi bù gěi qián。 " jiǎ mǔ dào：“ tā bù gěi qián， nà shì tā jiāo yùn liǎo。” biàn mìng xiǎo yā tóu zǐ：“ bǎ tā nà yī diào qián dū ná guò lái。” xiǎo yā tóu zǐ zhēn jiù ná liǎo， gē zài jiǎ mǔ bàng biān。 fèng jiě 'ér xiào dào：“ shǎng wǒ bà， wǒ zhào shù 'ér gěi jiù shì liǎo。” xuē yí mā xiào dào：“ guǒ rán shì fèng yā tóu xiǎo qì， bù guò shì wán 'ér bà liǎo。” fèng jiě tīng shuō， biàn zhàn qǐ lái， lā zhe xuē yí mā， huí tóu zhǐ zhe jiǎ mǔ sù rì fàng qián de yī gè xiǎo mù xiá zǐ xiào dào：“ yí mā qiáo qiáo， nà gè lǐ tóu bù zhī wán liǎo wǒ duō shǎo qù liǎo。 zhè yī diào qián wán bù liǎo bàn gè shí chén， nà lǐ tóu de qián jiù zhāo shǒu 'ér jiào tā liǎo。 zhǐ děng bǎ zhè yī diào yě jiào jìn qù liǎo， pái yě bù yòng dǒu liǎo， lǎo zǔ zōng de qì yě píng liǎo， yòu yòu zhèng jīng shì chā wǒ bàn qù liǎo。” huà shuō wèi wán， yǐn de jiǎ mǔ zhòng rén xiào gè bù zhù。 piān yòu píng 'ér pà qián bù gòu， yòu sòng liǎo yī diào lái。 fèng jiě 'ér dào：“ bù yòng fàng zài wǒ gēn qián， yě fàng zài lǎo tài tài de nà yī chù bà。 yī qí jiào jìn qù dǎo xǐngshì， bù yòng zuò liǎng cì， jiào xiāng zǐ lǐ de qián fèi shì。” jiǎ mǔ xiào de shǒu lǐ de pái sǎ liǎo yī zhuō zǐ， tuī zhe yuān yāng， jiào：“ kuài sī tā de zuǐ！”
píng 'ér yǐ yán fàng xià qián， yě xiào liǎo yī *， fāng huí lái。 zhì yuàn mén qián yù jiàn jiǎ liǎn， wèn tā " tài tài zài nà lǐ ní？ lǎo yé jiào wǒ qǐng guò qù ní。” píng 'ér máng xiào dào：“ zài lǎo tài tài gēn qián ní， zhàn liǎo zhè bàn rì hái méi dòng ní。 chèn zǎo 'ér diū kāi shǒu bà。 lǎo tài tài shēng liǎo bàn rì qì， zhè huì zǐ kuī 'èr nǎi nǎi còu liǎo bàn rì qù 'ér， cái lüè hǎo liǎo xiē。” jiǎ liǎn dào：“ wǒ guò qù zhǐ shuō tǎo lǎo tài tài de shì xià， shí sì wǎng lài dà jiā qù bù qù， hǎo yù bèi jiào zǐ de。 yòu qǐng liǎo tài tài， yòu còu liǎo qù 'ér， qǐ bù hǎo？ " píng 'ér xiào dào：“ yǐ wǒ shuō， nǐ jìng bù qù bà。 hé jiā zǐ lián tài tài bǎo yù dōuyòu liǎo bù shì， zhè huì zǐ nǐ yòu tián xiàn qù liǎo。 " jiǎ liǎn dào：“ yǐ jīng wán liǎo， nán dào hái zhǎo bǔ bù chéng？ kuàng qiě yǔ wǒ yòu wú gān。 èr zé lǎo yé qīn zì fēn fù wǒ qǐng tài tài de， zhè huì zǐ wǒ dǎ fā liǎo rén qù， cháng huò zhī dào liǎo， zhèng méi hǎo qì ní， zhǐ zhe zhè gè ná wǒ chū qì bà。” shuō zhe jiù zǒu。 píng 'ér jiàn tā shuō dé yòu lǐ， yě biàn gēn liǎo guò lái。
jiǎ liǎn dào liǎo táng wū lǐ， biàn bǎ jiǎo bù fàng qīng liǎo， wǎng lǐ jiān tàn tóu， zhǐ jiàn xíng fū rén zhàn zài nà lǐ。 fèng jiě 'ér yǎn jiān， xiān qiáo jiàn liǎo， shǐ yǎn sè 'ér bù mìng tā jìn lái， yòu shǐ yǎn sè yǔ xíng fū rén。 xíng fū rén bù biàn jiù zǒu， zhǐ dé dǎo liǎo yī wǎn chá lái， fàng zài jiǎ mǔ gēn qián。 jiǎ mǔ yī huí shēn， jiǎ liǎn bù fáng， biàn méi duǒ líng lì。 jiǎ mǔ biàn wèn：“ wài tóu shì shuí？ dǎo xiàng gè xiǎo zǐ yī shēn tóu。 " fèng jiě 'ér máng qǐ shēn shuō：“ wǒ yě huǎng hū kàn jiàn yī gè rén yǐng 'ér， ràng wǒ qiáo qiáo qù。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn qǐ shēn chū lái。 jiǎ liǎn máng jìn qù， péi xiào dào：“ dǎ tīng lǎo tài tài shí sì kě chū mén？ hǎo yù bèi jiào zǐ。” jiǎ mǔ dào：“ jì zhè me yàng， zěn me bù jìn lái？ yòu zuò guǐ zuò shén de。” jiǎ liǎn péi xiào dào：“ jiàn lǎo tài tài wán pái， bù gǎn jīng dòng， bù guò jiào xí fù chū lái wèn wèn。” jiǎ mǔ dào：“ jiù máng dào zhè yī shí， děng tā jiā qù， nǐ wèn duō shǎo wèn bù dé？ nà yī zāo 'ér nǐ zhè me xiǎo xīn lái zhe！ yòu bù zhī shì lái zuò 'ěr bào shén de， yě bù zhī shì lái zuò tàn zǐ de， guǐ guǐ suì suì de， dǎo hǔ wǒ yī tiào。 shénme hǎo xià liú zhǒng zǐ！ nǐ xí fù hé wǒ wán pái ní， hái yòu bàn rì de kòng'ér， nǐ jiā qù zài hé nà zhào 'èr jiā de shāng liàng zhì nǐ xí fù qù bà。” shuō zhe zhòng réndōu xiào liǎo。 yuān yāng xiào dào：“ bào 'èr jiā de， lǎo zǔ zōng yòu lā shàng zhào 'èr jiā de。 " jiǎ mǔ yě xiào dào：“ kě shì， wǒ nà lǐ jì dé shénme bào zhe bēizhe de， tí qǐ zhè xiē shì lái， bù yóu wǒ bù shēng qì！ wǒ jìn liǎo zhè mén zǐ zuò chóngsūn zǐ xí fù qǐ， dào rú jīn wǒ yě yòu liǎo chóngsūn zǐ xí fù liǎo， lián tóu dài wěi wǔ shí sì nián， píng zhe dà jīng dà xiǎn qiān qí bǎi guài de shì， yě jīng liǎo xiē， cóng méi jīng guò zhè xiē shì。 hái bù lí liǎo wǒ zhè lǐ ní！”
jiǎ liǎn yī shēng 'ér bù gǎn shuō， máng tuì liǎo chū lái。 píng 'ér zhàn zài chuāng wài qiāoqiāo de xiào dào：“ wǒ shuō zhe nǐ bù tīng， dào dǐ pèng zài wǎng lǐ liǎo。 " zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn xíng fū rén yě chū lái， jiǎ liǎn dào：“ dōushì lǎo yé nào de shì、 rén mín wéi zhèng zhī sān bǎo， kěn dìng“ mín wéi guì， shè jì cì zhī， jūn wéi qīng”，， rú jīn dū bān zài wǒ hé tài tài shēn shàng。” xíng fū rén dào：“ wǒ bǎ nǐ méi xiào xīn léi dǎ de xià liú zhǒng zǐ！ rén jiā hái tì lǎo zǐ sǐ ní， bái shuō liǎo jǐ jù， nǐ jiù bào yuàn liǎo。 nǐ hái bù hǎohǎo de ní， zhè jǐ rì shēng qì， zǎi xì tā chuí nǐ。” jiǎ liǎn dào：“ tài tài kuài guò qù bà， jiào wǒ lái qǐng liǎo hǎo bàn rì liǎo。” shuō zhe， sòng tā mǔ qīn chū lái guò nà biān qù。
xíng fū rén jiāng fāng cái de huà zhǐ lüè shuō liǎo jǐ jù， jiǎ shè wú fǎ， yòu hán kuì， zì cǐ biàn gào bìng， qiě bù gǎn jiàn jiǎ mǔ， zhǐ dǎ fā xíng fū rén jí jiǎ liǎn měi rì guò qù qǐng 'ān。 zhǐ dé yòu gè chù qiǎn rén gòu qiú xún mì， zhōng jiǔ fèi liǎo bā bǎi liǎng yín zǐ mǎi liǎo yī gè shí qī suì de nǚ hái zǐ lái， míng huàn yān hóng， shōu zài wū nèi。 bù zài huà xià。
zhè lǐ dǒu liǎo bàn rì pái， chī wǎn fàn cái bà。 cǐ yī 'èr rì jiān wú huà。
zhǎn yǎn dào liǎo shí sì rì， hēi zǎo， lài dà de xí fù yòu jìn lái qǐng。 jiǎ mǔ gāo xīng， biàn dài liǎo wáng fū rén xuē yí mā jí bǎo yù zǐ mèi děng， dào lài dà huā yuán zhōng zuò liǎo bàn rì。 nà huā yuán suī bù jí dà guān yuán yì niàn， fēi xīn zhī suǒ fā。， què yě shí fēn qí zhěng kuān kuò， quán shí lín mù， lóu gé tíng xuān， yě yòu hǎo jǐ chù jīng rén hài mùdì。 wài miàn tīng shàng， xuē pán， jiǎ zhēn， jiǎ liǎn， jiǎ róng bìng jǐ gè jìn zú de， hěn yuǎn de yě méi lái， jiǎ shè yě méi lái。 lài dà jiā nèi yě qǐng liǎo jǐ gè xiàn rèn de guān cháng bìng jǐ gè shì jiā zǐ dì zuò péi。 yīn qí zhōng yòu liǔ xiāng lián， xuē pán zì shàng cì huì guò yī cì， yǐ niàn niàn bù wàng。 yòu dǎ tīng tā zuì xǐ chuàn xì， qiě chuàn dedōu shì shēng dàn fēng yuè xì wén， bù miǎn cuò huì liǎo yì， wù rèn tā zuò liǎo fēng yuè zǐ dì， zhèng yào yǔ tā xiāng jiāo， hèn méi yòu gè yǐn jìn， zhè rì kě qiǎo yù jiàn， jìng jué wú kě bù kě。 qiě jì zhōng lāi rèn cái jiǎo ná *， jiǔ gài zhù liǎo liǎn， jiù qiú tā chuàn liǎo liǎng chū xì。 xià lái， yí xí hé tā yī chù zuò zhe， wèn cháng wèn duǎn， shuō cǐ shuō bǐ。
nà liǔ xiāng lián yuán shì shì jiā zǐ dì， dú shū bù chéng， fù mǔ zǎo sàng， sù xìng shuǎng xiá， bù jū xì shì， kù hǎo shuǎ qiāng wǔ jiàn， dǔ bó chī jiǔ， yǐ zhì mián huā wò liǔ， chuī dí dàn zhēng， wú suǒ bùwèi。 yīn tā nián jì yòu qīng， shēng dé yòu měi， bù zhī tā shēnfèn de rén， què wù rèn zuò yōu líng yī lèi。 nà lài dà zhī zǐ lài shàng róng yǔ tā sù xí jiāo hǎo， gù tā jīn rì qǐng lái zuò péi。 bù xiǎng jiǔ hòu bié rén yóu kě， dú xuē pán yòu fàn liǎo jiù bìng。 tā xīn zhōng zǎo yǐ bù kuài， dé biàn yì yù zǒu kāi wán shì， wú nài lài shàng róng sǐ yě bù fàng。 lài shàng róng yòu shuō：“ fāng cái bǎo 'èr yé yòu zhǔ fù wǒ， cái yī jìn mén suī jiàn liǎo， zhǐ shì rén duō bù hǎo shuō huà， jiào wǒ zhǔ fù nǐ sàn de shí hòu bié zǒu， tā hái yòu huà shuō ní。 nǐ jì yī dìng yào qù， děng wǒ jiào chū tā lái， nǐ liǎng gè jiàn liǎo zài zǒu， yǔ wǒ wú gān。” shuō zhe， biàn mìng xiǎo sī men dào lǐ tóu zhǎo yī gè lǎo pó zǐ， qiāoqiāo gào sù " qǐng chū bǎo 'èr yé lái。 " nà xiǎo sī qù liǎo méi yī zhǎn chá shí， guǒ jiàn bǎo yù chū lái liǎo。 lài shàng róng xiàng bǎo yù xiào dào：“ hǎo shū shū， bǎ tā jiāo gěi nǐ， wǒ zhāng luó rén qù liǎo。” shuō zhe， yī jìng qù liǎo。
bǎo yù biàn lā liǎo liǔ xiāng lián dào tīng cè xiǎo shū fáng zhōng zuò xià， wèn tā zhè jǐ rì kě dào qín zhōng de fén shàng qù liǎo。 xiāng lián dào：“ zěn me bù qù？ qián rì wǒ men jǐ gè rén fàng yīng qù， lí tā fén shàng hái yòu 'èr lǐ。 wǒ xiǎng jīn nián xià tiān de yǔ shuǐ qín， kǒng pà tā de fén zhàn bù zhù。 wǒ bēizhe zhòng rén， zǒu qù qiáo liǎo yī qiáo， guǒ rán yòu dòng liǎo yī diǎn zǐ。 huí jiā lái jiù biàn nòng liǎo jǐ bǎi qián， dì sān rì yī zǎo chū qù， gù liǎo liǎng gè rén shōu shí hǎo liǎo。” bǎo yù dào：“ guài dào ní， shàng yuè wǒ men dà guān yuán de chí zǐ lǐ tóu jié liǎo lián péng， wǒ zhāi liǎo shí gè， jiào míng yān chū qù dào fén shànggòng tā qù， huí lái wǒ yě wèn tā kě bèi yǔ chōng huài liǎo méi yòu。 tā shuō bù dàn bù chōng， qiě bǐ shàng huí yòu xīn liǎo xiē。 wǒ xiǎng zhe， bù guò shì zhè jǐ gè péng yǒu xīn zhù liǎo。 wǒ zhǐ hèn wǒ tiān tiān juàn zài jiā lǐ， yī diǎn 'ér zuò bù dé zhù， xíng dòng jiù yòu rén zhī dào， bù shì zhè gè lán jiù shì nà gè quàn de， néng shuō bù néng xíng。 suī rán yòu qián， yòu bù yóu wǒ shǐ。” xiāng lián dào：“ zhè gè shì yě yòng bù zhe nǐ cāo xīn， wài tóu yòu wǒ， nǐ zhǐ xīn lǐ yòu liǎo jiù shì。 yǎn qián shí yuè chū yī， wǒ yǐ jīng dǎ diǎn xià shàng fén de huā xiāo。 nǐ zhī dào wǒ yī pín rú xǐ， jiā lǐ shì méi de jī jù， zòng yòu jǐ gè qián lái， suí shǒu jiù guāng de， bù rú chèn kōng 'ér liú xià zhè yī fēn， shěngde dào liǎo gēn qián zhā shā shǒu。” bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ yě zhèng wéi zhè gè yào dǎ fā míng yān zhǎo nǐ， nǐ yòu bù dà zài jiā， zhī dào nǐ tiān tiān píng zōng làng jì， méi gè yī dìng de qù chù。” xiāng lián dào：“ zhè yě bù yòng zhǎo wǒ。 zhè gè shì bù guò gè jìn qí dào。 yǎn qián wǒ hái yào chū mén qù zǒu zǒu， wài tóu guàng gè sān nián wǔzǎi zài huí lái。” bǎo yù tīng liǎo， máng wèn dào：“ zhè shì wèihé？ " liǔ xiāng lián lěng xiào dào：“ nǐ bù zhī dào wǒ de xīn shì， děng dào gēn qián nǐ zì rán zhī dào。 wǒ rú jīn yào bié guò liǎo。” bǎo yù dào：“ hǎo róng yì huì zhe， wǎn shàng tóng sàn qǐ bù hǎo？ " xiāng lián dào：“ nǐ nà lìng yí biǎo xiōng hái shì nà yàng， zài zuò zhe wèi miǎn yòu shì， bù rú wǒ huí bì liǎo dǎo hǎo。” bǎo yù xiǎng liǎo yī xiǎng， dào：“ jì shì zhè yàng， dǎo shì huí bì tā wèishì。 zhǐ shì nǐ yào guǒ zhēn yuǎn xíng， bì xū xiān gào sù wǒ yī shēng， qiān wàn bié qiāoqiāo de qù liǎo。” shuō zhe biàn dī xià lèi lái。 liǔ xiāng lián dào：“ zì rán yào cí de。 nǐ zhǐ bié hé bié rén shuō jiù shì。 " shuō zhe biàn zhàn qǐ lái yào zǒu， yòu dào：“ nǐ men jìn qù， bù bì sòng wǒ。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn chū liǎo shū fáng。 gāng zhì dà mén qián， zǎo yù jiàn xuē pán zài nà lǐ luàn rǎng luàn jiào shuō：“ shuí fàng liǎo xiǎo liǔ 'ér zǒu liǎo！ " liǔ xiāng lián tīng liǎo， huǒ xīng luàn bèng， hèn bù dé mí huáng qióng *， fù sī jiǔ hòu huī quán， yòu 'ài zhe lài shàng róng de liǎn miàn， zhǐ dé rěn liǎo yòu rěn。 xuē pán hū jiàn tā zǒu chū lái， rú dé liǎo zhēn bǎo， máng lièqie zhe shàng lái yī bǎ lā zhù， xiào dào：“ wǒ de xiōng dì， nǐ wǎng nà lǐ qù liǎo？ " xiāng lián dào：“ zǒu zǒu jiù lái。” xuē pán xiào dào：“ hǎo xiōng dì， nǐ yī qù dōuméi xīng liǎo， hǎo dǎi zuò yī zuò， nǐ jiù téng wǒ liǎo。 píng nǐ yòu shénme yào jǐn de shì， jiāo gěi gē， nǐ zhǐ bié máng， yòu nǐ zhè gè gē， nǐ yào zuò guān fā cái dū róng yì。” xiāng lián jiàn tā rú cǐ bù kān， xīn zhōng yòu hèn yòu kuì， zǎo shēng yī jì， biàn lā tā dào bì rén zhī chù， xiào dào：“ nǐ zhēn xīn hé wǒ hǎo， jiǎ xīn hé wǒ hǎo ní？ " xuē pán tīng zhè huà， xǐ de xīn yǎng nán náo， miē xié zhuóyǎn máng xiào dào：“ hǎo xiōng dì， nǐ zěn me wèn qǐ wǒ zhè huà lái？ wǒ yào shì jiǎ xīn， lì kè sǐ zài yǎn qián！ " xiāng lián dào：“ jì rú cǐ， zhè lǐ bù biàn。 děng zuò yī zuò， wǒ xiān zǒu， nǐ suí hòu chū lái， gēn dào wǒ xià chù， zán men tì lìng hē yī yè jiǔ。 wǒ nà lǐ hái yòu liǎng gè jué hǎo de hái zǐ， cóng méi chū mén。 nǐ kě lián yī gè gēn de rén yě bù yòng dài， dào liǎo nà lǐ， fú shì de réndōu shì xiàn chéng de。” xuē pán tīng rú cǐ shuō， xǐ dé jiǔ xǐng liǎo yī bàn， shuō：“ guǒ rán rú cǐ？ " xiāng lián dào：“ rú hé！ rén ná zhēn xīn dài nǐ， nǐ dǎo bù xìn liǎo！ " xuē pán máng xiào dào：“ wǒ yòu bù shì dāi zǐ， zěn me yòu gè bù xìn de ní！ jì rú cǐ， wǒ yòu bù rèn dé， nǐ xiān qù liǎo， wǒ zài nà lǐ zhǎo nǐ？ " xiāng lián dào：“ wǒ zhè xià chù zài běi mén wài tóu， nǐ kě shè dé jiā， chéng wài zhù yī yè qù？ " xuē pán xiào dào：“ yòu liǎo nǐ， wǒ hái yào jiā zuò shénme！ " xiāng lián dào：“ jì rú cǐ， wǒ zài běi mén wài tóu qiáo shàng děng nǐ。 zán men xí shàng qiě chī jiǔ qù。 nǐ kàn wǒ zǒu liǎo zhī hòu nǐ zài zǒu， tā men jiù bù liú xīn liǎo。” xuē pán tīng liǎo， lián máng dāyìng。 yú shì 'èr rén fù yòu rù xí， yǐn liǎo yī huí。 nà xuē pán nán 'áo， zhǐ ná yǎn kàn xiāng lián， xīn nèi yuè xiǎng yuè lè， zuǒ yī hú yòu yī hú， bìng bù yòng rén ràng， zì jǐ biàn chī liǎo yòu chī， bù jué jiǔ yǐ bā jiǔ fēn liǎo。
xiāng lián biàn qǐ shēn chū lái chǒu rén bù fáng qù liǎo， zhì mén wài， mìng xiǎo sī xìng nú：“ xiān jiā qù bà， wǒ dào chéng wài jiù lái。” shuō bì， yǐ kuà mǎ zhí chū běi mén lùn xué shuō。 zhù zhāng“ yuán qì zhī shàng， wú wù、 wú dào、 wú lǐ”。 rèn wéi“ tiān dì， qiáo shàng děng hòu xuē pán。 méi dùn fàn shí gōng fū， zhǐ jiàn xuē pán qí zhe yī pǐ dà mǎ， yuǎn yuǎn de gǎn liǎo lái， zhāng zhe zuǐ， dèng zhe yǎn， tóu sì bō làng gǔ yī bān bù zhù wǎng zuǒ yòu luàn qiáo， jí zhì cóng xiāng lián mǎ qián guò qù， zhǐ gù wàng yuǎn chù qiáo， bù céng liú xīn jìn chù， fǎn cǎi guò qù liǎo。 xiāng lián yòu shì xiào， yòu shì hèn， biàn yě sǎ mǎ suí hòu gǎn lái。 xuē pán wǎng qián kàn shí， jiàn jiàn rén yān xī shǎo， biàn yòu juàn mǎ huí lái zài zhǎo， bù xiǎng yī huí tóu jiàn liǎo xiāng lián， rú huò qí zhēn， máng xiào dào：“ wǒ shuō nǐ shì gè zài bù shī xìn de。” xiāng lián xiào dào：“ kuài wǎng qián zǒu， zǎi xì rén kàn jiàn gēn liǎo lái， jiù bù biàn liǎo。” shuō zhe， xiān jiù sǎ mǎ qián qù， xuē pán yě jǐn jǐn de gēn lái。
xiāng lián jiàn qián miàn rén jì yǐ xī， qiě yòu yī dài wěi táng， biàn xià mǎ， jiāng mǎ shuān zài shù shàng， xiàng xuē pán xiào dào：“ nǐ xià lái， zán men xiān shè gè shì， rì hòu yào biàn liǎo xīn， gào sù rén qù de， biàn yìng liǎo shì。” xuē pán xiào dào：“ zhè huà yòu lǐ。” lián máng xià liǎo mǎ， yě shuān zài shù shàng， biàn guì xià shuō dào：“ wǒ yào rì jiǔ biàn xīn， gào sù rén qù de， tiān zhū dì miè！ " yī yǔ wèi liǎo， zhǐ tīng "Г" de yī shēng， jǐng hòu hǎo sì tiě chuí zá xià lái， zhǐ jué dé yī zhèn hēi， mǎn yǎn jīn xīng luàn bèng， shēn bù yóu jǐ， biàn dǎo xià lái， xiāng lián zǒu shàng lái qiáo qiáo， zhī dào tā shì gè bèn jiā， bù guàn 'ái dǎ， zhǐ shǐ liǎo sān fēn qì lì， xiàng tā liǎn shàng pāi liǎo jǐ xià， dēng shí biàn kāi liǎo guǒ zǐ pū。 xuē pán xiān hái yào zhèng cuò qǐ lái， yòu bèi xiāng lián yòng jiǎo jiān diǎn liǎo liǎng diǎn， réng jiù diē dǎo， kǒu nèi shuō dào：“ yuán shì liǎng jiā qíng yuàn， nǐ bù yǐ， zhǐ hǎo shuō， wèishénme hōng chū wǒ lái dǎ wǒ？ " yī miàn shuō， yī miàn luàn mà。 xiāng lián dào：“ wǒ bǎ nǐ xiā liǎo yǎn de， nǐ rèn rèn liǔ dà yé shì shuí！ nǐ bù shuō 'āi qiú， nǐ hái shāng wǒ！ wǒ dǎ sǐ nǐ yě wú yì， zhǐ gěi nǐ gè lì hài bà。” shuō zhe， biàn qǔ liǎo mǎ biān guò lái， cóng bèi zhì jìng， dǎ liǎo sān sì shí xià。 xuē pán jiǔ yǐ xǐng liǎo dà bàn， jué dé téng tòng nán jìn， bù jìn yòu " ài yō " zhī shēng。 xiāng lián lěng xiào dào：“ yě zhǐ rú cǐ！ wǒ zhǐ dāng nǐ shì bù pà dǎ de。 " yī miàn shuō， yī miàn yòu bǎ xuē pán de zuǒ tuǐ lā qǐ lái， cháo wěi zhōng nìng ní chù lā liǎo jǐ bù， gǔn de mǎn shēn ní shuǐ， yòu wèn dào：“ nǐ kě rèn dé wǒ liǎo？ " xuē pán bù yìng， zhǐ fú zhe hēng hēng。 xiāng lián yòu zhì xià biān zǐ， yòng quán tóu xiàng tā shēn shàng léi liǎo jǐ xià。 xuē pán biàn luàn gǔn luàn jiào， shuō：“ lē tiáo zhé liǎo。 wǒ zhī dào nǐ shì zhèng jīng rén， yīn wéi wǒ cuò tīng liǎo bàng rén de huà liǎo。” xiāng lián dào：“ bù yòng lā bié rén， nǐ zhǐ shuō xiàn zài de。” xuē pán dào：“ xiàn zài méi shí me shuō de。 bù guò nǐ shì gè zhèng jīng rén， wǒ cuò liǎo。” xiāng lián dào：“ hái yào shuō ruǎn xiē cái ráo nǐ。” xuē pán hēng hēng zhe dào：“ hǎo xiōng dì。” xiāng lián biàn yòu yī quán。 xuē pán " ài yō " liǎo yī shēng dào：“ hǎo gē gē。” xiāng lián yòu lián liǎng quán。 xuē pán máng " ài yō " jiào dào：“ hǎo yé yé， ráo liǎo wǒ zhè méi yǎn jīng de xiā zǐ bà！ cóng jīn yǐ hòu wǒ jìng nǐ pà nǐ liǎo。” xiāng lián dào：“ nǐ bǎ nà shuǐ hē liǎng kǒu。 " xuē pán yī miàn tīng liǎo， yī miàn zhòu méi dào：“ nà shuǐ zàng dé hěn， zěn me hē dé xià qù！ " xiāng lián jǔ quán jiù dǎ。 xuē pán máng dào：“ wǒ hē， hē。” shuō zhe shuō zhe， zhǐ dé fǔ tóu xiàng wěi gēn xià hē liǎo yī kǒu， yóu wèi yān xià qù， zhǐ tīng " wā " de yī shēng， bǎ fāng cái chī de dōng xī dū tù liǎo chū lái。 xiāng lián dào：“ hǎo zàng dōng xī， nǐ kuài chī jìn liǎo ráo nǐ。” xuē pán tīng liǎo kòu tóu bù dié dào：“ hǎo dǎi jī yīn gōng ráo wǒ bà！ zhè zhì sǐ bù néng chī de。” xiāng lián dào：“ zhè yàng qì xī， dǎo xūn huài liǎo wǒ。” shuō zhe diū xià xuē pán， biàn qiān mǎ rèn dèng qù liǎo。 zhè lǐ xuē pán jiàn tā yǐ qù， xīn nèi fāng fàng xià xīn lái， hòu huǐ zì jǐ bù gāi wù rèn liǎo rén。 dài yào zhèng cuò qǐ lái， wú nài biàn shēn téng tòng nán jìn。
shuí zhī jiǎ zhēn děng xí shàng hū bù jiàn liǎo tā liǎng gè， gè chù xún zhǎo bù jiàn。 yòu rén shuō：“ huǎng hū chū běi mén qù liǎo。” xuē pán de xiǎo sī men sù rì shì jù tā de， tā fēn fù bù xǔ gēn qù， shuí hái gǎn zhǎo qù？ hòu lái hái shì jiǎ zhēn bù fàng xīn， mìng jiǎ róng dài zhe xiǎo sī men xún zōng wèn jì de zhí zhǎo chū běi mén， xià qiáo 'èr lǐ duō lù， hū jiàn wěi kēng biān xuē pán de mǎ shuān zài nà lǐ。 zhòng rén dū dào：“ kě hǎo liǎo！ yòu mǎ bì yòu rén。” yī qí lái zhì mǎ qián， zhǐ tīng wěi zhōng yòu rén shēn yín。 dà jiā máng zǒu lái yī kàn， zhǐ jiàn xuē pán yī shān líng suì， miàn mù zhǒng pò， méi tóu méi liǎn， biàn shēn nèi wài， gǔn de sì gè ní zhū yī bān。 jiǎ róng xīn nèi yǐ cāizháo jiǔ fēn liǎo， máng xià mǎ lìng rén chān liǎo chū lái， xiào dào：“ xuē dà shū tiān tiān tiáoqíng， jīn 'ér diào dào wěi zǐ kēng lǐ lái liǎo。 bì dìng shì lóng wáng yé yě 'ài shàng nǐ fēng liú， yào nǐ zhāo fù mǎ qù， nǐ jiù pèng dào lóng jī jiǎo shàng liǎo。” xuē pán xiū de hèn méi dì féng 'ér zuàn bù jìn qù， nà lǐ pá de shàng mǎ qù？ jiǎ róng zhǐ dé mìng rén gǎn dào guān xiāng lǐ gù liǎo yīshèng xiǎo jiào zǐ， xuē pán zuò liǎo， yī qí jìn chéng。 jiǎ róng hái yào tái wǎng lài jiā qù fù xí， xuē pán bǎi bān yāng gào， yòu mìng tā bù yào gào sù rén， jiǎ róng fāng yǐ yǔn liǎo， ràng tā gè zì huí jiā。 jiǎ róng réng wǎng lài jiā huí fù jiǎ zhēn， bìng shuō fāng cái xíng jǐng。 jiǎ zhēn yě zhī wéi xiāng lián suǒ dǎ， yě xiào dào：“ tā xū dé chī gè kuī cái hǎo。” zhì wǎn sàn liǎo， biàn lái wèn hòu。 xuē pán zì zài wò fáng jiāng yǎng， tuī bìng bù jiàn。
jiǎ mǔ děng huí lái gè zì guī jiā shí， xuē yí mā yǔ bǎo chāi jiàn xiāng líng kū dé yǎn jīng zhǒng liǎo。 wèn qí yuán gù， máng gǎn lái qiáo xuē pán shí， liǎn shàng shēn shàng suī yòu shāng hén， bìng wèi shāng jīn dòng gǔ。 xuē yí mā yòu shì xīn téng shì wú chǎn jiē jí de jiē jí zhuān zhèng， zhè zhǒng zhuān zhèng shì dá dào xiāo miè yī qiē jiē jí chā bié，， yòu shì fā hèn， mà yī kuì *， yòu mà yī huí liǔ xiāng lián， yì yù gào sù wáng fū rén， qiǎn rén xún ná liǔ xiāng lián。 bǎo chāi máng quàn dào：“ zhè bù shì shénme dà shì， bù guò tā men yī chù chī jiǔ， jiǔ hòu fǎn liǎn cháng qíng。 shuí zuì liǎo， duō 'āi jǐ xià zǐ dǎ， yě shì yòu de。 kuàng qiě zán men jiā wú fǎ wú tiān， yě shì rén suǒ gòng zhī de。 mā bù guò shì xīn téng de yuán gù。 yào chū qì yě róng yì， děng sān wǔ tiān gē gē yǎng hǎo liǎo chū de qù shí， nà biān zhēn dà yé liǎn 'èr yé zhè gān rén yě wèi bì bái diū kāi liǎo， zì rán bèi gè dōng dào， jiào liǎo nà gè rén lái， dāng zhe zhòng rén tì gē gē péi bù shì rèn zuì jiù shì liǎo。 rú jīn mā xiān dāng jiàn dà shì gào sù zhòng rén， dǎo xiǎn dé mā piān xīn nì 'ài， zòng róng tā shēng shì zhāo rén， jīn 'ér 'ǒu rán chī liǎo yī cì kuī， mā jiù zhè yàng xīng shī dòng zhòng， yǐ zhe qīn qī zhī shì qī yā cháng rén。” xuē yí mā tīng liǎo dào：“ wǒ de 'ér， dào dǐ shì nǐ xiǎng de dào， wǒ yī shí qì hú tú liǎo。” bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ zhè cái hǎo ní。 tā yòu bù pà mā， yòu bù tīng rén quàn， yī tiān zòng sì yī tiān， chī guò liǎng sān gè kuī， tā dǎo bà liǎo。” xuē pán shuì zài kàng shàng tòng mà liǔ xiāng lián， yòu mìng xiǎo sī men qù chāi tā de fáng zǐ， dǎ sǐ tā， hé tā dǎ guān sī。 xuē yí mā jìn zhù xiǎo sī men， zhǐ shuō liǔ xiāng lián yī shí jiǔ hòu fàng sì， rú jīn jiǔ xǐng， hòu huǐ bù jí， jù zuì táo zǒu liǎo。 xuē pán tīng jiàn rú cǐ shuō liǎo， yào zhī duān de héng héng
An idiotic bully tries to be lewd and comes in for a sound thrashing. A cold-hearted fellow is prompted by a dread of trouble to betake himself to a strange place.
As soon as Madame Wang, so runs our narrative, heard of Madame Hsing's arrival, she quickly went out to welcome her. Madame Hsing was not yet aware that dowager lady Chia had learnt everything connected with Yuean Yang's affair, and she was coming again to see which way the wind blew. The moment, however, she stepped inside the courtyard-entrance, several matrons promptly explained to her, quite confidentially, that their old mistress had been told all only a few minutes back, and she meant to retrace her steps, (but she saw that) every inmate in the suite of rooms was already conscious of her presence. When she caught sight, besides, of Madame Wang walking out to meet her she had no option but to enter. First and foremost, she paid her respects to dowager lady Chia, but old lady Chia did not address her a single remark, so she felt within herself smitten with shame and remorse.
Lady Feng soon gave something or other as an excuse and withdrew. Yuean Yang then returned also quite alone to her chamber to give vent to her resentment; and Mrs. Hsueeh, Madame Wang and the other inmates, one by one, retired in like manner, for fear of putting Madame Hsing out of countenance. Madame Hsing, however, could not muster courage to beat a retreat. Dowager lady Chia noticed that there was no one but themselves in her apartments. "I hear," she remarked, "that you had come to play the part of a go-between for your lord and master! You can very well observe the three obediences and four virtues, but this softness of yours is a work of supererogation! You people have also got now a whole lot of grandchildren and sons. Do you still live in fear and trembling lest he should put his monkey up? Rumour has it that you yet let that disposition of your husband's run riot!"
Madame Hsing's whole face got suffused with blushes. "I advised him time and again," she explained, "but he wouldn't listen to me. How is it, venerable senior, that you don't yet know that he turns a deaf ear to me? That's why I had no choice in the matter!"
"Would you go and kill any one," dowager lady Chia asked, "that he might instigate you to? But consider now. Your brother's wife is naturally a quiet sort of person, and is born with many ailments; but is there anything, whether large or small, that she doesn't go to the trouble of looking after? And notwithstanding that that daughter-in-law of yours lends her a helping hand, she is daily so busy that she 'no sooner puts down the pick than she has to take up the broom.' So busy, that I have myself now curtailed a hundred and one things. But whenever there's anything those two can't manage, there's Yuean Yang to come to their assistance. She is, it's true, a mere child, but nevertheless very careful; and knows how to concern herself about my affairs a bit; indenting for anything that need be indented, and availing herself of an opportunity to tell them to supply every requisite. Were Yuean Yang not the kind of girl she is, how could those two ladies not neglect a whole or part of those matters, both important as well as unimportant, connected with the inner and outer quarters? Would I not at present have to worry my own mind, instead of leaving things to others? Why, I'd daily have to rack my brain and go and ask them to give me whatever I might need! Of those girls, who've come to my quarters and those who've gone, there only remains this single one. She's, besides other respects, somewhat older in years, and has as well a slight conception of my ways of doing things, and of my tastes. In the second place, she has managed to win her mistresses' hearts, for she never tries to extort aught from me, or to dun this lady for clothes or that one for money. Hence it is that beginning from your sister-in-law and daughter-in-law down to the servants in the house, irrespective of old or young, there isn't a soul, who doesn't readily believe every single word she says in anything, no matter what it is! Not only do I thus have some one upon whom I can rely, but your young sister-in-law and your daughter-in-law are both as well spared much trouble. With a person such as this by me, should even my daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law not have the time to think of anything, I am not left without it; nor am I given occasion to get my temper ruffled. But were she now to go, what kind of creature would they hunt up again to press into my service? Were you even to bring me a person made of real pearls, she'd be of no use; if she doesn't know how to speak! I was just about to send some one to go and explain to your husband that 'I've got money in here enough to buy any girl he fancies,' and to tell him that 'he's at liberty to give for her purchase from eight to ten thousand taels; that, if he has set his heart upon this girl, he can't however have her; and that by leaving her behind to attend to me, during the few years to come, it will be just the same as if he tried to acquit himself of his filial duties by waiting upon me day and night,' so you come at a very opportune moment. Were you therefore to go yourself at once and deliver him my message, it will answer the purpose far better!"
These words over, she called the servants. "Go," she said, "and ask Mrs. Hsueeh, and your young mistresses to come! We were in the middle of a chat full of zest, and how is it they've all dispersed?"
The waiting-maids immediately assented and left to go in search of their mistresses, one and all of whom promptly re-entered her apartments, with the sole exception of Mrs. Hsueeh.
"I've only now returned," she observed to the waiting-maid, "and what shall I go again for? Just tell her that I'm fast asleep!"
"Dearest Mrs. Hsueeh!" the waiting-maid pleaded, "my worthy senior! our old mistress will get angry. If you, venerable lady, don't appear nothing will appease her; so do it for the love of us! Should you object to walking, why I'm quite ready to carry you on my back."
"You little imp!" Mrs. Hsueeh laughed. "What are you afraid of? All she'll do will be to scold you a little; and it will all be over soon!"
While replying, she felt that she had no course but to retrace her footsteps, in company with the waiting-maid.
Dowager lady Chia at once motioned her into a seat. "Let's have a game of cards!" she then smilingly proposed. "You, Mrs. Hsueeh, are not a good hand at them; so let's sit together, and see that lady Feng doesn't cheat us!"
"Quite so," laughed Mrs. Hsueeh. "But it will be well if your venerable ladyship would look over my hand a bit! Are we four ladies to play, or are we to add one or two more persons to our number?"
"Naturally only four!" Madame Wang smiled.
"Were one more player let in," lady Feng interposed, "it would be merrier!"
"Call Yuean Yang here," old lady Chia suggested, "and make her take this lower seat; for as Mrs. Hsueeh's eyesight is rather dim, we'll charge her to look over our two hands a bit."
"You girls know how to read and write," lady Feng remarked with a smile, addressing herself to T'an Ch'un, "and why don't you learn fortune-telling?"
"This is again strange!" T'an Ch'un exclaimed. "Instead of bracing up your energies now to rook some money out of our venerable senior, you turn your thoughts to fortune-telling!"
"I was just wishing to consult the fates," lady Feng proceeded, "as to how much I shall lose to-day. Can I ever dream of winning? Why, look here. We haven't commenced playing, and they have placed themselves in ambush on the left and right."
This remark amused dowager lady Chia and Mrs. Hsueeh. But presently Yuean Yang arrived, and seated herself below her old mistress. After Yuean Yang sat lady Feng. The red cloth was then spread; the cards were shuffled; the dealer was decided upon and the quintet began to play. After the game had gone on for a time, Yuean Yang noticed that dowager lady Chia had a full hand and was only waiting for one two-spotted card, and she made a secret sign to lady Feng. Lady Feng was about to lead, but purposely lingered for a few moments. "This card will, for a certainty, be snatched by Mrs. Hsueeh," she smiled, "yet if I don't play this one, I won't be able later to come out with what I want."
"I haven't got any cards you want in my hand," Mrs. Hsueeh remarked.
"I mean to see by and bye," lady Feng resumed.
"You're at liberty to see," Mrs. Hsueeh said. "But go on, play now! Let me look what card it is."
Lady Feng threw the card in front of Mrs. Hsueeh. At a glance, Mrs. Hsueeh perceived that it was the two spot. "I don't fancy this card," she smiled. "What I fear is that our dear senior will get a full hand."
"I've played wrong!" lady Feng laughingly exclaimed at these words.
Dowager lady Chia laughed, and throwing down her cards, "If you dare," she shouted, "take it back! Who told you to play the wrong card?"
"Didn't I want to have my fortune told?" lady Feng observed. "I played this card of my own accord, so there's no one with whom I can find fault."
"You should then beat your own lips and punish your own self; it's only fair;" old lady Chia remarked. Then facing Mrs. Hsueeh, "I'm not a niggard, fond of winning money," she went on to say, "but it was my good luck!"
"Don't we too think as much?" Mrs. Hsueeh smiled. "Who's there stupid enough to say that your venerable ladyship's heart is set upon money?"
Lady Feng was busy counting the cash, but catching what was said, she restrung them without delay. "I've got my share," she said, laughingly to the company. "It isn't at all that you wish to win. It's your good luck that made you come out a winner! But as for me, I am really a mean creature; and, as I managed to lose, I count the money and put it away at once."
Dowager lady Chia usually made Yuean Yang shuffle the cards for her, but being engaged in chatting and joking with Mrs. Hsueeh, she did not notice Yuean Yang take them in hand. "Why is it you're so huffed," old lady Chia asked, "that you don't even shuffle for me?"
"Lady Feng won't let me have the money!" Yuean Yang replied, picking up the cards.
"If she doesn't give the money," dowager lady Chia observed, "it will be a turning-point in her luck. Take that string of a thousand cash of hers," she accordingly directed a servant, "and bring it bodily over here!"
A young waiting-maid actually fetched the string of cash and deposited it by the side of her old mistress.
"Let me have them," lady Feng eagerly cried smiling, "and I'll square all that's due, and finish."
"In very truth, lady Feng, you're a miserly creature!" Mrs. Hsueeh laughed. "It's simply for mere fun, nothing more!"
Lady Feng, at this insinuation, speedily stood up, and, laying her hand on Mrs. Hsueeh, she turned her head round, and pointed at a large wooden box, in which old lady Chia usually deposited her money. "Aunt," she said, a smile curling her lips, "look here! I couldn't tell you how much there is in that box that was won from me! This tiao will be wheedled by the cash in it, before we've played for half an hour! All we've got to do is to give them sufficient time to lure this string in as well; we needn't trouble to touch the cards. Your temper, worthy ancestor, will thus calm down. If you've also got any legitimate thing for me to do, you might bid me go and attend to it!"
This joke had scarcely been concluded than it evoked incessant laughter from dowager lady Chia and every one else. But while she was bandying words, P'ing Erh happened to bring her another string of cash prompted by the apprehension that her capital might not suffice to meet her wants.
"It's useless putting them in front of me!" lady Feng cried. "Place these too over there by our old lady and let them be wheedled in along with the others! It will thus save trouble, as there won't be any need to make two jobs of them, to the inconvenience of the cash already in the box."
Dowager lady Chia had a hearty laugh, so much so, that the cards, she held in her hand, flew all over the table; but pushing Yuean Yang. "Be quick," she shouted, "and wrench that mouth of hers!"
P'ing Erh placed the cash according to her mistress' directions. But after indulging too in laughter for a time, she retraced her footsteps. On reaching the entrance into the court, she met Chia Lien. "Where's your Madame Hsing?" he inquired. "Mr. Chia She told me to ask her to go round."
"She's been standing in there with our old mistress," P'ing Erh hastily laughed, "for ever so long, and yet she isn't inclined to budge! Seize the earliest opportunity you can get to wash your hands clean of this business! Our old lady has had a good long fit of fuming and raging. Luckily, our lady Secunda cracked an endless stock of jokes, so she, at length, got a bit calmer!"
"I'll go over," Chia Lien said. "All I have to do is to find out our venerable senior's wishes, as to whether she means to go to Lai Ta's house on the fourteenth, so that I might have time to get the chairs ready. As I'll be able to tell Madame Hsing to return, and have a share of the fun, won't it be well for me to go?"
"My idea is," P'ing Erh suggested laughingly, "that you shouldn't put your foot in there! Every one, even up to Madame Wang, and Pao-yue, have alike received a rap on the knuckles, and are you also going now to fill up the gap?"
"Everything is over long ago," Chia Lien observed, "and can it be that she'll cap the whole thing by blowing me up too? What's more, it's no concern of mine. In the next place, Mr. Chia She enjoined me that I was to go in person, and ask his wife round, so, if I at present depute some one else, and he comes to know about it, he really won't feel in a pleasant mood, and he'll take advantage of this pretext to give vent to his spite on me."
These words over, he quickly marched off. And P'ing Erh was so impressed with the reasonableness of his arguments, that she followed in his track.
As soon as Chia Lien reached the reception hall, he trod with a light step. Then peeping in he saw Madame Hsing standing inside. Lady Feng, with her eagle eye, was the first to espy him. But she winked at him and dissuaded him from coming in, and next gave a wink to Madame Hsing. Madame Hsing could not conveniently get away at once, and she had to pour a cup of tea, and place it in front of dowager lady Chia. But old lady Chia jerked suddenly round, and took Chia Lien at such a disadvantage that he found it difficult to beat a retreat. "Who is outside?" exclaimed old lady Chia. "It seemed to me as if some servant-boy had poked his head in."
Lady Feng sprung to her feet without delay. "I also," she interposed, "indistinctly noticed the shadow of some one."
Saying this, she walked away and quitted the room. Chia Lien entered with hasty step. Forcing a smile, "I wanted to ask," he remarked, "whether you, venerable senior, are going out on the fourteenth, so that the chairs may be got ready."
"In that case," dowager lady Chia rejoined, "why didn't you come straight in; but behaved again in that mysterious way?"
"I saw that you were playing at cards, dear ancestor," Chia Lien explained with a strained laugh, "and I didn't venture to come and disturb you. I therefore simply meant to call my wife out to find out from her."
"Is it anything so very urgent that you had to say it this very moment?" old lady Chia continued. "Had you waited until she had gone home, couldn't you have asked her any amount of questions you may have liked? When have you been so full of zeal before? I'm puzzled to know whether it isn't as an eavesdropping spirit that you appear on the scene; nor can I say whether you don't come as a spy. But that impish way of yours gave me quite a start! What a low-bred fellow you are! Your wife will play at cards with me for a good long while more, so you'd better bundle yourself home, and conspire again with Chao Erh's wife how to do away with your better half."
Her remarks evoked general merriment.
"It's Pao Erh's wife," Yuean Yang put in laughingly, "and you, worthy senior, have dragged in again Chao Erh's wife."
"Yes!" assented old lady Chia, likewise with a laugh. "How could I remember whether he wasn't (pao) embracing her, or (pei) carrying her on his back. The bare mention of these things makes me lose all self-control and provokes me to anger! Ever since I crossed these doors as a great grandson's wife, I have never, during the whole of these fifty-four years, seen anything like these affairs, albeit it has been my share to go through great frights, great dangers, thousands of strange things and hundred and one remarkable occurrences! Don't you yet pack yourself off from my presence?"
Chia Lien could not muster courage to utter a single word to vindicate himself, but retired out of the room with all promptitude. P'ing Erh was standing outside the window. "I gave you due warning in a gentle tone, but you wouldn't hear; you've, after all, rushed into the very meshes of the net!"
These reproaches were still being heaped on him when he caught sight of Madame Hsing, as she likewise made her appearance outside. "My father," Chia Lien ventured, "is at the bottom of all this trouble; and the whole blame now is shoved upon your shoulders as well as mine, mother."
"I'll take you, you unfilial thing and..." Madame Hsing shouted. "People lay down their lives for their fathers; and you are prompted by a few harmless remarks to murmur against heaven and grumble against earth! Won't you behave in a proper manner? He's in high dudgeon these last few days, so mind he doesn't give you a pounding!"
"Mother, cross over at once," Chia Lien urged; "for he told me to come and ask you to go a long time ago."
Pressing his mother, he escorted her outside as far as the other part of the mansion. Madame Hsing gave (her husband) nothing beyond a general outline of all that had been recently said; but Chia She found himself deprived of the means of furthering his ends. Indeed, so stricken was he with shame that from that date he pleaded illness. And so little able was he to rally sufficient pluck to face old lady Chia, that he merely commissioned Madame Hsing and Chia Lien to go daily and pay their respects to her on his behalf. He had no help too but to despatch servants all over the place to make every possible search and inquiry for a suitable concubine for him. After a long time they succeeded in purchasing, for the sum of eighty taels, a girl of seventeen years of age, Yen Hung by name, whom he introduced as secondary wife into his household.
But enough of this subject. In the rooms on the near side, they protracted for a long time their noisy game of cards, and only broke up after they had something to eat. Nothing worthy of note, however, occurred during the course of the following day or two. In a twinkle, the fourteenth drew near. At an early hour before daybreak, Lai Ta's wife came again into the mansion to invite her guests. Dowager lady Chia was in buoyant spirits, so taking along Madame Wang, Mrs. Hsueeh, Pao-yue and the various young ladies, she betook herself into Lai Ta's garden, where she sat for a considerable time.
This garden was not, it is true, to be compared with the garden of Broad Vista; but it also was most beautifully laid out, and consisted of spacious grounds. In the way of springs, rockeries, arbours and woods, towers and terraces, pavilions and halls, it likewise contained a good many sufficient to excite admiration. In the main hall outside, were assembled Hsueeh P'an, Chia Chen, Chia Lien, Chia Jung and several close relatives. But Lai Ta had invited as well a number of officials, still in active service, and numerous young men of wealthy families, to keep them company. Among that party figured one Liu Hsiang-lien, whom Hsueeh P'an had met on a previous occasion and kept ever since in constant remembrance. Having besides discovered that he had a passionate liking for theatricals, and that the parts he generally filled were those of a young man or lady, in fast plays, he had unavoidably misunderstood the object with which he indulged in these amusements, to such a degree as to misjudge him for a young rake. About this time, he had been entertaining a wish to cultivate intimate relations with him, but he had, much to his disgust, found no one to introduce him, so when he, by a strange coincidence, came to be thrown in his way, on the present occasion, he revelled in intense delight. But Chia Chen and the other guests had heard of his reputation, so as soon as wine had blinded their sense of shame, they entreated him to sing two short plays; and when subsequently they got up from the banquet, they ensconced themselves near him, and, pressing him with questions, they carried on a conversation on one thing and then another.
This Liu Hsiang-lien was, in fact, a young man of an old family; but he had been unsuccessful in his studies, and had lost his father and mother. He was naturally light-hearted and magnanimous; not particular in minor matters; immoderately fond of spear-exercise and fencing, of gambling and boozing; even going to such excesses as spending his nights in houses of easy virtue; playing the fife, thrumming the harp, and going in for everything and anything. Being besides young in years, and of handsome appearance, those who did not know what his standing was, invariably mistook him for an actor. But Lai Ta's son had all along been on such friendly terms with him, that he consequently invited him for the nonce to help him do the honours.
Of a sudden, while every one was, after the wines had gone round, still on his good behaviour, Hsueeh P'an alone got another fit of his old mania. From an early stage, his spirits sunk within him and he would fain have seized the first convenient moment to withdraw and consummate his designs but for Lai Shang-jung, who then said: "Our Mr. Pao-yue told me again just now that although he saw you, as he walked in, he couldn't speak to you with so many people present, so he bade me ask you not to go, when the party breaks up, as he has something more to tell you. But as you insist upon taking your leave, you'd better wait until I call him out, and when you've seen each other, you can get away; I'll have nothing to say then."
While delivering the message, "Go inside," he directed the servant-boys, "and get hold of some old matron and tell her quietly to invite Mr. Pao-yue to come out."
A servant-lad went on the errand, and scarcely had time enough elapsed to enable one to have a cup of tea in, than Pao-yue, actually, made his appearance outside.
"My dear sir," Lai Shang-jung smilingly observed to Pao-yue, "I hand him over to you. I'm going to entertain the guests!"
With these words, he was off.
Pao-yue pulled Lia Hsiang-lien into a side study in the hall, where they sat down.
"Have you been recently to Ch'in Ch'ung's grave?" he inquired of him.
"How could I not go?" Hsiang-lien answered. "The other day a few of us went out to give our falcons a fly; and we were yet at a distance of two li from his tomb, when remembering the heavy rains, we've had this summer, I gave way to fears lest his grave may not have been proof against them; so evading the notice of the party I went over and had a look. I found it again slightly damaged; but when I got back home, I speedily raised a few hundreds of cash, and issued early on the third day, and hired two men, who put it right."
"It isn't strange then!" exclaimed Pao-yue, "When the lotus blossomed last month in the pond of our garden of Broad Vista, I plucked ten of them and bade T'sai Ming go out of town and lay them as my offering on his grave. On his return, I also inquired of him: whether it had been damaged by the water or not; and he explained that not only had it not sustained any harm, but that it looked better than when last he'd seen it. Several of his friends, I argued, must have had it put in proper repair; and I felt it irksome that I should, day after day, be so caged at home as to be unable to be my own master in the least thing, and that if even I move, and any one comes to know of it, this one is sure to exhort me, if that one does not restrain me. I can thus afford to brag, but can't manage to act! And though I've got plenty of money, I'm not at liberty to spend any of it!"
"There's no use your worrying in a matter like this!" Liu Hsiang-lien said. "I am outside, so all you need do is to inwardly foster the wish; that's all. But as the first of the tenth moon will shortly be upon us, I've already prepared the money necessary for going to the graves. You know well enough that I'm as poor as a rat; I've no hoardings at home; and when a few cash find their way into my pocket, I soon remain again quite empty-handed. But I'd better make the best of this opportunity, and keep the amount I have, in order that, when the time comes, I mayn't find myself without a cash."
"It's exactly about this that I meant to send Pei Ming to see you," Pao-yue added. "But it isn't often that one can manage to find you at home. I'm well aware how uncertain your movements are; one day you are here, and another there; you've got no fixed resort."
"There's no need sending any one to hunt me up!" Liu Hsiang-lien replied. "All that each of us need do in this matter is to acquit ourselves of what's right. But in a little while, I again purpose going away on a tour abroad, to return in three to five years' time."
When Pao-yue heard his intention, "Why is this?" he at once inquired.
Liu Hsiang-lien gave a sardonic smile. "When my wish is on a fair way to be accomplished," he said, "you'll certainly hear everything. I must now leave you."
"After all the difficulty we've had in meeting," Pao-yue remarked, "wouldn't it be better were you and I to go away together in the evening?"
"That worthy cousin of yours," Hsiang-lien rejoined, "is as bad as ever, and were I to stay any longer, trouble would inevitably arise. So it's as well that I should clear out of his way."
Pao-yue communed with himself for a time. "In that case," he then observed, "it's only right, that you should retire. But if you really be bent upon going on a distant tour, you must absolutely tell me something beforehand. Don't, on any account, sneak away quietly!".
As he spoke, the tears trickled down his cheeks.
"I shall, of course, say good-bye to you," Liu Hsiang-lien rejoined. "But you must not let any one know anything about it!"
While uttering these words, he stood up to get away. "Go in at once," he urged, "there's no need to see me off!"
Saying this, he quitted the study. As soon as he reached the main entrance, he came across Hsueeh P'an, bawling out boisterously, "Who let young Liu-erh go?"
The moment these shouts fell on Liu Hsiang-lien's ear, his anger flared up as if it had been sparks spurting wildly about, and he only wished he could strike him dead with one blow. But on second consideration, he pondered that a fight after the present festive occasion would be an insult to Lai Shang-jung, and he perforce felt bound to stifle his indignation.
When Hsueeh P'an suddenly espied him walking out, he looked as delighted as if he had come in for some precious gem. With staggering step he drew near him. Clutching him with one grip, "My dear brother," he smirked. "where are you off to?"
"I'm going somewhere, but will be back soon," Hsiang-lien said by way of response.
"As soon as you left," Hsueeh P'an smiled, "all the fun went. But pray sit a while! If you do so, it will be a proof of your regard for me! Don't flurry yourself. With such a senior brother as myself to stand by you, it will be as easy a job for you to become an official as to reap a fortune."
The sight of his repulsive manner filled the heart of Hsiang-lien with disgust and shame. But speedily devising a plan, he drew him to a secluded spot. "Is your friendship real," he smiled, "or is it only a sham?"
This question sent Hsueeh P'an into such raptures that he found it difficult to check himself from gratifying his longings. But glancing at him with the corner of his eye, "My dear brother," he smiled, "what makes you ask me such a thing? If my friendship for you is a sham, may I die this moment, before your very eyes."
"Well, if that be so," Hsiang-lien proceeded, "it isn't convenient in here, so sit down and wait a bit. I'll go ahead, but come out of this yourself by and bye, and follow me to my place, where we can drink the whole night long. I've also got there two first-rate young fellows who never go out of doors. But don't bring so much as a single follower with you, as you'll find, when you get there, plenty of people ready at hand to wait on you."
So high did this assignation raise Hsueeh P'an's spirits that he recovered, to a certain extent, from the effects of wine. "Is it really so?" he asked.
"How is it," Hsiang-lien laughed, "that when people treat you with a sincere heart, you don't, after all, believe them?"
"I'm no fool," eagerly exclaimed Hsueeh P'an, "and how could I not believe you? But since this be the case, how am I, who don't even know the way, to find your whereabouts if you are to go ahead of me?"
"My place is outside the northern gate." Hsiang-lien explained. "But can you tear yourself away from your home to spend the night outside the city walls?"
"As long as you're there," Hsueeh P'an said, "what will I want my home for?"
"If that be so," Hsiang-lien resumed, "I'll wait for you on the bridge outside the northern gate. But let us meanwhile rejoin the banquet and have some wine. Come along, after you've seen me go; they won't notice us then."
"Yes!" shouted Hsueeh P'an with alacrity as he acquiesced to the proposal.
The two young fellows thereupon returned to the feast, and drank for a time. Hsueeh Pan, however, could with difficulty endure the suspense. He kept his gaze intent upon Hsiang-lien; and the more he pondered within himself upon what was coming, the more exuberance swelled in his heart. Now he emptied one wine-kettle; now another; and, without waiting for any one to press him, he, of his own accord, gulped down one drink after another, with the result that he unconsciously made himself nearly quite tipsy. Hsiang-lien then got up and quitted the room, and perceiving every one off his guard, he egressed out of the main entrance. "Go home ahead," he directed his page Hsing Nu. "I'm going out of town, but I'll be back at once."
By the time he had finished giving him these directions, he had already mounted his horse, and straightway he proceeded to the bridge beyond the northern gate, and waited for Hsueeh P'an. A long while elapsed, however, before he espied Hsueeh P'an in the distance, hurrying along astride of a high steed, with gaping mouth, staring eyes, and his head, banging from side to side like a pedlar's drum. Without intermission, he glanced confusedly about, sometimes to the left, and sometimes to the right; but, as soon as he got where he had to pass in front of Hsiang-lien's horse, he kept his gaze fixed far away, and never troubled his mind with the immediate vicinity.
Hsiang-lien felt amused and angry with him, but forthwith giving his horse also the rein, he followed in his track, while Hsueeh P'an continued to stare ahead.
Little by little the habitations got scantier and scantier, so pulling his horse round, (Hsueeh P'an) retraced his steps. The moment he turned back, he unawares caught sight of Hsiang-lien, and his spirits rose within him, as if he had got hold of some precious thing of an extraordinary value. "I knew well enough," he eagerly smiled, "that you weren't one to break faith."
"Quick, let's go ahead!" Hsiang-lien smilingly urged. "Mind people might notice us and follow us. It won't then be nice!"
While instigating him, he took the lead, and letting his horse have the rein, he wended his way onwards, followed closely by Hsueeh P'an. But when Hsiang-lien perceived that the country ahead of them was already thinly settled and saw besides a stretch of water covered with a growth of weeds, he speedily dismounted, and tied his horse to a tree. Turning then round; "Get down!" he said, laughingly, to Hsueeh P'an. "You must first take an oath, so that in the event of your changing your mind in the future, and telling anything to anyone, the oath might be accomplished."
"You're quite right!" Hsueeh P'an smiled; and jumping down with all despatch, he too made his horse fast to a tree, and then crouched on his knees.
"If I ever in days to come," he exclaimed, "know any change in my feelings and breathe a word to any living soul, may heaven blast me and earth annihilate me!"
Scarcely had he ended this oath, when a crash fell on his ear, and lo, he felt as if an iron hammer had been brought down to bear upon him from behind. A black mist shrouded his eyes, golden stars flew wildly about before his gaze; and losing all control over himself, he sprawled on the ground.
Hsiang-lien approached and had a look at him; and, knowing how little he was accustomed to thrashings, he only exerted but little of his strength, and struck him a few blows on the face. But about this time a fruit shop happened to open, and Hsueeh P'an strained at first every nerve to rise to his feet, when another slight kick from Hsiang-lien tumbled him over again.
"Both parties should really be agreeable," he shouted. "But if you were not disposed to accept my advances, you should have simply told me in a proper way. And why did you beguile me here to give me a beating?"
So speaking, he went on boisterously to heap invective upon his head.
"I'll take you, you blind fellow, and show you who Mr. Liu is," Hsiang-lien cried. "You don't appeal to me with solicitous entreaties, but go on abusing me! To kill you would be of no use, so I'll merely give you a good lesson!"
With these words, he fetched his whip, and administered him, thirty or forty blows from his back down to his shins.
Hsueeh P'an had sobered down considerably from the effects of wine, and found the stings of pain so intolerable, that little able to restrain himself, he gave way to groans.
"Do you go on in this way?" Hsiang-lien said, with an ironical smile. "Why, I thought you were not afraid of beatings."
While uttering this taunt, he seized Hsueeh P'an by the left leg, and dragging him several steps into a miry spot among the reeds, he rolled him about till he was covered with one mass of mud. "Do you now know what stuff I'm made of?" he proceeded to ask.
Hsueeh P'an made no reply. But simply lay prostrate, and moaned. Then throwing away his whip Hsiang-lien gave him with his fist several thumps all over the body.
Hsueeh P'an began to wriggle violently and vociferate wildly. "Oh, my ribs are broken!" he shouted. "I know you're a proper sort of person! It's all because I made the mistake of listening to other people's gossip!"
"There's no need for you to drag in other people!" Hsiang-lien went on. "Just confine yourself to those present!"
"There's nothing up at present!" Hsueeh P'an cried. "From what you say, you're a person full of propriety. So it's I who am at fault."
"You'll have to speak a little milder," Hsiang-lien added, "before I let you off."
"My dear younger brother," Hsueeh P'an pleaded, with a groan.
Hsiang-lien at this struck him another blow with his fist.
"Ai!" ejaculated Hsueeh P'an. "My dear senior brother!" he exclaimed.
Hsiang-lien then gave him two more whacks, one after the other.
"Ai Yo!" Hsueeh P'an precipitately screamed. "My dear Sir, do spare me, an eyeless beggar; and henceforth I'll look up to you with veneration; I'll fear you!"
"Drink two mouthfuls of that water!" shouted Hsiang-lien.
"That water is really too foul," Hsueeh P'an argued, in reply to this suggestion, wrinkling his eyebrows the while; "and how could I put any of it in my mouth?"
Hsiang-lien raised his fist and struck him.
"I'll drink it, I'll drink it!" quickly bawled Hsueeh P'an.
So saying, he felt obliged to lower his head to the very roots of the reeds and drink a mouthful. Before he had had time to swallow it, a sound of 'ai' became audible, and up came all the stuff he had put into his mouth only a few seconds back.
"You filthy thing!" exclaimed Hsiang-lien. "Be quick and finish drinking; and I'll let you off."
Upon hearing this, Hsueeh P'an bumped his head repeatedly on the ground. "Do please," he cried, "lay up a store of meritorious acts for yourself and let me off! I couldn't take that were I even on the verge of death!"
"This kind of stench will suffocate me!" Hsiang-lien observed, and, with this remark, he abandoned Hsueeh Pan to his own devices; and, pulling his horse, he put his foot to the stirrup, and rode away.
Hsueeh Pan, meanwhile, became aware of his departure, and felt at last relieved in his mind. Yet his conscience pricked him for he saw that he should not misjudge people. He then made an effort to raise himself, but the racking torture he experienced all over his limbs was so sharp that he could with difficulty bear it.
Chia Chen and the other guests present at the banquet became, as it happened, suddenly alive to the fact that the two young fellows had disappeared; but though they extended their search everywhere, they saw nothing of them. Some one insinuated, in an uncertain way, that they had gone outside the northern gate; but as Hsueeh P'an's pages had ever lived in dread of him, who of them had the audacity to go and hunt him up after the injunctions, he had given them, that they were not to follow him? But waxing solicitous on his account, Chia Chen subsequently bade Chia Jung take a few servant-boys and go and discover some clue of him, or institute inquiries as to his whereabouts. Straightway therefore they prosecuted their search beyond the northern gate, to a distance of two li below the bridge, and it was quite by accident that they discerned Hsueeh P'an's horse made fast by the side of a pit full of reeds.
"That's a good sign!" they with one voice exclaimed; "for if the horse is there, the master must be there too!"
In a body, they thronged round the horse, when, from among the reeds, they caught the sound of human groans, so hurriedly rushing forward to ascertain for themselves, they, at a glance, perceived Hsueeh P'an, his costume all in tatters, his countenance and eyes so swollen and bruised that it was hard to make out the head and face, and his whole person, inside as well as outside his clothes, rolled like a sow in a heap of mud.
Chia Jung surmised pretty nearly the truth. Speedily dismounting, he told the servants to prop him up. "Uncle Hsueeh," he laughed, "you daily go in for lewd dalliance; but have you to-day come to dissipate in a reed-covered pit? The King of the dragons in this pit must have also fallen in love with your charms, and enticed you to become his son-in-law that you've come and gored yourself on his horns like this!"
Hsueeh P'an was such a prey to intense shame that he would fain have grovelled into some fissure in the earth had he been able to detect any. But so little able was he to get on his horse that Chia Jung directed a servant to run to the suburbs and fetch a chair. Ensconced in this, Hsueeh P'an entered town along with the search party.
Chia Jung still insisted upon carrying him to Lai Ta's house to join the feast, so Hsueeh P'an had to make a hundred and one urgent appeals to him to tell no one, before Chia Jung eventually yielded to his solicitations and allowed him to have his own way and return home.
Chia Jung betook himself again to Lai Ta's house, and narrated to Chia Chen their recent experiences. When Chia Chen also learnt of the flogging (Hsueeh P'an) had received from Hsiang-lien, he laughed. "It's only through scrapes," he cried, "that he'll get all right!"
In the evening, after the party broke up, he came to inquire after him. But Hsueeh P'an, who was lying all alone in his bedroom, nursing himself, refused to see him, on the plea of indisposition.
When dowager lady Chia and the other inmates had returned home, and every one had retired into their respective apartments, Mrs. Hsueeh and Pao-ch'ai observed that Hsiang Ling's eyes were quite swollen from crying, and they questioned her as to the reason of her distress. (On being told), they hastily rushed to look up Hsueeh P'an; but, though they saw his body covered with scars, they could discover no ribs broken, or bones dislocated.
Mrs. Hsueeh fell a prey to anguish and displeasure. At one time, she scolded Hsueeh P'an; at another, she abused Liu Hsiang-lien. Her wish was to lay the matter before Madame Wang in order that some one should be despatched to trace Liu Hsiang-lien and bring him back, but Pao-ch'ai speedily dissuaded her. "It's nothing to make a fuss about," she represented. "They were simply drinking together; and quarrels after a wine bout are ordinary things. And for one who's drunk to get a few whacks more or less is nothing uncommon! Besides, there's in our home neither regard for God nor discipline. Every one knows it. If it's purely out of love, mother, that you desire to give vent to your spite, it's an easy matter enough. Have a little patience for three or five days, until brother is all right and can go out. Mr. Chia Chen and Mr. Chia Lien over there are not people likely to let the affair drop without doing anything! They'll, for a certainty, stand a treat, and ask that fellow, and make him apologise and admit his wrong in the presence of the whole company, so that everything will be properly settled. But were you now, ma, to begin making much of this occurrence, and telling every one, it would, on the contrary, look as if you had, in your motherly partiality and fond love for him, indulged him to stir up a row and provoke people! He has, on this occasion, had unawares to eat humble pie, but will you, ma, put people to all this trouble and inconvenience and make use of the prestige enjoyed by your relatives to oppress an ordinary person?"
"My dear child," Mrs. Hsueeh rejoined, "after listening to the advice proffered by her, you've, after all, been able to foresee all these things! As for me, that sudden fit of anger quite dazed me!"
"All will thus be square," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "for, as he's neither afraid of you, mother, nor gives an ear to people's exhortations, but gets wilder and wilder every day that goes by, he may, if he gets two or three lessons, turn over a new leaf."
While Hsueeh P'an lay on the stovecouch, he reviled Hsiang-lien with all his might. Next, he instigated the servant-boys to go and demolish his house, kill him and bring a charge against him. But Mrs. Hsueeh hindered the lads from carrying out his purpose, and explained to her son: "that Liu Hsiang-lien had casually, after drinking, behaved in a disorderly way, that now that he was over the effects of wine, he was exceedingly filled with remorse, and that, prompted by the fear of punishment, he had effected his escape."
But, reader, if you feel any interest to know what happened when Hsueeh P'an heard the version his mother gave him, listen to what you will find in the next chapter.
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